Starting to Live Again

I had an impromptu lunch with a cherished friend a few days ago, and after we had our lunch she followed me back to our house to see all the new projects my husband has completed since the last time she’d been over.My honey is a fantastic carpenter, something I absolutely love about him, and we have remodeled and/or built several houses in our almost 38 years of marriage.  But we have finished remodeling the house we intend to live in for the rest of our natural lives, so he has gotten a little bored!  Hence, the amazing projects he has put his hand to, and completed lately, that greatly enhance our enjoyment of life as fairly new empty-nesters.After my girlfriend and I had looked at the fish pond and the river he installed a few weeks ago, we strolled back to the patio he put in for us last autumn, where he built a towering pergola this past weekend to provide shade over the dining table on the patio.  It is a beautifully grand structure that I love, even though I thought it would obstruct our view, and didn’t really want him to build it when he first told me about it.  He built it tall enough, though, that we can clearly see out our bay window it sits in front of.Here’s a picture of the river going down to the fish pond.  It has a fountain at the top that gurgles loud enough I can hear it when I have my office window open, directly above it.And the newly installed fish pond, which currently has 4 incredibly cute little gold-fish in it!  It was getting dark outside when I took these pictures, which is why the water looks black.  It’s not.Here is the pergola he built to give the patio a little bit of shade.And someone can’t stand it that I would be outside on the patio taking pictures without taking her picture, too.  This is little Miss Penny.After we admired all the amazing handiwork my husband has been busy with, we walked out to my vegetable garden my husband helped me get started this year, and looked at the plants I have growing – green beans, peas, asparagus, potatoes, corn and pumpkins.As we turned to walk back to the house my friend quietly said to me, “You’re starting to live again, Leanne.”  Oh my.Yes.We are beginning to live again.  As soon as she said it, she asked if it was okay that she had said that, knowing me and my dislike of the word “healing”.  But I told her that yes, it was okay and I could see what she was saying, and probably for the first time since our son was killed, I was happy that healing is taking place and we are beginning to live again.Then she added, “No expectations.”Ha!  She knows me well.“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Psalm 51:10-12.“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 5:10-11