Stuff That Matters in Life

We had a lot of struggles re-doing our backyard.

My husband and I disagreed a lot. I just want to get it done ASAP while he was taking forever planning it out, getting estimates, etc etc. I say, just do it!

The only thing I wanted was to have a clean open space to have a BBQ and have people over. We are not fancy, we don’t have a big budget for hardscape, we kept it really simple. I haven’t put in any plants. But now we have a table and seating area. That’s all I need.

We’ve been having people over. Tonight we have a few young couples that we mentor. The international students are coming July 4 and Awana Core Team will be here next week.

I love to have people over, but nowadays, I am a bit stressed by the excitement. Actually it’s not much. I rotate a few menu items, nothing fancy. I pray that God will give me strength and for his glory.

On the list before the summer is over are my neighbors, friends with kids, another group of young couples, English staff.

Oh, I’m also excited we got our windows cleaned! Including window screens, inside and out. I can’t believe how everything is so clear now! We haven’t cleaned them in more than 10 years. Totally worth the $220.

I scored my first senior discount yesterday.

Mike and I went on an overnight getaway to Big Bear Lake. Since we haven’t been to Sizzlers in decades, we decided to be nostalgic and have dinner there. And as I said in a previous post, cashiers never offer me the senior discount. Sure I am slightly flattered, only slightly because I want to get the discount! So I asked how old I have to be to get the senior discount – she answered 60. I qualify. She was shocked. I got a free salad and drink 🙂

I asked for the discount for the chair lift ride at Snow Summit. Unfortunately the age was 65. Didn’t score that one.

I decided being out in the open in nature helps me destress. Walking or some other activity also relaxes me. The thought of sitting in my office is stressing me already. Maybe I’ll try taking my laptop somewhere else to work. I actually like my office with a tall window so maybe I just have to take more breaks.

I also decided if I go to Big Bear again I will take the long way that is less winding. I felt car sick on the way up.

I thank God for my husband who is not particular about where we go or what we do. He’s easily satisfied and happy anywhere.

I hate making travel decisions. After several round of researching locations for an overnight getaway – San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside (I know, why Riverside), or just anywhere with a bed & breakfast, we booked a cheap motel in Big Bear Lake. It is nothing like what I was looking for haha. This proves people don’t know what they really want in life.

Had some good conversations with people, grateful to have Friday nights off. But I was tempted to go to the TURF end of the year party just to hang out. But I didn’t have enough motivation to get me out the door.

Last night I had the same struggle with motivation. I wanted to attend the China Source sharing about China, but without a tangible reason to go ie someone expecting me there, I almost didn’t go. I did end up going because I carpooled with my daughter – she was going to fellowship at church anyway. The China sharing was good, and got a chance to pray for China in specific ways that was mentioned. I am glad I went. If I went to TURF tonight, I’d probably be glad I went too. Instead I’m going to wash my hair now.

My son and DIL invited us to dim sum and Huntington Library, so we were more than happy to give up our usual Monday run to Costco.

I had a Huntington Library membership a couple of years ago, but decided to take a break from it after the year was over. We renewed it today and I’m glad. Whenever I go there, I feel relaxed. Maybe it’s the walking, maybe it’s better air quality with all the plants, maybe it’s the beauty of nature. Maybe it just seems to be another world there where I do not even think about all the stuff I have to do. All I do is marvel at God’s creative powers in the variety of plants. It’s like being on vacation.

Of course being with my kids always makes me happy. When I’m happy, I don’t feel stress or anxiety.

I made my husband tape his mouth shut last night…all because of google.

I google mouth breathing and read that it’s not harmless. In fact, it can affect your blood pressure, which is my husband’s problem that I’m concerned about. All the searches said to tape your mouth shut to stop this habit.

Lo and behold, he said he slept better last night. I hope his sleep will continue to improve and his blood pressure lowered. Thanks google search.

When talking about adoption today, one of the boys took me by surprise and said, “I have a birth mom.” Later I asked him privately what he meant. He has a birth mom and a stepmom. Makes me love this kid more knowing what he has had to go through.

Yesterday I had lunch with a family whose dad has cancer. I can’t handle the sad things of life.

Maybe that’s why I felt off today – kind of tense, which gave me a headache. I didn’t have any more than the usual stuff today. I don’t know what God is teaching me through the anxiety I’ve been feeling. Am I suppose to just pray more? I am going to ask God to show me what this means, what is causing this, and what I should do about it. How can I relax more and keep that posture?

I want to try acupuncture. The idea scares me, but I do believe in it, so I am willing to do it now to see if that will help.

I thank God for my mother-in-law for being such a servant – washing dishes, helping where needed.

My way to prep for a Bible study or sermon is to mull it over for a couple of weeks. Then on the Thursday before the Sunday, I sit down and type it out. This week it didn’t happen. I didn’t have a clear direction. I spent Thursday writing drafts, but I didn’t like it.

On Thursday night, as I was having my quiet time, I asked God again, what is the most important truth the children need to know this Father’s day? There are so many ways I can go with this. Then God impressed upon me that I need to highlight the character of the Father. I was pretty excited about it. I spent my QT reading about what God revealed about who he is.

On Friday, I wrote out the sermon. I feel good about it.

It’s only a 20 minute sermon for the children, and no one would appreciate it more than me! It will come off very simple, but to me, it’s deep. The children won’t know how much teaching them actually makes me grow.

I heard on the radio that obedience to God is evidence of our faith in God. My sermon reminds me that we would not obey God unless we have have full confidence in God’s love for us.