and I have to work! I actually need to get online a bit early this morning - well, I don't NEED to, but I know that it will be a busy week. When I looked online Friday afternoon there were six meetings I needed to schedule - and I didn't get back to them to schedule - so they - and probably more - are there this morning for me to attack first thing.
I got a surprise yesterday. A small package was delivered by Amazon and I couldn't think what it could be. I have pretty much finished shopping - there are a couple things to be delivered by Amazon yet, but overall, I am done, and everything is wrapped. I opened the small package to find a metal tin that held a 'gift card'. The boss that I had dropped off her gifts at her house - had sent me a $100 gift card for Amazon for Christmas. It's the easiest thing for her to give and she knows I do a lot of Amazon shopping. Last Christmas she gave me a JCP card along with several other things. Since I am on Amazon a lot more than I am any other store, it works better for me. Only, I don't usually get online for myself, it's always to buy for someone else. And that's ok.
I've gotten rid of so much 'stuff' this year that I don't care to hold on to anything. You would have to know me to know what I'm talking about here..... hubby asked where everyone was going to be to bake cookies the other day. I pointed to the table, the counters, and I put up the card table for the mice to have it out of the way. He asked, a few minutes later, if I was going to put a sheet over the table to protect it. I told him no. He didn't say anything else but went on his way. As I thought about it, this table in our kitchen area was bought in 1986 along with the china cabinet. I remember the year because we had gotten his dad's insurance money and bought it with it. Hubby treated the table and china cabinet like gold and was always so protective of it. This past year has taught me it ALL material things. It doesn't matter if it gets a scratch on it....when we die, it will probably go to goodwill anyway.
It's interesting how my mindset has changed over this year. I used to hang on to things for various reasons - memories, just because I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings, just because I didn't want to deal with it, or even because well, it's a gift and I need to hang on to it.... and now.... well, I still love to receive things, but instead of putting that item away to save it, I USE it. Yeah...I can't tell you how many times I have received a gift and I've 'SAVED' it for a special thing or that someone might need it... and that time never comes. Now I go ahead and USE the gift for myself.... not saving it.
I think I have learned (finally) to 'let go'. My mother was a packrat and taught me to be the same. Not a hoarder, but a packrat. I'm learning to let go of things. Not always easy. If someone wants something, I have no problem with letting it go. (I wish people would speak up more often that they want something!)
I'm also trying to get better at 'giving' gifts in that it isn't something to gather dust, or be packed away because there is no place to put it. I've lost all my knick knack space so had to get rid of a lot. I still kept several items that have value, and they are in boxes packed away somewhere. I'm sure Goodwill made a couple thousand dollars off all that we donated to them this year. Just no time for a yard sale.
My youngest son stopped by with his youngest son and granddaughter. She has gotten so big - and heavy! Can't believe she will be one next month! She does look like her daddy, that's for sure. I had to ask the son for jars for salsa - told him his family takes the most jars - and sure enough - he brought me 12 jars. I'll probably make the salsa tonight. I'm a bit concerned about the jars I've already made... they may be too hot to eat. Hubby tried one and said it wasn't hot enough... so in all the remaining jars I added additional peppers. Which reminds me... I went to the store yesterday to get what I needed to finish up the salsa and the dinners planned - only I could not find any hot peppers at the store like I needed! Not even jalapenos! It was unbelieveable! Will have to send hubby out this afternoon to see if he can find the shelf restocked. I may have enough peppers ... will see. I've already made 10 jars and need about 6 more, I'm figuring. It will be close, but I may have enough. These last ones may not be as hot as the others. Which could be a good thing.
I listened to a good message yesterday by Javon Rush, I think his name is. He talked about how some people think only 'doom and gloom' and live there. Ironically, I thought about my little sister... and funny how she had used those exact words earlier that morning. I told her she needed to listen to this message. We may have tough times around us, there may be sickness, there may be financial hardships, there could be a lot of things going on, a lot of drama. But do you want to live there?
My God says He is with me all the time. He says He will help me when I cry out to Him. Now He may not give me the answers I want, or give me the answers in the time frame I need, but my confidence is in Him and in His provision for all things. We've had sickness, we've had severe financial crisis - and God has walked us through them all. I trust Him. I don't waller in self-pity or in a victim status. I choose to LIVE life and give the glory to God.
Christmas will be here really soon now - take time to pause and remember what the REASON for the day is about. It's not about US, it's not about GIFTS, it's not about family gatherings. It's all about Jesus. And that is something to celebrate.
Blessings!
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