September 04, 2005
Woke up this morning with a bit of a headache, but it's only because I went to sleep with one. My shoulders are a little tight right now, but I'll put Patrick to work on that later. :)
I made my own juice this morning with peaches, plums, and grapes. I drank about 8 oz for breakfast, and now I'm downing another 8 oz. It's very light and refreshing. (Oh, note my optimism!) I am drinking water like a fish, so that helps with the "full" sensation.
At church this morning, I walked past the do-nut plate, and for a minute I forgot I was fasting! I don't even like powdered donuts, but I guess it looked good because I was hungry. My hand reflexively reached for it and then I realized what I was doing. Tsk, tsk!
The first real test is upon me, though. Lunchtime. Everybody else is in there eating some terrific meatloaf I made the other day. And I had to prepare it all. But I'm good. I am going to work on some fiction writing to distract myself, so that's a plus, too.
I'm going to one of the shelters tonight to help out, so that should be a good distraction as well. And a Sunday nap- I'll work that in there too. Hopefully, I'll have enough to keep me busy and this first day won't be so bad.
All for now- will write again in the evening.
Shannon, please tell me more about the refugees and the situation. All I'm getting is from the press and they tend toward the negative. Please tell me some good stories! I need to hear encouragement. I feel so helpless and overwhelmed by what I see and hear in the region. I'm exhausted from arguing with liberal fanatics who's only agenda is to attack me because of my faith. I'm incredulous that we as a nation haven't banded together over this tragedy instead of fighting amongst ourselves. I'm appalled at the lootings and shootings and general mayhem. And I simply don't know what to do to help!
Posted by: shannonblogs at September 5, 2005 01:24 AMShannon, I spent a few hours at one of the shelters last night, and I can tell you that we had so many volunteers, we had to turn them away! I know that it is this way all over Louisiana and Mississippi- the people have embraced their neighbors, regardless of race or social class. Yes, there is a great deal of tragedy, and if you watch too much news you will be drowned in it. But where there is suffering, there is an opportunity to show the healing power of our God. My suggestion to you is to involve yourself in that process, it makes you feel so much better! ou are so good at that kind of thing- I've read your blog and how you deal with businesses. What if you start making calls for donations? Contact the Red Cross and tell them what you want to do, I assure you they will put you to work! Or a clothes drive, or toiletries, or ANYTHING. These folks have absolutely nothing, and it's our chance to give them so much more than just material things.
Hope that encouraged you. Don't listen to all that garbage on the tv anymore. Instead, get out there and make your own news!
Posted by: Shannon at September 5, 2005 10:59 AMThanks Shannon. EXCELLENT suggestion. I will call them tomorrow. I also liked hearing about having to turn away volunteers. I went looking for stories of courage and heroes to list on my blog, but I couldn't find any. It was discouraging. I hadn't originally watched any television but since hearing about the criticism of the president, I busied myself with research into what really happened in the breakdown of emergency response, and then I started watching television. You're right. I've got to stop. Perhaps I should follow your example and fast... but not food, television?
Posted by: shannonblogs at September 6, 2005 01:37 AM