Pay It Forward Challenge

This came to me as a challenge from my daughter...

Popping in with a special offer for my blog readers...

Random acts of kindness have turned into little gifts for you. A great opportunity to get something handmade just for you and pay it forward. I would especially like the opportunity to create for people I've never met (but I'll make stuff for the people I love too!!)

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.

2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It'll be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to blog.

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if I do not see you post your own blog to pay this forward.

I Have Faith, Believe It or Not!

I am starting to believe that there is help for me. I talked with someone today that assured me that I am not out of my mind. I really do matter and more than that, it is God that cares the most. He will see me through anything. So, now I have to remember when the enemy tries to cloud my mind that Jesus has already taken care of the situation. I have but to allow Him to work and stay out of the way. That's not to say I'm not to do anything. I am to pray and praise and have faith. I can do that.

When I consider all the things I have gone through in my life, it is with humble thanks to my Lord that I can even get out of bed in the morning. He has given me a will to persist in the face of adversity. By His grace, I am a survivor. All honor and praise are to Him.

On another note, I have so many requests for prayer. One friend's job is in transistion and her husband needs a job. Plus, they need to sell their house and downsize. Another friend's husband has been without a job for over 3 months and they just found out they are expecting a baby late summer. Plus, they have been served with eviction papers. My husband's co-worker is still working through a miscarriage and a broken relationship. My mom is fighting some type of gallbladder/kidney thing - they are not exactly sure what. I need her healthy by the time I have my knee replacements so she can come stay with us and help me (not to sound too needy.)

I am really looking forward to having the knee replacements. It will be great to wake up without pain. It will be wonderful to be able to walk with my husband again. It will be nice to be active again. I miss that ability - the ability to move without pain. I am expecting to be able to walk around Nashville in July and not be in a wheelchair like last year's convention. Plus, it will be easier to continue losing weight if I can add movement to my lifestyle choices.

Well, it's late and I need to go route Chuck out of the hot tub so we can go to bed. That's all I have to say for now.

Musings about 2008

I wonder what the new year, 2008, will bring? There are some things I know for sure...my 4 grandbabies will continue to grow. My daughter and her husband will continue to be excellent parents, loving each other, their 4 beautiful kids, and the Lord. My husband will continue to lose weight on his way to his goal weight and the long-awaited prize of a new motorcycle. However, I am floundering. I have gone from having a position within a ministry to not having one and no outlook at having one soon. I have gone from having one semi-good knee to needing 2 knee replacements in order to get some of my life back. I have gone from working to not working, producing an income to not contributing to our household. I have gone from being an anomaly to being a rarity. I know, what's the difference? An anomaly was when I didn't know what the issue was with my body. A rarity is knowing I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. There are a lot of things I'd like to forget about this past year, but probably won't. There are a lot of this I don't want to forget about this past year, but probably will. Life is sure funny that way.

It will be interesting to say the least. Time and the Lord will tell.

Something new...

The idea of blogging is something new for me, but may actually be good. I like to write and want to be able to share it...so, I'll publish it myself! However, it won't be today. I have to get ready to go to a staff retreat for church. Will write more later.