Uninterrupted Sleep is a Marvelous Thing

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Friendship, Just My Thoughts

I am so thankful for my faithful blog readers. 

I really appreciate your words of encouragement, your doses of wisdom and your practical solutions to my climate issues from yesterday's grumpy little post.

I had seven hours of uninterrupted sleep last night, and I feel much better this morning.  I still haven't solved all the "cold" issues (mine or Isaac's!); but I don't feel so…pathetic about them today.

I've been enjoying a few sites this week that I wanted to share with you: 

  • LouAnne, over at Momidazed is only buying necessities this month.  You'll be surprised at the things she is learning to live without!  And you'll be intrigued, I think, at the substitutions she has discovered.  My personal favorite:  The Great Chicken Shampoo Barter.
  • Heather, at Simple and Deliberate, has a great post on the Winter Blues, something I have experienced too, even here in Florida.  
  • Sharon, from Sharon's Place of Blessing, has started a new blog, and is sharing her art with us.  It's My Art Journal.  I have really enjoyed looking at the beautiful things she has done through the years.  I love to go to sites that fill my "beauty" tank, and this site definitely does that!
  • And just in case you STILL have a little Christmas money left to spend:  Christopher & Banks, and it's sister store for plus sizes CJ Banks both have a BOGO sale on sweaters today!

Well, that's it for me this morning, I think.

Rest assured that should any snow fall in my yard, there will be pictures!  They think we have a possibility of freezing rain, sleet and/or snow in the early hours in the morning (Saturday.)  We will see! 

It did snow here when I was around 10-11 years old.  One of the most exciting days of my childhood! :)  I would love to see it happen again; but I'm also aware that these temperatures are endangering much of Florida's citrus and fruit crops.  So, as the Lord wills it, is how I'm praying.

May God richly bless your weekend,

Alesha


A Grumpy Little Post

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Household, Isaac Update, What's Happening

Ok, so…

I composed an absolutely brilliant blog post…

this morning…

in the shower. 

It would've won awards, I tell you!

However, life has happened…

and the blog never did…

and now…

it is g.o.n.e!

So, we'll do a little bulleting and see how that goes.

🙂

  • Isaac has been sick
  • The doctor finally agrees that he has a sinus infection, and gave us an antibiotic
  • He has been coughing and coughing and coughing and coughing
  • I have not been getting very much sleep
  • Today, I am very grumpy

Ok, so that was the first thing I wanted to share.

Here's the second:

  • It is COLD in Florida
  • Really, really cold for days on end
  • I do not own enough long sleeved shirts for a week of cold weather
  • Go figure!
  • Also, my ankles have not been warm for about 6 days.  I also don't own knee socks.
  • I have 2 pairs of long pjs (fortunately they are both fleece)
  • I am C.O.L.D!!!
  • And I am not ashamed of that, either! 🙂

And here's some other random things:

  • Isaac loves his new Mary Poppins video
  • He is finally feeling a little bit better after the 4 days of fever ended
  • I got all the Christmas decor put away over the weekend, thanks to my helpful hubby
  • My "creamy nutmeg" Harry Slatkin candle is so yummy it makes my mouth water
  • It might snow here over the weekend
  • I have taken all my vitamins EVERY day for over 10 days – a new record for me!
  • I knocked my computer off the table today, and pieces fell off and parts fell out.  It was awful.  I started hyperventilating.  I felt a little dizzy.  My life flashed before my eyes.
  • God is gracious, and the parts went back in and packing tape is holding the pieces on.
  • I am NOT looking forward to the next month's electricity bill, after running our a/c heater for this many days in a row
  • I have been taking oil of oregano (since I got sick over Christmas with a nasty winter cold) and it is wonderful stuff.  I think it is really helping me feel better.
  • Well, except for today…because I am TOO COLD
  • And I NEED a NAP!!!

Sigh…I know this hasn't been the most uplifting blog post.  I tried to mix some positives with the negatives.  I am grateful for a heater that works!  And clean clothes.  And that Isaac is feeling better.  Here, maybe this will make you feel better:

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My mom's pretty petunias in bloom for the holidays 😉

Are YOU staying warm?  And getting enough sleep?  Oh, and don't forget to take your vitamins, too!

Blessings,

Alesha

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Just My Thoughts

My pastor says that some things we feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do. 

Talking about politics is not something I usually feel compelled to do.

However, Ray Stevens has condensed many of my opinions into his latest song, so I thought I would share it here.

Enjoy!!!  Feel free to pass it along, should you feel so compelled. 🙂

Reflecting on 2009

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

The new year is usually a time for reflection.  Yesterday I read many blog posts and Facebook statuses written by folks who were looking back on the old year and looking forward to the new one.

Here at our house, we did not spend much time in deep reflection yesterday.  We were too busy caring for our son who was very ill.  We found out that you don't have much time for ruminating when you are busy counting hours between asthma treatments, keeping track of medication dosages and reading thermometers.

I did take a few minutes this morning, though, to think briefly about last year.  It was not an easy one for me personally.  I spent many weeks of 2009 bed-ridden or home-bound due to health issues.  I have not been able to care for my son on my own for several months now, and am not able to do much by way of housekeeping either.

However, it would be very untruthful for me to say that 2009 was a hard year.

Honestly, it was a year of great peace in my home.  We have leaned hard on the Lord, and found Him infinitely faithful.

I have also felt His great peace personally in my heart and soul this year.  God has been very real and close to me.

It must be said, however, that this year of peacefulness did not come about because we are very spiritual people.

It happened because we are very simple people.

  • God said, "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."  (Psalm 73:1)

So we believed that He was good.

  • God said, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  (Psalm 118:8)

So we trusted Him.

  • God said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."  (Psalm 37:23)

So we followed Him.

  • God said, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  (I Peter 5:7)

So we did not worry over the future.

A peaceful life is simple:  Just believe what God says about Himself.

I wonder…

What will God teach us about Himself in 2010?

I look forward to finding out. 🙂

A Few Of My New Favorite Things

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Food and Drink, Holiday

Some of you probably have a gift card burning a hole in your pocket right now.  Or maybe you were blessed with a little cold, hard cash in your Christmas stocking.

So, I thought I'd share a couple of new things I've found this week! 

I bought this for myself with some of my Christmas money:

I love it…alot!!!  It truly holds up to all the hype. 

I am really, really pleased with my purchase, and I am happy that I finally took the plunge to buy myself a quality product to put on my face.  On this side of 40, my skin needs all the help it can get!

(By the way, this price is the lowest I found for this particular kit.  I went to the mall for mine, but Amazon has it too. This is the "fair" kit, so if you click through, be sure to look for the shade that you need.)

We also found this at the Whole Foods store:

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Can I just say…"Wow!"  It is delicious…not too hot, just a little "kick" with the chilies.  Really tasty.  My new favorite chocolate!

Isaac opened up this little guy on Christmas morning:

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akconklisxang-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B001W1R176

He was really taken with him, as you can see:  not quite sure what to think of him, but definitely interested! 

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He tells stories and jokes, sings songs, flaps his hands, stands up,
sits down, falls over, etc.  He might be a bit intense for
really little ones, but Isaac wasn't frightened of him at all.  Isaac also
didn't experience that "startle reflex" when it turned on (for those of
you with special needs kiddos that might have wondered that.)

So, there you have a few of my NEW favorite things! 

Blessings,

Alesha

Christmas Eve Outing

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Holiday, Isaac Update, What's Happening

On Christmas Eve, Isaac had a doctor's appointment in Orlando.  We thought we'd take you along on our trip.

Here we are at the doctor's office.  Doug is getting Isaac's chair all set up.

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Isaac was waiting patiently.

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Grammy's latest invention for keeping Isaac's toys on his lap and off the floor.

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Getting all strapped in and ready to go.

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See?  Isaac was in a great mood, and so excited to have a "Fun Day" out.

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We had to stop for the photo op!

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When taking Isaac's picture, you either get eyes open, or a smile:  never both at the same time!

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Here we are in the waiting room.  We were seeing his gastroenterologist. (tummy doctor)

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Since July, Isaac has gained 3.5 pounds, and grown 3 inches!  He is getting so tall!!!

We decided to try out the new Super Target after our appointment.

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They aren't kidding about the "super" part.  This is how you get to the parking lot:

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Now, if you are wondering, like I was, how in the world you got your groceries to your car on the third level of the parking garage, wonder no longer!!!

An escalator for the buggies!!!

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Afterward, we had lunch at Red Lobster.  I know it looks like my camera is out of focus.  It isn't…notice the inanimate objects are in focus.  It's only the wiggly Ike who is a big blur!

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After lunch, as we headed to the mall (on Christmas Eve!!!  what were we thinking???) we noticed that Isaac needed to be changed.  Have you ever wondered how we managed to change a 4'5" boy when we are not at home?

First we find a remote area of a parking lot that has shrubbery like this?

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Then we unload the wheelchair and clear out the back part of the truck.  (We do NOT use the rope to tie up Isaac!!!  I don't really know why Doug has that back there! LOL!!!)

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Then Daddy brings Isaac around, lays him on the pad, and we take care of business.

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Putting Isaac back in his seat:  Feeling ALL better now!

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Here are the state troopers on security detail at the mall:  Notice they are double parked!!!

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Some of the beautiful decorations in the mall. 

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It was insanely busy in the mall.  I had to keep hold of Doug's shirt so that we didn't get separated.  People wouldn't even budge for Isaac's chair sometimes.  (My husband, however, does not let people get away with that.  He just stands still until they move.  It's amazing how people lack basic manners these days.)

We walked one half of the mall, then had to stop for liquid fortification:

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After that I was able to walk the second half of the mall, and get myself out to the truck where I took the above picture in honor of the substance that had sustained me! LOL!

Even Isaac looked a little bit tuckered out after our full day.

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We had such a wonderful day out, even though the crowds were so big.  It was fun to be a part of the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  There have been many years that we didn't even see a mall decorated for Christmas because we never had the opportunity to go, or Isaac didn't feel well enough to go.  So we were grateful we were all having a good day all around.

Our Christmas was wonderful, too.  We all were blessed with lovely gifts from people who love us.  I'll share some of those pics later.

Did you all have a good Christmas too?  I'd love to hear about it!

Blessings,

Alesha