Cool pic or what???

This was taken by my friend, Francisco. He's got a lot of really amazing photos. I seem to be the only person that really appreciates them. LOL

Or at least the only one that tells him how much I like them. He says some day we'll go to this cave, but it is in Paige Arizona and it's a 6 hour trip. LOL.

Still, it would be really awesome to see it in person.

Just talked to my friend Katrina who lost 4 members of her extended family in the Tsunami in Samoa on Tuesday. It's so sad. So hard. They just had no warning. The earthquake happened and nobody thought there would be a Tsunami, so they all just went about their business, and the warning siren went off but the Tsunami hit within a minute after the siren.

Her aunt and uncle and their 2 year old baby were drowned in the truck and the other child who is, I think 4, was washed out to sea.

Just so very, very sad.

I hope to travel someday to see the world before it is all devastated by natural disasters.

There's always a rainbow....

This pic is taken by my friend Donna who is on vacation visiting Niagra.

I'm feeling such overwhelming feelings lately... it's really affecting me. I am not sleeping well. I keep waking up at 1:32am. And can't go back to sleep.

My back pain is getting worse and I have nothing stronger to take than Tylenol or Advil which just isn't cutting it. But I don't want to go back on Lortab.

I'll muddle through. I will find a way. :)

Shhhhh it's a secret!

4 years ago I bought my very first car... (well first that I did all by myself) and it was a 2004 Hyundai XG350 luxury car named Gwendolyn. I LOVED that car. I babied that car. But it has problems with getting flat tires and I had 9 blow outs in 2 years, so I thought it was cursed and I sold the car.

I've been driving my 2000 Cavalier for awhile which is a piece of junk car, but it got me where I needed to go. I had promised that car to my son when he got his license. Well, he got his license last month.

Friday, I was looking for an XG350 (they are VERY hard to find these days) and lo and behold, I found one, for a REALLY great deal. At that same point in time my son offered me more money for the Cavalier than it is even worth, and I took him up on it. So that gave me a really excellent down payment.

I got my new (well, used) XG350!! This one, I think, is a guy. My other was a white car, with a tan interior and her name was Gwendolyn. This one is silver exterior and black leather interior and I think it's got a "male" personality. It hasn't told me it's name yet.... we're still getting to know each other. (am I weird that my cars tell me what their names are????)

My Cavalier is named "Wilson" and it's a guy.

Anyhow.... I am excited. If I cancel my cable/internet/phone (which I don't use anyway) then that will make more than half of my monthly payment and I can handle the rest by budgeting better. I also anticipate a raise at the end of the year. I've got one every single year, and this year I have been working really hard and taken on more responsibility, so I am pretty sure I will be ok.

Plus, in April my stock matures and I can sell it if I need to.

So, I am really happy. It feels so good to drive that car!! I have missed my Gwendolyn so much!!!

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done...."

"but when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there," said the boy.

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quiety. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."

The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, "....damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said, "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered and said, "The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine.

His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow..."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for he ahs done his duty. I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."

The surgeon wept....

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?'

"Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

ahhhhhhh

After three weeks of waiting we learned the results of Karin's biopsy. She has what they called "Pseudo lymphoma" which basically means the thing they cut off her LOOKED like a malignant lymphoma but it was NOT. Whew!

I saw my pain doc today for the last time unless I need more injections. I'm off Lortab. Have been off it since July. I'm trying to just control pain with over the counter stuff. Works most days. I will never be pain free but I have it at a manageable level. I can deal with that.