Where I've been....where I'm going...

I've been dormant for awhile..a long while.  I've been busy with the mundane and not so mundane things of life. I have managed to keep up with the important things; a blog for Ellie to document her first year, of course the things I must do to maintain a house and job. Otherwise, I've appeared dormant.  I have been doing an amazing amount of introspection.  It has just in the last few days dawned on me that I am: a 50 year old divorced woman, the daughter of two elderly parents, and the mom of five amazing kids who are in various stages of "leaving (& or ? returning) to the nest.  In a matter of a mere few days, my baby girl will graduate from college and soon after, my baby boy will graduate from High School.  I've decided to some degree, that now it's "my time" now what that will look like, I'm not entirely sure. Not sure where it will be, how it will feel or how it will play out, but for sure, I know that it's my time. It doesn't sound like much to see those words, but it actually makes my heart beat a little faster when I type them. For me to decide even this much is huge, really big and so for today, without hesitation, I can say, it's time to think about ME

Just something to think about...

Just something to think about....

Sometimes I think 
What will people say of me 
When I'm only just a memory 
When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love 
When no one else would show up 
Was I Jesus to the least of those 
Was my worship more than just a song 

I want to live like that 
And give it all I have 
So that everything I say and do 
Points to You 

If love is who I am 
Then this is where I'll stand 
Recklessly abandoned 
Never holding back 

I want to live like that 
I want to live like that 

Am I proof 
That You are who you say You are 
That grace can really change a heart 
Do I live like Your love is true 

People pass 
And even if they don't know my name 
Is there evidence that I've been changed 
When they see me, do they see You 

I want to live like that 
And give it all I have 
So that everything I say and do 
Points to You 

by Sidewalk Prophets

Thanks be to God...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanks be to God...

Thankful be, thanksgiving tree









the sweets~!







the kids...andrew. maura. thomas.kate & grace

 

While it's still Thanksgiving weekend, I want to remember my blessings. I have so many.  Thursday found us together at Mom & Dad's to celebrate with Hollie, Eunice and Al, Bootie, Amy, Punky, Josh and James, Kaitlyn, Gracie, Thomas, Andrew and Maura, Jacob and Olivis...wow!  It was a house full as well as a table full.  We laughed alot and remembered fun times.  The food...well, maybe this picture will do it some justice! After we ate, and ate some more, the kids went out and played in the leaves and threw the pigskin...a pot of coffee and coconut cake later, folks began to leave.  The kids went over to Keith's to have dinner with him. All I will say about that is...the tradition continues...

I am THANKFUL for so many things...my health, my job, my parents, my kids, this girl



baby el on her first Thanksgiving










On Friday, we met and headed out for Black Friday shopping.  I was encouraged to make my yearly pilgramage to the mall...what a mad house!  I got a few things, then we headed back to Mom & Dad's for dinner of turkey soup and hot rolls...good stuff!  Kaitlyn was feeling a little worse, and we left there and she went to Patient First.  Poor girl, she had a double ear infection and walking pneumonia.  That brings us to today...Andrew has been here all day.  It's been fun to have him around.  I made a big pot of chili and we watched Virginia Tech beat UVA 36-0.  It was a sweet win!  The big girls and David made it back to the Burg safely, and although tired, I'm thinking we are all thankful for the love and support of family, both heavenly and here on earth.  I have a lot to be thankful for, and so I am!

Let the holidays begin!

The holiday tree at Stony Point...beautiful!

Redeemed

Redeemed...

Isaiah 43

43But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. ²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you

store.wildolivetees.com

Things that make me happy...

This baby girl smiling...
and the Autumn sun shining

and the beauty of fall and it's
many, many blessings

good coffee (and good college teams!)

Chicken noodle soup and LIFE!!!


These are just a few of my favorite things!
So blessed that GOD cares enough to love me even'
when I can't even love myself  sometimes.

Blessings of Fall...

Over the weekend, Thomas (now forever known as "Uncle Tom") & I went up to Blacksburg to see the girls.  The trip up was a good one thank goodness!  I don't like to drive anyway, and even less so after working all day.  We got there in time for dinner.  Gracie & Dave decided that Cracker Barrel would be just fine.  The "old country store" was lit up like...well a Christmas tree!  I love walking around in there and seeing all the neat stuff.  After dinner we were all sufficiently stuffed and headed back to Gracie's apt. David, Gracie & Thomas headed over to Dave's abode to watch a movie. The three "adults" watched Shrek II!

Me, feeling older than I am was happy to take a nice long shower and read myself to sleep at Gracie's.  I slept with the window open and the crisp mountain air was delicious!  I slept really well.  Saturday morning, Gracie and I headed out to the Farmer's Market.  The Daliah's were so pretty and we loved the fried pumpkin pie made on the spot for us.  After that, we needed coffee.  We headed to Next Door Bake Shop for some Java.

While there, there was the sweetest little old man sitting with maybe his daughter.  They were obviously talking about some serious stuff, like end of life issues, and every once in awhile, he would reach over and pat her arm.  He was so sweet, and reminded me so much of dad.

For our afternoon "activity" we were going to Joe's Trees for a pumpkin...well we ended up heading to the thrift store and Kroger instead...I made dinner of meatballs and rice with a big salad for dinner and we headed to Pearisburg to see the girls.  We finished watching the excellent ending to the Tech game and had a great time just sitting around talking.  Gracie got the bright idea to give El's her sucker.  That baby had a sugery mess from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet...she enjoyed every minute of it!  Guess who got to hold her during that escapade!  She is so sweet and quite a little spit fire when she wants to be.  In her defense, she was teething, as she had her two bottom teeth pop through yesterday!  Our baby is growing up...too fast.

El's and her first sucker!

Late in the evening, we heard a gosh awful sound of every siren in Giles county going off.  I thought something catastrophic had happened...we could stand in the front yard and see all of the lights. Come to find out, it's "Fire Prevention Week" and it was all a parade....well you could have fooled me! It made Jasper bark and it woke El up...

El's & "Uncle Tom"

Jasper

El's after her bath

  

Hanging upside down..and loving it!

Thomas with the Mountains in the background

Beautiful...the leaves are just beginning to turn

Gracie and I headed back to Christiansburg and Thomas stayed in Pearisburg.  I slept so good again Sat night.  On Sunday, we bummed around and headed back to the River city to start another work week....I guess I need to stay home next weekend!  I've been gone for two weekends in a row, and the house and laundry look like it.  It's all good though, because all of that will be waiting for me when I get to it...baby's and kids don't keep!

Just as I Am

The Mariner Arena, and the Bromo Seltzer Tower in the background

ust as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

refrain:
I come broken to be mended
I come wounded to be healed
I come desperate to be rescued
I come empty to be filled
I come guilty to be pardoned
by the blood of Christ the Lamb
And I’m welcomed with open arms,
praise God just as I am.

Just as I am, I would be lost,
But mercy and grace my freedom bought,
And now to glory in your cross,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

The view from our 11th floor room....

The Radisson Lord Baltimore Inn 

Love this shot

Loved this quote

Beautiful hibiscus 

View of ships in the Inner Harbor

Another ship in the harbor

Now THAT'S a salad!

The seafood was to die for!

Loved this little guy, he perched right by our table

So touching, almost holy. Steel from the WTC NY in front of the WTC Baltimore

I was lucky enough to go to Baltimore this weekend to see and hear Beth Moore. It was a wonderful weekend and we talked about such a mundane things as...NETS, yes NETS. Before I get into the heart of the conference, I have to say that the above song absolutely speaks to my heart.  I've found myself humming/singing it off and on all day.  I especially love the refrain.  I so needed this weekend retreat, and I was not disappointed.  I truely feel like I heard the voice of God. Actually, I know that I did!  Up next...all I learned about "Nets"..