Good News Bad News

 It's the end of the year, things should have settled down, right?  Things that we don't think about happening, does.  Where am I going with this? I don't know. Just leading into my dentist appointment yesterday, I guess.  Yes, I had a dentist appointment at 5PM.  At 3:05PM I get a call from Kristie, the hardest working coordination/front desk person, that a patient had cancelled.  Could I come NOW.  Well, yeah, I could. Still had an hour of work, but yeah, I could.  I quickly brushed my teeth (after all, I was going to the dentist!!) and headed on over and was there 15 minutes later.  I got home about 5:30PM.  This wasn't for a cleaning. That's next Friday.  But, I had a molar in the very back that the gum line had pulled away, and I was constantly digging food out of it.  So - off would come the crown currently on it and a temporary crown would be put on. And that is what happened. Except....

The gross thing underneath that crown had a cavity.  At the bottom where the gum and crown had pulled apart.  Dr. R did what he could to fix the cavity for now, and gave me his suggestion.  I can get a root canal (cavity next to nerve), build up the gum line, have a new crown put on - and spend about $2K for this - and in about 2-3 years we will need to remove the tooth, more than likely.  OR, I can just have the tooth pulled now and save that money. After that I can get an implant if I choose, or let it go.  If I choose to do without the tooth (wouldn't you know it, same side as the one I left empty a few years back), I would have to chew on the opposite side (which I'm now doing), and eventually I can get a bridge for the left side to fill up the gaps that will be empty.  I opted to have it pulled now.  It's in the very back. Who cares; no one can see it but me.

So today I will be calling Dr. A to see if I can get in for a consult, then hopefully get this thing pulled before the end of the year.  Wouldn't it be amazing if I could get in today for the consult and get it pulled by next week?  Anyway, a temporary crown was put on the tooth until I can get over to the surgeon. I love this surgeon; he puts me to sleep when he removes the tooth.  Well worth what I have to pay, which is still a lot, but worth it.  That's on my agenda to get done today.  Call Dr. A's office.

Oh, the good news bad news heading?  Good news I got in to see the dentist early.  Bad news I have to now go see a surgeon.

But other good news, my oldest son did get discharged from the hospital yesterday, and was home sleeping when I checked with my DIL on his status.  He had called me after the procedure yesterday morning and told me not to come down (I was mentally planning on picking up lunch for him.  And tea, of course.  I was trying to figure out how I could get away from work for a couple hours, so that saved me from having to do that.

So I took an early 'lunch' and ran over to the daughter's to water plants and feed cats and clean the litter box.  Got a text last night they are staying an extra day as sickness has come upon them.  Now my plan is also to run over there Saturday morning to make sure all is well and then I should be done 'house sitting'. :-) Not that it is a bad thing, it's not.  They do a lot of us so I don't mind at all.  

Hubby will be stopping in here shortly as he leaves for his bible study this morning.  My male boss is on PTO (although I have a few things I still need to complete for him).  I'm hoping it will be a quiet morning and I can mentally work through some things.  And maybe physically work on these gifts that are all over this room.  Wrapping paper is under the bed so I could pull it out and get started on those I am sure of.  Some gifts could go to anyone. Maybe I'll lay those aside. But I got to get started before Tuesday - I have a lot of boxes coming in!  Unless they cram several things in a big box.  Some they can; some they can't.  Less boxes is good, which is why I scheduled them all for Tuesday.  Good thing recycle is Wednesday next week.  Cleaning people will be coming on Monday next week for this month so that works out well too.  I can get started on my Christmas house decorating!  Last  year I didn't put everything out.  If I decide not to this year, will see if anyone wants it and will pass it on.  If you can remember anything I have and want it, let me know before it goes to someone else!

I Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV):  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving, be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Back when Paul wrote this to Timothy, there were kings in authority. We, here in the USA, do not have kings, but we do have a President and his cabinet that we are to pray for.  And currently, we need to definitely be praying for the Senate, that they will vote for what is right and end this lengthy shutdown. Everyone knows it is now a power play.  They still get paid; they don't care what happens to anyone else. They just blame it on each other not giving in. But why should we give in and pay trillions of dollars to other countries for trans studies and other things?  If these people want to support it, let them send their checks to that country. Don't force all of us in the USA to do their donations for them.  Right?

We are called to pray for these leaders of our country.  We are to pray for leaders of the companies we work for. We are called to pray for the pastors that lead us.  We are to pray for those around us.  We are to pray.  Why do we have to pray so much for people we don't even know (or care about in most cases!)? Because we are told that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for ALL people. Even those you don't like. 

Don't like someone?  Pray for them.  Ask God to work in their life and to reveal to them what He wants them to do.  You don't know what they are going through, or for what reason they said or did the things they did.  Sometimes people wound us because they are hurting. They don't even realize they are doing it, they are just striking out.  Hurting people hurt people.  We think others should 'feel our pain'.

My thoughts are all over the place this morning and I'm not sure what is going on.  I've taken my BP 4 times now and each time it is totally out of line from what it normally is.  Upper and lower numbers.  Maybe my thoughts are causing it to rise?  Usually if it is high, I can pause and breathe deeply a few times and it will drop back down - but not this morning.  Oh well. I'm alive if there is blood pressure, right?

Gotta jump off here and jump in the shower this morning. Work is calling my name.  Hubby has left for his bible study and I have a few hours alone.  Well, alone with work that is. 'It is what it is'. I've reconciled myself I will work until I die - or until I cannot manage my workload any longer.  My favorite boss is retiring August 1, 2026.  It will be hard for me.  But it won't be the end of our 30+ year friendship. We can still meet on occasion for breakfast, will just have to move to Saturdays since I will have a new boss who may not understand my 3 hour 'admin meeting' that I currently have periodically. Our next one is on Wednesday. After that it will be December 23rd - and we both are taking the day off so that we can not worry about time.  I will be bringing her all the Christmas goodies as she puts them out for Christmas Eve with their family. I have done it for years; I love doing it.

Do something good for someone today.  Make that phone call. Write that note. Say a prayer for someone.  Love others, as you want to be loved.

Blessings!

It could be a day of rest.... or not...

 I took today off.  As yesterday progressed, I made the decision to do just that. My boss gave her approval. I do need to check the computer for meeting stuff today, but overall, I have nothing going on.  Workwise, anyway.  There is a lot I want/need to get done today.  Even on a day off work.  But it feels good - here it is 7:13AM - and I do not need to jump up and get on the work computer.  Is this what retirement would look like? :-)

Things I want/need to get done today - blueberries are in and I'd like to drive down and get a few cases.  I probably ought to check the freezer first - I may have enough in there that I don't need to pick any up.  I want to get some baking done today.  I haven't thawed strawberries out yet to make strawberry bread, but I did pull out frozen peaches yesterday and I can make peach bread or peach muffins.  That is the plan, anyway, for that.  Might make some oatmeal raisin cookies too.  Won't keep them here, of course, but they are my trainer's favorite, and my little sister's, and I do need to get her box sent out today since I didn't send it with my son.  Need to work on this bedroom - the bed is loaded down with boxes again. Oh - and of course the real reason I took the day off - I have my follow up appointment with Dr. Mark today at noon.  So will need to leave here around 11AM to get there in time - an hour there, and then another hour to get back - a big chunk of time in the middle of the day - but that's ok.  Makes me get moving and get things done.  But for now, here I sit.

Meeting my boss tomorrow morning for breakfast and need to finish getting her birthday gift put together.  Yeah, that is part of the baking too.  She and I were joking around yesterday - I told her if I got the day off, I'd be baking goodies to give for her birthday.  She was quite agreeable that I take the day off.  

Got my second cup of coffee already.  Reminds me, I need to make a run to the store this morning (or afternoon) to pick up a salad for hubby to take to the group he is meeting for bible study tomorrow.  It's a lunch so I will remain at home and work.  I love buying the salads at Sam's Club as they are already put together and just need to be mixed up.  No work on my part, and the $10 or so I pay for it, is well worth my time of buying it.

My youngest has already txt'd me their route for today.  I'm glad he does that so that I know approximately where they are.  They made it to Salt Lake, Utah yesterday, and hope to get to Buffalo, Wyoming by tonight.  It seems they are driving so fast through the states, and although they may stop and see some things, it is way too fast for me.  I think. But it's what they do. Have already prayed for their safety as they travel. 

I slept deep and hard last night, which is totally unusual.  Then BAM!  at 4AM my forehead exploded with a major headache and woke me up.  It was as if a 2x4 had hit my head.  I didn't move. I laid there and prayed for it to go away, dozing off and on, knowing that I didn't need to get up.  At 5:30AM I finally woke up and made my way to the medicine cabinet where I knew I had some Excedrin and grabbed one pill.  Yep. I took an Excedrin for my headache as I still had it.  I am happy to say that between the Excedrin and my coffee, the headache has finally gone away.  I don't get headaches like that anymore, so was not expecting one to hit me like that.  But it felt good I didn't have to get up and plan to work today.  The headache is now gone, and I will be hitting the shower soon and getting dressed for the doctor's office.  Not sure if I will get any baking done this morning or not. May just focus on clearing off this bed.  Or maybe I'll do the run to Sam's Club - it shouldn't be that crowded this morning. 

Malachi 3:6-7 (NIV): "I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from My decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you." says the Lord Almighty.

Following Jesus does not mean you have to be perfect.  We will never be perfect.  We all fall short of the glory of God.  And following Jesus, and seeking after Him, does not mean your life will be perfect in finances, in health, in friends, in anything.  But following Jesus, and having His Spirit live within you, will give you the strength, the wisdom, and the ability to accomplish far greater things than you can do in your own power.  Running back to Jesus 40+ years ago was the greatest decision I ever made. Even when I didn't know Him, He knew me, and when that invitation came to open my heart to Him, I ran.  Literally.  Falling on my knees, I cried out to the only One who could save me. And I've never looked back.  Greatest and best choice I ever made.

If you know me, you know I still make mistakes.  You know that I still misjudge people.  You know that I am not wealthy, I am not (always) wise, I do not have everything I want.  But I love Jesus with every fiber of my being and my heart is in His hands.  My life is as well.  He can do with me whatever He wants.  Why do I say that?  

Because He loves me more than anyone else could.  If my life is snuffed out, I pray that it will draw others to Him.  I am surrendered to Him, completely.  It doesn't mean I'm any smarter, for I'm not, but if I check with Him first, He will help me make better decisions.

Life is all about Jesus.  What is your life about? What are you putting before Him?  Money? Pride? Pleasure? .... What are you going to do about Jesus?  Is He going to walk with you daily, or just be a side note for whenever you want Him?  What are you going to do about Jesus?

Maybe that gives you something to think about.  The Lord does not change His mind.  The Bible is the Word of the Lord.  Read it. Come to know Him who loves you more than you could ever love anyone. How I wish I could / would memorize every scripture in it!  But as I read it, it infiltrates my mind and God will bring to mind those words that I need to remember.  Or that I need to share.  Many times I will sit here and ask Him what should I share in scripture today.  And, sometimes, He will give me a Word and yes, I go to Bible Gateway and look up the scriptures applying to that Word, so that I can give you the right scripture.

This morning I was reminded that the Lord does not change His mind.  Sin is sin, and what it is will never change.  Our culture has accepted so many things that are evil.  But God has not changed His mind about those things.  What He called sin, called evil, in biblical times, is still evil and is still sin in today's culture.  Just because we prefer to 'overlook' some things does not make it right in God's eyes. We are to love everyone, regardless of who or what they are.  We are to hate evil, and love good. Love Jesus or love the world.  In other words......

Hate the sin, love the sinner.  Pray for those who love sin, that their eyes will be opened and that their hearts will be healed with the love of Jesus.  Some people can only be rescued with prayer.  Who are you praying for?  Words to them may only bring strife.... but words to our Heavenly Father may bring peace.  Which do you choose to speak?

Blessings!

The neighbors are out....

 I see our neighbors out in their courtyard this morning, looking over their plants.  I saw they had bought a couple more that are still in pots, so I'm guessing they are going to get those planted this morning. They sure are a fussy couple.  Always out raking around their bushes out front, the yard, etc.  Amusing.  Us?  We have no control over those bushes and the HOA doesn't care either.  Maybe if I really wanted to go out and clean through them, and get the weeds out from between the bushes I could... but not in this hot weather!  I barely go out front to water the plants - some of which are definitely dying.  Wilmer, the 'landscaper' who always worked on Ms. Amy's yard, is coming out this morning and we will have him trim back the lemon tree (did I tell you this yesterday?) and the bush next to my window here, and I think I will ask him to take out this rose bush that was here when we came.  It's nearly dead, I think, from the heat.  I didn't like the roses on it; they were just not roses, in my opinion of them.  I know it has a lot of stickers on it and I hate for him to get 'stuck' - but better him than me, right?  Oh yeah, I need to find the 'translate' icon on my phone - it's easier to talk to him.  He and I get along fine, I can understand much of what he says, but hubby gets frustrated with him because he can't understand what he's saying.  Ms. Vicki wants him to come pull weeds at her house as well.  Only this time we will hold on to the money before he gets it.  She told us the last time he was out that he didn't pull all the weeds but took the money.  Yeah, not going to happen this time.  Yep, our neighbor is digging in the dirt in the courtyard; going to plant the plants.  You needed to know that - right?

I got a text yesterday that we have a great grandson that was born yesterday.  Hopefully this new mom and baby - and dad - are doing ok.  Not much information was forthcoming, but I did find out the name - and I like it.  I wonder where they got it.  My grandson's older sister was always sending me photos when she went in, after delivery, gave the name, where it came from, etc.  I feel like I'm having to pull teeth so am just letting the new parents share as they want.  I asked for a photo, but it was declined until they felt comfortable in sharing.  Perhaps we can meet this new little one soon. New parents are always protective; I get that.  

Our neighbors just took a small cactus plant out of the ground and dropped into the trash bin. I have news for her - unless she puts it in a bag, the trash people will not take it.  See what happens when I open up my shutters and sit at the computer in the mornings and the neighbors come out?  I get to see it all!  LOL  I wonder if they realize I'm watching them?  

Friday afternoon was long and boring. I had a couple meetings to schedule, but other than that, I didn't do anything.  Zip. Nada. Nothing.  My male boss shut down at noon so it was very quiet.  My favorite boss kind of stepped away about 2PM.  

We don't have anything 'special' planned for this weekend.  At least that I know of. When I come out of here, will figure out something for breakfast; probably ham and eggs today. After that - read, I'm guessing.  Too bad it's too hot to go out and sit on our new patio furniture.  I need to go to Sam's Club and get hubby some Gatorade.  He's the only one who drinks it.  If I buy 'my' green tea - he drinks it too.  "I get tired of the taste of water!"  Wah.  Water is good for you. And that's all I'll say about that, cause I ended up erasing what I did write.  Sigh.  I'm trying not to be sarcastic; will leave that up to my oldest son. :-)

I could be productive today and clean out my t-shirts and get rid of the old, faded, stained, and holey ones - in spite of who gave it to me.  I could.... I should.... or I could find something else to make/bake that I shouldn't eat.

The youngest in his travels is today heading to Kingman for his best friend to see his brother and sister who live there.  He made it to St John last night - and that has a story in itself that I will leave alone - so Kingman today, and will head back home tomorrow.  He says he is delaying it as much as he can. HAH.  I called him out this past week as we chatted.  I have enjoyed him calling me every day to let me know where they were and how things were going. He said his wife is cleaning house because she knows he is mad at her... but things will not change.  He will not change.  Only God can save him from his self-destruction. His dad was never like this and would never be. He had too much respect for himself and for others.

I've wondered recently if I shared with my oldest the correct information on where his dad was in Army training.  He did basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and his AIT training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.  My in-laws and I went to Ft. Leonard Wood for his 'graduation' from basic training.  First time I had ever been out of state.  Funny how hearing a word brings up memories.  I heard 'Ft Sill' in a movie the other day and it triggered these thoughts.  Oh well, I know my son reads this nearly daily, so if I didn't tell him, he now knows.

Philippians 1:3 (NKJV):  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

For some people, they feel that any remembrance of anyone, especially those they do not care for, is an annoyance at times.  But have you stopped to think that when a person comes to remembrance, perhaps God is bringing them to mind so that you will pray for them?  That you would not curse them, but that you would bless them?  I have fallen out of that 'habit', I will admit.  It used to be that every time I thought of someone, I would whisper a blessing (in my mind) or a prayer (depending on who and what) that God would be with them.  It isn't a bad thing!  I would hope that when someone thinks of me that they would whisper a prayer or a blessing and not a curse!  

It is so easy to put a curse on someone by our words.  We have so many generational curses that are projected onto our children and our loved ones.  I have fought 'you are stupid', 'you aren't smart enough to....' 'who do you think you are'.... for most of my life.  I proved I was smart enough to go to college by going to a community college for some classes.  Broke that curse!  But we do tend, usually in frustration, throw a curse on someone and we need to stop it.  They become what we have called them. I remember many, many years ago I went to the church of a friend/pastor and I called my youngest 'my little monster' because he was all over the place, nearly always causing havoc somewhere.  The friend/pastor got after me and told me not to call him that (and I stopped) because what I was calling him, was what he would become.  Sigh. Have the words come true?  He still causes havoc and is all over the place, isn't he!  Big sigh.

I have learned to bless all my children, my grandchildren, and my great grandchildren.  In spite of the heartaches I feel from them at times (after all, I want a close relationship and to most, I'm just in their lineage. As you age and get further up the lineage, you will feel it as well), hurt deeply, but I will never stop longing for our relationship to be more than a yearly visit.  Not pointing fingers at anyone; I'm limited on what I can do as well.  Trust me, if I could, I would make the effort to be involved in a lot of my family's lives.  and my mind is floating off in areas it needs to stay out of.  Glory to God, I have a mind!

And with that - I'm going to get off here and do a bit more reading with my 2nd cup of coffee, and before I have to go in and cook breakfast.

Take the time to whisper a prayer over your children and grandchildren.  Lord knows that all of us need a prayer, a blessing, put over us.  We are all needy people, and we all need a relationship with God.  So many have turned their back on Him.  And all we can do is pray their eyes will be opened to the truth.  Hate is a not a good word, nor a good feeling.  Pray against those feelings, that love will replace hate.  Never stop praying for those you love.  Sometimes you are the only one praying for them.

Blessings!

Was something out to get me?

 My roadtrip to meet my favorite boss yesterday was interesting, to say the least.  I've gotten out of the habit since I don't drive to work every day anymore, but yesterday morning, before I left the garage, I asked God to grant me travel mercies, to protect me and my car.  Yes, I trust Him that much.  I drove on the 101E, which was nearly bumper to bumper still, and made it to I17S and headed south.  I wasn't in any hurry and was 5-6 car lengths behind a pickup truck carrying flats (can't think of the name - you know those wooden things you stack products on to keep up off the floor).  Anyway - the truck was piled about 5' above the top of the pickup truck.  We both were in the right lane.  I backed up a bit more and kept my eye on it.  Sure enough, a couple of the flats flew off the truck and hit the road (now mind you, the speed limit is 65 right there), shattering wood - and - the rest of the flat flipped to the right of the road!  Out of harms way!  I barely had to move to get around the wood in the road.  I watched the truck, and it started to move into the middle lane and something must have caught his eye for he stayed in the right lane and then moved off the road.  Perhaps he, or someone with him realized other flats were ready to go flying off.

And then... yes, it continues... I'm behind a big trash truck and no one was in the middle lane so I decided to move into the middle lane and then back into the right lane to get ahead of the truck which was going about 50.  You will not believe this.  I put my left signal on and moved into the left lane. The guy sped up and as I put my right signal on to move back into that lane, he decided to move into the center lane - and was inches away from clipping the tail end of my car!  I glanced up and all I saw was the front of the truck.  I wasn't unnerved; I was a bit angry he did that.  There was no one in front of him for quite a distance and no reason for him to move into the center lane.  Drivers!  

But for me, I saw God's hand of protection around me.  Do you pray when you go on a long drive, a trip, and ask God to protect you and those with you, and your car?  That air would remain in the tires; the engine will keep running?  Nothing would happen?  If not, I'd strongly suggest you put you and your family and your vehicle into God's hands and ask for His protection.  It's well worth it!

It's Saturday morning and I'm loving not having to get up and turn on the computer to work.  About mid-afternoon my male boss started sending me things to do; some of which I have no clue.  It irritated me.  And since on this one he told me 'when you have time...' well, at 3PM I didn't think I had time.  Ok, I didn't want to do it.  I don't know how to do it.  And I didn't want to look for how to do it.  So I ignored it. Yes, it will be there for me Monday morning - and I'll deal with it next week.  In fact, I shut the computer off at 3:45PM because he is known to send me urgent things to do at 3:55PM!  I was determined he wasn't going to make me work over yesterday.  So turning the computer off, I told hubby I needed/wanted to go to Big 5 and get new shoes to workout in.  I also told him I'm tired of spending a ridiculous amount on 'tennis' shoes to wear when a much cheaper pair works just fine.  In fact, I bought two pair!  And it was still less than what I had paid for others!  AND, I used two of my gift cards from Christmas so it didn't cost me for the shoes.  I still have one gift card and I'm perturbed about it.  Why?  This one - a Vanilla gift card - has a sticker on it that it needs to be activated.  So, ok, I stand there at the register and call the number.  They tell me I qualify for a medical alert. I tell them I don't want it. I tell them I'm not old enough to have one. And they still keep talking!  I was really getting irritated by then. I think it was a recording, although it stopped and went back a few words each time I interrupted it.  Then it says, please hold and I'll transfer you to someone who will help you get your medical alert.... and by that time I just hung up.  We were still standing by the register.  UGH.  I will call it sometime today and get it activated and no, I do not want a medical alert thing.  I have a few things I want to buy with this remaining gift card.  So my advice to people other there?  DON'T BUY VANILLA GIFT CARDS!  Besides, I never got the money from the card I got last year that was manufactured wrong.  They refused to honor it - so whoever bought me the card (I think it was from one of the grandsons), because I didn't have a receipt or know where it was purchased, they refused to honor it.  They made the money; and I got nothing.  Still upset about that.  Tape the receipt activation on the back of the gift card - it saves time and money!

Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT):  You have heard the law that says 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and unjust alike.

I think I touched on those verses some yesterday - that we are to pray for those who persecute you, or are hateful to you, who do you wrong.  Remember my old boss?  He was evil in the truest sense!  But our God prevailed and with prayers, he was promoted and out of the company. Thank You, Jesus!

I had a great breakfast with Sue yesterday and we were able to catch up on a lot of things.  It had been since before Christmas that I had seen her so it was good to be in person.  I think our next meeting is the first part of March.  She returned the (empty) jars that contained goodies for Christmas. She is always so appreciative of all that I make and give to her.  Her children love it when I do it too!  On my way back home I stopped to get my car washed - it seems that it is about the only time I get it done anymore. It's far enough away that I don't want to drive there.  But I was able to get in and out in about 30 minutes and it's clean inside and out, and it smells like a 'new car'. HAH.

Well, I hear hubby stirring and I have a full day of things I want to get done so need to get off here and fix breakfast.  By doing that, he will leave me pretty much alone to get my things done. What do I want to do?  Well, I need to do the finishing touches on the message I have for tomorrow at the RV Park, then I want to pull out ALL of my yarn and sort by color and put back in the bookcase I hold them in.  I need to move a desk from the exercise room into this room (yes, it will clutter it even more in here), to make room for the easel and stool I bought that will be arriving today.  I need to get a tray yet to put the paints on, but may go thrifting and check out what is there rather than buying something new.  I need also to transplant my poinsettias that I have from Christmas and hope they survive.  If I can keep them only in the morning son, they will.  I will just have to make sure that hubby waters them timely.  I went out and watered yesterday as I don't know when the last time he watered.  Sigh. He insists it is 'his job' and he even writes it on his calendar, but oftentimes he still forgets to do it.  

And with that - I'm going to jump off here and get a start on the day.  Hope you have a great day!  Do something that is loving and kind to those you love.  

Blessings!