Is it really the 'day after'?

 I've been having Saturdays for a few days now - and today feels almost like Monday.  And yet, it is only Thursday.  I awoke around 4-ish, as usual, and then dozed off and on until I felt a pin prick close to my knee (a nerve?) and it caused me to jump out of bed!  I got up, and since I work hubby at (it was nearly 5:30AM by this time), he got up as well.  Only he was more productive than I.  It's recycle pickup day since they didn't yesterday - he took our recycle out, made my coffee and brought to me.  Yes, I'm spoiled. Although I complain sometimes about it. I'm a big girl and yes, I can make my own coffee. But it isn't worth the battle to make it myself.  He likes talking 'it's in the Bible' - He-brews.  Get it?

Yesterday was a good day, albeit different for a Christmas day.  I'm usually hustling around cooking and this year there was none of that.  Well, I did go ahead and fix bacon and eggs and pancakes for breakfast after I got off the computer yesterday morning.  Made the salad later and we headed to the daughter's for a mid-afternoon lunch (lunner?) and us girls started working on a puzzle while the guys watched football. After a couple hours hubby and I decided to head back home.  I did go see Ms. Diane last night and I could barely get a word in edgewise.  I guess she was trying to make up for my not visiting her for about 3 months.  I will go back and visit in a few days.  I've got to stay in touch with Ms. Diane and Ms. Vicky - they don't have many other visitors.  Ms. Diane's daughter and boys do come to visit almost daily, but Ms. Vicky generally has no one to visit often.

Hubby and I had talked about running over to the gym early this morning.... wonder if he remembers. Do I want to go? Not really.  But if I talk myself in to it, I can go and walk the treadmill while he uses the weights.  I can wait until Monday when I will more than likely have a scheduled training.  I did buy hubby and I an additional 5 training sessions for Christmas.  Morgan was going to try and work 3 sessions in a week for 5 weeks to use up the extra.  That extra training may be the turning point for me to drop some of this extra flab.

We also have our 21 day fast coming up after the first of the year.  We try to do it when Free Chapel does theirs so it is January 5 - January 26.  Hubby and I are discussing what to fast. He always wants us to do the same thing 'together'.  I told him that I am really wanting to do a true Daniel fast - which is fruits, vegetables, water for 21 days.  Daniel was more healthy after 21 days eating just fruit and vegetables than those who ate all the other foods!  It could help me (us) physically and mentally.  Hubby does get on this 'protein kick' on how we need protein and I usually give in and then fix chicken and fish. But then, maybe I'll just go back to my standby of BBCD.  No Bread. No Beef. No Chocolate. No Desserts.  It really is tough to do, trust me!  It is easier for me to remember, and if we go out to eat with friends, I don't have to give an explanation of salad, no dressing, please.  And since our RV park friends are here now and we eat with them occasionally, it might be easier.

The importance is not in WHAT we fast, but WHY we fast.  Hubby asked me why I was going to fast - what specifically was I going to pray for.  And, if you know me, some things I like to keep between God and me.  I will write out by January 5th specific things I will be praying for.  And, yes, many times it includes my children, health issues, situations, problems, etc.  And yes, many times it also includes me, and hubby, and our relationship with each other and with God.  Our relationship is difficult to explain, let alone live through.  Hubby is good to me, but he doesn't always let me do what I want to do.  LOL I had written some things down with sizes of what I 'wanted' for Christmas.  At the bottom of that visible list I had added 'permission to retire before I die'.  I really expected at least some comment about that statement - but - he did not mention it.  And no, I did not get 'it' for Christmas.  Having extra money is nice, I admit, and I would have to give up a lot more than he would.  And I'm leaving that there.

We are moving quickly to the end of this year and looking ahead to a new year.  2025.  Who would have thought we would ever see it?  

Good grief!  It is 7AM and it's still dark out - and I hear the landscapers outside blowing leaves!  How do I know this? Cause I can hear the blower - but he has triggered the lights next door and ours in the courtyard!  Christmas in the middle of their week messed up their schedules I guess so they are making sure to get us done to catch up on others.  I remembered this morning that I had not gotten anyone to cover for me today or tomorrow - it shouldn't be a problem as two of my bosses are out as well.  I will just on (maybe) sometime today and see if there is something urgent I need to get done.  After all - it's the gym and crocheting otherwise.  This is a taste of what retirement would be like for me, perhaps.  Good news is that tomorrow morning hubby will have his Bible study (he has already asked for 7 loaves of my bread to take to the guys for a late Christmas gift) so I will have a few hours alone. Oh my goodness, what will I do in that 2.5 hours??  Maybe I'll get ahold of my girlfriend, Melonie, and ask if she wants to go do breakfast.  Or not. I may just sit here and enjoy the quiet of the morning. Or bake. I DID get two new cookbooks for Christmas from my sister and I can't wait to try some of those recipes! 

I do want to make more cranberry strawberry jam - my trainer said she wants me to make her more and she will pay for it - she likes it that much!  But, of course I won't ask her to pay for it.  I do want to make more - we like it too!  I do still have a few jars left, but I need to go get more pectin and jars.  It doesn't make that much at a time, but I did get about 14-16 jars out of the two batches I did.   First time I made jam that came out perfect.  Of course I want to make it again!  I have cranberries and I have strawberries - I just need pectin and jars.  I bought the reduced sugar pectin - and I dropped the sugar down a cup.  I wonder if I could drop it a little more.  May not try it, it was perfect with what I used.  That could be a store run (or maybe I'll do a pick up order) today.  

And now I'm rambling so will close this off.  I just might start on this bed and get it cleaned off now that I don't need to be wrapping any gifts.  Pack my wrapping paper away for another year.  I have plenty of things I could be doing - maybe I'll have things to share tomorrow that I've completed - but don't expect it.  I'm on 'vacation' from work, after all.  

Have a great day!

Blessings!

I was in a deep sleep this morning....

 when my watch started buzzing to tell me it had a 'low battery'.  I kept hitting the button, thinking it was an alarm.  Finally, I looked at it and saw it wasn't that, but the battery.  So - got up and tried to sleep in my chair again, but because I was also listening for hubby, didn't really go back to sleep.  He got up about a half hour later.  It's still early.  I've done my reading and checking my bank and scanned emails... now I'm hoping to write something of value in here, then grab one of my books to read - or write in a journal if a thought persists.  Got a bit of a dull headache from the deep sleep wakeup - but my coffee should caffeine me enough in a few to get rid of it.

The White Christmas program last night was awesome! It's been years since I watched a theater production of anything.  Dinner first, and although our service was lousy.... we gave our order first in our area, and yet our hostess served us last.  But, she must have either been having a bad day or not felt good, for she had no personality and although she would smile when she came to our table, she turned her head and the smile was gone.  There was no 'lilt' to her walk or voice.  But - the dinner was good.  I had a herb chicken with some creamy sauce on top of mashed potatoes.  What really cracked me up?  I got two - yes, two - stalks of asparagus.  I mean, don't most restaurants give you at least 4 asparagus with your meal?  And they were skinny ones at that.  But the salad was good, the dinner was good - and during intermission my daughter and I shared a dark chocolate brownie with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream on top with chocolate drizzled over the brownie - and yes it was so good - but it was a large piece and neither of us could finish it.  Glad we shared.

As for the show - it was really well done.  They did have songs in it that are not in the original show - such as 'Blue Skies' (wasn't that done by Michael Bublé?)  and also the little girl sung a couple songs as well as the general's housekeeper.  But overall, it was a great drama performance and I really did enjoy it.  Great voices and it was all good.  There was something to be done in the lobby afterwards with some of the performers singing, but we didn't get out until 10:15PM I think it was, so we went ahead and left and came home.   I had to sit up for awhile as I was still quite awake (surprisingly) so guess it may have been close to 11PM before I finally went to bed.  Which is why I didn't want to get up this morning, I'm sure!

I think I have mentioned about the fast that we will do in January.  Why is it that I always feel I am the 'lead' in the fast?  Hubby has told me that 'unless you want to watch a movie' (and you know he will ask continuously if I do - but he may surprise me), he is giving up the TV for 21 days for the fast.  No TV for 21 days?  I'm thrilled!  I'd rather grab a book and read!  He also said that 'whatever you decide to do as far as diet, you can do the same for me'.  Now you know with his eating out with his friends is going to cause difficulty, so in order to keep him from breaking the food fast, he and I need to figure out what he is going to do.  I'm flip-flopping between my BBCD (no bread, no beef, no chocolate, no dessert).  You may think that is easy - but it really isn't, because no bread is also no bread products - such as pasta, crackers (and I love my saltine crackers), cornbread, etc..  Or - go with a strict Daniel fast of just fruits and vegetables.  Hubby is a meat person so usually pushes chicken on me.  I'm still praying and thinking about what to do.  Does it really matter even if I fast?  It does to me.  And it doesn't have to be a lot of things.  It just needs to be something I enjoy that I choose to give up for 21 days so that I can focus on God a bit more.  It isn't just giving up the TV and reading everything on my phone.  It isn't just giving up bread and substituting it with something else.  It means giving it up.  Like chocolate and desserts.  It sounds easy.  But then, we still have chocolate EVERYwhere.... and the temptation is grab an M&M and throw in the mouth.  Or take a taste of a pie - even if it is fruit - it is still dessert.  Give it up or don't give it up - it's my choice - but whatever I decide - whether one thing or several - I need to completely give it up for that 21 days.  Just happened to think - you know what would really be hard?  No shopping for 21 days.  I mean Amazon shopping, not food shopping.  Hmmm.  I don't want to set myself up for failure.  LOL  And I do have gift cards I need to use.  Yeah.... I'll stick to food, for it would be a daily reminder of what I am doing and why.  And what would I be fasting and praying for?  For my family.  For my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren.  And I'll leave it there.

John 16:33 (NKJV):  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you will have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Did you ever realize that just by following Jesus you can have peace in every circumstance?  You truly can!  I know that for a fact, for I have experienced that peace when things have been in turmoil.  When things come at you full force - whether it is someone screaming in your ear or getting in your face or just life trying to flip you over, you can have peace in the midst of all that, if you know Jesus.  I'm not just talking knowing 'about' Him, I'm talking about KNOWING Him.  There is a difference.

For example, I was talking with Ms. Vicky the other night and a few months ago we both had to have repeat mammograms and an ultrasound.  She brought it up how she had had cancer before and had been somewhat concerned it had come back.  (It had not).  She shared she had been somewhat anxious about it.  As I thought back to that time, although I have not had cancer before, I remembered how at peace I was - and I think I wrote about it in here - that I made my mind up that if Jesus wanted to take me home, I was a winner.  If I stayed here on earth, I was still a winner because He was giving me more opportunities to share His love to others and to lead them to Him.  Personally, I was in a win-win situation as far as I was concerned, and I was able to share that with Ms. Vicky.  I am forgiven and redeemed; I belong to Jesus.  Whatever He decides with me, I'm His.  

Can you say that?  Have you turned your life over to Him and asked forgiveness?  Perhaps you aren't ready to take that step and 'change your ways' - whatever they may be - but are you ready to face Jesus and tell Him that you prefer the world over Him?  That you are willing to go to Hell because you won't let go of the things that hold you to this world?  It is a scary thought - and none of us have the time that we think we have.  Yes, I'm healthy and strong for the most part - but anything could happen.  And I know that I need to be ready when that time comes.  I want to be praising Jesus when I take my last breath.  I want to see heaven open for me and Jesus welcoming me Home.  I'm ready to go.

But I really want to declutter my house so that my children don't have to.  Which is why I need to stop and go fix breakfast and then get busy and get some things done this morning - like getting the big tree taken down.  I took down the little tree and moved my weight bench back where it was yesterday morning - and hubby hasn't even noticed (or rather, hasn't said anything about it).  The big tree and all the animals will be removed today.  I also took down all the bows and Christmas things yesterday from the front courtyard.  I brought in the old comforter for the bedroom and although hubby hadn't made the bed yet - I couldn't believe he whined and complained he would have to change the comforter and shams.  I just looked at him and said all I did was put the old ones in the room, when he was ready to change them out, they were there.  What in the world was the big deal?  He hadn't even made the bed yet!  And I'm the one who has to fold up the Christmas ones and put them away!  Geez!  He really does NOT like change - even moreso than me!

Ok - I'm off here - got to go cook breakfast and get dressed and get busy - not necessarily in that order.  May even go use my gift cards this afternoon - JoAnns has a huge sale on their yarn!  LOL  Like I need more yarn?  Of course I do!!  But they have other things too so I don't have to just buy yarn.  But I got to get up out of this chair before I do anything - so with that - 

Blessings!