It didn't come through....

My oldest son sent me a text yesterday that he had tried to comment on yesterday's blog - and it wouldn't take.  Well, it STILL hasn't appeared on the blog; don't know what was going on with it.  He also commented he had no desire to try to new Oreo cookies limited edition of Chicken & Waffles (tastes like waffles with pancake syrup), Banana Pudding (oh this is #2 to my favorite), Deep Fried - I'm not so found of that one, Apply Pie Ala Mode (my very #1 favorite, I think), then we have the mint, toffee (it's 'ok') and of course regular  and there are others that I haven't tried (lemon for one) and I won't cause I got to quit buying Oreos!!  At $2.99 each if you buy two (at Safeway last week) versus $4.59 each I paid the other day.... oh - and it depends on what flavor you buy - I noticed also that Safeway charged me $6.49 I think it was for the Toffee.  Uh, no.  No cookie - not even Oreos - is worth that much.  I'll bake my own, thank you very much.  I'm done buying cookies.  Even Oreos.

I have Needles of Hope this morning and am looking forward to some time with the 'girls' there.  I usually get a breakfast sandwich and a coffee (as do the others) but I kept back some eggs ole for breakfast so just may eat that here and just get coffee.  Or tell hubby he can have both pieces if he wants and I still buy the sandwich I like at Panera. :-)  Then again, I'd have to take off the retainers .... so yeah, it would be easier to eat here at home and oh wait, I'm not supposed to drink anything but water with them on either.  Now I have to rethink this.  Do I leave them off all morning and eat and drink what I want?  I just may have to do that. Will see.  

I finished another book last night and I think I'm up to 38 out of 50 books read.  I'm almost done with two others so hope to finish those this weekend.  And yes, I bought three more books from Thriftbooks this past week and have those on my list to read as well.  I have so many things that I want to do - I need to figure out what to do when!  I enjoy my diamond art and I can do that while hubby watches the TV.  And while he watches TV and I work on the diamond art, I can listen to a book on Audible.  Currently listening to one of Mel Robbins' books.  And of course I have my crocheting/knitting (no special projects right now, just baby blankets).  And baking.  I have lots of baking to plan to get started on.  There are some who DO like my cranberry pumpkin nut bread - so I can bake it in November and put in the freezer.  I need to pick up some baking boxes, I think.  I'm coming up with ideas on what to bake.  My boss, Sue, is going to give me a list of what she (and her family) wants.  I'd like to make some more jam - I've discovered not many people like jam.  I admit I don't use it much, but hubby loves jam/jelly on toast in the mornings.  And on peanut butter sandwiches.  Which reminds me, I found a new peanut butter cookie recipe - uncooked! - yesterday.  I wonder what I did with it.  Always love to try new recipes.

But I need to quit eating them (cookies) and get focused on an inflammatory diet of sorts to reduce inflammation in my body.  I've reached the point I am not going to worry about it.  I slept all through the night again last night.  My brother asked me to pick up some Theraworx, which is a foam you can spread on your legs to prevent cramps.  My legs don't cramp right now, they literally burn with fire, but I did buy it and I did put it on last night - and slept through the entire night.  I don't want to go to another doctor.  I wonder if I can use this for a few days and if sleeping through the night, get another blood workup on the inflammation, before I go see Dr. Mark and get referred to a rheumatologist who will put me on drugs.  Or, I can see Dr. Mark, get the information, then get the blood test done and if it has gone down, just not go to the rheumatologist.  I don't want to be poked and prodded, if you know what I mean!  If it wasn't for the pain, I'd never mention it.

Had fun with a granddaughter and her family last night. Yes, the one I loaned my car to. They filled up the gas tank even!  We took them to dinner at Sardellas' and had pizza - and I forgot to order the thin crust - but that's ok.  I ate 2.5 pieces and it was so good.  I quit ordering the regular crust because hubby eats all BUT the thick crust at the edges.  What a waste of good dough!  He's always done that - and that's how I track how many pieces he has eaten!  But we had a good visit with the granddaughter, and of course the little one!  Kind of made me sad; she doesn't give 'love' like she used to.  I don't know whether she is just growing up (age 5) or it is that we don't see her that often.  My heart always melted when the great-grandchildren (well, the grandchildren too) would come running with "Oma, I missed you!!"  and give big hugs and kisses.  I'm already missing that with this little one.  Which reminds me, our granddaughter 'down south' sent me a couple photos of her youngest yesterday and they just crack me up.  I love these little ones so much!  We've got to get down there in a few weeks and visit!  It's not that far, really.... maybe I can talk hubby into a day trip some weekend.  If I could go alone.... I would probably be down there at least once a month!

I finished reading all of the New Testament this morning.  I've read most of the Old Testament this year, but stopped at Psalms.  Tomorrow I will start with Psalms and continue through Malachi before the end of the year.  Usually I read all the way from Genesis to Revelation in the year timeframe, but for some reason, I love to read and re-read the New Testament, mainly because I want to learn more and more about Jesus and how to live for Him.  Keep hoping all that I read soaks in!  But the Old Testament is so full of wealth and riches to learn, that I keep going back to it as well.  I will manage to finish up the entire Bible by the end of the year again.  And on January 1, will start back at the beginning again.

I've read where a lot of people will read in four different sections of the Bible.  In fact, Charles Stanley created a 'Life Principles' Bible in which he did that, and yes, I've read through it a couple times over the years.  In one of my devotionals by Bob Sorge, he talks also of reading in different sections.  In looking at my Charles Stanley Life Principles bible this morning, he has Genesis, Psalm, Proverbs, and  Matthew.  He also lists 'life principles' to go by.  Maybe I will start that again in January; it has so much to read each day (days are marked).  For example, for today, September 5, it is Isaiah 1:1-2:22; Psalm 105:1-6; Proverbs 24:23-25; I Corinthians 14:21-40.  Hmmm I may even start reading it again, but I'm in Psalms in my current Bible so may just continue on through the end of the year.

Psalm 105:4:  Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!

Since God is infinite, we will never run out of new and surprising territory to explore regarding His character and nature. The great adventure of seeking God and His ways will continue our whole lives. (Charles Stanley)

I'm so glad that 43 years ago I ran back to Jesus and began to learn of Him.  What I have read one time has proven true.  A man was commenting one time that although he was a Christian and following God, his children had fallen away.  The reason he gave was "I brought my children up in church and they got a head knowledge of God..... but they never got a heart-knowledge of Him".  Paraphrased of course, for I didn't pull the book out to share the exact words.  But that was the way with me.

And... I just erased a bunch of words cause I don't have the time available today to keep rambling. I will tell you this.... 

Dive in and Seek the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your body.  Love Him like you have never loved anyone.  He gave His life up for you - literally.  That is the gift of true love.

Love Jesus.  Love God. Love the Holy Spirit.  and in doing so, your life will be blessed, and you will love others with His love.  The hard ones to love?  Ask Jesus to love them through you, until you can love them yourself.

Gotta go hit the shower.  Have an amazing day - full of love, warmth, and special memories!

Blessings!

Yesterday was a busy day!

 FINALLY.  There was still some trouble on the retainer for the hotel for the board retreat so had to deal with that yesterday.  Accounts Payable told me - eventually - that it will be going out in the mail Fed Ex this.  That has been nerve-wracking, for sure.  Then my male boss and I went back and forth until I convinced him he needed to stay at the hotel the night before.  He had plans to drive down for the dinner the night before, drive back home, drive back down early the next morning, stay all day and do all the presentations, then drive back home.  I finally convinced him to stay - even though the hotel is $329 for the night.  The company should pay for it.  He said he wanted to be humble.  I told him it was better for him not to be stupid.  Yep.  I did.  He's staying the night and I booked his room.  Yes, it's a fancy hotel, but that's where the retreat is.  He will get a good night's sleep and be refreshed for the day's work.

And the cost of that hotel (we got a discount too) is why we aren't spending a weekend down there just yet to visit our granddaughter!  That's the cost for one night!  I finally found a date in April we could go down - then found out it's Easter weekend - UGH.  I want to go down sooner.  I need to sit down and really go over dates good.  I'm thinking I can work around timecards by doing them on Fridays... or take a Friday off and go down and come back Saturday... I'll figure it out eventually.

My youngest son and my prodigal granddaughter, HS, and her baby are to stop by sometime this afternoon to get her Christmas gifts.  They are getting tattoos before coming.  Oh joy.

TB, my granddaughter here in town makes me laugh.  I came across her latest video on Instagram last night and it cracked me up.  My daughter had found a design or created it, for a t-shirt for her that has to do with her new business.  She couldn't find anyone to put the design on a t-shirt.  I tried one person that I knew did it and they said they couldn't.  As I thought about it, I remembered my granddaughter in Tucson, BT, who has a cricut machine and I knew she did designs because she created several t-shirts for me.  So I asked - and she did them!  They look amazing too!  I'm so proud of the work she did - and happy that she agreed to do them.  But the video is hilarious.  Most of her videos do make me smile.  I hope her business takes off for her for she has great plans and wants to start some charities off of it as well.  Whew.  More than my brain can handle!

Ms. Amy called me last night and wants me to pick her up this Saturday and bring her to her house to get some more things.  A friend wants me to have lunch with her today at her apartment.  I'm working on the memorial service for Sunday (my boss' dad's service) and I found out yesterday that more people will be there than I had planned - I didn't know it was 'announced' with the obituary.  So I can't do a simple one like I did for my sister... I need to do a full service.  I got some information from my boss yesterday and will be working on it to bring it together.  At least I got the message completed for Sunday morning and I can just look it over to keep it in my mind. Those two things are my priority.

While hubby was at his Bible study and out to lunch with his friend afterwards, I did something I haven't been able to do in years.  Yes, I said years.  Hubby won't let me.  But he wasn't home, and I decided to do it.  He hasn't realized it yet.  I'll hear about it when he does.  What did I do?  I.did.my.own.laundry.  Yep.  And I did it all - including my towels - in three loads.  And completed it all in one morning.  Seriously, it takes him sometimes two days to do my laundry and I still haven't figured out why, nor do I want to know.  I think he just gets the colors together, whereas I know that I can throw things that have been washed a lot together as they won't 'bleed' onto each other.  Three loads, and all my laundry was washed.  My basket is in my closet so until he decides to do laundry, he won't realize it.  Maybe I will have enough in there again he will just think I haven't changed clothes. LOL   I realize that to some of you it isn't a big deal... but you have no idea .... until you walk in my shoes, don't comment.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NKJV): "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

How much do you love the Lord?  Scripture says we are to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and with all our strength.  He provides all of that - we should love Him with all of who we are.  He provides all that we need.  He strengthens us in times that we need it.  He protects us. He heals us. He guides us. He loves us.

When we don't have, it is because we do not ask Him for it.  That is not assurance we will get exactly what we ask for - how many times have we asked for things and then were grateful we didn't get them?  But He always provides what we need at the time we need it.

I've prayed to get to a gas station when I had an empty tank - and as I pull up to the pump, the fumes are finally gone.  I've prayed to find something... and He will trigger a thought and will help me find it.  I've asked for wisdom and He freely gives it.  (unfortunately I don't always heed His wisdom)  He loves us so much He wants to give us good things.  He truly is all that we need.  Reminds me of a song we sung years ago.  Never hear it anymore....

"In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time.  Lord, please show me every day, as You're teaching me Your way, that You do just what You say, in Your time."

That song always reminds me that my life is in His hands, and all things that come to me are already in place and He will give them to me in His time.

Can you even imagine that God has your life laid out before you are even born?  He knows what we are going to do before we do it!  And He knows what He will do for us.

Lean into Him, trust Him, talk with Him, ask Him for the desires of your heart... and give Him your love, your heart, your soul, and all your strength... and in His time, He will return it all to you.

Blessings!

It's Friday..... yay!

 It has been a long, crazy, 4 day work week.  I enjoyed so much NOT working on Monday that I have been looking at my calendar to see when I could take another day or two off.  I'm thinking maybe a Friday-Monday off.  I still want to make a trip down to the south a ways.  Not for the entire time, but even for a day.  Maybe go down mid-day on a Friday and come back Saturday afternoon.  I'm in grandchild withdrawal, I think.  Although she does touch base periodically, it isn't the same as seeing her face to face and loving on her and our grand-grandchild.  Oh the G-I-L too. LOL   I know our granddaughter has a birthday soon, so I step back and allow her parents first choice on seeing them.  I tried in July and it didn't work out.  Maybe in October we can make a trip down.  Hubby is so grumpy when I insist that I drive... but sometimes I give in and let him drive.  I just pray for protection of us and the vehicle.  We're in God's hands anyway, it doesn't matter if we are on the road in a car or sitting at home.  

Yesterday was somewhat a busy day personally.  I went at noon to CVS and got my flu shot.  Then a bit later I headed over the the hospital to get my mammogram completed.  I go Monday to the dermatologist for a 'screening'.  Then Thursday, I think it is, I go back to the hospital for my DEXascan to check my bones.  I think I am done then with all the tests and things I have to get done.  And I'm trusting God for all the outcomes.

Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV):  'He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.'  You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

As I read that verse this morning in my Bible reading, I was reminded of what my mother always told us.  It was a similar saying.... 

"Pink sky at night, sailors delight.  Pink sky at morning, sailors take warning."

And I remember that saying many times when I look at the sky and see the pink hue that God blesses us with in the beautiful sunset.  Or even in the sunrise.   Memories.

Don't have a lot planned this weekend.  A granddaughter is trying to start a new craft business and will be at a booth at the Deer Valley Town Center tomorrow.  She really has put a lot of work into these crafts and I am so proud of her.  I plan to make a run up there to check out the other vendors and perhaps buy some gifts for Christmas.  After that, I may check with my 'reader son' to see if he's home and take the book to him I have.  Just to get out for awhile on my own will be nice.  I don't think hubby plans to go to the 'farmer's market' with me.  

I have another granddaughter that makes a lot of beautiful things too.  Knowing I love the Disney princesses, for the past three years she has given me a t-shirt with a princess on it, each one different.  I have Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Tinkerbell.  Ok, Tinkerbell wasn't a princess.  Fun shirts.  But she also makes clothes and when I've seen some of them I'm thinking "I want that!"  She makes some really cute things for herself in hopes of getting on the cover of a pattern.  She is so photogenic, I don't know why they haven't chosen her yet.

I have about 4 books going right now - and each one is interesting in itself.  One of the books I started yesterday was 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear.  My new doctor had actually suggested - stating that it had helped her form some new habits.  So, I thought, why not?!  It actually is very good, and interesting, and has a lot of stories in it. But what I have gotten out of it thus far is that if we want to change something, shoot to do 1% different every day towards it.  What I 'hear' from that is I want to lose weight.  So - my 1% could be making a better choice on what I eat today. Or quit grabbing that snack that really isn't good for me.  I want to exercise.  So, if I get on the treadmill for 10 minutes, that could be 1%.  It is not being intimated at the goal... but taking one day at a time to make a small change that will get me to the goal.  Does that make sense?  So, in thinking about it, what would be your 1% change?  

I look about this room that is quickly growing into a 'store' with things I've bought for Christmas already coming in and getting stacked against the wall... and I'm thinking that this weekend my 1% needs to get these organized.  Great-grandchildren are easy - they are still small.  Grandchildren are a bit harder to buy for since they are older and most on their own.  My children leave me at a loss each year for Christmas, but I try to pay attention when they do comment about something they'd like to have and see what I can do to get it for them.  Nothing has come through yet so any suggestions will be helpful.... just saying!

I took a spiritual gifts test last week - have I already told you?  I don't remember if I have... but my #1 spiritual gift is 'Giving' at this time.  Last time I took the test it was 'Faith'.  As I looked at the #1 gift of Giving... I knew it was true.  I love to give things to others.  I love to make things for them.  I love to surprise them with little things.  Anything I have that they want, I'm happy to give to them.  But let me know while I'm alive so that they can get it!  Or, if I'm using it, I can mark it that it will go to them.  If I die first, it might be difficult to get some things.... hubby will have a hard time in letting me go - any of my things go.  People just don't realize how insecure he is without me - although he would deny that in a heartbeat.  But I know.  Especially now as he has aged.

Hopefully my 1% for work today will be completing these minutes.  I know I already have meetings to schedule so that takes time too.  Maybe it will make the day go faster.

Go out and look at the sky - is it red/pink?   What would be your 1% for today to change in your life?  A couple things for you to think about this morning.

Blessings!