I awoke this morning with something not feeling right next to my lip. I touch it - and daggone it! I have a pimple! Or blemish. Or whatever you call it, right there next to my lip! Do we ever outgrow the things popping out somewhere on our face? Aparently not! I had one last week just above my lip. I dont' know what I'm eating that causes them to pop up, but guess I need to pay better attention. One thing I did find out - if I put tea tree oil on them, they dry out fairly quick. That's what I will be doing this morning for this one when I get moving. In the meantime, it's annoying me.
As much as i try to watch what I eat and eat healthy (and I watch every bite too), I went to donate blood yesterday - and couldn't. That hasn't happened for awhile. 8 weeks ago my iron count was 13.5. The minimum for a female is 12.5 so I thought I might be ok this time. But... I did get my labs done this week and I have already seen the results - and some of my tests were lower than usual. One of them was hemogoblin. It was in the red, but when I questioned the doctor's office when they called me to say everything was normal, stay on my usual meds, they said it wasn't low enough to worry with. And I wasn't worrying about it; but I wonder if I need to change some of my diet and perhaps eat more red meat versus vegetables and chicken and fish. I guess I will discuss that with the doctor when I go for my physical on August 15th. If I don't take care of my body, it won't last for a great length of time.
I love to eat so it is interesting my iron level was low enough - oh - it was 11.7 on the first test, and the second, it was 11.1 - to be turned away from donating blood. I rescheduled my donation to the 23rd and think I will focus more on the things I eat and perhaps even eat more often. I tend to eat pretzels (which I know are not good for me, but I love the salt on them) for snacks. I know raisins would be good.. and I know dark chocolate is good, so I think I will take care of the situation by getting a big bag of dark chocolate covered raisins - and snack on those. That would work, wouldn't it? Or maybe oreos?
I don't know how to get the video to post but was able to get the link. Enjoy - if you choose to open it.
So glad this is Friday and I have a full day for tomorrow. Needles of Hope is in the morning, and then there is a birthday come and go that I will stop by for. I don't hold against the child just because I have difficulty with the parent. I have all this baby eqiupment I need to get out of my garage anyway and I've convinced my son to take it all and he can store it. Some will go up north and I guess he plans to go up there next week, but he said he'd keep the rest. Hubby has started to nag at me for it being in the garage so I'm grateful it will all be gone this weekend. I do need to straighten up some things in the garage - but probably not this weekend.
My neighbor is home from the hospital. We had noticed the caregiver's car there yesterday and wondered. I tried calling her, but there was no answer. After I got off work, the neighbor's daughter called and told me she was home. She also had a home health nurse coming, and she had been there yesterday when I called. Ms Amy is doing better. Home Health nurse is coming back today. The daughter tells me to come visit on Saturday. I just looked at her and said I wasn't sure as I had a full day on Saturday. Will see how the day goes. I may run over tonight instead. Or Sunday. I'll getthere, but the daughter is starting to annoy me. She tells me about her mom and then says 'I have a favor - do you have any rice?' LOL Luckily I did and I took it over to her. BUT - did she call me because she needed rice or did she call me to let me know how her mother is doing?
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
How many times have we (I) forged our way and did things our way, because we thought it was the right thing to do, and realize much later it was the wrong way to react, to behave, to go? I can't tell you how many times I have made that mistake. Or there are times God bailed me out of my wrong decisions on the path I should take, but many times I forget to seek Him, to seek counsel for what I do, and then I struggle with guilt or discouragement, when I didn't need to. For example, because I know I am to love everyone and forgive everyone - even when they do not think they did anything wrong or that they think I am the one who did wrong - there are times that I must step away from that relationship, regardless how close it is. The most recent situation, of which I have previously shared, I did seek counsel with a trusted counselor and although I didn't go in to detail as to total specifics, I shared enough of what was going on so they would get a grasp of it. I was surprised at the response I received, and what I was told. But it made sense to me eventually. And although I haven't followed through exactly, I have not allowed it to hurt me anymore. I know I'm being vague here, but sometimes we just need to let the situation that hurts us, annoys us, or makes us angry - let it go. And keep on living life. Doesn't mean we need to embrace the wrong. It's not about us. If we can reconcile ourselves to God and that He is Sovereign and we will allow Him to direct our paths, and we trust in His understanding and not our own, we can let go of the bondage our hurt and anger and grief and annoyances cause us. There are a couple people in my life that I backed away from... but when I see them, or talk with them, I am cordial. Why? Because I know that is what God wants me to be. I can love them from a distance. I guess what I'm saying, is that it's ok to not like some things. It is more how we take those things and allow them to put us in bondage to our anger or hurt or frustration.
Nearly ten years ago I allowed my sister to put me in bondage to her wiles and comments and her words. It has taken me a long time to recover from those words in which she called me a hypocrit and a few other things. She has told me I was a horrible mom. It nearly destroyed me. I'm still finding my way. I still struggle. But I can't dwell on what she said to me. Nor can I allow the things that she said to me this time put me back into the bondage she tries to keep me in. Things don't always have to be the way she demands. Too bad so sad. I am my own person and with God's help, I can make my own decisions that are right and true. And so can you.
Don't allow anyone to put you in bondage by their words, nor let them by their actions. You may not agree and need to step away from that relationship. And that's ok. Continue to pray for them, that they will see the truth, for only the truth will set them free. And the truth will set you free. Some things need to be brushed off and done with. Don't hold on to the things that make you angry every time you think of them. Put them off and continue living your life. Sometimes that is all we can do for they won't change, but we can. It's ok to step away from toxic people. And some times we should and we have to.
Trusting in God to help us make the right decisions in our own understanding isn't always the right way to go about it. Trusting in God to help us understand the big picture to make those decisions is far better the way to go. We are still called to love everyone - regardless of what they have said or done to us. Let the love of Christ live in you.
My thoughts are all over the place this morning... but I leave you with this....
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV): " I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Christ is willing to take you just as you are and love you. And we are to be like Him. He died for that toxic person, just as He died for us. That's something we all need to remember.
Blessings!
