I don’t know about you, but my life has had so many ups and downs lately that I could legit open an amusement park. To be honest, I’m kinda sick of this COVID coaster and just ready to ride the carousel for a month or five. Definitely five…

The school year has begun with distance learning, and though I am crazy grateful, it’s been an adjustment… an expensive adjustment. We have spent an exorbitant amount of dollars getting our WiFi up to par and replacing archaic computers with ones built to withstand the havoc of online teaching. Even with all of these safeguards, I’m still freezing during my Google Meets. Oh, to the well.

Another life whammy is that I got another rejection from a publisher. As weird as this sounds, it was my best rejection letter by far, but the pain is real with this young Jedi. I went through the typical emotions: sorrow, frustration, realization, panic, disillusionment, and hopefully soon, acceptance. There are few things more difficult then putting your heart in a stranger’s care and hoping they love and accept it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m utterly grateful for the experience and the beautiful wisdom the editor gave me. I just wish I had a different outcome.

To further the storm, my dad is in the hospital, again. The prognosis is BAD. Before COVID hit, my dad was in the ICU because his heart stopped… three times. He is diabetic and had a finger infection. The infection became so horrific that it essentially was poisoning him, and his heart was too weak to continue. We thought we lost him, but the amazing doctors and nurses saved his life. He lost his finger but kept his life, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t that great of a loss.

Now, he’s back in the hospital with a foot infection. The doctors will probably have to amputate it, but they’re worried about his heart and liver. The prognosis is worse than ever before. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions in place with COVID-19, he is battling this beast alone, and he’s scared. If you pray, please pray for my pops.

On a weird note, I found a chicken last night while walking my dog around our lake. No lie. A chicken. A fricken chicken. She was perched on top of a bush, soaking wet, and terrified. We knew that if we didn’t help get her to safety, she’d become a meal for a coyote. So, I peeled off my over shirt, praise God I had a tank top on underneath, wrapped her up, and carried her home. She’s now pecking away contently in my enclosed garden. Hopefully, we will figure out who she belongs to, but until then, Henrietta (working name) is one happy little clucker.

So, where does all this malarkey lead me? I have absolutely no idea. I guess I’m just persevering and surviving at this point. Aren’t we all?

During my Bible time today, I read the verse at the beginning of this post, and it hit me. Though in this passage Jesus is saving a little girl from death, it still resonates with my weary soul. Regardless of what obstacles I face, or how often I feel like I’ve come to my wits end, all Jesus has to say is “Get up!”

So, that’s what I am choosing today… to get up. I’m choosing to take another shaky step in the direction of self improvement. Just one more stinking step. That’s about all I can muster at the moment, and that’s okay. More than okay, actually. That’s shake you to the core fan-FREAKING-tastic.

Now, it’s time for me to go check on my chicken. I never thought I’d say that statement in a million years. Oh the hilarity.

TTFN… ta ta for now.