Another ordinary day has opened its arms to me and I return the embrace, for we are one as long as I offer no resistance. April is a month of hope and renewal and we can certainly use that.

I spoke to my dear friend T., whose husband is now in hospice care for dementia. She is thoroughly exhausted. I could hear it in her voice. We chatted about Rob picking her up in May and bringing her here for lunch. We’ve not seen each other in about a year.

I am praying that Rafael will agree to do the work on the house soon. He said he would email me on Saturday but so far he hasn’t called.

I have a loose memo to myself to stay here for another five years. As long as my health doesn’t deteriorate I can do this easily.

There are no guarantees in life, so it is good to appreciate each simple day in which no one is gravely ill. My brother’s only child writes that he has been home from critical for for about ten days. He can’t stand or walk and is confused most of the time. He has fallen in the cracks because his social security payment keeps him from being on Medicaid. He has some type of cancer as well as kidney and heart failure. We are amazed that he is still alive and his wellbeing is not great. She is taking care of him and her mother while holding down a medical job online.

But April continues to burst into bloom here, while in Ukraine, thousands have been murdered by Vladimir Putin. Evil stalks the earth and those who do not believe that are not willing to see this clearly.

At home, our Republican Party is now purely authoritarian and they are likely to take back the House and Senate at the midterms. If they do, the U.S.A. will have fallen and democracy will have disappeared here as well.

I do the Work one day at a time, sometimes falling from grace, but always picking myself up and going on. Miracles still happen if we are present to experience them. They may be small but mighty and gratitude is a given when they happen. Hallelujah!

Vicki Woodyard