It's been quite a week at the Living to Tell house. Spring like weather has blown in with the wind and on Wednesday I actually was sitting outside with sleeves and pant legs rolled up getting my Vitamin D. But with this gorgeous weather we've also had a very fast snow melt and the river is running very turbid. So much so that the city water could get on top of it. First we had a conserve water order for a couple days as they worked hard to get reserves built back up so that we wouldn't be in big trouble in case of a fire somewhere. After a day of that they also gave a boil water order. They say that the raw water has never been this bad here. Well there was a run on bottled water and within an hour there was no bottled water to be found in the city. Craziness! So needless to say, it's been a big pain in the kazoo, especially with the dayhome. So much extra work. But in all of that God has opened my heart to how fortunate I really am.
1. Clean water. Having the boil water order has made me realize how incredibly fortunate I am to live in a place where we have such access to clean water. I take it so much for granted. We walk a few feet, turn on a tap and clean, drinkable water comes flowing out. Not so now. I mean, we can't even brush our teeth without boiled or bottled water. When I got up and made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth, after reaching for my toothbrush with one hand, my other hand automatically turned on the tap to stick my toothbrush under. Wait, stop. Can't do that. Everything to do with having clean water is such an automatic, take for granted thing. But a huge percentage of the world's people don't have such access. Their water is dirty and some must walk miles just to get a jug of mediocre water. It makes me that much more proud that my boy went with Samaritan's Purse to help those who don't have clean water and build them sand bio filters. And it makes me feel privileged to support wonderful organizations such as Samaritan's Purse who work hard to make clean water accessible to those who don't have it.
2. Showers. The chance to shower and wash is something else that I didn't give a second thought to...until the conserve water order. All of a sudden we're forced into rethinking that every day long, hot shower or bath. Again so many in this world do not have the privilege of that and in fact wash in dirtier water than the worst of what we are experiencing.
3. The maids. Again the conserve water order has made me very thankful to have two wonderful hard working maids. One called dishwasher and one called washer. I'm really thankful I got all my wash done the day before all this started happening so we're not really hurting in regards to clean clothes. But I sure will appreciate when this maid will chug away when it's all over and the laundry has piled up. "She" works hard for me and saves me lots of work. As does her companion the dishwasher. Not using it for a couple of days has certainly shown me how much I rely on that hardworking machine. Again saves me a ton of time especially with a dayhome.
4. Hard working city workers. So grateful for all those who have been working round the clock to get our water back to normal. It takes lots of knowledge and skill
5. This flower that I've never seen before. Flying Duck Orchid. It makes me smile.
Photo: Michael Prideaus
So a week that presented many inconveniences for everyone, turned into a week where God was able to show me how much I really do have to be thankful for.
What were you're favorite blessings this week?
15 comments:
Clean water (and a sufficiency of it) is a true blessing. After having boiled my drinking water for years in Indonesia, I want to kiss my kitchen faucet every day! Ditto on the washer and dishwasher!
Lovely orchid--it's a new one for me too.
That's terrible not to have clean water ! We have a water cleaning filter machine in the basement and all water runs through there. Our water had become full of chalk and tasted awful. Hope for you that things get back to normal soon !
Oh dear!! I will pray the town solves the problem of your water very soon!! I do know what you mean about taking those things for granted...after my dad's flood, he had to boil water too for 2 weeks.....ugh! Love your maid analog y😄 that flower is awesome!! I showed it to hubby and he had never seen one either!! Enjoy the weekend,
"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink..." Sounds like Poe knew what he was talking about back then. I saw that Flying Duck Orchid once in an orchid show. Very interesting.
Wow, I've never seen that orchid before- how remarkable.
Yes, clean water is such a blessing! One of my close friends has an 11 year old daughter who has taken on the task of building a well in Africa. She is the sweetest thing and came up with the idea on her own. I pray that our daughter will be like her when she grows up. She's so precious... here's a video she made about the needs for clean water around the world: http://www.gofundme.com/5jobgg
Hoping you will be able to benefit from the use of your maids soon!! :o)
Through the practice of the FFFs, you are already so attuned to God's blessings and provisions of every size, but He has surely used this event to stir you to new appreciations!
Oh wow - I hope they get get everything back in working order soon. Clean water is truly a blessing we take too much for granted. I appreciate those "maids" too, very much!
I have never heard of that orchid before - lovely!
That orchid is BEAUTIFUL! And I've never seen anything like that. We had a boil water order for about 24 hours right around Christmas once, and I remember some of the very things you recount. Yes, it does make you thankful! Hope things get back to normal for you soon. Have a great week ahead, Susanne.
Mia: Love when children come up with up cause on their own and run with it!
What a beautiful orchid!
Clean, fresh water is a blessing we often take for granted. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for benefits such as this!
The orchid really does look like a bird - how amazing!
I'm always so grateful for utilities after I've been without. I should give praise more often for the blessings of convenience.
I didn't realize I had two maids, too!
Problems with water are the word. So glad the problem is getting resolved. Have a good weekend.
What a week you've had, Susanne. Hope by now your "maids" are busy working. (Creative use of the word "maid.")
Times like that certainly do help us see how blessed we are.
How cool that your son got to make bio-filters. Have you written about this? I am going to check back posts to see.
Have a good weekend - or at least what's left of one.
You are so right, we all take clean water for granted and it is indeed a blessing and something that so many do not have. I loved the duck orchid, it made me smile too.xxx
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