Seasons

I love the the transition of the changing of the seasons. This past week with all the cooler weather has made me excited for fall. Getting out the hoodie sweatshirts, sweaters, jeans etc. The snuggling up under a blanket in the coolness of the night or morning. Love it....the changing colors of the leaves, bond fires....

It is like the seasons of our lives. Going from being single to married to being a parent to having your children start school to graduation to them getting married and then the empty nest. Everett and I have been had the empty nest for quite a few years now. We are used to it now. This season in life is more carefree then any other one we have had. God has blessed us. We have a lot of freedom to do things we like to do or do nothing at all. The stress level has dropped. We can enjoy each other and our family. Since Everett has retired and I only work 4 days a week instead of 5 we have more time and I have more time because he pretty much does all the work in our home.I have read more books this past year then I can count. And I thank God that I have made it this far and that we have this time. Growing older right now has not been bad.

I am ready for the start of the next season which for me will be retirement. Down the road a little ways yet.
But what God has in store between now and then I don't know. I know the seasons are getting closer together and things will probaby happen that will not be as easy to cope with.

I think in this blog today what I want to say it that looking back and ahead most of the things that happen to us are out of our control. Yes there is a lot that is in our control, our choices in life that we make will make a big differance in the end. One of the best choice we can make is to accept Jesus as our savior and follow Him! I now rest in the promise He makes that He will be there for me when things that happen are not in my control to see me through. So through the seasons I have left I am going to trust Him to lead me.
I am heading for the winter of my life, maybe even have started it, but winter is good, there is not as much work to do...more time to relax and read or whatever...the cozy fires..and laying in my sweet baby's arms..

Whatever

It's been a long time since I have been here. A number of different reasons I guess. First of all since I had my computer updated haven't figured out how to get back on here..but my wonderful son came and fixed me back up. Then I really haven't had anything worth while to say..oh I could talk about getting older, I could talk about the heat, but then I think that everyone already knows that it has been hot..I could talk about all my grandkiddos and how I think that all of them are the smartest and cutest but then I think all of you already know that...I could share that I am going to be a greatgrandma...(GG) in Sept but then those of you that  don't know me would thing "man that must be a old lady writting this blog and those that know me already know that I am going to be GG in Sept to a little girl and that I am so excited about it and can't wait...this 1st grandaughter of mine is having the baby along with her hubby and daughter Stella...I could talk about my job but there might be one or 2 might read this and I can't really write what I really would want to say..so I just haven't been here. I am not quite as witty of writer as my daughter and some of her friends whom I love to read their blogs but maybe I will come up with something witty soon..

I have missed blogging...really have but one thing that has not changed for me is the fact that God has been faithful..and even though things are happening all around us and tradgey still happens He is still faithful and even though we don't understand all that is going on we know that He has a plan....

Until next time...

Chow...

It is Now

I am finally coming to a place in life when I realize it is now or never.

1. It is now when I need to start taking one moment at a time and thanking God for each and every day He gives me.

2. It is now that I need to not let the little things in life stir up my blood pressure.

3. It is now that I need to realize that everything and I mean EVERYTHING is under God's control...that nothing can happen w/o Him allowing it to happen.

4. It is now that I need to realize that now matter what I will never on the side of Heaven be perfect..not a perfect body, not perfect hair, not a perfect singing voice, and not a perfect boss at work...etc...

5. It is now that I need to start to realize how much God loves me and if He loves me that is enough. I do not need to let those people that don't like me and defianitly don't love me, bother me and let it ruin my day.

6. It is now that I need to start to realize that God has put so many wonderful people in my life..and especially my family that I am blessed beyond measure.

7. It is now that I need to put the past totally behind me, old friendships that have been lost...all the bad choices that I made and all the bad things that I have done...I need to go forward, onward...not to put my hand on the plow and look back...

8. It is now that counts. I am going to be a Greatgrandma soon and how much better does it get then that??

9. It is now that I need to let go of things that are not in my control and not feel guilty.

10. It is now that each day I am going to take God at His word..He says "Never will I leave you or forsake you." He says that I can cast All my anxity on Him because He cares for me..and that His love is for Always!!

A week of Celebrations

We had a week of celebrations this week. First on Tuesday the 4th we celebrated Steph's birthday. Went out for coffee then met up with the rest of the family for Dairy Queen. Then on Friday the 7th we all met first at Abe's ballgame and then to Chad's (although he had to miss the celebrations because he was off in Nashville...) for an evening of games, food and lots and lots of laughter...

Family, they are so wonderful...in all the diversity of personalities. God makes each and everyone of us different...and how we can all blend together in love. I am so thankful for each and everyone of my children and their spouses and all my grandchildren. WE have so much fun together.....

Happy Birthday Everett and Stephanie...may God bless you this year and always...

JOY

Nehemiah 8:10 says Do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.
Psalms 43:4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my JOY and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God

Psalms 96:12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for JOY.

Proverbs 10:1 A wise son brings Joy to His father

Isaiah 35:10 and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting JOY will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.

James 1:2 Consider it pure JOY, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kind..

I Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love Him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY.

The Word of God talks so much about JOY

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE!

I wonder sometimes " where is my JOY"? Do I have the kind of joy in my heart that the Bible talks about?? Am I rejoicing in the Lord..?? Jesus tells me to...we are to have JOY in our hearts...have a JOYFUL heart...

I will tell you when my heart is not joyous...when I am harboring sin..talking negative about someone.. not being obedient to the Holy Spirit when He lays on my heart something that I need to do and don't...we are to lift others up...this is what the Bible says to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ...

No doubt about it today's life is hard, there are so many things that are happening..but not everything that is going on is bad we just need to look around us and see the brightness that God puts in our life...

This last week here are some of mine..not in any particular order

Celebrating the Resurrection of my Savior

Being able to fix Easter dinner for my children...
Getting hugs from each and everyone of my kiddos big and small
Health
Job
Being able to skype with my granddaughter in Chicago
Sitting and talking with a dear friend today
Sharing another birthday lunch with a dear co-worker of mine
Now listening to my hubby play his guitar and singing
The love of my family that surrounds me...
The Love of God that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall have everlasting life...

Roots

I have worked at Rama going on 33 yrs this coming July.
Many, Many things have changed in those 33 years including me.
When I started there Chad was not even in school yet, just getting ready to start pre-school. It is so hard to imagine I have been in one place that long. I started out working with Evi and her and I became life long friends. We worked together for 28 years she was from Germany and I learned a lot of things from her. When she retired 6 years ago I missed her so...others have came and others have left..but there is still one there that has been with me for 19 years and another one for 10 yrs.

Talk comes up every now and again about Everett and I moving to McPherson since after all the kiddos and grand kiddos are all there...12 miles away...if we were all in Wichita or KC 12 miles would be nothing but since our drive takes us out in the country 12 miles seems like everything sometimes..it really isn't..

Today Sarah called and said " a tragedy has happened the little white cottage across the street from them has a 4-sale sign up and we didn't buy it...they have wanted us to buy it ever since they knew it was coming up for sale...

Now then, I have lived in my home here in Ridge since 1971....done a lot of work to it, raised all my kiddos here...grandkids have memories here...I was born and raised here...our oldest Granddaughter got married in our back yard...

Let's see.....39 years in the same house....Everett was at his job 38 years...I have been at mine 33 years and we have been married 46 years

Now does anyone get the picture...I don't like change...very well...
It almost makes me shiver to think of going through all my stuff and packing it and moving it...even though I know that one day I probably will...I can't stay here forever....

Alive

Some of you that read my blog are probably wondering if I am still here or
if I have just up and left...nope I'm here...seems as though I am going
through a season of my life that is yet bringing another change...not sure
just what it is..but I know that it will be something special, because you
see I have totally surrendered all of my life to my one and only Savior
Jesus Christ...now I have done this before...but there were parts that I was
so unwilling to surrender and now I have let go..from here on out what He
wants is what I want...takes all the questions out...now I know I will still
mess up...but I know that He is there right away to forgive and hold me
again...things just seem so uncertain in the world today..and I think that
if we all knew really what is going on we probably couldn't sleep tonight,
so I am glad I don't know it all and have my trust in someone that
does..that is where I will rest...

In my life...broken relationships have been mended recently....accepting
things that are and can't be changed...watching and waiting...embracing
God's blessings...thanking Him for them...Filled...overwhelmed sometimes at
what God has done in my life...if anyone has doubts that He is real give me
a call..I will tell you just how real He really is!!

Upon God's care I lay me down, as a child
upon a Mother's breast...
No silken couch, nor softest bed could ever
give me such deep rest!