The greatest Christmas present ever

When I woke up this morning I looked over at my closet and thought about how many Christmas presents have been stashed in it over the years. My mother had always stashed our Christmas presents in her closet when we were growing up, and we knew that. I remember the overwhelming urge to peak in the closet and see what we were getting. There were a few years where I gave in to temptation and looked when she was not around. Once I looked, it took away the surprise from it. I remember sitting on the floor as a kid and getting handed my presents and knowing what was in each one just by feeling the package and wishing I had not looked.

If you happen to be reading this blog, Mom, and if I have never confessed this to you, I would like to ask your forgiveness. I learned my lesson! I remember waking up early in the morning before the roosters and sitting on the couch in the dark with my sister with the Christmas tree lights plugged in, just staring at the presents under the tree. We could not wait for Mom and Dad to get up so we could open the presents. Sometimes we would "accidentally"be a little noisy so that they would just happen to wake up early. I remember counting down the days until Christmas and the excitement that I felt that was hard to contain.

That excitement was over material things that would only last a short while. Many of us still get excited over gifts we receive , and that is OK. But the GREATEST gift we have ever received is eternal if we choose to accept it, and that gift is JESUS. We should be more excited about that gift than any other. That gift that has been given is something we can freely share with others and it will last for eternity. One great way to share it is through our actions. We can speak the words, but if love does not show, the words just seem meaningless and empty. After all Jesus was sent to earth because of God's great love for us. There was love behind God's gift, so how can we share God's gift without showing love. ~ 1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ~  Let's see how many people we can share the GREATEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER with!

Finding balance in a crazy world

 It has been exactly 10 months since I posted my last blog. I wonder how many things I would have accomplished in those 10 months had I stuck with my 10 things a day. I am sure it would have been quite a bit. I learned a lot from my 100 day journey and it gave me the confidence to pursue my interests. I went back to school this year after thinking it over for 20 + years. In fact my final exam is due today. Every week I would begin a new unit, and after glancing at it I would wonder what was I thinking? The beginning of each chapter I either knew very little, or I was completely clueless, by the middle of it I seemed to grasp some of it, and by the end of the chapter it all seemed to make sense. It has taught me not to give up, even when things seem too difficult.

This year has been full of many changes, some difficult and some easy. Trying to balance everything out can be a little challenging at times ( spiritual life, family, work, friends, volunteering, hobbies, health, etc...) It seems like something is always getting short changed, especially if you focus too much on one thing, and that one thing is not God. I have learned to stop and evaluate what I am doing when I start gettting burned out or stressed. I have also found when you are not doing the things you are called to do or passionate about you can easily keep tryng to find things to do to bring that same satisfaction, and pretty soon you have too much on your plate and you are still not satisfied.

There are so many reasons why our lives seem to get out of Whack or why we feel overwhelmed.I found over the years the quickest way to feel stressed out is by putting my spiritual life on the bottom of the list. We can't try to squeeze God into our day when we find a little available space for him. He has to be the center of our day. When we put him first , the rest falls into place and things seem to become more clearer. For me it is easy to try to carry the world on my shoulders and that is not my job. I think it also is easy to become obsessed with trying to please people and to try to fix everything, at least for me anyway. That is the quickest way to drive yourself crazy. I have learned there are people you will NEVER please and that I can't fix anything, and that it is OK. It is hard for me to see people unhappy, and somehow I seem to absorb their feelings like a sponge.

I think one thing some of us seem to miss, is taking the time to play. Yes, we have responsibilities as we get older, but I think it is also important to have some fun. When you really think about it many of us were healthier as children than we are now. Sure, age definitley plays a very big part in it, but we also took time to have fun and spent more time outdoors. We still had to go school, we had chores and homework, but we made time for fun, we hung out with friends, went swimming, built forts in the woods, went camping, picked berries ,went roller skating, played games and went to family reunions. They now seem to be just fond memories, but we can make new ones with our children and grandchildren. How many times have you ran into an old friend or family member and have  promised to get together and not let so much time slip by again, but somehow everyone gets so busy and it doesn't happen, and then if the person moves far away, or worse yet if they pass away, we kick ourselves in the butt and regret not making the time.

Why live with so many regrets? If we even pick one or two evenings or a Saturday a month to specifically plan to spend time with someone we seldom see, or to just have fun, I think it would make a difference. Well, it is time to study for my final exam, pray for me!

 

Day 100

Yeah , I made it !!!! 100 days felt like a long time. I am still very thankful I decided to try this.I could not have made it without God's help and the encouragement and support from my family and friends.ThankYou!!!!!!!! I thought this would be just a little experiment to see if I could get things in order doing a little at a time , instead of my all or nothing approach to everything. It ended up being so much more than that.

After spending so many years feeling overwhelmed and having so many regrets about not finishing things. I can now say with great joy IT IS GONE !!! and I no longer think I can do all things through Christ. I know I can do all things through Christ.Those negative thoughts I had telling me I can't do something are no longer there. I will not do ten things for ten minutes everyday now. But I will do extra things every day and I will finish what I started. I don't want to quit just because my experiment is done.

Through this I have also learned what things are important to me and what things really don't matter. I have also learned the importance of perseverance and how to no longer let a bad day or a small challenge stop me from pushing forward and achieving my goals. I have also learned the importance of accountability and what a big difference it really can make and how necessary it is.I feel extremely blessed by all the wonderful people God has placed in my life. I can't say thank you enough :) God Bless You All !!!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ECCLESIASTES 4: 9-12

Day 99

Only 1 day left !!! I finished my ten things. I thought I would have got done even earlier today since I stayed home sick, but by noon I had a fever and was dizzy so I did not feel like doing anything . I gradually got my ten things done and almost all of them were things I could do sitting down. I spent most of my day laying down and watching TV. Battles of the Bible on the History channel and many episodes of twilight zone on the sci-fi channel.There is always such a bizarre twist at the end.

Television programs have changed so much over the years and not for the better. I have plugged my ears and closed my eyes when commercials have come on before. I can't stand watching anything demonic.It creeps me out and everything is so graphic now. I still like suspense and solving crimes.I loved watching Nancy drew when I was younger and reading her books.Ken has bought me several of her computer games. It is fun to play once in a while.I miss some of the old shows. Now it seems like a majority of what's on is reality TV.

I think people have just gotten lazy. It does not take much of an imagination to make a reality show. A lot of people treat each other like garbage on those shows,and they don't seem to filter very much. It is a poor example for our kids to see.When they are at home you can try and monitor what they watch but not when they are at their friends house. Many of the kids have parents that both need to work or they are from single parent homes and no one is there at all hours to monitor what they are watching on TV or the internet.

We really have to talk with our kids about so many things now.If we don't they will get all their information some where else and most likely it will not be what we want them to hear or believe. Every day is filled with challenges for the young and the old .I am so thankful we only have to deal with one day at a time.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  LUKE 1:50

Day 98

I am finished with my ten things for the day. I only have two days to go!! It has been a busy day today. I did most of the same things today. I went through my jewelry box today. I keep jewelry in it but I have a few other prized possessions in it too.My daughters 7th grade ASB card . It is one of my favorite pictures of her. I ran across my sister in laws cowboy caviar recipe in there. I did not want to lose that for anything. if you tasted it you would know why. There really isn't caviar in there though. But it is really good!!

I found a tooth. I am not sure which child it belonged to and I found lots of bracelets my children made me. I even ran across one from Josephina. She was one of the girls at an orphanage I use to go down to in Mexico.I still wonder what ever happened to her and how her life turned out. She really wanted to come home with me and I wanted to adopt her. We had developed a bond over a couple of years of going down there but another couple had papers drawn up by their lawyers and she had to go with them.The following year when I went down I asked how everything went and the director said not well and that she had ran away from the couple.

Ever since then when I see a really young Mexican lady I find myself looking at her closely to see if it might be  her. She would be in her early twenties now. I think working in an orphanage would be an emotionally hard job.Seeing kids get dropped off by their parents because they can no longer support them or because they have passed away or they have been abused would be tough and then after they have been there for a while you would be really attached to them like your own flesh and blood and love them like your own and then when they had to eventually leave you would feel like a little piece of your heart got torn away.Wow! I never really thought about it like that until now. I think that is something to definitely add on my list of things to really pray about,orphanage workers!!

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. MATTHEW 19:13-15

Day 97

I have just three days left until I reach one hundred !!! I can't wait for summer. It was nice and sunny today and the mountains looked so pretty with all the snow on them. I think I must have taken about ten pictures this morning. Yes, I am definitely ready for it to be warmer. I did not go on Ken's walk with him this evening. For one it is very cold and I am feeling wimpy and two my knee is worse than yesterday.

I went with Ken on his walk last night and by the time we were done and reached the house he turned around and looked at me and smiled and said he felt like he walked a child. I am not sure if it was because I was walking slow and he was pulling me by my hand or if it was because I kept talking like Elmer Fudd . Maybe that is why my throat is so sore today ?? He said he got done in half the time tonight. He walks twice as fast as I do anyway. I will go tomorrow night.

I did manage to get my ten things done tonight. It is easy for me to get side tracked sometimes especially if I am on the computer. I use to play games all the time on the computer or I would get sucked in to taking those personality tests or quizzes. Some of them I have taken several times over the last few years.My personality still seems to remain the same. It was kind of funny when Ken and I took a DISC test a couple of years ago. He is a DIS and I am an ISC. He is the beginning I am the end. I think I definitely need  to go to bed . I am really tired and the more I write the weirder it gets.

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.  PSALM 139:4

Day 96

I only have four days left!! Four all of a sudden seems so much smaller than five. I have completed my ten things for the day. It has been a great day!! I went on my walk with Ken tonight. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr it is cold out. I think the coldest walk I have ever been on was with with Ken in Leavenworth about six or seven years ago. We took the bus down and stayed at Icicle Inn.The bus dropped us off quite a ways away from it.Ken pulled something in his back on the ferry ride over to the bus and my bad knee was not cooperating. It was so cold when we got there it felt like your nose hairs froze every time you took in a breathe.

We only stayed for the night. The next morning we woke up and went down to the dining room for their continental breakfast. Just as I poured batter in the waffle iron and closed it the power went out. They went and got battery operated candlesticks and handed one to each one of the guests. I found something else to eat and we sat at the table holding our canlde sticks.The power went out because of a cold snap they were having. It was minus eleven degrees outside.

We could not get back in our room because the electric key cards that you slide in the door would not work until they booted up a generator. By that time they got the generator going it started getting cold in there.We went to our room finally and put our coats on and wrapped up in blankets until it was time to head to the bus.When it was time to walk all the way down to bus stop the wind started picking up. We felt completely froze when we reached it. The bus stop was outdoors and the bus was running about a half hour late.

Our faces were so numb we could hardly move our lips to talk , which made us laugh uncontrollably for about ten minutes, then I ended up in tears. Ken went across the road and walked over to a drive thru espresso stand and bought me some hot tea so I could try to thaw my face and hands with the hot cup. He was my hero! We were so glad when the bus got there. I think our bodies stung while they thawed all the way back to Seattle.I thought for sure I had frost bite .That is the only time I remember it being that cold when I have been to Leavenworth. The other times were all very enjoyable :)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.   PSALM 46:1

Day 95

Only five days left !!! It has been a wonderful day today and I have just completed my ten things.One of the things this personal journey has taught me is how to make the most of my days I have been blessed with and not to waste anymore precious time and to rely on God to give me the strength I need in EVERY area of my life. It says in 2 Chronicles that the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

I have let the fear of not having enough strength at times keep me from doing the things I desire to do instead of trusting God to give me the strength to accomplish it. He will not lay things on are our hearts to do and then not equip us with what we need to get the task done. I found that when I am not doing what he has asked of me I will feel discontent and the more discontent I feel the more things I try to find to do to take away that feeling of being discontent and then pretty soon I am so busy doing all these other things and then I don't feel like I have time to do what he wants.It is like a crazy merry go round that you can't jump off of.

I don't know how many people I have talked to over the years that don't feel like they are doing what God layed on their hearts. They have a longing that burns inside that never goes away and I hear them talk about it and you can see the sparkle in their eyes and hear the excitement in their voice when they talk about it, but fear and doubts keep them from stepping out of the boat. I am one that always wants to be 100% sure about everything. I don't know how many fleeces I have thrown out and then If I have not liked the answer necessarily I have thrown out a second fleece and then I get the same answer. I wonder if God has looked down at me and wondered why do I always have to tell you twice??

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my laying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
PSALM 139:9-10

Day 94

I have been blessed with another day! Only six more days to go. It has been a productive week but challenging at the same time. Do you ever deal with things that just come on out of the blue and it does not make any sense to you? Well, I do once in a while. It is panic attacks. I have had then since I was a teenager. I just did not know what they were back then.I can go several years without having a single one and then all of a sudden they will come back on for a brief period and then leave again.I don't know why.

The last week and a half have been full of them. I think today was the worst .I have learned to function with them, but I absolutely hate having them. It is really hard if you are with people and you have to act like you feel fine but inside you feel like you can't catch your breath.Today I had some running around to do but when I got home the only thing I could do was grab my bible and run to my bedroom and sit on my bed and pray. I still managed to get my ten things done this evening.I think my favorite part of the day was going on a walk with Ken after dinner. He walks around the neighborhood and prays in the evening while I do my things.

Tonight I decided to join him. It was very peaceful and really quiet. Almost the same kind of quiet when a whole bunch of snow dumps on us.It was like he took me on a nature tour. He had me stop in front of one of the yards and had me smell the air. It smelled like fresh lilacs even though it is not time for them yet and then we went a little further and the way the moon shines through the trees you can see your shadow on the pavement . I have never seen my shadow by moonlight before, after we got down a little further we could see the light from the houses across the water flickering yellow lights on the bay. I decided I am going to join him every night on his walk. I can finish what I am doing later.

He said to me, " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Day 93

I have completed my ten things for the day and I only have one week left :) It has been a very pleasant day today.I thought it felt like spring. Ken and I went down to the board walk downtown Bremerton by the ferry.I had not been there in quite a while and I wanted to go. There is a little barbeque place down on the boardwalk and it makes the whole area smell like Famous Dave's when you are walking around.

We sat outside Starbucks in the sun drinking coffee, listening to music and watching people.There are a lot of very interesting people down there. I really enjoyed it. An older lady was walking by pushing a stroller, we smiled at each other and said hello. I thought what a beautiful day to be out pushing your grandchild in the stroller but as she got really close to me I noticed it was not a baby in the stroller . It was a brown stuffed bear in baby clothes.She looked very happy, I guess that is all that matters.

It is sad to see so many businesses closing.There was a great little Asian place on the corner that had fantastic curry beef and now it is empty.I liked shopping with my Mom ,Grandma and sister downtown when we were younger. It was sad to see all those stores close.I think they started shutting down when the mall went in Silverdale and JCPenny's moved to the mall. I loved the old JCPenny's downtown. Santa Clause was always next to the escalators downstairs. 

I remember when my daughter was an infant and I went shopping there. I thought it would be easy to take the stroller down the escalator.I tilted the stroller back and put the back wheels on the step in front of me and it started going before I got on the step. I almost lost the stroller down the escalator. I panicked and stood at the top holding onto the stroller while it flung around trying to pull it off the escalator with all my might. I think my Mom helped me pull it up. I was so shook up. It took me a while before I could go on an escalator again and I never took a stroller down another one again with any of my children. I used the elevator after that.

With God we will gain the victory. PSALM 60:12

Day 92

I am finished with my ten things for the day. I only have one week and one day left. I feel like I am counting down until I go on a vacation.I am still working on most of the same things.Organizing will be a job that will never end. Our house can be like our purse the bigger it is the more we stuff in it. I open the drawers and cupboards and see gadgets I never use.They have a tool and a gadget for everything now days. I often will use one particular item for multiple uses. A couple of my kids have said I am ghetto on many occasions. I decided to take that as a compliment and consider myself resourceful.

For instance a plastic spatula is not only good for flipping food, it is also an ice scraper for your car windows. Cans of vegetables are also good for hammering small nails in the wall. A magazine is not only great for reading, it is a fly swatter, fire starter, and a dust pan if yours is missing. Old towels work great for cleaning rags. Why buy rags?? When I was growing up I remember most of my family members using empty butter tubs and cool whip containers for leftovers. they didn't buy containers for leftovers. You have to admit it is a little crazy that we throw away the plastic containers our food comes in just to turn around and buy more containers to store our leftovers.Times have changed in many ways.

I look at how things have changed since I was in school. I wonder what things will be like in another twenty five years.We faced challenges when we were teens and young adults but not quite like today. Things that were not acceptable when we were kids seem to be considered the normal thing to do now. When we were younger there seemed to be a standard that was set that was taught by a majority of the adults. There were boundaries and expectations even if we did not always follow them. Now it seems like there is so much freedom and they have all these rights and anything goes. I think it causes harm and confusion and it makes it more difficult for them to know what to do and if they choose to go to college they are not always guaranteed the job they want especially in this economy . They need a lot of unconditional love and prayer.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. EPHESIANS 4:29

Day 91

I only have nine days left. I have made it to the single digits.It is still a little hard to imagine I have completed 91 days so far. This has really worked well for me but I am glad I did not choose a number higher than one hundred. It really was not that hard at all. There were several days where I thought what was I thinking, but a majority of them I was very glad I chose to do this.Accountability and determination kept me from quitting . Sometimes I can be a little too determined to do something to the point of running late, wearing myself out or not getting enough sleep.I am doing a lot better now and have balanced things out.

I have been that way since I was a kid. I remember jumping up and down on my Pogo stick in the driveway when I was in grade school. I would try to see how many times I could jump in a row without falling off. Once I would fall off I would get back on and try to beat my last count I had before. I still do that if I am playing a game by myself  . If I have a knot in one of my necklaces I can sit there for a half hour trying to get it out before I will do anything else. I refuse to let the knot in the necklace get the best of me. I will win! I have also enjoyed this because it is like a project. A personal one I guess you could say. I will have to come up with something else to do when I am done.

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress. PROVERBS 14:26

Day 90

I have completed my ten things for the day. I only have ten days left. Tomorrow I will be in the single digits. The first of my ten things was taking a video of an interesting little creature outside the church this evening. I think it was some kind of mountain beaver or something by looking at the tail . I don't know if they are normally friendly or if it was someones lost pet. I watched it from the car and then I decided to walk over by it so I could get a closer look.It did not mind me coming near at all. It finally turned around and started coming over to me. I was surprised. I think maybe it was blind or handicap unless I am beginning to look like grizzly Adams and am attracting strange animals.

One of my other ten things was exercising tonight. I was in the spare room riding the exercise bike and I had the radio on pretty loud. I figure the loud music will distract me from the pain. What Really made my night was watching Ken run in the room to hear the music. He thought it was me playing the keyboard and singing and he thought I was pretty good. The look on his face was priceless . For one I don't play that well and two it was a man singing. I know I am an alto but I don't sound like that., or maybe I do. Hmmm. I sound like a man and wild animals are walking over to me. Maybe I need to call my doctor and see if she can prescribe me some more estrogen patches. I threw my last ones away. Maybe I was too hasty and I should have given it a little more consideration.

It was a cute little creature, part of me wanted to pick it up but logic kicked in and screamed " RABIES" so I decided to back up towards the car and get in. I remember when we were kids and we were playing at our friend Crystal's house and we saw a rat over by the pond and it seemed very calm. My sister thought it was cute and picked it up. I think we may have dared her but as soon as she picked it up it chomped on her pinky finger and she screamed and tried to shake it off. If I remember correctly she had to go and get a shot. That memory came to mind when I started thinking that little creature looked cute and friendly.

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. GENESIS 1:31

Day 89

It is day 89! Only 11 more days to go until I have reached my goal. I can't imagine what I would look like at 89 if I were to live that long and if the rapture has not taken place. I am almost forty three so that would be another forty six years. If I have forty six years left I could accomplish a lot. In forty six years I could get several masters degrees.I would love to be an old professor at a college teaching anthropology.

I could travel the world and win lots of lost souls to Christ. I could spend a year or two living in the Amazon with some indigenous tribes. That would be very cool!! I could spend a summer working at Disneyland. I would master the art of making corn tortillas and really big gingerbread houses. I would swim with the dolphins at least once. I would buy a convertible 1967 red convertible GTO for my 80th birthday and cruise around town and I would paint my nails to match my car. I could try panning for gold  just for fun.I would try zip lining through a jungle and surfing in the ocean.

I think I need to make a bucket list.It has been a long day, but a good one. I still enjoy doing my ten things and I am learning new things everyday. That is my favorite part.We are very blessed to have so many resources at the tip of our hands..

May the God of peace...equip you with every-thing good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom glory be for ever and ever. Amen.    HEBREWS 13:20-21

Day 88

Twelve more days until I reach one hundred. It took me a while to get my ten things done today. I was feeling tired and not very motivated and I had a lot on my mind . That always makes it easy to get distracted. Have you ever noticed when something is bothering you that is really easy to start thinking about everything that bothers you. Why don't we limit ourselves to just one thing that bothers us at a time? Too bad God does not say "Your cut off". when we start thinking about too many things.

I am still working on most of the same ten things. I am on different books of course and I added exercise. I do enjoy exercise but me knee does not. I am going to stick with it anyway. I am learning how to tell time in Spanish this week, I am still working on algebra and still taking that course I am finishing. I just looked my grade up online for the exam I took on the course I am taking. I was a little scared to look because I started second guessing myself about answers I put after I had taken the test, but I was ecstatic when I saw my grade. My plants are happy and things are staying pretty organized. I created another new recipe last week. Ken and I liked it but I did not hear any comments from the kids except my youngest who ate a few bites of it and said he was full.I knew what that meant.

 I am really looking forward to some nicer weather so I can get more done outside and get started on the patio. I am praying I will be able to keep my allergies under control so I can get a lot accomplished and I really want to go on a mission trip before the end of this year. My allergies cause a lot of pressure in my ears.They seem to have gotten worse.I woke up one morning last month with one of my ears bleeding. I am afraid my ear drums will burst if I go on a plane.I have been diagnosed with five different problems with my ears over the last fifteen years. I don't know what to think anymore. I am probably worrying about nothing.

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance: perseverance, character: and character, hope.  ROMANS 5:3

Day 87

Only thirteen days left! That is the age of Mathew my youngest child.Those awkward years. You could not pay me enough to be a teenager again. Communication was very difficult at that age. I remember thinking everything I felt and thought was one hundred percent correct and there was not anything anyone said to me that could convince me of anything different. I think the moment I became a teenager I felt like an instant foreigner in my  house.Hormones some how seem to alter our brains.

I really think communication can be difficult at any age. There will always be people who don't think like you, act like you or even feel the same way about things like you ,at home, at work, at church, or with extended family. I think what is important is loving people unconditionally in spite of their differences. Don't get me wrong there are some people who it is just best to avoid for our own sanity. I think the part that is the most painful to deal with is when people you genuinely love and care about shut you out when you have differences or you misunderstand each other at times. It makes you feel like you are uncared for and disposable.

It seems like the two most common ways people deal with it are by rejecting the person back because they think if they act like they don't care those hurt feelings will somehow magically go away or they bend over backwards trying to please that person so they can somehow win their approval back and redeem the relationship and then they walk on egg shells worried that one wrong comment, facial expression , or difference in opinion will send you right back to feeling rejected again. I have seen it over and over again in people I care about and I have experienced it myself. Life is too short and we face enough adversity as it is . Why make it even harder by hurting each other over petty differences or pride?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus....PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5

Day 86

I have finished my ten things for the day. I actually had them done by about 2:00 this afternoon. I was able to get an early start today. I am a little stumped tonight on what I am going to write my blog about. I have not been able to focus very well on anything the last couple of days except going on a mission trip. It has been about eleven years since my last one. I will tell myself I will go on another one and even start to plan it in my mind and then I will push it aside thinking I am too busy with other things.

I had a dream this last spring that keeps coming back to my mind. In my dream It was evening and I was in bed sleeping and I woke up to go to the bathroom. I walked in the bathroom and a board from the wall had been removed. I instantly knew someone broke into the house. I could feel someone there . I ran to the room to tell Ken but he told me it was my imagination and to just go back to sleep. I layed down but I could not sleep a wink. I was anxious I knew some one was in the house. I finally got up and went down stairs and found a man in the laundry room. I tried to lock him in so he could not escape.

He managed to pry open the door and get out I got him in a headlock and knocked him on the ground and I asked him in an angry voice what gave him the right to break into my house. He looked at me and said it was easy you left an opening and others have broken in before too. I let go of his neck and let him leave.I went outside and went around the house looking for an opening. I looked up and the house seemed very tall. I noticed two tiny windows that were open but they were out of my reach. I noticed about four other small houses next to the tall one. They were all part of the big house.When I looked towards the end of the houses I saw a garage. The garage had an upstairs with a couch and chairs in it and I knew I had spent a lot of time sitting in the garage for some reason.

I turned around and started going for a walk. Pretty soon I came to a park and I noticed that same man playing in the park with two children a girl and a boy. I continued to walk back towards my house when all of a sudden this little boy started following me all the way home.When I got to my house I turned around and asked him what his name was. He looked up at me with a big smile on his face and said to me my name is Mexico.I instantly froze and a feeling of dread came over me and the only thing I could think of over and over again is I don't know if he is saved. Then I woke up from my dream.

About three months ago I ran into a Spanish man at the gas station at Safeway.He was on the other side of the gas station and saw me heading towards the door . He walked over to the door and stood there holding it open for me waiting for me to get there. I said thank you and went inside and paid . He continued to stand at the door holding it open for me waiting for me to come back out and then he walked back to his car. I have ran into him about ten times now at a couple different stores and every time I see him I think of Mexico the rest of the day. When I was sitting in my office a couple of  days ago at work I started thinking about going on a mission trip again and I felt joy come over me and that same feeling when you first fall in love. That is how I feel when I am on a mission trip.

"But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish the race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus has given me. He wants me to give witness to others about the good news of God's grace.  ACTS 20:24

Day 85

I am getting just a little bit closer .Only two weeks and one day left! It really has gone by quite fast. I did  pretty much the same ten things today as I have for the last few weeks except I decided to make cleaning out my purse tonight one of my ten things. It gets very scary in there. I am terrible at saving things for too long and carrying things around in case a disaster should happen. I  finally realized I am always preparing for something to go wrong.I have done that for as long as I can remember.

 I looked in my purse and thought what would a stranger think if they found my purse and looked through it. They would probably say I get in a hurry too much because I throw things in there and rush out the door. They might say I am indecisive. I carry four shades of lipstick and two different perfumes. They would know I have a chewing gum addiction. I plan for accidents which is why I have benadryl for allergic reactions, tweezers in case I get a sliver or if someone else does.Clippers in case I break a nail. A razor in case of a major earthquake. I can not bear the thought of not being able to shave my legs.I even shave them if I have the flu.

 I carry band aids in case some one gets cut and cough drops in case someone has a sore throat.That is just some of the things in there.On a very rare occasion I have left the house with a cell phone, cash, one tube of lipstick and gum in my jean pockets. But as I glanced through my purse I wondered what God would say about it. He might say I need to worry less about what I look like and just appreciate the way he made me. He might say I need to trust him a little more and  quit waiting for something to go wrong. He might say I am carrying around a little more baggage than just my purse.

I have bought smaller purses several times thinking I will put less in it and it will be easier to carry but before long my purse is crammed full with all those items and it becomes unmanageable again and then I go back to a bigger one.I think sometimes it is that way with burdens we carry . We will give our burdens over to God and our load will feel lighter but before long we have picked back all those items again and we are carrying a heavy load again. Now every time I see small purses it will make me think of lightening our loads. I think when Ken asks me what I want for my birthday I am going to tell him I want a small purse .I will use it but it will also be symbolic to me. Reminding me not to let my load get too heavy

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. PSALM 68:19.

Day 83 & 84

I am posting two days together. I completed my ten things yesterday and also today. I have 16 days left until I  reach 100!! Yesterday our power kept going out so I did most of my ten things by candle light Fortunately I was able to get some of them done before. When the power went out the first time I was not sure how I would get the rest of my ten things done , but then it occurred to me that electrical outlets have not always existed and people where able to function before, so I completed the rest of my ten things yesterday by candle light.

Our power did not come back on yesterday until about 10:15 last night and I was too tired to write my blog after sitting in the candlelight for so long. I felt very drowsy.After I finished my ten things yesterday Ken heated water on the barbecue so we could have hot peach tea while we sat in the living room with lots of candles burning playing apples to apples with our kids. It was a lot of fun. One of my favorite board games is the farming game. My parents had the game when we were kids and I always enjoyed it.

 About seventeen years ago when I was heading out to Lake Alta with the kids to stay in a cabin for the weekend and go fishing  I stopped at a barn sale along the way so we could get out of the car and stretch our legs. Right there on a table when I walked in the barn was the farming game for $2.00 it was like brand new.I was very excited. I still have it but it is getting a little beat up. The game came out again not too long ago. It is the same just in a different box. My parents bought it for us so now I have one in great shape to last me another 17 years :)

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  PSALMS 143:8

Day 82

I have just finished my ten things for the day. I only have eighteen days left until I have reached my goal. It was a little more challenging today. I have felt tired and restless both since I got up this morning. I don't like that feeling at all. It was sunny today and that was very pleasant.When I was looking out of  my office window this afternoon the clouds looked like steps were in them going up .They were evenly spaced apart. It looked really neat. That just reminded of that stairway to heaven song.

I am glad we don't have to take stairs to get to heaven. That would be a long journey. A glass elevator would not be so bad.Could you imagine if you were really good you got the elevator, if you struggled  but still tried hard you got the escalator, but if you really stressed God out you get the long stairs or maybe a ladder. I am sure glad it does not really work that way. I still think the way Elijah went had to be really amazing.I think about heaven often and wonder what it will look like. You know it has to be magnificent. If God made earth with all the beautiful plants and waterfalls and exotic animals for our enjoyment you know Heaven has to be a million times better.

By faith Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who where heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward  to the city with fountains, whose architect and builder is God.  HEBREWS 11: 8-10

Day 81

Only 19 days to go!!! I cannot believe in am in the teens already. If only I felt like I was nineteen.I finished my ten things early today. When my 100 days are up I am sure I will continue most of them. It just may not be all of them everyday and I won't have a time limit. The one thing I will keep working on for sure is my Spanish. I really miss going on mission trips. I try not to think about it because I am busy with other things but little things remind me. If I smell diesel on a sunny day I get a longing to go that makes my heart ache. If I smell corn tortillas or extremely ripe papayas in the store.The smell of laundry soap reminds me of  going to the laundry mat. It never goes away. It flares up like bad allergies.

Speaking of allergies ,on one of my trips to Mexico one of the young girls I had brought with me woke me up one night at about two o'clock in the morning and was very distraught and told me should could not breathe.I went to the director of the orphanage and she gave me the keys to their van and told me to find the security guard in town and he would take me to a doctor.It was dark on the dirt roads and I could not find him

. I headed out over the sand dunes and noticed the lights in the little hospital where on so I pulled up and went inside . The hallways were dark and no one was around . I yelled hello a few times and did not get any response . I headed down the dark hall toward the lights and when I got there nobody was there. I got really creeped out and ran back out.

I got back in the van and headed over the little sand dunes. About that time Ruth-Ann came running across the sand dunes to me and said she forgot I spoke very little Spanish. She hopped in the van with us and went with. We found the security guard and Ruth- Ann told him we needed the doctor and we headed to the clinic.Within minutes the doctor was there and took us inside. He was the most jolliest man I had ever met
( especially that early in the morning), he hugged us and grabbed our hands and prayed up a storm and then he examined the girl .

We found out she had tonsillitis and bad allergies that had triggered an asthma attack. He did not charge us a cent for her appointment or the medications he gave her.The next morning I went in to town and called her parents and let them know what had occurred and that she was fine. Within a couple of days she was as good as new.There are a lot of reasons why learning more Spanish can be beneficial.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. PSALM 9:10

Day 80

Evening is here and I have just finished my ten things. It almost felt like spring today.Ken and I met some friends for coffee in Silverdale this afternoon at Starbucks and when we came out the sun was shining bright and people were actually sitting outside at a patio set drinking coffee.It was quite pleasant but not enough to entice me to sit outside or do yard work today.

Spring will be here before we know it. I enjoy summer the most. I like sitting outside on the porch with a cup of tea and barbecuing everything ( meat ,veggies, fruit , and even bread). I am not sure how healthy that is. I was thinking about how often people ask God for things and then complain about it once they get it. I have done that many times myself. We pray and ask for a bigger house or a bigger yard and when we do get it we complain about how long it takes to clean or how much time it takes to keep up on the yard.

I have seen people pray and ask for a new car and then when they get it they complain about how much more the insurance is to cover it or they pray for a new job or a specific one and when they get it they decide they hate it. I wonder how many times we pray for things and God blesses us with them and then we complain once we get it. That must drive God crazy. I wonder how many times his answer has been no because he knows we will eventually complain about it. It is better just to pray for his will in every situation and be content with what we have until he decides we need something else .

Every time I have read about the Israelite's wandering in the desert for forty years I would think what is wrong with them ? Why do they complain so much? They have seen miraculous things God has done many times yet they still complain and doubt him .I would say I would never do it. But I already do. As my relationship with the Lord has grown over the years it has become less but there are still times I will complain and then I have to stop and remind myself who is in charge, it is definitely not me, or maybe the thing I am complaining about has been self inflicted because I didn't pray about something first and wait for an answer. I may have hastily made a wrong choice with good intentions , but it was still not meant for me to do.

God has given us free will but He has also given us rules to live by for our own good, not so he can put a crimp in our lifestyle. He wants us to live happily and at peace with one another. If you were given a million dollars and handed a checkbook and not given any instructions and you were not taught anything about finances it would be easy for that person to squander it and end up with nothing instead of becoming prosperous.You can kind of look at free will like that, you could make all the poor choices you want and squander your life because God has allowed you to make your own choices or you can follow Gods instructions and have a prosperous future( spending eternity with him).

I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly. PSALMS 85:8

Post 79

I finished my ten things last night but it was after ten o'clock when I got done and I was too tired to write a post. I knew I would sit and stare at the computer screen until midnight drawing a blank.I actually feel a little bit like that this morning. I feel troubled and it is hard to focus on anything else.I think I just need to spend more time in prayer today.

When I was at the homeless feed last night I noticed the attendance was down. I know a large part of it had to do with the terrible weather yesterday. One of the homeless guys that is a regular came in and he looked more exhausted than I had seen him in quite a while.I asked him how he was doing and he said he felt like he could collapse. He said he had not slept for a couple of days because he had to get up every hour and knock the snow off the tent so it would not collapse on them and they would die. How do you respond to that comment? It kind of leaves you at a loss for words.

Shortly before that when I  headed up to Cash and Carry with Ken we were running a little later than planned. We were coming around the corner at the light on 11th street and Kitsap way. As we were going through the light I noticed a young man that looked about seventeen walking with a woman in her sixty's in the snow on the side of the road he was holding on to her with both hands like he was trying to keep her from falling and they were soaked from the rain and water spraying up from the road when people would drive by.As we were coming around the corner and passing them I saw a look on his face that will not leave my mind. It was a look of fear and weariness.There was not a place to pull over where they were at and cars were coming behind us.I felt terrible.

It frustrates me that people that are often harmful to others sit in prison with a warm dry bed, three meals a day, clean clothes, heat, a shower , television, and recreation while others that are out of a job or struggling from mental illness or other things have to lose sleep to stay alive or walk in the rain, snow, wind, cold temps etc. to get there next warm meal. There are a lot of things to me that just don't seem right . There are people that want to help but there are so many rules and regualtions put in place that it makes it very difficult.Why doesn't the state give prisoners the bare essentials to keep them alive and use the rest of the money to open more shelters to help people get back on their feet? I saw way too many wet and cold people yesterday.

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. ISAIAH 58: 7-8

Day 78

I have finished my ten things early today! It is easy to get a head start when you are stuck in the snow and have no where to go. I have 22 days left. I was number 22 in Mrs.Palmer's class in fifth grade. I don't remember if we were numbered by the order we were in on her list of names or if it was our desk number. She was my favorite school teacher.

She was older and she could be very strict but I knew she cared about us and our future.She would walk up and down the rows to see what we were doing and if we were on task. If you weren't she would let you know. I got in trouble quite a few times. I had a problem with talking excessively. On every report card I had from grade school through high school it says "Talks too Much" ! or "Talks excessively"!. If God would have given me a word limit for the day I would have exceeded it. I got in more trouble for that than anything.I don't know why I could not keep my mouth shut.

She took us to the opera house in Seattle to listen to a symphony. I had never heard anything like that before and I loved it. She also took us to a museum over in Seattle, it made history more interesting and my fascination with learning about other cultures began then. There were many things she taught us. She had a way of making our world seem a lot bigger and she also had a way of pushing us out of our comfort zone. I still remember the poem I had to recite in front of the class.That was terrifying. Getting up in front of the class was about the same as asking me to walk a plank with my hands tied behind my back. I will never forget her:)

With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine. EPHESIANS 3:20

Day 77

Only 23 days left!! Today I was able to get my ten things done early and I enjoyed every one of them. I am feeling better today than I did yesterday. I think I will be just fine by Friday.God always gives me the strength to take care of the things I need too.  It is easy sometimes to base things on the way I am feeling.instead of taking into consideration who is ultimately in charge. I always ask him for guidance, but I don't always wait patiently for an answer.I will often think I probably need to do something else before he answers instead of just being quiet and getting out of his way.

I have been asking for his guidance for about thirty seven years now, you would think by now I would wait a little more quietly. I can remember my very first prayer to God. It was very short. I must have been about five or six because we were living in the trailer in the woods near the Keyport junction. I was sitting on the floor in my bedroom between my bed and my sisters. I asked God to please help me be good so nothing bad would happen to me that day and then I said Amen.

When I was younger he seemed very far away and unapproachable and my conversations with him were just about daily but they were kept to a minimum. I always imagined him as an angry God wanting to strike me with lightening ,but somewhere deep inside I had hope that one day he just might help me out and that he would not be angry with me anymore. I accepted Christ at the age of nine and I was very excited about that. I felt like I might have a chance .But since I had a distorted view of Gods love for me I asked Jesus in my heart every night before I went to sleep for the next fifteen years. I was sure I messed up every day too bad for the original one to stick.

When I was twenty five I went to a Spirit Filled Church. I was a little nervous because I had been warned about Pentecostal people and was not sure what to expect. I remember sitting there a little bewildered as I watched and uncertain about what was going on but at the same time I was very curious because they seemed to have a deep connection with God like he was right there with them . I started attending regularly and listening to testimonies and watching

.One Sunday I felt the Holy spirit like I never had before and I went forward for prayer for the first time ever in my life and rededicated my life to Christ while my sister in law Dawn stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder crying tears of joy.Soon after that I was baptized . As a baby I had been baptized Catholic because my Dad was Catholic so I didn't realize I needed it again and what it really meant. My life was not the same after that and I knew God really loved me just as I was and that he was always very near.It now feels like he is in the room instead of a million miles away.What a wonderful difference that makes.

For this is what the high and lofty one says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: " I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite, I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me- the breath of man that I have created. I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on his willful ways. I have seen his ways but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him.  ISAIAH 57:15-18

Day 76

I am thankful for another day! I have completed my ten things and am ready to relax. I was actually ready to relax after I got out of bed this morning but I needed to get up and get going. When I got up today I thought I just had fibromyalgia, but as the day progressed I realized I am also coming down with a cold too. I had been stressing out all day about not having the physical strength I would need Friday to get all the shopping and stuff done for the homeless feed. I have been praying for strength since yesterday and trying to plan in my head how I could pull this off with how bad I am feeling.

God even had a better plan than I was aware of. There is a wonderful family in our Church that have a commercial kitchen and do catering. Several times they have prepared the meals and brought them to the homeless feed. I had just mentioned to my boss in an email about volunteers an hour earlier and how much they have helped and as I was getting ready to go home she called me out of the blue and said " I was wondering if you would like us to cook the meals this Friday"? I was thrilled. It totally lifted all the weight off my shoulders.What a HUGE blessing! I only have to go to the store and pick up a few things now and it will make it so much easier for the rest of our terrific volunteers that work all day before they get there.God is so amazing He always works everything out :)

Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

Day 75

I am three quarters of the way there. I was not sure I was going to be able to pull it off today but I did. I have been busy today and I don't feel well. That is a bad combination. I feel like I am getting sick, but I don't have time for that. I am hoping it is just a bad case of Fibromyalgia.The frustrating part is that I have been eating healthy, taking my vitamins, drinking lots of water, I have started exercising again and I wash my hands like Monk. I shouldn't get sick. Maybe it is because my white blood count is low for some odd reason. I guess there is no point in trying to figure every thing out. It is what it is.

I did pretty much the same ten things today as I did yesterday.The longer I do this the more I am really finding out what matters to me the most and what really doesn't.It is still hard to believe I am on day 75. It went by fast.I enjoy being productive more than just sitting around.I feel like I always need to do something even when I am sitting. If I go grocery shopping with someone else it is absolute torture to stand there and watch them put there groceries on the conveyor belt and not be able to help.It is the same if someone is cooking me dinner. The urge to grab a spoon and stir something is so strong sometimes I have to shove my hands in my pockets.

I think the worst thing has to be MRI's. The minute I lay on the table and I am told not to move at all and I have to be really still everything starts to itch terribly. My face, my hand, my neck, or back and it is torture. When I am finally done and can get up nothing at all itches. I am sure it is all mental. Sometimes I think we are our own worst enemy. It is like that when you try to diet. You can have a box of chocolates sitting on the counter for a week and  not want a single piece but as soon as you go on a diet and decide you are not going to eat any chocolate you all of a sudden crave chocolate more than you ever have in your life.Well, I think it is  time to hit the hay. It has been a long day!

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me"[says the LORD]" PSALM 50:15

Day 74

I am finished with my ten things for the day! It took me a little while because I spent two hours on one of my ten things. I went just a little over my time on that one. It was important to me and it was time well spent. I guess that is what matters the most. I don't think yard work will be on my list this week.I think it is going to be like a slick track on the road in the morning with the melted snow freezing.I hope they sand the roads really good. I do love the slick track at Ocean shores!

The ocean is one of my favorite places. It has been a few years since I have gone, but if you go down to the end of Trenton there is a little park. I think it is called Bachman park. The ferry goes by often through out the day. About five minutes after it goes by little waves come up the beach. I close my eyes and listen to it and it sounds a little like the Ocean.Sometimes I go and sit down there with a cup of coffee or tea and watch the sun go down. It is relaxing, especially if there isn't anyone there.

My second favorite place is Disneyland.I absolutely love it there.My favorite ride is
Pirates of the Caribbean. The Indian Jones ride is pretty fun too, and of course it's a small world. I think it would be a lot of fun to work there. I  think the job I would like the most is to be the guide on the Safari ride on the water and during your lunch break you could go and have ice cream and be entertained.That definitely does not sound like reality but  you have to admit it would be kind of fun. I wonder how many employees they have. I would hate to be the bookkeeper at that place.That would be terrible if you had to walk through the whole park collecting time cards every week.Yes, I think I would go for the safari boat job :)

The LORD will establish you....if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.
DEUTERONOMY 28:9

Day 73

It is evening and I have completed my tasks for the day. I spread it through out the day so it felt like I was working on it all day. I decided I needed to include exercise in my ten things weather I felt up to it or not. I have lost ten pounds but I still have a long way to go. Sometimes I think if I just weighed my ideal weight my life would be easier. I would definitely be healthier and able to do more activities I enjoy but I would still be me. Once we are saved and Christ becomes the center of our life our identity should be in him, we are no longer our own.

It is easy for our identity to become part of what ever our life is centered around. It can be your job,  your children, friends, your home ,business, a new car, or your appearance. I have seen what happens to people when they lose the one thing their identity is wrapped up in. It is like a death takes place. They go through a greiving process. I have heard people say if I just had a new house or car or a certain job they would be happy and then when they don't get it they become angry with God.

Sometimes I think God does not answer those prayers for our own good. He knows if something will become an idol to us or if it will cause us further greif down the road. It is easy to focus on the wrong things if we are not careful. I remember when I was in 5th grade and Nana bought me a red satin jacket . For about the first week that I wore that jacket I thought I was like Fonzy in his leather coat. That feeling quickly wore off and as a teenager I was certain my entire world would come to a screeching halt if I could not hang out with my friends.

I have found over the years that when I put my focus completely on God I have more peace than I could ever imagine and he meets my needs and gives me many of the desires of my heart without even asking. He wants us to want him more than anything else first.

But seek ye first the kingdom  of God , and his righteousness, and all these things shall be addded unto you. MATTHEW 6:33

Day 72

It is coooooooold outside! I completed my ten things for the day. I actually had most of them done by noon.Only 28 days left!! Some days writing my blog takes longer than doing my ten things. I try to always pray before I write, but some days I am a little distracted or tired and my heart is not completely in it. For the last four days in a row when I have prayed and asked what I should write about God has given me one word...........

"FAITH" five small letters that can make such a big difference in how we view and live our life. God says it is impossible to please him with out it. He tells us in  Hebrews 11:6 and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those that earnestly seek him...... There are some days when we feel an enormous amount of FAITH, but other times when we are really feeling weary we struggle.

Those are the times we have to pray even harder and make a choice to have FAITH and continue to believe even when we don't get an immediate response that is obvious to us.Why is it at times we find it hard to believe that the same God that created the universe cannot come up with a solution to our problems? There are many reasons we feel that way. God says in Jeremiah 32:27 " I am the LORD,the God of all mankind. Is anything to hard for me?"

Maybe we have been let down by people just a few too many times and we fear God will let us down too. We might feel God is disappointed in us therefore he won't help or we may feel we have blown it one too many times to ask him for help.That is where Grace and Mercy comes in. There are some who have been through things so horrendous that they think if there is a God he could not possibly love and care for them and that they were not worth helping.

Because of the fall of man in the beginning it made life a little more challenging as the sin in the world increased. But one thing I do know is that God loves us so much that he wants us to spend eternity with him that is why he sent his son Jesus Christ to shed his blood for our sins and if by FAITH we believe we will spend eternity with him.God uses the difficult situations in our lives to make us stronger and to increase our FAITH so that we can trust him to lead us in the direction he wants to take us. Without FAITH there is no hope!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Day 71

Twenty nine more days to go! I didn't think I was going to make it today. I had to get a little creative with my ten things.It is my Mom's birthday today so we spent most of the evening at her house. My sister and I cooked dinner together and chatted. I enjoyed that . After dinner we went through my Grandmothers jewelry and looked at some of her favorite pieces and Mom shared some of the stories behind a few of them. She went to be with the Lord in August. I spent my whole life around her and I am still learning new things about her.

When we went through her things when she passed away I found out I had more in common with her than I ever knew. One of the things I miss most about her was her laugh. I would pick her up and take her out to the Christian Women's Club with me at Miracle Ranch when I use to go. There was one time I thought we would end up getting kicked out because we were laughing uncontrollably over a funny comment she made.She had a great sense of humor. She also made the best pancakes I have ever had. I would sit on the catalogs on a stool so I could watch her cook while she had her radio on.

One of the last songs I remember listening to in her kitchen in the old house in Keyport when I was young was that song by Hank Williams " Hey good lookin watch ya got cookin". I understand why she liked to listen to music when she cooked. It is very relaxing. I have an under the counter radio mounted underneath my counter in my kitchen and I listen to it almost every day when I cook.

You can get lost in the music and cook up a storm and not even realize how much work you did. I see how she got so much baking done.She slipped into unconscientiousness before I got a chance to say goodbye but I think she might have heard me because when I said I loved her she squeezed my hand and she also squeezed my hand when I told her that her pancakes look a lot better than the food they were pumping in her stomache.I miss her terribly but. Mom gave me one of her rings for Christmas so I have been wearing it a lot lately. When ever I look down at it I think of her and know I will see her again someday and will get to hear that contagious laugh :)

Peace I leave with you: my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  JOHN 14:27

Day 70

I am all done for the day. It was a little bit of a busy day today so it made it a little more challenging.I only have one month to go until I can quit counting. Hopefully I will be able to break that right away and it won't become some compulsive obsessive habit.

I did basically the same thing as yesterday except for one thing. I found that a barbeque brush for cleaning the grill works really well on scrubbing moss off concrete steps. That was one of my projects today until Mathew came out and took over. It was getting a little chilly out so I was more than willing to hand it over. The older I get the less I like being cold. Sometimes it takes about three days to feel warm again after I get cold. You know I think that is about the same amount of time it takes to thaw a turkey.

When I was young I ran around all the time without my coat and I was fine. When it snowed we would stay outside all day and our hands and feet would be so numb when we came in, they would sting as they thawed. We use to go sledding on the hill by the Stories house. It was huge hill in a cow pasture. I only ran into a cow once with the sled.

It was really not my fault the cow was not that close when I headed down the big hill. We some how met at the same place. Even though I don't like the cold anymore I still can not resist going out and building a snow man when we get snow on a rare ocassion and throwing a few snowballs and of course snow ice cream (  CLEAN snow, milk, sugar and vanilla extract).

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. HEBREWS 12:1

Day 69

I have completed my tasks for the day. Only 747 hours to go. It seems like forever if you look at it that way. I am thankful God only made 24 hours in a day. I could not imagine having a 36 hour day. He knows our limit even if we don't. I am still learning , but I feel like I am making pretty good progress. I don't feel burned out anymore and I enjoy everything I am doing.

I got caught up on my devotional this evening, I worked on algebra and so far it seems to be going pretty good. I  worked on my course I am finishing. I read my books, organized some of the office and laundry room. I practiced my Spanish and the piano. I would love to be able to write music. Maybe someday :) There are other things I need to get done first. It has been a long day and my brain keeps going on pause so I think I shall call it a night.Hasta manana!

How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you.
2 SAMUEL 7:22

Day 68

Four weeks and four days to go! That sounds less than thirty two days. As a kid there were three things to count down for , Spring break, and Summer break, and Christmas break. Summer was my favorite!! I still look forward to summer for many reasons. #1 Sunshine  #2 It is warm enough to swim  #3 You can barbeque everyday and save on washing dishes. #4 You don't have to match up socks you can just throw on a pair of flip flops #5 Lots of fresh fruit!!

I did most of my usual things today. I practiced Spanish and the piano. I worked on algebra and read my books. I studied for the course I am taking. I added another recipe I created to my cookbook and I did some organizing in the home office and the kitchen. Last but not least I am working on restoring my health on my own ( with God's help of course) through exercise and nutrition. I am not giving up !! Well, it has been a long day and one that has definitely given ne a lot to think about. I look forward to my next ten things tomorrow.

This is what the LORD says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: " I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."   ISAIAH 48:17

Day 67

I have just finished the last of my ten things.I only have thirty three more days to go. What a beautiful day out today. It felt almost like spring. I am always ready for spring as soon as December is over. I made it outside today to do yard work. I am sure I will really feel it tomorrow. I clipped a lot of branches that were coming through our fence. I made it without getting any scratches today from the sticker bushes.

I remember when the girls were small and I was just about due to have Ethan we were outside in the yard and the girls discovered berries on the other side of our barbed wire fence. The neighbor told me they were salmon berries but I was not too familiar with them and I did not want the girls getting in the habit of picking berries when ever they were outside in case they chose some that were not edible. I went inside and told them to stay away from the berries.

I went in to start making lunch and as I looked out my kitchen window I saw the girls standing on a five gallon bucket reaching over the fence picking berries. I was just about ready to knock on the window when I saw them jump down and run around the house.They came inside and both of the girls had scratches on them and wanted bandaids. As I was examining the scratches I asked how it happened, knowing all too well where they came from. I wanted to see what they would say.

Right away one quickly piped up and said they were playing in the yard when they spotted two bunnies, One was blue and the other one was pink and they thought they were so cute they wanted to catch them and play with them, but when they got a hold of the bunnies they started scratching them so they let them go and they ran off. I asked the other one if that is how it happened and she nodded yes. I told them I knew they both were lying because for one I have never heard of a pink or blue bunny and second I saw them out the kitchen window. They both broke down in tears ,they knew they were in trouble.It was really hard to keep a straight face.

Besides working in the yard today I practiced my Spanish and the piano. I read my books and studied algebra. I listened to another lecture that goes along with the course I am finishing . I organized more in the office and sorted through more family photos and I decided to pull out my card making stuff and play around.It has been a very pleasnt day.

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forske your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. PROVERBS 1:8-9

Day 66

Evening is here and I have finished my ten things. It took me a little longer to get motivated today. I only have thirty four days to go :) Yipeeee!! What will I do if I don't have something to count? That made me think of Count Von Count on Sesame Street. We use to watch that show everyday.They made learning enjoyable.

I practiced my Spanish and played the piano today. I had a lot of fun on the piano today just being creative.I read my books and worked on my course. I practiced algebra today and I seem to be really getting the hang of it again.I wrote in my journal and added another recipe I created to my cookbook. I really wanted to try and get outside today and get more work done but it was too cold and I had too much pain. Maybe this week.

You know your front yard really needs work when you come home and find a plastic baggy many times in your yard with a business card in it for lawn maintenance and a rock so they could toss it and get it to land in your yard and when you open your mailbox you find fliers for yard work and those that are a little more bold come up and shove fliers in your door. It is sad because I absolutely love doing yard work, but my body does not and my allergies get worse each year so I just kind of putter around in the back. I am going to surprise them this year. They are going to think we moved out and someone else moved in.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. PSALM 68:19

Day 65

I was able to get an early start today so I have already finished my ten things.I am thankful to get my things done early today so I can spend time with family this evening. The day seems to go by so fast. It is suppose to be a little sunny tomorrow, maybe I will be able get outside to get some things done. I still need to get the rest of the area cleaned out for my patio.

I practiced my Spanish and piano today. I read my books and practiced algebra. I worked on the course I am finishing . I ended up spending about an hour and half today on that. I gave my self a facial this morning. I have to admit I think it is helping . The dark circles under my eyes are getting better and my skin feels a little softer. I made more tortillas today and I made them a little flatter this time.They still look a little scary but they taste good. I still think I would get fired if I worked in a tortilla factory.

I still have not felt overwhelmed since I started this sixty five days ago. It is a great feeling to be free of that. Some days I felt like I had so much on my plate I did not have time to breathe. I had days that got so bad I would ask God to strike me dead because I could not do any more and I was worn out. A large part of that was from carrying burdens I was not intended to carry and also because I would say yes to many things with out praying about it first.

It is easy to think we can squeeze it in and it will work, but we have no idea what unexpected things may come up each day. It is hard to plan around unexpected things. But God knows what will come up. That is why it is best to ask him first. He knows what lies ahead and thankfully he continues to show compassion towards us  even when we make the wrong choices and then freak out about it and throw our hands up in the air when we have had enough and want to call it quits.Our behavior is nothing new to God.

Look at the compassion God had shown towards Elijah. Even after having victory on Mount Caramel. Elijah ran for his life from Jezebel and told God he had enough and asked God to take his life. He was afraid and weary and didn't want to deal with it anymore. But God was not done with him yet, he helped him get back on his feet and gave him the strength to keep going. God continues to do the same for us when we are weary and we don't feel like we can do anymore.

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love , O LORD supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.  PSALM 94: 18-19

Day 64

It has been a long but glorious day. I have just a little over a month to go. I have learned quite a bit more about myself than I would have ever imagined through this little experiment. It has been very good. I have no regrets what so ever. Well, maybe one and that is I wish I would have started sooner. I can't change that but I can change what I do from this day forward.

There are so many paths we can choose to walk down but the only path that will bring us peace is the path that God has chose for us. If  you could see the paths you walked on your entire life drawn out on a piece of paper would it have a lot of short cuts? dead ends? or so many curves you could lose count ? Have you ever played the game "LIFE" Every time you play the game you get to make different choices , and the choices you make determine your outcome in the end.

With the board game LIFE you can play all over again knowing you can make different choices so your outcome at the end will be different. But in reality we only have one life and one ending. So we need to ask God daily to guide our steps and help us to make the right choices with the precious time he has given us. If we have an off day we just have to repent and start fresh the next day choosing to not look back. The more you fill yourself with God's word the less room there is in your mind for the negative things.

I practice my Spanish and the piano today. I studied algebra and read my books and I did some organizing. I created another new recipe and I also made corn tortillas from scratch for the first time. They taste good but my tortilla press does not make them thin enough .I think I need to use a rolling pin. My mom bought it for me about four or five years ago. I decided to finally take it out of the box. It was the wonderful fresh handmade tortillas from Trader Joe's that inspired me to try making them myself. I also worked on my course today that I am finishing. I really enjoyed listening to the doctor that gave the lecture today.

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide until the end.  PSALM 48:14

Day 63

I made it through another day. I did not think I was going to be able to get my ten things done today but I managed to pull it off.  I am still enjoying my ten things extra things. I need to get started on my patio bricks soon. It has been cold and damp the last several days so I have stayed away from the cold garage but I will try to get to it soon.

I practiced the piano and Spanish today. I worked on algebra and I am doing a lot better. I read my books and worked on my course I am finishing. I have now gone through all my past notes and lectures and am ready to move forward. I added another recipe to my cookbook and wrote in my journal. I am thankful that I have had time to do those things and I am very blessed to have a husband that is always a strong supporter of mine when I desire to do something.

Most of all I am thankful for my heavenly Father who never ceases to amaze me by the love he has for us and the time he takes to show us things that have special meaning to us alone that we know could only come from him. He is with us all the time.We are never alone. I even ask him to go shopping with me. He helps me find great deals on the exact things I need. He likes us to include him in every area of our life.You will never find anyone smarter, he has a great sense of humor, there will never be anyone more forgiving and compassionate, and he can do the impossible.

This spring I was having a lot of pressure in my side that made me feel miserable every time I ate, drank anything over even chewed a piece of gum. It felt like a large balloon being blown up in my side. I had it for about five months .Dr.Lally sent me to have a HIDA scan in May and then the pressure was so bad I thought my side would burst when I was laying on the table. I had a follow up with her a week after and it was even more bothersome. She said I had Biliary Dyskenesia and the only thing she could do was remove my gall bladder and that it would not go away. I told her if it was not going to kill me than I was going to keep my gall bladder.

 I did not want to have any more surgery. I left her office feeling disappointed. I got out to my car and just sat there. I finally closed my eyes and prayed and I told God I did not want anymore organs removed . He created me with them and I wanted to keep the rest of them and I asked him to be my physician and told him I was surrendering the entire situation to him and that I was not going to do anything about it. I meant it with all of my heart.When I woke up the next morning and ate breakfast I noticed it was gone. It has not came back since that day in my car in May. It has now been about seven months.Now that is LOVE.

The LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  ISAIAH 30:18

Day 62

Only thirty eighty more days to go. I have completed my ten things for the day. I had a hard time tonight deciding what I wanted to do. Do you ever have days where nothing sounds appealing to you? and then there are other days when you want to do all kinds of things but there is not enough time or you don't have the energy. Being a human can be challenging. Some times it seems like animals have it easier.They can lay around in their fur coats eating nuts and berries or go swimming and they don't have to find shoes to match their outfit and they don't have to cook, do laundry or wash dishes.

I practiced my Spanish and the piano this evening. I am almost to the end of my piano book :) I worked on algebra and I read my books. I organized in the kitchen and home office. I gave my self a facial and I made a couple of loaves of apple pumpkin bread. it is a recipe from one of my cookbooks. Not one that I created.I have never made it before . I hope it turns out OK. I have about eighty five cookbooks. I have a slight cookbook addiction.

 Think about how many millions of recipes are out there. Yet many of us eat the same kind of things over and over. When you go out to eat your standard restaurant will have a lot of the same kind of dishes on there menu ( French dip, BLT, Tuna melt, Hamburgers, etc) Don't get me wrong I do like those things, but we have enough recipes out there to eat something different ever day for the rest of our lives.I would really like to try one thing different ever day for the rest of my life.

 Do you ever go in to the store looking for something to make for dinner and you walk up and down the isles and your hungry and tired nothing seems to jump out at you. It is like those same foods you have been eating are programmed in your head and none of them seem to sound good. If you tried different recipes all the time you would have many other options to think about when you went to the store. I almost feel like Solomon walking up and down the aisles in the store thinking " There is nothing new under the sun". I am going to broaden my horizons.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

Day 61

I have finished my ten things for the day. I only have thirty nine days left. Today was a little more challenging , I am feeling really under the weather, but restless at the same time. That is a bad combination. I pushed through and finished my things early so I could rest.

I organized quite a bit of the laundry room today and the hall closet full of board games. I went over study notes for the course I am finishing. I practiced Spanish and the piano today. I worked on algebra. I read my books and  I started the 365 day devotional and journal my mother bought me.

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today....The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.   EXODUS 14:13-14

Day 60

Happy New Years!!!! I am 60 % of the way there. It has gone by really fast. Only 40 more days to go :) It has now become a habit so it will be a little hard to quit doing exactly ten extra things. I will probably be counting in my head as I go through the day.We will see what happens.

It was really nice out today so I swept off the deck and removed the pine needles from the hot tub lid. I was not very happy when I saw little claw marks on the side of the lid and a couple of little tiny chew holes that went through to the Styrofoam. We just replaced the lid about a year ago. Raccoon's dug a big hole in the last one. I don't know how to keep them away. I wonder if there is something I could spray around it to repel them.I could always sit on the porch with Mathew's BB gun. Just Kidding!!

I worked on more plans for my patio and the side of the house. I added another recipe I had created a while ago to my cookbook. I read my books and organized my room. I played the piano and practiced my Spanish. I took a practice test in my algebra book and did pretty good. I listened to another lecture that is part of the course I am finishing. I really enjoy it. It has been a very pleasant day and it is still early. Maybe I can talk Ken or Mathew into playing a board game with me. I look forward to my next ten things tomorrow!

Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.  PROVERBS 28:14