Change is in the air...

Today we had a "volunteer" meeting at Wild Care. It was very interesting, even though I've seen all the animals before, to hear their "stories" and how they came to be part of the Wild Care family. But even more interesting than that was how God spoke to me about diabetes. A woman, probably about my age, maybe just a little older, came in on crutches and said she had to have some sort of surgery on her foot yesterday because of a complication with her diabetes. I didn't think much of it until the woman I work with on Thursday nights told me about her husband (totally separate conversations...) and how he has had diabetes since his 30's and has never tried to take care of it like he should. Now, he can't feel his feet, and can step on a nail and never know it. He recently had heart surgery (diabetic complication) and the wound would not heal (another diabetic complication). He had the surgery MONTHS ago and it is finally just now almost completely healed. To top it all off, his kidneys have failed and he must have dialysis Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Each session is SIX HOURS and the cost (Medicare) is 35,000 a WEEK. And still, he does not eat right or exercise. He's waiting for a kidney from someone who will die now. Oh my goodness. That is really horrible. And part of me feels he doesn't deserve to get one since he does nothing to counteract his diabetes.

And yet...here I am and I do not watch what I eat or exercise or try in any way whatsoever to control my diabetes other than my medication. And if I lost weight, I wouldn't have to take that medication for a long time, and I could probably stop taking my blood pressure medication and maybe even my cholesterol medication. It's very sad. I know God is reaching out to get my attention. I will pray every day for the willingness to ask for strength to take care of my body. Because I don't want to. It's so much work. And, apparently, I'm very lazy.

On the monetary front...that is certainly two steps forward and one step back. I have put into action a new savings account with money automatically deposited into it from my checking account. (Out of sight out of mind...) It is not linked with my checking account. Different bank, even. I made a budget. I paid bills. I had 50 bucks to get me through this week, and I have a full tank of gas... I got up, I read the 3 chapters out of Dave Ramsey I'm supposed to read, I worked some more on the budget. Everything was great. Then Sarah asked for money and I said no. She said she needs gas. So, reluctantly and trying to riddle her with guilt, "You are taking my gas money...that's all I'm sayin'!", I give her my Speedway gas gift card that has $7.00 on it and told her it has $7.00, that's all I've got. Then I was mad at myself for doing that. Soon, the doorbell rang, and Sarah's new boyfriend "Ben" is at the door handing Sarah money. What?!? Sarah introduces Ben to me, I ask Ben if he's giving Sarah money. Sarah hastens to say she's going to pay it back. I tell him he shouldn't give her any money. (MEAN MOM! and hypocritical, too!) I told him she gets paid on Friday and she WILL pay him back then. (Let's point out here that 1. It's none of my business if he loans her money. 2. It's none of my business if she does or does not pay him back. 3. I'm mad that I gave her money. The real point here is that it was none of my business and I'm mad.) As another aside, Ben is tall and skinny, short hair, seemed polite enough...

Back to the monetary front. I decide I HAVE to have some flavored syrup to put in my coffee. Off to TJ Maxx I go, where fun syrups abound for 1/2 the price of other places. I find a syrup!! Two in fact!! I find a bowl for $2.00 I can't live without. OH! There's another one! I manage to escape TJ Maxx having spent $16.22. I'm driving away, and I remember my mom telling me about a tea sample she tried that she got in a magazine. It was a Tazo green tea with orchids or something like that in it and she really liked it. I'm driving right by Starbucks (I mean Four-bucks) and decide to "pop" in and see if they sell that kind there since I KNOW they sell TAZO tea. Nope. Not that kind. But, while I'm there I'll get a grande almond mocha (ie. four-bucks and 3 cents). I am now down in my checking account 20.25. But I'm not as mad at Sarah any more. hmmmmm. There may be a connection here...