And.... although I got up at 4:30AM as usual.... I was able to fall back to sleep here in my chair for about an hour this morning. My left leg kept waking me during the night with aching pain, but now it is fine. What's up with that? Is it because I also sleep on my left side? It was the entire leg hurting again during the night. Anyway - it's now about 7:30AM and I have to leave here by 8:30AM at the latest, so need to write in here (of course I have to! You have to be told what I'm doing, right?) and then get my butt moving and get dressed. At least I don't have to work today.
But I will be some.... I'm still working on these envelopes. Staples shorted me 6 envelopes so I need to go over there and talk to them about it. I took a photo of the box - but it's my word against the company's - so I don't know what they will do. Anyway - I finished all the addressing of the envelopes yesterday afternoon and will start on stuffing them with the nurses' gifts sometime today. I figure if I do some today and some tomorrow, then I want to sort by zip code, and then I can take them to my boss on Wednesday when we meet up - and decide what to do. I may end up driving to Mesa after our breakfast so that I can ask the mail room to put these in the mail and charge to the department's cost center. I certainly don't want to put that amount on my credit card and wait for reimbursement! I still need to add the cost of the envelopes to a report and send in for reimbursement. But I have everything addressed so that is good.
We have no plans for today. My daughter called yesterday and wondered if we were going anywhere. We have always been invited to their place for a cookout - I think this is the first year - in lots of years - that we are home for a holiday. And that's ok. I could have some come here, but then I'd have to do all the cooking..... you know what I mean..... and deal with hubby....
But, in all fairness, he has been doing much better! He really is trying to change and be more patient with the little ones and all. I have noticed it. Even when we visited the youngest son the other day, I noticed hubby was much happier with the great-grands than usual. See, prayer does work!!
Church was really good yesterday. Our pastor spoke on Intercessory Prayer, using the story of Moses holding up his arms when Joshua fought against the Amalekites. When Moses' arms were raised, Israel was winning; when his arms grew weary, the Amalekites would start winning. So Aaron and Hur each took one of Moses' arms and held them high - and Israel won the victory. So what does tis story tell us? We need people who will 'lift our arms' as we pray for others. And when we need prayer, we need people lifting their arms for us. It really was a great message. Check out Reclaim Church-Peoria on Facebook and find it. Intercessory prayer used to be one of my top 'spiritual gifts'.... my spiritual gifts have moved around a lot over the years. I am almost afraid to take a test now to see what they are. I truly long for the days when my #1 spiritual gift was faith. Not that I don't believe, for I do! But I think it has fallen from #1 and gone down further on the list. Not sure what my #1 spiritual gift would be now. I think I need to work through a lot of hurt (and I am working on it) that I have carried for years. During the service yesterday we were asked to think of a name that we were praying for and after the service prayer partners were up front to pray with us for them. I didn't go up. But I thought of a few names.... and my tears started to well up in my eyes. I was afraid to let them fall, for I feel that once I allow myself to cry, I will not be able to stop. I have buried my heart, my tears, my pain, for so many years.... that I am afraid to cry anymore.
Why did I stop crying? I feel I know why, but you would have to know the circumstances as to why... and I'm not willing to share those - at least right now. Perhaps sometime I will get to a point I can share why I fight tears now, versus letting them flow. Long story. God has seen my tears, and He knows why they have been withheld. Not that I didn't care, not that I wasn't affected. And I will leave that there.
I haven't read further in my book - yet - so will not continue on the subject I was on yesterday. I wanted to get this 'on the books' before I got started in the day. Maybe tomorrow I will have more time and can write. I do have the fun of picking up my oldest son at the car dealership and bringing him back here for awhile. He does have something for 3 hours and can use this room. I will probably finish up working on the envelopes that I've been spreading out.
And with that - I'm going to jump off here, get dressed for the gym, and get started on my day. Need to head out soon.
Enjoy your day off.... hope you have some time with friends today. Pause and remember those who lost their lives in their sacrifice for our country. Would you give your life for this country? For some of us, we'd have to think about it, for sure. For our families - absolutely. For the country? Another thought, right? Some didn't have a choice; they gave their lives to keep us free.
And Jesus gave His life so that we can be redeemed. Hallelujah!
Blessings!
