Finally - after several weeks of working Fridays or Saturdays, I am back on schedule with having my Fridays off. And this weekend and next I do not have to work Saturday either!!! Two 3-day weekends in a row!! Yesterday was a very relaxing day - slept late (late for me - 9:00) and then ran errands and came home and took a nap!!! Yeah!! Today we are going to take Terri's sister Melody out to lunch - Mexican of course. Then we are going to go see the new Gray Fossil Site Museum. They have recently received from the Chicago Museum - SUE - the T-REX!! She is on display at the Gray Fossil Site Museum. I love dinosaurs and this new museum is supposed to be quite nice. Then the rest of the day will be spent ??????
No plans for Sunday - just play it by ear. Of course, I will go to church in the morning and Praise the Lord!!!
Weekends like this help me to sit back and reflect on all the wonderful things God has given me and how much I love Him. I know that no matter what comes up, He is always there and I know He will show me what He wants me to do. And I pray I will always obey Him. One of the best gifts God has given me is my family. I love each and every one. Wish I lived closer to my family - it would be nice to see them more often. But when we do get together - boy do we have a good time!! Thank you Lord for my family and for the wonderful time we have when we are together. Thank you for blessing us and thank you for your love - which is beyond our understanding!!
February 2 - to some it is "Groundhog's Day", - to me and my family - it is Mom's birthday. She would have been 89 years old. Happy Birthday Mom!! I know that there is nothing here on earth that could compare to the birthday you are having in heaven. I thought about you alot yesterday at work. I even told co-workers it was your birthday and shared some of the wonderful memories of past birthdays. I told them how you had a manicure on your last birthday here and that you had never had one before and you really enjoyed it. I remember how you always made OUR birthdays special for us as we were growing up and we really enjoyed making YOUR birthdays so very special for you the last few years. I loved trying to surprise you with unusual gifts. And you loved everything we gave you. It is hard to believe it has been 4 years since you left us. I miss you so much Mom. I miss being able to talk to you about how I feel, my sorrows, my happiness, everything. But I know you are beyond happy in heaven and someday I will see you again and be able to tell you again everything I feel. So, Mom, I want to say again - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I miss you very much but I know I will see you again in heaven!!! I LOVE YOU MOM!!
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!" December is here and Christmas is on the way. We usually don't do any decorating but this year I just wanted to get some "yard art". So off to Wal-Mart we went and we now have one big spiral light tree and two little baby spiral light trees. And we put garland on our porch and hung some BIG ornaments on the porch. Then we are going to get some red bows to put on the porch. AND I have all my little "Snowmen" out in the house. I have several sitting around. And that is the extent of our Christmas decorations. We don't usually put up a tree inside and this year we are not exchanging gifts with each other so we are not going to do any more decorating.
I am kind of hoping we get a little snow this year. Not a lot but just a little. We haven't had snow in a couple years. I don't want any blizzards but snow can be so pretty. Sometimes I kind of miss it. And we definitely need some moisture in this area. If we don't get snow, we sure could use the rain.
The Christmas season brings out two emotions in me - the first is my dislike of crowds and people being rude when shopping. I dislike going to malls, stores, etc. during the Christmas season. People should be happy, kind, loving - but instead they are pushy, demanding, and hateful. Something is definitely wrong with that picture. So I try to stay away from any kind of shopping after Thanksgiving. All my shopping is done.
The second emotion is just the opposite - I LOVE CHRISTMAS because I LOVE to GIVE. I wish I could give something to everyone I know. I love showering my friends and family with gifts - gifts I have picked out or made JUST for them. I love seeing their faces or hearing their happiness when they open their gifts. That is the best gift for me!!!
I am praying that this will be a very happy Christmas for everyone I know. I know there are some who are going through tough times but Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. Jesus who is our Savior and who came here to be OUR GIFT for eternity - giving us the gift of salvation to be with Him forever. That is what Christmas is all about - HIS LOVE FOR US!!!
Well, today is my birthday. I am definitely much older now than when this picture was taken. But I remember that teddy bear!! Birthdays tend to make you look back on what you have done in your life, where you have been, and what you might still like to do. I know our family didn't have a lot of "extras" growing up, but I never felt like I was missing out on anything. I had the important things - parents who loved me, sisters and brothers who loved me (even though at times we fought like most kids do). I know there are things I have done in my life that I wish I hadn't done and things I wish I had. But that is all in the past and all the "bad things" have been forgiven. If I had to say what I would still like to do..... I don't know. I am satisfied with my life. I do wish I had family that lived closer. I really miss being with my family, especially on my birthday and holidays. But I have been blessed with so many other things. And I have Jesus in my life. He is the most important thing in my life. Without Him, I could not do anything. He is my everything. So, I will celebrate my birthday praising Him and loving Him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!
(Oh - I AM giving myself a birthday present on Friday. I will be getting my hair cut and colored and highlighted!!! Pictures will be coming soon!!)
