I'm tired. And I've been really lazy this week with work and need to catch up on all that I didn't do earlier this week. Yes, I have gotten some things done, it hasn't been a total waste, but I have enjoyed my male boss being on vacation and out of my hair. I like him, don't get me wrong, but he is 'upper management' and has a lot of meetings. A lot. Ok, erase, erase. I'm talking about my laziness, not other people.
I/we sent a letter to our 'former' pastor and his wife at the church we had been attending. Found out some things that were going on - at least in whispers - from the friend who has breakfast with hubby. He said we didn't need to write a letter, and we debated, but I had written a short one while hubby was gone, so read it to him, and we decided to go ahead and send it. And, as usual when I have sent this pastor a note, he never responds. At least he didn't yesterday.
We have had two pastors over the years. If we sent an email to one, he always, always, responded. In fact, because he is a friend, if we email him even now, or text him, he will immediately respond back to us. The one email we sent to the other one to tell him we were leaving the church; he basically sent an email back to 'not let the door hit you on the way out'. Rude. This is only the second time we have written a 'leaving' letter. I know it is hard to receive them, or at least I think it would be, but it was a relief to cut the string. Hubby is sounding excited about going to the Salvation Army church again this week. Next week we plan to run away for the weekend. I'm hoping next weekend to run away south, but this next weekend it will be back up north.
I finally text'd my granddaughter last night about the baking. Actually, I had another topic to discuss as well, and after I text'd her - she immediately called me. We chatted about the other topic and then I shared about my trying to do the starter routine for the bread. I think I amused her. But it was nice to hear that she got it. She understood my utter bewilderment in some of the terms used. Why call the beginning 'dough' that you break from the starter as 'discard'? She explained why. She's a lot smarter than me in this area! I put it off until November sometime, but she will come over and bring me some starter and walk me through the steps of 'feeding' it and what to do with the 'discard'. She offered to come next weekend, but I told her we were going away so put it off. We may do it sooner, because I want to learn how to do this right - but I think I'll buy my dry yeast and try baking bread that way as well. I told her about all the 'stuff' I have bought to learn how - and I think I amused her. Well, I wanted to have it if I needed it - even if I didn't understand what it was for!! Can't wait to have bread baking in my oven! Love fresh bread (and just what I need for this fat bod, right?) right out of the oven, smothered in melted butter... oh yum. Doesn't it make your mouth water?
It's like fresh cornbread out of the oven. The smell, the butter melting down into it. I remember growing up we loved having 'some' leftover cornbread. We'd cut the piece in half horizontally, and then fry it in butter until the edges were crisp. Oh my goodness, the flavor and all - it is amazing. I say 'is', because when I also have cornbread left over, I SILL do that, even if it is one piece! Memories.
Tomorrow is my daughter's 23rd BMT birthday. I always celebrate it so am making arrangements to connect tomorrow afternoon for a little celebration. Moms always have to celebrate, right? When I mentioned it the other day, my daughter had actually forgotten. Not a surprise, since mom is usually the only one who remembers.
My trainer killed my biceps and triceps last night. Seriously. Now I understand why these big muscular guys walk around with their arms out. LOL I felt like my arms were floating they were so 'pumped' after 6 sets of 10 bicep curls. I barely got the last set completed. My biceps were toast! Triceps weren't so bad, as I pull down on the weights on those, but still, when I was walking out of the gym, I felt like my arms were floating out. I know, funny picture, huh!
Proverbs 27:1 (NIV): Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring.
Now that is a true statement. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. We need to live in today, and yet, we need to plan for tomorrow, right? It sounds right, anyway. But all our plans can go astray if our lives change. Like - we're planning on a trip up north next week. Well, if something happens, it could change that. I could say I am going to do this or that tomorrow, but if something happens, that too will change. We don't know what tomorrow brings. We may long for sunshine but get a brief rain instead (wouldn't that be nice!)
I imagine the people who have received the brutal force of Hurricane Helene never thought that they would lose everything. Plans for weddings, plans for family gatherings, plans for work, plans for farming, plans for - well, anything - washed away in moments. I cannot imagine the fear of seeing water coming at you with such force (I have watched some of the videos of people who stayed in their homes and they did photos of the water coming in and rising in their homes), that you could not stop it. Then there are those who had plans - and instead died. I read about one older couple in bed, and a large tree fell on the house, fell on them, and crushed them. The man had instinctually tried to shield his wife, but both died. I can't imagine the anguish of families not knowing where other family members are. I did check on some in Tennessee, especially a nephew in Pigeon Forge, and he said they got some flooding, but they were ok. It didn't sound like it made it to his shop (thank God for that!) but it came close. I checked with friends in Florida - they had the wind and rain but survived with no damage to their homes. Ms. Amy nor her daughters have responded to my texts yet, they are in Ft. Myers - so I sent a text the son in Indiana to see if he had heard from them and he did respond that they were fine and nothing was damaged. A hurricane a couple years ago flooded one daughter's home and ruined a couple cars. They were beach-front property owners then - but have now bought further inland so guess it was inland enough that it saved them. They must not have cell service - but I may try to call Ms. Amy again later.
There is a saying we sometimes will say - "Life is fragile, handle with prayer". And that is true. Every day I pray over my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren. Also over close friends and my siblings. One never knows when life strikes and things happen. All we can do - and should do - is pray for each one and entrust them to God, who knows all and sees all. What could happen - could be averted - if you just prayed over one. Think about it. How many scrapes have you been in - and survived? Was someone praying for you that you know of? Maybe you should ask. Sometimes, just maybe, God is allowing things to get your attention. Think about that!
How about taking a moment and thanking God for saving you from those moments that could have been.... and whisper a few words of gratitude and pray over your own family. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Thank God for today.
Blessings!
No comments:
Post a Comment