In All Things

   This blog started off as a daily or almost daily journal with the hopes that I could slowly blend into other kinds of posts. That may come because daily life isn't always all that interesting. However, today I am definitely cheating because my story must include the first hour of this morning as well.
   
     We know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. We also know He is the God of the small stuff, not just the big things. The practical working out of this is my story of the day.

    You probably remember the GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS story from yesterday. I did inform the management in a very non-complaining, just giving information way. Sherry, the property manager called early to apologize and tell me they would come and move my furniture back. It wasn't the furniture that concerned me, it was all the boxes, so I tried to call her to explain, but she was out getting food for the 55+ onsite potluck. So the "geezer" lunch became the appointed hour of conversation. My contribution to the luncheon was Chicken & Dried Cherry Pasta salad (Thank you, Marilyn Carlson), which by the way disappeared. Sherry came up to me and was completely apologetic over the incident and assumed that the carpet folks had already moved my furniture back. The carpet company may not bring that worker to this site again. When I returned after the tasty potluck, the furniture was indeed moved. The furniture - two pieces that will not even remain in the apartment. Every box rested exactly where it had been put the previous day.

     After an uncharitable thought, I decided this was the time to let it go and it became the good out of the bad. Moving and consolidating boxes, sending a few things to other destinations, and storing empty bins allowed me to tuck things against the wall and create an open living room space. How many days would it have been until I got to that without the grand carpet shuffle?

     Beth, Bill and Katie came for supper and to finish installing the washer and dryer. The if-I-do-say-so-myself delicious supper featured a Pork Chop and Peaches dish. The fresh thyme called for in the recipe came from the little herb garden on my porch. A couple of leaves of basil added another nuance of flavor and just a wee bit of pride in providing some of my own fresh contributions. Bill got the washer and dryer hooked up. That sounds like a relatively simple task, but since the vent hose within the dryer had been modified, it took days for the part to come and there was no easy access for fastening the new part. Bill's persistence prevailed, and after a successful test run of a small empty load with cold water, I loaded it up with whites for a hot wash and went to bed.

     Morning called for the transfer to the dryer, so a plunged in to complete that task. Yes, I said plunged in. Water covered the laundry room floor. Being a seasoned water fighter, the nice clean white towels in the washer became the mops, soaking up the water. Dollar signs popped up in my brain- replacing a washer and dryer... well OK, it could go unmatched...so just think washer - maybe a repair... not sure it's worth a repair...put the remaining stuff in the dryer...this is too much to think about...let's have breakfast and check email.

     Knock, knock, knock! Sharp wraps at my door surprised me. I opened it to the maintenance guys from the complex. A neighbor had noticed the sidewalk getting wet and reported it. Embarrassed doesn't begin to describe how I felt, and I explained the situation.

     "Do you mind if I come in and take a look? Maybe I can help you out and save you some money," requested the polite smiling maintenance man.

     "Sure, I'll take any help or suggestions I can get." All three came in, and studied the back of the washer. They found that the hot water hose going into the machine had come a little bit loose and was dripping. After tightening it up, he encouraged me to just call if that didn't take care of it or if it happens again.

Once again, out of bad came all kinds of good, including reinforcement of why apartment living is definitely best for me right now.