Take time to be thankful

 We all tend to get so busy with 'life' that we forget to be thankful for what we have.  Do you agree with that statement?  Think about it.  When was the last time you thanked God for providing for you?  When was the last time you thanked your spouse for being there for you when you needed them?  When was the last time.... well,  you can fill in the blank.  Today is about being thankful - it's Thanksgiving!  And soon the 'giving Sunday; the giving Tuesday' or whatever day it's going to be - will happen.  People may depend on those days... but I doubt if any of us are 'thankful' for them. LOL Why did that come to mind?  I had a couple for 'Giving Sunday' in my email this morning!  And no, I don't necessarily 'give' on those days.  (Don't tell me what to do!!).  If I want to donate to a charity, I will do it regardless of what day it is.  I suppose for some people it just needs to be a reminder.  I have gotten selective over the years to whom I donate to.  Sure, we wish we had money galore that we could donate to any and everyone needy - but unfortunately, that is not the case.  We donate where we can, and what we can to whom we choose.  And we are thankful that we are able to give to others in need.  God has been good to us.

My mind seems to be all over the place this morning already.  I got up at 4AM because I wanted to spend time in here without rushing, and I still need to leave 'early' so that I can get my large roasting pan out of the cabinet in the garage (should have done it last night - and didn't) and get it ready for the turkey - and get the turkey ready to be put into it.  Then it's just waiting on that one!  Once it is on, the rest is a 'piece of cake' to pull together.  My son will be here between 9:30-10AM he said to start on his dessert.  I didn't buy any other dessert - we can enjoy his!  I made the deviled eggs yesterday so they just need to be put together and on a dish, which can be done later.  I will peel potatoes once the turkey is on and get it ready to go on the stove.  I probably should write down a list of what we are having; it seems I always forget something until we are eating - or afterwards!  Looking forward to having this family over and being a part of their lives.

Hubby said something to me last night that I will admit - it hurt.  It truly caught me off guard.  I didn't argue with him, I just shut up.  Yes, there were comebacks I wanted to throw back at him in my defense, but I did not.  But his comment stung.  As I share this, I am working through his comment; not to put him down, but I need to get it 'out there' to open my eyes to see what is true or not.  After working out we went to Kneaders nearby; hubby insisted on driving last night to the gym (usually he has me drive) so I told him he had to choose.  Good choice, although they didn't have my fudge brownies.  We both got a salad and went to sit down.  I don't even remember what was said by hubby, but it was something that hit me wrong, and I looked out the window and said "I don't want to be here; let's go home."  He retorted that we had placed the order and we were staying  - and here's the part that stung - "You are too controlling and someone told me recently that you are controlling, and I am not going to tell you who it was!"  I was so caught off guard by that comment that I shut down.  Devastated that someone would say that about me; that he would say that about me.

So I have pondered since that time, am I controlling?  I've asked God to reveal to me the areas in which I do that.  I know that in some areas I may seem 'controlling' because someone must make a decision and go with it - and that is usually me in some areas.  In my mind I want to scream at him that if I am controlling, I would have told him to get off his lazy butt and get a job 17 years ago when he refused to work because he was 70.  So here I am at 75 and he refuses to allow me to even entertain retirement!  I want to remind him that if I was controlling that I would demand the checkbook back from him - the one I threw at him when he refused to work and told him to figure out how to pay the bills (and that is when I got my own checking account cause I couldn't trust him to pay my bills on time).  But I'm the one who is controlling?   Ok - I'm stopping on this subject... but it still stings and hurts what he said. He asked later last night if we could call a 'truce' - I'm not sure what that was to be a truce about; I just wasn't talking.  If he asked a question, I responded.  But I was depleted of any emotion.  I went to bed at 7:30PM as I felt exhausted.  But he had to turn the bed down for me first.  (now who is controlling?)  I know that at some point when he begins to give me his 'opinions' of how things should be, I will let loose with a 'now who is trying to be controlling' and start an argument about it.  Sigh.  My life in a nutshell.  (erase erase)  I'm trusting God, and allowing God, to have control over my tongue and attitude.  I certainly can't do it by myself!  

I went through a box of decorations yesterday afternoon and laid some on the kitchen table.  I was asked "why are these on the table?"  To which I responded "Because I haven't put them somewhere else yet."  Of course I am the smart alec.  Does it really matter? we were going out, not eating at the table.  Yeah, I need to move those this morning as well.  Did get the majority of the boxes taken to the garage.  Yeah, the decorating and all is my job unless he wants to interfere (remember the putting up of the Christmas tree?) and 'help'.  I recently told him he better hope I don't die first for he won't have a clue what to do about anything. 

My daughter and family made it to New Mexico yesterday in good time.  Grateful and thankful they arrived safely.  Still am glad we opted not to make the trip (could that be what I'm controlling about? That I felt we shouldn't go sit in a car for 10 hours one way so that hubby won't be restricted due to the shunt in his leg? Is it MY controlling attitude that said no?)  I still think it was a wise decision to stay home - and because we are, I get to spend the day with my oldest son and his family, which we haven't done in a long time.  I think I'm a winner.

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV):  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also were called in one body, and be thankful.

Take some time this morning and think about what you are thankful for.  You awoke this morning, right?  Be thankful.  You got a cup of coffee or water to drink.  Be thankful.  You have family or friends to see today.  Be thankful.  Your car starts.  Be thankful.  There will be plenty of food to eat - and leftovers!  Be thankful.  There are so many things that we can be thankful for.  But the most important to be thankful for is that God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to be our sacrifice, that Jesus would take all the sins in our lives and nail them to the cross.  And even better, they remember them no more.  No matter if we ask forgiveness, and they come back to our minds, God has forgiven and remembers them no more - as far as the east is from the west.  

Thankful to the One who rescued me from my pits of despair and continuously draws me to Him.  I will be forever grateful and thankful to God, my Father, to Jesus, my Brother, and to the Holy Spirit, my Comforter.

Peace to you; may your blessings overflow today.

Late to bed, late to rise.... or so it seems.

I made it through the work day yesterday and then actually suggest to hubby we go out to dinner.  I had meatballs cooking and they were ready, but it just wasn't doing it for me.  So we went down the road to a little Bistro that we have eaten at a couple times.  It's a hole in the wall place, small, but the food is pretty good.  Our first time there I had gotten Greek spaghetti.  Never had heard of that before and it was really good.  That was the thought in my mind last night, Greek spaghetti sounded good.  I got the Greek spaghetti and hubby got the fried cod and fries that was the special (after all, it was Friday).  The Greek spaghetti wasn't as good as I remembered it... it was still good, mind you, but for some reason, it didn't have that taste I was wanting and thinking about.  I still ate a large portion of it, with it missing 'something' in my taste buds didn't seem to matter.  Glad I got that out of my system.

After doing a run to the drugstore/pharmacy after dinner we headed home and ended up watching a couple movies before heading to bed.  It was after 10PM!  I normally do not stay up that late... and this morning we slept until 6AM.  I did wake up at 5AM, but told myself 'Naw, you don't have to get up - it's Saturday' so turned over and I did fall back to sleep - which is totally unusual too.

Still seem to have some residue of that migraine I told you about yesterday.  Not really understanding why it hasn't totally gone away, and it seems to still be centered in my sinus area.  Hopefuly, since I don't have work to focus on today and can chill and nap as I want, it will totally go away.  I'm so ready for it to be 'gone'.  The gnawing pain is as bad as the acute pain.

We have nothing on the agenda today except getting more potting soil so that I can finish planting the pots on the side of the house.  Not sure whether we'll plant the flowers I bought or the bushes.  Either way, since hubby says we have enough pots and have stretched it out in the space to fit, I have overbought plants.  Oh well, I'll figure it out.  We can't plant in the ground on the side or backside of the house (HOA rules) and my front courtyard is as full as it can get with 'plants'... so I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  There IS one spot though..... 

My Lenten devotional today was very good and very thought provoking.  How many times do we let pride get in the way of what we are doing?  For example, when you give a gift to someone, do you feel prideful about it?  It's ok to be excited about what you are giving, but do you dwell on it....  The gift that Jesus gave us - His gift of salvation and life with Him for all of eternity - is greater than any gift we can give, and the greatest gift ever given.  The supreme sacrifice.  I'm pretty sure He doesn't look back on Himself and say 'Look what I did for you!"  He laid down His life for you, because He loves you so much.

You know what I have often thought about this year?  When I think back to this past Christmas, I think about how loved I felt from this one family.  I was showered in gifts, and after an especially tough year in relationships, I was humbled, and overwhelmed.  They didn't have to do anything, nor did I expect much, other than the obligatory gift.  But even through all the gifts, I felt loved.  And that means more to me than any gift could give.

And it's like Easter, that will be here next month.   Jesus showers us with so many gifts every single day and we take so many of them for granted.  Little things, like food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a car to drive, employment, freedom to go wherever we want.  You may not see them as things that Jesus showers us with, but they ARE His blessings to us.  And when we are His Followers, we get so much more.  Why?  Because He loves us so much.

John 15:13 (NKJV)  "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

How about taking some time today and think about how much you have been given, been blessed with.  Family doing well?  It's a blessing.  Money in the bank? It's a blessing.  A roof over your head?  It's a blessing.  There are so many things that we are blessed with.  Jesus has been, and is, so good to all of us.

Take some time to just pause your life and say "Thank You, Jesus".  Tis the season to be grateful.

Blessings!

The Big Boss' last day..... road trip!

 Today is my big boss' last day of work.  She is retiring and getting ready to travel all over the world.  Seriously.  I mentioned a lot of their plans yesterday as far as traveling.  And it all starts out with ME doing a 'road trip' today.  I get to drive right about 60 miles one way to her house to pick up her badge, laptop, and whatever other office things she has there.  Thank goodness she already took her monitors to the office and put on my 'old' desk there so I don't have to deal with those.  And, since she did that and all I need to worry with is her laptop, I'm bringing it home with me.

Why?  The office is right there, I can take it over.  But I'm taking it home with me because when they hire someone to replace her - which could be right away or it could be months - I will have to locate said laptop to pass on to her successor.  I don't want to have to do another 56 mile one way trip to try and locate the laptop because of the remodeling they are doing.  I have about ten boxes and about 2-3 laptops around my old cubicle - or they were there.  I haven't been there in months and they have locked the floor off for now so I have no idea if they are still there.  I can only 'assume' they are.

I ended up getting all her gifts together yesterday and they are ready to hand off - except I want to stop and pick up a big balloon to tie the bags together with.  But if I don't - no biggie.  See what mood I'm in when I get ready to leave.  I was planning on leaving at 10AM to head down and stop by the office to meet a friend for an early lunch, but she got a meeting at that time so guess I won't.  I'll have to check her calendar again this morning.  I have a noon meeting online with the company I have my 401K with.  Don't have much in there, but since it is for my benefit, thought I ought to possibly see if I can start drawing from it without penalties since I will turn 72 this year.  Who knows how many years I have left to live... well, God knows.  I'd rather have it in my savings account should I need it versus having to jump through hoops to get it.  Anyway - I will probably head down right after that meeting and just go straight to her house.  It is definitely not going to be much of a work day.

Daughter, her hubby, grandson, and his fiancee all made it to the place they were going very late last night. The text from my daughter came in at 11:21PM... and I'm sure they were all exhausted.  Not sure the parents will head back, but at least they are flying and not driving back.  Thank you, Lord, for watching over them and getting them there quickly and safely.  Please bring those returning back safely, and be with the grandson as he begins this new career.  Help him not to forget You, Lord, but each day will continue to thank You and honor You.

Regardng the Lady of.... I did remember to look it up.  I am Lady (first/last name) of Wigtownshire County, Scotland.  Or is it Wigtown?  Now I don't remember and the certificate is in the other room.  Not that it matters.  AND because it was given to both hubby and I.... we have a plot of land one foot x two foot.  I actually spent time looking it up yesterday (nothing else to do) and found it quite interesting.  They are 'selling' the plots and using the money to plant trees in this area.  It all sounds pretty cool.  And, from what I read, using Lord or Lady is perfectly legal!  Isn't that a hoot!  But we can actually look up where the plot of land is.  Kind of cool and unique.  Along with millions of others, I'm sure.  I wonder if other countries do this....  If I remember, I'll take a copy of the number of our land plot and give to my boss.  On one of their jaunts to Scotland, maybe it would be a fun treat to go 'land-hunting' and see if they can find it.  Or not.  

I tried something different last night.  Well, something I hadn't done before although I had heard it had been done.  I didn't know what to fix for dinner.  Nothing thawed out.  Didn't want to spend money to go out (hubby would make me pay), so checked the freezer.  Found a couple steaks I had bought from Schwans, but they were frozen.  Didn't want to put in water to thaw.  Decided to use my air fryer.  Put it on 400 degrees for 17 minutes on air fry and turned it on.  About half-way through, I opened and turned them over and added about a tablespoon of butter to the top of each one.  They were browning nicely.  They finished cooking and oh my goodness.  This may be my favorite way of cooking steaks - except I do love the crispness of the grill.  The sirloin was still a bit pink in the middle, but it was oh so juicy and tender.  The best steak I have had in awhile!  And it was ready in less than 20 minutes from a frozen state!  I definitely would do that again!

What are you thankful for today?  I'm thankful for a lot of things.  I'm thankful that family got where they were going yesterday and will spend the day unpacking the u-haul truck.  Pray that they will not suffer any injuries as they unpack.  I'm thankful for my and hubby's health.  As we get up in age, I am more and more thankful our health is good.  My biggest worry is with hubby's thinking processes.  He's driving me crazy because (he) something messed up on his words with friends the other night and now we can't find that app anywhere... and what apps are there are not the same and he is upset.  Lord, give me patience in dealing with this and him over this.  I'm thankful I can ask God for patience...  oh wait, I DON'T like asking for patience!  Things get really crazy when I do that!!  Yipes!

I'm thankful for my job, for it provides many things for us, even though I'd love to retire myself, my life would definitely change and I would not have a life of my own anymore.  Some of you would understand that statement.  If not, I'm not going to elaborate.  I'm thankful for each of my children, grandchildren, my great-grandchildren.  Each one is a blessing to me and I can't imagine life without them.  I'm thankful for our home.  I'm thankful for friends.

Speaking of friends, I got word last night that my friend Jenny was rear-ended and has injuries of the sternum, spine, ribs, and I can't remember what else.  She definitely needs prayer as she was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia - and now even before she begins her treatment for that - this happens - and her white blood cells have doubled since her diagnosis.  Please pray for her healing of these injuries, and the leukemia.  I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that God still heals.  Please ask Him to bring healing upon Jenny.

And lastly, I'm thankful we have a God whom we can turn to in all situations.  He isn't just God who handles our sickness, our finances, our travels, but He is our God who is concerned about every detail of our lives.  I am lost without Him and I shudder to think what my life would have been like had I turned away and chose not to follow Him.  He is my Rock, my Nail in a sure place, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Friend.

And He is yours too, if you ask Him in.  Just do it.

Blessings!