Rollercoasters - weather and emotions

Our 'rollercoaster' weather is wearing us all down with pleasant sweater-days mid-week and sub-freezing temps following too soon. Our painters left the other day saying they'd return to finish up the work on the exterior paint job when the temperature got back up to 40 and above. They simply cannot work or use paint brushes when it's so cold. The crew is doing a fine job (when they can work) of painting, repairing 'bad wood' and caulking where needed. We are very pleased with the results. This job was started back in December with intentions of being complete in three weeks. Then the rains came. Delays. A few really nice days allowed a lot of progress on the scraping off the old old paint and starting the repairs and painting. But the Alberta Clipper arrived and stopped everything. Compared with other areas of the US where snow won't stop falling, we're not so bad off. But it sure is COLD at 8 degrees this morning!
A news clip said Alaska was warmer than Tennessee yesterday.

The rollercoaster extends to emotional 'highs' with the Grand Opening Reception of the Library's WHITE HOUSE GARDENS exhibit last night. The event was beautiful and those who braved the elements to attend were quite impressed with the panels displaying the evolution of the White House Gardens from George Washington's time to the present. The accompanying book was a 'hit' too, with many of the guests buying their copy. The catered reception was lovely with delicous tidbits for the guests to enjoy. The flower arrangements in the Library and the Halle Room are simply gorgeous. Everyone worked hard to make the evening the success that it was.

The emotional 'low' came with the news of another job loss. As a parent, it really knocked me for a loop - as hard for me to accept as it was for the son, I 'm sure. He has a wonderful outlook and strong faith, and assured us that they would be all right. Still I'm reeling with the impact.

The incoming president will be hard-pressed to 'fix' all the ills of this country. We have to believe that he will do his best to do the right things for everyone. Time will tell. But in the meantime, I guess I'm not alone in wishing our leaders had been more able to guide "the economy" in such a way that this recession did not have to be.

Since I can't fix anything or even suggest any remedies, I will just have to keep on doing what I can and pray. As John Wesley said so long ago, "Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can."