Chop Chop

Cut my hair today...cut it, really cut it.

I know that won't mean squat to most of you, but if you've ever had long hair, and then cut it, it's a traumatic experience.

So, as I sat in the chair for my regular little tiny trim where nobody can really tell I even got it cut, I said, "CUT IT. CUT IT TO HERE! MAKE ME CUTE!"

I worried as I sat there wondering what my husband would think. I worried about what "they've" said about people over 40 holding on to their long hair and looking terrible. I wondered if I've looked "terrible" and just not known it.

I worried that shorter hair will make my face look even pudgier (word?), if that's possible.

But, when she was all finished, I looked in the mirror (I hadn't looked while she did it) and decided I was, maybe cute. And then I decided that I worry too much about stupid stuff...particularly what other people might think.

But, if you're a regular visitor of my blog, you already knew that.

Blessings!

Free Shipping

I only have one Christmas gift purchased, so far. So, Monday night, I decided to celebrate "Cyber Monday" and take advantage of the 20% off and Free Shipping this site was offering. I felt so techie-savvy!

I ordered the gift, clicked the button that offered a gift receipt, and then looked at the shipping options. The only way they would give you free shipping was, of course, the slow-ground-hope-it-gets-there-by-New-Year's way. But, I was determined to be cost minded and chose the slow sending option. I figured I had enough time, although, as you all know, 10-14 business days can turn into 4 weeks...easy.

The package arrived yesterday. YES...YESTERDAY! I couldn't believe it! Ordered it Monday night about midnight and received it Wednesday!

I would love to tell you the name of the efficient site, but then, somebody who reads my blog might get a hint to what that somebody is getting for Christmas. No Can Do!

Let's just call that Christmas Miracle #1.

Blessings!

First, you see a California Thanksgiving. Beautiful, sunny, crisp but certainly not cold by the rest of the country's standards.

And then there is the Texas Thanksgiving complete with 5" of snow!

I wouldn't have minded being in that snow, if it meant being with my children on Thanksgiving. But, as my mom said, this was the first Thanksgiving in 20 years that my children's little feet weren't under her Thanksgiving table. I was good 'till she said that!

Hope your day and weekend was wonderful. Complete with all things that warm your heart and tummy.

Now, on to Christmas!

Blessings.

Friends...

Friendship is such a sweet gift from God.


We had some people with us this weekend that are so important to us. They are the kind of people you don't have to see often to keep the relationship strong. But, when we do see them, we are reminded of the many reasons we love them and treasure that relationship.


So, out of the MULTITUDE of blessings, I am particularly thankful for friends in the Lord. People I know would love me regardless of my shortcomings...specifically how I look in the morning!


Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be filled with the knowledge of the multitude of blessings you have because of our wonderful and awesome God!

Family, Food, Football, Falling asleep, (I was going to say "naps" but it didn't fit the pattern forming...)

Whatever it is you do today, may you be blessed and joyful.

Off my Feet?!

If you've read my blog, you know I had a little "procedure" about 6 weeks or so ago. Along with that procedure, every two weeks come more injections into the vein trying to slowly close down that unworking vessel.

Aside from the initial procedure, it's not been as bad as expected. Last Friday, as I was undergoing another treatment, I told the Dr., "hey, that wasn't bad at all. I like the little needle better!" He laughed at me, as he often does, and told me that it's all relative..."you see," he said, "if you hadn't had the BIG needle before, you wouldn't know this needle is better."

Hmmm...there's a sermon in there somewhere, or an analogy, or something.

Anyway, something went haywire this time. Swelling, pain, really red skin, pain, heat at the skin, pain. Did I mention pain? It hurts for the air to touch it!

So, I went today and that silly man, (well, the very knowledgeable Dr. with a specialist degree) told me that I needed to go home immediately and wrap my leg in my special made "leg thing" and put my leg up. Oh my! What a funny man!

I told him that I had to finish my work, first, and then go grocery shopping for the numerous pies I'm making tomorrow, and when I get home after that, I will be glad to put my feet up.

Doesn't he know it's Thanksgiving and we are awful close to Pie Night?

silly man.

Beautiful

There are times in our Sunday morning assembly, that stick with me for strange reasons. It could be a corporate work of song or prayer or praise. There are moments when only one voice is being heard via a message or sermon, prayer or song. All moments are good. All are beautiful if given with a heart of praise and thanksgiving, repentance and humility.

There was a moment this morning when a song, a very simple song I remember singing to my babies, was being sung and I knew it was a beautiful moment. It was as if the praise team was singing a lullaby, a love song, over the church. It wasn't the hardest song we did all morning, it wasn't the most intricate or even the deepest theological thought that has been put to music, but it was, in my opinion, beautiful beyond sense.

Isn't that God? Beautiful beyond sense. It doesn't make sense that He, the creator of the Universe, formed me, loved me from the moment time began, and then decided to die for me so that I can remain with Him. It really is beautiful beyond sense.

Oh how He loves you and me
Oh how He loves you and me
He gave His life, what more can he give?
Oh how He loves you
Oh how He loves me
Oh how He loves you and me.

I want my life to be a reflection of His love for me...beautiful beyond sense.

Blessings.

Tradition

It's almost Thanksgiving and under normal circumstances, I would be quite giddy.

However, this is the first year in about 20 that I won't be with my kids for this holiday. I would be lying if I said things like, "sands of time", "sunrise, sunset", "time marches on", blah, blah, blah.

It stinks. I would be o.k. with ignoring the whole thing. If I don't acknowledge it, it doesn't exist.

One tradition our family has that we've (my brother and I) written about before is our "Pie Night" tradition. I concocted this event where on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, we all come together and eat some of the pie that will be served the next day. You're always so very full after the Thanksgiving meal, I thought it was proper to give the pie some special time of its own. We really enjoy a piece (or two) of these wonderful pies baked by various family members, and then enjoy them again the next day!

We all write down what we are particularly thankful for on 3X5 cards and then these cards are mixed up and read aloud. We try to guess who wrote the card that is being read. It's fun. It's sweet. It's often very touching. It gives us the opportunity to focus on the "Thanks" part of the holiday.

We have some very good friends in Nashville who will go to Abilene for their Thanksgiving. She is already there and he will be joining her in a couple of days. She's visiting her brother (a V.P. at ACU) and her Daddy. She loves my kids and has taken them under her wing for Thanksgiving.

I emailed her today to give her the kids email addresses and phone #'s so they could get the information they need to get together. She had already contacted them...already made them feel welcome, again.

So, I guess I won't worry. They will be having Thanksgiving at the V.P.'s home with people that love them like family.

And, this year, on my "thankful card", I will most definitely express my gratitude for the kingdom of God here on earth that has created eternal friendships that are just like family.

Blessings!

Grocery Store

I was checking out at the grocery store today and the sweet young thing checking me out starts looking at what I've bought.



Checker: "Hmmm", baking something?"

Me: "yes, not today, but probably tomorrow I'll be making cookies."



Checker: "Cream of Celery soup? I've never heard of that. What is it?"

Me: "It's soup that's creamy and has celery in it."



Checker: "oooo, I love celery. Do you think I'd like this?"

Me: "well, I don't know, I've never actually eaten it alone, I always use it in things I'm making. But if you like celery, you would probably like it."



Checker: "I really like celery. Do you think it has like chunks of celery in it?"

Me: "why, yes, I believe there are bits of celery in the Cream of Celery soup."



Checker: "mmm, yum. I can't imagine that in cookies, but I'm sure you know what you're doing."



Me: (silent...very silent...looking straight at her...not able to move my lips...very glad I was alone and my husband wasn't with me to absolutely double over with laughter.)



Bless her heart!



Blessings!

Strike

It's the big story...

Not the war, Not gas prices, Not the fact that this world is running out of oil, Not the environmental issues, or any other number of things of some importance.

It's the strike. The writers strike. Celebrities are taking pizza to their writers on the picket lines, Jay Leno is delivering donuts to his writers outside.

Late night is the first to be hurt, and then sit coms and soap operas and dramas.

Watching one channel of news last night they were listing all the shows on the opposite network that would be challenged, and probably come to a halt because of the strike. But aren't they going to have the same challenges? Silly people...how dumb do you think we are?

I listened closely, but never did they mention Food Network.
Whew! What a relief. I'll be just fine.

Blessings.

A Mother's Prayer

If you had a magic bottle, or three wishes, or some kind of "get-what-you-ask-for" mechanism, and could provide anything for your children, what would you ask for? What would you want to make sure they received?


Obviously, we don't have that capability, for the most part. We can hope for a smooth road for them. Good health. A Godly spouse. Blessed children. Good jobs. Happiness...etc, etc.


But, honestly, if life is too smooth and everything goes exactly as planned, when do you put your faith into practice? When do you count how blessed you are, if you've always had everything go exactly how you planned?


Do you remember that time in your life when you were really trying to decide what you should do? That point right after childhood and right before true on-your-own adulthood when you're looking at the whole world and how you fit in it? It can be a bit overwhelming...and the thought of making a mistake with your life is an incredible burden to carry.


In my life, I've made many mistakes. In fact, I'm still making them. But there's a calm about me that knows (because I've experienced it over and over) that God is with me. He walks beside me, in front of me, behind me. He is there when I fall. He's there to pick me up and help set my feet on the correct path...again.


I was talking to one of my children last night and sharing with them some insight into a mother's prayer for her child. We don't pray for them to get a good job and make a lot of money, although, we're not against that. We don't pray for them to be famous. We don't pray for everything to go right for them.


No...we pray for children who will grow to know their position in the kingdom of God. We pray that the only thing their spouse loves more than your child is God, Himself. We pray that when things do go wrong, when difficulties arise, they will have the faith it takes to carry them through. We know that although getting a job is important, it won't be what they do but who they serve in life that matters most.



So, ultimately, what I want for my children is that relationship with their God that carries them through all things that will come their way.


That's what this mother prays for.