Friday, November 30, 2012

Day 30

I never really know what I'm going to post each day.  But today, God let me know quite early what today's post would be... and it's called Toilet Trouble.  My alarm went off this morning and I wanted to hit the snooze button, but God gently reminded me that I was supposed to be excited about my morning quiet time (thanks to my seven year old's enthusiasm from last night), so I got out of bed and obeyed.  And I'm so glad I did.  I listened to 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman and was reminded that I needed to be thankful at the end of the day, no matter what happens by this verse:  "Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes."  God was preparing me... I even got to experience God's living and active word this morning!  My day was off to a great start.

The boys got up, we were on schedule, and things were lookin' good.  Then, I got a call from my son from the bathroom and I knew what was coming... the toilet was clogged.  How did I know this?  I discovered it last night, but wanted my hubby to take care of it... and I forget to mention it to him.  So, now it was up to me.  Let me tell you, I'm not a plunger kinda gal, but today, I was me or nothing.  So I found the plunger and was anticipating success.  I pumped it a few times and nothing happened, so I got the bright idea to flush the toilet to see if it secretly worked and I just didn't realize it.  Big mistake!! Whatever you do, do not flush the toilet if the water level didn't decrease after using the plunger.  Why, you ask?  Because it floods.  Yep, you got it.  My bathroom floor was flooding with sewage water.  As I yelled "No!," I did have quick enough reflexes to grab my Christmas rug off the floor before it got contaminated.  And the flood didn't just stick to my bathroom.  Nope, it spread into the hallway.  I quickly grabbed a roll of paper towels and started tossing them all over the floor... all the while looking at the toilet full of brown liquid that wasn't going anywhere but on the floor.  I was starting to get frustrated and a thought flashed through my brain.  Guess what it was... Heather, you're supposed to give thanks in all circumstances.  Ha!  So I was at a crossroads... give thanks or get mad.  The choice was mine.  And today, I chose thankfulness, thanks to the Holy Spirit's still small voice reminding me of 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  I wasn't quite sure what to be thankful for yet, but I was gonna find something...

After I had paper towels on the pools of sewage water, I had one last task... to fix the blockage.  I grabbed the plunger and thought... I don't know if this is gonna work.  So, I said a prayer.  You got it, I prayed "Dear God, please let this plunger work."  I plunged a few times and voila!  The blockage was removed.  Thank you, God!!  I'm so glad the God answers prayers about my clogged toilet!

No time to clean up the rest of the mess, so the paper towels covering the floor would have to do until I dropped my son off at school.  As we said our prayers in the car, I started off with "Thank you God for toilets, plungers and paper towels."  And the boys and I cracked up laughing together.  Choosing to be thankful was so much more fun that choosing frustration. 

I had to run an errand after dropping my son off at school and we got to drive by the sewage plant.  Pretty funny after my toilet trouble this morning!  And it stunk sooooo bad.  I mean it was really nasty.  My three year old exclaims "P-U!  What is that smell!"  And I replied "It's the sewage plant.  Aren't you glad our house doesn't smell like that?"  He said yes.  It brought a smile to my face because even though I had sewage all over my bathroom, my house didn't stink one bit.  Pretty miraculous in my book... another thing to be thankful for!

Now, the floors are bleached and smelling like swimming pool water according to my three year old.  The toilet works.  It's a good day.  And I hope that you chose some thankfulness today too!  So, here's my Psalm of thankfulness for today...

I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.  My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.  Psalm 34:1-3

Tonight, I am thankful for...

  1. Toilets that normally work properly
  2. Plungers
  3. Paper Towels
  4. Laminate floors that make cleaning up sewage easier
  5. Sewage plant smells that make me thankful that my house doesn’t stink even though I had a sewage flood
  6. Giggling about our toilet troubles with the boys
  7. Bleach
  8. Praying for my three year old to take a nap… and him falling asleep shortly thereafter… Thank you Jesus!
  9. Silly Putty
  10. Experiencing God's living and active word this morning
  11. A devotion my hubby sent me that was just what I needed to hear
Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 6,807 to go...

18 comments:

  1. I am thankful:
    1. that I didn't have a sewage problem today. Having been on the receiving end of that before I am well aware of the fun you can have with it.
    2. I got my cake done and can hang out with the fam tonight.
    3. seeing my son dress up in his Steelers outfit with Troy Polamalu hair. Too funny.
    4. working with people who get my sense of humor.
    5. the weather is going to be nice this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Iam thankful for
    1. My daily devotions
    2. Sleeping in after a late night
    3. Having a day to myself
    4. Getting my house cleaned
    5. Getting all the Christmas presents wrapped
    6. Listening to the grandsons laugh watching a movie in the
    car
    7. Having popcorn with my grandsons
    Gina

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  3. I am thankful for...
    1. Successful errands with 2 kiddos.
    2. A grocery store trip with only 1 kiddo thanks to an awesome hubby!
    3. Take and bake pizza!!!
    4. Third Day "Christmas Offerings" CD
    5. Getting most all the Christmas decorations up
    6. The possibility of what tomorrow holds
    7. Christmas decorations from my childhood that bring such memories when I use them to decorate my house
    8. A comfy bed
    9. Advent calendars that finally start tomorrow
    10. Getting more time to celebrate Christmas because Thanksgiving was early
    11. Answered prayers
    12. God's unfailing love
    13. The joy that comes with celebrating Christ's birth
    14. Finally figuring out what to get my husband for Christmas
    15. Laughter with friends

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  4. Amanda.L
    I'm thankful for a blow up decorations .
    I'm thankful for Gods love for me.
    I'm thankful for Gods love for my family.
    I'm thankful for Gods grace.
    I'm thankful for a friend meeting me for coffee in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am thankful for-
    Shedding those 5 Thanksgiving pounds in one week - HOOT !
    a great morning walk at the mall
    Finding the perfect gift for a special friend :-)
    The new handmade (by my Eden) December Calender because our other ones squares weren't big enought for all our Dec FUN
    Getting to attend Eliza's opening night as Ursula in the Little Mermaid at KCD
    The salad bar at Jason's Deli
    Overtime being offered at Russ's job and him jumping on it with a joyful attitude, no grumbling
    My daughters keen sense of humor !
    Baggy clothes
    Belts
    The smell of freshly shampooed hair
    Fluffy bath towels
    Fun plans for Sat and Sun

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  6. 1. The crazy chaos that tired me out but also lets me know my students are busy creating and being engaged.
    2. A non-eventful doctor's visit
    3. The big tree is FINALLY up.
    4. Sweet dreams.
    5. Once again, God brought my hubby safely back home to us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am thankful for Friday:
    I am thankful Dewane cleaned the kitchen while I was at work.
    I am over joyed I had no IEP meetings today!
    I am excited to have date night with my nephew to celebrate his straight A report card.
    I am thankful Erica has a servants heart.
    I am thankful Zane likes his job at Sam's club.
    I am thankful for exhaust fans in our bathrooms to help pull out that stinky smell that happens!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm thankful for
    Paper towels
    Christmas tree light repair tools
    All the people participating in this blog
    Good friends and holiday parties
    A wife that can keep it together in stressful situations

    ReplyDelete
  9. Today I am thankful for:

    1. Good news for a friend from the doctor for her child
    2. A fun lunch with a wonderful pastor whom I admire
    3. The people who gave to the community clubhouse
    4. That my wife found something she lost
    5. For connecting with an old friend
    6. Getting some time is afternoon to read my book that I'm loving
    7. Daniel's teaching on marriage and relationships at the men's breakfast
    8. That some guys stepped up to help Danny cook
    9. Danny Robinson is so selfless with his time
    10. For Jason and Ray and Phillip for helping a young lady who really needs it
    11. For new ideas
    12. For the excitement that is developing for a new disability ministry at church
    13. For the people who want to lead that ministry and who are so excited about it
    14. For long conversations with my friend Richard
    15. The Bible and how God continues to teach me every day through it
    16. For football
    17. For Chris and Rosie and how hard they are working for the Clubhouse
    18. For Cardinal Aquatics picking the Clubhouse as their sponsored charity this year
    19. For my family
    20. A wonderful weather day
    21. Christmas cards from unexpected people

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am thankful for:
    1. the women who work tirelessly leading a single mom's ministry
    2. the opportunity to get to serve some single moms today
    3. the fun of working with my daughter
    4. Eden's "baby love"
    5. a very touching Christmas card received today

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amanda L.
    I'm thankful for Starbucks coffee.
    I'm thankful for a caring friend.
    I'm thankful for being a elf today at the single moms ministry.
    I'm thankful for the Christmas music bon played today.
    I'm thankful for maddie spending the night at a friends house.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am thankful for:
    1. the fun times we had this evening with our neighbor kids/friends!
    2. seeing kids enjoy food.
    3. hearing lots of belly laughs. Very contagious!
    4. getting a bit more shopping done.
    5. some downtime this afternoon.

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  13. 1. For good fellowship
    2. For my parents taking the kids to see Lights Under Louisville
    3. For Christmas music
    4. For forgiveness and grace
    5. For my cozy bed calling my name

    LisaD

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  14. 1. the warm weather
    2. that its December, the best month of the year!
    3. getting to serve some single moms and their kids today
    4. having fun at a friend's surprise party tonight
    5. driving through the neighborhood, looking at all the Christmas lights

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amanda.L.
    I'm thankful for Richards sermon today.
    I'm thankful for working early on Saturday.
    I'm thankful for maddie coming home from a friends house.
    I'm thankful for talking to a sister in law today.
    I'm thankful for losing weight.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1. Two weeks in a row!
    2. Sitting by the lighted Christmas trees.
    3. When my daughters negotiate a compromise.
    4. Prayers answered for a friend.
    5. Going shopping with two happy girls.
    6. Watching the girls decorate gingerbread houses.
    7. Slow, peaceful starts to weekend mornings.
    8. My husband doing the grocery shopping.
    9. Crafting.
    10. The Prince of Peace, my Redeemer, ALWAYS, ALWAYS being in control.

    ReplyDelete
  17. 1. I am thankful for the great weather.
    2. I am thankful for spending time with friends
    3. I am thankful for a good night sleep
    4. I am thankful that my daughter is spending regular time in God's Word
    5. My son has pulled away from the Lord some but I know my prayers will be answered about this, so I am thanking the Lord in advance for his renewed relationship with Him.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 1. Being home
    2. Nash meeting my parents with no issues
    3. Pay days
    4. Flexible jobs
    5. Being able to talk to Nash more that I'm back in town

    ReplyDelete