How Blessed I Am

Today has been relatively quiet. Joe and I had what I considered a good Thanksgiving lunch. I cook so much less than I once did, that I surprised myself when it all came together. Of course, I cooked more than enough, so I guess it will be The Left-Over Diner for a few days.

I really have so much to be thankful for this year. First of all I am thankful that God has blessed me as He has. He allowed me to be born to a family that believed in Him and brought me up to do the same. They taught me to work and be honest, traits too many of the younger generation does not exhibit. When our nation realizes that belief in God and His ways are what it was founded on things will begin to get better. He has blessed this country and for a large part the country has thumbed their noses at Him. How sad our ancestors would be!!

I am so thankful that I have Joe. I know there have been times that I could have put him on the proverbial slow boat to China, but I would have been swimming after it before it got too far from port. Pretty gutsy stuff for a girl that can't swim to be saying. That is just how much he means to me. I guess as we have aged together we have become more tolerant of each other.

My children are most precious to me. Trina has always made us proud, not that she was perfect. Sorry, Trina, perfect children are just a myth. Seriously, Trina has made her niche in life and a very good one at that. She married the most wonderful gift from God and we love him dearly. She has been mother to Katy and Jessi and a very proud Granna to Sam. Phillip and Lance are just a dear to her as are the girls. She has succeeded in becoming a great teacher and loves her job. She was fortunate to have had two of the best English teachers ever. I never forget to remind Jane Mullinax of her influence and were Ms. Smith still alive I would also remind her.

Our Eddy is another story. I love him with all my heart, but he is a very troubled soul. All his life he had great ambitions, but for some reason he never was able to capitalize on them. It could be that his particular ambitions changed so readily. I realized early on that Eddy seemed to have some kind of attention problems (this was pre-ADD/ADHD), but everyone kept saying that he would outgrow it. You the reasoning: Limit his sugar intake, don't let him drink caffeine drinks, etc. Guess what he did not outgrow it and hence, we have been burdened with many problems. His self-esteem is minus 100 at the best. I tried to get some counseling when he was around 9 years old, but was unsuccessful . All I can do now is let God have him and pray for the best.

Over the last ten years, I have become so involved with so many things. And I love all of it. When I retired, I began going to the ladies' Tuesday Morning Class. Loved every minute of it. We have grown since then and do a lot of service projects. My thing has always been that if Jesus came to earth to be a servant for us, how can we expect to be like him if we don't become servants too?

Now that I am volunteering at the hospital I feel my life has become even better. I work with people that are true God believing people and don't care for talking about Him to anyone that will listen. I feel that my faith has grown so much for this experience. I know I am where I am supposed to be and I love it. The little twelve hours a week I work is just icing on the cake. I would do it just to get volunteer hours, but the extra pay is good.

My friends through the years are some of the most wonderful people. There have been times when they were just what I needed. Our "bunch" from school still get together about every 2-3 months and have a girl's night out. We would probably do it more often, but some of them have become grandmothers and they have to coordinate their goings with the grandchildren's activities. Oh happy days!!

My plans for my days off this week were to do some much needed sewing. Have I? No. Why? Too much other stuff to do. I HAVE GOT TO GET SOME SEWING DONE. MY FABRIC IS GOING TO DRY ROT IF I DON'T!!

Hope everyone has had a great day and that the upcoming holiday season will be just as blessed. Try not to stress out. Just spread some sunshine and everything will be fine.

Today was Up and Down

Today did not start off in such a happy way. Eddy was here overnight and it seems lately when he is here, it never is a happy way. I am at my wit's end on what to do and even wonder at times if there is anything to do except to just exist. Oh well, brighter days are surely not too far off.

Things improved greatly when I got to our ladies class. Always does. It is so refreshing to be around my "sisters." We had a wonderful discussion on several things before we ever got to discussing some of the things from the Beth Moore study book. The study series was so great, even the second time around. After class several of us went out for lunch. We always have a good time then and usually end up staying much longer than the waitress prefers. We always tip well.

Then, I had my six month check up with my hemotologist and I don't go back for six more months. She was so excited about my lab work. Numbers on my blood count were high, which was very good. Numbers on my kidney lab was low, which was very good. After nine years it is about time.

Then I got to go to work. Yea!! I love my job at the gift shop, but I think you all have probably already figured that one out. My manager (I'm old enough to be her mother and she actually calls me Mama Marty sometimes.) is a sweet young lady and anytime I put a display out she always will compliment it and is always thanking me for coming to work. She is a pure joy to be around. I think this satisfying that urge I once had to have my own business, but I don't have to worry with any of that boring stuff like payroll, taxes, ordering, etc. I think that is called the best of both worlds.

Time to call it a day and go snuggle with my little four legged boys. And they are excellent snugglers and on these cold nights I really appreciate them.

Have a great day tomorrow and don't forget o spread a little sunshine along the way.

looking forward to a new week

Yes, I am definitely looking forward to a new week. The last couple have been hard, but after hard times, the good times seem even better. And there will be better.

I am so sorry the Tide did not roll today, but I still love them and think they are the best. They always show class and that is just as important (well, almost) as a win. You know what I mean.

The last three days have been absolutely beautiful even though the temp today was just a wee bit too cool. If the wind had not been blowing, even the temp would not have been so bad. The skies were so pretty - just a few wispy clouds around. My God is so awesome when he paints His canvas so full of beauty.

Our gift shop is beginning to look like a Christmas wonderland. I don't know where Melissa got all the ornaments, but we have got them, everything from angels or all kiinds to fishing Santas. We even have some shoes and purses for all the girly girls out there. I am having a blast with all the decorating and seeing what else will pop out of the stock room.

We plan to have an open house this next Friday. One of the companies we order from has sent some samples that we can prepare to offer to customers in hopes they will then buy the product. Sounds like fun to me. The foods of the holidays are one of my favorite things.

Our younger Chi has been shaking for several days now so I dug out his sweater and he is much better. He is our funny boy whereas Mule is our more sedate laid-back fellow. These two boys have given us some very enjoyable times. You should see them get after animals on the TV. You would think a war had broken out and they were our only line of defense. It is even funnier when Dingo turns and gets onto Mule because he is also barking. It is a hoot.

OK, I have had my shower, got my flannel jammies on, lotioned up my feet and put on my sleep socks and then put on Snuggle slippers on, so dear blogging friends I will bid each of you a pleasant nights rest until the next time. Have a wonderful day with God tomorrow and spread some sunshine wherever you go.

Just some thoughts

It appears that arrangements for Elizabeth's funeral have been made. Joe talked to the oldest son this afternoon and he has almost convinced them to have the visitation and service all on the same day. Their dad, Joe's brother, just does not handle death well at all. When his dad died and again when his mother died, he totally collapsed, so I can not imagine what it is going to be like with his daughter. Right now it will be on Wednesday mid-day. Please keep the whole family in your prayers. They are going to need all the support that can be gathered during this difficult time.

In addition to this already tragic event, Joe comes in and tells me that his younger brother, Cordell, says that his son, Chris, is not doing well at all. Chris was born with heart problems and at age four had open heart surgery. He has since had several other surgeries. Now it seems that his body has begun to retain too much fluid. It seems his heart is doing fine, but the veins are the problem now. I really don't know what would happen to Cordell if anything happened to Chris. Chris is his only son, his only child. He is 37 years old. Please pray for this family as well.

Our family is making it, but times are still tough. Eddy has lost all interest in life. My son has been through a lot, most of it from his own undoing, but a lot from a system that is all wrong. He no longer cares much about what he looks like - wears sloppy clothes and doesn't get all done up nice anymore. He has gained so much weight, too much actually and his blood pressure is out of sight and I doubt very seriously that he is taking his medicine. He has even said he didn't see any reason to even try anymore. I pray that he will come around and get better.

I am going to get ready for bed and see if I can sleep and maybe things will be better by morning.

I will try to spread some sunshine tomorrow.