St. Nicholas' Day

Happy St. Nicholas' Day! Wow, there's a huge temptation. Several bags of candy on the dining room table, a holiday to excuse eating the candy. I have to stay out of that room until the candy is gone. Once I start, I won't be able to stop, and there will be no candy left for anyone else.

There's something about December 6th that keeps coming into my mind, like today will be significant somehow. I have my suspicions but won't report until later. When I came downstairs today and checked my phone, there was a text from a friend. She said that in her devotion this morning, I was heavy on her heart, and she asked God for a verse for me. The verse is Philippians 4:6-7: Do not worry about anything, but instead pray for everything. In prayer and supplication, make your needs known to God. Then the peace which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." I didn't even have to look it up. What a blessing to have a friend like that.

On to the day, a day that feels heavy to me and has felt so for over a week. An odd intuition, perhaps? We'll see.

No Gifts This Year

We have decided not to give each other gifts again, my husband and I. Last year I thought it was a suggestion and made the mistake of buying him a jacket that he really needed. It upset him because he hadn't gotten me anything. This year we will have clear guidelines.

We've already spoken with the kids about adopting a needy family, the same one we helped last year. They aren't poor. Mom has a job. Since last year, Dad has left the home, and so their one-income situation continues. The overwhelming majority of my students qualify for aid and will land on one Christmas list or another, but these folks won't. So, we'll help them. I've known Mom and all three kids for nearly 3 years, and we have to help them have a Christmas. It's a joy to bless others and to think about blessing them. This is a great way to prepare my heart for the arrival of Jesus.

When I give a gift this year, I want it to be worthy of the Christ Child.

My Beautiful Gamma

This photo was taken in March 2004, several months after I found my birth family. Here you see my birth mother and grandparents in North Carolina. The first words my Gamma said to me on the phone were, "Your birthday is March 2nd, right?" I said, "Yes, ma'am." Gamma said, "I love you, and I have always prayed for you on your birthday." It was no surprise because I knew all those 39+ years that someone had been praying for me. It was Gamma.

Four years ago, my Gamma had a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on the left side. She has been declining ever since. I took the kids to NC for a visit in 2008, and I said, "I love you, Gamma." She said, "I love you, too." Those are the last words she said to me. We went for a visit in October, and she couldn't speak or respond. Now her time has come to go to Heaven, and we are waiting and praying for her peaceful passage. Once there, we know that she will speak directly with Christ on our behalf. Gamma's kinda bossy. I'm so glad to have had my beautiful Gamma in my life these last 8 years.

I Said I Would Commit...

I tried an experiment on Wednesday. I took my meds at the regular time, except for the Seroquel. I waited to take that until just before bed. I didn't have the gnawing need to nibble on food all evening. Yesterday, in contrast, I took all of my medication and nibbled all evening. I'm going to try taking the Seroquel later, like just before I'm ready to go to sleep.

The trade-off is that I don't just fall asleep automatically, so I'll have to plan to go to bed at a certain time. Staying up too late is another problem entirely.

I guess committing to write during Advent is turning out to be a pretty great idea so far. More tomorrow.

A Better Day

Yesterday, a colleague came to me and said that she had heard what I said about her. She asked me, in the future, to come to her directly if we need to talk. I realized, yet again, that I have messed up. I should have come to her. In my mind, I set up a situation in which I thought she would be so unreceptive that it would be impossible to talk. That is hardly ever the case. I am still waiting to grow up enough to go to a person when the exchange may be difficult. I'm grateful that she came to me to clear the air, and I will tell her so today. She is a valuable colleague, and we had a wonderful professional exchange later in the day.

Eating was better yesterday. I consumed 31 points and had 11 activity points, so that was a good day. Still can't work out because of injury, and I'm fighting a cold/laryngitis thing. It will be better when exercise is an option.

I'm happy that December is here: Come, Lord Jesus!