Quotes

Pray like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you.
- Dave Ramsey

Quotes

If you want something you've never had, you'll have to do something you've never done.
- Dave Ramsey

Quotes

Discipline is the bridge between goals & accomplishment.
~ Jim Rohn

sunday reflections

Life is serious.  It has its moments of fun and pleasure, but will I deny myself and follow Christ?  Some are critical decisions...every decision costs me one way or another. 

The Lord makes the difference in my life...only as I allow Him to do so.  I have no more value in my life than you.  Will I serve Him in sincerity and truth?  It is a never ending battle that I have to choose daily lest I become a castaway (a shipwrecked person. anything cast adrift or thrown away. an outcast.).  Is truth prevailing in my life?  

We each decide whether we will walk by humility and the fear of the Lord to obtain riches, honor and life! 

He will give peace in the storm - comfort in trouble - help in our need. 

Our Lord has equipped us for our journey!

Tom Collins message today

a blessing expressed by Terry

Tonight at meeting, Jeff asked if anyone had any blessings...and Terry stood up and said a few things:
he was thankful for me and for me being faithful to him
thankful for having lunch with Weyman today
and he was thankful to be alive

Wow...this is progress! I don't know if his mindset will stay there, but I sure hope so!  Pray for him...

Quotes

Good work habits help develop an internal toughness and a self-confident attitude that will sustain you through every adversity and temporary discouragement.
~ Paul J. Fleyer

give your life to God while there is still time

To be a survivor in this Amazing Race with the need for speed you need God’s Grace and if you're desperate like housewives watching days of our lives, you can’t cope without hope and that is not on a soap.

If your looking to Oprah or Dr. Phil you can shop non-stop or pop a pill, but the void won’t fill and the pain won’t kill until you love the One that hung on a hill.

Kicking back in your lazy boy easy chair watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, nah your not gonna find it there.   No American Idol or Council Tribal has the final answer that will satisfy ya.

C. S. I. ain’t got a clue. S.V.U. don’t know what to do. Not the E R or those seen on a CD TV DVD or MP3 can save you and me.

CNN has got no Good News here’s a headline you must choose. It’s not a simple life Paris Hilton, it’s treading on thin ice living in sin. You can be an apprentice for Donald Trump or eat Fear Factor fast food from a dumpster. You can be a heavy hitter or wheel of fortune winner or a Fox news no spin spinner or flat sinner but you better check this life that your livin’ and make sure your sins are forgiven. 

I bet cha 50 cent Elvis done come and went, and eventually every Black-eyed-pea, Gwen Stefani, P-Diddy and Britney.  Every wanna-be on MTV with their Icy Bling, every Dixie Chick that sings, they all gonna see the King of Kings.

I don’t care if you're J-Lo, Leno or Bono.  One thing you gotta know. Some day your gonna die, Bro.  Then Where are you gonna go.

Hey, i’m not talking some punk junk that is irrelevant. Like your Grandma’s church from way back when. It’s not some preacher feature on TBN. that you need to be liking or listening.

The real superstar is Jesus Christ. He’s the way, the truth and the life. One day he’s gonna split the sky. He is the brightest light and the highest high and so what I came to say and what I’m telling you is don’t buy that stupid stuff they be selling ya it’s all designed to fill your head and waste your space until your dead here’s the bottom line in my rhyme.

Give your life to God while there is still time.

(this is a rap by Tamara Lowe - click link to listen to it)

an evening with Terry

We were supposed to go to Russell's for dinner tonight, but Russell is not well so they canceled yesterday. I asked Terry if he wanted to come over to my place for dinner since we already had the time set aside...he said sure. I made him pick what he wanted to eat...he said he wasn't hungry, medicine makes food taste funny, etc...but eventually he came up with a plan. :) We ate breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, fruit, sausage. I then asked if he wanted to take a walk. We didn't walk far as I knew he couldn't do much, but I want to try to help him in small ways give him zeal for life. He smoked as we walked. We read Psalm 103 together. I then asked if he wanted to run see Ryan & Alisha's house (they closed Friday on a place in Crowley). He agreed, so he drove and I went with him in his car. I say all this to say, he needs this kind of stuff. Normal life things. Peace. Calm. No arguements. No fighting. No drama. No put me downs, you can't do it, you are no good. Nothing like that. We didn't discuss much...I want him to just learn to be different and find the truth in the difference. He did make a comment which I took as headway..."its good to be alive today". I wasn't sure what triggered the thought, he stopped one of his medicines last night and felt better today after feeling crummy for 5days. He can't seem to get over the fact that he just saw Gene Smith who sat by him last Wednesday night and then was in a wreck by the end of the week and will have therapy for 6 weeks. He has made the comment several times. I told him none of us know how long we have, I could be gone tomorrow...he could have been gone when he overdosed. I gave him your email tonight along with the email from Sharron Roy about Gene Smith, and the words to the song I sang as he asked for those since Stan mentioned in his message last Wednesday that I sang on Sunday and he asked me about it today. I had not told him this but think it might work for good in his life by learning about it...he doesn't understand how this has not just torn me apart. Well, it has in moments, but the Lord has given me the strength to face this trial and I want to grow by it...it has not been easy. Singing was not easy...but I wanted to share my heart and I didn't feel a testimony would convey my thoughts very well and I figured I would just cry and nobody would understand anyways.

an evening with Terry

Terry & I were supposed to go to Russell's for dinner tonight, but Russell is not well so they canceled yesterday. I asked Terry if he wanted to come over to my place for dinner since we already had the time set aside...he said sure. I made him pick what he wanted to eat...he said he wasn't hungry, medicine makes food taste funny, etc...but eventually he came up with a plan. :) We ate breakfast: eggs, hashbrowns, fruit, sausage. I then asked if he wanted to take a walk. We didn't walk far as I knew he couldn't do much, but I want to try to help him in small ways give him zeal for life. He smoked as we walked. When we came back to the house, we read Psalm 103 together, one of Uncle Tom's favorite passages, we split the 22 verses each reading 11.  We sat and didn't talk much for a few minutes and not knowing if he would then just head home, I asked if he knew Ryan &Alisha had bought a house and that they closed Friday on a place not to far from me and wondered if he would want to go see it.  I knew they were working on it and would be there, so he agreed.  He drove and I went with him in his car, something he hasn't wanted to do before for fear that I would get to sick since he smokes in his car.  After about 10minutes of being there, he was ready to leave...but I felt it was progress that he would want to go and get outside of his own life and focus.  We came back home and I gave him an email from Weyman, along with the email from Sharron Roy about Gene Smith's situation, and the words to the song I sang on Sunday a week ago (he asked for those from me today since Stan mentioned in his message last Wednesday that I sang on Sunday - he asked me about it today as I had not told him this).  I think it might work for good in his life by learning about it...he doesn't understand how this has not just torn me apart. Well, it has in moments, but the Lord has given me the strength to face this trial and I want to grow by it...it has not been easy but these types of things aren't.  Singing was not easy...but I wanted to share my heart and I didn't feel a testimony would convey my thoughts very well plus I figured I would just cry and nobody would understand my mumbled words anyways.  He left shortly after to head home.

I realate all this about our evening to say this:
he needs this kind of stuff. Normal life things. Peace. Calm. No arguements. No fighting. No drama. No put me downs, you can't do it, you are no good. Nothing like that. We didn't discuss much, just were together for the evening...I want him to just learn to be different and find the truth in the difference. He did make a comment which I took as headway..."its good to be alive today". I wasn't sure what triggered the thought, he stopped one of his medicines last night and felt better today after feeling crummy for 5days. He can't seem to get over the fact that he just saw Gene Smith who sat by him last Wednesday night and then was in a car wreck by the end of the week and will have therapy for 6 weeks. He has made the comment several times. I told him none of us know how long we have, I could be gone tomorrow...he could have been gone when he overdosed...we need to be grateful for each day that we have and serve the Lord with our whole heart in the moment, here and now. 

Quotes

It’s not your salary that makes you rich, it’s your spending habits.
~ Charles A Jaffe

updated on Terry

Terry has been home from the hospital now a week...he has not felt too well and is not sure some of it isn't his new medicine.  I have tried hard to encourage him to just be patient, take the needed time to rest and nap, just relax and in time he will feel better.  His doctor okayed that he discontinue one of his medications that he is pretty sure is making him feel pretty crummy, so as of tonight he will not take that dose.  We will see in a few days how he is feeling after doing this. He hasn't been too motivated to do much of anything.  He will not be able to work for a month until he is stable on his medications.  My goal right now is to encourage him, do something with him 1-2x's weekly to give him something to look forward to.  I think he is a little bit bored because I am getting lots of calls from him.  Hopefully he will feel like doing some things in a few days. I believe this will help is outlook and motivate him a little if he could be distracted from his blah state.  We were scheduled to have dinner at Russell & Barbara's tomorrow night but Russell is sick so that has been canceled.  I asked Terry if he would like to come to my place for dinner since we already had the evening planned and set aside for this, he said that sounded like fun.  I asked him what he was hungry for and told him that I would fix whatever he wanted...he has chosen breakfast: eggs. hashbrowns. sausage. and I will add fruit.  Yummy!   

Quotes

The bad news is time flies.  The good news is you're the pilot.
~ Michael Altshuler

Quotes

A professional is an amateur who didn't quit.
- Richard Bach

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Everybody talks bout wanting to change things and help and fix, but ultimately all you can do is fix yourself. And that's a lot. Because if you can fix yorself, it has a ripple effect.
- Rob Reiner, director

another update on Terry

I called Terry this afternoon around 4pm when I was running errands for the office, but it went straight to voicemail.  I left him a message telling him hello, that I hoped he was doing well today and that his doctor appointment went really well.  I never heard from him.  Tonight was meeting and I wasn't sure if Terry would be out or not, so I was thrilled when I saw him there  He was hunched over in his chair a good portion of the time, but I think that it would be a lot to come and face everyone after you had tried to kill yourself.  I don't mean that in a mean way, just simply if you had tried for the 6th time, didn't succeed and knew everyone knew and no doubt felt some humiliation, how would you be when you came to meeting?  I had a few minutes with him to talk and his doctor came up and filled me in on what the plan is for right now...Plan A.  He said once they get some progress made with Plan A, they will move to Plan B & Plan C.  He also informed me that several were going to get together and talk to Terry and make sure all that are working with him are on the same page. I was grateful to hear this because I only believe we can be successful with a plan and knowledge of how we are going to work at helping him.  Terry stuck around afterwards, longer than he normally does, for that I am grateful.

I will probably not do the daily updates as I have been, but please feel free to email me or check back weekly to see what I just might post  :)  I know this will be a long journey...but as my blog states, it can be a courageous journey, but that all is decided by our choice(s).  This experience has been a tough one to go thru, but I renewed with the strength of having had my Lord and Savior by my side through each moment of the rollercoaster along with friends that sent prayers up for me - for Terry - for the many others involved, sent me messages of love & encouragement.  The next phase of this journey will be me working on a new approach with Terry from things I learned in family counseling and admonishments of those directly involved with him.  Please pray for me that I can be an example and take the place as a sister & friend.  The outcome of this is not complete yet...the journey continues.

sharing a note of encouragement to me...

"a big HUG for you, Misty."

sharing a note of encouragement to me...

"May the God of all comfort help you today!! You are doing really well with this situation, so keep on....love you much!"

another update on Terry

Terry has been home for 24hrs and seems to be adjusting well.  He went and converted an old cell phone Jeff had to his number since his is fried.  He also took Sylvia back her lawnmower that he was working on.  We met for dinner tonight at Rosa's Tortillia Factory for Taco Tuesday.  He said he had already eaten dinner at Jeff's but said he would join me.  He ended up eating some chips n salsa and a taco.  I reached over and squeezed his hand and told him that I was glad he was still alive!  I also told him that he seemed to be doing well and  bet he enjoyed getting his face shaved (he wasn't fond of his beard that grew while he was in the hospital).  He smiled slightly and got a faraway look in his eyes.  I didn't know what he might be thinking, but thought it best to not push any more conversation and just let that statement sink in.  He came over for a few minutes while I tried to locate a battery for his phone online and get that ordered for him as the one he has is not holding a charge or lasting very long.  He didn't stay as he wanted to get home and to bed.  He has his doctor appointment tomorrow with his PCP and he also hopes to connect with his counselor thru the disability program he is on.

sharing a note of encouragement to me...

Over the last week, I have received multiple text messages, emails, phone calls, facebook messages or comments and I am going to share one that I got at 5am this morning that really meant something to me when I read it at 6.45am when the alarm went off:

Misty, this is ==========. I know I have not had communication w/you for some time...My times with you and the love you showed toward me will never be forgotten.  I appreciate your honesty and sincerity and still remember your ways of encouraging me.  I have been praying for Terry, you, Mindy and your family since I heard of Terry's condition on Sunday.  I have wanted you to know that the power of prayer has been very real in my life and I have seen it in work this last month especially.  I pary for God's comfort to be felt by each of you @this time.  I love you like a big sister and to know the pain your family is going through saddens my heart.  I was lying in bed praying and remembered that I may have your # in my phone.  I hope this reaches you. I love you Misty, take care - =====

another update on Terry

I ended up not staying with Terry the rest of the day as he said he wanted to go with Jeff.  When I got off work, I called Jeff to see how things were going and what the plan was.  Terry had said he was tired and wanted to take a nap and Jeff told him that probably was a good idea.  Well, out of habit, Jeff had left the keys in the car and Terry left.  We were not sure where he might have gone since his cell phone has not been working since all this happened with it getting ruined by moisture, we had no way to contact him.  Jeff thought he might be at Verizon getting a replacement, so I went to the one on 174 that he normally goes to, then scanned the WalMart parking lot, then to the other Verizon store...no black Honda Accord.  Believe me, my heart was praying: "Lord no, please no."  I dropped something off at Aunt Connie's, ran home to change clothes and get flip flops on, get the mail and pickup the Power of Attorney paperwork & hospital discharge paperwork and take it to Jeffs.  As I pulled into the driveway, I saw Terry's car...and yes, it was a relief!  I stopped in to talk to Lorrie & Elizabeth and while I was in there, Terry came over.  He said he had run to get cigarettes and more medicine, which he had to pay for because he was over his Medicaid allotment.  I don't know how the Medicaid program works, if he has a set dollar amount they allow vs if it was refill to soon I don't think they would allow him to purchase it.  We hung out on Jeff's couch for about an hour visiting, he called Uncle Tom from my cell phone, and then he was getting a bit tired and wanted to head home.  I asked him what his plans were and he said he was going to take one day at a time...I was glad to hear that from him because I have told him all along this 5month journey, all we have is one day at a time and its one step at a time that gets us in the direction we need to go, so this was good to hear.  Jeff & Mastin arrived home about 10minutes after Terry had headed back to his place.  I stayed another hour knitting on the couch with Elizabeth and Lorrie, and I finished the long 2year project I have been working on: baby blanket for Carter!

Quotes

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
~ Henry Ford