The Week In Review

Monday - The day began with me sneezing so much I was sure my nose was gonna fall off my face. Since we'd been to the park the day before for our church's Volunteer Appreciation Picnic, I figured it was my allergies. I had plenty to do around the house, especially laundry. I'd fallen behind on everything thanks to jury duty the week before, so I had alot of catching up to do. By the end of the day my throat was feeling scratchy. I chalked that up to allergies, too.

Tuesday - The sneezing calmed down, but my throat was sore and I had a dry cough. Now I knew it wasn't just allergies; my husband had caught a cold and was feeling pretty miserable, and obviously I'd caught it. I didn't focus on it too much, though. Hubby had been to the doctor the day before, but basically all he has is a virus. I loaded him with Theraflu which helped him sleep. It was what his body needed, because he hadn't been able to sleep for 2 nights. Once he got some rest he began to feel better.

Wednesday - As hubby got stronger, I got worse. The coughing made my back and chest hurt. I was wheezing by the end of the day, requiring a nebulizer treatment. The stuffy nose was coming back too. I knew it wasn't the flu; I've had the flu before and this was coming on too slowly. But I had a low grade fever the entire day, so I knew my body was fighting off something. Thankfully there was no Awana due to a pastor's conference. I wouldn't have been able to go anyway, but this way my son wasn't disappointed.

Thursday - Bad night's sleep. Even with the vaporizer in the room I was congested. I knew at this point I couldn't fight this one on my own. I called the doctor and was able to see her in the early afternoon. Turns out, not only do I have bronquitis, but I'm anemic again. That explains why I'm feeling so weak and why this virus has hit me worse than my hubby. Antibiotics, nebulizer treatments, and some vitamins should help knock this one out. Still, I went to E's Cub Scout meeting. He earned the Bobcat badge and a badge for the first campout. He was so thrilled. The kids went in costume because it's 2 days before Halloween. I let my son dress up for Halloween so long as it's not anything evil. This year he's Bumblebee, one of the Transformers.

Friday - Slept better last night, though I still feel pretty weak. I'm also not as hungry as I usually am, but I think it's all the medicines that make my stomach feel yucky. I'm so thankful E doesn't have school today (it's a teacher's planning day). I hope to get plenty of rest today, because tonight is growth groups and I want to be there. I know, I should stay home and rest, but our group is so great I hate to miss it. Pray that I have the strength to get there tonight for our study of Proverbs - tonight it's joy verses anger.

I'm hoping for a restful and healing weekend. We have baptisms on Sunday at church, which is always a special time. I'm also teaching in children's church this week, so I want to feel better. I love teaching the children.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Proverbs Thought of the Day

"Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich."

- Proverbs 28:6

How is success measured? Most people will tell you that success is the equivalent of a person's monetary value; if you have lots of money, you're successful. If you possess real estate, you're successful. A striving business, a promising career. All these things spell "success".

Yet we forget the words found in Luke 12:20 - "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" We can acquire many things while we are here on earth: money, material possessions, what the world would call "riches". But what are they worth once we leave this life? In heaven they are worthless. Those that put all their energy into gaining riches, regardless of how they do it, find in the end that these riches will do them no good, and someone else will enjoy it all once they're gone.

Does this mean we shouldn't have money? No. Does it mean we can't own anything? Not at all. But these shouldn't be the things we are after in life. Why not follow the advise found in Proverbs 22:1 instead? "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold." Those are the things that money can't buy. They're priceless.

Proverbs Thought of the Day

"He who is full loathes honey,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet."

- Proverbs 27:7

Ever have a big, delicious meal and eaten so much that you have to pass up on dessert? Even your very favorite treat becomes unappetizing on a full stomach.

On the flip side, ever been so hungry you'd eat just about anything? My mom would wait till we were starved before introducing a new food. She knew if we were hungry enough we'd try it, and have a better chance of liking it.

The same goes for our hearts. When Jesus fills that space inside us that only He can fill, we don't need to go searching for anything else. We're full and content, like a baby after 20 minutes of nursing. There's that smile that comes from a feeling of satisfaction. A full heart is a happy heart.

Then there's the heart that doesn't have Jesus. There's a big empty hole that aches, and try as we may to fill it up with something else, like relationships, money, careers, and the like, nothing sticks. So we look for other things in hopes that they'll work: alcohol, drugs, or other illicit pleasures. These activities leave a bitter taste in the mouth, yet people continue to go back to them. Why? Because of a hunger that can't be satisfied. A hunger that can only be quenched by Jesus.

Are you hungry? Really hungry? Have you found that none of the things you've tried takes that hunger away? Then give Jesus a chance. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

From ChurchLaughs.com

Too Funny...

My Early Birthday Gift

This is one of those stories where everyone says "Awwww" at the end. The good kind of aww.

As I've mentioned before, my husband works in the food industry. I tell him that as long as people eat, he has a job. For the most part this has been true; his sales may fluctuate from one month to the next but there's never been a time when he hasn't been able to make enough money to pay the bills. We're very thankful for that.

Still, the economy being what it is, his company has looked for ways to save money. Recently they switched cell phone companies. The contract the company had with Cingular expired, and they decided to go with Metro PCS. Yes, the service is less expensive, but it has its drawbacks.

As sales supervisor my husband has several salesmen working under him who he speaks with regularly while on the road. He also speaks with clients, supermarket owners and managers. So he spends alot of time on the phone. The issue he began having with the new service company is that inside the stores (especially in the freezer section, where most of his products are) he couldn't get a signal. This meant that his sales force couldn't get a hold of him, nor could his customers. He was also embarrassed every time someone from the competition was around and saw my hubby having to walk out the store just so he could make a phone call. It was hindering his productivity, and he wasn't happy.

At home, we've had Sprint for our phone service for several years and are happy with them. My hubby spoke with his bosses and asked if it were possible to switch his work phone over to our home phone service, with the company paying him whatever they were paying Metro PCS. He explained the problems he was having, and the company agreed to his request. So my hubby called Sprint and worked out a good plan with them that would work for his job and our personal phones.

A couple of days after he'd told me about this, I received an email from Sprint verifying the purchase of a new phone. Sprint has my email address on file, so anytime a change is made they send me an email. Since my hubby had already told me he was adding his work phone to our account, I figured he was upgrading his phone also. I printed the email without really reading it, and left it on his nightstand. When hubby came home, he asked what the paper was for. I told him Sprint had emailed me a confirmation of his order and I'd printed it for him. He became very serious. "Why did they email you? I'm the one that placed the order." I explained that my email is the one they have on file. "But I never told them to email anything. What did they have to do that for?" I told him Sprint's system does it automatically, whether he requests an email or not. I couldn't understand why he was so upset about it. Then he told me. "I was buying you a new phone for Christmas, and Sprint ruined my surprise." Since I hadn't read the email, I didn't notice there were two phones ordered, one for him to use for work and an additional one. It was so sweet! I laughed because he was pouting like a little kid all because his surprise was discovered.

Now that I knew about the phone, my hubby asked me to fill out the paperwork for the rebate offers. Turns out, to qualify for the rebates the phones need to be activated by November 14. Since that's exactly a month before my birthday, we agreed the phone would be an early birthday gift. I get to learn how to use my burgundy Blackberry Curve now, and hopefully I'll have gotten the hang of it by the time my birthday rolls around. Thanks for my early gift, honey!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, October 26, 2009...

Outside my window...the sun shines brightly and there isn't much of a breeze. The cold front we got last week has come and gone, and summer weather is back. I liked the reprieve. We're hoping to get another one soon.

I am thinking...about all the things I need to get done around the house because I was out of the house most of last week and this weekend. So much for being a "stay at home" mom!

I am thankful...for the announcement our pastor made yesterday at the volunteer appreciation picnic. Can't post about it yet - top secret! But it's so exciting to see what God is doing in and through our church.

I am wearing...an olive green t-shirt, pale blue capris and sandals. Doesn't sound like fall attire, does it?

I am remembering...the young man convicted of armed robbery. I continue to pray for his repentance.

I am creating...a cleaner neater home today. I have to. I can't stand it when the house is messy.

I am reading...Romans for morning devotions, John for SOAP devotions, Proverbs for growth groups. I started reading The Edge of Darkness by Francine Rivers but I haven't had time to get past the intro. It's been a hectic week.

I am hoping...my husband's insomnia goes away. He hasn't been able to sleep which makes him irritable (understandably so). Need to find some natural way to help him get some sleep.

On my mind...the pile of laundry I need to get to. Today.

From the learning rooms...I had a very productive meeting with E's teachers on Friday. They are listening to me (unlike last year's teachers) and are encouraging strategies to help E with reading comprehension. I'm so glad to finally have someone believe that my son needs additional help.

I am noticing that...my birthday is less than 2 months away. Where did this last year go?!?!

I am pondering these words...from the song "Beautiful King" by Danyew: "Every word that you say wields the beauty of angels. Every smile is arrayed with a joy like wedding bells. It's my heart you hold. Of your mystery I sing. I will stand and behold my Beautiful King."

From the kitchen...tilapia today. With noodles and salad. Ate too much this weekend, so I need to keep it light today.

Around the house...I'll be running around getting things done today. Laundry mostly.

One of my favorite things...is playing worship songs while driving. South Florida traffic can be a nightmare, but when I'm praising my King, it's like the traffic isn't even there.

A few plans for the rest of the week: there's no Awana this week because of a pastor's convention. Thursday the Cub Scouts will have their Halloween costumes and we'll be going to a local park. E gets his Webelos badge this week which is pretty exciting. Growth groups on Friday, then we'll see what the weekend brings.

From my picture journal...we went to a birthday party at Boomers on Saturday and my son was able to ride a go cart solo for the first time. The smile on his face could not be wiped off for hours. At least not until it was time to go home.

Wanna join in the fun? Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook.

Observing My Senses

For Today, October 24, 2009...

I am seeing...on and off rain. The cold front we got at the beginning of the week has left us, and the temperatures have gone back up to the 80's, though not as much humidity till today.

I am feeling...thankful for the many blessings I receive from my Lord.

I am tasting...lemonade, which I drink a lot of.

I am hearing...Saturday morning cartoons. Brings back memories.

I am smelling...banana nut muffins that just came out of the oven. The whole house smells delicious!

It takes just a moment to stop and observe what's going on around you. Won't you join me?