The red chrysanthemums in our backyard are in bloom this week.
I had my hair cut last Tuesday at last.
I have made a new eyeglasses case, using a piece of cloth, quilt batting and a button found in my house.
I got a new pair of boots last Wednesday. I feel fully prepared for the coming winter.
I also got a new desk lamp. (The old one, which I have used for more than 20 years, still works, but its plastic shade is falling apart, scattering microplastics on my desk.)
Last Thursday, I took a long walk along the river. It was a beautiful day, and I had a good time.
My father cooked pasta for supper last Thursday. He followed the recipe he had just seen on TV. It was tasty.
Last Sunday, the Rev. Wood visited our church, and gave a powerful sermon from Isaiah 45:22. After the service, I had an encouraging chat with Kumiko.
It was sunny and warm in the latter half of this week. With the windows wide open, I also dusted some of the corners in our house, which I don't always clean thoroughly. I enjoyed taking a long walk along the river a few times.
The other day, Noriko gave me a lovely bag, which she had sewn by hand. I am thankful for Noriko, who is like a loving and thoughtful grandmother in our church family.
A few days ago, I was suddenly reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, while I was lying awake at night. I am thankful for the verses.
As always, I am thankful for the time I spend practicing the electronic keyboard every day.
I had a good time at the choir rehearsal last Sunday.
I have bought two pairs of shoes: one is reddish brown, and the other is black.
Earlier this week, my laptop computer wouldn't turn on. Thanks to the user's guide, which told me to take out the battery, wait at least 90 seconds, and put it back in place, the machine started working normally again.
I was so busy last Wednesday that I didn't have time to cook lunch, so I got some inari-zushi (rice wrapped in thin fried tofu) at the supermarket. It was good.
Last Friday was another National Holiday, the Autumnal Equinox Day. So, we had ohagi (rice cake covered with sweet adzuki bean jam) to celebrate the holiday.
K's husband, Mr. S*, passed away at the age of 69 last week. Just before he was transferred to the hospice, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. Eight days later, he breathed his last.
I had never seen Mr. S*, but his wife is a friend of mine. I was asked to be the organist at the funeral service.
On the day when Mr. S* was baptized in his hospital room, his daughter told him about Psalm 23. --Mr. S* had never attended church, and he was not familiar with the Old Testament.-- He asked his daughter to write down the psalm on a piece of paper, and put it on the wall, which lead me to select the hymn "The Lord's my shepherd" as the prelude to the service.
A few hours before his death, he had his hair cut, and his daughter, a registered nurse, helped him take a bath. After that, he had a bowl of ice cream, smiling happily.
His granddaughter is eight months old. I am thankful he was able to spend time with his first grandchild before he was hospitalized.
The funeral service was beautiful, filled with love and consolation.
(I am also thankful that at that occasion I saw some of my friends whom I had not seen for a long time.)
It has been cooler for the last few days, and we can sleep comfortably at night.
The electric fan on the second floor has got broken beyond repair, but we have found that the old one, probably more than 40 years old, which we have taken out of the cardboard box in the store room still works. 😊
I am thankful for the Bible study meeting, where we studied 1 Samuel 8.
I am also thankful that I enjoyed chatting with the pastor before the meeting.
The books I borrowed from the city library recently are practical and helpful.
I have been busy organizing the chest of drawers full of silk kimonos that belonged to my mother. Though I have aired the garments from time to time, I have never worn any of them since she passed away. -- I don't know how to get dressed in a kimono by myself, and it would be uncomfortable and difficult to move around wearing one. -- Anyway, her kimonos are beautiful to look at.
In the chest are also the formal kimonos that my mother forced me to put on for the Coming of Age Day, and the commencement. They must have been expensive. (These long-sleeved kimonos are for young ladies, and I cannot wear them in public at my age now...)
While looking at each of the kimonos in the drawers carefully, I have realized that not all of them are in perfect condition. I think that I should get rid of the ones that nobody would want to put on. -- It is not easy for me to make a decision, but I am making progress slowly.
In fact, I have taken apart one of the old kimonos that I don't want and made a bag with the fabric. I have enjoyed the process, and I am satisfied with the result:
I was not very interested in traditional Japanese kimonos before, but since I started organizing the chest of drawers my mother left me, I have come to study a little about it. It is amazing how ignorant I have been... I am thankful for realizing that.
