I survived...

 the 6AM board meeting yesterday without dropping the presentation and having to hunt for it again.  Whew!  Thank You, Jesus!  Yes, I really did pray about it before (and during!) the meeting!  He likes us to ask for the 'little things' as well as the 'big things'.  He is a good, good Father.

In fact, that song has been going through my mind this morning, the one by Chris Tomlin (I think) about a Good, Good, Father.  I really like the one by Crowder that is a bit more peppy and I had that one going through my mind as well.  "Tell me, is He good? (He's good!) Tell me, is He God? (He's God!) He is, Good God Almighty!"  Love it!

Uh oh - my day isn't starting well - I chipped a nail!  Gasp!  I will overcome!

Been busy somewhat already this morning.  Waited until hubby left then put a load of my clothes in the washer.  He hates it when I wash my own clothes!  He says that 'his job' - well, he doesn't do it often enough for me, and although he will 'plan' on doing the laundry probably tomorrow (Saturday), it takes him all day to do just two loads.  So I can do two loads (dark/light) and have dried, folded, and put away in the three hours he is gone on Friday mornings.  Which is why I always hold my breath when he starts talking laundry cause I'm pretty sure I can do my own.  I never have that much; I never go anywhere.  I've even washed my hair and took a shower already this morning!  Granted, I did skip some things this morning in order to do this, but ... I got these done that needed to be.

YAY - first load already in the dryer, second (and last) load in - and it's only 7:05a.  And I fixed myself a bowl of cereal while I was in that area.  You needed to know that - right?  I'm hungry!  LOL  I'm busy today - got to take hubby to go see Dr. Mark - and yes, he said he was going to use the walker to go into his office.  And I'm going to tell on him for NOT using it any other time!

Yesterday I had to take off work early to take hubby over to the dentist office. Actually, I didn't HAVE to take him to the DENTIST, but I wasn't sure how he'd be after sitting in the chair for three hours getting temporary crowns on his two front teeth that had cracked (I told him I think he cracked them one of the times he has fallen).   I was told to call the lab in Tempe on Monday to schedule going down for him to get the shade right, then we go back a second time  to confirm the shade, then the Dentist will put them on for him.  Might go down Wednesday morning since I am already off work, and we won't be leaving until about 1-ish to head to Overgaard.  (I dropped him off at 3p and he wasn't ready until 6p!)

We headed to Master Taco after the dentist office for I was really hungry - and I cleaned up my plate!  It really tasted good last night!  A granddaughter invited us over for a late lunch/early dinner on Sunday for my birthday.  Yes, I will be getting a year older.  Proud of it.  Think about what the alternative is.  Stay at the same age forever or gain another year?!  I can't snack or eat while wearing the invisalign liners and they are difficult to get out (or I just haven't gained that expertise) so I don't snack.  The only thing I can have with them in is water.  So after I eat my cereal, drink my tea (already had a cup of coffee), I will be brushing my teeth and snapping them back in.  Maybe I can actually lose weight because I can't snack!

Hubby won't be visiting Chuck today (who isn't doing well at all) but has gone to his bible study and then will go get his Lupron shot before heading home. He was concerned about getting back in time as we need to leave by 11a to get to Dr. Mark's by 12p.  He's got a biopsy scheduled on a mole.  He was telling me I had to go to Ironwood to pick him up in case the shot runs late.... I told him no, he had plenty of time to get the shot and get home.  So he left angry at me cause I wasn't going with his decision.  Now you watch.... they will run really late (as they always do) and I will have to run down and pick him up and head on to the doctor's office!

I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach again - I filled my bowl up too high with cereal (who can resist the frosted shredded wheat?) .... I don't think I can eat them all now.  Oh well.  Probably shouldn't anyway.

Psalm 71:1 (NKJV):  In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame.

How much do you trust God?  Many of us would immediately respond with "I trust Him with all my heart!"  But in reality, do we?  Really?  It is one thing to 'say' we trust Him, but does our heart agree with what our mouths say?

As I pause here and think about that, I want to say that Yes, I put all my trust in God.  He has never failed me, why would I not trust Him?  Does He answer every request I've made - no.  Does He even respond with an answer when I ask?  Not usually.  So why do I trust Him so?

Because He is God and I am not.

There doesn't have to be any other reason, does there?  He is my Creator; He created me in my mother's womb.  He caused me to breathe when I was born.  He walked with me through many trials and tribulations as I was growing up; He never left me, even when I had turned away.  He had to turn away for He cannot look upon sin (remember, He turned away from Jesus on the cross because Jesus carried all our sins to the cross on His  shoulders!).  He has never left me alone.

And He won't leave you alone either.  He may - or may not - answer the prayers you pray in the way you ask.  It isn't that He is 'picking and choosing' which ones He wants to answer.  He knows the outcome of those answers and knows what needs to be done.  He does work in mysterious and miraculous ways!  I've seen Him do both!  

But the best thing that God has done for me, is that He chose to save my soul, rescue me from the depths of hell, and set my feet on His solid ground. Hallelujah!  It doesn't mean my life is perfect, by no means!  But I know that if God loves me enough to rescue me, then He loves me enough to walk with me through any trial I face.  He is my strength, my shield, my all in all.  He is my TREASURE here on earth.  My God has cattle on a thousand hills; He can easily take care of whatever troubles me today or any day.  Yeah, He's that good.  And He loves me.  And He loves you.

My friend from work called me yesterday and she is planning a 'glam evening' for several women and invited me to come.  It's in October, and I will need to get a hotel room (she lives in Chandler), but I really want to go. Of course I will probably have to take hubby since I want to stay overnight rather than drive home late, but that's ok. Not the first time, and probably won't be the last. He stays at the hotel.  I'm getting pretty good with navigating myself around anywhere (thanks to GPS).  But it will be a fun time and I get to be with my friend, and other women.  And a weekend getaway for me and hubby.  

Speaking of 'getaway' - we start vacation next Wednesday!  And, in talking with Sue yesterday about the book I read the other night, you know the one where I realized that making my own decision to quit working may not be the plan God has for me, and that I need to keep working until He tells me "you are done'.... I've decided to take more time off work - perhaps only a day here or there, but I think my biggest problem is that I am getting burned out - not so much with work as it is with sitting here at the computer five days a week, with interruptions from hubby every single day, and just not having any time for just me.  I don't know what I'll do on those days, but it is something I am going to be thinking about.

And in thinking, I need to get off here and get to work - have meetings to schedule. Ugh. This one has people in central time, and eastern time, and I have to schedule the people here in MST.  I do not like time zones when it comes to meetings!   Anyway - got to get off here -

Praying for you, that the Lord will bless you today in ways you could never expect.  Be watchful; He is working in you and around you.

Blessings!

Friday Ramblings....

 I feel like I am at a loss again this morning for anything productive to share.  Oh, I could update you on my neighbors..... I called Ms. Diane yesterday; no answer on her phone.  Will try again today.  I called Ms. Amy and casually asked did she know yet when she would be moving to Florida... and she responded "Monday"!  And she hadn't bothered to let me know, after all this time?  It kind of hurt, to tell you the truth.  We talked briefly.  Her daughter Maria and her husband are to be here on Saturday, will load up the car with whatever else they can, and I still don't know how Ms. Amy is going to travel.... she said a driver was picking her up on Monday morning at 9AM.  So - is she flying and the driver taking her to the airport? But Maria and her husband are driving her car... I told Ms. Amy I would check with her on Saturday (after Needles of Hope) and see if I could come by and say goodbye.  I know I will never see her again.  She did telll me that she appreciated all I had done for her, picking up her and taking her to the doctor, back here to the house, to the store, etc.  And she did end her call with 'I love you'.  I do want to see her before she leaves.

Ms. Vicky had text'd me Wednesday night to come over and visit, but I had begged off until last night, so went over to see her.  We visited about an hour, I'd guess.   She was concerned about her finances as she is unable to work anymore and really needs more than her social security check.  I get it.  I know I work, and that is what helps us greatly.  I know I need to quit complaining about working.  I probably wouldn't complain so much if I went to the office every day - but we live so far out now I don't want to.  And working from home does have its advantages, as you know.  For example, I have a dentist appointment (yeck) today at 8AM... about an 8 minute drive one way.   If I had to go to the office, I'd lose about 2-3 hours work... being home I only lose about an hour.  Anyway, she is pushing on me to go to the Rec center with her and walk the pool (b-o-r-i-n-g).  I mentioned I had joined a gym and she got all over me about joining it when we have the Rec center.  I get that... the gym is on a month-to-month basis... and with signing up for training, it MAKES me go.  We've been here three years and the Rec center hasn't made me go yet.   Once I get a workout instilled in me and be used to going, I'll cancel the gym and go to the Rec center.  And exercise ... and not just go through the motions and make it a visit session.  I'm limited on time and availability... for now.

Or is it that I am just fighting getting 'old'.  Ms. Diane and Ms. Amy are in their 80's... Ms. Vicky is 75. I don't want to 'BE' old... even if I AM old.  Does that make sense?  I am going to push myself to walk more.  I got an email this morning from the Indianapolis 500 and they are doing the virtual 500 mile walk again this summer... I'm thinking about signing up.  I did it a couple years ago when I didn't make the mini marathon.  It's more fun when someone does it with me, but getting them to do it is another thing.  I think it starts June 14th... with no accountability it does make it harder. No, I haven't signed up - yet - but am thinking about it.  Maybe it will make me walk and do something.

James 1:19 (NKJV):  "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wraft of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

As much as I try to keep my frustrations under control, my anger in check.... sometimes it just slips out.  And it does it in various ways.  If you think about it, you may have the same problem.  It could be a sharp sarcastic word, it could be a casual comment, yet deep and meaningful of what you are really thinking, or it could just be a look.   I think we  all go through those emotions.  Sometimes we just want to say 'I'm done'... but life does go on.

I'm learning to just keep my mouth shut at times.... but again, sometimes my mouth records my thoughts much too quickly at times and I cannot stop the words from coming out.  Then I wish I could have popped a stopper in there.  Ever had those times?  I'm not around people much anymore, so you know hubby and I exchange comments at times.  But God is working on me to just remain silent (which drives hubby crazy cause he wants to 'state his case') and don't respond without processing the right words to say and to say them in such a way they don't cause offense.  And, sometimes I can do that!  With God's help, of course.  Sometimes my tongue gets really sore too, if you know what I mean!

It's Friday and looks like it will be another quiet day.  Yesterday I didn't have much of anything to do, and unfortuantely, started doing the social media scan ... ugh.  Got to break that habit again.  I love watching the Anatoly videos.  He acts like he is a cleaner at the gym, complete with long sleeved work uniform... he watches people workout and then asks if he can clean there, and mops the floor, then, in many cases, will pick up the heavy weights with one hand and move them.  The looks on the faces of the men - and women - who are struggling to lift the weights are hilarious.  They even go feel his arms because he does not have big arms or a big chest.  But he is strong.  Anyway, I get caught up in those and I need to just stop it.  

Need to jump off; the mind is not coming up with anything to share, and I need to get ready for the dentist.  Dread it today, although it is just a cleaning.  I think I have a hole behind one of my front teeth - which is a crown.  Never heard of that happening before.  Wonder if they will want to replace the crown - which is probably 30 years old - or just put in a filling.  That should be interesting.

Hope you have an amazing day!

Blessings!