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Friday, 12 June 2009

Thankfulness
Isn’t it amazing how we forget what we have to be thankful for when times are tough? Maybe it isn’t this way for you. For me it is. Maybe not the tough times as much as the painful times. The other day I went in to see the doctor and he did this treatment where he purposely injures ligaments to promote healing. To do this he sticks a needle filled with numbing medicine into the ligament. I’ve had this treatment twice before but this time he targeted more ligaments. I think he hit all the ligaments in my hip. So it is very painful. So that night I was getting ready to go to sleep and couldn’t really lay like I wanted to since it felt like I was lying on a softball. This meant I couldn’t get to sleep as quickly as usual so I started thinking about how terrible this ordeal from the accident over a year ago continues to be. In the midst of my revengeful thoughts toward the guy who was driving too fast for the road conditions, God reminded me that I should be counting blessings rather than stewing about things I have or had no control over. So I started counting my blessings.
1. I am alive. The accident could have killed me but here I am.
2. I can walk and am still in one piece.
3. I can see, hear, taste, feel and smell.
4. I am married to the most wonderful man in the world.
5. He takes care of me when I feel so terrible.
6. He’s my best friend
7. I have family and friends who care about me.
8. I have a Savior who died for me. He endured so much so I wouldn’t have to.
9. I serve a God who loves me and has made me one of His own.
10. God reminds me that I have much to be thankful for.
At some point I drifted off to sleep. These thoughts remained when I woke and I thought I would share them with you.

There is so much to be thankful for. We have been given so much and yet so often we forget just who we are and what we have.

I hear so many people complain about the economy, the president, the weather, etc. And I wonder why. Yes, things aren’t great in the economy department. It depends who you are what you think about the president. The weather, it’s gonna do what it’s gonna do. It really doesn’t care what you think or what the weatherman says it’s gonna do. In regards to this, God knows what’s going on and He’s in control. He knows that the economy is down. He knows who is president. He controls the weather. So to these people I would say, I am thankful I have clothes to wear, food to eat and a place to sleep. I am thankful I live in the United States of America. (I could be living in Turkey.) As far as the weather is concerned, I rest in the fact that I know who controls it.

Many times I see the dark side of what is going on when I should be looking for the silver lining. It is my goal to look for the good stuff even in the bad situations.

Thursday, 28 May 2009

It's been a while since I have been on here. I wasn't even sure my site was still here. I've moved over to facebook and kinda got away from this.

Almost nine months is a lot to catch up on. Here are some highlights.

In October, we took a couple short trips. We went to a Friends place way back in the hills of southern IN. While we were there we went to Nashville, IN. It was neat to see all the stuff there. While looking for a place to park we discovered this old road that had all these really old cabins. It might have been the first part of November, but one day we went to Brown county and looked at all the covered bridges. Chad took some really nice pictures.

The end of October, I had surgery to remove cartilage from my hip that was torn in the car accident. It had gotten so bad I was limping all the time and couldn't even walk up stairs normally. Talk about feeling old. After the surgery, I was on crutches for four weeks. I was thankful to not have to use those anymore. The surgery took care of the limp and not being able to walk up stairs. It's very nice. I've been slowly getting better. I still have a bit of pain and I've been told that it may be with me the rest of my life. I'm hoping and praying that it will be completely healed.

In December, I was busy getting ready for Christmas. I made 17 different kinds of cookies, candy and snacks. I spent several days in the kitchen working on that stuff. Christmas was a good time of getting together with family and friends.

Not much happened in January, February and March. Other than being incredibly cold. It was a nice time to relax a bit and catchup on house stuff.

In April we went to WI to celebrate Easter with my parents. It was nice to see them and the rest of the family again. We hadn't been up there for over a year. It's amazing how people change and children grow.

The last couple months have been filled with getting flower beds ready, getting the garden ready and planted and enjoying seeing the flowers bloom and watching the plants grow. Chad has been very busy with keeping things mowed and looking neat and tidy.

The second weekend of May, we went to Holland, MI to the tulip festival. It was over our anniversary weekend. All the tulips are just beautiful. We went to Windmill Island where they have an authentic Dutch windmill. It was fascinating. Good times.

I am thankful for the what God has given me. As I look back over the past year, I realize I have been blessed beyond measure.

(I will post pics sometime.)

Friday, 12 September 2008

Labor day weekend my family came to our house. It was nice that we all could get together before my siblings end up going to Iraq. If we hadn't gotten together that weekend, we wouldn't have been together as a family until the spring of 2010. Seems like a long time. On Saturday, we had his parents, their spouses and his brother over for dinner. Above is the family photo we took that evening. Following are snapshots of the evening.

Chad's mom, Diana

Chad and his brother James

Sorry it's so dark. My sister Kristin in the corner, Mom and Dad

Liz, Sanford and Abbie

Liz, Diana and Renita

Chad and I

Chad's stepdad, Thom, his ad, Bill, Jared and our dog, Josie.

Below, Chad's stepmom, Janet and Abbie

Pictures of my adorable niece

My family left Sunday after noon so Sunday night Chad and I went to the Blue Berry Festival in Plymouth. They have a ballloon glow and then fireworks. The fireworks display was the best I've ever seen. Absolutely amazing. I didn't get any pictures of the fireworks but here are a few of the balloons.

On Labor Day, we went to Chad's grandma's 75th birthday party. Here she is with her cake.

On our honeymoon we went to the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC. It is a beautiful place. The largest home in the country. They don't allow pictures of the inside to be taken but it too is gorgeous. I had some pictures of the view from the roof but I don't know where they went. Sorry about that.

Chad and I during the rooftop tour.

The flower gardens

Biltmore Mansion

At bridge in Lynchburg, TN

Chad and I at West Baden Springs

I'll leave you with several pictures of sunrises/sunsets.

Have a great weekend!

Monday, 04 August 2008

I've been told I need to update. It's been so long I don't know what to write. So for now I will tell you a bit about a simulcast I went to on Saturday. It was great. The speaker was Beth Moore and she was teaching out of the book of Luke the parable of the Sower and the Soils. I was convicted, challenged and blessed. How that comes out of one day is beyond me but it happened.

She had 7 points and I couldn't tell you what they were now. It is my goal and has been for many years to be the good soil but too often, my heart is the thorny soil. All the stuff of life gets in the way and chokes out my intentions to act on what I have heard. Does that happen to any of you? You know, you go to church and hear a great sermon, one that spoke new life into you. You leave with every intention of following through, of keeping that ever before you, of meditating on it but Monday morning comes. The alarm doesn't go off... You hit the snooze once too often.... The driver in front of you drove under the speed limit..... Someone cut in front of you.... The kids left a huge mess after the Sunday night movie.... The cat threw up... All these things get you frustrated and upset and by the time you get to work, you aren't thinking of yesterday. And quite possibly couldn't remember the sermon if you tried. I know that happens to me. Not every time but far too often.

Here is another thing I find myself doing. I've posted about my accident and if I recall correctly, about the fact that I feel God spared me for a purpose. I have a good idea what that is. As time has gone by I've had all these doubts. I probably misunderstood what He said. I can't do that! I don't know what I'm talking about. After this weekend, I realize that it is a lie. If it is what God wants from me, He has given me everything I need to do what He has called me to do. I must do as He directed and continue until it is finished.

I will leave you with this challenge. If there is something God is calling you to do. He has already equipped you with what you need to get it done. He will be there with you. Remember, you are His voice, His hands and His feet.

Until next time....

Wednesday, 02 April 2008

It seems as though the past six weeks have been very long. I really am quite tired of going to the doctor or the chiropractor or the massage lady. I will admit that I do like the massages but it’s a lot of time that I feel could be better used. I guess it’s the waiting and waiting for the doctor. I don’t play the waiting game very well.

I did get another car. A nice Grand Prix that is 4 years newer than the ruined one. I liked the old one better but this one is good. It is growing on me and I’m really starting to like it a lot. I guess it will take a bit of time, especially since I wasn’t looking to replace it. I will try to post a picture of it soon.

We had a great message about revival at church on Sunday. They had a message board on the wall and people had the opportunity to go up there and write what they are desperate for. I didn’t go up but I know what I really want. I really, really want to be the person God created me to be and fill the spot He has for me to fill. Why is it that you can have a great visitation (not really sure what to call it.) and then a week or month or three months later it’s as though it never happened? There’s this distant memory of how it used to be, a longing to go back to that, but it got lost somewhere in the shuffle of life. I’ve been there more than once. There are times now that I feel the same. I don't really know how describe it except that the deep desire to really study and learn seems to be missing. However, I know that God is active in my life and He has done some marvelous things. I am definitely not complaining about the place He put me. I know that He's taken me through the valleys and over the mountains of life for a purpose. All this said here’s what I’ve been really mulling over. Obviously God put me here on the planet for a reason. He has a plan for everyone. Yes, even you. However, like Moses, I don’t feel as though I have the talents required to fill the spot I feel called to. It seems so big and I feel so small.