Favorite...?

Are you someone's favorite person?

I read this on one of the blog's I regularly read. It got me to thinking. I hope I'm my husband's favorite person, and maybe even my kids favorite mom. I'm pretty sure I'm at least near the top of the list of grandkids.

And then I wondered about Jesus. Who is His favorite? What would it take to be God's favorite? I don't know that I could do what I think it would take to be Jesus' favorite person.
Although, with as much as God has intervened and helped us and blessed us recently, I feel that I could make that argument!

What do you think?

Thank You Lord for the blessings, and for the good news we just received. Once again You have proved Yourself faithful! You are my favorite!

...talk about a HEADACHE...

I tried to blog yesterday, but I must have irritated the blogger powers that be, because they accepted my post as some sort of atoning sacrifice and consumed it and the altar on which it was offered.

I had to take my younger DS to the local doc in a box Monday for headache with dizziness. This child sometimes has been known to "exaggerate" shall we say, symptoms in order to receive attention. But the dizziness and "foggy eyes" had us concerned, so after the school called me on his behalf, off we went.

We waited for two hours before we needed to go fetch DS1 from school, and there were still people ahead of us in line. I told the nurse we'd be back after 5pm.

So, about 5:10, we all head back to the dr. We finally got into an exam room at around 5:40 - keeping in mind they closed at 6pm. Dr came in around 5:50 and proceeded to give DS a thorough exam, but could find no reason for "the worst headache ever so far." Dr said he wanted to speak to our primary care physician for a consult and asked us to wait. Hmmph. He would periodically return to let us know he was still waiting for the dr to return his call. More waiting. At around 6:30, our dr finally called. Docinabox dr returned to the exam room to tell me that DS2 had a CT scan scheduled for right now. RIGHT NOW.

So off we go to the hospital. The nurse in triage led us to not radiology...but rather ADMISSIONS! More forms, more waiting. And then the admissions lady led us to radiology, but there was no one there. Just a phone and a sign sitting on a counter in front of an empty desk. I follow the instructions on the sign and call someone to let them know we're there and oh, so available for the scan. Finally, someone comes out and takes my paperwork and instructs us to sit and...thaaaaat's right...wait! *sigh*

We were led back to the scan room at around 7:30ish. The scan took literally 8 minutes and we were gone. As we were leaving, DS1 asked if the 'tiragy' stuff where we were when we got to the hospital was contagious. Thank heavens for comic relief!

Of course, don't forget, we have not been home yet. We rushed home, hoping against hope that the dog could hold it. Nope. And would someone please tell me why dogs HAVE to use the carpet instead of the linoleum?!? Oh, and of course Wrigley had an upset tummy...UGH!

Fortunately, DS2's scan was negative. He is still having headaches, but so far, they've been more controllable.

Not exactly how I was hoping to spend my Monday. However, I've determined that I will not let Satan get me down and will keep my head up, searching the skies!

Lord, thank You that the tests results were favorable! Comfort him and help us to help him feel better. You know our needs at this time, and You have ALWAYS come through for us. Lord, we're calling on You again to provide.

Famous Four

Okay, just so DH will stop bugging me, I will answer his 'Famous Four.' Or I'll attempt to, anyway.

I have always wanted to sing. From the time I was a child. I sang in the little bitty cute kids choir as a preschooler - you know the one where the debate rages over whether it's cuter to have your kids wave at you or do the potty dance in front of the church! (I did neither, by the way - too shy to wave and too in control (?!) of myself to feel the need to do urinary ballet!) However, when I was older, I didn't join any other choirs either at church or in school. I think I was still too shy. In college, I shared with a friend that I wanted to sing and that I felt that God wanted me to sing as well. But, again, I really didn't do anything about it.

I was thrilled when I was approached about singing with the praise team at church! Even with my many limitations, I have so enjoyed the experience! The fellowship, the fun, the love, and the SINGING have been incredible!

And then, joy of joys! I actually started seeing a voice coach! Someone who actually had technical knowledge told me that I wasn't delusional and had a halfway decent voice! Huzzah! She has challenged me to step outside my christian niche of music, but that's where I'm happiest - praising in song. I feel closer to Jesus when I sing than almost any other time. Lyrics turn to prayers for me. Melodies are worship.

I don't think I am anywhere nearly good enough to record or anything, so I think I've come as far as I want, and possibly as far as God wants.

So, dear, I don't know if that's what you were hoping to hear, but it's what I feel my answers to your questions are.

"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord." Psalm 104:33-34 (get it? :D)

Wha' happen...?

I was skimming the Psalms today, searching for an appropriate scripture for a situation, and my eye often caught on underlines and notes I have in my Bible. I so enjoy looking at other people's Bibles, especially those who have walked with Jesus for a long time. I think their notes and underlines are almost as great a testament as the book itself! So, as I'm running through the Psalms, I keep seeing these underlined passages, and most of them were just crying out to the Lord for relief. "Help me...rescue me...absolve me..." I kept running into them, and thought to myself, "Where are the praises I've wanted to pray?!" I mean, there was all this moaning and groaning - which is okay, I guess. I just wondered when I was going to get around to celebrating, and marking those passages as well.

Lord, You alone are worthy of praise! I want to bring my praises to You, as well as my struggles!

Joy

I've tried to take Sunday's sermon to heart - yeah, the same one Skip mentioned in his blog - about finding joy everyday. And what I've discovered is that I've seen the hand of God working and active in my life this week. I've been so aware of it, and it's been amazing! He's been helping us through a low spot and He just keeps pouring out blessings! And not small ones! It's been really neat to watch for these events, and to acknowledge them as they happen, and not just in hindsight.

Lord, You are to be praised, even in the tough spots! Help me to see You this way more! I want to see what You're doing in my life and the lives of others! Thank You for Your abundant blessings!

We put the 'fun' in 'dysfunctional'!

My grandfather and one of my aunts came to visit last night. These are relatives from my dad's side. And I admit, I haven't exactly been the faithful correspondent that I should be or like I have with my grandmother (from my mother's side.) I never really built a real close relationship with that side of the family since my dad chose not to fully exercise his visitation rights when mom and dad divorced. And now, of course, I regret that. I felt really bad when they couldn't keep the boys' names straight. Ouch! That hurt! Not so much because I was offended or anything, but because they didn't know them well enough to be able to remember. I've vowed to change this. I'm glad that Grampa has such a close relationship with my cousin - she's pretty young - I was the ONLY grandchild for 29 years. And I'm determined to build a better relationship with that side of the family. Not necessarily my father, you understand. It's always very uncomfortable when we talk. His choices have built some pretty thick walls, and I don't feel that I know him well enough yet to try to find a chink in those walls. But, we'll see...

Sorry - still not feeling much like blogging - we're going through a really rough spot right now. We'd appreciate prayers. Blugs!

break

Not a good couple of days - don't really feel much like blogging. Hope to be back to it soon! Blugs.

Of fire trucks and watering things

DH and I watched "Ladder 49" last night. Whew! Wow! Really gets ya right there, know what I mean? The movie sparked all kinds of conversation at our house last night - and no, we didn't let the kiddos watch it. But it really touched on some of the fears we have as a firefighter family. One of the scenes that really got to me was one of the final scenes - if you haven't seen it I won't spoil it, but I just felt like the main character's wife was excluded, shunned almost, in favor of the brotherhood. I don't feel that DH would ever do that, or be involved in any activity that would make me feel that way, but I have seen and heard of some instances where things like that have happened.

I confess! I had no idea what a delicate flower our dog was! We had to get more dog food, and instead of the outrageously overpriced food we had been getting, I went a step down to the next higher outrageously overpriced food. Well, Wrigley was NOT happy! He had bad things coming out of both ends of him - made for a pleasant evening, lemme tell ya! With a pet, you can't send him running to the bathroom when he feels sick, obviously. So I went out and bought the original outrageously overpriced food. I even took him with me to the yuppie pet store here in town - because that's where they sell the outrageously overpriced food. He did fine all through the store to the back where the food is, back to the front to pay for the food, and then he decided to 'bless' the checkout counter! Thaaat's right. 'Annointed' the durn thing right there! I told the clerk, and he assured me it was no problem, but I was pretty embarrassed nonetheless! I guess I should be happy it wasn't one of the kids that did it, huh?

Monday...

I have to admit that when I started blogging, I really wasn't expecting anyone to actually read the durn thing! But things being as they are, I've discovered quite a few people have not only read my random tho'ts, but have linked me as well! (I have to admit - I was thrilled at that!) It's been pretty interesting to find out who has been reading my blog. Some people were a given, some were a surprise, some were a bolt out of the blue!

I've been getting the stitching urge again. I need to find a project, tho', that won't be a hit on the pocketbook - in other words - use some of the floss I have on hand! Unfortunately, when it comes to my embroidery floss, I'm not the most organized person. So finding the right colors and seeing if I have usable fabrice will be a challenge. I've been cruising some stitching blogs and websites, and the bug done bit me! I have some projects in the works now - and this is part of my problem - I want to do something NEW!!! From the beginning! For me, there's nothing like organizing my stitching corner with floss and needle and fabric and notions. I'm missing that a lot recently! But, there are other things that need to be done around the house, so I'll try to exterminate that bug for awhile yet.

My grandmother came to see us this weekend. We got her to start telling stories from her childhood, and we had a blast! She was quite a pistol when she was a girl! She started telling me some of the not so good things that happened to her as a child. I was concerned that she would be really down after remembering some of these events, and then head home alone. But she called me later and told me that she had received a call from a childhood friend that evening, so they reminisced about the good things, and she was fine. She's such a wonderful woman, and I am so incredibly blessed to have had her such a part of my life!

Yesterday's worship was really good, I thought. The message was inspiring, and the fellowship was good. I sang with the praise team yesterday, and I thought that went okay. Well, except for that little hiccup during the opening announcements. We have a LARGE portrait hanging up in the front of the auditorium, and it happens to be right behind the sopranos on the praise team. We stayed onstage while the announcements were being given, and I thought I was farther away from the picture than I was andevidentlyIbumpeditandwellyeahitkindafellonme. But other than that...

Lord, thank You for the ability to laugh at ourselves!

...kamma kamma down doobiedoo down down...

I can't figure out what's going on with me! Yesterday and today, I just seem to be in a funk - at least that's how it looks! I mean, I feel fine - not sad or down or anything, but my face and my demeanor don't seem to have gotten the memo.

I am feeling a little sensitive about comments being made about things here in the office. They're made as 'general' comments about broad topics, but the 'broad topics' are things that I'm responsible for - and not by choice, might I add. *sigh* I don't want to be bothered with anyone at work today. Just let me sit in my little corner of the office and do my work!

Lord, I don't want to bring anyone down, and I don't want to be down myself! I want to be a light and share the joy that You've given me! Lift my head, Lord. Let me be an encouragement.

Dream a little dream...

I had the oddest dream last night - sorry honey! I dreamed I was in a musical production that was being performed in a mall-like setting. The play was almost like the Ice Capades in scale! And I was the lead - with no preparation! No clue what the choreography was, the songs, the lines - nothing! And the male lead was NOT happy with me! (Like I wanted to be in that position!) My fears about my shortcomings were allayed, though, when the bad guys took us all hostage. So, no worries! :D

It's not even eleven and I'm pretty much done with everything I HAVE to do today. There's still some other extra stuff that needs to be done, but I can wait awhile to do that - you know, make it stretch!

Okay, this will sound like a weird statement, but, well, consider the source. I've started driving the posted speed limit. There. I said it. I've never been any sort of speed demon or anything, but you know, 5-10 over was pretty common. Ever since I started going the limit though, I've felt a peace when I'm in the car. I don't have to worry about police cruisers singling me out, or even noticing me. I'm more relaxed in the car and when I get to my destination. If it takes me a little longer than it did a few weeks ago, oh well. Driving has never been one of my favorite things to do, but recently I haven't minded it nearly as much. (I told you it was weird!)

Well, I guess I need to get back to the grindstone. And don't worry - I'll find something to occupy my time! Heheh!

Lord, thank You for my job, and the breaks that I get to enjoy.

Innocence Lost

I think my rose-colored glasses have been lightened just a bit. And I have to admit, I'm mourning that bit of innocence and Pollyanna-ish-ness (?!) that I think I've lost. I hate to think that there are the kind of things I've heard about in the one area of my life where I want to be able to believe the best about people, but there ya go. I guess the church will never be perfect in this world, because as hard as we try, we're all still human.

Please pray for my families - church and home. Come, Lord Jesus!