And we are 'off ... well, soon....

 I didn't sleep well last night - not because I am excited about being on vacation - although I am - but because my left hip decided to ache all night - bad enough that I got up and took an excedrin in the middle of the night (didn't want to dig for the ibuprofen in the cabinet), but by then my body was also starting to awaken from my upper and lower body workouts this week.  

The landscapers have arrived this morning and they woke my daughter up, using the leaf blower in the courtyard.  They ARE loud.  And annoying.  

I have barely started to pack; I suppose I need to get on that pretty soon, now that the daughter is up and getting ready to get in the shower.  I'm sure I will forget something.... that's how prepared I am. LOL I'm excited to go, don't get me wrong; just haven't gotten around to packing much just yet.  After I finish this, I will get started.

We took hubby out for dinner last night and was glad the oldest son and wife were able to have dinner with us.  My daughter, and granddaughter and family, also came.  I think we all were disappointed with the food at some point.  I ordered the small bear paws with the mashed potatoes and broccoli and carrots - I couldn't eat the broccoli and carrots - carrots were hard and the broccoli looked like it had seen better days.  Hubby got IHOP gift cards which made him very happy as he goes there on Thursdays to eat when he meets up with his friend.  At least we took him out and he was happy he got attention.  

It's kind of funny, in a way.  My daughter comes home and I haven't seen her since ... January?... don't remember... and we really don't talk much - sometimes not even weekly.... and we didn't really have much to talk about when we had some time alone.  When I meet up with my little sister, we sit up and talk about everything, and we talk fairly often!  Just think it's ironic.  But then, I knew my daughter was tired as it was also a travel day for her.

We don't plan to leave for at least a couple hours yet so we are just taking our time getting around.  I've already done my devotions and had my cup of coffee.  And here I type.  Not that I have much to talk about this morning.  Not sleeping well at all, I'm tired and I just may have to nap on the way up - although we are only going a couple hours or so out of town.  We will stop for breakfast after picking up the granddaughter and great-granddaughter.  We can't check in the airbnb until 4PM - can you believe we got an email that said if we wanted to check in earlier, it would be $50 more?  Naw, we'll wait until 4PM.  We have shopping to do.

I need to pull out a couple board games to take and need to start packing for real.  I got a wooden doll house I had ordered a few weeks ago - it came yesterday.  I plan to take it with us, but I have already told the great-granddaughter it will come back to Oma's house; it isn't going home with her.  That way the other great-granddaughters can play with it as well.  

I'm just being lazy this morning.  Is this what retirement would feel like?  I've pretty much decided I probably won't be retiring, at least any time soon.  It will depend on when they hire to replace Brett, and then replace Sue after she retires.  If I can't make a 'connect' with the new ones, I may go ahead and take retirement and find another job.  I kind of like having money to spend whenever I want to, and not have to ask hubby's 'permission'.  

Daughter just came in to tell me the high today where we are going is 65 degrees.  I will make sure I have a thick sweater. LOL  I just don't do cold.  Although 65 isn't bad.  It's somewhat cool this morning and we have the front door open. Of course I have my thick housecoat around my shoulders.

Ok  guess I need to get off here.  Hubby has stopped his quiet time and is opening the blinds (I'm still on the couch) and my daughter is taking her shower in my bathroom.  I need to pull out the games and get some things pulled together; at least start packing, right?

I plan to take my computer with me and can hopefully keep you alert to all our activities....  not that we do much while away.  We kind of work things around our great-granddaughter.  And shopping. :-)

So - with that - I will stop my boring chatter and sign off for today.  Hope you have an amazing day.

Blessings!

What image do we project?

 Have you ever stopped to think about what image you project to others?  Think about this - we have three images:  a perceived image, a projected image, and an actual image.  What's the difference?

Our perceived image is how others see us.  Our projected image is the way we desire others to see us. Our actual image is who we really are.  While our actual image can be hidden from others, it it fully visible to God.  And, it is how we will be revealed before God at the judgement seat.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV):  For we all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

In other words, how we have lived our life here on earth, is what we will be judged by in front of the judgement seat of God.  What is the difference from the above?  Think about this - Jesus was misunderstood, falsely accused, identified as a drunkard and glutton, a heretic, and even accused of satan using him.  He was rejected. His perceived image was unfavorable in the eyes of many.

Jesus' stepbrothers wanted Him to 'prove' Himself - and pressured Jesus to live out a projected image.  "you say you are the Son of God; show your miracles to the world and prove it!"  But yet, Jesus' actual image is quite different from what many perceived, for he is the visible image of the invisible God.  Jesus' perceived image isn't what endured beyond His death and resurrection.  What endured, is His actual image.

So sit back and think about who you are.  Who are you when around others?  When around your friends; around your family - are you the same person, and are you giving a perceived, projected, or an actual image?  Seriously, I want you to stop and think about this.  I did.

All of us want people to think good of us.  I'm one of those people.  I don't want people to know my bad days or my bad thoughts (well, obviously you do, if you read in here!).  But I don't want to be known by those.  I don't try to pretend I'm better than anyone else (I'm definitely not!) and I don't want others to look at me and think that I'm boastful or prideful (you know how pride and I fight all the time!) but I want them to see the REAL me.  Broken, bruised, yes - but one who has surrendered their life to the One who can save me.  It doesn't mean I don't fall at times; but when I seek Him, and ask forgiveness, I know that He will help me give up the things that try to take me down and will set my feet on His firm found dation of solid ground.  

We have seen what pride has done to some people; and sadly they don't realize that people reject them for their pride.  We all know people like that.  What can we do with those people?  We pray for them, that their eyes will be opened, and we forgive them for this projected image.

We have seen what people do when they want others to think highly of them - when in reality, we know they are not who they think they are (even in their minds).  

Why can't we be the person we are?  What causes us to be afraid of who we are and don't want others to see it?  The thing is, when judgement comes, God sees all.  Who are you, really?  Be that person! Don't hide behind who you think you are or want to be.  Don't be 'like' someone else, be yourself!

Ok - I had that on my mind because of my reading for today so wanted to get it out there before I forgot and moved on. So now that you have skimmed through all that.... 

We had our Revelation study last night at church and it went well.  Because we don't get home until about 8:45PM (past our bedtime!) we stay up another hour or so just to relax and get ourselves ready for bed.  And what happened this morning?  I woke up at 3:15AM, but was able to go back to sleep - after all, I had 45 minutes more, at least, right?  I woke up next at 5:20AM!  So I'm having to skip some of my reading this morning so that I can type in here and get on the work computer (which I already have up).  (So am I perceiving, projecting or actual?)  Trust me - this is me, running around like a chicken with its head cut off because I'm running behind my 'schedule'!

Today is work; still trying to learn aspects of PowerPoint. I know some basics, but I need to learn more. Watching YouTube videos to hopefully find the answers I need on how to fix a PowerPoint slide.  Yesterday wasn't that busy so was able to watch some (then got bored and turned it off).  Today I'm not sure what all I will have to do; I know I have 3 meetings I need to move as soon as I can.  Was waiting on responses of availability when I signed off last night.  My workout is at 5PM so no rushing around there. Then we are taking a grandson out for his birthday.  Nothing fancy; probably will just go to Mercer's not far from him.  Housecleaners are coming today so I need to do pick up off the couch and straighten a few things.  I think this time I will not have this room cleaned; my amazon boxes are stacking up (I have no place to store the items inside for now - Christmas gifts).  So - for at least two months he can skip this room, as we have done before.  The only thing it really needs is the carpet done but I have boxes all over it so may as well skip it.

And with all that - I need to get off here and head to the work computer.  Once I sign in and skim messages, I'll get dressed as the housecleaners will be here between 8-8:30AM I think.  They do a great job cleaning, for sure, since hubby won't clean and won't let me (except when he's gone and I can sweep and mop the kitchen floor!).  I'm usually embarrassed things are messy, but they don't get touched except once a month.

Today is my youngest son's birthday - 51 years old... doesn't seem possible.  Grateful God has answered my prayers and protected him all these years; he has done some really stupid things.  As we all have, but.... and I'll leave that there. Happy birthday, son, just in case you read here.

Blessings!

We have a birthday boy....

 or should I say 'man'!  LOL  Happy birthday to my middle child, my oldest son.  I haven't sent a text - yet - cause I don't know if he is up yet or not.  He usually is, based on comments in his own blog, but, I will let him sleep in case he isn't.  I try to be considerate of phones dinging early in the morning.  He knows I'm up early every day so that is never an issue for me.  But - I am thinking about him this morning and wishing him a very special and happy birthday. 

It was Labor Day on this date 53 years ago.  I know I have shared this story before.  I should go back to the years I have typed out the story so that I don't get it wrong. You know how the mind fades at times and I am no exception for that happening.  But, I shall trudge on.  It was Labor Day. My handsome husband and his brother wanted to go hunting.  I didn't mind - so since I was due to deliver any day (being already a week past due), they dropped me off at my mother's house.  To make the time go by faster, mother was trying to teach me to crochet a doily.  I wish I had paid more attention, but I did have other things going on.  It wasn't long before I got up to go to the bathroom and - swoosh! my water broke. I told mother and she got a towel for me to sit on. I was beginning to feel strange things happening in my body.

I can't tell you, even after having one child, how unprepared I was for what was going on in my body. (My first event with labor I was sedated so I didn't feel anything).  I was not prepared for what I was beginning to feel.  My stepfather decided that maybe he should go gas up his car about the time I started getting some very sharp pains.  He left, and thankfully, my husband and his brother arrived back to pick me up (before cell phones or they would have been called earlier; and they returned empty-handed).  I was rushed to the VW that we had and we rushed to the hospital some 45 minutes away.  We made it. My doctor was on vacation. His replacement took his time getting there.  By now I'm screaming in pain and was told to shut up. They would not give me anything for the pain because the doctor had not ordered it. Nothing.  Like I said, I wasn't prepared for pain like that.  Kudos to the many women who choose natural childbirth.  It was not on my list of things to experience.  

I was soon taken into the delivery room and they still could not give me anything because the doctor had not arrived to order it.  My baby boy decided to arrive without waiting on the doctor and pushed through - with me screaming as the doctor walked in the door and the nurses immediately put the gas mask on my face and knocked me out.  Hallelujah!  There are some memories that just will not go away!  I was resentful of that doctor for taking his time and making me deal with pain I had not experienced before. I had not seen this doctor before, and I refused to see him again.  I still remember his name.  I know it was because I was in such pain that I took a dislike to this doctor.  He could have made sure I was 'comfortable' before he arrived.  After all, my first child's doctor sedated me to where I hadn't felt pain. But no, I experienced it that time and decided a boy and a girl were enough.  But God had other plans. More on that in October.  

So Happy Birthday to my second child, my husband's namesake.  Prayers are prayed for you today, much love is sent your way.  May your day (and weekend) be blessed, be safe, and be one of great memories and love.  I love you, son.

This too shall pass.....

As I sat here, thinking of what else to write, I tried going to Bible Gateway to find something to do with 'time'.  I don't know why that word, 'time', was in my mind.  Reminds me of what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastics where there is a time for everything.  But my thoughts went to a saying my mama always said to me when I would go to her for help, for wisdom in what to do.  She always said.... "This too shall pass...." , and you know what?  It always did.

The pain in the moment, the indecision, the uncertainty, the troubles that were happening... all of it would pass.  When I would call my mama up and cry because one of my sisters had written a crushing letter to me, telling me I was a bad mother, that I hurt THEIR feelings, or I had embarrassed THEM... and I would call sobbing because it hurt so badly.... and mama would always say.... "pray for them, they need prayer to help them.  This too shall pass.....".  Perhaps she had heard those words many times herself.  She would comfort me, and in time, it did pass.

I was rushing on time yesterday. I was tired. I was cranky. I wanted nothing more than 4PM to get there so that I could turn the work computer off.  I was tired of trying to find time for meetings.  30 minute meetings are bad enough - but the 60 minute meetings were even more difficult to find for the people I support.  And true to form, about 15 minutes before 4PM, I got an email requesting 60 minutes with my male boss. And not only ONE meeting, but WEEKLY.  I know trying to find an hour every week in his calendar is next to impossible.  I was frustrated. I wrote and rewrote and erased many sentences before I finally fired one off to the person asking if they could make it 30 minutes instead.....  and after I hit 'send', I felt guilty because I had allowed my frustration to come out.  I thought about it most of the night, how I should have just not responded until this morning. Allowed my frustration of the day to calm down. But I didn't. She had also sent to another assistant and they hadn't bothered to respond. I felt they needed a response. So I gave one. Perhaps not the nicest one I could have sent like "sure! happy to do it!" (cough cough).  I see that the other assistant responded that we three can get on a phone call this morning and go through calendars to see what we can do.  UGH. I don't mind the phone call to sort it out - I keep my mouth shut in those. But... so I feel bad because of my whiney email. And I will apologize because I let myself hit send.  I think I'm just mentally worn out - even with just a four-day week.  This four-day week feels like two weeks rolled into one.   And I'm tired.

But - now my morning time has run out and I need to jump on the computer and get started on my day. It's Friday and I still need to work on some contracts for legal that have been sitting for three weeks; just can't get to them.  That's how busy I've been. 

Today is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Blessings!

And we have a birthday boy!

 Yep - today is my middle child's birthday.  I can easily remember the day he was born.  Uncle Dennis had come to spend the weekend with us and my husband and he were planning on going squirrel hunting the morning of Labor Day.  Yes, he was a Labor Day baby.  He now gets to share that honor with his nephew, who was born yesterday, on Labor Day.  Anyway.... they went hunting after dropping me off at my mother's house.  After all, I was already a bit late on delivering this child (and at that time, we had no clue until they came out what they were! First words out are "what is it?")  so didn't want to be left at home alone with our oldest child of 2 in case something happened.  Good thing.

Something DID happen at my mother's.  She tried to teach me how to crochet and I actually was able to create a small doily,.... and I had to go to the bathroom.  I came back and told my mother that my water had broke - so she told my stepfather to get the car ready.  So what does he THEN decide to do?  Go get gas in the car.  I'm sitting on a towel in the chair, trying to crochet and focus, when the pains start.   Thank goodness, my husband and his brother arrived about then and instead of waiting for my stepfather to return, I got in to the VW with the 'guys' and off we headed to the hospital - about a 45 minute drive, if I recall at that time.  The pains were starting to get harder and faster, and hubby was driving as fast as he dared.  

We made it.  But, of course, my doctor was out of town so his 'cover' had to be called.  I never did like that doctor.  And because he made me wait until he had a cup of coffee before they put me out, I liked him less. (by then I was making a lot of noise - to the point the nurse told me to shut up!  How dare she!!)  Daggone it, it hurt!  My first pregnancy/delivery was so easy, I was expecting this one to be.  Nope, it wasn't.  

But the result was well worth it when this beautiful baby boy was laid in my arms.   We were so happy with a boy, making him my husband's namesake.  And today is this 'baby boy's birthday.  Happy birthday, son.  I am so proud to be your mama.

Just text'd my son Happy Birthday.... I waited so I wouldn't wake him in case he could sleep - but he responded he had been at work since 5AM.  Reminds me he had said he could work 10 hours today if he wanted to.  He's usually awake so it's a good thing he can start early.

For my son on his special day.... 

Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV):  "May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace."

Yesterday was a good day off work - cookout at the daughter's, then off to the hospital to see our new Labor Day great-grandson.  Mom and baby are doing well.  It was nice to be able to relax and do a little reading before heading on to bed.  And here we are, another day, and I have to work.  I was wishing yesterday, and again today, that I had taken today off.  But I did not.  But I will take off work early as I have a new doctor's appointment today.  Still unsure if I should change doctors - especially since I had forgotten and discovered the other day - in 'My Portal'..... any doctor I see can see what the other doctors are doing... which means, my current doctor can see I am going to a new doctor... and here he is prescribing for my mammogram and bone density... well, I still need to get them done.... I don't need to see him at all... they will call me with the results of the tests - plus I can read the notes in My Portal.  As can any other doctor I have.  (squirm squirm)  I'm a private person for the most part.  Not sure I like everyone seeing who I go to and what is done.  But I get it - saves transferring notes - which they never did get from my doctor of 30+ years.  Its' almost like starting over - but going into the notes, it isn't.  I'll be taking off work a bit early to get to this doctor's appointment - and will see how it goes.  At least I can get established and can gradually move over to her this year.  First time I've ever had a female doctor - this may be a good thing.  Females don't look at you like you are nuts when you tell them something.  Men just don't always understand.  And some things you just can't tell a man - even if he is your doctor!

Now to hit the shower and get dressed and ready for the day.  Need to quit procrastinating on the minutes and get them done - today!

Blessings!