We're Gonna Light It Up Like It's Dynamite

Okay, so my title has absolutely NOTHING to do with this entry.  I just happen to like that song and it's playing in my head because it's the ringtone on my cell phone.  I'm a dork, so sue me.

It's looking like another cold day today, but at least the sun is shining.  After I shower and get dressed, I may brave the elements just to walk to the mailbox this afternoon, and enjoy some of the brightness while it lasts, not that the sun is close enough to do me much good, but mentally, sunshine tells my head to not be depressed.  It's funny how it can change your whole outlook.

Stayed in my pajamas nearly all day yesterday while watching the football games, although after Al made leftover spaghetti for lunch, I got a bad case of the sleepies.  I laid down on the couch to watch the first football game of the day, Baltimore and Kansas City, and when I woke up, the Packers and Eagles were playing.  However, I'm happy as a clam about how the games turned out.  I wanted the Eagles knocked out of the playoffs, and now, I'm hoping that Atlanta will knock out the Packers.

I really take my football too seriously.  It's not just a game.  It's a way of life.

After a lazy day, well lazy day and a half if you count Saturday when I was downed with my migraine, Al and I finally showered and got out to Walmart to buy our groceries.  I knew he was going to say something about me picking up the new Taylor Swift CD and the Eclipse DVD, and sure enough, he did.  He told me they were unnecessary expenses and I just said, "No, I need them!"  Need might be a strong word, but it was more than want.  I've got all Taylor Swift's music and I've been collecting the Twilight movies, so of COURSE I wanted this one, too.  How could I get the first two and not get the third one?  It's sort of like the Harry Potter movies.  I collect those too.

I don't know why he felt the need to complain.  Even with my two little items, the grocery bill was just a little over $200 for two weeks worth of groceries.  At least he didn't give me the grand lecture about it.  He said what he felt he had to say.  I answered and that was the end of the subject, but I was quiet in the car on the way home and he noticed and actually apologized if he made me feel bad.  He didn't, I just didn't have anything more to say.

We got home somewhere around 9:30pm, got the groceries put away, and because we hadn't taken anything out to make for dinner, he fixed hamburgers.  It was quick and easy and we got to finish off the package of buns as well as the burgers in the freezer.  Worked for me.  I really didn't care if I ate or not, especially that late, but diabetes dictates I must eat three meals a day.  I'm not sure if a burger counts as a whole meal, but with a bun, a slice of pepperjack cheese, lettuce and tomato, it was filling enough for me to be able to take my pills.

This morning, I wanted to go to the Y and work out, but Al needed a resume because he's applying for a promotion at work, so I had to sit and work on that.  I hate that he waits til the last minute for stuff and then totally screws up my plans.  He's a major procrastinator, even worse than I am, and that's saying something.  But, I got it done and emailed to him at work so he can print it out and turn it in with his application.  I am praying he gets this promotion.  They've been talking about promoting him for the past six years, but this company is funny about doing things like that.They like to dangle the carrot for a long time.  If he gets the job, great.  It'll be more money for him, but if he doesn't get the job, then I guess we're no worse off than what we are now.  Only time will tell.

I still wanted to get into my book last night after dinner, but instead Al recorded the new series The Cape, and wanted to watch that.  He wasn't content unless I watched it with him, so I gave up trying to read or play on the computer, just to watch the show with him.  It was fairly decent, for a superhero kind of movie.  Superhero stuff isn't my cup of tea, but if he likes it and wants me to watch it with him, then I guess I will.  Unlike him, I don't complain about what he watches.  I just suck it up.  He sits and complains or makes fun of everything I watch.  I think HE needs to suck it up for a while.

Other than that, nothing else of note for the time being.  It's a typical Monday and I have nothing on my agenda, except maybe popping out that sweater organizer and getting my sweaters put away.  IF I feel like doing it.

Point to Ponder:  Nobody else can be me.

Verse to Remember:  1 Peter 4:10 - God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.

Question to Consider:  What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church?

I have many God-given abilities.  The ability to write, to speak in public, to teach and train, and those are just a few that spring to mind after reading this chapter.  I've got loads of experiences to work from.  Family, educational, vocational, spiritual, ministry, and painful experiences have all been part of my life in one way or another.

The experience that springs to mind right off the bat is the abortion I had in my 20s combined with a ministry experience while I was going to Lay Ministry school.  I got to work downtown at the Archdiocese for a day doing Project Rachel, which was counseling women and men who call in and need to talk to someone because they are either a) thinking of having an abortion, or b) they've already had one [or their wife/girlfriend has] and they need someone to talk to about it.

Honestly, in the area in which I live, teen pregnancy is rampant, but I see a lot of those teens having their babies.  I'm sure, however, because abortion is such a volatile and taboo subject, there are equally as many abortions as their are babies.  I think I could benefit my church by being open about my experience and counseling others who have been through it, to remind them, and remind myself by extension, that if they are sorry about what they did, God forgives them.  Their child forgives them.  God loves them no matter what they've done.

The one day I spent at Project Rachel was very rewarding and fulfilling.  I could totally see a branch of it being available in our parish.

The stomach is a spoiled brat.  When we miss even one meal, it kicks up a fuss and makes us feel as though we're going to starve.  Of course, we're in no danger whatsoever, but once our stomachs get started, it is hard to ignore them.  To diet means to engage in mind over matter.  We need to realize tha we can get by on a lot less food than we actually eat.  We need to renew our mind, change our thinking, and decide that we're not going to be made a slave to our stomachs.  We resent it when someone else tries to control us.  Why should we so easily succumb to our own stomachs?  When we refuse to be ruled by anything but the Spirit of God, then we truly please Him.

Today's thought:  God can liberate us from slavery to the stomach!

Funny thing about this, is I'm not really a slave to my stomach.  I eat when I'm hungry, sure, but more often than not, I eat on a schedule.  I have to, being a diabetic.  The Byetta shots I take curb my appetite and make me feel full a lot faster, which is a good thing.  I think if anything, I'm a slave to the schedule, and to the headaches I get if I don't eat on time.  With meals and healthy snacks, I don't give my stomach a chance to growl at me or rule my life.