Less Hustle More Coffee

In the striving to get things done yesterday, I had someone to be EXTREMELY rude to me. But I’ve been reading the Bible every morning and I can say that it makes a difference in being in the daily WORD instead of the occasional WORD. The WORD is truly very active and living. The OLD Sonya would have given this person a piece of their mind. I was trained to “not let anyone run over you or take advantage of you”, and I’ve watched plenty of examples of how to “show their tail” to people as it was called. And while God doesn’t intend on us being door mats or stepped on like trash in the floor, there IS something to say about being kind, showing love, and responding with a gentle spirit when someone is rude. I could totally see the difference in the reactions with my response. When someone is mean or nasty to you, it doesn’t give you a license to be ugly back. But responding with gentleness and turning the other cheek actually SAYS a lot. And for those that know better and know they have acted out of line it “heaps the coals” as the Bible says, on their forehead.

My first tendency is to experience “hurt feelings”, sometimes even cry when I’m mistreated. It’s different if I’ve done something wrong. I teared up a bit because I knew I’d been mistreated when I was trying to “give of myself” and “help” a situation instead of expecting someone to be left to it on their own. And someone being angry with you because you are trying to help them, is just not a reason for someone to be angry with you or nasty with you. It did hurt my feelings in a big way. But I knew God saw it and I kinda felt He wanted me not to focus on it a lot. So I didn’t let it take control of my day, but it IS a little hard to forget, I’ll say. I always remember George saying “don’t let someone control your day”. So I replaced the thoughts anytime I thought of it with better thoughts. I did, however, have to refrain from saying much to the person most all day. It was not in a huff or shun or pout type of thing, but mainly in a way so that I could control my tongue and response with yes, no, and maybe so’s. Because when I talk my true feelings come out. lol. I didn’t want to start a wildfire or tell the person what I thought, lol! And what I was thinking about was this photo and how miserable the person must be today over something:

Can you imagine the wild fire started if I had said “You’d have a better day if you weren’t being a miserable cow”? LOL LOL. I would never ever say that to anyone. However, I have hung on to this photo b/c I use it inside my head to make me laugh whenever someone is rude or unkind, or “being a miserable cow”. I kept my thoughts to myself and I laughed, and then I laughed that I had laughed. And then I remembered that God wanted us to forgive. I immediately said to myself “but the person hadn’t apologized”. And the Spirit shouted “that doesn’t matter, you are called to love”. Here is where I get all confused about forgiveness. Trying to love the person and forget the sin, though is what helps me stay on track.

In your dealings with people across your life – if they were to give you a “chip” for every interaction – a white chip for good interaction and a black chip for bad interaction, would you end up with a lot of white chips or black chips? Sometimes we have no choice but to be in situations where can’t block negativity from your life. And we are all negative at times. But overall, do you give white or black chips, of goodness and love, or ugliness and meanness? There are just some we cannot avoid, but you can do the best you can to be an example, show love, and maybe it will make a difference in their own life and they will see how they are being. To respond nastily just ignites the flame. So I thought I would share this with you and you can ponder it too. Maybe this will help you too.

News from Little Roo

Findlay and Little Roo are getting to know each other better. There were some cute Instagram stories yesterday. And Findlay’s face! lol

My “Healthy but Not So Healthy” Lunch Getaway

I retreated for a little break to Logan’s for a salmon Caesar salad, proud of myself for being healthy. The salad must have been delivered from Italy itself, as it took forever to arrive but no worries, my hunger was satiated by the two HOT rolls and butter placed in front of me. And as I ate the creamy Caesar dressing along with the mountains of wonderful Parmesan cheese and the fried buttery croutons, I realized I was probably having all the calories of one day that I should have. There must have been a half block of cheese on that salad! ha. It was wonderful though. But next time I’ll have to get a different salad and no rolls. I did get unsweet tea but it was a little too late to be thinking about calories at that point. Oh well.

Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage in the Instant Pot

Oh my gosh. I think I have just found my favorite meal – replacing spaghetti and prime rib forever – well let’s not get too carried away! But oh my gosh, this was heavenly. I enjoyed my first experience with the Instant Pot, but I was sooooo glad George was there. I asked him before I began if there was anything quirky I should know. And yes there was. Just learning how the Instant Pot “did things” lol, when it goes from segment to segment. There are some things the instructions doesn’t show you. You’d probably figure it out on your own but it would stump you if someone didn’t explain things first. Learning what a “natural release is” and when to release the steam for real.

The recipe had three strips of uncooked bacon, chopped that you sautéed in the Instant Pot. Then you took the bacon aside and sautéed onion for 2 min and green pepper for 2 min, added the garlic and sautéed for a min, some hot pepper flakes of some kind, and then added the cup of “long grain white rice” and added the bacon back in and two cups of chicken broth. Put the seal on and I think it cooked for 5 minutes and then the natural release for 10 and then let the steam out. I cooked the smoked sausage in the air fryer to rid of fat and grease.

This was the “creamiest” and “best” red beans and rice I’ve ever had. I also used the Carolina rice we had. I think it was the Aromatic Rice I used last night.

This is the cookbook I’m using and it has some awesome recipes in it, very simple, and very good. I cannot wait to fix more things in the Instant Pot. Yes I”m late to get on the bandwagon!

“Good Girls” on Netflix

So we have been watching Good Girls on Netflix the last couple of nights. Oh my gosh it’s good. It’s kinda like Breaking Bad in some ways. It’s pretty humorous. Definitely entertaining. Some of these shows you have to go into the 2nd and 3rd show. Like Brigerton. I was in after the 3rd show. I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Leaving you with Mr. Roger. He gets a little more into “doggie Alzheimers” every day. He stands and stares at the wall sometimes, he thinks we are gone when we are there at barks at the stairs until we go and show him we are actually home and he wags his tail and starts to follow us, but sees his water bowl and goes to it. He is obsessed with his water bowl. He sleeps and wanders. His eye sight is going. Yet he still wags his tail a lot, and when disgusted will grunt just like a human would. George leaned him over to kiss me and allow me to kiss him and he didn’t want that and gave a big grunt like a human. LOL. I laughed at being rejected in such a way. I forgave him too. He just didn’t want to be leaned over that way.

Well, I miss having a dog that loves me and wants to be with me every moment. Life is kinda lonely right now but it’s ok. For a season it is definitely going to be the time to wait. So much I want to do first before getting another dog. It will happen in time and “when it is supposed to”. Now is not the time.

Ok off to work. I awoke after a pleasant 8 hour sleep, still very tired. Coffee is waking me up. It’s my 6th day of work this week. I’m honestly over it and need a change of pace, but I’ll go in and give it my best. I’m trying to finish up something that needs to be finished today and I’ve asked God for help. It’ll be a crunch day. I’m NOT working tomorrow.

Anyway, take care. Gonna rain A LOT here this weekend – like SEVERAL inches and with flood warnings predicted.