All you need is love

Me with my amazing granddaughter, Olivia!

Love is so amazing! Why is it the more you give the more you have? My daughter, Sheila is expecting her second child and she made the statement to me that Andrew, her husband was worried that Olivia would be his favorite. I had to laugh, but I remember feeling that way myself. I was not sure that I could love anyone as much as I loved Sheila, but when Alisha came my love was there for her too. Then when my third, Emily came, amazingly enough I loved her just as much as the first two. Love multiplies the more you give it. I cant explain it but it's true. No wonder it is the best gift you can give anyone. The more you give, the more it comes back to you.

Mother/daughter weekend

Hey we're having fun mother/daughter/granddaughter weekend.

Fun times

So our family was suppose to meet up at the zoo this past Saturday. It was yucky weather and Olivia was not feeling 100% so we went to plan B. Plan B was meet at a mall in a central location and hang out and have lunch. We did and it was fun. We laughed and kissed Olivia, shopped and kissed Olivia, ate and kissed Olivia, looked at the pet store and kissed Olivia. You get the picture. Since we were close to a good barbecue place we all ate dinner together and then parted and went our different directions. A spur of the moment plan but oh so fun to be with family and friends.

beach

So Alisha asked me since I wasn't working to go to the beach with her while she was on her spring break. Hey, I am up for whatever these days. My life is an adventure. So I got us a place to stay(for free). Not the Hilton mind you, but free! Emily had a few days off too, so we went. It was a little chilly as you can see from the picture. Not the summer lay in your bathing suit type weather, but it was fun. We shopped and walked and slept and watched movies and ate donuts and had good food. It was fun mother daughter time. My only regret is that Sheila couldn't come. Life is a gift. I love it.

Easter

Easter is here! I love this time of year. I love spring and the flowers and the sunshine and the trees getting buds. It all reflects new life. How appropriate that we celebrate the Lord's ressurection during the spring season. New Life! That is what we have when we believe in his birth, death and ressurection. I am grateful for the cross, and the empty tomb! How about you?

Time for work?

I honestly don't know how this happens, but I am not working right now, although I am spending a lot of time on the computer looking for jobs and faxing my resume etc. I have so much that seems needing to be done around the house. How did it get done when I was working full time? I DON'T KNOW!!!! I have errands to run, like grocery shopping, shopping for wedding and shower gifts. The list goes on and on. I guess because I am around here, I notice the things that need doing. I told you in my last blog about the yard work. That is always a given in the spring. I have my normal cleaning and then I am also doing some sorting and giving away. When Alisha moved out it sort of pushed me to clean and organize. It seems like it is a never ending process, or maybe it is just because I move things from one room to the next and then I have to eventually deal with the junk. I hate junk. As I have aged, I have really purged my stuff. I emptied the attic for the most part(there is still more stuff) I cleaned out my closet, and things that I don't use much I am really getting to the point that if I haven't looked at it in a year I am giving it to Goodwill or someone who needs it. I am even to the point of selling most of my precious moments. If you are looking to buy some or all of them, let me know. I have given lots of stuff to the girls when they moved out. It is quite freeing. If you have trouble letting go of stuff that you don't even know you have, just take the plunge and let it go. It feels SO good! Plus it can help others greatly. What can be better than that?!! God didn't create us to live here and be stingy. If He has blessed us with so much that we cant even use it all, that is probably a sign that you should bless someone else who needs it.

Unemployed

Here's what happens when you are unemployed! You start making work for yourself!!!!

working hard?

I have been having a very nice time not working, but as I am home more, I see all the things that need doing. I am turning into a crazy woman. I cut down these huge bushes that are now as big as trees. They line the back yard and were so overgrown. Tom and I did half last year. I started to work on the other half. I have them cut down mostly, but I still have to cut them into manageable sizes for the city to haul them away. That seems to be the most work. Tom and I are gonna work on it together tomorrow. (His day off) The spring weather always gets me in the mood to do this kind of yard work. I pray for rain this year our lawn took a beating last summer. Anyway, I am enjoying my hard work for no pay!

Life is a gift

What a special Gift God has given me in my granddaughter Olivia

And Olivia's mom

And aunt Alisha

And her Aunt Emily

We have so much fun together as a family. Laughter is ultimate, Eating is important, sharing time is so awesome. Shopping is good too!

Back in town

I am back. I had a wonderful trip home to visit family. It was cold and I worked helping my brother in the barn and hoisted up my muscle performance a little. (carrying heavy milk pails to the bulk tank) I made some meals for my parents and brothers and played lots of games and took lots of naps. I visited some friends and just enjoyed looking at the farm where I grew up. I walked in the snow and breathed the fresh air. I enjoyed the sunsets and sunrises. In the city you dont see them most often. I feel renewed and refreshed even though I am a bit tired. I feel that I have a new perspective. I have to find a job and I know I will. It's not a race and it's not the end of the world if I dont find one today. I am embracing the farm life attitude of slow down, take time to talk and play, enjoy some laughter, and eat yourself silly!

MINNESOTA

Guess What! I am in Minnesota and out in the country on my parents farm is not much chance to see what's happening in cyberspace. I went into town and thought after a week, that I need coffee. I went to the Coffee Company. (only coffee shop in town, that I can find) They have internet. I am sipping a white chocolate mocha, decaf and surfing the net. Life is good.

job hunt

Here I am today looking for a job. I have my first interview in 15 years. I dont really know how this works anymore, but I am doing a group interview. (Whatever the heck that is) I wonder if I have to wrestle all the other prospective job hunters. Maybe we do rock, paper, scissors. Who knows. I dont, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to brush up on my interviewing skills.

Last night our pastor talked about being patient. I think he may have been talking directly to me. He also said do not SETTLE. Be patient and wait on God. I know he was talking to me. I dont have a job, but God sees my future and I am sure it has a great job for me otherwise maybe I will inherit a big sum of money and wont have to work.

So here I go........

Life can change at any moment

I have had a little time to reflect on change. I am recently unemployed due to a lay off from my most recent job of 6 months. For 14 years before that I was at the same job. I felt like I needed a change and God seemed to open the door for my most recent job. Now 6 months later I am unemployed and it is a very strange feeling. I am free to do whatever I want with my time and yet I feel imprisoned in many ways. I probably wouldnt have to go to work, but our finances would be very tight until college is payed for. So I have to say" God what are you doing? Why do I find myself in this position. Did I make a mistake when I thought you were leading me to take this last job, or is this all part of a bigger plan to get me from point A to point C?" I dont know. For now I have to trust God. I know I always have to trust Him but it just becomes more evident when my life is certainly out of my control. I wish I could see down the road and know that this job thing has a good ending, but then in a way maybe it would scare me to see the end results. So the days that I thought my life was so routine are over. I have no idea what tomorrow will hold for me. I guess we never do. Life can change at any moment and then you think "WOW " how did I get here?

"O" my

Need I say more!
Calling Grammy

Auntie Alisha

Me and mom

Auntie Emily

Poem from my sister

As I said in my earlier blog people have always made my birthday special here is a poem my sister wrote for me to celebrate my birthday.

Poem for my treasured sister, SHARON BURGER, on her birthday

Sister of mine is kind and dear,
Heart for God each day of the year.
Always thoughtful and so sweet,
Ready hands and willing feet.
One in a million, she is treasured
Never could her worth be measured.

Born this day when I was ten
Unique and special she's been since then.
Really a dear sister and beautiful too,
Good-natured and fun, pretty through and through.
Each day I thank God for a sister so dear
Remembered especially this day of the year.

Love from Janette for me. I love her!

My birth

Today is my birthday. I have always loved my birthday. For some reason it has always been special because people I love have always seemed to make such a great effort to make is so. When I was young my mom did things to make me feel like I was the most special one to ever be born. My friends would always do neat things for me. Then when I married Tom I hit the jackpot, because gift giving is his love language so I have always reaped the benefits of that. He has planned trips, gotten me flowers, taken me on great dinners and given me amazing gifts. My girls now that they are grown make a great effort to remember me on my day. I am so blessed to be born and chosen of God. My parents didnt abort me just because they had already 6 children. I love my day, January 31st. Last day of the first month. In the dead of winter how fun to have a special day to look forward to. God thank you for giving me life, salvation and alot of other extra's that I appreciate and thank you for. Happy Birthday to me!

Friday

Today is friday and that means the beginning of the weekend. I cant wait for it to begin. My family will all be together and I look forward to that very much. As the girls have grown up and moved away and become adults, I treasure the time I have with them. We dont have to do anything special, just being together is special. Eating a meal. Laughing and telling stories and remembering funny things from the past and maybe if I get my way playing a game or two. Watching Olivia do the newest things that she has learned is always a good form of entertainment. We can sit for hours and enjoy that. What a blessing family is. God sure knew what He was doing when he made the family! I hope your weekend will be as special as mine.

Feelings

How is it that feelings change so radically in me lately? Sometimes I feel on top of the world and sometimes I feel at the bottom of the food chain! As a believer I know that I should have joy all the time and for the most part I do. I dont however have happiness all the time. I have come to find out that when I am feeling down and like everything is wrong, I need to encourage myself in the Lord just as David did when everyone in Israel was against him. How do I do that?.....I start to praise God for all that He has done for me. I start to name and thank God all the blessings that I have seen and experienced in my life. It doesnt take more than a minute before I am back on top again. Not that I stay there, but at least I have a better perspective. Oh that I could live in that thankfulness and happiness all the time. For anyone reading this, please pray for me a spirit of joy and thankfulness all the time.

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy!
Psalm 16:11

chicken soup

What is it about Chicken Soup that seems to make your worst day good. I made soup today for my sick Alisha. I know that it has been said that Chicken soup can heal your body. I think it can also heal your attitude and I like how it warms me up. So here's to chicken soup!

A mind at peace

A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh. Proverbs 14:30

Put your burdens in the Lord's hands and you will have a mind at peace and as a result your body will be healthy.

Anne of Green Gables

Over the last few days of Emily's break we broke out the old VHS movie of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. If you have never watched these wonderful films, you need to. They will make you laugh,cry, wonder and imagine. It is clean viewing and such and inspiration for anyone of any age. It inspires me every time I watch it. I wish there were more films made like these.

My youngest daughter

Just thought I would blog about my youngest daughter. She has been a little upset that there are no pictures of her in the house. The oldest has wedding and family pictures since she got married and had a baby. The middle girl was homecoming queen and we have pictures of her. Our granddaughter of course has many pictures throughout the house. I am really gonna work on getting her face up there, so I thought I would give her her own blog spot on my blog. This is her and her boyfriend the day before Christmas when we did presents with him. I think Emily is beautiful, creative, funny and very loving. She is my baby and will always be. I love her. Here's to Em!

Happy end of 2007

I am just getting to the day that I think about the past year and get ready to say goodbye to 2007. I always feel a little nastalgic when it comes to the end of the year. I like the opportunity to start over with the new year. I usually mess up my good intentions by 3 o'clock on New Years Day, but at least it is a clean slate for a few hours. As I look at this past year I will remember it with fondness as I became a grandmother! It has been one of the best feelings I have ever had. I got to take a trip with Emily to visit my parents. Tom and I got to take Sheila, Andrew and Olivia to see my parents.(very cool) I quit my job of 14 years and took a chance to try something new.(Big change for me who sometimes does not like change) I experienced having Alisha, our college grad come home and live with us after a year of empty nest. This is a really big challenge sometimes. I still havent figured my role in this yet. I have spent a lot of the past months not feeling 100%. I dont know what the problem is. Some of it is hormonal for sure. Ya ya.... I am hitting that menapausel erra and not liking it too well. (enough of that) As I reflect on the year 2007 I once again must confess that I am so wonderfully blessed and can never thank God enough for all He has done for me. I dont know what 2008 will bring but I know that God is faithful in everything.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Romans 15.13

And a merry Christmas it was

I had a wonderful Christmas with all those I love in Charlotte!

Holiday Hoopla

I've been tagged for Holiday Hoopla whatever that is so I have to name 12 random things about Christmas. If you are reading this you have to do it too and tag someone else. Here goes.......
1. I love Christmas.....I hate Christmas....
2. I will clarify #1 I love what Christmas means(Jesus coming as a baby to earth) I love the family time, the songs and the wonder of the time. I hate the commercialism, the greediness, the crowds, the stress of getting everything done.
3. As a child I was deathly afraid of Santa. If I saw him coming I would freeze, hide or whatever to get away from him.
4. I make a ton of christmas cookies and many people like them very much.
5. I very much enjoy the scent of a fresh pine tree in the house.
6. I would rather give a gift and enjoy the person opening it rather than get a gift. Although I do love to get gifts too.
7. My favorite gift ever was a 2 liter of soda and a pint of sherbet. I come from a large family and gifts from parents were not huge. I just remember the year we each got a gift and our own bottle of POP (as we call it up north) and pint of sherbet. It was such a neat gift when I was around 8 years old.
8. My most embarrasing moment for christmas was when my gift from my parents was a scratchy ugly orange sweater and a pair of mittens. I was thinking to myself "what are my parents thinking giving me this as my gift for the year". I had a real attitude. I think I was about 12. My mom knew because my face betrayed my disappointment and she told me to put my hands in the mittens. I did it and behold there was $20.00 in the gloves! A lot of money back then. I felt sooooo ashamed! I have tried since to have a better attitude about what I get. Maybe that's why I like to give better.(I dont want my reaction to a gift to hurt anyone)see #6
9. I am married to a man that I used to call Mr. Christmas. He loved everything about it with the girls when they were little. He still loves it but I think sometimes he still wishes our girls were little and he could do the whole santa thing and all the trimmings and get excited about it.
10. My favorite Christmas hymn is O come all ye faithful. I love the part about O come let us adore Him.
11. I love sappy christmas movies and love to see new ones every year no matter how cheesy they are.
12. Tom and I started a christmas tradition our first year together for Christmas and I would have never thought it would be such a big deal but it is. We have pizza for our Christmas eve dinner. It has expanded over the years but it started out with Tom and I having french bread pizza, and to this year 28 years later we have had pizza and something every Chrismas eve.

Cookies for Christmas

Cookies......How is that there is such a thing as Christmas cookies? I dont know, but I do know that 26 years ago my friend Cathy and I started this grand idea that we would make all these different recipes of cookies and candy. Then we would give them as gifts to family and friends. This worked great for the first few years as we were both stay at home moms and it was fun to do it together. People LOVED getting the home baked goods. It felt as if we were giving a wonderful gift of ourselves. As the years have passed I have still kept the tradition alive. I still make a lot of cookies but not quite as many as I used to. Cathy and I do not do them together anymore. We both started working after our kids got older. It got harder and harder to fit making the cookies in before Christmas. Every year I think "I am not doing it this year" and then I buy the ingredients. My family looks forward to eating the cookies around the tree during the season and of course on Christmas. It has become a tradition that Tom complains that I make these cookies and give them to everyone and he gets none. I think I may just make them now so that we can play that game. He does get cookies!! We had a plate the other night while we watched a Christmas movie. Something about it is so tasty and wonderful. I guess there is something to Christmas cookies that make them special.

I also had the joy of sending a plate with Alisha to take to Roxboro for all my girls and Andrew to eat as they had a weekend together. The thought that they were continuing the tradition of being together and eating my cookies around the Christmas tree gives me great joy. Maybe someday my grandchildren will talk about grandma's wonderful Christmas cookies. I guess I will have to keep making them for now. They do bring me joy in so many ways.

Merry Christmas

Is there anything more exciting than Christmas! Everything about it gives me an excitment that isnt there the rest of the year. I know that we do alot of unnecessary things to celebrate Jesus birth, but all of it is to worship the King of kings. Who else deserves a party like we throw on Christmas? No one here, but certainly Jesus does deserve all that we can give.

O come let us adore Him

I have finally gotten into the Christmas spirit and started listening to all the songs regarding the celebration. One song that strikes me as a wonderful worship song is "O come let us adore Him". Do we adore Him? I do at moments when I really wrap my brain around who God is and what he has done for me, but those moments are short and few. Even in a worship service at church I am distracted and give God less than my best. I consider myself a strong christian with godly morals and values. I pray to God everyday and regard Him as Lord of my life. I read my Bible ....but I am not sure that I adore Him as I should. When I analyze my life(as I am sure that everyone does) I have to say I can see God's hand in it all. In my childhood, my young adult life, my move to North Carolina, my marriage to Tom, my children, my church, my friends, my job. There is nothing in which I do not see that God has moved for His glory and my good. He deserves my praise!

Do I adore Him? YES Do I adore Him as often as I should? NO Do you? For this season of Christmas I for one am going to try to Adore Him as I ought.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-23

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy after Thanksgiving

I just want to say that I had the most wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. I was with those I love, we ate well, we talked of what we are thankful to the Lord for. We played games, ate pie and had coffee. Then we ate some more and played with Olivia and on and on and on. What a wonderful weekend.

Holidays

OK........I finally feel like the holidays are upon us and I for one and getting excited about Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite days of the year. It is layed back and I love sleeping in and smelling the food that Tom is preparing for our Thanksgiving meal. This year we have a little granddaughter to add to the fun of the day and another huge reason for being thankful. I love our family being together and the friends that come over. I also love the sale ads. It is exciting and I love the thought of being thankful. THANKS GOD!

Family and Time

This weekend our girls all came home for a family picture we wanted to have done to send out in Christmas cards. It took alot of planning just to get a date that we could all come together and smile for the camera. Finally with some finageling(I dont know if that is spelled right) we came up with November 10th. Tom and I planned our meals and arranged times for friends who haven't seen Olivia to come and see her. It was a glorious time. The pictures went well and pretty quick and painless. They turned out good and we enjoyed our time together as a family. More and more I realize how much that time means to us as only Alisha lives at home, and we basically need an appointment with her as she stays so busy. It is so sweet to have our girls hang out and talk and tease each other and encourage each other. They tease Andrew as though he has been a part of the family forever. He truly is the other half of Sheila. We are entertained now by just watching and playing with Olivia. We don't even need TV! When talking about Christmas and what we want, the only thing Tom and I could ask for and truly mean it, was that we just be able to all be together. I love being with my kids and with our sweet,adorable Olivia. Time truly is a gift. And putting that in a spiritual perspective.... are we giving our Lord the gift of our time. He wants to spend time with us. There is nothing else He would rather have.

Fall

Today was one of those fun times with my husband. You would think we took a cool trip or went somewhere fancy to eat or went to a movie. No ...... none of those are true. We took a walk and then blew leaves from our lawn into piles and put them in bags for the recycle truck next week. It was a sunny cool day and I just loved it. It brought back lots of memories about when the girls were little and would help us and then we would push them in the piles or we would bury them up to their necks. Today it was just Tom and I and I did not push him in the leaves and he did not push me. I jumped in one myself but we are getting older and the thought of hitting something hard with our bodies isnt fun. So I guess the saying really is true....."the best things in life are free"!

MANY GOOD THINGS

I read in my devotions this morning about how God has put boundaries on the sea. Using the sand to do this. Jeremiah 5:22-25. (Look it up it's awesome) I was intrieged by verse 25 as it says your sins have kept you from many good things. The whole passage is interesting. God has boundaries for everything. Evil coming against us has limits as God instructs. Storms that we go through are only going to last for as long as God allows. He is in control of all things and He has a reason for us to be going through hard times or trials. But we can be assured that they cannot exceed God's boundaries just as the sea which is massive cannot go beyond the sand unless God gives it permission. God has blessed us with so many good things in our lives. Do we honor and respect Him? Are we living within the boundaries God has given us? If not, then God will notice and withhold blessings. If we do, God will give us many good things. ( I want good things from God, Don't you?)

Happy Halloween

BOO!!!!!

Fear

So I was driving back to work from my lunch yesterday and I saw and accident right in front of me. A girl was turning left out of a shopping center and a few cars in front of me they stopped to let her go to turn left, as she was turning she forgot to look at the second lane and a guy had no idea she was turning and kept driving and she t-boned him. It was so emotional for me. As Alisha was just in a collision last week and it has been such a hard thing for me to feel like she's safe. After I saw this accident so closely and was so emotional about it, I realized that I have no control over anything! I KNOW that God is in control but I am still trying to control so many things in my life. (It was an epiphany for me.) I have given my life to Christ. He is in control and I can trust Him. It doesnt mean things will always be easy and good, but He has my best interest at heart. I immediately had peace that passes my understanding. No more letting fear control me. God is in control and He loves me.

Life changing moments

Alisha was in a car accident this weekend. The whole situation makes me think about life and how each moment can change the next forever. How interesting that this is true but we dont really think about it as we travel along our life's road until we come to some kind of set back or tragedy. Yes, her car was demolished and it has created issues and financial setbacks for her and us.....but when you look at it compared to her life, it just isnt such a big deal. You hear of accidents everyday, some not so bad ,some fatal. It is just not a life changing moment until it happens to someone you know. Alisha could have been killed. She could have broken bones. She could have had internal damage to her body and been hospitalized for weeks. She could have hurt someone in the other car. The list goes on and on. I know that God protected her and all this is for a purpose that we dont understand. God orchestrates our lives that everything may bring Him glory. That is a pretty amazing thought.

A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Joy

The Joy on Alisha's face is so evident. I think that all born again believers should look and feel like this all the time. Oh that we would, huh?!!

A day of sunshine

A day of sunshine and I am not talking about the sun in the sky but the sunshine in my granddaughters smile and eyes. Tom and I took a day trip to see her yesterday. We were having Olivia withdrawls as we had not seen her in almost a month. A 3 month old changes a lot in a month. We just had to see her. ( We also were excited to see Sheila too of course.) We went for a walk, to lunch, hung out and had dinner together. It was a wonderful day. Being a grandparent changes your actions just a bit, whereas we used to take a Burger skip day to go to the mountains and see the leaves and have lunch, now our choice is the little town of Roxboro to see a beautiful smile just for us. Of the two choices that smile wins every time.

coffee

What makes coffee so special to some people every day. There was a time when I wasnt a coffee drinker, but I always appreciated the smell of it. When I was a young girl my mom would drink coffee pretty regularly but hers was usually instant and not quite as wonderful as when we would have a party at our house and she would make real coffee with a perculator. The smell was amazing. I also remember dipping toast or cookies in her coffee. (She let me) It was soooo good to me. Some times I would dip it too long and the cookie would fall off into her coffee. It didnt matter she never got mad at me. As an adult I never had coffee until, as a stay-at- home mom I would get together with girlfriends and their kids every two weeks and we would hang out and eat. One particular day it was kinds rainy and chilly and we had cookies that were homemade and we made coffee and it just warmed me to the core and I loved it. I was hooked from that day on. Not everyday but at parties in the evening, I would love coffee with my dessert. Or with my Tom sitting around in the evening we would have decaf coffee with creamer. I have to have cream and sugar and particularly flavored creamer.
As I began to work more outside the home we started making coffee at work. I started looking forward to going to work in the morning just so I could have my special little cup of coffee with creamer. I would reheat it many times because I dont like cold or lukewarm coffee, but just holding it in my hands and feeling the warmth of it gives me a WARM FUZZY!
With the coffee craze in the world today, I fit right in. Gloria Jeans was Tom and my favorite, but since they are no longer in this area we have given our loyalty to Caribou Coffee. White chocolate mocha decaf is my favorite. My girls even managed to get me hooked on the coffee coolers in the summer. I do always seem to get a brain freeze with the coolers though.....they are very addicting. I guess I am a bit addicted to coffee, but I guess there worse things I could be doing!

Get aways

We went to Boone for homecoming at App state this weekend. We had a good time. The weather was actually very warm and beautiful. We had great seats at the game thanks to Richard Campbell's parents. "Thanks Emily and Richard for making that happen"! Alisha was this past years homecoming queen so she was in the parade and out on the field at halftime. It's always fun to see your daughter being applauded. We swam at the pool the night before at the hotel and hung out with Emily and Alisha and Richard. We got to eat dinner after the game with them too. It was a fun get away and the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have Andrew, Sheila and Olivia with us. I love weekend get aways.

Proud

I am a proud mom. I think about my girls alot. To me they are the best, most beautiful, creative, funniest, loving, caring, compassionate girls I know. I may be a bit bias, but I could not have picked greater girls myself if I'd gone to a store,and chose. God has been so good to Tom and I in giving us three of the best. They have made their mom and dad proud and continue to do so by their choices and paths they are choosing. They made parenting easy and make us look good when we have not done very much in making them who they are. It is all God.

Sheila is a wife, teacher, and recently, stay at home mom. She is adjusting to one income and learning how to pour her life into the precious gift God has given her and Andrew, Olivia Grace. It has been a pleasure to see how wonderful of a mom she is becoming. She is so patient and willing to give up so much to stay home. She loves Olivia passionately and wants her to grow up to be a woman of God. She is trying to figure out how to save money and make money without giving up too much of her time with Olivia. She is so talented that I know God will show her what she needs to do and will bless her abundantly.

Alisha is a recent college graduate and new second grade teacher. She had a tough summer wondering if she would ever get a job and trying to remind herself that God is in control and He will provide for her. Well He did and in a big way. She landed a second grade job at a wonderful school, with very supportive staff. She loves it. When she shares with me about teaching and her class, I can see the passion in her eyes. Not only that, she has incorporated her faith in her teaching and I am so amazed at the way God has gifted her in ministering to these kids in a public school. The kids in Ms. Burger's class are so blessed. They hit the jackpot! She is living at home with Tom and I right now and we love it. She is so respectful of us and fun to hang out with. We will miss her when she gets her own place. Some day there is a man who will sweep her off her feet and boy is he going to be blessed.

Emily is our baby and she is so special to us. She is in her second year of college and is doing very well. She is a good student and such a wonderfully refreshing personality. She is growing up to be a beautiful woman of God who has not even begun to discover her leadership qualities that will cause many to look to her for wisdom and direction. She has strong convictions but is such a caring,loving girl. She is my cutie. She is a RA in her dorm this year and I know the girls on her floor are loving having her as their leader. I am quite certain that God has a marvelous future in store for her......who knows which direction God will lead but it is going to be marvelous to watch it unfold.

So that is my blog today. I am a blessed woman with three now grown girls that I call my friends.

can't sleep

do you ever have those times when you know it's time for bed but don't feel sleepy. You go to bed and toss and turn, your mind is on a million different things. You just can't shut it down. The more you try the less it works. I am having one of those nights. No, I didn't have caffeine of any kind. It's just one of those times so this is where I get up and blog in hopes that in 10 minutes my eyelids will drift shut and the next thing I know the alarm goes off and YEP it's morning and now I don't want to get up. I hope so cause there is nothing good on TV!

Minnesota my home

No matter how many years it's been since I moved to North Carolina from Minnesota, when I go back to Minnesota, it feels like home. Time changes few things there, the only thing changing is we are all getting older. Tom and I took Andrew, Sheila and Olivia to see her great grandparents and Uncles and Aunts. They all loved her so dearly, it was just such a special time. The weather was cool and sunny and the company next to none. I will share a couple pictures from our trip.

How you live

I have recently heard a new song on the radio by Point of Grace, called How you live. It is just one of those songs that makes you think about what is important in life and whether you are doing the important things and letting some of the rest of it go. How fitting today on the anniversary of 9/11 to rethink what's important. Check out the music video on the Point of Grace website @ www.pointofgrace.net/index.html

Changes

Changes are a part of life. I like them and I am fearful of them. I start out fearful and then as I adapt, I usually end up liking the change. Well changes are rampant in my life the past few months and weeks. I became a grandmother in June. Alisha graduated college and is now back in my empty nest as a full fledge adult. Hmmmmm very difficult at times.( I still see her as my high schooler under my care) My sunday school teacher quit so I have to choose another path on sunday mornings. My wednesday night 2nd grade class got changed and now I am going to be teaching with 3 other teachers sharing 2nd and 3rd grade. I quit my current job of 13 years and now am moving on to something totally different. Wow! It makes my head swim just thinking about it. Some changes I have no control over. Some changes I made. I am in a state of flux right now (whatever that is). I have been really tired and am getting over some sickness that has clamped onto me and wont let go. Sometimes I just want my old life back, but sometimes I am so excited about what the future holds that I feel euphoric. Today I am neither. I am enjoying a three day weekend with the man I fell in love with 27 years ago. We have finished our kitchen makeover and are enjoying the beauty of that change. I got my hair cut and that always feels good. I am complete in Christ. Knowing, that no matter what changes come, He never changes.

Sick in August

Being sick is no fun for the most part,(unless your not really sick but just feel like you might need a day to rest and watch movies or read and blow your nose a little). Well unfortunately I am sick, the real one where you dont appreciate being home. I started feeling daggers in my throat a few days ago and then the whole stomach isnt just right feeling yesterday and then the hot and cold feelings and today I just have the whole head thing and throat closing up and drainage in my throat that makes me cough. I hate being sick but when it is nearly 100 degrees out it is all the worse. I dont know why but it makes you feel sicker. I would rather be sick when it is 32 out and I can put a blanket around me and not feel foolish. Or lay by the fire. What should I do now, lay by a pool? I dont think so. I hope tomorrow I will feel better.

My mom makes me smile

I spoke with my mom today and just had to smile. She is 85 years old and as sweet as can be. She laughs about things and talks about how her and my dad go on dates. They went to take things to the fair. My dad likes to enter his farm crops to be judged for prizes and money. My mom said that" dad took me out for lunch,I had a hotdog and dad had a hamburger and then we each had a piece of pie. And not a small little sliver of pie, it was a big piece with ice-cream. We sat outside in the shade and there was a little breeze and we just rested and had the best time." She also said that her and my dad play cribbage pretty much every day. My mom proceeded to say that "our grandchildren are just all so special and our great grandchildren too. They are just the best". What a wonderfully beautiful woman my mom is. It made me smile talking to her. She is so positive and loving. Oh that I can be that way at 85.

Fun things

Tom and I went on a really nice date. We are a couple that tries to keep up the dating in our relationship. Now we have been married for 26 years and I sure do love to think back on all the nice dates that we have had. Memories are something that noone can take away. We just made one of those special memories by going to a very classy restaurant, Mortons. Now I am talking very nice. When I came back from the restroom they had refolded my napkin on the table. The menu was basically brought out on a cart. And the service was incredible. They very much catered to our every need. I dont know if I would want to live like that all the time but for a couple hours it was fun. We then went to the Disney play Lion King at the Blumenthal. It was a very interesting play and very well done. The music was incredible and the artsy displays of creativity were amazing. I really had a wonderful night.

Then because Charlotte has had a heat wave going through our area and there are not alot of options to stay cool, we went to the matinee movie NO RESERVATIONS. It was so cute and a very enjoyable couple hours escape. I highly recommend the movie. I highly recommend dating your spouse and doing some spontaneous things. Good memories can get you through some really hard times.

When Emily leaves for college

Today we took Emily back to college for her sophomore year. I am still hardly believing that it can be. We took her and fixed up her room, It is incredibly cute in spite of what she had to start with. She is such an organized woman. She had everything in a place and didnt have too much fluff to carry up. She made some really cute art for her room to match her bedding and it was amazingly incredible how cute it was in a matter of an hour. She does not have air conditioning but with a great window breeze from the mountains and a nice fan it was quite comfortable.

Now it was hard to leave this time because I am leaving my baby for the first time at college alone without one of her sisters. When we left Sheila alone it was hard but she was a first-born and they are just prepared to be on their own. Alisha only was alone after a couple years with an older sister and then had Emily coming to be with her in her senior year. But now after only one year with her sister she has three left with no one in the family to help her or keep tabs on her. I feel so sad!

I love the fact that my kids are incredibly good and independent, but at the same time it hurts my heart that they dont really need me anymore and things just arent ever going to be the same again. Like this summer we couldnt work out a family vacation because of everyones individual schedules. It hurts but is also a part of life. I know it will make the times we are together more memorable and special. So tonight the house seems emptier without Emily's beautiful smiling face. But I know that she is in good hands. Thanks God!

some summer fun

Tom,me, Andrew, Sheila and Olivia went to the beach last week. We had a relaxing time at Garden City.