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FAITH

You're such a huge God that you can create an ocean, but I don't think you can handle my problems. Help me to know what to do, Lord. Help me to know the best path to take.

I know the Lord will lead me in the right direction. He will help me to heal the hurts. He always has. Thank you Lord for always being there when there seems to be no one else.

Happenings

So much has happened since I last posted. We moved to our own place in Sept. It's a mobile home on 2 acres & we love it!!!!! We are also checking out new churches a little closer to home. Then
to top everything off we got a new little grandson Thurs! McKinley David Douglas, 6 lb, 5 oz, 20 3/4" long, & red hair! We haven't got to see him yet. With the Swine Flu precautions we weren't even allowed on the 4th floor where the kids were! It was really frustrating but we understood. We sat all day Thurs in the main lobby waiting for word. We were just about to leave to come home when Dwayne came down with the news! Such a wonderful blessing this little one is to everyone!!

Softball Games

Went yesterday to a softball tournament. Most of the guys from our church team were on it plus 2 other guys & one lady. The games were at 9am, noon, 3pm & 6pm. The ballpark is a couple of miles out of town so we spent the day in fellowship with some GREAT people! We had a grill there & had some good burgers & dogs. Before our last game it started pouring down rain & we sat in amazement at the other teams still playing while it was raining. Tho we lost all of our games but 1 we had such a wonderful time. There were some who played horseshoes. Brandon wanted to play & did a fantastic job! I think there was even a water fight between Harold & Rachel! I got to sit & visit with some people I know but don't know (know what I mean?). Betty Jones & Melinda Gerbich. Such wonderful women! We headed down for our last game which ended up starting late as the umpire wanted to get the Championship game in before it started raining again. As we were headed down the hill Libby told me to be careful & not fall. I was telling her I ought to be used to walking in the muck like that as I'd worked on 2 dairies, when down I went! She said she turned around when I started telling her that & there I was flat on my back! LOL! I think I had more mud on me than some of the players!!! It started raining again during our game but our players kept on playing too. Had a couple spills on the field that had everyone a little worried but we kept on. Even after the game was called because of the 10 rule run our guys talked the other team into finishing the game. Steve umped the last innings. He used to ump little league back home. We couldn't yell at the ump during the real game but we let this one have an 'earful' during this part of the game. All the fun! Several mentioned that we should do this more often. I agree! What an exhausting but blessed day! Thank you Lord!

McDowell

I had the great opportunity to go on a mission trip with our church to McDowell Co., West Virginia. There was a young lady going & no other women were going so they asked me to go. We left on Sunday morning July 5th at 6am. It's about a 6 hour drive & the 2 youth we had in with us slept most of the way. There were 8 of us going. This is a much smaller group than last year I understand. When we got to the 'Clubhouse' (an old 3 story home) we unloaded the trailer & headed to the grocery store for groceries for the week. That in itself was an experience! We had orientation that evening. The next morning we started roofing a house for a couple. They are both retired teachers. The wife had to have her leg amputated due to diabetes & their 25 yr old son has spinal biffita. What an inspiration the son was! He has a dog, an Irish Sitter, that stays under his wheel chair & very much is his protector. The dog doesn't like adults. I was in the house visiting with the wife & son & Molly (the dog) came up to me & put her paw out for me to shake. The couple was amazed at this.
Amy & I didn't get to do much at that house. We did toss drinks, tools, & sandwiches up to the guys (yes sandwiches! The guys wouldn't come down to even eat). We finished putting a metal roof on that house on Tues. & moved on to the Welch Fire Dept to put siding on their firehouse.
We put vinyl siding over cinder blocks (what a job!). Amy & I got to do quite a bit at this job. I even had time to test drive a pink Wrangler Jeep! LOL!!!
We went to the movies one nite (Ice Age 3) & to the county fair one nite. There isn't a lot of land there for livestock so their county fair was a LOT different than the ones in Oklahoma. There weren't any exhibits either. This is coal mining country & is a poor part of West Virginia, but you couldn't tell it by the spirits of the people living there.
After the movies we stopped by to visit a man that the group worked for last year. Those that were there last year commented on how much change there was in him. He holds several records in football for West Virginia Mountaineers. He also writes a little & I was fortunate to receive a signed poem he'd written.
One of the guys in our group said that he came on the mission trip expecting to be a blessing to those he worked for but found that they were more of a blessing to him than vice versa. I totally agree with that! The week went by way too fast for me. Hope to go again next year.

House-sitting

Steve & I have been house-sitting for some friends while they are on vacation. It's an old farm house & it's beautiful! The first morning we were here I had coffee outside on the deck. There was a gentle breeze & the music of the birds for my quiet time. How relaxing is that? I did a load of laundry & hung clothes on the line for the first time in a long time. While the clothes were on the line Steve called & said there were some pretty bad storms headed this way so I went out to get the clothes. They were almost dry thank goodness.
Today my sister called & we spent part of the day shopping, going out to eat & visiting. She's in Sheperdstown with her husband while he takes some classes. She's from Texas. We had a wonderful time!

The Future

I think You don't know me sometimes, Lord. I try to hide the fears I have & my doubts about the future, thinking all the time that no one knows. But You do. Please help me to trust You with all of me & all of my life.
I really do struggle to trust You at all times, Lord. In those hard times, I turn to You & trust, but for my whole future, it doesn't come so easily.

More frazzled female

Today's lesson was on dealing with frustrating people in your life. The Bible verse is, 'If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.' Romans 12:18
Do you know how hard this is to do? That driver who just cut me off, the telemarketer who calls during dinner, the husband who forgot to stop for milk on the way home & then didn't notice how hard I'd worked on the house all day. How can I live in peace with people like this??? The lesson says to live at peace with everyone, we must stop focusing on ourselves & start focusing on Jesus. It says when you encounter someone who frustrates you, make a point to be especially kind to that person. Perhaps that individual really needs to be shown kindness. Consider such an opportunity a gift from the Father: a chance to put self aside, practice His love, & experience His peace.
I guess I've never really considered how that driver's day has been already, or that the telemarketer has probly been cussed out quite a few times today already & the husband may have had a bad day at work & just wanted to get home to his family. Lord, thank you for opening my eyes & see what others might need instead of just myself.
Dear Father, Thank You for creating us. I'm giving You my people problems. Please help me see people through Your eyes & with Your love. You are the peace in all of my relationships. I love you.

The Frazzled Female

We started the book 'The Frazzled Female' by Cindi Wood in our Sunday School class recently. I have a terrible time getting myself motivated to study the lesson but this past Saturday I sat down & actually studied the lesson! One of the plans for the week is a defrazzler. Write down your to-do list & then pray over each item on that list. We all have those lists don't we? The author got a little notebook to write her to-do lists in. In the front of this book she wrote, Lord, here's my list of details. I'm recording things to do, errands to run, items to pick up, places to be, calls to make ... all the things that can drive me crazy if each one is not committed to You! Thank You for being the Lord of my details!
This book has a little study to do each day & one is 'Turning a Martha Day into a Mary Day' & talks about how Satan will use the 'I don't have time' attack to keep us from Bible study & prayer. I think he's been attacking me quite often on this issue. So, this lesson is a MUST HAVE for me!
Dear Lord, Thank you for being the Lord of my time. Restore my joy, peace, & sanity. Give me insight & persistence to keep my focus on You. Fill me with assurance of Your love & Your desires for me. I love you.

More Blessings!

Easter was fantastic this year! The service at church was great!
Because we were up so early for the service I took a nap that afternoon. Isn't that what Sunday afternoon's are for anyway? I was just waking up when the kids hollered at me to come up front. I was still half asleep when I came up front. I sat down & Dwayne asked me if I would like to be called Meemaw, Grandma or whatever else (at this point I didn't hear much else). I was crying to hard!!! Dwayne said that the baby could call me that (the crying) for the first couple of years!! I had been praying so hard for this moment! God has blessed indeed! Shasta goes today for an ultrasound & I'm going to watch her girls that she nannies. I love watching them!
Went with Steve to the doctor on Monday. They're sending him to an orthopedic surgeon to see if he needs surgery (which to me if ya send someone to a surgeon that itself would say surgery!). He's still fighting with workman's comp. They are getting him his check each week but they're like 2 weeks behind. With trying to quit smoking, no work, & rain he's going stir crazy. So much to do but the rain is keeping him from it.
We found the parts for our Lil Red car & are now just waiting for a DRY day to start taking the old one off & putting the new one on.
A couple of prayer requests: a friend of my sister's mom passed away; a dear friend of mine is battling depression & my unspoken. We know the Lord answers prayers. It may not be the answer we want or when we want it but in due time & for whatever is best for us.

PRAISES

Went to my last physical therapy of the week this morning. Am so ready to be done with this for good. While there this morning my therapist told me that when I started therapy my measurements were like 50's & 60's. Today my measurements are in the 150-160!!!!! I was so excited & so was she. I want to thank my prayer warrior friend in Oklahoma for all of her prayers. This person has been thru some very difficult times but always has a positive attitude & I love her to death! I call her my sister by another mother. We went to school together but she was younger. We connected again on myspace & it's been so wonderful finally having a friend like this!
Another prayer was answered yesterday. We've been praying about a vehicle & had talked with some friends at church about buying one of theirs. Steve forgot about going to look at this car last nite after church. When the kids got home from church they told us that these friends were giving us the car. It does need some work but Steve is mechanically inclined & should be able to fix it. What a wonderful blessing!
It's such a beautiful day out too! I do have an unspoken prayer request & would appreciate the prayers on that. God Bless All & have a wonderful day.
THIS IS A DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE & BE GLAD IN IT!!!

No Pain, No Gain

I went to my orthopedic doctor last Monday. He WAS NOT impressed by my improvement. I'm at 30%. He didn't mention the surgery again which I figured he would as the nurse put me in his office. They usually don't do that unless they're gonna talk to you. Anyway, I still hurt from the physical therapy I got on April 30th & had to go in this morning. I was sick last week & only got one session in, so needless to say I was REALLY dreading this morning's session. When my therapist asked my pain level from 1-10 I said 11. She said 11 meant I probly should be in urgent care or the emergency room so I had to go with 8. Because my wonderful husband (who is also taking physical therapy at the same place I am at the same time) was on the warm-up machine (you pedal with your hands while standing up) I couldn't warm up. I really dreaded the exercises where I do 15 of them & she 'helps' me do another five, which means she puts pressure on my arm to make me go further. I'm not ashamed to say I cried, 'cause dad-gummit, it HURT! Anyway, like I said I went in today really hurting & by the time she got done with me I was NOT hurting. Amazing, huh?
I left there, came home for a bit, ran to Martinsburg with hubby to take back the computer we'd gotten Saturday. We get a new one later today. Then I came home & then went to take a dear friend to physical therapy & then go get her Mom & go to eat. While in her physical therapists office I ran into a lady who had her 3 yr old son there. He'd been born with a club foot. She said her & her husband had taken in 3 little boys (brothers) & eventually adopted them. This little boy was the youngest & had been born with cocaine & meth in his system. What mother can do that to an unborn child? We have a friend who has a foster child who was born with 4 different drugs in his system! This just kills me. I just thank the Lord that there are families out there willing to take a child with these needs! Not just anyone can take in a child addicted to drugs as a baby. Anyway, back to the 3 yr old. He was eating pretzels & he handed his mom one & said it looked like a heart. He handed her another one & she told him it looked like a tent door. She had one of the little drinking cups from the water machine with her & told the little boy to look as the opening to the paper cup was the tent & the pretzel was the door. Another pretzel was a shark's mouth, another a snake or a stick. It was so neat seeing this little boy come up with ideas on the shapes. That little boy made my day! What made yours?

OKLAHOMA & SINCE

It's been a while since I've posted. Just so much has happened I guess I didn't know where to start.
We made it to Oklahoma safely. We went to my oldest grandson Johnathon's basketball games. I ran into one of my high school classmates at the games. I was there to watch my grandson & he was there watching his daughter! On Saturday we went to G'ma's. Her & my mom were both asleep when we came in but were so glad to see us. My Mom goes out on Friday afternoon after she gets off work & stays til Sunday. Her sisters take turns the rest of the week. It was so good to sit in the house & reminisce! Saturday evening another classmate came over the the kids' house & we had a nice visit. Had planned to get together again before we came home but he had to work! He's had some health issues & I wanted an update. On Sunday we went to the little country church I grew up in (well from 4th grade on, I was in a Quaker church before that). We watched a dvd on missions that was very good! Nice to see some of my old church friends there. On Sunday afternoon Angela (my oldest daughter) & her family & I went out to eat pizza before Johnathon's birthday party. At his party I sat & visited with friends & my Mom while the others bowled. On Monday we decided to get pedicures. I hadn't brought any short pants for that so had to borrow some from Angela. She had this pair of capris that were like t-shirt material & were pink cammo. Then the flip-flops. We had to stop at the Cowboy Tack Shop & take one of Justin's (my youngest grandson) boots in to see if they could be fixed. Their English bulldog Mia decided the boot made a good chew toy! Anyway, so here I go into the tack shop with pink cammo capris on!!! Mia's such a beautiful dog & loves to lay her head on your lap with this oh so sad look on her face, while you're eating. Deedee, the other dog is a small dog & such a lovable little thing. Tuesday morning I went to see a class mate who has pancreatic cancer. She lives WAY out in the sticks. I knew I'd probly have a hard time finding her house so I asked her if she'd like to meet at the cafe in Vici. I ended up going to her house. For a while I thought I was lost & was praying I wasn't driving in someones driveway! People out there have guns!!! LOL!
I didn't get lost, it wasn't a driveway & I had a wonderful time visiting with her! Tuesday night there were 10 of us I think ate at JB'S Steakhouse. We'd gone there because Dwayne has never had calf fries & JB'S is the only place in Woodward that has them. We got there, ordered our drinks & then found out that they fry their shrimp in the same fryer that they fry the calf fries in. What a bummer! Dwayne has a severe shellfish allergy! Thursday I went to another friends house. Johnathon went with me. This lady is the same age as my dad but is almost like an older sister. Oh, the things she did when hanging out with us while we were in high school! I won't name names but her & her sister have fried skunks & stolen watermelons! Love you girl! I think there were 12 of us that went to Mazzio's on Thurs. night. My great niece Timber was the entertainment for that dinner! I stayed at Mom's the rest of the time. I had Friday all to myself & enjoyed the peace & quiet. Went back out to G'ma's on Saturday & took some pictures of the place & visited with an old friend & my cousin. Sunday was Johnathon's baptism, 5 generation pictures & then 16 of us went to the cafe in Vici for lunch. We went to Angela's after lunch & changed into our traveling clothes. We had a beautiful trip home. No bad weather, no traffic.
I just thank the Lord for the visits during the week.
Now for Steve, he got his MRI results yesterday & it's definitely a torn tendon. He can't lift anything over 4 pounds & can't grip anything. He's to take more physical therapy. The company he works for is bound & determined he's coming back to work, hurt or not. So we would appreciate any prayers over that mess.

ANXIOUS

My physical therapy is moving right along. I'm on my 3rd week. Tomorrow is my last one til I get back from Oklahoma. Now Steve is having to take it at the same place I am. He blew up a machine while he was in PT this morning! He was on a machine that stimulates muscle growth. He wanted a magazine so I took one back to his room & while I was in there the machine gave him quite a shock. It set of an alarm that one of the wires had come loose. The therapist said he had too much iron in his system & she'd never seen anyone blow up a machine before.Now Steve is having to take it at the same place I am. He tore a tendon in his elbow last week & now has therapy for 6 weeks & may end up having to have surgery. Now the trip to Oklahoma doesn't seem so exciting. Steve is off work due to his injury but because workman's comp is involved he can't go with us. He's not going to be able to stay at the house as friends of the kids had already been promised it while they were gone. The company he works for is coming for the truck probably this weekend or he could have stayed in it. Not the best accommodations tho. I'd stay home with him but since we can't stay here that won't work. So I feel very torn. My need to be with my husband who is hurting & being with family in Oklahoma. You know the saying, 'I'm damned if I do, & damned if I don't'? That's me right now. Either way I've let someone down & that's very hard as I'm addicted to approval. So, this is kind of an emergency prayer request. Am I being selfish?

Physical Therapy

Friday I went for my third round of physical therapy. My usual therapist was off Friday so I had a sub. She, like Tammy, was good BUT... I wonder if I had the words 'Please Torture Me' written in ink on an me anywhere. I know I didn't see it written anywhere. Tammy, on Wed. last week had my crying during the stretching but my arm did feel a little better. My motto has been, "No pain, no gain". This time the stretching hurt but didn't make me cry. That is til I got home and relaxed. I hurt like I hurt the first time I messed my arm up in the first place. I kept telling both drs and the therapist that the pain meds I was taking wasn't working, but they just keep me on them. In fact the orthopedic doctor cut down the dosage. They take the edge off the pain but that's it. Anyway, the best part of physical therapy is when they put me in a room, prop my arm on a pillow and bring me this WONDERFUL cold pack wrapped in a towel. They put it on my shoulder and leave me in peace and quiet for 10 min. Sometimes I read and sometimes I use the quiet time for prayer. I go back in today for more therapy.
Yesterday at church while we were getting ready for the praise service a little 4 yr old friend (he may be 5 now) raised his hand and asked Pastor Porky when class started. We had praise time and then we did birthdays and little Paul again asked Porky when Sunday School class started. It was so cute. If only we'd all be so excited about going to Sunday School Class! Our class has been doing the Beth Moore book 'Believing God'. Our next book is 'The Frazzled Female". That sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to that one. Our last one was "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. That one was my favorite so far as I suffer from anxiety attacks. I don't have them as much as I used to (thank goodness) or as strong as I used too. In fact, I think I've had maybe 2 since I've been here. Anyway, they're all good studies.

Hopefully I got answers this time

Went to the orthopedic dr this morning.. Steve only got to be home Saturday & part of Sunday this time :( , so Dwayne went with me. I could have gone by myself, but... Anyway the dr said I have adhesive capulitis (frozen shoulder in English). I have to take physical therapy 3 times a week for the next 6 weeks. I go back to see him March 23. The physical therapy should work but in the rare case that it doesn't I may have to have surgery. I asked him about the pain meds (because the lortabs don't seem to work for me, they take the edge off the pain but that's about it) & he left me on them, just decreased the dosage & told me to take them as needed, not every so many hours like my other prescription said. He told me to make sure to take one BEFORE I had physical therapy (that's always encouraging, LOL). He also gave me a cortisone shot in my shoulder. I guess my face turned white (I don't like needles & have had a cortisone shot before & it wasn't a good experience). He told me not to worry that he was good at giving them. Then he left the room & I actually sat there crying! He came back with that bbbbbiiiiiiggggg needle (get the impression I don't like needles? I DON'T. & this from a woman who's got a tattoo but it's on my shoulder blade & I couldn't see them using it). I almost freaked. He told me to look the other way. I have to say that this dr & my doctor in Ranson did a good job with the needles. This dr is very nice looking too. I think every woman I said something to about him told me that. I have a dear friend in her late 60's or early 70's tell me that he's good 'eye candy'!!! Anyway, I go for my first physical therapy Tues at 1:15p. So please pray with me that the therapy works & I won't have to have surgery.

Doctor's

After finally getting the results from my xrays (just got them Thurs. after having had the xrays taken Jan. 26). There's nothing broken or fractured thank goodness. Tho I fell off the bed the other day head first and as I have very little strength in that arm I was in a real pickle. I was wedged between the bed and the wall! Come on now, I can hear you laughin! A 51 year old woman wedged like that. I didn't want to holler at Dwayne so I wiggled around and got all the way off the bed and got my good arm where I could push myself up. Have a nice BIG bruise on my right arm! Anyway, I was going on the truck with Steve to Houston. The nurse had FINALLY found my xrays and told me they were negative for breaks so I had packed and was ready to go. I was getting ready to start taking things to the truck when I noticed I had a voice mail. It was the drs. office and since I was still having issues with my arm they wanted me to make an appointment. So there went the trip to Houston. I went in today and was told I needed to see an orthopedic dr. My dr refilled the pain meds that I had told her didn't work and told me to make an appointment. I go the 23rd to see an orthopedic dr in Winchester. My problem has been that I took 2 of the pain meds on Saturday ( a week ago) morning and for once they at least took the edge off the pain. So, I thoroughly cleaned! BIG mistake. I missed church the next day. Then this last Saturday I did the same thing but only cleaned the bath and kitchen and didn't miss church. I don't like to miss Sunday morning church. Now Steve is in the Dallas area and the weather is VERY stormy. They're expecting high winds. A truck is NOT the place to be during high winds! A flatbed isn't as bad as a reefer or dry van tho. Maybe I'll get to go next time. Tho now we have another cat. She's a 6 month old tabby we named Selene. She's the opposite of Allie Rose! The do get along tho and Selene tries to get along with Aslan & Lilybet (Shasta & Dwayne's puppies). She rubs all over them. Lilybet will take it for a while and Aslan will run when Selene turns her back. My only problem with Selene is she bites my fingernails! Never had a cat do that!

Finally!

Thursday came with the results of the physical I got last week. Everything is good except my cholesterol. This for a person who LOVES Dairy Queen Blizzards and Cake Batter Ice Cream from Cold Stone Creamery. Don't get me wrong I don't go hog wild eating them. I may have one every other month and Cold Stone even less because there just aren't many stores around. Part of the problem is that I haven't been taking my fish oil. I know, sound discus ting, huh? So, now starts a new regimen of making sure I take them. Now I just need the results from the x-rays that were taken this past Monday (they said they'd be calling Friday with those and didn't). Have a mammogram in March and haven't scheduled the other test. But anyway, I can breath a little sigh of relief til then and thank the Lord for good results. My hubby made it in yesterday morning, FINALLY! He has doctor's and dentist appointments next week so prayers would be appreciated. He's having problems with his head and hand shaking and headaches. The weather has been nasty but beautiful (is that an oxymoron?). Snow, rain, sleet. I've been thru some real NASTY Oklahoma ice storms so am thankful that it didn't get that bad here. Other than a thunder & lightning storm I don't think anything is more beautiful than snow falling (except if you're out on the road in a big rig and the road is slick!). I really should start a blog about my adventures of being a truck driver's wife. I think that's what this started out as. Wanderings being my wanderings all over the United States. Wonderings being how many times I wondered where trails led and the lives of those following those trails. We've driven beside "The Oregon Trail" & oh the questions that came up on that trip. Maybe someday soon I'll go back on the road with a good camera and write a book (with pictures) of my adventures. Maybe!

Physicals, yuk!

Just got back from my physical. Because we've not had insurance I've not had a total physical in several years. I went in 2 weeks ago with a problem with my left arm and the doctor recommended a total physical. As most women do, I guess, I dreaded the female stuff. I hate needles too (figure that one out, I have a tattoo! lol), but having the blood work done wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Thank goodness for nurses who hit the mark the first time! I've lost 1 pound since I was in last. Don't know the results of blood work tho. Kinda anxious about that as they're testing for diabetes. With Mom having it I felt I really needed to have that done. The colonoscopy wasn't even brought up and I didn't even think about it when I was in today, even tho the dr and I had discussed it earlier. I think that's probly more important than the diabetes test tho. My arm was still bothering me. I told the doctor the painkillers didn't work and the muscle relaxers relaxed everything but the muscle that hurt to start with! So she upped the painkillers. This time I think they're gonna do the job. I have to have my upper arm and shoulder x-rayed and the REALLY dreaded mammogram. Can't get in to get the mammogram done til March. The x-rays can be done any day, just walk in with my scrips. Now I gotta get up and find a recipe we need for supper tonite. Feels like a chili and cornbread night tonite but I think it's gonna be something else. Any night could be a chili night for me!

Thankful for prayers

We got word the other day that G'ma was in the hospital with fluid around her heart and in her lungs. She wasn't eating and had 'the worst night of my life'. She's 97 years young. I just got off the phone with my oldest daughter who has been keeping us posted on G'ma's condition. She said G'ma slept good last nite and ate all of her breakfast and even joked about it (the breakfast). Thank all those out there who have said a prayer for her. The power of prayer is so amazing. I don't think we realize sometimes just how powerful prayer is. We just take it for granted. Just keep her and her caretakers in your prayers. Keep our country in your prayers too. We are now under new leadership and ALL leadership should have our prayers no matter if we voted for them or not or what skin color they are. I always tell people (and believe me, in the trucking industry the "N" word is used A LOT) that there's not difference in us except skin color. When cut, we ALL bleed red, and we all have hearts.

LOVE

I just finished watching a movie in which a young man dies. The father of this young man is seen sitting in a chair wondering out loud IF he'd told his son that he was proud of him or IF he'd told his son he loved him. How many of us have neglected to tell our loved ones how proud we are of them or how much we love them? I know I'm guilty of this. I've told my girls these things, but have I told them enough? So, read this, go tell your loved ones how proud of them you are and how much you love them. Don't wait til it's too late and then do like this father did and sit and wonder IF, IF, IF! Better to say, 'I did' than 'I should have', 'I could have', or 'I would have'. So, to both of my daughters, I am VERY PROUD of you and everything you've accomplished, for being involved in church and having wonderful families. I love you more than you'll ever know. Steve, I know life hasn't been easy for you but you are changing and I am very proud of you for wanting that and I do love you more than you ever know.
I'm thankful for a Lord who loved us enough to die for us.

Whatever

Yesterday I finally got to go to the doctor with a problem in my arm that's been hurting for 3 months now. I'm usually very nervous about going to any doctor and seeing a doctor for the first time here should have made me more so, but it didn't. I have a really nice woman doctor. She looked at my arm, asked me raise it, make a muscle, all that good stuff. Then she felt it and felt the lump in it and told me I had a severely pulled muscle. She prescribed some painkillers and muscle relaxers and stretching exercises. I was in and out of the office in less than an hour! Then it was off to have the prescriptions filled. I went to Walmart as I had a few other things to pick up. I turned in my order at the pharmacy and was told it would probably be an hour or so. Or so, was right! It was an hour and a half! At one time the lines were clear out to the discounted Christmas stuff and that's 2 lines! You'd have thought that was the only pharmacy in town! Finally I got mine and came home. I had taken a couple of tylenol while I was in the store so waited til almost bedtime to take the painkiller. I was really looking for a good night's sleep. I had been taking like tylenol PM sometimes to ease the pain so I could sleep. The problem with that is that I roll over on my left arm not realizing it and then it hurts worse in the morning than the night before. Well, the painkillers didn't work last nite! Steve got in around 10:30 last nite and I was just getting ready to head to bed. I was hoping for a halfway pain free night and time with him. I didn't want him home and having to deal with a grouch. Am I giving the pain meds a chance to kick in? I don't do meds like that so I don't know. If ya know will ya fill me in, please?

BLESSINGS

I had the most wonderful BLESSING today. My oldest Grandson Johnathon accepted the Lord into his life!!!!! I have been blessed with two wonderful, beautiful daughters who both are active in their churches. After having a not-so-good yesterday and early morning I can wholeheartedly say that Sunday School, Susie, and then this message from Angela has brightened my day tremendously. I finally got my glasses this past Tuesday. They were ordered on Dec. 10 with the promise that they'd be here in 7-10 business days so I was just a little put out that they were late. I had to have bifocals and since I kept sitting on reading glasses I asked for glasses to wear full-time. So they're taking some getting used to especially since they're no-line. Makes me feel old that I need bifocals tho. I hadn't worn glasses since high school (was told I didn't need them). I didn't realize how expensive they are either!
Thank goodness for insurance!!!! Steve got 17 teeth pulled just before CHRISTmas and insurance covered all but $140. of that and it was over $3000. I hope and pray that's all we have to pay. As for my New Year's resolutions, I think they're the same as every year. Try to be a better Christian and delve more into God's Word, Let God have more control over my life, keep in better touch with family (FaceBook is fantastic for that!), lose weight (had lost 23 pounds before CHRISTMAS, got 48 to go). I love losing the weight but having to buy new clothes just isn't in the budget. Thank goodness I love to shop at Goodwill! My hope and prayer for all is that you have a very BLESSED year in every way. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!