Recap

What a busy time of year! My last post was how God had used someone to encourage and lift me up, what I did not know is that maybe He was using me at the same time. That special person was released from her position that very same day. Maybe God planted ME in her path as we encouraged each other!
You never know the big picture, but you just need to be in His picture frame.

OK for a quick recap on the family.

Ted's finger has healed amazingly well, and the doctor was very pleased with how the third degree burn that left absolutely no skin has healed without skin grafts and minimal scarring. He has not lost any use of his finger and it no longer hurts. Within a few months it may even look like it never happened! What an amazing Great Physician we serve. His recent doctor's appointment was wonderful. He has brought his diabetes into remission and needs to keep on that same path now the rest of his life. He has not been taken off his medicine yet, but will get evaluated in 4 months to see if his levels are still normal. Ted's job keeps him soo busy, pray for him as he travels, and even if it be the Lord's will, he could get another job that might not be so time consuming.

My job is challenging as I have stated many times, I do hope as I work there longer that it will get easier to mentally handle. Honestly, I do not want to work, and I can't see myself spending the majority of my life working at a job that has no meaning for me. I do my best at the job and pray for strength all the time. If God needs me there to help others then it will have meaning.

James seems to like his job for the most part although it amazes him at the types of people he encounters on a daily basis. He is looking forward to leaving for the army in 8 weeks. Pray for him.

Justin is so tired of his job and wants to quit, he is weary of the 3rd shift and it won't be long before he puts in his notice. He leaves in 6 weeks for the army. Pray for him, I still am amazed that they cleared him medically. Pray that he will gain strength and endurance.

Pray for both my boys to be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might.

Alot of Christmas celebrations beginning to happen, and as our Pastor preached tonight... I don't want to lose Jesus in the midst of this celebration.


After Christmas, we will start packing up the boys lives as they knew it. Sorting through whatever treasures they want to keep and what they want to get rid of. This will be a bittersweet time. I hope to inject encouragement and support into this next stage of their lives that will remind them that this is how life is to be lived. They are now men who need to find the Lord's will and do it on their own. Mom and Dad will always be here in their hearts and memories, but it's time for them to walk their own path.

I will probably turn Justin's room into a workout room, so that I can start getting healthy as well. For the past seven months I have suffered daily headaches and frequent migraines. This is a chronic condition, and I was in despair that I would have to take medicine every day of my life. Just in the past week I have not had to take it every day and my headaches seem to be lessening in frequency and intensity. What a relief!

My hopes are that if I can lose my extra weight that my body will regulate it's levels and I can live a healthier less painful life.

Tomorrow marks the 4th year since Momma went to Heaven. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. It's not as painful, but it's no less of a loss. We all miss her more then words can say, but now we are just that much closer to seeing her sweet face again. Jesus is coming soon, and I can't wait to see Him.

I will save you a seat at the marriage supper of the Lamb.... will you come?

In the middle of my path

Last week was very stressful and by Friday I was barely hanging onto my last nerve. I cried out to God, but part of me was so despondent that I did not know if and when He would answer. About 10am on Friday, I escaped to another part of the complex where I work and God literally planted a person in my path that reached out to me and encouraged me. We discussed spiritual matters and hugged each other, and after that Planned and Purposed encounter God bolstered my spirits and gave me the strength I needed to get through the day, take a meal to Ma who was recovering from back surgery, and helped me plan a lesson for the Super Teen Class the next day.
Does God hear you when you pray? YES!! and although sometimes He waits to give you an answer, He always answers you just when YOU need it.

Although this journey takes me along a rocky path and often there seems to be roadblocks and stumbling blocks in my way, He also plants people in my path to help me just when I need that help or assistance.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow.
Strength for today is mine all the way,
And all that I need for tomorrow,
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow....

Life as We Know It

Many of you probably know that I am old fashioned for the most part, sentimental, nostalgic, and romantic. This year has been a journey of learning to adjust to new things and being ever flexible. From working part time to now having a full time career, and my two boys turning into soldiers bound for the unknown. The only constant has been church and family. I do miss the days of having more time with the family, and even more free time to just gallivant around town, or slipping out of town with my Man. As the time nears for the boys to leave for Basic Training, we are trying to treasure the little moments. We had hoped that this would be a Thanksgiving spent together, but the boys will have to work different schedules.... so Christmas has become even more special. Our little family is working to make this a Christmas to remember. I want them to have memories to take with them, that will last them when they want to give up.
Will I miss them? Of course!!! I will miss their conversations, their presence, and especially their strength for the heavy lifting. Our lives as we know it will change drastically. There are many things I won't be able to do without them. I am already going to have to adjust our living space and accouterments so that I can take care of things without any help.

Next year, if the Lord should tarry, will unfold even more changes. Life as We Know It always changes, each day is different, and we are NOT promised tomorrow. So, although I miss how life USED to be, I want to make the most of what LIFE will BE for as long as I am here.

BTW Happy Birthday to Cheyenne. Oh, and Rachel.. I see you when I look in the mirror.... it keeps you in my mind's eye :) Love you Sis!


Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Bucket List

Ever have a day that you suddenly got to do something you never thought you would get to do?

Ted's brother Tim called last night to see if Ted and the guys wanted to go see a football game that he had tickets to in Wake Forest. I piped up and said.. "I want to go!"

It turns out that only Ted and I were able to go with Tim today. I have not been to a football game in real life since my Dad took me to see the Big Red play at Cornell when I was probably in junior high. I am not an avid sports fan because I prefer to see the game played in real life and not on tv at the mercy of the cameraman. I was a ready fan of the Dallas Cowboys back when they had the praying coach(Tom Landry) and of course the Dream Team and the Chicago Bulls. After those classic years I just lost interest. Ted has never been huge on sports until lately so the football game is seen more often on our tv then it used to.

The actual chance to go to a game with free tickets and spend a day completely away with Ted and totally out of the normal was a chance I did not want to pass up! Now, this will sound like bragging, but really it's a blessing.... My sister in law works at a bank and the president of the bank had these "extra" tickets he wasn't going to use. He asked Tim if they wanted them. Now these tickets were NOT just your average bleacher seats like I had expected. Oh No, these were Club seats!! as in nice comfortable cushioned seats with cup holders up near the Box seats!!! I found out later that they cost $300 per ticket!!!!! That's right we got free tickets to exclusive seating at a real live football game!

Now, it was the Wake Forest Demon Deacons(anyone with that name is not on my cheering roster) and the Florida State Seminoles(a team that I had cheered on a year ago for some unknown reason). I was sitting in Wake Forest Club seats cheering on the opposing team! Needless to say the deacons were trounced, and we ended up leaving about 5 minutes before the last buzzer. I had wanted to see the whole thing, but Tim and Ted were not happy with Wake Forest only have 3 pts in the entire game. They were trying to be loyal to our state team.

We drove back to Tim and Jen's and decided to go out to eat. The town they live in is growing rapidly but the restaurant selection is still limited. They mentioned a restaurant that Ted used to tell me he wanted to take me to someday(20 years ago when we lived in that town and James was a baby!). I have always wanted to see what it was like since Ted wanted to take me there. I had to wait 2 decades, but we went tonight! The food was very good, and the time spent with family was incomparable!

So IF I had a bucket list, I could definitely cross off two things that might have appeared on that list.
A real live football game watching my team win while sitting in expensive comfortable seats, and then going to a restaurant that I have always wanted to eat at.....
Definitely a Saturday to remember!

Salute! Pledge!

That's right, It just seemed appropriate to title this post with the well known phrase that may have come to mind from my last post. Why? Well James officially enlisted in the Army this week. Yes, that's right, both of my young men are now officially US government property. James teared up while taking the oath, because he struggles with the political view that is prevalent right now. When he took that pledge, he was only thinking of the negative. I pray that God will remind him that darkness is only for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Just an update on what else is going on in our lives.

Ted was able to reopen his Shelby store and it's doing very well. Now they are renovating another one of his stores, and he is helping another district with their renovation projects as well.

I am still learning much about my job and ask that you pray I keep it all straight. Next week, I will be in charge of a wedding reception, help Ted cater a birthday party for my niece, finish organizing the menu for our huge family Thanksgiving dinner, and get ready to travel to Virginia for a weekend.
What does all that mean? That means TOMORROW I just want to SLEEP :)

ATTENSHUN!!!

Ladies and Gentleman, I am proud and pleased to announce that Justin Andrew Corriveau is officially a Private in the United States Army. We went to his enlistment ceremony yesterday and he will start Physical Training tomorrow. February 4th he will leave for 10 weeks of basic training in Ft. Benning, GA. His advanced training will be at Ft. Gordon in southern Georgia. He has enlisted for a 5 year contract. I would tell you what he is going to do but that is top secret(think about it).

James finally qualified to enlist and he will go next Tuesday for his medical testing and enlistment ceremony. If he is found qualified, he will go to Ft. Jackson, SC, near Columbia, SC, the end of February for 9 weeks of basic training. His advanced training will be at Ft. Lee, Virginia, below Richmond. His contract is for 3 years as a track vehicle repairer(fixing tanks, etc.)

Please pray for both of my boys as they strive to do God's Will for their lives.

Ted's finger has healed amazingly well and is closed over completely. He has not lost any movement and the scar tissue is minimal. He says it gets a little stiff once in awhile. Thank you to all who prayed for his healing.
My job is going extremely well and God is giving me wisdom and grace every day.

Foggy Cocoon

Morning, Folks,
I haven't really had a moment to sit down at this computer for any leisure surfing. The last two weeks have been full of training and beginning to take on the responsibilities of my new position. When I get home from work, it's time for supper and a bit of time with the family and off to bed early.

Today looks like the perfect day to snuggle down and catnap with the foggy cocoon surrounding the house. Alas, that will not be the case. This morning is our Fall Festival for our bus ministry, Ted is hoping to re-open the Shelby restaurant this afternoon after a very long renovation. James has to bury his beloved cat Socks who like so many of us think we are untouchable by danger and death. I dreamed last night that Socks was still alive and was only playing possum on the side of the road. I woke up this morning realizing that dreams aren't always a reality.

Now of course since the boys are actively pursuing enlisting in the army, I see all the horrible stories of how they are Anti-Christian, etc. Part of me wants to shelter the boys and tell them it's a dangerous place to be, but this whole world should not be our cozy cocoon! We are at war with Satan, sin, and evil... or we should be.
I call the boys-infiltrators... they will join the Army IF it lets them and they can be used by God.. if they let HIM.

So in spite of the extreme desire to sit and vegetate and rest all day as my mind and body craves, off I go and pray that God will bring another soul or more to Himself today.