My list of things....

 to get done today.... like I know it isn't all going to happen, but sure do hope I/we can accomplish some!  They are all good things - want to read my list of things to get done this weekend?

1) clean out hall closet.  As mentioned before, hubby has numerous jackets.... maybe it's time to weed some of them out?  Everything has been stuck in that closet; I think it's time to clean it out.

2) (fun thing to do) Go to Savers/Goodwill and look for books. :-)

3) (another fun thing to do) Go antiquing.

4) Get shelves and plants from Home Depot.

5) Get pots from Ms. Vicky that she gave to us.  Put at sides of garage; put new plants in them.

6) Take 2 chairs/cushions and a table over to Ms. Vicky's courtyard and surprise her when she returns - her courtyard is empty; gives her a place to sit outside.

7) Clean out OUR closets - mine is on 'overload'.

8) Clean out refrigerator and freezer.

9) Clean out dresser drawers.

10) Sort through all my jewelry. (this will be a major task - I haven't unpacked from our move yet!)

Now I wonder how many of those I/we will get accomplished today.  IF hubby suggests going out for breakfast, maybe I will agree and then swing by Home Depot on the way back home.  Two birds with one stone? :-D  It would be a win-win, cause I will probably have to cook breakfast... bacon, eggs, and watermelon and maybe orange slices.  Does sound good, doesn't it!

See, I do try to get things done... I just don't look at the list once hubby gets me irritated over something and I  - oh wait - it's like when I was growing up - sorta.  My mode of escape when I was growing up was either hibernate and read a book in 'my room' or go outside and pull weeds.  It left me alone with my thoughts.  Problem now is that if I try to read in 'my room', hubby is upset because I've left him alone in the other room.  But - if I start cleaning out my closet, he may clean out his... if I do the hall closet, he will (need) go through his jackets.... but be in my way.... or he will nag at me getting into his stuff and ... in other words, he always wants us to do things 'together' and I fight to have my alone time. Unless you are or have been in my shoes, please don't criticize my desire to be alone.

It's amazing what people notice.  Hubby went to church without me the other week because I didn't want to go after eye surgery.  A close friend text'd me that was there and said "I see (your hubby) but I don't see you".  I told her I was home because of the surgery.  She responded "I am just surprised he came and let you out of his sight."  HAH!

I cut out of work at 3PM yesterday and had the urge to go get the travel ID on our drivers license.  I found a 'quick stop' five minutes away from us.  I told hubby for us to  (although I don't think we will be flying together anywhere any time soon) get the necessary documents together and let's go.  It took us less than 30 minutes to get it all done.  No one was there!  We filled out the necessary document; had our photo taken; took a quick vision test; turned in the paperwork; waited while they went through it; received our documents and a paper with our 'new' license on it (until we receive it in the mail).  What disturbed me somewhat was hubby's behavior and words during the entire thing.  He seemed to have no clue what we were doing and why.  How long has the talk of the travel ID been going on?  A few years, right?  He didn't understand why we had to give all the information; he had difficulty grasping the paper license until we get the new ones in the mail.  He asked the question "do we only use that card when we travel somewhere now?"   Yes, I was patient and responded to his questions and tried to keep him reined in.... I was actually afraid they wouldn't give him BACK his license because of the odd questions - and that would have really set him off!  Lord, HELP!!   I think God did put the thought in my mind to go at that exact time so that we could get in and out quickly.  Yeah, it did cost us $45 each to go to this place, but I've tried several times to register at a license place but their open times and my availability didn't agree.  It was worth the $45 to get in and get out and be done with it.

We did go to Cracker Barrel for an early dinner and I bought a couple extra entrees.  They are doing like Olive Garden has - buy one entree and get one for $6.  I bought two meatloaf and mac n cheese and when we got home, took them over to Ms. Diane and for Cindy, her daughter who takes care of her.  Both were so appreciative and it was their favorite from Cracker Barrel.  Now I am going to have to try the meatloaf there for the fried chicken I have gotten twice has been overcooked both times.  Visited with Ms. Diane and Cindy for a bit and came home.  

Ms. Amy called me three times yesterday.  She's trying to get someone to trim back her fruit trees.  One guy came out Friday and I told her to 'just do it' and have him trim them back on Monday.  Let's just get it done!  But, now I need to drive over to the assisted living tomorrow afternoon and pick up her check to pay him with.  Her son text'd me the other day that he had paid for the renewal of her license plates and they had come in and he was mailing them to me to put on her car.  Which reminds me, I need to go over today and clean out her refrigerator.  There isn't much in there, but I imagine it is all expired by now.  I'm just going to dump everything and empty it.  Ms. Amy knows I'm going to and wants me to go through her canned goods too.  Again, she doesn't have much.

But what to do first - my list or Ms. Amy's?  LOL  I am the great procrastinator on my things.... I'll look through my list and see what looks like more 'fun'.  HAH - stay tuned - I may end up doing nothing.  I've already thought of other things to put on my list... but it will go on my 'private list' that I don't show to hubby... why?  Because he will start nagging... and I will refuse to do it only because he is nagging at me to do MY things.  Yeah, I'm that way.

This is the only weekend this month that we don't have something going on.... I would like to make it a productive one.  

So - with that - I'm going to hush.  I've filled this entire page with nonsense... and unfortunately, that may be all you get today.  I'm going to go grab a second cup of coffee and hope hubby will let me come back in here to read some.

Hope your day is productive and amazing.  Look for the little things that bring joy to others.  What can you do to make their day better?  LOL  I think fixing breakfast for hubby will make him happy and start his day off right.  Just.do.it.

Blessings!

Dark spots; little vision

 Yeah... in the past month that has happened a few times to me.... and yesterday... it was twice.  I got up from my quiet time yesterday to feeling 'out of sorts' somewhat.  I felt a bit dizzy, and yet, I wasn't.  I took a quick shower, got dressed, and sat down to work.  My vision started getting weird.  The lightening bolt was on the left side and wouldn't go away.  I quickly took a Tylenol Extra Strength that I have begun to keep in my desk drawer.  I got on the floor and started to do some stretches, lengthening my back and neck.  After completing those, I got back in my chair and took a second Tylenol Extra Strength because I was still dealing with the lightening bolt on the left side.  I could see my computer screen, but only parts of it.  My silent migraine, as I have come to call it, wouldn't go away.

If I had laid down, I probably could have gotten rid of it faster, but I couldn't.  I fixed my protein shake for breakfast.  The lightening bolt finally went away, but I was left with a dull headache for most of the day.  The work day was uneventful except for comments made by hubby and I refused to 'bite' back.  It would have only created more discussions.  Some things are better left unsaid and let go of.  Finished out the day for work and grabbed my crochet and went to sit outside for awhile.  The temperature had cooled down a lot and it was so nice to sit there.  Hubby decided to join me.  And talk.  And all I wanted was quiet and some alone time with my crochet and God.  Finally he went in to watch the news and I sat outside for while longer.

Watered Ms. Amy's flowers that are left in her courtyard.  I'd love to go over and clean things out and plant things - but it is best I leave it alone.  Checked her mailbox.  Checked Ms. Vicky's mailbox.  Ms. Diane's daughter spent the day with her and she got her mail.  I finally went in to the house to figure out dinner - but hubby said he was still full from the 'spud max' he had at noon from McAllister's.  Yeah, he got me to go to lunch with him.  I wasn't that hungry either so grabbed a few crackers and a string cheese to nibble on.  That ended up being dinner.  Hubby got in to 'his' cheese and some crackers too and I don't know what else.  I didn't have to cook so didn't worry about it.

As I sat on the couch last night the lightening bolt appeared again ... this time on the right side.  It began blocking out some of my vision again.  I continued to crochet and listen to a book on audible for awhile, then decided I may as well go to bed.  Decided against taking anything for the 'silent migraine' raising its ugly head again... and went to bed.  My head is achy this morning, but no lightening bolts so hopefully they will stay at bay.  I've started writing them down so that I can tell my doctor the frequency of those and duration when I get my physical in September.  Unless I get really sick, or these get really bad, my one time a year visit to the PCP is more than enough.  

Don Moen wrote a song that just came to mind:  "I am the God that healeth thee".  He wrote the song from Exodus 15:26.

Exodus 15:26 (NKJV):  and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statues, I will put none of the diseases on which I have brought on the Egyptians.  For I am the Lord who heals you."

Here is the chorus of that song....  'I am the God / that healeth thee / I am the Lord / your healer. / I sent My Word / and healed your disease / I am the Lord / your healer.'

Our God is in the healing business.  Do you believe in healing?  I do. I know I've mentioned this before; He doesn't always heal when we ask Him to, and for some reason, a lot of times we tend to focus on when He chooses not to heal or not to answer our prayer.  We neglect to thank Him for the many times He has answered our prayers.

Yes, I prayed my silent migraine would not manifest itself; I prayed it would go away.  I have a high pain tolerance, as I know some others that do, but sometimes the wear and tear of the constant pain crushes us to the point of despair.  Don't wait that long to ask for your healing!  Don't wait until you are on your death bed and ask for His healing (although He may wait until that time to do it!).  Break a bone?  Ask our Healer (Jehovah Rophe or Jehovah Rapha) to knit your bone back together as He created it.  Have a headache?  Ask our Healer to bring relief - whether by His hand or by medication (He provides the medication).  Grieving over an argument or death of a friend or family member?  He is our Comforter in our grief; He is always near to the broken hearted.  Lean into Jesus; He is the author and perfecter of our faith.  He restores what the enemy tries to take away from us.  Jesus gives us HOPE.

Blessings!

Could it be the weather?

 I kid you not... I have nearly slept away my morning!  I didn't get out of bed until 4:45AM, then I start reading in here - and fell asleep.  I woke up at 5:30, closed my eyes and off to dreamland again (without the dreams) and here it is nearly 6:30AM and I haven't done anything but sleep.  Thank goodness my coffee is in a thermal cup - it is still hot.  Hadn't even taken a sip of it.  I have not idea why I have slept like that - other than I cried tears with my prayers last night, praying.  They are well worth it.

But here it is 6:30AM, I have a full cup of coffee, I haven't even read past the first page in the first book I usually read.  And here I am, typing in here.  But I am hoping that with trying to think about what to write, it will wake me up cause in about 30 minutes I must be on my computer for work.  

Yesterday it seemed I couldn't do anything right - that hubby and I were not 'discussing something'.  He didn't like it I did my own laundry Tuesday (what, am I not good enough to do your laundry?  SERIOUSLY! that is what he said!)  On the way to church we had a discussion about his driving.... and I told him his driving scared me.... and at 30 miles an hour (because we left earlier than I wanted) on Bell Rd, I asked him to drive the speed limit of 40 cause he was driving like an old man..... oh yeah... that started another 'conversation'.  Lord, help!

You ever have those days when it just seems 'too much'?  Yesterday was one of those, I think, and today isn't looking promising either... I think I will just hibernate in here with work as long as I can today.  I have been made to be old before my time and inside I am dying.  Oh - and yesterday, Ms. Amy called me twice about her trees - they need trimmed and she's trying to find someone but I'm the one who has to direct them and tell them what to do.  WHINE.

Philippians 2:14 (NKJV):  "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Sigh.  I sure have failed that today, haven't I?!  Failed it yesterday too.  I really would like to take a couple days off work and do nothing... in fact, I did two things yesterday.  I looked at days when I could take time off for a few days without any problems.... and I looked at hotels nearby to get away to for a change of scenery.  Decided against both - at least for now.  Don't want to spend the money... and because nothing will be changed but location... why go?  Ok, won't go there.

Lord, help!

Yep - that's where I'm at today.  I'm exhausted (my Wednesday pills, perhaps?) from life, and drama around me, around medical concerns and I just want to be alone with my God so that I can pray and intercede for those I care about and love.  

Lord, help!  I'm calling out to You because I have no one else... because I know that You love me unconditionally, and I know that You hear me when I cry out to You.  So yes, I am crying out, "Lord, HELP".  You know the need, Lord; You know the pain in my heart for these I pray for.  I know You see me and You hear me.  Lord, HELP!

Time to get the computer on for work; teach me to fall asleep when I should be awake!  Now I have nothing to build on  except my quick prayers to my Lord.  And yet, He will always provide what I need today.

Blessings!

If you don't want the real answer....

 then just don't ask - right? I woke up about 2:45AM this morning. Thinking I needed to go to the bathroom - I did so and came back to bed.  Could not go back to sleep.  Prayed for awhile.  3:15AM and I'm still awake, although sleepy, so when hubby started his flipflopping, I gave up and got up about 3:30AM and came in here.  I sit in here, lights off, door shut.... and I hear hubby up about 3:50AM, walking around (was he looking for me since I didn't have the light on?  I turn the light on so he knows where I am.  The footsteps pause, then I hear them going on down the hall.  Soon he comes in with my coffee and he asks... "why are you up so early?"  My response was ..."because I was awake."  He actually got angry!  "Well, you don't have to give me a smart-aleck answer!  I thought maybe I woke you up!"  I just looked at him and said "well, if you want that reason, I was trying to go back to sleep and your flip flopping did wake me up...."  He walked out of the room.

Now - I told him the truth. I woke up early, couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up.  It truly had nothing to do with him.... why does he try to make it about him?   Sigh.

By the way, I did get to enjoy my time alone yesterday.  (and I did my three small loads of laundry!)  And as he has been doing lately, he rushes in the door around 1-1:30PM and is flustered because "I have so much to do - and I just don't see how I can get the laundry done today!:  (wait until he sees I've already done mine - well, I'll get the usual "Why did you do that?  That is my job!")   Boundaries!  Other than calling his doctor's office, I have no idea on what was so critical about him getting back home and do nothing.  Yet, he has so much to do!  He comes and stands at my door to tell me about his Bible study; (only one more week left.  SIGH.  They break for the summer.  Then he tells me about our friend he has lunch with every week, what they ate for lunch/breakfast.... and that our friend, who has the beginning stages of Alzheimers... repeats himself or forgets what he is talking about that. (Heck, I do that all the time!)   And I try to be patient and listen to the same information and complaints he gave the week before, and the week before that.  Lord, please help me survive.  And I tell him again, "If Bill repeating himself each week bothers you, quit going to breakfast/lunch with him and spending 2 hours with him!"  Then he gets mad I would suggest that.  After all, he does get to go out to lunch with someone.

Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV):  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."

I think that scripture is pretty well self-explanatory, don't you?  Following Jesus isn't just being good and doing good things.  Following Jesus is hard.  Denying yourself doesn't mean not letting yourself eat good ice cream or candy or drink soda.  Well, not in this instance.  Denying yourself in this instance is giving up the things that you know are not Christ-centered, Christ-like, and instead making the determination to do what Christ would do.  You know the saying "What would Jesus do?"  That's a hard saying some times, isn't it?

I love the book "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon - and I would recommend that book to anyone.  It can really change the way you think about things.  I still remember reading it as a teenager and how it changed the way I thought about things.  In fact, I have the very book I read.... this book was published in 1931... and it belonged to my mom and dad... as a gift from my Granny.  I hope, when I pass, that my children will go carefully through my books... I have about 6-8 of my dad's books he used for church... and they are also quite old.  I hold on to them, although I haven't read them, because they belonged to my dad.  I also have several papers/articles that he had kept for his messages when he preached.  Uh oh, thoughts are wandering....

It's Wednesday and I believe we will be going to the prayer meeting at church tonight.  I told our pastor that I'd bring him a key lime pie tonight.  I talked to my youngest son the other day... asked how he liked our church.... and I had to agree with his response.... "the music is too loud".  And it really is - it was so loud I cord barely make out the worship team saying the words.  I've complained before, and I know others have as well.  I understand why people leave churches because of the music.  There is no reason for it to be so loud my watch gives me a warning that I had reached 90 decibels and that 30 minutes at that level could damage my hearing.  Uh yeah.  We love the church; love the pastor; love the preaching..... but the music is so loud that hubby doesn't even wear his hearing aids on Sundays.  I try to ignore the loudness, but often look back at the sound booth with a 'look' (my 'southern look' doesn't work with them).  (who am I kidding, my 'southern look' doesn't work with anyone!"

Yesterday was a pretty quiet day for work.  I sat through three town hall meetings because I didn't have anything else going on.  I did move a few meetings and did schedule a few, but I also finished up a baby blanket and got my laundry done.  My day today will be about as busy, I imagine.  Maybe I'll clean off the bed in here and take a short nap.  You know that hubby will be 'suggesting' it a few times to me throughout the day because I got up 'so early'.  I know he thinks he is doing it because he cares about me - but I can't get through his head that I'm 73 years old and if I want a nap, I don't need him to tell me to take one!

Hubby will be 86 in a couple weeks.  I'm not sure what I'll do for his birthday.  At least he will get a lot of good thoughts from 'friends' on facebook.  In years past he would often tell me who says what and who wished him a happy birthday.  I hope he does get a lot of wishes.  I may take him out to dinner.... thinking I might find someplace for us to go for the weekend and call it his birthday present.  He keeps asking if we can get away for a 'retreat'.  Might be the perfect time and count it as his gift.  Or part of it; I always buy him something. 

Guess I've run out of things to share.... and can't think of a different way to end this today... I have time to read a bit before I have to turn on the work computer since I got an early start.  Maybe I'll get a second cup of coffee too.  Hope that you have a good day!

Blessings!

I'm in my 'I don't wanna' mood.....

 I don't wanna work today!  Yes, I have a lot of things I need to get done for work... and I don't wanna. I don't know what is going on, but by 7PM last night I could barely stay awake.  I tried listening to a podcast, but found my mind not really listening so turned it off.  I crochet'd.  I yawned.  I yawned again.  I struggled to 7:30PM.  Hubby made fun of me because I was struggling to stay awake.  I finally made it to 8PM and said I was going to bed.  I quickly fell asleep and didn't hear hubby when he came in.  My watch alarm buzzed me at 4AM and I turned it off; I was still so sleepy.  Finally twenty minutes later I struggled and got up and came in here.  I thought about going back to sleep - but told myself 'NO'... I need to start waking up.  But - I'm still so tired and so sleepy.  What is going on with me?!  

Grateful I get a couple hours 'alone' (still having to work) this morning as hubby has his Bible study and he will be leaving about 9-ish.  He will probably go to lunch with his friend, as he does frequently.  He will need to be back home around 12:30 or so as he has a doctor's office calling him around 1PM.  But I get a few hours by myself.  I know I mention this frequently... and I'm sorry I do... but until you feel like you are chained to your computer 8-9 hours a day and are stuck in a room most of the day working... ah, who am I kidding.  You DO know that feeling!  I know, I need to put some music on and get up and dance some, right?  Something to break the monotony of my life.  Change my routine.  Do something different.

My son has mentioned he has a list that he keeps ignoring (ok, maybe not in those words)... he should see my list!  Sometimes I write my list down, when I know I absolutely need to do them NOW.... but many times my lists are full of dreams and wishes and want tos.  I'm not going there - lucky you.  I paused and thought about that 'list' of what I want to get done... and thought, naw... keep the list buried cause they aren't going to happen now..  but hopefully some time in my lifetime.  

What are some of the things, though, that I can share?  I want to 'redo' this house.  By that I mean get rid of some furniture and rearrange things. Yeah, just like our other house, this has become hubby's house.  I want to make this a home.  But I can't do what I want, so I do nothing.  I want to have a tea party (I have talked about it for a few years - why not do it THIS year?). Hubby doesn't care that I do a tea party.  I just need to pull it together.  I want to clean out my closet and close my eyes and get rid of things.  What is it that someone says to do?  Look at a piece of clothing you have in your closet; if it doesn't bring you joy - get rid of it.  No fond memories - let it go.  Heck, most of my closet (in clothes) are like that - I skimmed it yesterday - hubby still has three times more clothes than I do.  Not that it matters; neither of us go places to wear out what we have.  We 'out grow' before we 'wear out'.  

I still get amused when hubby will go to his Bible study, go out to lunch with his friend, come back after 1PM - and then fuss he is so busy and has so much to get done that he can't get the laundry done.  (Duh. I'm hoping to get mine done (it's been two weeks again) while he's gone today.  He gets angry when I do that - but I don't care - it's my stuff.  I'm not 'supposed' to do the laundry - it's 'his' job.  Yeah, well, 'his job' was also to clean the house yet he hires someone to do it.  Ok - on to another subject before I get started.

Acts 4:10 (NKJV):  "...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."

Do you remember that story in Acts?  Peter and John were going to the temple to worship and this man was laying beside the path begging for alms.  Peter and John stopped to look at him, and said, 

Acts 4:6-7 (NKJV):  "The Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."

If you ae a follower of Jesus Christ, you do have the authority to speak, just as Peter spoke to this man.  We - me included - sometimes have that 'doubt' that comes to us that we cannot not do it; we aren't good enough; we are not faithful enough; we can not ask for healing or declare healing for someone.... but God has given us that authority through Jesus Christ!  If we are a follower of Jesus, we do have the authority to cast out demons, to have healing.  But do we believe we can.... 

Yes, I have prayed for people and they have declared healing because of it; but I have also prayed and people didn't live.  It all comes down to God's will for them..... our job is to pray and believe... but God's plans for that person are always better.  They may use that person's life to draw others to Him.  My prayer is that when I die, my legacy to my children and grandchildren - and even the great-grandchildren, is that they will know that I pray for them and love them and give them to God for His protection always.  It isn't about me and my life.  It is my life being lived for Jesus.

Sometimes we need to 'clean up' our lives.  We need to quit doing things that we know aren't good for us but we do them anyway because it 'helps me to forget' or 'I'm hurting so much it dulls the pain' or any other lie that we tell our selves.  I eat because of stress; I need to get control of my stress so that I don't overeat.  We all have things.  I've done the 'help me to forget; help me to get past my pain' routine.  Guess what - all that does is intensify what I'm feeling.  It took Jesus to help me get past all that; I am who I am now because of Who Jesus is in me.  He is my Rock, my firm Foundation, my Nail in a sure place.

And He wants to be yours as well.  He's always waiting for you to talk with Him.  Let Him take you by the right hand and lift you up out of the miry pit of life, and receive His strength.

Blessings!

Trying to be considerate

 sometimes causes me to forget.  I have a couple relatives in my life who try to sleep past 5-6AM each morning, and I respect that.  I know that when the phone receives a message, it will ding.  Why don't we turn our phone off?  Because it might be one of our children, an emergency with someone, or well, it could be anything.  My 'dings' during the night can be Kohl's, JCP's, Michael's or JoAnn's.  Truly!  Rarely is it anyone - unless they send a text around 9:30PM.  Rarely do I get a text early in the morning, like after I'm up.  I take that back.  I do have a few as they know I'm up; and LOL, yesterday it was my boss telling me Happy Easter, about 5AM.  And that was ok.  She knew I was up.  She is also an early riser.  So where am I going with all this?  Unless I pause (sometimes) in here, before I come out, and send a special text to someone... sometimes I forget.  I get busy with my day and I just forget to send it.  I realized this morning I forgot to send my middle child and his wife a 'Happy Easter;.  I know they probably don't care that I didn't.... I didn't forget them at all; I just didn't want to send a note early in the morning and then after that, it was church, grabbing things and heading over to daughter's for lunch, clean up, etc. and when we got back home, I got busy with other things.  I respect they prefer messages after they get up - and I know when one works, or can't sleep well, if they can grab a few minutes extra of sleep, it is priceless.  So, with that, Happy Easter to my middle child.... cause I thought of you... but didn't want to wake you nor your wife, and then life just got busy.  I love you  - and Happy Easter - belatedly.

In fact, I wanted to sleep in this morning.  Hubby woke me at 2:43am with his tossing and turning - and when he stopped, he face was right in front of mine.  WAAYAYYAYAY too close!  So I flipped over on my other side and tried to go back to sleep, but finally got up and came in here - where I did fall back to sleep for a couple hours.  Until I  heard hubby shuffling down the hallway, anyway.  Some days I want to sleep a little later too.  Without interruption.  I know if we slept in separate beds we both would sleep better.  But, hubby will not 'allow' it.  His flip flopping keeps me awake many a night... yet, he claims I can keep him awake with my snoring.  He always has a comment about 'me'.  Oh well,  enough of that.

Church ran long yesterday but it was good.  I heard our old church had the wife of the pastor speak and that she was awesome.  Our church had an impromptu baptism what started out as 3 people and ended up as 5.  A father got to baptize his two daughters; another father got to baptize his son.  His son was in the band, and he came down and asked if he could also get baptized (his father baptized him) and then a woman on the worship team wanted to be baptized.  They also had about 8 young women dressed in white who did a 2-minute or so dance routine.  Worship was good, message was good.  I wish I could remember the four points made - but it all was based on Matthew 28.  Great service. And my youngest son and his wife did attend with us.  I told them after that our services didn't usually run that long.  Grateful they came.   Love having my children attend church with me.  

The rest of the day was good too - a great lunch; fun watching one of the great granddaughters hunt for Easter eggs; spending quality time with a granddaughter listening to her plans to expand and grow her little business.  Ms. Amy kept calling me and so did another friend.  I finally got my phone on the second call from Ms. Amy.  She was a little irritated I hadn't answered her call earlier... she just wanted to know if a couple had come over to look at her fruit trees to get an estimate on cutting them back for her.  I don't know if they came or not... I did see a couple guys get out of a truck in front of her house Saturday... assume that was who it was.  She will get their quote today; she didn't need to call me.  Oh well.  Then another friend called the second time so I called him back.. he didn't really want anything either.  Overall, it was a good day... hubby fell asleep in his chair last night and I woke him when it was time to go to bed.

Back to work this Monday morning and I know I have two meetings today, but nothing 'bad'.  The first one at 8AM is my monthly 1:1 with my boss.  LOL we talk frequently 'off the record' and meet up once a month or so for breakfast (we are meeting next week for lunch!) so it isn't like we don't chat.  Then she has a 'direct report' meeting around 12:30PM I think that I get invited to - so that I can hear what is going on within the different departments she is over.  Other than that, sigh, I have about 18 'compliance required training' in my mail bucket that I have to go in and complete before a date in July.  Everyone dreads those - they are time consuming, but if you don't complete them, you get reported to Compliance who has to report it to the IRR, I think it is, and it can and usually does, cost the job.  It's easier just to do them and get it over with.  Which is what I usually do.  They dropped in our mail two weeks ago and I got one or two of them done - before Compliance pulled them out; they had sent out too early.  We aren't to start on them until today.  

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV): "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I think that scripture pretty well sums up Easter, don't you think?  "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." What a powerful statement that is!  We don't have to be perfect people, we don't have to powerful people.  Jesus loves us right where we are at.  He died for me (and for you) before we were even created.  And He rose to life again, defeating death, that we also might live again with Him.  No other 'god' has risen again.  Never put a 'little god' before our Great and Mighty God.  He is our great Defender, our Redeemer, our Friend.

Oh - in my "Betty Crocker" time on Saturday, I forgot to tell you one thing that I made!  I made butter!  LOL  I don't know what got in to me to want to do it... remembering my 'Aunt Margarine' and the one time we churned butter (in the large wooden butter churn) might have done it.  But I had bought this glass container from Amazon; it has a lid on it, to which is attached paddles.  You pour heavy whipping cream into it and start 'churning' - turning the gadget... for about 20 minutes... and you look inside and you see butter!  You pull the butter out, soak it in ice water to firm it up and get the rest of the milk out of it.  The remaining milk in the container is buttermilk and they say to use it in buttermilk pancakes.  I threw it away cause I knew I wasn't going to make any.  Anyway - I made unsalted butter.  I could add salt; I can add herbs or other seasonings to it; I could add cinnamon and sugar to it.  I could do all those things.  But I made butter.  And it brought back to mind special memories of good times.

What is something you could do today that would bring back special memories?   Maybe it's baking cookies.  Maybe it is writing a note to someone who means something to you.  Maybe it is taking someone out for coffee and just chat about fun times with them.  Take some time today to do something fun and brings joy.

Blessings!

It's Resurrection Sunday!

 I reread chapters 26-28 in the book of Matthew this morning.  I know what we call the 'Easter story' of how Jesus was betrayed, convicted, beaten, whipped, and crucified.  We also read of His Resurrection from the dead three days later.  Most of us have watched it in different movies.  The first movie I watched years ago really stuck with me, to where I can remember it to this day.  Jesus of Nazareth.  We've seen other movies... I think The Robe also shows it - but the focus is more on His robe.  Oh my goodness, I remember reading the book in high school - The Robe - and how it affected me then.  We've all (pretty much) watched the horrific and graphic movie of The Passion of the Christ.  That one is so intense, I have only watched it once.  The portrayal of the devil walking around was very disturbing for me.  If I had a choice of which movie I would watch at this time, it would be Matthew.  It stars Bruce Marciano and I love his portrayal of Jesus.  It was when I first saw that movie that I realized that Jesus (probably) laughed and loved on people.  All the other portrayals of Him were with Him somber and quiet.

Jesus was just like you and me.  He laughed.  He cried.  He loved.  He cared for people.  The Chosen, the latest movie of the life of Christ is amazing.  At first it bothered me in that it wasn't word for word (as it is in Matthew) but since I watched it with a different view, I love it.  We have the dvds of one and two seasons, but haven't seen season three yet because I'm not a big fan of crowds nor of movie theatres.  Partly because I was not 'allowed' to go to movies when growing up.   But when Chosen is available, we will watch it.  I heard it was available on Angel Studios app, and I have it on my phone, but haven't watched it yet.  There were parts of season two that really grabbed me and touched my heart.  I imagine I shared those thoughts with you already.

While I was at our prayer meeting last Wednesday, I felt God nudging me to invite my youngest son and his wife to church.  I must admit we have not shared with them where we are going to church - and they have never asked.  Stupid reasons for not sharing it... but I felt God nudging me - out of the blue, in the middle of one of my prayers that night - to invite them.  The next day I did - and surprisingly, they accepted.  I do hope they will make it this morning.  My son needs Jesus to bring peace to his soul.  I can't help him; no one person can - but Jesus.  He is our Peace-maker.

I have been busy the past couple of days and having a blast doing so.  As my daughter tells me, I was 'playing Betty Crocker'.  I have made a total of 2 key lime pies, 1 Boston cream pie, 1 French silk pie, a pan of eggs ole' and meatloaf and Anaheim peppers with mashed potatoes and cheese.  Of course the meatloaf and peppers were for dinner last night (and was so good!).  I gave away some of the eggs ole to Ms. Diane and took over a key lime pie for her birthday and for Easter.  It felt so good to be cooking and I wanted to do more - but kept telling myself to stop.  We have enough food in the refrigerator for a couple days meals.  And today we will go to my daughter's for lunch and we will probably bring some leftovers home too.

Matthew 28:6 (Phillips):  "When the Sabbath was over, just as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. At that moment there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, went forward and rolled back the stone and took his seat upon it. His appearance was dazzling like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook with terror tat the sight of him and collapsed like dead men. But the angel spoke to the women, "Do ot be afraid.  I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here -- he is risen, just as he said he would. Come and look at the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. And, listen, he goes before you into Galilee! You will see him there! Now I have told you my message."

Oh that you would believe and turn to Jesus today!  Because of His crucifixion, He took all our sins - known and unknown, and they were nailed to the cross with His body.  He accepts us just as we are.  We don't have to be perfect before we come to Him.  We will never be perfect.  He is waiting with open arms to gather you close.  Jesus rose again and conquered death.  To live forever with Him in heaven is the ultimate goal of life.   He paid the ultimate price - by laying down His life for you, and for me.

I'm always reminded of what I read in a book that Bruce Marciano wrote regarding his experience of portraying Jesus.  For one thing, it nearly killed him (Bruce Marciano).  He said that the Holy Spirit showed him that although Jesus did not fight the soldiers as they were beating Him, He also didn't fight them when they took Him to the cross.  Jesus literally crawled to lay Himself on the cross and allowed them to put the nails in His hands and feet.  The soldiers didn't drag Him to the cross and throw Him on it kicking and fighting.  He crawled to the cross and laid Himself down upon it.

Why did He do that?  Because if He had died before He got to the cross, and He was already near death from all the beatings and scourings He had endured, His sacrifice would not have meant anything.  It took the crucifixion on the cross... He had to get to the cross.

What a Savior! What a Lord! What a God!  All praise and glory to Him alone.  Thank You, Jesus!

John 3:16 (NIV):  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Easter blessings to you and yours.