Moody Monday

Every week, it's the same.  After Sunday comes Monday.  Now, we should know this if you're older than a preschooler.  Same as the first snow of the season.  We should know from the previous first snow last year and with ALL the accidents, how to handle this. 

So, this past Monday, Candice and I drove down to the beauty school to get haircuts.  As I signed in and I asked who I was being assigned to, the woman behind the desk said " I don't know, you'll have to wait and see." 

I instantly recognized the attitude and as I recalled it was Monday, the stigma that goes with Monday, the weekend is over, you have to go to work, etc., can put you in a bad mood. However, every week after Sunday, it's Monday and if you're older than say 8 and understand that when you go to bed on Sunday night, that when you wake up in the morning, it's Monday and a work, school, or play day, you should be ready for it.

So, why are we still struggling with Monday?  It is, I believe, still a fact of life that Mondays will come and they will go.  And the more days after Monday we get through, we can have a really good attitude, cause it's...............................Friday.

So why can't we have Friday attitudes on Monday?

Fearing the Future

Don’t’ fear the future, God’s already there.”

John 3:16

Today I was reading in the book of John.  I was in chapter 3 and got down to the famous verse 16 which reads:  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Verse 17:  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

Verse 18: Whoever believes in him is not comdemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 

God's love is not self-centered and neither should we be.  Our love, as is God's, reaches out and draws others in. 

In this verse and those that follow God shows us the pattern for true love, the basis for all love relationships:  when you truly love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely and do it to the point of self-sacrifice. 

I believe this with all my heart.  I love people and because of that, I choose to give freely.  We need to remember that when we give something freely, we are doing it on our own accord and because we want to.  What that other person does with that gift is not our concern once it's given. 

I also believe that in loving someone, I choose to see the good in that person.  Sure, I know that there is bad in everyone, but why would I want to weigh myself down thinking about that?  No, I choose to pray for that part of them that God would show and lead them.  By doing this, I also find that I'm a more positive person, I don't walk around with an anvil on my leg, I'm a healthier person and I can be happy around that person.

By constantly seeing only the bad in people, your outlook on life and the human race can really mess with you, your health, your attitude and how you treat people.

People don't want to be around negative or critical people.  They can be a drain on one's energy and outlook.

So, God gave us a beautiful world with so many people to love......go out there and love.

He's Mine!!!

As I was in the bible today, I kept reading the same thing over and over--the Lord your God.  Then it finally hit me.  The Lord, Jesus Christ, is MY God.  Mine!! All mine.  I have royalty as my father. 

As I think about this, I imagine what it must be like to be royal, to live in a palace, have palace guards, dress in the most beautiful garments available and lastly, to boast with pride that the King is my father.

So taking that a bit further, shouldn't we be prideful today, here and now, that Jesus Christ is our King of Kings, Lord of Lords, our Savior and stand tall knowing that the King of all is my father?!?

You bet.  I am and always will.

Blessings

I went home to Minnesota for two weeks.  Upon being there, I took care of my mother-in-law, worked in the yard, got together with my girls and tried to see as many people as I could (I failed at this).  However, I didn't do the one thing that was a daily morning ritual in Florida--I didn't take time to be in the word.  This left me incomplete.

As I sit here on Thursday morning at 6:57am (a complete suprize to me to be up that early), I made the coffee, opened the slider and was amazed to see the sun rising through the houses.  It was beautiful.  As it continued to rise and the Florida birds were busy with their calls, I just again realized the beauty of His hand.  How creative he is!!!

I got into the word and because I'm 2 weeks behind, I started where I left off.  I was in Deutoronomy and as I got to Deut 10:12 and read his words, I think of being a Mom and how many times I said to my children "it's for your own good".  I hear myself saying that to Mitzee today.  But here is what it says:

Deut 10:12  And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

He knows what is right for us.  But here we are trying to do it for ourselves, when it's already been done.  We're so smart, we think we have the answers.  Wrong!!!  We really have to look to him, he is the almighty--we are not.

So I sit here knowing that I have been blessed with many things.  I don't think I deserve them but as the bible says, I will take care and respect them. 

I know that as I sit here at the kitchen table with my bible, the sun fully up, the birds still calling, Mitzee snuggled up on the couch, I know that what I have been missing is his word and how it truly does make me feel whole and complete.  What better blessing is that.

Thank you Lord Jesus for all my blessings and how you really do complete me.

Life: Part One

Mom and Dad conceive and there I am.  Hopefully a wanted pregnancy and child.  I'm not sure what's happening, but I feel my body getting bigger and bigger.  I have hands, feet, and I think I hear noises.  

I know she's eating stuff that sometimes I like and sometimes I don't.  If I don't, I end up with these hiccupps that I can't seem to stop.  I hear her talking about them and smiling and laughing with joy.  I'm not.  I'm here in this small space and it seems to get smaller and smaller as the days go by.

Something's happening.  I feel like I'm moving downward.....my head and my feet are in different positions.  There's an awful lot of people are her and Dad is there.

Something's different.  It's cold and I'm wrapped in something soft and lots of people are passing me around like a football.  I'm not sure, but that other place was nice--quiet, small but nice.  Everyone is smiling at me.  Did I say something funny?  I don't think I can communicate with these people.  Their lips are moving but I don't understand them.

Something is different.  This room is way different than that last place.  Is this all mine?  Nice!  

Here comes that nice lady.  We're going to be close.  I like that.  I hope it lasts for a very long time.  

I don't know what that is, but it stinks.  Wow!!!  She wipes and wipes.  Where is that stuff coming from?  If I didn't know better, I'd say it was me.

It's been a while since I've been here.  I don't know what all these people are doing here, but everyone is smiling and talking and laughing, and I'm getting passed around like a football again.  What are they singing about?  It's for me!  It's my birthday, yeah!!! I wonder how old I am?  

Hey, look at all that stuff up there.  I wonder what it is.  If only I could pull myself up and see.  Ahhhhh, I am woman, hear me roar.  Sounds like it could make a nice song.  That lady is always singing.  Look at this.  Opps.  I know I can suck on these little things but they do other things as well.  There it goes....when it falls down there's more of it, more pieces. 

Oh oh..here comes that lady....she doesn't sound like she's happy.  What's the deal....put me back down...  Did I do something wrong? 

Wow, you can really make tracks when you use these feet.  Look at me!  I'm walking like Mom and Dad.  They're smiling again and asking me to walk to them.  Will they always be smiling at me and asking me to come near them?

Another cake, more people, more passing. 

Who is that!!!  And what is that thing he's driving?  Who are those kids?  Why is Mom crying?  Did I do something wrong?  Hey guys, what's happening?  Anyone know where we're going?  I guess that big man up front will take us there.  Do we know how long we'll be there?  My Mom is crying and I want to make it better for her.

Everyone sit down, this thing is moving...wish I knew where we were going and when I'll be home...she looks sad and is waving at me.  I love you Mommy...I'll be back......

Hey guys, look at this...an inside sand box!!!  Cool.  Who is that big lady?  Why is she bossing us around?  I thought only Mom and Dad did that!  Sit down.  Why, there's all this cool stuff here to check out and play with and I've got so many people to play with.  Fun.....

I don't know what these hard, colored things are but they don't taste good.  Am I suppose to eat all of them? 

Hey, there's that man again--the one who brought us here.  What does he want?  Now she's telling us what to do again.  Everyone make a line in front of the door.  What door and what's a line?  Oh, there's the door.  Stand in line.  No talking.  No hitting.  Boy is she bossy......

Oh look.  There's that big, yellow car again.  Hey guys, lets go for another ride.  I wonder where we're going.  I recognize this place....it's where Mom and Dad live.  Hey, there's Mom....she's waving and smiling.....why is she crying?  I just got here and didn't have time to do anything wrong, yet.

She's holding her arms out and I'm going to run to her and see if she can catch me.....she's good.  Got you, she says.  She's kissing me so much.  You'd think she just saw me for the first time.  I missed you, she says.  But I wasn't gone that long. 

What did you do today, she asks.  I hand her my papers as we walk.  There's home.  What should we have for lunch....I don't know but that other place needs better snacks.

She keeps telling me my papers are nice but I'm tired and I feel like I need a nap.  I can hardly keep my eyes open......How come it looks like it's getting darker and darker?  This is nice and soft....

Good night sweetheart, Mom says.  Sleep tight.  Hmmmmmm, could you pull that blanket over me?  Yeah, that's nice....See you in a few.

Love you, she says....Love you back I say....

Relationships

Today as I struggled with many things, I broke down and cried.  I don't know how I got to this place and I'm confused as to how to fix it.  All I want to do is run away.  Run away to Florida.  Right.....No!!

Please remember and I know this that running away is only a short term fix.  Kinda like going on a vacation.  When you board that plane to come back home, you're coming back to REALITY!!!  Hello....staring you in the face as soon as you hit home or sooner if you let your mind start to wander making lists of things that need to be done like I do.

Anyway, it seems relationships are running amuck and no sign of repair.  Right now the only things I know for sure is that my  husband loves me, and my heavenly father loves me.  Mitzee is questionnable as she has suffered a second bath in two days (dog park has more dust than grass).

Relationships are funny, aren't they?  We enter into them with a "hi, my name is Barbara" and they start down one path and end up on another.  How to fix that is the problem if you really want to fix it.  Do you want to repair the relationship?  Would you miss it if it were gone?  

When being reborn in 1998, I realized that I am not in this world alone.  That everyone I meet is potentially a friend and someone to love.  The bible says to love your neighbor. Every person you meet is a neighbor.  I love talking to people and I chose to see the good in them.  Why see the bad?  Why walk away with a bad feeling about that person?  I chose to be positive and see the good--it serves me better and in the end, who am I to judge?

On most days, I know God is present in my life.  On others, I ask him to be with me as I know it will be a tough day and I will need extra support.  It's a cozy, comfortable and warm feeling to know that he is with me and should something happen to me, I go home to be with him knowing I was not alone.  I'm thankful for this relationship.  When all else, when everyone else fails me, I know that this relationship is stable, rock solid and cherised.

Words for Today

Only those with persistent faith can obey when the task seems impossible. 

Right now there is so much going on in my life that prayer needs to cover.  Mother-in-law recovering from a tiny stroke, Harry with his cancer, relationships with children, brothers, sisters and my Heavenly Father.

But as the first sentence indicates, it is only by persistent faith, every day, every minute faith, that we will be able to get through the tough times.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your word and sacrifice on my behalf.    I pray that I can be the person you want me to be and be pleasing in your sight.



Barbara

How Can We Change the Cycle?

My husband, Mitzee and I decided to go to Coconut Point Mall and take in the music that they have every night from 6-9pm.  We parked, grabbed doggie bags and off we went.  We heard the music and made a beeline.  It was nice but not at all the set up we expected.  So, after 10 minutes of several people adoring and holding Mitzee, we cut away and decided to walk the mall.

It's a beautiful mall, lit up with water spraying out of the ponds, the palm trees swaying, food smells entering your nose and you cannot help but feel that life is good at that moment.  You ponder that thought and know that you are truly blessed with a wonderful husband who adores you and treats you like a queen, a dog that loves you unconditionally even when its raining and she doesn't understand that there's no walk today and five beautiful daughters with sons-in-laws that I love.  Does it get better than that?  No, to be loved is the best.

As we walked, we passed kids in large and small groups.  Girls with girls talking on their cell phones trying to act big; boy and girl walking trying to start a relationship and are awkward at it; and a group of boys talking loud, commenting on everything in a critical way, putting down everything, (even my dog!) and reaking havoc.  Only taking time to pull up their jeans that are slowly making their way to their knees. 

As we walk and talk, I think back to my childhood and wonder, did I do that?  I think we all did to some extent and maybe in different ways in order to gain independence, worth, confidence, to show how grown up we are, how tough we are not only to and for ourselves, but to others as well.

But the kids in my time were content with just riding our bikes as fast as we could, speeding down the steepest hill, or hanging around at the little restaurant that served the best french fries and coke, talking and having a great time.  

But the kids today are definitely different.  One because the world is not as it was 45 years ago, two because we are not the parents our parents were, and three because our culture and environment is different and maybe they have to be?  This is entirely debateable and I don't think I have enough life left to do so.  It seems like they're not content unless they are criticizing someone, beating someone up, vandalizing, breaking,  and just being cruel.

As a grandmother of 4, I find this disturbing.  I don't want my grandsons (a girl is coming) to have to be bullied, treated cruelly, threatened, etc.  They're only as safe as their environment.

How do we stop this cycle?  Doesn't it begin with the parents?  If the parents do not play an active roll in the life of their children, yes, they will get into trouble and you will find yourself on the other end of the phone call or at the door in the wee hours, talking to a cop.

I just pray that we can stop this cycle and return our children to the values, attitudes, morals and strength that I grew up with.

Ponder this:  We are so busy giving our kids what we did not have, we aren't giving them what we did have.

Lord, I pray that your people would have a fire ignited in them to reach out to you and your word and be a positive influence in their life.  It takes a light to know a light.

May God shine on you today and give you a wonderful surprise.

Enough Already

So, here's my new gripe.  If you watched the news yesterday (4/7), Spirit Airlines is going to start charging (trial basis--do you believe that?) for your carry on IF it doesn't fit under the seat. Yep.  Anywhere from $20-45 (I think).  Oh my goodness.  So is Spirit in trouble that they have to?  Or are they, like the other airlines, tired of people packing everything into their carry on so they don't have to:

1.  Pay for checked luggage
2.  Wait around for it at their final destination
3.  Don't have to worry about it getting lost and my favorite
4.  When landing, they won't have to worry about things in the overhead getting shuffled around and hitting them in the head when they open it.

So if you remember, the airlines started charging more because of the escalating fuel costs.  Someone needs to pick up the tab.  So, they have stabilized and now we are being assessed new fees.  What gives??

When I fly to Florida, I pay a fee for Mitzee to fly under the seat with me and she is counted as one of my carry ons and I put my roller in the overhead.  That's fine, it wouldn't fit under the seat anyway.  So I'm told to get over the fact that my little 10 pound dog costs more than the carry on to bring on to the plane.  So, I'm over that!!!

Granted, I've seen some of the bags that people carry on.  And they don't stick to the two carry on rule.  A purse counts as one.  But people bring their roll on, then a computer bag (another carry on), their purse and I love it when they attach their computer bag to their roll on thereby declaring it ONE bag.

So, we will be flying with all the overheads somewhat empty, good for our health.  Everything will be in the cargo area making it heavier and harder for us to lift off (just kidding).

Well, I'm a little annoyed.  Why aren't the airlines enforcing the 2 bag per person rule?  I see people skate by all the time!  And my final question is?  Did all the airlines get together and say "hey Spirit, nobody knows you, you try it first and we'll see how it goes and if it goes well, we'll institute it also.

At the end of the news report on this subject, they said that pay toilets may also be in our flying future.  Empty your bladders before boarding folks!!!!

Is It Monday?

Today I awoke to find it raining and that meant that the leaves I blew into the arena are now going to be wet leaves.

I was suppose to be at my daughters house at noon only to have the husband call and say that he was leaving town and that he'd be leaving at 12:30pm and oh by the way, I'm hungry.

I was suppose to have lab work done but couldn't find my lab sheet.

On the way to my daughters, I  had a yelling match with my oldest.

At my other daughters house, I got into an argument with her.

What day is it?  Is it Monday or is it Tuesday?  I thought that only crap happened on Mondays.  So why was my day so bad?  I haven't been in the word, that's why.

But don't fret.  It ends on a good note.  I texted my daughter (oldest) to see if I could swing by to see the grandbabies.  Yes she says, they're expecting you.

I got there and parked and they drove in moments later.  I see the boys get out of the truck and hear my 2 year old grandson say "I missed you".  Is that possible?  His words and sentences were clear as the bells ringing at church.  He had grown.  My little Tucker, still as slim as ever but just as handsome, ran to me with the smile on his face that can only put a smile on your heart and on your face.

Once inside the house, we sat and Carrie prepared dinner.  A little negotiating went on between mother and son but in the end, everyone was fed and got their dessert.  Gammi sat with Bennie on her lap, helping him maneuver the Leap Frog, kissing him, tickling him, and kissing him some more. 

Then I changed out boys and got Tucker on my lap and did the same.  Not once did the tv go on.  What a change!!!  It was nice to have their undivided attention and be with them.

These little angels put the smile back on my face and retrieved the lousy day from the trash.   Thank you Tucker and Bennie, Gammi loves you.

p.s.  To Carrie and Meg:  I am so sorry for the arguments with you both.   I pray that you will forgive me.

How Long Will It Last?

My mother-in-law, Marj, had a small stroke to the left side of the brain last Monday.  I arrived back in Minnesota, packed a bag, and headed to Albert Lea.

When I got there, I found my husband somewhat pulled together but shaken.  I saw Mom and although the outward appearance was good, you knew she wasn't 100%.  She struggled to get a word out, to put a sentence together and think and speak the word she wanted.

Brooke and Ashley were the nurses on Wednesday.  Brooke has been a nurse for a while and Ashley was a nursing student.  The kindness and gentleness that they showed Mom was awesome.  If Mom didn't understand, which she doesn't alot these days, Brooke would rephrase.  If Mom still didn't get it, she would stroke Mom's back and say "it's ok, I can wait.  They gave Mom the time and most of all, the respect she deserved.

As I watched them, I wondered to myself--in 20 years will they have this same attitude towards their patients that they do now.  Brooke was a relatively new nurse and Ashley a student.  Would time, demands, patients attitude and hospital rules and politics change their attitude.

Thursday's nurses were awesome also.  Meghan was the student nurse and Nancy was her nurse.  These women were kind to a fault.  It was inspiring and comforting to know that Mom was in good hands.

But I continued to wonder about being a nurse.  You have to be willing to humble yourself and let the patient have the upper hand sometimes.  You have to be willing to comfort, be patient and and even sit and listen for a while, as they try to communicate with you thus treating them with dignity.

Mom had an MRI done on Wednesday.  The nurse that came to get her was an older nurse and clearly had lost that patient trait.  Her kindness bank was low for sure.

Then I asked, why do people become nurses?  I know like being a parent, some people should not even engage in reproducing.  And as important as being a parent is--so is being a nurse!!

I know my sister became a nurse just to make enough money to buy appliances for her home and pay the bills while her husband was unemployed.  Is this a good reason to become a nurse?  One day at work, she was asked if she liked being a nurse by her supervisor.  Not particularly she said.  Her supervisor told her she may want to find another way to support her family.

I've had my share of time in the hospital between kids, surgeries and strokes.  I've had some good ones and some bad ones.  I'm here to say that when you get a bad one, the hospital stay can be like being in a prison.  But when you get that special person who realized she wanted to help people and become a nurse, your hospital stay is great.  You wake to a kind face and voice.  Comforting.   You hear and see their actions that reflect how they feel about being a nurse.  Comforting.  You see them put their arm around you and tell you it will be alright.  Awesome. 

How does the patient feel?  Respected, comforted, and safe.  We feel like we are in the best hands and besides the arms of Jesus, that's just dandy with me.

To all you nurses out there with that humbling and kind spirit about you, thank you for what you do and may you always put that into play.  And when you find your job lacking reward, think about the smiles you put on our faces and our hearts knowing that you care about us.