Saying Goodbye

Our foreign exchange student who has been with us since August 2010 is about to head back to Germany.  We have had an awesome and eventful year.  Hosting an exchange student was a new and exciting experience for us.  We were blessed to have chosen a girl who fit right into our family and who we fell in love with immediately.  With only 17 days until she leaves America, we are trying to enjoy the last days without dwelling on the final day that we will have with her.  We are grateful for all we have learned and will never forget the girl who changed our lives. She will leave here with lots of great memories and a small piece of our hearts...

Decisions, decisions...

It is so heartbreaking to watch your kids make bad choices. We stand by, ready to support them in whatever they choose; ready to pick up the pieces when they fall.  I'm going through an especially difficult time 'cause now there is a baby involved. My own little granddaughter caught in the middle.  She doesn't have a choice so we have to make the right choices for her. But that isn't my job. It's her mother's job.  I just find it hard to stand by and watch her struggling to make the best choices for her baby daughter when she still hasn't quite figured out how to make the right choices for herself... I lift them both up in prayer. My only option is to entrust them both to God. He will work it out and it will be better than if I tried to work it out for them. I pray that she will put her trust in God and let Him lead them to the place they should be.  He worked everything out for me when I made bad choices as a teenager.  The moment I put my trust in Him the weight was lifted because he shared the loads with me. Things might not always turn out how we imagine them; sometimes they turn out even better!

I'll Always Have My Writing

Life is speeding by so quickly that I can't see where I'm going! Okay, so my computer was kinda blinking out on me for a few days, but it is fixed. I have been spinning in circles around here and haven't really taken the time to accomplish much of anything lately. My blog, my twitter, my writing, have all been placed on the back burner while I rush from one task to another, never completing any of it! Time to slow down, and rewind...just a bit.
Okay, so I am taking a deep breath and getting back on the horse. I started writing again last night. I haven't written one word (other than a grocery list or two) since Thanksgiving! There is no excuse for that. Yeah there have been some changes in our lives, but life still goes on and writing is important to me so I am taking time out to write every chance I get. (I am such a big talker. It's only easy for me to make these statements because my precious little granddaughter is out of town this week.  As soon as she comes back, I will be sitting in my rocking chair singing lullabies to her.)  The truth is...when my kids were little I didn't have time to write.  Well, I might have had some time, but there were things that were more important to me back then.  I liked reading with my kids and going outside in the evening to play with them.  When they got older, I had more time because they were busy...not because I was busy.  Then I took time out and started writing. I enjoy writing very much, but I'm not going to pass up an opportunity to spend some time with my grandkids whenever I get the chance.  So from the moment that little bundle of joy was brought out of delivery, my life changed again!  And now writing will be my second choice. I still enjoy writing, but it won't be long and my grandkids won't have time for me and I will still have my writing!

Not What We Expected

Christmas has come and gone. It was a bitter-sweet time. First of all, my grandma went to Heaven to be with Jesus for his birthday. She passed away on Christmas Eve surrounded by her large and loving family.  She will be greatly missed by many many people. I am glad to know that I will see her again someday.
Then, Sunday my husband's daughter gave birth to her second child...a girl.  The cutest little thing you ever did see. So much hair on her tiny little head!
Monday, waited for someone I love very much to have tests done...long day. Everything turned out okay.
It has been an emotional roller coaster this past week.  I am ready for the new year. I pray it is an uneventful one.:)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Christmas! It is that time of year again. The malls are overcrowded, but we still muster up the courage to hustle and bustle through.  Everyone is seeking that perfect gift for that perfect someone. Have you found the perfect gift, yet?  If not I would suggest looking in Luke chapter 2 verse 11... Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

The ultimate gift has been freely given to us.  Wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Not wrapping paper and bows. Please accept this gift for yourself and share it with those in your life.  There is no greater gift!

CHRISTmas!

Today I am just getting stuff off my chest so sit back and listen... The most annoying thing to me is when people use x-mas! Okay, for one thing there wouldn't be a CHRISTmas without CHRIST! I don't want to be angry or annoying when I make this point..again..and again, BUT...
 I asked my friends on facebook what this "x-mas" thing was all about.  One person replied that it was the atheist way of celebrating our HOLY holiday.  That is funny, but I reminded her that atheists have their own holiday.  April 1st! Enough said...

I'll be back and I promise to be nice:)

Counting Down The Days

I can hardly believe that Christmas is getting so close! I know for a fact that the days did NOT go this quickly when I was in school.  Then my children started school and Z O O M! the days flew by so fast I could hardly keep up!  My baby will be a senior by this time next year! Whoa, slow down time!  I'm sure that I am not the only one who feels this way.  Come on, you know it's true. 
Anyway, enough about that.  I don't want to be depressed... It's almost Christmas!  I love this time of year, despite the cold weather.  I love listening to Christmas music, decorating the tree, baking cookies, going to special church programs, sending Christmas cards... the list goes on.  What is your favorite Christmas tradition or Christmas memory?  I have been scrapbooking a lot lately and it is so fun to look at all the pictures of past Christmases.  I just hope we all take the time to remember what Christmas is really all about... Jesus Christ!  He was born, crucified, and rose again so that you and I could spend eternity with Him.  Please take the time to read the Christmas story in the book of Luke.  And be sure to explain to your children that it is WAY more than just a story.  :)