Been a little busy

I've been a little busy lately working and getting through the holidays. I'm planning to start posting again soon....just thought I'd better post on here to let you all know!

Anyone Feel Like Dancing?

It seems like for every two steps I take forward I take one step back. I know other people feel this way. It's not just me, it's just the way life is, but just once I'd like to take two steps forward and stay there for a little while and then take another step forward instead of taking a step back. Maybe I'm taking a step back physically, but emotionally and spiritually I'm taking a step forward. That could be why it doesn't feel like I'm taking two steps back for every step forward I take. Then again there are some days when I do feel like I've taken two steps back and only one step forward.

Maybe life isn't a race. Maybe it's just trying to get to the other side of the dance floor without stepping on toes or falling on your butt. Of course, you know you're going to step on some toes and you're going to fall on your butt a couple of times. Eventually, you'll learn to ask for forgiveness and when you fall you'll learn to get back up.

For the past few weeks I've been working at the grocery store down the street. The job itself isn't hard. Relating to the people I work with is tough. There's a girl that I work with and she's in a situation where she could lose her job. I understand what she's going through because I've been faced with changing that part of my life, only I wasn't working somewhere where it would determine if I lost my job or not. I had a different reason why I wanted to change.

It's easy to think that if God was God then He could fix the situation, but because God is God, He may not. My heart ached for her because she was already trying to make a change for the better without the prompting of anyone, but she didn't decide to do that soon enough. I know for myself it seems like sometimes when I decide to do something to change for the better something will happen and I wonder why I even bothered trying when it's too late anyway. Sometimes it's later on down the road when hindsight is better than foresight that I'm glad I changed even if it wasn't for the same reasons I had before. I don't know her relationship with God, so I told her the only thing I knew to tell her, what I'd learned from my own experience...whenever God shuts one door, He always opens another. It may not be a door we like at the time, but He doesn't make us feel like we've changed for no reason.

Yesterday, I had to drop by the store to get Marina some posterboard. After working with her the night before and her being upset all night, it surprised me that she was all smiles when I walked in. She told me that she wasn't worried anymore, that another door had been opened so no matter how things worked out, it was going to be okay.

Thanksgiving Pictures

Go to Jeff's blog and see our niece Alyson dance. It's so cute!

We went to my new in-laws' house at noon for Thanksgiving and then to my Mom's house at 4:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving sandwiches and dessert. I was so stuffed. I don't think I even ate anything until the next day. Of course, they both sent leftovers home with us and now they are all gone.

Save Money On Car Repairs

Yesterday, on the way to visit Jeff's family, Marina reminded me of games we would play when we traveled when she was little. She had taken a trip to Dallas last weekend and was telling me about the games they played on the way there and back. They were basically the same games, but they added their own twist. Instead of slug bug, which she said was "too old," they played Cadillac Whack, Dodge Ram and Cruiser Bruiser. Honestly, I'm surprised she didn't come back black and blue from playing that with her friends.

Are you planning on driving somewhere for Christmas? While you're thinking about what games you could play to keep the kids entertained, don't forget to think about preventative maintenance for your car or truck. I know with Christmas coming up, every penny counts and it's hard to dish out the extra money for repairs. However, sometimes spending a little bit of money to service your automobile may prevent you from having to spend more money in the future. As a matter of fact, just having your oil changed can save wear and tear on your engine.

AAMCO is offering a free oil change or transmission fluid change when you spend $50 or more on servicing your vehicle. If you find you have transmission problems, they have a coupon for $100 off any rebuilt transmission repair. Also, if you do happen to break down, AAMCO will tow your car for free when you let them do the repair work. It shouldn't be too hard to find them since they have over 800 locations in the United States and Canada. So while it's hard coming up with money especially around this time of year, you can save money when you have to spend it for auto repairs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Be careful if you're traveling and don't eat too much. This is mine and Jeff's first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. It's kind of exciting!

Muscle Pain Relief

This is my friend Cathy. We've been friends for about 7 years now. Although she lives in Alabama, we've actually been able to see each other a few times over the years. She suffers from fibromyalgia. According to Yahoo!Health "Fibromyalgia is a long-term problem that causes pain in the muscles and soft tissues of your body. You may lack energy or have trouble sleeping. These and other symptoms can be severe enough to affect your work and home life. But fibromyalgia does no permanent damage to your muscles, joints, or organs."

She has tried various forms of treatment including visits to the chiropractor and IV therapy. The IV Therapy is costly and she has discontinued doing it not only because it was expensive, but it didn't always work. Most days she has no energy because she is not able to sleep. Her doctor has prescribed sleeping pills, but living with the pain outweighs having to live with the side effects.

There is a new product called Freeze It Gel that might just help her muscle pain. It is made for treating sore muscles, back, shoulder and neck pain, and knee, ankle, hip and elbow joint pain which are all symptoms of fibromyalgia. Freeze It is made with aloe, vitamin E and an herbal extract called ILEX. ILEX is used to help enhance the effects of menthol and camphor that are the pain relief ingredients in the gel.

I am entering a contest to win a case of Freeze It Gel, which would be 12 tubes of Freeze It. If I win, it will go to Cathy. Using the Freeze It Gel might help her get enough relief so she can sleep without having to use sleeping pills. Not only would it help ease her pain for a year and she'll have more energy, but it would also give me an excuse to deliver it to her in person so I would get a chance to see her again.