I finally got a breather

 Yesterday morning was extremely busy at work; it seemed like I was constantly scheduling or looking for times for meetings.  But I finally got through them all.  The afternoon was not quite as bad and I was able to 'chill' for a bit, although still working on things.  The stress level really dropped.  Of course I get an email at 3:58PM wanting something, but by 4:07 I was able to get up from in front of the computer and start dinner.  I fixed a sort of taco salad last night.  Minus beans. sigh. I love beans.  They are high in protein, yes, but also high in carbs. And, of course, I need to watch my carbs.  But with all I piled on it, I think the salad was still less than 10 points; but I told hubby for us to count it as ten points rather than pin point every little carb I put in it.  And it was good, and it was filling.  One thing I have noticed is that neither of us are really snacking.  I may go grab a string cheese between lunch and dinner, and hubby may grab a beef stick, but overall, no chips and salsa, no peanut butter sandwiches, no girl scout cookies, which will add carbs to our count.  30 carbs a day adds up quickly, believe me!  And we are still eating good.  Just not biscuits and gravy, and good food like that. :-)  NOT.  I may have been raised on it, but it doesn't mean it's good for us.  I imagine gravy was created to stretch food out, you think.  Just like I put macaroni in my chili.  The purpose (at least in the midwest) was to stretch the food so that everyone could have some.  I'm sure gravy was the same.  My mama made the best, to which a son will attest to. Along with her fried chicken.

My brother sent us a special gift for Christmas this year. Well, I think I had three before Christmas got here. But one of them was an oil painting of hubby, my brother, and myself from a trip back there a few years ago.  Of course I'm fat in the picture, but truth hurts, right?  Anyway, I decided it is time to get it set up and start on it.  I ordered an easel and a stool yesterday and they will be here Saturday.  I do wish we had a larger house.  There just isn't room for the things I enjoy doing.  I may need to do more rearranging once I get it put together.  Need to make a run down to Michaels to get a canvas to put the painting on. And yes, I am going to encourage hubby to work on some of it as well.  It was a gift to us both.  It may take the rest of the year to get it completed.  And I have no idea where it will go.  It's 16x20 - it may go on a wall in here.  But that is months down the road.  I still have a couple other projects I want to complete as well.  At least if I can get hubby interested in doing some on this painting, I can work on my other projects (my crocheting may be put aside for awhile) like the diamond art projects I have.  There is the big Last Supper one my daughter and I are working on, I got bookmarks and coasters for Christmas to do, I have a Santa Claus I want to finish and have framed to hang up at Christmas time (want to get a good snowman and tree and do as well, but not now), and I think I have a couple more projects.  So much I want to do; so little time to get them done.  My time is precious so if you receive something from me that I made, consider yourself loved, for not everyone gets something personally made. 

Hubby has his breakfast this morning.  He's been moving around more and more and going to breakfast with his friends as usual.  His one friend will be moving as soon as his house sells; it went on the market the other day.  Moving to be closer to his daughters in Oregon.  Hubby will miss him and will need to find someone else to meet on Wednesdays or Thursdays about 9AM for breakfast.

Me, I have my breakfast meeting with my favorite boss this morning.  I need to finish this up fairly quick so that I can get dressed and get on the computer for about 20 minutes before heading out the door.  Not looking forward to the traffic.  Goodness!  I got on the 101E the other day to go to the gym and it was back up bumper to bumper.  Grateful I can stay on the off ramp as I get off at the next exit; just get on to miss the 3-4 stoplights in between the 101# and where I need to get off.  I'll meet her about 8:15AM and it is usually about a 45 minute drive.  Will see where Siri takes me today.  Sometimes it's the 101E to 17S and then on down - but sometimes she has taken me straight across Bell Rd.  Grateful it will at least be daylight.  I don't like this driving in the dark. People aren't as careful.

Psalm 97:10 (NLT):  You who love the Lord, hate evil!  He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

That is definitely true!  I can remember a boss I had several years ago who caused me much anguish.  And not only me, but others.  I supported several nurses and he came in like a bull in a china shop and moved my favorite nurses from me.  I was so devastated I - and they - burst into tears!  He had no reason to do this, but just chose to be mean.  I think he was passive/aggressive or bipolar or something. He reported up to my favorite boss, but she could not do anything without proof. That was before I started working directly for her.  Finally, some of the nurses had proof of the things he was doing to different ones - and when they presented it, my boss had reason to fire him.  But God intervened.  I had been doing a lot of praying during this very difficult time, and I had prayed blessings over this man.  Seriously, I did.  God says in His Word to pray for your enemies, and I definitely counted this man as an enemy, for he eluded evil.  (my boss didn't hire him; she inherited him when she got her premotion)  As she started the process with HR to let him go, he decided to take job at another company which was a higher level for him.  We had a party when he left - for us. :-)  God did bless him, in answer to my prayers.  He blessed him right out of the company!  God protected me and others from the destruction this man was doing upon our department.  And we did recover.  I got blessed and moved to working as an admin under my favorite boss.  That started my administrative journey up to where I am now.  So blessed.

And with that, I need to get off here and jump in the shower.  Hope that you have an amazing day!  Take a moment and thank God for His blessings and His mercy and His favor for you.  Praying for you.

Blessings!

My week is getting busier...

 This morning I get to meet up with my favorite boss for breakfast and our 'admin meeting' as we call it.  She has seen me through so much and walked my life journey with me, and I am so grateful.  She encourages me, she gives me great wisdom, and is just my friend.  I love her dearly and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for her.  And I feel she would do the same for me.  She's that kind of friend.  Looking forward to running away for a few hours from work.

Especially when, in skimming my work emails on my phone last night (how did I get 25 emails from work??!!) and saw that a contract I submitted yesterday had been cancelled, and I have to resubmit it.  Guess what. It ain't happening this morning as I need to leave about 7:15AM to get to where I'm going. Ok, maybe I'll actually open up the email and see what it says other than 'cancelled and needs to be resubmitted'. I've got to 'get over' my frustration with these contracts and the way my less favorite boss sends to me.  He's just doing his job, I get that, and I need to do mine.  Without grumbling or complaining.  sigh.  It's easier to let him know how I don't like doing contracts than keep my mouth shut and just do it.  I still have to do them, whether I like them or not.

My daughter goes in for her hysterectomy and tie up surgery today.  She has been in so much pain and I am grateful they finally got her scheduled.  It's at 11:30AM this morning and I'm already praying for the surgeons and for her to feel God's presence about her and be at peace.  Praying all goes well and the wisdom God gives the surgeons will not allow them to miss anything they need to be aware of.  I'm confident she will be ok.  What blows my mind is they are like doing it outpatient - and will send her home tonight.  Granted, they have advanced in the medical field since I had my hysterectomy back in 1985....  I was inpatient for 5 days!  And they plan to send her home tonight!  YIPES.

I asked her if I could bring over some food on towards the weekend and her first words were 'Garbage!'  Made me laugh.  I'll pick up what I need tomorrow and make it for her in the next few days.  I also found a broccoli cheese soup recipe I want to try - and that is her favorite soup - next to my potato soup I think.  Will see if I get it done.  I know her hubby can fix her food too, and he will, but I want to do something for her.  

I've always liked making favorite foods for my kids when they were not feeling well.  I used to always make my oldest son chicken and noodles... and when he and his wife were both sick, I made a big pot of chicken and noodles.... and then I discovered that only he liked my chicken and noodles... no one else in the family did.  And he has never asked for them again.  I don't know that I have made them sense.  But it does sound good.  Maybe I'll make my own noodles and make some.  Oh I am getting in my cooking mode - but alas, I still have 3 days of work to get through.  Will see what happens over the weekend.  A big bowl of chicken and noodles sure does sound good right now..... yeah....even this early in the morning.

Briefly touched base with my oldest son last night re his recent procedure and issues.  Still concerned somewhat and it sounded like he didn't specifically ask about the issue itself because it was 'getting better'.  It's his body; he's a man; I gotta let him do what he wants to do.  But I was glad to hear he is better and getting meds adjusted for what he needs.  And we all need to lose weight and eat better, so I can't find fault with him there either.  

I heard my youngest had some fillings done on his teeth; and he didn't report in to mama.  Imagine that. I guess he got through it ok.  Much better than having all his teeth pulled like the VA was wanting to do. Enough said about that.

Psalm 97:10 (NIV):  "Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked."

What a good, good Father we have!  Because I love Him, He keeps me in the palm of His hand and takes care of me.  When things come against me, He helps me get through them.  Not that all things are 'wicked' - and I'm thinking about having to do those contracts I don't want to do - but He helps me to either guess the right answer or He helps me fill in the correct information.  He helps me, because I ask for His wisdom and help to get me through each task.  Some days it is harder than others.

And He is waiting for you to ask Him as well; to help you over the hurdles that you may be facing now - or in the future.  Our God is always ready and willing to be there with us - not just for us - but with us and will walk through any task, any journey that we have to go on.  So, so grateful we have a God who loves us unconditionally and will be with us at all times.

Take sometime today and just thank Him for being in your life.  He is always there, even when you don't feel Him.  He's always waiting.... for you.  He won't fix it for you without your permission; He won't help.  You sometimes need to ask Him, and then wait to see His hand.  Of course, there are times too that He will let you do it yourself.  After a while, you will recognize those times.   But for now, thank Him for always watching out for you and your family.  He's worth it.

Blessings!

Whoo Hoo Friday!

 I'm early today because I didn't sleep well last night and when I came in here, I tried to go back to sleep.  Hubby brought my coffee in.. told me to go back to sleep... then he gets in the shower which is right by my chair.  LOL  No worries.  I need to get woke up anyway.  I want to read my Bible but while I'm waking up and trying to keep my eyes open, I'm writing in here. 

I get to have breakfast with my boss this morning!  Her birthday is in a couple weeks and as I won't be seeing her, I'm taking a couple things that my granddaughter has made (and I purchased from her) to give to her.  Plus I bought her a ceramic pumpkin.  And candy pumpkins and candy corn to put in it.  Just a little something to say I love you to her.  She is an amazing boss, for sure.   I am thinking I want to send her a large danish from O & H Danish Company on her birthday.  They have a birthday one that has a lot of sprinkles on it.  Heck with the sprinkles, the danish are amazing.  Can't wait for Trader Joes to get their Almond Danish in December!  Nearly 1/3 of the price I pay from the company - but Trader Joy's only gets the Almond one.  But it is amazing.  

Hubby ordered new hearing aids yesterday.  He went through his Insurance company this time.  The ones he has are battery operated and the battery only lasts a day or two because he is always on his phone listening to podcasts of some thing or another.  Plus, if he sweats - which he does - the batteries go out. These will be re-chargeable so he won't have to be changing batteries all the time.  It only cost us about what we paid for his battery operated ones.  He's happy, isn't that all that counts?

Debating on taking the entire first week of October off.  I am already taking Monday - Wednesday off for our Jailbreak Getaway - #8 this year.  But both bosses are off on that Thursday, and one is on that Friday.  I am thinking I just might - although there is nothing planned for those two days.  Hubby would be happy if I spent Thursday with him... he could take me out to breakfast or lunch or dinner. :-)    I do have a 6:30AM gym appointment on that Friday; I wouldn't have to rush back to work.  Something to think about, for sure!  I could always ask to make it later too, if I took the day off.  

I am hoping to get some cranberry pumpkin bread made and put in the freezer this weekend.  I do need to clean my freezer out, though, so that I have a place to put them.  Want to start on bread and butter pickles too, but will see.  So many wants, so little time, right?!

Just remembered I finished a book last night titled Rekindled Fire by Steve Fry.  It was a good book and held my interest.  It's about rekindling your passion for God.  Need to put it in Goodreads that I finished it.  I'm tickled that I put 36 (I think) books to be read this year and I think I'm in the 40's now.  Maybe I will put 50 next year and see how I do.  I don't read that often, but I do love to read and if I get ahold of a good book, leave me alone, I'm going to take it in the bathroom with me to read!  Reminds me of when I was growing up - I loved to read so much that I would literally have a book in front of me all the time.  If I was washing dishes (pre-dishwasher), the book would be sitting behind the faucet for me to read pages as I washed.  If I went into the bathroom, the book went with me to read.  I have always loved to read and in my high school years, would read a book a day - and these were not necessarily little books, they were at least an inch or more wide!  I especially loved Grace Livingston Hill books and then read Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney.  Wow.  Surprised I still remembered those names.  Actually, I think my son told me one time that Holt and Whitney were the same person; just two pen names.  My oldest son is the only reader and I like to say 'he got it from me'. :-)

Proverbs 9:9 (NKJV):  "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Do you realize that the more you read, the more you learn?  How many times have you quoted from a book you read and in a conversation it came to mind?  I know I've done it frequently.  If you read the Bible, you will find lots of sentences to quote!  Just saying!  But we learn so much when we read His Word and study it!  If everyone even followed the Ten Commandments, this would would be such a better place - do you agree or disagree?  God has given us His instruction book and if we would just read it, study it, follow it, obey it.... life would be so much easier to live.  You get caught on phrases like "Love one another as I have lovedd you."  "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you."  "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength."  By the way, the last one is the greatest commandment. 

Breakfast today, then back to work to finish out my work day.  Tomorrow I have a ladies luncheon at church.  LOL  Remember when I pulled my things together last month and tok it in?  Yeah, I get to do it all over again.  I'm make my deviled eggs today... and make the cherry cobbler tomorrow.  Hopefully they will be edible!

Need to get some time with God in this morning since I started here, trying to wake up.  I think I can keep my eyes open now so that Ic an read.  Hope you have a wonderful day!  Grab a book - and learn something!

Blessings!

Breakfast with my boss

 It's been a little longer than usual, but my boss and I are meeting up for breakfast this morning at a location in between where we live.  It will still take me 45-50 minutes to get there, and her as well, but we do enjoy a light breakfast together and catch up on work-related issues as well as personal issues.  This is the advantage of working together for many, many years.  I think it's been probably close to 30 years now. And it is also the advantage of working in person (like, before COVID) in an office where you are in daily contact and develop a relationship.  I praise God that many years ago she came to me and asked if I would change jobs and work as her administrative assistant.  I told her then that I didn't know how to do those things - and she responded "I will teach you what you need to know".   And she did.  There is still a lot I don't know that many assistants do, but I've had no need to do them, and if you don't do them, learning them doesn't help anything.  I know.  I took classes to help me learn - and then forget because those skills were never used.  Now, on occasion, I am asked to do those skills and I tell them, "I don't know how" and either they have to teach me what I need to do, or they do it themselves.  It's in times like that I really do want to retire.  I don't want to learn new things that I will probably never use again.  I get more frustrated with office politics than I do anything else anymore.  But - happy thoughts - having breakfast with my boss and looking forward to it.

This morning I spent the first hour of my day praying for this nation for mercy and revival from God.  Why did I do that?  Because I signed up for that hour to pray specifically that our nation will have their eyes opened, the people will see the evil of their ways, and that as in 2 Chronicles 7:14, they will humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways and will seek God.  Oh how we as individuals need Him!  And oh how our nation needs to seek Him!  Only God can save us, but before He will, we need to humble ourselves before Him and seek His face, turning from our wicked ways.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NKJV):  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land. 

And our prayers should be that it start with us, that we humble ourselves before God, and seek His face, and ask forgiveness for our sins.  

Hosea 10:12 (NKJV): "Sow for yourself righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord til He comes and rains righteousness on you."

Oh that we would break up the hardness of our hearts and turn to Jesus and seek His face, that He would rain His righteousness upon us!  Our lives, our nation, would be restored and made whole again.  Pray for our leaders that their evil plans will be twarted, that their hearts will be broken for their sins, that they will humble themselves before God our Maker and seek His face for this land.  Pray for Christian men and women to be voted into office who will seek God in prayer before they make decisions that affect the people of the land.  Pray that wisdom will fall upon them, that they will alow God to guide their thoughts and actions.  Oh how our nation needs Jesus!  Oh how we need revival in this land, that we will turn our hearts back to Jesus!   Let it begin with us.  Let it begin with you.

Blessings!