Photo of the Day: Handicap Hand

Note to Self: Do NOT use a metal toilet paper holder as a handicap bar.

It breaks apart and tears skin.

Looks like I hit someone. I didn't, I promise.

So this is my handicapped hand.

Sunday night just before the kid's play I made a quick trip to the potty.

I didn't go in the handicap stall, the door was shut and I was in a hurry.

I held on to the tp holder but it didn't hold me.

It slipped apart and the metal piece jabbed into my hand.

The cut on the side (not shown) doesn't look quite a bad and bruised punture wound on top.

So I went to the doctor today for my 3 month checkup and I casually show my hand to him.

He was concerned it might be infected so I came out with a tetanus shot

(only had the one with diptheria and pertussis so no hooping cough for me)

and a new antibiotic to take 3 times a day, in case it's infected.

Sounds pretty intense to me. I think he was a little worried.

Then I remembered later, it is on the right hand, attached to the right arm which

I'm not supposed to even get BP taken on since I'm short a few lymph nodes.

Hmmm.

Guess it was a good idea to show him although my arm might argue with that.

So far it isn't sore though.

I learned years ago it hurts less if you relax your arm.

or hurts more if you tense up.

Works both ways.

The doc also told me to diet and exercise. I begged for diet pills but he's a no go on those.

At least my bloodwork was good.

So I'll be back to trying to lose weight with diet and exercise.

Too bad there's not a shot for that.

Ministry in Action

Our Soul Patrol kids at church are performing a play called A Love Ministry tomorrow night, February 12th, and I can't wait. We just got back from dress rehearsal and these children are awesome. We had some no shows but we've been working on it for so long the others kids filled in the parts pretty easily. Praying they all make it to the performance. I have some pretty awesome kids in this group. I'm sure it will work out. God won't let us fail when we are doing it for Him.

I wrote the play so it's a double dose of excitement here. To see the kids perform my work and the pleasure of working with them. They may not believe it the way I yell (in love) but I absolutely love working with them. They are so fun and exuberant (which is why I have to get loud) but I just want to hug them all. I really do love you guys. I mean it.

The weather man is predicting snow flurries. Seriously? We've had beautiful weather, barely even had to wear a coat this winter and just as we finally settle down to do our play, snow? Not happening. Again, God is watching over us. You hear that, devil?

I'm already thinking of what we can do next. This play has puppets, singings, Godzilla, break dancing, solo's and acting all from kids ages 5 to 12. How can we top that? We may have to take it on the road. Nursing homes, here we come.

Pinterest, Play, and Plans

I have been wondering around the Internet tonight. I have joined the Pinterest epidemic and still have yet to totally understand how people I don't know find my pins to repin. I don't mind, am even flattered a bit but where are the directions to this thing. I'm not totally addicted yet but I'm sure I will be soon. So far, I'm just having fun searching for pins to become so popular my inbox is overflowing with repins. My most popular yet is Red Barn with 44 repins. Cracks me up. It is a neat pic of a red barn though.

I've been looking at "organizing" pins and blogs. Funny how so many have the same pins. Like the world wide web isn't as big as we think it is. Still working on organizing our craft room. The tables are up but we still have some tweaking to add. Pictures will be coming soon. Right now I'm working on some sort of a CD holder for my stamps. Maybe a box. It'll be interesting to find out how I finally settle on something functional yet neat.

This weekend the kids at church, The Soul Patrol, will be performing a play I wrote for them and singing some really cute songs. I can't wait. One, for them to perform and two, for it to be over. We have been working so hard and long on it that they have it down pat (I hope). It is so cute and the kids are awesome. They seem to love it. The play is a fictional story about a group of kids doing ministry in a Soul Patrol . Praying all goes well and no one gets sick. Erin missed tonight with strep throat so meds should be kicking in before Sunday.

My own daughter and grandson in Kansas have strep so guess it's going around the country. My son-in-law in Kansas had an accident last night but praise the Lord he wasn't hurt and the truck still runs. Of course, that was after two tow trucks had to pull him off the guard rail. He hit some black ice and no one else was involved. Lacey sent pictures of snow, but I didn't even think about the road having an ice layer. Guess James didn't either.

So that's about it for Wednesday. I need to get to bed. Still not independently wealthy, so 6:30 am and work will be here sooner than I'd like. We always told our kids, find what you love and make a career out of it. I finally found a job that I love, okay really like. Let's just say it's the only one that I have stuck it out eleven years and plan to retire from someday. But what I really love is writing and crafting and I have yet make the money doing that as I make at my desk job. So, writing and crafting will be my fun ministry and hobby and Walmart will provide the money to fund my habit.

Find your talent, use your gifts, and God will bless you as you minister to others. Ministry In Action.

Fun Weekend, Tough Week

This has been a really tough week for my family. Paige turned two on the 19th and she was sick. Nothing worse than being sick on your birthday. Okay, that was last week but bear with me.

Over last weekend Hubby and I went to the Gospel Music Artists Association Convention where I had the privilege to recite two of my original poems and try my hand at a little comedy. Is it comedy if the stories are actually true? There was laughter. I don't mind getting laughed at when I'm the one making fun of me. I hated being teased when I was kid. Yet, I always wanted to be Carol Burnett when I grew up. Maybe I finally grew up. Took me long enough. I'm almost ready to retire. I will post the video on my Facebook Page, Grandmommys Gems.

So when I came off the stage Friday night, my throat was so dry. Someone asked if I wanted a bottle of cold water. I said, "Yes, I'm dying!" I downed it before I made it back to my chair. I was so tired on Saturday but we had a great time. I only made it through two hours of the Saturday night concert before I went back to the room to rest. We made it home Sunday morning in time for church but I skipped and stayed home with Reace who was also feeling puny. At Soul Patrol play practice, I felt my throat getting worse. Drainage, allergies, whatever but finally Friday (today) I gave up and when to see my favorite doctor who gave me some meds to make me better. I always wait to go until I can't stand it and that's usually just before I get better. But, I still managed to go to work all week and muddle through.

During the week, three family members came down with what the baby had last week which was viral and flu like symptoms. Fortunately, we are all on the road to recovery and praying no one else comes down with any of our symptoms. Especially my eighty three year old Mom. She would hate me telling her age even though she tells it all the time.

Kaylyn had a birthday, yesterday, and her Mom was so sick she didn't get to have her treats until today, Sonic blasts and mozzerella sticks. Sounds yummy. I missed out due to work. But we still managed to celebrate a little last night with a nice dinner, cake, and her present from me and Papaw.

Now, we get to start the weekend all over again. After I get up at 4 a.m. to go work for an hour that is. Then we get to watch Kaylyn play basketball where I can't yell, then watch her cheer for the boys basketball. This is going to be tough. I realized two weeks ago I was yelling and waving my arms around like a mad woman. Very embarrassing. I'm sure I will have a tough time holding it in but the throat pain will probably stop me from getting too loud. I'm sure if I do I will totally lose my voice. No promise on the arm waving. Then plans to work on the craft room if we still feel up to it. So many ideas and plans, just hard to move around in there. We need a warehouse so we can empty it out and only return what we really need. Who am I kidding, we need it all.

Like I said, it was a tough week but I'm pumped for the weekend.

Nifty Thrifty

I had to do an audit at a sister Walmart yesterday. It is not that far from my store but it sits right next to one of the best thrift stores ever, Casa View Thrift. I have found some really good things there so I always have to make a detour going out to my car on the way home.

My cousin asked me the night before if Mom had any old pyrex dishes as she had broke her favorite little dish and was looking for another one. I figured that was as good a reason as any to venture into the Thrift Store. I meandered through the aisles and came upon an almost hidden room full of glassware. I touch one bowl and apparently someone had left another glass dish sitting precariously half touching it. Yep, it fell and shattered into pieces. I let them know on the way out they had some broken glass in the back.


My addiction dates back to the time my Mom and I had a building at a fleamarket. We had a lot of fun scouring garage sales to find treasures to resell. We had regular customers and we knew what to buy. One collected shot glasses, one was raising his new grandson, one had a booth down the aisle and loved pottery, glasswear, etc. We found it and they bought it. Half the fun was making people happy.

We, of course, fell in love with a lot of the treasures. Old habits are hard to kick. Which is why I can't buy another cool item (unless it's really, really good and I can find a reason to really "need" it). I was good though and practiced self control and did not buy anything. We are trying to make more space, not take up more space. Good thing I'm not going back to that store anytime soon, I may not be able to control myself.

I have a weakness for glassware and my husband, Mike, cringes when I bring home another piece. I can't blame him, my China cabinet is overflowing. So here are some of the cool items I saw yesterday but left on the shelf.

Nifty Mixing Bowls

Isn't this a cool little pitcher? Pancake syrup would be perfect in this.

We needed this when we had Reace's birthday tea party

and I've always wanted one.

A little silver polish and elbow grease and we could

serve tea fit for our little princesses.

Now I'm itching to go back and check out the one down the street from there that I missed.

Autumn said she was sure they'd have the pyrex dish. Just don't tell Mike.

The Cross

The Cross
by Karen Arthur

As I’m strolling all around the dusty roads in my home town,

The line of telephone poles resemble crosses in a row.

In the church just down the street where we gather every week,

We sing praise in Jesus’ name, and give thanks for why He came.


Evergreens that edge my drive, take me back to how He died.

Sometimes Golgotha feels so real, when I hike a steep, tall hill.

I can’t know the pain He felt when crushed beneath the cross He knelt,

But I can sense the heavy load He bore, to save my sinful soul.

Every shrub and thorny vine, blossom only to remind

Me of the crown, which tore each gash in His earthly, human flesh.

I spot at the hardware store; nails like shaped the scars He wore,

When they pierced the hands of God, and the feet on which He trod.

Every wound that makes me bleed, flows to refresh my memory

Of the blood that Jesus lost hanging on that crimson cross.

A metal fence surrounds a yard, like Roman soldiers standing guard,

Who shook a spear and bragged with pride, “I’m the one who gored His side.”

A window glass reflects my shame, and I know that I’m to blame,

For my weakness brought Him here, then my eyes fill up with tears.

It was all for me I know, just because He loves me so.

He suffered great atrocity, when He came to set me free.


But in death, He did not stay; He rose again on that third day,

He’s alive eternally, to light The Way for us to see.

It all reminds me of the cross, and the ones who still are lost,

When the Savior paid the price and became my sacrifice.

Courageous the Movie - I give it 5 Stars

http://www.courageousthemovie.com/themovie

Tonight, Mike and I went to see the movie Courageous. Great movie. We talked all the way home about how it covered the whole spectrum of life and circumstances in these five men and their families. The men from our church kicked off their men's ministry by going to see this movie and having a bible study based on it. The women wanted to see it to but we had to stay home while they had their men's night out. It's only fair since we have our lady's night outs.

We went to the $1 movies. By the time the film makes it through all the weeks of showings, the movie reel is less than perfect. Or else they just have old projectors. My friend Kim and her husband went earlier this week and has been dying to talk about it. I refused to let her so now I'm dying to call her but it's 1:00 a.m. so I guess I'd better wait.

The theatre was practically empty yet two couples plopped down right behind us and proceeded to talk and laugh during the movie. I can't believe it myself but I actually turned around once and blurted out, "Will you please quit talking?" So, if you were sitting behind me, I'm really sorry. I came to the theatre to watch the movie without all the noise, (I have enough of that in my living room), and the continuos recaps and spoilers. During one very emotional scene, I heard about it 5 seconds before it played out. It really ruined the moment. I would have complained but the place was a ghost town. It was a late showing so I guess they sent all the help home for the evening. Or, they could have been sitting behind me.

I'll pay the $7.50 next time and see the movie before it looks like an old newsreel and I don't hear the story 5 seconds before I see it happen onscreen. Yes, it might cost more and I know there are rude people everywhere but at least I'll be able to watch the movie without specks and maybe the extra cash will be used to pay the ushers. Remember them? They go up and down the aisles with flashlights and ask you to leave if you're too noisy. I should know, I took my baby one time and had to sit outside with a screaming kid while the rest of family finished the movie. It's okay, I still love ya Bubba.

Seriously though, Courageous is a great movie. I loved it. Watch the awesome trailer by clicking the link at the top. It is from the makers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants, two more great films. And it is coming out on DVD January 17th, next Tuesday. I know I will definitely buy it to watch again and I won't even complain about the kids laughing and talking behind me in my living room. I promise.