Day by Day

Day by day, I'm feeling a bit better. I still have many moments and there is certainly no shortage of stressors, but I'm getting there. And the 80-degree weather we're supposed to have over the next several days should help a LOT! :)

I don't know about you, but when I am stressed, something that may be frustrating but normally wouldn't be a big deal becomes the end of the world for me. These past 2 nights have been like that. Last night I tried to install an HP printer/copier/scanner to no avail. I even chatted with an online techie (named, of all things, Mohawk) and followed his long, not-so-clear steps and rebooted I don't know how many times, but I could not get the software to install the program and get the device to communicate with my laptop. Then I realized the keyboard and mouse I got were optical and not wireless; their long cords plugged into my only 2 working USB ports and I need 3 if I use the printer, 4 if I get a foot pedal for my work. (One burned out. Yeah, add getting that fixed to my to-do-sometime-this-century list.) I ended up taking all that stuff back to Wal-Mart today and going to Best Buy. I decided to wait on a printer/scanner until I am settled somewhere and get a desktop, esp. since I have workarounds for those at the moment. But I did get a wireless keyboard/mouse combo. Then I get home and there is no sound on my computer! There went another couple hours with techs. I was nervous I'd have to take back *this* set, but it wasn't the problem and the sound is working now. THEN I learned I installed the last version of the platform/software I use for work instead of the latest one. I had trouble installing that, but somehow, I don't know how, I got it done and it SEEMS to be working. But by that time I was *exhausted* and decided to call it a night!

But I did have a great afternoon. I met S. at a restaurant. She and I were "BFFs" from 1st grade until about sophomore year, and we've not seen each other since graduation! We've talked a couple times, and thanks to Facebook we're back in touch now. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I thought she looked great! (Hi, S!) She also has an absolutely beautiful daughter. She's been through some rough times too, some similar to mine, and I just thank God for the support she's been able to give me from her own experience. As hard as it is to go through things, one good thing to come out of them is that we can then comfort and encourage others with what has helped us through them (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). I look forward to staying in touch with her and meeting again.

Those of you who pray, I would appreciate your prayers. We'll know more by week's end, but early results of a PET scan show that my sister-in-law C had "hot" lymph nodes. They are thinking lymphoma or an inflammatory condition called sarcoidosis, but they'll do biopsies tomorrow to find out more. My family has seen more than its "fair share" of cancer (mother, father, eldest brother), so I am really pleading with God that C not have it. But if she does, I will remember what I wrote years ago when I learned Mom had breast cancer: God is bigger than cancer.

He is bigger than anything. I'll close with an appropriate quote from a book Mom just got and is letting me read, "Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado: Focus on giants--you stumble. Focus on God--your giants will tumble.

Have a great night.