Spring Fever

I can hardly wait for winter to leave and for Spring to finally get here. Being in the Southwest part of the United States most people think it's always warm or hot here. Let me say this...it is not!!! We get winter like everyone else does and this winter has been a cold one. We haven't had the usual snow and moisture but we've had days where it was freezing. It has also been a weird winter, like it couldn't make up it's mind to be freezing one day and nice the next. Makes me wonder if this whole global warming thing is really real?

Today we got a taste of one of those Spring like days after just having snow a few days ago...it was a gorgeous sunny day, and though the temperature said 65 it felt like mid 70's...mmm....very nice in deed. I had the door open and the cool breeze had a wonderful Springy feel to it. You know the feeling where you can actually feel, taste and smell the ambiance (and no, I am not on any meds right now.)

I even saw the biggest fly this side of the Rio Grande today. This bugger was HUGE and I mean like the size of a large raisin with wings. No, Mike did not throw a raisin at me...it was the biggest fly I have ever seen and it wasn't a horse fly either this was your ordinary run of the mill fly (still not on meds I tell ya) it whizzed by me with such speed I felt the hair on my face move. No, I do not have a beard, you are confusing me with Mike. You know the kind of facial hair, the soft downy stuff. It moved I tell you...whizzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anywho... I can hardly wait till Spring finally arrives and though I have a feeling the flies are going to be as big as tomatoes this year, that might take getting used to...of course I fear all the other creepy, crawly creatures that didn't die over winter have probably morphed into something just as gigantic (ugh!)

Oh well, I can still hardly wait for Spring though...it's my favorite season with Fall being close second. Of course someone please remind me how excited I was about the change of season when I start complaining about how hot it is....whizzzzzzzzzzzzz oh no there it goes again!

Garfield always has the answers - yay!

We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Burn Out

More and more I hear of people who are fighting depression, fatigue, and stress, believe me I understand this very well. There have been many times in my life where I have been under the burden of these all too familiar feelings....the feeling of being completely burnt out.

Today as I come to the end of a much needed rest in my life (Spring Break) I am thankful that God knows what I need and when I need it most, especially after coming out of a very stressful time in my life.

It's one thing to rest physically when the body is tired, but where do we go for spiritual rest? Even if we keep on going and going like the proverbial "energizer bunny" God has a way of making our bodies shut down so that they can replenish and rest, it's called sleep. However, He does become more drastic if we don't heed Him. I know, I've learned that hard lesson before. Spiritual rest isn't so easy. It takes a concerted effort to truly rest in the Lord and allow inner healing to take place. Sometimes the very thing we need is the very thing we don't do. It's like a baby that fights sleep and as much as we hate to admit it, we are alot like that. We fight the very thing we need...ugh!

I am trying to learn to rest in the Lord...to not only rest physically, but rest spiritually. Being spiritually renewed and refreshed isn't easy, especially when I find myself doing the things that are opposite of resting in God. The ironic thing is that sometimes we confuse "doing" things for God and end up just getting more busy and more tired and drained physically and spiritually. It can turn into such a vicious cycle.

Lord, help me! Help me to rest in You...to find peace, comfort and contentment in the place that you have me now, not busy doing and striving, but busy being at the feet of Jesus...choosing the thing that is most important. Help me to rest in Your presence and feed on Your Word. The very Word of Life that gives me sustanance and strength. My spirit yearns and longs for life giving nourishment...but unless I eat and taste that the Lord is good...how can I possibly beat - burn out?

"When Your words came, I ate them, they were my joy and my hearts delight; for I bear Your name O Lord God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16

American Idol Addict

Hi, my name is Dorothy and I am an American Idol Addict.....Yes, it's true, I am totally and completely a fan (ok, ok, fanatic!) I love this show and I am not embarrassed to say that I look forward to (meaning, my life revolves around) Tuesday nights (when they perform) to Wednesday nights (when someone is voted off.) If you happen to call me during this time...ummm, I will not answer the phone. You will get our answering machine and if I am not too upset by the outcome I just may call you back.

I got hooked on this show 3 seasons ago. No, I did not see the first season because I was abducted by aliens and they have no TV. Actually, I have no idea why I didn't watch then, but if I can ever get my hands on re-runs I will watch faithfully.

I've even gotten several people at work to watch and we call each other afterwards and have our little "commentary." Ok, so it's not so little...it's more like this hour long play by play on each of the performers and what the judges thought. It drives Mike crazy, but deep down I know he loves it too...he is a closet AIA.

Now, I want you to know I don't always agree with the judges...but I have to admit I often find myself agreeing with Simon. Of course I will say that if he just kept his comments to the singing and performances and didn't make personal comments I would be alot happier...so would the rest of America.

I have my personal favorites...and for now it's a toss up between 3 of the ladies (Mandisa, Lisa and Paris) and 3 of the guys (Chris, Elliot, and the weird spastic one, I forget his name.) I won't reveal who my predicted winner is since it's a bit too early for me to decide...but it's going to be a tight competition.

For now..I am just happy that my TV hasn't gone on the blink...last year I had Mike on the roof trying to get the Antenna just right...as I screamed from the house, "yes, no, ok right there, don't move!" American Idol Anonymous...here I come!

Spring Break

I work at a College in the town I live in and come March we always get a Spring Break. Believe me by March I am always grateful for the break...but it never seems to fail that the weather before Spring Break is always so nice...and just when Spring break gets here it turns to winter....after not having a winter all winter long...go figure!

This year was no exception...we got 2 inches of snow and the winds picked up something fierce and it's been freezing!! So, I am pretty much confined to the house...now, you might think, that's not a bad thing. I get to relax, work on my jewelry, read, watch movies, enjoy the break...yeah right! What it means is that I get to clean stuff...and I don't want to clean stuff...I want to relax, work on my jewelry, read, watch movies and enjoy the break.

By the way, it doesn't help that my husband wants me to clean stuff too...stuff that hasn't been cleaned in a long long time, like the utility room. Now this utility room is a real mess...a nightmarish mess. I am going to need a sand blaster and a torch along with a gas mask to clean this mess (you know the getup, the kind that they use to clean up toxic spills). Seriously, I was tempted to post a pic, but I am afraid that the perfect image you have of me will be forever shattered and you will never want to venture into my home again. (It's that bad!)

So I will refrain from posting a pic and being that vulnerable and open...but I am sure you can just imagine, and to think, my husband is an enviromentalist. The kind who does all the restuarant inspections. You would think our home would be the picture of sterile cleanliness (sure, have you seen Mike's van?) Well I do have a bleach mixture spray bottle, but suffice it to say, until I get a sand blaster, torch and gas mask I am not touching this room. It might just have to wait till next Spring break, after all, it's suppose to be a nice day tomorrow. (hehe)

Transitions and Change

Transitions and changes are never easy, at least not for me. Seems just when I get comfortable, something comes along to turn my life upside down. Recently my whole world was turned upside down. Life as I have known it for the last thirteen years just abruptly changed. I know that God uses these things in my life and He will often switch things around for me cause He loves to see how I will handle the situation. Yes, the Lord is wonderful and magnificent and though I may not know what and why He is doing things in my life...I do know that He is completely and totally in control. Plus I remember surrendering my life to Him and telling Him that He could do whatever He needed to do in my life...so it's really all my fault. (laughing). Now I understand why they say, be careful what you ask for. (smile)

God also has this amazing sense of humor too, and I am learning that even in the darkest moments if I will allow the joy of the Lord to fill my heart, I can feel light and giddy just by being in His presence. (In Thy presence is fullness of joy) . Ok, so I don't want to over spiritualize this either...cause it has been hard...and I have done my share of crying, but even during these time I do see myself growing (and I don't mean sideways) though, I have been known to do that too cause I tend to eat when I am sad.

The growth I am seeing is vertical...between me and God and our relationship. I gave Him permission eons ago to work in my life to conform me into His image and He has not failed to work in my life in good and bad times. I am reminded of Job who said "shall we not accept both good from God and not accept adversity?" Job 2:10 and then in Romans 28 when we read all that we as Christians face, trials, tribulations and so on...and yet NOTHING can or will separate us from the love of God....yes, we are conquerors in Him.

So why does this soldier often feel the failure? I think it's because I don't see God in all of His glory...when Job came to the end of questioning "why?" God's only answer to Him was not to explain the rhyme or reason of what and why He did what He did in allowing all that happened to Job....God's answer was..."were you there Job, when I set creation into motion?" Yikes, this is the creator, Almighty God, the everlasting Father, Omniscient, the Omnipotent God.

Who are we to question why He does what He does...He holds it all in His hands...and He knows why, and that should be enough for me. I am growing and changing through the tough times and transitions in my life. I am also grateful for the love and support my spiritual family has shown in abundance during this time. Their prayers and love have been felt through the tough times...and the laughter and love we have shared has been incredibly healing. I may not know why God does what He does...but I am secure in knowing that He knows and holds all in His capable and loving hands, and He has provided in so many ways. Thank you God!!