Life Marches On...

January, 2011. Hard to believe. Also hard to believe I haven't sat & put thoughts down here since May! A new year. Once again. What will we make of it? What lies ahead? What changes do we want to make? What changes will be made for us?

These types of questions always plague me as a new year rolls around. I'm sure I'm not alone. I'm not necessarily talking about "resolutions", although those are pretty popular this time of year. All you need do is walk into your local gym to see that's true. I'm talking about anticipation. Some will be good. Some, possibly, not so good. We can make choices for our lives, but how much is not really in our control? It's a time to take stock, to reassess, to evaluate. A time to make decisions about our future. Or at least the next few months. Norm & I have been looking for a house. We're really excited about this & have approached it with a sense of adventure. But as the months have rolled by with no luck in finding the "right place", our excitement is slowly being replaced with discouragement. We made a decision about our future, but circumstances have not complied! And that...is....life. Don't get me wrong, we're not hanging our heads, by no means. We are pushing forward, making our plans. But I have to wonder how much of it is really in our hands? We like to think we can plan our future, decide where we'll live, work, how many kids we'll have, etc. But how much is really in our control?

Our kids were home for the holidays & it was a wonderful time! So fabulous to have us all under the same roof for a time again! We had family in town & got closer to extended family as my son's girlfriend & family spent time with us as well. It was impossible to imagine a time like this when they were children. In that time, its hard to fathom things like children living away from you, moving to different parts of the country, going to college, graduating from college, having girlfriends/boyfriends who are potential spouses! No matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, its hard to not feel like "it will always be this way". Reality is, life marches on. It grows, it changes, it adds & detracts from our circle. It brings joy, it brings pain. It brings successes, it brings failures. It brings gain, it brings loss. Who can really know what is around the corner?

It's in understanding that, that I must come to faith. I must wholeheartedly believe that the God of this universe, my Abba Father, has my life in His hands. No matter what life brings, no matter where I find myself, I am His. He gives me all I need to live this life. He provides my intellect, my strength, my ability to work, to find joy. If I'm smart, I'll remember to also ask Him for wisdom in order to handle the things that life brings my way. Most importantly though, He gives me love. Because He IS love and I am HIS, I therefore have His love in me. He gives me the ability to love all those around me. Because He first loved me. (1 John 4:19) It's truly believing that He loves me & walks with me at all times, during the good, the bad & the ugly, that my faith allows me to move forward each & every day.

And let us not forget to celebrate this life that we have been given! It is a gift! It will be short, so enjoy the moments, put pettiness aside, don't waste time. Laugh often, love always. Because life marches on...

There's No Place Like Home...

What is this urge we parents/women have to make all around us comfortable? I can look back at countless times in my life where making a "home" cozy & welcoming was my #1 priority. Norm & I have moved 7 times (yikes!) since we're married & worked hard on each every one of them to make them feel like home. No matter the size of the space, we had that need/urge to make it inviting, welcoming...home. The most vivid memory of creating coziness, of course, happened while preparing for the birth of my 2 children. Little creatures that knew nothing of this world or their surroundings, we were convinced needed a lovely & safe space of their own. I can remember being 6-7 months pregnant with my first and painting & papering the nursery. Back then we didn't realize that painting was a big "no-no" for a pregnant mom! Nonetheless, we brought that little bundle of joy into its carefully prepared nest, and all was right with the world! With my second, it was exactly the same. Living in a different home, we worked diligently on preparing a safe, cozy & quiet place for her to exist. I'm sure she would not have been upset by walls whose colors weren't "baby appropriate" or if she had to use a comforter set that belonged to her older brother. But as her dutiful & loving parents, we worked at creating what we deemed to be just the right space for her.

And on & on it goes.... Even now, as my children, both of whom go to school away from home, made plans to come home for the summer, we got to work preparing places of comfort & privacy for them. Since they're young adults used to living away from mom & dad, we wanted to be sure to give them each a space to unwind after work, or just settle in for a long phone conversation uninterrupted by the rest of the family. We love our children & are blessed beyond measure to have them both here for 2 whole precious months! We cleaned, reorganized, built closet shelving, new bedding, etc. all in anticipation of their arrival. After all, they are my children & I want to be able to give them the best I can offer. I want them to feel "at home", welcome.

I heard an amazing sermon this weekend about eternity. The gist of it was the idea of "coming home". It was expressed like this, "life here on earth is like living in a hotel, eternity is being home". It really struck me. The point was, the hotel offered shelter, comfort, food, etc. Why, then does it not feel like home? That longing that is inside all of us for home, is described as not just a destination, but a desire to be where we belong. In our small way, we prepared for the homecoming of our children. Would God do anything less? I can only imagine the homecoming that awaits us with Christ. I envision our Heavenly Father waiting with open arms to welcome us, just as I do each time my son's plane lands or I pull up in front of my daughter's dorm. What's so amazing is that it is me who is eager with anticipation! We think of eternity with our Lord & with each other, but do we actually consider that He is eagerly awaiting our arrival? That he is excited to see us, to put His arms around us, show us the lovely place that has been prepared for us? Its hard to imagine the God of the Universe being that intimate with each of us, but that is His desire.

My time with my children will be wonderful this summer, but I already know it will go way too fast. Someday, we won't have to say good-bye to each other. Someday we will be home. For all eternity. And in the immortal words of the ever-wise Dorothy, "there's no place like home".

Haves or Have Nots??

There are times in my life when I'm not sure which of these I am. Once upon a time, Norm & I worked, saved & purchased the beautiful house in the suburbs, complete with in-ground pool & fireplace, essentially equating to the "American Dream". I guess at that point we would be viewed as the "haves". Through a series of work changes & job losses...all that is gone. We moved from the 4 bedroom house to the 3 bedroom apartment & then the next 3 bedroom apartment. I guess at this point we would be considered the "have nots".

Funny thing about "having" & "not having"....its all a matter of perspective. I heard a minister preach an amazing message once & it really has stuck with me. He said that only 8% of the world's population owns a car (we have 2). He said that about a billion people do not have access to clean water & about 800 million people won't eat today. Every day I can turn on a faucet & effortlessly fill a glass, a teapot, wash a dish or bathe. I have never gone a day without a meal, unless I had decided to do so. He said that roughly a billion people live on less than $1 a day and that experts say it would take roughly $20 billion to provide water, food & healthcare to the entire world - about what the US spends in one year on ice cream. These are staggering statistics! Compared to the world around me, I don't have much. There is a great concentration of "wealth" in the area I live in. But "the world around me" is NOT the world. He said that we run into danger when we perceive "our world" to be "the world". We as Americans can easily fall into the trap of needing bigger, better, more. We are constantly bombarded with messages that teach us that this is what we need, that this will make us happy, that this will give us a "life".

Everything I have is a gift from God. Even the ability to work, to be healthy & strong enough to earn the money to provide for our family. No matter if I'm living in the big 4 bedroom house or the small 3 bedroom apartment, I am warm, I am safe, I am fed. Sadly, how many people in the world can say that?

Jesus teaches us in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 - "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share." I don't think God has a problem with our "having", I think the problem lies in our willingness to share what we have with the those in need. It's understanding that the gifts that He's seen fit to give us, are not just for our enjoyment. And its not just about money, its about giving of ourselves, giving of our time & our energy. Its learning to put others first, it requires sacrifice. Its true generosity. Not always an easy task, I know. The minister described this as having "life that is truly a life".

I see it as being content too. We are taught in Phil. 4:12 - "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Its funny again that word "perspective". Compared to the life I had, I am living in want. But compared to 92% of the world's population...I am rich. I can honestly say that losing our house was a difficult time in our lives. Amazingly, I can remember being at total peace when it became time to move on. God had provided a lovely, safe place for our family to live. We may not always have everything we want, but He always makes sure we have what we need. The fact that God has taken care of every need we have had since then is an awesome testimony to how He loves & cares for His children. He only asks that we then turn & do the same.

Our church has been raising money for Sierra Leone, one of the poorest countries in the world. We have been working at digging wells, providing sanitation systems, farming, providing medical care, schools, churches, etc. They are doing a benefit concert on March 12th at the church & all the proceeds are going to help the people of Sierra Leone. It doesn't get easier than that! We enjoy a great concert & the people of Sierra Leone get fresh water. You can go to http://www.thechapel.com/ to find out more. Also check out http://www.ltlol.com/ - another amazing ministry started by one of the youth worship leaders in the church that has some pretty creative ideas on how to raise money for clean drinking water for Sierra Leone.

And we don't have to cross an ocean, continent or country to find those in need. God has placed each one of us right where He wants us. Our city is in need, our neighbors are in need. Take a look around....we can all do something because He provides everything. That's a life worth living...

Oh Christmas Tree....and Gratitude

It's amazing to me that I haven't taken "key in hand" to update this blog in over a year! Guess its been a heck of a year... During that time, I went from losing my dream job of working with youth/college students, to a series of part time jobs - including house cleaning & home organization projects. After that, I took the wrong job for the right reason, working in a law firm that paid well, had great benefits & was something my family needed at the time since my husband was unemployed. While I loved the people that I worked with, I honestly don't think there was one day that I actually enjoyed being there. I'm sure in today's economy, many people are working jobs they need over jobs they love. In other words, you do what you have to do for your family. I remember praying every day on my way to work that God would allow me to do my job with excellence, with a spirit of joy & with a grateful heart. I also prayed that He would show me His ultimate purpose for placing me in a place where I not only did not enjoy the job I did, but was opposed to the very core of the law they practiced. Not a great motivator to get out of bed each morning. I would pray that God would let me know when it was time to move on & that He would provide what would come next. And after a year of loving on the people I worked with & doing my very best to be a blessing in a tough place, He brought along another wonderful & unexpected opportunity.

That was 6 months ago. I have been happily working for friends of mine & I still pray every day on my way to work. Only now not to get me through the day, but to continue to be a blessing to those I work for & do my job with excellence. I pray that each day I accomplish this. That would be a successful job in my estimation!

One of the most beautiful things about this new job is the amazing people I work for. They are kind, hard working, fun to be around, men of integrity & treat me very well. They understand that no matter how dedicated I am to my job, my first priority will always be my family. Being good Christian men, they get this. I was allowed much flexibility in my work schedule in order to spend time with my son & daughter while they were home for Christmas. We packed alot into a short time & I'm so grateful to God that I was afforded the time to do it. And they didn't release me to my family grudgingly, making me feel guilt-ridden. They lavished the spirit of Christmas on me AND my family, and graciously encouraged us to go spend time together. I am grateful or these men that God has seen fit to place me with. I am grateful to God.

Up top is a dorky photo of me & my family as we hunted for the perfect Christmas tree. Yeah, we know we're dorky... But oh so much fun to be together! The other picture is of my son & his girlfriend Jen, another gift God has brought into our family & we love her. I am grateful to God for my family. I am grateful to God. All in all, I faced my Christmas this year with a spirit of anticipation, of joy, of peace.

I pray yours was the same... <3

Merry Christmas (slightly late) & may God richly bless your 2010!!!

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!