We had a nice surprise yesterday. My oldest son came out for a short visit and brought birthday gifts for hubby, whose birthday is next week. Hubby is still talking about the wrapping of the gifts - he thinks it is hilarious! And I'll leave that there. But the 'theme' is one that is fun. Hubby loved his Gibbs NCIS shirt and is interested in the book. He's in to that political stuff - not me!! But he was very pleased with the gifts and appreciative. And I loved getting to visit with my son until time for a meeting I had to attend, and then a little after.
We went to our bible study last night and it was interesting. I know hubby means well, but between you and me, he sometimes blurts out things that everyone, including me, looks at him and we just have that 'what?' look, I'm sure. I know what he means to say/do by his words, but he sometimes takes things words being said out of context and comments on them. This isn't the first time. I'm not saying he shouldn't comment about things, so I'm not sure how to approach it. He isn't necessary 'wrong' in what he is saying, but it's the way he says it and the words he uses. With all these years of bible studies and reading, I'm sure he knows way more than I do - no dispute there. But he did this at another time (not with this group) that I was with him - one of those "you need to stop this talk right now" type of tone. I know at the other time he was implying they were gossiping, which they weren't, honestly. I don't even remember what we were discussing last night (I wasn't talking, thank goodness, just listening to the conversation - of which he was not participating in) and he blurts out an admonition of something. Total silence. Then people just continued talking. I always notice when he does this and I'm with him, he looks at me, as if to get my approval. I'm sure the shock on my face at his 'commanding outburst' throws him off guard. LOL
Looks like with travels by our leaders (of the bible study) we will not be meeting again until May 6th. That gives us even more time to get over these coughs. I think I'm nearly done with it - I'm actually sleeping through the night deeply now - but I heard hubby coughing quite a bit this morning after he got up. Of course I'm taking my olive leaf and sambucol to get totally over it. I wonder if he is..... I'll have to remind him. We will be hosting again on May 6th - I'm hoping my oven/stove will be back to working by then. Hubby called the other day; supposedly there are only 3 places in the US who can fix it - and it's at some place in Chicago (for the last month!) and they are rebuilding the control board. Come on, people - it's only 3x6" so how long does it take? It's getting frustrating, for sure.
I did get my hair done yesterday afternoon - and I love how the color falls throughout. Didn't get a trim; just the color this time. Working my way back to natural over the course of time. I ended up working until 5PM to make up the extra time I took off. This morning I have an 8:30AM training with Morgan. She had a cancelation so asked if I wanted it. That will give me three trainings this week. I took it - with hubby grumbling that she never gives him a third one. I told him it was because he doesn't respond back fast enough - and I usually do. Well, when she asked for our schedules for next week, he jumped right up and went to tell her, way before I did. LOL With my taking three days off next week (W_T_F) for hubby's birthday and jailbreak, I didn't have much time to give her.
I think hubby and I will find a hotel here in town for July 1-3. We both have doctor Mark appointments on July 1st, which will take 3-4 hours (considering 50 minutes driving time, the visit - which isn't always an hour, but could be), and then back home. I suggested to him last night that since I am off July 3rd already (July 4th is on Saturday this year so we get Friday off), why don't I take July 1 and 2 off and we go to a hotel to 'get away'. He agreed. So I will put in to take those two extra days off. Then we have our August getaway.... and then I will need to start building my PTO time back up. I have to take PTO for the holidays (it's supposedly included in the time we 'earn' each month) so it quickly depletes any time. I've gone my holidays already in through Labor Day. After that is Thanksgiving.... and I'm hoping to retire before then... but will see.
Sue told me that she had told some directors that she was retiring July 31st. She and I have worked with them since MCP days - then Centene - and now here. Their first question to her was ...."is N going to retire the same time you do?" She told them no. But it's funny because everyone knows we are attached. But no, I would not retire the same time as her - she deserves all the attention. Someone was asking yesterday about her retirement party and is already on it to plan. I just kept my mouth shut. I will get with her in a bit and ask what can I do. We will have a celebration in the Mesa office - which is great for me. I will drive down for that. I don't want to do a hotel room thing. And I definitely do not want to drive to the downtown office! I still need to decide what to get her; she has been my closest friend for over 30 years. What shall I get her?
One of the EAs I work with called me yesterday and asked me about retirement.... I told her 'between you and me' (and I can trust her), I would like to retire November 20th, but I am in a battle with hubby to do so. We talked about it for awhile. I think she plans to retire in another year. Her husband has a pension from the military, plus from a job, and she has a pension from some place so they will be ok financially. And that's our problem. Because hubby never held a job long enough to get a 401K built up, or a pension, and quit work at 70 with no regards for our finances. And I'll leave that there for it is a very sore spot for me, and makes me angry. Can we make it on my 401k (which isn't a whole lot) and our social security? I think we can; it will be tight, and I will have to cut back on gift-giving and spending - but I think we can. After the subject of my retiring came up again last night at bible study, on the way home, hubby says that we need to sit down and go over all the bills again (we never have so I don't know where the 'again' is coming from) to see if it is possible for me to retire. Maybe the best thing is for me to take FMLA from work - unpaid - for perhaps a month, just to see how not having a pay check coming in will affect us. But I'm willing to work, and would be willing to find another job nearby - but I think I just want a break from constantly sitting in front of the computer. Not that it's hard work. Take about the board meetings and the preps for it and I'd probably be happy. :-)
Today's devotion was another good one. Talks about taking what we have, where we are, and using it for God. You know my heart has always dreamed of working at a church. And I don't know that there would be a paid position place at where we go now. Volunteers are always welcome, of course. erase erase. Sigh. Obviously my dreams and God's plans for me are not the same.
Judges 3:31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.
I am a woman who wants to make a difference for Christ. I want my life and legacy to count for something with eternal significance. I want to stand before God one day knowing I fulfilled His purposes for me. But I always feel like the problems are too big and I'm too small and unknowledgeable to work with them.
But we learn from Shamgar that he offered himself, right where he was. He used what God had given him, and in doing so, he was an ordinary person, just like you and me, doing an ordinary job. What he did - killing the Philistines - 600 of them! - with an oxgoad, is taking what he had and using it. What is an oxgoad? This is unreal. It's a cattle prod. Shamgar was a farmer, with a cattle prod, and with that tool he killed 600 Philistines! Not that I should go out and kill anyone with my cup of coffee and a book - which realistically is all I have.
But what if I sat down long enough to listen to God and write what I hear God saying to me daily? What if I could write a devotional, a journal, a story? You know, years and years ago, I always dreamed of being an author.... and was so thrilled with my oldest son, and his daughter, both love to write stories. My son has a beautiful knack of saying words that keep your interest in his stories, and I love when he does write. But he doesn't share much, and when he does, I read.
And with all this - my time is gone this morning and I need to kick on the work computer. Yes, it is that time - and I need to get dressed for the gym as well, for I will need to leave about 7:45 to head that way.
Hope that your day is amazing and full of abundant....
Blessings!
