What Was I Thinkin'?

I should plan ahead! I have my days and nights mixed up. I've been turning out the lights (sort of), thinking that I'd go to sleep and then am still watching t.v., or get back on the computer, or letting the dog out, etc, etc. until 1 - 2 a.m.  I thought it was fine last night to be up that late and then a little after 6 this morning, I get a CHEERY call to come sub.  I'm not going to say no, unless I have an appt. somewhere. Wow!!! What a long day. If I had had a really quiet class, I probably would have nodded off. But I had active, happy go lucky first graders. I think their was like 61 of them, or was that 16???? They kept me awake for sure. But I love it. It is very rewarding to watch them finally click with something they've been trying to learn.

Joel and the dog kept each other company all day. One of them even washed the dishes.  Joel is still using his breathing apparatus and is not getting so winded doing things. We are getting there, slowly but surely!       woo hoo !!!

Bill is counting the hours till he will be home. He is having therapy 2 times a day. Peg took his dog to visit with him today. I don't know which one gets more excited, Bill or Puff.... I know that I am crazy about our dog and I'm not with her 24/7 like Bill is with his. That is all he has all day, since he can't see well enough to drive himself. VERY SPOILED animals!!!!

I know have 9 signed in followers on my blog site. Some of you are still asking me about it. I will try to explain how to get to the blog, if you are one that is reading this via email. In the box where you search for things on the web, type in http://www.sharedjoy.blogspot.com/   OR  click on the highlighted, underlined words in this paragraph and it should take you right to it. Then if you want easy access, you can save it to your favorites by clicking on 'favorites' right under your search bar, and click on save to favorites. After that all you have to do is click on favorites and drag the mouse down to 'sharedjoy' and my blog will pop up. You can leave messages to me, too.  I'm sure there is computer lingo that makes more sense. I'll ask my son if you are still having trouble.

I need to get it updated and post some pictures. WHEN I get that part of it figured out. I feel like I am getting to the age, that I shouldn't put off things too long or buy really green bananas.

I use the time while driving to work to pray for different ones. Today I was having trouble focusing and remembering everyone's prayer request that had been emailed to me just in the past few weeks. Seems there has been so many. I need to write them down so I will be sure and pray as requested.  I know the urgency that I feel when I ask for prayer. But then I thought that God knows what is on our hearts and even when we don't remember names, circumstances, etc., He does.  Keep praying!
You know the routine....E-N-C-O-U-R-A-G-E!!!
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

Day 34

I thought that I should start early, since my computer is still giving me a bit of trouble. It doesn't want to do anything. Sorta like me.....sluggish I got called to work this morning for just the afternoon. Had a 4th grade class. They had plenty to keep them busy, which is great for the sub. If they get finished with their work, they tend to lean towards doing what they want to do, which is usually to talk. It was good to get to the higher grade level elementary since I've not been there this yr. I have lots of friends there that I enjoy getting to say hi to.   I don't know if Joel and the dog got too rowdy today, but Joel's glasses broke. We need to get them fixed. His old ones are in the work truck which his company picked up after he was admitted to the hospital. We can go get them, if necessary. Just hope the others can be fixed. I love getting messages from y'all. It is such a surprise sometimes. I got a real surprise from a cousin that I've not seen since I was a little girl. She found my name and phone # on a piece of paper while cleaning out a drawer. She'd lived with my parents while in high school before I was ever born.  My mom had given her my name  & phone # incase she would someday not be able to get ahold of Mom. It was so nice to hear from her. I do remember her, but not a lot about her. It was so sweet for her to call and catch up on my family and my siblings. Maybe cleaning out drawers will pay off for all of us.  I have another prayer request. Linda, one of my good friends and neighbor was seriously injured by one of their cows. She has several broken ribs & spleen, liver and other internal injuries.  Her husband couldn't make the cow stop, even by kicking and throwing things at it,  but thankfully their 2 dogs were able to. She is in the trauma unit at University Hosp. Please pray that she will continue to heal and not have to have surgery.  My brother is getting things set up for home health care. He is so excited about getting to come home. It will be so wonderful. My sister will be here this week to help get things ready and then she will be here to help till he gets more steady.  Please remember that I am looking for silent auction items or donations. I need to get that going! It'll be here before you know it. I tend to think, "oh, I have plenty of time".......NOT!!!!  I am trying to consolidate our phones and internet service to try and save money. So there may be a glitch in my blog for a few days. Not sure how all of this is suppose to work, but we are suppose to be able to combine everything and save some money.  Saying that to say...If I should suddenly seem to have dropped off the face of the earth, be assured that I am here and well. I may continue to blog in Word program and then copy and paste when I am back up and running. I may not miss a second, but thought I should get that word out since things have been going pretty quirky lately. Better quit and get some rest incase I should get a McRib craving and have to stand in the long lines to get one.. I hear they are back. ewwwwwww yukkkkk! ENCOURAGE someone. Love and Prayers to all! Suzie

So Happy & Frustrated

I got such a WONDERFUL surprise this morning in church.  Bill was there and he looked sooooooooooooo good! He's lost about 40 lbs.  I couldn't help but sob for a few mins. with both him and Joel being there. I even celebrated by singing extra loud in the choir. It was such a blessing to see two people there that were prayed for by so many. Bill got to be home until 4, so he got to be with his "babies" for a little while. I am sure that his dogs were very happy to see him. They get extra treats when he's around. Thank you for praying for him and Joel. They both have a ways to go, but they are getting there. yeaaaaaa !!!!!!

I have been trying for over an hour to get on to the computer to get this going. I don't know what I finally did to get here, but good grief, it is nearly tomorrow. VERY FRUSTRATING!!! Last week our house phone was out of order for a couple of days and now my cell phone is on the glitch. If y'all try to call, we are not ignoring you. We are just having some phone issues. The house phone is working again. Never did find out what caused that. No one ever came out. 

We sort of just vegged out today. LAZY, LAZY, LAZY day. But I guess that we needed to rest after the long day yesterday.  Joel did help our son get our truck started.  He's been driving it to work because his car has some sort of problem and he's not been able to figure it out. We bought it second hand from an individual that we knew and trusted but have had trouble from the day after we brought it home. And of course, we were told that it was a great car with all new parts........, really? How can someone look at themselves in the mirror each day, knowing that they sold us something like that? . Oh, well....that's in the past and hopefully, it'll get figured out. It's just been sitting for a couple of yrs. Still starts, so that's a blessing. In fact, they used it to jump start the truck.  Hopefully, it's just the battery. It's been a GREAT truck and we are so thankful that we have it. It's a 99 Ford F150 with over 234,000. If it continues to follow it's past history, we may have another 200,000 mi. out of it.

Y'all are the best! I started to just give up and not even try to do a blog/email tonight, but then, just today I had so many encouraging comments at church. One person said they'd been gone and couldn't wait to get caught up. WOW!!! If this gets too boring, I'd recommend the Jeannette Oke series of books. Now that's interesting reading!

Please keep some one's spirits lifted by encouraging them at something. "Talk" to y'all later. It IS now tomorrow and I'm going to bed.
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

  

This'll Be Short

We had a great day, but long. The 2 1/2 Angels performed in Fentress and then we met again at a Gospel jam in Tilmon and sang there and listened to about 4 hrs. of good gospel music and had a delicious pot luck dinner. I love that part. Everyone brings their best of the best food and of course, you MUST taste everything. When you take a scoop of each dish, you end up with a huge plate of food. AND THEN......you hope that you aren't the first one up to sing right after the meal.

My brother got to come home for a couple of hrs. last night and visit with his dogs. Peg said that it was hard for him to go back. But he is still suppose to go home Fri. He is really looking forward to that. He is still receiving cards and appreciates them so much.

I think that I will try to get some rest now. I can be soooooooooooooooooooooooooo sleepy and as soon as I put my head on the pillow, my brain starts bouncing from one thing to another and I toss and turn for awhile.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will be a little more focused.  I really appreciate everyone's feedback on my emails and blog. Thank you for being "here" for me.  Keep finding someone to encourage.
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

Friday

Wow! It's already Friday. Seems like our days are flying by in one respect and in another we are dragging by. Guess depends on what we are doing or what we are waiting on. We want some days to speed on by and the others to please slow down.  I look at my kids and my grand kids and think about where has all our time gone, and wish time would slow way down. SAD!!!!! Then when it comes to something I don't want to get to, time flies. Can y'all tell that I am mully-grubbing? One of my very good friends use to tell me, "Put on your big girl panties and get over it."  I still wish like crazy that she were still with us, so she could set me straight.
What's so DARN frustrating is I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW THAT I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VERY MUCH BLESSED. I am so ashamed of myself for having such a pity party for so long. I just have such a heavy heart tonight for some dumb reason. Guess the devil is trying to discourage me from saying, I AM BLESSED. Well, I have something to say to the devil....but I will tell him and not get ugly here. I have been praying about not saying anything whiny, negative, or hurtful. I am positive that he (the devil) wants me to be miserable, down, sad, worried, lonely, negative, whiny, etc, etc, etc. But I'm gonna fight it with every means I can, the main one being prayer!
We have so many sweet, precious, wonderful friends that are fighting horrible things like cancer, (we're not); infections, (we're not); injuries, (we're not);  chemo, (we're not); radiation, (we're not); no job (we're not); identity fraud, (we're not); broken relationship, (we're not); etc, etc, etc, .....OH, MY..... WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE BLESSED. I am understanding the song, 'Count Your Many Blessings' more and more.
I cannot go a day without prayer and being thankful that I am a christian. I don't know how people can make it through a day without having that relationship with our Lord.  I know that we cry out to him when things aren't going so well. I think of how sad I'd feel if my kids only came to me when they were in need. My heart is so happy when one of them calls, comes by, or just hear them say, "Mom".   I'm not at all perfect, never will claim to be, and will mess up a lot before my purpose on earth is complete. I've not figured out my purpose in life. I keep thinking it's to pester people, which I do well!
Joel had a great day. He went to visit with Bill while I worked. This was his first day driving and being out alone since his surgery.
Bill saw the wound specialist and he has the places on his legs wrapped with special instructions not to get them wet or remove them. The pressure sore is not infected. (right now). He looked better, had a more positive attitude, and was finally getting some sleep. The dr. ordered something to help him.
I had a good day, too. Just got sad for my friends that I talked to today.
My pillow is beckoning my head and I am here to oblige.
Thanks for encouraging me...now pass it on!
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

Thirty Days Out

Here we are......thirty days out from surgery and things are going so well. Joel even helped with things at the country music show tonight. (No lifting, tugging, pushing) He helped sell tickets and kept up with my purse. He dare not lift it tho. ha!

The show went really well. I wish all of y'all could have heard the 11 yr. old girl that sang. Remember the name Madelyn Abrameit.....this little girl is going somewhere.  She does Loretta Lynn songs as well as anyone. Dynamite!!!! And not only is she beautiful outwardly, but she has a beautiful heart.

I think that I am either trying to come down with something or these darn allergies are getting to me. I have been blahhhhhh the past 3 days and can't really pinpoint it. Maybe I'm worn out watching for varmints all the time.  This morning, our dog would not leave the pecan tree in our yard. She kept jumping up on it and then would go a few feet away and sit. I just knew that the big ol' opossum was up there ready to pounce.

I need to thank everyone for all the positive comments about my emails and blog. That has really been such a blessing. I would love to achieve that dream of one day writing a book, but I keep thinking to myself that I can't. But thank you for encouraging me. I wish that I had kept all the emails that were sent to me. I have 7 followers now on my blog site, which is such a nice feeling to know that someone is actually interested in what I am up to. Good kudoes!!!!

I get to work all day tomorrow. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! And it's for one of my favorite classes. Double yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!! The dog will be babysitting Joel.

I think that my brain is going to sleep ahead of my eyes, so better wrap this up. Keep on encouraging.
Love and prayers to all!
Suzie

Wonderful Wednesday

I had a good day! I worked a 1/2 day this morning for a sweet 2nd grade class, spent the afternoon with a fun group that sings at one of the area nursing homes, and then tonight went to Awana's at church, and ended the day out with choir practice. Yes, it was a long day, but very rewarding!  Joel went with me to the nursing home, but then stayed home.

My brother found out that he is going to get to come home Friday, a week from tomorrow with home health care. My sister will be coming to stay with him for a while. She is such a good big sister! Always helping us out whenever we need her. Our dog LOVES her to come.  I thought that Bill was seeing the wound specialist today, but his appt. is tomorrow. He did get out of his room today and took himself on a tour of the place just to see what was there. He is so excited about getting to come home. He will continue his therapy until he is released.  I forgot to ask him if he got the sugar substitute and the wheat bread today. 


Tomorrow is my BIG day with the country music show. I always get excited about the show. After I visit with Bill in the morning, I will be volunteering around noon at the Silver Center to help do something. I think serve a meal. And then, help set up the chairs, etc. and get the programs printed, etc.  Then I get ready for the show. Pick up a precious friend from our church and then go enjoy the entertainers.  If y'all are within range, come on over. It helps the senior citizens.

If any of y'all have anything you would be willing to donate for our Silent Auction in Dec., please let me know. I will be glad to pick up anything or you can drop it by the Silver Center between 8 a.m. and 3  p.m. Anything that will bring a dollar or a few thousand would be welcome.  We are chipping away at getting the sound equipment paid for, new mics, and the stage enlarged. Right now, we stuff the band on what we have and pray that no one pulls a "me" and falls off.  Oh,.....if anyone would like to donate towards the stage, like material, labor, etc. that would be wonderful. I'm not too shy when it comes to helping the senior citizens. They are so much more fun to hang out with. I love their stories, love their wisdom,  and their wit. I have grown too soon old and too late smart and wish that I had recorded some of my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents stories. Especially my mom's mom and dad and her grandmother. They were all such an influence in my life. They just weren't the "Lucy" that I am.

I heard from all 3 of my kids today, so know I will sleep better tonight. I tossed an turned last night and had them on my mind. Our granddaughter is having some effects from the antiobiotics, but they are doing what they are suppose to be doing.  Yeaaaaaa !!! Brayden, the great grandson is doing well.  Yeaaaaaaa, again!

Keep on keeping on encouraging!
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie