Goodbye 2009

December always seems to be a laid back month for me and I get out of my routines.

* Got lax with exercise and can tell my clothes are tighter.

* Ate way too many sweets and feel tired and sluggish all the time.

* Played too many computer games and spend way to much time on Facebook.

As the month ends I can see some changes coming in January. I'll get back to the gym, start on an eating plan and limit my time on Facebook and playing games.

That's what new years resolutions are for, right?

Getting Out of Debt

We've been "talking" for months about getting on a budget and getting out of debt. Unfortunately, just talking doesn't get the job done.

Our new years goal is to start a budget, use the envelope system and pay off our truck and credit card in 2010.

It's a huge goal....about $16,000. Even if we don't pay off the entire amount we will be much closer than we are today.

I'm actually excited and look forward to getting started!

Dead Battery

Of all the times to have a dead battery, last night was the worst.

When I went out to the parking lot about 5 p.m. last night to go home, the temperature was around zero with a minus 5 wind chill! Was I ever upset when the car wouldn't turn over!

A very nice young man from Security brought a battery pack and we got it started.

When I got home, Steve put the battery on a charge and we thought it would recharge. Nope, the next morning it was dead again. The weather was cold again with snow and wind so I stayed home from work and made Rice Krispies treats and watched Christmas movies!

Steve bought a new battery after work and put it in. It was minus 5 with a wind chill of -25. Brrrrr.....

I am so thankful for a new battery!

Finally Feeling Better

Finally getting over the viral flu. Fever, sore throat and cough are no fun!

Thank goodness for vacation days as I ended up taking the three days before Thanksgiving. The extra days in bed and taking it easy really helped.

After three weeks actually feeling human again. Maybe I'll take a flu shot next year!

Advent

My first exposure to Advent was in Germany where we lived in the 1980s. I was fascinated by the advent calendar found in all the German stores. You know the cute little December calendar that had a piece of chocolate hidden behind each day of the month.

Then our church in TN (in the 90s) celebrated advent each Sunday of December by reading a scripture and lighting a special advent candle.

This year I am reading through the Advent Daily Scripture readings:

Sunday November 29 - Isaiah 42:1-9 (Light the Prophecy Candle)
Monday November 30 - Psalm 89:1-29
Tuesday December 1 - Isaiah 55
Wednesday December 2 - Isaiah 35
Thursday December 3 - Luke 1:26-38
Friday December 4 - John 1:1-10
Saturday December 5- John 1:11-18

Sunday December 6 - Micah 5:2 (Light the Bethlehem Candle)
Monday December 7 - Malachi 3:1-4
Tuesday December 8 - Matthew 1:18-25
Wednesday December 9 - Mark 1:1-13
Thursday December 10 - Isaiah 40:1-11
Friday December 11 - Isaiah 52:1-6
Saturday December 12 - Isaiah 9:2-7

Sunday December 13 - Luke 2:8-20 (Light the Shepherd Candle)
Monday December 14 - Luke 1:5-25
Tuesday December 15 - Luke 1:39-56
Wednesday December 16 - Jeremiah 33:7-16
Thursday December 17 - Luke 1:57-80
Friday December 18 - Isaiah 61
Saturday December 19 - Revelation 21:1-7

Sunday December 20 - Matthew 1:18-25 (Light the Angel Candle)
Monday December 21 - Revelation 1:10-18
Tuesday December 22 - Matthew 2:1-12
Wednesday December 23 - Luke 1:28-38
Thursday December 24 - Luke 2:1-20 (Light the Christ Candle)
Friday December 25 - Read the Christmas story together from Luke 2:1-38

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

(One of my favorite Christmas carols....I love the words!)

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born upon this day.
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy. O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn,
The which His Mother Mary did nothing take in scorn:
O tidings ...

From God our heavenly Father, A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name:
O tidings ...

The shepherds at those tidings Rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessèd Babe to find:
O tidings ...

But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray:
O tidings ...

Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface
O tidings ...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with thankful hearts.

Thankful for all God has done for us this year.

And thankful for the future!

Historic Homes Holiday Tour 2009

I love the old houses that line our downtown streets and have always wanted to tour one. When I heard about the Salvation Army Home tour I knew my chance had come.

My neighbor and I toured five historic homes yesterday. The homes have been beautifully restored and lovingly maintained. Most were decorated for Christmas.

Several homes featured a "sleeping porch", a common feature at the turn of the centry when Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs were popular spa/resort areas for those diganosed with tuberculosis.

One home had been converted into six apartments after World War II when the housing market was tight. The home was restored to a single family dwelling by an owner in the 1990's.

As I walked through each of these homes I tried to imagine the families that had lived there. I pictured children laughing and playing in bedrooms and adults gathering in the living areas talking about the latest news.

This home tour was well worth the $20 ticket and went to a worthy cause. I will definitely attend again next year!

God Moments

Have you ever searched for something? And looked and looked and looked? You can visualize the item you are looking for but just can't quite find it.

A few years ago we were selling our travel trailer and needed the keys. In my mind I could see them in a small green mesh basket but could not locate it.

The next day I was in the office and accidentally knocked some pictures off the bookshelf. When I bent over to pick them up, my eyes immediately went to a green mesh basket on the bottom shelf that contained the keys!

The interesting thing was I had knocked those same pictures off the shelf several times that week. In my haste I hadn't noticed the basket on the bottom shelf.

How many times does God have to show me things before I finally get it? This was a good reminder to slow down and take notice of the things around me!

Cooking Day

Sunday has become my cooking day since we're now attending church on Saturday nights.

Today I'm making egg frittata cups, a double batch of meat loaf muffins and grilling a bag of roasted garlic chicken.

The egg frittatas and the meat loaf muffins each fit perfectly in a half cup glad ware container. Convenient for storing and a great way to have portion control! Half of the meat loaf muffins will go in the freezer for later use.

I warm the meatloaf muffin in the microwave and add ketchup, barbecue sauce or salsa. Sometimes I make a meat loaf sandwich.

The egg frittata includes garlic, onion, spinach, cheese and canadian bacon. It is great for a quick breakfast with a slice of toast. And, of course, have to add the salsa on top!

Later today I'll make chicken wraps from the grilled chicken. We'll use the rest of the chicken for salads and sandwiches this week.

It's so nice to have a ready-to-go meal to pull from the fridge all week!

Psalms 9-1-1

Recently I was changing a computer password and trying to come up with something clever and easy to remember. I typed in Psalms91 but the password required nine characters. So I added an additional one on the end.

Later as I typed the password I realized how it read. Psalms 9-1-1....just like an emergency call! The book of Psalms has definitely been that for me. Through my life these precious scriptures have brought much comfort and peace to me as I faced life emergencies.

Fireproof music video (The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets)

Beautiful Day!

The snow is gone and we've had sunny, warm weather today. That's one of the great things about living in Colorado. We never get tired of the weather because it changes so quickly!

Not sure how I feel about the time change today, though. It's only 4:35 p.m. and the sun has almost set. Makes me want to hibernate for the winter! :)

Springs Writer Workshops

The Springs Writer workshops at Woodmen Valley Chapel have been a true blessing. This month was such a timely teaching for me.

Author, Beth Vogt, shared about writing dialogue. Since we all talk it should be easy, right? Well, not really.

Dialogue is one component of writing where I struggle. Somehow the words just don't sound right or I'm not sure what to say. Another challenge I face is writing a story set in the 1800s when the dialogue was different than today's.

Beth shared some great tips about using dialogue to my advantage and moving the story forward. I came away from the meeting full of inspiration and motivation!

Goals for the next 30 days:
1. Write every day (journal, blog, scenes from the story)
2. Increase blog traffic
3. Re-read submissions/assignments from Christian Writers Guild course
4. Attend ACFW meeting
5. Read, read, read

I'm amazed at the opportunities God continues to lay before me.

Writing Critique Group

At the last Springs Writers workshop I heard some wonderful teaching about writing dialogue. (more details on tomorrow's blog)

At the end of the meeting I talked with two ladies interested in forming a writing critique group. Joining such a group has been on my mind for a while because I could receive constructive criticism and help improve my writing. This was a definite answer to prayer.

Then if that wasn't enough, Scoti, the director, announced plans to form a critique group in January. I was about to jump out of my chair and hug her! :)

I thank God for His guidance aand future opportunities.

Snow Again!

I love snow during conditions like today. I'm sitting at the computer, looking out at the white flakes falling (and blowing)! The electric fireplace next to me and my steaming mug of hot chocolate are keeping me warm!

We've been under a winter storm warning for the last two days and work was cancelled today. We are blessed to have an employer that cares about our saftey and will even pay us for a snow day!

The weather in this part of Colorado is interesting. The northern part of the city (slightly higher elevation and only 10 miles from where I live) has been hit hard with up to a foot of snow in some areas. My employer is located there and closed today due to the extreme weather conditions.

We live in the central part of Colorado Springs and only have a few inches of snow on the ground. Of course, the howling winds are blowing it all around so it's hard to tell exactly how much we really have!

I just read on line that a stretch of Interstate 70 east of Denver and Highway 24 from Calhan to Limon has been closed because of blowing snow.

What a great day to relax and read a book!

Here I Am

You Never Know

I remember a lady I worked with years ago. She never talked to me, smiled, or laughed. It was hard not to take her slights personally and I really thought she didn’t like me.

One day a co-worker told me that Linda’s teenage son had been killed in a tragic accident (along with 22 other kids and 4 adults)a few months earlier. Their church bus was hit head on by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the interstate. After that day I felt much more compassion in my heart for this dear lady.

A few months later I left that temporary job and moved on. On my last work day I received a nice coffee mug and note from Linda. She thanked me for my work on her team and for being sensitive to her “moods”.

We just never know what people are going through. Job layoffs, divorces, deaths in the family or any other number of tragedies affect people every day.

When I think about Linda, it reminds me to always be kind and considerate of everyone I come in contact with. I never know what they are going through.

My prayer is that God will help me always be sensitive to others and set my own feelings, thoughts and agendas aside.

My Good Samaritan

One of the things I love about my husband, Steve, is his heart to help people. Just in the last week he has helped the next door neighbor with a frozen pipe; aired up a low tire for the neighbor across the street and helped the lady down the street with a furnace problem. He does these good deeds with a very humble attitude and would probably be embarrassed if he knew I was writing this!

Through the 31+ years we’ve been married I can think of countless ways Steve has helped people. And I have benefited greatly from his generosity.

You see, I strongly believe in the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping. Steve and I are one in God’s eyes and I reap from Steve's sowing.

One time in particular comes to mind. We lived in the country in Tennessee at the time, about 10 miles from town. I was on my way to work and had just turned onto a two lane highway. As I increased in speed, I heard a loud pop and felt one side of the van fall. I maneuvered safely to the side of the highway and discovered a tire had exploded! A man in a pickup, going the opposite direction saw the blow out, turned around in the next intersection and came to my rescue. I have to admit I was a little leary about accepting a complete strangers help but said a prayer for God’s protection. The very nice man changed my tire and though I offered, would not accept payment.

I truly believe Steve had sown good seeds ahead of time when he stopped to help pull people from snow covered ditches, helped women with flat tires and performed other Good Samaritan acts of kindness.

I’m grateful that God gave me such a wonderful husband and very appreciative for all I have reaped from his generosity!

My Sister, My Friend

Fifty years ago today a red haired, strong lunged child came into the world…..my baby sister.

Through the years we argued and fought, like most siblings. I thought she wanted to grow up too fast when she insisted on tagging along everywhere I went. One time she went on a date with me and my boyfriend to a drive- in movie!

As we grew older, we formed a special bond. Now we think and act so much a like it is sometimes scary. One year when we lived thousands of miles apart, we sent the same greeting card to our Mom. (With all the greeting cards out there, what are the chances of that happening?)

Our husbands even notice our similarities and point them out to us. When we are together there is no doubt that we are sisters. We have bought the same clothing (though we live hundreds of miles apart). I tell people that we are twins born five years apart!

My sweet sister is my best friend and I feel so blessed!

My Rearview Mirror

At the recent Worship Arts Conference one of the speakers made the following statement, "My rearview mirror has shrunk and my windshield has expanded."

I've made the decision, with the Lord's help, to shrink my rearview mirror and stop looking at past failures that paralyze me from moving forward.

When I look at the past, I'd rather see how the Lord has protected me, blessed me and led each of my steps.

And my windshield....wow, I'm excited about the endless opportunities that lay before me.

Winter Weather

Seems way too early in the season for snow and ice but that's just what we've had this week.

The snow didn't amount to much (just got a dusting at our house) and it was pretty on the trees and landscape.

This morning was a different story. Freezing fog/drizzle created black ice and caused numerous chain reaction collisions. So far a pileup (estimated up to 50 cars) on I-25 at South Nevada and a 16 car pileup at Fountain and Circle have been reported.

I'm glad I stayed in my warm, snuggly bed this morning!

Saying Yes

I loved an illustration Cindy West gave at the Saying Yes Conference.

She pointed to an empty chair on stage. On it was an envelope she explained was a "special invitation". It was our personal invitation from the Creator and we had the choice how to respond.

Some would receive the invitation for the very first time. Others would blow the dust off and think about this special invitation again, maybe for the first time in a long time.

This invitation felt so personal to me. To think that the Creator of the universe was inviting me to create for Him. It was a very powerful moment.


(Cindy is the director of Worship Arts at Woodmen Valley Chapel)

Saying Yes Conference - 2009

Just returned from a Worship Arts Conference that was AWESOME!

So much happened in the last 2 1/2 days....I'm still processing it all.

About 200 people gathered at Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs to share their creativity through music, dance, drama, painting and writing. Some were on a distinct path and shared their gifts and talents. Others were asking God to show them how to realize some forgotten dreams. Still others were testing the waters and asking for God's guidance on their new journey to discover their passion.

And me? I was in all three places. The Breakout groups on writing rekindled my love for the written word, especially in a novel. Through the encouraging words of the gifted speakers and the annointed worship times, I felt God's Spirit wooing me and giving me motivation and inspiration to realize a dream that I have put on the back burner. I am also testing the waters with some new ideas and will see where God takes them.

My Dreams, My Locusts

Today Pastor Matt spoke about our dreams and the dreams of our church. He brought out some good points about how the "locusts" steal our dreams. Sometimes this happens through no fault of our own but many times we can stop them.

The wheels in my mind started turning and I came up with a list of "locusts" that try to steal my dreams:

1. Fear of failure. This is a constant battle for me. I have to “turn off” the negative thoughts that run through my mind and can only overcome them with God’s help.
2. Defeat. At times the tasks seem too hard and I lose heart. Am I too old? Not educated enough? Then in the busyness of life the vision slips to the backburner and simmers there.
3. Time management. The best thought-out plans are often laid aside for daily tasks and schedules. I’ve always heard that we will make time for the things that are most important to us.

If I thought long enough about it, I’m sure there are more….but the point is I do not want the locust to kill my dreams. Now I must do something about it!

God is so good....He has already provided several events in the next few weeks that will provide encouragement, instruction and practice as I pursue my dreams!

And the Winner is.....

The 12 week weight loss challenge was awesome! I stepped up my exercise, ate healthy meals with lots of fruits and vegetables and drank gallons of water. The challenge ended on August 31st and the winners were announced last week. Was I ever surprised to win first place!! I lost 12 lbs in 12 weeks.

I won a $50 gift card to Whole Foods and a nice little gift pack with exercise essentials... socks, Crystal Light On the Go drink, baby foot powder and foot gel.

I'd still like to lose about 5 more lbs. It will be a slow process but I'm not in any hurry and will also start practicing maintenance.

Since I started exercising on a regular basis, I have less back aches and more energy. And the best part is that my clothes fit so much better!

Come Lord Jesus

Old Houses

I just love old houses! This fascination has grown in the last few years since I started watching HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk”. Many of the charming old homes on the show have a story to tell and many secrets are discovered.

My favorite house is the Victorian style. In our town’s historic district there are many of these beautifully restored old homes. In fact, one home I know quite well from visiting there frequently in my teens/early twenties. The 6,000 square foot house now has different owners but I can still picture the beautiful winding staircase in the front hall, ballroom-size rooms and crystal chandeliers. It was built in 1892 by mining broker, W.H. Tuttle. I’d love to know more about this house and the history behind it.

Someday when we buy a house, I’ve thought about looking for an older one with lots of character and history. Something appeals to me about restoring a former beauty back to its splendor. Though it would be a lot of work, it would be so worth it in the end.

Until that day comes I will keep dreaming!

What's in My Bible?

I recently read an article titled "What's in your Bible" by H.B. London. He talked about his Bible that has been his "friend" for a very long time. Although he has numerous other Bibles, this one is tattered and underlined and full of notes. He goes on to tell about the "add-ons" such as poems, news clippings and even picture and how each one holds an important memory to him.

Reading this article made me think of my own "favorite" Bible. As I flip through it I see the scriptures I've underlined and dated. Some even have my daughter's name beside them. I'm taken back to a time when God’s Word was a great comfort to me during a very tumultuous time.

I pull a church bulletin from the front of the Bible and think of the church we attended in St. Louis. On the back of the bulletin is a list of everyone who attended the service that particular day....17 people. We were small but our pastors had a heart for God and for the community. And many lives were touched through South Pointe Church.

A testimony I wrote in 2001 is stuck between the pages of Hosea. It reminds me of God’s faithfulness when we sold our house in Tennessee in just six short weeks. We knew it was God's Will to relocate and He came through for us in such a miraculous way. That was a really time of faith building for my husband and me.

I even have notes from the Sunday p.m. service on 6-21-98! (Obviously I don’t clean out my Bible very often!) A few thoughts that really stood out…..
“God sees our potential and not our past.”
“God’s greatest desire is a relationship with us.”

One last thought……a favorite scripture written on an index card:

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” II Corinthians 4:8-9 (The Living Bible)

That's just one Bible. I may pull out another one and write about it sometime.

Thanks for the idea, HB!

Organization

We've now lived in our RV for two years. Wow, how time flies! And after two years we definitely need to do some reorganizing and purging.

When we sold our home in 2007 we only had three weeks to move. Needless to say, it was a quick and less than organized process. I really didn't know how long we would live in the RV and what we would need. So of course we started out with too much stuff and two years later is getting out of control!

I have some vacation days planned for early September and I'm already formulating a organizing plan. Two cabinets in particular can be completely cleaned out and the CDs and other stuff can be pared down to half (or less). These cabinets can then be used for an extra food/supplies overflow area.

The last time I opened the cabinet under the bathroom sink a barrage of items fell out on my feet. Definitely time to redo that storage area. For some reason the bathroom is a little harder for me though. It's easy to give away unwanted/never used items. But most of this stuff can't go to the Goodwill and besides I may need it at some point, right? A few years ago I found a bottle of Calamine lotion with an expiration date of 1983! It definitely went in the trash. I probably should have an expiration date purging party.

One wise RVing couple (my parents!) told me to get in the mindset of removing one or two items everytime I buy something new.

That wonderful advice should become my mantra.

Weight Loss Challenge

We started a weight loss challenge at work in June and I am down 10 lbs. That doesn't seem like a lot but I can sure tell the difference in my energy level and my clothes fit much better! :) It was a struggle to get started but I am happy with the progress so far.

I've never loved to exercise but challenged myself to "just do it" this year. Now I actually don't mind it. And an added benefit are the good books I've read while working out on the Cross trainer and the tread mill!

Shedding the pounds and inches have been wonderful but my main goal is to become healthier. Heart disease, diabetes and osteoporasis run in my family and through exercise and a low fat diet I am decreasing my chances of getting them.

The challenge ends on August 31st. I will probably not reach my goal by then but that's okay. Next, I need to learn how to maintain! :)

My Favorite Summer Place

This has been my favorite place this summer. There's nothing like relaxing and swinging. I've eaten lunch here, taken a nap, read a good book and just analyzed my life. As you can see, Little Bit enjoys it too!

Two Hands

Family Tree

I've always been fascinated with my family's history. Who were they? Where did they live? What did they look like? What was life like for them?

A few weeks ago I talked to two aunts during a family reunion and they shared some family history with me. One mentioned doing research about our family on Ancestry.com and that really peaked my interest!

We already have good family history information thanks to my grandpa that did a lot of inquiries through letters and visits back in the 1970s and 1980s. With the advancement of the internet, I want to "fill in" some of the gaps.

First I searched our local library website for books about geneaology. I found a CD set "Family Tree Maker" and checked it out. I also signed up for a free 14 day trial with Ancestory.com that works along with Family Tree Maker.

This has really be fun! I've been able to verify most of the information from my grandpa. With Ancestry.com I can search birth, marriage, death cerificates, military records, census records and more. It's hard to explain how I feel when I see family members names on these records. Somehow I feel more "connected" with them and sometimes even a little emotional.

I'm still working on my dad's grandmother's family. She had a pretty common name and the research is a little more involved. I've found that getting as much information as possible from family members is very helpful.

The other side of my dad's family is pretty complete. Family Tree Maker has a "book" feature and I'd like to print all the info out in a nice book form for him. He loves this kind of stuff and would be thrilled!

Last night I started on my mom's family. Wow, they have a huge family! Both her parents have atleast 9 or more siblings. But I'm looking forward to the challenge.
I was up until 1 am this morning researching and marveling at the information available.

I think I've just discovered my favorite new hobby!

Thunderstorms

We are having a thunderstorm right now and I love it! Our area has been in a drought for several years and the rain is very much welcomed.

When I was a little girl I was afraid of thunder. My daddy told me think of a huge watermelon truck driving over a bridge and turning over. The thunder was the sound of all the watermelons falling onto the bridge. Such a simple story that brought peace to a little child's mind! Even as an adult I still imagine it and always brings a smile to my face.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my honey's birthday.

I took the day off work and we went shopping and out to lunch. Nothing earth-shattering but it was nice.

We are blessed to have another year together.

A Day of Remembrance

I am so thankful for all the brave men and women that fought (and are still fighting) for the freedom of our country. My husband, father and brother-in-law are among the many that proudly served in our armed forces.

We don't say it enough - thank you! We are so grateful for your service and dedication that has blessed and prospered our wonderful country.

First Experience with Craig's List

We found out this week how easy it is to sell items on Craig's list. I'll be honest, I was a little leary with all the bad publicity recently. It's in my nature to trust people but in the world we live in, we just cannot.

We posted the ad last Sunday and kept the information to a minimum. When we got an e-mail response on Tuesday, I was delighted! Again we kept our response to a minimum and added nothing personal about us.

After a few e-mails back and forth with the interested party, we decided not to reveal our home address but to arrange a meeting at a Burger close to our house.

On Thursday night, the young man bought our 5th wheel hitch. It was probably the easiest $250 we ever made.

Hmmm.....I wonder what else we have to sell?

He is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!

Answered Prayer

On Wednesday we had our truck towed to the local dealer. I was not happy. It is a 2006 and only has 25,000 miles. Though it was annoying and disruptive to our routine, God answered our prayers in some awesome ways!

The truck was repaired and back in our possession yesterday. Now it runs great!

All repairs including the towing were covered under the warranty.

My sweet brother-in-law loaned us his truck until we got ours back.


God is good....all the time!

One Month of Blogging

I made it through one month of blogging every day! Wow.

It's been an interesting day. Started out on the drive to work this morning when the truck beside me on the interstate blew a front tire. It all happened so fast. I heard the tire pop and saw the rubber fly in my lane. It threw the truck toward me but the driver got control and swerved left into the grassy median in the middle of the interstate. Scary, wow. As the "what ifs" (things that could have happened) ran through my mind, I was thanking God for His protection.

Our truck won't start. These times make me so appreciative of a reliable vehicle. Steve is still working on it and I'm praying God will give him wisdom to know what to do.

Our next door neighbors (in the RV park) had to leave rather suddenly today. We hated to see them go and we are praying God's best for them.

Monday Bullet Blog

• Snow and wind this morning but clear roads for the drive home
• The truck started without having to jump it (diesel and forgot to plug it in last night!)
• Nice three day weekend thanks to the snow storm last Thursday/Friday
• Peace at work today even in the midst of constant interruptions and busyness
• Great service at church yesterday

Facebook

I've never been one to do the "popular" thing. It took me years to create a My Space page and I haven't really kept up with it.

Now Facebook is all the rage. I joined last summer and found a classmate I hadn't been in contact with for more than 30 years. That was fun.

Now I'm joining groups and connecting with people I've known in the past. It is a great way to find people that you've lost contact with.

At the Cross

Blizzard pictures

This is how it looked on my drive home yesterday in the blizzard. No wonder I couldn't see the traffic stopped ahead and had to hit the median to avoid the SUV in front of me! Thanks to the person that posted these pictures on the web. They were definitely caught in the same mess I was!

It's a Blizzard!

Well, the snow really came this time. We've been under a blizzard warning since 3 p.m.

I left work at 1:30 and my normal 15 minute drive took one hour! Wow, it was bad. I really prayed a lot. The scariest part was on a curvy entrance ramp onto the interstate. The visibilty was so bad from blowing snow, I barely saw the SUV in front of me trying to stop. Turns out the car in front of him had hit the median trying to avoid other cars. The only way I could stop was to also hit the median. I was only going about 20 miles an hour so I'm hoping I didn't hurt the front tire.

My commute home is only eight miles but today was one of the most nerve racking trips I've ever driven. The interstate was so icy and cars were just crawling along. The roads and visibility got a little better as I got closer to home.

Thank God I made it home okay and work has already been canceled for tomorrow. :)

Winter Storm Warning

We are under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. on Friday. Supposedly the snow and wind will start tomorrow and continue into Friday. Our area forecast says 3-8" of the white stuff.

Many times these storms miss us. I really hope we get it this time. We desperately need the moisture.

And it would be great to have a snow day from work!:)

Stress Relief

I've never really liked to exercise. I get started on a plan and then drop off after a few months.

We are very blessed to have a free fitness center at work. I've been taking advantage of it the last few months and really feel better. It's amazing how much stress can be relieved through exercise.

I'm setting some goals for April to increase my intensity and endurance. I also bought a pedometer and plan to start tracking the number of "steps" I take each day.

For me the benefits of exercise are:

1. Stress relief
2. Lowers cholesterol
3. Eliminates back pain
4. Controls weight
5. Builds stronger bones/muscle
6. Keeps my heart healthy
7. Clears the "cobwebs" and I think more clear
8. Better moods and attitude

More on "Simplicity"

Simplicity is the word that swirls around in my brain lately. I want my life to be simple. And how do I accomplish that?

Getting rid of "material stuff" has helped me immensely. The more "stuff" I have, the more time I spend taking care of it all. Letting go of "things" has definitely simplified my life and given me a sense of freedom.

Getting rid of "emotional stuff" has also simplifed my life. When my brain is full and my emotions are racing I can't think straight and my energy is zapped. Letting go of harsh opinions, judgemental thoughts, anger and selfishness has freed me to enjoy life and love other people.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Wonderful Savior

Happy Spring!

Hard to believe spring arrived yesterday. Actually it felt like spring arrived several weeks ago since we've had 60 and 70 degree weather.

When we moved back to Colorado last year, we thought about the snow and blizzards. They sure haven't shown up this year. It has been a very mild year.

The weatherman is predicting a chance of snow next week and could be one of those freak Colorado blizzards. We shall see!

Friday Bullet Blog

• TGIF and pay day!

• Completely unexpected monetary blessing. Thank you God!

• Carla and Ted arrived safely and found a nice place to live!

• Family dinner and family fun together planned for tomorrow!

• Looking forward to an awesome church service on Sunday

Take Control of Your Money!

Dave Ramsey is coming to town next month and I am so excited! "He is the voice of financial wisdom in today's debt-ridden lifestyle."

Dave says success with money is only 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. Nothing will help you change your behavior—and poor financial habits—like making yourself accountable.

Are you ready for a financial change? Check out Dave's website here:
Total Money Makeover

The Blog Doctor

A few months ago I decided to make changes/updates to my blog.

While searching for blogging instructions/help, I came across "The Blog Doctor". He has an awesome site that gives step by step instructions for just about every subject to do with blogging.

Click here to visit his site: The Blog Doctor

No More Excuses!

The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember....

NOAH was a drunk. ABRAHAM was too old.
ISAAC was a dreamer. JACOB was a liar.
LEAH was ugly. JOSEPH was abused.
MOSES had a speech problem. GIDEON was afraid.
SAMSON had long hair, and was a womanizer!
RAHAB was a prostitute.
JEREMIAH & TIMOTHY were too young.
DAVID had an affair and was a murderer.
ELIJAH was suicidal. ISAIAH preached naked.
JONAH ran from God. NAOMI was a widow.
JOB lost it all. JOHN the Baptist ate bugs.
PETER denied Christ.
The DISCIPLES fell asleep while praying.
MARTHA worried about everything.
MARY MAGDALENE was, well, you know....
The SAMARITAN WOMAN was divorced....more than once!
ZACCHEUS was too short.
PAUL was too religious.
and
LAZARUS WAS DEAD!

.....no more excuses now.
God is waiting to use your full potential.

(author unknown)

The "What Ifs"

We've all had them. Thoughts like "What if I lose my job?" "What if our house doesn't sell?" "What if I can't pay my bills this month?" "What if, what if, what if???"

When I start the "what if" game, I immediately lose my peace; worry and doubt creap in and fear overtakes me.

Then I read God's Word and remember He is in control.

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (AMP)

Simplicity

Simplicity has been on my mind this year. How can we simplify our life?

I believe humility plays a large part in simplicity. Keeping life simple is not always easy but God gives the grace and the wisdom when we ask for His guidance.

“Keeping up with the Joneses” or trying to be the first one on the block to get something new is a struggle. It makes you feel like you “have” to have something new whether you need it or not! And often this will lead to more debt. It is a vicious circle and many people struggle in this area.

Having an attitude of humility defeats the greedy thoughts and keeps us humble. It takes humility to reevaluate and cut the clutter.

I experienced humility a few years ago when my husband and I decided to live in an RV fulltime. In the beginning, for me, this was not even an option. Thoughts like “how would we ever have enough room for all of our “stuff” in a home that is only 38’ long?” ran through my head. And especially the thought of “what would people think about us?” really bothered me.

As the idea persisted, we prayed and I began to feel more at peace. Through a series of events, Steve and I felt the Lord’s hand in the decision. We’ve lived in our RV almost two years and have definitely simplified our lives. God has shown us that it doesn’t matter where we live, we will have peace and joy just knowing that we are in His will.

Little Bit

We have a little dog named "Little Bit". Our daughter got her 10 years ago from someone sitting in front of Wal-Mart giving away puppies.

Little Bit has a personality all her own. She doesn't like it if Steve and I are in separate rooms. She will run back and forth and bother us until one of us gives up and moves and into the same room!

We laugh all the time about this dog having an alarm clock in her tummy. She knows exactly when it is time to eat and especially when it is time for a treat! And somehow she knows when the weather is in and decides she needs our attention.

Little Bit loves peoople but really dislikes other dogs. We always say she "doesn't play well with others". :)

We love our "little girl" and cherish all the fun times with her.

A Few Random Thoughts

I'm tired tonight so here are a few thoughts in bullet form:

• Snow on the commute to work this morning. Sunny and dry roads on the commute home. (gotta love Colorado weather!)

• Another good week and so thankful for my job, my health and my family.

• Love my church and look forward to Sunday.

• Sleep later tomorrow! :)

• Carla and Ted will be here on Monday. Yay!

Helping People

One day while pumping gas, a man approached me and asked if I could help him. He said his father-in-law was sick and he needed gas money to take his wife to visit (200 miles away).

After I finished at the pump, I took $10 from my purse. When I handed it to him, the man had tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't lie to you," he said. "I lost my job and we were just evicted from our apartment. We have no where to go." He motioned to a car where his wife sat.

Compassion rose up inside me. I talked to him a few minutes about job possibilities and a church that might help. He thanked me and walked away.

As I left the parking lot a thought hit me. "You're a sucker...you've been had. That guy probably headed to the nearest liquor store."

Then I thought about my faith and my desire to help hurting people. I am so blessed and $10 certainly wasn't a great sacrifice.

This same scenario has happened to my husband and me numerous times over the years. Sometimes we joke that we must have an X on our foreheads that lead needy people to us! :) We don't ever give large sums of money ($20 was probably the most).

We feel like we give the money with the right intentions. If the recipients spend the money foolishly, then they are accountable to God for their actions.

Have you ever experienced this? And if so, how did you handle it?

Whatever You're Doing

I woke up this morning with this song running through my head.

"Whatever You're doing inside of me. It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace" It's not easy to explain the peace of God but this comes pretty close!




Whatever Your Doing (Inside of Me)
It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time to make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This is something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly
Something Heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out

God Moments

I love to see God work in my life. I call these times "God Moments".

A great example is the time I was searching for a set of keys. I had searched the house. And looked and looked. The keys were no where to be found. After searching for several days, I was about ready to give up. Finally I said a short, simple prayer something like "God, please help me find those keys" and started looking again. As I walked through the office I knocked a stack of pictures and other stuff on the floor. This was the same stack that had been knocked off several days in a row and I was frustrated with my organizational skills. Angrily I bent down to pick the stuff up, once again, and spotted a small green basket with the KEYS in it!

As I journaled about this experience it made me think how God continually tries to get my attention. How many times does He "speak" before I listen? And how many opportunities have I missed because I was not listening?

Lessons Learned While Playing Mexican Train Dominoes

My family plays Mexican Train Dominoes on a regular basis. It is a fun game! At first it was challenging to learn the best strategies. And it was very frustrating to lose game after game. One night after losing once again, I was lamenting my bad luck and had a “God Moment”. Was I was losing because of my bad attitude? At first I rejected the thought. Did it really matter how I acted over a silly game?

The more I pondered the idea, the more I felt the Lord was teaching me about my attitude through this simple game. If losing put me in such a bad frame of mind, how would I react to more important events in my life? I started praying and asking Him to give me the peace to lose gracefully. And you know, He did just that! Though I am still competitive, I can lose and not be mad for the rest of the night. And I seem to have more peace in other areas of my life.

It’s amazing the things you can learn while playing dominoes! And would you believe, after that little "revelation" I even started winning!

Lighthouses

Lighthouses fascinate me. A few years ago I started a collection and friends and family have helped me build it quite significantly. Sometimes when I mention getting a new lighthouse my husband bemoans the fact that our house is being over run by them. But to me there is no such thing as too many!

When I think about a lighthouse I first see the dark angry waves of the stormy sea crashing against the rocks. I see the black ominous clouds and think about the ships that could easily lose their way and think all hope was lost. In the blackest part of the night I then see the first glimpse of the beacon as it shines out many miles and cuts through the darkness of the storm. This light gives the captain of the ship a sense of safety and guides his way. He once again has hope in his heart that he and his crew are safe and all is well.

I love the image of the lighthouse because in my mind and heart Jesus is my Lighthouse. During the dark stormy problems of life I know He is always there to guide me and protect me from crashing into the rocks of despair, discouragement and defeat. When I ask for His direction His “beacon of light” guides me safely through the storms of my life. He is my Rock, my Fortress, my Shield. He is a safe place that I run to in times of trouble.

I remember once hearing a pastor say that we are all in different parts of the “storms of life”. For some the storm is just beginning, some are already in the middle and some are coming out of the storm and starting to see the silver lining. No matter which part of the storm you are in today, I encourage you to let the light of Jesus guide you through and be your Lighthouse.

"I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them along unfamiliar paths. I will make darkness light before them, and make the rough places smooth. These things I will do for them. I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth give way, and the mountains be carried into the heart of the sea." Psalm 46:1-2

Snow day/Day Light Saving Time

We knew the perfect 70 degree weather was too good to be true this early in the year! It snowed today....actually two differents times. It was a beautiful snow fall and has already melted. We are not complaining...we really need the moisture!

We move our clocks up an hour tonight and have an extra hour of daylight each evening. I would like to start walking at the greenway and evenings will be perfect as long as the weather is nice.

Hear Us From Heaven

Cutting Back?

Is anyone else cutting back? We've been looking for ways to cut expenses.

In the past few months we've done the following:

• Cut our health insurance costs by canceling Steve from my insurance and signing up under his employer

• Lowered the minutes on our cell phone plan and saved $25 a month (this is a great move….we never, ever used all the minutes on the previous plan)

• Paid off a credit card rather buying presents this past Christmas

• Paid off the NFL Sunday ticket (until next football season!)


To help even more:

Gas prices are dropping (especially diesel)

The recent tax break (as of 3/1/09) adds to our paychecks

31 Years!

It's hard to believe that my honey and I were married 31 years ago today! We look back and realize we had no idea what we were getting into! :)

Here we are 31 years later and by the grace of God we are still happily married. Sure, we've had our share of problems and struggles but God has been faithful and carried us through each situation.

On a side note: We found out recently that the pastor who married us started a new church in town a few years later. That church has now grown to over 7500 people and we have the privilege of worshipping there each week! He no longer pastors there but is still active in the church. We would love to connect with him and let him know we are still married - 31 years later!

**Songs sung at our wedding: "The Wedding Song (There is Love)" and "You Light Up My Life".

Gorgeous Weather!

Is it really March? We've had the most gorgeous weather the last few days. A little windy but in the 70's.

As I took a a quick walk around the building at work this afternoon, I was just amazed at the weather. The sky was so blue and the mountains looked awesome!

The weatherman does say that March can bring some heavy snowfall. Just hope it doesn't happen in May or June!

Beware of Telephone Scams!

It really upsets me that scammers prey off of senior citizens. We've all heard the horror stories of how the elderly have lost thousands of dollars to these lowlifes.

Just recently it really hit home when it was MY PARENTS who received the scam call. The caller indentified himself as their grandson, Chad, and said he was in jail in Canada. He asked them for $3500.

Mom got on the phone and started asking questions. When she said she could only send $100, the caller said forget it and slammed down the phone.

I'm so glad this story has a happy ending. As you've already figured out, Chad was not in jail and not in Canada for that matter. He was very upset when he found out about all this. It's still a mystery to us how someone connected my parents in one state with Chad in another state and knew he was their grandson.

The story of being in Canada in jail must be pretty popular right now. A few days later we read this story online: Telephone Scam

NaBloPoMo

What the heck does that stand for? :)

National Blog Posting Month! It's easy....just post every day during the month of March.

I love challenges and believe this will be the boost I need for blogging.

23 Years Ago Today

It may be Friday the 13th but today our family is remembering my father-in-law who passed away on this date 23 years ago.

Lowelldean Arthur Christenson, “Christy” to his friends, was a loving father and grandfather and is greatly missed. He left this earth way too early. We think about him often and miss him so much.

After all these years, I still think of Christy when I hear the song “I’ll Fly Away” that was sung at his funeral. Just a few weeks before he left this earth, he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. We know he is in heaven and our great joy is that we will again see him one day!

Connecting with Old Friends

Through all our moves around the country we lost track of many old friends.

When I met Steve back in the 70s, his two closest friends started dating two of my best friends. We all married in 1978 and later were all stationed together in Germany.

As we moved around with the military, I lost track of these friends. Thanks to the internet we did find one of them a few weeks ago and he gave us the phone numbers of the others.

It was wonderful to reconnect and reminisce.

Please excuse the mess!

I am making lots of changes this year and creating my own look.

Stay tuned for my new and improved blog.