Still trying to find that new normal.

How did it get to be February 6 so fast? With Mr. Macho spending every weekend at his Dad's, my week out of town, and the past week filled with so much stuff my head is spinning - a comfortable routine hasn't been in our cards. Still. Somehow. It is starting to feel normal - to not have a routine.

Waking up by myself this morning - I got to make a flavored pot of coffee. I had forgotten I had a fancy pack stuck in the freezer. Voila! Irish cream coffee. Mmmmm.

Every day this week I had at least one thing that kept me away from home most of the day. Monday and Wednesday it was our soup kitchen. Tuesday brought lunch with my girlfriends and a viewing of the first episode of season 6 of Downton Abbey.

Tuesday evening brought storms. Tornadoes hit our state and our sister state. In our state the town of Collinsville was directly hit by a tornado. Niece Natalie lives there and had severe damage. She was not home but her husband and children were. He had the safe place prepared and held one child under each arm. Under the mattress. Oh my goodness. What a fright! Serious breach of the roof has resulted in water all over the house, floors buckling, ceilings collapsing, among other things. A huge tree fell on the house. A porch is collapsed. Their little dog was blown around during the storm, but is alive and safe. Now. They are trying to negotiate the maze of insurance/temporary housing/repairs. God bless them. It's a mess.

Sister Paulette had to take a rain check on a belated birthday lunch that we had scheduled for Thursday. She was helping her daughter, Niece Natalie, with some storm clean up.

Thursday it felt like I couldn't catch a break. My own fault that I had to quick catch up on my bible study reading. I ran around gathering decorations and ironing table toppers to decorate for Friday's church brunch. I got away from the house around 9:30. Then the day fell apart. I got caught by a train. It was stopped. And didn't move for 15 minutes. I turned around and re-routed. I got stopped by the same train on the detour. Another 10 minutes. Late for bible study. After that I went to the next room to help decorate. My co-helpers had already finished and gone home. I blew the tiny bit of anger that bubbled up right out into the atmosphere. (Cue the Frozen "Let it Go" song right here.) I postponed the few errands I thought I would run and went home to grab a bite for lunch. Then back to town for my garden club meeting. Love my ladies, but sometimes, and this was one of those sometimes, they just drag things on. Pleeeease! When I got home I threw together some pretty good lemony blueberry muffins for the Friday brunch, heated some leftovers in the microwave, and then went all veg-out.

At the brunch Friday morning I ate a big old filled donut and drank some OJ and thought I was in a rocket. I am starting to think I really need to steer clear of sugar altogether. Oh my.

On my way to run the errands I had skipped the day before I saw Paulette's car at home and stopped for a good visit. Errands completed I made the grocery round. Came home. Got to take a good walk out on the cold but sunny day. Reheated some vegetable beef soup and cornbread out the freezer. Took that over to father-in-law's house for a nice supper with him and Mr. Macho. Whataweek.

I thought I would come home and have a little sip of something special (for medicinal purposes). Instead I just ate some grapes and proceeded to fall asleep watching Dateline. It is better than whiskey. Got up and went to bed at 11:00.

*****

Four weeks ago today nephew in the Delta was in an auto accident. He was in ICU for the largest portion of his hospital stay. Yesterday he was released from the hospital. Still healing. Still sore. Skinny. Weak. But healing. Thank you, God.

Out-of-town sister-in-law will relieve Mr. Macho this evening. That will be nice. We will actually attend church together in the morning. First time in a few weeks.

Our Super Bowl party will be mellow this year. Neither of us wanted all the party food that we usually do. So. This year it will just be home cook hamburgers to help cheer on our team. For me? I just have to cheer for Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Not that they are my favorite team. I just like him and want him to go out with a bang.

I am hoping our Sabbath will restore us. You, too.
Namaste.