It was stitch removal day

 I turned on my computer yesterday morning - and sigh, still the issue with Teams and Outlook was there.  I debated and took a chance.  Praise God! I called the Help Desk and I got someone who knew what I was talking about and gave me a workaround the issue I was having!  And, she had me do it myself, so that I could write down the steps should it happen again.  I have my Teams back on Outlook and am able to schedule meetings from the boss's Outlook calendar.  Major glitch with Microsoft so be careful if you do schedule like I do and need Teams numbers on your Outlook meetings!  It made the rest of the day go easy since I was behind on scheduling meetings by then. And still am.  Boss gave me 3 difficult ones to schedule before January 27th - but he isn't cutting me any leeway on time; everyone is busy and some are still taking PTO in the middle of January!  

Saw my dermatologist yesterday and he removed my stitches and then asked, "is there anything else we need to look at?"  Well, I had noticed after I had been there a couple months ago a spot on my head.... he grabbed his freezing can, found it and sprayed.  He said he'd rather spray spots than end up having to cut them out. I'm in agreement with him.  The freezing only hurts while it is being done.  I just hope my hair doesn't fall out where he froze the spot - I've noticed my hair is getting thinner as I've aged.  But I'm all good for now and he said come back in six months and he will do another thorough check.  After that I can go a year.  I usually go once a year anyway - which is how he found this one.

The orders are in for my labs so I need to run to the doctor's office to get them done. I love that the SQL that is in that building is ONLY for patients of those doctors.  I can't schedule an appointment as it isn't listed in the SQL location list, but I can drive over and my PCP will get the results right away. The next step is getting an appointment with her - that will be the tough one. I was planning on doing it sometime in January - BUT - I found out yesterday that I have met my deductible (thanks to Dr. Mackey and the Urgent Care) so I'm hoping I can get in before the end of the year. If not - no biggie - start on my deductible for next year.  I've got to get these bug bites looked at - seriously, they are still giving me pin pricks so as weird as this sounds, I keep wondering if the bumps are not eggs that were laid under my skin and they are coming to life!  Am I being weird and stretching it out there?  It was October 12th that I was 'bitten' - why are they still there, and why are they still hurting?  Bug bites don't last that long - do they? Urgent care doc said scorpion bites; dermatologist didn't say what he thought it was, just took photos of it and gave me antibiotics.  Wonder what my medical doctor will say about them.  Where else can I go to get it checked out? Who is left?

My daughter and I finished up my advent puzzle last night - yes, we completed it - and then tore it apart and put away as I will need the table come Saturday when they come over for our Christmas gathering. I'm getting off easy this year - she agreed to lunchmeat sandwiches, chips, and potato salad since it is lunch.  I'll run to the store on Friday and pick it all up.  Well, I will make the potato salad; that's a given. For my girl.

And I do it for my oldest son too, as he loves it.  I would be more than happy to fix whatever they would want to eat.   I will definitely have tea made for him.  I may even pick up some soda for the others - afterall, it IS Christmas time.   I read his blog this morning and see they are looking at the 28th - which will work out fine.  He needs to confirm and give me a time and we will go from there.  Doesn't matter - breakfast, lunch, or dinner - and give me an idea of what they would like to eat.  

I think I now have dates for all three - 21st for the daughter, 28th for the oldest son, and 30th for the youngest son.  It does make it easier on all of us, I feel.  I can enjoy each one and relax throughout the day.  It's a win-win for everyone - for they don't have to rush around to get here.  Sadly, we are several minutes away from everyone now.  I want to move, but hubby resists me.  We both have our reasons.

My oldest son knows more about me than anyone else - and I think that is our 'little secret'. LOL The others could read here if they wanted, but they don't.  Sometimes when my son shares something I can tell that he read my blog, I wait to see if hubby picks up on 'how does he know that?'. lol  Especially since I am asked every day 'did you talk to any of the kids today?' and then he asks by name.  He is so afraid I won't tell him I talked to one of them and he won't know what is going on.  EVERY day.  Ok - most days.  To me, it's not a big deal.  He just wants to be included.  I wish all my children wrote in a blog so I'd know what they were up to.  Me, I probably share too much.

Matthew 22:35-40 (NKJV):  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"   Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

And then one asked, "but who is my neighbor?" and Jesus began to tell the story of The Good Samaritan.  You remember that story, don't you?  (Look it up if you don't; I'm not going to tell you!"  So who are you?  The Levi, the Priest, or the Samaritan?   If we are beaten and robbed, we need someone to step up and help us and it doesn't matter what religion, what race, or what culture they are from.  And we need to be that Good Samaritan to others regardless of religion, race, or culture.  Sometimes it is hard to determine what is needed.  Sometimes situations are because of their choices.   Choose wisely on how to help so that you don't enable.

I say that because I would like to help a family member in another state that I have sent a small gift to and when they sent me a text to thank me, also shared some really bad financial issues going on. (erase) Enough of that - you don't need to know what she shared; I am not sure if I need to do something or just keep in touch and keep praying for them.  Her son has shared stories in the past - his opinion, of course,  that makes me a bit leery of becoming involved of the family - don't want to enable them.... ok, enough about that.  I enable my sister enough at times so I don't want to get involved with another family member.  

Christmas seems to always be the time of giving to others, doesn't it.  I think it is instilled in us as we grow up and get our own gifts, that we should also give to others.  We don't have much, but if I can help someone, I want to - year round.  There are a lot of things we haven't done this year, but we have been able to bless others.  We get so many requests for money from different charities, as you do.  And every time hubby will ask me what do I want to do - I usually say 'trash it'.  I prefer donating when I want to and the amount I want to.  Just because it is Christmas doesn't mean our financial status has grown bigger.  We may donate to one this year, but not next year.  It depends on what I see and hear about what they do.  I prefer to give as I hear people have a need.  And if it is someone I know whom I can give anonymously to, that makes me happy.  I try to be 'my brother's keeper'.  Just have to be careful on who needs because of life, and who has been unwise with what they did have.  Make sense?

And with that, I am going to shut up for today.  Lucky you.  God is good, and He is faithful.  I love Christmas - not for the giving and receiving of gifts - but because it causes me to pause and remember that Jesus came as a baby, born in a stable, laid in a manger.... for me, and for you.  He could have been born in a palace and people would have thought He was just for the rich; but He came as a poor child would, and He came for you and me.  What a great God we have!  

Christmas is one week from today - how are you doing with this season?  Let go and let God handle any stress.  Sometimes we just have to say 'enough' and stop shopping.  It's not about the gift; it's about love. And that's why Jesus came.  He came for Love.

Blessings!