I was up and awake early this morning and was able to join my Aunt at a Sisters of Grace gathering at the Nampa campus of Grace Bible Church. There were so many there they had to pull out an extra table! There were a lot of good messages to go along with the good food and company. My Aunt brought her plum cobbler that was really good!
Grateful by the letters
My favorite subject in school was creative writing. I used to write short stories and still on occasion write poetry. My creative juices are almost dried up these days. The medication I’m on controls the same place my creativity comes from. It’s either be creative and manic or be “normal” and not creative. I don’t want to end up in the hospital again so medication it is! Like some people are diabetic or have heart conditions I am living with a condition that is potentially fatal if it goes untreated. It’s taken a long time for me to accept this truth.
Hello to you. How are you? Todays prompt isn’t an easy one for me as I don’t do a very good job managing screen time. I spend most of my day on my phone. It helps me get through the day. I haven’t found something to do besides Thursday prayer meetings yet. I say yet as I’m open to opportunity if it should arise. God has a plan for me I just don’t know what it is yet. I have to get over my phobia about driving here. Once I know the outcome of the stuff I’m facing on 28 November I should be able to consider volunteer work again. This passage from Luke resonates – I must be ready at all times.
Luke 12:35-40 New International Version
Watchfulness
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, o will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Hello to you. How are you? This morning I’m dealing with ants again. I called it in and the earliest they can get here is next Wednesday! I have a way to deal with them for now – vinegar and Dawn soap seems to work. I don’t know why they keep coming in the house.
I am feeling jittery again today. I took some medication to help calm me down and it’s helping but it wears off so quickly. I hate having to rely on medication to have balance in my life. This is is just what my life is now! I have to stay in gratitude and faith.
Proverbs 16:11New International Version
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
Hello to you. How are you? I’m feeling kind of anxious. I can’t exactly pin point why- which is usually the case when it comes. I have a lot of different things going on that are anxiety provoking right now that I need to be leaning on my faith about! My doctor stopped prescribing what I was taking for anxiety because it was making me gain a whole bunch of weight. So I’m having to deal with the “feels.”
Link was in the groomer mobile getting the works done – she did a great job cleaning up the matting on his arms. He was a good boy!
Pretty boy after his haircut!
Todays prompt made me think of alot of people I love but specifically my Auntie. She is thoughtful, spirited, kind and beautiful. When you need someone in your corner she is a great person to have. We have really gotten close these past couple of years with my living here. She has become more than just my Auntie with the adventures we have been on since I moved here. Every year I’ve been here something has been going on! She has become a guardian (angel) too. The other day she and Uncle John brought over chicken soup and orange juice which was so thoughtful! She tries to get me out to do things I don’t normally do or have stopped doing. She loves finding clothes for me as she knows I hate clothes shopping. I consider her a dear friend in addition to a family member!
Ruth 1:16New International Version
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Hello to you. How are you? I’m dealing with a cold and cough I picked up somewhere. Probably from stress from stuff I’ve been dealing with lately. No changes on the Dad front – appreciate your prayers and positive messages.
I don’t think I would pay to go to the moon. I have not been in a plane for several years much less contemplating going in a spaceship leaving the planet! I don’t think I could do it. There are so many places on the earth I haven’t been much less paying to go to the moon!
Genesis 1:16New International Version
16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
Today is a rough day but thankfully I have family to reach out to. My Dad is on his final journey and I feel sad but also feel happy for him – to finally be free of his broken body. Thank God for hospice! My cousins wife reminded me of this scripture that I have Jesus to help me have a sound mind and body to get through this:
2 Timothy 1:7New International Version
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline
Death is typically a big trigger for me so I am remaining vigilante and reaching out when I need to. The last thing we need is a manic episode on top of everything I have going on right now!
I think what I’m most proud of is my resilience. I have been through a lot of difficult situations and yet I have been able to bounce back. A lot of that had to do with my family being loving and patient with me. Having a strong faith in God has helped me too.
James 1:2-4 (NIV) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”Jul 5, 2023
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Since I write a blog there is very little that isn’t known about me! What comes to mind is favorite candies. One of my all time favorites is Cherry Mash:
We used to get these at the pharmacy in Alvarado and the Vermont Country Store. I think Ridleys carries them I have to check ! I’m trying to lose weight so probably best if I don’t seek them out!
Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?
Hello to you. Hope this finds you well. God has been at the wheel of the stuff I’ve been going through lately – extremely grateful for the prayers of family, friends and even strangers! My Aunt met a elderly veteran who gave her this cross for me and said he would pray for me. The wagons of Gods people have been rallied! I’m so, so grateful!
I don’t usually wear crosses because of what they represent – the murder of an innocent man but understand what it means in Christianity.
When I think of todays prompt I think of my life right now gradually getting in place. It’s taken me three years to get where I’m at. Many of the days leading up to this one were littered with fear, sadness and grief – lack of faith! A lot of my days have not very productive and could be perceived as lazy days. I was in such a state of shock leaving Texas. I have been retired from active duty longer than I was in (21 years). When I was active duty I burned the candle at both ends. I was usually the one leadership turned to when a program was a mess. I worked a lot of long days cleaning up messes. Lazy days meant more to me then they do now. I don’t have a specific purpose when I wake up each day! When I was active duty I was up at 4:30 am and worked til after 5.
I haven’t completely found a fit for me here yet in being useful again. A lot of what holds me back is driving. I hate driving! When I was married, Kyle used to always drive and I got used to that after 12 years! I was spoiled! I keep my eyes open for things I can do – little things. When my back is not hurting I would like to help set up at the church again. I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting the gift of my life. A lot of people I’ve known haven’t even lived as long as I have.
One of my favorite passages from the Bible – makes me think of a Palladian (class I played in FFXI video game). In these trying times we must put on our armor!
Ephesians 6:10-13New International Version
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
When I saw the prompt for today I immediately thought of Fred Rogers Neighborhood program. He showed through that program all the ways to be a good neighbor. He used puppets and people to make his points. One of the most powerful things he did was share a child’s swimming pool with a black police officer – https://youtu.be/v4recJ6qXyk?si=HcUP2OLkmIn4sWkt
He was so gentle and kind. The kind of neighbor I would love to have. I have nice neighbors but they mostly keep to themselves except Marlene. She is an older lady who walks her dog she calls Number 6 and pretty much knows everyone.
I know I have shared this a couple times before but it is so relevant right now. We are getting toxic news at every turn. Mr. Rogers was and remains a helper to this day.
Luke 10:27New International Version
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
To be 