Making very little progress

 Yeah, this room doesn't seem to be shrinking any.  At least not in the last couple of days.  I really wanted to get in here yesterday, but did not. The day started out with my going to Needles of Hope, where I stayed until about 11:30AM.  From there I went to pick up the combo box I had ordered.  After that I wanted to go to the dollar store, but I also had to go to the bathroom, but didn't want to go home first.  So, following my mother's instructions, I stopped at Arby's (although any fast food would do) and used it, then purchased a senior drink and a roast beef slider. Mother always said (per Heloise - some of you may remember that name) that if you stop to use the bathroom at a fast food place, you also need to order something.  I've always stuck by that.  But it was 12:15PM and it seemed one after another came in before I got to the register.  Some ordering 2-4 sandwiches, fries, etc.  And.... as to be expected as one front person must have been new as she kept walking back and forth, occasionally shaking the fries, grabbing one or two to eat (in front of us!!) they got way behind.  One guy ahead of me said he was waiting 30 minutes for his sandwiches - and finally requested a refund after several people got their order who had come in after him.  And he only had two sandwiches and two fries!   I waited 20 minutes for a slider.  Seriously.  I paid for it, so was going to get it. And I enjoyed every bite of it when I finally did get it.  I could see things had gotten out of hand; one person came in as I did, and although he took my order, he ended up going to the back to help make sandwiches because they couldn't keep up.  Moral of this entire rambling story?  Be patient; you don't know what has gone on that you don't see.  Perhaps a person didn't show up - or two!  I got my drink and sandwich and I enjoyed it.  And I headed on to the dollar store.

After getting more wrapping paper at the dollar store (the butcher paper doesn't like my scotch tape) and a few other things, I came on home, although I really needed to do some other things.  Hubby was watching football (of course) and I came in and stared at this room, and decided I really didn't feel like attacking it just yet.  I didn't cook dinner; we both fixed a peanut butter sandwich; I finished up a small bowl of chicken noodle soup.  Not sure what hubby had.  I made some protein bars and put in the refrigerator to set.  I should have started baking, but kept talking myself out of it.  And I know I am going to regret that decision for it is going to hit me Tuesday and Wednesday as I head to Mesa on Thursday for a Christmas party with the Network Department.  I don't have to take a potluck food, but I do need to put together my boss's Christmas gift.  And I want to get Morgan's done for Monday if possible.  She is ready to go into labor any time and I won't see her for awhile if she does.  So I figure I'll take her good gifts to her this week.  Hence the protein bars I made yesterday.  But for most of the day, I was able to be alone and doing something outside - and it felt good.

I worked on a blanket for our newest little one and have about 3 rows to go before I'm finished.  It's larger than I usually make, but it is in place of an afghan, like I made already for her brother.  We watched a movie last night while I did that.

Oh - before that, I get a text from a granddaughter that my daughter had fallen on her hip and fractured her pelvis.  She was in so much pain they called an ambulance for her and she is in the hospital. Today she is to have physical therapy - will have to ask my DIL about that - how can they do PT for someone with a broken pelvis?  Anyway - a surgeon is also supposed to stop in and see her and 'consult' - although they say she probably will not need surgery.  So what do they do for a broken pelvis?  Her butt is nothing but bone anyway - which is probably why it fractured.  Now MY butt has enough cushion on it that it would probably just bruise from bouncing on the ground!  Right?  Anyway - this isn't about me.  The granddaughter stayed in the hospital with her mama last night.  I will call her after church this morning to see if she is still there, and we will head over to see her, if so.

I'm speaking at one of the RV parks this morning so have been going through the message a few times.  I'm still not real comfortable with it, but I just give it over to God and ask Him to take it and use it. That's all I can do, for I can not fix it or deliver it without His help.   

I had asked another granddaughter if she wanted to come over and bake this afternoon, but as usual, she has not 'read' nor responded to my text.  Once we get back home I will call her and ask if she wants to bake today.  Otherwise, will need to find another day.  I have blocked December 21 after church for another granddaughter.  I am thinking all my baking should be done by then.  I hope so, anyway! I want to get my siblings packages in the mail this next week, which means I need to get busy and 'do something'.  I may just order something sent to one or two of them. Yeah, you get little product for what you pay for, but it is the thought, right?  I don't have to send anything; I want to. 

I have two advent puzzles that I'm putting together.  My daughter gave me the first one, and honestly, I don't remember who gave me the second one last year.  I'm sure it was a Christmas gift.  I enjoy puzzles and this one you have about 24 pieces a day in this one section - like 5" square - to put together each of the 24 days before Christmas - with the puzzle being finished on Christmas Eve.  Good thing for I will have to tear it apart on Christmas Eve as the Christmas gatherings start then.  Or, at least that is the plan - or was the plan - before my daughter fell.  She was to go to New Mexico on Thursday next week - and that is now out of the question.  Not sure what is going to happen there.  She's trying to encourage her husband to still go and take the Christmas gifts - whether he will go or not remains to be seen.  Regardless of how behavior comes across at times, in reality, people are scared they will be left alone and on their own and have no clue how to do that.  I know hubby is that way. And you know what I am meaning without saying anything.  You are probably that way as well, in spite of what you say.

And with that, I need to jump off here and get ready for church. We have to leave around 8AM to get to the RV park early enough to greet our friends.  The choir director always makes me sing in the choir even though I'm speaking too.  He's a hoot.  But I love him dearly.  Years ago I did a healing service there and he says I prayed for and anointed him with oil. When he got back home, his kidney cancer had disappeared.  Not from anything I did, for sure, it was all God. But he always tells me how glad he is to see me every time we go. It's like we have a special bond.  I certainly don't claim any 'credit' - it was all God.  I was just being obedient by changing the service to a healing service and praying over people who wanted prayer.  

Hope that you have an amazing day. Be careful; don't go tripping over things!  It's so easy to do - especially in here!  I've got to clear this out!!  It I fell and hurt myself, Christmas would be canceled at our house!

Blessings!

I heard from all three

 Yep - I did.  I heard from all three of my children yesterday, which, is unusual, but the second time it has happened recently.  I love it.  Ok, I said it.  I love even just the quick call cause it means I am not forgotten.  (Yes, I have complained recently about being so far out and isolated and alone.)  But that wasn't the reason - I don't think!  My youngest called and invited me to lunch on Saturday.  Looking at my calendar in here, I didn't have anything on it, so we scheduled it.  Last night I remembered it is Needles of Hope but that's ok.  I can go to that for an hour or so and then drive to the restaurant and meet him.  WinWin.  It's a restaurant not far from us, I've seen it, but we've never gone.  It looks like a mom & pop Denny's - if you know what I mean.  One in which you should get really good food.  First time he and I have gone out alone to eat in a very long time.  Of course, due to his family dynamics, well, I'll stop there. 

My oldest son called during the day and reminded me I hadn't chatted with his daughter yet about our upcoming trip down south.  He didn't know that she had contacted me already.  I still don't know all our plans, but I assured him that I would be talking with the granddaughter soon, once I figured out what we were going to do.  Since we are going Sunday - Tuesday versus over a weekend, I don't want to disrupt their schedules.  Great-granddaughter will be in school during the day and the GSIL will be at work, and with a new baby our granddaughter will be busy.  I don't want to cause chaos for them, but do want to spend a little time with them.  Our great-granddaughter's birthday is Saturday; she is growing up so fast!  I need to go shopping before we go down there!  Plus I need to finish this quilt for the newest great-granddaughter; I'm hoping to take it with us - finished - as well.

Then my daughter came over last night for our 'girls night out' and we worked on the diamond art project.  We are getting close to finishing it - but it will still be a couple more weeks.  I suggested to her that once we get it completed, and the glue on it, the following week we take it to Hobby Lobby to get framed, then we go out to dinner and celebrate!  She liked that idea.  Then we will be back to our crocheting, and I will probably go to her house versus her driving to mine.  Not that it makes a lot of difference, but I think she is tired of driving to me.  These are the times I wish we were closer distance wise, although she really isn't that far away; it's just the traffic on that one road... just saying. LOL

I don't know what came over me yesterday.  Seriously.  I decided I was going to take a 'lunch hour' and guess what I did!  I made lemon meringue pie.  Two of them!  I had that thought - and when I dug for a recipe, I found a newspaper clipping that was quite old - possibly one of Aunt Mae or Aunt Sue's that fell out of a recipe book I have - of Lemon Meringue pie - so I thought I'd try it.  It was real simple to make. I had the pie shells in the freezer so took them out and baked them.  Then I did the filling from scratch. Boy, that is a lot of sugar!!  The meringue recipe was somewhat different than I had done before but I followed the instructions.  Sigh. I must not have beat it long enough, although it was 'stiff' when I added the things it said to add.  I was thinking in the past I added cream of tartar, but this didn't call for it.  I put the meringue on the pies and put in the oven to bake.... and the meringue 'fell flat'.  Oh well.  We had a piece last night, and I sent the rest of one pie home with the daughter.  I've had enough of the pies, so after giving hubby another piece of the last pie, I will give it away as well. I was just in a baking mood and I did it.  

Today will be a busy but good day.  I am meeting my favorite boss for breakfast this morning.  We always meet at the same place, which is about halfway for both of us - a 45-50 minute drive one way in traffic.  I'm slowly clearing out my freezer of baked goods and giving them away. Most are made before Christmas.  I know she loves my bread, salsa, pickles, and jam.... but what should I take her this time. I always try to take something.  Maybe a loaf of the bread.  I only have a couple loaves left before I need to make fresh.  I have lots of cranberries still in my freezer.  If I buy more jars, I can make more cranberry-strawberry jam.  Only have a couple jars of that left.  Which makes me think - I wonder if my daughter in law liked the jam I gave her for Christmas.  You know I always like feedback on how to improve it.  I need to remember to ask her.

I guess I have gotten lax in my Virta plan.  My weight has gone down about 10 pounds, but it refuses to budge any further and well, my bits of sugar (pie, bread, cookie, etc.) keeps me from going into ketosis to lose, according to Virta.  I feel like a failure, and yet, I know that I am eating much better.  Even if I do have something I shouldn't on occasion.  It's not like I do it all the time.  But, although my glucose has been staying right around 100 in the mornings, my ketones in the evening aren't so hot - .1 or .4 is not nutritional ketosis - which is what Virta wants me in - it starts at .5.  I've yet to hit that this week. Last weekend I even forgot to take it for two days!!  I tell them that with working out my weight will not fall fast.  Muscle weighs more than fat does.  And they agree, and my coach encourages me to keep working out.  I am seeing results in that I've lost I think 2" at least off my waist.  Plus I've been walking 8K-10K+ steps daily for the past three weeks in this challenge.  Now that it's over, I only got 6K+ yesterday.  I just don't have time to walk 5 miles a day.  Well, I guess that isn't really true.  I just choose not to use the time for that purpose.  I am so glad of the reminder my DIL gave me years ago on a pin - "you are not what you weigh'... and it has stuck with me over 30 years.  My weight does not determine who I am.  

It probably doesn't make sense, and although I share a lot in here, I prefer not being monitored when working out, when eating (like, I'm over 21, why do I have to hide a cookie under my top so that I can enjoy it in my room without being commented on?) anything outside of a meal.  And, yes, it probably IS all my imagination and in my head.  But the past repeats itself frequently, if you know what I mean.  Most of you will not understand what I'm talking about, because you don't have anyone in your life who monitors everything you do.  Who watches 'over you'.  You may wish someone 'cared' about you like that.  That isn't love.  At least I don't feel it is.  That is possession.  And I'll hush on that topic.

Hubby went to his prostate doctor on Monday.  He has to go for 3 more shots but then will be put on every three months visit to monitor.  He was told by all his doctors that his heart, lungs, prostate, body, etc. are in great shape for his age (he will be 88 this month) and he will have a long life.  In fact, he has been told (cause he makes sure to tell me) that he has the heart of a much younger person.  Now, if they only had something for the mind.... cause that scares me more than body issues do.  Even with the pies yesterday, he was asking me questions that confused even me.  Does he do this just to have a conversation with me? Is he intentionally making me crazy?  If the pie doesn't have meringue on it, no, it isn't ready to go in the oven to bake.  The meringue does not come up out of the pie filling; it has to be prepared and put on top of the pie.  (no, he didn't say that, but he asked once the filling was in the pie shell if it got baked then (without the meringue).

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

Do you fear God?  I don't mean being afraid of what He might do to you, but fearing Him for who He is.  There is a difference.  Our Lord is a loving and forgiving God, full of mercy and grace.  But do we fear Him to where we tremble at His Word?  I've been working through that topic lately and reading on it.  It's not to be afraid that if I sin, what will God do to me.  If it was, I'd be dead a long time ago, in my opinion.  God is such a loving Father.  He wants only the best for each one of us, but we have to come to Him and humble ourselves to ask for forgiveness and accept His grace for us.  Oh how I need His grace daily!  I am so imperfect.  And so are you.  Once I figure out what the 'fear of the Lord' is, perhaps I will share... but it isn't being afraid of Him, that He will zap you.  It's really hard to explain - and if you think you have the answer, please share.  I'm still reading and learning.  

My little sister and her hubby made it home from Florida yesterday.  We haven't talked in a few days; will be interesting when we start to catch up, possibly some time today.  I say interesting because I don't know what we will talk about. You laugh.  Yeah, we always find something, until we both start rambling about nothing and decide that 'ok, we're done'.

We were going to have a Maundy Thursday service here at our house on the 17th and like last year, we invited two couples to share it with us.  I got a call last night that one of the couples is recovering from surgery so can't get down to wash feet so doesn't want to do that.  The other couple doesn't want to do it because the other couple is unable to.  And they asked 'is it ok if we skip that part?'.  I said it was ok, I still plan to fix a light meal (soups) and we can eat together and have a short service of prayer and communion.  But for me, I miss the washing feet part... and hubby and I may do it after they leave, for they won't stay late.  I mean, Maundy Thursday is about the communion, and the washing of feet, right? We did this last year with the same couple, and I had hubby telling everyone he can't get down to wash my feet because of his leg surgery... it was awkward and all, but we got it done. It annoyed me last year, I admit.  You do what you can do, you don't need to draw attention to yourself about how it is done.  Anyway, we will have both couples over for dinner and communion and prayer and reflection.  At least there is that.  But they also asked that we meet them Friday night this week for dinner and then go to their place to play games after.  

And now, with all my rambling, I have to hush and get off here and get dressed and ready to head out in a bit for breakfast with my boss.  I have a few more moments of quiet.... and I'm going to take it.  The quiet refreshes me.  Take a moment and just be still.  Turn your thoughts to our Father who loves us so much that He gave up His Son to die for us.  I could not give up one of my boys - I don't know how He could - but He loves us so much, that He did.  He is a loving Father.  

Blessings!

It did start out good....

 When hubby and I came out of our respective morning places, I suggested we go to The Boyer Bakery, which is just down the street, and grab breakfast.  He quickly agreed (and he even paid for it!)  He got a scorched caramel macchiato. And a blueberry bagel with pimento cheese on it.  I ended up with a mocha with an almond croissant.  All was good - but the croissant was almost too much for me.  And the mocha - way too sweet for me to handle.  I drank half, then later that morning I heated the rest up - took two swallows and dumped the rest.  But it was nice to get out and try this new place.  A little pricey, but we wouldn't know if we didn't go.

We sat out side for a little bit and just talked, then I got the urge to go 'thrifting'.  And that's when it started.  I came in and was sitting on the couch reading something on facebook when he just had to say something like 'aren't you going thrifting?'  It left me with the impression of 'get going so that I can turn on the TV'.  Yeah, it did.  I told him that he was rushing me out of the door so that the TV could be turned on - and it escalated a bit from there and I grabbed my keys and walked out the door.  He then text'd me and apologized and said that it wasn't true he was rushing me out.  And yes, he did turn on the TV.   He apologized and asked forgiveness for what it seemed.  I stayed out and went to a thrift store (didn't see anything I wanted to buy (they did have a grandfather clock for $100 and although I wanted it bad, I have no place to put it).  I then went to Ross and bought a couple things, and then to Savers, and bought some books.  I was just in a stroll through mood.

Stopped and picked up a couple combo meals from Leo's Island BBQ and came home.  We ate dinner and I sat down and finished one book - and completely read through another last night!  I've gotten 10 books down on my 50 goal.  Hubby actually left the TV off last night.  The TV will probably be on this afternoon - no biggie.  Or we both may just take a nap.  Nothing really on the agenda.  Might get some more reading done if the TV is left off.  He may ask to watch a movie - and that is ok - I can sit and crochet.  I'm wanting to start working on quilts again.... not sure if my hands/fingers can handle it now as they sometimes will cramp up.  But I do have my sewing machine and it would be much faster.  But I have this thing about someone looking over my shoulder while I do it.  sigh. I know, 'get over it'.  I have he material; and my batting got delivered by Amazon this morning.  I love Amazon.  I don't have to leave my chair to do my shopping.  And its sometimes delivered the next day.

My daughter goes in for her surgery on Wednesday.  I asked if I could bring a dish or two over for them while she is recovering.  LOL  She didn't hesitate to say 'garbage'!  So I will make a dish of garbage and take over probably on Thursday or Friday, as she will sleep once she is back home - and it sounds like - without any complications - they will do the surgery in the morning and send home in the evening.  Definitely am in prayer for her and for the doctors doing the surgery!

Didn't get cookies made yesterday - totally forgot.  Hopefully will remember today to bake them.  I did get my message for next Sunday typed out.  It's in draft form so will be working on it this week.  What's it about?  It's about Hope.  And our Hope is Jesus.

Psalm 18:2 (NLT):  "I love you, Lord; You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."

Who would you say the Lord is to you?  Is He your Friend?  Is He your Savior?   Is His name only one you roll your eyes at whenever is is mentioned?   Who is God to you?  Who is Jesus to you? 

How could one not love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, as we are encouraged to do?  Do you not realize that the very hair on your head is numbered by Him?  He is the One who keeps you.  He is the One who answers prayers.  Granted, the answers may not be the one we want to hear or see, but our God can see so far in the future - and we cannot.  We only see what is in front of us and know our wants and we want it now.  But God doesn't work that way.  He does what is best for us.  He loves you and loves me so much that He won't always give us what we ask for - or what we want.  He gives us Himself, and that should be enough.

Have a blessed day.

Blessings!