Sunday Shines

As I continue to sneeze, cough and wonder if my eyes can water and stay redder than my favorite lipstick. I didn't attend church today. Haven't missed a Sunday since August, when I'd watch services online. This was during the time I couldn't decide which church to attend. That time also made me realize I missed the experience of being in church, to fellowship as it were. That's a far cry from the days Sundays were made to recover from Saturdays and only brainwashed folks went to church. Guess call me 'brainwashed." Well, anyway for today, there was no way I was going. So I watched Pastor Rickie Rush, Inspiring of Body Christ Church, speak of fear, online from the comfort of my cluttered, cat filled home. How we let fear prevent us from so many things. Yea, once again, the sermon coulda had my name on it.

I've let fear stop me alot of times. In fact, I've let it stop me in recent times. -real recent. Jobs. Relationships. Weight Loss. Writing. Money. All of it. Fear the stuff enough, it eventually comes to pass. It's funny how you let things just stop you. When you have a gift and fear takes over. Satan loves that. Keeps notes on you. Yep, my name was stamped all over today's sermon. And yes, I did miss the experience of being there.

I cough, sneezed and continued to look at the hue of my eyes, as I fretted this happened over Christmas, when nothing was open. Didn't quite warrant ER service. I realized, I don't have a fever. I started to pop stuff when I felt something coming on. Of course, the 75 degrees, damp and humidity one day, and snow and below freezing the next helped. I remember, during my stay in the hospital, a nurse told me how rest the best thing you need to give your body. Could be worse. My mind still whirls with ideas. And I realize He wanted me to rest--for some reason. Fear decreased.

So as the Sunday still shines, I'll bask in these hours before Dallas Cowboys take on the dreaded and feared Washington Redskins by doing a bit of rest. I don't feel 100%, yet I'm not quite negative 10 either-just a bit tired-and new adventures need to be geared up for.

Stay tuned.

In 1996 December 22 was Sunday

Tomorrow is trash day. I hauled the stuff to the curb. This is one of those "I wish a man was close by" moments. Oh well, to today's entry:

Back in 1996, it was Dad's job to put the trash out by the curb. He would do it too, except during these late year moments, his health began to shift. It was a month before the amputation of his left leg, just below his knee. Diabetes. Dad wasn't feeling the best either, yet still had that forever cigar in his mouth. Plus his pride and joy---nope, not me--but the dog, Mr. Bojangles, was near by. Whenever I came home, that hound and I walked a million miles around town. Yep, even at Christmas time. The picture is from that Christmas.

Took a looksee in my 1996 diary. Just to see what else happened then. Just had to smile, because I thought I was SO in love! Indeedy. In fact, it was a classmate, I had a big ol crush on during junior high and some high school. Let's call him, Chi-town. He didn't have a clue until I told him at our 20th reunion. Which by the way, had a been a few months earlier, in July of 1996. OK--I gotta smile again.

My diary says, Chi-town had spent time with friends and family this December 22, evening and I'd watched the Cowboys lose to the Redskins, alas they were all ready in the playoffs and hadn't played the starters. I digress. Then Chi-town called me when all his company had left. Did I want to get some hot chocolate and go for a ride, he asked? Our rides usually consisted of going out to one end of our hometown, park the car at the Motel 8, and talk while we watched cars zip past on the highway. WOW-we both lived in big cities, and this is what we did. Anyway, I refused Chi-town's offer just because we had a date for the next day. This date which included a trip to to Des Moines, during a blizzard, with the windchill to single digits and a trip to an indoor ice rink. Chi-town tried to teach me how to ice skate. After some 6 yr old kid kept passing me, I gave up my dream of being Olympic gold medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi. Hmm. We took in dinner, movie and drove back home. The blizzard had eased, yet cold. Bitter cold. Kinda like my family and chums experience right now.

But ya know, it didn't matter back then. I was with Chi-town. He's the only man I ever looked at bridal magazines for. Told you, I thought was SO in love. And I was home. Right where I wanted to be.

Well, whatta ya know! Turns out I have a picture of me and Chi-town ,from the top of the Sears Tower, between pages of this 1996 diary. We look jovial. Gotta smile again. And I know you're wondering: what happened?

Well, that's another post.