Full Armor of God

It is officially summer.  School ended two weeks ago.  Mike took the first week off with the girls before summerblast started.  They helped a lot of people who needed physical labor. 
My dad for one.  Dad and Linda got a divorce about 2 months ago.  They had been married almost 10 years.  Divorce is so hard no matter what.  It is heart-breaking.  They put their house on the market to sell and it sold in about 1 month.  Which was great for dad, not so much for Linda because she didn't have a plan on where she and Jordan and all the cats and dogs were going to live.
Mike went to help dad move out an entertainment center and noticed that the entire house was still put together...and they were closing on it in 3 days.  So we went over and helped Linda and dad pack up her things and then move into an apartment.
My heart just broke for her.  I was a little angry at my dad.  I know there are two sides to every story, but he is the leader of the house.  I feel like they did not do all they could to save the marriage--namely, get Christian counseling to guide them with their issues and turning to God.
I believe that God saves marriages.  I know He does.  He did for us and we will give God the glory for delivering us.  Marriage is tough.  It is humbling.  It is also a blessing and a ministry. 
There are so many couple we know who are struggling in their marriages and it breaks my heart.  Satan really assaults the family unit and we must pray for a protective hedge around them and put on the full armor of God everyday.
Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, (it says when) you may be able to stand your ground...Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Ephesians 6:13-18

Puberty and other things

A conversation with Lisa and Katie:
Lisa:  Mom, Lauren joined puberty.
Me:  Oh!  What is puberty?
Lisa:  It's a class you go to then your grown.
Katie:  I thought puberty was farting.
Me:  What?
Katie:  Yeah, it says "pew" berty.

Just for clarification, we have been talking about the changes with the girls.  Lisa is almost 11 and we have talked about all the things that are about to happen--hopefully not too soon.  I have just failed to call it puberty.

Work:  It is a job.  That is about it.  Probably the easiest nursing job I have ever had.  I got yelled at by a complete stranger in the parking lot this morning.  I was holding the door and accidentally hit her passenger side mirror with my door.  It was gentle, didn't leave a mark or a dent.  She rolled down her window and proceeded to chew me out.  I apologized.  She said clearly I was parked over the line.  But I wasn't.  It really hurt my feelings. She said lots of other unkind things.  It reminded me that there are some VERY unhappy people in the world and that it can be hard to extend grace to those you feel do not deserve it.  Grace that God extends to me--undeservedly.  I prayed for her--but then I said "Lord, you can bless her, but I don't want her to think that she is being blessed for being mean."  I guess my heart wasn't totally there yet.  It is now.

Mike is starting to take classes for his BSN the end of May.  God seems to be opening doors to proceed down the continuing-of-his-education road.  After BSN, it will be nurses practitioner school--God willing.

I am just praying for guidance in this job and a softened heart to accept His will.

The Rut

I have been in quite the rut lately.  I started the new job as a complex case manager at an insurance company for medicare/medicaid patients.  I have been learning so much and that part it cool.  It is a desk job from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  That part is difficult for me.  I am getting up at 5:10 every morning to run and have my quiet time so I am learning to be more disciplined, however, I am not sure that I am cut out for this type of work.  I am thankful to be employed.

The really bad part of this job is that it is VERY micromanaged.  They want us to log out of our phones when we take a bathroom break (picking the option of bathroom break) and if you have to use the bathroom every 1 1/2 hours they want a doctors note.  I refuse to do this.  It is not that I am trying to break the rules or anything, but in all of my years of nursing (which is 18), I have never been this micromanaged.  I am doing the job, they can trace every single thing I am doing and the time frame it is done in.  I also drink a lot of water and am not getting "permission" from my doctor to use the bathroom.  The person in charge of my supervisor said these rules are in effect for other people, the non-clinical employees, but still--we are all adults.

Needless to say, I have come home in tears many evenings.  I feel like I am in some sort of "job-identity" crisis.  I have been complaining so much that I am sick of myself.

But God is faithful.  He is meeting me where I am.  I started reading Jonah and chapter 2:5 just spoke to me:  "The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head."
(Especially the seaweed being wrapped around his head.  That is how I felt.)  Chapter 2:8-9 goes on to say "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.  But I, with a song of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed I will make good.  Salvation comes from the Lord."

A song of thanksgiving to sacrifice to God.  That is what I am learning to do.

Am I clinging to worthless idols?  We are studying Isaiah in BSF this year and God hates all of the idols we put in our lives.  Something I have been learning is that when I focus on myself, that is an idol--even if it is the "woe is me"  pity party that has valid reasons. 

Philippians 4: 4  Rejoice in the Lord, always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!

Paul was in prison when he wrote those words.  I have to let that sink in. 

This is a tough place to be.  I have usually been a glass half- full kind of thinker and I will get back to that.  I am praying for a renewed mind and the way to renew my mind is to focus on God.

Basketball 2010/2011

Pre-game prayer.  This is church-league basketball.  Such a sweet time.

 Katie didn't quite grasp the concept of basketball the first couple of games. Mike and I would say "raise your arms up."  So she kept her arms raised the entire time she played--whether it was offense or defense--but her goal (and Lisa's)was to avoid the ball at all costs.  That kind of thinking will not get you  an MVP award.  Of course we are not playing this for awards or for winning, but for them to learn basketball, the value of sportsmanship and working together on a team for a common goal.   They are both having fun (and on a winning team none-the-less, but not due to the expertise of our daughters).

 Lisa looking up at the time.  She was calculating how long she had played and about how much longer she has to play.  She looks forward to bench time. She does good on the bench.  She likes the bench.

They are on the same team which is great for practice and games.  Lisa is a good runner, loves to run.  She just doesn't like people running so close to her, getting in her space.  I am thinking basketball may not be her thing.

Mike reviewing with the rules with the girls.  Our necessary rules for the girls: 
1.  Listen to your coach.
2.  Leave your attitude at home. 
3. Watch the ball. 
(We need to add one more: don't be afraid of the ball.)

Serious conversation for them, belly laugh for me

We were driving home from HEB and the girls were having a hysterical conversation in the back seat--ever so serious though.

Katie:  "Lisa, A&M is not playing in the super bowl, it's the Packers and the Steelers, who are you going to pick to win?"      That just cracked me up.  I explained the difference between college football and the NFL.  As much as I could explain...because the knowledge of football does not run very deep for me.  It did make me happy she likes A&M.

Then it switched to boys.

Lisa:  "There is this boy named [so and so] and I really liked him until I found out that he couldn't fix his shoe laces."   Whew.  I am so glad that smarts is on her list!

Lisa's List

I was straightening up the girl's rooms and found a list Lisa had made.
 This is how she wrote it:
1. Get dressed []
2. Read 5 pgs []
3. Check on cat []
4. Read 7 more pgs []
5. Do book report []
6. Clean room []
7. Look up "origomie" not spelled right []
8. Snack []
9. Watch movie []
10. Do whatever
11. ?
x= if not accomplished
check if accomplished


Nothing was check-marked, but you could tell she spent A LOT of time creating this list.

New Year, New Job

This is my last week of being a stay at home mom.  It has been good.  I will start a new job as a "complex case manager" next Monday.  It is going to be a Monday-Friday 8-5 desk job.  I am praying really hard that I can do this.  The whole "desk job" will be new for me.  They say you are so busy that the time goes fast.  I am hoping and praying that this is the case.  I am very thankful for this opportunity.

Katie is too.
 
A couple of times at church she has put a prayer request in the offering plate.  One time I saw it and quickly pulled it out before she could see me.  I saw what it said: " Please pray for a job for my mom Sandy Ryan."  OK.  It was not like we were hurting financially, missing meals, going without warmth or shelter. Nothing at all to say that  this child was doing without--ANYTHING.  One day we were doing something together and I asked her if she was concerned that mommy didn't have a job.  She said "No, I just want to go to after school learning center."

I was soooo relieved.  It is nice to know that is where they both want to go.

This past Sunday she put another prayer request in the offering plate. I quote: "Thankyou for my mom Sandy Ryan to get a job."  Grin.

The last 3 months have been a huge blessing.  I went through some unexpected grief back in October/November.  Truly I thought that I was losing my mind.  Mike and I are taking a whole bunch of vitamins and I can feel a great improvement.  Multivitamin, Amino Acids, Vitamin C in the a.m. and a  complex B vitamin at lunch--to get us through the afternoon lull. 

I was offered a job as a nurse liaison for a nursing home here in San Antonio.  Basically a marketing job.  Which would have taken me WAY out of my comfort zone.  We were praying very hard if this was the job to take or not.  The issue was that the boss of the SA office was Mormon.  That would have been OK.  When I came back for the 2nd interview with all of the directors, the head guy for Texas was there and interviewed me also.  I caught on in their conversation that he was mormon also.   I had asked my dear friend Sheila to pray for me, and we did together on my way to that interview.  God put it on my mind to ask one last question.  Who owns this group of nursing homes?  Well, I went home, looked them up and it turns out it is mormon.  I knew that I could not bring in patients, which brings in revenue, which eventually goes to all things mormon.

So my break from work continued.  Except God had a "job" for me.  I got to be with my dear friend and her mom who was in hospice.  I was available to just sit there.  And I was able to mentally do it.  Her mom passed away January 7, 2011.  It was a peaceful death.  I am so thankful that I was available to be there.  It was very meaningful to Cindy and me when our mom was in hospice and we had visitors who came in.  It was like a boost of joy for a few minutes.

I was offered this job that I am taking that following Monday.  I will be working with my best friend from high school Crystal.  We also went to nursing school together--but we have never worked at nurses together.