Monday January 25 2016  A LONG DAY

I love long days.  It makes it seem like I had the opportunity to live a long time.  Sometimes by nightfall, the morning actually seems like yesterday.  If a day can be packed, we know how to do it extremely well.  Usually without intent.   It just seems everything takes longer than it used to.  Perhaps it does, due to the fact that it may take us longer to get it done.  I notice it is a lot more fun when we don’t rush, like I said yesterday, and I just enjoy stopping to “smell the roses” so to speak (in January in WISCONSIN).  In other words, I enjoy talking and shooting the breeze with anyone who wants company.  I just find people so fascinating and interesting.  The older I become, more and more things become more and more interesting.  I guess I am either curious or nosy.  But, it makes for an interesting life.

Today started out sunny and clear and cold.  It ended with snow, icy roads and A MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURE!  It was so icy that Dave slid right past the road we were supposed to turn on to take us into the area where we live.  Our area is quite hilly in some places and we were coming down a steep hill.  He put the right turn blinker on quite early to signal his intent.  The car following behind us kept a considerable distance, which was a good thing.  As we slipped by the turn Dave said, “Well I guess I won’t be turning here”.  We went down to the next stop sign and had better luck since it was on flat ground.  We were very close to home and very thankful for that.  Icy, slick roads are not fun to drive on.  We cancelled our evening out.

Now it is almost bedtime and I again have an early departure scheduled for morning.  However, it will depend upon the roads if I go out.  After a snow storm the plows are usually out most of the night and the roads are passable in the morning after being plowed and salted.  Unless it is an emergency I will cancel appointments if the roads are dangerous.  My first appointment tomorrow is at the gym at 7:45 a.m. and then I plan to leave from there for a 10:30 a.m. haircut.  I have an appointment every four weeks to keep my hair short enough for my liking.  I have no desire, and no time to spend on primping in front of a mirror to “make” a hairstyle.  Wash and wear is my motto. 

When appointments are necessary it seems they come in waves.  This is appointment week! 

 

ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

By Kathleen Martens

January 25, 2016

 

Appointments come, appointments go,

And it seems they are so slow.

Things to do that must be done,

And most of them are not fun.

 

I would much rather stay at home,

And I never mind being alone.

But my hair becomes quite shaggy

Without the gym my arms are saggy.

 

My physical comes but once a year

But my hubby who is so dear

Must go twice as many times as me

So of course I must oversee!

 

And then there is the worst of all

When I must on the dentist call.

So twice a year I trudge on down

And must go all the way to town.

 

And then the mammogram’s a must,

So my chest I can thrust

And be squeezed almost to death,

That I can barely catch my breath.

 

And oh I mustn’t forget my feet!

My trusty friends who pavement meet.

And then I am referred to another

For custom orthopedics like no other. 

 

And then my eyes I must tend

Because they are my very best friends.

And I have my cataracts checked,

And complain about all my specks.

 

But those floaters keep floating by

Though the doctor cannot spy.

Another appointment to buy new glasses

Which will hide my “beautiful” lashes.

 

Then the pharmacy sends emails.

Pick up my prescriptions I must not fail!

And into town again I drive

Where 6,000 persons now there thrive.

 

So the traffic isn’t too bad!

But going so many places makes me sad.

I would rather not leave my house,

Where it’s just me and my spouse!

 

But to the grocer’s I must attend,

And with crowds I must fend.

I stock my larder twice a week,

Because some things just won’t keep.

 

Another day a Costco trip,

Just another calendar blip.

Where I stock up on sundry things,

And into the house I must bring

 

And then there’s taxes to comply,

And that date is coming nigh.

Once a year is enough of that!

To make the government nice and fat!!!

 

And then I must remember my range,

Every 5,000 miles an oil change.

My little Soul needs loving care,

So to the dealer, I take her there.

 

And these appointments are but of few

Of all the rest left to do.

The unexpected that rear their head,

And probably will until I am dead.

 

And the appointments written about in my poem don’t even include those caused by our water-loss.  And what makes it worse is that they are here at the house and we must live our lives around those appointments!

Before I think of another appointment I think I’ll go to bed.

Good night and God bless you!

 

Part 8:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will for Your Life

8) Take a look at your circumstances.

God often clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways. And He also shows us what His will is NOT for us to do in that same way. It is not His will for you to take the job that is not offered to you. If you are 5’ 6” tall and weigh 125 lbs., it is not likely that God has created you to play professional football.

Over the years, I have discovered that God is pretty good at opening and closing doors. He even did that for the Apostle Paul and his entourage in Acts. Take a look at this passage:

Acts 16:6-10

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So, even Paul had to face closed doors in his ministry. God often uses closed doors to show us clearly what He does NOT want us to do. And He also uses open doors at times to show us what He DOES want us to do. Of course, this does not mean that every open door is definitely God’s plan, but it does help to give you some basic direction.

A Closing Thought:

The next time you begin to ponder God’s plan for your life, I would encourage you to mull over the above eight keys. Use these principles to help you to hone in on His plan. And when you seek His will earnestly, you will find it!

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html