He did agree.... but modified...

 When I suggested to hubby that we not go to the cabin but instead visit a couple places in the state and actually DO something, and stay at a hotel a night or two.... he came to me yesterday morning and said he thought about it and he thought that was a good idea - BUT THEN he says... "we can stay in a hotel up north for 3-4 nights."  And do what?  It only takes one day to see what I suggested to see.  Drive up one day, walk around, stay overnight, go see the attraction the next day; come home - or at most, stay one more night.  But no.... he has this other mindset.  He drives me crazy.  I think it was my comment "if we go to the cabin I'm buying TV dinners for the entire week" that got him.  Some times I think food is all he thinks about.  Yesterday morning he went out to breakfast with his friends... at 7:30AM.. ... around 11AM he asked about lunch and I thought I'd heat up some left over chicken - and he said to he'd have some too.  I looked at him in shock - "you just ate breakfast!"  "Yeah, but that was at 7:30!  And he ate again.  I didn't fix dinner though.  I wasn't really hungry so only had a piece of string cheese and some crackers; I'm not sure what he ate.... I don't remember.  But I didn't cook.... so heaven forbid he would cook something.  I don't think we have any more TV dinners.   

I wanted to go visit Ms. Diane last night so I called over - no answer.  A little later her daughter called - Ms. Diane had been taken to the hospital the day before.  Guess she had gotten up out of bed Wednesday night and fell, hitting her head on the nightstand... and it bled... and she was so weak and disoriented that she crawled into different rooms.... her daughter called Thursday morning and no answer.... and since her mother was prone to leaving her phone in the bedroom, she wasn't too concerned.  But she did take time to come over late morning - to find Ms. Diane laying on the floor, where she had laid all night.  Blood on the tile floor and on the carpet.   They had an ambulance take her to the hospital - we never even know it!  Our hospitals have gotten so bad - she had been taken to the hospital mid-morning on Thursday - and yesterday was STILL IN THE ER!  She is a diabetic and has a sore on her foot - which was there over a month ago for I saw it then - and it is now huge and has started going up her leg.  A medical person was supposedly coming over to check on it - but obviously wasn't for it had not been treated.  I told her daughter she was a good daughter to see her mom every day and to take care of her.  Ms. Diane has agreed that she needs to go to an assisted living facility and to sell the house.  She wants to go now... which would be ideal, except her children want to check out the ALs and find one that can be good for Ms. Diane.  And soon... they don't want her changing her mind when she gets back home!  Hopefully they will admit her for a few days and take care of the sore, plus get her to eat more and help her get healthy.  She is 86, I think.

Had I shared with you about Ms. Amy?  I know, I'm rambling thus far this morning.  Sorry about that.  I am hoping to get over to visit her this afternoon - which might be for the last time.  Her daughters, Pamela and Melessa where here for about 10 days earlier this month.  Melessa has MS and can't do anything, but Pamela had to bring her as Melessa lives with her.  Anyway... Pamela worked hard and did a lot of packing and getting Ms. Amy's things together.  The movers came a week ago, I think, and loaded up the furniture Ms. Amy wanted to take to Florida.  The following Tuesday (was it just last Tuesday?) Pamela and Melessa headed back to Florida.  When they arrived, Pamela was having a hissy saying her key didn't work in the lock so called me to come over and open the door.  Interestingly, after I opened the screen door, she tried her key on the the main door and opened it.  She took my key and said she'd rather use it.  Ok.... never saw her again.... then Tuesday morning she shows up at the door to hand me the key ring back and tell me they were leaving and 'oh, thanks for what you've done for mommy'.  I glance at the keyring and notice no key (not that it is a big deal) and commented that the key wasn't there.  She informed me that 'she had already taken care of everything at the house; her younger sister and husband were coming out in a couple weeks and they have their own key (but does it fit?) and I don't need to do ANYTHING with the house anymore and Ms. Amy doesn't need to be brought back over.  It was kind of rude, actually, the way she said it.   Fine - I don't need a key.  I do admit I was curious as to what furniture the daughter decided to send, versus what her mother wanted to take.  I was planning to go over and do a looksee.... but I now have no key and have been told it is none of my responsibility anymore.  She also said she had taken care of all the mail - I hope she hasn't screwed that up - it was going to the son in Indiana except for a few pieces.  I haven't checked the mailbox since they left, but I may today if I think about it.  I had a thought about texting the brother and tell him ... but decided I'd just mind my own business.  But, I do want to go over and see Ms. Amy - probably for the last time as she is to go to Florida the first week of June.  I would like to tell her goodbye.  

And then there is Ms. Vicky.  I haven't seen nor talked to her for a couple weeks so do need to touch base with her this weekend.  Hopefully she is doing ok.  She is around my age... but is a large woman and has a bad knee and uses a walker even in the house.  I hope she hasn't fallen.  I do have her garage access number and can get in her house, although I've never tired it.  She hasn't called me either.  We did get some of her mail yesterday and we could just put in her mailbox, which is next to ours... may do that this morning.... and then I can check her mailbox and take the mail to her this afternoon if she hadn't gotten it yet.  Praying she is doing ok..... 

I am going to our Ladies Heart Crew lunch at church today.  Still trying to get involved with some of the women from church.  It starts at 11AM and I will 'assume' it will be over around 1PM.  It will be a nice break in the day too.  I think I will need to clean up for that - although many will wear jeans.  I haven't been to any of these luncheons yet so will figure out the 'dress code' today.  

Maybe I will cook breakfast this morning - bacon and eggs and toast.  Hubby will eat anything I fix and I'm sure he is hungry....he usually is.  I don't want to go out to eat; afterall, I'm going to a luncheon today.  Actually, a bacon and egg sandwich sounds good.  But then, I do have potatoes so maybe I'll fry up a potato (diced) and then add a mixture of eggs, jalapenos, onions, cheese in it... I still fix that occasionally and it is still so good.  Yeah, I'll fix the potato/egg dish... that will fill hubby up and he will be ok with snacking for his lunch.  

Psalm 23:3 (NKJV):  "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

He restores my soul.  Some days - especially lately - that is what I need.  Do you ever recite/quote the 23rd Psalm?  I'm sure you know it all.  But this morning I am thinking about this one part.  He restores my soul.  Ever feel like life has hit you and you feel like you have been run over by a mack truck (wherever did that saying come from?  Did someone actually get hit by a mack truck?)..... and you do not know where to turn or what to do or what to say.... and you feel so empty inside.... ?  It is then that we can cry out to our Shepherd and ask Him to 'restore my soul'.  When we call out to Him, He will answer.  Perhaps not in ways we want to hear or see, but He will answer.

If I have nothing left, I know I have Jesus.  I have my Heavenly Father.  I have the Holy Spirit.  And my soul is restored.  In Him I have HOPE.  I live, because He lives.  And, because He still lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because I know that He alone holds my future, the future of my loved ones, and it is in Him that I trust.  I am so grateful He drew me back to Him years ago so that I could be prepared for 'such a time as this'.  My heart is in anguish over things... and it seems one thing after another is going on at this time... but I know I can believe in His faithfulness to me.  I can believe that He will orchestrate everything in His time.  And I know He cares for me and will walk this journey with me.  Can you just imagine how I'd be if I didn't know Him?  I am beyond grateful for His intervention in my life.

Does your soul need restored this morning?  Are things kind of crazy at your house too?  Lean into Jesus and let Him not only restore you, but lead you .... for His name's sake.

Blessings!

Yesterday...many tears

 I was in my quiet time yesterday and got a phone call that broke my heart.  My daughter was asking for prayer for our little great-granddaughter.  Guess she woke up and instead of running into mommy and daddy's room, she ran into the living room and (I'm guessing) startled their dog, Lotus.  Lotus bit her.  At that time we didn't know WHERE she was bit and the parents were rushing her to the ER.  After the phone call I fell on my knees and could not stop crying and crying out to God to let it not be serious; not be something that can't be fixed; praying for mercy for this little one. All morning long I could not stop crying and praying, even when I was trying to work.  

Finally I received a phone call that she had been bitten on the face.  They were still trying to determine if needed stitches.  Long story short..... she ended up getting one stitch in three places.  The scratches/stitches are just below her right eye, on the left side of her nose, and on her right cheek.  They did facetime with me yesterday afternoon so that I could see but she was still bandaged up.  She was happily eating gummy bears.  The tears finally dried up then as I knew God had answered my prayers and she was going to be ok.  

God does still answer prayers.  This is just proof that He does.  All we need to do is ask Him, seek His face, and He answers.

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV):  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Yes, I take that scripture literally.  Our God wants to give us good things.  He wants to respond to us with the things we need - and even want.  But first, we have to Ask Him.  Seek His face (and not just His hand), and keep Knocking (asking) until we receive from Him what we are in need of.  He longs to give it to us.  We just need to ask for it!

We are meeting up with our pastors today for lunch and getting acquainted.  We know the pastor's wife fairly well now as she is in our Bible study group.  We know more about our pastor after reading his book "Goodbye 360" which is about him losing weight to get below 360.  He limps.  We thought it was because he was so heavy.  But no, from birth his right leg has been shorter than his left leg.  Little things that we 'assume' are a result of something else totally wrong.  Hubby and I are both looking forward to meeting up with them.

We didn't get to bed until after 10PM last night.  We decided to watch Chosen from the beginning on prime video.  It's probably on Netflik too.  It has a good story and we are enjoying it... but I don't like the breaks; to me they are annoying; but they are just 'intermissions' between stories.  Season 3 will be out soon and I hear it is amazing.  We decided to start with season one again and go on through season 2 and be ready for season 3 when it comes out.  It's all my little sister talks about and she pushes it on me all the time to watch.... which annoys me.  She even bought me the season one disc.  I now have season one and two discs which I can watch on my DVD player.  But, we are watching on TV now.  Have you seen it yet?  You ought to.  It brings the Bible to life, albeit that the narratives are not in the Bible, but they help you understand.  

I woke up at 4AM as usual, told myself it was Saturday... but got up and came in here anyway.  And tried to go back to sleep.  I had an 'ear open' to hear hubby and sure enough, it wasn't long before I heard him up and soon he was bringing in my coffee.  I still tried to sleep... and failed.  Did my quiet time and now I am writing this - and am about 45 minutes to an hour 'behind my usual schedule'. And that's ok.  It's Saturday.

My neighbor, Ms. Amy, has called me 6 times in the last three days to remind me her niece is coming in town today and will be picking her up and bringing her to her 'condo' (as she calls it) for a little while.  I needed to unlock the doors from the garage into the house.  I did it yesterday so it's done.  She has a garage door opener so can get in that way, but the next doors into the house needed to be unlocked as I locked them.  I assured her last night that the doors were already unlocked and that we would probably be gone when she came.   I know she's lonely and I try to keep in touch with her at least once a week.  I went last week for a visit as it was her birthday.  At least some family is coming in from California today to visit and then go back tomorrow.  It's a nice break for her.

It's a beautiful cool morning today.  And I need to get up and jump in the shower.  Hope that you have safe travels, make happy memories, and have an awesome day.  Remember to take time for God; He has provided this beauty for us.  Thank Him.

LOL  I got a text, read it, then flipped to facebook and saw my DIL had posted something.  I LOVE IT.  A manket.  Is this for real?  It cracks me up - but I can see it happening!  Made me smile anyway.  Not only keeping people warm, giving them company.  I like being kept warm, but my blanket is fine, thank you very much.

Have a blessed day!

The week is winding down...almost done

 Yesterday was pretty quiet for work, only had a few meetings to schedule since my favorite boss had yesterday off - and she is off today too.  My other boss and I text'd - the flowers never arrived so I suggeseted he cancel.  I am assuming he did, since nothing arrived at all yesterday.  It would have been ok but we are on vacation next week; I am stuck back in this room with no place to put a huge bouquet of flowers so I'd never see them; and the florist never called after that initial call - which they should have made to keep me or even my boss, updated on status of delivery.  I told him that he will 'owe me' and I do collect. :-)   I still had a good birthday.

Last night I visited Ms. Amy and found out her daughter is putting her in a facility today for 30 days.  I looked it up and it's a 'retirement community'.  I don't think her mom will like it there, she is a not one to venture out of the room much.  Can you believe the daughter said the cost was about $7K a month?!!  But the reason is to get her mother's medication stabilized and someone checking on her 24x7 for 30 days to make sure she is getting stronger and better.  Her daughter wants to go home - and I don't blame her there. She's been here for nearly a month.  Her hubby comes out next week and after a few days, both will go back to Florida until the end of the 30 days and the daughter will come back - if her mom is to leave the retirement home.  I receive conflicting vibes from the daughter so am not sure what her plans are for her mother.  I know she wants her cared for.  Obviously they have lots of money and don't care about spending it - she mentioned if her mother stays, they will just let the house set empty for a year or two - it's paid for.  They live in Florida - why would they want to sitting empty?  I don't know.  I will be going with the daughter on Saturday afternoon to visit her mother (as she is having her transported there today!) so that I can see where she is and help calm her mother down, I'm sure.  And the daughter asked me... "you will go see her there, right?"  Of course I will, but it has to be on my timetable.

I got a surprise yesterday when my youngest son, at the prompting of his older brother, text'd me and asked me out for breakfast. (Thanks!)  I thought he was still out of town but he came back yesterday so we scheduled it for this Saturday.  It will be fun to meet up and chat.  I don't see him much either, so hopefully we will be able to chat and catch up, although I just saw him last weekend and we talked some.  AND I get breakfast!  Tonight my daughter and her hubby are taking us out for my birthday dinner with them.  They know a place that has great food so we are going there.  

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV):  "To everything thing there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven."

As I sat here and was thinking of what to write, I am reminded of this verse.  For the next several verses Solomon wrote "A time to....".  But all these 'times' fall into a season.  Everything does.  We are each in a season.  It could be a good season where things are going well, or it could be a very tough season, where it feels like everything is against you.

It could be a fun season where life is good and things are fun.  It could be a hard season where you feel you are struggling just to get through each day.  (I imagine most of us feel like we have gone through those hard times! I know I have!) 

But with each season, it comes to an end.  But what do we do in that 'season' of life?  We all are going through a season right now.  How we deal with that season - whatever it is - helps us into the next one.  It prepares us for what is ahead.  But we have to pay attention.  Never let time get away from you and that you do not accomplish what your dream is.

Go after your dream.  I don't care if it seems so far out of reach - start today.  Pick up that book to read or study.  Sign up for that class.  Go after your dream.  Never let it get out of your grasp.  There is a time for every purpose under heaven.  Your time is now.  Go for it!

Blessings!

Yesterday's title was somewhat off...

 Yesterday I put the title of the 'tongue' and for some reason, instead of talking mainly about the tongue and how it gets us into trouble.... I went off about the temptations - of ice cream, no less!  Obviously I had ice cream on my mind yesterday (temptation?) when I read it.  And, yes, I did dump nearly a full half gallon of ice cream down the garbage disposal after I got up.  Hubby was gone so he couldn't question what I was doing.  

Today is going to be somewhat busy.  Our neighbor, Ms Amy, called us about 10PM last night and was having some medical issues so we ran over to see what was going on.  We ended up calling 911 and they came and took her to the hospital.  I have one telephone number for a daughter, but wasn't getting an answer.  All three of her children live out of state.  I locked up the house and we came back home.  I sent a text to the number I have for the one daughter.  No response.  Expected no answer really - it was 1AM where she lives.  This morning I sent another text 'is this the right number'?  And got a yes response so I asked if I could call and got another yes.

FINALLY.  I talked with the daughter and she had seen my message and had called her mother and said she was still in the ER!  The hospital has no beds.  I'm going over to Ms. Amy's house this morning and get her phone cord and a black knit hat cause it is so cold in the hospital.  Will run them down to her and then will decide if I'm going to meet some friends for lunch or come back home.  I was thinking of bailing on lunch, but may be able to still meet.  Her daughter is flying out on Monday so will be here to take care of her mother.

Which means I need to get up and get moving this morning.  My mind is on Ms. Amy and getting things for her; getting to the hospital to drop them off (thank goodness it is less than 5 miles away); and going to lunch.  But a quick shower and getting dressed is the first priority.  

Although Ms. Amy isn't disabled, I often think of Bonnie, who had lived next door to us at our former house.  I don't visit with Ms. Amy much, but I guess I need to do it more often.   It'shard to find time when I'm in a rut of working, fixing dinner, then sitting down and crocheting, then a hour or so later going to bed.  But, I need to put Ms. Amy ahead of that some evenings and go over and visit.  After all, I'm not on the road for an hour driving home from work, I'm right here.  I've become a hermit; a shut-in of my own making.  I need to make a point of visiting Ms. Amy when she is well, not just when she is sick.  Maybe that's why I'm next door.  After all, we live in a community of 'old folks'... perhaps I am to be checking on those close to us more.  Something to think about.

So - today I guess I don't have any profound (as if I ever do) thoughts to share as I am thinking about the things I need to get done this morning.  So with that, and an empty coffee cup, I think I will hush and get going on my day.

Have a blessed day!