Looking for 1 thing... finding another!

I'm searching for an Elliptical. One of those exercise machines that lets you move without stressing the joints. My online search and visits to a variety of stores has taught me that the machines are expensive. I've moved my search to garage sales. Maybe someone out there has one they'd like to sell... cheap. 

Yesterday, I stopped at one garage sale, thinking maybe, just maybe, they'd be selling one. I looked around and although they had a lot of stuff, no elliptical.

I was wearing my RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) Soldiers' Angels shirt. The gentleman asked what Soldiers' Angels was. I explain how we support current Military men and women, their families, wounded Soldiers and our Veterans.

He mentioned that he was a Navy Vet. He served on the USS Philippine Sea many, many, years ago. It was such an honor to talk with this gentlemen and hear some of his military service. What a wonderful surprise. I went searching for 1 thing.. and found a Navy Veteran!

It always amazes me when I meet Veterans and our current Military men and women—they are so humble and proud of serving our Country. I walk away from talking with them, enriched having just met and spent some time in their company. 

To each and every Military Man & Woman

and to each Veteran

"THANK YOU!!"

Often it's those unexpected surprises that create a positive day!

Celebrating my Birthday!

Today is my birthday!

The celebration has been wonderful.

This year, God gave me a new Don Moen CD! Last night, I learned that I won a contest for his newest CD—Uncharted Territory! How cool! I have a few of Don's CDs and enjoy them very much. So, I'm excited about receiving his newest CD.

I also received several cards from family and friends—love the variety of the cards and the encouraging notes. Many friends posted greetings on FaceBook. And I also received several gifts. One gift is a framed art work of Proverbs 3:5-6 created by Timothy Botts. Mr. Botts is an amazing and very talented artist.

Today, I was able to enjoy time and lunch with a great friend. God even provided a restaurant where I could enjoy a good meal without cheating on my diet! (That was very important to me, since I've lost a total of 20 lb so far. I still have more weight to lose, but since the Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss program is working, I really didn't want to cheat and delay my progress.)

(The last picture is Jake, my server, and me. Jake did a superb job of making sure our meal was very enjoyable.) 

And of course, Max provided some extra laughs today. It was 9 years ago that God gave me Max as my birthday gift. Max has learned a new sound. It's a soft and sweet whistle. When I say, "Pretty whistle", Max will whistle this new sound. I love it.

As I think back over today, I am truly blessed by God. It's so very special to be His child. Creating a positive day is very enjoyable when I'm counting my blessings!

Superabundantly!

I received a notice to stop by the apartment office to sign a new lease due to a change in a formula used to determine my disability rent reduction. I wasn't sure what that really meant. 

Today, on the way to my Chiropractic appointment, I stopped by the apartment office. The manager brought out the new lease....and my rent has been LOWERED! Yes, God has provided $5 per month due to the rent reduction. But that's not all! I also was given a CREDIT! So, God provided $50 plus the additional $5 per month for the next few months.

Once again God uses a VERY creative and unique way of providing! I've been on disability rent reduction for about 5 years now, and never has my rent decreased during that time...it usually increases each year. Never could I imagine my rent being reduced MID-LEASE! But God is not bound by disability rent formulas or time! He is ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY ABOVE all we can ask or THINK!! 

"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." Ephesians 3:20 Amplified Bible

So, let's recap so far.....

• March 9th I bought the new MacBook (Screen Went Dark; March 11th).

God has provided money the following ways:

1. The money I had saved for a new Wacom Tablet.
2. The discount at the gas pump (God did it AGAIN!; March 22nd).
3. The gift from friends via the mail (Hugs!; March 27th).
4. Rent reduction and credit (today).

I wonder what God has planned
for the balance due on the MacBook! Stay tuned!!

I'm so thankful that God is so creative! It sure encourages me to continue creating positive days!

Hugs!

There were some tweets going around on Twitter the other morning, about giving and receiving hugs from friends. The tweets were encouraging people to go hug someone. I thought, well, "I'm single, who am I to hug and who will hug me?"

It didn't take me long to begin receiving HUGS—from God! First, God shared a hug through Max, my parakeet. Max was extra loving and silly throughout the morning. Max's antics made me laugh. 

But God wasn't done yet.

Then the mail arrived. I received an encouraging and kind note from some friends. That was a warm hug from God. 

But God still wasn't done! God had prompted those friends to send some money toward the new MacBook! Now that was a "BEAR HUG" from God! God continues to supply the money for the new computer....and He is supplying in creative and encouraging ways!

But God still wasn't done!

A friend called, she was in the area and wanted to drop off some groceries! And you know what? When she brought the groceries by... she gave me a hug! That was a double hug!

God loves me, and that includes sending hugs!

Receiving hugs from God creates a very positive day!

God did it AGAIN!

Once again, God provided in a VERY creative way! I love it when God does things out of the ordinary to supply my needs. It's so cool!!

Today, I needed to buy gas for the car. I normally buy it at a gas station near my chiropractor. But when I left his office tonight, I was so excited with my weigh-in results (see below), that I drove the opposite direction from the gas station. I soon realized my mistake, but figured I'd just stop at another gas station I pass on the way home.

I stopped at the station, got out and scanned my gas credit card. Then there was a question on the screen: "Do you want the $1.64 g/ discount?"

I stood there trying to figure out what it was asking, then looked at the price of the gas: $4.399 per gallon! YES, I want the discount. I pressed "yes" then this message appeared: "Car wash is not available, but you will still get your discount." So, I paid only $2.759 per gallon!

My car took 9.775 gallons to fill the tank. So, God provided at total of $16.03 today!! How cool is that???

If you read my last post about my computer dying, I mentioned in the last paragraph, that God could supply the money all at once or little by little. Today, God provided $16.03! I'm not sure what I like best...that God provided the money or the way He provided the money.

________________________

Oh, and now about my weigh-in results. On Feb 6, 2012 I posted: "Changing to Improve" about a new diet plan my chiropractor is offering. As of today (March 22nd) end of week 6, I'm down a TOTAL of 14 pounds and I've also lost inches and fat and gained lean muscle mass. I'm so excited that this program is working for me. I still have more weight to lose, but I'm heading the right direction.

Creating a positive day is taking notice of when God provides for my needs—especially taking notice of His very creative ways!

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!