I finished the book....

 I read the last part of Restore by Vince Antonucci this morning.  I would recommend this book to anyone - with or without an addiction.  I feel I got a lot out of this book each day that I read it. And perhaps you did as well, since I occasionally would share bits and pieces in here.  I have not gone to TheRestoreCommunity.com and looked at it. Yet.  I'm sure I could find someone there who has similar issues to myself.  Yes, I admit, I have issues.  Addictions. And if you have read this blog for any length of time, you have probably read about my issues. Unfortunately, I tend to be pretty open and honest about things in here, even knowing a child or two may read in here.  Their comments encourage me and strengthen me.  If you haven't purchased a copy of the book yet, you should.  You just may get something out of it.  No, I don't make anything off the book.  Check out Thriftbooks.com if you don't want to buy it new. Or rent from your local library.  Remember those?  Wow. I can't remember when I was last in a library.  It's been years, for sure.

I slept sound last night - I think.  I didn't get up at all during the night - not even for the walk down the hall.  Could it be the copper water or the copper bracelet?  Yeah, I don't know if I've mentioned the latest 'thing' I've been doing.  And I'm not now.  Moving along....

I have my 8a this morning with Sue to discuss my self-evaluation.  Since, as I mentioned in an earlier post, that I will need to work at least two more years (for Cigna to pay their part of my braces in full), I need to get attentive and quit being passive about my job.  I think a lot of it is - in all honesty - boredom.  If I was in the office I would have many things to do. It's the being at home, most find it easier to just do it themselves. Which is what Brett did and although he gave me lots of meetings and other things to do, he didn't communicate well with me, and I didn't learn the basics of getting some things done. I think I even wrote that in my self-eval.  Sue will be encouraging and kind. She always has been.  This evaluation reflects on my yearly raise, I think.  The ARC evaluation we get in the first quarter is for our merit raise - and Sue has always marked me 'exceeds expectations' even when I feel I 'need improvement'.  Of course she sees the 'big picture' of what I do and how it reflects on others and helps others achieve their goals. I just see what I do and figure 'it's part of the job'.  There will never be another boss like Sue.  One of her top directors is going to be interim and I really like her and she has been with the company for 30 years. She is so smart (like Sue) and so knowledgeable, I often go to her and ask 'how do I....' and she always has the answer for me.  Just like Sue has.  But, she talksofastthatsometimesIcan'tkeepupwithher.  LOL You get the picture?

I've also been reading - and have shared bits - of a devotional titled Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst.  I have not read her books before and this devotional I have found has helped me so much in life.  I finished day 99 of the 100 devotionals in the book. Yes, tomorrow I will be finishing up the book. Perhaps I need to wait and share my comments then.  I wish the women in my family would be open to reading it - would be a great gift for them. I did share with my friend CeCe at work (the one that says I mentor her - and I didn't know I was!) and even this past weekend she shared with me how much she was getting out of the book - and even purchased one for a lady at her church who was going through a tough time!  That's how we share, people!  When a book touches your heart, you share it.  

I plan to start the 40 days through Revelation by Ron Rhodes in the next few days in here.  I'm finishing up the above two books and then will see what else is here I need to finish. I sure do love to read and sure do wish I had much more time to do it!  I should make more time....  I do have two books laying on the couch that I want to start... one on the end times and the other.... I forget.  Oh yeah, something about prayer warriors.  Part of my problem is that I have read books, and then I want to read them again - a bit later.  Why is that a problem?  I still buy books and they go on a stack - wherever I am. I have books on my desk. I have books here around my chair. I have books in the table in the front room, I have books in hubby's office.... and I have lots of books on my kindle which I try to read - AND I even have audible that I've been listening to books when I'm working on my diamond art!  Does that say I love to read?  And learn?  I've been a reader all my life.  In high school I could read a two inch book in one day.  That book went everywhere with me until I finished it.  I love books, and I love to read.  Someday I will have 'all the time in the world' to read.  But for now, I have responsibilities...

such as work. and it's almost time to jump up and turn the computer on, change clothes and 'get pretty' so that I can talk with Sue on Teams video.  No, I don't bother with make-up.  I've noticed lately, in fact, that I put it on less and less.  LOL My sister says she doesn't walk down to the mailbox without putting make-up on.  Uh, no.  I am who I am; makeup doesn't change that, right?  I'm beautiful in God's eyes and no one else matters.  I just don't want to scare them to death without makeup when I go out at times. Other times, - BOO!

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV):  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Have you ever read the book of Philippians?  I've read it numerous times, and when I am short on time and want to still read my Bible, I will go to it and read. 4 short chapters, but life changing.  Did you know that Paul was in prison when he wrote the book of Philippians?  He was IN PRISON!!  And he still wrote this letter that is telling us to be full of JOY.  Imagine that.

And - I got to stop right there - it's 6:59a and I got to get the computer on!  

Have an amazing day!  Maybe I will remember to continue this conversation another time.

Blessings!

I was reminded.... 3rd book read

 I finished the third book the other night and yes, I forgot to mark it read until this morning when I read my son's blog with the reminder.  Now I have read all three of the books he gave me for Christmas and I loved each one.  They all had parts that brought back memories of some kind, and many that made me smile - and even chuckle.  I did enjoy all three books. I need to get the books I am currently reading set as reading in Goodreads so that I can get those counted.  Must make myself a note each week to update.  I am trying to read more this year.  

Well, hubby made a decision this weekend.  We had talked about it last season and he let it go.  We've discussed it briefly over this year and he has now made the decision he is going to quit speaking at the RV parks after this Sunday.  He only had two sessions this season - this Sunday, and January 29th.  He told our friends the other night from that RV park that he would like for them to find someone else to do it, if they couldn't, he would go ahead and do it, but that he was finished.  This week is at the other RV park and he dilly dallied around so much about his decision that he doesn't want to call up with just a few days notice for someone to do it.  I know there is a back-up pastor there so it wouldn't be a problem, but it will be his last message.  I'm curious as to what it will be for what he has told me, he has different things in it - but then again, it may be his best one yet.  Kudos he finally made the decision to stop.   I have two left - one at each RV park and I need to get on finding a message to give.  

I'm supposed to meet a friend for lunch today and am looking forward to it.  She lost her husband the week of Thanksgiving as they were getting on the plane (I know I told you about it) to fly to Mexico for the week.  It will be nice to meet with her and catch up, but I am also praying that God will give me the right words to say of comfort and peace.

The board retreat is finally coming together.  The other group that was going to meet my group for lunch have changed their date and pulled out - which is ok.  I just revised my totals for the room and lunch and got it confirmed by my boss yesterday and sent it on to the hotel.  I'm feeling much less stressed about it.  I'm used to being hands on for these meetings and I don't need to go down - which is nice as well.  Although I have been toying with the idea of taking off for the weekend and going down  so we can see our granddaughter and family.... but don't really have a free weekend until after the retreat. Oh well.  I got a guy in finance to sign the contract and my boss is doing his own thing with it - I'm content to be left out of it.  

Psalm 118:5-6 (NKJV):  "I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Oh I remember those times when I called out to the Lord when things were difficult.  When I've had a difficult director to deal with (really! I had one who screamed at me and slammed her hands down on her desk (and caught everyone's attention!) and I would cry out to God to help me be kind and do what I needed to do.  I'm sure I've shared it over the years.  After she yelled at me and slammed her hands that day, and I didn't respond to her, just stood there smiling at her, she paused and said "You have a nice smile."  LOL  And I honestly believe that because I didn't respond, but allowed God to fight that battle for me, that a few years later she came to me and asked me to pray for her and the baby she was then carrying.  Surprised, I did pray for her and her baby.  And God relieved her fears.

Can you recall times when things were really difficult, or you were in a difficult situation and you didn't know what to do?  I can.  Many times with work (mostly because I didn't want to DO it), and the Lord gave me what I needed.  Just like He gave you what you needed to get through your situation.  He is always there, always waiting for us to call on Him, no matter what,.  He will always answer.  It may not always be the answer we want, or we may have to wait for the answer, but He will answer.  The Lord is on your side, just as he is on my side. 

This body will grow old and fade away.  But the Lord's love for me will never grow old or fade away.  And it won't for you either.  We serve a good, good, Father who loves you and cares about everything that you care about.  

Work going rough?  Don't like it? Don't enjoy it? (which is me a lot lately)  Ask Him to help you get through it.  You will be surprised how easy it is to get through the day.  Difficult things going on at home or within the family?   Ask for His advice; His help.  He is just waiting to comfort you and give you what you ask for.  Finances tight?  Ask Him for wisdom.  He will show you what you need to stop spending your money on and what is more important.  I know this for a fact.  I've learned to weigh over the years of how important is this item that I'm buying; do I really need it.  Sometimes I override my thoughts, yes, but overall, I've actually managed to save a little bit.  

My #1 weakness is buying books.  I do need to quit doing that so much... I have a TBR stack in a couple places.  And several on the shelf that I want to read.  Plus I am still downloading books on to my Kindle Fire.  I get a couple emails daily about books I can get at a cheaper price that day... Bookbubs I think it is... and I skim it most days - and if I can get a book by an author I like for $.99 or $1.99 or even $2.99 - when they are normally $15-$20 - yeah, I'll go ahead and buy them.  And because of that, I have numerous books in my Kindle to read.  Those are the ones I can read on a road trip or a getaway so that I'm not lugging books around with me.   Sometimes I do both. Sigh. I just love books.

My #2 weakness, which I have managed to gain control of, is buying yarn.  I haven't bought any yarn since I bought to make an afghan for my son for Christmas.  I need to make one more for a family member, and then I'm done with the family pretty much.  I have been working through the yarn that I get free from our Needles of Hope when they bring it.  Problem there is that it may be just one skein and then I have to match another color to it, even for a baby blanket.  If I do a project, I need to have several of the same color.  Some day I'll go get it, but in the meantime, I have 3 knitting projects going and 3 crochet projects.  Every once in awhile I'll pull one out and finish it, telling myself to not start another one until I get all the unfinished ones completed.  And that works, for awhile.  Why? Cause I go someplace and don't want to take something that I will probably finish there... so will take a new project and of course I don't get it finished...which means I have another incomplete project to complete.  It's a 'vicious circle', you know. :-)

It's Wednesday and I took my pill this morning (almost forgot!) so have been sitting upright in my chair.  Tonight we plan to go to prayer meeting at our church.  Tomorrow night we want to go visit a friend who is in a rehab.  We really meant to go earlier in the week, but honestly, we just forgot.  So, unless I can talk hubby in to going without me, it has to wait until I get off work.   Hope to go tomorrow evening.  

Day four of our fast and we have stuck to it.  I pray for new ideas of how to fix vegetables and, believe it or not, God has helped me create some dishes I have no idea how to do it again.  Of course hubby doesn't eat lunch until I fix it because he can't figure out how to fix vegetables.  LOL  I picked up grapefruit and lemons and oranges yesterday so we can also snack on those.  If anyone wants any - our neighbor's trees are ready to be picked... and we have the pole to pull them down with - but I'm too short (and so is hubby in reality; plus he can't manage the pole) to pull the limbs down.... please let me know and I'll be out to help pick up as you (or someone much taller than me) can pick from the limbs.  The tangelos are delicious.  As I was getting some yesterday another neighbor told me to take lemons from his tree, which is overly abundant this year.... so I dutifully went over and picked a bag full.  Was thinking I'd make lemon meringue pie... then remembered I was fasting.  But I may still make a couple and pass out to the neighbors.  I love to do that.  If my children lived closer and showed an interest, I'd be doing some cooking more frequently and giving it away.  One of these days, and I have thought of it, I may fix a meal and have my daughter-in-law run down when she gets off work - she is actually the closest! - and pick up to take home.  It will be a surprise when... and probably after the fast.  I generally want at least one meal out of it. :-)

Ok - I'm back to rambling so will hush this off.  Continue to pray for specific family members and prodigal children.  So what are your prayer requests that I can add to my list?  What would you want me to pray for?  I'd love to see God answer your prayers.  Let me know....  

In the meantime - hope that you have a good day and that it is full of.........

Blessings!

The stack of books by my chair

 seems to be growing larger.  I am a 'several books at a time' reader, I think.  I think my middle child, who is an avid reader, does the same.  Well, maybe not books stacked everywhere because he reads from his kindle.  But I love the physical book in hand.  And I love the convenience of the books on my kindle as well.  Some day I will read as much as I want to.

In the meantime, I read when I can, which is usually in the mornings as I spend time with God, or in the evenings when I can get hubby to leave the TV off and we have a 'read night'.  The problem with that is he can take all the time he wants during the day to read - and then at night he wants the TV on to watch movies.  Every single night he wants to watch movies.  Usually we do, and I sit and crochet.  But sometimes I just like to be quiet and read.

So this stack of books that is gathering at the left of my chair here, are books that I either want to read, re-read, or am reading.  There's probably about 10 of them here, I'm guessing, besides my Bible.  Which I should be reading intently.  I did tell hubby that after the holidays, starting with New Years, that what I'd like to do is - besides reading my Bible in the morning (perhaps start over in the Old or New Testament), for us to turn the TV off at 8PM and get another version of the Bible and start in the Old or New Testament (what we were not reading in the mornings).  That way we could easily get through the entire Bible in less than a year.  He seemed to think it was a good idea.  And it doesn't have to be 8PM, just a good half hour or so before we go to bed, wind down by reading the Bible and meditating upon it.  I'm sure we both will sleep well.  He did agree, so I am hoping to follow through on this.

So now I am thinking about which version I would like to read morning and evening.  I've read through the NKJV a few times, I've read through the NLT, NIV, several tiimes.  I have a new NKJV that has comments by a specific pastor.  I don't listen to him, and have very few of his books, but thought his explanation of a verse could be insightful.  I think I want to use this book for my evening read.... and an ESV study by another pastor for the mornings.  Not sure yet what I'll read when, but it helps to understand a verse better when you can read a different translation of it.   A good goal to have in the new year, yes?

Christmas is one week away from today.  I actually felt some 'excitement' about it yesterday as it was getting near the end of the workday.  I'm only working 3 days next week, taking an extra day off to finish up on some baking, making sure I have enough groceries to make everything.  I asked my children what they wanted for their meal - and I laughed.  Always subject to change, of course, but the oldest and the youngest want "garbage", and the middle child wants ham.  The ham is in the freezer and I will take it out the first of next week to thaw.  I need to figure out how much hamburger I need and all to make the garbage for the others.  I love to cook, and when I get an opportunity to cook for my children and their families, it brings me great joy.

We went out to dinner last night with a couple from one of the RV parks we go to.  We met up last year too, and there was another couple there that asked if we would want to have dinner one night too, but we haven't met up with them yet.  I speak at that RV park tomorrow.  We plan to go back tomorrow night for their choir contata - the choir director usually insists I sing in their choir if I'm not speaking and we are there (in fact, they asked us last time to start attending weekly there!  Not to speak but just to be with them.  Wouldn't that be a hoot - but we are considering it.)  But, I told the choir director no for the contata - but will see if he will drag me into it.  Even without practice!  We love these people and it is such fun to see them during the months they are in our state.

Christmas.  It isn't just about the gifts and the gift giving... (which, by the way, giving gifts is my love gift, I have discovered).... it's about being blessed by the Savior of the world.  Do you realize how much God loves you, loves each of us in this world?  He loves us so much, and loved us so much back when the world was created, that He sent His one and only son to earth.  And the very people He wanted to redeem, they rejected Him, and crucified Him.  Jesus gave His life, to save us, to bless us, to redeem us.  

Jesus came to earth because of Love... and great is that Love for you that God has.  Jesus gave His life for you because of Love.  Greater love even yet.

What will you give to Jesus this year?  You know what I think?  He wants only you.  He doesn't want you to bring Him gifts.... all He wants is your heart.  Will you give that gift to Jesus this year?  Give Jesus your heart, and feel His love and blessings all the days of your life.  Think about it.  What will you give Jesus this year.  This doesn't cost you any money.  It's the best gift you can give Him.

Blessings!