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!

One thing at a time....

 I didn't make it over to see Ms. Amy last night.  But I did get other things accomplished yesterday.  I talked about 15 minutes with my boss and he goes "you pick."  NOT what I really wanted to hear.  But, pick I did and chose the other location I had recently gotten information for the board meeting.  I confirmed we will do it there; sent an email cancelling the other.  Now with the holidays, some of them are on vacation and I can't get the answers I am still wanting.  I like being 'hands on' and being focused on what I'm to do.  I need more answers from those who are not responding to me.  UGH.  But, I have prayed about it and I need to let God do what He does best.  He don't need my help, my anxiety, my stress.  I can't change how it will end up - and it isn't until February, and nothing can be done until February, so get over myself, right?

I had meant to run to see Ms. Amy, but also wanted to get the salsa made last night.  I made about 8 batches of salsa before I ran out of pepper.  The last batch of salsa may not be as hot ... oh well, it's a gift so they can't complain, right?  Or they can just add their own peppers.  I am going to get more hot peppers today so that I can make a couple more batches.  I'd rather have too much than not enough.  I chose to make the salsa..... and I'm getting all the jars washed and rinsed....and here comes hubby.  He decides "I don't have to fix dinner (we went out for a big lunch) so he is going to finish off the salsa we currently have in the refrigerator for his dinner."  Ok.  So, I move away from the sink and just walk in to the other room cause he needs the sink the rinse out the salsa jar (getting in my way).  He HAD to do it just as I was starting to get things done.  He then proceeds to tell me that I ought to see Ms. Amy first - but I really wanted to get these done.  I sit down while waiting on him to get out of my way.  He just stands there. I ask what does he need.  "Nothing.  I'm just tired of sitting in the front room by myself."  Lord, help me!  I just responded that someone has to get the gifts completed for Christmas and since it's me, obviously I can't sit in the front room with him.

And THEN, my lay leader at the RV park text'd me wanting the title and scripture for the New Year's message I am to give.  I told him he was too early (they usually check a week before)... I will let him know by Saturday what I'm going to speak on.  Add THAT pressure!  Glad I'm not speaking Christmas as I had been asked.  I traded it and am so glad I did.  But I do have New Years Day.  I need to work on that tonight as well.  I was going to talk about fasting, but I'm not getting the feeling it's what I need to speak on at this time.  And I had started working on it too!  So I need to find another topic and another message.  Lord, help!

At least with all my busyness going on now (as it always is just before the Christmas holiday), I will be able to relax on Christmas day.  Christmas Eve will be chaotic somewhat, but that's ok.  I should have everything done by then.  I will run things over to my neighbors and Ms. Amy either tonight or tomorrow and that will remove that 'want'. But Christmas Day, hubby and I will have our morning as we usually do.  Then we will have a few hours before I need to do anything in preparation for dinner.  Only have one meal, versus two that I usually have on this day.  It will be more relaxing and I will be able to visit more.  AND I have Monday off work, and hopefully the granddaughter and great granddaughter - and a grandson or two if they want to come over - will be here to bake cookies.  YAY!

I read a story yesterday about a lamb who is called a 'bummer lamb'.  What is that?  It is a baby lamb that is rejected by its mother for whatever reason after it is born.  Once the mother rejects that lamb, kicks it away from her, she will never accept that lamb near again.  The lamb's head droops very low in its rejection, and becomes very weak.  If the shepherd does not intervene, the baby lamb will die.  So what does the shepherd do?

He will pick up this baby lamb, wrap it up, and take it into his own home.  He will lay it on his chest so that it can feel his heartbeat.  He will raise that lamb in his home, and once the lamb is strong enough, he will take it and put it back in to the sheepfold.  And when the shepherd calls his sheep to come to him, this little lamb, when it hears his voice calling, will be the first to come running to the shepherd, because he knows him.

And that is like our Shepherd.  When life comes at us so hard that we feel rejected, devalued, unworthy to live.... our Shepherd sees us, and He gathers us in to His arms, into His heart, and holds us close.  He wraps us in His love and holds us close to His heart, so that we can hear His heart beat.  And when we become strong, He lets us go; and when He calls us and we hear His voice, we come running as fast as we can, so that we can be close to our Shepherd once again.

Jesus is our Shepherd. 

Psalm 23: 1-6 (NKJV):  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Run to our Shepherd and know that He is good.  He will gather you in His arms and love you.

Blessings!