It's Friday!!

Here it is Friday - already - and I am so ready for it! I have another busy day scheduled, for sure. I have my regular work today, plus a meeting at 10:30AM and then training at 1:30PM. I am looking forward to learning how to do more authorizations - not that I will be doing them full time as I still have my regular work to do - but at least I can do some and help others keep caught up. Hopefully I can learn quickly and get myself up to speed soon enough. Right now is the time to learn - we are fairly current so it will not be panic mode to learn and do these.

And the weekend is ahead of us - don't have anything planned that I can think of. I always make plans to clean or get something done - but rarely do I accomplish what it is. Sometimes I wonder, why bother? - and then I think that if I don't plan, it definitely won't happen!

I missed my regular exit this morning. I was praying on the way in to work and was behind a truck - not that either of those is an excuse - and realized it as I was driving by the exit. I knew I could still go the way I was on so it wasn't a problem. Just more traffic to deal with. Still got to work in good time without mishap. I like to think that God distracted me so that I would miss an accident the other route. He does things like that, you know. I've even learned to be patient behind trucks and slow moving vehicles - I figure I'm there so that I will be protected from accidents.

Going through my devotions this morning I was reminded of JEJIT. Yes, I spelled it correctly. I've probably even written about it before, as I've gone through this book many times now. JEJIT. Just Enough Just In Time. That's sometimes how God works. We may expect more, we may want more, but He will always give us 'just enough, just in time'. I was reading in my journal how God has done that in providing me this job. Money isn't what we were used to, but He has provided enough, and He provided the job when I didn't have one. Just Enough,Just in Time.

Tuesday I was reminded of a familar saying - "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." In fact, I have written that saying on my whiteboard here at work for now. I change it out periodically and put something else on there - but for now, that's what I have. Does it not make you stop and think? If I do the same thing over and over and don't like the results - as long as I keep doing the same things over and over, I won't ever like the results. I need to change what I do so that I will like the results. I've had to re-evaluate where I am in certain things. I've needed to work on changes. I've needed things brought to mind or to my attention, that either what I'm doing is not good, or there are some things I need to do to make it better. Make sense? Try thinking about that statement today and see what you need to change in your life. None of us are perfect, that's for sure!

It's nearly time to start work again so need to get off. Hope that you are planning an awesome weekend with your loved ones and have a great weekend. Enjoy our cooler weather in Arizona - it's beautiful out this morning!

May all you get is JEJIT.

Blessings!

It's been a crazy couple days....

Yes, it really has! Work has been really busy - must have been a full moon recently for we have received so many expedited requests - which I don't really mind them anymore, but they are so much more time consuming than our regular standard requests. I've gotten to where, when I fax the request back to the provider, I tell them that according to medicare guidelines, an expedited request is only when it is life-threatening or will cause loss of life or limb if they do not get the authorization within 72 hours. Yeah, that is the reason most offices will use the expedite box. They will check it because, 1) they want to get the request off their desk and although the appointment may not be until next months, they will mark it expedited. Or, 2) "they mark all their requests expedited" - even for CONTINUED home health visits, etc. or any more reason you want to come up with. With expedited requests we have to review and respond to the provider AND the member within 72 hours. That means I have to call the member and verbally give them, or their power of attorney, the approval or denial (after our nurse and/or medical director have reviewed the clinicals that are SUPPOSED to be attached to the request) within that 72 hours. The entire thing has to be completed AND notification made. AND if I can not get ahold of the member or the power of attorney, I have to then send the letter out Federal Express Overnight Priority delivery. However, if they send the request in as a standard request, then we have 14 days in which to respond - and currently we are running 5-9 days in getting these completed. Occasionally there may be a 10 day or even a 12 day - but at day 10 I can still send regular US Postal Service. But - oh well, it's all in a day's work!

Today was crazy as well. Well, yesterday started it when my youngest went to the hospital with chest pains. We went up to see him last night and he was seemingly doing better. This morning I called him on my way to work - was almost to work 21 miles away - and he tells me that he is having a procedure done this morning at 9AM. So - when my director got to the office I requested time off - and I headed back to Phoenix and met up with hubby and we headed to the hospital. The procedure went well and the doctor was pleased with the results. And all that is for another day.

I finished up the day working from home. I'm so used to having two large screens at work - and trying to do my work off of one small laptop screen left a lot to be desired. However, I did get it all completed, although I am short some hours. That's ok - I was where I needed to be.

We cancelled our classes last night so that we could go to the hospital - and cancelled tonight because we weren't sure when he would be discharged and if he was still there we would go back up. However, he did get out a little bit ago so it worked out well.

So hubby and I went out to dinner. Tried Macayo's again - hadn't eaten there in years - and really enjoyed it. Getting there early evening helped with crowd noise that is always there. Food was absolutely wonderful - I had the Sonoran sampler and hubby had the Baja quesadilla. Both were good.

I think back on the goodness of God and how He answers our prayers. I didn't know hubby had put the son on the prayer chain at church. I know I had other people praying for him in some of the classes at church. The doctors didn't know what to think (with them not thinking how God answers prayer) as they could not find anything wrong with our son. Well, duh. Don't they know that God answered and removed anything that could cause a problem for him? I truly believe that God heard all the prayers on our son's behalf and answered. I praise God for answering and removing any problems.

I've sat and stared at this computer enough today my hubby says so guess I will get off and go watch another screen with him. It's time to start unwinding tonight. Back to the drive tomorrow and down to the office.

Hope that your week is going well and you are leaning into our Father for all your needs.

Blessings!

Anonymous says....

and says it rightly. My last post was about material things. Things that I kind of hold dear, and yet, if anyone is wanting them, I give them away. I think (and I hope implied) what I was leading to was that some times people, although the material items mean something to them because they came from someone they loved, (not referring to me, in this case, but my mother) they 'lose' them for various reasons. Was not meaning to admonish anyone, but just state what I was feeling, as I often do here.

My daughter, however, took the opportunity Saturday to take me out to lunch and we discussed what I had written. She quickly reminded me of a crosspoint she had worked on for my hubby's father was put in one of MY yard sales years ago. We talked about it. She still has it and gave it to her hubby. She took it from the yard sale and was angry with me I had put it in. Why? Because it said something dear about a father, and because my father in law had passed away before she got it completed. Not her fault, it is just what happened. She had finished it, and according to her, she had given it to my hubby. I don't remember that part, for had it belonged then to hubby, I guarantee you he would not have allowed it to go into the yard sale. Regardless, she was able to have her say, and I got a free lunch with my daughter.

Maybe I should write more things that stir up things so that I get free meals. :-) Just kidding!!

Anonymous gave the scripture in James of 'slow to anger, slow to speak'.... I know that scripture well. In fact, I have repeated it to myself many times, including 'Consider it pure joy when....' sometimes it's hard to do either of those. I'm writing out the book of James in a 'Journible'. It's something new - a book that you write out a book of the Bible and occasionally it was ask you a question or it gives you a page to write your thoughts. I have been taking my time with it and am enjoying it. I think I just finished chapter 4 this morning, as I only write a few scriptures a day so that I can think about what I've written.

Did you know that God said in Deuteronomy 17:18 (on which Journibles are based): "And when he has been crowned (the king of Israel) and sits upon his throne as king, then he must copy these laws from the book kept by the Levite-priests." (TLB) The kings of Israel were to copy every law that God had given so that they would know the law and be obedient to it.

In fact, it goes on to say that "the copy of the laws shall be his constant companion and he must read from it every day so that he will learn to respect the Lord his God by obeying all of his commands." And that command is even for us today. Not necessarily writing out the scriptures, but we are to read the Word every day and meditate upon them. Sometimes it is just what you need to hear at that moment, or some time during the day.

I know that because Friday I got 'nailed' on scripture I have read time and time again. But that is for another time to share.

I'm telling myself it won't be a long day.... but it may be. I was awakened at 3AM and could not go back to sleep. I have started setting my alarm for 3:30AM so that I can exercise a half hour before work (and still do my quiet time), but this morning it was earlier. Although I wanted to go back to sleep for that half hour, I knew that my mind was not going to let me - it was already running through things to think about. So I got up and did some exercises than went on to my quiet time. My prayer today is that God will help me to remember everything I need to do and I will do it correctly and timely. I pray my mind stays alert and doesn't go to 'sleep' on me!

With that, I leave you with this....

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Blessings!

Drama, Drama, Drama.....

Oh the agony of it all! So many people have so much drama in their lives! Either they cause it, or those they associate with cause it, or well, it can happen on its own, I guess, but there always seems to be a reason for it. Sometimes it seems it is just plain laziness, stupidity, irresponsibility, .. well, I guess you can find your own word for it.

And more often than not, it happens time and again to the same people. Do they not ever learn? Sigh..... No, I'm NOT talking about anyone in particular, but you know who you are.

I hear these things at work; I hear these things from friends; I hear these things from family members, and I just want to ask them 'what were you thinking? WHY do you allow yourself to get in these predicaments?' Not that they would have an answer for me, but it astounds me people do this consistently to themselves.

Not that I am perfect by any means. Satan was busy reminding me of my faults and stupid things I've done over and over. Yep, in my mind on the way to work I was reminded of stupid and naive things I've done over the years. Really stupid and naive. I shake my head at it now and thank God He took care of me and got me through it. Things could have been really different.

We all do stupid things in the name of "love". We all do stupid things when we don't stop to think through situations and recognize the consequences of our actions. We are not being real wise when we don't seek the counsel of those we know who can give good advise. Instead we either act on our own, or listen to those who are as vengeful as we are. Why not, it isn't going to affect them. Hello? Is anyone listening?

Sometimes I'd like to take these people, give them a good shaking, and hang them out to dry.

But inside my heart is crying for them, my emotions are in anguish for their difficulty. I don't like to hear of anyone having difficulties. I have enough of my own to deal with. Perhaps it is because I feel compassion for them.

And in some cases, it is partly because they will lose things that I treasured and gave to them. I know it is just material things, but I gave to them because I loved them, yet they don't seem to value them. It makes me want to step back and quit giving.

Reminds me why I quit going to my daughter's yard sales. I think it was at her request. And I'm laughing as I write this. I am sentimental, as I have shared before. But when I look for a long time for a special something for someone, or I spend more money than I really have for something because someone wants it, to find it in a yard sale causes hurt feelings to arise in me. Same as my giving things my mother made to my children and finding out they have been 'lost' or 'given away' or 'thrown away'. I would rather be given them back.

I remember my mother telling me one time that, after she had made each of us children a crochet bedspread, she went to a step-sibling's yard sale to see it had been placed in the yard sale for $5. Think alone of all the hours it took her to make it, not counting the cost involved. She bought it back. I have two of my mother's bedspreads. One is crochet with yarn, the other with the fine crochet thread. Sometime soon I think I may get one of them out and use it again. The sad part is that none of my children or grandchildren would treasure these like I do. They will probably get put in a yard sale after I'm gone. I'm sure there is some place that would understand the value of these; today they could bring a good price being handmade. Handmade quilts now are being sold for over $100. I don't know what a handmade bedspread would run now, but I would bet at least a couple hundred dollars. I don't know how many quilts I still have - I know I do have at least one my grandmother made, completely by hand. She would take old shirts and cut them into pieces and quilt them, piece by piece. For me, great memories of my grandmother, but to anyone else, just an old quilt.

Drama. Why do we allow so much of it in our life? Yeah, we allow it. We usually do something stupid to start it.

The scripture that I have on my desk for today is Colossians 3:13 (NLT) "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Ok - with that, I'm going to hush and get to work. Guess I have some things to deal with. Hope that you have a good day - the weekend is here!!

Blessings!

Silly Commercials make me cry sometimes....

Does that ever happen to you? You can watch a silly - or what some of us would call a really stupid commercial - and someone will have tears fill up in the eyes... I know you are just as guilty of it as I am.

Movies does that to me often, as well. We watched Courageous again the other night. Yep, that last part always gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes. When Adam is standing there and say 'I Will' ... 'I Will' ... (don't want to spoil it for those who haven't yet seen the movie) - it really gets to me.

This morning as I quickly skimmed through facebook - something I don't normally do in the mornings - I saw an Extra Gum commercial. I had to share it on FB as well. It really touched my sentimental heart. I guess that is why I hang on to so many things.... little things that mean nothing to anyone else,can touch my heart. I hold on to them so that I can relive the memory time and again.

Sometimes it is the Poloroid commercials from years back - remember those? They always made me choke up and cry. What is it about things like that - that touches us deep within and brings such longing and love and pain and happiness - all rolled up into one?

Can you honestly tell me you have never felt that way at anything?

Perhaps it was a school project your child did and you happened to read it and it was about something you did special with them.

Perhaps it was a note from your spouse that just said 'I'm thinking of you and wanting to wish you a good day'.

Perhaps you get a note - or a call - from a friend who just called to say 'hi'.

Maybe it's.... you feel in the blank. Do you recall that special feeling when....

The thought occurs to me that God could often tear up when we tell Him we care about Him. Tell Him that we love Him. Write Him love notes. Open our heart up to Him and just let Him visit with us for awhile. Reading His Word, He probably can't wait to show us something that we hadn't seen before.

I bet we bring great big smiles to our Heavenly Father when He gets our undivided attention. He can't wait to walk with us through today. He was with us yesterday, but sometimes we get so busy we forget. He has plans to be with us tomorrow, but many of us are busy planning our day without Him.

He's with you today. As you drive about town, as you go to the store, as you drive to work, as you hang out with those you love... He's with you. And those are probably tears of joy in His eyes that you stopped to include Him. Take some time to talk with Him. You will find life isn't so crazy when you include Him.

Stop and read or watch something that will tenderize your heart. You don't have to be a 'tough' person all the time. Sometimes it's ok to be tender. And it's ok for men to cry, as well as women. And boys. And girls. Emotions are a good thing - that is why God gave them to us.

Hope you have a tender and special day....

Blessings!

It's HUMP Day!

That commercial that is out now promoting Geico is really funny. It's a camel walking around an office and asking everyone what 'today' is - and of course, today being Wednesday, is HUMP day! I love that commercial and it brings a smile every time I see it.

My brother started off a text to me early this morning with 'Guess what day it is..... really, guess with day IT is....' Cracked me up and made me smile... and for me that is a miracle first thing in the morning. Luckily I had already had my coffee!! I of course replied, "It's HUMP Day!!"

And so it is. We have classes at church now on Wednesday evenings and I am facilitating in one. I only had one person come to class, but you know what, it only takes one person to start a revival! My topic in class is on starting a presonal revival within ourselves. Get ourselves straightened out and get our own fire lit. My flame went dim a long time ago and I'm trying very hard to get it going again. Life and its challenges has a way of doing that to you.

In spite of working some on Monday, Labor Day, I ended up working until nearly 7PM last night. It seems like all my work came in between 3-5PM and I had about 30 letters to go out. I'm afraid we may have missed some deadlines, but it wasn't my fault - not saying it was anyone's fault - but we need to re-look at how we task these so that we can make sure these deadlines don't hit us without things being completed. I sent an email to the director last night and just told her we may have missed the deadline on a couple letters - and hopefully she can come up with something to keep it from happening again. All these things happen BEFORE I get the letter - and I'm not exactly sure from time of conception where the authoriation goes. I know when it gets shelled, but not sure what happens between the shelling and the nurses processing it. Does it just sit in a folder? That shouldn't be - the nurses should be able to get these done faster. But then, I don't know how long the reviews take. I know some of them have to go to the medical director for review, so it sits in their folder for awhile. Then it will go back to the nurse. Then it comes to me. And I get the letters out and the members called, if necessary. I was going nuts last night - calling people at 6:30PM just to stay in compliance! Oh well, it's out of my hands.

Ever have one of those days that you wish you could just curl up with a good book in front of a roaring fire with a soft cool rain falling outside? Yeah, I'm in one of those moods. It's cloudy, but I don't know if it is going to actually rain. It's way too hot for a roaring fire unless you turn your air conditioner on full blast. I have lots of good books to read. It would be nice to just relax and have silence all about you, quiet, peaceful silence. Those of you who have it whenever you want it don't see it that way. You want noise. I prefer the silence because I'm around noise all the time. My time in my car to and from work is special - I rarely will play a CD or turn the radio on. I like the silence. That's also gotten to be my prayer time to and from work.

Well, it's getting that time where I need to start getting my work out and get things ready to get busy. My director just came by in response to my email. She said she thinks it was just a quirk we ran close or directly on the due date - she thought we were ok now and now that everyone is back to work from vacations and holidays, we should be able to keep up on things. I told her I just wanted to alert her to what I faced yesterday. It was nice that she came by to explain it versus just shooting me an email.

Hope that you have a quiet / noisy day - which ever you want! For me, I just want to get my work completed! Have a good day!

Blessings!!

Time to Re-Focus!

For the past few weeks I have been "bad". By that I mean that I have been eating many, many things that I should not be eating. Things like potato chips. Ice cream. Dip. Potatoes. Cookies. FRIED foods. I have been soooooo bad. And my waistline is showing how bad I've been. Plus my emotional feeling. By that I mean I "feel" fat. I "feel" lazy. I just don't want to do anything but sit around.... and that is what I have been doing as well. And because I have been eating things I shouldn't be eating, and have, because of having no energy to do things with all the junk and garbage in my system, I am starting to spread. And it ain't pretty.

So this morning I am shaking off the depression of getting fat and plan to do something about it! I brought one egg and one slice of Ezekiel bread in with me this morning for breakfast. I have about 2 cups of my homemade Tuscany soup (made with beans, tomatoes, carrots, kale, onions, celery, and turkey kiebasa)for lunch, and a cup of berries for snack and an apple for this afternoon snack. I had a salad prepared to take and I just couldn't bring myself to put it in my lunchbox. I've eaten so much salad lately. But, I can have it tonight for dinner with some chicken or some other protein.

My key issue is exercise. In my mind I tell myself to go do it. I need to stop telling myself and make myself. I always feel better after a good walk. Maybe I will get out on my lunch hour today. Naw, it's still too hot. I just need to quit focusing on others and focus on myself and just get it done. It will also help with the heaviness I feel if I'm able to work it out of my system.

This is a short note today - need to get busy for have a lot to do this morning in spite of working about an hour yesterday. I did what had deadlines yesterday; today is my daily work. Time to get my coffee and get busy.

Have a good day today - what are you doing?

Blessings!!