Kickin' Back and Just Relaxin'

Today is my third day in a row off from work. And today, I am just chillin' and not feeling too guilty about it! Catching up on reading is at the top of my list....books, magazines and the Sunday paper!

 Because I work a 10 PM to 7 AM shift at work, I don't keep the same kind of sleep schedule others do. I've found that what works for me - and this may seem a little crazy - is to stay up when I get home until about noon or 1 PM and then go to bed and sleep until 8 PM. I try to keep this same sort of schedule on my days off as well. Some days are more successful than others.

On Monday, for instance....I came home to frozen water pipes for the 2nd time in 3 days. I called my landlord who came later in the morning and had someone get it unfroze for me. I stayed up as long as I could and ended up going and laying down around 3 PM. I slept off and on until 2 AM. (I seem to recall getting up for a half hour or so somewhere in the middle of that time, but I'm not sure!)

So, what did I do? Well, what other people do during the day! I did the laundry, washed dishes, threw chicken in the crockpot for supper....paid bills and once it headed to 9 AM, headed over town to mail said bills and fill the car up.

Again, I went to sleep again around 3 in the afternoon and have been up since 1:30 this morning. This time, I have been watching a few shows on the computer, reading the news, following the weather, and just enjoying being home. I work again tomorrow night, but I'm leaving the vacuuming until then so that I remember to put the garbage out for the trash guys before I head to work!

I made a tasty noodle dish with the chicken in the crockpot that I made before I went to bed yesterday. Just had some for breakfast this morning - it turned out great! I had put a can of condensed cream of chicken soup in with the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, added diced onion, celery and carrots to that and let it cook. Once the chicken was done, I took it out and shredded it up, cooked the egg noodles and then mixed it all together. This will be an easy thing to warm up in the microwave for a few days!

Cady has been hanging around me today, too...sleeping on either the floor or the bed. She is currently laying on her side behind my chair on the bed. She's in a chillin' mood, too!

Sometimes we need to be reminded.....

I was reminded yesterday that God knows what I need and when I need it. Tax stuff is starting to roll in and I had a 1099 form come that reminded me that because I took my retirement funds early this past year (out of necessity), there will most likely be a penalty on that (because I didn't wait until retirement age). I started to become anxious as I pondered where the funds will come from to pay for that. But God quickly took me back to over a year ago when I was at the point of really needing Him to provide financially and how He did that.

I was reminded, again....He is faithful. He will provide. He has done it over and over and over again and knows what I have need of even before I ask. He spoke to my heart, "I took care of you then. I will take care of you now." He replaced my fear and anxiety with His peace.

I know I can trust Him to provide. I know that He has blessed me beyond measure time and time again. Being able to take those retirement funds early was a blessing by itself as it allowed me to wipe out my credit card debt. Something I don't regret! If He cares for the birds in the winter, in the fiercest of storms, how much more does He care for me and want to be my shelter in the storms of life?

So, today, I rest and relax in His ever capable hands....

and am

Blessed Beyond Measure!

May He be your peace today!

Sue