Day 53

Another busy, busy day today. I was up at 6:00 and watched the news and tried to prepare myself for the day. We had tornado warnings and watches, flash flood warnings and watches, and thunderstorm warnings and watches all through the night. I keep my tv on low and wear my headphones during the night so I can listen to weather reports and hopefully be aware if something is gonna happen. (Not really ....... it sounds good and vigilant, but I would probably sleep through anything, however, I DO listen and watch while I'm trying to fall asleep.) Fortunately, nothing big fell in our yard or on the house or cars. There were a couple of smaller branches spread across the lawn. But doors and windows are secure and everything is safe. 

I had my Women's Bible Study this morning which turned out pretty good. We discussed a "field trip" in August to see Beth Moore at the university in Columbus. I am sharing coordinating responsibilities with another women in my class. 

At noon, I went to the Marriott for a lunch provided by the Nehemiah Foundation. This group is an inter-faith organization that serves as an umbrella over many different ministries that function in Springfield. They are all good and worthy ministries working with at-risk children, or delinquent teens, or homeless, or misplaced individuals and families, or child mentoring, as well as adult mentoring, or other programs such as Hannah House. Nehemiah Foundation provides funding to these ministries and this was one of their fundraisers - and here I thought it was a "free lunch"!! But they're right, there's no such thing as a free lunch. 

When that was over, I headed north to pick up my little man cat who had surgery yesterday. But before I got there I discovered I needed gas.

Yikes!! This is it! The highest I think I have ever paid for gas. Holy cow!! And I was on empty. So I simply did the most sane thing I could do. I pulled out my Speedway credit card and just filled up the tank. And like Scarlet, I will think about it tomorrow! 

This was the damage at the gas station, never mind what I paid at the vet's. But as Wade would say, "It's only money." So yep, it IS only money and I just need to move on. I am fortunate to have a credit card, I am lucky to have a car, a home, a wonderful, loving family and the best 4 friends (I could ever have) living with me right now, PLUS a wonderful, wonderful husband.

So, Opie is home and seems pretty good, considering. He was super thirsty and hungry when I brought him inside. I wonder if he ate at all while he was at the vets. But I am confident that everything will be fine. I really, really like my new cat. I am very happy with him choosing us!

I had a nice talk with Tiffany this evening during her commute home. I was glad to hear from her too. It's been a while, but she's been super busy lately at work.  

Then I headed to the church for my Spiritual Leadership Development Group. Tonight I had to give the Life Lesson and I spoke on "Integrity". My two biblical examples were Joseph in Genesis 39 and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. I spoke for about 18 minutes and felt satisfied with what I shared. I was the first one in the group to speak and now I can relax for the rest of the year and listen to one of the others in the class speak at each meeting. Phew!!!! I felt like "spiking" my notes and handouts when I got home. I chose to go first, so that I would not have to stress about doing something as good as or better than the person/people before me. Good decision. Good advise for anyone else! Go first and then there's not as much pressure. 

I got Wade's update and formatted it to put on his blog. I will post that later tonight - probably at 11:00 or 11:30. 

All afternoon we've had clouds on and off but the rain held off until after I got home tonight at 9:30 and then it just poured like crazy. I believe I parked the car well enough that it shouldn't leak on the carpet again.

I am not quite ready to go to bed yet, but will soon and tomorrow I look forward to talking with Wade on skype.