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
Today has been good. I went to church and was treated to a surprise breakfast and visit with my cousin and his wife afterwards. We went for a walk tafterwards which normally isn’t as big deal but my back didn’t like it. I wish I could get my breasts reduced, my lower back is chronically bothering me!
Anyhow on the positive side I’ve I been working on reducing belly fat. This workout is really good and easy to stick to.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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.
Hello to you. How are you? I am doing ok considering what’s going on in my life right now. I can’t really talk about it but let’s just say it’s life changing. I am leaning on my faith, family and friends right now. Yesterday my cousin came and whisked me off on an little adventure. We had Dickeys BBQ and went for a walk.
The big thing have been putting off is end of life planning. I know at some point I’m going to die and I will have property, finances and stuff that will be left behind to deal with. I have a will but it’s old so I need to get everything up to date. So I need to deal with it and hopefully I can do it through the VA so it won’t cost me anything. Ideally I just want to leave everything to my brothers daughter but need to get everything in writing and official.
Yesterday my beautiful cousin Laura came and whisked me off on an adventure. This is one of the sights we saw on a walk together.
Jeremiah 29:11New International Version
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?
If I had a million dollars to give away there are so many people and agencies I could think to give it to. For example my family, friends, church, ASPCA and Music and Memory. it’s hard to nail down just one! There is a part of me that would want to buy a plot of land and make it in to a nature preserve or park. I’ve always wanted to do that. One million dollars doesn’t go as far as it use to! Homes here in Idaho are selling for half a million!
Luke 6:20-21New International Version
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?
The topic or issue I’ve had the most change about in the past couple of years is spirituality. I have more of a Christ consciousness than I did before. In the past it was simply just God I believed in not so much Jesus. Now after time and experiences the focus has narrowed down to Jesus. I can remember a couple scary lucid dreams I had and the one name I was barely able to say got me free was saying the name Jesus. I have always believed in God but for the longest not just Jesus. I have only just recently declared my belief. Once you say yes to Jesus, you can’t really say no!
I just want to give thanks for my family and friends today. I had something scary happen yesterday and they helped me get through it. I am so blessed to have such a support system!
Psalm 142:7New International Version
7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
The trait I value the most about myself is honesty. It’s a trait I valuein others as well. I can’t stand being lied to. This was something I grew up with. If I got caught lying to my parents there were repercussions. I got caught a couple oftimes as a teenager doing things I wasn’t suppose to! I can remember saying I was at track practice but really I was going over to a friends house. There was an older guy there who I witnessed get into a fight. The cops had to be called and our parents had to give permission for the witnesses to give testimony. That’s the only way my parents found out what and where I had been! Boy did I get in trouble!
Colossians 3:9-10
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Today was really nice. I joined family in celebrating my cousin Heidi’s birthday over at my Aunt Ruth’s house. It’s always nice when we can get together like that.
The brand that came to mind for todays prompt is Full Circle. When I’m in the grocery store I look for that brand. Unfortunately they don’t have all the product I’m looking for but quite a bit. Full Circle is an organic product line like dairy and grains and other various products.
When I’m in the grocery store I look for this brand
Matthew 16:13-20New International Version
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b]will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.”20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The way I celebrate holidays has varied throughout my life. There used to be birthday cakes and blowing out candles and that still happens to this day even if I protest lol. Although traditional cake had been replaced with chocolate pudding dessert. The major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas involve family gatherings and lots of food. That hasn’t changed much. Presents at Christmas has really toned down and the Idaho family does a white elephant gift exchange. Now that we have little babies, great grand children, in the mix I can imagine Santa Claus will surface!
Exodus 20:8-11New International Version
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lordblessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
To be 