It was a pretty good day after all....

 Yesterday wasn't as crazy as I feared it was.  I should always remember that once I put it in God's hands, He will take care of it... I need to quit 'taking it back' to stress over it.  Something to remember.

I did have lunch with my 'old' friend and we had a great time of talking and eating.  In fact, I talked so much I ended up bringing half my salad home!  We had a great visit.  Then at Bible study last night it went well.  And, oh my goodness, our hostess is a wonderful dessert maker.  Last night she had small bite-size cherry cream danish that she put on phyllo dough.  But my favorite?  She also made very small pecan pies.  I ate three.  Not intentionally.  I was going to only eat two, but the the host insisted I take another home with me (it didn't make it out of the driveway) because what is left over, he ends up eating himself. They were so good and are a favorite of mine.  So, yeah, Bible study was great. :-)

Today is the dreaded day I have to go to Corporate downtown but God has taken care of it.  Another admin lives far away south... so we are meeting about half way and we will ride together downtown.  I think she has been there before, and if not, we will learn together where to park, get the ticket validated, etc.  We were to order lunch yesterday and I ordered tamales.  Not that I like them a lot, but they are less messy than trying to eat tacos.  I have so much work to do I don't really have time to go and I know my friend doesn't either.  BUT, it's called work... I forget what it's called, but you get it.  Networking - that's the word!  Most of these admins I have never met in person; most I haven't even responded by email with.  But some I have so it will be nice to put a face to a name.

The support person I am driving to Mesa to take the basket to tomorrow emailed me yesterday to come for the luncheon they are having.  So - instead of doing an early trip down to Mesa, drop off the basket, and turn around and drive back, I'm going down late morning and will stay for lunch.  Might as well get 'paid' for the drive down!  I will get to see my other boss (as this is his department) as he will be there, and meet two of the new employees that I have been crazily working things out for.  I may learn something new... the last one hired worked for our company until last April when they were laid off.  He has asked for all his emails and folders from last April be made available to him.  I always thought when an employee left that all the records were wiped clean.  Gone.  Adios. But he seemed to think they were stored and IT can pull his 'old stuff' and give it back to him.  It would be great if they can as he said he has several emails and powerpoints that would be useful in this new position.  I did write an email to someone in IT that I know.... will see how she responds.

Ephesians 5:19-20 (NKJV) ".....speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,...."

Five phrases express the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit; speaking, singing, making melody, (with instruments), giving thanks, and submitting.  We don't usually talk to each other in psalms or hymns or sing to each other, but surely there are times that you feel a song in your heart to sing unto the Lord, or a chorus will come to your mind and you find yourself humming it.  How often do you find yourself thanking God for answered prayers?  Or even for prayers you didn't pray?  Some people depend on others to pray for them.... they have turned away from God for whatever reason.... usually because He didn't act in the timeframe they set on Him....  (we don't like rules, so why do we place rules on others?) ..... but do we stop and thank God for the answers .. even to prayers we didn't pray?  He only has our best interests in mind.  He only wants the best for us.

In my devotions this morning I read about a Stanley Tam, who was CEO of the United States Plastic Corporation.  I just looked it up ... just cause.  Stanley Tam wanted to be sure that God was the Center of that corporation, that over time he made God the biggest shareholder (51 %) of the corporation.  In fact, the story went on that he gave God all of the corporation to where Stanley Tam himself became a salaried employee.  I just looked at it on the internet and on the outside wall of the Corporation are the words "Christ is the answer".  The United States Plastic Corporation has given away millions of dollars over the years.... because God is the owner of this company.  Isn't that amazing?  Someone who started a company but gave it all to God, and managed it for Him, taking the profits and giving them away.  More companies should follow that example, right?

And perhaps we should as well.  When we make God our 'boss', our 'owner', and we submit to His authority when it comes to our lives and how we live, submit to His authority when it comes to our finances, submit to His authority on how we treat others.... when we give Him complete control, only then will we be successful.  Because when God is in control, it will be.  

No, I'm not there yet.  More and more I give up things for Him, but I know there are things I still hold on to.  Things like attitude (you know how I struggle with that at times!), anger, behavior, etc.  I've gotten much better over the years with our finances... well, my part of the finances, anyway.  In fact, I did a spiritual gifts test not long ago and I was extremely surprised that 'Giving' was my number one spiritual gift, according to that test.  I don't believe it is, but I believe in giving to God all that I have.  He will always provide what I need; I don't have to have all the other stuff.  It only breaks or wears out, or I decide I don't want it anymore.

I mean, like, how many 'things' for my kitchen did I think I needed?  I have far too many... some I have bought cause I 'had to have' and have only used once.  Some I haven't used at all.  Yet, I thought I 'had to have it'.  I need to do inventory and either start using things or get rid of them.  Some day, I tell myself, when I don't have to work all day, I can go through my cookbooks and start experimenting and using some of these things I have.  Wouldn't that be fun!

All that I have is a gift from the Giver of Life, God our Father.  What I do with it is my gift back to Him.  That applies to our lives too.  God breathed life into each one of us.... what a gift that is!..... and what we do with our life is our gift back to Him.  

Blessings!

Yesterday's title was somewhat off...

 Yesterday I put the title of the 'tongue' and for some reason, instead of talking mainly about the tongue and how it gets us into trouble.... I went off about the temptations - of ice cream, no less!  Obviously I had ice cream on my mind yesterday (temptation?) when I read it.  And, yes, I did dump nearly a full half gallon of ice cream down the garbage disposal after I got up.  Hubby was gone so he couldn't question what I was doing.  

Today is going to be somewhat busy.  Our neighbor, Ms Amy, called us about 10PM last night and was having some medical issues so we ran over to see what was going on.  We ended up calling 911 and they came and took her to the hospital.  I have one telephone number for a daughter, but wasn't getting an answer.  All three of her children live out of state.  I locked up the house and we came back home.  I sent a text to the number I have for the one daughter.  No response.  Expected no answer really - it was 1AM where she lives.  This morning I sent another text 'is this the right number'?  And got a yes response so I asked if I could call and got another yes.

FINALLY.  I talked with the daughter and she had seen my message and had called her mother and said she was still in the ER!  The hospital has no beds.  I'm going over to Ms. Amy's house this morning and get her phone cord and a black knit hat cause it is so cold in the hospital.  Will run them down to her and then will decide if I'm going to meet some friends for lunch or come back home.  I was thinking of bailing on lunch, but may be able to still meet.  Her daughter is flying out on Monday so will be here to take care of her mother.

Which means I need to get up and get moving this morning.  My mind is on Ms. Amy and getting things for her; getting to the hospital to drop them off (thank goodness it is less than 5 miles away); and going to lunch.  But a quick shower and getting dressed is the first priority.  

Although Ms. Amy isn't disabled, I often think of Bonnie, who had lived next door to us at our former house.  I don't visit with Ms. Amy much, but I guess I need to do it more often.   It'shard to find time when I'm in a rut of working, fixing dinner, then sitting down and crocheting, then a hour or so later going to bed.  But, I need to put Ms. Amy ahead of that some evenings and go over and visit.  After all, I'm not on the road for an hour driving home from work, I'm right here.  I've become a hermit; a shut-in of my own making.  I need to make a point of visiting Ms. Amy when she is well, not just when she is sick.  Maybe that's why I'm next door.  After all, we live in a community of 'old folks'... perhaps I am to be checking on those close to us more.  Something to think about.

So - today I guess I don't have any profound (as if I ever do) thoughts to share as I am thinking about the things I need to get done this morning.  So with that, and an empty coffee cup, I think I will hush and get going on my day.

Have a blessed day!

Home.... and it didn't start out well.... sigh...

It is good to be home and in my own bed.  I slept good last night and didn't wake up at all during the night.  And that's with a nap around noon!  

We did leave early yesterday morning to head back home.  In fact, once we packed, ate some breakfast, straightened up the airbnb, we left and were on the road by 8:30AM, I think.  No sense in just sitting and waiting until 11AM to leave - so we locked up and left.  Trip back was uneventful - got to Fountain Hills and I remembered White Castles was there so we stopped there for lunch.  I was so full!  I love White Castles; I grew up on White Castles.  They are definitely my 'comfort food', but I certainly can't eat them like I did growing up!  I did buy a box of 20 and brought home with me.  I'll put what's left in the freezer this morning.  

(erase.  sigh).  After arriving home 4-5 hours earlier than I had planned to (I was the first one dropped off), hubby was caught offguard and hadn't completed a couple things he should have.  That threw him in a bad mood because he was 'busted' he hadn't done them.  It made for a very tense and quiet afternoon.  Late afternoon our new neighbor called and she had me laughing (she really is a hoot!).  After hanging up, hubby commented "it's good to hear you laughing".  I didn't say anything.  It's rare that anything makes me laugh anymore - I mean, truly deep down laugh.  And so many times I need those desperately to breathe life back into me.

Things are back to normal this morning; I got up early and came into my room to read my Bible.... and hubby gets up about 1/2 hour later and brings me my coffee.  It's Saturday so I don't have to keep an eye on the clock so will stay in here a bit longer than I usually do.  I slept well last night so hopefully caught up on my sleep.  We are to have lunch today with friends from one of the RV parks we speak at.  They called while I was away and we got it scheduled.  They are a fun couple and we have met them a few times over the last few years before they head back to - Wisconsin, I think it is.  I think they leave next week.  So I guess I need to get moving soon and get a shower.  It will be fun to visit with them.

I also want to 'make' myself get on the treadmill today.  I've eaten junk food most of the week and I definitely need to get my body back on track by eating healthy - or at least 'more healthy' than I have been.  Dill Pickle potato chips and white castles were my dinner last night.  Yeah, it's time to eat healthy again.  Ok - I will not throw the dill pickle potato chips away so may have to just go ahead and eat them, right?

I'm glad I have the weekend to 'rest' from vacation before going back to work on Monday.  I haven't checked emails and I really have no desire to.  Usually we are gone for Jailbreak over the weekend and then I have to go right back to work the next day - so it feels nice not to have to.  Not that my life is any great excitement over the weekends either.  I'm just glad I don't have to think about work stuff.

Got to shake this heaviness that comes occasionally.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be back on track and feel like sharing more about the goodness of God.  He really is good, you know.  He is my sustainer in life.  He is my Joy when I have none.  It's kind of like that scripture....

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV): "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed...."

Life beats us up sometimes, people say mean and hateful things, life hurts... but when we place our Hope in Jesus, He makes all things new.  He is my Comfort, my Shield, my Hope, my Life.  Without Him, I probably would not be here today.  He holds my hand and walks through the toughest parts of life with me.  And He never lets go.

He's got you too.  Hang on, cause sometimes the ride is rocky.

Blessings!