Looking Great!
You know, I was thinking. I discussed my recent blood test and MRI with my doctor today. It appears that the old Pudgeman is quite healthy coming in with a combined chloresterol of 124 and all other number pretty much dead center on the charts (including the prostate test....WHEW). The only thing that he said was low was my B12 levels (that could explain some lack of energy lately). He wants me to come in once a month to shoot up a little of this go juice.
As for the MRI, they found a little swelling in the gland. No growth or any kind of calcification on the tendon there. The radiologist has recommended that I have a full MRI done on my spine but my doctor said he thinks that I just need to see an Ear Nose & Throat specialist to determine what is going on with this slight swelling. I get to see them on Tuesday! I have a Chriopractor appointment tomorrow and will be seeing the dentist on the ninth! After that, I should be walking tall and proud! Be blessed beyond belief today.
I Nearly Freaked Out
You know, I was thinking. Last night I went and had an MRI done to find out what is going on with my lower (not lover) jaw! I've never had an MRI done before so I had no idea of what to expect so let me say it like this. If you put this much Pudge in that little bit of space you get anxiety! I had to be in there a total of 30 minutes! After the first 20 I had to get out and take a little break. The last 10 went pretty well. If I ever have to do this again there will be a large amount of drugs involved! Be blessed beyond belief today.
We Could Use Your Help
You know, I was thinking. Many of you out there who read this blog have wanted to bless Rachel and I with some kind of gift since we've been married. Quite honestly our response has always been that we had everything we needed and that your kindness in thought and prayer was enough. Well, we have a need now and it is becoming a bit urgent! My brother and pastor (Sir Thomas Hawkins II) is trying to organize a work party to come up to our home in Waterford on Saturday November 3rd. I don't know the details as to when he wants to leave or anything but you can contact him at the connection center @ (517) 423-3676. Many of you are aware that we are desparately trying to get our house on the market but we just cannot until some of the finishing touches done. Right now we mostly have some panting, boarders to put up, a little electrical stuff (that's where the pastor comes in) and some work outside in the yard. I am committed to firing up the MHG (medium honkin grill) to show our appreciation for anyone who can come out. I have never been good at asking for help and even worse about accepting it but I have to swallow my pride and do this thing now. So, if you can help please let Tom know ASAP, if you can't help then please hold us up in prayer! Thanks to all of you for your continued love and friendship to us and be blessed beyond belief today.
The Joy Of The Lord
You know, I was thinking. I am now safe and sound back in Hazleton but the trip got to me this time around. I guess driving over 1000 miles in a weekend is starting to get to me. I became something that I despise yesterday and that is a WHINER! I am really getting tired of being here without my family. I am really getting tired of driving back and forth sooooooooooooo much and am tired of the fatigue that I feel on Monday mornings. The worst thing is that I was really making great time yesterday and it looked like my eight hour drive was going to be closer to seven. I was about to set a new land speed record and enter the Honda in next year's Indy 500 and then I get to mile marker 183 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where I came to a dead stop! I sat there for about 20 minutes, we then got going again for about a mile and then a dead stop again. It was the worst road construction traffic jam that I have EVER been in! I lost an hour and a half and didn't get home until after 9 p.m. My peace, joy and any happiness that was left went right out the window because I CHOSE to allow it to happen.
Why do I choose to allow my circumstances and situations dictate what I feel and how I react? Why is it I look at what is NOT finished on the house instead of what is finished. Why do I feel abandoned and rejected so often and cannot seem to get that balance in life that I so desparately need? The answer is simple, I have lost my focus. I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and am allowing myself to be faithless and tossed around like a boat on the water without a rutter or a sail! I have allowed myself to get caught up in this "oh whoa is me" type attitude instead of taking charge of what is in my control and turning over to God what is not.
Today I am tired physically, spiritually and emotionally. I know what I need to do to get back on an even keel. After work I will go home and rest, read my bible, spend some time in prayer call my wife and do whatever I know to do to recharge. This weekend I am not driving home, Rachel has to stay back in Waterford because of some plans with Daniel for the weekend. So Saturday I am going to take a day of recreation. In the morning I think that I will start a load of laundry and then walk downtown for a while and maybe go to a small diner and have some breakfast of just a cup of coffee. In the afternoon I will most likely drive down to Lancaster county and watch a ball game with Shel. Then in the evening I will more than likely spend some more time on the phone with my honey and some time in the Word. Pray for me and my family! We are doing fine with our relationships with one another but I know that they are all feeling some of the same things that I am feeling. We all need to get this time in our lives behind us and move forward.
The joy of the Lord, will be my strength
I will not falter, I will not faint
He will be strong to deliver me safe
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Be blessed beyond belief today!
The Health & Well Being Of The Pudgeman
You know, I was thinking. Well, it's that time of year again when I had to make an appointment to go and get my annual physical. I usually dread this because of a certain procedure that is un-natural and I still believe that it just might be illegal in some states. Yes I am talking about the dreaded prostate exam!! This particular exam has given us such quotes as:
Aren't you going to buy me dinner first?
Hey doc what up with leaving your ring in there?
Doc, if you wanted to check my tonsils there's a better access point!
As well as many other muses used to describe this process! Well, here in NE PA they do things a little differently. There in a blood test that can be done to check and see if all is well with this vital organ. Now, if the blood test shows bad levels then it is drop your pants and bend over time. But for now, all is well and my exit only area is un-violated!
Now, I shared this great news with the lovely Mrs. M. right after my doctor's appointment yesterday. I guess my excitement and relief was way too much for her and she immediately exclaimed "but what are they doing for women?" Now, I don't know about all you other guys but I am thankful that I don't have to go through THAT procedure and have told my beautiful wife this on several occasions! But why can't she just rejoice with me in my rejoicing? Why not just love the good that is happening to me right now? I guess I gotta make sure that I just curb my excitement or find a way that she can just go through a blood test as well or maybe just shut up about it in the first place! NAH! I'll just handle the pressure.
But, pending the blood work coming back on several different checks, it appears that the Pudgeman in pretty healthy. I have been seeing a chiropractor which has help my arthritis tremendously. When my back cracker looked at my x-rays he noticed some shadowing on my lower jaw area. He suggested that it is probably nothing but I should get an MRI done to make sure. My medical doctor agrees with the fact that it is probably nothing more than a calcified tendon, but an MRI is a good idea. So next Thursday I will have that work done. But I am feeling good physically, mentally and spiritually right now and am looking forward to coming home for the weekend! With the will of the Father, I will be at NewSong for worship on Sunday. Until then I pray that the love of the Lord be with you and that you will be blessed beyond belief today.
Life In Hazleton
You know, I was thinking. Well, yesterday marked the eight week point of my life here in Hazleton, PA. It has been an interesting ride thus far. Career wise I am almost at the point of knowing what I am doing and what is expected of me. With the help of some fantastic employees we have got the warehouse straightened out pretty well. My attention has now been put on finishing up organize the corrugate warehouse and the label cage. Once those things are done then it's off to organize two off site warehouses and then learn the things that my assistants do that make this place run. All in all it's been very busy around here and that doesn't appear to be ending soon. On top of everything else that's happening the guy that hired me here and was my boss got let go on Tuesday so now I have a new boss to get to know. I think that this is all going to be for the bettter but I really did like the old guy, although I do understand the reasons for letting him go.
On the personal side of things, being away from my family really stinks. Rachel and I have been taking turns going back and forth. She had actually made the trip out here for three weeks in a row. I finally got to go back home last weekend which was great. One of the best things was taking the time to go to NewSong for Sunday service. That was just the shot in the arm I needed! Still miss everyone a ton!
Well, it's off to the first of three morning meetings. All of you be blessed beyond belief today.
Just Some More Thoughts
You know, I was thinking. Sometimes it's just better to let someone else do the talking for you. Take for instance these thoughts that the Apostle Paul wrote in chapter eight of his letter to the Romans:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I will concur with the words of that great orator Forest Gump.................."that's all I have to say about that." Be blessed beyond belief today.
