Every Day

"Do one thing every day that scares you"--Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm trying to have the courage to do this.  When you are obedient to God, this is a part of your life.
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-courage-to-be-obedient_12.html
I love quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt.  Where do your favorite quotes come from?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today:
368.  CuddleDuds
369.  Lists
370.  Husband who is willing and able to bump my wheelchair up inaccessible front entrances
371.  MP3 Player
372.  Sermons on MP3 or CD
373.  Finding amazing quotes

Life Is Still Interrupted

Read the beginning of the story:
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-beginning-of-slower-pace-of-life.html--PART 1
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/training-with-broken-leg.html--PART 2
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-pain-arrives.html--PART 3
http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/11/learning-to-be-still.html--PART 4

It is now the end of August and I'm going stir crazy counting the days until the boot can come off and life can return to "normal."  I take my shoe along to the appointment just waiting for the freedom to get rid of the boot.

Disappointment strikes.  While my leg is healing, the bone does not yet appear strong enough to bear weight.  So, no shoe for me.  I will be in my boot at least until my next appointment on October 1.  I am devastated.  I am so ready to have this off and be able to live life.  No water aerobics at all for me this summer.  There is good news.  I no longer have to keep the foot plate on and can have my boot off when my foot is still.  No more sleeping with that retched boot on.  I have soldiered through about as long as I can.  I could stay positive and hopeful because I saw the end was near.  Now, I don't know what to do.  Not only do I have to continue to wear the boot, I have to wear it on family vacation.  :(













Life cannot return to "normal" yet, but it can be closer since I don't have the footplate on and don't have to worry about bones shifting anymore.  I just can't put weight on it.  This doesn't really encourage me and my discouragement leads to falling back into some bad eating habits.  I can't exercise so what's the point.  Might as well go completely unhealthy.  Wait--in hindsight I know that is wrong, but at the moment it just seemed to make sense.  If I have to sit around all day, I might as well be eating "bon bons."  I don't even know what those are. (If you know, send me a pic)  My vice is Dr. Pepper.

You would think I would put this time "being still" to good use.  I have been learning how to "be still" or so I thought.  What I was really doing was biding my time until the end of August when I could stop "being still."  When that didn't happen as planned, depression hit hard.  I felt so useless and dependent and I have worked so hard to be useful and independent.  October 1 approaches and I don't take my shoe with me so I don't jinx myself.  YEAH!!!  No more boot!!!  Completely healed leg!!
Maybe it will be easier to "be still" when I am not forced to.

END OF STORY

Have you ever been biding your time and then crushed when things didn't happen as planned?
What  have you learned during times of forced stillness?
Have you ever had times of forced stillness that lasted 3 1/2 months?
Have you found your maximum time for being a good patient?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today:
360.  Finishing one chapter of life
361.   Learning to take responsibility to move forward not excuses looking back
362.  Forgiveness
363.  Struggling to understand the Bible with friends
364.  Always learning
365.  Date night
366.  Smell of steak cooking
367.  Candy Cane Chill

Be Kind

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” ~Philo of Alexandria

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today
349.  Family
350.  Safe holiday travels
351.  Hope
352.  Grace
353.  Searching for truth
354.  New babies
355.  Vets willing to listen to pet owners
356.  Wal-mart Christmas
357.  Blessings
358.  Fax machine at home
359.  Cousins

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

What does Jesus want for His birthday?

Besides helping those in need check out this blog--it got us to talking about what gifts we can give Jesus all year round.

http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/2012/happy-birthday-jesus-2/

Jesus' Birthday Cake

Party Decorations

Party Decorations

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today

340.  God With Us

341.  Lime Sherbet and 7UP  Punch
342.  Newly decorated movie room
343.  Stair chair
344.  Spending time in the basement
345.  Clean toilet
346.  Kids old enough to make it to the toilet before throwing up
347.  Excitement about the Birthday Party this afternoon
348.  Snow not interrupting Christmas dinner

St. Nick

Santa Claus has been an interesting part of our Christmas celebration always.  We have stockings and they get full Christmas morning.  We leave out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve and sometimes reindeer food.  Our daughter was always terrified of men dressed up like Santa--they were strange and asked kids to sit on their laps.  I remember being scared of a strange man that could get into my house even if it was only to leave gifts--so my Grandma showed me my Grandpa's Santa suit and set my mind at ease.  We never told our children there was a strange man that came into the house, we always told them Eric was Santa.  But, we live in a culture where Santa is so prevalent among friends and on TV shows that they didn't believe us.  But, it certainly made it an easier transition when they did figure it out and easier for them to want to "be Santa" for others.  We still have stockings and enjoy the Santa movies and music, but I think in this house we have a pretty firm grasp on the reality of the situation.  Here is some St. Nick info I found this year.  Enjoy it and maybe it will help you manage the Santa situation at your house.

The Real Story of St. Nick

The real Santa lived a long time ago in a place called Asia Minor. It is now the country of Turkey. His name was Nicholas.

Nicholas' parents died when he was just a teenager. His parents left him a lot of money which made him a rich young man. He went to live with his uncle who was a priest.

Nicholas heard about a man who had lost all his money. He had three daughters who were old enough to get married. But in those days young women had to have money in order to get married. This money was a "dowry" and it was used to help the new family get started. If you didn't have dowry money, you didn't get married.

This family was so poor they had nothing left to eat. The daughters were going to be sold as slaves because they couldn't live at home any longer. They were very sad. They wouldn't be able to have families of their own. And they would have to be slaves—no longer able to decide where they would live or what they would do.

The night before the oldest daughter was to be sold, she washed her stockings and put them in front of the fire to dry. Then all of them went to sleep—the father and the three daughters.

In the morning the daughter saw a lump in her stocking. Reaching in, she found a small, heavy bag. It had gold inside! Enough to provide food for the family and money for her dowry. Oh, how happy they were!

The next morning, another bag with gold was found. Imagine! Two of the daughters would now be saved. Such joy!

And the next night, the father planned to stay awake to find out who was helping his daughters. He dozed off, but heard a small "clink" as another bag landed in the room. Quickly he jumped up and ran out the door. Who did he catch ducking around the corner?

Nicholas, the young man who lived with his uncle. "Nicholas, it is you! Thank you for helping us—I hardly know what to say!" Nicholas said, "Please, do not thank me—thank God that your prayers have been answered. Do not tell others about me."

Nicholas continued helping people. He always tried to help secretly. He didn't want any attention or thanks. Years passed and he was chosen to be a bishop. Bishops look after their people as shepherds look after their sheep. And that is what Nicholas did. When there wasn't any food, he found wheat; so no one went hungry. He always helped people in trouble. All his life Nicholas showed people how to love God and care for each other.

Everyone loved Nicholas. After he died, they told stories of the good and kind things Nicholas had done. Sailors took these stories about Nicholas everywhere they went. Some of the stories were about his special care for children—helping and protecting them when danger threatened. And so more and more people learned about good, kind Nicholas. They wanted to be like him. He is an example of how we should live. And that is why he became a saint.

This is the story of the real Santa Claus, St. Nicholas. To this day people say that St. Nicholas, or Santa, is the special friend of children.
--Carol Myers

Santa Claus and St. Nicholas

Everybody loves Santa Claus. He embodies holiday cheer, happiness, fun, and gifts—warm happy aspects of the Christmas season. How do Santa Claus and St. Nicholas differ?
Santa Claus belongs to childhood;
St. Nicholas models for all of life.
Santa Claus, as we know him, developed to boost Christmas sales—the commercial Christmas message;
St. Nicholas told the story of Christ and peace, goodwill toward all—the hope-filled Christmas message.

Santa Claus encourages consumption;
St. Nicholas encourages compassion.
Santa Claus appears each year to be seen and heard for a short time;
St. Nicholas is part of the communion of saints, surrounding us always with prayer and example.
Santa Claus flies through the air—from the North Pole;
St. Nicholas walked the earth—caring for those in need.
Santa Claus, for some, replaces the Babe of Bethlehem;
St. Nicholas, for all, points to the Babe of Bethlehem.
Santa Claus isn't bad;
St. Nicholas is just better.

—J. Rosenthal & C. Myer

How is Santa Claus handled in your house?
How do you explain the true story of St. Nick to your children?
How are you living with the spirit of St. Nick this year?

Guess Who?

Guess Who?

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today
332.   Christmas excitement
333.  Santa pancakes
334.  Those who give extra help
335.  Naps
336.  Sleep Number Bed
337.  Extreme Makeover Home Edition
338.  Paying It Forward
339.  Family Traditions 

Christmas Lights at Cedar Bluff

Our only real trip to specifically see Christmas lights was out to Cedar Bluff.   If you're only going to make one trip--this is definitely worth it.  The trees are covered in lights and there are a few other fun lights around to see.  The great thing is you can stay in your warm car (or semi-warm if the windows are rolled down) OR you can brave the cold and take a hay ride.  We chose to stay in our semi-warm vehicle.  Then, the family decided to get out to enjoy roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate and the singing of carols by local singers.  They were even thoughtful enough to bring me some hot chocolate.  :)  I wonder just how long it takes to get all the lights in the trees.  If you happen to know, let me know.

What are your favorite Christmas light experiences?
This made us come home and watch several episodes of Extreme Christmas Lights.  This is what Eric would like to do to our house.  What do you think?  We do live in the Christmas City of the High Plains after all.  :)

If you like reading my posts, please consider following me.  It's an easy way to know when I've posted something new

Thanksgiving for today
325.  Working together
326.  Finding the water leaks
327.  Indoor plumbing
328.  Message study Bible devotions that just "fit"
329.  The Under 12 group leading Christmas songs up front in church
330.  Dog learning to use his "bathroom" out the back door
331.  Cookies from neighbors