Monday, Justin leaves for the Army. He has finished his pre-training classes, his last PT will be tomorrow, and he has managed to flip our blue bomb into oblivion and walk away without a scratch. Maybe you didn't catch that obscure reference, but due to the snowy ice storm we had yesterday, Justin flipped our trusty, sturdy car that the boys have totaled twice already, and while Justin walked away absolutely unharmed, the car is off to the scrap yard. We praise God for His safety and protection during the weather yesterday. Thankful to the bystanders who pulled Justin out of the wreckage unscathed.
Today, due to the weather conditions, they closed down my office, so while James is working on finishing his classes for pre-lim basic training, Ted is working on taxes, Justin is cleaning out the last of his room, I am packing and sorting.....
With the boys leaving we need to control our cost of living by downsizing. We were pre-approved for a house loan last weekend! This is the first time we have ever been approved to start looking for a house!!! So the Hunt Begins.... yes, I am already packing because a move will be inevitable. We have not found a house yet that we know is THE one. Alot of prayer will go into that decision and alot of planning and careful research.
Please pray for the boys.
On another prayerful note, my missionary friend I mentioned in a previous post is unable to return to the mission field due to ongoing health issues. Not only has she lost her mother, but now she has lost her place of ministry. Please pray for Joann.
Thirdly, Ted's fellow District manager that we have known for over a decade, lost his wife a month before Christmas, then his father died, and now his stepson has passed away, all of them suddenly. Please pray for Russell, his salvation, and comfort.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
If you knew...
If you knew that the time with your loved ones was short, would you do anything different? Would you value and treasure those loved ones and the time you have left? With both boys leaving next month we have taken to making the most of the time we have left. Many times due to sickness or death we have no warning and live with regrets about the lost time we chose not to take together. This is neither sickness nor death thank the Lord, but it's still a time to treasure and make the most of as a family.
Justin had his last day of work last Wednesday, and Thursday we packed up the family for a "last" vacation. We ended up in Gatlinburg at a beautiful hotel high on a mountain peak. We were on the 12th floor--- yikes!!! We saw snow and even got caught out walking in it. We chronicled our time together with photos and just really enjoyed being together and having fun.
I have posted one of our photos, but it's really the last one in a sequence of 10 quick snapshots that Ted took, each of us have different expressions, especially the boys. Ted has posted them on his Google page it's like looking through an old fashioned cartoon flip-book.
James turned in his notice at work today, but they have cut his hours even more, so he has decided that his last day will be this Saturday instead of the 31st. We will all get together as a family this Saturday evening and have a family dinner and then friends will come to bid them Godspeed in their future endeavors.
Both boys are working on getting their rooms packed up, although we are not pushing them out of the nest or being terribly bossy about the process.
Ted and I both resumed a busy workload after just a few days off, and I am exhausted. I came home to find Ted in the bed feeling sick. I was going to attend a Ladies Meeting at church tonight where my Sister in Love was the speaker, but I did not want to leave Ted alone. Justin went to the store for me, and has just now returned. James is working, so I am sitting here keeping an ear out for Ted and wondering if I am missing anything from the meeting.
Birthday Greetings to Ken, Tim, DJ, my mother, and James. James turns 21 tomorrow!!!!
Well, my husband is up eating some soup, but not feeling himself. James is on his way home from work, Justin is cleaning up my kitchen for me. I'm coming down with a headache and realizing that my priorities right now is just staying home taking care of hearth and home.
Justin had his last day of work last Wednesday, and Thursday we packed up the family for a "last" vacation. We ended up in Gatlinburg at a beautiful hotel high on a mountain peak. We were on the 12th floor--- yikes!!! We saw snow and even got caught out walking in it. We chronicled our time together with photos and just really enjoyed being together and having fun.
James turned in his notice at work today, but they have cut his hours even more, so he has decided that his last day will be this Saturday instead of the 31st. We will all get together as a family this Saturday evening and have a family dinner and then friends will come to bid them Godspeed in their future endeavors.
Both boys are working on getting their rooms packed up, although we are not pushing them out of the nest or being terribly bossy about the process.
Ted and I both resumed a busy workload after just a few days off, and I am exhausted. I came home to find Ted in the bed feeling sick. I was going to attend a Ladies Meeting at church tonight where my Sister in Love was the speaker, but I did not want to leave Ted alone. Justin went to the store for me, and has just now returned. James is working, so I am sitting here keeping an ear out for Ted and wondering if I am missing anything from the meeting.
Birthday Greetings to Ken, Tim, DJ, my mother, and James. James turns 21 tomorrow!!!!
Well, my husband is up eating some soup, but not feeling himself. James is on his way home from work, Justin is cleaning up my kitchen for me. I'm coming down with a headache and realizing that my priorities right now is just staying home taking care of hearth and home.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Small Comforts
The first day of a new year.... I asked my husband if we really had to do anything today. and he said we just had to breathe.
Since my last post, alot has happened mostly emotionally. A meeting just before Christmas left me reconsidering my longevity with the company. There seems to be alot of upheaval there in the past month, and I began questioning God's plan. That night after the meeting, I went through another round of spiritual anguish. The devil has in the last 3 months seriously attacked the very core of my faith usually when I am weak emotionally and battered from stress. I was scared that Christmas would be miserable and deeply yearned for a Christmas to remember, and not one that I wished to forget. The morning of Christmas Eve after a sleepless, tormented night, I begged God for peace. He gave it both in mind and spirit. Later that morning, I checked my phone for messages and found that my Mother in love had texted me that she was praying for me about the same time I was begging God. It was additional proof that God answers prayer. How comforting to know that someone is praying for you just when you need it most.
Christmas Eve was everything we had hoped it would be. We played games as a family, opened presents, enjoyed alot of fun and made memories. Christmas Day we joined the clan to celebrate, eat, reminisce, and enjoy being together as a family. My nephew Jordan surprised everyone by joining us for his brief break in Marine training. This was a great Christmas!
The next day back at work, I followed up on the meeting and was not really reassured that this job would last very long. I resolved that I would just do my best until the Lord opened the door elsewhere.
Saturday, we met up with Tim, Jen, and Emily to share Christmas with them. Again, it was a great time and stress reliever. Sunday, Ted and I both woke up with a virus that kept us home for the day. Ted was still sick Monday, and I still have some residual aches even now. I don't think it was the flu per se, I think it was just our bodies giving out after all the work and stress we put it through without proper rest.
I went back to work Monday, resolved to just keep my head down and work my job regardless of the tension swirling around, or people's issues. That resolve kept me going strong, knowing that I don't HAVE to work this job, but that I will do my best at it for the Lord. Yesterday went much better and one of the sources of my tension filled days tried to make amends. As this is a reoccurring situation, I began to pray for that individual who seems to be nice one moment and mean as a snake the next. Maybe God just wants me there to pray for these people.
Last night, our little family rung in the New Year by watching an animated movie together while gorging on snacks and soda. I could barely stay awake and seriously wanted to sleep in the New Year. I must be getting OLD!!
So this brings me to Today- I have a special meal planned for the family, James has to work, and I might get around to baking something. The boys will probably take down the Christmas tree and I want to savor each moment of peace and tranquility.
Here are the small comforts that I have found really help me let go of the stress and "clock-out". A cup of hot coffee or hot herbal tea, some classical music playing in the background, and a lovely scented candle burning. Right now we have a Mint Chocolate scented candle and it's wonderful!
This month will breeze by and soon we will be saying goodbye to our two boys as they launch out into the next phase of their lives. Justin will finish working his job on January 18th, and finish packing up his room.
James' last day of work will be January 31, but they are already cutting his hours for the winter slow season. He has already cleaned his room in preparation for packing it up.
Near the end of the month, we will have a joint send-off/birthday celebration for them.
Will you pray for them?
Will you also pray for a missionary named Joann? Her mother passed away the day after Christmas and she had to fly back from the mission field in time for the funeral today. I know what she is going through in losing a mother. My heart and prayers go out for her. May she find the grace that only God gives for each moment.
He is even the Giver of small comforts to keep us going when all else seems to be falling apart.
Happy New Year!!!
Since my last post, alot has happened mostly emotionally. A meeting just before Christmas left me reconsidering my longevity with the company. There seems to be alot of upheaval there in the past month, and I began questioning God's plan. That night after the meeting, I went through another round of spiritual anguish. The devil has in the last 3 months seriously attacked the very core of my faith usually when I am weak emotionally and battered from stress. I was scared that Christmas would be miserable and deeply yearned for a Christmas to remember, and not one that I wished to forget. The morning of Christmas Eve after a sleepless, tormented night, I begged God for peace. He gave it both in mind and spirit. Later that morning, I checked my phone for messages and found that my Mother in love had texted me that she was praying for me about the same time I was begging God. It was additional proof that God answers prayer. How comforting to know that someone is praying for you just when you need it most.
Christmas Eve was everything we had hoped it would be. We played games as a family, opened presents, enjoyed alot of fun and made memories. Christmas Day we joined the clan to celebrate, eat, reminisce, and enjoy being together as a family. My nephew Jordan surprised everyone by joining us for his brief break in Marine training. This was a great Christmas!
The next day back at work, I followed up on the meeting and was not really reassured that this job would last very long. I resolved that I would just do my best until the Lord opened the door elsewhere.
Saturday, we met up with Tim, Jen, and Emily to share Christmas with them. Again, it was a great time and stress reliever. Sunday, Ted and I both woke up with a virus that kept us home for the day. Ted was still sick Monday, and I still have some residual aches even now. I don't think it was the flu per se, I think it was just our bodies giving out after all the work and stress we put it through without proper rest.
I went back to work Monday, resolved to just keep my head down and work my job regardless of the tension swirling around, or people's issues. That resolve kept me going strong, knowing that I don't HAVE to work this job, but that I will do my best at it for the Lord. Yesterday went much better and one of the sources of my tension filled days tried to make amends. As this is a reoccurring situation, I began to pray for that individual who seems to be nice one moment and mean as a snake the next. Maybe God just wants me there to pray for these people.
Last night, our little family rung in the New Year by watching an animated movie together while gorging on snacks and soda. I could barely stay awake and seriously wanted to sleep in the New Year. I must be getting OLD!!
So this brings me to Today- I have a special meal planned for the family, James has to work, and I might get around to baking something. The boys will probably take down the Christmas tree and I want to savor each moment of peace and tranquility.
Here are the small comforts that I have found really help me let go of the stress and "clock-out". A cup of hot coffee or hot herbal tea, some classical music playing in the background, and a lovely scented candle burning. Right now we have a Mint Chocolate scented candle and it's wonderful!
This month will breeze by and soon we will be saying goodbye to our two boys as they launch out into the next phase of their lives. Justin will finish working his job on January 18th, and finish packing up his room.
James' last day of work will be January 31, but they are already cutting his hours for the winter slow season. He has already cleaned his room in preparation for packing it up.
Near the end of the month, we will have a joint send-off/birthday celebration for them.
Will you pray for them?
Will you also pray for a missionary named Joann? Her mother passed away the day after Christmas and she had to fly back from the mission field in time for the funeral today. I know what she is going through in losing a mother. My heart and prayers go out for her. May she find the grace that only God gives for each moment.
He is even the Giver of small comforts to keep us going when all else seems to be falling apart.
Happy New Year!!!
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