It was a beautiful day

 Yesterday was so beautiful outside.  Blue skies, and a cool breeze, and sitting in the shade outside in the fresh air was so nice.  Yes, I'm talking about the wedding yesterday.  We got there about 9AM as I was hoping to be of some help, and I did get to help a little.  I realized this morning that I/we 'forgot' to have the matron of honor stand up with the bride - I guess partially because there wasn't a lot of room where we were standing - we should have moved back more, perhaps.  The matron of honor sat on the front row and she was probably ok with that.  

The 'warming of the rings' is a new ritual in weddings and it always gets me - and yesterday as I asked the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to line up to 'warm the wedding rings', I got choked up.  Even just reading it, I get choked up.  What a blessing it is to not only include them in the wedding ceremony, but to have them kiss the wedding rings or say a blessing over the rings.  Thank You, Jesus, for - in my thinking - making the wedding ceremony meaningful and beautiful.  I am sure the couple felt blessed as well, as they did not know this part of the wedding was going to happen.   It was a beautiful day, a beautiful couple, and a beautiful wedding. Thank You, Jesus.

I received a nice surprise last night.  My granddaughter a bit south of us sent me photos of the great grandchildren - and a video of the baptism ceremony of the newest family member.  She told me that she knew I had the wedding yesterday so didn't invite us down, for then I'd be in turmoil over what to do!  I got to watch the ceremony and probably had a better view than if we had been there!  Looking forward to seeing this little family in a few weeks.

Today is Monday and it has come way too soon.  Hubby is just now leaving for the gym - he has a 7AM appointment that he has grumbled about all weekend.  Yeah, I grumble too when I have to leave at 6:30AM to get mentally and physically ready for a workout.  I go tonight at 4:30PM, plus I'm scheduled for 5:30PM on Wednesday and 5PM on Thursday.  I get three this week as Morgan had a cancellation.  The third finishes up the extra trainings I had purchased earlier.  Hubby still has five extra so she will start on those with him as she gets cancellations.

Speaking of trainings - I noticed my work emails shot up to about 21 messages yesterday.  Curious as to who might be working, I checked.  Sigh.  It's that time of year when all these trainings go out to every employee, including the President of the company to the janitor - and we all have to complete these 'trainings' for compliance, and other things - and if you don't do them, it is reason for termination.  Yeah, it is 'you will do all these trainings or you are terminated'.  Kind of like the covid shot thing.  I regret getting the covid shot - as I'm sure many people do.  But, the company said get the shot or be terminated.  Many 'retired' or left the company because they didn't want to get the shot.  I work in the office (and by then had been sent home to work) and have no contact with patients.  I shouldn't have been forced to get the shot.  I think it was wrong of the company to force us in order to keep our jobs. I have told hubby that if they ever force me to get another shot to keep my job, I'm resigning.  We were experimental models.  Luckily I have had no side effects that I'm aware of - but I have heard of some who have - and all these young people who have heart issues - well, it makes one think that the shot has caused it.  Seriously.  I've heard it has been proven, but I don't know. Hearsay.  I know people who did not get the shot and are grateful they didn't.  I sure wish I wasn't forced to.

And there I go - my mind went from one subject to another - but over the same thing. Being forced to do something by the company you work for - or be terminated.  And yes, that is a real threat.  I do get the flu shot yearly... reluctantly.  And it is also a mandatory thing. You have a certain date to get it - or be terminated, unless you turn in a religious paper thing - no, I can't do that.  My 'I don't want to put that drug in my body' paper doesn't hold up.  And let's leave it at that - I probably have put - and do put - a lot more dangerous stuff in my body that isn't considered pharmaceutical. And I'll leave that there. :-)

Isaiah 53:5-6 (NKJV):  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus took our sins - all of them - known and unknown sins - and carried them to the cross for us.  How could one not choose to follow Jesus when He did that for us?  He lived, and died, so that we could live in freedom.  His laws are not restrictions to keep us from having fun, they are laws to help us live life better and to the fullest.  Change your mindset if you think they are restrictions.  They aren't.  They are because we are so loved by our Heavenly Father that He gave us Jesus as an example of how to live.  Our goal in life should be to walk as Jesus walked.  Close to the Father of heaven and earth.

Well, it's that time again that I need to jump off and sign on to the work computer and begin my day.  I have about 20 trainings to get started on - even though they give us about 6 weeks to complete them, some take 45 minutes to complete - and they are all in areas that I have nothing to do with - so I have to read and reread and take the 'stupid' tests at the end of each one and many times retake them because I guess the wrong answer!  And I need to approve timecards today.  That might take 5 minutes - but now the 'rule' has come down that I can't approve if the employee hasn't approved - so that means I have to  send emails out to have them approve their timecard so that I can.  Always a pain.  Anyway - I'm off here - have a wonderful day!

Blessings!

I went alone

 to the women's conference yesterday.  I sat alone.  I talked with others around me, I even saw someone I knew there - but wasn't invited to join them, so I continued.... alone.  I shopped alone (and spent too much as no one was there to rein me in), and I sat alone.  I did get a lot of crocheting completed.  Yes, I took it with me - because I was alone.  This has troubled me this morning.  And God and I have discussed it.  Or rather, I have shed my tears and asked God to help me find someone who can be my 'friend'.  Who enjoys the things I enjoy, and who lives life.

I know that sounds really odd, if you know me.  I have a lot of friends.  I really do.  I have a couple friends that I know I can confide in and share my deepest, darkest secrets with (and they with me).  But there is a travel distance between us and also our lives are different, but they are still dear friends.  I want someone that I can call on the phone and they have time to chat with me about things that matter to me (and will talk to me about things that matter to them).  I want someone to 'hear' me, and I want to 'hear' them.  I want someone to do bible studies with and grow in Christ with.  I feel so alone today.  And I think that yesterday just brought that feeling about.

My daughter and I meet most weeks at least once.  But she has her own life.  It isn't her 'job' to be my best friend although we are very close.  I can visit Ms. Vicky and Ms. Diane, but I can't share my life with them.  We have friends at the RV park but are not close enough to them to share 'life' with them.  I feel isolated out here where we live.  We haven't found a church yet that we feel at home with.  I feel so alone.  My sister says I am her best friend, but you know how that goes.  She has two 'best friends' who have died recently, so she feels she has no one but me. 

I'm not seeking pity; I allowed this life to happen to me.  I let people confine me, control me. I let others shut me out and with moving out here, we are too far away to be 'bothered' with.  I feel empty, and alone.  I have asked God to direct my path to where He wants me to be.  And in doing that, He will help hubby to want what I want/need.  He complains about feeling he has no friends.... and yet, he does.  But I get what he says.  He just gets to meet with some of his friends.  I have one I can meet with - but if she's busy... 

Free Chapel / Jentezen Franklin has Mark Pentecost on church this morning.  Mark Pentecost has written a book that will be out May 6 (yes, I ordered it on Amazon) - and it is on Dreams.... what dream has God given you that you let fall by the wayside as you handled life?  What dream did you give up because of life getting in the way, unexpected things causing doors to shut.  What is God's dream for you?

I've shared my dream of being full time in ministry and how that never came to fruition.  And even now, we are 'church-less'.  I mentioned a couple churches yesterday and hubby says next Sunday we will go to one.  I prefer to watch a service online to see what it is like first, so hope to watch one at least.  

What is your dream?  What is that dream that you had that was snatched from you?  What dream did you give up because life hit you with challenges?   I don't know what you dreamed.  I don't know what dreams you still have.  I have had many dreams that fell by the wayside.  Perhaps that is why I feel so alone as well.  I love people, and I love being around them and I love doing for them, sharing life with them.  But I feel I live in a prison - of my own making - and here I am.

I am praying this morning not only for God to give me a dream, but to give you a dream as well.  Take the time to sit quietly and ask Him what His dream is for you.  We are never too old to have a dream.  Our lives are not so empty that there isn't a dream inside of us.  

Let's choose to dream - and live the life that God has chosen for us.  

Blessings!

Today decisions

 A couple months ago I signed up to attend the Imagine Women's Conference that I attend, usually with my daughter.  This time she has a lot of stuff going on and cannot attend with me - and since I got her final answer on not going a few days ago, I have flip flopped about whether or not to go.  Why? Because I will be going by myself and it's always more fun to go with someone else and share experiences.  I should run into some women from our former church so that will be nice.  I can sit with them if I choose.  I think of all the things I could do here at home - go for a long walk, spend more time in here, and well, just whatever I want to.  Even visit Ms. Vicky and Ms. Diane, as that has also been on the thought for today. 

Hubby is pushing for me to go to the conference.  No, it isn't to get me out of the house, as you know how he likes me close to him.  But he knows that I need the conference to 'get into me'.  I need to be out with other women and (try) make new friends.  And I will. But I'm feeling lazy today and do I really want to shower and get dressed and put on makeup and go.... that is the question.  But the other side of the coin is do I really want to stay home and have to cook breakfast and lunch and live my life as it normally is - boring?  To visit neighbors and crochet and read and watch movies or whatever hubby desires to do?  I want to go to the conference, but making the effort to go - well, I'm just being lazy, I think.  I need to get out of the house and live a little, ya think?  If it isn't any good, I can always leave early and go shopping, right?

Maybe all my walking and watching my carbs is doing some good.  I saw Ms. Vicky out the other night and I went to help her get her mail and to talk with her.  I saw her give me the 'once over' with her eyes and then she said "you've lost weight!  What are you doing?"  LOL  No, not the Ozempic route but watching carbs and walking.  It is very slowly coming off.  I think I've lost a couple inches off my waist and at least an inch off my butt.  If I keep at this, although it is slow in coming off, it will stay off, right?  And I know it is silly, but I miss the lazy way of grabbing dinner - running down to Arby's or Jack in the Box or stopping to eat lots of chips and salsa and Mexican food.... yeah - all that bread and high carb sauces and all.... I.Love.Bread.  I've mentioned that a time or two, and that part has been difficult for it is much easier to throw a piece of meat in a couple slices of bread for a sandwich.  But I did enjoy Jimmy John's Unwich sandwich I had recently - although it was kind of messy.  I've learned to cook a hamburger sandwich and eat it without the bread. Can still put all the condiments on it that I want - and just eat it with a fork and knife.  The bread was just filler I guess, and convenience in holding it. haha

I awoke about 2:35AM again today and tossed and turned until after 4AM when I came in here and sat quietly in my chair for awhile. Didn't turn the light on, and I do think I was able to sleep some.  But I was nearly done with my reading by the time hubby got up and brought me my coffee.  I'm watching the clock now for I need to jump in the shower and get dressed for the conference.  Want to leave about 8:45AM or so.  It really doesn't start until 10AM for the actual conference, but at 9AM the little shops are open that we can shop at. That's where I got my cup 'Lift Heavy, Pray Hard' that I carry to the gym.  I may even look at the t-shirts and buy myself one or two.  

In fact, I need to go through my t-shirts.  Many are getting faded, necklines are stretched - in other words, they have gotten 'old'.  Oh I still wear them, but don't like to wear them to places I meet others.  I have nice ones that I can fall back on.  But many of my t-shirts I wear to the gym so of course they get worn. And with 'living' in jeans and t-shirts almost every day now, well, for the past 5 years since I was sent home to work, I have worn and reworn many of them.  There is a lady at the former church who takes the old t-shirts and cuts them up and then crochets them into ropes to be donated to children somewhere.  I've only seen her a couple times, but my friend Lori knows her.  I may go through my t-shirts and have hubby go through his as well and give her a call to let her have them.  Goodwill or Savers or Salvation Army would prefer t-shirts in better shape than these. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV):  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

I took communion this morning, as I often do - just me and God - and I reminded myself of Jesus' sacrifice for me.  He took all my sins, known and unknown, on His shoulders, upon His body, to be crucified and He became my sacrifice for my sins.  And He became your sacrifice for your sins as well. It is a humbling thought, for sure.  That someone would take all the bad things I have done and die for me.  His body broken (the bread), His blood flowing (the juice) and it was all for me, and all for you.  A very humbling thought.  Thank You, Jesus.

I read in one of my devotionals this morning a chapter that I want to reread. Actually, it was in two of the books that I want to go back and reread that chapter.  One of them was on fasting.  Now I have fasted at different times for years.  I have fasted from Ash Wednesday through to Easter before (not total food, but giving up some things).  This year I opted out of fasting because my focus has been on eliminating food from my diet (carbs) that would help make my body healthy, less heavy, and give me more energy.  Remember, I used to give up (a lot of times ) BBCD - bread, beef, chocolate, desserts.  Well, I'm not eating bread (well, I have had keto bread - definitely not the same), just an occasional piece of chocolate when I want to sneak a piece, and haven't had desserts.  I don't DO anything, so what could I give up. Rather than stress about it, I chose to not do it right now.  Anyway, I want to reread that chapter as well.  

But the other chapter I read in my book on prayer, it said something that hit home.  Something about lack of self-confidence is a sin if God is living within us.  I do lack self-confidence in some areas because over the years I have been brought low because of whatever it is I was doing.  I've been told I was a bad mother. I have been told I'm a hypocrite. I have been told - well, it doesn't matter what I've been told.  Words like those crushed me deeply when spoken and I 'owned' them, believing them.  Putting myself down as they wanted me to.  It has taken years, but I have realized that what they said was said from their own insecurities and jealousy - both of which are sins!  You know how it goes - people put other people down when they don't see the positive in their own lives.  But the words did a number on me, and even now at times, I have to remind myself that I am not the things I was told, but that my confidence is not in myself, but in Jesus.  And when I have Jesus in me, I have all that I need to be what I need to be.  Can I get an amen?

And with that, I need to jump off and get in the shower and start my day.  I am going to go to this conference with a positive outlook on what I can learn (and find in the little shops!) and enjoy a day outing all by myself!  Yet, with others. :-) 

Wherever you go today, whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.  May you have safe travels, and joy to be with you.  Praying for you today.  

Blessings!

I felt I was finally heard....

 I had an appointment with my 'new' (the son as the dad retired) dermatologist yesterday morning.  For the first time, I felt like I was really heard about the bug bites on my leg. You know how much I have complained (aka talked about) them since October - when I was bitten at the hotel in Prescott.  I told Brandon about the bug bites, and he took a look.  And his comment?  "Those should have been gone a long time ago."  Hello?  After doing a body scan for anything else (appears to be all clear), he ordered a strong cream (forget whether antibiotic or steroid) to put on it twice a day - and he wants to see me in one month. If the bites are still there, he will take a biopsy to see what is going on and why they aren't going away.  I told him my imagination runs wild with thoughts of bugs being buried under my skin and ever so often they prick at my skin and want 'out'.  I liked him and am so grateful he actually listened to me and acknowledged the bug bites - since the middle of October and this is the end of March - should have been gone a long time ago.

This morning has been thrown off somewhat as I was awakened again about 2:30AM with one of the sprinklers shooting up in the air and the water slamming to the ground near our bedroom window.  I got up and was peeking out to see which one it was and woke hubby up - we both got up and was peering into the darkness; he finally opened the back door and went out to see.  He found it.  Neither of us were able to go back to sleep right away and although I know I have dozed off and on, still feel like I haven't slept much.  I may need to get a nap in this afternoon.  Yeah, right.  I'm running out of time to write in here, so this 'may' be short (don't you wish) this morning.  I've done my reading and all, but it's nearly 7AM already. 

I put in over 10k in steps yesterday - and dropped down to 5th place in the challenge.  We have one more week.  I'm about 3k behind the 4th place - which I may have still had if I had gotten more steps in Tuesday and Wednesday - just didn't get that much in and my 3rd place was taken away from me.  First place?  She is way ahead of everyone - over 300K steps - I'm guessing she is a runner!  Wish I was.  I've always wanted to be a runner, and in my single days I did run.  Occasionally.  Not long distances either.  But I ran.  It's just freeing to get out and take long walks or even a short run.  I'm afraid now that I will stumble and fall and break something if I tried to run.  Walking is about my speed.

Just checked another book read off my list in Goodreads.  I'm at 13 of my 50 goal now.  It says I'm 2 ahead of schedule.  Sure hope I can keep it up and meet the goal this year.  I didn't make it last year.  At least I've got hubby working on seeing how many he can read.  It seems like he said he has read 12 since the first of the year, and he is writing down the books he reads.  Pretty proud of himself - as he should be.  He is giving up the TV to read.  I'm personally glad about that, for when he reads, I can in the evenings.  Maybe I will throw a challenge out next year if he loses interest.  We both like to be 'first'. LOL

I saw Ms. Vicky at the mailbox last night and went to chat with her.  She spent 4 days in the hospital last week and I've heard more and more about this hospital (plus hubby has been in it) and I refuse to go there.  She went in with extreme gallbladder pain - instead of removing the gallbladder and sending her home - they went in through her esophagus and took the stones out (supposedly) of the gallbladder, did not remove it (they are saying they got them all), and put two stents in her liver, but she doesn't know what for - plus now she has to go back and have the two stents removed from her liver.  None of it makes sense and she said she was there in pain for four days and couldn't even eat.  No way will I go there.  We sent hubby there a couple years ago when he got popcorn aspirated into his lung and causing wheezing, and they did a body scan to find the aneurysm in his abdomen - which is a good thing - but what was the need for a body scan?  It was his lung that has aspirated!  And he still has the wheezing at times!!  I've heard rumors about the doctors from others who have gone to this hospital so no thank you.  

Sunday is National Doctor's Day - I need to send a couple of my favorite doctors an ecard today.  I know Dr. K doesn't work Fridays but he will get it on Monday. He may even be in Australia now - I think that is where he said they were going - he and his wife travel Europe and all over every couple of years.  I'm not an 'out of country' traveler - and as I have aged, getting out of the state is a challenge. And I will leave that there!

Well, it is now after 7AM and I do need to work today.  Haven't even gotten dressed yet - but am working on it. Didn't get through my usual things - checking emails, etc. - today so will do that later on. I just clear out all the advertisements - I need to start blocking so that I don't to delete all the time. My daughter had told me once about a program called disenroll me or something like that. I'll have to ask. Then you put the emails of those you don't want to get anymore.  I need to quit looking at things on Facebook, then they won't get my email and send me their advertisements - right?

And, with that - I need to get off here and start on the projects that I left last night.  So glad this is Friday. I'm supposed to go to a women's conference tomorrow, but I'm not sure that I will go right now. Ms. Diane and Ms. Vicky have both told me to come visit - and this week, only tomorrow would be the time for me to go.  I'm still thinking about what to do.  My daughter isn't going with me this time so it's by myself or meet up with some from our former church - which I could do.... I really feel like I need to put my neighbors first at this time.  Maybe fix a soup or something and take over to them.  You know me and my cooking - love to do it - and love to give it to others.  That sounds more appealing to me at the moment. 

Hope that you have an amazing day - behave yourself - don't want to read about you in the papers!  Oh yeah, we don't get the paper anymore.  Ok - don't make it to the news on TV!

Blessings!

Morgan made me cry again.

 There is one exercise that I absolutely can not stand.  You will laugh and think I'm crazy.  And you may be possibly right.  But it is the reverse leg curl machine. I absolutely hate it.  Yes, I used the 'h' word.  I do not like it at all.  And last night was legs...and she made me do it.  Not only one set.  But three different exercises within one set - and I had to do three of them!  You lay on your belly on this machine with the rollers at the back of your ankles.  You bend your legs back.  Sounds easy, right?  It is - without weights.  Granted, she 'only' put 15 pounds on it but it's heavy!  It was ten reps of the full leg bend. Then ten reps of from the top, half bends.  Then it was ten reps of full to the top and then hold for two seconds.  Ten of each.  Three sets.  Yeah, my tears were filling up my eyes and I was grunting.  She was helping me in the last two sets, but it was still painful and embarrassing cause I couldn't get my legs to pull the weight up.  But, I have decided, after that embarrassing and painful ordeal, I am going to master that stupid machine and excel on it.  I am not going to let it defeat me.  I don't like that machine, it is difficult.  But I am going to do it.  I may as well suck it up and do it - Morgan knows I hate that machine and puts me on it occasionally anyway.

I found out what was going on in the corner yard - they were putting rocks on the side yards.  The front and back still have grass.  They even did a nice design.  

My coach on Virta, as I mentioned yesterday, sent me two questions and I answered them last night.  I was really discouraged though.  I had forgotten to take my ketone measurement the night before so I took it right after I did my glucose yesterday morning. It was .4 - which is good, but not in 'nutritional whatever it is'.  I thought that when I took it later in the day, it should be higher - right?  They want it .5 or above.  Well, I fixed an egg and cheese sandwich (using keto bread-one slice) for breakfast. 2 deviled eggs was lunch.  I made a meatloaf with no crackers or oats in it and as I was taking out of the pan, a piece fell off (about a TBLSP) and I ate it. That was 1.  We have to wait two hours after our meal to take our ketone measurement so I waited until 4PM to take it.  We went yesterday afternoon to get our taxes done and we stopped at what used to be KFC/Taco Bell - and neither of us noticed the KFC part is gone and it is entirely Taco Bell now.  I didn't order anything, but hubby did, so I had a glass if unsweetened ice tea while he ate his burrito and taco and drank his Dr Pepper.  I took my ketone measurement at 4PM and it was .1.  Have no clue why it went down.  So last night before going to bed I finished off a box of girl scout cookies.  Before you roll your eyes at me, it was only two pieces.  Yes, probably about 27 carbs for those two lousy cookies - but I wanted to get rid of them and I refuse to throw good cookies in the trash. 

My coach responded this morning and has encouraged me because although my ketones jump up and down, I am mindful of what I'm eating and I'm exercising and not just giving up but pushing through and trying to get it together.  This Virta plan is really for diabetics and helping them get their bodies regulated. I've read where some have had insulin reduced or they have even gone off of it after losing weight and eating more healthy.  I'm not a diabetic but need to be careful as my family (the male line) has diabetic and heart issues.  But, cutting back on breads and cookies (no, I didn't tell him I ate those cookies!) and potatoes (although I did eat biscuit and gravy and potatoes when out with my son Saturday, but not like I used to eat it!) has helped.  I measured my waist yesterday and I think I am down 3"!  I need to find when I took it a few months ago and compare.  That is encouraging.

Our appointment with our CPA for taxes went fairly well.  In and out in about 20 minutes.  We get back from State enough to pay the Federal.  Same way it has been for the past several years. Grateful the money comes in from the State a little over what we pay for Federal.  I need to keep better records - as I tell myself every year.

This morning I have my dermatologist appointment for a 'look over' and to see the bites on the inside of my leg - again.  They are fading - but why do I still feel pin pricks?  Why does it sometimes look gray under the skin?  Is it all my imagination?  I hope this doctor, the son of the one I had been seeing (he retired in January) will be a bit more knowledgeable and able to give me clear answers.  If not, it may be my imagination - and yet - why does it wake me up in the middle of the night - and why when I'm sitting and reading it will start hurting?  

Psalm 62:7 (NKJV):  In God is my salvation and my glory; the Rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

God is definitely my strength in so many things - in so many trials of this life.  He is the One whom I call out to in times of struggle (working out at the gym, for one!), in times of turmoil (when life seems so hard), in times of goodness.  Something stood out to me in my reading this morning.  A woman was testifying about she had bills to pay, and God provided unexpectedly the finances to pay for them, and she thanked Him for His faithfulness.  So here is the question.

Would she have thanked God for His faithfulness if He had NOT provided the finances to pay her bills?

We are to thank God always for everything.  He is our salvation.  He is our Rock.  He is our Strength. He is our Refuge. He is our Provider.  He is All Things - and He alone is worthy to be praised - whether we get the answer we want or not to our prayers, to our requests.

I didn't sleep well again last night and I'm not sure where my prayers flipped.  When I awaken, I've gotten to where I don't look at the clock, but just start praying in my mind.  But last night, as I was naming my children, and those that came to mind, my only prayer for them was "May Your will be done."  I don't know where that came from.  It is like I can ask God for blessings and provision and care for those I pray for, but it is His Will that will happen.  I just bypassed the asking, and just named them and said "Your will be done."   I could not bear to lose any of my family.... but again, God's will be done.  He will bring good, even out of the painful situations we find ourselves in.

Sometimes we don't see the good in the situation until much later.  Sometimes we feel it is much, much, later.  The one good I think about, is my remarriage and moving here.  Because I was away from family, because we were having difficulties within the marriage, we went to church.  And, going to church, we had a preacher who preached the Bible.  And when I heard it, I ran back to Jesus.  Jesus changed my life for the better.  It didn't change all the situations and problems we had then, nor the many, many that we faced later, nor even the things we face now.  But it changed me.  And through me, others got to hear about Jesus.  It probably would not have happened had we stayed where we were.  It took getting me away from others, to where I had to make my own decision, that I found Jesus.

You can find Jesus too - right where you are.  Right now.  Are you tired of the life you have been living? Are you ready to come alive again?  All you have to do is surrender.  And let His will be done in you. Take this opportunity to get right with Jesus.  He is your salvation, your Rock, and your Refuge.

Blessings!

Yesterday went longer than expected

 What I mean by that is - well, work kept me very busy in the morning, but I still stopped and fixed hubby and I lunch and took a short break to eat with him.  Then it was time to get ready for a dental appointment in which I knew I was to have a filling removed out of a tooth and a temporary crown put on.  I'm thinking maybe an hour, right?  My appointment was at 2:45PM.  I did not leave there until about 5:20PM, I think it was.  They numbed, they took out and they drilled the decay under that filling.  Then they had to work on the temporary crown, which meant several mouthfuls of gook to get a definition of what the tooth should look like. Then my tooth was stuffed with some type of filling to keep it dry on the inside - sigh.  finally got the temporary filling put on and I was out of there!  My daughter had picked up KFC for dinner and she was sitting in the driveway waiting on me for over 30 minutes!  It felt like I had been at the dentist's office forever.  I don't need to go back until April 10th for the final crown.

Hmmm  The Posse just drove by with the car lights flashing silently.  I wonder what's up?  And, being the nosey neighbor that I am, I will be able to figure out what the house on the corner (in another HOA) is having done to the yard. The house has been up for sale for quite a while with no takers. It's fairly small, and I think that is the reason why. Perfect for one person, but not two.  Anyway, I'm not sure if they are going to put gravel down in the yard or sod.  They dug up what little grass that was there the other day. They are out there this morning, digging through more dirt.  Maybe I will find out today.

See how exciting my life is?  I live through this window most days.

I didn't get out to walk yesterday because of work and the dentist - and I've dropped to 4th place in the walk challenge.  Today we meet with our tax guy at 11AM so I'm thinking that I won't be getting much walking done today either.  My workout is scheduled at 5:30PM tonight - later than usual - and I really don't want to walk much as it is 'leg day'.  But then, I just keep falling further behind in the challenge.  Got to keep pushing myself to get my steps in.

And of course I am running late in writing in here - and it's almost time for the work computer to get turned on and get working. Plus I need to jump in the shower.  At least hubby remembered to take out the recycle things this morning!  I took off in a panic a bit ago to check in the garage, for if he hadn't, I would have had to get dressed and get it taken out as it was getting quite full in that area.  Now I just need to put a couple more boxes in place to catch whatever recycle we have next time.  Grateful he got it done before he left for the gym.

Talked to my little brother yesterday.  He isn't doing well, and it causes me to be fearful.  He has a CT on 4/1 and will see his pulmonologist on 4/3 and will see if all the chemo and radiation eradicated the cancer in his lung.  But he also mentioned other issues with the prostate and that he needs to get in to see his urologist.  And he said he was frequently dizzy and was just exhausted.  Oh, and he shaved his beard.... and now his hair is falling out.  He took his pony tail down and a gob of hair came with it, and his wife brushes his hair and it is falling out. He plans to get it cut very short.  I can't imagine him with a short haircut. I saw a photo where he had shaved his beard a few months back and it didn't look like him at all.  He said the last time he cut his hair short was for our mama's funeral back in 2004.  Interestingly, he commented that he only cuts it for the women in his life he loves.  He didn't cut it for our sister's funeral a few years ago.  I remained silent.  I wonder if he would cut it for mine.  Things that make one go hmmm when they hear a comment, right?

I just got a message from my coach for Virta.  I haven't been doing too well on it as my numbers aren't really staying where they should.  I've got to get refocused.  He has asked me two questions - and I will have to think on how to answer.  How would YOU answer these two questions?

1) What's one thing that's been going well for you?

2) What's one thing you would like to improve upon moving forward?

At first 'thought', I have no clue what to write.  I will think about these two questions and will hopefully come up with an answer to the questions before end of day.

In the meantime, I must get on the work computer and get busy.  I'm out of time for 'play'.

Have an amazing day!

Blessings!

I see it more and more

 My oldest son made a comment recently about something I had written and I, for some reason, cannot get it out of my mind.  I think it is because I see it more and more in conversations.  I was talking with my trainer about it last night, and she agreed with me about what was said.  Or rather, she agreed with my son. I knew this, but I had ignored it.  It was easier to just do what was asked, and yet, I realize I was playing into their hands. On to another subject.

I talked with my little sister yesterday.  She didn't take her laptop to Florida with her because she 'forgot it'.  Ok. Obviously she doesn't use it much.  But she said they had a printer in the airbnb they rent so asked if I would type out and send to her a short note, and she will print it.  Before she leaves for home, she makes up a few bags of things to give to the homeless and they drive to where they are and she hands them bags.  She wants a note put in the bags that just says something like 'Dear Child, I want you to know it's not too late for you to come back to me. Love, God.'  She asked me to type it and send as an attachment, and she would print it to put in the bag.  

Now, I get your thinking on this.  What a silly thing to ask me.  It's only one sentence, so why not just hand write it on a piece of paper and put in the bag?   And that is what I told her this morning. I sent her an email and told her how she can type it out herself on her phone or hand write it out.  I'm still shaking my head as to such a silly thing she is asking of me.   I look back and I see how lazy and dependent upon others she has become.  Especially upon me.  She even made a comment about my still working, how she would trade places with me and I could retire.  But she uses her husband as an excuse as to why she cannot work.  She will put applications in, and when they call for an interview, she makes all kinds of excuses as to why she can't work.  It's her husband's sickness.  He's been sick for ten years and isn't going to get any better - because neither of them want to! It was her choice to retire when she did, although she blames it on her husband.  But she has been out of the business world for about 15 years now, I think, and I don't think she has the abilities she had before to learn how to do things.  Ok - off my soapbox. 

But I will say, that when I DO retire - whenever that may be - I will not be sitting around asking people to do things for me and take care of me.  I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself.  I'll bury myself in playing at first, but once I settle down, I will volunteer and do things that I enjoy doing.  I will take long walks. I will make new friends.  I will enjoy life.  Does that make sense?  I will not hibernate and whine about how miserable I am at what life has dealt me.  I will seek God more and be ready and willing to do whatever He has for me.  In the meantime, I will keep working. Even though I gripe and complain about that.  I actually just need quality time off work and get my life back in order, right?  After a few days off work I am usually ready to go back to work!  Just taking last Friday off refreshed me.  And in April I have time scheduled off already as well.  So looking forward to Jailbreak!

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV):  Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

I actually got out and walked twice yesterday.  But because I didn't walk much on Saturday, I fell to 3rd place on Sunday, and last night I was in 4th place out of ten walkers on my team.  Yes, it is my team, which is why I am trying hard to get steps in.  It felt so good to get out and walk freely yesterday. Hubby doesn't even pretend to want to go out and walk, but will moan that he doesn't know why he can't walk very far before he is exhausted, although he can ride 3-4 miles on the bike at the gym.  I don't understand it either, but I think it is more 'want to' than 'can't'.  What do you think?  Yes, I will admit that at times I push myself too much and exhaust myself.  But, I love moving and keeping busy.  I refuse to let life slow me down.  I can always be doing something, helping myself or helping others.  God didn't create me to sit on a chair and whine about my choices, my life.  And He didn't create you to do that as well.

Some of us need to learn to celebrate life.  It's a gift given to us.  What we do with our lives is our gift back to God.  I want to give Him a good gift, don't you?

I am feeling like I need to fast this morning over a family situation.  It's time for someone to put their big pants on and stand up.  Yes, that is my opinion.  I'm not always right.... but God is.  So I am going to fast and pray for this person, that God will intervene in this situation and slap them in the head to make them see what everyone else sees, and quit complaining about their lot in life, which is a result of their choices.  They have a choice now.  Live their life, or be buried in someone else's.  Fight the good fight - and you will win. It won't be easy. It will be painful. It will be a struggle. But you can also be an overcomer - if you choose.  

And we all have that choice - to overcome the situations we find ourselves in.  Then you need to make a decision about what is important to you.  What is the most important thing to you?  Think about that.

I need to get ready for work.... and I have a dentist appointment this afternoon. Oh joy.  I dread the shots - they hurt! But, a necessary part of life, I guess.  Hope you have an amazing, fulfilled, and life-lived day!

Blessings!

Back to work day

 Yeah, it's Monday and I see I have 113 messages to go through.  Probably only 2 or maybe even 3 of those will be mine - and that's ok.  I know where the delete button is for the remainder.  I don't have any appointments for today so should be able to get caught up on everything that I should have done Friday. Oh yeah, I do have an invoice or two in there to process as well.  Not a biggie.

Yesterday was a decent day.  We didn't physically go to church - again - but did watch Free Chapel (Jentezen Franklin) and Life Church on You Tube, so we got two preaching styles.  Both churches had an associate pastor speaking so it wasn't what we were wanting, but they were still good.  I did cook us a late breakfast, since I didn't come out of my room until 9AM.  Just didn't want to.

After watching the services, I knew I needed to get on the taxes so brought all my papers and the computer in to the kitchen so that I would have room at the table to spread out.  This was about 11AM, I think.  A little before 2PM I received a phone call from the bride-to-be, whose wedding in next Sunday morning, and we went over the ceremony.  I didn't tell her the 'thing' her daughter and granddaughter want included, just skimmed past it.  The only thing she added was her son was walking her down the aisle and she wanted the response to the question 'Who gives this woman to be wed...." - for her son to say "her family and I".  I will brief him on this next Sunday morning. I asked if she wanted a quick rehearsal, but she said no.  She did tell me a little about how she knew her husband-to-be, and I want to incorporate that in to the service if I can.  She was so appreciative of my doing her wedding, as she considers me 'family'. :-)  

My call with the bride-to-be took only about 20 minutes so then I was back on the tax info.  Even after a couple interruptions by hubby, I was able to finish it about 5PM and handed him the paper with all the totals I needed to come up with. He will add to his totals and we will go to our tax guy on Wednesday and get our taxes completed.  I know I missed some things as I don't seem to be able to keep a filing system correctly.  I start out each year meaning to keep up on it all, but frequently let it go a month or two down the road.  This year will be no different.  I am going to try and sort out the first three months of this year and keep up on it.  Will see. Not holding my breath.

I was going to walk on my treadmill last night since I didn't get much walking done during the day.  OOPS.  I need to move the treadmill to another area in that back room.  Just as I started walking (I didn't have this problem the other times I've used it), my heel hits the small air conditioner near the floor in the corner - we don't use it so totally forgot about it - but I shattered some of the vent.  I got off the treadmill and took a couple laps around out street - got about a mile and a half walking in - and it felt good.  I took my phone and had an audible book going to listen to - and it was nice.  Great walking weather.    I may need to check into either replacing that air conditioner or having it taken out and the hole boarded up.  But, I still need to move the treadmill.  It is a short one and I guess I started taking longer steps than I usually do.  After hitting it twice I realized what it was.  

I actually have a somewhat busy week ahead.  Nothing today, that I can think of anyway.  Tomorrow is a dentist appointment - ugh - he is taking a filling out of a tooth and replacing with a crown.  The filling is loose and is starting to decay under it.  Wednesday is our taxes.  Thursday I have my dermatologist appointment.  Of course the bug bites have nearly totally disappeared now.  But I still get those sharp pin pricks in that area and sometimes it burns.  I may have this the rest of my life, I'm afraid.  And, of course, I have my training appointments tonight @ 4:30PM and Wednesday @ 5:30PM.  I can tell a difference in my clothes, although not so much in weight.  And that's ok.  As my daughter-in-law once told me (many years ago), "You are not what you weigh."  And I've never forgotten it.

Psalm 51:10-13 (NKJV):  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.   Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

Have you ever sat down and really read Psalm 51?  I frequently sit down and go through it, for many times I have things I have hidden within me that I have not acknowledged to God and I need to 'get them out' and confess them.  Even the little things.  Our God is such a good God, He only wants the best for you.  If you come to Him, as David did in Psalm 51, confessing your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins, and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.  It is that simple.  Confess with a truly sincere and repentant heart, and He will forgive and will walk with you.  He will help you break addictions. He will cleanse your body and bring healing and wholeness to it.  

Ask Him to grow your faith, that you will believe.  Ask Him as the father did when he asked Jesus to heal his son who was deaf and mute - "I believe; help my unbelief!"  It's so simple.  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledge Him as the Son of the Living God, that He came to earth, that He died, and He rose again, defeating the devil.  It's so easy to follow Jesus, and yet so many people choose to go their own way, thinking their way is best.  It's not.  I would choose to follow Jesus over any delicacy in this world.  

Create in me, Lord, a clean heart, one that is sold out to You alone.  Help me to walk in Your footsteps that lead to everlasting life.  I choose YOU, Jesus, over this world.   I pray for my family members, for my friends, that they too, will choose You.  You are the only way to have life eternal.  Hear my prayers, O God, and answer.  (Are you praying for your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, and generations to come?  Your prayers will go on forever.  If you don't pray for them... are you leaving them to their own devices?  Should you?)

Blessings!

It was a time to be me....

 I did enjoy so much my time out for breakfast yesterday.  My oldest son got me laughing and I listened to what he had to say.  It was a much needed, good time with him.  I love these times when I'm out 1:1 with my children and get to be a part of their life.  No, I'm not calling out anyone; I am just saying some day we will look back on these times and remember.... 

Yesterday was a good day, albeit lazy somewhat.  After breakfast I did get home in time to put the deviled eggs together and take to the HOA potluck.  There were perhaps 15 or more that showed up.  I knew very few of them, which is ok. I probably won't see them until the NEXT potluck, whenever that may be.  Lots of good food, and I ate too much.  We didn't eat dinner last night but blew the diets by snacking on nuts and I don't remember what else I ate.  Oh yeah.  Girl Scout cookies.  Three of them, at least.  My scales showed me up 2 pounds this morning.  Weight is a horrible thing.  I need to get a walk or two in today.  I hope. Even if it is just walking on the treadmill.  Well, that is what I have it for, right?

After the potluck we didn't do much; took a nap.  I don't know if I actually slept or not, but I'm sure it wasn't deep.  Ms. Diane called and thanked me for the 'delicious' meal I brought over to her the other night when I visited.  She is a hoot.  Found out during the HOA gathering that Ms. Vicky had spent 4 days in the hospital last week with gallbladder surgery.  Yes, I did text her that I couldn't believe she didn't let me know.  She responded but I didn't after that.  We watched a couple movies on tv before heading to bed.  I wasn't really tired nor sleepy, which is probably why I don't feel I slept well.  I was wide awake at 11:30PM.  I tossed and turned the rest of the night.  

Had a really odd dream.  Not sure why. Not sure what it could possibly mean.  I can't even say it was a 'bad' dream.  But I was searching for my first husband and found him in a factory or a shop working. It was so strange, this dream.  I went to him and told him I was sorry how things ended up, and that I had not put him down or said anything bad about him to the kids..... he gathered me into his arms and just held me.  I can't explain what I felt. People walked by us as we were outside. Then I 'woke up' again and once again started the tossing and turning, and finally getting up about 5:45AM - so obviously slept some during that time.  

I have been reading my Bible before going to bed at night and forgot last night as we had watched two movies. Both romantic ones, of course, from Up Faith and Family, and I forgot to read my Bible as it was about 9:30PM.  I know, that is way early for some of you.  I should have read my Bible for I probably could have had a good night's sleep.  But then, would I have had that dream if I had?  It was a good dream.

I feel like crying this morning and am not sure why.  I want to hide all day.  Can I bury myself in a cocoon and not come out until I'm ready? 

I need to call the bride this afternoon and review her desires for the wedding.  I have the words I will say typed out and the service is ready to go. I just need to find out if they are going to write their own vows or just have the usual 'will you take...' vows.  The call shouldn't take long.

I also need to work on our taxes today.  My part of it anyway.  I have barely started on it, and it will take me a couple hours to pull it all together and give to hubby.  I'm not confident in what he does with the numbers, that we give to the CPA, but I just let it go.  Control is a horrible, horrible, thing and sometimes it is easier to give in to the demands and let it go.  It's stupid really.  For example, the checkbook.  If he let me have the checkbook back, I would have paid off his car a year ago.  I know how to pay the bills - he does the minimum and stretches it out.  I prefer to pay them off.  That's how I got my car paid off so quickly.

Which reminds me. Our neighbor told me yesterday that they were looking at getting a new car.  They just bought a new one a couple months ago.  He wants to get a Tesla.  She's afraid to with people scratching them and destroying them.  She wants to get another Lincoln.  She doesn't like their new car and told me two things she didn't like.  1) It doesn't have a place to put her sunglasses on the inside 'roof'.  (I have one in my car. :-))  2) If you push the button to take the window down part way, you can just barely touch the button.  But to take it up, you have to hold the button.  Now these are real reasons to get a new car, right?  I guess people who have money and it's no object have quirky issues.  LOL  Only thing that surprised me was that she made a comment about car payments.  None of my business though.  I prefer NO car payments, which is why I'm in no hurry to get rid of my car.  Just turned 50k on it a week ago.

James 1:12 (NKJV):  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Sometimes temptations are hard to resist.  You know that is a true statement.  Especially when we want to say something to someone and our conscience is just telling us to 'let it go' and not speak it, before we know it, we have found a way to blurt out what our thought was.  Right or wrong.  Is that a correct statement?  Sometimes it is hard to squash the comment that brews in your mind like a pot of coffee, just waiting for the opportunity to pop out.

Or something that you want to do, yet you know you shouldn't, and even yet, talk yourself into doing it 'just one more time'... not accepting the argument going on within your mind telling you not to do it, that you are stronger than that. You don't need a crutch. You can get by without doing whatever it is.  And if you do wait, you will find that you can overcome that desire.

I have that issue with food I shouldn't eat.  Just one cookie, I will tell myself.  Two cookies may be 27g of carbs - but if I only eat one... it's only 14g at most, right?  Doesn't matter that I'm trying to keep myself at 30g of carbs a day - thereabout - and it would be about half of what I am allowing myself.  So what do I do?  Like I did last night... I not only ate one, or two, but I really think I managed to get 3 down before I made myself walk away. And that doesn't count for the nuts I ate.  I think 1 ounce is 7g - which isn't bad at all.  I just don't think three handfuls of nuts is going to stay at 7g, although it may be 7g each time I grabbed a handful. And I wonder why I gained two pounds?  Could it have been the potato chips and pistachio pudding as well?  Sigh.  

Can we resist temptation?  Yes.  No one is immune from temptation.  But yes, each of us has something inside of us that says 'don't do it'.  Doesn't matter what it is.  If we give in to the temptation, it is a choice we make to do so.  And each time that we give in, the next time the temptation arises, it is much easier to get past our conscience.  Unfortunately, sometimes not only our bodies bear the results, as does our mind, but our families deal with the fallout of our temptations as well.   

My past was full of temptations that I caved in to with my stupidity of not having maturity to deal with situations.  I failed in many ways to teach my children not to fall into the same temptations I did.  Sometimes those temptations bury us so deep that we have to fight to get out.  The temptation becomes addiction.  And addictions destroy families.  

I'm lost in memories - and 'what if' possibilities in my mind this morning, because of my dream.  I don't know why things happen the way they do..... but if they hadn't, would it have made a difference?   My heart says ......   

Need to get off here ... maybe I'll go down memory lane for a bit before coming out of my room.  Once I'm out, the day becomes busy.  Can I just stay in here?  

Hope you remember good times and precious memories of when you felt good about yourself, was happy, felt loved, and most of all, felt free.  Be safe out there.

Blessings!

It was good, and yet....

 I don't feel we got much done.  As I mentioned yesterday, I went over to the youngest sons to help him clean house.  It took me three trash bags and a couple hours plus just to clean off the kitchen counter on either side of the stove.  No, I am not exaggerating.  I have never seen so many syrup bottles setting on a counter except at the grocery store!  Most had not been opened and expired early in 2024.  Yes, I got permission, and I disposed of those down the drain.  In fact, I got rid of about a dozen bottles because they had expired prior to December 2024.  I did not throw out the December ones.  Most were full.  Who in the world can drink that much syrup!  And for someone who claims they are 'healthy eaters'... all that sugar in them - cause I don't think any were sugar free!  Oh well, none of my business.  But I don't feel like I got much done.  My grandson tried to help by working on the island and my son was in that part too.  It still wasn't cleaned off when I left, but there was space.  I don't know if the son and grandson did anything after I left cause they were also watching the great-grandson overnight.   I have a feeling, nothing else was done.  They had worked on the garage earlier in the week.  And, yes, I did comment to my son about the thousands of dollars that were thrown in the trash because of the spouse's spending habits. No, it wasn't just syrup.  Other things that had expired in 2019 and you know they were not using them!  Again, none of my business.  My mama talk wanted to come out, and did sneak out some, but I did apologize for saying what was on my mind.  Sigh. It's his life, his choices, not mine.

I have my own struggles, and those that know me, and have read in here frequently, know what those are. Sigh.  I came home about 2:30PM I think it was.  Hubby was watching TV.  I had made garbage while over at my son's and left them a dish, but brought some home to hubby - and he quickly devoured every last bite of it.  And put the dish in the sink to 'soak'. Rolling my eyes here.  When I saw it, I just washed it and put it away.  I can't stand dishes sitting in the sink unless there is a valid reason they need to soak.  I put eggs on to boil for the HOA thing today.  I started working on a new diamond art project.   I was ok with hubby watching TV and I was focused on what I was doing.

Then hubby goes outside to sit, and I knew it was a matter of time.  Yep, sure enough, he comes in and tells me "You should come outside and sit, it's really nice out."  Now when you hear that, you may think it is just an invitation.  I hear it as "you will come outside and sit with me."  I didn't want to go out; I wanted to work on my diamond art project. I was content.  BUT, as I started to get up, my granddaughter called regarding some questions about the wedding for next Sunday.  After our discussion (during which hubby came back in and repeated his statement), I went outside and sat.  We didn't talk much; rather, I didn't. After about an hour he decided it was time we went in.  And one wonders why I feel like I live in a prison most days.  I wasn't hungry so didn't fix dinner.  I finished up the eggs so that all I need to do today is put them together. He fixed himself something to eat; don't remember what. I fixed half a ham and cheese sandwich (I even ate BREAD).  'We' watched the news and then the TV went off for awhile, then we watched a movie, and then it was read a bit before bed-time.  Such a life we have. So exciting and fulfilling, don't you think.  I'm dying of boredom when I can't work on things I enjoy. Does that make sense?

Today I have something to look forward to.  My oldest son is taking me out to breakfast!  Rather, I am meeting him there.  Hubby brings my coffee in this morning with the words "Where are you meeting Rxxxxx this morning?"  I tell him.  "What time?"  I tell him.  "Do you know where it is?"  Of course I do.  "Where?"  So I tell him.  I then commented sarcastically "Don't you remember where it is?" And he responds, "I do because I go there all the time, I wanted to be sure you knew where you were going."  Lord, please help me cause I'm losing my mind!!

But I am looking forward to spending time with my son, even though he did stop by the youngest's yesterday while I was there.  These are moments I treasure.  

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV):  And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we don't lose heart.

One can take that verse a couple different ways.  Doing good.  What does that mean, anyway?  I know what I think it means - but what do you think it means?  Let's see if we agree.  Doing good could mean helping others, right?  Like, I went over to my son's to help him clean house.  (and I had fun doing it).  I like helping others, doing things for others.  Is that 'doing good'?  I go visit Ms. Diane (yes, I actually got over there the other evening) and Ms. Vicky (will see her today at the HOA thing, and if not, will go visit). I guess that is 'doing good'?  But what about in our own homes?  What is 'doing good' in our own homes?

In my life right now... is 'doing good' keeping silent when things aren't the way I want?  Is my 'doing good' part of having to be in the same room where he knows where I am and what I'm doing?  Hae I just grown weary of 'doing good' and want to rebel?  All kinds of scenarios run through my mind.  And I'm just rambling through this today, I think.  In due season, what shall I reap?  

Whatever you do, do good for others, for it is what we are called to do.  Regardless of who they are. Regardless of whether we like them or not.  Regardless of the cost to us personally.  Regardless of their response.  We are called to 'do good'. Not for any reward, but because we do it for Jesus.  That's what the Bible says.  Whatever we do, do it as if doing unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV):  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

And with that, I'm going to get off here.  Is that doing 'good' to you? Don't answer that. It's Saturday - and hopefully you aren't working.  Ask someone out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  You just might make their day.  Do your 'own good'.

Blessings!

It feels so good this morning

 to not have to jump on the work computer.  Why?  Because I am taking a day off work to go help the youngest son get some things done around his house.  The spouse is out of town until tomorrow, so I offered to help him get some things done.  He asked last night when I would be arriving - and I told him about 8:30-9AM - and I am in no rush.  I'm enjoying this little bit of time I have to myself this morning; hubby has gone to his Bible study, it's after 7AM and here I am.  Yeah, I'm late on here too - was able to get a bit more reading in this morning.  Is this what it would be like if I wasn't working?  Probably not. Sigh.  

Hubby asked me, as he came in to tell me goodbye this morning, "Will you be home this afternoon?"  Where does he think I'm going?  Sometimes - I'm sorry, but he does - he asks the stupidest questions.  Of course I plan to be home this afternoon!  I plan to be there most of the day, but don't plan to be there into the evening!  Hubby just can't stand to be alone and if I'm not home, he doesn't know what to do with himself.  He has gotten so dependent upon my being 'here' in person for him, for when he wants to chat or to feed him, it's as if he can't do anything in his own power anymore.  And one wonders why I always feel so smothered and buried.....

But I will be with the youngest part of today helping him, and tomorrow morning I get a real treat!  My oldest son is taking me to breakfast!  We were going to do lunch, but I goofed.  We have an HOA community gathering at noon - a potluck (which reminds me, I need to boil eggs tonight to make deviled eggs to take).  So my son and I are meeting about 9-9:30 at a favorite restaurant and we will get to chat for a couple hours.  I love these times for it gives us a chance - rather, it gives me a chance - to catch up on what is going on in life.  He reads my blog so he knows what all is going on with me.  He doesn't write as much in his (hint hint). LOL

I've decided I don't like the Spade Healthwatch 4.  I wore it all day yesterday and although it had my steps on the front, where I want it, I just didn't like it when I needed to see other information.  Is it that I am used to my apple watch and know where to go?  Anyway, I am back to my apple watch today and I turned the healthwatch 4 off.  If I switch out again, I think I'll get a Fitbit.  I used it first and I loved it.  I guess it is better to stick with what you enjoy, right?  It gives me all the information I want, and I like it best.

I have a busy week next week with three doctor appointments.  Yes, three.  I have the dentist on Tuesday - he's going to put a temporary crown on a tooth.  Wednesday is .... I forget.  Thursday is my dermatologist.  Glad I write things down on the calendar.  Or maybe I just have two.  Oh well. It's on the calendar.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV):  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.

Know why I believe and trust in the Lord, and hope in Him?  Because I never want to be left in drought, I never want to not be able to give to others. I don't want to be anxious about our next season of life.  It's like if I retired now, I know we will make it ok.  Sure, 'we' will have to stop doing things (like my careless and spontaneous shopping) that we may do now, but some things will still be do-able.  It's just being wise with what you have.  I've mentioned many times that we have way too much 'stuff'.  I don't necessarily want to 'sell' it, but if I hear someone needs something, am happy to give it to them.  Financially we can't help much, but I am happy to give what we can.  There really is very little we need. I have my books, and I'm trusting God to find a place to live and food to eat.  There is nothing else we need, right?

So what are you trusting in?  Your job?  Things made by man?  You trust in games or professions?  You trust in buildings?  Those things are all manmade and you can easily make them into your idol.  Anything you HAVE TO HAVE more than God, is an idol.  That includes food and drink.  Yes, we need food and water to survive; I get that.  But if we do it in excess, we are worshipping a manmade idol instead of God.  Make sense?

I have to watch myself when it comes to food.  Yes, I love food.  I love chocolate.  I love an occasional glass of wine.  I love my books.  But when it comes to God, He is to be first in all things.  I can cut back on food (hey, I'm doing it for this crazy 'diet', right?), I only cheat on occasion with a bite of chocolate. I don't 'need' it, but I enjoy it.  There is a difference.  

Oh I can get in trouble all by myself when I choose things to go after instead of going after God!  I pray daily not only for forgiveness of the things I'm aware of that I do, but also for the things I don't realize that I do that are not pleasing to Him.  I want to be in the image of Jesus.  I want people to see Jesus in me.  And many times, self gets in the front of Him and no one can see Him.  That is what I work on.  I want Jesus seen in me.  

The Lord has blessed us abundantly over the years.  He has answered many, many prayers I've prayed.  My heart and mind cry out to Him to 'use me' for Your glory alone.  And in that I wait, for I know He is not finished with me yet.

What about you?  Have you reached the point in life where you are ready to let this life go and grab hold of all that God has for you?  Do you not realize how much He loves you, and that He has been waiting patiently for you to come to Him and just ask Him to take over your life?  You will find life is so much more enjoyable when you do.  We aren't perfect, and He knows that.  We will slip and fall (as you know, this is something I struggle with daily), but our God is a forgiving God.  But He is also a jealous God.  He will not allow things to come before Him.  So what's your decision? Doing things your way - or God's way.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look upon His face.  All you can see is Love.

Blessings!

Does it pay to work out?

 I actually managed to get over 12K steps in yesterday!  Yay me!!  Haven't done that in a long, long time - but we do have a challenge going with work and since I'm the 'leader' of my 'team' - I need to step up (pun intended) and get my steps in as well.  How did I do it?  I just did steps here in my room yesterday.  I had to work; couldn't take time off for the treadmill and/or walking outside.  So I did steps in here.  I was surprised at how fast they added up.  I didn't cheat and just move my arm, my legs and feet were involved in this process.  And, I also went to the gym last night and we worked the back area.  And, when I go to the gym, I try to remember to set my watch to count my exercise.  Well, with all the walking and tracking on the apple watch - it shut off / well, changed to low battery during the night because the charge for an apple watch is 24 hours or less.  That is why I wanted to switch to the Healthwatch or back to Fitbit. They have a much longer batter period.  Yeah, back to that topic.  I did not send my Healthwatch 4 to my sister as I had thought I would do.  I have had it turned off for about 10-14 days now.  But with my Apple watch basically shutting down during the night (and the alarm not going off this morning) I plugged the Healthwatch back in and found it was still at 75% of battery!  With use, they say they can 'go' 10-13 days without recharging.  Imagine that!  I don't know what I'm going to do.  If I use my apple watch as much as I did yesterday, I will need to recharge frequently.  Something to ponder about. Again.

I have training again tonight at 5PM.  Third one this week - and it will be legs.  As many steps as I'm getting in this week because of the challenge, I hope I haven't worn out my legs!  Morgan is tough in her workouts and if I say 'I can't' - she makes me rephrase my sentence cause 'can't' is not in the vocabulary at the gym.  

Today is a normal work day, I think.  I haven't checked the work calendar yet, so won't know until I do. Yesterday wasn't too bad - I was able to get all those steps in while watching the computer yesterday and still staying caught up on work.  I have over 20 messages right now in my email - hopefully most are not for things I need to do.

Tomorrow I am taking the day off to go help my youngest son clean his house before his wife and her son get back into town. My thought is only for the kitchen and the front room - if I can get to all that. I'll leave that there.  I am thinking I may take hamburger over and make a big pot of chili while there.  Will see how that works out.

Hubby is meeting the youngest son and his youngest son at a restaurant for lunch today.  I'm sure hubby is preparing for it.  Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  The lunch was to be just the son and hubby, but when I commented something about him always being left behind, hubby text'd the son and told him to bring his son along.  All I can do is pray over the discussions that will come out.  Hubby means well, but, well, I'll leave that there as well.  I shouldn't criticize him; he just is more of a bully sometimes when he wants his opinion and his way stated and followed.  Some of you may understand what I'm saying.  

Jesus says we are not to be a bully.  We are to be humble, and kind, and forgiving.  We aren't to be fighting to 'get our own way'.  We are to be loving and caring.   What part do you play in your daily life?  Are you always pushing for your 'rights'?  I know, many days it feels like I do that.  And it usually isn't even about me!  I just want to be heard sometimes.  Acknowledged.  Does that make sense?  I have been pressed down all my life it seems, someone is always in control.  I fight to just be me.  Not to get my own way so much, but what I feel that Jesus wants me to do and what is right.  Sometimes life is so weary.

I Peter 5:7 (NIV):  Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.

How often do you cast your cares upon Jesus and ask Him to take care of them?  For me, it is a daily, and sometimes it feels like an hourly process!  Not so much that I have a lot of 'cares', but that my life is so chaotic at times and so stressful and even so painful - that I don't know what to do but cry out to Jesus and ask Him to help me get through them.  Do you ever have those days?

Yesterday I had a really bad headache - bad enough that I took an Excedrin migraine - and I haven't taken one of those in years.  I even asked God to take it away, it was that bad.  A few hours later I still had it but went to my chiropractor for my session. These take about ten minutes max.  I told him I had a bad headache.  I worked on my neck and my hips (it still amazes me how he can position the feet (you are lying face down), monitor the legs and how your body is positioned, and then use that 'punch gun' (cause I don't know what it is called) to 'shoot' a power punch on a bone to move it just a fraction.  But whatever he did to my neck, it worked. By the time he was done, the headache was gone.  Thank You, Jesus!  It never came back.  In my opinion, God used the chiropractor to hit the right spot to stop the pain.  :-)

I've learned over the years to cast a lot of my cares onto Jesus.  What about you?  When was the last time you actually sat down with Jesus and told Him about what is going on in your life? When was the last time you told Him that you couldn't do it in your own power, and that you were giving it to Him and asking Him to take care of that situation?  It doesn't mean it will happen immediately, the issue being taken care of, but have faith.  When you ask (and keep asking by pounding on the doors of heaven), He will answer and, although you may not get exactly what you wanted, God will work things out for your good and for the good of those you love.  But you have to take your hands off and trust Him that He will work all things out for your good.

We are not to conform to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the Word of God, to be changed into the image of Jesus.  It's not only a daily surrender, sometimes it is an hourly surrender!   I'm always asking God for help - whether it be with work or with working out.  He has the only answer.  Try it.  Surrender your desires to Him; then take your hands off and let Him work.  You may be surprised.

Blessings!

Maybe it is a bit noticeable....

 My daughter came over last night for our 'girls' night out' and to work on the diamond art project we have been working for months.  Yes, it has been months.  I don't work on it if she isn't here.  I have enough other projects going on that I don't need to.  Anyway - as she came in the door, she gave me a hug and said "looking good, mama!"  Or is that what I really did hear?  Was it just 'Hi mama"?  I'm taking it for what I thought I heard. :-)  Trying hard to get this belly and butt reduced.  I was able to get a bit over 9k steps in yesterday.  And it was hard to do!  

Hubby is heading out to the gym early this morning; he has a 7AM training. We both do enjoy the training we get and it helps us keep moving.  It is the only exercise he gets (and me as well many days) so even 30 minutes twice a week helps him. Well, when I go in the evening, he sometimes comes with me and he will ride 3-4 miles on the bike while I'm working out.  Can you believe he actually told me recently that if he gets changed to evenings, then I can go walk the treadmill or ride the bike while he is working out.  I would have thought that would be MY decision, and you know what I do when I get 'told' what to do!!  Well, it depends if I want a fight or not.  Sigh. Life is hard, sometimes.

I have enjoyed the Factor meals that we have been getting, and I like not having to figure out things to prepare.  But, yes, there is that word 'BUT'.  It's usually a meat in a sauce and a 1/2 cup of a vegetable. For example, I had 'sun-dried tomato chicken with zucchini noodles last night.  There might have been 1/4 cup of the noodles, and they just didn't meet my expectations to eat.  The chicken was in some type of sauce that had so much oily yuck covering it, I scraped it off the chicken and just ate the chicken.  This is the second time I've done something like that.  I ordered different things this coming week, which will arrive today, and we will see how those are.  I am thinking about cancelling it already.  It runs about $100 a week, but I can fix a piece of meat and a vegetable for a lot less - plus it isn't greasy.  I know Virta says I need to have some fat in this low-carb diet, but nope, I don't need as much as what has been appearing in these meals.  After my delivery today I may just go in and cancel for now.  It's very convenient, and several of the meals have been good, but I've been disappointed in this last week's meal plan.  Hubby was even able to fix his own meal last night - 3 minutes in the microwave.  His friend called out last night as he was sick, so hubby stayed home and stayed in this room while my daughter and I chatted and worked on the project.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV):  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Have you ever known someone who had all these traits, and you knew they were a good person?  Anymore it is rare, do you think?  And yet, I do know some people like that, who have these very traits, and they have been such good examples for me.  I hope you do know someone filled with the fruit of the Spirit.  I try, I really do, but I often fail - I think it is the patience and self-control that knock me down most times - what about you?  You laugh.  Yeah, there probably are a few others I can work on as well.  I learned a long time ago not to pray for patience.  Whenever I did, God allowed difficult things in my life to TEACH me patience!  I probably often failed.  But I persist.  I try to hold myself back from rushing through things in order to LISTEN and actually HEAR what people say.  I try to give them time to complete what was requested of them and not push on them to 'get it done'.  Do you ever find yourself like that?  Pushing people to get through the line, getting irritated at others because they are moving much slower than you think they should?  It could apply to many different things, do you think?

I think the one I am most impatient with is myself.  I want to accomplish many things, and like the diamond art project my daughter and I are working on, it takes time, and it takes patience to complete the task as it should be.  I continue to tell myself that 'in God's timing, all things will be made perfect.'  Of course I am referring to my life.  Yes, I still struggle with things at times.  I get angry inside when I think about how much better things would be if..... but they aren't, and I need to let those thoughts go.  I know it is the devil who keeps putting those thoughts in my mind, so I am frequently telling him to get out of my mind and leave me alone!  I am not to be transformed by the world, but by the Word of God.  He has given me a Guide to follow, the Holy Bible, and when I read it, and live it, my life is free of the tyranny of life.  It doesn't mean that life is easy.  It just means that God is walking me through each step of it.  

Ok - my wandering mind wants to share things that it shouldn't so I'm going jump off here and get the work computer fired up and ready to start.  Maybe get a quick shower in before work as well.  So with that - you have an amazing day and do something kind for someone without expecting anything in return.

Blessings!

I have no clue what I'm doing...

 Do you ever feel that way?  Computers have new programs and they say click here, and do that and voila!  Whatever it is - well, we expect it to appear  - and it usually involves changing passwords - but which passwords are you actually changing?  I think I am changing passwords for one thing - and the next time I sign in another place, it tells me that password doesn't work, that I changed it.  Say, what?  UGH.  I have so many passwords floating around now I don't know which one is which - and yes, I do write them down and for what I THINK they are for - but then bring work passwords in to the mix and well, I have way too many passwords out there and I don't even know what they are!  Did any of that rant make sense? Probably not, but I'll leave it there.

I managed to get through yesterday with my male boss back in town.  He wasn't too bad yesterday and I think I was caught up when I signed off at 4PM yesterday.  Well, I had one I couldn't take care of until today so that's that.  And, no, I still haven't gotten the minutes done from the last board meeting.  I really do need to get those done, ya think?  It won't take me ten minutes - so why do I keep putting it off?

I created my own team on a challenge at work - it's a step challenge, you know, see how many steps your team can get in to reach destinations on the map.  We are currently in Japan, which I think is the first destination.  My team name?  Jailbreak Walkers.  I use it every time there is a challenge and I sent invites out for anyone to join - I have two people I know, the rest are strangers to me - and I don't care.  One got 30k steps in yesterday - she must be a runner!  I did less than 6K but it was still more than my usual 2-3k.  I even got on the treadmill for a little while yesterday. I tried to get on it after I worked out at the gym last night - but Morgan took me through a HIIT again (high intensity interval training) and my legs were like lead so I didn't last 5 minutes on the treadmill.  I am the leader of the team so I need to push myself to get more steps in.  

I did go to Sam's club yesterday (I actually took a lunch break and went!) and got more coffee (and a lot of other things!)  We were down to 2 k cups and you know we can't do without coffee! LOL I also bought ground coffee as we like to have a pot of coffee on the weekends as we generally drink 2-3 cups as we stay in our 'quiet time' longer.  I could stay in here all day! Oh wait, I do.  sigh.  But I meant reading and praying - not working!

A chapter I read in one of my books this morning was on unforgiveness.  Do you realize how unforgiveness ages you?  It cuts your life short. It makes you miserable - even if you 'think' you have forgiven someone, or just moved on in life and let it fall by the wayside, if you haven't forgiven them, if you are harboring anger or bitterness towards them, you are in bondage to them, whether you believe that or not.  Forgiving someone is not always easy.  Trust me, as I have had to forgive people that don't deserve (in my opinion) to be forgiven.  But I have to forgive and let it go, for I will not be in bondage to them in any way shape or form.  I can not like them, but I am called to love them and to forgive them - and as you know from previous posts - sometimes that is really hard.

So I spent some time reflecting on the past and naming names of everyone that has hurt me in the past in one way or another, telling God out loud that I forgive that person by name.  I had a long list, especially when I started with my parents and took it on down to my grandchildren.  Yeah, I want everyone forgiven, because I don't want my life to be in bondage to sin because I refuse to forgive. I want to be forgiven, and if I want God to forgive me my sins, I must forgive others.  You've heard it in the Lord's Prayer -

".... and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...."

and that is hard to do sometimes; especially when you think of them and you feel the anger boiling up again.  But bottom line, we have to forgive them every time that anger comes up.  Every.Single.Time. Whether you want to or not.

Hurting people hurt people.  You've heard that saying before.  And it is very true.  We've all heard things spoken to us by our children that hurt us deeply.  What are you going to do? Hold a grudge against your child - or continue to love them and forgive them?  We forgive, because we do love them. We don't always know what is going on in their lives at the moment they 'explode'. It may have nothing to do with us, or with anything you are aware of. Who knows, they may not have any coffee in the house and for some people, that is enough to set them off!  (no, not me, I can do with or without it).  Anyway - bottom line, forgive others as you want to be forgiven.

I came up with a saying yesterday.  "People don't value your opinion as much as they value you listening."  I've yet to repeat that saying to someone who brought that to mind last night.  Yes, hubby rubbed me the wrong way.  He gets upset with me when I don't share with him, and yet, when I do, it isn't for his opinion.  For example.... (btw, oldest son, you were kind of right, but don't let that go to your head)

My little sister called yesterday and was commenting about the bible study we are to be doing 'together'.  I just finished week two last night.  We haven't discussed week one yet.  Each week consists of a video, then two-three pages of 'group discussion'. This is where you discuss with whomever you are doing it with. Then there are three 'sessions' which are personal study - meaning you don't share them, but it allows you to go deeper into the study if you want.  When my little sister called, she wanted to see where I was at - and I guess I must have shamed her when I told her I was nearly finished with week 2.  She mumbled something about she felt challenged and she just couldn't understand the questions, etc. I explained that we only discuss the group discussion questions; we don't share the personal study ones - and I have been learning a lot about myself and how I answered some of those questions.  It's personal, and I don't have to share any of it.  So she decided we needed to go ahead and answer the group questions.  Fine - I had them done.  Well, she only had two of the questions answered, I think.  She asked me my answers, and I told her. And it was "I didn't think of it like that" and yet, she didn't really have anything written down.  I tried to explain the study is for her to learn and grow, not to be concerned how I or anyone else 'read into' the question or what we wrote down.  Later that night she sent me a text that she was sorry she hadn't taken it seriously and she had apologized to God she hadn't and she would buckle down and get it done right. I tried to explain again that she will only get out of it what she puts in to it.  It wasn't to shame her, each person works at their own pace.  

Anyway - what I'm getting to regarding my comment.... I was telling hubby about it and I commented that I am going to continue working at my own pace and complete them and I am doing it for me, not for her.  So HE proceeds to TELL me that I need to work at my own pace and do it for myself, and I NEED to keep doing it, etc.  SLAM!  That shut the door on any other comments I would have made.  I was only sharing information, I was not asking for his opinion.  I did not need to have him tell me what I needed to do.  When he does that, I shut down and I now I will struggle to open up the book again - only because he told me I NEEDED to do that - after I told him I was going to do that.  UGH.  Mind your own business!!  

When people are sharing with you, LISTEN, but don't comment.  If they want your opinion, your advice, they will ask you for it.  If not, SHUT UP AND LISTEN.

Ok - off my soapbox. And I need to get off here and get the work computer turned on and get ready for work.  Another day, another dime.  Oh wait, I should be getting a raise in April.  YAY me.  

Have an awesome day!

Blessings!

Running short on time....again....

 I'm obviously having difficulty in getting going this morning. Not that my delay is a bad thing, but it is Monday and it is early and I'm not quite ready to start a new week.  Could we possibly put it off another day?  That might help.  But alas, Monday morning is here, as is the new work week and as I even type this, another minute or two has slipped away.

But I do need to tell you what happened yesterday!  I wear an apple watch.  I'm not crazy about it, but I've gotten used to it.  As mentioned before I also have a Spade & Co Healthwatch 4 - their latest.  Something my oldest son commented recently has given me pause on passing it on to my little sister, as the 3 that she has (supposedly) stopped charging.  I found it interesting yesterday that when she called, and I told her what I am getting ready to tell you, she asked me what did I do with this Healthwatch 4.  I told her I hadn't decided yet; whether to return it or just throw in a drawer, or get over myself and wear it and learn how to use it.  Isn't that interesting.  Expectations, perhaps?  Things that make one go 'hmmm'.  Oh, as I skimmed emails this morning I saw one that pertains to the study she and I are (to do) doing together.  I have jumped on ahead as she wasn't returning my calls for us to discuss week one, and I'm nearly finished with week 2.  I saw an email this morning that said something that we are now beginning week one.  Well, they may be, but knowing me and how I somethings get behind, I'm pushing on to get through this - even if it is early.  I am actually hearing a lot.

But I've gotten ahead of myself - It's Monday morning and obviously my thoughts are yet all over the place in my rush to get something in here.

Yesterday I spoke at the RV park up north.  Back to the comment I wear an apple watch.  It has something in it that if it is jarred, as in a fall, it will ask the question "Did you fall? Do we need to call emergency services?"  Well, usually I haven't fallen, and the answer is always 'NO'.  And the watch shuts off the alarm.  Somehow, as I was walking up to the podium, unbeknownst to me, I must have jarred my watch against it.  I felt the vibration and heard the noise under my sweater sleeve as I began the first couple of sentences of the message.  Finally, I looked at my wrist and saw the message and started hitting 'NO'.  It wouldn't shut off, but continued to countdown that emergency services was being contacted.  I kept hitting 'NO'.  I paused in the message and apologized to the congregation and told them my watch was going off, thinking I had fallen.  A lady in the choir asked if it was an apple watch and I said yes, so she came over and she tried to shut it off as well.  We were down to 20 seconds before emergency services was going to be contacted when we both stopped and actually READ the message.  It said "CANCEL emergency services?"  All the time that we both were hitting 'NO', it should have been "YES'!  Once we did that, the watch shut off, and I continued on with the message.  After church she came to me and we discussed that the wording had been changed since the last upgrade.  Instead of asking if we had fallen, it was asking if emergency services should be sent.  Threw me completely off - I need to READ the messages and not just assume they are the same messages!  

As for my Healthwatch, not sure what I'm going to do just yet.  I've decided NOT (pretty much) to send to my sister.  (no, I still haven't found the remote for the DVD player, but then I quit looking for that as well).  I may reload the Healthwatch and see if it will give me the information that I want it to.  But I will wait for a bit - I am in a group in a walk challenge at work and it is based on our steps.  I call our group Jailbreak Walkers and I have ten people who signed up on my team.  It starts today so I need to get off my lazy butt and get some serious stepping in for the next two weeks.  I may wait until then to make a decision on what to do with it.  

My male boss is back to work today so it may prove to be a busy week.  I told my youngest son last week that while his wife was out of town and he was cleaning out their garage, I would take a day off work and work inside the house and try to clean it up.  He called last night and we pretty much agreed on Friday.... I will have to check the work calendar and see how it looks before I put in for it.  Hubby won't like me being gone all day to work over there, but I want to help.  But then, I have an 'odd' feeling about this entire thing.  I do need to pick up the high chair I had loaned them for the grandson; I want to check with another grandson to see if he got a highchair at the baby shower.  If not, I will ask if he wants to use it.  This high chair has been around for years and used for different grandchildren - I bought it when our first granddaughter was born - although it is blue.  It has been passed around.  Will see if he would be wanting it, although it won't be needed for several months yet.  No sense in buying one if one is available, right?  Will see how it goes. 

And - it's 7AM and I need to jump off here and get things ready for work.  My apology for the shortness of words; but at least I wrote something for you to read.  I have other things I want to comment about, but not this morning. Hopefully I will remember them at another time.

In the meantime, have a wonderful, productive day.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, for He is the Author and Finisher of your faith.

Blessings!