The past week in somewhat review....

I'm having troubles again with the internet at work which would allow me to complete my blog at work.  I can bring the blog up - but it won't let me type anything except a heading.  The body of the blog my cursor will not appear on.  So - I haven't been able to write all week.

It has been a busy week, for sure.  A very busy and painful week.  Tuesday my neck started hurting.  I ignored it and did my work.  Thursday morning I had my 'well woman' check up at the doctor's office - I told him about my neck.  He held his finger up by my left shoulder for me to turn my head to.  No problem.  He did the same on the right.  I couldn't quite make it that far, and I told him that I was straining to move it that direction because of the pain.  He tells me that I have probably only strained it and nothing was wrong. No sympathy.  No information on how to help the pain.  Nothing.

Now I have a very high pain tolerance, so I've been told, but by Friday when my neck started 'spazzing' to the point my entire body would be paralyzed from the pain and I'm in near tears, I think I reached it.  When one of our nurses came in to work, I begged her to massage my neck and back.  She did that for me, but being at work - well, we were there to work.  So I tried to work.  I had so much to get done that I tried to stay focused.

However, my neck did not cooperate with me, and if I so much as turned my head to the right a fraction, my neck would paralyze me and I would start going "Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Dear God, please make it stop!!" Numerous times I said that prayer - gives a new meaning to 'praying without ceasing'.

I text'd and called my friend who is a masseuse to see if she could give me a massage Friday evening.  She could not.  We set it up for Saturday afternoon.  In the meaning, I am alternating heat and ice.  The plastic baggie I had used for the hot water, well, it didn't work on my back and soaked the entire back of my jacket, shirt, and of course my chair.  I didn't care.  I took my jacket off and the let cool, wet blouse work on my back.  My neck still hurt.  Really bad.

By the time I got home (thank goodness I didn't have to change lanes often, I had to turn my whole body to see over the right side) I was in near tears.  Hubby offered to take us to dinner, but I had him make a detour and we went to Walgreens, hoping to find one of those physician  health centers open.  I was even looking up urgent cares.  I was getting desperate.  The pain was intense.  We found one, two minutes too late.  I went to the pharmacist - and wondered why I was asking her.  She looked like death warmed over with huge black circles under her eyes - and it wasn't makeup.  I kept staring at her eyes - they looked like Alice Cooper on a good day.  Anyway, I asked her what was the strongest thing I could take for pain without a prescription.  She didn't know.

For real?  I think I asked "Are you serious?"   She asked if I had taken Aleve or used Bengay or anything like that.  Well, no, I hadn't used either of those, but I had taken ibuprofen and had used a cream on  my neck that is for muscle joint pain.   I've had pharmacist walk me to the area and help me find what I need; she wouldn't leave her window.  We finally walked away to look "over there" at the pain center.  We picked up Aleve and some Tiger Balm cream.

Yesterday I felt somewhat better and kept my massage appointment.  For about 45 minutes she worked on my back and neck.  As she continued to work on me, she said that officially I could be called a 'knothead
for not only did I have knots in the muscles on the left and right side of my back, and my neck, I had knots on my head!!  I was in bad shape, she said.

I left after drinking a couple glasses of water and planned to go to a concert at church last night.  Well, I did go.  I filled up my 32 oz glass with green tea and went.  I lasted 1 1/2 hours and felt so nauseous that I had to leave - even before my friend performed.  Yes, I felt that bad!  I came home, we ate some dinner, watched a little TV and went to bed.  This morning my back and neck were so sore and my neck started to spaz a time or two.   My friend text'd me to see how I was doing.  I told her about last night and how sore I was this morning.

She apologized.  She said she went too deep into the muscle.  I thought she hadn't gone deep enough!  She said that was why I wasn't feeling good last night and why I'm so sore today.  Still taking the Aleve and using the tiger balm (when I go to bed - it stinks) so hopefully it will be better tomorrow.  My friend also reminded me that I needed to come back for another massage - even if only for 15 minutes to work the shoulders and neck.  I told her that I'll get back on the 1xmonth maintenance soon.  I quit going about a year ago - afterall, after my last neck/back pain episode I was all better.  I think I learned my lesson.  Maintenance is a good thing.

It's kind of like our relationship with God.  We can accept Him as Lord of our life and really, really want to do what is right, but if we don't work on that relationship, don't keep the maintenance up of being in His Word and studying and meditating and listening for His voice, we lose that sweet spot of being in His will.  I have found over the years that I have to be daily spending time with Him - and even then sometimes 'ME' gets in the way of what is right.  But with having a relationship with God helps me know when I'm not living as I should live.

I'll get back to my massage in due time and I'll start going once a month (maybe) for a maintenance massage. I should have learned my lesson a couple years ago.  I guess I didn't.  For right now, I just want to be pain free for awhile.  It's nearly Monday again and another full week.

Hopefully I can continue on my blog tomorrow at work - but if not, it will have to come about when I can get online.  Sometimes I have to choose between getting on the computer and pulling myself away - after all, I stare at two screens all day long.  I'm usually not in a big hurry to get on the computer again.

And now I'm heading out for some fun time with some grandchildren!  Hope you have a good evening.

Blessings!!

'Old' Friends.... Good times....

Just got home from having a 2 1/2 hour lunch with 'old' friends.  Not that they are old, but because they have been friends for a long time.  They have been on a 6 week vacation thus far and have been traveling from Arizona to Colorado to California to Arizona.  It was fun having lunch with them and hearing about their travel and the too close for comfort fire in Colorado stay, their trials with the 'invasion of the ants' at the RV park, and other incidents.

Personally, I can not imagine waking up to find ant crawling on my head or on my pillow and bed.  Ick!  I don't think I would do very well with all that.  They are just hoping they got rid of them all - trying all kinds of remedies and wishing it would get rid of all of them - including buying a vacuum sweeper to sweep them up as well.  No thank you!!

They still had a great trip and it was fun hearing about all about their travels.  We are grateful they wanted to spend some time with us while in Phoenix and had lunch with us.  It was a fun 2 1/2 hours.

Here it is already 3:30PM and not sure what to start on.  Is it too late to start on something?  I suppose it would depend on what that is.  I started a new book this morning - and have a couple I'm already into - I could go read - but that means I need to go into the back room so that I can read without noise as hubby already has the tv on.  He DID ask if he could watch the race/game or whatever - but what I'm hearing now is not either one of those so he's into his shows.   I wish I had ear plugs that would block out any noise.  He bought me ear plugs last Christmas - and paid a lot for them - but it doesn't block out the noise like I wanted it to.  Oh well.  I suppose I could listen to music through them while I read.  I did get to finish a book last night after he went to bed.

It's another 'hot' day in Phoenix - and will continue to be for awhile.  It's only the end of July, after all.  Our pool is finally clean and it would be fun to have family over to get into it, however..... I think I can get out of fixing dinner tonight since we had a big lunch.  We had my crockpot oatmeal for breakfast.  I love that I can put it in the crockpot at night and come morning it is ready to eat.  Maybe we can get by with a protein shake for lunch.

Church was good this morning and the Children's Director Kathy Cole did an awesome job of sharing thoughts about the movie 'Here Comes The Boon'.  I enjoyed the way she shared her testimony with the story - a story of being a complacent Christian to getting involved.  From a complacent teacher to ??  we didn't get to see the end of the movie - but I think it is one we would enjoy.  May need to go to Redbox and check it out.  It was fun having our daughter-in-law join us along with three of the grandsons for church.  I wonder if the bag I gave her made it home......

Don't have much to talk about today.... I need to get my thoughts together and start sharing things that mean something instead of my mindless drabble.  I think that is the right word.   Somedays it is just hard to come up with something.

Wondering if the temp I was training last Friday will show up tomorrow at work.  She sat with me until noon; went to lunch and never returned.  Hmmm.  I took a shower that morning.  I brushed my teeth.  Was it something I said?  I checked two hours later and they said she had to go home and see about her father.  I've heard that story from other temps we have had - I wonder if it is a standard story.  Guess I will see when and if she shows up.  She didn't make any brownie points with me.  This job is too important for her not to show up.  If she doesn't come to work in the morning - they can put her somewhere else.  I go on vacation in a couple weeks and I expect whoever is going to do my job to actually be there to do it.

Hope you are having a good Sunday.   Will see what the rest of this day brings.

Blessings!

Praying for Favor....

It's always good to ask God for favor.  It doesn't matter whether it is for a job, for a special engagement, for each day, for life in general.  He loves to show us His favor, and I'm willing to receive it.

I've prayed for favor in my job before, and He answered and moved me into this area.  I'm praying again for favor - not only to remember all the things that I need to do, and do it correctly, but to learn new things and let go of some things.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I do, but now that I'm training someone to help me, I'm ready to move on to something else.  I keep thinking of what else is here that I can do, and can't think of anything, but who knows - God moves in  mysterious ways.  Right now isn't the time to move on anyway, but it will be nice to look around and see what's out there.

I don't mind work at all - anything to keep me busy, and pay the bills.  But some times, when you know the work will be completed, it's always good to have something else to do.

Enjoyed our dinner out last night - I was good - and I was bad.  I had the cranberry apple chicken salad.  Mmmmm very good.  Then I finished it off with a banana split!!~  And, no, I couldn't eat it all.  I shouldn't have ordered it, but did.  Oh well, back on track with my oatmeal this morning and a salad for lunch.

I'm looking forward to this weekend.  No, have nothing planned, but looking forward to NOT coming in to the office and having the stress and pressure of getting these things done.  It is harder when you are training someone for I know I am missing some things; I didn't get all my work completed yesterday because I wanted to get out of here in good time and I was training someone.  It's better when I can focus and just do my work.  Yesterday was kind of crazy what with phone calls to make changes that I didn't know how to make and showing someone how to do what I do, trying to get the work done, and having constant interruptions.  I was tired when I left.

We went to bed a little earlier than usual last night, I think, but I was up twice during the night having to walk up and down the hall - my calves and feet were cramping pretty bad.  Made sure I grabbed some potassium this morning to take - although I did eat most of a banana last night.  These leg cramps can get pretty painful. I've scheduled my physical for next Wednesday morning - I'll have to ask about them.

Well, I need to start getting busy and get done what I didn't complete yesterday.  Hope that you have great plans for today and for the weekend.  Enjoy each day - and ask for His favor.  He loves to give it.

Blessings!

Wish I was on vacation......

I love the rain.  I don't even mind walking in it when it is a light rain.  But, when it is a heavy rain, I want to be inside, looking out the window!

It wasn't raining when I left home this morning to head to work - but only got a block away when it started coming down.  It was a soft rain to start.  As I went down the freeway, it would stop for a mile or so, then it would start again.  Made me think like there were lines drawn for rain and lines that were free of rain.  I eventually made it to work; within a couple miles of the office the rain became a downpour.

I pulled into the parking lot and parked in my usual place.  Yes, I had my umbrella with me.  But I decided I would wait out the rain.  No hurry to get into the office; I still had over an hour before I had to officially start work.  Then came the thunder and lightening.  Uh, no.  I don't sit in my car when there is thundering and lightening.

So, I got my things together, put my umbrella up, and walked the block or so to get inside the building.  All that got wet was my legs and shoes with wearing a skirt (glad I didn't wear slacks!!) so I just had to get a paper towel and dry them off.  And here I sit.  Just have a little time left before I need to get to work.  Got the coffee made and got a cup.  Haven't looked at my work yet for today - but when I left last night I had everything completed.  Shouldn't be much of anything to start with.

So why my heading 'wish I was on vacation'?  Because I love to curl up with a good book on a rainy day.  And my blankie.  Or maybe bake cookies.  Yeah - all of that.  Take naps.  All that lazy, calming, comforting things one can do when they are home and it's raining.

My director sent out an email yesterday that concerned me.  It concerned me enough I forwarded it to our Vice President.  The email was ragging on everyone about getting their work done and doing it correctly.  Then she added, 'If you are afraid, you should be'.  Now I'm not concerned about my job.  I was looking for a job when I found this one and I believe that if it is time for me to leave, God will make it happen, not anyone else.  But that comment concerned me.  Why?  Because it makes for a hostile environment here.  She was ragging on the one or two (unnamed of course) who are lazy and are slackers.  Of course she had to include everyone in the conversation so that she didn't name anyone.  But she did say she would be bringing everyone - one at a time - into her office to discuss work ethics.  I think she is a little late to address this issue; it has been going on for a long time.

I guess my mama taught me that when you have a job, you work at that job.  You don't surf the internet, you don't take long breaks, you don't extend your lunch hour.  You put in the 8 hours (or more if required).  Well, mama and God.  God says we are to work as if we are working for the Lord.  And the Lord knows we don't want to mess with Him! 

So it's raining outside, it's quiet in here as people are pondering the email (I heard one who was out yesterday gasp and go 'what?' - I didn't say anything but figured she just read the email.)   I reckon I need to get my things out and prepare to work.

Going to dinner tonight with my youngest son - hubby and I are.  He had a coupon and asked us to go.  Hey - I don't care - coupon or not, I'll go!!  Love connecting with the kids.

Hope that the rain doesn't take you down, but that you will keep your eyes on the One who brings it.

Blessings!

Feeling downhearted this morning.....

Not sure why I am feeling kind of down.  Mellow.  Just life happening, I guess.  I think things are going well, and then something happens that takes me down.  But I will get back up.  It is all life stuff.  And people.

I did have a wonderful quiet weekend.  I was able to finish a book I had started.  I relaxed, a lot.  I went to church.  Spent some time with one of my boys and his kids for a couple hours.  Made salsa.  Showed my son how to make his ghost pepper salsa.  Apparently it affects him..... his girlfriend 'thanked' me last night for showing him how to make it... and did admit she was being sarcastic.  I guess for Christmas we all need to buy air refresher for him. 

I also got to have a long breakfast with a friend.  We hadn't met for breakfast for a long time, so it was nice to be able to talk and catch up.  I always walk away thinking I have either shared too much or I talked too much.  We were there for about an hour and a half, so we did a lot of talking!

Today is Monday and I'm back at work.  I've already checked my folder and there are a lot of things for me to work on.  I've been having trouble with another folder that I need to pull my work from - things disappear!  Last week I struggled with it for nearly an hour before the things I needed to do finally appeared in it.  I took a print of it so that I could show IT and sent in a request for them to check it out, but haven't heard anything from them yet.  I just checked and I have about 6 in there to work on first thing this morning.  It's better than waiting for work to appear.  I have other things I can do, but it is always nice to not have to find things to do.

I sent an email to our Office Manager at church to see if there would be a room available that I could facilitate a class this fall.  If there is, then it gives me something to look forward to.  I love reading and studying and learning - but I don't apply myself anymore if I don't have to.  Perhaps that is part of my mood.  I miss that studying.  But when I have no goal, it's like why bother.  I'll find out soon if there is a room, then I will know what I will do.  It will be on Wednesday nights and now that I'm getting caught up in my work, and I have been guaranteed that I will be getting help, I will be able to get out at 4:30 on Wednesdays so that I can get to church on time.   If there is no room, then I'll have to think what I'm going to do.  I've thought about having a class at our house one night a week, but hubby already has his men's group one night a week and we have our group on Thursday nights starting this fall.  I don't want to fill up most of the evenings.

I'm already planning my birthday celebration.  I was reminded yesterday my birthday is on a Friday this year.  Since my Princess Bethany was up from Tucson, I asked if she could come up that date and come to my "party".  Where we had it last year was nice, and I may check it out again.  My only fear is that it is on a Friday night and they may not save us a long table.  But, I will call and ask that week, before I let everyone know for sure where it will be.  We may end at Old Country where everyone can get what they want.  But, this is what I want.  This is my birthday present to myself, and I look forward to it.  My best present is time spent with my children and grandchildren.  No, I'm not neglecting you, hubby, but we spend all the time together.  The grandchildren keep me young and I love being a part of their lives.

It's time for me to close this off and get to work.  I'm sorta rambling this morning anyway.  Monday.  The beginning of a new work week.  Hope yours is a good one.

Blessings!

Go Ahead....

My son and best reader of my blogs checked out songs for me on 'If you are going through hell' by Rodney Atkins - but it isn't the one I was referring to.  So I did some checking and here it is - It's by Ron Kenoly!

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/go-ahead-song-ron-kenoly/

It's actually called 'Go Ahead'  - Love this song for it tells us that when we catch hell, don't hold it, if you are going through hell, don't stop!!  I hadn't listened to it for a long time.  We used to sing it at church a long, long time ago.

Went to church this morning - we're doing a movie series and how they related to us today - or rather, what the Christian values are in it.  Or something like that.

Today we watched bits of Lincoln.  I have not seen the movie yet, in its entirety, however, my hubby and one of my sons watched it a few weeks ago.  I wonder what they would have thought about what was pulled out for the service.  Parts included conversation between Mary Todd and Abe Lincoln, President Lincoln's conversation with a black woman (I forget her name), another was the actual vote for the Amendment, and the cheering for what had occurred.  I wonder if the men at that time realized what history was being made.

Being a woman born in the south, I love my southern roots.  My mama used to tell me about her Mammy - yes, she had one.  With six girls and one boy, Granny needed someone to help her.  Mama used to tell me how her Mammy would help with things, and they never treated her like a slave, but like family.  I mean she did the work around the house and all, but so did my Granny and the children.  It wasn't a plantation, but a large farm.  Mama used to tell how after she married and moved from Tennessee how when they went back to visit family, she always went to her Mammy's home to visit her.  She loved her.

And it wasn't a matter of black and white, like people make it today.  There was respect and love.  To so many people color is the issue.  No one is superior over the other.  God is One and He created us all in His image.  So how can color matter?  White is the absence of any color, and Black is all color.  And when we match up clothes, it seems we always tend to think - or say - anything goes with white or with black.  Color just doesn't matter.

I have friends who are white and I have friends who are black.  I don't look at them and what color they are - or aren't - I look inside and see if I want to be friends with them.  Some whites can be horribly mean and cruel, and blacks as well.  It isn't limited to one race or another.  I respect them not based on color, but on who they are.   I think I will stop there - my opinions are just that - mine.

That was really weird.  I was in the middle of typing this blog and my computer just shut down on me.  I was in Chrome, too.  Everything came back up - in Chrome again.  I mean it totally shut down, did a bunch of updates, and then restarted - all on it's own.  Maybe I'm to hush and God took that way to do it.  Hmmm.

It rained today.  Long and hard, it looks like.  Big and deep puddles on the edges of the church parking lot.  I was able to miss it going in.  I was also smart enough to take my umbrella into church with me.  But I didn't need it for by the time we got out, the rain had stopped.  It was soothing to hear it hit the tin roof during the service.  I love the rain.  I love going walking in it.  I love being home in it, when I can curl up with a good book and read.  I love the relaxing feeling a good steady rain gives.

And, since hubby isn't home yet, I think I will get off here and go curl up with one of my books.  Marley is asleep on the floor next to my feet.  It is so quiet I can hear the clock ticking, my fingers hitting the keys on the computer.  Silence.

Some say silence is golden - and it truly is.  Not only when the kids grow up, but when we have those moments in time when there is silence.  Pure, sweet, unadulterated silence.  No music, no television. No talking.  Just Marley's steady breathing as she sleeps.  And quiet.

I'm off with a good book.  Hope you can grab one too.

Blessings!

God's Mercy equals God's Blessings

Ever have something come pressing down on you to the point you feel you just can't go on?  That the pressure of it all is so overwhelming that you don't know how to even breathe through it? 

Then, like a breath of fresh air, the pressure lifts, and you feel (somewhat) normal again.

That is sometimes what God's mercy feels like. 

We put pressure on ourselves by getting ourselves in debt.  We do it by our lifestyle choices.  We create havoc by what we allow to happen.  And, sometimes, life just happens with us not doing anything.  Pressure that builds up, and unfortunately, sometimes explodes on the innocent. 

Those times when you feel so overwhelmed that you don't know what to do - there is One you can run to who will clear your head, help you to see above and past all your problems, and show you that He is walking you through each and every step.

There is a song that says 'when you are going through hell, don't stop!!'  And that is the truth.  So many times we allow the pressure to take us to depths of despair and brokenness.  The choice is yours whether to stay there in the pits or to claw your way to the top and get above it.

Beth Moore wrote a book called 'Get Out of the Pit'.  Several years ago I was going through a deep, dark, heavy period in my life.  I was struggling just to stay above it.  The book had just come out and a friend told me about this book.  I read it.  I realized I had set up a nice room in my pit.

It's easy to do, you know.  Something happens that knocks you down.  You start digging a hole.  Then something else happens, so you dig down a little deeper.  People say things.  Dig deeper to escape.  Before you know it, you have a nice room dug and you have even furnished it with a sofa or bed to lay on, and even a rug on the floor.  Eventually you get it completely furnished because that is where you have chosen to live. 

In a dark, gloomy, sad and depressing place. 

But wait!  There is LIGHT above!  It's God's mercy showing through.  He is waiting for you to take the first step to reach up, to achieve and to receive all that He has for you.

Are you willing to climb out of the pit to receive God's mercy and God's blessings?

Are you willing to breathe again?   Will you trust Him enough to believe He is walking with you in this journey called LIFE? 

God has never said that if we choose to follow Him that He will provide everything for us.  He did say He will walk with us through any journey, we will never be alone.  He may give you all that you need, just when you need it - whether it be strength, money, health boost, unexpected blessings.  He may give it to you Himself, or use others to be the Blessing to you.

Whatever you are going through right now, don't dig a pit.  Determine to be faithful to His promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God".

Trust in Him, Seek Him.  He knows your name; it is carved in the palm of His hand.

Blessings!