Tag Archives: women

Fridge needs a light bulb, and Mama needs to wear that new pair of dancin’ shoes….

7 Jun

(With apologies to Laura Joffe Numeroff, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

If you give a foot an injection, you might need a new recycling drawer to go with it…

So I had my day planned to include a highly anticipated elliptical workout (my “dry swim” as I refer to it — same body movements, no hair drama). Highly anticipated because between a wonky left hip and a janky right foot lately, my usual workouts are a bit painful. Ellipting and swimming are serving the purpose of pain-free cardio lately — and they are definitely less convenient than strapping on tennis shoes and going for a walk or doing a quick neighborhood stairs workout.

It’s been extremely busy the past month or so, lots of doc appts for me and my 89 year old mother, as well as pleasurable wedding related errands, and I only seem to have those one-hour slips of time in which to maintain my fitness. That’s important because I’ve already had my Mother of the Groom dress altered and the wedding is less than a month away. Weight maintenance is the key to a worry free day for this MOG.

Anyhow, as I was starting to say, I had planned to go to the foot doc, tell him the laser treatments had not helped the janky-ness in the least (might as well have been pointing a flashlight at my foot, honestly, and I would keep the $60 a visit), and then, I would head to the gym to ellipt whilst reading the later chapters of the incredible book, Perfect Eloquence, about Vin Scully. There’s even a special type of elliptical machine that has the correct distance for reading (not sure why my gym has three different brands of that machine, but only one works for my reading needs).

Oh, plans! They are so adorable.

So, in a moment of weakness, I acquiesce to podiatrist’s suggestion of a cortisone injection in the foot. I said I wasn’t ever going to get one again, since the last two times I did (once in my arthritic hip, once in my frozen shoulder), I ended up with a period. Yes. Both times. 6 years apart. The menstrual kind, despite at the time being about 12 years post menopause. (Apparently the cortisone can interfere with the progesterone in my hormone replacement regimen, and lets the estrogen run wild. Hence, a 50-plus woman had to go buy “feminine products.” Sigh. (And don’t start with the risks about hormone replacement, ok? I have read, researched and sought expert advice. Bottom line, most of the early studies about hormone replacement were performed on women who had already been through menopause. Yep, side effects included increased risk of cancers. BUT, when women start hormone replacement DURING menopause or peri menopause, the side effects go in the opposite direction — less risk of those cancers (and obviously if you can’t take estrogen because you have that kind of breast cancer or that gene, this would not apply to you). Like those pharmaceutical ads recommend, talk to your physician, but you’d be wise not to come and take away my estrogen patches. That saying, pull back a bloody stub? You get the idea.)

Anyway, I decide that maybe since my foot is really far (like 32 inches at least) from my ovaries, maybe I’ll get lucky. Or maybe if it happens, it’ll be quick. And maybe it’ll be worth it so that I can dance at my son’s wedding in shoes other than Berk’s or Hokas. Right?

So, he says after pulling that long-ass needle out of my foot, skip the workout today. No ellipting. Not even swimming. Just usual movement of the foot (going to the grocery store is ok. DANG). I resign myself to doing the weekend market run, getting gas in my car and rolling through the car wash, and doing a few things around the house.

If you’re my husband reading this, you just got a cold chill. Cindy, around the house, with time on her hands….He’s praying for intervention from the Holy Spirit right now.

So, as I’m putting away the groceries, I remember that the fridge light went out two days ago. I am fairly handy. Shouldn’t be too hard. Right? I looked in our stash of bulbs, and we even had the right voltage and wattage of halogen bulbs suggested in the manual!

So, foreshadowing here, I couldn’t even find where the bulbs were in the fridge. I found the diagram in owner’s manual, and reading that section, realized it was a little more complicated than you might imagine. I think there’s a joke in here: How many post-menopausal women on hormone replacement does it take to change a lightbulb?

So the diagram isn’t great (I’ve seen better from amazon furniture instructions), and I go looking for a video on YouTube, but can’t find one for our model of GE Monogram. So I pull out the very heavy veggie bin — fully loaded with the bounty I just purchased – and on hands and knees, I locate the hidden light bulb compartment.

I pull here and press there and partially reveal the recessed hold where the lights live. (Backtracking, I double check again that I have turned off the main power switch to the lights, as warned in the booklet). I put the tips of my fingers (all I can reach on the first try) and feel the lens of the halogen bulbs. They are tiny. Much smaller than the ones we have on hand. A secondary check of the manual: correct watt and volt, but wrong “type.”

Can we all just remember when light bulbs were light bulbs? You could actually see them in your fridge. When they went out, you went to the local grocery store and picked up a replacement in the hardware aisle. Do they still have hardware aisles in the market? No one knows. We all order from amazon.

Which is what I just did.

But as I was noodling the wisdom of changing it myself (because Joe can’t help — his hands would never fit back there) I wondered if it’s worth a service call to our local appliance repair guys to come and change the bulbs out (because I don’t care if these are supposed to last a lifetime, when we change one, we’re changing them all!)

**And then I think, you know, it’d be silly to have them come for that one thing.** We’ve been meaning to replace our non-functioning trash compactor with a slide open trash/recycling drawer for awhile now. How about I pull the trigger on that purchase, and they can change the bulbs when they come to install it?

Which in hindsight, doesn’t make sense because honestly, I want lights in my fridge sooner than I can get a new appliance installed.

But anyway, I called our peeps at South Bay Appliance and ordered the trash situation, and then he said the light bulb situation would be handled by service. And he transferred me, and as is always the case when people are really good at what they do, they were so busy that my call went into the endless loop of we’ll-be-with-you-in-a-minute recording, and that’s when I hung up and thought, I’ll call back later, and, well, maybe an electrician can do it. We’ve been meaning to change out the burnt out socket at the top of the stairs (I swear, it’s not the bulb — we still know how to do that — the whole thing stopped working) and I think, as long as they’re here, maybe we should buy those new pendant lights, because ours have NEVER worked (apparently the installer didn’t put enough voltage or wattage for that type of light and an electrician said we’d need to get different pendant lights with lower wattage or voltage or so something). **Someone check on Joe, please.**

So, I go on the Lamps Plus website, and they, like Macy’s, just happen to always be having the best sale of the year (I don’t think the word “best” means the same to all of us). Anyway, before I start in with another purchase, perhaps Joe’s prayers come through in some supernatural timeless way (before he actually knows to pray them), and I pause. I decide I’ll wait until the fridge bulbs arrive tomorrow and give it another try, with my hubby in the house to offer encouragement, to call 911 or to agree that this is above our skill set.

So, a thousand dollars poorer (purchase/shipping/tax/install) for the new trash situation that will be arriving sometime around the wedding – because of course it will. And still, I have a dark fridge.

And still have a foot that’s janky, with hopes of being less janky in the set of tomorrows to come.

And really hoping my progesterone holds out, but just in case it doesn’t, there’s red wine and dark chocolate in the house. **Pray for Joe.***

Thanks for listening.

Cindy

**This is the part that really is freaking Joe out right about now

The compactor is jankier than my foot
The janky foot and the shoes I hope I don’t have to wear to my son’s wedding. Also, remind me to tell you about going to get a pedicure at a new place yesterday and the police were involved! Nice pedi, tho!

Clear as mud

Very dark in there

Tags: , , , , , , ,

A Thanksgiving Devotional for my Praying Mamas

21 Nov

Thanking “Jehovah Jireh”

(The Lord Provides)

Don't I look Peaceful? And grateful?

Don’t I look Peaceful? And grateful?

by Cindy McMahon

I had a pretty “church lady” kind of week (led a Bible study and a college moms prayer group, arranged a speaker for a women’s group at church, went to Sunday service with my hubby). But I boldly tell you that the most Godly thing I did this week was cancel my High School Moms In Prayer group for this morning. Yep. Pulled the plug 12 hours before it was scheduled to meet.

You see, I’ve been feeling  overwhelmed – it’s all good, godly stuff, but just too much of it! — and  I’m not in a very “prayer group leader state of mind.” When church commitments become obligations, it’s time to take a time out. So I did.

This morning, instead of racing out with my prayer sheets, Bible and verses in hand, I stayed in my robe after I got the guys out the door. I sat down with my Bible and my thoughts and began to dwell in prayer with God on thankfulness and provision. What a peaceful morning we had together. Here’s what resulted: a devotional for us — my praying girlfriends and me — as we approach Thanksgiving week.

Truth: God provides what we need when we need it (not always what we want or when we want it!) We don’t always get what we want, and we often get things we really don’t want. But, with apologies to the Rolling Stones, “we get what we need!” And we get them from the Lord.

God provides us with everything we need to seek and find Him, and to live a life honoring him on this earth until we see him in Heaven. That is his promise. (Queue: I never promised you a rose garden…”)

He provides for us spiritually, physically and emotionally, and even provides us with wisdom and proper perspective. And, He provided for us in the most significant and life-altering way by providing the sacrifice – Jesus – for our sins so that we might dwell with Him in eternity, cleansed by the blood of our Savior.

As I reflected on some of the ways God continues to provide for me, I sought out these verses. I hope they will serve as reminders to you this week, as they did to me, that as we lift up our thanks to the God Who Provides, we are thanking He who knows us by name, hears the yearnings of our hearts, and provides for our most basic needs.

God provides:

  • A way out of temptation

I Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

  • Strength to do his will

I Peter 4:11: If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen

 

  • Peace in times of fear or worry

Philippians 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  • Necessities for Life

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

  • Perspective about what’s important

Luke 10: 38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

  • Wisdom for dealing with difficult people/circumstances

James 1:18-20 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

After reflecting on these passages (thanks BlueLetterBible.org for making it easy to find them), I lifted up these prayers for all of us Praying Mamas and our families:

Travel: I pray for traveling mercies for all of us and our loved ones – whether going across country or across town. People get in a hurry and don’t necessarily look out for each other. Let’s have our heads up and our eyes bright and clear! Be defensive drivers and walkers! Don’t blame God if you crash your car while texting!

Harmony: I pray for peace and harmony in families where holidays mean strife. I pray that a true seed of thankfulness will be implanted in the hearts of all, and that the fruit of that thankfulness will be kindness and peace.

Freedom from Nagging: I pray that if our kids receive homework (now that’s evil!) to do over the break, that they will take ownership of it and that we can stay out of the nagging cycle with them. Same goes for those working on college apps – especially those that are due Nov 30 or Dec 1 (deep breath as I type that!) Again, I pray for us to offer a quiet, helpful spirit that is not pushy, nagging or badgering. Let’s keep this proverb in mind:

Proverbs 25:24: It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. (OUCH!)

Health/Rest: I pray that all of us and our families will be able to listen to our bodies – rest when we need rest or don’t feel well, rather than trying to “push through.” I pray for our immune systems as we are exposed to new and exciting bacteria as people move all across the country and into and out of our fair cities!

Loneliness: I pray that if you are spending the holiday away from your loved ones, or are estranged from those you most desire to be with, that you will seek and find the God of all comfort, who knows your name, loves you and will never leave you. I pray that you feel this in a palpable way, and that you find a way to serve others in His name in order to alleviate that loneliness, such as through a women’s shelter or food kitchen for the homeless, or by befriending someone else who may be suffering from loneliness. As we know, sometimes you can feel lonely in a room full of people.

Healing: I pray that if there is someone in your life – either dead or alive, someone who is long gone or who you might see – that has hurt you, betrayed you or abandoned you, that you will find it in your heart to forgive them. Not forgiveness in the sense of saying “oh, it’s ok,” but forgiveness in the way that says, “I won’t be defined by what this person did to me. By forgiving, I am handing their sin burden to the Lord to carry.” Remember that nothing that has been done to us that wasn’t also done to our innocent, sinless savior – often by those whom he should have been able to trust. He was abandoned, beaten, wrongly accused, lied to, yelled at, misunderstood, ignored, discarded, betrayed, and ultimately killed. HE KNOWS what we’ve been through and what if feels like. But his hurts and wounds do not define him – they were merely a chapter on his way to Glory – as are ours. And while you’re forgiving others, if you’re feeling guilty about something in your past that you’ve already asked God to forgive, provide yourself with that forgiveness now and move forward.

Stay thankful my friends.

Tags: , , , , ,