Relief from the heat

There are so many things I am thankful for today; I am most thankful for God's mercy that was bestowed on us.

I am thankful for:

• Ceiling fans over our beds that helped us sleep when the air conditioner went out.
• A wonderful husband who had already made plans to have a repair man come out the next day and to make appointments for the dogs so they had a cool place to stay during the heat of the day.
• Employment for my entire family that involved being in a cool building.
• Co-workers that put up with my periods of crabbiness due to a poor nights sleep.
  
• The opportunity to pray where ever I am.
• Children who did not complain about the heat in the house or taking the dogs to daycare. Were those my kids not complaining?
• We only needed to replace the blower motor and not the entire unit.
• Work was done by the time I got home with the dogs.

Speaking of the dogs, I am so impressed the Kenl Inn. My header picture shows the deluxe accommodations you can choose for your dog. Even though we have only used their services a couple of times I would recommend them to everyone, they really care about your pet.

Here is a picture of the puppies coming down the hall from daycare; the white one in her arms is TJ, the big black one is Jake, and Maddie is the little brown one. Maddie is also the alpha dog in the family.

The dog in the back was a new friend.


I tried to get a picture of the dogs with their new human friend but as you can see they weren't in the posing mood.

What were they looking at?






You even get a report card to let you know how their day was.


Thank you Kenl Inn for providing a cool place for my pets yesterday. I just wish you were closer to our house.

And most of all, I can't thank God enough for all his mercy and grace; our God is truly an awesome God.

Enduring

With the type of spring we have had this year I knew summer would just jump right in, yup that's Nebraska for you.

We've had storms and lots of rain, sorry for those of you who are in a drought and now the heat and humidity begins. Yesterday was 99 degrees with a heat index of about 110.

KJ and I worked the concession stand at Haymarket Park last night during the Salt Dogs game (The Salt Dogs are a semi-pro baseball team). This is a fundraiser to help pay for her cheer expenses.

Was it ever hot, at least we were out of the sun. They game seemed to take forever last night and we did not get out of the park until 11:00 p.m. at which point the temperature dropped down to a cool 88 degrees. All I could think of was a nice cool house and cold shower - not asking too much am I?

I must have been asking for the world - I walked into the house at 11:15 p.m. My husband is in the family room in front of fans and not dressed for bed yet, at this hour that is unheard of for him. I looked at him and all I could say is, "why is it so HOT in here?" Of which he answered, "guess.".

I am beyond hot and sweaty and the last thing I wanted to think about was no air conditioner with another 99 degree high heat index day foretasted for the next day-of which crazy me scheduled us to work at Haymarket Park again - what an idiot.

As I am sitting on the couch next to B and thinking, all four of us will be working in an air conditioned environments but the house will be too hot for the dogs. As if reading my mind B says, "I've already made appointments for the dogs to go to puppy daycare. " Isn't he just the best. I used to scoff at people who took their pets to puppy daycare (sorry hope I don't offend anyone). Guess I just wasn't raised that way. Well, it has saved my tush twice now so no more scoffing. All three dogs are off to Kenel Inn. At least I know they will stay cool too, what we pet owners won't do for our pets.

We have an after-hours appointment sometime tonight; it was that or wait until Friday. As I write this post I am praying for God's mercy that He will allow the air conditioner to be fixed tonight and not cost us an arm and a leg. However, we will enduring whatever He wants us to endure so do we have to do that with out complaining?

I pray for those who do not a choice and live where there is no air conditioning, we take it so much for granted.

Dear Lord,
I pray for those who are out in the heat by no choice of their own. Give them a place to escape the heat at least for a little while. If it be your will, show me how to help them. Amen.

California Sunset

After looking at KE's west coast beach pictures I found myself longing for the days of my youth. the carefree days of being on the beach - no worries. I could go to work on 2-3 hours of sleep and keep going through the following night. I didn't let things bother me, what happens-happens.

Where did that go?

When was the last time you REALLY took time to dance, to stop and smell the flowers, to just enjoy God's creation?

Ina over at Ina In Alaska posted a video from you tube a couple of days ago. What a cheery happy video. There are people dancing all over and having fun. I didn't recognize the song but the Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart through all of the dancing any merriment.

Today, most of us don't take the time to dance. We let the weight of life, the weight of the world pull us down. Worrying about paying the bills, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, goodness how will we every get it all done?

In Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

All God asks is that we keep His commandments, to worship him and to love one another.

1 John 5:3: for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

So why do we make life so much harder on ourselves by worrying? Turn it over to God. I know in some situations I have turned it over and taken it back several times. I find life goes a lot easier when I just turn it over to Him and let it be, but like the children we are we don't seem to learn the 1st time or the 2nd or 3rd....

So how do we truely turn "it" over to God. I am not expert by all means and I have failed several times at this attempt. I just start by saying "God "it's" yours, there's nothing I can do" and then let it be. But more times then not I take it back and start worrying and finding a solution for "it". When I realize I've just taken it back I start from the beginning, "God it's yours, there's is nothing I can do." Sometimes I will go through this process several times before I finally really let it go and let it "God" and stop worrying and except the outcome.

Give it to God - find contentment. We need to be living life to it's fullest, stop worrying and make everyday count. Take time to enjoy the many blessing of God.

Storms in the night

B's flight was scheduled in at 10:45 p.m. from the east coast. We were excited when we heard the storm passed over Chicago (usually where he gets held up), his flight will take off on time.

KE's flight from the west coast left on time with a lay over in Denver. Yea, no problems in Denver and she is scheduled in at 11:45 p.m. A little later then I would like to have to go to the airport, but had I know before what was going to happen I would have never frowned at that time.

Anxiously waiting for both to come home to fill the voids they left, I am watching television when those nasty beeps interrupt my show to tell me we are in a thunderstorm watch. It just a watch no big deal right - yes big deal.

The thunder and lightening start slowly but pick up intensity and I've decided to give up the television show and follow the Doppler radar, crap lots of yellows and reds heading right for us. I get a call from B, his flight is now sitting on the tarmac at an airport an hour away. The captain hasn't decided if they will wait it out or use ground transportation to get them home.

Then I get a text from KE, their flight pulled away from the gate, taxied around, and then pulled back into the gate, why you ask - yup you guessed it, the weather here and they didn't want to end up flying into the same airport B did. I love text messaging, through that mode of communication KE kept me updated.

Finally KE texts to let me know they are going to take off. Some where in there B calls and says they're going to refuel and take off, now both are in the air on their way home.

It's after 1:00 a.m. and B calls to let me know he's home and have I heard from KE. I hadn't so I had to assume she was in the air. He decided to leave the airport and we would go back and get her when her flight came in. I no more then ended my call with him when she texted "Here". I immediatley called B to let him know she was right behind him so he could bring her home.

I don't know how they both ended up coming in at the same time. It's not like the distance was the same. The pilot from must have really been flying from Denver (no pun intended). Or, was it a blessing from God?

God is always watching over us.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for bringing my family home safe and sound (and at the same time).
Amen.

Healthier You Challenge

I'm not sure when the last time was I checked in, my oldest daughter graduated on June 6th and everything seamed to revolved around that. But here I am, ready to start anew.

I weigh in on Saturdays, this week I gained 3.5 pounds.

With the stress of graduation I made a bad choice - I had stopped counting points but did try to make healthy choices (sometimes). I stopped exercising on a regular basis, not that I was on a real regular basis any how.

As I reflect on the last three weeks I realized I didn't plan for my health. Didn't make sure I had healthy food choices on hand. Didn't plan/schedule in regular exercise. If I don't take care of me who will?

No more excuses-plan of action:

• Plan my breakfast, lunch, and daytime snacks. I like to have dinner with my family so I will use portion control for that meal.
• I will exercise for at least 15-30 minutes a day realizing it doesn't have to be done all in one shot.
• Get back on the water wagon.
• Joined a summer challenge over at Get Fit After 40

So with that said - here's to a great week.

Sheryl