Although it's been said....

Merry Christmas! Yes I said Merry CHRISTmas!! No happy holidays here...hmmmm...well you know what I mean!

As I reflect on the year past it is once again overwhelming and humbling to see the hand of God so very present over our lives. From little things to very big things, He has walked each step of the way with us and I am grateful.

So I will celebrate His birthday with all that is in me. His birthday, and yet I receive all the gifts. Who would want to turn down an offer like that?

So, I'm offering this simple phrase, to kids from 1 to 92. Although it's been said many times, many ways...Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you.

peace.

C. S. Lewis says...

"I do not doubt that God wants the best for me. My only concern is how painful that 'best' will prove to be."

In recent days, I am holding on to this thought. Romans 12:12 says "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer."

Why would we need to be patient in affliction if we aren't afflicted? I think we're being encouraged to not be concerned about how painful God's best will be but to just be aware that God's best is sometimes painful.

But He also tells us in Hebrews 12:23-25 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching."

So let's hang on together. Being joyful and patient and faithful! God is at work on our behalf and He loves us!!

peace

inner pieces?

i've discovered something recently. it's really not brain surgery, but it was a paradigm shift for me. anger and frustration disturbed my inner pieces which in turn leaves me no inner peace. i know, it should be obvious. the Bible has been telling me this my whole life. bumper stickers have touted it for years. but it takes the inner knowing all for myself to really, truly let it sink in.

you see, i work in a frustrating place with insecure people and it has been taking quite a toll on me. i lived in a constant state of wound up and i'm not really a wound up kind of gal. it finally occurred to me that i could unwind. i didn't have to fix it, control it, excuse it, accept it or like it. i could be calm, gracious, firm and at peace regardless. AND i've decided i like it when my inner pieces are at peace. it works for me. i'm better here.

so i'll "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." romans 12:12. and my inner pieces will rest in peace.

peace to your inner pieces too!

arts and awards

i was privileged to attend the Governor's Arts Awards today in our lovely State Capitol building (you know, the one with the DOME) anyway, the President of our Board was nominated for the Earl Sneed Award. he's earned it many times over, so it was nice to see him appreciated in a public, official ceremony. But it did make me wonder, how many unsung heros are there out there? think about it, how many people do you know that deserve a medal or a round of applause but will probably never receive it in this lifetime.

I know some people that will be bazillionaires in heaven, but will not be applauded on earth. I know it will be worth the wait. I'm also glad that sometimes, the good guys get a medal.

peace.

Thankful and still gr8ful

well turkey day has come and gone. lots of food, family and some new friends. I hope you enjoyed your holiday, we did. i was also reminded of how thankful i really am and how blessed.

i am thankful that i am not judged in a court of justice but of grace. i am thankful that i don't get what i deserve. i am thankful that God loves me as i am, where i am, who i am. i am thankful that i am surrounded by people who love me even when i am sometimes, (hard to believe i know), unloveable.

i am gr8ful for this life i have been entrusted with. it has not always been easy, but journeys worth taking are worth the effort. climbing a mountain is not easy, but oh the view at the top.

so my verse for today is romans 12:12 "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer".

peace.

I'm Melting, mmmmeeelllttttiinnnnngggggg

If she had uttered these words, i would have understood the previous days with her. But other than being yelled at, having my head bit off and generally demoralized, She just ranted and huffed and puffed and blew my house down. So it cements in me a recent decision. I'm brushing off the resume and sending it out. Stick a fork in me, I'm done. I will still sing, I hope. But I'm done.

I'm a little sad, a little mad, a little excited and a little scared. We'll figure out which emotion wins.

So for now, i'm on vacation for a week and singing Ding Dong the witch is dead, la la la, the witch is dead. Even though she isn't and i really don't want her to be, at least i have a week away from Oz.

So if you are the praying kind, i'd appreciate the support. God alone knows how this will all work out. and I'm leaving it with him.

peace and happy turkey day

blitzed number 2

so I've spent the last 2 days on media blitzs. you take lots of pr info, make lots of appointments with papers, radio and tv people and you run in with a group of people and tell them as much as you can in a short amount of time. We had a blast and no alcohol was involved. we also got some great responses from the media. They Like Us, They Really Like US!!!

So we can all do our jobs a little better with people who now know us a little better. Seems like a good deal all around!

peace!

Different shades of Blitzed!

So Saturday night we went to two Halloween parties, both costume of course! Jim was Mr. Clean and I was his favorite mop. The visual was amazing!!

Anyway...the first party was family centered, lots of goodies and cute costumes. A homemade haunted house with varying degrees of scary depending on who was coming through next. Very fun, very clean, very all american pumpkiny kind of Halloween party.

The second party we attended was for hubbie's company. The theme of the evening was slightly different. I think it was Vodka. There was vodka punch, vodka cocktails, bloody marys, vodka jello shots and something called sewer water with baby ruths floating in it. The crowd was well soaked in vodka by the time we arrived and very entertaining. Being the light weight I am, I enjoyed the festivities immensely because the drunker they get the more entertaining it became.

Karaoke is an absolute scream when toasted people are doing it. For that matter, walking became more and more interesting. I had a great time watching and I hope they remember the party.

So that's the blitz experience number one. Blitz experience number two, later today...come back for more.

peace!!

Did you know?

I think everyone has been aware of the gas prices. UP and back down, although not where I'd like to see them, still down. Groceries have been a little higher and overall, things just seem to cost a little more everywhere I go.

Well, Friday I sent the season program to press. Due to the hurricanes and demand on building supplies, paper costs have risen about 30%!! It is going to cost me $1500 more than last year to produce a piece that is held in the hands of audience members through the concert, and then tossed into the recycle box so they can hold it again next concert or thrown in the trash or scrapbooked by someone's mom because they sang with us.

Seems like a lot of money for something that in the light of eternity is useless. How many wells could I build with those same dollars? How many children could I educate and feed? How many Bibles could be printed? The things around me become more trivial when lit by the light of eternity. What a perspective! It humbles me greatly to know that God sees everything in that eternal light.

peace.

I give up...

I can't make it better at work...only God can.
I can't make it better for my dad...only God can.
I can't make it better at home...only God can.

And the best thing about being completely out of control is now God can.

Thank you God for the reminder that living with open hands is the place of most freedom, most peace, most joy and the place I definitely want to live.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

peace.

Playing Opossum!

At 7:00am Saturday morning, Suki, our 5 year old Akita started barking. It was her "Hey I'm serious about this, something's going on" bark. So Jim jumped out of bed thinking that maybe our out of town company was up and Suki was trying to corral them. He runs out into the front living room and Suki is standing at the back door, frantically trying to get out. Jim opens the door and she races out and to the back corner of the yard where she catches something. Upon further investigation we find out she has cornered a opposum in our backyard and had drug it up to near the middle of the yard. I wasn't sure if she had killed it, so I went out to look. After watching it for a minute or two I noticed the almost imperceptible rise and fall of the little hairy chest. Suki's oppossum was playing opossum!! After giving her the obligatory YOU DID SUCH A GOOD JOB!!! doggy petting, we all went inside. Within a couple of minutes, the much slobbered on, but no worse for the wear, little oppossum poked his head up slowly, looked around and took off like a bat out of hell!!
I don't know if he'll be back.
peace

it's good to have friends...

The last month has been a challenge as everyone who reads this blog knows. My sister, who still has young, busy, non-driving children at home, has had a lot to take care of needless to say. So one of her long time friends calls, says she has something to drop by and ask her to leave her key out so she can put it in the house. My sister gets home after work, soccer practice, football practice and finds her whole house clean, her laundry done, folded and on each bed and dinner in the crockpot. How cool is that? Thank you God for good friends who know it is truly more blessed to give than to receive. We are surrounded by them. Help me to remember to be one of them.
peace.

On the road again...

I'm so glad that I'm not on the road again this weekend. Yes, the great big UHaul made it's way from Seven Points, Texas to El Reno, Oklahoma this past weekend. After 3 weeks on the road, 36 boxes, 3 rolls of tape, and much sweat and some tears, Dad is in Oklahoma!! We are so very grateful to God that he was 2 steps ahead of us every step of the way. So we're here and the lake house is on the market. Once it sells, we're done! For now...
peace! (and my own bed for the weekend!!)

I look great...

for the mother of a 67 year old!!! sometimes dealing with dad is a lot like having little children again. we get to talk about sick tummies, pooping, when to go to sleep, taking baths and changing clothes. Not that he is incapable of taking care of the basics, he just considers some of the basics unnecessary.
Why take a bath, we're not going anywhere?
Why change clothes, I'm just staying home.
Why go to bed, I'm sleeping fine in my chair?
It's like reasoning with a 3 year old!
I have to admit, sometimes he wears me slick. But I'm grateful he's here and we don't have to worry that he's not ok. I'm grateful he's accepting our help. I'm grateful that we can have time with him while he still knows who we are. I'm grateful I have my sister to take this journey with. I'm grateful that God walks every step with me because I could not do this without him.
peace.

miracles still happen

during the recent weeks we have so many dear family and friends praying us through the situation with our dad. let me run down the miracles for you.

2 months ago- dad was unwilling and adamant that he would never need our help and never move to Oklahoma
prayer happened
2 weeks ago- dad called and not only asked for our help, but completely turned over everything and admitted he needed our help

2 weeks ago- dad was number 12 on the waiting list for the best place we could find for him to live
prayer happened
6 hours ago- we put a deposit on his 1 bedroom duplex

1 week ago- every doctor we called who accepted medicare wasn't taking patients or if they were taking patients, they didn't take medicare
prayer happened
today-we found a wonderful doctor, who takes medicare, and is accepting patients

and this is just the beginning!!!

Thank you so much to our amazing Father in heaven!!!

GREAT, unsurpassed, unexplainable PEACE!

saga 2 and other news

So the car wouldn't start...My sister's Nissan Murano (very nice) had just had it's alternator recalled and replaced. So of course this is the best car to take to Texas for our whirlwind weekend of daddy business. We wake up day 1, car's dead. We can't jump it, it won't start. So we hook it up to a battery charger and at the end of the day the car finally starts. We have borrowed our cousin's car in the meantime so no real lost time. Next morning, we're packing to leave and leave the hatch open. Little bitty hatch lights drain the battery, car won't start. So we rehook the car to the charger, set it on high, listen to whole car hum and in 30 minutes, the car starts. We all jump in for the ride home, praying for good gas mileage and no head winds. Only one hitch, we have to stop for potty break and food, so we pull into Arby's and I go in while sis and dad stay in the running car and then we trade. Dad makes it out of the potty room just a little faster than my sister who exits the restaurant to see daddy getting into the van of a lovely couple from California. She runs over and asks dad if he'd like to go with us instead and everyone laughs and we cry inside knowing daddy can't live alone and is further gone than we had realized. We drive through, get food and get home. Thank you God!!
So we're leaving again today to run across the red river, sort through the rest of dad's belongings and pack them up so next weekend we can uhaul them back to Oklahoma. All I can say is...I'm driving my car!!!
peace!

answered prayers and the necessities of life

saga 1

well, after our wild trip to Texas, we have relocated one father. God receives much thanks and all the praise for an easy transition in a difficult situation. Daddy is here, happy, compliant and very humbled. He's awesome!!!

now to the necessities of life...we all know we have too much stuff. In light of survival, how we interpret necessities is very individualized. while preparing dad to come to OK, we told him to pack just the necessities he'd need for 2 weeks. When we went to check his suitcase when he was done, here's what he packed:

1 Boyscout handmade leather jacket
1 polished wood kerchief knot
6 pair underwear
1 knife

Needless to say, holding back both laughter and tears, we added a few clothes and his toothbrush. I think we may have left the knife for next trip!?

the adventures in alzheimers have only just begun...

thank you God for your favor, your graciousness, your strength, and your laughter. we could not do this without You!!

peace!

preview: Saga 2...and the car wouldn't start...to be continued!

so vote already!!!

I am sick of political signs, political ads on tv, political phone calls and political mail. I'm so past ready to vote just to end it all!! I don't believe any of the propaganda anyway. I'll do my own research and make up my own mind. I hope you will too.
peace.

I'm molting...

my nest has one less feather...younger daughter is officially moved and I didn't cry. Course I haven't been in the empty room yet, but I think I'm okay with it. She knows I'll miss her and deep down, she'll miss me too. It's been easy living with my children and it is definitely closing down a phase of my life. Older daughter is making noises about being out by September. We're going to rent their rooms to college students! The good news about closed doors is the opening of new doors as well.

Captain, she's taking on water

My younger daughter is moving out. She's very excited, we're happy for her and yet, Wednesday it hit me and I started crying. I wrote her a poem and a little note, and kept crying. everyone made fun of me and I kept crying. I drove to work crying, I called my friend and we both cried. Her daughter is moving out with mine. I got to work and stopped crying. Too much drama there already! So now that I'm dehydrated, I should be able to help her move and bless her on the journey. Fastest trip I've ever taken...
peace.