Bible Study

This morning began the second session of our Bible Study by Priscilla Schier.  I'm looking forward to the culmination of the series on being able to discern when God speaks to us specifically.  Debbie took Jess to Meijer's and Jess did well until a baby was squealing in the store.  She about lost it, I guess.  She's been hyper the rest of the day.  I enjoyed hosting Home Group tonight. 

Back To Water Aerobics

Today began a new 7-week session of Water Aerobics.  I decided to give it a good try.  I didn't do alot of kicking or jumping but mostly upper body moves.  It did bother my knees, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to walk when I was done, but it didn't seem to bother my walking.  A half-hour in the hot tub was wonderful!

I had lunch today with my friend, Luz.  Not only do we go to the same church, but her children went to Morgan Elementary School where I finished my 30-year career.  When I retired we said we'd get together for lunch one day.  Almost 13 years later we finally met for lunch.  It was a great time of sharing what God has been doing in our lives. 

Debbie brought Jess to the pool and she did pretty good.  Jessie has been a bit - well, more than a bit - crabby lately.  Today wasn't any different.  I'm not sure why.  She begins the day screaming and ends it the same way.  That is challenging, to say the least. 

A Visit From My "Oldest" Friend

I met my friend, Lil, for lunch today at the Garden.  Her dad and mine were Detroit Police Officers at the same precinct and as our parents began their families, we "grew up together".  We've kept in contact over the years, but this was the first time we've actually seen one another in over 20 years !!!!!  How blessed I am to have such a great friend of so many years.  We had a nice, leisurly 2 hour lunch and almost caught up.  We've got another date on the calendar for the end of the month. 

The 4 rubbermaids are almost done.  They are packed and all I have to do tonight is zip tie them closed and put electrical tape around the edges so nothing can get in.  Being on an open ship in the middle of an ocean, you can image what might get into boxes without every opening sealed.  So, I'm going to close right now and finish the boxes so I can mail them after Water Aerobics in the morning. I'm going to give it a try.  My knee isn't as good as I'd like it to be but if it's too much, I'll just go sit in the hot tub.  Sounds nice to me!

No Rest Today

Today has been a whirl wind and I'm still going.  I was out all morning at a meeting and while I was gone Jessie did 14 puzzles with Debbie, a mosiac project and something else.  Can't remember.  She was a busy bee.

We had a quick "Girl's Day Out" to the bank and drive thru McDonald's (isn't it something that both Jess and I continue to lose weight?  Jess especially.) then home.  I am having the upstairs hallway painted and Dorene was here for a bit.  Jon and Dorene brought down my couch and entertainment center from my bedroom because I'm having the sitting area remodeled.  Bob is coming in the morning to begin a wall and a half wall.  I'm excited about the upstairs changes, but my bedroom is a disaster.  An organized disaster, though. 

My dining room is also a disaster (and it is NOT organized) as I'm getting prepared to send 4 rubbermaids to my friend, Lois, in Haiti.  I have to start and finish them tomorrow, as they need to be mailed on Wednesday.  That's the goal, anyway.  They need to be in Miami by next week in order to get on the ship.

Jon did alot for me today.  He did some wash, took out the garbage, bought and scattered 50 pounds of ice melter on our driveway, worked in his bedroom, as well as did a spread sheet for me to justify Jessie's spending for a 12-month period.  I have a huge report to do and this helps me alot!  Not to mention the furniture from upstairs to outside!  He was a HUGE help.  Thank you, son!

I'm closing now, but I'm off to the kitchen to do our weekly pills.  I do them each Monday night.  I had forgotten until about a half hour ago.  I was ironing Jessie's perler beads.  I have to admit that I've dumped quite a few because I just can't keep up with her.  I had none to iron 10 minutes ago but she now has one ready and will be starting her second in a minute.  Ahhhhh!

A Special Sunday

This is Jon's weekend off, so he went to first service and I made it to the second.  We had a guest speaker, Dwight Robertson, who we've had speak numerous times over the years.  His father was pastor of our church years ago, after Dwight and his siblings were out of the home.  Dwight is the founding president and CEO of Kingdom Building Ministries in Colorado.  This morning's sermon was a culmination of a special conference weekend where he spoke Friday night and on Saturday.  (I didn't attend.  My loss.)  His topic, like the title of his book, "You Are God's Plan A (and there is no plan b)" was excellent.  It went along with my personal Bible reading and books I have been reading on prayer.  In a nut shell, we are to be specific in our prayers.  Let's go beyond the "Bless them, Lord!" prayers to ... whatever the Holy Spirit lays on your heart to pray for them.

Even before the service began, God answered a specific prayer that I prayed on the way to church just for me.  I believe I shared with you before that being in church is where I feel the loneliness and miss Bill the most.  I rarely see many friends on Sunday at 11:30.  Today I prayed that God would have people that I know there and make me feel like I belonged, as well as "could someone please sit with me?"  You need to know that before I had gone 5 feet into the sanctuary, I was hugged by at least 5 people - hard hugs - and genuine love and friendship on their faces for me!  When I went to my seat, I was alone - UNTIL someone said, "Are you saving this seat?"  A long-time friend, Luz, sat with me this morning !!!!!!!!!!  I told her she was an answer to my prayer for someone to sit with  me.  She said she was in the back and saw me and decided she'd come and sit with me.  She's never done that before.  THANK YOU, JESUS!

Not only was the entire service a blessing, God cared enough about me to provide hugs and a person to sit with today.  How much more blessed could I be? 

After church the kids and I went to Kwong Tong Palace for a chinese lunch.  This restaurant has been there for over 30 years.  Jon hadn't been there in years and Jess and I hadn't been there in over a year, I think.  After we were finished we walked next door to "the zoo", as Jess calls it.  It's Kee's Pets and Aquarium.  They have a wonderful fish display - they've recently expanded into the next store over and made a larger showroom. 

Jon worked in his bedroom, Jess worked on her beads and I worked on resting.  I iced my knees and took a nap.  Right now Jess is laughing hysterically to an app on her iPad where you speak into it and it repeats what you say only like the chipmunks!  It is VERY funny.

Thank you, God, for a very nice day, and for caring for us.  You are worthy to be praised - at all times.  Thank you.

A Very Busy Saturday

While Jon worked most of the day removing items from Jessie's bedroom and putting them back into his, Rachel came and helped me around the house.  I am so thankful for her help.  I NEVER would have gotten what we did on my own in one week!  We put away all the snowmen and decorated for Easter.  She also dusted and vacuumed and kept her eye on Jess.  I was a little put out, though, when I thought I had the Fall/Christmas/Snowman closet completed packed and I discovered a rubbermaid, 3 pillows and a very large snowman that I had forgotten to put away.  I had to unpack a bit before these items would go back in. 

Around noon we went to the post office, bank, Walgreen's, then to Dimitri's for lunch.  I am so tired of going to Subway or McDonald's because that's what Jess likes that I insisted we do something different.  She wasn't happy and yelled all the way there and a little in the restaurant.  I wouldn't let her have her favorite meal either: chicken strips and fries.  Instead she (happily) ate a grilled chicken gyro and we shared an order of fries. 

Jess has been very crabby lately.  She insists on her own way, which causes for a problem, because I don't give in.  I do pick my battles, though, but recently everything makes her scream and complain.  It's getting a bit wearing, to say the least.  I long for the peace and quiet I get when she's asleep.

The Big 3

I did not blog last night because by the time I got home and did payroll, it was almost midnight.  I was too tired to blog.  Sorry about that.

For a month I have been waiting for last night.  I organized a group of 11 of us to go to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts to see "The Big 3" ... Sandi Patty, Larnell and Dino, along with a 200 member Choir. 

We met at 5:30 p.m. for dinner at Big Boy's across from the MCPA and had a nice time visiting.  Then we went across the street to get our seats ... I had tickets in the 4th and 5th row, almost right in the middle.  The seats were great. 

The concert?  It began at 7:30 p.m. and with only a 15 minute break, ended at 10:30.  I can't describe to you how awesome it was.  Almost 3 solid hours of the best music you'd ever want to hear.  I was so spiritually "exhausted" by the time I got home, I could barely think.  What do I mean by that?  It was a very intense, yet wonderful time of worshipping and praising Jesus, with 3 of the best performers you'd want to hear. 

However, I did get a little weepy toward the end of the concert.  Chris and her husband Larry, and Bill and I went to see Larnelle and Dino MANY times - about 20 some years ago in Flint and Port Huron.  Bill LOVED Dino and last night when he began one of his famous, old songs, which was Bill's favorite, the tears came.

Later on, though, I got to thinking about it again and thought that even though Dino was one of his favorites and his music is awesome, what would it compare to what Bill and Larry are experiencing now?  I'm sure it can't even come close to what angelic music they are surrounded by as they praise Jesus in His presence. 


Today - Friday - my friend Chris J., picked me up and took me for my 3rd and final shot in my knee - Thank God!  It hurt ALOT.  It felt like he was blowing up my knee cap.  The helper did say that the 3rd shot was always the worse.  After I treated to lunch, I sat in my chair and iced my knee.  The shots have already helped.

Jess had a great day.  First it was breakfast out then they did a few errands and ended up at the gym and went swimming  in the pool.  After that a few more errands and home.  They left at 9 and returned at 4:00.  Jon worked.  I don't think he had as fun of a day as Jessie.