I needed the day...

 Ever have some days that you just need the quiet?  You need the 'do it yourself aloneness'?  I sorta kinda had a day like that yesterday.  It was a day of enjoyment with friends, quiet working on a craft, finishing a book, and driving around and ending up with Mexican food for dinner.  Two movies finished up the day.  Yeah, I had a good day yesterday.   Got to bed late last night because of the movies, but slept all night - which is unusual in itself.  And it was a deep sleep.  I'm feeling 'mellow' today ... know I have things to do this morning, church, then after a quick lunch, head over to a facility where a friend is speaking so that I will know what to do next week when I cover for him.  Then the afternoon/evening should be relaxing.  Will see how that thought pans out as the day goes on!

Words of praise - how often do we brush those off?  Compliments - how often do we say 'oh it was nothing' - when it may have been?  I know I am guilty .... for some reason, sometimes, it is hard for me to receive a compliment.  But send me a letter with a compliment in it, and it will go in my treasure box.  There are some people who will read a letter that compliments them, but then will just throw them in the trash for they don't want 'stuff' laying around.  They will say they read it and that's all they need.... but that really isn't true.

How many times when we are in a 'low' space, that we need that word of compliment, the word that says we matter?  Mom, you are doing a good job.  Your house may not be perfect, but you are raising your daughter(s) and your son(s) to love Jesus.  That is more important.  Dad, you are doing a great job.  You show your daughter(s) how to be treated by a man by how you treat their mother.  You show them love by disciplining them in the right way.  Daughter, you are valued as you respect your parents and learn from them, and follow their leading.  Sons, you are blessed when you respect your elders and honor them as you learn from them.   Sometimes we just need to know that we matter.

I feel we all have days that are really low.  We think poorly of ourselves.  We spend too much money recklessly and wonder how in the world did we lose our mind and buy that? (Yes, that happened to me recently.  Something I bought; I still wonder why did I buy that? It was stupid; I got roped in to it by not paying attention to what I was doing.)  We beat ourselves up for our words, for our actions, and think we are not worthy of compliments.  We respond to someone about something that we shouldn't have, and we beat ourselves up about it.  Or even worse, we hold it in and withdraw from those that we love because we don't agree with them.

We make a mistake and yet something good comes from it.  What do we do?  We get a compliment on how well it turned out, and we instead will bring up what the worst part was.... when all we need to say is 'thank you'.  They may remember what started it, but that isn't important, what is important is the end result.  Right?  Don't buy in to the natural, but in to nothing is too hard for God!

God can take the hardest circumstances and make them better.  I am living proof of that.  From the life I had growing up, from the life I made for myself out of my own self-centeredness, I truly believe God has taken the bad and set my face towards Him and has taught me how to live for Him - and that is always better.

Jeremiah 32:26-27 (NKJV):  "Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for Me?"

I am grateful that God thought me worthy enough to send His one and only Son to die for me.  And you know what, God thought you were worthy enough too, and sent His Son to die for you.  He redeemed us.  He covers us with the righteousness of Jesus.  God's arm is not too short, and He reaches out for you and for me, and draws our hearts and minds close to Him.

My mind is all over the place this morning (do I apologize for that?) but the thing I started with... or perhaps just touched on... when you receive a compliment, just say thank you.  And put that thought in your mind for reference.  But when you receive a written praise or compliment, or something that was good from something you did (like the note I got from a granddaughter recently), don't just read it and throw it away.  Take that note and put in a treasured place, where you keep those special things, and when you need that encouragement, go to that treasure box, and pull it out, and read it and be encouraged once again.  And sometimes we need to write one.  Think about it.  Perhaps it is your spouse; write them a note of appreciation.  Maybe it's your child that needs to hear a word of approval from you.  There is something always to say good about.

Nothing is too hard for God.  If He can forgive us for all our sins, and His arm is not too short to provide for us even in the most difficult times, praise Him.  Thank Him.  Write Him a note of praise, adoration, and love.  He hides those in His heart too.

Blessings!

I'm taking it as a compliment...

 I had my second training session this morning.  The first one was legs (and it took me about 4 days to recover) and then nothing for about 10 days cause I didn't plan to start until this week.  Today is was biceps and shoulders and triceps.  I can barely move my arms already and I just got back.  They are like they are fluid! I know in time it will get better, but for this first one... I can barely move my arms to scratch.  10-12 reps, 3 sets, on about 5 different machines.  Yeah, fluid is a good word.  

The compliment... while I was working out, the trainer tells me... "I can't believe how much you look like my grandmother!  When I saw you walk in the first day, I wondered why my grandmother was there."  Now I could take that different ways.  I AM a grandmother..... so I really can't be offended.  40 years ago maybe I could have been, but at 73, I am happily everyone's grandmother!   I told him I would consider that a compliment. :-) Maybe that will make him 'nicer' to me.   NOT.

Then there is last night.  Ms. Amy was brought back to her 'condo' and was doing her laundry so that she can finish packing.   She tells her daughter that "she (meaning me) is like my sister!"  (I told her I was thinking more along the lines of her daughter.... Ms. Amy is 87)  Earlier Ms. Amy had called me and said she was there and for me to come over and get the patio table and four chairs.  So I text'd my youngest son and he came over to help move it over.  Took maybe 3-5 minutes to get it all brought over to our back 'patio'.  It looks like a nicer set than what we have in front, so will probably do a switch, but I want to clean these off first.  

A little later Maria called me to come over as she was getting ready take Ms. Amy back, if I wanted to visit.  I signed off work 30 minutes early and went over.  Maria told me I didn'tget the glider that matched the table and chairs - so her hubby and I carried it over to our place.  I visited with Ms. Amy a bit and then came back home.  A bit later, Maria calls me again to come over, so once again I run over there.  There were a couple angels that Ms. Amy had sitting out in her courtyard that Maria wanted me to have.  So I just took them and put over on my side.  She got a call so I was able to 'escape' and come back home.  I was surprised she didn't call me back over again.  They are having Uber pick them up around 8 or 8:30 this morning and then will be heading over to pick up Ms. Amy and off to the airport they will go.  I hope they have a safe trip.  I gave Ms. Amy a small package of note cards, stamps, and my address, and asked her to send me a note with her new address.  Maria and her hubby will be back here the first week of August to get their things shipped to Florida that they want.  I asked Ed, her husband, what were they going to do with everything that Maria has decided that she 'has to have' shipped to Florida for herself.... He kind of grimaced then said "I think we need to re-evaluate what she wants to take; we don't have the room."  

Hubby has gone to drop his car off at the Buick place... the check engine light had come on so they are running a diagnostic on it.  Hopefully, if it takes a while, he will get a courtesy ride home and I won't have to go get him.  I'm holding off jumping in the shower until I know he is back home, in case I need to drive to pick him up.

Kinda distracted around here this morning; it's after 7AM so am also on my work computer - and going back and forth.  It looks like another light day - which is good.  Frees me up to complete tasks that I haven't gotten completed yet.  That's the advantage of working from home... I can multi-task when I need to.

Meeting up with my daughter tonight for us to look once again for the dresses for the upcoming July wedding.  They want us to wear specific colors... otherwise it wouldn't be such a big deal.  But, finding the specific colors tends to be a big deal.  Starting at the mall tonight and then will hit David's Bridal once again.  Seems they are having a 60 percent off sale.  I am thinking they are going out of business at this location.  I still plan to take the dress I already have to the alterations person and have them adjust it to my body.  Maybe I can get this done by this weekend and mark that off my list.  I'm short, so it still needs about 12-18 inches cut off the bottom.  Are people nowadays really that much taller than me?  I don't have high hopes of finding anything here in the mall; I've already looked through several places. But - maybe there is a store I don't know about.  And Prom is over so maybe there will be something I can choose from.

And with that... my ramblings will stop for today.  I need to get back to my work computer and put this one away.  Hey - at least I managed to add a little something and not just let the day go!

Take a moment and give someone a compliment... you just might make their day.  I would suggest though, don't tell your wife she reminds you of your grandmother. :-)

Blessings!

It was a compliment for sure!

 I walked in to our Bible study last night and - believe it or not! - two of the young men (20 years old no less!) immediately said "I love your hair cut!!"  Cracked me up.  Geez, was it so bad before?  Could have been, for I did not curl it for Bible study.  After all, we were meeting in a home, it wasn't like we were at church.  But I did get several compliments on it last night, but the fact that the two 20 year old young men were the first to notice as I walked in to the room made me laugh.

I had 75 messages yesterday morning when I signed on to the computer, but quickly got through them. And I even got started on pulling together the board retreat.  I was told I didn't have to attend (YAY!) so that is a good thing.  But it means I need to make sure the hotel - if that will be the final meeting place - comes through on everything.  I've asked for quotes - which should be interesting.  I looked online and rooms right now are nearly $500 a day - plus they charge $35/day resort fee.  I'm hoping I can keep everything there for they would take care of the meals and meeting rooms, whereas, if my boss thinks he needs to save money, will have me reserve a conference room at the Tucson office and then I would have to have food catered there and someone watch to receive it, etc.  It would be a lot more of a hassle.  Oh well, I can only do what I'm told to do.

I did manage to get online for a bit yesterday and ordered some things for Christmas gifts.  I'm trying to write everything down that I've already purchased, and write down what I've ordered.  I think I'm done with a few of the grandchildren.  Very few.  I realized yesterday that I bought a pair of pants for one - he wears a 30x32 and I bought 32x30.... grabbed the wrong one.  I don't think I have any grandsons that size so will have to take them back this weekend.  Now I need to start my wrapping and get that done - after all, I have to do it all - the shopping, paying for it, and wrapping.  That's ok, I have a better idea of what is what cause I do have to do it.  But I am really at a loss for some and they will have to 'take what they get'.  I buy everything in love and with thoughtful consideration; it isn't just picking something up to have a gift to give.  My problem usually is I want to give everything.  

Matthew 10:8 (NKJV):  "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give."

Actually, the words that came to mind first were the 'Freely you have received, freely give'.  I was thinking this morning how grateful I am for God's blessings that we can buy gifts for others, even those we don't know.  I can remember when we had so little to give, that it actually hurt that we couldn't do more.  But we gave what we could.  Yesterday I was able to go online and purchase a few things for the children at CRS.  We had gotten an email from one of my (work) case managers with a 'wish list' for these kids.  I sent him an email and asked what are most needed of this wish list.  He told me that the older kids are the ones that usually don't get much as people love buying for the little ones.  So I focused on the items for the older children on the wish list.  Now I'm not sharing this for pats on the back - I don't want that.  I'm just thinking how grateful I am that God has blessed us at this time that we can purchase a few items and donate to others.  God has been so good to us.  

And now that we have gotten older, we need less, and can give more to others.  I'm truly grateful for that for it does my heart good.  Some day my children will understand it is better to give than to receive.  Right now some of them blow off the 'receive' part.... and I get it.  I'm always grateful, but sometimes feel so humbled that someone would give me a gift.  Just like last Sunday when the gentleman gave me the necklace.  It wasn't anything expensive; it was the thought that he wanted to give me a gift of appreciation.  That humbled me, but blessed me as well.  No way was I going to refuse his blessing me and take away his own blessing!

Reminds me of a time - and I'm sure I have shared it in years past - when I was at a very small gym and was riding one of the exercise bikes.  There was another woman on a bike in front of me.  The gym had glass windows on three sides.  As I rode the bike, I observed an elderly man with a shopping cart full of 'stuff' walking from the right.  I watched as he walked past the doors, then stopped, pulled out a couple things wrapped in tissue paper and came in to the gym.  He first walked up to the woman in front of me and she was totally rude.  He was offering her a tissue wrapped gift and she refused him and told him to go away.  He looked so forlorn.  He then turned and came to me and smiling, offered me his gift.  I took it.  I remember looking into his eyes and he tells me, "God bless you".  I thanked him for the gift and he turned and walked back outside, and started walking on around the building....and I kid you not - he disappeared!!  I opened the tissue - which was new tissue, you know, not the wrinkled up kind when we reuse it - and it was a ceramic bear.  I still have it, and I keep it as a reminder to always be kind to others.  I still believe it was Jesus who came to visit that day.  

It makes me think how we are in this world.  We get so caught up in ourselves and what we are doing that we shut others out.  The lady in front of me wanted nothing to do with this homeless man nor the gift he was offering her.  She was truly rude and told him to go away.  I chose to accept his gift, and I was blessed and filled with joy at it.

Jesus came to earth to give us the gift of redemption.  He gave everything He had for us.  Many refuse His gift and tell Him to 'go away'.  They want no part of what He has to offer.  But there are some of us who eagerly accept what He has for us, and we are the truly blessed ones.  Riches will fade; but what we gain from following Jesus will last eternally.  Will you accept His gift, freely to receive, freely given?  I'm glad I did.

Blessings!