Saturday, December 9, 2017

I Need a Silent Night

There are just some things you can't post on Facebook.  There are just things that are safer said on the blog.  Agree?  Now, I know that since my settings are not private that anyone can choose to stalk me, but I prefer to think that I am talking to friends here. 

It feels safe here to say some of these things...

I am exhausted.  I'm beyond tired.  My job is beyond exhausting.  Last evening I went to bed at 9pm and got up at 9am.  Let me share with you an ordinary day...

Up at 6:00 (if I don't have to wash my hair. not so bad.  i can handle this.)
Leave at 6:30
Hardee's 7:00 (order, eat in car, put make-up on in car)
Arrive at work 7:15 (open blinds, switch sign to open, lights on, heat on, food for the day on, take out food for next day, coffee on, post menu for the day, check phone messages, check email, take out name tags for the day)
First member arrives at 7:30, Second member arrives at 7:45...
Get organized for the day...(schedule for activities posted for assistants with cognitive activities on table and physical activity supplies on table.)
Fix breakfast for members beginning at 8:30
Members to the bathroom at 9:00 (usually done by me because assistant has not arrived and these are the most difficult ones)  before Current Events, devotion, exercise. (I do current events and devotion which are the things I love the most!)
10:00-11:00 (Assistant does exercise and I may or may not do cognitive activity which is next on the schedule while continuing to redirect members, and direct and train activity assistant who is a young girl with 2 babies who may or may not be on time and may or may not be an activity assistant who needs assistance.  whew!  got me???)
11:00 Other assistant arrives...on time...ready...the best!.........pregnant now.  the best.  but had to go part time.  (sigh)  sad. sad. sad, but happy, happy for her because she's waited for years and now has a normal pregnancy.  She starts next activity.  Happy me.  Happy members.  They love her.
11:30 Begin preparing for lunch...

I've decided that you get the jest of why I'm tired. 

I spend my days, changing diapers, feeding, directing, redirecting, wiping mouths and bottoms, coloring, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, bathroom breaks, water breaks, cleaning spilled milk and crying over spilled milk...Need I go on.  My work space including the office, activity room, dining area, bathroom and kitchen is smaller than my kitchen and living room together. 

Prayers, I need prayers.  Honestly, this is where I am.  Without making the money that I make at this job, I would have to go back to Georgia.  Again, I know that God gave me the job.  I didn't ask for it. Was it just for a season?  Is there another plan?  I can't see God giving me something that I can physically not do.  I awoke this morning in pain.  I took a muscle relaxer and 3 advil and went back to bed on a heating pad for the back and ice pack for the neck.  I can't enjoy my children on the weekends because I'm too tired.  There's more to the job than I am at liberty to say.  Just pray for wisdom for me for us. 

I need a Silent Night, Holy Night. (by Amy Grant) Yes, that's what I need.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Looking Beyond the Holiday Mess

Boxes, broken ornaments, tangled lights, and wrapping paper strewn all around. What a mess!

I went  to The Marketplace on Saturday only to pick up one bottle of body spray for myself and an ornament for our Women of Covenant Christmas exchange. The traffic was a mess.  The parking lot was a mess.  I was The Biggest Mess before it was over. I quickly decided I didn’t need to spend $15 for one spray bottle while the world was buying 10 candles for $8.95 each. After a push here and a shove there, two hours which should have taken 30 minutes, a few horns blown (I confess most of it was me), I finally made it home. I declared to myself, “If this is what Christmas is all about, I think I’ll sleep through it. Bah Humbug.”

I’m glad my hope is not in the signs of the season but in the sign Isaiah said to look for- a baby born in a manager, Immanuel, GOD WITH US!

Yesterday we had a beautiful service at church, closing out the series by our pastor, Overwhelmed. Yes, I admit I have been a bit overwhelmed with just daily living stuff. I have been doing some Bible journaling of which I am not very good, however I can hear God speak to me in the mess. As I began to read I John 3:1 about the Father’s Love, I kept hearing the words, “He is not very far from each one of us.” I immediately googled Blue Letter Bible and found the reference, Acts 17:27. Paul was speaking about God’s purpose in His design of creation, that man may know Him.

I pray that during this Christmas season, I’ll be able to look beyond the mess and see the beauty of the True Gift of Jesus and  that I may truly know Him.



 
Just about ready to sit back and enjoy the season.
 
 
I'm trying to be more intentional this year about remembering the true meaning of Christmas.
I hope you'll join me.