Is it the weather?

 I certainly don't know what is going on with me, but I am completely exhausted when I get up - and when I get off work - and sometimes in between!  I signed off the computer yesterday at 4PM, walked into the front room, sat down, closed my eyes, and fell asleep for about 30 minutes!  This morning I haven't been able to get much reading done as every time I started, my eyes would close and I'd go back to sleep again.  I don't like feeling so tired.  And it really, probably, isn't being so tired, as I am so lazy.  At leats that is what I think.  

We had rain finally come through last night; it woke me during the night.  Could that be why I'm so sleepy and tired?  My 'sleep scores' on Fitbit - which I don't hold any faith in - have been pretty low for me the past week.  I usually average around 86 - 90 - and this past week I've hit as low as 68 - 70 and I think I have slept pretty well! Night before last it was 75 - last night was 69.  What is going on with me?  

Perhaps it is more my food intake?  Perhaps I need to eat more healthy and clear my body of toxins and get refocused on exercise?  Hubby has been fussing at me for two weeks about going to the gym.... what he doesn't know is that when he leaves the house, I have gotten on my rebounder and although it may be only a couple minutes, I did get on it, and then I have done my weights some.  But definitely not enough to do any good, I admit.  I reminded him last night that he doesn't have to have me go with him; he can go by himself.  I get the blank look and 'I don't want to go by myself'.  I know he has a fear of falling since the doctor has told him to be extremely careful that he could fall and if he hits his head, it could cause a brain bleed.  He is really terrified he will fall, and I won't be there for him.

Our neighbor, the one who I think I mentioned the other day about calling us and we called 911.  She called me from the hospital yesterday and she has had a stroke.  She is doing very well, doesn't appear to have any side effects and has regained the use of her hand and arm that had 'quit working'.  Her daughter arrived last night and I stayed up until I saw her as I had unlocked her mother's house for her and had fixed her some food to have when she got in.  She flew in from Florida and judging from the time it took, she had a 7 hour flight time - which means she had to sit somewhere and change planes.  I am sure she was exhausted too.  She will be here about 10 days to make sure everything is taken care of for her mother.  I don't think she will need to be put in a care facility just yet (she is 87) as she does have a caregiver come M-F and stay most of the day with her.  I just need to be a bit more attentive in the evenings and check on her more.

I have a lifeline screening tis morning. Have you heard of them?  They offer several tests that you can have done for a minimal cost.  I did this about 3-4 years ago so am getting it done again today.  My older brother had it done 5-6 or more years ago - that was when he found he had some heart issues and needed to focus on those - and he has.  In fact, last year he had the vessels of his heart cleaned out - and he said that just having that done proactively took a lot out of him.  It has taken him quite a while to get his strength back - it was almost like having a heart attack - although he didn't have those side effects.  But - Heart Disease does run in my family.  My uncles had heart issues.  My dad didn't as he died far too young at 39.  But My oldest brother died of heart attack/failure; my next oldest brother has heart issues and is the one being proactive in keeping arteries open and taking care of himself by walking and working out.  My younger brother has had a couple heart surgeries - getting 5 stents, I think it was, some years back.  I feel my boys should not be afraid of it, but be watchful and have their hearts checked out too.   I haven't heard of heart issues with us girls, but one never knows.  Anyway - I'm having 5 tests done - carotid artery screening; heart rhythm screening; abdominal aortic aneurysm screening; peripheral artery disease screening, and osteoporosis risk assesment.  I know I have osteopenia.  I get all these tests for only $158 and if I had waited, the price would have been about 30 dollars less.  Oh well.  All the results of these tests will be sent to my doctor and I get a copy as well.  Something I think everyone should do.  LOL  Hubby has mentioned it a few times that he wants to do it.  When he brought it up last night, I asked him why.... his doctor hasd run every test immaginable on him - and I'm sure he has done these tests.  But I did tell him I'd send him information when I get it via email. 

Regardless of what tests I have done; regardless of what results are found - if any, there is only ONE who is in control of my life and how it operates.  My Heavenly Father.  He is the One in control of my heart beating, my mind thinking, my body moving, my blood flowing - all of me is controled by Him.  I don't need to worry if something may be found - that has never worried me - I pray for a revelation of things if something is wrong.  If nothing is revealed, then I will not think about something being wrong.  I go to my doctor on the 15th for my physical before I start on vacation (we are gone that week) and I expect tests to be ordered, which I will complete upon my return.  I get my blood work completed on Monday so he'll have it.  Maybe I should start eating healthier now if I have blood work done on Monday? :-)  Won't make a difference - it's a 3 month average I hear... oh well.  Lay off that sugar and carbs!

Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV):  "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from You.  When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."

Each one of us have been fashioned by the hand of God.  He created us in our mother's womb.  He blew His breath in us and caused us to breathe.  He covered our bones with skin.  He gave us life.  And yet, before He even did that, He knew us.  He knew our successes, and He knew our failures. And yet, He still loved us enough to create us, and He loves us still, regardless of where we are.  He never gives up on us.

What a great and awesome Heavenly Father we have!  We are made in His image; we are made to worship Him.  Not that He needs our worship; but because He loves us so much and gives us so much and cares for us so much... how can we not continuously praise and worship our Creator?  

O Sovereign Lord, there is none like You!  All glory, honor, and praise belong only to You, Lord.  We worship You; we thank You for providing for all our needs.  We bless You for not leaving us without, but drawing us close to You.  You alone are worthy of our praise, O Lord.  Hallelujah to Your Holy Name!  All blessings are Yours O Lord, and we bless You.  Thank You for loving us unconditionally.  Thank you for giving us life and for sustaining us.  You are our God.

Take a moment and tell God what you are thankful for.  Your family?  Success?  Work? Health?  It is always good to give thanks.

Blessings!

Another late start...

 I didn't get up until nearly 5:30AM again this morning.  In my mind, I've 'lost' 1.5 hours that I could have been reading and spending time with God.  This happens some on weekends.  When we didn't go physically to church, it wasn't a big deal, cause I could still spend as much time as I wanted here in my room.  But, now that we go physically to church, I do have to stop by 7-7:15AM so that I can jump in the shower and get ready to leave.  Funny thing, this morning.... I didn't sleep real well last night and the thought entered my mind to stay home ... but then I told myself that I was going to church.  Then when hubby brought my coffee in, he says to me, "I'm not going to church this morning.  I didn't sleep well last night and I'm not feeling too good.  You can go if you want to."  

Now that just fed right in to me, didn't it!  But I didn't let it!  I had already shaken off the devil and decided I was going to worship anyway.  But he tried again by hubby not feeling well and deciding to stay home.  But, I will get up soon and get ready and go to church.  I'm not sick; I'm tired from not sleeping well, yes, but I'm going to church.  But that is just how Satan works.  He plants that thought in your mind... and then when you overcome that thought, he comes in a different way.  Not this time, Satan!  I'm going to church!

We had a fun time at  our 'group potluck' last night, sitting around eating and talking.  We had chili hotdogs, salad, and vegetarian mac and cheese (not bad, but too much butter for me), and I made 'Settler's Beans (which were really good, by the way), and guess what else I made!  It was one of the women's birthdays and she had mentioned she loved German Chocolate Cake.  So guess what I made her from scratch!  German Chocolate CHEESECAKE!!  Actually, I made her a 4" one, and then I took a 9" one for everyone (and refused to take any back home with me) and then I have a 6" one that we have for our dinner guests tonight.

We have dinner guests coming over... I'll check with hubby to see how he is feeling when I get home from church.  If he still isn't feeling well, I'll postpone our dinner guests.  Need to find out before I start preparations anyway.

I'm having hip problems, I think. Althought it isn't my hip persay, but the joint of my leg attaching to my pelvic bone, I guess it is.  I noticed a couple weeks ago when I got into hubby's car, the seat was low (a friend who is much taller than me had ridden in it and moved the seat back/down) and I kind of 'fell' into the seat.  I noticed this pain on the left side, but thought it was becaues I was sitting 'off', so I just moved my butt around until I was comfortable.  It went away.  The pain has happened a c few other times now when I've gotten in his car (and I have since moved the seat back up where it belongs and is easier for me to get into).  But the other day, I got the sharp pain the left side unexpectedly.  I wasn't in the car.  Then yesterday, as I was cooking, it hit me again on the left side, and I felt a twinge of pain on the right side, same spot.  The pain was so intense that for a short time I couldn't even walk.  WHAT is going on?  The thought occured to me that perhaps this is a side effect of the Fosamax, because there are bone issues with Fosamax, althought it is supposed to put a 'sheathe' around the bone, it can also cause the bone to break.  No, my bone isn't broken, but why would my joint when my femur attaches to the pelvic bone start to hurt - and why such sharp pains?  I haven't done any extensive walking.  Nor extensive exercise.  It's out of the blue and I'm at a loss as to why.  I do have a doctor's appointment for my physical on August 15th so unless it happens to where it disables me doing anything, I'll wait till then to mention it to him.  Is this another sign of 'old age'?  I don't mind getting old - I just don't want to feel old - know what I mean?

I like to sit on my leg, and do that frequently.  Have I been doing it for so many years that now I have messed up that joint?  I don't know... I only know that when it hits (it isn't constant, has only happened a few times), I can't walk as my leg crumbles under me.  It won't allow me to put pressure on it.  I do have a Lifeline Screening appointment on the 26th... I did it about 3-4 years ago.  I pay $148 or so and they do 5 critical tests (or more) to identify if something is wrong.  They first alerted me to a couple things that I brought up with my doctor - nothing to worry about, but to watch, like cholesterol was clogging my arteries some... they tested my carotid artery with an ultrasound.  They do other tests too and I figure it is a way to get some tests done all at one place and they will send the results to my doctor.  Let him figure them out.  I get a copy as well, which is nice.  Overall the last time I was healthy.  Now that I have to take a cholesterol pill at night (doctor told me it is heritary, not my eating habits so much) hopefully my arteries aren't that clogged.  They also diagnosed my bone density was leaning towards osteoporosis..... 3 years later I was diagnosed with osteopenia.  Hence the Fosamax. Enough of my medical ramblings.

Sunday.  A day of rest.  A day of worship.  A day of spending time with God.  A time of turning our thoughts to the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  A day of just being with Him.  I look forward to these days.  I could spend every day just resting in His Presence.  But, unfortunately, I have to work.  Perhaps I need to play the lottery.... you can't win if you don't play, right?  Yeah, I don't play.  

We had a wind/dust storm come by on our way home from group last night - in fact, I drove home in wind and rain and lots of lightening.  My nice clean car I got washed last week is now spotted with dust and rain drops.  Oh well.  I try to keep it clean.. but with our crazy weather, it isn't possible.  My cushions were on my chairs last night, but don't know how wet they got - the rain just kind of blew through.

This chorus has been going through my mind this morning... it's the song 'All my Hope'  - look it up and take a listen.  

"All my hope, is in You.  All my strength, is in You.  With every breath, my soul will rest, in You."

Jesus is our hope, al my hope.  He is also all my strength.  With every breath I take, my soul rests in Him.  I pray you lean into Him and allow Jesus to be your hope, your strength, as well.

Have a blessed Sunday!