Money-Money-Money-Money

I am trying to work a lot of hours this week because school shopping for four kids is quite expensive. Thank God I'm not one of those that has to buy only name brand clothes for my family or it would be real expensive. Stanley should also thank God because I'm not a high maintenance woman. I go get my hair cut maybe three times a year, I don't get manicures or pedicures. I don't spend much money on myself at all, matter of fact there are things I need right now, but we can't afford it. I have four cavities and no dental insurance...two of the cavities need to be cut out, and two need filled. One of them is in the front of my mouth and when it falls out or breaks, I am afraid I won't go out into public anymore. I need an exploratory surgery to see if I have endometriosis, but that is another bill we just don't need right now. I need clothes, I have only a few pairs of pants and shirts to wear to school.

I can't imagine spending much money on myself...or even on my family for clothes and such. I have a friend who spent $800 on one suit and I said to him "Do you know how many outfits I could have bought with that much money?" I mean really. It seems like such a waste to me to buy expensive clothes. I can look nice without paying a fortune, and really, who cares if your shirt cost $10 or $100? I don't try to please others or impress others with my clothes...I have a personality for that.

I won't be able to work much after I go back to school and that hurts because the extra money has sure been put to good use...matter of fact it hasn't even felt like extra money. I can't even pay our medical bills from three in the family having surgery this year...groceries and gas are also killing us financially!

I just pray that God will meet our needs, help us to pay medical bills and tithe, and I'll be happy.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day ... and don't spend $800 on one suit!

What A Blessed Sunday!

Wow! I can't even begin to describe Sunday at our church. It was awesome to say the least! When you have a lot of people truly worshipping the Lord, you can feel his presence so strongly that it just does something to you.

Saturday I had worked 10.75 hours, and while I was working I started feeling really bad. I get bad cramps for no reason, doctors think it's endometriosis, we got to do some things to find out for sure. Anyway, the cramps make walking a chore. I came home, Stanley and I went to the store to buy easy stuff so I wouldn't have to cook, we got a couple of movies and came back home. I was still cramping. We ate and started watching the second movie and I fell asleep.

I didn't sleep well all night though because of the cramping, I woke up Sunday morning feeling really bad, and was planning on staying home. All of a sudden I jumped up to get ready, mainly because I thought we were singing a certain song in the choir and I didn't want to miss it, (I rarely miss church)...we didn't sing that song, but I am so glad I didn't miss church because I would have missed out on the blessing of worshipping God.

Sunday night was full of worship as well. The songs and the scripture really touched me. I pray every Sunday is like this. That we don't just go through the motions, but truly worship the Lord and watch him work.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

R.I.P. Shadow

Just a few minutes ago my precious lab died. I called the vet this morning, they were sure it was Parvo and said I could bring him in and they would give him IV fluids, something for vomitting and the other thing, but no guarantee it would work, or I could give him Pedialyte, Pepto and something for fever at home. I decided to try it myself and went to get the Pedialyte right down the road, came back and he had bled all over the floor from his behind. I poored Pepto down him, Pedialyte, and a child's tylenol and put him out in the garage. Checked on him a few minutes later and I could tell he was dying, I tried more Pedialyte and Pepto, poored it down and he swallowed it good, but a few minutes later more blood came out and he started moaning. A few minutes later he died. I tried so hard to save him but he was too far gone.

The only thing I can figure is that he had it a day before we found him, because it didn't take 24 hours to kill him once we realized he was sick. I just pray it doesn't get the other dogs.

One Sick Puppy

Tuesday a kitten that my kids adopted about a week before, died, I thought my boys torchered it to death but now my lab is sick and has many of the same symptoms the kitten did. I found a dead bird in the back yard, and after investigating all around for a possible cause of my lab's sickness, I found part of a bird in his waste. I wondered if the kitten and the dog didn't catch something from the bird, but now my lab seems to have symptoms of Parvo. I am taking him to the vet today after me and the boys get our shots for school.

I sure hope my lab makes it, he is so sick. All he does is drool, vomit, and the other thing. He wouldn't drink anything yesterday, I had to force liquids down him, but last night he started drinking water, and as long as he doesn't eat, he doesn't vomit or the other. He has lost so much weight already, he looks like he hasn't eaten in days.

Saturday he was full of life and playing like he always does, today all he can do sit and drool on the floor, he doesn't have much energy and he sure doesn't feel like playing. I pray that my lab makes it, his name is Shadow and he is the sweetest lab you will ever find. Barely over a year old. I love him so much! My dogs are like my kids to me.

Please pray for Shadow! Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

The Little Things

Sometimes it's the little things that get to me. Little sarcastic comments, little empty threats, little dirty looks - right now I've had about all I can take. I pray that I can let it go without a fight, because I feel one brewing. I pray that the little empty threats are just that, because if not some real trouble could be heading my way.

Dear Lord I pray that you will give me patience, strength, and the ability to ignore so that I can deal with this issue. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

My Walking / Exercise Journal

I drink 32-64 oz. of water daily and have cut down my calorie intake considerably and have only lost 4 pounds. I had lost 9 pounds but I gained 5 back. I have lost inches though, and my clothes are looser and I feel better and stronger. I just wish the weight loss was more, but 4 pounds in a little over a month isn't bad. It will take me quite some time to lose all the weight I want to lose though.

6-06-07 walked 1.1 mile
6-07-07 walked 2.2 miles
6-08-07 walked 3.3 miles
6-09-07 rode bicycle .4 of a mile
6-10-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-11-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-12-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-13-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-14-07 walked 5.5 miles
6-15-07 walked 2.5 miles / rode bicycle 1 mile
6-16-07 walked 3 miles
6-17-07 walked 1.1 miles
6-18-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-19-07 walked 2.2 miles
6-20-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-21-07 walked .8 of a mile (very hot outside)
6-22-07 walked 4.8 miles
6-23-07 walked 4.4 miles / rode bicycle .8 of a mile
6-24-07 walked 4.4 miles / rode bicycle .4 of a mile
6-25-07 walked none
6-26-07 walked 5.2 miles
6-27-07 walked 2.4 miles
6-28-07 walked none
6-29-07 walked 4.9 miles
6-30-07 walked 3.3 miles
7-01-07 walked 2.2 miles
7-02-07 walked 1.9 miles (feeling bad)
7-03-07 walked 2.2 miles (sick)
7-04-07 walked 1.1 mile (sick)
7-05-07 walked none (still sick)
7-06-07 walked none (at mom's)
7-07-07 walked none (had company)
7-08-07 walked 2.4 miles
7-09-07 walked 4.9 miles / used weights & exercised whole body
7-10-07 walked 4.2 miles / rode bicycle .8 of a mile / exercised whole body
7-11-07 walked 4.9 miles
7-12-07 walked 1.1 miles (on a juice fast)
7-13-07 walked 2.2 miles (still juice fasting)
7-14-07 walked none (still juice fasting)
7-15-07 walked 2.1 miles
7-16-07 walked none (started new job)
7-17-07 walked none
7-18-07 walked none
7-19-07 walked none
7-20-07 walked none
7-21-07 walked 1.4 miles
7-22-07 walked none
7-23-07 walked none
7-24-07 walked none
7-25-07 walked 1.9 miles

Grand Total: 118.2 miles

Thank you God for giving me the energy and strength to walk. I pray that you will help me to walk every single day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

I Don't Know What To Do Anymore

I had to take my oldest son to Vanderbilt yesterday to see his endocrinologist. His A1c was once again over 14%. The doctor said it was a huge safety risk for him to be that high, so we can no longer leave him alone, nor can we trust him to check his sugar and get his shots. We have to watch him do it all, or do it for him.

It's a shame that a kid that is almost 15 years old won't be responsible enough to check his blood sugar and get his shots. We have taken everything away from him, phone, church activities (which he loves), going anywhere, doing anything fun, and nothing has worked.

How does he learn to be responsible and take care of himself if I do it for him? I won't always be around, he has got to learn to do this himself. He has got to start caring about himself enough to want to do it.

Lord I can only thank you for keeping Austen as healthy as he has been under the circumstances, because he seems to be trying to hurt his body by not taking care of himself. Lord I am begging you to give me the strength and the guidance to get his blood sugar to a safe level. I also beg you to work on him so that he will care enough to manage his own disease. Just help us all Lord, please just help us all. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

This & That

I started a new job Monday. I am really enjoying it, I just wish it wasn't so far to drive. I am taking care of a 91 year old woman who is legally blind from macular degeneration. This lady can get around good for a 91 year old blind woman let me tell you. I pray that I do that good at that age, and live that long.

Because of my new job, the heat, and personal reasons, I haven't been able to walk since Sunday, and if I don't walk sometime today, that will be 5 days without walking. I was planning on walking last night when I got off work, but it was raining pretty hard so I didn't. I have to start back, I miss it. I talk a lot to God and pray when I am walking, and because I am quite during that time, I can hear him talking to me to. I feel like I haven't talked to my best friend in a while, even though I pray all the time.

I am excited to start back to college this fall. I will have a full plate with my hours of school on Tues. & Thurs. being 11AM-8PM, plus if I still decide to work, I won't have time for anything at all. I will be a walking zombie. I don't know if I will be able to handle it all, I guess time will tell. With God's strength I can do anything, so hopefully he will equip me (if this is his will for me to do all this).

Praise God! My friend "B" is doing good. Only one seizure during her med change, she is a little dizzy headed and all, but hopefully that will go away as she gets used to the new medicine. God is so good!

Well I hope you and yours are doing well. Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Me & My Hubby

Prayer Request-Sticky Post

I am leaving this post on top for a week or more, that is why it has a future date on it. This post was actually written on Sunday, July 8 @ 3:58PM

Please Pray for my friends "M" & "B". "B" is going off meds she has been on for a long time and it may cause her to have seizures. Please pray that God will protect her and keep her safe from all harm. She will be in the hospital so at least she will be in reach of medical personnel if needed. Also pray for her husband "M" as he will be with her. Pray for their daughter, that she won't worry about her mom and that God will put his loving arms around her while mom and dad are gone.

"M" & "B" are faithful servants to the Lord. They are loved and adored by everyone. Please keep them in your prayers for the next week or so. Have a great, glorious, and blessed day.

Dear Lord I thank you for "B's" health as of right now, she has had several months without seizures. Lord I pray that you will take care of her during this stressful time and that she won't be scared, but put her trust and faith completely in you. Lord I ask you to bless her and "M" and give them your strength during this time. Watch over them, protect them, guide and direct them, let them know your there with them. Please keep their daughter close and help keep her from worrying. Let her have a fun and enjoy time with her grandma. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Thank You God!

I didn't check my mail on Saturday because I wasn't feeling good. I slept most of the day and the part of the day I was awake, I was still in my pajamas. Sunday after church I decided to check my mail and when I did there was a letter from my college. When I opened it I was so excited I could barely contain myself. It was my acceptance letter for the nursing program. I start the nursing program in spring 08'. I am so thankful to God above for giving me the ability to go to school for what I feel is my true calling. I am also thankful to God for a great, loving, and supportive family who understands the time I spend away from them studying, will pay off greatly when I start working.

Thank you Lord for all your blessings, each and everyday you surprise and amaze me. I love you and thank you so much!

Juice Fasting

Today I am starting a juice fast. If you don't know what that is, the title of this post links to a site that explains it.

I was researching last night and found that juice fasting may help with my weight loss by cleaning out my body; fat cells, liver, colon, and kidneys. We put a lot of junk in our bodies over time, and juice fasting helps clean it all out. I am using V8 Splash fruit juices, V8 vegetable juice, cranberry juice, and grape juice, to help cleanse my insides. Plus I have to drink water too.

I probably won't do a lot of walking during this fast because I won't be taking in many calories, so I don't need to burn more than I am taking in. I walked 1.1 mile this morning, just to get the blood flowing and heart rate up a bit. I don't know how long this fast will be, it will depend on how well I tolerate not eating and only drinking juice.

Wish me luck & have a great, glorious, and blessed day.

I Love Church!

Our church didn't have Wednesday night church last week, they were open for prayer, but I was sick and didn't go. I could tell that Satan was working on me this week because I didn't have that extra day of church.

Sunday was awesome though. In Sunday school we learned about serving in the church, using your talents and such to glorify God. Then a speaker from the Gideon's spoke during worship, and it was awesome to hear how God's word is spreading around the world, and people are getting saved.

I could live at church, no really! I love being in God's house with his people. It is so much better to me than being at home watching TV. If we had church every night, I would be one happy camper!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Getting Over A Cold

I got to keep my sister's girls after she got married last Saturday, and ended up with a bad cold. It about whooped my butt too. I enjoyed having the girls here, we also had my oldest son's 'best bud' here too, we had a pretty good time.

I have only been able to walk 1-2 miles a day lately, but I figure I am exercising more than I ever have, so any is better than none. I can tell it is working, I feel better and my clothes are getting loose. I plan on getting back to 5 miles a day though, it really works.

I felt so bad Wednesday that we didn't even go to church for a prayer service. I am so glad this cold is going away and I feel better. Thank God for sleep and good family to let you rest when you need it.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!