An unexpected surprise

We made it to church yesterday and the message was on 'The Lazy Tongue'.  Pastor Pat talked about how our tongue can get us in trouble (and mine does a lot more than I want it to!), or it can bless people.  It was a good message, and I had chuckled at one point.  I know Pastor Pat listens also to Jentezen Franklin on Sunday mornings.... and at the end of his message, he also made a comment that we needed to vote policies, not color, on the Bible and what God says, not what the world says.    

On the way to church I remembered I forgot the cheesecake I was going to take for dessert at the pool party.  We ran home real quick to pick it up and head on over to the daughter's where I was met with a 'SURPRISE!!' and bombarded with balloons when I walked in the door!  Yep - my children had planned a surprise party for me!  I was totally surprised, especially since my daughter had just moved into the house the day before, it wasn't quite completely remodeled yet, and she hadn't even unpacked her dishes yet!  They went out of their way to open their home for the party and surprise me.  

I was thrilled that both my boys and their families were there.  I missed a few, but understandable; they are out of the city, plus one had to work that night.  But it was a very good day.   I'm not sure who all contributed to the party, I heard of a couple, but all in all, it was a very special time for me and I am so grateful.  I truly felt loved.  There were lots of photos taken and I have finally reconciled myself to the fact that I am not going to look skinny and perfect in each one.  I am fluffy and out of sorts, it was hot and humid and my hair went flat - I make funny faces unknowingly.  I am me.

And judging from the photos my daughter in love sent me after I went to bed last night - and saw this morning - I can make funny faces very easily!  It's those candid moments that we all can laugh about.  I will truly treasure all the effort that went in to the party, the family being about me, and just being together.   I always said what I wanted for gifts was time with my children, my family.  And I got it yesterday.  It was truly a blessing for my mama heart.   They all 'done good' to bless me.  

When we finally left, I think we all were exhausted.  Hubby and I sat and scrolled our phones (which I admonish myself for wasting the time, but I did it anyway) and hubby soon fell asleep.  At 8:30PM, our usual bedtime, I was ready to go to bed as well.  I know my daughter and her hubby took a nap shortly after we left as well.  It was a very good day.

I only have two days of work this week as I'm taking Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off to celebrate our 42nd anniversary.  I can't wait for the change of scenery, even though we aren't going far.  I know hubby has some sort of medical appointment on the 15th - and he fussed about that - but I told him it wasn't a big deal - we have nothing planned - except me for hoping to lay out by the pool for a little bit.  It may be too hot to do that, though, and if there is no shade, we may not be near the pool.  I just want to enjoy rest and relaxation. Which makes me think; I need to find a book or two to take with me to read.  I have several I'm reading now, but I think I'll just take one physical book to read.  Or I could take my kindle and have several choices.  Hmmm.  Yeah, I think the kindle may win. These two days of work will be very busy.

I have reconciled to myself that I will be working for awhile yet. I'm not jealous of those who can retire early and travel.  I'm jealous people can retire and live life.  If I retired, we would be ok financially; I'm not worried about that. I'd definitely have to rein in my Amazon shopping, but that's no big deal.  I'm more concerned of sitting at home and doing nothing.  Hubby just doesn't want to do anything except work out at the gym.  Any other activity that would require effort is a no no. (I did get hiking sticks from my brother for my birthday - will they ever get used?  I bought hubby some for his birthday. I think I wasted my money.)  Oh, there would be reading, trust me! And I have plenty of books I haven't read yet.  But I get restricted on doing things (like I can't even move furniture around or move pictures on the wall) because someone doesn't like 'change'.  I get tired of the same oh same oh at times.  AND I've been told that the one room is HIS office, and I am not to make ANY changes in it - even if it is putting books in alphabetical order so I can see what we have duplicates of!  Oh well.  When we both die, I hope the kids don't just donate the books to goodwill; hook up with Thriftbooks or Amazon and sell them.  I'd like to find my duplicates of those I know I won't read again and do that - but heaven forbid I put the books in order so I can figure that out!

Psalm 50:23 (TPT)  The life that pleases me is a life lived in the gratitude of grace, always choosing to walk with me in what is right. This is the sacrifice I desire from you. If you do this, more of my salvation will unfold for you.

The grace we received when we surrender to God is so precious!  I was reminded of that at church yesterday morning.  When we surrender, we received His grace of salvation.  It's free. It doesn't cost us anything but giving up the 'things' we hold on to.  You know what I mean - not necessarily material things, but our idolization of people, of holding on to our 'rights', holding on to our feelings, to always demanding our own way, of just keeping our focus on us and what we want.  When we surrender all that, God will give us His gift of grace, His salvation, and oh life is so much sweeter when we do that! It doesn't mean that life will be perfect, not by any means!  

In fact, I was reading in one of my favorite devotionals this morning, Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge  "The closer we draw to the Lord in intimacy, the more real the warfare will be we encounter.  Frances Frangipane described it with the phrase, "New levels, new devils."  As the attacks increase, our cry only intensifies, "Hide me!" While the body and soul may be afflicted with increasing harassment and abuse, the spirit is finding a place of greater protection, rest, and intimacy under the shadow of the Almighty.  The Spirit thus draws us into a place of greater spiritual peace and comfort which only inflames the soul with a greater passion for Jesus - which in turn only feeds the ire of our tormentors.  

The cross is where we sustain great assaults, but yet there's no safer place in the universe to be.

Blessings!

A very tired morning....

 Yesterdayw as a busy day - starting off with my quiet time, of course, but then heading off to the dentist to hear about a lot of things that needs to be done.  Primarily, I'm being sent to an oral surgeon because of my tooth that broke off about six months or so ago.  It broke at the gum line and has now developed a small 'caries' (or cavity) so the dentist wants it out before an infection starts and travels down the root canal.  so next week I think it is, I have an appointment with an oral surgeon.... and then from his evaluation it will be decided if I get an implant put in that spot, let it go, get a bridge - and all I see are $$$$ and wondering how much my insurance will cover.  So glad I took out the higher policy for I imagine it is going to hit $2500 limit the insurance pays fairly soon.  And I have other teeth that needs some touch-up, as I already knew.  UGH.  I do not like dentists.  But I love this guy - I met him about 12 years ago at one of my offices where he consulted.... but I haven't seen him in 10 years - so glad I found he was nearby (about 5 minutes away, I think) and he was taking new patients.  It was good to catch up with him in between him poking in my mouth.

After that visit I came back to 'work' and had a lot of things I needed to do.  I laid out chicken in a bowl of water to thaw for dinner while I continued working.  I was pretty busy all day and was glad when 4PM came and I could turn my computer off.  I went to fix dinner - and found there was only one piece of chicken in that package!  It's one of those packages where there should be at least two pieces!  And I had dinner planned already too!  But when hubby came in from his eye doctor appointment, I told him we were going out to dinner - I was frustrated there was only one piece of chicken.  Needless to say, another package of chicken is thawing overnight in the refrigerator so that I can fix it all tonight.  We ended up at Rubio's - a little expensive for my taste for fast food - but it was good and we were both full.  THEN I saw Chipolte's across the way and wished we had gone there!  I love their chicken bowl.

When we got back home and settled for the evening.... all of a sudden we both felt so tired.  Perhaps it was the stress of my dentist appointment, the stress of hubby's eye specialist appointment, that hit us both.  We read a short time in our Bibles and after three chapters I just couldn't read anymore.  We went to bed and I slept sound until about 2AM and struggled to go back to sleep.  I did, but my internal alarm went off and I got up - still sleepy - and I sat here in the darkness for about half hour, dozing, finally turning the light on to read and still trying to wake up.  Even now, after I have read and wrote in a journal, I am wanting to take a nap - but, alas, time slips away from me and I cannot.  

But the good news is, I am off work tomorrow.  It is my daughter's birthday and the bridal party - i.e., bride, my daughter, me, bride's sister and her daughter - are going to get our nails done.  It will be fun and I'm looking forward to a manicure and pedicure.  Then tomorrow night we'll all go out to dinner to celebrate my daughter's birthday.  Then the craziness of the weekend begins.

Oh yeah, I have a facial scheduled this afternoon too.  That will feel good and I will be taking off work early to get that done.  Then I will have to jump on the computer when I get back to catch up on anything before I'm off for the weekend.  I dread Monday.  Timecards.  Only my second time in having to do them, and one of the other people's team members who I support is taking PTO on Monday so I get to do her people's timecards too.  AND the company is getting ready to switch to a new system - and I need to learn it  - and I don't want to learn anything at all!

Think I need to get up and jump in the shower to start my day, get another cup of coffee, some orange juice, and drink my 'raw shot' of turmeric and ginger and black pepper and honey.... get some energy going here.

Psalm 118:24 (NLT)  "This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Lean back in your chair and repeat that a few times.  The Lord created this day for you.  And for me.  We are breathing.  We are alive.  Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus loves you so much, that He gave His life for you.   When we were lost, He found us.  Rejoice in His love for you.

Blessings!