I just had to share how hot it is here. Aside from not sleeping from the heat (too expensive to run the air all the time and we shut it off at night and only run it from about noon to 10 PM) I had a first yesterday.

I was out caring for the goats late yesterday afternoon/early evening and had on a pair of flip flops. Black flip flops. I was up in the goat pen and waiting for them to finish eating when my feet started burning so bad I could not stand it. My flip flops were so hot! My husband was coming up to water the sheep and goats and I had him spray my feet with the water to cool off the flip flops!

Living here in Texas you do not get cold water in the summer. You can run it forever, still warm at the coldest point. However, the warm cold water was way cooler than my feet were at that point.

Today I am going to buy a pair of white cottony flip flops!

I do not usually ask for others to help with needs but I am going to ask at this time. Not for me, but for someone I know from a yahoo group.

I say know, but let me explain. She has an embroidery design site as well as a few other groups and I have come to like her and her work. She is not pushy, but offers great bargains if you machine embroider especially.

This last week an email came from her with a tremendous offer for those that machine embroider, almost giving away a bunch of designs.

Her reason?  Here is what she wrote to me:

I am not sure how much information I can give out. I was told that its best never to give out where he is stationed and where he will be deployed to for there protection.

We are a family of 4 trying to get to see him off before he is deployed the end of this summer.
We can not fly because we have an autistic child and a dog being trained to protect him (I am training the dog to search for him  in case he should ever wander off).

So we have to drive which will take a couple days. This will cause a huge financial strain on our family since my husband is the only one that works and we are barely making ends meet.I am hoping to raise money from this sale to get us there to say good bye to him and let him know that we love him and that we support him.

I have not told my son that we are trying to come up with the money to see him off. I am really scared we will not come up with enough and don’t want to let him down. I am really hoping that this sale will get us there.

Ever feel like your life is in a whirlwind?  I am sure we all do at times, somehow some times just seem to last way longer than others!

We have been overwhelmed with things here, a few weeks ago I was trying to get ready to go camping with my daughters, mother and sister’s families. I was so looking forward to a time of relaxing and just getting away from it all. We had things happening as fast as you could turn around here and that time away seemed so good looking.

The stress leading up to that going away was getting to me. Sick animals, things here falling apart and summer in Texas had started and I was tired of the heat already. PA was calling me loud and clear for sure.

My poor husband was being left behind to care for an injured goat and a sick lamb as well as all the other things I normally do. Being a loving hubby he wanted me to go and see that part of my family.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH it was so needed.

A few days before ready to leave my daughter, who I would stay with when not camping, lets me know that : a) their car broke down and she was not sure how she was going to get me from the airport; b) her daughter came home from a sleepover with head lice; c) She did not know where to put me at that point.

Away from stress?

Well, she got me, head lice were gone and she had a place to put me. Still no car though. We spent the day before camping resting and the next day packing to go and waiting for the car to get back. I also got sick! My throat was so sore I could not swallow, had no car to get some lozenges and it was getting hot. We waited for the car call to be able to get to the campground.  Finally, after bumming rides, we got to the campground and set up. I was still feeling pretty sick, but it was so nice to see real trees, real grass and nice terrain. (Remember, I live in Texas… rocks, prickers, weeds and trees are a bit sparse or scrub cedar and ugly).

Even though I was sick, it was a good time with the family. Two granddaughters were sick also, so I had whining company as well.

Then I came home to reality again! Injured goat, dr. appointments for me and surgery for the goat.

Today I am sitting here tired, stressed and wishing all would be well soon. I am facing two surgeries beginning Aug. with two months recovery time between. I will not have the use of one hand for all that time and sewing, bathing (ugh) and anything else will be out for some time. I am not looking forward to it, but hope that my hand problems will at least be done with after that.

Through all this I know God has a plan. My worry takes over at time, especially when I am so tired and feeling like I am in the grip of the whirlwind. However, in the center of it all is my God and I know HE will get me through.

Life. It is happening again, and again.

I have some sewing orders I need to finish before I am to leave for a camping trip with my family. I am going to see my mom as I have not spent any time with here in a long time. I live in Texas and her in NJ. My daughters, sister and mom and I are all meeting up in PA for Memorial Day Weekend.

Now my going is all being threatened by life.

I have some sewing orders I need to finish before I can leave. They are now a week late and I am slowly getting something done. I have another one I need to start and finish before I leave. However, my life has been so busy with “putting out fires” that I can’t even enjoy or get to the sewing.

Right now I have 3 animals down sick, one I believe is a minor sprain and just needs time, one needs surgery and now a lamb has an infection that can threaten all the other animals.

My house is a mess as I have been trying to see Drs. myself, take care of animals and a 3 yr old. She is fun and helps me relax a bit, but takes time from sewing.

My nerves are shot, stress is high and I am not even going to check my blood pressure.

Please pray for me, my animal problem and my sewing. I really am having trouble trusting the Lord with all the pressure.

Thanks

I do not know about you, but for me faith is hard work. I am a worrier and while for the most part I am much better than I used to be but  sometimes I just can’t seem to get it together to trust the Lord.

I was thinking about this today as I was trying to get my mind on something else and let the anxiety go. We have a heavenly Father that loves us more than anyone on earth can love us. He cares about us. He wants to provide for our good. He cares more about our loved ones than we can care. He made our animals, pets, kids, hubby and family.  He loves them and cares about them more than we can. The Bible even says a sparrow can’t fall or he cares.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” Luke 12:6

Yes, even a sparrow. He goes on to say in verse 7:

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Good old “fear not” is in there…. DO NOT WORRY!!!!

Right now, I have sewing I am needing to finish before I leave for a week, I have a goat with a problem that needs to be fixed before I leave and now a lamb with a problem.  I am going to fly in a week and I am hating the whole idea of flying right now.  Money is tight as hubby has had little overtime the last two weeks and my yard and house are a mess and I see no way I can get it all done.

My energy is down and they are doing tests to find out what is wrong, as there are other things going on.

So, why the worry if I have a Father who is a good Father and will care for me? I sat here before writing thinking it is so illogical. My Father cares, loves me, and will handle it all so I can be more productive.

Makes no sense to carry a burden that is His and HE already has worked out.

Faith? It is hard work at times. It takes a reminding every minute… no, for me every millisecond, but I know my Father cares and will handle it.

Today I am going to attack the worry by with a “fear not, I am more valuable than the sparrows” My animals are made and cared about the same as the sparrow, so HE will handle it.

Thank you Jesus!