Day 154

Sunday - 
Another Sunday come and gone. Some days it just seems like I robotically go through what needs to be done and 'tic' off another day on the calendar. Wade talks about "Groundhog Day Syndrome" and I experience a similar thing here too. 
Mr. Ron and I taught class this morning in Sunday School. We had the K - 3rd grade children. For some reason the count was very low today. We only had 16 children. And there were only about 10 in the 4th - 6th grade class. Last week there were a whole lot more so I bought enough snacks to feed 42 kids. A lot of the snacks came back home again. I stayed with my group throughout the whole morning because we were also down staff-wise. I shadowed or shepherded this group through crafts, games, worship workshop, and back to final assembly. I have already looked ahead to next week's lesson and it looks like it will be fun!! I look forward to teaching that. 
Our senior pastor, Mark Martin, was injured on Friday in a horseback riding accident. He punctured his abdomen and broke his pelvis. He had surgery on his pelvis yesterday at Miami Valley Hospital. So Pastor Joy took over preaching this morning and Pastor Patty helped out in the sanctuary as much as possible. So I missed out on church this morning, but that was fine. I don't mind being with the children at all. 
We've had lots of injuries in our church this summer. Our youth pastor, Missy Potts, was hurt by a horse this summer also. She shows horses through 4-H at the county fair. Well, a couple of weeks ago she was in the stall grooming her horse and for some reason it kicked her and then sat on her. She is in a wheelchair and will be for quite a while until she heals. 
For lunch today we had:

Curried Chicken

Wild & Brown Rice

Broccoli

Peas

Biscuits with Cinnamon-y Butter

(like Texas Roadhouse Restaurant)

Pecan Pie and Blackberry Cobbler

It was a good meal and I enjoyed the company very much. 

This afternoon I worked on my Beth Moore study and finished 5 days of homework and then watched the next video lesson. 

We also had a thunderstorm come through and I sat on the porch with Peggy, Jaide, and Jared. We got some good rain and thunder, but it was pretty mild compared to other storms we have had. It was over in about 30 minutes, the skies cleared and there is sunshine again now. 

I recorded "50 First Dates" so I'm going to watch that tonight. 

Day 153

Today was a quiet, uneventful Saturday. I watched a movie this morning, "The Sixth Sense". I've seen it before, but it's been a while. Then at the end it got sad - I hate watching sad movies. I need comedy - Adam Sandler, Farley Brothers, SNL.... One good thing is that today is Lucille Ball's 100th birthday and the Hallmark Channel has been playing "I Love Lucy" episodes all day long. Perfect!! I watched those every day when I was a kid. 7:00 PM on KTVU Channel Two. 
The "Fig Bar Episode" is carrying on today. I've had to shampoo 2 separate spots on the carpet today - thank you very much, Angel! 
I went to the store and bought what I needed for tomorrow's meal. It is always so crazy, wild at the stores on Saturday. Every time I am there in the afternoon, I always tell myself never again. Half-way home I realized I forgot rice, so I took a detour and stopped at the IGA in Enon to pick up rice. 
This afternoon I cooked chicken and prepared for my Sunday School class tomorrow morning. I will be teaching a lesson on when Jesus and the disciples went out on the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus fell asleep and a storm came up. Then all the disciples freaked out and woke him up. All he had to do was stand and say, "Peace. Be Still" and the waves were completely calm. I am team-teaching with Mr. Ron. Now I'm not sure if he'll be teaching the story or I will, but it's pretty simple and either one of us can do it. 
Just a quiet day. And I think Wade had a quiet day too. He's pretty happy because his office partner will be arriving back there tomorrow. And then he'll have someone to discuss issues with and to listen to him when he has to vent a little. Welome back, Myles! 

Day 152

Friday - 
Started off my day with a good, long talk on skype with Wade. It was wonderful. I think we actually talked for almost 80 minutes! It was great. 
Then I was off for my bargain shopping. I went through coupons and ads. First I saved 50% at Kroger. My final bill started at around $280 dollars, but with sales, promotions, and coupons - I got it down to $140 dollars. Plus I got a coupon for $5.00 off my next shopping trip. My stock up items included dry dog food, tide detergent, razors (for Wade). I bought me a package of fig bars (my indulgence - and remember that for later). I brought all that home and put it away. Had lunch and 3 of the fig bars (remember that for later). Okay, then I planned a trip to Rite Aid. There my bill came to $150 dollars, but I got it down to $100. A 33% reduction. I got toilet paper, more razors, body wash, dish soap. And there I got coupons worth $15 on my next shopping trip. Gotta love it!! 
When I came home from Rite Aid - I noticed my Speedway coffee cup on the floor and coffee spilled. Not a big deal - I thought. Cat must have gotten up there and batted it down. He occasionally does that with cups, pens, bottle caps. So I went to the back door to let the dogs out and ......... "crinkle - crinkle". Something was on the floor - I couldn't see what it was, but it crinkled....... hmmmmmmmmmm - so I bent down to see what it was and.......... ruh-roh........ a clear plastic tray. Where had I seen that before?? A clear plastic tray - a clear plastic tray - A CLEAR PLASTIC TRAY that used to hold a whole package of fig bars minus three!!!! Oh my gosh, while I was gone, my three skinny dogs had a fig bar party - I mostly blame Angel. And when I bent down to pick it up - Angel blamed herself too. She ducked her head down and couldn't even look at me. She knew!!!!! My fault for not putting it away properly - but I am now bracing for the effects of a whole package of figs and sugar. That's gonna be lovely!!! She still is apologizing at me with her eyes tonight. 
I had only Jaide for dinner and movie tonight. And I learned a new math equation:
pizza + "Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Rodrick Rules" + recliner + grandma = nap. 
I slept through some of that movie, but I watched the beginning and the ending - so I'll just try to imagine what the middle involved. After that movie, we watched "Soul Surfer". That was a really, really great movie. I stayed awake through the whole thing. A good day and a good evening. Sure wish I had a couple of fig bars to top off the night. 

Day 151

Hope Everlasting

The old sailor looked at the skies and saw a dark storm coming. As the sea became rough and choppy, the old salt calmly lowered the heavy-chained anchor link by link, battened down the hatches and went to bed for the night. 

He knew the storm would be rough. But he had faith in the grasp of the anchor. He knew his boat would be there in the morning.   Author Unknown

Bad news can be found anywhere. Current times can cause hopelessness in many people.  However, I have a living hope that cannot be quenched. I don't need to despair about things of this world. What can cause our hope to go sour? Often, we hope in the wrong things. It's so easy to place our hope in the wrong things. It's so easy to place our hope in this material world -- what we can see, taste, touch, and feel. These things can somehow seem to be controllable to us, but true hope can only be found in Jesus. 

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast." Hebrews 6:29a

"My Anchor Holds"

William C. Martin, 1902

1. 1. Though the angry surges roll
   1. On my tempest-driven soul,
   1. I am peaceful, for I know,
   1. Wildly though the winds may blow,
   1. I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
   1. That can evermore endure.
   • 1. • Refrain:
     1. • And it holds, my anchor holds:
     1. • Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
     1. • On my bark so small and frail;
     1. • By His grace I shall not fail,
     1. • For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.
2. 1. Mighty tides about me sweep,
   1. Perils lurk within the deep,
   1. Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
   1. And the tempest rises high;
   1. Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
   1. For my anchor grips the rock.
3. 1. I can feel the anchor fast
   1. As I meet each sudden blast,
   1. And the cable, though unseen,
   1. Bears the heavy strain between;
   1. Through the storm I safely ride,
   1. Till the turning of the tide.
4. 1. Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
   1. Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
   1. Tempters seek to lure astray;
   1. Storms obscure the light of day:
   1. But in Christ I can be bold,
   1. I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition 

and the elemental spiritual forces of this world 

rather than on Christ."  Colossians 2:8

Day 150

Wednesday - we had rain last night and it was overcast, humid, and a little bit foggy all morning long. This afternoon we did get some sunshine, but the temperature never got into the 90's today - so that was nice. 
There is going to be a birthday in the family coming up so I thought I would talk about that tonight. 

Yes, that's right..... Angel's birthday will be on the 12th. (Although there's something else about that date that I just can't recall at this time.......)
But Angel was born on Aug. 12th, 2003. We drove to Hillsboro, Ohio to pick her out of the litter and she laid on my lap in the corvette on the way home. 

 Her pedigree name is: "Jeanette's Guardian Angel" - And that's what she has been all these years. Although Wade was 'this close' to getting rid of her when she was a puppy, I hung in there and she stayed. When he went to Afghanistan she was my constant companion. We went almost everywhere together. 

She's had some health issues most of her life with her leg. And this past year we've found out what exactly is the problem and she is plagued with arthritis from it. 

Because she is a lab and labs by nature eat anything and everything - she got overweight and out of shape. 

Now this past January, Sheba hurt her legs too - so I took all of them to the vet. His first advice was that she and Sheba needed to lose weight. 

His suggestion was to cut their meals in half. So since the first part of the year, that's exactly what I have done. No more leftovers in their bowls to supplement their dog food. No more cookies when I wanted to show a little more love. A hug or an ear scratch would have to do for now. 

That has been a hard thing for me. I feel guilty sometimes because they now eat their meals (breakfast and dinner) in about 3 minutes flat and lick the bowls super-dee-dooper clean. How I would love to just drop a little more in there, but I've been firm with this.
So today I needed to take all three of the dogs to the vet's for nail trims. I can't do it and they were so long it was affecting how they were walking.  

Here is all three of them wearing their harnesses in preparation for their big outing this afternoon. It was much easier to keep hold of them this time. There were no escapes from the leashes and we managed pretty well coming and going. 

Angel & Sheba rode in the back seat and Kelly rode up front with me. I had to wait for 30 minutes in the room with the dogs and that was a little irritating, but finally the vet came in and clipped all the nails. I told him about the dogs losing weight and he invited me to weigh Angel on the scale in the lobby when I left. He said that weight loss was one of the best things that could be done for dogs with joint issues. Now back in January when Angel went to the vet she weighed 104 pounds. Today my skinny little girl weighed 84 pounds!!! Wow, she lost 20 pounds and I can really tell the difference. She acts younger and just seems happier. I can tell that all three girls have lost weight, but I think Angel's loss is the most dramatic. She still limps a lot and has to take pain meds but I am very happy with her progress.

PetSmart Obedience Classes 2003/2004

Day 149

Tuesday - and the heat continues - I've been hoping for a good, soaking rain but doesn't look like it will happen today. 
Wade is doing better this afternoon. He was still feeling down in the morning, but I think he has worked through some of the feelings and frustrations and his outlook is a little brighter. Thanks to those that prayed. He really appreciated it - we both do. 
I went to Hannah House this morning - Selena called to say she would be coming in to see me and asked how long I would be there. I replied a couple of hours, but after 2 1/2 hours and no air-conditioning - I was finished, ready to go, and she had not appeared (this is pretty common with her as she gets side-tracked or just too busy). I left her a note explaining why I had left. It's just too hot to work there in those conditions. There are still no mothers there - they must be staying somewhere else until the weather cools off. I completed all the month-end financial reports and took care of all the accounting/bookkeeping duties. 
Went and had my nails done this afternoon and then stopped at Kroger for a few groceries. 
Tiffany called this evening. Sam & Shelby start school tomorrow. Both will be in middle school this year. Good luck to them! Can't wait for Tiff to post her 'first-day-of-school' pictures. 

Day 148

Another Monday......... and I feel in an italic mood today.....
My day started off with a chat with Wade on skype. How nice that was. He is going through a rough patch right now: work issues, health issues, and he's just ready to take a break for a while. Hopefully he will get through this and bounce back to enjoying his purpose and mission there. Appreciate any prayers for him at this time. 
I went bowling with Peggy, Jaide, and Jared this afternoon. They all did the best they've ever done, and I was (to quote Tiffany...) craptastic (ha-ha). Oh well, there will be more Mondays to redeem myself. Plus, the ice cream at Dairy Queen afterwards tasted great.
I also got a package from Wade in the mail today. In it were some awards, patches, some candy (Kit Kat bars and Snickers bars) that has arabic writing on them, shirts, other food items, paper money, and a scarf. I put the awards on the mantle in the living room. They look good there.
This evening I did two weeks worth of reading and homework for a class I'll have on Thursday night. I still have one more week to complete, but I have 3 days to do it. No problem! 
Another hot day - I doubt that we will be getting any thunderstorms tonight.