Aug 23, 2014

No. Migraine. Today!

I.  do. NOT have a migraine today! 
I've had a bad one since Monday.  Never below an 8 of 10 on the wonderful pain scale for more than a few minutes. 
When we got home yesterday from Hickory I was ready to chop my head off.  I couldn't get to sleep last night until about 2 or 2 a.m. and the migraine was still there. 

I got up migraine free but leery, and made a grocery list.  David and I ate breakfast at Bojangles, went to Aldi and got groceries.  Came home and put them away, started the BBQ on the grill and here it is, 3 p.m., and NO MIGRAINE.

I cannot tell you how happy am right now.  I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to go to church tomorrow morning but now, even if I wake with a migraine tomorrow, because I've had these hours free of pain, I think I'll still be able to be there AND I might just be able to go to the youth group cook-out tomorrow evening.  Though I won't be able to eat what they are having.  No nitrite and nitrate filled hot dogs for me. 

Now I'm going to get off the computer, check the BBQ then work on straightening out the school bookcase.

Ta-ta for now!!

New Tradition to Observe


The Gibson's, David and I,  have a history of cooking NC style BBQ. 

The back story:  David & I met at Troutman's BBG on Church St. in Concord.  I was a waitress and he was a customer. He and his family had been coming there since he was 12.  He was 22 when we met.   Over the years I worked at 3 different locations and when I left I had been a store manager for several years.  While there I learned a lot about cooking bbq which I have put into practice ever since.

Second back story:  Daniel excels at finding perfect little gifts for us. A few Christmas's ago he gave me a fridge magnet that reads, "Dinner will be served at the sound of the smoke alarm."  Truer words have not been said.  Not because I can't cook but because our smoke detectors are extremely sensitive and unless the oven is spotless almost any cooking will set them off.

Today is BBQ cooking day.  On a gas grill.  On the carport.  Invisible to passing cars except for the billowing smoke from the hickory chips which are smoldering away in a metal Ikea silverware basket that is perfect for this.

This is the Ikea container.  I have 3, only 1 is used on the grill.
Ikea Stainless Steel Caddy I use

Lots. Of. Smoke.

It's hard to photograph smoke.


So, that new tradition I mentioned. 
Having the Fire Department or County Sheriff  arrive because a passing motorist thought our house was on fire.  Today it was the Sheriff. 

The funniest thing about today's incident was that David and I had talked about them showing up on previous occasions and are thinking about cooking again and taking it to the guys at the Fire Dept., about 1 block down the street. 

Mmmm!  BBQ

And... for my non-southern friends.  BBQ is a noun, not a verb.

Listen to Rhett and Link for more info.

Aug 16, 2014

Update on David's job situation.


After 4 months of waiting he was put on administrative leave for 30 days. After that we will be without any income or insurance. Please pray that during this time we will not be fearful and anxious but instead will trust our Father to continue to guide and provide for us.
David continues to get job interviews but nothing ha been offered so far.
...
Through all of this he has been a wonderful example of grace under pressure, trusting in our Father, and taking each day as it comes. He gave his all at work to the very end.
Thank you for all the messages, prayers and encouragement. It has shown me how highly the people he works (worked) with regard him. They are shocked by this whole situation.

Aug 7, 2014

The sum is greater than the parts...

It's one of those days when the combination of migraine symptoms is worse than any one symptom alone. Especially the nausea. Give me one or the other but both pain and nausea make it much harder to cope. going to my family doctor today since my BP has been running high. Maybe that will help. I ordered some Baltic amber beads from esty yesterday and hope they arrive quickly. I'm going to make a bracelet to attach my medical id tag to. Hoping that each little improvement... or change I make adds up and things become more tolerable.
Usually I look forward to the start of a new homeschool year. Not this year. I'm dreading it. Even though the kids are in high school and mostly self taught I still have to plan it, purchase the books and then grade their lessons. It just seems like too much.
I'm so thankful for this group. I hate that we are all here because of this horrid disease, but so thankful that there are others in the world who understand. For so long I've felt alone. Like I truly was the only one who had these specific problems with migraine. But now I know I'm not and I thank GOD for this group.
Hoping as many of you as possible have a great day.

Aug 3, 2014

Music and GOD, my thoughts today




There's no space that His love can't reach
There's no place where we can't' find peace
There's no end to amazing grace
 
Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go
Never leave my side
 
I am
Holding on to You
I am
Holding on to You
In the middle of the storm
I am holding on
I am
 
Love like this
Oh my God to find
I am overwhelmed
With a joy divine
Love like this sets our hearts on fire
 
This is my resurrection song
This is my hallelujah come
This is why it's to You I run
 
There's no space that His love can't reach
There's no place where we can't find peace
There's no end to amazing grace


Read more: Crowder - I Am Lyrics | MetroLyrics


Music speaks to my soul more than any other media or form of communication.  I'm no musician in the professional or even very talented sense.  My piano skills are mediocre at best.  I play piano for my own relaxation and enjoyment.  My voice is no longer in tune with constant practice, but my heart if full of music and I can't wait to sing HIS praises in heaven! 

Focus on the lyrics.  It's the words that speak to me. 

It's the words that grab my attention and my heart.


Wes mentioned in the sermon this morning that "good" is not enough to describe GOD. He said peanut butter is "good" and that doesn't even begin to compare. In truth there are no adjectives in any language on earth to totally describe HIM. If I want to use the adjectives in my heart language, American English, to describe GOD then I can never use any adjective ever again to describe anything else. And that still wouldn't be adequate.