(There may be some typos in this, I'm so tired and need to go to bed! I'll re-read in the am and fix all of them then! I do hope this encourages you though and would love to hear your thoughts)
All I have to say is wow to this last week. It has been one wild ride on the Cotterill homestead, to say the least. First, our oldest got to move back home with us, so there were lots of changes to be made in who was going to sleep where and how. All of the kids seem to be adjusting alright to all of that and Lacey is doing great! She loves the military, and is very excited about her future. We are so proud of her!
Next came the car accident a couple of days ago. Joe was in a collision on Highway 522, and unfortunately it will be considered his fault due to it being a rear-ender. They were both in the passing lane (left lane), and the guy in front of him decided he wanted to make a phone call and turned on his left turn signal. There was no shoulder to pull onto, so Joe thought he probably hit the wrong way and meant to go back into the right lane. Then all of a sudden the guy slams on his brakes, and decides to stop while still in the passing lane. It was wet and rainy out -- you can guess the rest of the story.
Two days after that (yesterday), I got the opportunity to work for my old boss for about 5 hours, which I was very grateful for now with all these expenses growing and mounting. I had just got off work, and was getting my hair cut when TJ (our oldest son) called and said he'd thrown up about 15 times. I told him to get fluids, and I'd be home asap. Long story short, we ended up at the ER and he had an emergency appendectomy! It was crazy and scary at times, but I knew the Lord was with us.
So during my quiet time with the Lord this am, He led me to several verses that I'd like to share:
Psalms 117:1-2 "Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord."
During all of this, I kept thinking "what is going on? Why is all of this happening? Am I, or are we, doing something wrong?" The Lord then took me to the book of Job. During Job's trials, which were excruciating, Job states at Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face." Job stated this after he'd lost his children and much more. Job continued to praise the Lord IN SPITE of everything that was happening.
The Lord then took me to Job 14:5 "Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." This just reminded me that God is in total control, even if it doesn't seem like it. He knows everything, and He knows when our time is up. He knows the beginning from the end!
Then after I was reading how Job's friends spoke to Job. It really wasn't comforting or something he needed ON TOP of everything he was going through. Job needed his friends just to shut up and listen. Job's friends had no idea what was really going on behind the scenes. After hearing speeches from two of his "friends" -- Job says to them in Job 16:4-5 "I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make find speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips." When I read that I realized that Job had already forgiven his friends for their behavior towards him, but it also reminded me that when I come across someone going through a trial to refrain from long speeches or insights into what I think that the Lord must be doing, and just shut my mouth unless my mouth is used to encourage them and comfort them from my lips.
James says in James 3:7-12 "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man; but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been and in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
My study bible states "James emphasizes our inclination to sin in our speaking. Sins of speech include harsh and unkind words, lying, exaggeration, teaching fale doctrine, salnder, gossiping and boasting. Mature believers keep their tongues under control by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, taking "captive ever thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor.10:5). Because of the tendency to sin with the tongue, James exhorts every person to "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (1:19)
So, what I'm saying here is that when we go through trials or see others going through trials, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes -- what the Lord is allowing in our lives, or why. We should continue to praise the Lord if we're the one going through the trial. And if it is someone else going through the trial, we should do as Job would have, which was to encourage them and comfort them. Next time you come across someone in a trial, rather than going to advice you think they need, try just being that ear to listen, the mouth to encourage, and the arms to comfort. God bless you today and always.
I took time to make a cake this morning using one of the new kits we received yesterday. This is one of the kits for Princess Tiana. Our store is in a culturally diverse area, so it will be interesting to see how well these kits sell.
I usually try to avoid doing cakes in whipped icing, especially chocolate whipped. This order called for lots of flowers. I didn't leave too much open space!
Here's a close-up of the border of flowers.
I thought we had most of the Friday cakes done when I went home yesterday, but I spent most of the day today working on cakes for today. I only had time to make two cakes for tomorrow. We really needed a third person doing cakes today.
I left work an hour early today because I had already worked four days this week. I got home before the sun went down for the first time in ages!
I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner. I hit hubby's with the blender. Worked great. Much healthier than the creamy soups I have been making. This whole soft food diet is going to take some getting used to.
I go to work late tomorrow and Sunday. I'll have to try to get something else made before I leave in the morning. I baked a custard pie tonight while the soup was cooking.
We will have lots of deer hunters here tomorrow. May not be able to get to the computer!
I'm so excited! It's going to be here on the 17th - in all it's
Blu-Ray goodness :) I'm so excited!!!!
I worked today, so no time for pictures. I did make a unique cake this afternoon, but I had forgotten to take my camera with me today. I'll have to make another one tomorrow. We received three new kits in today for new Disney designs. I'll have to try them out to see if I like them or not. One of them is iCarly which we have gotten several requests for.
No real news on the medical front, but it looks like my hubby is leaning toward keeping the quality of life that he has now and taking a chance on living for at least a few more years. He read a lot of information today that our daughter had given him, and all of it regarding the operation was depressing.
Since I didn't take any photos today, I decided to go back to this time last year and see what I was doing. In addition to making pot holders and table runners, I was still outside taking pictures. This is an edited version of a spider's egg sack. Last year I took lots of pictures of spiders and praying mantis, but I hardly saw any of them this year.
It's in to work early again tomorrow morning, so I'd best get myself off to bed. 5:30 comes early for me. There should be three of us, but I think someone is going to have to help the donut people, so that will slow us down. We made most of the Friday cakes today, so we should be able to make a big dent in the Saturday orders tomorrow. I'll still try to get a couple of pictures. Toodles!
There are many fish in the sea.
I'm not one to believe in "soul mates" - meaning there is only one person in the entire world that will understand me and love me.
Life goes on.
I'm also not one to believe in tongue a sore tooth. I understand that it takes time to grieve but it shouldn't be a lifetime.
Remember your friends & family.
Your friends & family will always be there for you. ALWAYS. That's why I think it's so important to have strong friendships OUTSIDE of a relationship. There's and Angels & Airwaves song that says it best, "your best friend is not your girl friend" - or at least it shouldn't be your ONLY best friend.
Its better to face the truth, then to live in a lie.
Be glad you pulled off the band-aid and made the hard decision - even if you weren't the one to do it. If either of you were unhappy enough to want to break up then be glad you did.
I'm assuming that this
is any "hue" of any color - and I'd choose GREEN. I
think green looks best on me, even though most would assume blue given
my blue eyes.
I already have my dream
vanity license plate :) My car is red, and I wanted something having
to do with Spiderman and I was able to pull out enough of the vowels
and still make it legible so SCORE! Its a dull purpose plate actually,
because people who don't realize it's Spiderman assume it has
to do with the web and I'm a big techie so it all works out
:D
I
might be starting something with this entry but I felt I had to post
this in a larger venue. I received a response last night from a plea I
wrote last year about educating girls in Afghanistan. You can read that
post here.
Here is the response
Anonymous said...
So we should educate them so that they come to have the same western thinking and values we do? literacy is the mark of civilisation. These people have lived for thousands of years without literacy.What then after they have built rows of schools,then rows of malls, then rows of mcmansions?
Here is my reply....
Dear Anonymous,
I don't usually comment on things like this but your response prompted me to reply. Who said anything about Western thinking and values? Maybe if those values mean equal worth of women to men, yes.
Education = good health, tolerance, long life, greater understanding, ability to learn more to help others and yourself.
Afghanistan is ranked number 2 in the mortality of children under 5 years of age. As of 2005, 25% of children in Afghanistan will not reach their 5th birthday. Only Sierra Leone is worse. "Living for thousands of years without literacy" has helped create this situation. Knowledge saves lives.
The life expectancy today in Afghanistan is 44 years. In 1970 it was 35, education and knowledge are responsible for the lowered death rates. Vaccinations started also. Without education, how do programs like this get off the ground?
Only 29% of women in Afghanistan are literate. They are the caregivers and raise the children. They need to be filled with knowledge on how to make their lives and those of their families healthier. 40% of children under 5 are underweight and over half of the children in Afghanistan, 54% suffer from permanent stunted growth!!
As of 2005 the maternal mortality rate is 1 in 8. Out of every 8 pregnancies, one will result in death. Education and knowledge will go a long way to alleviating these statistics.
Broad education can only help, it does not harm.
Do you want to deny these people a chance at an extra 30 years of life? Children their mothers? Mothers their children?
I am sorry, but I disagree with you on the value of educating women and people in general.
I am not a fan of giant malls and mcmansions, I live simply, but I do believe that with knowledge, people are equipped to make better choices and can understand the consequences of those choices. People with literacy know how to find information about the things they are not sure of and can act accordingly. It is a great equalizer.
If people want malls and mcmansions so be it. Who are we to say no? Better malls and mcmansions than poverty, illness, ignorance and death. Creating buildings like these is a choice.
You have a computer, you have internet, you can read, you are educated. Would you prefer sickness, early death and a life with no words? Reading can bring comfort.It doesn't have to mean 'Western", What about the hundreds of Persian authors and the literature they have created over two and a half millennia? Jelaluddin Rumi, one of the greatest poets ever alive was born in Afghanistan.
I believe education is a gift that continues to give long after it has been received.
"All religions are in substance one and the same.
In the adorations and benedictions of righteous men
The praises of all the prophets are kneaded together.
All their praises are mingled into one stream,
All the vessels are emptied into one ewer.
Because He that is praised is, in fact, only One,
In this respect all religions are only one religion.
Because all praises are directed towards God's light,
Their various forms and figures are borrowed from it.
Men never address praises but to One deemed worthy,"
- Jelaluddin Rumi, Masnavi I Ma'navi/Book III, story 12
No time for photographs today. This is my leaves in the bird bath from last week with a couple of filters applied. It makes it look like an abstract painting.
I went to the city with my hubby today. I watched the grandkids so our daughter who is a doctor could go with her dad to his doctor's appointment with his surgeon. They didn't get good news. He has had esophageal achalasia for more than 20 years. At it's basic level, it means that the lower esophageal sphincter (muscle) fails to relax and allow food to pass into the stomach in response to swallowing. He has had various proceedures over the years, but now his choices are down to just two: an espophagectomy (removal of the esophagus) or just living like he is now and waiting to see what will happen. Both have disadvantages and no advantages. If he does nothing, he risks cancer or a complete blockage and emergency surgery on an older and weaker body. If he opts for the surgery, there are all the complications from the proceedure itself, then a complete change in lifestyle. There are no good choices.
If I were in his shoes, I think I would opt to keep living with the quality of life that I have until something changes. He is getting along pretty good right now. He has more energy. He has gained a couple of pounds. He is sleeping good a night. So far, the food that I have been fixing has been really good. The only down side for me is that it is more time consuming. I make almost everything from scratch. I will try to share some of my ideas and recipes as we go along.
Being gone all day wears me out. And I have to get up early in the morning. I need to put some stuff away before I go to bed tonight, too. Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern for us. It won't be an easy decision for him to make. I'll keep you posted.
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