Syrup, Sewer, and Sticky Notes

Okay, I'll admit I've been worked on the third s in the title all weekend. Just got it when I read Angie Hunt's over-the-weekend blog posts this morning. Check it out here.

Speaking of Angie, it was great to have her as the keynote speaker at the ACFW conference this year. I enjoyed getting to introduce my sister to her, as well. I appreciate Angie and her teaching through her speaking in the general sessions as well as all the fiction writing clinics I've taken with her over the last few years.

Now for the other parts of the title. Last Monday I set aside to deal with post-conference "stuff" — e-mails, regular mail, general catching up from being gone five days. I needed to water my very thirsty house plants, so I go to the cupboard where I keep my 1-quart measuring cup . . . to find that one of the sugar-free syrup bottles had fallen from the shorter top shelf onto the lower shelf. It was upside down with a broken lid (presumably from the "fall") and I was looking at a pile of sticky brown goo all over the bottom shelf. Took me a couple of days to actually get all that cleaned up.

Then Tuesday . . . I'm working on cleaning the cabinet and doing laundry. Go downstairs to move a load from the washer to the dryer. And . . . the sewer had backed up. Again. This is a regular occurrence at our house, thankfully one that took almost nine months to repeat itself this time. At least it's clean water that backs up when I'm doing laundry. *smile* So . . . I called the plumber. (Becky, quit laughing!!!) Got lots of exercise once the plumber arrived to do his thing, running upstairs to flush toilets, then downstairs to empty out the laundry tub—all part of the process of taking care of the blockage. Sigh. Today is the first day I'm not quite as sore as I've been between all the stairs and squatting to clean the lower cupboard.

And so went last week. Nothing planned. Everything minor in the grand scheme of things, but very frustrating as they took many more hours than I wanted to spend on any of them. But whenever I would get upset at how "my plans" for the week were pushed aside, the Lord would put another verse or gospel song or hymn in front of me reminding me that He is in control, He had allowed everything that happened, and His plan for me is still on track. The two words He constantly brought before me all week were perseverance and rest. Guess what I was already committed to teach yesterday in my Sunday school class. And guess what the messages at church were about. Yep. Perseverance (the opposite of apathy) and rest (faith).

And it continues. The verse of the day from Rest Ministries today: 1 Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV)

The chorus of a song we've sung in choir that keeps running through my head: "Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Put your trust in God, believe in Me. You are Mine, do not be afraid." Hmmm . . . Okay, Lord. I get it! LOL (Yeah, I do tend to need this pounded into me. "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.")

So . . . I wonder what the "interruption" of the day will be today? Stay tuned. I'll let you know.

Daily Bible reading: Tuesday, September 30—Ezekiel 24–26; John 13:21–38
Wednesday, October 1—Ezekiel 27–29; John 14 (LOL The "rest" theme continues!)
Thursday, October 2—Ezekiel 30–32; John 15
Friday, October 3—Ezekiel 33–34; John 16
Saturday, October 4—Ezekiel 35–36; John 17
Sunday, October 5—Ezekiel 37–39; John 18:1–18
Monday, October 6—Ezekiel 40–41; John 18:19–40