You would have laughed at my adventure. Last Saturday we were in the middle of a heatwave and it was already 102 degrees, at noon, where I live. My boyfriend and I took a trip up to the mountains where it would be cooler at 86 degrees. When I arrived, I immediately felt relaxed, and enjoyed breathing in the fresh air. The weather was so wonderful compared to the 114 degrees we felt a day earlier. We took out our cameras and took shots of the beautiful trees and relaxing lake. We were having a wonderful, peaceful time together.
Then all of a sudden, my boyfriend looked toward the lake, and noticed that their was a storm. It was down pouring on the lake and would soon be coming toward us. I grabbed my camera and made sure it was protected yet quickly and gently placed in the camera bag. I kept it with me so it wouldn't get ruined. (This is the day I learned that my camera bag is water proof. Thank God for that!!!) 
When the rain let up we decided we better hurry to the car. As we got to the parking lot, there were some little rivers due to the downpour and I noticed one poor guy who had just finished putting his boat in his truck. He was completely soaked. This year I have had several changes in my life in the pet world..
Last November 17, my fur baby Buttons had to be put down because of his declining health. I grieved but I needed a pet companion so I adopted a cat late last year from the animal shelter who I didn't know was so sick. She had ringworm and sarcoptic mange which she gave me both. At the beginning of the year I had to clean my whole house from top to bottom, twice, due to those incidents. ...which also means cleaning every single clothing and linen in my entire house. I was so exhausted.
Then my health was being compromised due to the cat so I gave her to a friend who wanted to keep her in spite of (and help her with) all her health issues. I ended up with another beautiful and very talented cat but he missed his owners so much that he cried loudly which increased my headaches to migraines. So I sadly had to return him.
Then I was given a cat in April who I now call my fur baby. Little Gracie is such a delight and her silly antics keep me laughing. I've had her for 7 months now and she finds ways to get my attention. She has given me a love bite in the buttox (lol) to opening my cabinet doors just to get my attention if she wants to eat or for me to pet her. I have woken up to her laying soundly asleep on my tummy and sometimes I wake up to her outstretched on my hip when I'm on my side. She has licked my arm with her sandpaper tongue and pulls at my hair with her tiny teeth.
She also has a way of communicating as she is very vocal but her cute, yet quite voice brings laughter to my ears and heart. Don't let her cuteness get you though, she tends to put her teeth softly around my wrist as to tell me when she's done needing petted or she just wants to be left alone. My former cat, Buttons, didn't have any teeth so I forgot what love bites and warnings felt like. Lol
It has now been a year that Buttons has been gone and I sure miss that little toothless, 20 year old Fur Baby (or should I call him Grandpaw. He was around 96 years old in feline years). Yet if I didn't let him go, I would have never had a chance to meet my little 3 1/2 year old Gracie who we share the same birthday.... (oh by the way, before I changed Gracie's name, it was Ethel and her sister's name is Lucy which is funny because sometimes I feel like Lucy and Ethel when I get in my silly moods). Gracie is such a delight and I'm grateful that she is my pet companion after all I had to go through with the pet changes.
Signing off,
The mother of Ethel Magillicutty a.k.a Gracie
Here are some scriptures on pain and suffering that my church used in their daily devotion this week.
Christ suffers when we suffer. He knows our pains and stressors.
"In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He LIFTED them up and CARRIED them all the days of old. "Isaiah 63:9
"Record my lament (deep sorrow or cry); list my tears on your scroll -- are they not in your record." Psalms 56:8
"We are hard pressed on every side but NOT crushed; perplexed, but NOT in despair, persecuted, but NOT abandoned; struck down, but NOT destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2 Corinthians 4: 8-10
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange was happening to you. But REJOICE that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be OVERJOYED WHEN HIS GLORY IS REVEALED." 1 Peter 4:12-13
Man made water fountains,
Buildings and towers.
God created huge mountains,
Oceans and flowers.
Man made fruit pie with flaky crust,
Steeples, and a baby crib.
God created man out of dust,
And woman from man's rib.
Man made I-pods, Tvs, smart phones,
Robots, planes, and extravagant cars.
God created blood and hardy bones,
Heaven, earth, and spectacular stars.
Man can appear so strong, confident and brave,
And be knowledgeable and do great works.
God is greater and has sent Jesus who does save
The world from sin and has some great perks.
Man can have a life filled with an amazing love,
Because God sent his Son to die on a cross many moons ago.
God's unconditional grace was poured from above
Just accept Christ, confess your sins, and there is nothing you owe.
Man can be guided (by God), through a process and blossom,
and be strengthened by Him every day.
God will commune with you on earth and in Heaven. That's awesome!
And will be with you every step of the way.
Happy Easter
March 27, 2016
2:16 am
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
***my interpretation***
The Lord is my king and guide. I will enjoy goodness all of my life.
He makes me rest and be secured in a flourishing life.
He leads me to a resting place.
He revives me and restores my soul; He guides me to his will to bring honor to his name.
Even when I walk through difficult times that seems too hard to bear, I will not fear evil for you are always with me; your guidance, correction, protection, and support, reassures me.
You provide for me even in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil as an honored guest; my blessings overflow.
Blessings of goodness and love will pursue me all of my life,
And I will live in God presence forever. (Hallelujah!!!)
" LOVE must be sincere. HATE what is evil; CLING to what is good. BE DEVOTED to one another in love. HONOR one another above yourselves. NEVER BE LACKING IN ZEAL but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. BE JOYFUL in hope, PATIENT in affliction, FAITHFUL in prayer. SHARE with the Lord’s people who are in need. PRACTICE hospitality."
Romans 12:9-13
As I was reading this passage during my devotions for my church, I noticed that it says to be PATIENT IN AFFLICTION. Wow, that just sounds difficult. Not only do we deal with the affliction but we have to be patient in it too. Maybe we should be asking God for even more strength because patience can be hard work. I know I have to continually work at patience; it doesn't come naturally for me.
Affliction alone can be time consuming, painful, exhausting....now add patience to it. It will either break us or make us into a better person. I think taking time to relax, breathe deeper, think of the other person first, prioritize what's important in life, and not be so rushed, may help us be more patient in our days. (I am speaking to myself as well).
May we strive to be patient in painful circumstances and/or when dealing with pain in our own body.
In the scripture above, it says: "...but keep your spiritual favor..."
Keep your spiritual intense, passionate feeling. Keep yourself in tune with God and don't be afraid to have a deep intimate connection with him where he knows all of your deep desires and where He can show you what He desires for you.
Living for God is a life long journey, thankfully it gets easier when we reach heaven.
Kudos to my eye Dr today. As I signed in for my eye exam, the receptionist said that my benefits for my eye glasses won't be available until September (and today is only February).
Instead of wasting my money on my eye appointment, I canceled it and decided to come back in September. Well my ophthalmologist, who I have had for years, called my name. When I told him what happened, he knelt down beside me and asked if my eyes were ok.
He acknowledged that I have major eye problems and wanted to make sure that there weren't any new eye problems. (He knows of the floaters, the shadows, the optic atropy, and all the other eye problems I have, including that when I see things that it's like looking through a sheer curtain. The doctors are baffled in this area and don't know how to fix it. We discussed about how I had been tested by one of the best Kaiser eye specialists in southern California and they can't find anything wrong).
After we discussed that there's no cure for my eyes, he gave me a big smile and said that I was a special person. As I laughed, I told him that I know because that is what all my doctors say to me with all the great health issues I have.
This ophthalmologist made my day and I told him how grateful I was for taking the time to talk to me. He could have just walked away when I canceled my appt, but he didn't. He truly showed me that he cared.
Thank you, God, for people who go out of their way, especially for people like me, who are "special."
There is just something about hearing a purring cat or watching a dog's tail wag that can put a smile on a person's face. Some even like to be licked in the face; but not I.
Petting our furry friends can lift our spirits. They tend to do funny things that makes us crack a smile. I am a lover of those funny cat videos. I tend to watch them if I'm down or sad, at times. They will lift me up and make me want to laugh or smile.
There are even organizations who take therapy dogs into nursing homes to help cheer up the residents.
When a person doesn't have children, like myself, an animal can be more than just a pet. It becomes a baby, a fur baby. My cat, Buttons, who I had to put down a few months ago due to his failing health, was my baby. Then after he died, my place seemed so empty. I have stuff in my home like electronics, books, art supplies to do my hobbies, etc...but it wasn't the same without Buttons.
It's been three months without him and I miss the little things he used to do like laying on the remote controls when I wanted to change the channel. Also he would lay on my cell phone when it were ringing. Sometimes I would miss a call from a friend because I couldn't get him off of the cell phone. I miss him on my Bible as I tried to turn the page and couldn't because he was laying on it. I also miss his different ways of saying meow. He would say "magow" instead, when he wanted something. I miss that friend and companion, even though he was an animal.
I think pet companions are important especially for people who have physical pain. Soon, I will be adopting another furry friend who will become my fur baby. I can not wait for that day when I will have another pet companion to fill my home.
