I love to blog. I'm not sure if it's because it helps me to organize my random thoughts and crazily-wired brain or what. I just love reading my blogging friend's posts too. They make me think about things I would never have been challenged to think about. It's a brain stretching activity sometimes.
I don't know that I even following all the blogging etiquette. I mean, I'm very random at times, and I don't always blog about one subject, I tend to probably "journal" more than blog, but it is very satisfying. I like to go back and read older posts and see the things that have happened.
I took the class "Experiencing God" back in like 1998. I really enjoyed the course, and we were challenged to "make memorials" like they did in the old testament about how the Lord grew us in a certain period in our lives or carried us through other times. I'm really not good at doing that kind of thing in hard copy form...in a journal, but the blog has sort of at times been that kind of a memorial for me.
Now, of course, I blog about funny and educational things, and about just "normal" times in our lives. But the "normal times" are still times when we are being carried through by the Lord, and the educational and funny times are blessings from Him too, so I guess all posts are memorials in their own way.
I love to read your comments. If you read the blog, please post. My friend Sue has been trying to post...(hang in there, girl)...but the comments are great feedback and they can make you think also. So keep commenting.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The one about God's Unseen Protection....
We know that the Lord keeps us safe in so many unseen circumstances, but on Friday we saw fruit of that fact. We had our furnace and air conditioner replaced on Friday. Randy Burton and Jerry Magill, two Christian HVAC guys we hired came in and put in a brand new furnace and heat pump. They look so nice, don't they?
After dis-assembling the old furnace unit Jerry called Mickey outside and showed him SEVEN cracks in the old furnace. We have carbon monoxide detectors in our basement, because we knew the furnace was old. They have never sounded their alarm. However, we know it's God's protection. That could have been a very dangerous situation. Thank you, Lord for watching over things we don't even see.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The one about allergy testing...
Well, today was Maddie's big day. She had her allergy test done. When I made the appointment, they had told me that Maddie could not have her normal allergy medicines for 72 hours prior. So, yesterday was one of the most gorgeous days of the year and we had our windows open and she played outside some, but by evening, between being a little anxious about the tests, and then not having allergy medicine for almost 3 days, we was dragging.
So today was the big day!
We got to Dr. Nair's office at Boys Town Pediatrics and the staff was very friendly. That always helps when you are anxious about things. The nurse named Shirley was very sweet and very informative. She explained the whole process to Maddie. We had heard how they used to do it, but the procedure she went through was different from what we had initially heard about. Shirley asked us questions about the symptoms Maddie has and then we waited on the doctor.
Dr. Nair was great. She talked to us some more about symptoms. (Mickey and I were both at the appointment with her...we helped answer questions) Maddie was quiet. She was very nervous about this appointment and all the possible needle sticks.
So this is how it all happened....
They cleaned the inside of her fore arms first, then put numbers up and down on the inside of her forearm. She got 30 pricks with 30 small needles concentrated with different allergen substances. We were left alone in the exam room to wait for 15 minutes while things developed. It was quite interesting to watch her these little spots appear on her arm. Some reacted very visibly and a few not at all. When the nurses came in they said, "WOW!" It was a good reaction as far as the test was working and providing the information they needed. They measured all the reactionary places on her arm and the ones that didn't react they called out negative. One nurse measured while the other wrote down all the information. Now, Maddie's arm was reacting during that 15 minutes from concentrated areas of things she is allergic to. Her arms were really itching, but she could do nothing about it. Poor girl. While we were waiting she said, "Am I going to get a treat for this?" Carmel coffee from Panera was then brought up in the conversation. (smile)
Well, next they have to retest the things that didn't react. This is where it got really interesting.
The nurse came back in and gave her some anti itch cream...not antihistamine cream because she still couldn't have that....more testing. But then she brought a tray in and there were real needles this time. I stood in front of Maddie holding her hand ...that upper arm got 12 more sticks with the needle under the skin. Maddie leaned into her Daddy and hid her face so she couldn't see. She was a trooper and didn't flinch, but held very still. (I'm so thankful that they didn't' do this when she was younger...it wouldn't have gone so smoothly) LOL Anyway, we did get some reaction out of those other marks.
I commented about wishing I had taken my camera to get pics of this. I could do a scrapbook page on this. Well, the nurse went a got a Polaroid camera and took one picture for me. (We took more when we got home)
So the result was that Dr. Nair came back into the office and Maddie is allergic to about everything that blooms. If it is a plant and grows she is allergic to these things. She recommended weekly shots. Mickey and I had already discussed this with Maddie and we knew this was the next step to try to give her some relief. Normally patients go with the shots for 3-5 years and their allergies go away. This also helps prevent allergy type asthma. So, we felt like we needed to go ahead. We called our insurance and everything is covered so the shots start next week.
Dr. Nair's office is on 88th and Center street, but she said she would mail Maddie's shots to her pediatrician's office in Bellevue so she could get her shots in town without the drive. She said Maddie just needs to see her about once a year.
In the consultation after the tests, Dr. Nair commented on the change in Maddie's personality after all the needle work was done. She said, "We would have made good friends over the years with you coming here getting your shots. You are smiling and happy now that all that needle stuff is over." She commented then about how quiet Maddie had been before the tests because of being nervous. She then told Maddie the shots are not as painful as the sticks she received today. The doctor said the needles were very small and not at all as uncomfortable as the testing. (Maddie loved hearing that!)
So this was a good experience. I'm so thankful for that. No one wants to see their children suffer and throughout it all Maddie was a trooper! Way to go, Mad!
So today was the big day!
We got to Dr. Nair's office at Boys Town Pediatrics and the staff was very friendly. That always helps when you are anxious about things. The nurse named Shirley was very sweet and very informative. She explained the whole process to Maddie. We had heard how they used to do it, but the procedure she went through was different from what we had initially heard about. Shirley asked us questions about the symptoms Maddie has and then we waited on the doctor.
Dr. Nair was great. She talked to us some more about symptoms. (Mickey and I were both at the appointment with her...we helped answer questions) Maddie was quiet. She was very nervous about this appointment and all the possible needle sticks.
So this is how it all happened....
They cleaned the inside of her fore arms first, then put numbers up and down on the inside of her forearm. She got 30 pricks with 30 small needles concentrated with different allergen substances. We were left alone in the exam room to wait for 15 minutes while things developed. It was quite interesting to watch her these little spots appear on her arm. Some reacted very visibly and a few not at all. When the nurses came in they said, "WOW!" It was a good reaction as far as the test was working and providing the information they needed. They measured all the reactionary places on her arm and the ones that didn't react they called out negative. One nurse measured while the other wrote down all the information. Now, Maddie's arm was reacting during that 15 minutes from concentrated areas of things she is allergic to. Her arms were really itching, but she could do nothing about it. Poor girl. While we were waiting she said, "Am I going to get a treat for this?" Carmel coffee from Panera was then brought up in the conversation. (smile)
Well, next they have to retest the things that didn't react. This is where it got really interesting.
The nurse came back in and gave her some anti itch cream...not antihistamine cream because she still couldn't have that....more testing. But then she brought a tray in and there were real needles this time. I stood in front of Maddie holding her hand ...that upper arm got 12 more sticks with the needle under the skin. Maddie leaned into her Daddy and hid her face so she couldn't see. She was a trooper and didn't flinch, but held very still. (I'm so thankful that they didn't' do this when she was younger...it wouldn't have gone so smoothly) LOL Anyway, we did get some reaction out of those other marks.
I commented about wishing I had taken my camera to get pics of this. I could do a scrapbook page on this. Well, the nurse went a got a Polaroid camera and took one picture for me. (We took more when we got home)
So the result was that Dr. Nair came back into the office and Maddie is allergic to about everything that blooms. If it is a plant and grows she is allergic to these things. She recommended weekly shots. Mickey and I had already discussed this with Maddie and we knew this was the next step to try to give her some relief. Normally patients go with the shots for 3-5 years and their allergies go away. This also helps prevent allergy type asthma. So, we felt like we needed to go ahead. We called our insurance and everything is covered so the shots start next week.
Dr. Nair's office is on 88th and Center street, but she said she would mail Maddie's shots to her pediatrician's office in Bellevue so she could get her shots in town without the drive. She said Maddie just needs to see her about once a year.
In the consultation after the tests, Dr. Nair commented on the change in Maddie's personality after all the needle work was done. She said, "We would have made good friends over the years with you coming here getting your shots. You are smiling and happy now that all that needle stuff is over." She commented then about how quiet Maddie had been before the tests because of being nervous. She then told Maddie the shots are not as painful as the sticks she received today. The doctor said the needles were very small and not at all as uncomfortable as the testing. (Maddie loved hearing that!)
So this was a good experience. I'm so thankful for that. No one wants to see their children suffer and throughout it all Maddie was a trooper! Way to go, Mad!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The one about belated Easter pics...
Maybe one of the reasons I am so impatient for spring this year is that Resurrection Day (Easter)was so early this year. I think once that came around on the calendar I expected the weather to warm up quickly. It has not.
Because of that, I think I am behind in putting up some spring pictures, which I will try to remedy now. Here are a few pics from our Resurrection Day....
Because of that, I think I am behind in putting up some spring pictures, which I will try to remedy now. Here are a few pics from our Resurrection Day....
The one about a happy spirng...?
I'd like to say that, "Happy Spring!" but I just don't feel like it has arrived yet. We get a few great warm days and then the weather turns cold and rainy again and just gets plain cold. It's going to happen again in a few more days:
http://www.wowt.com/weather
My tulips say it's spring. My grape hycnthia say it's spring, but I do not say it's spring yet.
I told someone the other day that I wasn't even going to attempt spring cleaning until we had five days of 70 degree of above weather.
http://www.wowt.com/weather
My tulips say it's spring. My grape hycnthia say it's spring, but I do not say it's spring yet.
I told someone the other day that I wasn't even going to attempt spring cleaning until we had five days of 70 degree of above weather.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The one about verses for this week...
Romans 12:9-13
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
ESV
Ok, so over the next four weeks I will be memorizing a chunk of verse out of Romans chapter 12. It looks as though I'll be memorizing verses 8-21 through May 11th. I hope I can stay on target with this. It will be hard, but worth the effort, of course.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
ESV
Ok, so over the next four weeks I will be memorizing a chunk of verse out of Romans chapter 12. It looks as though I'll be memorizing verses 8-21 through May 11th. I hope I can stay on target with this. It will be hard, but worth the effort, of course.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The one about a new verse...struggle, and blessing.....
Well, I had gotten behind again on my fighter verses, but last night I said two of them to my pastor and caught myself up for the week, so I am now working on the
verse(s) that are due for Sunday the 13th.
Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
It makes me think about how our words really do affect people and how we are affected by others words. I was affected by some words spoken to me by a "friend" the other night (hurt, felt degraded) and I can say it's been something I have been struggling with all week. I don't like it that I let what was said and how it was said, "get to me" and it shows me how weak I am about not just letting go and just forgiving others...whether they ask for it or not. I am NOT to hold on to bitterness or let it take root in my heart.
It also makes me think of the many times I've opened my big mouth and said things that were out of line and how much mercy and grace I've received over the years. I need to exhibit some of that now!!
I feel like these verses need to be tatoo'd to my heart, brain, and tongue so I remember how I felt and to really guard my mouth, because I do not want to make anyone feel the way I felt the other night, and have been feeling this last week. It reminds me of another verse:
James 1:19
Know this my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (ESV)
By the way, I was blessed this week with a new English Standard Version Bible from a very kind friend. I have wanted one for awhile and I'm VERY thankful! If you are reading this....thank you for the blessing!!!
verse(s) that are due for Sunday the 13th.
Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
It makes me think about how our words really do affect people and how we are affected by others words. I was affected by some words spoken to me by a "friend" the other night (hurt, felt degraded) and I can say it's been something I have been struggling with all week. I don't like it that I let what was said and how it was said, "get to me" and it shows me how weak I am about not just letting go and just forgiving others...whether they ask for it or not. I am NOT to hold on to bitterness or let it take root in my heart.
It also makes me think of the many times I've opened my big mouth and said things that were out of line and how much mercy and grace I've received over the years. I need to exhibit some of that now!!
I feel like these verses need to be tatoo'd to my heart, brain, and tongue so I remember how I felt and to really guard my mouth, because I do not want to make anyone feel the way I felt the other night, and have been feeling this last week. It reminds me of another verse:
James 1:19
Know this my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (ESV)
By the way, I was blessed this week with a new English Standard Version Bible from a very kind friend. I have wanted one for awhile and I'm VERY thankful! If you are reading this....thank you for the blessing!!!
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