It was a good, lazy day....

 Yes, I said lazy.  We slept in yesterday and then after our 'quiet time', I fixed breakfast for hubby and I.  During that time my youngest calls to say that he had received an email there were 5 'walk-in' openings for blood donations at the post.  Decided I would try to give.  So after breakfast we went to pick up the combo box I get occasionally and then on down to the post.  At first they told me no, but then the person got corrected and said yes - so I was able to donate my blood.  Haven't done it in awhile so maybe the phone calls will stop now from Vitalant to try and schedule me.  At least for a month.

From there we came home and in a little bit I went to Walmart with the intention of getting sink matts as ours were breaking up and I threw them away.  They had one - but it was for a large sink.  so no sink matts. Will look on Amazon, I guess.  Or go to the dollar store; perhaps they have.  Wish Big Lots was back open, they would have.  Anyway - I did buy a few things and then came home.  Hubby was sound asleep in his chair. I unloaded the car, put things away, and was sitting down crocheting when he woke up.

I didn't cook. I even fixed TV dinners for dinner.  I didn't go visit Ms. Diane or Ms. Vicky.  I read some; I took a 10-minute nap; I crocheted.  We watched a movie last night; I read some more.  And that was my Saturday.  Super lazy for sure.  Now I'm thinking today - will I do all the things I didn't do yesterday - today?  I know we plan to go to church, but hubby has been coughing an awful lot this morning.  Not sure if he will come in and suggest we not go and watch on TV.  But then, we haven't been in two weeks (one I had a headache I think, and the other we were in NM) and we really should go.  But if he's coughing a lot, that will be distracting and scary for some people.  It started on our way to NM he said - figured it was because the air was turned down so low and being out in the open (allergies?) for the photo shoot.  But it has continued and he's taking Olive Leaf Extract and Black Elderberry Syrup to combat it.  I'm not monitoring him so it may only be once a day instead of the 3-4 times a day when you are sick.  We have plenty of cough drops so showed him those last night.  Will see.  I need to jump in the shower this morning whether we go to church or not.

I'm not planning on doing much of anything today - although I should.  And I may get the eggs ole' made.  And I may go visit Ms. Diane and/or Ms. Vicky.  I have some things in the back of my mind I'd like to do as well..... but will take it one day at a time.  

Proverbs 1:7 (NIV):  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What do you think this verse means?  That we should fear God?  Yes, we should fear God, but not the way you may be thinking.  We shouldn't 'fear' of what He could do to us because we disobey Him.  But we should fear Him for who He is.  Does that make sense?  For me, it is hard to explain, but I get it.  We should tremble in the Presence of the Holy God.  Not to be afraid of Him, but to fear His goodness, greatness, and love.  Like I said, it's hard to explain.

I've read John Bevere's The Fear of the Lord but it hasn't really clarified it for me. (some things take a while).  Currently, one of the books I'm reading is John Bevere's The Awe of God.  It is somewhat along the same lines, but I'm loving this book thus far.  It is set up to read a section a day.  And at the end of each day is a prayer.  I am in awe of God.  But being in fear of Him is difficult for me for He has been my loving heavenly Father since I have come to know Him.  He is the Father I never had.  One that loves me and forgives me and corrects me and guides me (when I let Him) and holds me close to His heart.  I worship Him; I am in awe of who He is.  But afraid of Him?  But it doesn't mean being 'afraid' of Him, it means to tremble in His Presence because of His greatness.  Does that make sense? I don't think I'm there yet, but I want to be.  I need to push 'me' out of the way and keep my focus on Him and not on me, things I want to do, or on others.  Just Him.

I've learned that somewhat from the Solitude book I was reading.  I really want to apply it to my life. Years ago I would tell hubby on Saturday mornings I was not to be disturbed until about noon, at which time I would come out of the room.  I need to designate a Saturday morning for such a time and enclose myself in worship, prayer, and complete submission.  I long for it.  So why don't I 'just do it'?  It's hard sometimes, but I need to carve out that time for Him.  

You can't get close to God if you are not giving yourself the time and space to get close to Him. Does that make sense?  I can sit here in this room and read, but that's not getting close to Him.  I can watch Christian movies, but that's not getting close to Him.  I can go to church, but even there, although sometimes I can feel His Presence there, it is not getting close to Him.

It's when I lay everything else down and go off by myself, shut the door, and spend that time totally focused on Him.  That's when I feel close to Him.  I need to quit allowing 'things' and 'reading' and people to interrupt my time with Him.  I need to set aside a morning when I can completely surrender that time.

Hubby and I do like to get away and go to a hotel as a retreat - as you know.  And we do spend that time reading in the room, praying (but not necessarily together), and talking about what we've read.  For me, I like being totally alone with God, if that makes sense.  I need to get over 'me' here as well.  I need to keep my focus on God alone, not on my surroundings.  

On another subject, our neighbors catacorner from us has a for sale sign back up in their yard.   Our neighbors next door has theirs taken down.  There is another one for sale just down the block, and in another couple months, another one will be up for sale when Marty returns from Illinois.  I wish hubby would agree to put ours up for sale.  My daughter called the other day and said she found the perfect house for us - and gave the address.  It was the first house we owned when we moved out here.  Ironically, when I laughingly told hubby about it, he said it was too small at 1394 sq ft.  We have gotten spoiled, for sure, with 2105 sq ft at the one house and this one is 1800 or so, I think. I don't even remember.  I wish it was more open though.  Hubby won't move; he absolutely refuses.  Some day perhaps God will bless me with a quaint little house with a small yard that I can plant a small garden and have green grass and a place to just sit with God.  In my mind, at least, I can have that.  Until I get to Heaven and then I can sit at Jesus' feet and worship Him all the time.  That would be my favorite place.

And with that I need to get off here and jump in the shower.  Have a blessed day!

Blessings! 

I almost forgot!

I did - I almost forgot to type in here this morning.  It may be short, though, for I only have about 20 minutes left before I need to start the 'process' of getting ready to go to the RV park.  It will be good to see everyone as it has been since March.  Most left the park and went to their respective states for the summer.  One of our favorite couples won't be back until the first week of December. Looking forward to connecting for meals, games, and just hanging out with them.

Yesterday was a somewhat busy day.  I cooked breakfast for hubby and I and then came in here to go through the message again and get it retyped.  Finally got that finished. I've gone through it again this morning and I think I'm 'ready' to give it.  Later in the afternoon a granddaughter came over and we talked 'bread'.  She had brought things to help me get started, but as we read, we realized that instead of using all purpose flour to start, it said in a book I have to use whole wheat flour will work faster.  Well, if you know me, you know I prefer 'faster' when it comes to baking.  So we opted out of starting a 'starter' for sourdough bread.  I did find some other recipes in the book that aren't sourdough and I can make and just use yeast and let it rise.  I'm looking forward to trying one of those.  Even though I should stop eating so much bread!  I.love.bread.!  But, I need to practice and make sure I can do it right before I can give for gifts, right?  I suggested we wait until after Thanksgiving to start a sourdough starter - it's a bit busy around here already.  I know, December will be busy as well, but I have a lot of things going on right now. Can't wait to get started though!

Today is the RV park and then we will grab a quick bite.  I still have chili in the refrigerator and we need to eat of it today and put the rest in the freezer.  I thought we'd have it last night, but instead I fixed salmon and tater tots for dinner.  Hubby will probably want to go out for lunch.  And, we have the 3PM showing of 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' to go to.  Maybe THEN he will eat one more bowl of chili and then I can put it away.

I did get a big task done yesterday.  I got the freezer totally defrosted and cleaned out.  Our landscaper was here doing our trees and bushes, and I know they don't have much, so I asked him if I could send some food home with him as I was cleaning out my freezer.  He said yes - so I filled up a couple bags with food from the freezer.  He has a growing young family and it's just hubby and I - and I sometimes over-buy on food.  BUT - I did meet my object - I have a shelf cleared off for the turkey when my son brings it over!  I saw I had veggies that have been there for awhile.  May try to fix them some time this week.  I realize I don't have any ground beef, although I do have hamburger patties already cooked and raw.  Yeah, I can do an order to the grocery maybe tomorrow and see what I need to refill.  Better yet, I need to take a run to Sam's Club and pick up a few things.  We don't always eat a lot of meat, but hubby does like a steak every once in awhile.  I do have a small pork shoulder in the freezer that I can make BBQ sandwiches out of.  I will have to have someone over to help eat it or give to the neighbors.  But first, I need BBQ sauce; I'm pretty sure I am out of that.  Need to check the pantry again too. Anyway - all this to say - my freezer is clean!! YAY!!  Thankful that our landscaper was here so that I could give them food.  I asked if it was ok, and he said I would make his wife very happy. Thanks be to God for allowing us to bless them.

Happy to hear my son gets to spend time with his son and his best friend today at the Nascar track.  Praying he has strong legs and back; able to move around freely.  Safe travels there and back.

Daughter is moving again to another house this week.  We still haven't seen the house, but will on Saturday as we will be celebrating a great-granddaughter's 4th birthday.  The years are flying by, for sure.  I think another granddaughter is coming up with her family and am so excited to get to see them as well.

I Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV):  In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Nothing escapes our Heavenly Father.  Not our good, nor our bad.  Not our words, nor our actions.  Nothing escapes Him.  When we curse others, He sees and hears it.  When we bless others, He sees and hears it.  It doesn't matter what we think - what matters is what He thinks.   In all things, we are to give thanks, whether we agree or not.  

With saying that I think of those I have prayed for over the years, even my siblings, who have now passed although I prayed fervently for them to live.  I was devastated.  God didn't give me the answer I wanted.  But He is God and I am not.  He has also answered prayers, as He has reminded me this past week of others I have prayed for that prayers were answered for them.  

He is a good, good Father.  Nothing escapes Him.  All things are under Him.  Do you trust Him?  You are either surrendered to Him, or you are surrendered to the devil.  

I choose to surrender to God.

Who do you surrender to?

Blessings!