A New Start

Well, it's official. I am changing career paths once again.

After completing my fourth year as a school secretary,

I have decided to stay home and take care of our 2 year

old grandson.

To be a stay at home gramma has been on my wish list

for many years. It was a hard decision and yet an easy

decision all rolled into one:

Hard...because of the financial aspect, as well as the "staying at

home all day" aspect.

Easy...because I love all four of our grandchildren, and it is

a real blessing that I will be able to spend all of this quality

time with one of them.

I am praying that I will be a great care giver -

one who is patient, kind, creative and wise.

May the Lord help me to be a blessing.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Life's a Beach

Well, life is really not always a beach, but it sure is WONDERFUL when your day is filled with GRANDCHILDREN!

We so enjoyed our time together with all of our kiddo's - the grown up ones and the wee ones....

rich blessings we do not take for granted.

Thank the Lord for the joy of family... truly children (and grandchildren) are a gift from the Lord.

June 16, 1986

I can't believe that it has been 25 years since my dad went to be with the Lord.
Some of my favorite memories about dad are:

• When we were little we went swimming and dad would swim under water and let us ride on his back.


• Almost EVERY night he would make popcorn with peanuts and we would eat to our heart's content. (I think that is why I still love popcorn.)


• We used to have a wonderful time playing cards, with Mom, Dad, Grampa and Gramma.


• He could build ANYthing. Houses, barns, bridges, wood splitters, christmas tree stands and a cradle for his granddaughter's babydoll.


• He loved to fish, hunt and farm.


• He always made home, feel like home.


• 
  I am so thankful, that when I get to heaven, my Dad will be there, to help me feel at home!

May I?

May I just say that I can't believe how fast the month of May has flown by?

This school year seems to be one of the fastest I can recall.

I am so thankful for the beautiful green leaves/flowers and signs of new life that surround me.

One good thing about winter in central new york - is spring!

May the Lord bless you this day....He is so worthy to be praised!

May 7

Tomorrow, marks the 33rd anniversary of the death of our first-born son, Christopher James. He was a beautiful boy - 4lb 13 ounces of cuteness. When our son, Matthew was born, I was amazed at how much he resembled his brother, Christopher.

It seems like these 33 years have really flown by. Even though it has been so very many years, the loss really doesn't seem any easier than it was those many years ago. I wonder what our life would have been if we didn't lose our baby boy.

For the most part, I think that his death made me a much better person in many ways:

• 
  
  I became a Christian after his death


• 
  
  I gained such an intense sense of the value of life, children and family


• 
  
  I have such an appreciation for the promise of Heaven, eternal life and the Word of God.


• 
  
  I have been able to encourage others who have lost their children, sharing the comfort that I myself received from the Lord after Christopher's death.

Tonight, as I sign off, I pray that anyone reading this, that may have lost a child, would turn to the Lord for the comfort strength and healing that He alone gives to those who seek Him.

What's next?

This past saturday we held our first ladies 'event' which was called "Celebrate Spring". My dear friend and I worked like crazy ladies and transformed the entry way to our church into a 'garden'. It looked great. We had lots of finger foods and made smoothies (we really wanted to do something a little different). The ladies really seemed to enjoy everything.

Since I am the new Women Ministry Leader, I wanted the ladies of our church to get to know me better, so I shared my testimony, tried to talk a little about spring, but mostly talked about winter...and how the Lord uses the difficult seasons of our lives to draw us to himself.

Today I learned that I did not get the new job I had interviewed for...which is okay. Unfortunately, today was a very stressful day. VERY stressful. I feel like my job is a 'winter' experience for me. Almost, every day, I feel the weight of this job. Sometimes, spring pokes it's head out, and I feel good about what I accomplish at work, but mostly, the job is bigger than me.

I guess I better take my own advice and draw close to God....I need His help. I am so thankful He is eager to come to my rescue. He is my 911 and He never fails.

Pondering

It seems that most times I am sitting at the computer, I am

pondering....

I guess the empty page and the lateness of the hour,

naturally lends itself to wondering about the many

issues life brings my way.

Tonight....I am pondering the devotions that I am

supposed to lead on March 26th.

The ladies luncheon is about "celebrating spring".

I am torn between just plain sharing my testimony,

to trying to blend my testimony with a "message"

about Spring.

I have been jotting notes, but it is time for the

rubber to meet the road.

Please pray that the Lord will direct my

thoughts, and that what I share will be a

blessing to the ladies.

He knows what I am supposed to share.

I just need to listen for His voice!