Day 3

Today is day 3. You know when you work out - and the next day your sore, but the day after that, you are REALLY sore?? Well I'm not sore, but I feel like I'm definitely more swollen than I was yesterday. Today I'm feeling kind of - melancholy... I think I'm just tired. I have class tonight, after a busy day of work - maybe we'll go to bed early again! I am thankful though - God has given me an opportunity to open doors and talk honestly about skin cancer - and about HIM -
I also have an incredible husband - who is so kind. Yep - God is good!

After my shower - and ice pack this morning.


Doesn't look too bad at a distance, still can't smile - There is also a bit of bruising under the band-aid...

Day 2 PM

Today was pretty good, for the most part! I got a lot of "WHAT happened to your lip??" questions.... funny how when I said that Craig backhanded me, every one responded with, "It's about time!" What's up with that? :) I stayed busy most of the day, and then about 12:30 or so, had had enough. I think it was the emotional let down. I still know that it's not bad - but I think at the same time it's a bit traumatic- to have your face cut on.... (Even if your husband thinks your lopsided smile is cute!) I'm finding more and more people though, that NEED to get to the doctor to have something checked. I hope that they all take it seriously and DO IT!

I took a picture of the red mark on my chest - because THIS is what basel cell looks like on me... Not anything like the pictures on Web MD - which are really disgusting... The only reason this even has anything that appears to be raised is they did a biopsy and put 2 stitches in it last week. Guess that's about it for now - I was going to upload a picture of me now... but I'm a mess.... My brother responded to my blog earlier..and made me cry... :) He's such a bully! And I love him very much!

Day 2

I slept great last night! Tylenol PM is a miracle drug! After posting last night, we headed off to bed. The new pillow's we bought also worked wonders! I slept really well, after finally falling asleep. Snoozed for about 30 minutes this morning, before finally getting up. First things first - had to take the bandage off to see how hideous I looked.... (Yep, even before making coffee) The stitches are vertical, not quite where I thought they'd be, but it's supposed to help reconstruct that little bridge/bump thing that runs between your nose and lip. My lip is still pretty swollen, kind of like collagen gone bad, but it's not as bad as it was yesterday. After inspecting my face....I made my coffee, and ran a bath. Cuddled up with my warm husband and a cold ice pack while the bath was running... Actually, not a bad way to start the morning!

Got my bath - without hurting myself... (yep, I'm impressed too!) After drying off, Nurse Lackey put some medicine on my lip - a mixture of biafine (a topical emulsion, whatever that is!) and neosporin, and then we diligently picked through the box for just the right bandaid!

Here I am at work - I can't really smile yet, but I am feeling oh so much better!

Interview

I don't know that I can say this enough, but my husband is incredible. Last week, he told me that he had a job interview on Tuesday (3/17/09) for a company that outsources for the Prisons. Being a nurse in the prison system isn't really my first choice for him. However, on Saturday, I read Ephesians Chapter 6 -

Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."^a]">[a] ⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, ⁸because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

⁹And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²²I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

²³Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16

This just totally spoke to me... My husband will not become hard, because He loves the Lord with all of his heart, and is faithful in what he does. He is a true servant of Jesus....and maybe, if he begins working at Corcoran, God has a plan to use him to reach the men in the prison.

Our Lord is SO Good!

Homegrown Housewife: Rocotillo Pepper Pasta Salad with White Baslamic Dressing

Homegrown Housewife: Rocotillo Pepper Pasta Salad with White Baslamic Dressing

Awesome recipes here!!!

Ephesians

I'm still working through Ephesians. I've almost finished the Frazzled Female study at First Assy... I have really enjoyed this study, other than the fact that God has to teach me something new each and every week. It's sometimes a little scary - when I read the title of the upcoming chapter! And here I was - thinking I had things together! Boy, was I ever so wrong!!

Today's reading was still Eph 1 - 3 Step 5 included looking at the word riches - and writing down everything that I learned from it.

(My paraphrases)

2:4 - God is rich is mercy because He loves us.
2:7 He died so that He could come to us - this many years later - to show us the riches of his grace and kindness

• What have I done - that will benefit anyone in 2000 years? I think that possibly, if the Lord tarries, praying for my students, and their lives - and the lives of those that come afterwords, might have some effect?

3:16 - Riches of His Glory - ALL of the references to "rich" in Ephesians 1-3 refer to our sttus in Jesus Christ. regardless of my earthly status - liked, not liked, rich, poor, smart, beautiful, fat, ugly - regardless of what the world says I am - I am RICH in Christ Jesus...

When I think of a rich person - it appears that they have everything they need to live comfortable, happy lives. From our perspective (those of us not on the rich side of finances) being made rich - solves our problems. It doesn't mean that rich people don't have hurdles to hop over - illnesses - death - that affects us all - regardless of our eternal heritage - or our earthly financial status.... BUT - because I am rich in Christ - or because HE has made me rich in Him - I have EVERYTHING I need to live a loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, self-controlled life. EVERYTHING....

/Formerly/

How did I live before salvation?
2:1 Dead in transgression and sin - the prince of power, of the air works in the sons of disobedience. I lived under his power - as exhibited by lusts of flesh and lusts of the mind. I was a child of wrath, separated from Christ, a stranger to the covenant of promise, without hope and without God. I was far off, a stranger and an alien.

After I am saved - I live under the blood of Jesus. I am alive, an heir, hopeful, made rich in him. I have bold and confident access through faith in Him. Every family on earth derives their name from God - every family - including mine. Including my kids and my brother and nephew.

Reading chapter 2, in light of how we live before salvation, seems to me, a great way to pray for non believers.

Heavenly Father - I lift up to you those that are dead in sin. Father, I pray that you bind the prince of the power of the air, that he may not be able to work in the lives of my children - or Tony and Alan. Father, I think you for loving them, and giving them their name, long ago. Father, I also lived the same way, indulging the desires of my flesh and mind. Forgive me when I continue to do so. Thank you Lord for your blood, the your mercy and grace. Thank you Lord, that you've changed my heart. I thank you for your word Lord.

Team Mother Load: A tasty black bean salad

Team Mother Load: A tasty black bean salad

Might try this tonight!