Tuesday

Yes, that's it, I couldn't think of an appropriate name for this post as I am just feeling brainless today.

Oh, but I wish I had been able to get a shot of the sunrise this morning. I'm not usually up to see the sunrise, but my MIL had cataract surgery this morning, and I was on my way to the eye surgery center. The sun wasn't even quite over the trees, so I only got a glimpse of this huge, fire red ball that made the entire sky around it glow. It was breathtaking. I wanted to pull over to get a picture, but of course, I was running late and decided not to keep anyone waiting.

MIL did great! She got the new lens that makes you see like you're young again.....when she came out, although she was very groggy, she could read the tag on my car! I was impressed.

O.K. so I'm supposed to be learning some techniques for controlling the anxiety when I have a panic attack. Which should also work to control stress. I'm such a skeptic!

1. Breathing....well, that's never been that easy for me! Slow, deep breaths, in through your nose, out through you mouth. 5 seconds each way. For 4 minutes total. I'm trying....but obviously I don't do it right because I start to hyperventilate. That'll stop a panic attack...you just pass out!

2. Journaling....I wonder if the blog counts? Journal every thing, every day so you learn what triggers the panic. These are the things I think are the main triggers, my children the dentist and getting stuck on a ride at D*sn*y W*rld.

There are a few other things, but of course I can't remember them so I'll just concentrate on those two this week.

Oh, yes, I have to think of 9 things to do when I start to have that feeling and I know a panic attack is coming right behind.....it's not like I have a lot of actual, full blown panic attacks....just two in the past long, long time...so 9 things?

1. Think about scripture

2. Go for a walk.

3. Oh, I'm sure journal since then I'll know what triggered the attack.

4. Bake (cookies, cakes, pies....because it doesn't stress me to gain weight)

5. Clean ......I don't like that one so I'm striking it off the list.

6. Call my husband. It really does calm me to hear his voice even though he says "Get over it."

Side note: My husband minored in Psychology. Good thing it's not his job.

7.

8.

I can't think of anymore except the one I usually really do.....

9. Go to M*v*e G*ll*ry and rent a movie, watch it in my bed.

I'm no psychologist, but I've figured the last one out! I think about the movie and NOT what I'm stressed about.

Now just in case you're thinking that I'm always in the bed watching movies......I'm not.

Oh, yes, and I'm reading a book called Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend. I'll let you know how that goes.

My sister says just get a brown paper bag and breathe into it and you'll be o.k. Maybe that could be on my list!

On a bright note, it is a beautiful day here. I'm not sick with the crud and a LOT of people around here are, and we start back to our Tuesday nite Bible study tonight.

Happy birthday!

September is a month of birthdays .
Today is Mary Grace's birthday! As
with her sister, I'll leave it to her to
tell her age. Although at their
ages, birthdays are not yet the
forerunners of old age! :)

Mary Grace only lives about two hours
from my home, so she's coming to
spend her birthday with us today!
We are very excited!!!

This is a picture of Mary Grace and Mikey in their home. They are
expecting a BABY at Christmas!

Well, I better go do a little getting
ready for my special birthday
company!

Happy Birthday Mary Grace, you are another light in my life!

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is Katie's birthday! I'll just let
her tell you her age if she wants!
I'll just tell you that a really
wonderful young woman is
celebrating her birthday far
from home today!

She's spent her first two weeks away
from home, making a new home! As a Navy wife, she'll now be going wherever Uncle Sam
sends her husband. We sure do miss
her though!

Have a very happy birthday! You
are a light in my life. I love you.

Today's the day.

UPDATE! I'm all done! Thanks for the prayers....I did o.k. Now, it wasn't great, and I hope I don't have to do it again soon, but I made it and I'm thankful! My sweet husband prayed for me before we left home and stayed in the waiting room until I was through, then brought me home.

I am so thankful for my husband, and for all my praying friends!

As you may, or may not, remember from this post, I have a major problem at the dentist office. MAJOR...Anyhow today is the second appointment for this *&%$@# root canal.

Yesterday, the phone rang and when I looked at caller I.D. which is not always a blessing, it was his name....the dreaded dentist! Reminding me, as if I could forget, that today is my appointment.

I told the receptionist that they might want to clear out the lobby while I was there so that the other patients don't get scared away.

Now this time, the dentist wisely (I hope) provided me with the same medication they give children. In order to take that medication, my husband has to leave a meeting early, come get me and stay with me while I'm there being tortured. My husband is the greatest and really, as my friend calls him, the super hero, but he is a little irritated that I am such a huge baby not able to handle this by myself.

As I explained in the other dentist post, I'm not afraid of the actual procedure...nor the needles.....no it is so much deeper than that, as in buried deep in my demented mind. I am extremely claustrophobic and can't stand anything being in my mouth in such a way that I can't close my mouth. I know that's weird, did I ever say I'm not weird!? My throat begins to close and I have to start clearing my throat, I can't swallow, Oh, or breathe, just in case I forgot to mention that.

Now I have tried to just be a big girl and go in there unarmed and have any procedure done. O.K. I can have my teeth cleaned with no problem. Maybe just a little problem. It just doesn't work. I've prayed through the procedure, which does help. I've tried to put myself in some other place in my mind....like floating on a float in the water, or laying on the beach. Unfortunately, it doesn't work, because I'm too smart to believe the lies I'm trying to tell myself! Please don't confuse that with my actually being really smart!

So, to be on the safe side, I called my doctorpsychiatrist to ask her opinion on this medication. Yes, I have a psychiatrist, if you don't have one, don't knock it....I was able to accept that I have anxiety issues and let someone help me.......also I can tell her anything and by law, she's not allowed to tell anyone. :) Now you're wondering if I have deep dark secrets aren't you??? I'll just let your imagination run wild with that one. Besides, anyone who has children needs a psychiatrist. Trust me on this!

So, if you read this before 1 pm today and think about it, please offer up a little prayer for me that I'll be calm. Of course, I may be unconscious.

Oh, yea, that's what I meant to tell you. My psychiatrist said this particular medication was originally prescribed for sleep, but that the problem with it was people would take the pill, start to brush their teeth and literally collapse asleep. It is also supposed to have the effect of making you forget. Well, wouldn't that be nice???

The only thing is, just like my mama, medications sometimes react differently with me...like it could possibly just not do anything. Oh, dear, something else to be anxious about.

You know how in the Bible, Paul says that sometimes we suffer so we can be sympathetic to others who suffer? 2 Corinthians 1:4. If you have any problems with anxiety, I'm your girl!

Correction

My sister's birthday is actually on the 19th....I just noticed that my post says the 18th. Now I know I'm crazy, but really, I didn't realize I was that bad!





Jump on over to Katie's and read all about her move to Rhode Island. All I know is that Rhode Island is a LONG way away from home. I miss her already! I'm hoping to get a trip in to see her while they are there and also a trip to see her sister in Austin. Why can't everyone stay put???

Anyway, below is a picture of when another friend and I went to see her and sister Mary Grace before she left. Katie's in the middle.

Happy Birthday Sister!

I know some of you are wondering exactly how many sisters and brothers I actually have! :) It seems that every four years, my parents thought I would like a brother or sister....they never asked me! I'm glad they didn't, because I have 5 wonderful brothers and sisters. Three brothers and two sisters.

Today is my sister Debbie's birthday. She is four years younger than me, so you'll have to figure it out.....I don't want her to kill me. She's 52. Uh oh.....I didn't mean to tell, really I didn't.

But doesn't she look great?! She looks the most like our mother. That's mama in the picture below.




























I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy the flowers your husband brought you. She also has a sweet husband! He took the day off, brought her roses and is cooking supper for her tonight!

Happy Birthday, I love you.

Bible Study

Today in our Thursday morning Bible study, we had 4 new ladies! What a great addition to the group and what insights they shared! We are doing R.C. Sproul's book, Now, That's A Good Question! I was out last week and today we were finishing up the chapter on suffering!

I for one, am quick to moan and groan with any little suffering, but the scriptures that were brought up today made me so ashamed! None of us have or ever will suffer like Christ suffered for us. 1 Peter 2:21 and following says.....For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Many more scriptures were shared, I'll just list a few.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 Paul talks about his suffering.
Psalm 119:50 talks about comfort in our suffering
Romans 5:3-5 talks about rejoicing in our suffering, knowing that it produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope!
Romans 8:18-25 talks about how our sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

There are many more.

Christ suffered so for us. He tells us we will suffer in this world, but He also tells us to rejoice in our suffering. He comforts us when we suffer. He's right there in the midst of it with us!

Martha, who was our leader today, is a great Bible teacher! I have learned so much from everyone in our group. I'm thankful for them all!


I am thankful that we have our great God who comforts us and is right there with us in the suffering.