A Day Skipped

No! No! No! No! No!!!!!  I AM NOT BELIEVING WHAT I JUST DID. Again, I somehow managed to wipe out my whole email / blog. It is NOWHERE!!!! I've searched and searched but it's gone, GONE, G-O-N-E, I guess gone with the socks.....???????

Oh, well.... I'll begin again.

awwwwwww!!!!! Some of y'all missed me. I am sorry about the skipped day, but I was not feeling well and ended up taking some meds. that made me ewwwwwww yukkkkkk feeling and I went to bed covered my head, thinking that it would pass in a few mins., but woke up at 2:30 a.m. and spent the rest of the night trying to muffle coughs. I ended up going to the dr. this afternoon and am on an antibiotic hoping that I get my voice back and have no cough in 2 1/2 days (there's that "2 1/2" again......just saying)

I spent about 6 hrs. on  & off the computer and phones between Fri. & Sat. trying to get
Joel's phone fixed. I finally gave up and we had to take it into the Apple Store in San Antonio. It's not a real convenient location, but hey.....that got it done!  If you ever plan on going to an Apple Store, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!!!!! They had at least 30 employees working the floor and all were busy, busy, busy. Fortunately, we were told to. Or, we may still have been there.  Between them and the AT&T Store, I think that we made a great choice of providers.

Yesterday, we had our 5th Sunday singing program at church. Several people sign up to sing specials and it is always a blessing. One in particular, was a song about a young girl looking in the mirror and not liking what she saw, but then God reminded her that He'd made her beautiful. I'd never heard it before, but it got me to thinking about how so many people do focus on the outward appearance and not the beauty that comes from a beautiful heart and how much better off our world would be if we "saw" and "acted" through our hearts and not our eyes. I, for one,am always working on my outer appearance by using makeup, lotions, salves, balms, soaps, ointments, creams, emollients, liniments, washes, creams, scrubs, potions, etc., etc., etc., But........SAD to say, they don't do a thing for my heart because they can't reach it. That prescription comes only from Jesus living in my heart. I want to be known and remembered as someone with a beautiful heart. Now I have to remember to work on my actions, ALL THE TIME!!!

Two of our grand daughters have been nominated by their teachers for the "People to People" program. Abby is in Jr. High and Michelle is in High School. They will be having to raise money and apply for scholarships, and continue to pass all the steps necessary to be in the final 40 chosen. It sounds like a wonderful program and opportunity. They are already planning on what they can do. They are encouraged to work, do odd jobs, make things and sell, etc. It would take them to Australia this summer. I don't have all the details, yet, but am anxious to hear more about it.  They are both great students. (And both have the beautiful hearts that I was talking about.) I am very proud of them and will help them in anyway that I can.
 
I guess our encouragement for the day would be to encourage someone to show their beautiful hearts more.  Thank you for missing me. Please pray that Joel and my brother don't get this mess. Coughing would not be good for them.

Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

WE DANCED !!!!!!!

Tonight we waltzed 2 1/2 waltzes. I think that is pretty amazing! And the trio that I sing with is "The 2 1/2 Angels". Just saying....

I was hostessing at the Silver Center for the 'Almost Patsy Cline' program, which is a wonderful group! If you ever have a chance to go hear them, it is well worth it. VERY GOOD!!!!  When they started playing Jole Blon (which is our favorite) Joel decided that we should try it,  and the second time around the floor, Joel said, "oh crap." I asked him, in a panic, "what's wrong?" (I'd just reminded him that we couldn't do the chest compressions very easily.) He said, "I guess this means that I have to go back to work." What a relief that we've come this far. It would be nice if he didn't have to go back to work, but the bills are due. yeehaw!

My brother's having more problems with his feet. Home health care is already coming out to take care of him for a while. He said he doesn't know what to do. He's suppose to stay off his feet, but yet get exercise, it hurts to sit, and hurts to lay. The only position left would be for him to stand on his head. Even with all the things wrong, he is so happy being home. I think any of us would be!

Please pray that I am not going to come down with what I feel like I'm coming down with. Our group is suppose to sing at a pretty big show pretty soon.  I don't want to have to go to the dr. to try and get something for it. Maybe that explains the mully grub feeling that I've been having the past few days. Hopefully, it's just allergies and I can get something over the counter to fix it.

It's short, but it's late. For some reason the time posted on these blogs is not the time that I work on them. Right now it is 1:26 a.m.. We've had a long evening, but a fun one. I will try to catch up on everything tomorrow.

Good night and may we all dream of encouraging someone.
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I wondered if I should open up and let everyone know some of my true feelings. It's hard and I struggled with, "is this just too much whining?". But the One that I am trying to "hide" from is the One who created me and designed my life. (Sometimes I wonder if He was paying attention, and other times I think He sure has a good sense of humor!) I admit.......I am a mess! But God loves me and is still working on me, and will be till the end of time. (And I am sure glad that I am in the works!) I will forever be thankful that I have Him as my "Daddy" to run to whenever I want and for whatever I want, knowing that He is ALWAYS there just waiting. The thing is, I let go of His hand, but He has me in the palm of His hand and won't let go of me. WHY, do I forget that? Again.........., I am human and there are other humans out there that are hurting and needing a word of encouragement, a prayer, a hug, a smile, something.......I heard from a friend today that my blogging was helping her get through some tough times. Wow! I hate that she is having tough times, but what a blessing to find out that by my putting my heart and feelings out there, it is helping someone. I told her that we couldn't survive this world of craziness without other Christian friends. So....I may, at times, look like a complete whiny, confused, upset, needy, woe is me, sad, and pitiful mess, but hang with me. I know that there is a blessing that is going to surface.

Lately, most of my devotions have been on being still, trusting, and calling out to God regardless of how I feel. WOW!!!! Sounds so simple and it is. I just make it hard.

We are still having phone woes. But we will get them figured out. We keep going back to the AT&T store in New Braunfels (which I HIGHLY recommend!). We are working with a salesman named Frank, that I HIGHLY recommend, too! I've never had customer service like we've had there. The problem is not with them. I had a faulty phone and then I did something to Joel's trying to "fix" it and now we get to make another trip over there. Frank, definitely, needs a raise! He is the most patient salesman that I've ever had. And knows his stuff!

Now for the GOOD STUFF..............................

BILL IS HOME........WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is so happy. My sister got him home this morning and he's had a good day. He even rode to town with her and Peg but sat in the car while they went to the grocery store for "alfalfa". He is determined to follow his diet that he was on while in rehab. My sister has also been watching what she eats. All this has scared her, too. She has polymyalgia (sp?) which really gets here down at times.

Let's keep the prayers going. It is so comforting to know that I am being lifted in prayer every day by someone and I think it's the times when I don't feel worthy to lift myself. THANK YOU!!!!!

Keep your eyes and ears open for an opportunity to encourage someone.
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie
 

Bill Coming Home!

We went by to see Bill today and he looked so good. He is so excited about having just one more sleep, (that's the way we measure time), before getting to come home. He had Peg go pick up some of his things so he wouldn't have so much to cart home tomorrow. 
Carol got in this afternoon and is not feeling well. She had to go to the dr. yesterday to make sure that she wasn't contagious. He ran a strep test and it was negative. She has some meds. I sure hope that she doesn't get worse. And I hope that the dr. was right and she isn't giving anyone cooties.

We got a few more things checked off of our list of things to do today. I've been bitten by the mulley grub bug, again. I've felt like I was in slow motion all day not wanting to do anything, not wanting to talk to anyone, not wanting to see anyone, not wanting to, not wanting, not wanting, NOT WANTING. And what is so STUPID is I find it so hard to pray, which is what I need to do more than anything. It is so RIDICULOUS to allow myself to feel this way. Seems like it comes in waves more and more lately and this is a total repeat of my whining from a few days ago.  grumble, grumble  If I were 3, I would have a very shriveled thumb from sucking it so much!!!!

I did hear from Ginger,  my favorite girl cousin today. (I can't say just favorite because I have a favorite boy cousin, too.) I guess the easier thing to say would be, I heard from one of my favorite cousins today. How's that?  It's always such a blessing to hear from her. She has always made me feel so special.
Her sister's house was hit by lightning Sun. morning and was a total loss. SAD!!! But no one was hurt. They were home and able to get some of their grandmother's antique furniture out. And their neighbor has opened up their house to them, so they have a place to stay. Please say a prayer for them.

My sister brought me some farm fresh eggs today, so we had breakfast for dinner. Joel loves eggs, not the best choice if you are watching cholesterol, but he's only had 2 since his surgery and they were cage free.
I fixed grits, biscuits, and turkey bacon. Now, that is weird to me. I don't care for the texture or the taste, so just as soon do without.

Okay, I am already feeling better. I realize by writing this, that I have so much to be thankful for. I know that I could pick up the phone and call anyone of you and you'd listen. But pecking away at my keyboard and rereading things, makes it so clear as to how silly I sound, but how very human I am, too. I have the resources, just don't utilize the fortitude that it takes to get it together. SHAME ON ME!

I'm already shivering from the temp. change. I am not one that likes the cold, at all!  I don't even like opening the refrigerator when the temp is below 70.

Please keep the prayers going up and throw in some encouragement to someone.
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

My Favorite Time!

I was just signing on to start this blog and noticed that it was 11:11 p.m., which is my most favorite time of all.  Always makes me smile.

We had another long, running around, & busy day. But we got most of it done. We started off early heading to San Antonio to get Joel's glasses fixed, back to Marion to vote,  to Seguin to the post office, the bank,  the Silver Center, getting an oil change, picking up some prescriptions, to New Braunfels to see about getting my phone problems fixed, then to San Marcos to sing at a nursing/rehab center in San Marcos, back to Seguin to grab a bite to eat,  the to McQueeney to get to church for Awanas and choir practice, and then home to start some laundry. wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!  I needed to go to the grocery store, but that will have to wait. Joel stayed with me all day, so guess you can say that he got his therapy, of sorts. We are so hoping that he will be able to get to the point where he feels strong enough to go back to work SOON! I may be alone with that hope. I'm thinking he's been enjoying the extras a little too much. ha!

My sister will be here tomorrow. YEAAAAAAA!!!!!! She will be Bill's gestapo (?sp) making sure that he takes his meds correctly, make all his dr. visits, does his exercises and/or therapy, and eat right.
OH MY GOODNESS......It just hit me that we are really going to have to behave on the eating part. She is well known for her cooking, and she makes the best cinnamon rolls and biscuits in the world. TOO YUMMY! And I can't eat just one. We may have to have a burial for all the shortening & butter around here, so we won't be tempted. SAD!!!!! Maybe one little batch. I am drooling thinking about them. Guess I better go change my jammies, go to bed, and hope my dreams are of them.

Lately, my days have been very boring, but it's ME, aka "Lucy", and something is bound to change soon.

I am encouraging my brain to shut down and get some rest. Y'all find someone to encourage, too.
Till later
Love and Prayers to all!
Suzie

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