God's Early Christmas Gifts...

Who would have thought that a snow storm would turn out to be one of the best gifts I've been given in a long time??!! Last night, under clear skies, my son flew in from Southern Florida. Yeah, it was cold, but he arrived safely, on time & with no weather issues. Today...a different story. So, gratefulness #1, "thank you Lord for bringing my son home before the storm." (These are just some pictures from around Buffalo, found on the wgrz.com website.)

We had planned on picking Sam up from school today (snow day) after I got out of work. But because the snow was coming down fast & furious, Norm & Alex decided to get an early start and so they set out around 10:00 am. They made it there & back in about 4 hours. Gratefulness #2, "thank you Lord for their safe travel through a snow storm and for bringing them home to me safe & sound".

But the best part, well maybe not the BEST part because NOTHING is better than having both my kids home, is that my office actually closed at 12:30 because of the storm! That NEVER happens, apparently! I was so sad that I couldn't join Norm & Alex picking up Sam because I had to work. Then, they let us out early, I bummed a ride off a friend, got home before the family, cooked a pot of nice hot soup & waited for their arrival. So, gratefulness #3, "thank you Lord for letting me be a part of the homecoming and for doing the thing I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE MOST....be Mom."














Hahaha...only in Buffalo!!

"Thank you Lord for my early Christmas gifts...." And as if all this isn't enough, the ultimate gift was His Son being born, so that I could have a life with Him. It simply does not get better than all that. When people say "God is Good", it doesn't even come close to how amazing & awe inspiring He is, and for the way He loves & cares for us. Thank you Lord...I love you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL......may you feel His blessings as I do today.

Cell Phone CPR...or is it R&R?

So, about 2 weeks ago I had a pretty bad cold so I decided a nice, hot, relaxing bath was definitely in order. Why oh why do I incorporate texting on my cell phone to relaxing in a tub, I have no idea! But as the cell phone addict that I may have become, this was my situation. And as careful as I thought I was being, yes you guessed it, I dropped it in the tub. That brief "oh no!", followed by plop. And all I could see were dollar signs as I imagined what this was going to cost me. Not to mention being completely cut off from the world!! Oh the horror!

Then I remembered a friend of mine once telling me that all you have to do when you get your cell phone wet is to put it in some dry rice. The idea being that the rice would absorb the moisture sinking deep into the crevices of the phone. I decided that it was worth a shot, what did I have to lose at this point, except a bag of rice?? Sam reminded me to take the battery out too. So, there it laid, dismantled & buried in a Ziploc bag of rice overnight. When I eagerly opened it the next morning, it actually worked! I couldn't believe it! The night before all it did was sputter & die out! To my dismay, however, within a few minutes, it died again. The rice didn't work. Bummer.

Then I got the scam artist at the Sprint store tap dancing all over me about limited coverage, renewing plans, upgrading phones, rebates that I've accumulated since the 5th grade...everything to aggravate me & make me walk out in disgust....my dead cell phone laying limply in my pocket. Norm was then going to buy me a used phone off of Craig's list and round & round we went. For 4 days we discussed the best option. It occurred to me that what if they can't even get my phone numbers out of the phone??!! The horror!!! I can't even IMAGINE having to attempt retrieving all those numbers! (I don't have that many actually, but fear over dramatizes everything!) As I went to see if my phone would even turn on long enough to pull out my oh-so important numbers, I realized that my phone was actually working! It really was working!! And its worked ever since!! Crazy, isn't it???

Moral of the story....sometimes we just need a cozy place to sleep for the night & a few days off. Then we'll be as good as new!!

Try it for yourself sometime..... :)

Catching Up...

Wow!! It really has been a LONG time since I've taken time to update. Not sure anyone is bothered by that...but I know I am! So, if even just for my own inner peace, and hopefully somebody's amusement, I want to catch up with what life has brought our way since August....


Sam left for State University of New York at Fredonia...she loves it! Here she is with her roommate Jasmine from Brooklyn! Thank you Lord...they get along great...






Said good-bye to my best friend....









Visited my brother & his family in Michigan...here with my nephew at University of Michigan football game...








Me & my niece Jesse at the U of M game!! It was COOOLLLDDD!!







Took a road trip in the Jeep from Buffalo to West Palm Beach...yeah, ran into a snow storm in Pittsburgh....







Took the Jeep down...and gave it Alex. Yeah, he needed a car & we just couldn't resist helping him out! Love that kid...







Me and my boy....











Celebrated my niece Sophia's 2nd birthday.....








Spent time with friends....








and even more friends...









And Cammy kept us entertained....










We even celebrated an engagement...








And Norm got his first pair of glasses!









This doesn't even include the 2 new jobs that Norm & I have, Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas!! No wonder I haven't added a word here since August!

Life is full...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Life in Stages...

As many of you know, we're getting ready to take our daughter to college in less than a week. Its kinda a funny expression, because I don't know how "ready" any of us really are. We've done the grad party, the college orientation, the dorm room shopping...we're as ready as we'll ever be, I guess. I'm sure to many the use of the word "we" is quite funny, since she's the one going & I'm essentially going to stay behind trying to figure out how to carry on life in a whole new way. Its funny when you're raising your family, you know the idea of your kids going away to college is "out there", but then it comes upon you sometimes like a freight train. Its not that we haven't talked about it, prayed about , prepared for it, celebrated it. Its just that now its actually here. And it changes everything. No more long conversations late at night hanging in my room, cuz she just needs to vent. No more leaving her a cup of hot tea early in the morning as she gets ready for school. No more juggling cars. No more planning meals for a family. Its just me & Norm. Strange thought. I'm a mother at heart & I think its the job I've always done best. So am I just getting laid off here? I don't think so. I think the job description has just changed. And yes, we're moving headlong into the next stage of life. If you see me, please don't call me an "empy nester", cuz we've heard it like 1,000 times now and it kinda hurts, to be honest.

As with all things in life, we trust God with what's next. Again, I find myself in a place where I can't really peer around the corner to see what He has in store. But I am confident that He loves me, loves my family & knows my heart....better than anyone. He knows how much I love my children, love being a mom. I doubt that is going to end any time before I draw my last breath. But they will need me in a whole new way, I'm sure. I can't fully anticipate what that way is just yet, but I'm excited about the idea of a more mature relationship with adult children. That is something we've been building for years now.

No matter how hard it is, I'm so very proud of my children. Proud to know that they are confident enough in who they are to go out & try this next stage of their life on their own. Proud that they know they will always have the security of parents who love & care for them no matter what their address is. Proud that they ultimately belong to a Heavenly Father who will be with them...even when I can't be. All of it...each stage of this life is a precious gift. Whether they are newborns who need you for their very existence, or they are young children who need you to nurture & teach them. Or they are young adults, feeling their way in the world, needing to know that there is a safety net for them in the form of loving, caring parents.

So, one week. That's all that is left for having children officially living under my roof. Please pray for this stage of life for us. I have already experienced the pain that comes with it. I've also experienced the joy. But I still have to walk away...at some point...one last hug...then walk away. From my best friend, my daughter. That will be the toughest stage yet.

What's next?? God only knows. But I'm sure glad He does.

"9 to 5 & Rush Hour Traffic"

Okay, I finally did it. I bit the bullet, joined the work force full time. Yes I am officially a "9 to 5-ver - rush hour traffic driving - rat race participator"! I'd love to tell you that I have this wonderfully fulfilling job that makes me feel all warm & fuzzy & full of purpose. Well...that's not exactly right. What I do have is stability. And in my life in recent months, this is not such a bad thing. I have a steady paycheck, with good pay, health benefits, paid time off. And to be perfectly honest, I only have to deal with traffic for about 2 miles, because that's how close the office is to home. Not a bad deal. All I have to do in return is chain myself to my desk from 8:30 to 4:30 (okay, its not actually "9 to 5", but it just sounds better), and work, work, work! I've notice that the people around me don't do a lot of socializing. I guess that's good for productivity. But it certainly makes me miss some of prior jobs where socializing was not frivolous...its how we did our jobs! Oh well...no use crying over spilt milk...or tiny cubicles.

For those of you who don't know, I have taken a job once again in a law firm. I actually went to school for this way back "in the day". I had worked in various firms in Syracuse & Buffalo when I was first married & part time for many years after kids came along. Its perfect for someone who's organized & detail oriented. Yeah that's me. But I'm also a people person, which really helped me in my prior jobs. Not so much this one. But, hey, you never know. I work with alot of young people (so what else is new?) and I'm hoping that God will use me in some way besides just collecting a paycheck. Like I know He knows we need the money. And He knows we need the health insurance. But I also know that He wastes nothing. I also know that while He will bless me with a job to secure my family, He always has plans that are greater. I pray that I will bring Him glory through all I do and that even in a place where hundreds (yes hundreds) of people sit working behind office doors or sequestered in cubicles, I can help bring some light.

After only a week's time, I'm starting to get the hang of my new position. Its fairly intense, let me tell you. But I can handle it. Its a fairly intense place. All the more need for Christ. While I won't be walking around preaching or reading my bible to people, I know that His love can shine through me...no matter where He places me. And yeah, those Lego people are pretty accurate...

I would so covet your prayers as I begin this endeavor. Its hard work, and hard to be away from my daughter every day, all day, right before she leaves for school. It was a tough choice to make. And while I have always worked in some capacity, I've tried really hard to keep my children as a priority, right into their teen years. But right now, my family needs my help financially more than anything else. And we'll just see what the law firm really needs from me. God only knows....

Crazy June!! Wouldn't trade a moment...

I haven't posted in so long because basically the sheer volume of activity in my life recently simply hasn't allowed it! We knew the events of June 2008 were going to take over our lives for months now. It didn't fail to deliver. We started with my nephew's graduation party in Michigan, that was such a blast & so fun to bless on this amazing young man. Someday maybe I'll post just about him, he's pretty special.

Two weeks later we had my daughter's graduation party here at the house. With there still being no job (or a solid one at least) in sight for Norm, we did all we could to make it as simple as possible and yet bless on our girl. And thank You Lord for such wonderful friends who gave us help. We wanted to make the day special & love on my daughter, celebrating her great accomplishments not just over these last 4 years, but 12 to be sure. She is amazing & smart & headed off to college in 1 1/2 months (that will be yet another blog!). So, we celebrated her in style, simple yet oh so much fun!




The very next day, we gathered again to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary. This was so much fun, with family in from all over the country to pay tribute to this amazing couple. (If you're a Facebook participator, there are many pics of all these events there should you care to take a peek!).











Last week was prom and then 2 days later we lined ourselves in front of Williamsville South High School & watched our little girl/young woman walk across the steps & receive her diploma. It's an event that will forever be etched in my memory, much like her first day of kindergarten. It has been an extreme privilege & joy raising this amazing young woman. To be present at this precipice in her life was something I will carry with me always. She views the road ahead with such anticipation & excitement that it truly is hard to think of my own inner turmoil of letting her go. She is ready for this next stage of life, ready to meet the challenges head, ready to discover who she really is & what she's made of. Likely qualities I've seen in her all along.



Every element of this entry could be its own blog, and maybe when the weather once again turns cold & she is off living in a crowded dorm room, I will take the time to reflect & share what these events have really meant to me, to us....but for now....I will enjoy the time I have with her at home. I love you Sam....





I am also going to enjoy spending these next few days with my "boy" as we are preparing to say good-bye, again, to him as he heads back to Florida on Wed. morning. He has been home with us for 1 1/2 months now and I have loved every minute of it. Knowing that the goal is to raise our children into adults who can care for themselves and succeed in the world without us, means we have to let go & let them live their own lives. Its hard, yet rewarding to know that while this is his home...that is where is life is. I love you Alex....

Being "mom" to these two amazing young adults has been the best job I could ever have. Its also been the hardest thing I've ever had the privilege to do. Thank you Lord for bringing them into my life & entrusting me with them. The future belongs to them...they belong to You.

A Call for Simpler Times? Perhaps...

I know our gas prices aren't quite this high....yet....but you know its just a matter of time. The day before I left for Florida, which was May 12th, I took a picture with my phone at the pump at my corner. The gas was $3.89. I thought how insane! It can't possibly get higher than this! But as you are all painfully aware, we have far surpassed this meager cost & have soared right over the $4 mark. And don't even get me started on what I pay for groceries! I don't buy red meat, don't buy organic (despite what the experts suggest), buy a lot of generic products, and still manage to spend a small fortune every week. Besides our basic bills, this is where we are spending all our money (what little we have). At the pump...at the grocery store. Things like restaurants & movies are rare treats these days. And forget about even setting foot in a mall!

In talking to my mom about this, she wondered about the possibility that we may be headed back to World War II living. She was a little girl at the time, but remembers the scrimping & saving quite well. Probably what has made her the frugal wife & mother she grew into. She remembers saving tin foil because you could get pennies for metal. This past week, my husband recycled some metal in a yard in order to get a few bucks for it. Mom remembers living in one large house with 2 of her aunts, cousins & her grandparents living in a smaller house out back (what today people would call "in-law quarters"). They shared one bathroom, one kitchen, one radio. She remembers that they only took a bath twice a week in order to conserve water. But growing up in the depression era required such sacrifices. And I'm sure they thought they lived pretty well compared to others.

As time goes on and gas prices continue to climb, food prices become unreal and basic living expenses become harder & harder to maintain, might we too begin to adopt some of their frugality's? I even began to think that maybe my mom & her mom before her had it right. Maybe for all our advances, we've turned our simple world into something that has become harder & harder to attain or maintain. Like maybe it would be nice to live all together with your extended family. Think about sharing expenses with others. Think about taking turns making meals & sharing them with your family at the end of the day. Think about not having to worry about day care because there's always an aunt or grandma in the house. The younger men go to work, the older men take care of the yard & maintenance of the home. You'd always have babysitters, people to help with housework, maybe even share cars.

Hard to imagine, isn't it?? In a culture where we all have our own cars, a TV in every room, every child with their own bedroom & multiple bathrooms. Many of us don't even live in the same state, let alone the same neighborhood as our families. Haven't we lost something? Have we created a detached feeling at times. Maybe all these crazy cost increases are going to force us back to simpler things, simpler times. Maybe we'll all have to start depending on each other more, maybe we'll begin to help take care of those in our families...the young, the old & everyone in between. Its a great theory...something kind of cool to dream about. Hard to imagine though having to give up our independence, our privacy. (I am realistic enough to see ALL the shortcomings of this thinking...the things you're thinking right now!) But, oh what might we gain? What might our children gain by growing up surrounded by all the generations of their families? The values & wisdom shared of a generation past.

Being faced with the possibility of moving away in order to find decent jobs, makes me lament such an ideal. Its weighing out the necessity of providing for your family & a more secure future vs. the relationships & life you've built here. Not an easy decision to be sure, and I'm certainly not sure it will ever be a circumstance realized...time will tell. I'll keep you posted.

It Certainly is Golden....

This beautiful couple is my Mom & Dad...seen here at a luncheon given by the Cheektowaga Senior Center in celebration of all the couples in the town celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries. At this particular luncheon, there were 34 couples all gathered with family & friends to celebrate this milestone in their lives. That's quite amazing, don't you think? Especially in this day & age, and culture, where statistically every 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce. How awesome it was to be a part of this event celebrating Harry & Dottie Smith's 50 years together...known to me simply as Mom & Dad.

Take a look at them on day one....(gorgeous aren't they??!!)

So, 50 years, 4 children and 6 grandchildren later, we will gather family & friends for a private celebration of their golden event. This is my tribute to them. Their love, their life.

I love you Mom & Dad!!

Congratulations....you are a true inspiration.

Cars...Love to Hate Em...

This is not Alex's car. But I'm pretty sure its the twin sister... I just wonder if the owner of this particular car has had as much fun with their car as we have had with his?? Hmmm....I doubt it. Allow me to elaborate....

As most of you know, I flew down to West Palm Beach, FL, in order to spend a few days with my son & then jump into his "new" 1996 Volvo & drive the 1,500 miles back home to Buffalo. What is the saying about the best laid plans...??? One night after a late night hockey game, we come out of the rink & the new/old car won't start. Thank God we bought the oh so smart (if not fun) gift of AAA for him when he bought it. So, left standing in a parking lot at 12:30 in the morning, we watched it get towed away. The greatest thing was just prior to its ultimate removal, macho hockey players now turned Budweiser drinkers, all stood around grunting & speculating as to what might be the problem. Even with their apparent lack of expertise, they managed to accurately make the diagnosis...fuel pump. Twenty-four hours & $620 later (they did a few other repairs as well...hey, as long as we were at it!), the car now runs great! Yippee!! Our question now, is it do we trust it to make the trip all the way up the east coast? We've opted for no.

After much discussion between Alex & I, not to mention conference calls with Norm back home, coupled with escalating gasoline prices and the fear of breaking down in Backwoods, Georgia, we are now flying home courtesy of Jet Blue. This decision, albeit something that we are all at peace with now, leaves my son home in Buffalo for a month & a half without a car. Four drivers, two cars...should make for an interesting summer.

I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cost of repairs & final registrations for Alex's new/old car has completely tapped him out, and has taken a pretty big chunk of mom's money as well. Dad...he took care of the plane tickets. I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm staying a few extra days...in a house with 6 college guys...I'm sure they're thrilled. The upside...I'm staying a few extra days in 85 degree, beautiful sunshine with an ocean about 5 minutes away. Not a bad place to sit & lick your wounds. Of course, its Burger King or PB&J's for us for the next few days...but hey...we've got an ocean.

I HATE CARS!!!!!!!!!!! But did I mention the ocean??? See ya'll when we land.

Courage...

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God

will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

I can imagine that Joshua & the Israelites were feeling all of those things that God commanded against. They had just lost Moses and knew that they would now have to cross into the Promised Land without him. Moses was their leader and now he was gone & they had to figure out how to carry on without him. Sure, they had Joshua, but wasn't he like the #2 guy?? Could they trust him?? And what exactly would they find in this Promised Land? Would it fulfill all the hopes & dreams they had been holding out for in their many years of waiting? I'm sure they felt terrified, discouraged and anything but strong.

I was reminded of this scripture this past week while attending a church service at Christ Crusaders church on the East Side of Buffalo. You know those moments when the person preaching points out something from God's Word, usually something you've heard maybe 1,000 times, but all of the sudden, WHAM! It speaks to you... Its interesting to me that in this particular piece of scripture, God actually commands them to be strong & courageous. That's how well He knows His people. That's how in tune He is with their emotions, thoughts & hearts. As their Father, He knew that what lie ahead was going to be amazing, but they could not be afraid to take the steps forward necessary to grab hold of it. In essence, they had to trust God. So, He commands them to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS and to not be TERRIFIED or DISCOURAGED. To be perfectly honest, those last two words describe me more these days than the prior two. And that really makes me angry with myself! I want to be strong & I most definitely want to be courageous. In the face of where we still are in the financial world, things are looking grim. But like the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan, I have no idea what's lying ahead. I only know to hold fast to God's promises.

What we also see is that God makes the promise that HE would be with them wherever they would go. That alone gives me strength, and in that small bit of God's Words, I do find courage. Its a scripture that I have come back to over the last few days over & over again. I'm sure that's no accident. Sitting in the pew of Christ Crusaders Church, God allowed those words, His Words, to sink into my heart & mind. That was no accident. He knew that this week would be hard. He knew that I would be terrified of what lies ahead. He knew that that overwhelming feeling of discouragement would rear its ugly head and wash over me over & over this week. Its a daily battle, I'm not going to lie or sugar-coat it. But He commands my strength & courage...therefore He will provide it. He commands that I not be terrified nor discouraged..and then promises to be with me wherever I go. Because He also knows, that I cannot go it alone. And by stating it here, amongst His commands, He is letting us know that He never intended us to take the next step without him.

(Jordan River)

AAA or Jesus???

This is how cool God is...

My son calls us from Florida today because his new (to him anyway) car broke down on his way to work. He's pretty upset, says he drove over a speed bump on a side street & the car literally just stopped. Car won't turn over, no lights, no radio...essentially, no power. When he bought the car a few months back, Norm & I decided we would purchase a AAA membership for him...just in case. However, due to extreme busyness in the AAA offices, they never forwarded his membership card. So, naturally, he has to call his dad. Norm gives him the AAA number, gets on the phone with AAA himself, gets Alex's membership number...Alex sits & waits for the truck to arrive.

Here's where it gets cool. While Alex is sitting & stewing in his broken-down car, now already late for work, his really good friend Todd pulls up. Alex was shocked! Surprised, he asks Todd, "What are you doing here. " Todd simply replies..."I don't know. I just had this strange feeling that you needed help and so I decided to get in my car & go look for you." Isn't that incredible?? What's particularly cool about this is, while Norm is calling AAA & doing all his dad things, mom is praying. I'm praying that God would send Alex some help. Also prayed that whatever was wrong with the car would be able to be fixed and that it wouldn't be expensive..because NONE of us have much money right now. So, not only does Todd find Alex, when Alex tells him what happened, Todd lifts the hood, wiggles some wires attached the battery and moved the battery around, got in the car & presto...it starts!! Alex's response to this is..."Todd!!!! What are you JESUS??!!!!" He excitedly calls to tell us this story & its at this point that I tell him that I had been praying for him. He's like, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!" Hey, I'm his mom...that's what I do. He was so thrilled that he would be able to get himself to work & will, naturally, have someone take a look at the car so it doesn't happen again.

In my mind what's pretty cool too is that I KNOW it was killing Norm that he couldn't rush to his son's aid. So, isn't it really awesome that Alex's Father could? And bottom line, God got there faster than AAA ever could!

And as we were saying our good-byes with Alex on the phone, just before Norm clicked his phone shut...we overheard Alex say..."thank you Jesus". My sentiments exactly...

Fredonia it is....

Decision made... My daughter has agonized over the school choice for the past probably 7-8 months. After many discussions, walks around the internet as well as walks around campuses, she has chosen SUNY Fredonia as her college of choice. It really is a great campus, with a pretty awesome reputation. It suits her because its small (approximately 5,500 students), a low student/teacher ratio (approximately 25-1) and is only about 1 hour from home. She made the mature decision knowing that she will be starting school as a 17-year old, not knowing how she would handle being really far from home. This school fits her needs beautifully, has an awesome music program, which is something she would love to continue, and has a great reputation for its psychology department. And, as we all know, nothing has to be permanent. Should she decide to venture further from home down the road, that option will always be available to her. But for now, she is celebrating that monkey off her back, and is happy to know where her journey will be taking her this fall.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for my girl. Much appreciated! Check out some sweet pics of the campus....

Fredonia basketball...
















Music programs...















Library...













Kings Hall Auditorium...























I just wonder where my room is..... ;)

Hope....in Odd Places

So, we are at the 3 1/2 month mark here & still no job for my husband. Seems impossible!! What's even MORE impossible, is that we paid all our bills this month, once again, all on time. But it is possible. Its possible because God loves us! He loves us enough to bring miracles & blessings in our lives, every day. Maybe its something we have always received, but perhaps our comfort and trust in our own efforts did not allow us to really see what was in front of our faces. The truth is, He always cares for us. But the intensity to which it now shines right before our eyes takes my breath away. I have had the privilege of receiving work from people who are really in need. It is a complete "win/win" situation. I LOVE the fact that I can be a blessing to someone in need, whether its looking after their home & bills while out of the country, or cleaning a friend's newly built home, or babysitting a child who's parents have had some unexpected family issues to focus on. Its not just a job, you know? Its the wonderful gift of loving another. And sometimes, I even get paid. Not the reason I do it, mind you, but God knows my need as well, and I think I've made more money in the last 2-3 months then I ever did working in my last "real". Crazy huh? I then get the great privilege of being home pretty regularly for my teenage daugther, which Norm & I think is incredibly important. God is creative and lavish in His blessings...and in God's economy, its always a "win/win"! Its being blessed while being a blessing.

Life for my family remains to be challenging, frustrating, overwhelming...you name it. From our own financial concerns, to trying to help our daugther choose a college to attend in the fall while also trying to help out our son already in college. We also have some pretty serious family issues in our extended family as well as serious illnesses in the families of dear friends. It is the kind of stuff that can "rock your world", as the saying goes. But only if we let it. I'll admit it...some days, I do let it. But THANK GOD FOR GOD!! Because I know that I will not stay there. I know that I am not someone without hope. I am His child, and therefore, I always have hope for what's ahead. Its the basis of my faith, my foundation. So, when the storms of life come, and believe me, they do, we cower inside our 4 walls for a bit, but we know our foundation is strong. Our foundation is the living Saviour, Jesus Christ. He promises to never leave us, nor forsake us. So, even as life presents its challenges, sometimes new ones every day, I never feel He has left me or my family. We get knocked down sometimes, but we have the ability to get back on our feet, dust ourselves off, and continue on. He gives us a future. He gives us hope. This is our testimony. This is why we are followers of Christ. I can see how sometimes people turn to drugs, alcohol or contemplate suicide at times. These are people who face these harsh storms of life, but have no foundation. It makes me so sad! Because that's MY job to share with these people the hope that is their Saviour. That there is a way out. You see, He doesn't just belong to me. He died for ALL OF US. He has no favoritism, but wants to love & care for us all. All he asks is that we commit our hearts & souls to Him. Not a bad trade off, huh? Seems too easy. Actually, it is too easy...for us. But for Him, it cost Him His life. He endured ridicule, repeated beatings & and a horrific death in the form of crucifixion to insure that we all will have a place at His table one day. All we have to do is accept His gift, turn from our sin. Sweet deal huh? That's the love of our Lord.

He cares for me & my family each day of our lives. One day at a time is how we are living. But that's okay. Because I know that I will have all eternity to thank Him for the gift of life & for the love He brings to it. How do I describe God then? Miracles, life, hope, joy, strength, courage, forgiveness, patience, integrity, love....these are also the gifts that He has for us. I can live in these gifts every day of my life, no matter what the storms of life bring my way. That's the best gift of all.

College Road Trip...

The search continues to discover which school my daughter will spend the next 4 years of her life. Presuming, of course, that she stays at her first location. To be honest, her first choice of schools was SUNY Geneseo. Now wouldn't you know it...she gets accepted to 6 other schools, but NOT the one that is her first choice. Bummer. Yeah, we know, it "wasn't meant to be" and "God always has a plan", but in that moment of opening the letter that she had been anticipating for months only to find a denial, was crushing. Not just for her, but for her parents who hate to see their daughter disappointed. There were tears, and a few days of complete frustration, but she's coming around. Praise God, she has options. Many options. Like I said, she's been accepted to 6 other universities. Now comes the challenge of deciding which will suit her best & where she feels she'll be comfortable enough to tackle the arduous task of living on her own for the first time while accomplishing success in her chosen major of psychology. No small task. So, one day a few weeks ago we all took the trek to University of Pittsburgh to check out the campus. Had the tour, etc. She likes it, but it just might be a tiny bit too far from home (4 hours) for my 17 year old. Time will tell & God knows...so here are some shots from the day....

Norm getting serious about the college road trip with his 2 girls!











Did I mention the flat tire we got on our way down?? Contrary to the above picture, I was driving at the time. So at roughly 70 mph & we get a flat on some highway, somewhere in the middle of PA. Took a whole hour off our schedule!











Yeah, we had to call AAA & this dude changed it for us. He thought we were nuts for taking his picture...but I just couldn't resist. All part of the experience of the day!

What you see as you drive onto campus. Pitt actually sits right in the middle of the city of Oakland. So why is it University of Pittsburgh??

This is an old cathedral that sits in the middle of campus and has been converted to classrooms. The next couple shots are of the inside. Beautiful...






























An upstairs view of the student union.











The Heinz Memorial Chapel. Gorgeous...these are some of the inside...

A campus ballroom. Everything has so much history to it (just a fancy way of saying its an old campus! But beautiful...)

Main road leading through campus.

So, bottom line, I think our girl liked what she saw. Its a busy campus, in a very urban setting (very unlike Geneseo), but so much happening there. Again, time will tell...

This is just one choice....we'll see where the next college road trip leads....

(Oh....and not only did our day begin with a flat tire...it ended with a parking ticket. If I was someone who believed in "signs"...these may not bode well.)