A different type of day

 My daughter and SIL got in last night - about ten minutes after we left for church - had a vow renewal service we were attending for friends.  It was a good service.  Hubby commented at one point we should do a vow renewal.... and I immediately said no.... which he must have ignored or not heard....  and gave some thought and said we have already done it.  I remember one time at church (peer pressure, for sure) they had us stand up on Valentine's day and repeat some stuff.   I'll let him hold on to that, for I don't ever want to hurt his feelings, but, in all honestly, I would not do this life again.  And that is what a vow renewal says.  It says "I would do this all over again, the good and the bad."  My response is 'no'.  In fact, it is "NO".  And I'll leave that there.

Had some alone time with my daughter this morning as she came and sat with me as I did my quiet time.  We were able to catch up on some things, and I'm grateful she felt comfortable enough to sit down and chat.  Of course hubby had to interrupt us a couple times, but when he gets focused on one thing, he has to interrupt to get his answer.

We have the dance recital for the great granddaughter this afternoon.  Well, let me back up a bit.  After I get dressed (I'm still sitting here in my pjs in the living room at the table typing this) we will probably head to JiMichaels for breakfast with the daughter and SIL.  I had suggested Denny's but hubby asked if we could go to JiMichaels this morning instead. Not a big deal. Really.  It's just a location, right?  Daughter is in the shower now. SIL is out and dressed and having a cup of coffee.  Hubby is getting dressed.  I'm last. :-) 

After breakfast the daughter and SIL need to run to Costco to take care of one of her hearing aids.  Hers is through Costco so they fix for her.  We will come back home and then I'll clean up (eventually) for the recital. I think it is at 2p so we have plenty of time; don't need to leave until around 1p.  We have paid for 'assigned seating' so we're good.  And, we got the email the other day the entire family wants to have dinner together.... we just don't know where unless someone has checked it out.  I started to check what is in that area for 15 people, but then decided it wasn't my position to 'find something' so I quit looking. I don't know the area anyway.  People live in all different directions.  

This weekend is busy with the recital, dinner today and then tomorrow we will have church, then .... I'm drawing a blank!  I think we have something to do tomorrow afternoon, but I don't remember what it is for the moment.  Old age?  Mental decline?  Lord, HELP!  Don't need two of us with it!  LOL  Maybe tomorrow I will have better thoughts.  Maybe we don't have anything tomorrow afternoon.  OH yeah - now I remember!

We have a trip up north to attend the granddaughter's GED graduation!  How could I forget that!!  So up for that, and afterwards will be coming home and chilling.   Whew.  I thought I was losing it!

I know this is short, but I need to stop, get dressed, and ready to go to breakfast so the day can get started.  Hopefully I will have fun things to share tomorrow. I know in my reading this morning I read something I want to share.... so maybe I'll get a chance to do that.

In the meantime, I hope you have a cool, wonderful, amazing day!  Be grateful for a cool place to sit and rest. Shelter is really important in this hot weather.  And water.  So drink plenty of it.

Blessings!

Food coma over, not back to focus

 Yeah, I actually did pretty good yesterday as far as a 'food coma'.  I didn't overeat.  I even skipped the dessert - of which there was plenty.  We went over to the daughter's for lunch and had plenty to eat, for sure.  It was a good time, and I think most, if not all, enjoyed the time we all spent together.  We didn't stay long, but long enough.  Came home and I finished pulling the meat off the turkey and putting it away. Left all the desserts at the daughter's.  Dinner was some turkey and dressing and giblet gravy; and I imagine hubby about finished the dressing and giblet gravy for I didn't have much left.  And, of course we had to watch a couple Christmas movies before heading to bed.  He just doesn't 'hear' my loud sigh every time he asks if I want to watch a Christmas movie after I tell him I just want to enjoy the quiet.

Hubby has already left for his bible study this morning.  Daughter and SIL are to come over some time today to put together my buffet.  I need to get our table cleared off as it is loaded down right now.  I expect them sometime around 7:30-8AM as they want to come when hubby is gone.... he always has to offer to help and watch.  Yeah, he does it to me as well, so I get it.  I leave them alone and let them put things together for me. :-)

I am off work today, and have so much to do!  Yes, still need to wrap gifts.  Yes, still need to pull a message together for December 7 at the RV park.  I have to get a rough draft before Sunday for they will be calling to get the title and scripture on Sunday.  I hope to at least get that far by this afternoon.  

I think I've gone ait overboard (again) on buying 'little things'.... I see something and hey, it's only like $6.98 so why buy one, right?  I have several grandsons, I can get for each one for a gift, right?  But then, that 'little thing' isn't enough so I still have to get something else, and well, now what am I going to do with all these 'little things'?  LOL  I do this every year.  I see something for someone and of course want to share the same thought with the others - whether they would use it or not.  When will I ever learn?  I think soon, for I have to quit shopping.

I'm done with hubby's Christmas gifts. I think I'm done with the daughter's.  The boys are much harder to buy for.  All of them,  I know, like me, there is nothing they want nor need.  So I try to get everything for them that I 'think' they might want or need, right?  You, too, will find yourself in this same mode in a few more years.  

I Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV):  in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In everything give thanks.  Sometimes that is hard, isn't it?  It's hard to give thanks when you get a bad diagnosis.  It's hard to give thanks when you have a prodigal child.  It's hard to give thanks when you lose your job. It's hard to give thanks when relationships go bad.  

But Paul is telling the Thessalonians that they should give thanks for everything.  So how does that apply to us?  We also are to give thanks in everything.  Giving thanks in all things doesn't mean giving thanks to God for bad things that happen, but realizing that God is at work to produce good, even in the bad stuff.

How many times has something 'bad' happen, and later you see the good from that bad?  I know I have.  The bad stuff is painful, though, and sometimes we wonder why is God allowing us to go through all that bad stuff.... and yet, He will turn it all around for good.  I'm not even going to try to give you examples, for each one of us have things that trouble us and we wonder if any good will come from it. We may not see it within ourselves, but others may see the good come from the bad. Does that make sense?  Try thanking God for everything - and let Him work His good in and through all of us.

And, with that, I know this is short, but I have a very short timeframe of hubby being gone and I can actually get some things done without supervision.  Not being mean, just truthful. I don't always need supervision.  :-)

I need to get started on my baking too.  So much to do; so little time.

Have a great day - and do something special for someone.  You can never go wrong in doing for others.

Blessings!

Time is getting away....

 and not just this morning!  I've slept an additional hour this morning, sitting here in my chair.  Fell asleep while praying.  I guess I needed it, for yesterday was a busy day.  I got 11 quarts of salsa made, for one thing.  Hubby wasn't home to do the taste testing - and I tried, but after the first quart, nothing tasted right, although I made them all the same.  I told him to wait until today and then he can taste test each jar to see if I need to add peppers or sugar to them.   I ordered through the grocery pickup 30 cans of stewed tomatoes.  And bless their hearts, the young men just don't know there is a difference between Italian stewed tomatoes and regular stewed tomatoes - which is what I needed.  They gave me six cans of Italian stewed tomatoes, so today I need to make a run to the store and pick up what I really need - and then make more salsa tonight.  I think I have about 6-8 more quarts to make.  At least it doesn't take long to make them, but some will get pint jars (2) versus a quart (1) as I am out of quart jars and at $19.99 for a dozen now at the grocery, I'm not driving around to find a cheaper cost.  I have several pint jars so will start using them up.

I was pretty tired last night when I finally got them done.  Was just finishing up when hubby got home from meeting with his Tuesday night friend.  Glad they still met - they sent us homemade tamales!!  Guess what is for lunch - or dinner - today!!  Can't wait to try them.  I'd love to learn how to make them, but they are an exceptional amount of work and I appreciate it when we get homemade ones.

I'm going to try to take a quick run over to the grocery first thing this morning as I'm sure it is going to be pretty busy the closer it gets to Christmas.  I still need to see what I need for the soup lunch we'll be doing Christmas Eve.  I had plans of 4 different soups - they may only get two or three.  Time and reality is starting to set in.  And if I can't early this morning, I'll get over there some time today or tomorrow.  Just do it.  Right?

Work was crazy busy yesterday and I left things to do today so will be extra busy today as well.  Wish my bosses would take the week BEFORE Christmas off instead of the days/week after!  Don't they know I have a lot of things to get done BEFORE Christmas and I can't do it when they are making me work?  Geez!  And some are such simple requests I want to reply - the meeting is on your calendar, can you not cancel it?  Can you not move it?  Can you not change the title of YOUR meeting?  Yeah, that is one I have to do - change the title of the team meetings on the calendar for the upcoming year.  Seriously.  No, I haven't done it yet - it was not on my priority list.  The list of people don't change - why is it so important to change the stupid title?  They know what the meeting is about - they have been going to them all this year!

I'm nearly done wrapping - except for hubby's things, and I will get to them perhaps today.  It's only Wednesday so I have time yet.  There are a few things that haven't come in yet.  I reviewed my list - of what I have remembered to write down for everyone - and I feel guilty that I don't have much for some - and then I tell myself it's ok - it's a GIFT - it's not mandatory to buy a lot of things.  One is enough!  But I did kind of do a bit more for MY kids... even the great-grands don't get much.  For one - they have grandma and papaw to buy for them - they don't need us doing it.  I try to get things that will be useful and not dust catchers - but I don't always succeed, and for that, I apologize in advance.  I'm already second-guessing myself.

A friend wrote a note on her blog this morning that really touched me.  I'm going to add it here and 

----- oh my goodness  -   it's raining!!----- and thundering!

Anyway - here is what she said - 

"Things weren't smooth sailing on that First Christmas--I mean, giving birth in a stable? Many a child has been questioned about being born in a barn due to habitually leaving the doors opened wide, but thank God He left the door opened wide for us to return to Him via Jesus' birth and conquering death and sin on our behalf.

So I remind myself that we are doing pretty well and that complaining instead of trusting doesn't go with the season--or any time of year, for that matter."

We have been given the greatest gift ever in Jesus.  Let's remember it's not all about the gifts and who gets what.... but about celebrating His birth by giving to others.  

Blessings!