I was up at a reasonable hour this morning, but since we had already decided to give a pass to the Y this week, I didn't worry about waking Al or Amy. I used the time to catch up on my games - I'm amazed at how many gift requests I get overnight - and then I sat here and read my chapter for the day.
Al got up around 10:00-ish this morning, and Amy pretty much slept until noon or a little thereafter. She was sort of drifting in and out of sleep, so although I was already showered and dressed, I let her sleep. I figured she needed it. She got up when she was ready, and it didn't take her long to get herself together, pack everything up so we could put it in the car, and then we were on our way to the Navy Exchange so I could pick up my Metanx. It's a drug I take twice a day to help keep the circulation flowing in my legs and feet. There wasn't long of a wait before I got my drugs and a new sharps container for my pen needles, and then Amy treated us to sandwiches at the Subway inside the NEX.
Afterward, Amy brought me back home and left to go to her dad's for the holiday. I'll miss her in the next couple of days, but she'll be back on Saturday night to spend the night before our big Bears game on Sunday.
My phone has been ringing non-stop today, it seems. Mom called, my sister called, my sister-in-law called, Al called, and Amy called on her way home. The poor thing got pulled over for speeding and got a ticket and she was pissed. I would've been, too. The cop COULD have let her off with a warning, considering she's had no tickets for the past 10-12 years, but no. This jerk gave her a ticket, took her license, and she either has to pay the ticket to get her license back, or come back here from Michigan on the 20th, go to court and get supervision, and then get her license back, plus pay court costs. They get you coming and going. The cop COULD have been nice, considering it's Christmas, but this guy sounded like a real putz.
Corri texted me, when she couldn't reach me on the phone, and let me know that she is getting a pass for Christmas. She gets to leave rehab for three hours, from 4:00pm - 7:00pm on Christmas Day, so we'll get to see her and give her gifts. She'll get a nice Christmas after all, and I'm very glad of that fact. The last thing she needs is to be separated from her family on Christmas, cuz it would depress her, no matter how much the center is planning for the ladies who cannot leave.
My brother just texted me to pick up a case of diet soda and a case of Miller Lite to bring with us when we go to his house tomorrow. I don't know why he's asking us. He makes more money than we do. He should be paying for this, if he's hosting this Christmas shindig. But, whatever. We'll pick it up.
I really wish we didn't have to go there tomorrow. I love Christmas, and don't get me wrong, I love my family, but I would rather just spend Christmas with Al and be done with it - or go to Mom's and that would be our Christmas. I love my brother, because he's my brother, but these days I don't like him very much.
I wound up falling asleep this afternoon, and I was supposed to call Amy back. Oops. I slept until almost 7:00pm. I guess I needed it. Got up and did the dishes, but I haven't made anything for dinner yet. I'm not hungry. I'll wait until it gets closer to Al's coming home time, and then I'll make smoked sausage and macaroni and cheese so we can eat something. Then Al has to wrap presents, because I know he's not going to want to do that tomorrow. We have to go have my nails done in the morning or early afternoon. I'm thinking the earlier the better because we still have to buy some groceries so we can have something to eat on Christmas Day. Mom's not doing dinner or anything because there's not enough time with Corri for her to do that.
Actually, I just called my mom about that. If Corri is out of rehab from 4-7pm, she'll miss dinner at the center, so Mom really needs to have SOMETHING for us all to eat or Corri won't get dinner. Mom said they thought of that, too, and Popeye's is open, so they'll be picking up food from Popeye's for us.
Good. That's covered.
Nothing else on the agenda for tonight. I'm just watching my episodes of The View and my soaps to try and get caught up on them.
My chapter today was all about love and it's importance in the purpose of our lives. We are called to love above all things. Love each other as you would love yourself. Faith, Hope, and Love are all important, but the greatest of these is love. So sayeth the Bible.
Relationships, not achievements, are our goal here on earth. When the end of our lives come, no one is going to say, "bring me my awards and diplomas, bring me my trophies to look at one last time." We will want to be surrounded by our family members and friends when we depart this life for the next, and the only way that's going to happen is to cultivate a life filled with love and loving relationships.
As I was reading, I felt convicted because I realized that I have done some very unloving things in my life to people around me. Not just to people I know, but also to people I don't know. Most recently, we can take the case of my overdue library book. I kept it, knowing it was not renewed for check out, simply because I wanted to read it. I didn't give a thought to the person who put in a request for the book from the library. I was selfish, unthinking, and uncaring - unloving. I really didn't like that self-conviction whatsoever.
Point to Ponder: Life is all about love.
Verse to Remember: Galatians 5:14 - The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Question to Consider: Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?
When I worked at the church, we had one of the best videos for the little kids. It was a Veggie Tales video called "Who is My Neighbor?" Basically, the answer to that question is - everybody. It doesn't matter if they are family, friends, or strangers on the street. Every single living, breathing human being on this earth is our neighbor and we are called to love them the same way we love ourselves, to take our selfish tendencies and put them aside for the benefit of other people. Those are some of the most loving acts we can do.
Are relationships my first priority? I like to think they are, but if I'm being really honest with myself, the answer to that question is probably no. SOME relationships are my first priority, while others are not, but more often than not, it's all about me. What I want to do, when I want to do it. I really need to start taking others into consideration more often before I act and I'm not very good at that.
How can I ensure that relationships become my first priority? Good question. I think it's going to take a conscious effort on my part to stop before I act, think of how my actions will or won't benefit someone else. I need to be better about calling my friends and family and talking to them. I need to stop letting other people's selfish actions impact the way I treat them.
I think perhaps my relationship with my brother might be a good example of this. Regardless of how he's acting, I need to act better and not hold on to slights or his inconsiderate nature and try and be more loving toward him.
Instead of letting strangers piss me off, I need to stop and take a breath and treat them with the same kindness and respect with which I want to be treated before I respond in a brusque or standoffish manner. I'm no better than them, and I need to remember that, and remember that I am not always at my best either. Understanding and compassion will go a long way toward having more loving relationships.
Well, it's almost 9pm and Al just called and said he's on his way home. He's picking up dinner so I don't have to cook. Guess I should get a move on and finish the dishes.
Until tomorrow... my diary family. I do love you all. |
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