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I made an important decision

After 14 years & this past week, I made an important decision to “kick the habit” and quit smoking for good. I started smoking when I was 21 & quit once back in 2004 for 30 days. But stress do to work & other personal problems caused me to start back up again.

I came to this decision after my best friend’s mom was recently hopitalized with breathing problems, which turned out to be COPD, as well as, a viral pnuemonia. She’s in her late 50’s & has been a smoker since her teens – I believe. I went to visit my friend last Saturday & we went over to the hospital to check up on her mom. She had been in there for about a week & she was on a ventilator. They tried taking her off of it for a couple of hours, but had to put her back on because she was struggling really hard to breath. They told my friend that they would probably do a tracheotomy on Monday or Tuesday.

My friend was very stressed out & concerned over her mom. She’s usually a very strong person, but cried several times, praying that God wouldn’t take her away & that she would give her a lung if it came down to it.

My friend is a smoker as well & the week before her mom went into the hospital, she was sick with the flu for 5 days. She used to smoke between 1 – 2 packs a day, but during that time, she didn’t smoke, or even have a desire to smoke. Then, once she started feeling better, she practically quit cold turkey. Unfortunately, after her mom was hospitalized, she started smoking again, but it was only 4-5 a day, mostly when she was really stressed.

I hadn’t talked to my friend all week and then she finally called me yesterday before she left work to tell me her mom was doing a lot better. The doctor’s did a trach on Monday & she started off on a big tube, now she’s on a smaller one. She’s able to speak a soft whisper now, which made my friend happy that she could finally understand her when she talked. Plus, her eyes started looking better. Before, they were really bloodshot & now, they are almost completely white again.

She said their plans are to do a barium throat test to see if she can swallow & if so, they’ll be able to take her off the trach and put her on oxygen. Then, once she gets her strength back, she’ll be able to come home in a couple weeks. I was soo happy to hear the great news.

She also told me since last Saturday, she’s only had maybe 1 or 2 cigarettes a day & would be finished with her pack in the next day or so. Once she’s completely done, she won’t buy any more. She’s already cleaned up her house & taken out all the ashtrays. She also goes outside when she wants a cigarette. She won’t be able to smoke in the house once her mom comes home, so she’s eliminating all traces.

So, basically in a nutshell, this is the main reason. I figure that if my best friend can do it, so can I. Plus, seeing her mom last Saturday in the hospital really put things in perspective for me. I know that it won’t be easy, but Philipians 4:13 reminds me that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So, my plan is to take it one day at a time, and reminding myself that in my weakness, the Lord is strong. I’ve also bought a box of Commit Lozenges for back-up, especially for in the mornings and those other times when I want a cigarette out of bordem or after eating.

Wish me luck & keep me in your prayers. I plan to update my blog on my progress on a daily or weekly basis, as time allows, to keep me accountable.

Recall Notice

I received the following in an e-mail and thought I’d share. 🙂

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed “Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality, ” or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
(these are the “Fruits of the Holy Spirit”)

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers’ Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Paradise so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention! – GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by ‘Knee mail’.

Busy weekend ahead

My birthday is officially not until Monday, but I’ll be starting early… tomorrow to be exact.

My friend, Susan, her mom, Trudy and I will be going on a 2 hour trip to the Town of Bramwell (WV) for a Ghost walk. This is the 2nd year they’ve had one, and I get the chance to go. I think it will be a lot of fun. Click on the link below for the official press release from the Children’s Home Society’s website on their upcoming events page. There are pictures as well, which I think is very cool. I can’t wait.

http://www.childhswv.org/news/ghostwalk.htm

On Sunday, I’ll be going to dinner with my family to Olive Garden… can’t wait. It’s one of my favorite restaurants… also my suggestion. 🙂

Then, I’m taking off on Monday – my official b-day – and going first thing in the morning to the DMV to get my driver’s license renewed. Yay!! Then, after I come home I’ll need to call the maintenance men for my apartment building to come and look at my heater… I’ve been freezing at night and I can’t get my heat to come on. I think the pilot light might be out, but I can’t get the door off the unit to check. Plus, I’d rather have them do it for me, just to be on the safe side. 🙂

I’ll be updating later with pictures and such.

My Brother’s Birthday

My brother, Gabriel, just turned 22 on Friday and we went out to the Farm Table restaurant for dinner. It was nice. I got stuffed as always. This picture was taken last year of the restaurant.. no recent photos of it. But you get the idea.

This is a particial picture of a wall mural from inside the restaurant.

Here’s a picture of my brother and me

This is a picture I took in the back part of the restaurant. It’s set up kind of 60s style. This is a cool picture of an Elvis picture on the wall with his singles.

The following are some pictures taken at my grandmother’s house after we got done eating dinner. These are of the cake, and some of his birthday cards and gifts.

This is a picture of the new go phone he got

This is the sketchbook journal I gave him, since he likes to draw. I also gave him a 3 pack of pocket-sized blank books as well.

Here he’s holding the card I gave him

And, here is a picture of the cake.