winter blues

What is it about winter that brings depression along with it. I have heard it is the lack of sunshine. Seems funny with glistening white snow. Brisk temperatures to bring alive your senses. Beautiful Christmas lights sparkling. You would think our sleep would be better with cozy warm quilts and warming blankets. The joy of the season and celebrating the birth of a savior that gave us eternal life should be enough to keep us going all winter long. I tend to be one that tears up with every slow Christmas carol, get sad when I think of all the wonderful things I would love to buy my family but can't afford, dwell on the loved ones that won't be sitting at the Christmas table. Then I think about the shivering families who no longer have a home and will be cold all winter and growling stomachs. Does our greed as small as it may be belittle the needs of these people.? I am trying to stay happy, be generous and loving and remember that God loves us and is in control. Every season has it's place and beauty. I prefer fall and spring but I know that every day is a blessing and to waste a day with my precious family would be foolish. We should enjoy every moment of every day because time is something we can't get back. The wrinkles on my face remind me of this daily. Sooooo that is my goal is tto not let the winter blues get the best of me this year. Now off to warm my cozy covers :)

moms are the best medicine

Being sick the last couple days i remember when I was a child and just laying on mom's lap and letting her rub my hair helped me to feel better. I don't remember rushing to the doctor much. I remember the bottle of green medicine we had to take for belly aches that was horrid that seemed to never leave the cupboard.I remember the over the counter little yellow allergy pills. And very rarely we would get an antibiotic. Those were the good days because it tasted so much better than anything in mom's cupboard and was cold on a sore throat. Mostly I remember staying in bed all day, room temperature broth and jello water(my favorite). We would wear an inch of vicks vapo rub with one of dads sweat socks pinned around our neck. Vaporizers in our room and mom filling the humidifier running in the hall. 7up for colds or Ginger Ale for for upset stomachs. Mom would also chop up cough drops in little pieces so we wouldn't choke on them. It meant we were getting better if we could progress to oatmeal or eggs and toast. I don't remember being sick that much, but it never seemed like a burden for mom when we were. She read us stories or colored with us, or would make us a bed on the couch if we wanted to watch a special show on tv. She just took care of us. Alot of nights she would sleep sitting beside our bed or laying at the foot of our bed.Dad worked second shift but she would always leave notes for him on the counter with how we were doing. I know I don't have the patience of my mother, but I would like to think I have just a bit of her gentle touch when caring for my babies.

Glorious Day Jesus Video By Casting Crowns.wmv

Laura Story - Blessings

Mornings of hope

Good Morning everyone--I think. After working third shift for over a year, I can officially say I am NOT a morning person. Getting up at 0630 with Chels on the days I am off is well for lack of a better word--difficult for me. But I do like what mornings represent. An awakening. A brand new start to a day. The unwrapping of hope. We can step outside and take a breathe of cool air and start all over no matter what happened yesterday. The sun and animals are slowly peaking out. Slowly, house lights pop on one by one. For some reason getting up in the middle of the day just doesn't feel the same. My husband and I watched a Christmas movie last night---don't laugh I don't have any decorations up yet or anything. Anyway-the plot of the movie was how sometimes when life is good and we are blessed there is still one piece missing from our life to make it all work. Sometimes that piece has been right there in front of us all along but we are so stuck on holding on to grief or fear or anger that we rob our selves of having a complete life. I have been there. I have so much anger brewed up inside of me for several what I have saw as tragedies in my life. My first "boyfriend" died shortly after a kidney transplant due to rejection at age 13, I had a miscarriage in 1996 and I could not understand what I did wrong, my best friend died at age 17 in 1998 and I was devastated. Chelsi's father left and could find "love" with everyone but me when she was just a baby. My grandmother's house and father's homestead was taken by the tornado just minutes after my dad got grandma out of the house. She died a month later from a heart attack.My nephew was born with seizures and we stood in fear wondering if he would live through those first few days in 2004. I lost my job in 2009 for no fault of my own simply because they could pay someone less. My grandmother had to suffer from the debilitating effects of alzheimer's after following all the rules and taking care of herself her whole life. My list goes on and on and on and on and started with "minor" tragedies in school....but I still slowly diffuse my hurt and anger over things like this. The bottom line is that it is not for me to understand, just to accept. I have to forgive the people that hurt me, or am robbing myself of happiness. My life is so full of blessings I can't count them and I pray almost daily that more of the hurt inside me be taken away. I hope everyone can find that refuge in God. That release. The devil surely tries to imprison us with misery and pile the gloom on so high that sometimes it is hard to see the beauty of something as simple as a new morning. I will keep looking though, and trying to be grateful for everything wonderful that has been provided. Enjoy the warm temps and sunshine today everyone. I think a white winter is not too far ahead of us.

What a dreary day, but was a good one to sleep this mornin. Shawn has been busy at work fixin up a truck for us to have as our second vehicle. Grateful that he has the talent to work on things to save us money. Went to the health fair today and my fasting blood sugar was 90 so that was good, but realize more and more every day just how unhealthy I have become. I don't feel I am lazy. I sleep different times than other people but I think over all less, I have so much on my plate I feel like I am in a whirlwind most days--yet I feel like my health and well being have no spot at all on my roster right now. That has to change. I feel selfish when I take time for myself, but am beginning to realize that the only selfish thing would be to have a heart attack or stroke or some horrible disease because I didn't put a little effort in to myself. That would be cutting my time with my family short. I can make lists and organizational charts and plans, and if i don't actually have time to follow through than they are pointless.
Shawn got all the bikes put away today, and I am gonna work on the shrubs and front porch tomorrow. I also need to finish cleaning carpets, putting away halloween deco, 2 loads of laundry, a few groceries, preparing for PALS teaching thursday/friday, preparing for girlscouts Friday, cleaning out fridge and giving the main bathroom a good scrubbing.(somehow playing in the leaves last evening for the kids resulted in a destruction of the bathroom). I have to start preparing for Christmas at some point and figure out how much more i have to work to get stuff for the kiddos and hope they enjoy their gifts. I feel so overwhelmed sometimes, but at the same time love caring for my family and don't see myself doing many unnecessary tasks at all.
I would like to add some of my favorite recipes that we like to this as time allows, but am still trying to figure out layouts and such. Well, things need done and I am getting sleepy--only 4 hours sleep today and still have to drive in to chelsi basketball practice in a bit.

Courage

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says... 'I'll try again tomorrow.'" ~ Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey