On the Other Hand

Well, I must add to yesterday’s blog that on the hand, gas prices have REALLY come down, haven’t they?  I paid $1.929/gallon yesterday compared to about $3.79/gallon a month ago.  I predicted to my sister that this would happen because of the voting process coming up.  The gas prices went down before the vote for the senate what, a year ago, but after the voting process was complete, the prices skyrocketed again.  Let’s hope that that’s not what will happen this time.  I really like the gas prices being lower.  That sure makes it easier for the poor folk to get around – well, for everyone for that matter. 

The price for a gallon of gasolline in Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

The actual gas tank price I paid!

So…not bad for the cost of living – to actually have the price of gasoline go down.  I sure do hope it stays this way and that it didn’t happen just because of the election process.  Time will tell.  Let’s pray and keep our fingers crossed. 

I’m feeling a little better today.  That’s not saying much, but it is something positive as well. 

Peace and love, Out…Linda

I’m learning new things!

Aw haw!  I’m learning so much lately.  It’s great.  Not only did my wonderful son-in-law give me an awesome link to explain how the moon works, but I also found one on my own addressing why I can see the moon during the day (a more condensed article). 

I’ve also learned why I’ve been so tired and weak – why I go right to sleep at dinner time, sitting up, even with food in my mouth.  My wonderful primary care doctor had run some tests and found that my thyroid levels had depleted so greatly that we need to do a drastic increase in the amount of levothyroxine I’m taking.  He’s got me up to 137 mcg/day now.  I can’t wait for the med to start kicking in because I AM JUST SO DARN TIRED ALL THE TIME.  It’s explains why I’m needing to drink so much caffeine during the day to stay awake and alert and, caffeine is a no-no on my strict acid reflux diet.  I just can’t win. 

I’m adding three photos to show the ridiculous amount of money we have to pay for certain things in our local grocery store here in BEAUTIFUL Corpus Christi, Texas.  We’ll see if I can figure out how to add them into this blog.  Ok, here we go.

Milk Price, November 2008

Price for a lb of Red Delicious Apples

Price for ONE artichoke!

Ok, we did it!  Yay!  I’m learning so many new things!  Peace and love, Out….Linda

Happy All Saint’s Day!

OMG!  I’ve made it through to today.  What a wonderful prayer time I had with the Lord this morning.  He invited me to just have a conversation with Him and we did!  We talked about many things and it just makes me realize how truly, marvellously and wonderfully blessed I am.  How many have desired to hear His voice and have not?  How many have desired to have intimate conversations with Him and have not?  And here I am, just a poor and lowly and humbled servant and handmaiden of my Lord’s and He blesses me wih these awesome blessings.  How could I ever love Him and thank Hm enough?  There’s just no way.

We talked about how truly challenged I am and shall be, physically, finacially, spiritually and I am.  I’m weaning off the pred’s and I get dizzy and need to sleep so much.  I’m hoping and praying I haen’t fallen behind in meeting the challenges of my life and I know and have faith that with Him, I will do fine.  I will be victorious in Him.  All praise and glory be to Almighty God.

Want intimate time with God?  Spend time with Him in prayer, lots of time, and then some day He’ll invite you to just have a conversation with Him.  You have to be willing to listen to Him.  It’s all in truly seeking after Him in spirit and in truth and to know and have faith that He is with you and that He loves you and hears you and truly cares for you, no matter how bleak the situation may seem.  God bless you in your life and walk with Him. 

Peace and love, Out…Linda

Discombobulated…

Hola. I’m feeling discombobulated today.  I think it’s probably  because I’m weaning off the pred’s even more this week.  I’m down to 10 mg’s/day.  That’s really a small amount compared to what some people take, I know, but I’m very sensitive to that med.  I have to keep my brain on track, functional, you know, to get through my day.  I’m trying hard not to be depressed or discouraged over the weight I’ve gained since I had to go up on the steroids again and…my Raynaud’s is still acting up.  But enough of all that negative talk. 

What a beautiful day it is here in Corpus Christi today! I guess we’re having a little cold front go through (yay for Fall) along with a mild wind storm that should be calming down right about now.    My happy face looks slightly askew to me.  Lol.  I think I need to take something to calm me down.  I feel like I could crawl out of my skin.  That’s going to negative again.  I’m sorry.

Peace and love, out…Linda

Isn’t God Great?!

Oh my gosh, I am so filled with wonder and awe over Almighty God’s wonderful and marvellous works today.  My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving and joy over all His merciful kindness, His tender care and the bountiful blessings that are ours through and in Him.  He is the master artist, creator of heaven and earth and all that therein is, and we are the beneficiaries of His wealth.  Holy Jehovah is a mighty God and is worthy and greatly to be praised.

Woah, and how about our blessed King Jesus and the Holy Spirit?  My breath and my life!  Who have I in heaven or in earth but them?  There is no one that I desire above them.  They bless me and I am healed and filled.  I am so truly and fearfully and wonderfully blessed.  I am so fearfully and wonderfully made.   

Peace and love, Out….Linda

Challenging Times…

These are certainly challenging days, I think not just for myself but for everyone.  Yesterday morning when I was having trouble getting out of bed after having to go to sleep early the night before, the Lord revealed to me that the reason I am being so tired and weak is because my rheaumatologist has me weaning off the steroids.  Why didn’t I think of that to begin with.  It makes perfect sense.

I went to bed very early last night and still didn’t want to get out of bed this morning.  Besides my other prescriped meds, I took a Phenegran for the neausea and an extra Xanax to calm me down.  I missed my Bible Study last night and even forgot to call them to let them know I wouldn’t be able to make it. 

It all is very clear now and makes sense.  I’m thankful to know this.  I’ve left it up to the Lord if I am to call my rheumatologist to see if I should go back to the higher dosage of steroids again because the affect of going down is so dramatic, but I have yet to call her.  God’s will be done.  I do believe I will be alright.

I’ve coined a phrase and a name for an energy stimulating drink.  I’ve called it “Go-Go Juice.”  I thought about it when I started drinking diet Pepsi (R) Max (TM) with caffeine and gensing to give me the extra energy I need to get through these days.  I should probably register my copyright on the name “Go-Go Juice” but I know that as long as I have typed it out and published it here on pressword.com, it is truly and indeed copyrighted to me.  It is a cute and catchy name, isn’t it?

I have a busy day scheduled.  I need to do a biography on one of my favorite artists/graphic designers and submit it as a PowerPoint Slideshow presentation by this coming Saturday.  So, off to the races I go!

I hope and pray everyone’s having a wonderful day!  My prayers are with you all!

Peace and love, Out…Linda  <><

Hello today…

Hello today.  You’re another beautiful day in Corpus Christi, Texas….and I’m not feeling well.  I think I’ve caught a cold maybe.  I’m congested and nauseas and my Raynaud’s is going ballistic.  I wish I felt better.  God will see me through this.  I have medicines that I can take to make me feel better but I hate to have to take them.  I can’t decide if I’m hot or if I’m cold.

I’m feeling really stressed out as well and I don’t like to be feeling badly like this.  I didn’t feel like getting out of bed this morning but I finally did around 8:30 a.m.  I guess sleeping in a little later is way better than getting up at 3:00 a.m.    I had a dream about one of my brothers being totally drunk and it was like maybe he had spent the night in jail.  A taxicab was dropping him off in front of his home and he was angry about some “bashers.”  I’m not sure I even know what a basher is.  He was alright though, at least in the dream.  I better try communicate with him today to see how he’s doing.

This will probably be a pretty uneventful day.  That’s alright.  My life is pretty uneventful; I’m used to it.  I’m roasting unsalted sunflower seeds (with the shells still on).  That’s my snack of choice these days.  It makes me feel like it’s really close to Halloween for some reason.  Fall is definately in the air – if not outside here in CC, definately within me.  I like Fall. 

So, off to my probably uneventful day.  Please pray for me.

Peace and love, Out…Linda <><

Beautiful Sunrise

Its a Monday morning sunrise – And we start a brand new day – Just another chance to be wise – As we go along the way…lmv

Ok, today started at 3:00 a.m. again.  I did get to bed pretty early last night, probably around 9:30 or so.  I was so tired even though I had slept in.  Hmmm…I was just so tired.  Now it’s 7:07 a.m. and the sun is rising.  I’ve said my prayers, I’ve done my reading, I published my scriptures, I’ve taken my shower, I’m doing my journal and then I guess I’ll start with my school work.  I’m feeling kind of tired again already.  I wonder what’s up with me.

Don’t feel like writing much more.  Peace and love, Out…Linda

Sweet Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone!  I actually slept in today after having a really bad night of sleep.  My stomach and reflux was such that my esphogus and lungs and throat were burning much  of the night.  I prayed and took some extra meds to counteract and by the grace and mercy of Almighty God, made it through the night.  I don’t usually sleep in but I did today and it felt so good. I remember waking up at sunrise and seeing the glorious dawning of the day, the beautiful red/orage tint to the firmament as the sun faithfully raised himself up as is his way.  I smiled at the sight, closed my eyes, and was able to go back into a peaceful sleep, laying my head in God’s lving bosom.

It’s halftime during the Cowboys game right now and we’re not doing so good.  The Rams are ahead of us by quite a few points.  Poor Cowboys, I know they’re trying so hard.    I know God loves all His children, everywhere.

I had a wonderful visit with my cousins yesterday. I fried up some chicken and made some good side dishes and we had a good meal together and wonderful quality time visiting and catching up with each other’s lives.  These two sweet cousins of mine, sisters to each other from the Houston area, came from a family of twelve children. Their father was killed in a ditch cave in when they were very young.  The family suffered unspeakable hardships and most have survived them well.  I love them all very much and thank God we had this special time to spend together.

I had wonderful communications with my children and my grandchildren yesterday and even with my grand niece who was also celebrating her birthday with her family and friends.  I am so blessed.  I pray that somehow, some way I can be such a blessing and a joy to these little ones (and to everyone for that matter).   

I have a day of software program familiarization today.  I love working with Office 2007 and am learning many shortcuts and tips that I had not been aware of.  It’s all good and FUN!

Peace and love!  Out!  Linda

Hello world!

It is good to be able to have a blog space to keep everyone abreast of the breaking news in my life.  At this point, I’ve just completed my first on-line class towards earning my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design.  I found it to be fascinating to say the least as we were challenged and pushed into the virtual classroom environment.  Not that it really means anything, but I received an “A” in the class and look forward to going forward in my education.  I hope this blog site keeps my family and friends abreast as to what is happening in my life, as I have found it to be a great resource for me to keep up with my daughter’s life (who inspired me to create this blogspace).  I hope I can make good use of this tool and somehow be entertaining and information while provoking inspiration and thought processes.  I look forward to comments and I trust my visitors wil use decorum and dignified candor in their comments to my blogs. 

So long for now.

A Beautiful Day

It couldn’t be a more beautiful day here in Corpus Christi, Texas.  I went out this morning about 10:00 a.m. to do my physical therapy in the pool.  The sun was shining every so beautifully, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the playful ocean breeze made me feel so good and free.

I was put on a two-week regimen of medications yesterday by my gastrointologist.  He warned me that I could become very sick (nausea, diarhea, etc.) but I immediately called my family for their prayers for God to see me through this ordeal without experiencing the horrible side effects.  I’m being treated for a rare form of Helicobacter.  I also suffer from Mixed Connective Tissue disease, Polymyositis, Raynaud’s, Hashimoto’s, Osteoporosis, Barrett’s Esophagus, Severe Acid Reflux (GERD), Hemifacial Spasms and Gastroparesis.  I am taking twelve prescriptions daily and a handful of natural supplements. 

The prayers are working!  I feel pretty good all things considered.  I have the nausea under control and like I stated earlier, I did my physical therepy this morning and then ran around and did a few chores.  Granted, I only started the intense antibiotic regimen last night, but really, I feel pretty good.  Praise God!  (I’ll bet you couldn’t tell I am a very strong Christian being and am very strong in my faith and walk with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.) 

I love my family and doctors (and their staff) for all they do for me.  How could I get through my life without them?  I am so truly blessed and my heart is bursting with thanksgiving.  I have to overcome challenges and hardships everyday, but by the grace of God I am making it through, step by step.  (There was a time in 2005 when I could barely use my muscles, being unable to walk, chew, swallow and even taking care of my personal (including hygeine) needs.)  I can now do those things again (intravenous immuno-globulin treatments), all praise and glory be to God who loves me.

I have much to do around the condo and on my websites: http://home.stx.rr.com/spiritbride and www.myspace.com/spiritbride.  SpiritBride is my pen and usually my screen name.  When I tried to use SpiritBride for this blog space, I was informed that that user name was already being used.  I wonder if it’s by me.    I should check, shouldn’t I?  I’ll get around to it, hopefully.

I hope to keep this up as a daily journal of my life.  I hope and pray that God will make a way for it to inspire others to greatness and joy. 

Peace and love, Out, Linda

Here We Go!

Aw, it’s Thursday. This marks day two of my antibiotic regimen.  I am sick now.  I woke up this morning at 3:00 a.m. feeling so nauseous and feeling weak and dizzy.  I’ve taken a Phenegran and that seems to be helping to keep my nausea under control, even though I do still feel nauseous.  I haven’t gotten diarrhea or a fever yet, thank God.  I was supposed to go to a building pot-luck tonight, but I won’t be able to make it in this condition.  I’m sorry about that because I have grown to know and even close to some of my neighbors that I will miss the time that would have been spent with them tonight.  We have a beautiful (secure) building community here for which I am so grateful and thankful.  Also, I was too sick to do my physical therapy today.  I did get in the shower though and that made me feel a little better as well.  I was able to keep down my tablespoon full of peanut butter for breakfast and just finished my protein drink and string cheese for lunch.  The dreaded throwing up is in check.  Yay!

A funny thing, my hair was getting really dried out and breaking all the time even though I was using a silk type softening agent on my hair that’s supposed to make it more manageable and healthier.  Well, that just wasn’t working so I’ve decided to not use shampoo anymore.  All I am using is an extremely inexpensive hair conditioner from Big Lots and it seems to be doing the trick.  I even got a compliment yesterday from a neighbor about how healthy my hair was looking.    It feels good too now. 

As my new Computer Literacy online course starts on Monday, I should probably start checking out the assignments and get a head start on them if at all possible.  I really am thankful for this opportunity to try to earn my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design through The Art Institue of Pittsburg Online Division.  This coming course will introduce me to Photoshop, Illustrator, Office 2007, Windows XP, etc.  It may be a little too remedial for me as I really do possess pretty good computer skills but I didn’t want to challenge it so that I could learn more and become more familiar with sharing my artwork in a simple way in the virtual classroom.  It’s all good.  Yay!

Thank you to all those who are remembering me in their prayers or even just sending good vibes my way.  Thank you to all potential benefactors (I currently possess none) who realize that this little disabled lady needs a helping hand to continue my ministry to others in God’s name.  God bless you all.

Peace and love, Out, Linda, lvance@live.com

Poor Woman Living in a Rich Man’s House

I woke up this morning at 5:30 a.m.  I immediately took a Phenegran for the neausea.  I’m doing o.k., thank God!  I wasn’t able to make it to the pot luck last night but one of my sweet neighbors brought me up a plate.  Is that too cool or what?  I HAVE to run some chores today so I pray for God to give me the strength I need.

Oh, for the title of this post:  I live in a secured condominium on the ninth floor.  This came to be like this: Before I became so disabled that I couldn’t work, I lived in a nice two bedroom apartment.  Finances of course were still always challenging, but with my job I was being able to get by.  While I was living there, my sister and her husband came to visit me.  As was my custom, I gave up my master bedroom to them to stay in and I slept in the second bedroom.  It was a cozy arrangement and we enjoyed a minimum of a week’s worth of visitation.  During that time, my brother-in-law was sitting at my computer checking out all the Corpus Christi properties.  I was in the kitchen preparing us a meal when my brother-in-law asked me if I would like to live in a house that he and my sister would buy and they would rent it out to me for $500.00/month.  He said this would give us all an advantage because I would always have room to accommodate visiting family and friends and I would never have to worry about my rent going up.  I told my brother-in-law how wonderful that would be and so we entered into the agreement.  There was of course nothing in writing, just in honor.  They, my sister and brother-in-law had not yet found the home to move me into. 

Then, I became so disabled that I couldn’t walk, bathe, chew, swallow, brush my teeth or hair, etc.  I lost my job because I couldn’t perform my duties any longer and Social Security put me on disability.  The great and unfortunate consequence of this was that my income was slashed in half (and even with all the added medical expenses, the government only allowed me that little to live on).  It was a dreadful time and I thought I was living a nightmare.  One day during that time, my sister and brother-in-law, who had come back from California to Texas to visit my mother (who was still alive at the time), took me and told me we were going for a ride.  They brought me to this lovely condominium and told me that this is the place they had chosen for me to live.  What a blessing that was and what a blessing they have always been to me!

The condominium is a very large one-bedroom, two bath unit.  There is a livng space I call the sun room that my sister and brother-in-law said they would use to sleep in while visiting.  The sun room is enclosed and has a beautiful view of Corpus Christi bay and the city skyline.  My sister and brother-in-law said that for tax purposes they were going to list this unit as a secondary residence and so I would not actually be a renter, but more of a room mate.  I was given full control over the master bedroom and bath to arrange, decorate, etc. as I pleased.  The rest of the condo would be common area for us all.  Being a “room mate” was not actually what they had originally offered and, it really wasn’t a house where I would have extra rooms for company to stay in during visitations.  But these things seemed so insignificant to the great deed that my sister and her husband were doing for me.  I knew God would bless them bountifully for all their good works and no one could have been more thankful than I was and still am.  And so, they moved me in.

Now, after living here for a little over three years, they are informing me that the condo is becoming a financial burden to them and is eating up more money than they anticipated.  I am sorry for this. I know that the current economy is probably what is sparking this thing they are contemplating and of course, them possibly not being able to keep their promise to me of giving me a home to live in that they would own and maintain and that I would rent from them for $500.00/month and never have to worry about the rent being raised.

They haven’t actually given me a concrete “eviction” notice yet but my sister seems to keep hinting to the fact that maybe I should start looking for a section 8 apartment to move into.  And so it goes.  I am very saddened by this but I have no control over what they are doing or are going to do.  I guess I have to go put in an application at a section 8 apartment building.  I would be losing a lot but what must be must be. My sister and her husband have been such a blessing to me in so many ways that I could never thank them enough and express this thanksgiving sufficiently.  I would probably NEVER be able to repay them for all the kind, loving and generous gestures and actions they have done for me.  I wish I could repay them somehow. 

I hate moving especially when I am so sick.  ugh!  So goes my life.

Peace and love, Out, Linda

So far so good!

Wow, ok, I’m a little nauseated and bit weak and dizzy but really I’m doing pretty good for how sick my doctor told me I was actually going to be.  (Yay God!)  I took a Phenegran this morning with all my other pills.  I don’t believe I’m strong enough to do my physical therapy in the pool today.

So what do I have to do today?  I have to visit my MySpace friends.  I think this is very important as I have not done it in so long and I have added many friends since then.  I have a handful of bands who have asked to be friends with me and when I post comments, I really like to make sure I at least listen to one of their songs.    For the non-band friends and family, I like to look over their space to read about them, find out what’s new with them, etc.

I have to visit my online classroom today.  I’m looking forward to this class as I will become more knowledgeable and skilled in using Windows XP, MS Office 2007, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat.  I do so love working on the computer and learning new things.  I’m like a thirsty sponge just wanting to soak it all in. 

Update about my sister:  I spoke with her last night as I normally do.  We started discussing the senate passing the Bail Out bill.  I mentioned to her that it might just be a coincidence, BUT, that I believe when I suffer financial hardship (as I am), everyone will suffer as well.  Well, that sent my sister off the edge and we had to cut our conversation short.  Maybe I am playing with one card short of a full deck, but I can not deny the truth.

Thank you everyone for your prayers for me.  Please feel free to comment as I love to hear from people.

God bless, Peace and love, Out, Linda

The joys of being on steroids!

Hmmm, I actually woke up at 4:00 a.m.  Being on the increased dosage of Prednisone (steroids) does that to me.  It’s like getting super adrenaline shots. I have no way to combat that lack of need to sleep unless I take sleeping pills, which I had already withdrawn from and do not want to go back on.  So, 4:00 a.m. it is.  I don’t care. I got up, spent close to three hours in prayer with God, did my bible reading and posting, took ALL my meds, ate my tablespoon of peanut butter for breakfast and showered (that shower felt great today).  I don’t handle being on higher doses of steroids well; the moon face is coming back and my belly is becoming distended. I’m starting to look pregnant again – ugh.  I had a man ask me at the grocery store day before yesterday if I was pregnant and I could have sad something like, “Mind your own business.” but he was being kind and I explained to him briefly about the steroids.  He apologized but that is SO embarrassing.  When I arrived home, I shared this experience with one of my awesome neighbors as we rode up the elevator together.  She quipped that I should have answered, “Yes, I sure am, but the worse part about it is that I don’t know who the father is.”    I will certainly have to use that line at least once to see the person’s reaction.  (At least I’m laughing about it now.)

My brother and I are Dallas Cowboys fans.  I do believe they’re playing today against the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Cowboys lost their last game by 2 points.    I like it much better when they win. 

No updates on my dwelling situation.  If I wasn’t disabled, I’d do everything I could to just go ahead and move out, but alas, I will have to wait for my sister and her husband to make that decision.

It rained a little in the wee hours of this morning (I do so love the rain) but now the sun is shining and we have the most beautiful blue sky with unformidable sweeping white clouds.  Corpus Christi is like a little paradise to live in.  I don’t want to move out of this city.  The Weather Channel says we’ll be hitting a high temperature of 85 degrees with a cool ocean breeze brushing through (as it usually does here in Corpus Christi).  We’re so blessed here.

I didn’t get a chance to tend to my MySpace friends yesterday. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that today either as I have many things to do in my weakened state.  I won’t be doing my physical therapy or going out today, not even to church.  I need to write a short bio for my new online class – that’s my first assignment.  I really don’t like writing bios of myself and having to share them in class because my disability peaks the curiosity of my classmates and then I have to explain.  It’s like re-injuring a sore spot.  Maybe I won’t mention that I’m disabled this time and just say I’m an unemployed part-time student.  That should do it.

Well, that’s it for now.  Thank you everyone for your prayers for me. Peace and love, Out, Linda

“Hmmm, very interesting.”

“Hmmm, very interesting” is what my doctors usually say about me and my conditions. 

The Cowboys won yesterday. Yay!  That made me happy. 

Yesterday was filled with things to do but pretty much uneventful.  Today should be the same.  I’m actually feeling so much better today, praise God.  It looks like it’s going to be a nice, sun shining, breezy day.  I start my second online course today.  I have a lot of reading to do and two online workshops to attend.  I really do like this online education stuff.  I can comfortably do my class work from home and by the grace and good will of God, I have the necessary tools to be successful at it.  Yay again!

Well, seeing how it’s Monday, it makes me think of when I could actually go to work.  I still stay in contact with my supervisor (I mean ex-supervisor) and some fellow workers via email but since I’ve been on disability since March of 2005, I guess I really don’t miss going to work much anymore (at least not like I used to in the beginning).  I can tell my body is in distress but it’s not so bad.  Took my Phenegran with all my other meds today.  It’s all good.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m.  I felt eager to get up, spent my time in prayer with God and did my bible reading, ate my peanut butter and drank about two and a half cups of coffee so far (my bad).  It should be a good day.  I’m looking forward to it. 

Since this post in so insignificant and not filled with much of anything but rhetoric, I don’t think I’ll even put tags on it.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Life in the turtle lane.

Here we are, a beautiful weather Tuesday.  Right now it’s a little overcast, we’ve had some rain and sunshine scattered through out the day.  It’s a little humid but the cool ocean breeze tempers that. 

I don’t understand how and why dust collects so quickly in an enclosed condominium.  It’s mind boggling.  I guess it comes from the a/c ventilation system but is that right?  Hmph, just something that keeps catching my attention every time I turn around it seems.

Sometimes I see the moon in the day sky.  I wonder how and why that happens to be.

I have a lot of time to wonder about many things.  I guess that’s good though, I’d rather be in the turtle lane than in the fast lane right now.  I’m content.

I’m feeling pretty good today.  I ran a few chores.  I already feel in the Christmas spirit, maybe because I know I’m going to be going to California over the holidays to be with my sons and their wives and children.  Maybe I’ll even get to spend time with other family members there on the west coast.  I’ll be gone for a month and I am so looking forward to seeing and being with them all.  I think Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  I hope and pray the economy like it is doesn’t bring everyone down and keep them from experiencing the joys and wonders of this special time of the year (when it actually comes I mean).  I trust God will make me mete for the challenge of the traveling and being away from home, my family here in Corpus Christi and my doctors.  Aw, but I just found myself guilty of not living one of the Christian fundamentals that Jesus taught us:  Matthew 6:34 (KJV): “TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW: FOR THE MORROW SHALL TAKE THOUGHT FOR THE THINGS OF ITSELF.  SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF.”  I think that this is one of the hardest teachings to practice for us Christians, but all the same, we must strive to do so because that’s what Jesus taught us.

Well, no notice to move out yet.  Maybe it won’t come.  Matters like these seem to swing back and forth.  Last night my sister was commending me on how nice I keep the condo.  Hmmm, truly she is a lovely person and I am very thankful that God has blessed my life with her and everyone (but especially Him).

Ok, I have to get to my online assignments now (I was once under a drill sergeant that told us it was not ok to use the phrase “ok”).  Please feel free to comment.  i notice that if a person leaves a comment that has more than two links in the body, the comment is treated like spam.  I have received a lot of comments in spam that I don’t know what to do with.    God bless them.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Yee haw!

O M G!  I haven’t slept in 32 hours now.  I encountered computer application (Java) problems last night, along with a computer virus (thank God for computer security software that plucked the darn thing out as soon as it came in) and spent the whole night getting everything I need on my computer working right again.  Now, I have two on-line class assignments due today and I can’t even think about sleeping until I get these done.

So this is it for today.  Short and sweet.

Peace and love, Out, Linda <><

Sigh of Relief

I finally got some sleep last night.  Yay God! I actually dosed off last night during a telephone converstation with my sister.  I was awakened by her saying “Hello.  Hello.  Linda, are you there?”    I apologized and she excused me from the conversation.  I immediately went to bed.  Then, soon after that, while I was sleeping, I received another phone call.  It was my almost 5 year old granddaughter from California calling me to thank me for the birthday gifts I sent her.  What a joy that was.  She has developed so wonderfully in her verbal and communication skills (she’s in Kindergarten).  It was delightful to speak with her, and I even got to speak to my two month old grandson who I am told by my son was listening very attentively to my voice coming through the phone to his hearing.    I feel so blessed when I get the opportunity to speak with my children, grandchildren, family and friends.  I’m really looking forward to my trip out to the west coast during the Christmas holidays.  I know it’ll be like being in heaven being able to be with my loved ones, especially my adorable grandchildren.  I can hardly wait to hold them in my arms and laugh and play with them.    I have to be patient; one day at a time.

I have a busy day scheduled for today.  I have one doctor’s appointment, I have to read two chapters from my online class textbook, I have another class assignment to work on that’s due tomorrow and I have some other running around and chores I have to do today. 

It’s difficult being me.  I’m physically and mentally challenged and because of that, I must be able to understand the expectations of my life fully without ambiguity.  Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the on-line class assignment that was due yesterday and after receiving an email from my instructor clarifying the requirements of the assignment this morning, I had to re-write and re-submit it.  The bad thing about this is that I did email my instructor about my confusion on how the assignment should be completed way before it was due but his response was so vague (as opposed to the late instructions that I received from him today), I just simply “winged” it, hoping I was getting it right.  Oh well, live and learn.  I did reoly to my instructor’s email today wherein he clarified the assignment ever so well (which is the way I had hoped he had done originally) thanking him for the better clarification and to let him know that I re-submitted the assignment.  I also stated in my email to him that I acknowledge that my assignment may not receive full credit as it is being submitted correctly a day late.  I wonder if he’ll actually ding it because really, in all actuality, his first response to my original question regarding the assignment was vague and inadequate AND…I also explained to him that I have muscular dystrophy and how I would, as his student, need all my assignments to be very clear so that my compromised mind can comprehend it.

I’m feeling o.k. today.  I’m a little tired and weak but that is to be expected.  I’m still taking one Phenegran a day to couteract any nauseating side effects from the storng antibiotic regimen I’m still on (I have 4.5 days left to go on that med pack).

Looking out through my window, it appears to be a glorious weather day outside.  I shall collect myself to go run my chores and will hopefully, in faith, get everything right today. 

Peace and love, Out! Linda <><

A peaceful day…

It’s been such a nice and peaceful day today.  I’ve been busy on the computer getting my personal and school tasks accomplished.  The phones and even the email has been quiet so it just makes me feel so serene.  I had a wonderful prayer time this morning and good bible study time as well.  I can hardly believe how quickly the time goes by though. 

I visited my new (well, returning) primary care physician yesterday. He is such a pleasant man and I am so blessed to have a team of wonderful doctors that take really good care of me.  Humana seems to be like a thorn in my side when it comes to authorizing meds that are uniquely prescribed to me by my doctor’s – dosages that usually go over and above the norm to meet my needs – but Humana doesn’t seem to have eyes that see and ears that hear.  I think they need a new fax machine as well or learn how to stop lying about not receiving faxes that are sent to them by my doctors.  Maybe that’s an evil thought and I must ask God to forgive me.  I have no proof to back that up with the exception of verified successfully sent faxes to Humana that they claim they are not receiving.  These issues with Humana are really a royal pain in the butt.  I wonder how much more I can stand from them.  I have to keep reminding myself that all things are working together for the good to those who love God…(Romans 8: 28)  I have to be strong in faith and know that God’s will is being done and He will bless me with the victory in every aspect of my life for His name’s sake.

I love sending out birthday cards to my loved ones on time.  Sometimes I create and print my own and sometimes I go online to hallmark.com and create picture/music cards there that they actually mail out for me after I have created them.  That is a really cool and fun site if you like that sort of thing.  Everyone who receives them always asks me, “How did you do that!”  And…they really like them as well.  It does cost a little bit of money, maybe around $6.00 including the postage, but it’s worth it if I have the money to do it.  Otherwise, I create my own cards on my computer, print them out, and mail them myself.  I have a really cool nephew that I need to make one for before the end of today. 

Since I’ve been put on the higher dosage of prednisone (the steroids), of course my appetite has increased accordingly.  I’ve decided a really cool way to keep my hands and mouth happy is to snack on unsalted sunflower seeds that I buy in bulk and raw.  I bring them home and roast them up for 10 minutes and I can happily snack on those tiny little nuts all day long.  It takes time to manipulate the shell in my mouth to get it cracked open and of course i have to have a good little garbage can to catch the emptied shells.  The only draw back to this is is that my tongue tends to start feeling a little raw after snacking on them for too long.  :-)

Well, I’m off to dinner.  i think I’ll have some nice, hot chicken noodle soup for dinner.  And maybe a banana.  Yes, that sounds like a plan. 

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Ugh…

Ugh, I’m not feeling well this morning.  I stopped taking the Phenegran yesterday because I was thinking maybe I don’t need it but I guess I’m wrong.  I’ll take one in a bit.  I still have about three days left to go on the PrevPak.  My body’s starting to bloat out again from the increased steroids and I had a terrible bout with the acid reflux during my sleeping time, which was constantly being interrupted by the fluids coming back up from my stomach into my esophagus and even out of my mouth (I’m sure I breathed some into my lungs – they hurt and I’m congested), burning my esophagus and throat.  I kept praying for God to take the burning away and He would.  And then it would happen again, I’d pray again, He’d help me again.  It’s probably my fault though because I went right to bed after dinner last night (I was so tired and I couldn’t stay awake any longer) and I’m not supposed to lay down until about four hours after I’ve eaten.  Ugh.  Oh well.  We’ll get through this, by the grace of God.

I had a good prayer time this morning and a good bible study time.  I published my rr home page and have done some checking around on the internet for the pricing of the textbook I will need for my next class.  The prices are ranging from $160.oo to $109.00 (Amazon Books), but I was just pricing today.  I don’t actually have the money yet to buy it.  I just can’t fathom the price of textbooks.  I really should figure out how to become a seller in that market.    But, you need money to make money and money is something I don’t have and need.  I’m sorry, everything seems to be like ugh today.  Maybe it’s just because I’m not feeling well.

I woke up at like 2:00 this morning.  As I sat on my bed saying my prayers, I looked out of the window and noticed that a police car had pulled over someone to give them a ticket, I was guessing.  As it turned out, the officer and the person who was pulled over stayed there for quite a while (I started figuring out that this was not going to be just a simple “I’m giving you a ticket for going too fast.” kind of situation.)  After about forty-five minutes or so, a tow truck came along and towed the pulled over car away.  ugh…  I thought to myself (and shared with the Lord) how funny I am to care and feel so badly for the one who got arrested.  It’s just my nature I guess.  I hate to see bad things happen to anybody, even if it’s deserved I guess.

I decided to back up my data files on my computer to my ISP’s on-line safe storage utility.  It’s going to cost $3.78/month for 2.5 gb’s of storage space.  That’s not bad to have your files being backed up as often as you’d like to.  My ISP had a handy dandy downloadable backup tool that I keep on my desktop. It’s icon is that of a safe (clever) and I have scheduled to backup my documents in my hard drive once a week.  The most funny thing about it is that it’s taking forever to upload the files.  It’s going to take at least a whole day!  It’s not a problem really because I can still be working on the computer while it’s uploading (I have slow speed cable modem service as opposed to dsl – downloads are quicker but uploading is like at a turtle’s pace).  At least my files are getting backed up without much effort on my part albeit slow as heck. 

I’ve written a lot today.  I should probably take my medicine and lay back down.  I think I will.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Sunday Funnies

I remember when I was a little girl and Sundays were always so special.  Mom would stay in bed a little while and read the newspaper.  We were all to try to be as quiet as possible so she could rest and read (she was a single mom raising up four of us at the time, working one or two jobs and Sundays were her only days off).  To keep us busy, she would give us the Sunday Funnies, the comic strips, to read.    What a wonderful mom she was in so many ways.  I miss her very much.  It’s been a year and almost a month since God took her home to heaven. 

I miss my children and my grandchildren too.  My grand baby Rory will be turning five on October 18th.  That’s a milestone birthday.  I’m so excited for her.  She’s in California and I wish I could be there withher to celebrate but I will, if God’s willing and all goes as planned, be able to be withher and Tyler, my grandson and my sons and their wives during the Christmas holidays.  I’ve probably mentioned this a number of times in my other daily blogs.  One would think I’m really excited about it and that I keep thinking about it and can hardly wait to be with them. 

I love living in Corpus Christi.  I don’t regret living here and that gives my family members a place to come and visit me, a nice place with plenty of fun things to do year round.

The Cowboys play today around noon my time.  I still have to figure out what channel they’ll be on.  I prayed for everyone this morning. 

I have some chores I need to do, dusting and vacuuming, but I’m feeling weak.  I’ve gone (as per my doctor’s instructions) down to 15 mg of Prednisone today.  It’s my weaning process.  I’ll stay on 15 for two weeks and then go down to 10 mg per day.  It’s scary going down because I could possibly flair, but, I’ll go in faith and trust that God will see me through this.

I also have some textbook reading to do today and maybe some online responses in my virtual classroom.  Tomorrow starts week two in my CPU101 class.  This is fun stuff for me.  I really enjoy working on the computer and learning all the new programs and the tricks and shortcuts to use to work with them. 

It ended up raining a bit yesterday and it looks like it may want to again today.  That’s ok with me.  I like the rain.  While I was saying my prayers this morning, a disabled pigeon came and took refuge on my bedroom balcony.  I felt so badly for him.  He seemed to have a hurt wing.  I prayed for him and he quietly sat there until two other pigeons came along and chased him off.    whaa…

I won’t go to church today and maybe not anymore.  When they needed a volunteer to help, I stepped up and gave them the help they needed.  When I needed help and asked them, they poo-pooed my request and in essence said for me to go ask a family member for help.  I guess they didn’t realize that my family members have helped me a great deal and in every way that they have been able to.  I’m not one to judge, but I feel the church’s lack of help and support when I needed it was just wrong and I just can’t bring myself to overcome it, even though I’ve prayed about it often.  I have God – He’s all I need.   God’s will be done.  I think it was a test for them (and to everyone who should help me if they know my situation and my need) and I think that they have failed miserably.  And so goes the recompense – the economy the way that it has become…  All because of my suffering and need, maybe so, only God knows.  It could just be a coincidence. 

That’s all for today. I’m nauseous and weak.  I’ll have to take it as it comes.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Prose for Today

With sunshine calling “Let’s play peek-a-boo!”, I also want to play too.  With nimble digits and flowing thoughts, my spirit seeks out for the tots.  Hello little ones, how do you do today?  Would you like to come out and play?  I will give you rhymes in time and drawings to explore, and ones that you will hopefully come to adore – and be happy with as you toddle along, with grammy and the sun and a song.

(c) 2008 Linda Vance/SpiritBride/lmv/101308

Peace and love, Out!  Linda (grammy Linda)

If I only had a brain…

Wow!  I made a doozy of a blunder today.  All week long on my calendar, I was being reminded about what was (I thought) my nephew’s birthday coming today.  I sent him a really cute e-card and then text’d all my children to remind them as well that it was their cousin’s birthday.  After I sent out the text messages to everyone, I got a message back from my youngest daughter explaining that I might be confused because today is actually her husband’s birthday.    Both my nephew and son-in-law are named Matt S. and I just got confused because that is exactly how the reminders came up for the birthday:  “Reminder, Matt S. is having a birthday on the 14th.”  My nephew Matt opened the ecard I sent him early this morning.  He must really think I’m a ding-bat.   

So goes my life.  It was a great joke on me to start the day!  Kept me laughing for some time.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

What an Awesome Day!

What an awesome day I had yesterday…all praise and glory be to God!  One of the coolest things that happened was that Humana approved two medications that had been prescribed to me by my doctors.  I will try to explain how this came about as concisely as possible, because I can be so long-winded. 

Day before yesterday, I called Humana to get the status on the approval of these medications.  I was told that neither of them had been approved and that one of them (out of two) had been pushed into the Appeals and Grievance Department, which just sent me over the edge.  Mind you, at this point in my life, by the grace of God, it is extremely rare for me to “lose it” but this time I did.  I was so frustrated and angry that I vented horribly to this sweet young man who said his Humana title was that of a Clinical Review Representative.  He patiently listened and tried to console me as I ranted and raved about how the patient becomes the victim of Humana’s gross negligence in trying to usurp the professional direction of the patient’s physician by denying the prescribed dosage of medication prescriibed.  I went on about I felt like Humana was trying to kill me and on and on.  I used some very mild foul language (God forgive me) but the sweet Humana rep stayed with me, all the while consoling me.  Finally, after I jabbered off all the horrible physical indications of my physical state via medical procedures and tests that justified the medications in question, the young man asked me if I had access to a fax machine, which miraculously (and I won’t get into that right now – just trust me it is a miracle) I do.  He asked me to fax him the procedures and tests paperwork, which I did.  It was pretty late in the day by the time I did that.  My fax machine confirmed the fax had gone through successfully.  Then early yesterday morning, I got a telephone call from the same young man who explained to me that the fax had been received and that both medications had been approved by Humana for my lifetime.    YAY GOD!  I asked to speak to his supervisor and when she got on the line, I couldn’t praise the young man enough for his kindness, compassion, patience and for his invaluable assistance.  The supervisor assured me he would receive the credit he deserves.    I couldn’t thank God or the young man enough.  I had been going through this hard ordeal with Humana for so long and here it was, all resolved in a good manner.  Now, does that make for a good day or what?

I had so many good things happen yesterday (I won’t list the rest, just trust me) that I didn’t even get a chance to post in this journal.  It’s the first day I had missed posting since I started using pressword.com. 

Now one might ask why doesn’t God just heal me.  I personally know that He can but His will for me right now is to be served by these great men and women of the medical profession, who God loves and uses equally, to perform His good works through them.  Sometimes, God will perform a medical miracle and confound all the unbelievers, but for me and many others, He simply chooses to bless us with people who serve God and mankind.  I thank God for them. 

Well, I have much to do today.  I trust that this too will be a wonderful and awesome day.  I wish I could share my joy and the enthusiasm I feel right now with everyone.  Maybe it will rub off on the few that God chooses to bring into my life today.

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

It is done!

UPDATE!  it is done.  i do believe I have successfully deleted my MySpace profile and page.  It took some doing (I had to do it in the Italian language – you got me – go figure) but I do believe the deletion was successful.  Yay God.  Now I don’t have to wrestle with that on my poor conscience. 

ORIGINAL POST FOR TODAY:  I think I’m going to die of a guilty conscience now.  We’ve been learning about copyright infringement and plagiarism in my online class.  My MySpace page is FULL is graphics that I am using and that others haveposted in their comments that I know I haven’t asked permission to use.  Whaaaa….  I don’t want to die of a guilty conscience of be guilty of copyright infringement or plagiarism. do I fix this wrong on my MySpace page?  There are SO MANY graphics on it!  I could delete the whole page I guess and not use MySpace anymore.  What to do?  I don’t know what to do.  I don’t know who created the graphics so how can I ask permission to use them?  It’s been decided on in class that if it’s not your work, just don’t use it…but I have SO MANY that I do use.  I do have a note at the bottom of my page acknowledging and thanking the unknown artists.  I’m open to suggestions.  I think the best resolve for this problem would be to just delete my MySpace page.  What do you think? 

I do have a lot of MySpace friends but I really haven’t had anytime hardly since I’ve started school to even tend to the page much less interact with my friends.    I’m sad.  I don’t want to lost my page.  I don’t want to stop using those cool images.  I have no control over the graphics that my friend’s use when they leave comments.  They very well could be the artists themselves.  How would I know except for to ask each one individually before allowing them to post?  Whaaaa…..  This must be dealt with because I know its just not right to use other people’s work without their permission – at least now I know and I’m convinced of it.     I must make this wrong right and that soon!

Well, pray for me as I am praying for myself for God to have me deal with this situation wisely and in a timely fasion.  I hope and pray everyone is having a good day and that if it’s your will, no one is using your work without permission, especially me!

Peace and love, Out!  Linda

Happy 5th Birthday Rory Jaiden Vance!

Aw, today’s my granddaughter’s birthday. I’m in Corpus Christi, Texas and she is in Ceres, California.  Oh how I miss and love my babies.  I can’t wait to see them and hold them in my arms come December (God willing).  Happy Birthday my baby Rory!  I love you! God bless you sweetheart!

I confirmed the deletion of my MySpace page.  It was indeed successful.  I am thankful for that.  I know its a good thing all the way around because when I tried to edit my profile to delete it, I kept getting a pop-up window asking me if I would like to visit MySpace Italy.  I kept clicking “Cancel” and the window kept popping up.  I couldn’t escape it!  I tried countless times to escape it and cancel out of it but couldn’t. I finally opted to continue and actually had to cancel my MySpace account while viewing my profile in the Italian language!  I couldn’t convert it back to English without going through that whole pop-up window again which wouldn’t allow me to cancel out of it!  I prayed really hard about it because it was totally stressing me out as I really wanted to cancel my MySpace membership (and that whole ordeal was confirming to me that my desire to do so was valid).  Miraculously (my mother was a Mexican-American and I am somewhat familiar with the Spanish language which is very similar to Italian – THANK GOD!), I was able to figure out in the Italian language which options to click on and choose to delete my account.    What a royal pain that was!  LOL!  I have no remorse over deleting my MySpace account.  I really didn’t have time to tend to it anymore anyway.   Dunque è la vita.  (Italian translation resourced from www.freetranslation.com). 

Well, I have a busy day planned for today. Besides calling my granddaughter to wish her a happy birthday, I want to entertain a cousin of mine and her husband who are in town celebrating her birthday and I need to get some things from the grocery store to have some snacks for them to eat.  I think while I’m at the grocery store, I’ll take a picture of the price of an artichoke and post the picture here in my journal tomorrow (God willing).  I’ll bet there are very few places in this country with the price of an artichoke as high as it is here in Corpus Christi.  I do so love this little city.    God bless it!

Peace and love!  Out!  Linda

Forgive and go in peace…

I feel I have come to a very important point in my life.  At this point, I want to express my soul’s intentions and desires and my new way of feeling and living.  I have not been a perfect person in my life.  There are no perfect people, there is no perfect job or employer or employee, there is no perfect spouse or companion, there is no perfect home or place to live, there is nothing or anyone that is perfect except for our Holy Father God Almighty, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and His precious Holy Spirit, giver of our breath and being, our comforter, He who moves me and loves me.  With that said, I want to pronounce that I forgive EVERYBODY EVERYTHING that has ever been done wrong to me or that has brought me hurt, harm, or evil.  At the same time, I pray that God also forgives me everything I have ever done wrong, especially to Him, and that He will give everyone whom I have wronged or have brought hurt, harm, or evil to them to also forgive me.  I am also praying and asking God to give me the heart to forgive myself. 

I am looking forward with great anticipation and happiness to the new experiences that are in store for me.  I want everyone to know that all I am now is love and the truth has set my soul free.  I am thankful to know that no lie (whether it is believed by anyone or not) will ever change the truth.  This also brings me such great peace.  As I go forward, hand in hand as one with Almighty God, the only Father I have ever known, I go in love, joy, thanksgiving, and unspeakable wonderful peace, feelings, and thoughts that are flooding my heart, my soul, my mind, and my spirit.

To all who read this, I pray God’s blessings upon you.  If you have not been born again already, I pray this for you so that you may experience a wonderful life living, walking, and having the most beautiful relationship with our Holy Creator.  He loves to be acknowledged and He loves to be loved.  I go in love, in the name of Jesus Christ, my savior, my God, my King, my spouse, my friend, and I pray God blesses you with all the good desires of your heart. 

As I leave off writing, I implore you to please love everyone, even those who have hurt you, your enemies, and to those who just seem to be unlovable.  Please take care of those who are less fortunate than you and even those who may be as fortunate or more fortunate than you.  Everyone needs love and care.  Pray to God every morning, read your Holy Bible every day, and go in the peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So humbly and sincerely I write and pray for all these things, in Jesus’ name.