The day will be broken up a bit in that I need to leave about 8:30AM and head over to get my blood drawn for my February 9th doctor's appointment. I'm trusting all the tests will go well. After all, I haven't eaten any chocolate or cookies or brownies (although I was really tempted to eat a brownie last night!) since January 3rd. So, no protein shake or anything this morning before I go as I like to fast before I get my blood drawn, if possible. And since I made it for 9:15AM - surely I can hold off.
I had my 'ARC Review' yesterday morning with Sue, my favorite boss. She once again gave me an 'exceeds expectations' overall. She has a way with words, because she has to justify why she says I exceed. Of course I first have to complete a 'self-evaluation' of what all I did in 2025 (who keeps track?) so I just listed the three boards that I now support, how I help other EAs and AAs to get information, how I collaborate with others about how to complete tasks, etc. Things I did to learn more about - i.e., still working on the powerpoint but I am learning how to create the slides and all that stuff. She took my words and made them much more powerful. All this to say that in April, I think it is, I will get a bit of a raise. I have got to be hitting the top of my pay range soon, if I haven't already. I've always had the mindset that whatever they pay me is a gift. I accepted this job going on 9 years now, and only once was I refused a raise - and that was at a former job, probably 20 years or so ago. Yes, that's right. It wasn't that I wasn't doing my job or that I didn't exceed what I was doing. The reason that director said she couldn't give me a raise? I had been with the company for over 10 years and had gotten good raises. The reason she gave me was that my salary (without a college degree) was in the range of the nurses and heaven forbid I should get paid as much as they do when they have degrees! I just shrugged it off - God has always taken care of us. And He did then too. He has more than blessed me over the years with salary increases - which is why it is scary for hubby to say 'you can retire'. And I get that. But there is nothing we need and I believe that God will always take care of us. And He has.
After my ARC review I had a prep for one of the board meetings. Got that done and worked on the agenda afterwards to get it aligned. Something else I learned in powerpoint yesterday and I'm pretty proud that I learned it. :-) Anyway, finished that - and then at 12:30pm we had a board meeting from another group. Had to take minutes at that one. Need to get those typed up today and a new slide deck added for the next board meeting in April. Since it's a ways out, not an urgent thing, for sure. Have another board meeting next Thursday, which was the prep yesterday. Then one more this quarter. Those will require new slides and I'm not sure how to create those - but guess I can learn!
Still, this afternoon should be fairly quiet and I will be able to get different things completed. Need to finish up on the message for Sunday for the RV park. Haven't gotten too far on it. Yeah, I'm a procrastinator - but I get it done!
Finally got over to visit Ms. Vicki last night for an hour. She kept telling me over and over how much she appreciated my coming to visit as she gets so lonely. I don't mind visiting; sometimes I take my crocheting with me. But last night we just chatted for I knew I wasn't going to stay long. She asked if we could go to lunch sometime.... and I said yes. I don't mind she uses a walker. I'm sure she wants to get out of her house occasionally. And some day I will take her to lunch; probably on a Saturday when I don't have to rush around.
Still need to go see Ms. Diane in the group home. I've been lazy and not wanting to go, but I should, bless her heart. I know she gets lonely; she gets lonely when she lived across the street. Her house ought to be about ready to put on the market. Her boys (one is in construction; has his own business, I think she said) have been over there at least 5 days a week for the last month, painting and doing other things. Looks like they may have replaced cabinets. I'm not sure what all they've done and I'm very tempted to go over and ask to see. That will give us 3 duplexes in just our one block that are up for sale. The reason for two of them? They don't like the HOA. Well, neither do I! I want to move too!! Our yards in front are nothing but dirt. UGH. So glad hubby resigned last year and got out of it. He 'disobeyed' me when we moved here and got into it. I told him NO and he did it anyway. Isn't that being disobedient? LOL
What have you had a feeling about lately that you need to do - and it really isn't that you don't want to do it - but you don't want to do it? (yeah, that does make sense) Sometimes what keeps us from doing what we feel we should do - other than just not wanting to - is that we are afraid that we might embarrass someone - or even ourselves. I read a story in a book this morning about a young woman sitting in the airport and an elderly man was sitting near the gate in a wheel chair with long hair that was matted and dirty. God told her to go brush his hair. She didn't want to. And after having that discussion with God, she finally got up and asked to brush his hair. He let her, and as she brushed his hair, he told her that he had been sick for a long time and had been away from his wife and he was now flying home to see her, and he had prayed that God would bring someone to help him not look so 'ugly' when he got to see his bride.
And then I think about a conversation I had the other night with one of our bible group. She said that at church on Sunday, she kept feeling that God was telling her to touch the shoulder of the lady in the row in front of her, and to pray for her. But she held back (she said she had to actually sit on her hands, the urge was so great!) because she wasn't sure if the woman would be offended or embarrassed. I gently told her that if God was urging her to pray for this woman, there would be no offense. That woman probably needed a prayer to reassure her that God heard her prayers and saw her, and she would be encouraged. Never let embarrassment or awkwardness get in the way of praying for someone - especially when God has placed them in your sight and is urging you to lay your hand upon their shoulder and pray! It's like at One Nutrition the other day - I needed that young woman's prayer to calm me down after a stressful day. She was brave enough to ask if she could pray for me.
I can remember only one time when I asked to pray for someone and she refused me. I remember how surprised I was of the refusal. It was a boss, her name is Cheryl. She was going through some 'stuff' and had shared it with me - and I asked her if I could pray with her - and she told me 'no'. So - as I left her office and went back to my desk, I prayed for her anyway. It was surprising to me.
We don't need fancy words to pray for someone. We just need our hearts to be obedient to God and to pray. The Holy Spirit will lead you with the words to say. Many times I feel my words are awkward and jumbled and mixed up - only to hear someone say to me "that was exactly what I needed to hear'. I've learned it doesn't take great words, it just takes a willing heart to surrender to the Holy Spirit and let Him lead. Even YOU can pray.
I'm not sure what journey God has me on right now. I can't even explain the emotions and feelings I have been going through the past several months - you may have figured it out if you have read here often. I'm not perfect by any means. I fail myself, and I fail God. But He still loves me and welcomes me when I run back to Him. I want to get closer to God, and sometimes I just don't know how to do that. It isn't just reading my Bible, which I do nearly every day. It isn't just by reading books about Him. It's by living life and depending upon Him that I learn how to get close to Him. I keep my eyes open to see where He is working, and then go to join Him there.
And you can too. Be watchful. When you feel the emotional 'high' to comfort someone, to say a kind word - do it. If you feel a word of prayer is needed, do it. And when you are obedient, you will feel His presence in a way you never thought possible. Tell your child you love them, and watch their response. If you haven't told them in a long time, they may be surprised. But don't just tell them, show them by words of kindness, of encouragement. And parents too, need encouragement. Life is hard. Everyone needs a prayer, a kind hand, a word of encouragement to get through this life. Who can you encourage this day? Something to process, think about, and do.
Make it today.
Blessings!
