Reflection on New Years Eve

The end of the year is almost here and we all look forward to a better year tomorrow.   The news channels are broadcasting doom if the fiscal cliff happens.    Tonight perhaps the gavel will drop on the congressional floor,  as does the ball in New York City, and we will all tumble over the fiscal cliff.  We don't know.

As this year ends we need to reflect on our own lives and how to live a better life and how to cut wasteful spending, monetarily and emotionally, out of our lives.

I can't thank our Lord enough for the special people He has sent into my life.  One was my husband.  I was rebellious from teenage years on, looking for adventure and love.  Also, I was terribly naive and shy, I didn't know about life or about people and was hurt many times.  I put up a wall around me, and no one got in.  Getting married was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.  It gave me a family, it gave me a home, it gave me security and it gave me love.   Tim, himself, was naive and innocent in many ways, and that is what made me trust him.  He gave me strength and the ability to believe in myself.  During all our years in marriage he always bought me the most wonderful gifts, and some I didn't appreciate until years later.  Like the sewing machine....the Kitchenaide Mixer with all attachments....beautiful heavy sweaters, robes and coats --- he always gave me quality items.  Likewise, over the years, I stayed away from the bargain bins for his clothes and let him choose his own from the finest men's shop in town.  All was good.  He was a gentleman, in so many ways, but still not grown up in so many others.

Satan comes into the family life with his lies and methods of corruption, so there were many ups and downs, but through it all, believing in the best of each other, and having faith that God will get us through, we made it to the end.

Its been seven years since Tim died, almost eight.  I tease the children that one day I'm going to find me a farmer husband and have my own home  again, so they are invested into the dream that I might one day leave my new home with them.  My daughter-in-law was going to try to hook me up with some of the elderly farmers and ranchers she met, but I want all things to given by God and I will wait on Him for what He has planned. When God gives something, He gives His best and I will wait on Him. Yet, if there was someone in my life, then is God still at the forefront in my life? Perhaps His idea for my life is something else, I don't know.   If God doesn't wish that to happen, then all is good.  I have had a good life with a good man, and he has blessed me with children that I love.   He will reign in my life.

For New Years the only resolution I am going to have is to dance at least one dance every day.  The rest, I leave up to the Lord.  The babies love to dance, so that should keep us busy.  The Lord loves busy hands, so I am sure He will keep us busy too.  God is good, I look forward to the New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEARS - May the New Year bring you the hopes and dreams that you have desired and may God be with our Country and may His presence be known to all the world. 
 

Second Childhood

My Dad had a good sense of humor and was really outrageous at times.  He would say he was just getting into his second childhood.   Laughter is good for the soul.

 

I found the Big Bopper's songs on youtube and the babies and I have been rocking to them.  It is amazing how a fun song can make your heart so light and life is good.   The babies love to dance and so do I.  Of course, neither one of us will make the American Bandstand (if its still on), but someday they could!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6owndpRu28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSRYTqkIh_I


When the Lord gives you a heavy burden, He is there to lift you up. 

Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I Am Ready!

Finally!   The last page rolled through the printer yesterday and it was then collated into a finished product--a recipe book!  Today was busy with stapling and mailing the last of the booklets off.  Yea!!  I got them done in time for Christmas.

 

During the last few months, I had gone through all Mom's recipes and recipe books and scanned them.  Then, I gathered together a box of cards and stuff that were sent to her, along with photos from her albums, and photos already scanned onto the computer.  This last week I spent all my spare time putting together a recipe book of her recipes.  She was a big fan of scrapbooks and had made one for each of us kids.  Mom also loved her photo albums.  So the recipe book was styled like a scrapbook.  I wasn't sure anyone would like it -- maybe too hoakie or something.  But, then I got feedback that the recipients liked it, so I ran off another batch and finished sending out to the married girls in the family.   

 

Hopefully, all will appreciate the recipe book and use Mom/Grandma's recipes to make the traditional cookies that she had made every year.  Her cookies were sent out to each and every family, within the family and beyond!    This year, my sister and her daughter, and Kat (my daughter) and I made up boxes of "her" cookies and sent them to my brothers and their families.  Then a box of cookies was sent to my son and his family, and my other daughter and her family, all of which live out of state --so we kept up the tradition for this year. 

 

Next project:  The family book.  Hopefully by next summer the girls will all be here and help me with it.  It has gotten a start, but we have a long way to go to finish it.

 

The world seems to be falling apart.  Everywhere there is contention and strife.  From the heights of our country, in our Congress, to our every day lives, it is contention!   We need to draw our families closer together, despite our differences, and give our children strength and support when all around us there is chaos. 

 

Sometimes I will feel a terror start to come  over me and it will feel like I am on sinking sand, but I know the power of God and I know the love of God.  There is nothing I need fear and I put my trust Him and the feeling of terror is gone.  I have witnessed His answers to prayers time and time again and I have been so amazed--and thankful.  Stand strong, keep the faith, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is returning soon.