Life Is Beautiful

I had something profound in my brain earlier today - but I think it got lost somewhere between trying to figure out what to feed everyone for lunch, trying to rest a little and having my eyes kissed by our 2yo, a trip to the grocery store and a mad rush to make Pizza Bites for the church fellowship tonight. Through the great mouth pain I have been in the last two weeks, something terrible occurred to me. The first tooth that I had out really effected me, emotionally. I wasn't happy to have another one out. I asked for prayer. The extraction was HORRIBLE. Drilling and breaking, a freak-out with the laughing gas. Then I've suffered with dry socket and the packing and extraction of sterile dressing in and out of the wound for almost 2 weeks. It's been very difficult. Did no one pray for me? I know that sounds horribly selfish, but the thought did cross my mind today. I know that my husband, likely, did. Maybe my Mom, my sister. And does it really matter if they praye...

I am constantly amazed when I see people smoking. How can you STILL not know how bad that is for you!? I started smoking when I was 14 and puffed away until age 29. When I was 20 or so, smoking was outlawed in public places in my state. At age 23, my Dad died of lung cancer from smoking. I continued to struggle and puff away until, finally, the Lord removed my desire to smoke. No kidding. I'll tell the story some time - it's kooky...and if you ever smoked, you'd know my quitting couldn't be from any other power. Anywho - as an athlete, now - when I run through a cloud of cigarette smoke, it makes me gag. It's not just the stinky smell, and toxic fumes, but I get a little miffed. I NEED my lungs! I understand (and care) that my lungs take in oxygen and it is passed on to my muscles. My muscles (my heart!) are needed to use those legs for running and biking, and my arms for swimming. My lungs might be the most important organ in my body for all of the ac...

I've been talking to the Lord lately about my concerns, of course. I wonder if he's tired of my whining, or what, because yesterday I got blessings poured out like crazy! I had a visitor around lunch time that brought some games and puzzles that her children were done with. Very nice, as this lady lives on the other side of town. Also, we've had some super-duper hot days and the children have had to stay indoors. Perfect timing for new games and puzzles! Later, as I was making dinner, another kind woman stopped by with some fresh produce from her garden! This is the second bushel (no, really I'll bet there was a bushel of them) of green beans she's brought in a week! She also brought some wonderful beets and some dill worms in an ice cream bucket for the kids to watch. Last summer, she brought those dill worms and the kids were so impressed with how they changed into butterflies! As if that wasn't enough - I rushed off to a meeting after supper and the h...