Cough Cough Sneeze Sneeze....sigh

 will this ever stop?  Hubby and I are both miserable with this cold we have 'caught'.  I spent spent nearly $200 on various Musinex, Robitussin, and various cough packages.  I'm exhausted and when we went to bed last night at around 8:30PM - yep, did not stay up to watch the ball fall - we slept in separate rooms.    Let me back up.  Hubby felt bad enough he curled up in his 'blanket' in his recliner and didn't move from it around 11AM.  I had to work, but shut down about 2:30PM as I just couldn't sit there any more.  I laid on the couch, covered up in afghans, and slept most of the evening.  Got up and we came to bed - and I was awake off and on during the night, but didn't get my butt out of bed until 6AM this morning - I just didn't want to get up.

I am fixing ribs, but don't need to cook until 10 or so - we aren't going anywhere anyway.  I'll take some over to my daughter's since she can't cook.  But other than that, we are staying home.  I figure the more rest I get, the better and sooner I will feel.  I hope so, anyway.  I can't remember when I've laid around as much as I have already.  I just want to get better.

January 1, 2026.  For some reason this day doesn't hold as much excitement as it has in the past.  Could it be that we've dealt with so much sickness in our family this year that it's just another day?  Could it be that I just don't feel energetic due to this cold, that it is just another day?    Grateful I have the day off work; grateful I could stay in bed until 6AM just because I didn't want to get up.  But up I am. Have my coffee, taken my Musinex day pills.  Those things are horse pills, but if they will work, I'll take them.  Ugh. Every time I cough, my throat goes raw.  

I can remember back to New Years Days of years past, and the fun of family gathering together, me fixing tons (literally, it seemed!) of ribs.  Fixing coleslaw.  Heating up black-eyed peas.  I bought a small head of cabbage, but don't know that it will make itself into anything.  I'm just not 'feeling' creative today.  At least with the ribs I can just sear and then roll in BBQ sauce and put in the oven.

Reminds me, my little sister called me yesterday to ask how I made my ribs.  I don't know about her.  She has called me frequently the past few months, wanting to know how to cook things. She says she tells her hubby that he should have married me, because I'm the cook int he family.  But I enjoy cooking, and obviously, she does not.  But I supply her with recipes and cookbooks as she asks.  It's not hard to follow a recipe - which is how I learn to make things.  Ribs, though, that was me. :-)  Mama always fixed a ham on New Years Day.

The 'poor man's lunch' it is called.  In Tennessee, for those who know the tradition, it is pork (pork chops, ham, pork ribs, etc - anything pork), cabbage (mama sometimes would fix cooked cabbage and pork chops together) (don't know how to cook cabbage and it just doesn't appeal to me), and black-eyed peas.  I buy the cans; I'm lazy.  But I remember a few years back I had run into an old friend at Sprouts and she was planning a traditional New Years Dinner - and was buying a huge bag of black-eyed peas to cook 'from scratch'.  Naw, I'll do the can. I'm about the only one who will eat it anyway.  But, if you will eat pork, cabbage, and black-eyed peas on New Years Day (the traditional poor man's lunch), it is supposed to bring you good luck in the coming year.  No, I don't believe in 'luck'; I do this to carry on my mama's tradition.  I hope my children will do the same.  And can't forget the coin in the coleslaw - it is to bring good luck as well. 

Traditions - some are good, some are silly, and some make no sense at all.  But for me, it is trying to carry on the memory of things my mama did.  I miss her so much.  So many times I have wished to call her and just cry, and she always understood.  Didn't need words.  After I finished my crying or 'belly-aching', she would just say, "well, just pray for them, they need it."

I miss that relationship with my children, and yet, I know why.  Nothing I can do about that .... but pray.

Speaking of, I am trying to think of how I can change up my quiet time in the mornings.  My time is limited, as you know, but I do have time to do some things.  I may eliminate writing in here every day - you don't need to hear my daily whining anyway, do you?  

My fast will begin on Sunday.  I want to do the Daniel Fast - just fruit and vegetables and water.  For 21 days.  I want to cleanse my body of all the processed food I've put in it - that is making me sick.  You didn't know that processed food can do that?  Sure it can!  It is always better to eat fresh fruit and vegetables (or frozen, it is almost like fresh).  I try to think how Daniel would have eaten the fruit and vegetables in his day.  It troubles my heart when I read the books on the 'Daniel Fast' and they have created these wonderful dishes of how to cook fruits and vegetables and adding all this 'stuff' to it... that is NOT a true Daniel Fast.  And I believe that God will honor whatever I choose to do.  I want to put Him first in 2026.  Not food.  Not me. Not the things that bring me joy or the things that trouble my heart.  Jesus only.

1 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV):  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!

Think about it.  Many times we put off starting a new diet until the 'new year' (or month, or week, etc.) because we want to start with a 'home base'.  Why not give your life up to Jesus and start today - January 1, 2026 with living for Him.

It isn't hard.  Yes, most of us (me definitely included) struggle at times, but Jesus always offers us grace.  He is our best friend; the One who is always with us, always ready to pick us up and help us. He heals us; He restores us.  He takes the pain that we carry so deep within us that it has become a part of our life and we don't even recognize it anymore - but He knows it is there, and He will bring healing and wholeness to us.  

And all we have to do is ask Him for it.  We may not get healing of the body as we ask, but He gives us so much more!  He gives us healing of the soul.  And, in many cases, the Lord knows much better what it is that we need.

Today, I surrender all my family members to Him and ask Him to protect them, heal them, walk with them, and draw them near to Him.  I pray this is the year they will surrender their lives to the only One who can save them.  A mother's greatest joy is knowing her children walk with the Lord.  Not by the world's standards, but by His.

I wish you a blessed New Years Day.  I pray that 2026 will be a year of blessings for you.  Never turn away those who want to help you. And always be ready to give a hand to those who need you to help. Jesus says to 'give, and it will be given to you as well'.  I have seen His hand work time and again.  You want to know why I follow Jesus?  Because He is the only One who can save me from myself; the only One who loves me when I feel I am unloved.  The only One who forgives with grace, and sets me free from my past, from my present, and from my future.  Jesus is my life.  I pray you will make Him yours. 

He isn't there to just help you out of a jam you got yourself in to.  But He will walk with you to find your way out.  How bad do you want His help?  Just ask Him.  He's waiting.

Blessings!

A different thought....

 I was reading in my book of Solitude this morning and as I got to the end of that chapter, it has 'practice' where it encourages you to sit and breathe deeply, slowly exhale, and to do that a few times.  You may - or may not laugh at this - but, as I finished the breathe in deeply, and breathe out.... I fell asleep!  Deeply!  For an hour!  I knew we had gone to bed late (for us) last night as we watched movies, and it was Saturday night and we didn't have to get up so early.  I was awake a couple times during the night, awake at 4AM-ish.  Didn't want to get up; so I dozed off and on so much that when I finally arose about 5:45AM (and hubby was still asleep, although he said he was awake and waiting for me to get up) I had a slight headache, enough of one to be annoying.  I just felt exhausted, as though I hadn't slept well at all.  So when hubby came in with my coffee, we talked about it, and although we SHOULD go anyway, we opted to not go to church physically this morning, but will watch the 10:30AM service on You Tube.  But I will say that with my falling into that deep sleep for an hour this morning, my headache went away. Grateful. 

In reading that chapter in the Solitude book I got a different concept about solitude.  Now pause and think about it - what do you think of when you hear the word 'solitude'?  My thoughts go to the hermitages that I used to frequent.  In fact, I was so longing for a place of solitude/retreat earlier in the week that I was online looking for places that we could go to for solitude and quiet.  Anyway... back to this chapter.  As mentioned, I think of being totally alone with God.  With silence.  With peace.  No distractions. No noise (or very little).  Just being.  

But there is another way to have solitude with God, as this book pointed out.  When I'm walking on the treadmill, I can be alone with God in my mind, and walk and talk with Him.  When I am on the rebounder and bouncing up and down, I can fix my mind on Jesus and think about, and talk with, Him.  I mean, I know this stuff, and I have done it, but I never classified it as being in 'solitude with Jesus'.  Does that make sense?  Taking a walk around the block can be a time of solitude if you allow it to be.  These are things I know, and I have done that.  When I walked Sheeba, I would often spend the time talking with God and shared things with Him.  Yes, He already knew it, but I shared it anyway.  I just hadn't looked at it as solitude with Him.  

Even coming in here and having my 'quiet time' with God each morning is solitude, and even if I fall asleep, it is ok, for I am receiving the rest that I need in order to be focused on what is ahead of me.  Grateful I don't get condemned for falling asleep!  Some people would find fault with that.  But Jesus said, 

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV):  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Have you ever felt so tired, so exhausted, that you felt sleep alluded you?  What if, instead of trying to sleep, you close your eyes and take three deep breaths, and let each one out slowly.  Allow your body to slowly relax.  Take your thoughts to quiet, a special remembrance of times when life was fresh and new. Breathe in the vastness and solitude of that moment.  Keeping your eyes closed, think of the things that have brought you joy. Let your body relax.... quiet your thoughts, and just rest.  And, if you are so inclined... whisper a prayer for those you love.... and trust... and believe... and let go of all that distracts you.... you may find a deeper peace than you have known for some time.  Those things that weigh on your heart and mind... surrender them to Jesus.  He can take care of anything that troubles you today. You will find rest for your soul.  And that rest is good.

A pastor once told us that when we go to a place of solitude, whether in our mind or physically, that sometimes a nap is the best thing you can do, for it frees you to rest in Him.  And that is a good rest.

Changing subject... I didn't do a lot of baking yesterday like I had planned.  I got everything out - and then I didn't want to do it.  I did end up making pumpkin scones, and fixed a roast/potatoes/carrots for dinner.  I just lost the 'want to' to bake.  But, now I have an open can of pumpkin that I need to finish using up or throw away so will probably go ahead and make the cranberry pumpkin nut bread today.  It's not that it's hard to do; I just fell out of the mood yesterday.  I'll get those done early afternoon and in the oven and that will take care of the pumpkin stuff.  I was thinking of making more jam, but I think I need an orange (zest) and orange juice, so unless I go to the grocery, I won't be making that either.  I did thaw out some hamburger cause I thought I'd make garbage and take some over to Ms. Diane and Ms. Vicky.  Both enjoy it.  Should go see Ms. Vicky today since we will be leaving Thursday morning early.

Sure wished it didn't get so warm so fast - would love to go out and sit on our patio furniture and enjoy being outside.  We bought the furniture and yet have only been able to sit out on it a couple times.  Had to use the mosquito 'catcher' last night - got to figure out how to keep them away.  You hear all kinds of things - guess I need to pay attention to what to plant - is it marigolds that keep them away?  It's no fun sitting outside when you are getting eaten up.

I guess I am mentally filling up my day today as I think about watching church, then it will be almost lunch time (leftover roast, potatoes, etc.), then fix garbage (some for us for dinner), bake whatever... and I need to work on my steps.  I only got about 4500 steps yesterday and I've been averaging at least 7K.  Need to kick it up a notch today.  Maybe get on the rebounder or treadmill for a bit... and grab some solitude while I'm at it.

I have a 7AM workout tomorrow morning so not sure when I'll get a chance to write in here; gasp! I may miss a day! haha.  Will see what tomorrow brings.  And leave you wondering. Of course my ramblings are not much anyway, but for your entertainment of reading...  hope that you have a great day today, and remember to take some time for you.  

Breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly, and let the peace of God fill you, surround you, and be with you.

Blessings!

This room is just the right temperature

 this morning - it's cool enough that I definitely need my blanket over me this morning... and it's nice, but the problem is.... when I'm 'cool' or 'cold' - I want to go to sleep. This morning that is exactly what I want to do.  I've read my bible, read in my devotional, prayed... and I just keep sinking deeper into the chair, wanting to go to sleep.  And here it is going on 7AM and I just now turned the computer on. I didn't want to even get up out of the chair.  I was so comfortable. I wanted to just drift back off to sleep - but alas, I cannot.  We went to bed around 10PM and I slept sound... until 3AM.  And all I've done since then is doze and I want to go back to bed and sleep!

Plus, Morgan put me through tough exercises for my legs on Monday evening - and I can barely walk this morning.  The soreness has set in and I need to move so that I can go to the gym tonight and hurt some more. Although tonight is 'core' and she tells me that I have a strong core.  Yeah - until she puts me through these tough exercises and before I even walk out of there I feel my 'core' being made aware of what is being done to it.

I could have just stayed in my chair and napped until 7AM, but here I am.  I knew you would miss not having something entertaining to read.  HAHA

My daughter and I went to Lowes last night to get flowers for our courtyard.  Dang! When did something that grows from a seed and then dies at some point, get so expensive?  Sounds like a child, doesn't it? Just kidding.  No comparison.  But yes, both are expensive. So what did I get?

I bought two rose trees to put between my rose bushes (for something different). I got a trellis and two jasmine plants that should climb up it (hopefully).  I got vincas to put along side the garage of the courtyard.  I got a couple bowls of petunias to set on the posts to make it look nice (I got rid of the pots, remember)?  I got some vincas to put in the pot outside the gate.  And a blueberry plant.  Why did I get a blueberry plant?  Because there was one left. Something different. Thought it would be 'fun' to have a blueberry plant amongst all the flowers.  

The aloe vera is going to be removed (it has overgrown the pot and is out of control), the lemon tree will stay.  Not sure about this rose bush against the brick between our neighbors and us.  I don't like it and wanted to remove it cause it is just 'there' and doesn't bloom much, but my SIL says if I will add plant food and nourish it, it will again start growing and produce gorgeous flowers.  Since he used to be a landscaper I trust his judgement.  Oh, we had to call him last night to help us - couldn't get all the plants into my car!  I thought I did pretty good cost wise.  Then my daughter asked me how much I spent.  Then she asked if I used the gift card they had given me for Mother's day.  OOOPS.  I used the military discount, and my reward dollars - but totally forgot about the gift card!  I told her that was ok - I still need to get some plants for the back 'patio'.  No worries, I'll still spend it!  

Hubby said he did enjoy the bible study he went to last night at the church.  It is for five weeks.  But he got a surprise when he went out to his car.  His battery was totally dead.  One of the men at the church had jumper cables and got the car running so that he got home safely.  First thing on the agenda this morning is taking the car down to AAA Repair or Big O and getting a new battery put in.  They both open at 7:30AM and I think it would be best to call to see if they can get him in right away.  He has an eye doctor appointment downtown this morning and if he has to leave it and wait, not knowing when he will get it back, he will need to move the appointment.  No, he does not drive my car.  And I do not drive his.  Mutual agreement, pretty much.  The reason he doesn't drive my car?  In the past when I have 'allowed' him to drive my car - all of a sudden it becomes 'our' car and because he always likes my choices better, he will drive mine when he wants to go somewhere.  Or instead of letting me drive (which I prefer), he will drive my car and won't let me drive.  No, I'm not being selfish.  I'm protecting my investment.

Maybe I should have gotten up out of my chair earlier; I'm starting to wake up a bit.  I need another cup (or two) of coffee this morning.  Maybe I just need to move more.

But, because I tried to fall back to sleep, I have lost my extra time I use to write in here.  Lucky you. But, I have given you ramblings to read along with your coffee this morning.   And I do need to get off here and get moving and turn on the work computer.  Got several meetings to schedule since I did not really work yesterday as I had to sit through three town halls in case the assistant running the slides had problems and I needed to switch to my computer.  I did have to do it a couple sessions last year and she was glad I was online.  But I have to follow along and not be distracted so that I can immediately get the powerpoint up.  But that's over now until August.  I think I will be gone for the next one.  

And - I got to get off here.  4 minutes to 7AM!  Yipes!  Hope you have an amazing day. (Don't you wish I'd get my act together?)

Blessings!

I had time... I was alone...

 so what did I do?  I decided to go shopping!  I left early yesterday after work to attend a grandson's band concert (which was fun!) and had about an hour to 'kill' before needing to even get close to the location.  So I went to Macy's as it was right there after I did my errand.  I went up on the 2nd floor, which I normally don't do.  Found they had more of a 'clearance' section for women's dresses up there.  Nice.  So nice in fact, that I found 3 dresses AND a white blazer, that I actually liked!  I like to think I'm not hard to please - and I'm not, if someone else is buying it for me.  But for me to find something - nah, it usually doesn't happen.  But this time, I found 3 dresses, reasonably priced, and bought them all!  Gasp!  Yes, I actually bought them all!  Even hubby was impressed when I showed him after I got home last night.  Of course I haven't tried them on... but will soon.  They should all fit, though.  It's been a long time since I bought dresses in person (and not online - and that was 3 years ago!) and actually LIKE them!  

I slept good last night, as I was pretty tired.  (So tired, in fact, that while I was doing the training for work, I fell asleep twice!)  I'm thinking hubby didn't sleep that much; afraid that he would keep me awake, and that kept him from sleeping well.  He will tell me about it when I come out of my room this morning.  Maybe we need to make a pack... if he is keeping me awake, I have his permission to climb into this other bed so that we both can sleep.  He just hates for me not to be near him; I'm his security blanket he isn't alone.

Enjoyed the concert; enjoyed being with my son and daughter-in-law, albeit a short time.  They invited me for a late dinner with them, but I knew I needed to get home.  I had some time to relax a bit before heading to bed - and as I said above, I slept well.  Still sleepy this morning though.

Ms. Amy's saga with Cox cable continued yesterday, but I believe is now completely resolved and two of her daughters are next door.  They will be here until Tuesday, when they will head back to Florida.  They have my key to the house as well, as one daughter complained that her key wasn't working on the one door.  If she doesn't remember to give it back before she leaves... well, that takes care of a lot of things.  The daughter, from my understanding, is here to start packing up things, but I am sure she is already overwhelmed and has no clue where to start.  I'll miss Ms. Amy when she is finally gone (looking at first week of June now)... but some days she does take up a lot of my time and energy; and yet, I am not family and not involved in things.  HAH - not family; yesterday in one of the 3-4 calls to me, she said I WAS family.  Heaven help me!  LOL I am not agressive and pushy and demanding... and believe me, when Ms. Amy calls Cox and demands they get out the same day; they are here!  In fact, there were TWO Cox guys there yesterday to get that TV going.  If it was me calling, they'd tell me next week.

Just remembered I have lunch scheduled with a work friend on Friday.  That should be fun.  Haven't seen her since just before Christmas... or was it in January.  Don't remember now.  It will be good to physically see her and have lunch.  I don't actually work with her at all anymore; but we are still friends and touch base periodically.

Yesterday with two bosses gone was kind of quiet for most of the day; hence I worked on some of the trainings.  I think I have 3 left; perhaps 4.  Since I do not do the actual work of the business, a lot of this stuff doesn't mean much to me and I don't know much about it.  So it can be boring to me... and I did fall asleep twice yesterday during the long one.  I still have the 90 minute one left... I may do it first today so that I get it out of the way.  We have to listen to each slide and pay attention as they have an 8-14 quiz at the end and we have to pass with 80%.  There have been some that it took me three tries to get 80% just to pass.  See how interesting those trainings are to me?  If we don't do the trainings; or if we don't pass the quizzes (we can take them over at least 3 times)... we can be terminated.  Yeah, we have no choice.  We have to do them - every single one of us.  And we have until July 10th to do so.  But I'm getting them out of the way so I don't have the last minute stress.  I started out with about 20 I think it was.  Narrowing it down slowly.

I underlined this in a book I'm reading in the mornings.... "We cannot afford to doubt our God-assigned, unique destiny. If we do, we will undermine with hesitancy, fear, or anger all that has been entrusted to us. God wants to redeem, restore, and change your identity so that there is no incident, season, or name from your past left to define you.  Yes, seasons, criticisms, and events can refine you - they have the potential to shape the mettle of your life, but they are not the substance of your life.... God is."   Lisa Bevere in Without Rival.

As the new Christian song by Lauren Daigle says... "I am who You say I am" and not what people say I am.  People see the outside and form their own opinions.... but God sees the inside... and the outside... and He loves each one of us ....ANYWAY.  No one can put a label on you.  God says you are perfect in His eyes.  Maybe a little rough around the edges at times, but you are His.  And He loves you.  

And that's enough for me.  I cannot listen to what others say to me or what they say about me; I know who I am in Christ and as long as I keep my eyes on Him, and listen to His voice, I am right where I should be.  I.am.enough.  and so is He.

Blessings!