This morning, I was a little surprised to look outside very early, and under the new sunlight was a layer of white on the ground. Naturally, much of the white stuff was gone by this afternoon, but the snow lent itself to the mood for the day.

I stayed up a bit too late last night, following events in Ukraine via Twitter refreshes and the #Ukraine tag. I told myself earlier in the evening I would not do that, but the macabre curiosity in me, like that pull that leads some to enjoy horror movies, would not let me off the hook.

Late this morning I went in my kitchen to get some water, and I experience something I experience off and on, but today, with different effect.

I stepped on a small goathead that I had tracked in the house some time in the recent past, and that had clung to a rug on the floor. Usually, the sharp and hard thorns on these little ones prick my foot but never bother me excessively long- you pluck them off your skin and dispose of them.

Evidently my plucking technique lacked finesse today, and part of the thorn remained in my foot.

About 5 this evening, when I stood up to go again into the kitchen, my foot felt like I was standing on a small hard pebble where the splinter remained. Since I already have sensory issues in my feet now, accruing this tiny wound just added complications to how my feet feel. My foot felt like it had developed a second thick pad beside the usual one, out behind the big toe.

So we’ll see what comes of that in the morning.

For someone feeling pretty healthy up until two or so years ago, it has been a challenging journey of late.

I checked in on the international news off and on today, to see a tepid world response to Putin’s invasion. What can be done? I know innocent people have died in today’s unwitnessed events, and that more bloodshed will come in coming days and weeks.

I’m like everyone else- praying for a quick end to this, for justice, and for no international events.

But the world is stirred by blood in darkened days, when power is both unhinged and hungry.

Here’s to a better tomorrow, by God’s grace.