For those of you who know me, you know that I am terrified of spiders. Just typing the word makes me shiver. One reason I'm so scared of them is because I was bitten by a brown recluse about 20 years ago. I am just so thankful that it bit me on the shin bone and not in the muscle or fatty tissue of my leg. It was bad, but not as bad as it could have been. Ate a hole in my leg, but didn't have much to feed on because there was nothing but bone underneath. All you have to do is mention the word and I freak out.
So, for a person who never, ever dreams (how can I when I never sleep?), I had one weird, creepy, scary dream last night. It started out great (don't they all?). I was on vacation in a beautiful valley with lush, green rolling hills surrounding it. I was staying in this beautiful old hotel and decided to take a walk around the property with my camera, of course. You know me, I don't go anywhere without several cameras. So, I was walking along this beautiful path and saw a spider web stretching across the door of a barn. It was a perfect circle with a big spider in the middle. The spider was about four inches long. The sun was hitting the web in such a way that it just sparkled. That drew me closer, so I forgot my fear and started taking pictures. As I got closer and started snapping away, I realized that the barn was full of spiders of all shapes, colors and sizes. Before I realized what was happening, a huge orange spider had a hold of my leg. I'm talking huge! The size of a car tire. The legs and body were bigger around then my arm.
I started screaming at the top of my lungs. A young man with long, thick, blond hair, appeared out of nowhere and started beating the spider with a huge pipe. Legs were flying everywhere. I was still screaming and ran out of the barn. The young man was dressed like a gardener. I ran so fast back to the hotel that I never saw him again.
The next scene in my dream was me laying in a beautiful four-poster bed. As I was sleeping, I was awakened by something on my left leg. I woke up and saw a huge orange spider grabbing my leg as other spiders - all shapes and sizes - were falling all over my face and my arms and my body.
Let me tell you - I woke up from that dream fighting and could still feel those things all over my body. I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to make sure there weren't any spiders on me. Freaked me out!!!! Needless to say, I couldn't make myself go back to bed. I went to the couch and then was afraid to fall back asleep. I was afraid the dream would pick up where it left off. I eventually fell asleep and didn't dream of spiders, or anything else for that matter.
I sure didn't want to wake up this morning. I was so tired from fighting spiders that I just wanted to roll over and go back to sleep. But, I got up and got ready for work. Missed having coffee with Kim this morning. She was at a meeting in Crestview.
A friend told me that Cato's had some great clothes in, so I went by there at lunch and checked out the clearance rack. Yes, they have some beautiful fall and winter clothes; but I don't know what size I will be in a couple of months, so I tried on some clothes off the clearance rack. I ended up buying a size 12 pair of jeans (YAY!) and a couple of tops. One is a medium. I've gone from size 18 to 12 since March. I'm so excited. My goal is to have lost 50 lbs. by October 31st. I think I might make it. One of the guys at work asked me how much I had lost already and I told him 47 lbs., but needed to lose about 22 more. He was shocked when I told him that. He said I looked skinny now. He couldn't believe that I still weighed over 160 lbs.
Filled up my gas tank, got a side salad from McD's and went back to work. Ate the salad and went over to the auditorium and got a 15 minute deep-tissue massage. It hurt so good! I am so tight across my shoulders that she actually used her elbows to do some parts. I could feel the fluid breaking up. They were promoting a new benefit from the company. If we sign up for 12 months, we get one massage a month for an hour for $54. I would love to sign up, but I've got to get off Jenny Craig first. I just don't have any extra money right now. But, I will definitely splurge and go from time-to-time and take advantage of a deep-tissue massage. I really believe they could help the pain in my right shoulder and the numbness in my left hand. She told me she needed at least an hour to an hour and a half my first time out, cause I was in such bad shape. That might be what I give myself for Christmas or get Vance to give me the money instead of buying me a gift. Sounds like a plan. They are at Pier Park, so that would give me an excuse to go to the beach.
After work, I went by and picked up our taxes. Yes, I wait to the very last minute to file. I just couldn't concentrate on tax stuff when I was having vertigo so bad. It kinda clouds your thinking process. Anyway, the wait was worth it. We're going to get some money back. Thank You, Lord!
Vance had to go to a meeting after work to find out how to re-apply for his job through Civil Service. They are no longer contracting out his job, so he has to apply with others from around the country for his job. I am praying that God will show him favor above all others and he will be able to keep his job and will get benefits, too. A raise would be a nice thing, too. Otherwise, he would become unemployed in March and he's not old enough yet to draw Social Security and he doesn't have any retirement. Please keep him in your prayers. I just believe everything is going to work out for the good.
Went to Praise & Worship practice. Had a great time. Then, prayer time was awesome. The worship just flowed and I believe the prayers were touching the heart of God. We got some great news - McKinley will be getting out of the hospital and coming home on Thursday. She is the baby we have been praying for that had open-heart surgery a week after she was born. She had a stint put in the day she was born and then had surgery for acid reflux last week. She is doing great and we can't wait to see her. She's a miracle baby for sure.
Well, it's getting close to midnight and I'm getting tired. Didn't sleep too good after that nightmare last night, so I guess I'll start winding down.
Goodnight and God bless..........
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
God Shows Up in a Cemetery
Last Saturday, I had the privilege of going to the funeral of Pastor Sammy Stewart's dad, Hollis Stewart. I rode to Dothan, AL, with Carol and we had a great time of fellowship on the way. As soon as we got to the funeral home, the photographer in me exploded with ideas of photographs. Mr. Hollis' funeral was to be a veteran's funeral, so the sidewalks were lined with veterans holding US flags. I didn't pull out my camera, but I wanted to. But, you really don't know what others would think - taking photos at a funeral? How disrespectful is what I was thinking.
We walked in and Pastor Sammy and Mrs. Sandi met us. After hugging us and thanking us for coming, they both said we had to see The Weeping Angel statue. I said "I'll have to take a picture of it." Pastor agreed. Then, they told us that we had to check out the bathroom. So, I did. It was beautiful. The whole place was gorgeous. I've never been in a funeral home that made me feel so at peace and a place that I could live in, even knowing that it was a funeral home. It made me want to move to Alabama just so I could be buried there.
The funeral was very nice. Pastor Sammy and Rev. Doug McCormick did a great job. As we walked outside, the veterans were standing on both sides of the sidewalk holding flags. I felt honored to walk between those flags with those men and women who had served our country so proudly holding them.
There is a helicopter on a pole that hangs above the place where the outdoor service takes place. There is a flagpole beside it that has the US flag and a POW/MIA flag flying on it. There was a tent set up for the family to sit under and we all gathered around the outskirts, with the veterans forming a semi-circle with the flags behind us, as Pastor Sammy thanked everybody for coming and said a prayer. Then, the canon was shot off as a substitute for the 21-gun salute. A Navy soldier started playing Taps. Taps always gets to me and makes me cry. This is where God showed up. I looked up at the flags above the tent and they were flying straight out. A breeze had picked up and I turned and looked behind me. Every single one of the flags that the veterans were holding began to stand straight out and wave in the breeze. My breath caught and tears flowed like rain down my cheeks. I could not take my eyes off those flags. I wanted to pull my camera out of my purse, but I didn't want to be disrespectful. The instant the last note of Taps was played, the flags dropped straight down again. It was the most awesome sight. I just wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
After the service was over, Carol and I asked where the angel was and it was pointed out to us. Oh, what a beautiful sculpture. A lady in China carved it out of one piece of marble. It will take your breath away. I took several pictures of it and then other statues on the grounds. As I was taking a picture of the eagle and the flagpole that sits beside where Mr. Stewart will be buried, the family started walking up. We stepped back to the Weeping Angel and let them have a few moments at the graveside. They all come into the pavilion where we were and asked if I would take pictures of the family. One of the aunts had brought a camera, so it was handed to me and Wanda McMullon took my camera and took a few pictures. She gave it back to me for the last picture of the entire family because I had a good vantage spot to get them all in the picture.
Before Carol, Wanda and I left, I told Pastor Sammy and one of his brothers what I had seen with the flags. It really blessed them. I'm telling you, I haven't been the same since. I have felt such a peace this week that I just can't explain. God really touched my heart when He showed me those flags waving in the wind.
Carol, Wanda and I stopped and ate, then headed home. We made a couple of stops on the way for me to take pictures of hay bales, or do you call them hay rolls now? Got some good pictures, but for some reason, I can't get them to load on my page. Will try again later.
Goodnight and God bless............
We walked in and Pastor Sammy and Mrs. Sandi met us. After hugging us and thanking us for coming, they both said we had to see The Weeping Angel statue. I said "I'll have to take a picture of it." Pastor agreed. Then, they told us that we had to check out the bathroom. So, I did. It was beautiful. The whole place was gorgeous. I've never been in a funeral home that made me feel so at peace and a place that I could live in, even knowing that it was a funeral home. It made me want to move to Alabama just so I could be buried there.
The funeral was very nice. Pastor Sammy and Rev. Doug McCormick did a great job. As we walked outside, the veterans were standing on both sides of the sidewalk holding flags. I felt honored to walk between those flags with those men and women who had served our country so proudly holding them.
There is a helicopter on a pole that hangs above the place where the outdoor service takes place. There is a flagpole beside it that has the US flag and a POW/MIA flag flying on it. There was a tent set up for the family to sit under and we all gathered around the outskirts, with the veterans forming a semi-circle with the flags behind us, as Pastor Sammy thanked everybody for coming and said a prayer. Then, the canon was shot off as a substitute for the 21-gun salute. A Navy soldier started playing Taps. Taps always gets to me and makes me cry. This is where God showed up. I looked up at the flags above the tent and they were flying straight out. A breeze had picked up and I turned and looked behind me. Every single one of the flags that the veterans were holding began to stand straight out and wave in the breeze. My breath caught and tears flowed like rain down my cheeks. I could not take my eyes off those flags. I wanted to pull my camera out of my purse, but I didn't want to be disrespectful. The instant the last note of Taps was played, the flags dropped straight down again. It was the most awesome sight. I just wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
After the service was over, Carol and I asked where the angel was and it was pointed out to us. Oh, what a beautiful sculpture. A lady in China carved it out of one piece of marble. It will take your breath away. I took several pictures of it and then other statues on the grounds. As I was taking a picture of the eagle and the flagpole that sits beside where Mr. Stewart will be buried, the family started walking up. We stepped back to the Weeping Angel and let them have a few moments at the graveside. They all come into the pavilion where we were and asked if I would take pictures of the family. One of the aunts had brought a camera, so it was handed to me and Wanda McMullon took my camera and took a few pictures. She gave it back to me for the last picture of the entire family because I had a good vantage spot to get them all in the picture.
Before Carol, Wanda and I left, I told Pastor Sammy and one of his brothers what I had seen with the flags. It really blessed them. I'm telling you, I haven't been the same since. I have felt such a peace this week that I just can't explain. God really touched my heart when He showed me those flags waving in the wind.
Carol, Wanda and I stopped and ate, then headed home. We made a couple of stops on the way for me to take pictures of hay bales, or do you call them hay rolls now? Got some good pictures, but for some reason, I can't get them to load on my page. Will try again later.
Goodnight and God bless............
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