A Monday on a Tuesday........

For years I have been a advocate of skipping Mondays altogether and just go on to Tuesday. I seem to struggle with Mondays. But, since skipping it is not gona happen...........I accept my fate of Mondays and depend on God to get me thru them.



Today is Tuesday.............it started out like a Monday. The main breaker in our house decided to shut itself off. My husband, who is quite the handy man, couldn't get it to go back on and stay on. Without electric we have no heat. The wind was blowing so hard, but thank goodness it wasn't as cold as it was this past Sunday morning. My brother, Rick, is a liscensed electrician, so I called him. Thank goodness he was handy and had not gone out on a job yet. I explained the problem and he said he'd be out.


God and I had a good time waiting for Rick. I prayed and even used the flashlight to read my Bible and Daily Bread. It was great!



When Rick got here, he flipped the switch, you know, the same switch Bill tried to get to stay on, and of course Rick got it to come on and everything was just fine. We felt like goofbuckets. Rick took his electical gadget and tested wires and couldn't find any reason why the breaker did as it did. Makes me wonder what God was saving Rick from having him come here before going on the job!! Makes me wonder what God was saving US from having the breaker "mysteriously" shut itself off! I give Him praise! I trust God knew what He was doing.



A major blessing for me today was to be able to spend a little time with an old friend. We hug. It's great! I love the cabbage patch dolls and have several of them that others have bought for me. Why do I like them? Well.......when you see one take a good look. Their arms are always out waiting for a hug. I'm a hugger and there are people who pretend to hug and then there's people who really know how! No matter........I just love to hug. Makes me feel all warm and toasty inside.



"Psalms 22:11,14,15,19,22,23,24,25,27,31, "Be not far from me for trouble is near; for there is none to help. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint, my strength is dried up.....But YOU, O Lord, don't be far from me, O my Strength, hurry to help me! You know I will declare YOUR NAME to everyone. In the midst of everyone, I will praise You. When I cried to You, You heard me. My praise shall be of You........All will remember and turn to You........They will come and declare Your greatness and will tell the new generation that it is YOU Who have done these great things for Dea and her family." (Dea's version)



After Dad died in 2003, Mother's health issues got worse. For the past 4 years she has been under the watchful eye of our youngest brother. He has taken excellent care of her. In the past year brother's own health has gotten bad, as well as health challenges with his wife. Mother's mind continues to get worse. After much prayer, after much waiting and seeking the Lord's help, the decision was made for Mother to go and live where professionally trained people can take care of her. It was the hardest thing for us to do. But, we know it was the right thing.



God provided a house just ten minutes from me where 14 other Senior citizens live. We know God worked out every detail because everything fell into place so quickly and easily for us to get her in that place. All last week it was one challenge after another with her. Brother was having all kinds of trouble with her. I'm 45 minutes away with a work schedule and all I could really do was to keep praying and keep making suggestions to try and keep Mom calm. I left her in God's hands because I knew He would make sure she was taken care of.



Daily I was called. I was called at work. There was no getting away from the situation and by weeks end...........I was one exhausted person. When the car quit on my way home, it would have been so easy for me to just throw in the towel and quit. But, I know nothing catches God off guard or catches Him by surprise. I ACCEPTED the FREE peace He gives to us. I accepted it.



Was it easy........not really. This is my Mom we're talking about. I know I could take better care of her than God can...............sure! Absolutely not! Mom was told in 2004 she had six months to a year left. I looked the doctor in the eye and said, "You don't know our mother and you don't know the God we know." Here she is, folks. Broken, frail, but strong in spirit and love for God and all of her family. God has Mom in a place now that is more centrally located so more family can spend time with her and be there with her and for her. She was so far away from most of us. God took care of that.



We tried to explain to the boss of the manor that Mom can be pretty strong willed. I think she'll believe us now. You see..........if the week's struggle wasn't enough, and the car breaking wasn't enough.........Mom got out of the home the second day she was there and they couldn't find her. Yep, Mom got out the door early Sunday morning.......no shoes, no coat......nothing but her nightgown on. Does anyone want to know the temperature Sunday morning, let alone the windchill?



I know it would be very easy to point fingers and find fault and really fuss. I refuse to do that. My family refuses to do that. You see, there was a problem with the alarms at the Manor and God knew they needed fixed. Mom helped to make sure they got fixed, and take my word for it, they are fixed. She'll not budge without the entire town knowing she is on the move! God knew there was a problem. He carefully watched over Mom and within a few minutes she was found. She was cold, but that was all. She was transported to the nearby hospital and was thoroughly checked out. She had fell but nothing was broken. Mom doesn't remember anything about her trip out. She hasn't a clue where she thought she was going. Seems to me there's a verse in the New Testament that tells us about the Shepherd knowing His sheep and if one is lost, He'll go find it. God didn't have a bit of trouble getting someone to Mom quickly. Problem with the alarms fixed. Everyone will be safe now.



Our God of detail never ceases to amaze me. I was at work at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning like I am every Sunday morning. I go in that early to put up the ad signs for the flyer that breaks that day. All of Mom's excitement happened between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Because Sister was so scared and so shook up, she forgot where I was and couldn't get anyone to answer the phone at my house. Our youngest brother straightened her out and she called me at work at 6:30 a.m. Mom was already on her way to the hospital. One brother was with her, the other on the way, and Sister on the way after she got in touch with me.



Remember the care breaking down? That was on Friday..........I was at work on Sunday morning WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. I had stayed with friends in town Saturday night so I could get to work on Sunday morning. Had I been called before they found Mom.............well........how would YOU react if you couldn't get to your mother under those circumstances?



I kept on praising Him. There is nothing but blessing after blessing thru this entire ordeal. I give our God all praise!



It's not easy. I do not always react in the right way. Today I screwed up big time. I didn't react properly to a situation at all. I am ashamed of myself because I know better. I have a friend that counted His grace and mercy as one of her greatest blessings.............I couldn't agree more. I John 1:9 tells me to "confess my sins and He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness." Did ya happen to notice that all we have to do is confess? It doesn't say we even have to ASK for forgiveness! I give Him praise!



Keep praying for Mom...........getting her adjusted is a real challenge because she always wants to go home with whoever is visiting.



Til next time............oh.........did you read your Bible any today? If you read this blog.......you did.........hugs to all.............