Thursday, January 29, 2009

Vacation?

Okay, so several weeks ago I thought I had 3 days of vacation left and was going to use 2 personal days to take a full week off. Well, I double checked with my payroll and through Human Resources and figured out I still had 5 days left so I finally settled on this week to take off.

Well, we have had a winter storm here and I have been stuck inside since Tuesday evening. (I did go out and shovel my driveway yesterday). I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE. There are times when I wish I could just stay home and do nothing but that time has ended.

I also just checked my emails from work and the HR coordinator emailed and said that not only do I not have 5 days of vacation but I only have 2 days. Which means if she is right then I will not get paid for tomorrow. Not a good thing. I have to wait until Monday to double check everything. I still think I have at least 3 days.

So, this vacation is not turning out to be one of my favorites but it will all workout.

God bless,
Karen

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sitting in a radio station

Well, I am sitting in the basement of a local Christian radio station. They are doing a "Mission of Mercy" radiothon. Mission of Mercy is an organization that allows you to support children from all over the world. So far, the phone hasn't rung. It is the beginning of the time so I pray it picks up.

I decided to do this because, as much as I would like to sponser a child, financially I can't right now.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this ministry. We pray that all 197 children get sponsered and that they have a chance to know you as their personal saviour. Please bless those who are willing to support a child. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Health by choice

As you have read in the last few emails my friend Penny is going through a cancer diagnosis. It is not good but thank the Lord, could be worse.

Well, it has made me stop and realize something. (Shouldn't have taken this but sometimes God has to use something big to get my attention). Penny has no control over her health. What is happening to her is for a reason and we may never know it but she did not ask for it and none of us want to see her go through it. This is a disease that comes out of no where and the only thing that can be done is what the doctors have learned and if God chooses to heal then he will. But Penny can only do what the doctor is asking her to do.

I, however, am still at a seriously unhealthy weight and though my vitals, heart and general health is good right now every day I remain overweight I am risking that health. The difference is that I have a choice. I am not overweight because of some disease. I am overweight because of making poor choices and using my experiences growing up as an excuse to hide. I, with God's help, can lose this weight and get healthy. I have that choice and that ability. I don't need the doctors to give me medicine or any of that stuff. I just need to make better decisions.

Lord, thank you for showing me that my health is a choice. I, with your help, can lose this remainder of weight and get to a healthy weight so that I can accomplish so much more for you. Please continue to show me that my health is a choice. There are so many out there who don't have the option to get healthy. Help me to stop making excuses and start losing this weight again. You continue to show me that my weight loss is doing good for others as well. Please continue to be with Penny and her family. Please, if it is your will, heal Penny of this disease that she has no control over. Thank you that you are a loving and all powerful God who can work miracles. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

If you have an issue that you can control to get healthy please don't wait until a friend get's sick and has no control. Take the step to make the changes necessary to get healthy now.

God Bless,
Karen

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

God is definately in Control

As you know, my friend is battling an ugly disease, cancer. I won't go into details but we found out good and bad news today.

Over the next few months she will be undergoing a lot of treatments. Next week being one of the biggest ones.

A few months ago I realized that I still had 5 vacation days left before March 14th, my 9th anniversary. I looked at the calendar and thought of a few weeks to use it. I finally settled on the week of January 25th. See where I am going with this? God knew in advance that my friend would be having these treatments next week and worked it out so that I would be available the entire week except for a two hour window on Monday to help in any way that I was needed.

He has also given me the opportunity to show His hand in all this. A few people have said how funny it is that I took the same week off that I would be needed. I was able to explain that God knew I would need to take that week off and there was nothing strange about it.

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your hand in everything. Thank you for the encouraging news about Penny. We know that it will be a long struggle and that the danger is not over for her but I thank you for what you have done so far. Thank you for giving me next week off so that I could be available to help whereever I am needed. Please continue to watch over Penny and her family. The fight she has ahead of her will be long and hard but we can see there is hope!!! In Jesus' Name, Amen

God Bless,
Karen

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

"Sometimes He Calms the Storm"

Several years ago I worked at a Christian Bookstore in a part time capacity. Since I have been at my current part time job for 12 1/2 years it has been a really long time. Anyway, there was a CD by a new artist named Scott Krippayne. I loved the CD and bought the demo copy. I had not listened to it in years, however. So, when I put it in my CD player a couple of weeks ago it was like hearing a new CD all over again. The songs are all wonderful. But, one has really stood out to me over the last week. I have put the words below.

The song is called "Sometimes He Calms the Storm". As Christians we are not promised a perfect life. We are just promised that no matter what this life brings, Christ will be with us through it all. This last week has really taken me to places of discouragment but then I feel God "holding me" . Not only is my friend, Penny, and her family going through this cancer diagnosis but my uncle, who I grew up near, is on life support in a hospital in New Orleans because of COPD. The only thing I can do in this situation is turn it over to Him and be still and know that when the winds are whipping that He is holding me tight in His arms.

I pray the words of this song help you as much as they are helping me.

God Bless,
Karen

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial

That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Perspective

You know, this journey has had so many ups and downs that when I look back I wonder why I waste so much time and then I wonder how things go so fast.

Well, I found out some not good news about a friend who is like my sister today. I won't go into detail but looking at the journey she and her family will have to take my journey has been nothing.

Dear Heavenly Father, You have a plan in everything and this is no different. I pray that whatever You do in this situation that we don't forget that you are never going to leave us or forsake us. Please be with my friend and her family in this time. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless,
Karen

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Shoulders and weather

It has been awhile since I posted. Not a lot going on. The New Year was a good one. I only had to work until 11:30pm and got in my front door at 11:59pm and 46 seconds. I got to see the ball drop for 14 seconds. No one did anything this year. Clayton was in Arizona with his band and so it seemed that nothing got organized. We were all home and most in bed by like 12:05am.

I have been going to the gym regularly but not really pushing it. On the 20th of December I hurt my shoulder and it is still bothering me big time. I am heading to an orthopedic doctor in a few minutes. He will probably tell me that it is just a slight injury and I will have to deal with it. I just don't want to injure it more but it sure is hindering me from working out. I tried to do bootcamp on Saturday and did some pushups. It hurt really bad after and then I tried to do some shoulder raises Tuesday and it hurts again. I haven't done the barbell class since the 20th and I only do the bike and elliptical because I hold on with the treadmill and it pulls the shoulder. We start the Biggest Loser again in February and I really want to do it but if my shoulder is not well I don't know.

Last night I didn't get to the gym because we are having some sleet and snow. I made Clayton walk me to my car from church because it was really slippery. Maybe it will be good to take the days off. Then Saturday when I go back my body will be ready for a good workout?

Anyway, that is what is happening in my world. I am reapplying to the Biggest Loser for Season 8. I watched the new season start on Tuesday and it scares me to see if I can do that. Josh, one of my trainers, confirmed that I could do it. I wish I believed in myself as much as others do sometimes.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you bring into my life. If this shoulder injury is something that you brought to slow me down please help me to see that. If you are trying to get me to totally rely on you and not the gym or anything else please help me to see that too. Thank you for the people in my life. Help me to see myself the way that you and others see me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God Bless,
Karen

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