Doctors & Dog Parks

We have been so happy with the new dog park in Spruce Pine. 

We have even started to see some of the same people more than once. 

Yesterday, the day started with me getting blood work done at the VA, then we went to Azaleas Road dog park. The dogs really love it there. It is our favorite.

Then, went to the French Broad dog park and even though they were tired, they still enjoyed playing. We topped that off with TC's Appointment at Asheville Endocrinology, and then back home. Long day but it was good. 

 

Church

 

This morning we are attending Spruce Pine First Baptist. Rocky Branch is the pastor there. WE have attended many since leaving Warrensville but we have not quite found what we are looking for. It just has not felt right. I have listened the music, the preaching and looked at what all they have going on, and I have a good feeling about this one. We will see. https://www.sprucepinefbc.com/

WE have tried Liberty Hill, Western Carolina and have watched the services online of Grassy Creek. I have considered the Bridge, The Ark and others and I just have not felt led to go. We have talked about starting a Bible Study group in our home or in another's, but just have not moved forward with that yet. I love the idea. We go with grateful and obedient minds and hearts today. 

Training & Taco's

On Thursday, I went for monthly training and enjoyed some time with coworkers and free food. Wow, the mood there is incredible. I just found out some info that will change everything but cannot share it until after Monday. 

That night, we made Taco's... 

Facebook reminded me of several pictures that I had to share. Great memories. 

This is one of my favorites... 

Visiting Chad In Colorado. 

Up- TC in the creek near Damascus Va. 

Down- Me with an old Army Pic. 

Up- Boo and Belle 

Down- A pic of my family. Grandparents, with Mimi, Stacy, Cathy and me. 

 

Torn

 

Crap, Crap, Crap

I had my MRI yesterday and it turns out that I have 3 tears and a another partial tear. I cannot believe it. I guess I did have it in the back of my mind that it was a chance, but I was so ready to get back to work. That's not happening. Now, I am being sent to an orthopedic surgeon and of course the Workman's Comp people have to do all the scheduling and stuff. I am still praying for something quick, but I must begin to prepare my mind. 

It's funny, my rotator cuff is torn, and my heart and mind is also torn about work things. I so want to be there helping in a tough time, but I am also glad that I am not around all that right now. 

Patient Grasshopper

Ordered me a new stapler gun and it works so good. I tried to use a very cheap one but it is just so aggravating. This Craftsman model works very we.. 

2/25/24 Update

I now have an appointment Tuesday at 4 PM with the orthopedic surgeon. 

Trouble

Another work post: Beware

I think I can finally say that the ship is sinking. There are still things & people that I can reveal, as they is not my business, however, I can speak to what I know and things that are now public. We have 18 slots that are on the truck at all times, or suppose to be. Plus, we have a Director and Assistant Director. That is 20 people with 18 on the trucks. Of that 18, 16 is suppose to be Paramedics. As of middle of March, once all that has resigned complete their notice, we will have 8(I think that number is right) Paramedics plus one Admin that can work a truck. That is not good. That means we will have 10 non medic on the truck, either EMT-B or AEMT. We are not fulfilling the county contract, so what does that mean? I don't know! Something got to give. Let's just say that conversations are being had. 

 

Taxes & Pie

Came across this pic of the family budget/taxes from years gone by. I finally destroyed numerous of them. It is hard to believe that the government takes so much for taxes. I think we should move to a 10 % flat tax. 

At our house, we have a cul-de-sac and this hill that the dogs just love. 

In cleaning out the lower building, I found these two. One was for gas and the other for water. Not sure what I am going to do with them, but they are neat. 

Lordy, TC made chees cake last night with her own recipe. It was delicious. 

Today has finally come. I will have my MRI this morning and hopefully, it will be read this afternoon. I better not get my hopes up, it may be tomorrow. I am ready to get back to work! 

 

Just Enough

Just Enough

Life is a Journey. We simply put one foot in front of the other. Life is compared to a walk in Scripture. Consider these Scriptures for a moment and meditate on them. 

Romans 6:4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.”

2 Cor 5:7 — “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Galatians 5:16 — “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Colossians 2:6 — “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

1 John 2:6 — “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Perhaps that is why we are able, or at least I am, able to think and meditate more clearly when I am walking. I have also found that to be true. One foot in front of the other. Could be a short walk, could be a long walk. Could be uphill or downhill or both. Could be sunny and warm or rain/snow and cold. 

The point is this; we WALK by putting one foot in front of the other. We call them steps. In Proverbs 30:7-9 we read of Agur as he speaks to two other gentement. Here is a portion of what he said as he spoke his prayer to God; 

Two things I request of You

(Deprive me not before I die):

Remove falsehood and lies far from me;

Give me neither poverty nor riches —

Feed me with the food allotted to me;

Lest I be full and deny You,

And say, “Who is the Lord?”

Or lest I be poor and steal,

And profane the name of my God

1. Let me Live/Walk in the Truth

1. A great place to start. He wanted to be a man marked by the Truth. 

2. I think he was specifically pertaining to the subject he mentions next. Lies of the rich and lies of the poor. 

3. I could of course be wrong about this, there are certainly others that place a different meaning, but I think this certainly could be the case. 

4. Consider the rich man, (or even us today in the middle class- we really don’t have a lot of needs.) We rely on our savings account and investments, or retirement. We have lost the idea of trusting God in every step of life. (We could certainly spend some time on this and actually you should.) 

2. Let me live with Just Enough

1. So, I was led to this thought first thing, Just Enough. 

2. “Give me neither poverty nor riches”  Again, we see the idea of too much or not enough. 

3. It’s the same idea of time or to be more specific, God’s Timing. Too early, we can't rely on Him. Too late, we cannot rely on Him, therefore, God is always on time. God is also always just enough and more than enough. 

4. The writer states, “I don’t want to be rich or poor”. Just give me what I need, or in other words, “Give me just enough”. 

5. Same with us as we consider our lives and our time in which we are alive. 

Conclusion: Of course there are so many ideas I could dive into, but this thought is just enough to help us consider our reliance upon God. In our Walk of Life, we know that in every step, God sometimes give us just enough to make that next ste

 

Friends & Fun

Sunday morning I went into work to see Chad. Chad has been with us for about a year and has become my friend. Chad was a Medic in the army and served in Iraq. Today was Chad's last day. I will miss him. 

Chad's partner, Lily is also a good friend. She is also leaving. She is going to Madison county and I think eventually to Colorado. They were a good team and I will miss them both. 

I came home and fixed a good breakfast- Eggs, Liver mush and toast. 

I came across these pics when I was a fireman at Warrensville. I miss this. I would like to join again but I don't think it is in the cards. I miss operating the trucks. 

Having just had our 41 st anniversary, I came across these pics. 

WE had such a good time in the Bahamas. 

 

Visits & Memories

Yesterday went down the see Mom. We had a great visit and then went to Love's Fish Box in Kings Mtn. Mom loves it and I really like to take her as this is one of the only places, she usually eats most of her food. That being said, I ate too much. 

TC for a lot of tea pitchers from Mom. They just keep trading out stuff. 

So many times on Facebook memory, these pictures come up from the past, and I save them on my phone. I like to share them here as a memorial. 

It has been said that your thoughts should be more on the future than the past. That seems to be a struggle for me as I seem to remember & Reflect than I do to dream anymore. That sounds sad, but for now it seems that it helps. I do however struggle with this verse Luke 962 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. .

What does this mean? David Guzik says this in his commentary found on BLB.com " In plowing a field in that day, a farmer kept the rows straight by focusing on an object in front and in the distance (such as a tree). If the farmer started to plow and kept looking behind, he would never make straight rows and do a good job plowing. In following Jesus, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus, and never take our eyes off Him". 

Well, if that don't just beat all! 

 

Henry

My work partner and very good friend Tristan Roos and his wife Kaley, with new son Henry in tow stopped by to see us today. That was a joy!!! 

 

Dog Parks & Decisions

What a great time at the new dog park at the Brad Reagan Park in Sprue Pine. It was long overdue. There were other dogs that came along too which always makes it better for ours. 

They really don't know about this agility stuff. 

Overall, it gets a A plus. 

Afterwards, we went out to eat and then back home for some naps and yard work. GOOD DAY 

Now, more words from work. I do not understand what is happening. Found out yesterday that 2 more are leaving. Of course this os what happens when you hire folks from outside the county, although you do have to do it. So far, one was fired(Thank Goodness, I would not work with him either), and after mid March, 6 will have left. Out of 18 full time "on the road" medics, 2 of them being non medics, that leaves 16 Medics. Losing 6 means 10 medics. It looks like we might have one Double Medic truck. This is against the county contract, so either going to ire more medics, probably not possible, or ask th county to have more non medics. 

WOW!

My Plans are to stick with Mitchell and I am considering gong back to 24's. I am going to put in more Team Leader and see what happens. There are others who are looking to change jobs, but have not found the correct fit just yet. Just goes to show, you never know. Lot's of Change, and I don't like change. They say, the only thing that is contact is change. Well. OK!

Chad News- It's getting closer. The lawyer has laid out what he wants done before they come back to NC. It's gonna take a couple of months to get all of it done, but he is read to get it started. 

 

Things have a way of changing when Kids are involved. 

 There will be much to do here to get ready for them, so i better get started. Some things are 

1. Dig new electric line and hook on to upper shed (30 AMP) and run it down to the lower lot, with an RV plug. This takes power away from the upper building and the additional plug I put outside. 
2. I think I can run a water hose above ground to the camper. (Would be nice to run some PEX underground. We'll see about that. This water will be Pre Filter. 
3. Sewer - This will be the hardest. I will need to pick the spot, Dig a hole for a 250 container, run lines from that to the input junction. Then, hook on the container with some drain lines.  I will have to rent a small digger to accomplish this. 

So, quite a bit, so I better get started.