It's Monday, the beginning of another work week.  I'm a homemaker and a Pastor's wife, so Monday is usually our day off.  Once in a while we end up having to take a different day, but mostly we do Mondays.  At the end of last week I was all set up to start having fun in my room and enjoying this month doing things that make me happy.  Cool weather with clouds and rain continue into this week, which if you read my last post you understand that that means I'm in pain so--I'm still reading.  Don't get me wrong, I love to read, I just had other things I really wanted to start doing.  I was also clumsy and rammed into something that refused to move with my right shoulder.  My right hand almost instantly went numb.  Now I'm icing, heating and babying it, and yes it hurts to type, so this will also be short.  My husband has been sick since Friday evening and I think he may have given me his great cold.  I also didn't intend for my blog to always make comments about God, but He is the major person in my life, so I find I'm talking about Him more and more.  I must say I have had a GREAT desire to have a pity party.  Then He reminds me of different scriptures I've learned that remind me He doesn't allow bad things into my life without a reason.  I've been studying James in the New Testament.  One of the verses that stands out to me is where it says we are "to count it all joy when we face various trials".  I've walked with Him long enough to know I learn from tough things He allows in my life.  So, if you asked, "are we having fun yet?"  I'd have to say, "Fun--no, Joy--yes."  Life happens and when we've made up our mind to have joy--that's even better.  BUT I AM going to have fun this week.  It may take me longer.  I may smell like Tiger Balm.  I may have to use my cane to get around.  BUT  I will press on and have as much fun as my limitations allow each day.  I hope you do too!

Ugh!

I have been putting off writing, not knowing what to say.  I am a procrastinator.  There I said it, I admitted it, I've let the whole world know!  Do you ever put the fun things off thinking that you have to work through the drudgery before you have any fun?  Or am I the ONLY one?  I've been doing a lot of soul searching.  (Writing a blog seems to be a platform for this).  I tend to avoid things that bring me pleasure.  I've even discovered that I can't imagine life without pain, therefore I should avoid anything that totally removes my pain.  If it's only a little or only in the evening, it's all right for me to hurt.  My doctor is trying to adjust my arthritis medication so that I do not experience pain, which in turn will make it easier for me to exercise and do things I would like to do.  But I keep thinking it's OK at this point because it's nothing compared to what I used to experience.  Somehow being totally free of pain is a foreign concept to me that I seem to believe I don't deserve.  Did you follow all that?  Last night I was in my office/play room--the place where I have all my supplies to use  for paper crafts, painting, stamping, etc.   I enjoyed myself so much that I lost track of time until my husband came in and let me know what time it was.  I asked him then, "How come I keep avoiding coming here, when I have so much fun when I do?"  He didn't have a clue.  I think I really baffled him at that moment.  I know how baffled I am when I think about it.  Somehow, I have determined that I am going to goof off and only do fun, silly, joy inducing things for one entire month.  (obviously I still have to cook, eat, and clean the kitchen, but that's it).  So from 2:08 PM Feb. 9 until 2:08 March 9 I will play, goof off, drink coffee, have fun, be silly and experience joy.  Think I can do it?  I sure am going to try.  Want to join me?  I'll be keeping tabs here on my blog to see what I'm doing and how well I'm doing it.  Oh, and by the way, the doctor wins--I will come as close to pain free 24/7 as I can.