My life and the spa

My unemployment has been an interesting time of ups and downs. I guess because some days I am encouraged that I will have a job soon and some days I feel I will never find a good job. But last week and this week, my life has been kinda great. I got a gift card for mother's day from my hubby for a facial at Koha spa in Tega Cay. I got to go with Emily as she got one for her birthday, and we had a wonderful relaxing hour. I also got a gift card from Alisha for a pedicure at Blis spa in Pineville so Emily and I enjoyed that together. (well Emily had to buy her own manicure) but anyhow, I feel like the queen going to all the spa's while I am unemployed. Do you think that I could make a job out of that? Hey anyone want to give me another gift card? I am open to any spa! I will even send you a review of how I rate the services. Now I think I am on to something!!!!!

Been Tagged! By Sheila Stover.....why does she do this to me?

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had all my girls at home and was working for a chiropracter. I was loving my husband and thanking God that He was giving me strength to raise 3 girls 2 of which were teenagers.

5 things on your to do list for today?
1. certify for unemployment
2. Apply for some jobs
3. Get some groceries
4. exercise
5. take time for Jesus

5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. I wouldn't be looking for a job.
2. I would travel quite extensively with my husband and my girls and their husbands.
3. I would find some really good mission opportunities and needs and set them up for good.
4. Set my girls up with some good retirement plans
5. Probably buy a new house in a better neighborhood. Nothing extravegant though.

Name 3 bad habits:
1. I criticize too quickly
2. I criticize too often
3. I don't spend enough time praying for needs of those I know and spend way too little time studying God's Word.

List 5 jobs I have had:
1. Corn detasseler
2. Babysitter
3. Waitress
4. Grocery store clerk
5. Chiropractic Assistant
6. Bookkeeper for a granite/tile company

5 Books I have recently read:
1. The Bible-God
2. Shadow Castle-Marriane Cockrell
3. True Light- Terri Blackstock
4. Country Brides- Nora Roberts( maybe)
5. Cant remember all the names, I have read a lot lately....no job right now!

I guess I will tag Tom and Liz as I dont know too many bloggers other than Sheila and she tagged me!

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Lamentations3:22-25

My baby is home

My baby is home from college for the summer. I am so very excited to have her here. I love it when she is around. I feel like I didnt get to talk to her much or see her much this past year. I am a happy mom, and I am going to enjoy every moment with her.

Photo shoot

Photo Session with Grammy

Zoo

Picnic, walking, icee's, dippin dots, walking, tram's, animals, sunscreen, laughter,water, needing a nap.....fun, fun, fun at the zoo!







We went to the zoo yesterday. Our whole family, plus boyfriends and Andrew's family(which is our family too) It was a beautiful day at the Asheboro zoo. Here are a few pictures to let you know the fun we had!

Auto Bell

I went to Auto Bell today for the first time in my life. My car was unrecognizable under all the pollen. Tom told me to use his gift card and get my car cleaned. So I did. I am always a little leary about trying new things, because I am not sure how they work. But since I am trying to be brave lately.....I did it. And you know, I felt kinda guilty watching those boys sweat working on my vehicle and about 20 other people's vehicles. I know they get paid, but it was very warm out today and they were bookin' to keep up with all the customers. My car was looking pretty shiney after they were through with it. It feels so good to have a clean car. Makes you wanna drive around town. Ok on second thought I won't, not with gas over $3.50 a gallon. I'll just have to admire it in the driveway. I suppose tomorrow it will be covered in pollen again!

25 years

Sheila with her sisters and Olivia

Sheila with her kitten Max

Sheila with her hubby Andrew


Today 25 years ago I gave birth to my first child a daughter, Sheila. I just am in awe that 25 years has gone by like that! Sheila is such a special woman. She is a motivator and fun person in general. She always headed up some fun stuff in our household over the years and still does it today. She is a beautiful woman outside and inside. She is a great mother herself too. We had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating her birthday and being together as a family. She also got to go on a lovely date with her husband. (by the way her baby was the best behaved child I ever babysat for) Here are a few pictures to honor my sweet Sheila!

New parenting lesson for me

So I was working in my yard today as it was a beautiful sunny spring day. Well I hear a child crying for a very long time. It is a neighbor in the back yard and down about three houses. After about at least 20 minutes of this child crying, I start thinking to myself something must be wrong. I see the child standing in the same position for all this time crying loudly enough that I can hear him, and see no supervision whatsoever. Well I finally decide to go over there and make sure that he is alright. I see no parent or guardian outside and walk over to the childs fence and ask him if he is ok. He doesnt answer so I ask where him mommy is and he says she's at work. Well now I am greatly concerned as this kid is probably only 3 or 4. I go to the front door and after a huge dog bumps against the front door, I hear someone on the phone say I gotta go. She comes to the door with another child in her arms and I let her know that I am concerned about her child who has been crying loudly for sometime. She is offended that I came to her yard and says it was only 12 minutes she was timing it. She proceeds to tell me that she is trying a new parenting skill. Her Pediatrician recommened it! She told her son to take a nap and he wouldnt and proceeded to cry. So she is ignoring him rather than give him negative attention. Well I think I must have stood there with my mouth agape! I can understand new parenting skills, but I dont think leaving your kid in the backyard alone for at least 20 minutes....(it truly was closer to 30 minutes) while you're inside on the phone is a great new skill. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think maybe that new skill was misinterpreted by the parent or other wise that Pediatrician should have his or her license revoked.

I NEED, I NEED

OK, starting to go crazy, I need a JOB!!!!!

Happy anniversary

So tomorrow is my 27th wedding anniversary. I just want to take a moment to tell my husband how much I love him. I tease him alot and get on him about things, but I could not imagine my life without him. He is my lover and my best friend. We laugh, we pray, we cry (not too much of that)together. We are parents together and now grandparents together. We travel, we read, he sings to me romantic songs. We cook and eat together, and once in a blue moon dance together.

He is the smartest man I know. He is so talented in so many areas. He is the most determined person, when he puts his mind to something it's a done deal. He is very giving and caring. (even though sometimes he tries not to let people know it) He has given up so much to take care of his family. He is an amazing man and I love him deeply. The world is certainly a better place because of my husband Tom. The smartest thing I ever did was marry him. I am thankful for Tom and hope we have another 27 years together. I love you honey!

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?)