Yeah! Happy Thanksgiving!

We have had a good day at my house. The day started with a phone call from a local church wanting to schedule a second appointment with Brian. God is good. We are so excited. They also want me to come to this interview. So, I might have to do a little shopping for clothes (won't that just be terrible!). The entire day has been pretty calm and quiet. I like those days.

Tomorrow, we will be going to my parents' house and stuffing our faces from lunch til bedtime. (We do nothing unless we do it big!) We will be "making memories" as Kadie would say. We are fortunate to have all of our family living close. We are able to celebrate everything together.

Happy Thanksgiving! "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Pssst! Christmas is Coming!

Christmas spirit is alive at my house! I love Christmas! A few weeks ago, Brian began reminding us that "Christmas is Coming". We have already started watching Christmas movies. (We have somewhere around thirty to watch this year. ;)

I know, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. That's OK. We'll eat turkey and spend the day enjoying family just like most people. The only difference is that since it is at my mom's house, I can decorate for Christmas this weekend!

OK, I know, there's something wrong with me. I can't help it. I've always loved Christmas.

Not What We Wanted to Hear

The medical examiner has ruled that Jacob's death was caused by asphyxiation. The police detective determined it was accidental and apparently, she was very kind when she called to share this info with my sister. This is not exactly what we were wanting to hear. We wanted to be told that Jacob had a heart condition that we couldn't have known about. I have to keep telling myself that if God wanted it different, it would have been. I know that I have no medical training, (other than motherhood) but I had been told several years ago in college that children are so resilient, that if there is nothing else wrong, they can be revived. Although Jacob received CPR almost immediately, he never revived. So, for my sanity, I will believe that God took him before the accident in order to spare Jacob.

I wish baths helped me like they do my sister. I hope she is able to get all wrinkly and pruny tonight. I will have to struggle through by losing myself in a book. If you read this, please keep my family in your prayers as Satan will attack us with guilt and try to convince us that we could have changed what God had already ordained.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Well, not really, but it's coming! On Thursday to be exact. For exactly one day.

I love colder weather (not arctic). I love snuggling in my bed with my blankets and hubby. I love wearing sweaters and being able to drink hot coffee without breaking into a sweat. If I could, I would live farther north where they get real snow and when it gets cold, it stays that way. It would be such a novelty for this OKC girl.

I've been after Brian to let us take a vacation where we could show the girls (and ourselves) what real snow is like. I think if he had a job, we would be planning it.

I will enjoy Thursday. I will wear my sweater. I will snuggle in my bed. And, I will drink my hot coffee without sweating!

Boycotts - Do They Work?

Several months ago, McD's began to openly support a homosexual political agency. The American Family Association (AFA) encouraged a boycott, so I waved bye-bye to McD's. Within a few months, McD's reversed their decision. The AFA recently sent out an alert regarding Pepsi Co. They donated $500,000 to a homosexual group after being sent two letters by the AFA encouraging them to remain neutral. They didn't. So, now I get to say bye-bye to Pepsi products. For me this includes the restaurants that serve Pepsi products (Taco Bell, KFC, Little Caesar's and Pizza Hut to name a few). I would encourage you to join me in this choice to express your values and to support a boycott of all Pepsi products.

I know that for some (including my sister) it would be a huge sacrifice, but seeing the result of the McD's boycott I can only hope to see the same result with Pepsi Co.

You can go to the AFA website (www.afa.net) to read the article and learn more.

The Imagination of a Child

I have no fear that my daughters use their imaginations. During school yesterday, Kadie was asked - What planet would you like to visit and why. Her response was, "I would like to go to Mars and see if Martians are real." When I asked her about it, she said that there are martians on Duck Dodgers and she wants to know if they are real. Today, very seriously, she told her daddy that she thinks there is a 50/50 chance that Pokemon are real.

Laughing - It's Good For You

My oldest, Kadie, made me laugh today. However, it didn't start out funny. I was telling her to do something and she was ignoring me. So I said, "Am I speaking in German? Is that why you aren't doing what I said?" Kadie's response was, "You don't speak German, Papa does!" I responded, "Papa doesn't speak German!" She said (and I quote), "He knows all of the curse words!" I was shocked for a brief moment before defending my dad by telling her that he may know them, but he certainly doesn't say them. Then I went to my room to laugh and call my mom and tell her what Kadie had said. Fortunately, Papa has a great sense of humor.

Contentment

I am content today. I have my work under control, my children are happy and I have nothing on my calendar for today. I am content. Have you ever looked up the definition of contentment? Webster says it is "ease of mind or satisfaction". I am one of those people that hate to have things hanging over them waiting to be done. I usually have to have everything finished and out of the way before I can relax. Contentment is not usually something that I can claim. I'm working on it. Paul says in Phillippians 4:12-13, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." So I know God desires this for me.

I was looking for the word "content" in the concordance and came across this verse. In Proverbs 19:23 it says, "The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." It speaks to me. When I look at that verse, I don't take it to mean that because I believe in Jesus, I will never have troubles. I take it to mean that because I believe in Jesus, the troubles have no power over me. I have troubles. I could list them out and dwell on them. I could work myself into a good, old-fashioned pity party. I could shut God out and blame Him for allowing me to have troubles. For me, contentment is being able to fear (a reverent awe) the Lord and trust that what He says, He will do. Because I fear Him, I can place my troubles into the right perspective and praise God because of them.