Love

Feet

Well, it has been awhile since I blogged. I cannot believe January is almost over and February is around the corner. It has been a busy month. My dad has had trouble with his legs and feet and a couple of sores. I am thankful that Jeff (my sweet son in law) was observant to notice my dad's sores were oozing. We took him to the doctor and the sores have taken a great deal of time to heal. He goes to therapy three times a week. Every day involves nursing the sores and wrapping his legs with a unique technique to help alleviate fluid in his legs. His legs and feet were extremely dry. So, daily I am lathering his feet and legs with lanolin and other cream. Scriptural references come to mind of children sitting at Jesus feet and Jesus washing his disciples feet and then requesting that they wash each others feet. You can probably see my face grimace, thinking about washing others feet. And here I am sitting at my Dad's feet and tending to them gently and carefully. I am thinking how many miles these feet have travelled. He grew up on a farm with much work to do with his dad. He served in the Army in WWII and was a medic and had to tend to many wounded soldiers with life threatening situations. He married my mom and together they had three children. He worked hard to keep our family going. He helped my mom to go to college and get her teaching degree. He worked overtime to allow all of us to go to summer camps and other events. I am reminded of the times that that dad tended to my brothers and me when we were kids. We all had broken bones at one time or another, my older brother was mowing one day and came to the door with a rod that went through his ankle, and then when I had to have stitches over my eye and my twin brother had stitches on his toe. He grieved when his oldest son was killed in an accident. When he retired, he would help me so much when I had my kiddos and especially when Erin would have to go to dr. appts. HE was wonderfully strong and helpful to me when Erin was in the hospital in Wichita Falls and was encouraging to me. He was smitten with Sarah and always enjoyed taking her and Jon places. He was especially strong when my mom became ill and tended to her needs with such a positive attitude. And watched over her till her death. He especially loves his family and is such a positive, humble, and generous man. He is definitely caring and compassionate man. His love and care extend past my brother and myself and grandkids. He deeply cares about his siblings, neices and nephews and those on my moms side. He cares about our friends, as well. And then I sit at his feet thinking, I am definitely blessed to be able to serve him in a small, small way.
Something that I did not especially look forward to has turned into a sweet blessing.
Blog to ya later!!

Another Tag

Tag fever
8 things you've always wondered about me! (or maybe not!) I was tagged by Sarah.

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. J. Gilligans
2. El Fenix
3. Texas Roadhouse
4. Pasadas
5. Candlelight Inn
6. Al's
7. Spring Creek Barbecue
8. Sweet Tomato

8 Things that Happened Today:
1. Woke up (that's always good!)
2. Watched Rudette at school. (the kids love her)
3. Had lunch with Kathy (she makes me laugh)
4. Checked my email
5. Packaged oyster crackers for gifts
6. Prepared gift bags for Jodi and Connie (the girls that I work with)
7. Went to pick up some prescriptions
8. Blogged

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. 2 weeks of time off
2. seeing my Sarah, Jeff and especially Colin
3. seeing my Erin and spending time with her
4. hearing my Jon sing at the candlelight service
5. Christmas and remembering the real meaning of the season
6. Spending time with dear friends
7. After Christmas shopping
8. 2009 and let our little lights shine

8 Things I'm Scared Of:
1. losing my children
2. heights
3. loneliness
4. retirement (even though I look forward to it)
5. falling
6. snakes
7. driving in bad weather
8. the unknown

8 Things I Wish For:
1. Closer relationship with our Lord.
2. Clean and organized home.
3. My kids living closer to the Metroplex
4. That my kids follow and serve the Lord with all their hearts.
5. Erin be safe in her new home.
6. A maid
7. Weight loss (I will have to forget those favorite restaurants)
8. A kitchen redo.

8 Things I Watch on TV:
1. Dancing with the Stars
2. Wheel of Fortune (with my Dad)
3. Designed to Sell
4. Little People, Big World
5. Are you Smarter that a Fifth Grader
6. Jeopardy
7. Channel 8 News
8. Design on A Dime

Tag all those that have not done it yetl
Blog to ya later.

I have been tagged

Sarah tagged me! Rules are, you must list 5 addictions and pass it to 5 people!
Addiction-an abnormally strong craving

1. My kids and husband. I truly care for them and wonder what is going on in their lives. And pray that God blesses them every day.
2. I crave having my friends around and and love to be with them. I need people and their friendship and fellowship.
3. I absolutely love garage sales and flea markets. There is a rush inside me to find a great deal. And repurposing things.
4. Mexican food is definitely an addiction. I really need to work on that addiction.
5. Shopping. I am addicted to finding great deals.
6. One more, HGTV.

I tag: Sharla, Joyia, Mary, and whoever else wants to admit their addictions.

Happy Holidays

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. I remember as a child going to my Grandma and Granddaddy's house. There were a bunch of cousins and we all slept on the floor and the next day Santa had come. I never could figure out how he knew where we were going to be on Christmas morning. Then there was a time that my brothers and I would search every inch of the house looking for our gifts. We never could find them. Mom and Dad knew we would look. One Christmas, I broke my arm just before Christmas. I got the whole week off for the holidays. I spent one Christmas in the hospital with my newborn son. He was due like January 5 and came on Christmas eve. I have a twin brother and his first son was born on Christmas eve, too. Is that weird? My sister in law and I use to have an ongoing battle with Scrabble on Christmas Eve. She always won. I really think that she made up alot of words. I always said that the kids sucked all the brain cells out of my head and that is why I could not win. My mother loved to make wonderful foods. She made apricot coconut balls, cookies, Martha Washington balls, trash, oyster crackers, pies, rice and broccoli casserole and much much more. She always had sausage rolls and scrambled eggs for Christmas morning. I really miss those times. I will share some of the recipes with you during the holidays. Giving is a special time for me. I really love it with Cman. He is so cute and it will be fun watching him at Christmas time. I will have some cute things for him to have under the tree. It is always a joy to give to Erin, Jon, Sarah and Jeff, too. I miss Christmas day with my family.
We have shopped for a family that is less fortunate. I am praying that the family has a blessed Christmas Day. I am trying to think of something very special for the family, so that they really understand the true meaning of the holiday season.
I am blessed and know that Jesus is the reason of the season.

Lord, I pray that everything that I do and say this wonderful holiday season, that it will be honoring to You.
Happy Holidays!
Blog to ya later!

1. Two Names You Go By: Ms. Nena and MomMom
2. Things You Are Wearing Right Now: old robe
3. Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment: that my girls (which includes one son in law and the cutest grandson) lived closer to home and that Erin is safe and happy in her home.
4. Two people who you look up to: my dad and my Aunt Dorothy
5. Two things you did last night: shopping and ate out with Sarah and Jeff
6. Two things you ate yesterday: fried green beans (very interesting) mashed potatoes
7. Two people you last talked to: Sarah and Erin
8. Two Things you're doing tomorrow: eat and browse the ads.
9. Two longest car rides: Texas to Minnesota and Texas to South Carolina
10. Favorite Holidays : Christmas and Easter
11. Favorite Vacations : Scotland and Canada
12. Last trip: Arlington to Marshall
13. Two favorite beverages: Diet Dr. Pepper and Pibb Zero

May we be ever mindful of all our many blessings today and always.
Blog to ya later!

Reality

Reality is big. Television has many reality shows, people surviving huge challenges on Survivor, The Biggest Loser, talent shows, dancing, singing, etc. These all include winners and losers. They work so hard to get cut from the shows at the mercy of judges and the influence of America.

I am so glad that reality is not that way. Reality is all around us. Challenges are huge and sometimes it seems unbearable.

My sweet dear friend, who desparately desires a child and keeps her faith and knows that she belongs to a Big God and wants to serve Him.
Another sweet friend who faces divorce with a young child and is doing what she can do to take care of this young son.
Another young couple with young children and desire to serve God in a great and mighty way in the ministy and doors are not opening.
Others, who face financial burdens.
Many dear saints who have lost their loved one.
Young families facing a life time of a child with special needs.
Many of us are facing challenging time with aging parents.
I call these times "faith building experiences". This is reality. An opportunity for us to pray and help our fellow Christian friends.

We win when we desire to to follow God and put Him first.
We can sit on reality or it can direct us closer to God.
Reality tells alot about us, for we are being watched.
Reality can bring about pain, but it can bring great glory to God.
Reality can be used to build great character.

In reality, I look back on the journey I have had with my special needs child. She will be 24 in January. God was preparing me to do the work that I do now. The experiences have given me many wonderful friendships that I would not have had. God used many people to pray for our family. She has been an incredible blessing to our family. When spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally sapped God was and is there.

In reality, God is on His throne and there are no losers.

God, I pray for those hurting. You know every need and desires of their hearts. I know that You are building character and preparing them for great things to come. Help us to be patient and praise You in all things. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others. AMEN