Just Give Out

No, it's not a new movie title.

It's where I am.  It's where alot of my friends are.  It happens about this time every year.  School is in full swing, the Holiday's are around the corner and fall sports are winding down - we are just give out.

Time to rest.

Rest doesn't necessarily mean sleep - although I'd love to be able to lay my head down and sleep all night long!  I've spent years laying in bed at night listening and imagining, writing stories in my head, planning days' worth of activities.

Rest can mean rejuveninating - doing those things you love with the people you love.  Reading a great book.  Dinner with a friend.

I gain strength from shutting myself in sometimes.  Just being at home with the family.   Listening to their laughter, watching them play games, teaching them.

But I must be careful - I can become a recluse!  And that's just not healthy either.

Seems I must find a balance.

This icky Sjogren's sometimes forces me to be intentional in integrating rest into my lifestyle.  I hate it.  I just hate it.  My hands are swollen now.  I forced my wedding ring on this morning.   My jaw and ears hurt from my salivary glands swelling.  My head hurts.  And I can't sleep much at night.  Which makes it all worse.

Okay, I sound like a whiny baby.  I've really tried not to.  Yesterday, I gave into tears and asked David to come pray for me.  I felt better afterwards.  The power of prayer.  The power of the prayer of my God-given mate who carries my burdens and loves me with every ounce of his being.  He is my White Knight. 

He would come back for me.

(You have to know Kevin Costner's Robin Hood for that to make sense.)

Sometime in the wee hours, Luke 3:5 came to my mind -

Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. (NIV)

and, My Favorite: 
Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked places shall become a straight path, and the rough places smooth ways, (Darby Bible Translation).

God will make it all work out.  The valley's won't be so deep and the hills won't be so steep.  The winding road will be easier and the stones removed so I won't stumble.

All God's promises are Yes and Amen.

Definitely a Mudane Musing Monday

Mean Momma

Okay, I am not up for any Mother of the Year award this year.  In fact, a Mean Momma award would probably garnish me nominations from my family.

I've been testy and edgy;  short tempered, shorter fused;  high strung and have left a trail of blood behind me.  Maybe that's an exaggeration - a little.

Part of it is allergies.  They are horrible this year!  And the meds that don't really seem to help leave me groggy and fussy.

Part of it is spring fever and adjusting to being together 24/7.  I love teaching my kids but I've not had a break in a while.  Yesterday, I went to my room and shut the door - for 4 hours!  I read some and took a nap.

Partly, I miss my friends from work greatly.  I  miss that daily interaction and our wordsmith session.  I miss the coffee and lunch.  And yes, I occassionally  miss the paycheck!

And a big part this past week is looking at another surgery for Ashley.  The screws should come out on Friday.  But, are they doing to do anything else?  Seems like they always find something else they can tweak, change, inject, stretch, lengthen, fuse or just plain play with.   Fourteen hours of driving - half of which you hope she doesn't have a seizure or throw up.

Frankly, I think I've been a pill because I don't want to be the adult this week.  I want to be the kid!  I want someone else to take care of this.  I miss my dad.  I want to curl up in his lap like I'm still 5 and the whole world is quiet and peaceful.

So, I go to my Father.  I curl up in his lap.  Father God, make this all go away!  No, he answers, but I will go through it with you.

Yup, here come the tears.

"Bring all your needs to the altar,
Bring all your needs to the Lord;
He is so willing and able to help you,
Bring all your needs to the Lord."

Here they are God.  My needs are not neat.  My problems aren't tied in a nice bundle.  They are not pretty, but I can't keep them any longer.  Here they are.   You are willing.  You are able.  I'm not.

Phillippians 4:7 reads:

"Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus."   God's Word Translation


or another translation:

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  King James

In our time of trial, God's peace will keep our thoughts and emotions calm! 

I will rest in Him!  In this time of unrest - so many friends are hurting and facing trials - I will take their name before the Father. 

There's plenty of room in His lap for all of us!

P.S. - Yes, I have apologized to my family.  They voted that mom needs more sleep and less Benadryl!

A Girlfriend's Way to Love

So, looks like it's on May 22nd! I also posted a Facebook e-vitation. Forward it to friends.

Any ideas or where to reserve for dinner? Remember, we want to work as little as possible on this so we really get a sense of rest. (Rest? 20 plus women together? Okay, our definition is different than most!)

What amazes me is that we have tapped a nerve. As we are talking about Relationships at church and in SMall Groups, we are seeing that we need MANY relationships! Our Father, our spouses, our friends - in small groups, at work, at church and at sleep-overs!

So, my next blog will be how we need to go to Alaska with L*nn! Surely, that would build strong relationships, too!

Home

I have enough energy to let you know we are home. Chris does have gall bladder trouble made worse by the viral infection he battled last week. He is in no immediate danger and has some good meds to handle pain so we will treat slowly.

Thank you Lord for your provision.

Thank you Lord for sending Dwight to pray - the words you gave Dwight prepared Chris to come home knowing you would take care of him.

Thank you for friends who visited the hospital and made us feel protected.

Thank you those who texted to let us know life would still go on.

Thank you for chocolate and diet coke and their delivery driver.

Thank you for the rest you are sending tonight.

Thank you for Father Jim and his visits to encourage Chris.

Thank you for Adam and Kristen and coffee. They made Chris smile.

Thank you for cheese burgers - who knew so much fat could bring so much joy - if just for a little bit!

Thank you for friends who look after our precious daughter.

Thank you for friends who feed us!

Thank you for family far away who lift us in prayer.

Thank you for your love, God. We are never alone.

Rest is a Weapon

"Rest is a weapon."

What a powerful statement! When you see everyone rushing around, busy, busy, busy and all saying they are so tired, you wonder why? What is so important?

Selah.

Fatigue is the weapon of the enemy of our soul. The more tired we are, the more suspectable we are on his battlefield - our mind. The more we focus on our own physical needs. More fatigue, less accomplished.

Yet it is also the Weapon of the Almight!

When we are rested, we can think clearly, study more, understand Him, hear Him!

Father, so many are tired. They crave rest. They need to lay their head in peace tonight. Our leaders are tired - and for good reason! Parents of young children are pushed to the limit of their conscious mind and physical bodies. But there is a place of rest for these children, too!

Some of us are attacked with insominia. Night after night we lay awake, unable to quieten our minds. Some are attacked with worry and fear. Some are so exhausted they cannot sleep.

Children cry in the night as their sleep is disrupted and they seek comfort.

Tonight, Father, pour your rest over Durango. Let our children sleep in peace. Let our minds rest. Let our bodies rest as your Holy Spirit envelopes us in His gentle arms.

To sleep, perchance to dream. To awake refreshed and regifted! Lord, be our rest tonight!