The concrete work in and around the garage foundation is
completed, and looks wonderful. I am beginning to work up enthusiasm for the
Big Cleaning that will happen once I empty it out and hook up the power washer.
3300 lb/sq/in should lift and move just about everything, except perhaps the
refrigerator!
In conversation with Bruce, I have figured that the yard
work will start on Wednesday next – Aug. 21 – with fabric and mulch and two
trees. Hopefully we can get this done before Angus leaves, so I can give him
some more work money.
During the first part of the last week, I became aware that
my Blood Pressure was much higher than previously – 10 to 20 points higher. I
was worrying about it, which didn’t help. Then I realized that I was feeling
perpetually anxious. The cause? Being responsible alone for feeding and care of
the kids, and having to complete
preparations for today’s worship in Rimbey. It came as a shock to me that
worship preparation was stressing me. As I thought about it, I recalled that at
Gaetz and at St. Andrew’s, I managed to stay at least one week ahead in
preparation time. Since the stroke, with a shortened attention span, and less
ability to focus my mental energy, it’s more difficult for me to get on the
ball. I had thought I was leading worship n August 25, so when I discovered it
would be the 18th, I “lost” a week of prep time.
Realizing this, I simply sat down at the keyboard, and
bashed out a sermon as quickly as I could, from the notes I had compiled. I
noticed a steady decline in my BP values. My anxiety began to drain away. It’s
amazing to me that external stress,
like walking or working out in the water, daises my BP far less than internal or emotional stress, such as
anxiety. I seem to have to keep learning this fact over and over again. Like a
dunce.
I have discovered that going for a long walk with Angus is
the best way to get him talking about the things he cares about. Over the last
three days, we have walked between thirty and forty-five minutes each day. He
talks almost non-stop, if given any encouragement. So I am learning about my
grandson big time these days!
After today, I have no preparation work to do, so I can
relax and get on with the yard stuff. Well, I’ll supervise – Angus and Bruce
will do the work! I had a bright idea today: Bruce has all our leftover gravel,
and I’m thinking that it might be a good idea to lift the rubber tiles of the
back walk, put gravel under them, and cut one of the left over tiles to bring
the walk up to the rear gate! Amazing: old brain with one new idea! More later…
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