words not worthy of a status update

Not much to say ... I check in at facebook look around at what people are sharing, posting, tweeting, etc.  I ask myself what should I share.  The answer:  I don't have anything sharable.

None of what is written below is what I want to post as a status.  I am however amused that I willing to write about it here on this blog; knowing that for the most part people don't want to read more than 2-3 sentences, unless it is a topic they are extremely interested in.  So I feel relatively "safe" using my blog as what it is, my journal, which is just me and my thoughts and pieces of my life "put in writing" (or pictures).  Journaling here gives me access to my journal wherever there is internet, which is practically everywhere now.  (I think to myself, "wow! how our world has changed in the last 25 years" then laugh at myself for sounding so old.)

It's just a Tuesday work at home day, meaning that I am working for my employer from my home office. This is a benefit to me, especially in light of the mixture of allergy puffy head, and muscle spasms with nerve impingement all causing headache, neck pain and combo of pain, swelling and semi-numbness in my shoulder, arm and hand.   Working from home a couple of days a week was a benefit I asked for, it cuts out the 45-60 minute drive time (one way), giving me a little more flexible timing to take care of my health.  It also saves time on those mornings because I don't have to spend a lot of time doing hair and make-up, etc.  This morning, feeling the physical ailments I feel, I am especially grateful for the work at home benefit.  I will say too, that I am generally much more efficient in my work when working from home.

This week my church is having a big name Campmeeting "A.I.R. Campmeeting".  It is a big deal and our leadership and many others have invested a lot of effort and resources into it.  We are praying for transformational renewal, or specifically "Accelerated restoration", "spirits Ignited and Released to advance the Kingdom of God"  I have not been a part of the planning and preparation, except for an offering and prayers.  I am also not serving during camp meeting, which feels weird, but I know I need to support my husband in preparing for our annual family fun event, Pumpkin Day, all the while keeping up with my job responsibilities.

Yes, this coming weekend is our family's annual Pumpkin Day (Saturday Oct 19).  I am excited and stressed.  (laughing at myself and this statement)  This event has been penciled on my calendar for about 10-11 months but of course I still have tons of house cleaning to do, and meal planning to do too.  Things may be a little bit different this year.  NeeNaw and PawPaw may not be up for coming.  I completely understand why and don't want to pressure them, but I will miss them not being here. Jo-Jo, Molly and Brian are not staying overnight.  :-(  Sarah is coming! (yay!) :-)  But Justin (obviously) will not be. (It's not the first Pumpkin Day he has missed but this doesn't stop us from missing him).  My mother-in-law, Linda, might join us (YAY!) and Terry/Theresa, will stop by the house in the afternoon and for dinner :-) .  I am excited about spending the day with family, but nervous because I want to create a comfortable, peaceful, welcoming place, and not have anyone get bored. 

I want my family to feel loved and relaxed and comfortable.  I can get myself all tied up and stressed out listing all of the ways I fall short in the areas of housekeeping and hospitality (areas the rest of my family excels in).  Add in my tendency to procrastinate about things that stress me and well, HELLO, this is right where you find me this morning. I know I just need to focus on the relationships, on making connections and looking forward to the interactions, and worry less about how my house will not be clean. (My house will be straightened up and far cleaner than I have kept it for Shawn and I, but not really clean, not by my mother's, brother's, sister's, sister-in-law's, or mother-in-law's standards.)  My mother-in-law and sister-in-law are much more aware of our normal state of disarray and should hopefully see an improvement this weekend, but the rest of my family will have to deal with a much lower state of home upkeep.  That in addition to the fact the both my sister and my sister in law are great cooks AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!  I could drive myself crazy with these comparisons.  I have to accept and release my short comings and just open my heart, and my home, and look forward to and enjoy a day with my family.

The house in Powhatan had a hose/pipe bust loose at a fitting yesterday.  I am thankful I have a husband with some skills.  NO he is not a plumber, but he was able to apply a good temporary fix and Megan's home should hopefully, with more of God's favor and grace, have running water again by tomorrow.  (The well needs to refill/replenish.)  I am also thankful that Meggy is living there.  If the house were empty who knows how long it would have been before the problem was discovered.

I have so much to do.  Daytime hours are committed to my work-work, and those priorities are lined up waiting for me to finish my journal post.  I wish my head, neck, shoulder, arm and hands felt better, after that I have housework and maybe a shopping list to get to.

Do I go to Choir Practice Tonight?  I don't know.  I know I cannot commit to being at church by 6pm Wed-Fri. this week.  I need to at least let Pastor Daneyelle know.

Okay this journal has devolved into a string of consciousness :-P

I am thankful for my home.  I am really.  I am thankful for my family.  I am thankful for loud quacky duckies in my backyard.  I am thankful for the flexibility to work from home in my sweatshirt. I am thankful for my church and my pastors.  I am thankful that family is more than blood relationships ... for Sarah, for Katie, Cia & Piper, for "daughters" that aren't mine like Amanda, Lisa and Sierra ... , for a "big brother" in Russ Park, for a mother-in-law who is so full of grace and generous hospitality.
I am thankful for a warm safe house to live in.  I am thankful for a good job.  I am thankful that my husband has a good job.

I am thankful that I have learned the valuable habit of stopping and being genuinely thankful for the good stuff in my life.

~ ~ ~ ~
Not a short status update ... lots of words ... this is my life (well part of it) ... on this Tuesday October 15, 2013.
...

OH!  Today is the 6th Anniversary of me signing on to be a permanent full-time employee of STX.  I am thankful to work with the STX team and I am setting goals to contribute to the joy and continued success of this team.

PRAYER:
LORD God, Heavenly Father:  watch over my family, and by that I am asking that You place Your loving hand of protection, and provision over each one.  You God know exactly how what each one needs.  I am asking not just for their spiritual needs but also for their physical, financial, and emotional needs.  Lord give us all eyes to see all the good things You have given and are giving, and all the ways that you guiding us. Reveal Yourself to each of us as you meet each of our needs (heal our bodies, heal our minds, sooth our emotions, and provide wisdom and opportunities for our financial needs).  God I am also asking that you do something special just as a gift of favor, love and grace for each one of them today.  Help me to be productive and be a blessing to others.  Thank you God for another day to contribute and celebrate.
AMEN




written October 15, 2013