"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Thought I would share on this Leap Year Day:

Hot baths on cold winter days
3 day weekends
Smoothies
Daughters that have to call you when they are so excited because they are going to make puff wheat squares and just had to share that with you.
Good friends
Cute babies
Haircuts
Good nights sleep
Sleeping in
God
Good books
Time to read good books
Walks home listening to good music

So what are some of your favorite things?

Thoughts on my bible reading:

Read Nehemiah - one of the things that stood out was the section where the wall was finished - chapter 8 "They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord commanded for Israel... He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square...and as he opened it, the people all stood up."

First they went to their "priest" and ask him to read scripture to them, then they listened for hours...while standing! That amazes me and had me thinking how I've never heard of that happening here but then I thought the bible is one of the most sold books, everyone has access to it, can read it anytime and in those days this was not the case - they needed to have someone read it to them. Did that make them more willing, more excited, more grateful when they did have the opportuntity to hear His word that they would stand for hours listening, while here the Bible is in every house practically and we struggle to find time to read it. Makes me shake my head at myself.

Reading Leviticus and all the offering regulations. First thought - how boring reading all this but as I was walking home today I got thinking about how we are not to go in front of Him empty handed. I've often thought what do I bring to Him when I pray. That thought plus Leviticus got me thinking that maybe all these regulations was a teaching tool - physical sacrifices to remind us not to go to him empty handed- as preparation for Christ new covenant. Now instead of physical sacrifices of cows/lambs our offering, our sacrifice is our heart? our life?

Thank you Lord for this weekend with Kristie, thank you for another week of mostly symptom free and for those days of no headaches. Thank you for the nice weather, for a wam bed, hot water, a good husband, and a good life. Help me to appreicate what I have, to hunger more for your word and to be more appreciative of having easy access to it.

What? Speak Louder I can't Hear You...

Well I went to see the specialist today...I'm sure he is good but he was way to rushed. "Whats the problem? Sounds like you have Meniere's Disease. Here's a paper that tells you all about it. Take Gravol when it's bad, here's a prescription for the dizziness, cut out sodium, cafeine, alcohol...see you in 6 months." Maybe he didn't say much because he thought I couldn't hear him anyway?

Ménière's Disease - The Uninvited Guest

Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance. It is characterized by episodes of dizziness and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is caused by an increase in volume and pressure of the endolymph of the inner ear. Research has shown that the dysfunction in Meniere's Disease is due to a minute (1/25 of a drop) amount of excess fluid in the inner ear. It is named after the French physician Prosper Meniere who first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders in an article published in 1861.

From the paper he gave me..."The symptoms appear at adulthood, usually last many years, and then the symptoms usually burn themselves out by elderly age." So I have one thing to look forward to in my old age.

"Hearing loass my be temporary or permanent" I basically have a 50-50 chance with that one. There are some pro's to permanent...I'd have a good reason not to hear the things I don't want to hear...

I'm definetely on a low sodium diet, no caffeine (goodbye chocolate), no alcohol and "since stress and psychological issues can severly exacerbate your symptoms: take common sense measures in this regard." So I'm hoping that the outcome of this is a greater sense of me relying on God, not letting things that are not "eternal issues" bother me, to let go, be happy and quit being a complusive fusser! Wish me luck or pray for me - which ever you prefer.

All about Sarah:

Saturday night I get called to come talk to Sarah in her room... I open the door to a completely clean room (been awhile since I've seen that), furtniture rearranged (love the new set up), and fish tank all set up for new pet, a big sign hanging from her lights asking please can we buy a hamster they are only $11.93. Her friend and her are sitting on the bed, looking all innocent and eager with a ton of reason why Sarah should get a hamster. Whats a mother to say? By the way - Marshmallow was only $6.96...

And here's a pic to prove that she has shoveled the snow at least once in her teenage life:

Thank you Lord for my daughter, thank you for reminding me that she still is a kid at heart, for her smile, her love of animals, her laughter. Please keep her safe, guide her, protect her.

Bathrooms...

The story begins a few days after Christmas when Murray went to unplug the clogged sink in the main bathroom. He announced that the bottom of the sink was rusting and so were the pipes so we should replace. Heather looks at the bathroom, walk back to the kitchen..."Can we get a new vanity then since the door is falling off." Sure was the answer. Heather walks back to the bathroom look at the toilet, walk back the kitchen. "Can we get a new toilet since the sink and bathtub will be white and the toilet is yellow with a green lid?" Sure was the answer.

A few days later Murray begins the demo - next time Heather checks the demolitation area the only thing left in the room is the bathtub and surround. His demo included the floor - including the sub floor. He spends a few days putting down a new subfloor and gyprocing (spelling?) while Heather Home Depot shops. Several Home Depot trips and a few other stores and a few weeks later, the final look is this:

Heather is very very happy....

She leaves one day to go see a movie with a friend and leaves her husband and brother in law to nail the baseboards and moulding....

She comes home, goes to her 1/2 bath off the bedroom...to discover it nows has no sink, no counter, no vanity and huge hole in the wall. She walks back to the living room, "Got a story to tell?" Well...

Murray accidentially put a nail through the water pipe and the only way to get at it besides ripping apart the newly renovated bathroom was via the 1/2 bath. What does one do in a situation like that? Laugh.

This is how the 1/2 bath now looks.

So the myth that renovations never quite finish once you start may well be true because...

I'm looking at the bedroom trying to decide what color to paint it .

Hey, if I have to paint the 1/2 bath, I'll need to paint the bedroom too right?