Overused....

I have come to the realization that I have a word I overuse.  That word is Awesome.  Especially when replying to text messages.  It has become quite ridiculous actually. I have had to break out my mental thesaurus to intentionally find words to express the same thing.  It has become such a habit though that I automatically respond with Awesome before I have a chance to think of a different word.  I've even started noticing it in regular conversation.  I'm not sure why I do it.

Is there a word you overuse?  Have you tried to break yourself of the habit?

Prayer Monday, September 12, 2011

God has been good over the last couple of weeks.  My dad's surgery went very well and he is feeling so well that he not caring much for his restrictions.  That's my dad stubborn as he can be.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

My knee is also improving.  Big J was a little nicer today even though I gave him a hard time about last week :).

My sister and BIL are making some big decisions regarding possible relocation of their business to the town they are currently living in.  There is more to it than that but that is the short version.  Please pray that God has their hand in this and they are able to hear Him clearly.

My church is having their Fall Retreat at the end of this month (I know it seems like we have a lot of retreats but this one is just our church not the whole network :) ).  Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of those going and they will be open to what He will show them during that time.  I am hoping to get to go myself but am trying to figure out childcare for my son.  Please pray that God is able to work that out.

Also, pray for me that I get my energy back.  I have just been so tired lately no matter how much I sleep.  I am trying to exercise more because I am sure my lack of exercise is not helping. Ironically my knee injury has kicked that into gear because I have to do exercises for that daily.  

Therapists and Watermelon

Normally therapists and watermelon would not be connected but I will get to that in a minute.

I have been going to therapy for about three weeks now.  I have a PT and a PTA I generally see when I go.  I do a series of exercises and then they do stretching and deep tissue massages on my leg and knee.

Now most people when they think massage they think of this nice relaxing experience.  Let me set you straight. When you combine the words massage, therapy and deep tissue you get anything but relaxing.

I generally work with the PTA when I am there, we'll call him Big J.  Big J is a big guy and good at his job.  When he does a deep tissue massage he means business.  I am sure he doesn't mean to torture because the object is to find the tight muscle and get it to loosen up.  Fact is I am fairly certain Big J could get some secrets out of some very tough people if he ever needed to; granted he's a really nice guy so I doubt he would ever do that.  Though he may have said something along the line of giving me something to remember them by; I am assuming the pain I now feel.  Today I felt like he was going to put his thumb through my muscle all the way to the bone.  I know from previous experience that this will be a good thing in the long run.  Tonight, however, I feel like he beat my leg with a metal rod.  No hard feelings though...... I will let him know about it at my next appointment.  Enough about Big J and me whining.  On to the watermelon!

The place I go to for therapy also has a little room where they have produce for sale.  This really isn't that odd if you know all the pieces of the story.  See Big J's sister owns the therapy place and their family farms. Big J brings it to work.  Hence the produce sold out of the little room.

Last week I got a watermelon from there.  It sat on my counter for a week and today I decided to cut it open.  MY GOSH it is the sweetest watermelon I have had in awhile.  My 23 month old ate two big pieces at lunch.  Thankfully I had the foresight to undress him down to his diaper before lunch.  The watermelon was so juicy he had it running down his chest and a smile from ear to ear.  I wish I would have cut it up sooner!

Well that was about all the excitement in my day.  How about yours?

Prayer Monday, August 29, 2011

This week was fairly decent.  God has answered some prayers.  All those weeks that we prayed for new members in our small group are paying off.  If everyone comes this Thursday we should have around 18 people!  Folks that is a lot.  We are going to be bursting at the seams.  Pray that my husband and I are able to minister to them all.

My dad's surgery on his neck is scheduled for this Wednesday.  These people don't mess around and get you in quick.  My dad is nervous about having is neck cut open.  With the risk of giving you too much info they go through the front of the neck to do surgery on the discs in your neck.  So there will be some stress to his vocal cords.  My dad is a talker and a pastor so this is really bothering him that a potential risk is to lose his voice or have some damage there.  Pray that he will have peace about that.  That in general he will have peace, comfort and a quick recovery through the whole process.  Pray that God will guide the surgeons hands.

God is the ultimate Healer so I know He has it all under control.  So I need to let Him do His job :)

Prayer Monday, August 22, 2011

This past week has been a little hectic.  You know how it seems like sometimes you don't have much to pray for and then other times it's like the sky has opened up?  Well this has been one of those sky has opened up weeks.  I have to remind myself God is in control and He has a plan.  One much better than mine I might add.

A couple of things I mentioned in a post on Thursday but I am going to mention them again.  My HS Chemistry teacher was killed in a car accident Thursday morning. Please pray for her family.  Also, I have to start physical therapy for my knee on Tuesday and get an MRI.  My doctor is afraid I may have a tear.  Surgery would be a last resort if I do and I would like to avoid it as long as possible.

Speaking of surgery, my dad will be scheduling surgery for his neck very soon.  He has a pinched nerve and some other damage and the doctor told him if he waited too long he could have lasting damage.  He is in so much pain right now.  Please pray that his pain will be tolerable until the surgery.  I will keep you posted on the surgery but please be praying about it as there are some minor risks involved.  He has worked so hard all of his life and his body has taken a beating.  This will be his second surgery in the last two years (the last one was for his back).

I am so thankful to know that I have you all praying for these things.  Sometimes just knowing there is someone else besides me praying makes me feel so much better.

Prayers needed

I didn't do a Prayer Monday this week but I find I am needing a little prayer mid-week here.

First a prayer not for myself.  This morning my high school chemistry teacher was killed in a bad car accident.  She had three children and several grandchildren as well as a husband.  She was one of those full of life people and a firm but fair teacher.  I can't possibly even imagine what that family is going through right now.  Pray for their peace and comfort please.

A few weeks ago I asked for prayer about my knee and the X-Ray came back great but there has been no marked improvement so I likely have a tear of some sort that the X-Ray couldn't show.  I am going to be doing therapy for the next month and then will have an MRI.  I am praying that God will heal this.  If it is a tear and continues to get worse I would rather not have to have surgery.  I don't want to even think about recovering from knee surgery with a two year old running around.  So please pray with me that God heals me.

I'm going to miss her

Today my heart is breaking.  My boxer,Achaia, passed away this morning.  I'm not really sure why.  She had been acting like she wasn't feeling well for a couple of days but I just assumed she had a cold.  Most likely it was just old age.  She just turned 10 years old on the 8th.  I know she was old and I should have eventually expected but she didn't act old.  She had a lot of spunk.  The only time I thought about her age is when she didn't want to be bothered by my son and would look at me with pleading eyes to let her in the kitchen so he couldn't get to her.

She was such a good dog and she and I had been so many places together.  She lived with me in Tennessee and Indiana.  I watched her be born.  I'm still having a hard time remembering she is gone.

We chose not to bury her here but instead I asked my parents if we could bury her by her momma.  Of course they said yes because they loved her too.  I know it may be silly to be this worked up over a dog but she was family and it hurts.

Here are a could pictures of my sweet girl.