ADJUSTING, ACCEPTING AND LEARNING

It's been an adjustment getting used to the "new" in my life. This is a simple one, but take the appliances in my apartment as an example. I've been spoiled to the, well, more "advanced" ones over the past 10 years or so. And really, the biggest complaint (if you can even call it that) is they are extremely loud. They do a great job, so no problem there. But the A/C, washer/dryer and dishwasher all sound like an F-14 taking flight. Add on top of that the television in the living room will not go loud enough so I can hear it when even one of these appliances comes on and well...you get the picture. Frustrating? Yes. End of the world? Hardly. Even kind of funny, as I know one day I'll look back on it and think, "Remember when we couldn't even hear the tv in the living room?!" Good times... .

The biggest obstacle, as far as the apartment, has been the cooking situation. I'm used to cooking with gas. It's my overall preference. In the past rent house and in the apartment, it's an electric range. Okay...so I get used to it. And the kitchen has enough room for one person at a time to cook. Okay, two if you move around each other like you're on Dancing with the Stars. Otherwise, someones gonna get cut, elbowed, stepped on, something... .

Then there's the grilling outside that I am oh-so-used-to doing when the weather is as beautiful as it has been lately (Editor's Note:  a ceiling fan is needed on my terrace! From the To to the Do...put it on the list!). Burgers. Chicken. Pork chops. You name it...I love grilling. However, we aren't allowed to have "real" grills due to the fire code, so I have this:

~ Scarlett ~

Her name is Scarlett and she's an electric grill. That's right...electric (cord is inside for when it rains!). I have to turn her on High about 30 minutes before I want to start cooking and honestly, she drops about 200 degrees when you open the lid to turn the meat over. However, I will say, she has never produced a bad piece of meat. She does a good job. Maybe has to do with the fact she takes so long, cooks it slowly and evenly. The best thing from her so far, you ask? Beer brined pork chops with special sauce. Yummmmmmmmmm.

Life is proving to be a series of waves of constant adjustments. Choices are vast, but I'm reassured by those I've chosen to trust. They have yet to let me down. And I will not let them down. It's give and take. Push and pull. You get what you give...it's true. Call it karma. Call it luck. Call it God's Hand. I'm in what is sometimes a very scary place in my life, yet more-and-more I'm convinced it will all work out and I'll have everything I ever needed and nothing I would have even thought to ask for.

Good thing I'm not opposed to adjusting. If I weren't, it would be a very long life!

Plus, so far, I've adjusted for the good. And I've learned you should never be afraid of change. You may lose something good; but may end up gaining something better. Some of it's scary, but I refuse to live a life in fear. So from appliances to whatever...you have to face it head-on. Eyes wide open. Heart wide open. Head in check. It's the only way.

Always remember and never forget:
I asked for strength and
God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and
God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and
God gave me brawn and brains to work.
I asked for courage and
God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience and
God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and
God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favors and
God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed.
My prayers have all been answered.