November 28, 2010

Sometimes I just forget to thank God for the many blessings in my life.

November 26, 2010

"Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

November 25, 2010. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving. Right now I am waiting for my first loaf of homemade bread to rise and we are making biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Chris has to work today from noon till 7, so I will take him dinner from my moms house.

I am thankful for many, many things. It has been a rough year for us, but in retrospect there are others with far worse difficulties in life. It is so easy to fall into the "woe is me" mindset and to feel sorry for yourself. But, if I would just pause and look at the big picture of my life I have so much to be thankful for. I have a loving husband. We have been married for 25 years this year. In today's life, that is an achievement! I have a roof over my head. It's a big, old drafty house, but it has lots of charm and I love the place. (the stairs, I'm sure I might not love in 20 years) I also have many wonderful friends and belong to a really wonderful church here in our community, Brushwood Methodist. I have never met such a wonderful group of people as are the member of my church. I have food in the cabinets and on the table. I work two part-time jobs. They don't pay a whole lot, but they are jobs and with unemployment as it is today I am grateful for them. Chris also has a full-time job. Again, does not pay a lot..but, it's a job!!!!

I am in pretty good health. Could be better as I've put on a lot of weight this year, but despite that I am in good health. I have my family close by me. They are difficult to deal with sometimes, but I am still grateful to have them nearby.

More later....

November 21, 2010.

Ok, I admit. I still hold a little bit of bitterness over what happened with our business. It's something I have been struggling with more lately. I realized this weekend when I was getting out our Christmas decorations that we left a huge chunk of our decorations there. We had taken them in to decorate the restaurant because we could not afford to buy new ones. Except for lights that I have at home for our trees, all other lights are there. Along with a bunch of artificial poinsettia plants I found on sale one year...and I'm sure some other things I cannot think of. It's the lights I'm most disappointed in.

During the time we owned the restaurant we did not have much time to decorate our home for Christmas as we were there so much. This year I wanted to put up some outside lights..but, we don't have any. They got left there.

And we also left our "Life is Good" signs there.

Bitterness is not a nice thing to deal with.

November 20, 2010. Bible Verse.

He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:21

November 18, 2010.

Boy, are the holiday's approaching fast. Thanksgiving is next week! We are probably staying home Thanksgiving cause Chris is most likely working, but we don't know yet what his hours are. His family is coming down to our home on Saturday for a holiday meal. My family is arguing with each other, so nobody is going anywhere. My mom is staying at home with my younger brother who won't go to my older brothers. These things are typical in my family. If Chris works most of the day, I may drop in at her house and eat dinner with her and younger brother. Then, maybe stop at older brothers and say hi.

I get tired of the family drama each year, but it's gotten to be a regular thing. None of my family are church goers or are even remotely close to being believers in Christ, I'm sure. They may say they are, but none have ever accepted Jesus into their life. And I truly don't see this happening, but it's their choice. My niece and nephew I don't think they have ever attended a church service in their entire life. Very sad.

Gotta go to work...more later.

November 9, 2010.

It's two months today that we lost Rudy. Time does heal wounds, but I still tear up when I think about him. Charlotte is developing a little bit different personality being the "only" dog now. She craves attention more, has become somewhat of a velcro dog...following me around the house wherever I go. She has become more of a cuddle-bug then she used to be. I'm sure she misses him as well.

Life goes on, though. Chris continues working at Family Express. He now works days which is nice because he can attend more evening functions at church. He will be going to his first Emmaus reunion meeting tonight which he is looking forward to.

It's hard to believe the Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. I am so not ready for them to get here that fast!

November 9, 2010. Verse for today.

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." Proverbs 3: 1-2

November 2, 2010. Verse for today.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:19.

November 1, 2010.

Can you believe it's November already! This year is almost over.

It's been a busy past few days. Chris' mom was down over the weekend for a visit. She always cooks a bunch when she visits and my freezer now has three big containers of chicken noodle soup and there is one big blueberry pie in the fridge. She came down because on Sunday morning Chris and I renewed our wedding vows in church. Also down was Chris dad and step-mom and also his sister and her husband. It was really nice to have them all down and attend our church. His sister seemed impressed with the service, commenting about how it will be hard to return to her now boring Lutheran church service. Every denomination is different as is every church. The Lutheran church has a very subdued, serious service. Our services are pretty upbeat, lively and everyone does a lot of talking and sharing. From the few times I attended the church Chris grew up in, I recall things being so somber and nobody talking. What a difference between the two.

Renewing our vows was nice. I was reluctant to participate in this when Chris first asked, but I am very glad I did. It was nice having family and all my new friends there around me. It is so hard to believe that 25 years has passed.