Epiphany

Epiphany (courtesy of Merriam-Webster)

3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b : a revealing scene or moment

Did you have one of those moments when something that you have heard all of your life and repeated all of your life suddenly smacks you upside the head?

During every difficult part of my life, someone in my family was sure to say, "God will never give you more than you can handle" to which one of us would respond, "Oh, yeah, well God is overestimating my ability!".

It finally dawned on me the other day, as I was contemplating some of the past events of my life, that the saying is 100% incorrect. Of course, God will give us more than we can handle or, more precisely, He will allow events to occur that are more than we can handle. What He will never do is give us more than He can handle.

It seemed so obvious once I thought it. Had I been able to handle all of the garbage in my life, I am not sure that I would ever have returned to God. Once I did, though, His grace poured down upon me and all of my difficulties, while they didn't disappear, did become more bearable.

So, the next time someone tells you that God will never give you more than you can handle, just remember. Of course He will. He will never give you more than He can handle. The secret is letting Him.

and then...part three

Monday morning, my new boss called and asked me to come in and get some paperwork so that I could go get my physical and drug test. No problem!

My appointment was at 1:00 and I was done by 2:00. Now the waiting, right.

Not so much. My new boss called Tuesday morning and asked me to come in and fill out some personnel paperwork and that I would start on Wednesday afternoon. Hurray!!!!!

and then...part two

So, I turned in my resignation on a Thursday and scheduled my mandatory psych eval for Friday morning. Plans being what they are, I woke up Friday morning to a snowstorm and hazardous roads. Discretion being the better part of valor, I rescheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 am since that was my late day and I didn't have to be at work till 10.

Tuesday rolled around and I was at the appointed place 30 minutes before my 8:00 appointment. The office manager showed up at 8:20 and we went inside. I did the preparatory paperwork and then the 120 question background questionnaire (fill in the little circle completely) followed by the 567 question computer psych questions.

I turned everything in and the nice lady said they would be in touch as soon as they had the results so that I could schedule an appointment to interview with the doctor. Everything was copacetic as I left and....I was only 15 minutes late for work. Did I mention that all of this happiness was an hour's drive from home? Yeah.

So - - - fast forward to all of us waiting on the results to see if I am crazy. Mind you, my daughter passed this test twice so the pressure was definitely on. I HAD to pass. Also, my hiring process was stalled. No physical and no drug test till the psych results were in.

Nothing on Wednesday or Thursday, which was fine. I really didn't expect anything that soon. Nothing on Friday, then the weekend, then the holiday, then Mardi Gras, then Ash Wednesday, then my LAST DAY OF WORK and still nothing.

Thank goodness that for my sanity, the phone rang Thursday afternoon and the nice lady wanted to schedule an appointment. She asked when my next day off was and I told her that I was no longer employed. She delighted in this and suggested the following Thursday.

I requested something a little sooner, as I was now unemployed for all intents and purposes. She spoke with the doctor and he agreed to see me Friday evening at 5:30.

So, at 5:00 I was there. At 5:30, I went in. At 5:45, I got to see the doctor. At 6:40, it was confirmed.

I AM CERTIFIABLY SANE!

and then...

where did all my pillows go?

Ah, there they are!

Nothing to do with "and then"

This is Bonnie's bed

.

This is NOT Bonnie's bed.

Can you tell from these pictures who is the most spoiled dog in our house?

and then...

and then.....

But first, a small digression. When my children were small, I was employed for many years as a law enforcement dispatcher. This is a job I love and one at which I excelled. When Juls moved here, there was an opening at the local Sheriff's Office for dispatcher. She applied, passed, and was employed there for 3 years. It's sort of the family occupation, I guess.

and then....

Juls called me to tell me that she was applying at a larger Sheriff's Office in the county north of us. She applied, she was interviewed, she was evaluated and tested, she was offered the position and she tendered her two week resignation.

This meant that there would be an opening at our local Department and that, with that pesky nepotism clause no longer an issue, I could apply. Although my prior experience is old, it is still prior experience. The pay would be better, the benefits would be better and, instead of 9 hours on my feet, I would spend most of 8 hours sitting on my fanny. I'm really not sure about that being of benefit, but it would definitely be more comfortable.

That night, when I was almost at the point of tears, God gave me this gift. A new opportunity.

I applied. I was interviewed. I was, pending the outcome of a psychiatric evaluation and drug test, offered the position. I gratefully accepted and I tendered my two week resignation.

And then...

What Happened in my Life while I was busy on FB

So much has changed in my life in the last 6 months and I realize that I have been remiss in updates. I have been much too busy feeding the hungry, farming, and playing games over on Facebook. I always knew that I have an addictive personality. I just didn't realize HOW addictive.

My husband was temporarily laid off in November, which put sort of a crimp into our holiday plans, as did Goose's injury. Shorty is still not working and it looks like it may become a retirement instead of a lay-off. Goose is doing all right although she now has a very pronounced limp. She does stay away from the cows now.

I do not even remember if I posted when I passed my state board for Pharmacy Tech. I did! Hurray! I had no idea what a sense of accomplishment this would give me, but it certainly did. Made me believe in myself again, and in my ability to learn new things. So, I have (had) a new career and all was right with the world.

It was very busy at work and, one night, I went home just spent. Physically, emotionally, and mentally spent. I just wanted to quit. And then......

Why Y'all Will Be Seeing More of Me

I should be making more of an appearance on my own blog soon because I am, for Lent, giving up.......gasp, Facebook!

Yep. No more farming or being a restauranteur or even playing scrabble with my friends. I did consider exempting that last one but I have always been an "all or nothing" kind of gal. So, starting Wednesday morning, I will be absent from Facebook until after Easter.

This should allow me more time to spend with the actual people in my life...and with my books and my pets and my housekeeping and, hopefully, with God.

Have a great Lent, friends, and know that I will be here...lol.

Fun Monday/and the award goes to.....

Our hostess this week is the intrepid Sayre. In honor of the award season, she would like to know our opinions in the following categories.

BEST PICTURE
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
BEST ANIMATED PICTURE
BEST SCORE
BEST GROUP (Some movies come out with several parts or sequels. Most everyone's got at least one set of something on their shelves - why that one?)

The kicker? This is limited to those movies that we actually own. Here goes:

Best Picture - for years and years and years, it's been The Man from Snowy River.

Best Actor - Stanley Tucci in Julie and Julia.

Best Actress - Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.

Best Supporting Actor - Al Pacino in The Godfather.

Best Supporting Actress - Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz.

Best Animated Picture - A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Best Score - The Banger Sisters with thanks to Jim Morrison.

Best Group - The Godfather Saga

My explanations? Drop me an email and I'll lend you my copies. Have fun visiting everyone else and thanks, Sayre, for such a great topic.