I've noticed it off and on since we got back from vacation, thought it was odd, but couldn't figure it out - so ignored it. This week, in the mornings, it is happening again. I have no explanation. I smell food being cooked. And it isn't ME cooking! And it isn't hubby either! Honestly, yesterday, I smelled bacon cooking in this room! I actually got up, walked around the house, and even opened the front door to see if the smell is out there. This has never happened before. The smell wasn't anywhere but here in this room. Really weird, huh!
Mid-day the thought hit me.... is there a squatter next door in Ms. Amy's side? Now Ms. Amy never cooked so I would never know if the smell would linger over here or not. But it is really weird, and it has made me a bit 'anxious' - although I don't know if that is the right word. I forgot about it for awhile and then last night I remembered, so I asked hubby if he would (today) go over to Ms. Amy's with me and walk through the house. We did it before we left on vacation, but haven't since we got back (did I tell you they finally sent me a key?), so it's been about two weeks. I need to drive the car around too. Hubby of course said yes he would ... but, he has his workout this morning, then he has a brunch with a friend, then he has a haircut, so it will be early afternoon before he gets back home. It doesn't matter... I just want to go over and check sometime today - so we will.
Oh - now I 'remember' why I remembered to say something to him - when I came home last night from 'girls night out', something had triggered a thought to drive down the side of Ms. Amy's and look to see if I could see a light on. Now she not only has automatic screens that close up tight, she also has shutters within the house. But in my imagination, I could swear that I saw a light on through the kitchen window. Do I really think there was one? No, but ... what if? Where is that smell coming from I have smelled the past two weeks? It isn't outside where someone could be grilling. It's just weird. And when hubby comes home from his time out this morning, we will grab the tazer and head over to walk through the house and double check the doors and windows. I don't hear any noises, but it's the smell of food cooking. Am I losing it? Stay tuned!
Wednesday. Hump Day. (I still love that camel commercial - "Mike Mike Mike!! What Day is it??? It's HUMP day!" LOL
Yesterday was another crazy day at work and I still have work to start on this morning. I am hoping since I am back to work that it will start slowing down sometime soon. About 3PM my mind seems to be 'shutting down' and I only do what I need to do that last hour. It's not a big deal, really.... I usually start a little early, rarely take a break, and even more rarely take a lunch hour, to which I am entitled. So if I mentally shut down a little early, I'm still on the computer and still working, but only on critical things. Although, I will admit, I was tired enough.... I did take a 20 minute nap .... it was enough to help me through the rest of the day. I may get one again because the above thoughts woke me up around 2-ish and I couldn't get them off my mind, straining to hear any sounds - as if in the middle of the night something would be going on.
I think what has triggered the thought of a squatter is that recently I read a story about a family who got in to a man's mother's house while she was in the hospital, (she lived alone), and when he went to check on the house, found them in there - and they wouldn't leave. He even got the police involvetd, but they couldn't make them leave either, I forget the rule on that. Anyway, the son played the game... when the couple left the house one morning, he broke in and changed the locks on the doors and stayed there. He also had had his mother move the title or whatever it is for the house into his name so that hewas the legal owner. He 'squatted' them out! It makes me wonder sometimes about the empty duplexes and houses here in this area. Since we live in a senior community, many leave for the summer and don't come back until October when they (hope) think it may be cooler. We have one such empty place on our block, not counting Ms. Amy's place. Anyway - we will be checking Ms. Amy's this afternoon to make sure everything is locked up. And then I will continue to wonder where the smell is coming from.
Ms. Amy's daughter and husband should be coming back soon - I need to text them this morning and see when.... I'm pretty sure they aren't there... I don't think she cooks (based on when they were here before), she drinks a lot of wine, and always calls me to come over and visit when she's here. So I'm thinking they are NOT here yet. But I will text her and see when they are coming.
Psalm 94:18-19 (NKJV): "If I say, "my foot slips," Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."
No matter what is going on in our lives... no matter what anxieties we have.... God's love for us will override any of that. Do I ever get anxious about things? Yes - as you can read above, I am a bit anxious to check out Ms. Amy's house. But, I keep that in check. We'll check it some time today, and if we don't... I still have no control over it. If my house, yep, I'd be all over it. But, all I can do for Ms. Amy's empty place is check on it. We had sent the daughter the phone number of the posse here - and they are supposed to drive around and check the doors, etc. If she didn't make that call (we couldn't make it for her, it isn't our duplex)... and something happens... it is beyond our control. Especially if whiel we were on vacation. But - nothing has happened and no one is there... I'm just developing weird bacon smells here in my office.
I refuse to be afraid of the unknown. I'm not going to worry about 'what if'.... it takes too much energy about from what is important. I know that in the Lord's mercy, He reigns supreme, there is nothing in this life that should make me afraid. I lose my job - no biggie - we tighten the belt and God will supply all our needs. I am confident of that. One of us gets really sick - no biggie - we pray and ask God to bring healing and restoration.... and trust Him. If He chooses to not answer our prayers the way we want Him to, He is still Sovereign and Holy and in control.
Luke 12:22-23 (NKJV): "Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."
Challenge for today - instead of stressing about what to fix for dinner tonight, or what clothing to wear today, take a deep breath and just thank God for all that He has provided for you. You have a roof over your head, in most cases - air conditioning to cool you off, food to snack on.... you have people who love you, Jesus loves you. What more do you need? Thank God for all He has provided for you. He is worthy of all honor and glory.
Blessings!
