June 12- Jesus Calling (Sarah Young)
Let Me help you get through this day. There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night. Stay alert to the many choice-points along the way, being continually aware of My Presence. You will get through this day one way or the other. One way is to moan and groan, stumbling along with shuffling feet. This will get you to the end of the day eventually, but there is a better way. You can choose to walk with Me along the path of Peace, leaning on Me as much as you need. There will still be difficulties along the way, but you can face them confidently in My strength. Thank Me for each problem you encounter, and watch to see how I transform trials into blessings.
1 Corinthians 10:10
Luke 1:79
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Salt, soap, and sandals
Every once in a while I learn something about myself. Today was not one of those days. But I was reminded of three things I previously learned about myself.
1) Salt. I always used to use salt sparingly. Then Mini Muffin started growing. I was tired of eating crackers to deal with my nausea, so I switched to pretzels and boy was that salt amazing! A friend looked at me with amusement as she watched me salt my scrambled eggs- something she'd never seen me do before. Someone told me the salt thing had to do with my screwy thyroid. I blamed pregnancy. Well today I was snacking on pretzels. Unfortunately, it was the end of the bag... You know, where there are only pretzel pieces and lots of loose salt. And that salt was delicious! Hmm, Punky's six months old...maybe there's something to that thyroid theory afterall...
2) Soap. Pet peeve- no soap in the soap dispenser at work- for the fourth day in a row. Wouldn't you think the people who clean twice a day would check the soap dispensers? Apparently not. This is Monday and still no soap in the dispenser that was empty on Friday.
3) Sandals. It's summer. People wear sandals. I wear sandals. But inevitably I pick to wear sandals on a rainy day. Something that irritates me more than empty soap dispensers it's wet pant legs against my skin- because I wore sandals on a rainy day. Eww! See, I have short legs, therefore my pant legs are typically too long and drag on the ground. On rainy days, the wet seeps up, up, up my pant legs, brushing against my bare skin if not protected by socks. I've been known to strip off wet pants immediately upon arriving home. The huz finds my sensory issues highly amusing. Sure, I'll play in the mud. And once I went a whole week without showering (that's a story for another time). But when playtime is over, I want a shower and clean, dry clothes. And wet dress pants at my desk at work- not playtime! You think by now I'd have learned to check the weather before dressing for work in the morning...
1) Salt. I always used to use salt sparingly. Then Mini Muffin started growing. I was tired of eating crackers to deal with my nausea, so I switched to pretzels and boy was that salt amazing! A friend looked at me with amusement as she watched me salt my scrambled eggs- something she'd never seen me do before. Someone told me the salt thing had to do with my screwy thyroid. I blamed pregnancy. Well today I was snacking on pretzels. Unfortunately, it was the end of the bag... You know, where there are only pretzel pieces and lots of loose salt. And that salt was delicious! Hmm, Punky's six months old...maybe there's something to that thyroid theory afterall...
2) Soap. Pet peeve- no soap in the soap dispenser at work- for the fourth day in a row. Wouldn't you think the people who clean twice a day would check the soap dispensers? Apparently not. This is Monday and still no soap in the dispenser that was empty on Friday.
3) Sandals. It's summer. People wear sandals. I wear sandals. But inevitably I pick to wear sandals on a rainy day. Something that irritates me more than empty soap dispensers it's wet pant legs against my skin- because I wore sandals on a rainy day. Eww! See, I have short legs, therefore my pant legs are typically too long and drag on the ground. On rainy days, the wet seeps up, up, up my pant legs, brushing against my bare skin if not protected by socks. I've been known to strip off wet pants immediately upon arriving home. The huz finds my sensory issues highly amusing. Sure, I'll play in the mud. And once I went a whole week without showering (that's a story for another time). But when playtime is over, I want a shower and clean, dry clothes. And wet dress pants at my desk at work- not playtime! You think by now I'd have learned to check the weather before dressing for work in the morning...
Sunday, June 10, 2012
2 of 10
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Just completed book 2 out of my goal of completing 10 from my shelves. The Last Unicorn, hmm, what to say about it? It was sort of like a fairy tale, sort of like and adventure. Yes, it centered on the last remaining unicorn. And a magician. And Molly Grue. The unlikely gang set off on a heroic quest.
It wasn't a bad read, a nice, easy tale. But I found it somehow lacking- though I'm not sure exactly what was missing. It wasn't until a good halfway through before I felt any connection with the characters. It seemed a predictable tale and yet at the same time, I had no clue where the story was taking me. So on my random rating scale, this book merits a 5 out of 10.
Just completed book 2 out of my goal of completing 10 from my shelves. The Last Unicorn, hmm, what to say about it? It was sort of like a fairy tale, sort of like and adventure. Yes, it centered on the last remaining unicorn. And a magician. And Molly Grue. The unlikely gang set off on a heroic quest.
It wasn't a bad read, a nice, easy tale. But I found it somehow lacking- though I'm not sure exactly what was missing. It wasn't until a good halfway through before I felt any connection with the characters. It seemed a predictable tale and yet at the same time, I had no clue where the story was taking me. So on my random rating scale, this book merits a 5 out of 10.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Who is in charge of your life?
June 7 reading from Jesus Calling:
I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend I accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it. In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.
He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12:22-31
I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend I accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it. In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.
He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12:22-31
Sometimes you laugh
And sometimes you cry.
And sometimes you do both.
At the same time.
Just one of those weeks I guess. Nothing monumental, nothing completely disastrous. But not humdrum average either. Or maybe it is...
Monday Punky had her first experience with the dentist. She went with Daddy to his appointment. We got the patio furniture all put together. We got the garage cleaned up enough to get one car in it again. Got the little garbage can area built. So we made progress!
But my body rebelled again, two evenings in a row I dealt with the ever frustrating IBS symptoms. I had a doctor appointment that took three times as long as it should have. The huz got home from work last evening- 3 hours after he should have been home. Oh and at 3:30 in the morning, Punky was all scrunched up at the end of the crib- which meant her sensor pad alarm went off, waking not only the huz and myself, but Punky too. Thankfully, she was still pretty drowsy and went back to sleep quickly. But it's not so easy for mom when that alarm goes off- the heart starts racing. And even though I know chances are good that she's just rolled off the sensor, there is still the fear that I'll find her not breathing when I breech the threshold.
But she wakes in the morning with a bright shiny face, ready for the day. And I look at my schedule to see I've had two cancellations. In the middle I the day, of course, not the beginning or end. Which means I'll have some free time today, but not when I can spend it with my daughter.
And that's how it goes for us.
And sometimes you do both.
At the same time.
Just one of those weeks I guess. Nothing monumental, nothing completely disastrous. But not humdrum average either. Or maybe it is...
Monday Punky had her first experience with the dentist. She went with Daddy to his appointment. We got the patio furniture all put together. We got the garage cleaned up enough to get one car in it again. Got the little garbage can area built. So we made progress!
But my body rebelled again, two evenings in a row I dealt with the ever frustrating IBS symptoms. I had a doctor appointment that took three times as long as it should have. The huz got home from work last evening- 3 hours after he should have been home. Oh and at 3:30 in the morning, Punky was all scrunched up at the end of the crib- which meant her sensor pad alarm went off, waking not only the huz and myself, but Punky too. Thankfully, she was still pretty drowsy and went back to sleep quickly. But it's not so easy for mom when that alarm goes off- the heart starts racing. And even though I know chances are good that she's just rolled off the sensor, there is still the fear that I'll find her not breathing when I breech the threshold.
But she wakes in the morning with a bright shiny face, ready for the day. And I look at my schedule to see I've had two cancellations. In the middle I the day, of course, not the beginning or end. Which means I'll have some free time today, but not when I can spend it with my daughter.
And that's how it goes for us.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
1 of 10
Mission read 10 books from my shelves by the end of the year is officially underway! I have completed the first of the 10. Yes, it was another of the Alex Delaware series, but I promise it was the last one for a while. I (currently) have no more Jonathan Kellerman books on my shelf. And the goal was to get through books I currently own and not buy more until I made a dent in what I have.
So?! What was it? Glad you asked. "Self-Defense" was about Alex helping a patient gain clarity about a recurring dream. A dream that just happened to be a suppressed childhood memory about the death of a young woman. Sorry if that was a spoiler, but if you've been reading any of Kellerman's Delaware series, that was pretty much a given. There were a few twists and turns, but this was the most predictable of the series. Maybe it is time for a break from him....
So?! What was it? Glad you asked. "Self-Defense" was about Alex helping a patient gain clarity about a recurring dream. A dream that just happened to be a suppressed childhood memory about the death of a young woman. Sorry if that was a spoiler, but if you've been reading any of Kellerman's Delaware series, that was pretty much a given. There were a few twists and turns, but this was the most predictable of the series. Maybe it is time for a break from him....
Monday, May 21, 2012
May 21
From "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young
I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything
It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to my Presence. Stop all your sticking, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!
I, the Creator of the Universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything
It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to my Presence. Stop all your sticking, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Balance
It's all about balance in life. Everything comes back to balance. Www.dictionary.com defines balance as "a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc." And further defines balance as "mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgement, etc."
If you are like me, you don't even think about. Until things are out of balance. Then you pay attention.
I've been thinking about balance lately. Balancing being an individual, a wife, a mother, a counselor. Balance between work and home. Balance within the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of myself. How is it that one finds oneself out of balance? How does one reset the scales and regain the all important balance? With my magic wand (STILL) in the repair shop, I must look elsewhere to restore equilibrium in my life.
Like the cliche, I think acknowledging the imbalance is the first step. Admitting something is "off." Then seeking to take steps to realign life in a more harmonious way. And then there is the realization that life is fluid and balance now does not equate balance in 10 years, 10 months, 10 weeks, or even 10 days. But I begin my quest to recapture my zen.
Oh and by the way, equipoise is a great new word...
If you are like me, you don't even think about. Until things are out of balance. Then you pay attention.
I've been thinking about balance lately. Balancing being an individual, a wife, a mother, a counselor. Balance between work and home. Balance within the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of myself. How is it that one finds oneself out of balance? How does one reset the scales and regain the all important balance? With my magic wand (STILL) in the repair shop, I must look elsewhere to restore equilibrium in my life.
Like the cliche, I think acknowledging the imbalance is the first step. Admitting something is "off." Then seeking to take steps to realign life in a more harmonious way. And then there is the realization that life is fluid and balance now does not equate balance in 10 years, 10 months, 10 weeks, or even 10 days. But I begin my quest to recapture my zen.
Oh and by the way, equipoise is a great new word...
Monday, May 14, 2012
Devil's Waltz, Bad Love, and Self-Defense
I can't seem to keep up with my blogging. Good thing it's not my job, I'd be fired for sure. I finished Devil's Waltz (another Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman). Followed that one up with Bad Love (Mr. Kellerman an Alex). And have moved on to Self-Defense which just happens to be (you guessed it! A Jonathan Kellerman novel) #9 in the Alex Delaware series.I am approximately halfway through this one. I am always amazed at how quickly I can get through a novel- provided Punky goes to bed at a decent hour! The other seven books I'm reading aren't going so quickly. But this is the last of the Kellerman books I currently own, so perhaps I will make some progress on those other books... I set a goal for myself to finish 10 of the 35+ unread books on my shelf by the end of 2013. I think I'll count the ones I have started as 7 of the 10. That seems reasonable. Then I won't feel as guilty when I ask for more books for Christmas! If I can just keep myself from ordering any new Kellerman on my Nook, we'll be in good shape!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Taking my own advice
I don't know how many times I've encouraged clients to "get their feelings out" through talking with me and/or someone else, through journaling, through art, song, poetry, whatever. Keeping it all inside, stuffing it, ignoring it, denying it doesn't help. I haven't always followed my own advice, but I am trying to do so.
The last year has been full of exciting and stressful events. Pregnancy, buying a house, fixing it up, moving, having the baby, just to name some of the bigger things. And while it was all very exciting it was also very stressful. Raising a child while working is proving more difficult than anticipated. Add to that mix various illnesses and ongoing health conditions. Changes at work add to the pile of stress. It certainly hasn't been easy. Some days get the better of me. Days when, if it weren't for the huz's understanding and baby's smiles I'm not sure what I'd do. Days when I am frustrated to tears and see no end in sight. But talking through things is helping. Slowly. I think. The bad days still come too often, but I hope that they will bother me less and I'll learn how to live with all that life is throwing at me.
The last year has been full of exciting and stressful events. Pregnancy, buying a house, fixing it up, moving, having the baby, just to name some of the bigger things. And while it was all very exciting it was also very stressful. Raising a child while working is proving more difficult than anticipated. Add to that mix various illnesses and ongoing health conditions. Changes at work add to the pile of stress. It certainly hasn't been easy. Some days get the better of me. Days when, if it weren't for the huz's understanding and baby's smiles I'm not sure what I'd do. Days when I am frustrated to tears and see no end in sight. But talking through things is helping. Slowly. I think. The bad days still come too often, but I hope that they will bother me less and I'll learn how to live with all that life is throwing at me.
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