Where did the week go?! I've managed to get nothing of great importance done but have accomplished alot. Does that even make sense?? In the past three days I've consulted with four doctors, two social security disability workers and five social media jewelry pros all from the comfort of my own bed. (see previous blog) Modern technology rocks!! Even better - I've been able to enjoy the smell of slow cooking soup wafting from the kitchen. Not bad for waking up and realizing Friday snuck up on you again!
Actually Friday has perfect timing as usual. I'm out of my fresh organic fruits and local grown veggies but Saturday brings the farmers' market and a chance to restock. Friday also means that most of the world (at least those who have a life) will be out and about tonight leaving the laundry room free for me. Normal people have date night, I have laundry night *sigh*.
The only downside to Friday night is all of the new movies come out - and with the the craving for movie popcorn - and there is no one to see a movie with nor the money to burn to see said movies so again with the laundry. Sometimes being single stinks. Other times - like when you cook soup for 36 hours or want to make fish for breakfast - it works out pretty well.
Anyway, must get off and moving before saturday arrives!
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Friday, July 16, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Comfort of My Own Bed
We all have days when we just don't want to get out of bed - and days the rest of the world probably wishes we hadn't. Those days when we wake up with a headache or don't fall asleep until the hour our alarm goes off or we get up and in the first ten minutes a hundred things go wrong are hard on us and those around us. The key to surviving days like that is attitude and perspective.
Today was one of those days for me, I knew it was time to get up but my body just didn't want to. Unfortunately for me on days like this my body usually wins because, well because the mind and spirit are willing but the flesh is weak. See in the world of chronic pain there are days when you literally can not get out of bed, not because you don't feel like it but because you aren't able. Sure, once I got sitting up I could have moved my legs over the edge of the bed (by grabbing my knees and MOVING my legs) bit would YOU want to walk around on sword tips while a thousand needles were jabbed in your legs? I didn't think so! Better to take another round of meds (now kept in my bedside table and not the bathroom for just such reasons) and wait for the pain to ease up.
So now we come to the question of what to do while 'relaxing in the comfort' of bed. One can choose to dwell on the pain, complain about the fact that if you take it easy on your legs it's makes your back hurt all the more, obsess about what you could/should/want to be doing or (and this is a BIG OR) you can use the time for more important things - positive things.
Instead of dwelling on the needles, pins and knives in my legs today I chose to spend my 'down' time praying and reading. Usually on days like this I read Job cause well he's my man. Satan took away all Job had in life - his children, his fortune and his health - and Job still chose to praise God through it all. Even when Mrs. Job yelled "Curse God and die" from the hovel they were living in up to the top of the trash heap Job was sitting on he refused to turn His back on God. Much as I love Job today I wanted something different so I started reading Psalms which I don't often do. I started with the First Psalm figuring I'd get to the Twenty-Third pretty fast but there is a lot of meat on those poetic bones! After an hour or more I got to the 22nd Psalm and there stopped to dwell.
God hears my prayers and He answers them! Sometimes I don't like the answers ('Lord, I want to feel better' meant I wanted to be like everyone else NOT be told I HAD to go on disability) but if we take time (like when we are stuck in bed) and are in the right frame of mind (dwelling on the things of Heaven and not the pain or what we can't do perhaps?) things come to light that were missed in the darkness of our personal gloom.
I got phone calls made AND got answers today because i took time to really explain what I wanted, how much I needed and what I needed it for. I prayed for people today that I haven't seen in years because I had the time to go down my Facebook friends list and do that. And perhaps most importantly I was reminded that there is no amount of physical pain that I suffer which Christ has not already felt and dealt with.
So, the next time I have a day that sees me spending more time in bed then I would like you know what I'll be doing - after I take my meds - I'll be going back to the Book, looking for more comfort and going over my list of friends and family praying for their comfort!
Sometimes I think it would be nice to spend a day in bed being lazy, eating bonbons and reading magazines but truthfully that's not how I'm made. So for now it's 'up and at'em' every chance I get and when my body decides otherwise, well I'll put my willing mind to good use while the weak body gets the rest it demands.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Today was one of those days for me, I knew it was time to get up but my body just didn't want to. Unfortunately for me on days like this my body usually wins because, well because the mind and spirit are willing but the flesh is weak. See in the world of chronic pain there are days when you literally can not get out of bed, not because you don't feel like it but because you aren't able. Sure, once I got sitting up I could have moved my legs over the edge of the bed (by grabbing my knees and MOVING my legs) bit would YOU want to walk around on sword tips while a thousand needles were jabbed in your legs? I didn't think so! Better to take another round of meds (now kept in my bedside table and not the bathroom for just such reasons) and wait for the pain to ease up.
So now we come to the question of what to do while 'relaxing in the comfort' of bed. One can choose to dwell on the pain, complain about the fact that if you take it easy on your legs it's makes your back hurt all the more, obsess about what you could/should/want to be doing or (and this is a BIG OR) you can use the time for more important things - positive things.
Instead of dwelling on the needles, pins and knives in my legs today I chose to spend my 'down' time praying and reading. Usually on days like this I read Job cause well he's my man. Satan took away all Job had in life - his children, his fortune and his health - and Job still chose to praise God through it all. Even when Mrs. Job yelled "Curse God and die" from the hovel they were living in up to the top of the trash heap Job was sitting on he refused to turn His back on God. Much as I love Job today I wanted something different so I started reading Psalms which I don't often do. I started with the First Psalm figuring I'd get to the Twenty-Third pretty fast but there is a lot of meat on those poetic bones! After an hour or more I got to the 22nd Psalm and there stopped to dwell.
"I am poured out like water,Well hello! If that didn't describe how I felt I don't know what could! Needless to say I went back to the beginning of the Psalm and REALLY read it. While this is one of the prophetic Psalms describing Messiah it is also a promise that I really need to hear sometimes. God hasn't forgotten me, He doesn't despise me, He hasn't turned His back on me or caused this to happen to me. He has ALLOWED it to happen, not MADE it happen and there is a difference.
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
My tongue clings to my jaws;
And you have brought me to the dust of death."
God hears my prayers and He answers them! Sometimes I don't like the answers ('Lord, I want to feel better' meant I wanted to be like everyone else NOT be told I HAD to go on disability) but if we take time (like when we are stuck in bed) and are in the right frame of mind (dwelling on the things of Heaven and not the pain or what we can't do perhaps?) things come to light that were missed in the darkness of our personal gloom.
I got phone calls made AND got answers today because i took time to really explain what I wanted, how much I needed and what I needed it for. I prayed for people today that I haven't seen in years because I had the time to go down my Facebook friends list and do that. And perhaps most importantly I was reminded that there is no amount of physical pain that I suffer which Christ has not already felt and dealt with.
So, the next time I have a day that sees me spending more time in bed then I would like you know what I'll be doing - after I take my meds - I'll be going back to the Book, looking for more comfort and going over my list of friends and family praying for their comfort!
Sometimes I think it would be nice to spend a day in bed being lazy, eating bonbons and reading magazines but truthfully that's not how I'm made. So for now it's 'up and at'em' every chance I get and when my body decides otherwise, well I'll put my willing mind to good use while the weak body gets the rest it demands.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, July 12, 2010
Have you ever wondered...
why Mondays are so hard? After reading so many comments on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare today I put some thought into it and being me (I am NOT OCD) I have bulleted them...
- We get 24 hours in a day 8 of which are supposed to be dedicated to sleep. This leaves us 16 hours of which we spend 8 at the aforementioned work or school not to mention the prep and driving time which easily eat up 2 hours at either end shortening our time to 4 hours. 4 hours to spend preparing for the next day, preparing dinner, preparing to sleep, preparing our children to do their best at school and trying to relax with our loved ones.
- We get 7 days in a week 5 of which we spend at work or school or driving around in circles trying to get people to work and school. This gives us 2 days a week to cram in quality time with our loved ones - worship services, sports, shopping, family activities, yard work, shopping, special events and the ever dreaded overtime
- We get 52 weeks in a year - out of that most get 2 weeks for vacation. I'll admit I'm really bad at math but 2 out of 52 doesn't seem like much to spend with the people that mean the most to you.
It would seem to me that Mondays are especially hard on us because whether we work outside the home or not they denote the start of the stop watch that controls most of our lives. There just isn't any other day of the week that seems as onerous as the one that rings the death knoll to our beloved "free time". Even if we aren't working - stay at home mom (bless you cause I KNOW an 8-5 is more restful) disabled, retired or whatever - Mondays are when the banks and offices are open which means we have a list of things that need to be taken care of or will be getting phone calls that give us knew things to take care of that we didn't even plan on adding to our lists. There is also the Post Office, sure they deliver on Saturday but do we really care? I don't even check my box most Saturdays!
So why are Mondays so manic? Well, seems to me that we are trading the running in circles of our "freetime" for just plain running in circles.
Besides - what other day is half MONster and half weakDAY?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A Presidential Proclamation and Isaiah 65
No, this is not President Obama speaking. Its not even President Reagan - that great man of faith. First read it and notice how timely it is... I'll tell you who issued this official proclamation later.
The first half of that chapter talks about the Righteousness of God's Judgement against a people who said to Him "keep to Yourself. Do not come near me, for I am holier than you!" Doesn't that sound like America today? A nation that "walks in a way that is not goo, according to their own thoughts". God goes on to tell Isaiah that this nation that didn't answer when He called, didn't hear when He spoke, who prefer Fortune & Destiny and did what was evil will be numbered for the sword. Sin earns destruction - whether individually or nationally "the wages of sin are death".
Isaiah goes on to write though, that God promises good for those who are His servants. In a detailed list He promises that His servants will eat, drink, rejoice and sing for joy while the rebellious will go hungry, thirst, be ashamed, cry from broken-heartedness and wail in grief of spirit.
Ever merciful God ends His this warning to Isaiah with a beautiful description of the Glorious New Creation - the new heavens and new earth. This passage ends with one of the most beautiful word pictures in the Old Testament: "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer;And while they are still speaking, I will hear.The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,The lion shall eat straw like the ox,And dust shall be the serpent's food.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain,"Says the Lord our God."
While I know the last glorious passage will not come to pass until Christ returns and every knee has bowed to Him in Heaven and on Earth, I cannot but marvel at how close America has come to the description of the "rebellious nation" and it scares me. Please take a moment today and read Isaiah 65, then read the news headlines, then pray. Prayer for our country and its leaders, for the upcoming elections and most importantly beseeching God for forgive our national sin of turning our backs upon Him on Whom our country was founded. Pray for your neighbors, pray for your children's future, pray for mercy and guidance.
"Whereas it is the duty of Nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling Power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet will assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the Sublime Truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all History, that those Nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.I found this while reading Isaiah 65 today.
...We have been the recipients of the choicest of bounties of Heaven; we have been preserve these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nations has ever grown. BUT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD. We have forgotten the Gracious Hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and straightened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our National Sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."
The first half of that chapter talks about the Righteousness of God's Judgement against a people who said to Him "keep to Yourself. Do not come near me, for I am holier than you!" Doesn't that sound like America today? A nation that "walks in a way that is not goo, according to their own thoughts". God goes on to tell Isaiah that this nation that didn't answer when He called, didn't hear when He spoke, who prefer Fortune & Destiny and did what was evil will be numbered for the sword. Sin earns destruction - whether individually or nationally "the wages of sin are death".
Isaiah goes on to write though, that God promises good for those who are His servants. In a detailed list He promises that His servants will eat, drink, rejoice and sing for joy while the rebellious will go hungry, thirst, be ashamed, cry from broken-heartedness and wail in grief of spirit.
Ever merciful God ends His this warning to Isaiah with a beautiful description of the Glorious New Creation - the new heavens and new earth. This passage ends with one of the most beautiful word pictures in the Old Testament: "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer;And while they are still speaking, I will hear.The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,The lion shall eat straw like the ox,And dust shall be the serpent's food.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain,"Says the Lord our God."
While I know the last glorious passage will not come to pass until Christ returns and every knee has bowed to Him in Heaven and on Earth, I cannot but marvel at how close America has come to the description of the "rebellious nation" and it scares me. Please take a moment today and read Isaiah 65, then read the news headlines, then pray. Prayer for our country and its leaders, for the upcoming elections and most importantly beseeching God for forgive our national sin of turning our backs upon Him on Whom our country was founded. Pray for your neighbors, pray for your children's future, pray for mercy and guidance.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Goodbye Sweet Maggie
Though you were only with us for a little time you quickly stile our hearts.
Your perky prance, your precious painted paws, leap-frogging over your big brother because you couldn't be still - you will be missed sweet little one!
So much love in such a small package. Tucker and I won't know what to do without you running laps in the living room. I'll miss laughing because your long legs have gotten tangled in your leash. Somehow sweet Maggie I don't see Tucker letting me paint his nails to match mine like you did, you were truelly a princess and let no one forget it.
REST IN PEACE
PRINCESS MAGNOLIA OKAMI
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
To Friday June 25, 2010
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Your perky prance, your precious painted paws, leap-frogging over your big brother because you couldn't be still - you will be missed sweet little one!
So much love in such a small package. Tucker and I won't know what to do without you running laps in the living room. I'll miss laughing because your long legs have gotten tangled in your leash. Somehow sweet Maggie I don't see Tucker letting me paint his nails to match mine like you did, you were truelly a princess and let no one forget it.
REST IN PEACE
PRINCESS MAGNOLIA OKAMI
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
To Friday June 25, 2010
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Monday, March 8, 2010
Life Marchs On
Seems as if Spring happened here in Roanoke when no one was watching! 60 degree temps, sunshine and flowers peeking out from under patches of snow (yes we still have snow on the ground). Spring is a wonderful time of new beginnings and I'm gonna grab it for all it's worth!
My blood pressure is stablized, I've got leads on a couple city government jobs and Ruth is getting ready for her Odessey of the Mind competition. There are still struggles (hello - I have a tween!) but life is pretty good. All I have to do is remember that God is in control and follow where He leads!!
So with that in mind... I'm marching on!!
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My blood pressure is stablized, I've got leads on a couple city government jobs and Ruth is getting ready for her Odessey of the Mind competition. There are still struggles (hello - I have a tween!) but life is pretty good. All I have to do is remember that God is in control and follow where He leads!!
So with that in mind... I'm marching on!!
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Monday, March 1, 2010
It's Another Manic Monday
Discovered one good thing about what happened on Friday... When the alarm went off this morning I dreaded pulling myself into the insanity that is 'the office'. Fortunatly, I don't have to now that 'the assignment has been terminated'. This good news means that I got to sleep for another hour, the bad news is I spent half that time dwelling on bills and unemployment. Ah well, it's Monday - a good day to start over! The birds are singing, the sun is shining and God is still on His Throne. Everything will be alright!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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