Physical Work is GOOD for you!

The last two days I have spent outside as much as possible. Yesterday I trimmed the two trees by the front door. They were just getting too big and bushy and I really cut them way, way back not merely trimmed them. I cleaned out one of the storage buildings, moved some stuff out of the laundry room so that I can make up my mind how I want to fix it up. Our treadmill or rather our tread climber is on the back patio and hopefully I will use it there more than I did in the laundry room. : ) At least there is stuff to look at out there. Today, I mowed the front and back lawn, weed-eated both, raked some leaves, pulled some weeds, planted some flowers in the big pots on the front porch and went to eat with a girlfriend. I am really tired, about to retire early tonight but just felt the need to say I am thankful for all I have. The ability to move and work in the yard, my health, our home, the beautiful weather and my healthy family. As I pray for a little boy named Hayden with neuroblastoma as he is undergoing a very painful treatment, I am reminded that as bad as things get, when we ourselves are healthy and those we love the most are healthy we are blessed beyond measure. May I always be mindful of this.

Home again, Home again!

I had not been to see my sister in Midland since January of 2009 so I decided I had better get going and do some things that I want to do in case I do get called back to work. Sure enough I did on the way home from her house. I left on Tuesday and got back home today. When I left it seemed like I would be gone a long time but it went so quickly. I am not much of a shopper unless I am with my sister. She just knows the places to go and I always find lots of stuff I want when I am with her. We had a great time shopping, we were going to try out some new recipes but never got the chance to do that. Time really flew. I got to see my niece, her husband and daughter, Kiersten. Kiersten is learning to shop early, she went with us one day and really seemed to enjoy it. She is 14 months old and a precious little cutie with little blonde curls and when she smiles she wrinkles up her nose so cute! I also got to see my nephew Brian, his wife and their two boys, Weston and Evan. They are all boy and full of life, energy and don't know any volume level but LOUD! They are too cute also. I went to their house to see their pirate ship in their backyard and they had a big time showing me all their guns and toys. My brother in law brought us donuts from Johnnie's Thursday and Friday, yummmmm! They are really good and I appreciated him doing that for us.

We used to see each other all the time when I lived in Snyder. My mother and me and my boys would go to Martha's house a lot. I told her it was so eerie to be there this time without Mother and I could still see the boys, tiptoeing into the guest room to go upstairs to the playroom, trying not to wake me up. Such precious memories and such fun times. As we live our lives we need to make sure most of the memories we make are good ones because they never go away, not the ones that matter. What a precious gift the Lord gives us to be able to remember our babies, our parents, our families in a way that cameras can never capture.

Thanks Martha for a great week, I enjoyed it immensely! Come see me soon! Love you.

An Afternoon at the Park

Since I had a reprieve from working at an hourly job, I got up, ran some errands, took care of some business and went to see my grandsons. I stopped and picked up pizza because that is one food that is on Ian's list of acceptable foods these days. He was happy to see me, and did eat very well. Mac slept the whole time I was there and I never even held him, but he is growing like a weed. Such a cutie. Amazingly they do not look anything alike at this time. Time will tell. After lunch we made a trip to the park. It was a great park and I guess we went early enough that the older kids weren't out of school yet and there were just two little girls on the equipment for a few minutes. Ian was a little hesitant at first but by the time we left he had it all down and he just had the best time. So did Grammy by the way, because when that little boy is happy, so am I. His mom is a great photographer and she got the afternoon in pictures. He seemed to like it all. We forgot to take bread to feed the ducks but we will next time. The weather was a little cloudy and we thought a little cool but once we started playing it was perfect. No wind and a great temperature to climb up and down on playground equipment. I read something yesterday that prompted me to remember not to waste precious time here on this earth doing the things that don't really matter. I am so glad I spent the day outdoors with Ian, Cara and Mac instead of couped up in an office, watching the clock, or at home cleaning house. I had such a blessed day with that little one. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to spend time with my loved ones. Thank you that I have loved ones. What a great day!

It's Already Over

Well my career was short lived. I worked four days and was replaced. I had prayed for the last two months regarding our finances and have felt guilty that I am not contributing to them so I prayed and told the Lord if I need to go to work you will have to drop a job in my lap because so many my age are looking for work and can't find anything. I am willing to do whatever you want me to do. I know you can provide for us, but if you want me to work, please give me a job. He did. I couldn't imagine why he wanted me to go to work. I enjoy doing things like teaching Sunday School and facilitating bible studies, ladies ministry and keeping the grandkids, so I was shocked when he gave me a job. A friend of mine said, "Maybe he is just seeing if you will be obedient to what you prayed. Abraham didn't sit around and think about what God told him to do with Isaac. He got up the next morning and went to sacrifice, no questions asked." Well, I did go to that job, I tried to go with the idea that God had given it to me and it was a blessing and that I needed to thank him and praise Him for it. I had the opportunity to memorize 5 verses of scripture while I was there and just took it day by day. Tuesday afternoon another lady that wanted to work more hours and was willing to try to obtain her insurance license came in the office and they opted to see if she would work out as a fit for their office. I knew I had done a good job, had done what God wanted and feel relieved to be back at home presently. I told my pastor this morning, I was trying to be obedient like Abraham was with Isaac, I worked 4 days and then another sacrifice was found and I was released. : ) Praise the Lord, I am trusting you to lead me where you see fit. I know you will be with me wherever I go.

Monday

When you are working, Monday conjurs up a whole new meaning than it does when you are not working outside the home. No more staying up late, leisurely waking up, it is waking up to an alarm, which I hate, and then immediately getting dressed and putting on makeup, carrying out the trash, because Monday is trash day, fixing a lunch and then a 30 min drive to collect thoughts, listen to praise and worship music to start the day. Thank you Lord for this opportunity, help me make the most of it. In my devotion book today there was a verse in Psalm 37: 23-24 that said, If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Lord, I am trusting you today to uphold me with your righteous hand. I know I am safer with you than anywhere that makes more sense to me, so please be with me today. You know my heart's desire is to know you more and trust you more everyday.

Be Careful what you Pray for

For the last few months I have been praying about our finances and Monty working out of town. I seem to have a lot of time on my hands so I have felt guilty about not working but in this recession I have talked to several women around my age that are looking for work and can find nothing, so I haven't been seriously looking but I have prayed over the last few months that if the Lord wanted me to go back to work, I would, even though I dearly love being at home. I also told him he would have to open a door and drop the job on me because I had no clue where to begin looking and lo and behold someone called me out of the clear blue to offer me a part time job. I have just been dumbfounded all day. I really thought the Lord was going to open a door for a special ministry just for me, but instead he has opened the door for a part time job. (I do realize we minister wherever we are, this just seems bizarre to me at present). It is the kind of job I would want if I was going to work, meeting the public, taking payments, answering the phone, easy stuff that you don't have to take home with you, and it also happens to be (I was told by the boss) that the office is filled with dedicated christians that pray together. Well, I guess you couldn't ask for more than that. I am thankful that he hears us and answers our prayers and we should never be surprised because he doesn't think the way we do, so His options for our lives are usually different than what we would choose. Hopefully though this has something to do with bringing my husband back to the metroplex to work. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Thank you for blessing me Heavenly Father.