Reality Check...

I've been feeling really lousy lately and was starting to imagine the worst. Thankfully, all tests have returned normal and the cause seems to be located and I'm feeling much better. Thank you to all who were praying. However, it was a very good reality check for me. I suppose in a lot of ways it made me think the way I should be thinking all the time. What if I died today--tomorrow--soon? Am I doing things the way I should be? The way I want to be remembered? Is my will in order? Do we have good life insurance? I know, I know you're probably thinking, "way to be morbid" but it is good to examine these things. In some way it prepares you for when difficult things do come your way. It also makes me remember that God is coming--SOON! Be ready!

Naked Fingers...

The combination of my rings being loose and doing home improvement projects has had me taking my rings off for safe keeping. I delight in my wedding rings and don't like to take them off for very long. I can't stand going out of the house with "naked fingers" and it happened to me last Sunday. Of course, church is one of the most unlikely places that someone would mistake me for an unmarried chick; my husband is by my side! I am just so used to wearing them that I really feel unsettled when they are off. Ill at ease, nervous, etc. So, I guess I better get my rings sized and stop doing home improvement projects! HA! No, there really isn't a point to this blog--just friendly (odd) banter!

Peace in the chaos...

The women's Bible study at church is studying the fruit of the Spirit. This lesson was on Peace. It was NOT a coincident that it fell over the holiday break. Not that my life is very "peaceful" on the off season either but everyone seems to experience stress in December. It was a great study but what struck me most was the hymn she had printed at the end. "Like a River Glorious" is a hymn I probably heard in the womb but when I read some of these hymns the words strike me in a new way.
Here are the words (emphasis mine):

Like A River Glorious Words by Frances R. Havergal, 1874

"Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day;
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Trac'd upon our dial by the Son of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly Find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest;
Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest.

AMEN!

DIY projects...

Well, we are getting better at DIY projects. We ripped up carpet, padding, staples--painted a tiny bathroom (two coats), installed a new toilet, pre-floored, tiled foyer and bathroom, painted trim and doors and tonight will be working on quarter trimming pieces. I told my husband--I like home improvements but just not all at one time!! We are learning all sorts of things though. Didn't know about pre-flooring or laying tile (or huge toilet/drain clogs either!) Fun times, fun times!

Comes in threes...

I wonder where that saying about things happening in threes comes from? If things do come in threes (which I feel is just a bunch of superstitious garbage) then I don't want to know what is coming next. Wednesday our furnance broke ($$$) and today something is wrong with the toilet (exploded, plumber comes sometime today). I suspect that my sweet daughter may have flushed her socks. She pointed in the bowl and asked me, "SOCKS??" and then later said, "Socks in wadder." Nutsy ness! Oh well, might as well laugh as cry. Anyone who actually reads this and knows where that saying came from, let me know. I'd love some feedback from cyberspace out there!

M&Ms are better.

It turns out that M & Ms are a better reinforcer but she's doing great. Only one mistake yesterday and to this minute none today. She's even gone at a rest stop and at church for her SS teacher! YEAH! Perhaps she's got it.

Positively exhausting...

I took a good long look at the potty training negative disaster going on with Curious Georgette and decided some changes needed to be made. I am amazed that being negative is so easy to fall into--as I have been doing scolding and grouching for a few days now. It takes more work to be positive but really what kind of choice is there really? I talked with my husband about what would work as a reinforcement. We both agreed that the M&Ms were out because of yuckiness, etc. We agreed on stickers. I talked to my Dad--a great positive behaviorist--and he helped me hone my plan. I am putting it into play this afternoon after nap. Stickers for sitting on the potty--stickers for going on the potty--stickers for volunteering to go--stickers stickers stickers! Yeah! Please pray for me. Being so positive can be exhausting and I don't want to be stuck in the negative hole.