Ouch

Our pastor made a comment last night at church. He said, "Our circumstances should not affect how we treat other people." Ouch. Now I'm pretty good about being nice to those outside our home, but sometimes I'm not nice to those I love the most. Is it because I feel comfortable with them and know they love me and will most likely forgive me? Is it because they are the ones I spend the most time with (especially important since I home school)? Is it because I can't control my emotions? Probably some of all the above. Whatever the reason, I am wrong when I treat them less than I would like to be treated.

He also mentioned seeing the potential in people. That is so important. We all like to be praised. If we look hard enough we can find something to praise most people about. The dictionary defines praise as "to express a favorable judgment of" and flatter as "to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest." There's a huge difference.

Wow, he's given me a lot to think about today.

Opportunity in every difficulty

Today the sun is shining and it's beautiful, but cool, out. We seem to go from 70 to freezing in a couple of hours. It sure is hard on allergy symptoms, coughs, and stuff you are trying to get over. Rebekah was sick and on antibiotics, I finally had to break down and get them, Ben has struggled along without them so far, and some of the others in our family have coughs. It sure was nice having the windows open for a few days! I love airing out the house. Hopefully some of the germs got taken care of.

Along with the antibiotics came several symptoms for me. I felt awful yesterday and didn't even go to Celebrate Recovery. Today is better. My stomach hurts but at least I'm not running to the bathroom , if you know what I mean. It seems that my symptoms are listed on the package as possible side effects. It would be nice if the antibiotics could just take care of the bad stuff without the side effects and without killing off some of the good stuff as well. I guess that's what yogurt is for. I did eat some for a couple of days until the nausea came and then I had trouble downing it. Every time I eat my stomach hurts; at least my sinus infection is better. See, I can look on the positive side of things.

Let us in

ArnoldJupiter (on the screen wanting inside)

When it was really cold I felt so sorry for our cats. Every time we would go outside Arnold would try to run in underneath our feet. When he had a broken leg a couple of years ago he was allowed to stay indoors; at least until the cast came off (vet's orders....why pay a couple hundred dollars for the cat and not do what he said?). He would make a great inside cat. He and Bright (our golden retriever) get along superbly. I so wanted to let them inside, but Donald said no. Stone cold heart, huh? Well, maybe he was right.

Today is warm and I have the windows open. The cats are still wanting in. They stand at the door and look in and go to the windows and try to get through the screens. It's 67 degrees so I know they aren't cold. They just want inside. I guess their reasoning is that the dog is indoors so they should be also.

Psalm 119

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. (Psalm 119:1-3, The Message)

This is my desire. I can't do it on my own. I need Him.

once again

I finally did it. I called the doctor's office today. I have been fighting this sinus junk for several weeks now. One day I feel bad, the next I feel better. Naturally I kept putting off going to see our nurse practitioner. So today when I woke up and it was worse I called. Of course she didn't have an opening today but her nurse did call me back later. So here it is the fourth day of the new year and I have already met my prescription deductible for the year. I really don't like taking antibiotics and try so hard not to. After a while I get sick of being sick and I cave in. Oh well..........

I went to bed at 6:30 last night and watched TV till 10:00. At least I slept better after I finally went to sleep. And by the way, I didn't win the bid on eBay. I had gotten Season One of NYPD Blue on eBay for $4.25 plus shipping. I love that show, especially Andy Sipowicz. I have even gotten Donald hooked. I had bid on another season, but didn't win that one.

I think I'll make sure the kitchen gets cleaned and then take a bath and put on my pj's. I can just about match my time last night if I hurry.

Just for Today

Did you know that midlife crisis is in the dictionary? I didn't. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines it this way:

Main Entry: midlife crisis
Function: noun
Date: 1965
: a period of emotional turmoil in middle age characterized especially by a strong desire for change

I wonder what people before 1965 called it? Did they experience it? Did they know it existed?
Maybe that's what wrong with me. Now please understand......I don't want to change my family, my home, my life in general, my location, my vocation, my church, my friends, and the list can go on and on. I'm very happy with my life, thank you. What I do desire to change is my relationship with God. I want it to be more intimate. I want to know Him better.

Last night at church I know He spoke to me. Now I don't exactly like what He said, but I know it's needed in my life. He said, "Discipline and self-control." Now I am terribly disciplined about some things (school and laundry for example). Other areas are sorely lacking. I don't really want to go into the areas He is speaking to me about. I had a lot of time last night when I couldn't sleep to ponder these things and to even be tested on something I felt He was telling me not to do at the moment. Thankfully I chose to listen to Him and didn't get up and check to see if I had won an item on eBay. Now you may think that's silly, but it's not. God speaks to us about things like that if we listen to Him.

I know if I want to deepen my relationship with Him I'm going to have to listen and obey and do some things I don't want to do. It's my choice. He wants me to choose Him over what I want to do. It's not going to be easy. But at least for today I'm listening.

I am not too much of a goal oriented person; at least I don't see myself that way. I don't make New Year's resolutions because I never keep them. I miss a day or a few days and get discouraged and quit. Dear Abby has a column that says "just for today." Now I can understand that. I think that will be my motto in trying to obey God in these things. Just for today I will listen to what He says to me and obey. I won't worry about the tomorrows but will focus on today. Now that's scripture isn't it? I love the way the Message puts Matthew 6:34.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Up close and personal

I stayed up last night to welcome the new year......well, kind of. I kept falling asleep as I was laying in bed watching my new TV that I got for Christmas. Donald and I took money we received for Christmas and bought a DVD player/recorder for it as well. It's awesome~! My family is the greatest. Actually I was taking a load of laundry out of the dryer at 12:00 this morning (between cat naps that is). The kids are going to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags today and of course needed something washed they wanted to wear. Of all the things in their closets of course what they want is dirty!









I still haven't started on my bathroom cabinets. I didn't feel good for a couple of days, didn't want to for a couple, and was busy the rest of the time. Eventually I will get around to it. Rebekah helped me put pictures on my walls though and they look really good. I also got a cross and a couple of picture frames for Christmas that I need to put up also. I have actually moved some of the boxes, junk, papers, old VHS tapes, and other stuff out of my room. Of course the hammer and small nails are still laying in the floor waiting to be used. I know I drive Donald crazy as he doesn't do that. A place for everything and everything in its place is my sweet husband. In theory it works wonderfully; I just can't seem to be disciplined enough (uninterrupted enough??) to make it work. I have wonderful intentions though; those should count for something right??


I've been thinking about how blessed we are. It's wonderful to be thankful to God without trying to earn His blessings. He gives because He loves us......not because we're good enough or deserve anything. The opposite is true. There is NO way we can merit His blessings. Jesus is the ONLY way to have a relationship with the living God.