I saw a meme about Maddog 20/20 and I can't remember what it said but does it really matter? Does it need to say more? Maddog indeed. Seriously though people, don't put numbers on anything like that ever again unless it's called Butterflies and Sunshine 2021. I'll take that. In fact, DO THAT RIGHT NOW!
We have to be very careful what we pray for don't we? My friend was telling me the other day that she had prayed to be more like Job. Okay seriously, first of all, who does that? I don't think she meant for her life to go in the crapper but sometimes God doesn't play. The very next day or maybe that evening, their covered arena blew away. Nobody was injured, not even an animal or a truck but a place near and dear to their hearts was just gone. She learned patience.
I prayed this year for God to help me lose weight. I got so sick that well, I lost weight. I'm not sure these things are related but sometimes we just need to choose our words and thoughts carefully.
2020 has definitely been one for the books. As far as the ten plagues of Egypt go, my family and friends could actually compete this year. We might even win a medal. The whole world really. We are all Egypt right now. Did one of you pray for this because if so, knock it off!
We've not had any water turn to blood but have had a roof leaking like no other in two houses for years so I'm calling it a plague. It counts because I say it counts. Plus it's developed black mold which is probably killing me slowly. I'd say him too but he is never home. It's a minimal problem I realize, but I literally read in Ecclesiastes about a leaking roof a few weeks ago and I almost fainted. I want to slap it down in front of the Cowboy and say "SEE THIS! SOLOMON EVEN SAYS THIS IS WRONG! IT'S A BIG DEAL! FIX IT!" But when you own an insurance agency, you fix everyone else's stuff before your own. It's the law. I get that. I do, but years? And it's in the Bible that you're dumb for having a leaky roof. LOL. Those may not be the exact words but I'm pretty sure that was the gist of it. Hahahahaha!
The frogs have been minimal but they are around and annoying. The only positive to the frogs is that Max loves to chase and bark at them but they even give him the willies and so he won't actually kill one. Bummer.
The flies are awful this year and I'm counting those as gnats AND flies. A twofer, because they are so bad. There were days you couldn't even see the cattle for the flies. I'm not kidding. That is not a metaphor.
The pinkeye was horrendous this year and still is, also because of the flies and we've had some rare and horrific horse medical issues this year so I'm calling those the plague on livestock. Broken legs, bad shots, death due to ruptured bladder, kidney failure, etc. etc. It's been rough for the animals.
The plague of boils? I'm currently rocking the Shingles for the 6th time. And what about Covid 19? I'm counting it. We've all had that, not to mention the before and after aftermath of the world closing everything. Seriously, WHAT IS GOING ON??? Not being able to go to church was just too much and now with the masks, well I don't want to. I can watch it on tv mask free. THAT'S NOT RIGHT! I have GOT to make myself go back. We have all got to get up and get back to living but it's just so hard.
Somewhere along this horrible year, I've lost my funny. I used to write about funny farm stories and I literally have NOTHING. Emma pointed out that now I am good at my job and so it's not so funny anymore. It's just a job. GREAT. I'm blaming THAT on 2020 also!
The Hail? Don't get me started on the hail. I still have no vehicle and just got windows installed upstairs three weeks ago. I had NO WINDOWS FOR MONTHS! Bugs, heat, rain. Fun. Did I mention the leaking roofs? Oh yes the hail helped emensley with those. Two turned into about six.
And the plague of the firstborn, unfortunately also hit home. For us it was the plague of the unborn of my firstborn. We lost our first grandchild while still in the womb. We were broken hearted and still are but you'll have to read more about that in my newest book that will hopefully come out NEXT YEAR so not to be associated with this 2020 business. I can't even talk about that one right now.
One of our best friends died of a long illness and we were out of town and couldn't get back for the funeral. Other friends lost their 2 year old grandchild. Unbearable. I ache all over for them daily. Another friend found their grown son dead in a river. In a river! I hate water and that is what my nightmares are made of. AWAY FROM ME SATAN! More friends just had a 1 year old, great niece run over by a dually truck and broke her little pelvis in half! BUT... praise God she is alive! My nephew was literally just in a terrible tiny dirt bike accident and is on his way to Children's Mercy but also alive and hopefully all put back together soon. He's got teeth shoved up in his head and a broken jaw, some liver damage. It's all too much!
One of our neighbors just up and left their whole family. Another stabbed his parents multiple times just out of nowhere. Just got up and started stabbing them. He was only 14. Another neighbor murdered somebody. Another we knew did the same thing in cold blood. I'm telling you what, this has been the strangest year in the history of my life. Crazy town. This stupid Covid 19 has everyone's nerves completely shot and sick of their own families. It's Satan's dream come true. And don't get me started on the government or the looters. Black lives do matter but there is no excuse for the destruction and violence that has followed. A movement is fine and I'm all for equality but not this. This solves nothing. This is not equality. These are crimes and the criminals need to be prosecuted, punished and made accountable. That is the example that needs to be made here. Wrong is wrong and I don't care what color you are.
We've all been really sick. After we got better, I was scared to go anywhere! The news has me officially scared of people. It's just ridiculous. I literally felt a full panic attack just driving into town. I have gotten so used to being alone that I'm fine with it. That is not what God wants!
Oh and if all that isn't enough, Emma totaled her truck and didn't even call me. Of course the truck was already covered in hail damage so that was a bonus but we literally paid it off the week before. IT WAS PAID FOR. But she was fine! A little jarred and her poor heart broken but fine. The other man is recovering after back surgery PRAISE GOD and doing fine now. THANK YOU JESUS!
Our horse trailer had to have a new generator, a new water heater board, all of our vehicles were destroyed in the hail, and last weekend I threw out my back and I look about 100 years old trying to get in and out of a chair or a vehicle. My hired boy goes back to school next week and I can't lift a cotton ball. Oh and did I mention I got the worse case of tennis elbow in the history of ever? I am right handed and seriously could not lift a cup for six months. I am not joking. I just tried to play a little tennis off the basement wall for fun. SERIOUSLY SATAN? I hate that guy. I think it's okay to hate Satan. I'll have to confer with God on that one.
The wearing of the masks make me nuts. Shopping is no longer fun but just for necessity. SPORTS ARE CANCELLED? Come on! School, church, weddings, social gatherings, THIS IS ALL JUST EXACTLY WHAT SATAN WANTS.
Even with all of this, we can't give up. We can't let Satan win. We have to keep fighting and most of all we have to keep praying. We have to listen to that still, small voice in our heads, pushing us along to keep going. Keep fighting. Win the small battles so we can win the big war.
2020 has been a crapper for sure but there were still some wonderful things. Emma is fine. My daughter totaled her truck but she walked away! She had some ribs out but wasn't hurt bad and the other man is doing much better now, again...thank you Jesus! Precious Lord thank you! We did not die from Covid 19. We may have some leaks in our roof but we have a home. We had insurance and eventually we will rebuild. Our beautiful Quincy is pregnant again and the baby is doing fine! He is 20 weeks old and they are naming him CHARLESTON! What a precious miracle! Our trailer is fixed and the vehicles will eventually be fixed or replaced too. We have jobs and can continue to make payments on all of these expenses. My shingles will probably just be a part of my life forever and I've learned to live with it. The animals are healing and we are tending to their needs as best we can. I will keep going to the chiropractor and eventually this back will heal, or I will purchase a rascal and drive around and scare the cattle. LOL. My new book is called "Under the Sun" and hopefully out early next year! There are many blessings to be thankful for, coming out of the rubble.
Life is hard. It's not all rainbows and unicorns and hot people you see photoshopped on Instagram. (You will NEVER see me photoshopped in any way. Not happening.) Life is real and it can be ugly and painful. I've had a real pity party for myself this year but I'm climbing out and back up. Slowly and crippled but I'm climbing. I'm seeing light under the giant laundry pile and I'm not losing hope. We have a quarter of a year left and I'm hoping that we can salvage this mess somehow and come out on top. My grand baby on the way is certainly one way! Luckily he's coming in 2021! LOL!
We all have problems. I will continue to try and post fun stuff but seriously, my funny is on vacation right now. I'm raw and tired and broken and sore and mad and scared because I'm only human. And I'm forgiven but I am never alone, even when I think I am.
I've been studying the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and the devil loves for us to think we are alone. He loves for us to wallow in self pity and never enjoy any simple pleasures. The book states "As you ought to have known, the asphyxiating cloud which prevented your attacking the patient on his walk back from the old mill, is a well-known phenomenon. It is the Enemy's most barbarous weapon, and generally appears when He is directly present to the patient under certain modes not yet fully classified. Some humans are permanently surrounded by it and therefore inaccessible to us." That cloud is the Holy Spirit folks and I want to be that human that is surrounded by it and inaccessible to the devil! Don't you? We are! As Christians we are! All we have to do is accept Jesus and read God's word. Your relationship will grow so much so fast that even you can't figure out what is happening in your life. It's just the coolest thing ever.
1 John 5:18 says "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him." THIS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT! YOU ARE SURROUNDED! YOU ARE SAFE!
Take a walk and connect with God. Smell a flower. Read a book. Drink a cup of coffee and study your Bible. Play tennis, but not with me. LOL! Play a board game. Have a drink. Plant a garden. Take a drive. Go fishing. Do something for the simple pleasure of doing it and feel the love God has for you in that gift. The gift is contentment. Maybe all this Covid business happened so that we will remember this. Appreciating something, enjoying something for the pure enjoyment and nothing more is a gift from God. I love that.
I will never give up on my God and my dreams and hopes and plans and hopefully, some of them will coincide with what He has planned for me too and it will all work out. Eventually, it will be in His arms and I'm at ease just knowing that.
Keep your chins up everyone. We still live in the greatest country of all. We need to defend our freedom and honor our God while doing so. It's going to get better because we are not alone. We are never alone.
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