Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Advent Hunt & Musing

Mike and the kids went ahead with the Advent devotional and hunt while I soaked in a HOT tub. ::snort::

Tonight's Clue: Here's a Hent about Cortez. Hmmm...gotta know we collect G. A. Henty, so that may not be a spelling error. Yep, the gift was behind, "By Right of Conquest" by G. A. Henty. Good find, Arielle.

I am so blessed here. I'm not sure WHY I've been blessed with really good friendships so quickly. I ALWAYS pray for friends. I ALWAYS end up with at least one life-long friend from each assignment....but this is a strange season. I had prayed for the past 7 years for more margin, more time for friendships and relationships....and here I am. I'm busy. I'm happy. God's moved me into a season that certainly carries a lot of responsibility, though some days are busy, most days are less busy than I've been for the past many years. I'm NOT running two food co-ops, I'm not running a local PWOC.... He's provided quick friends.....friendships that feel much deeper than they should this quickly. Today, I ended up with several meetings, drama for Arielle and a doc visit. I had TWO friends both willing to watch Stacia as needed - and both friends I FELT COMFORTABLE leaving Stacia with. That's amazing. In fact, I called one in the middle of the day because I wasn't sure of the next step on my schedule. Where was I supposed to meet her? ::snort:: At the end of the long day I went out with another friend for a bowl of ramen and to soak at the Onsen.....and the fellowship was sweet....and I believe refreshing for both of us. SO....here I am in a busy season of life feeling quite refreshed, blessed, and at ease.

The doc....I finally found one who agrees with me. ::snort:: It took 3 doctors but hey....he agreed. He's a Christian. He's the chief of medical staff here.....and he said that I can come off Zocor. He said at my age, with my risk factors, I have a 4% chance of a heart attack in the next 10 years. ON the Zocor I have a 3% risk. He agreed that if it were his wife, given our specific factors, he wouldn't want her on the drug. He was concerned that my blood pressure was 145/94. OBVIOUSLY, working out was doing something for me. I wasn't losing weight at a rapid pace...but it DID keep my blood pressure way, way lower. SO.....I'm to get back into my typical lifestyle, figure out how to workout "aerobically 45 min most days of the week," go off the meds...and see him again in 3 months. I pushed for 6. We agreed on 3. He said there is a new test out that helps to measure the family risk factor. I don't really understand it, it's a blood test and gives them a "reasonable guess" as to if you've started heart disease and how long you may have until a major incident. He says its best to have the test without the Zocor as it can mask the results....so he's willing to let me go off, take that test, retest my numbers and then visit again.

Diabetes: My thyroid disease, gestational diabetes, family history and elevated cholesterol all put me at "high risk" for diabetes. They ran the big dog test and my blood sugars are great. He said to keep in mind that I'm at high risk and make lifestyle changes now....but that I can still have my treats from time to time.....my sugars average 81....that's GREAT. Now family can quit worrying. I'm taking care of myself.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

How EARLY it Starts

We don't have television in our home. We don't focus on external beauty. Where does this come from and why does it start so early?

Doing Stacia's hair this a.m.

Stacia: Mom, do you think Ricky will think my hair is pretty.

Mom: I'm sure he will, but isn't it enough for Daddy and your brothers to think you are pretty?

Stacia: I don't know if they think I'm pretty.

Mom: Let's ask...of course they do and have told her that....

I maintain that deep within every girls heart is the desire to be the princess, to be loved, to be cherished and special and pretty....because we can't blame this one on the media.

It sort of saddened me...but then it made me all the more determined to be sure the girls know how much their brothers and father admire them, how much we admire their internal qualities, how very beautiful they are in our eyes.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sicko

Conversation at our home:

Zander: Where are you going now?

Mom: The Onsen.

Zander: What's that?

Mom: Japanese Public Bath.

Zander: You mean everyone is naked?

Mom: Yes.

Zander: You're going to get naked with them?

Mom: Laughing, yes.

Zander: Sickos

Yes, I am and at the end of this very, very long and busy day, I'm totally looking forward to it. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...