I Don't Want to Miss the Mountain

Hello, World!

I had a VERY blessed day.

I decided to take a friend to church with me tonight to introduce her to my favorite Church family. But, I was so afraid I wasn't going to make much money today, since my foot was still injured.

I decided that God would provide, as He always does.

And, as a result, about 30 minutes before I stopped for the day, I still needed to make about half what I needed to reach my daily goal. I got a ride that paid half of that, and then a tip from them that paid all but about $10 of that, and then another ride after that that paid the rest.

THAT is GOD! ALWAYS right ON TIME!

I went and picked up my friend, who LOVED my church family and enjoyed the service, and even offered Brother Matthew some art work to use to help bring in funds for our new church building we are building. (I shrugged when he looked at me and I said, "I have 'unique' friends, what can I say?" and he said, "You sure do!")

I really needed that service, too. I don't want to miss the Mountain, and the blessings that await me for being there.

By the time I got home, my limp was nearly gone. Still some residual pain, but I can actually WALK!

Thank You, Jesus! Only YOU could have done that!

Relaxing and looking forward to tomorrow now.

Have a blessed night!

The Struggle is Real, Ya'll

Hello, World!

Today was not so good a day. I spent half the day updating my apps and taking care of glitches that were keeping me from being offered any deliveries or rides. By the time I got it taken care of, it was time to meet up with a friend for dinner at the Olive Garden.

Dinner was good, by the way. I got the Lasagna. The salad with Italian dressing and breadsticks were awesome, too.

Then, I went back to work to try to make up for what I didn't make earlier, only to be stuck with a Waitr order at Crackerbarrel that took over 30 minutes to get ready for me to deliver.

Didn't matter. After all my tips came in from yesterday on the Spark/Walmart delivery app, I ended up bringing home $92 today. Not bad for half a day's work.

Tomorrow I have to go to the doctor to follow up on my tests that came back saying I was healthy. There are a few things I need to discuss with her, anyway, now that I have insurance again.

Ya'll have a blessed day!

Lesson Learned

Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayer. It wasn't in the way that I hoped You would. But, I know that You only want what's best for me. And, now, I can focus on the little things again.

It's funny how when something big is in front of you, all of your goals become big, too. All of your expectations change. All of your personal boundaries change.

I have learned something valuable in all this. It is best not to think big. It is best to always put one foot in front of the other. It is best to always look forward and not back. It is best to walk alone with God, and let HIM decide who catches up with us, or who we meet along the way. Anything else is doing God's work for Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for the lesson. Help me use what I have learned wisely and effectively. I am only sorry that it took me so long to learn this.

And that's a wrap...

Have y'all not figured out yet that we have been invaded by people who are not sympathetic to America's best interest?

They have figured out a way to steal the election and we did nothing about it. Now they are taking over the internet and any communication lines in order to spy on us.

They have given control of our oil to overseas companies.

Pretty soon we will be the nice proletariat that they are eager to control. Any Rebellion will be put down quickly and everyone will be too scared to stand up again.

Mainly because it's easier not to allow something to happen then it is to fix it after it has. And no one wants to stand up and prevent it from happening.

Goodbye America. So long freedom.

Weaning Myself off Facebook

8:10 AM Facebook is an addiction that facilitates the illusion that more people care about what you have to say than they actually do.

It has it's uses, which is why I don't want to delete my account. But, it is not worth the time spent on it, which is why I am getting off of it.

Today I ended my work week with $688 from the gig economy. Not a bad living. That averages out to $17/hour if I worked a 40 hour week. I worked more than that...but it didn't feel like it.

I love my work.

Now Versus Then (How I spent my weekend)

I had a wonderful time today!

Last night, after doing Walmart/Spark deliveries all day, I went home, fixed a gallon of tea, grabbed my pole and fishing gear, and then decided that I would take Milo, too, to my parents' camp at Clear Springs and spend the night.

Otis wanted to go, and I think it hurt his feelings that I didn't take him, too, but I knew one babydog was all I could handle. And Milo was a handful!

We saw deer in the pasture on the way to the camp. Milo wanted to jump out the window of the car and chase them. I had to get on to him and make him lay down in the seat so I wouldn't wreck the vehicle.

We got to the camp and Milo had to water all the trees and find a place to do his "business". Then he wanted to explore. I kept threatening to go get my flyswatter if he didn't come back where I could see him. And, he made sure to bark a good hello to Paw Paw and MeeMaw (who kept calling him "she" and being corrected).

I found a place to tie him up and give him food and water so I could properly visit the parents and niece.

Milo and I later took a walk down to the swimming area. It was a long walk, so when we got back, he didn't fuss much about being tied up outside. He was tired. He didn't even bark all night.

As soon as daylight hit, though, we heard him barking. I figured he figured out that he had stayed outside all night long, which was something he NEVER does. But, when we looked out the door, there were about 5 deer standing across the road looking at him. He was talking to them. Loud. They didn't know what to think about HIM.

I threw out some corn and went inside to get ready for our fishing adventure. The deer made their way to the back of the camper as we sat and drank our coffee to wake up. We watched them out the window. They were brave. They kept one eye on Milo, though, just in case.

Then, we left Milo there to watch the camp for us while we went fishing.

I caught three catfish and one brim - barely keeper size. Between the four of us, we caught 25. Then we went back to the camp.

While my step-dad cleaned the fish, Milo and I went to the swimming area to jump into the water. The sign said, "No pets allowed, and there were people there, so I had to leave Milo tied up with the vehicle while I went swimming. There were others in the water, or I would have ignored the sign.

Then we went back to the camp to rest. My step-dad and niece fried the fish, and some shrimp and some french fries. We ate. Then I told mom I needed to go home. I still have work to do there. And, I have to work tomorrow. I might do it again next weekend, but I wouldn't be spending the night (that bed was UNCOMFORTABLE).

We came home.

Otis was happy to see us. I gave him a chicken treat and he guarded it (instead of eating it) like it was his "precious", and he warned Milo for 30 minutes not to touch it.

I took a much needed bath, then took out the trash and made some tea, and threw some clothes in the wash, and washed the dishes. Then I decided I needed to sit down and rest. So, here I am.

20 years ago today, I was woke up by the editor/owner of the Sierra Times, yelling at me to turn on the television.

I tried to calm him down as I complied.

"Surely it is just a horrible accident!"

About the time I said that, the second tower was hit.

"OH MY GOD! That is no accident!!"

I got off the phone and called my kids.

Seems like yesterday.

I pray to God we never see another one. I praise God for the 9/11 I had today.

Life is Short, So Learn to Live While You Still Can

3 years ago today I woke up after being asleep for 32 hours. I was drained, dehydrated, nauseated, and had a bad gall bladder infection. The next day I drove myself to the hospital because I knew I was not going to be able to function at work.

I knew I wasn't going to come home...but I had NO idea it was as bad as it was! The doctor informed me that if I had not driven myself to the emergency room when I did, I would have been dead in less than 24 hours.

I had a cyst on my liver. I had a blood clot in the blood vessel that connected my stomach to my heart. My gall bladder was so infected that it was abnormally shaped and swollen. I had a gallstone, LITERALLY the size of a sparrows egg, in there with lots of other gallstones.

I was that close to death, and yet, I still had the strength to make sure that my dogs were okay for the next few days, go by the store on the way to the hospital to get what I knew I would need for the stay, call my mom on the way and walk into the ER to tell them why I was there.

When I was in surgery, they couldn't do it laproscopically. They had to cut me open from the middle of my breasts all the way down to my belly button to fix what was wrong with me. I was in the hospital for nine days.

Just because someone isn't lying motionless or too weak to move much doesn't mean they are not dying. I learned that that day. It was ME.

I was literally DYING and had no idea. I just knew I was too sick to work, and if I am too sick to work, I needed to be in the ER.

It changed my life.

Today I LIVE. ABUNDANTLY. GRATEFULLY. ENJOYABLY.

Life is too short to cry over stupid stuff or allow stress to control my life or allow other people's bad behavior to rule my life. Life is too short not to smell the roses or experience new things every day.

Or be with the people you love. Make good memories together. Love each other.

Be content.

I'm alive because God gave me the strength to get help when I needed it, and blinded me to the fact that I was hours away from death.

New Week, New Outlook

I have a whole week to get ready for next month.

I'll be making $400 less, since the guys will be gone next month and rent money will not be coming in. So, I will be working more.

But, I think I have all my ducks in a row now.

There is so much I want to do and accomplish. But, it's all in God's hands. I'm just going to enjoy the time I am given and the direction God takes me.

Have a blessed day!

Speak, Lord, For Your Servant is Listening

One of the things I have noticed in my life and my walk with God, is that God tends to open doors when something is about to happen. It is His way of ushering in new events, eras, and turning around things that have happened in our lives.

He also has the power to shut doors and block paths, which He has done a few times in my life as well.

That is why I cannot help, at this point, but to wonder what is fixing to happen in my life now?

I found myself, on the drive home from picking up the food boxes at Flower Acres this morning, asking God, "Okay, what is fixing to happen? What is it that You are wanting me to do, or see, or accomplish while I am out there on the road this next month? You have just made it possible for me to leave the guys and not feel as if I am abandoning them by presenting the Trax opportunity for them. You have made us more independent of each others needs now. There has to be a reason."

I have learned to always look at opportunities as messages from God. Now, I am seeing it as a command to move forward for some reason that I have yet to ascertain!

I guess, the real question is, Lord, what is it that You are wanting from me? I, your servant, I'm listening!

Dogs, Drama and Fishing -- The Week of June 27-July 3, 2021

This week started out on June 27, Sunday, with a chihuaha trying to bite me as I was delivering Walmart groceries. No biggy. I was wearing loose clothing, so he didn't get the skin; but, it was still annoying.

I found out that a family member was in the hospital needing urgent prayers. The prayers worked, by the way. He is now home.

On Monday, my son was supposed to leave town but his ride didn't pan out. More drama at my home. And, I got a $20 tip.

On Tuesday, another dog tried to attack me as I was making a WAITr delivery. This time I REALLY got annoyed.

I wrote on my Facebook timeline:

"Dog just attacked me and tried to bite me. On Lake Drive. Third time in two weeks.

I'm going to say it one more time please keep your damn dogs chained up if you want me to deliver anything!

This is starting to get out of hand. And if it was any worse than it was I would have called the cops if for being annoyed!"

I took my son to see my dad. My dad gave him a guitar off his wall because he asked my dad to give him a guitar to carry with him on his travels. Dad didn't give him a good guitar, but he gave him one, and my son was proud of it. So much so that on Wednesday...

On Wednesday, my son and his girlfriend left. I had had enough of their drama and told them it was time for them to go. (There is a lot more to this, but I am not airing my dirty laundry on the internet). My son left behind his own guitar and a pair of skates, and a bag that liz had given them was found on my porch. The bag was empty.

Rules in my household:

No drunks.

No drugs.

No drama.

Everybody pitches in somehow to make it work. Everybody fends for themselves.

No one is a dependent.

I will protect what is mine furiously and with an iron fist.

I will be respected in my own home.

I do not bend the rules even for my own family -- ESPECIALLY for my own family.

I do not ask of anyone else what I am unwilling to do for myself.

And I refuse to enable bad behavior.

On Thursday, I took Fred to make some appointments and get his food stamp paperwork started. I have to take him to another appointment on the 7th.

On my way to taking Fred to make an appointment for his healthcare financial help, I was trying to convince Fred not to be complacent when it comes to wearing his mask.

He said, "I have a good immune system. My skin heals quick when it gets a cut."

"Not the same thing. Besides, you are trying to tell me that after you just had a stroke, can't hardly get around, are nearly 60 years old and have been smoking for as long as you can remember that if a lung-eater virus gets ahold of you, your body can fight it off? This virus has already killed a member of my family. There are people who are 28 on oxygen with double pneumonia 2 days after being diagnosed in the hospital who are barely making it through and you are telling me you can fight this? I don't think you would come out of it alive if it got you.

Plus, there is a new strain that is much MORE contagious and acts more aggressive than the original that is out now and you say you can fight it? I don't think so. I think you need to be careful, Fred!"

He went and got a mask.

I told him, "I am just thankful it was TRUMP who was in office when this crap broke out. We'd ALL still be wearing masks and waiting forever for a vaccine and the country would be imprisoned at home in a third world country by now if it had been Biden!"

By Friday, I started making plans. I have the urge to just run away and travel. But, I am stuck here because of people who need me who aren't even my responsibility. I have decided not to let it stop me.

When I woke up Friday morning, I remembered one time in English/Lit in school where the class had to watch a reel about this girl who was being home-schooled and how she was reading all of her books on a computer screen. It was a sci-fi story about the future.

I remember thinking, "I doubt I'll see that in MY lifetime, though."

Back then, the internet didn't even seem possible.

Now, our kids are doing that on a daily basis. WE even do that.

Also on Friday, I contacted the H&R Block office to find out why I have not received my Income Tax Refund. I was told that the IRS is being especially slow this year, and it could take up to 20 weeks. I told them I have not received it by September, I would call back.

I purchased Fallout: Tactics video game for the PC...but I am not sure I like it.

My refrigerator is going out. I need a new one.

Today I am loading my car to get ready to travel.

I am also going to go fishing today.

I will not be doing any spark deliveries or Uber/Lyft ridesharing for about 2 months.

I'll be taking a 10 hour trip. Which mean it may take me 5 days to get there (working my way up so I don't miss bills....LOL) I'll get to work in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It is going to be fun!

On the way back I'll work in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

By the time I get to Shreveport, I'll probably be running straight home. LOL

I'll be working Uber Eats, Door Dash and Waitr.

I have to be back here by August 2.

Might stop briefly to visit with my cousin and my Uncle on the way.

I will come back home to rest some by August 2, (Fred has a doctor's appointment and I am their only means of transportation at this point).

Then I plan to go to Oregon.

To my family and friends that I will be visiting: My finances are tight, so I apologize that I will not be able to take you to dinner, but am looking forward to the short visit!

I am loading my car with baby bed mattress, pillows, blankets and sheets, Fishing gear, tent, suitcase with a weeks worth of clothes and towels and toiletries, my computer and a small igloo ice chest for tea. And, of course, everything I carry with me every day. If I didn't HAVE to come home, I might not.

My dogs will be well cared for. And all my bills can be paid online. Except my lot rent. I'll be back before that is due.

I went fishing and broke my rod and reel. I climbed up the hill and made the trail back to my car to get my cane pole, but I couldn't get the line out far enough to reach the fish, so I gave up. After nearly three hours, I climbed the bank and went back home -- hot and worn out. I stopped by my mom's and left my rod and reel so that maybe my step-dad could fix it for me.

I am resting the rest of the day.