Book Review

Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

I have been a Max Lucado fan for a long time. This book did NOT disappoint. In fact, I think it is one of his best. Lucado writes about several well known Biblical characters (Joseph, David, Job) and a few not-so-well-known folks as well (Jairus, Mephibosheth, Abigail). After reading the Scripture pertaining to the character, Max Lucado retells the story in common language.

It's almost as if the author is talking directly to me. One of my favorite chapters is about Mephibosheth. This man is Saul's last living relative. He also happens to be a cripple (Mephibosheth's mother dropped him in her haste to escape.) King David sends his servants to get Mephibosheth and bring him to live in the palace. Mephibosheth comes before the king quaking. He assumes he is going to be killed. Instead, he is invited to dine at the king's table and live in the king's palace.

From the book: "In those days the new king often staked out his territory by exterminating the family of the previous king. David had no intention of following this tradition, but the family of Saul didn't know that. So they hurried to escape....Weren't you also born of royalty? And don't you carry the wounds of a fall? And hasn't each of us lived in fear of a king we have never seen?"


Mephibosheth has done nothing to earn this; it is simply to whom he is related that gives him this honor. In the same way, God invites us to His Table...to live forever in His Kingdom, and all we have to do is ask. I would highly recommend this book.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

New Pulmonolgist

Thanks to Medicare, I was forced to find a new pulmonologist so that I could get requalified for my oxygen use at night. My neuro. can't sign anymore, I have to go SEE a doctor, and get a written request for an overnight pulse oximetry test, so I can show them my oxygen dips down dangerously low at night ergo I need oxygen.

It's so lovely when I have to do these idiotic tests. Like I'm just going to be better one day and not need it. Jerks. MG is a CHRONIC illness people. CHRONIC. As in always. As in not getting better.

So I have to go a night without oxygen, wear this stupid pulse ox all night, wake up with a migraine, kill a few brain cells, all because Medicare wants to make sure they aren't paying for something that I could squeak by without.

Then my PHARMACY (the 3 month mail in one) held my birth control pills hostage because the INSURANCE company called them to tell them my CellCept interacted with the pill and MAY cause it to be less effective. So I had to get clearance from my NEUROLOGIST for the pharmacy so I could get my damn birth control pills. Heaven forbid I get pregnant again, we all know how much that cost last time! I had to call my GP three times to find the right person who understood the situation, and get them to call in one month of B.C. locally, and RE-issue the Rx to the mail in place.

It's ridiculous. Like I have nothing better on which to spend what little energy I have!

Anyway, at least I like the pulmonologist. He's really cool. Very nice, knowledgable, and best of all, he listens to ME.

To top it all off, I feel like crap. I've been fighting something for 2 weeks and I appear to be losing.

Some Funnies Because I'm NOT Feeling Fun Today

Probably my favorite:

Johnny's mom looked out and saw her son playing church with the cat.

A while later, Johnny's mom heard the cat yowling and ran to check it out. "Johnny, stop it! Cats hate water!" she said.

"Well," Johnny said, she shouldn't have joined my church then."

Hope you all fnd something today that makes you smile.

One Tough Thing

One really tough thing for me, as I have mentioned before, is dealing with Jacob sometimes. And it's not behavioral-wise, it's like, "Mommy, can we go outside and play?" And I'm having a terrible day and in tons of pain and can't do anything, for sure not go outside. And I have to say no to that face. Could you say no to this face??

Yeah, I know. Me either. It's so hard. He is exceptionally understanding for just 4. But it breaks my heart and makes me angry that he KNOWS what a hospital is, and that Mommy IS different from other Mommies, and that I have to take 20+ pills a day. Who wants their child to have that experience?

I'm done asking why when it comes to me, but I still struggle with Jacob sometimes. He asks God to make me better, and we talk about heaven when I will be able to run and play like every other Mommy.

Sometimes he digs his little elbows in just the wrong way on my legs...oh my GOSH. The pain is excruciating. It's all I can do to stop the reflex of grabbing him and pulling him off. I NEVER want him to feel unwanted.

So...for all you experts out there....how the heck to I allow a 4 year old to be physical without going outside or playing with him? We have a trampoline inside, but that doesn't usually last too long. He needs rough and tumble stuff.

Anywho. Thanks once again for listening to the whine. Next time I'll try to have some cheese to serve with it! : )

Fighting the Crud

Ug. This yucky, cruddy, nasty cold/cough thing is going around. Yesterday Doug made a roast chicken for dinner and then homemade chicken and rice soup. Oh my gosh. SO good. He spent the day making a flatbed truck and animal cages for Jacob out of popsicle sticks! I just got to rest and try to get better.

Jacob carefully measuring!

Daddy handing Jacob the sandpaper for the rough edges.

Working together!

Ta-Da! The first finished cage.

Working on the flat bed truck.

Jacob took this picture of Daddy using the saw.

The finished product!

The County Fair

My little cowboy.

My fearless child had to ride the Ferris wheel for the second year in a row.

Feeding the llamas and goats.
Riding this big 'ol camel all my myself!!This is truly the biggest cow I have ever seen in my life. Yikes!

Daddy and Jacob by the same tractor we have--just about 60 years newer!

Jacob LOVES all the animals. He wants to pet them all. He talked for DAYS before the Fair about petting a big pig.

Low and behold, we walked out of the barn and here were two GIANT pigs, and the owners let Jacob pet them. He was over the moon!

Controlled Chaos

The best thing about today was that my darling husband moved my cell phone booster antenna from the front of the house to the back of the house, and my internet speed went from 79k to 431k. IIIII KNOW!!!! Color me happy!!!

This afternoon was CRAZY. But not really bad crazy, which was cool. I went to the grocery store for a few things...all by myself! Very nice. Came home, Doug's folks were here, and Doug was butchering our turkeys. His parents and Jacob were all outside.

Then the DIRECTV guy came...very nice young man. Very nice, Christian, handsome, SINGLE man, ladies!!! He was here forever, poor guy, because he really couldn't figure out what was going on with our system. He came to the conclusion that it was our electric (gee, the house in only 150 years old, ya think the electric is weird??) and that we had too much plugged in to one circuit. So we ran an extension cord from the DVR to the office so that it's not all on the same one. (I'm sure you will all sleep better tonight knowing these monotonous details!)

Anyway. So everyone is here, and I had a wonderful conversation with an old friend (as in, have-known-forever-old, not age-old). Bless her, she's going to make some meals I can throw in the freezer and chuck in the oven when I've had a crappy day and Doug is working late or whatever. What a blessing!!! Thank you Linda!

So it was a little nutty here with everyone in and out, but hey, it wasn't bad!

One thing I'm a bit concerned about...my throat has been scratchy all day. Not hurting really, just scratchy...but Doug said that's how his started. Please pray!!

Life is difficult, but God is good.