I got them done!

 I finished filling each of the eggs with candy about 4:15PM. Yes, I worked on them all day long - minus about an hour that I took to go buy more candy (and bought too much) and picked up Jack in the Box for lunch.  I text'd Pastor John and asked if I could drop them off - long story short - I took the eggs over to the church (which is about 6 minutes away) and someone was there to help me bring the eggs in and be done with them.  Then I came home, and when I sat down on the couch, I discovered two eggs that had fallen out of the bags.... so I actually turned in 1998 instead of 2000.  No biggie, I'm sure.  I'll hand these off to hubby when he goes for his last Tuesday night study. I think he said this week was a celebration of the end of the study - and they want side dishes brought.  Decided I will fix potato salad for him to take.

My fingers are swollen and sore, but they have survived the stuffing and closing of all the eggs.  But my body - well, I have developed a cold of sorts.  Some coughing. No fever.  Found some antibiotics and am taking those, taking Musinex DM - I preach on Sunday the last time this season - got to be able to talk!  I just seem to have some coughing but will keep people at a distance until I can get it to stop.  My arthritis in my knuckles are letting me know they aren't happy.  And, I was awakened during the night with my left hip burning - just as it did the night I got bit by the scorpion or whatever bit me on the inside of my leg. I can't go back to sleep; it is a burning that covers my thigh.  Happens about every few days.  Need to put Voltaren on it as well.  Dr. Mark, not seeing the bites and walking through that journey with me, thinks it may just be some time of 'itis' - and it may be - but I'm more concerned it could be something more serious. He and I will have talk about this when I have an appointment with him.  Not going to schedule one for just an occasional pain in the left hip.  The Fosamax that I take for my osteopenia - a side effect is that a bone can just snap in to for no reason (the drug builds up the outside of the bone, but the inside can still be weak).  I think I may have one more year on this drug - I would prefer not taking anything, but the doctors seem to think my osteopenia needs help.  I don't like putting drugs in my body.  Unless I have a reason for it.  

My half a peanut butter sandwich didn't sustain me from last night so I got into hubby's cereal this morning.  Rice Chek, I think it was.  Not bad. At least it filled my belly.    I need to lay out something for dinner; we don't have plans to go out.

My daughter sent emails out yesterday to me and her daughter - we have an AIRBNB in Pine that we will be staying at.  I told her to just make a decision.  I'm not too sure about the decision, with looking at the photos, but it will be fine.  I am VERY self-conscious about my snoring due to numerous laughing comments about it.  Like I have any control over it.  I'm not sure how the rooms will be lined out - one of them will either have to listen to my snoring - or I get the best room in the house. Alone. For one, I am usually the one up first - and I do my quiet time in the room.  If I share a room, I will have to actually get up out of bed and go into another room.  Of course I'm the only one who has a time with God in the mornings, but just because I'm on vacation, doesn't mean I give it up.  I need my time with God too much - it is a part of me, if you know what I mean.

Both Sue and Brett are back at work today after two all day meetings (grateful one was yesterday so that I could do the eggs!)  I still had a couple meetings to schedule - but nothing heavy.  Today I am also covering for a friend - and she has about 8 doctors.  Usually I don't hear from any of them - so will see how that goes.  But I'm hoping, with the start of this cold, that I can sneak in a couple naps.  Maybe I can - Sue and I will chat this morning and check on our weekend activities coming up - but after that, I may not hear from her.  

Another short one, but I'm feeling tired so want to take this last ten minutes or so and close my eyes.  I already have the work computer up so I'm good there.  I just need some rest; enjoy the quiet while hubby is gone.  He will be going to see our friend Chuck - so he won't be home until about 11:30AM.  I love these mornings when I can just be quiet.  And maybe take a nap. :-)

Gotta go - time is getting away from me.  Have a blessed day - for someone who needs encouragement, who could use a friend - be one.  Let them know you care.  Be kind.  Some day you may need it yourself. 

Blessings!

Tuesday and back to work day!

 Sigh.  Some leadership just will not take a day off even when it is handed to them!  I glanced at emails yesterday morning and there were 5 in my work inbox.  By last night there were 25.  I did see one from my male boss asking me a question - and he was supposed to be camping with his family!!  I did not open it, I didn't respond to it.  I WAS taking the holiday off!  But, will need to face all the emails this morning. That's my job.  But for right now, my time is mine.  At least for another hour.

Yesterday was a good day.  I did my workout and my trainer, Morgan, put me through the wringer.  As usual.  She started me off on the machine that almost brought me to tears the other week. But, I got through it and we moved on.  She was tough, for sure.  I go back tomorrow and we will work on core. I think I'm finally figuring out her workouts.  The first one in the week is always going to be legs.  Good thing - it also affects my butt and hopefully, in time, it will begin to shrink.  The second workout of the week is what she alternates.  But it shows that that with Morgan, it shot up 3 pounds.  Which tells me that Trayden gave in at times too many times to my whining and didn't push me to do more.  Morgan brings me to tears.  Not because it hurts, but because I lose my strength no matter how hard I try to get it done. I was glad to see the muscle.  Now to change my diet around and start eating better - and less.

After my workout we came home and got things together to head to the daughter's.  Food was great; the potato salad went over well.  I had to keep some here at home for hubby, and I did put some in a throwaway container and after we got back took up to the lovely DIL as she had to work yesterday, to take home to my son.  I hope she remembered it.  And left him some. I told her she could eat some before going home. :-)  I hope he enjoys it.  All that I took was nearly eaten. I told my daughter she and the granddaughter could split what was left, but she informed me she wasn't sharing it; it was hers, and promptly put in a container and in her refrigerator.  I love it that the kids like some foods that I make.  All they have to do is ask and I'll make it for them.

I did get out in the pool with my daughter and granddaughter for about an hour.  They had bought me a special raft so I got to sit back and enjoy the pool.  It was restful and relaxing.  Getting out, we soon headed back home and I had time to run the potato salad up to my lovely DIL.  Hubby watched the news on TV (well, he slept an hour through it), then turned it off.  I tried to read but my eyes kept closing - so I went to bed about 7:30PM!  Hubby wasn't happy about it; it left him up alone.  I woke up at 8PM, but went back to sleep and other than his tossing and turning waking me up during the night, I did sleep until 4:30AM and got up.  I've been taking my watch off at night to charge, rather than charge it while I'm in her doing my quiet time.  It has my alarm on it - and since I have it and my phone in another room (in here), I don't hear the alarm when it goes off.  And that's ok. Waking up when I wake up is a good thing. It gives my body that little more of rest that I need.  

It is barely getting light out and the neighbors are already out doing stuff - they may be getting ready to go on a morning walk. They have a small dog so are probably walking it.  I have mentioned numerous times I'd love a small dog.  Surprisingly, hubby commented the last time I did that I would have to be the one to walk it.  I laughed.  I was the one to walk Sheeba and our other large dogs.  I want a smaller one because I can walk them, but also because it would bark if someone was near.  Hubby couldn't hear anything, and I don't pay that much attention.  Not sure what kind of dog I would want, but would go to a shelter and take my time looking.  We got Marley from a shelter.  She was the best dog and I still miss her.  She is the black one who we had to put down with lymphoma.  Broke my heart.  Maybe another lab wouldn't be too big.  I am in no hurry to go look. But someday.  I'll never forget years ago when I was mentioning I wanted a small dog to climb up next to me and want love and attention..... and hubby responded with 'why can't you lavish your love and attention on me?!"  HAH!  

Isaiah 48:17 (NIV):  This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

So many times I ask God what we should do, which way should we go... and what do I do?  I don't wait for Him to lead me, but take off and make my own decision.  Do you do that as well?  We are an impatient people, don't you think?  Sure, it doesn't mean that we choose wrong every time, but sometimes God wants us to just wait on Him and let Him direct us.

Our biggest issue right now in asking for direction, I believe, is our choice in churches to attend.  Yeah, I am bringing that up again. It's a big thing.  I wonder if this is God's leading.  We would like a small church in which the Bible is preached and we can become involved and be a part of.  Simple request, right?  We made the choice to attend the Pentecostal church these last 4 years and we haven't really felt happy in it at all.  But some friends love it and .. well, it has made me wonder where I am spiritually at times.  They go on and on about God being in the service, and I'm sitting there thinking it wasn't that good at all, and I didn't feel God was there!  So I begin to wonder about my own spiritual walk. I question it. I debate it. I seek God and ask Him if it is 'me'.  Seriously.  People are friendly at church; we tried to start a small group and two people came for two weeks and then dropped out.  Granted, one had an accident and was injured. The other came up with excuses on why they couldn't attend. We're still friends on Sunday mornings. But... the connection is not there. Does that make sense? I know I've hashed this out in here before; my apology for boring you again.  Just leaving isn't that simple.  We have made a few friends who come to greet us on Sunday mornings. A year ago we missed three Sundays and the pastor's wife text'd me that they missed us and hoped all was well.  But.  

At the Sunday service at Inspira, the facility I spoke at, I was talking to one of the chaplains that came to help with communion.  I asked, during the conversation, where he went to church.  He told me CCV, and he also told me how he started going there.  He was invited by a cousin; he attended as a non-Christian, and cried through the entire service.  The pastor saw him afterwards and asked if he was ok. In the midst of hundreds of people, Pastor Ashley had seen this one man struggling with his sins.  He gave his life to Jesus.  Come to find out, the man who founded CCV was the man who had married he and his wife 30 years earlier! And he happened to be there that night and were remembered by him.  He said they have been going there every Saturday night since.   And then, when I went to work out yesterday I wore a CCV shirt I had gotten one week when I was there.  Morgan asked me if that was where I went - and I told her no, not really, but do go occasionally.  She goes there as well!  That was two.  Now I know my daughter and SIL go there and are involved in a small group.  That has not affected our decision on whether to go there or not.  But there are these two people, within two days, that have brought that church back to mind.  We do enjoy the church and the people are always so friendly.

I mentioned to hubby yesterday that we both really like our Sunday mornings at home.  And November - April at least one to two and a couple months three Sundays we will be at the RV parks - plus any Sunday afternoons at Inspira.  I don't have any more scheduled right now at Inspira, but expect to be asked on occasion.   We like staying home on Sunday mornings; we like watching Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel.  We love our time alone with God extended, when we don't have the RV park to go to.  So - I suggested why didn't we go back to CCV on Saturday nights.  And, if we have something going on that we miss Saturday night, we can always watch it Sunday morning.  We enjoy the music (it isn't screaming and making us feel we are watching a concert performance with all the yelling and jumping), and we love the preaching from the Bible.  They have small groups we can join if we choose. Or not. Hubby has two Bible studies he already goes to during the week.  With working, I don't feel I have a lot of evenings to give up.  My Tuesdays are with my daughter most weeks.  And, we go to dinner with friends once or twice a month.  Anyway - I'm getting to it - I mentioned to hubby why didn't we think about it - and he said he'd take a week to pray about it and let me know.  He commented about the Christian Church we watched online - but it was the associate pastor and we weren't real thrilled with having one verse after another read to us and a comment made.  We like food in the Word, if you know what I mean.  But they do have small groups going already, and it appeared to be a fairly small church.  May need to attend in person one time and see; but will let hubby pray about it and work it out. We are not charismatic nor Pentecostal and even after four years of attending, just don't feel like we belong.  I guess we are just 'old folks'.

Stay tuned; you will probably read my writing about it once again.  And now, I need to jump off here and in to the shower for my workday is about to start.  Short week that will be extremely busy.  I'm trying to have a better attitude about it.  Work, I mean. Even what I don't enjoy doing.  But I do like having extra money to do what I want to with. It does make a difference.  I love being able to help people when they need help. I love being able to give things away.  It's all for Him, anyway.

Blessings!

Easy fix

 I txt'd my daughter and SIL yesterday morning and asked if they would take my car to Auto Zone and have the battery checked.  They came up a bit after 10AM and did so - and yes, it was the battery that was going bad.  Hallelujah!  Auto Zone couldn't fix it then, so the SIL brought it back home and mentioned a AAA Repair place just down the street.  Well, I AM a AAA member.... so they dropped my car off there and 30 minutes later I was notified it was ready for pick up.  So glad the battery is replaced and my life hasn't been stranded in anxiety waiting for it not to start to get it completed.  And, although I usually take my car into the dealership for the oil change, although I know it is much more expensive, when I inquired at AAA Repair, they will do it for less than $40 - I usually don't get out of the dealership for less than $400 by the time they insist I need other things done, and me not knowing any better, get it done.  I think it's time to start going elsewhere.  My car is a 2017 so it isn't like it is a new car or anything.  And I only have 47K miles on it so things shouldn't go wrong - unless it is from age.  That battery lasted 7 years for I can't find where we replaced it after I bought the car in 2019.  

I have a new project to crochet.  I'm hoping to find another easy pattern to try with it.  I think I mentioned (or it might have been some I erased recently) an unmet friend, a friend of my sister's, whose siblings were breaking into her home and stealing things from her.... well, she discovered this week that they also stole the afghan I had made her for Christmas last year.  She was in tears and didn't want to share it was stolen, but she finally did.  No problem.  I'll make her another.  But I want to make it different, and better, than the first one.  

Lots of erasing going on here this morning.  I'm trying to get better about my ramblings..... 

Dinner tonight at our neighbor's house.  They didn't want us to bring anything, so we will be having chicken pot pie that she is making.  I hope I like it enough not to make faces.  LOL  People have gone on and on about the chicken pot pie at Cheddars.  Well, one time we were there and I decided to try this 'delicious chicken pot pie'.  Naw, it isn't for me.  I did not like it and didn't eat even half of it, I don't think. Maybe I ought to try my hand at it sometime.  I think it is more that they don't put enough vegetables in it and there is too much dough.  Will see how our neighbor makes it.

Think I'll get hubby to go to Einstein's for breakfast this morning - I still have my birthday bagel sandwich I haven't gotten yet.  I was thinking about cooking, but that bagel sandwich and Einstein's coffee sure does sound good right now.  Yeah, after I finish this, get dressed and you know hubby will want to go.  Food is his favorite activity. LOL 

Hubby got his first shot for his metastatic prostate cancer yesterday.  He wanted me to meet him at the doctor's office, but with my car acting up (before I got it fixed), we decided that I had better not try it.  It only took 5 minutes for him to get the shot; but he has been so anxious about it for some time.  Anyway, I told him that since I couldn't meet him at the doctor's office, (now that my car is fixed), I would take off work early and we could go for a late lunch.  He liked that idea.  We went to Fazoli's.  They were out here before but closed up - found a new opening at 58th Ave & Peoria.  We went in and I had signed up for their rewards app - so we even got $5 off our order!  We dined in.  Mind you it was about 2:30-ish and it wasn't crowded at all.  We ended up waiting about 20-25 minutes for our orders (him spaghetti with no meatballs, me baked spaghetti with meatballs), they kept apologizing and brought us a chocolate chip cookie, which I immediately opened - and then they brought our order.  Wow.  Their spaghetti beats out Olive Garden!  The sauce was so good; even hubby was raving about it.  I couldn't eat all of mine (huge portion for us), but hubby did.   I brought the rest home - 'guess what is for lunch?'

I read in a devotional this morning.... "prayerlessless is the first sign of prideful independence'.  We quit praying.  Whether it is quit spending time with God, quit thinking about God, or even just quit praying over our meals - we are saying to God "we don't need you"; "we can do this in our own power"; "we can do this better than You can".... how can one even think that they don't need God?  He has the answer for everything!  Everything we have - although you may think you have 'earned' it - was given by Him.  He blessed you with it.  A home, a car, decent health, family, friends, and more - all these are a gift from Him.  We have become such ungrateful people that we have pushed God out of our lives, out of our homes and are now dependent upon ourselves and others to provide for us.  We have our hand out for more - but we never seek Him for what He wants to give us.  Do you not realize how much more our Heavenly Father wants to give us - but we just have to ask for it??

Sometimes my heart is so grieved over my children and grandchildren turning away from the God they know.  They have their reasons, they say.  They didn't get their way; God didn't respond how they wanted Him to.  So they quit on Him. But you know what?  He has never quit on us.  He is still here, waiting on us to reach out to Him.  His answer may still be no, or not yet, but He is always there for us.  Why don't we reach out to Him to give us the peace we so long for inside of us!   We may tell others we are 'Christians' - but a Christian is a Christ-follower - and if they live their life in such a way that betrays His name, how can they be a Christ-follower?  We see posts all the time on facebook of people who claim to be Christian, and yet, they use ungodly words, they post untruths, and they want people to feel sorry they have to endure such people.  Woe to them, hypocrits!  Jesus even called out the Pharisees and Sadducees for the words and actions they used.

Oh that our words and our actions will always glorify the God who created us, Jesus, whose crucified life saved us, and the Holy Spirit who fills us with His Presence!  We are a wicked people, desperately in need of a Savior, and Jesus is the only One who can fill that role.

Our friends and family are not our Savior.  Money is not our Savior.  Jesus is the only way to the Father, and it is in Him we must build our faith and our lives.  Oh that we all would take that to heart and swallowed our pride of self-sufficiency and surrender to the only One who can save us!  We must go through Jesus to get to the Father.  

Choose Jesus today.  Please don't delay.  We do not know how much time we have left on this earth. Our end could come by health issues; by accidents; by anything.... are you ready to meet Jesus face to face and be judged by Him who knows all?  Everything you do, everything you think, is known by Him.  We can not hide anything from Him; He sees and knows all.  Are you willing to surrender your life to follow Him and be blessed by Him?  Oh that you might!  Oh that you would ponder that thought and soften your heart to give Him the glory only He deserves!  

Blessed are those who seek after Him; for they shall see His glory.

Blessings!