Yes I generally get some anxiety - more so this month - about the board meeting that was yesterday. It was moreso this month, as you know, because my boss 'dumped' on me to create the deck and several other little details. The meeting was yesterday afternoon and it went very well - in fact, it was over 30 minutes early! It really seemed it went very fast and some of the slides were entirely skipped over. What's up with that? But, I have no control over that - and that's ok. I don't want it. It would be more organized if I did it. Yeah, right, huh! So until the end of April I won't be bellyaching about the board meeting - our next one is in May and in April I will need to 'set up the deck' again. But at least this time I will know how to do it and what I am doing. I hope.
Today will be a personal busy day. I have an 8:30AM with the chiropractor; 12:45PM with LabCorp for a blood draw; and 4:30PM I have another half hour of training. Legs tonight. Oh joy. Last night we did upper back. Monday it was core. It's all good for me, and I'm grateful, for as long as I can keep my body strong, I can walk on my own, right? Strengthening my core will keep me from falling as I age. Working my legs ensures I can walk; and working my arms and upper body - I can carry my own groceries in, right? LOL I thought about just taking the day off so that I won't have to deal with work - and I still could - but why waste a day of play when I can just take off and do what I need to do? There are times I work through lunch, and times I start early, and times I work late. They get their money's worth out of me and my boss knows it - and she doesn't care if I need to take off. I'm always where I need to be when I'm needed. And I always let her know when I'll be away for a bit. Which is really rare, overall.
I slept good last night - first time in a few nights that I felt like I slept deep. Woke up at 11:30PM cause I drank a lot of water last night after working out. Fell right back to sleep - and what wakes me up this morning? At 3AM my Apple watch is going off telling me that the battery is down to 8%. I tried to go back to sleep and probably did some, but not as deep, until 4AM when I got up. Really wanted to go back to sleep in here, and I think if I hadn't had my watch go off at 3AM I could have slept much later. No dreams, just a deep sleep. Or so I think. That's what I don't like about the Apple watch. It has to be charged every single day. And if it is used by a program, i.e., I turn on the exercise app when I work out so that I can get credit on my company website, where my watch is hooked in to, for the exercise - and to watch my heart rate to see how high it goes. My resting heart rate is about 57-59. Daily activities I would guess it goes up to 70; haven't really checked. But when Morgan is working me out - whether it is core or other exercises, my heart rate can go from 105 up to 125. Seems like at one time she had it up to 130. I think that was pushing the big sled back and forth - it is hard! Even hubby doesn't like that one. But we do it 'because Morgan says so'. I really do feel that I am gaining some of my life back, for I 'feel' like doing things more with working out. I don't just sit all day in front of the computer, and sit all evening on the couch. Well, I do, but I'm also up and doing things. And that's a good thing for me - mentally and physically.
Started going through receipts yesterday to sort out for taxes. We have an appointment in March with the financial guru so need to get everything pulled together. And every year I tell myself I will keep better records, write things down, keep all in one place..... and like you, I'm sure.... every year that thought falls by the wayside and come February I am digging through stacks of receipts and then going through my bank records to see what medical and other bills I paid that I can claim. And don't forget the mileage to and from the drugstore and the doctor/specialists offices - that can be claimed too. And, we figure how much money I made from preaching (yes, they do pay me to do that!!) and I claim the mileage for that as well. It all goes in specific fields and we total it up. I love that we pull everything together and complete the form our financial guru sends us, and then when we go see him, all he needs to do is key in the totals in the computer, verify a few things, and poof! Fifteen minutes later the form is completed, we have signed electronically, and he sends it off for us. Except when we have to pay. That's one reason we are glad Trump got elected. It won't be until next year - but no taxes on social security. That is the reason we always have to pay taxes - although we have already been taxed on our social security when we paid in to it, and when we receive it back, we have to pay tax on it again. Just not right. I've also started drawing my 401K and although I have paid the federal tax on it before I get it, I'm sure I will have to pay the state tax on it. Better now while I'm working than when I'm not. Taxes - we all have to pay them, and they are such a pain to pull together and deal with!
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT): Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT): Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said: "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.
Yes, I know some people who love money and like to throw it away like they have plenty. I know others who are such penny pinchers that although they have a lot of money, they choose wisely on what they purchase and on what they give away. I can't really call them penny pinchers. Those are really selfish people, and the couple I am thinking of are definitely NOT selfish. They have money, yes, but they give as they choose. They hear of a family member in need, and they give of themselves and of their finances. But, unlike some of us, they don't fall for the whiney bunch who blow their money and then expect you to help them out. Does that make sense? I've learned over the years to spend way too freely, and to save, as well. We don't have much, but we get by. And if someone is in need, and I know it isn't their fault, I like to help them out without them asking. Sometimes it is providing a meal. Sometimes it is providing my time. Sometimes it is just a gift card. Most times those people just need to know they matter, even though going through a difficult time.
I know we have been on the receiving end a few times. Times that have been so hard that I have cried out to God (literally!) because I didn't know what to do. Yes, it was our fault we got in that predicament (hubby quitting or losing a job; credit cards run up (don't get me going on that one!!) and just needing enough to pay the bills). I remember my oldest brother one time send me a check for $25. That's it. Just $25. Although I hadn't said anything to him, he said he knew we were going through a rough time and just wanted to help a little. Another time a dear friend, as we were walking out of church, slipped a $50 bill into hubby's hand and didn't explain as to why, but just told us to pass it on. And we have, many times since then. Friends help friends; family helps family. It is what is ingrained in us. I think most of us want to help others, but we want to be sure they won't 'do it again' and get themselves in that predicament or that it is really needed. Some people know how to play the system and they get help through other means, but then still complain they don't have to keep the sympathy going. Unfortunately, many people now fall in that scope. Don't you think?
I saw a post on facebook a week or so ago of someone that I don't know, posting through a church post, that they were willing to do anything to earn money. They would clean, babysit, run errands, pull weeds - anything. I get why they were doing it, they obviously needed money. But for some reason I didn't feel compelled to help. Ever feel that way? It's not that I love money and want to hoard it. But something just didn't grab my heart about the request. A couple days later I noticed someone asked them if they had gotten any response. They replied "no". I still didn't feel compelled to help. So I didn't. Trust me, God sometimes has me do more than I really think/want to do when he lays it on my heart to help someone. Ironically, the last time I helped someone in the previous church who had surgery and needed help with meals, etc., I was the only one. Why is that? Have we all become so self-centered that we focus on what our needs are only?
I know, I'm thinking too much this morning, right? We have to be careful we are not enabling people (and I do enable one, I am aware of that) to live life like they have money and things and then supply what they 'need' because of their spending. I'm learning to step back and not offer. And when asked, I have to weigh the reason why. You know when the bills are due. You know what needs to be paid. Don't go shopping for things when you know the money won't be there to cover it all. Right?
Ah, my mind is rambling all over the place this morning, isn't it? Results of getting a decent night's sleep? I don't know, but sometimes what I write is also a reminder to myself to watch my own business, if you know what I mean. So how are you doing with that? I will still give whatever I can as God directs me. My money is His money, and He can do with it whatever He pleases. He will always supply what we NEED. Not necessarily what we WANT. There is a big difference. We have way more than we need in material things, trust me.
I can remember frying up pork steaks or lamb chops for dinner because they were very cheap at that time. I remember making my own bread because I couldn't buy bread. I remember using a washboard to wash clothes and hanging out on a line outdoors, because we did not have money to have a washer and dryer and even then, laundromats were too expensive. I remember it being so cold in one house that I opened the refrigerator and inside the refrigerator was warmer than the kitchen on the outside of it. But God always provided for our needs. And we were happy and content. Or so I thought.
Until you go through the tough times, you don't realize how much that God does love you and provides for you and those you love. I would rather sit with someone and have a peanut butter sandwich, just to be with them, than not being with them because they feel they can't afford to feed us steak. Steak isn't what it is made out to be anyway. I fixed a t-bone steak last night and it wasn't that good. Even grilled it, and it was dry and chewy. Even what is known as a good steak can be 'boring'. Right?
And with that rambling, I'm going to jump off here and get in the shower. Have a busy day ahead and hope that some of this rambling speaks to you. Love Jesus. Love Others, Love Yourself. That is where you find JOY.
Blessings!
