One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.  As my taxi was driving along in the right lane, suddenly a black car pulled out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the 0ther car by just inches. The driver of the black car whipped his head around and started yelling and “gesturing” at us.  To my surprise, the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the other driver.   I mean, he was truly friendly!

So I had to ask, “Why did you just do that? The guy almost ruined your car and could have sent us both to the hospital!” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks, they run around full of garbage: frustration, anger, disappointment, bitterness. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and sometimes they will dump it on you. Don’t take it personally; just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Otherwise, you may pick up their garbage and continue spreading it around to the people that you encounter throughout the rest of your day or week.  We all have enough trouble finding appropriate ways to deal with our own garbage.  Don’t pick up anyone else’s!  Life is too short.

Have a Garbage Free Day!

When I’m an old lady, I’ll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness… just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they’ve provided.
Returning each deed! Oh, they’ll be so excited!
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.

I’ll write on the walls with reds, whites and blues,
And I’ll bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes.
I’ll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I’ll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they’ll shout!
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.

When they’re on the phone and just out of reach,
I’ll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they’ll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I’ll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
I’ll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry… I’ll run if I’m able!
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.

I’ll sit close to the TV, through channels I’ll click,
I’ll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I’ll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud ’til the end of the day!
When I’m an old lady and live with my kids.

And later in bed, I’ll lay back and sigh,
I’ll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, “She’s so sweet when she’s sleeping!”

Author Unknown

Just change the pronoun, or even the prayer points, to suit your spouse.,

Sunday pray for his Spiritual walk
Monday pray for his Moods and Mental health
Tuesday pray for his Thought life
Wednesday pray for his Weaknesses to be healed
Thursday pray for his Time usage
Friday pray for his Friendships
Saturday pray for his Sexuality

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.

~Alfred Lord Tennyson

Be generous!

I’ve been asked that question a lot in the last 18 months . . . it was 18 months ago that I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. My heart was only beating at 10 or 15 percent. It felt like my chest was in a vice. I always knew that some day I would die. I guess I didn’t think about it much until this diagnosis. I was only 50 when I was diagnosed. I’ll be 52 in May. Now, by the grace of God, and modern medicine, my heart beats at 25 to 30 percent. I am a candidate for a heart transplant, but I’m not going to go that route . . . unless God speaks to me and I know that’s what He wants me to do. You see, I put my trust in the Creator of the universe. The One and Only, the Great I Am, who created me and my heart. He is my reason for living. He created my heart, so He can either heal me or He can take me home, and either way, I win! So, I guess the answer is no, I’m not afraid of dying. I know that when He calls me home, I’ll be with Him for eternity!! I also have extreme ulcerative colitis. I have a lot of physical “stuff” to deal with every day of my life. Does that change my relationship with God? No! He is still who He said He is. I can’t explain why things happen, but I know that my response to what I have to deal with is something I CAN control. My God is faithful, and has my life in the palm of His hand. I guess I have a different perspective on life now. It’s a lot easier to live as if each day is my last, since it really may be my last day of life. The prognosis for dilated cardiomyopathy is 5 years. Eighteen months have already passed. Only God Himself knows how long I’ll live. How about you? Can you say with absolute certainty that you’re ready to die? Do you know where you’re going when you die? If not, you need to turn to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. He loved you so much that He stretched out His arms and died for you. There’s an empty tomb . . . just open your heart . . . He’s waiting for you.

Sheree passed away suddenly & peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Up until the day she died, she lived & loved, cooking, exercising and playing her cello.  Now I imagine that she is hanging out with her friends, Jesus and J. S. Bach!

What really matters

A Virtual Online Conference for anyone living with Chronic Illness!

Find out more HERE

There will be speakers online throughout each day on a variety of topics.

A list of speakers & topics is listed below.  You can listen here:   Blog Radio Show All times are Pacific Time.   Sessions will be archived and available on iTunes.

SEPT 14

MONDAY – 9 AM
Understanding How we Uniquely Deal with Difficulties in Life
Georgia Shaffer

MONDAY – 12 PM
Finding Health Insurance Coverage with a Pre-existing Condition
Jennifer Jaff

MONDAY – 3 PM
Super Foods for Super-Natural Health
Joanna Faillace

MONDAY – 5:30 PM
Hearts of Gratitude and Joy
Maureen Pratt

SEPT 15

TUESDAY 9 AM
Coping with Chronic Illness in Your Marriage
Bill & Pam Farrell

TUESDAY 12 PM
Coping with Crises on Top of Chronic
Jennifer Saake & Lisa Copen

TUESDAY 3 PM
How to Start a Business When You are Chronically Ill
Kirsten Borrink

TUESDAY 5:30 PM
To to Be Announced
Kelly Rouba

SEPT 16

WEDNESDAY 9 AM
It’s OK to say NO: Building Healthy Boundaries
Jenni Prokopy

WEDNESDAY 12 PM
Parenting When You are Chronically Ill – Chaos and Confessions
Dena Dyer, talking with Lisa Copen

WEDNESDAY 3 PM
Simplifying Your Home and Housework
Marcia Ramsland

WEDNESDAY 5:30 PM
Real Talk About Men and Chronic Illness
Jeff Kenyon

SEPT 17

THURSDAY 9 AM
Find the Job You Desire and Can Do
Rosalind Joffe

THURSDAY 12 PM
When Your Child is Chronically Ill
Jolene Philo

THURSDAY 3 PM
Managing College with a Chronic Illness
Lynn Royster

THURSDAY 5:30 PM
Helping Others Understand Your Pain
Karen Richards

SEPT 18

FRIDAY 9 AM
Applying and Winning Disability Assistance When You Are Chronically Ill
Scott Davis

FRIDAY 12 PM
Being a Teenager with a Chronic Illness
Naomi Kingery

FRIDAY 3 PM
Surgery Preparation
Curtis Dean Hall

FRIDAY 5:30 PM
Closing workshop
Lisa Copen and guests

Read a passage of scripture: a daily bible reading or a chapter from a book. Use the acronym, explained below, to record your thoughts in your journal.

S: The S stands for Scripture.  When a single verse or two “stands out” from the passage, write the complete verse down in your journal.

O: stands for Observation.  What did you observe about this verse? Who is speaking and to whom? What is it communicating and why? Is there an historical context, is it a prayer or a promise? Does it make you wonder about something?

A: stands for Apply.  How can you apply your observations to yourself or your life? What is required or expected of you? What is your personal response to this verse?

P: stands for Prayer.  Pray about whatever you have observed and tried to apply, including your questions or concerns,  and write as you pray.

I have found this simple practice to be very enlightening. My one struggle is that I often get my observations and applications mixed up, but it’s all good…

Give it a try!