Psalm 77

Our entryway is textured and will soon be painted. Bruce will come back on Monday to start on the bathroom. Feels SO good to see some progress. I have a big change at work...our biggest account was bought out by another company. Working with them requires a lot more data entry than it did before. I can feel it in my back and neck tonight...just stressful. The most relaxing part of my day was a trip to the dentist...yikes!

Thought for the day

When in trouble we can begin to think "Just my luck. The High God goes out of business just the moment I need Him." But that is just our grief speaking. We have to make a choice at that time. We must once again go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; ponder what He's accomplished, and give a long, loving look at His acts. He IS good. And He's done amazing things for each of us, many of which we aren't even aware of. But take time to remember what you know of Him and trust that He loves you and is fully aware of your need.
Psalm 77

Thanksgiving Preparations

Now my back is tired. We slept in a little bit today, then went to Hy-Vee for breakfast and ran a couple of errands. Found boxes of Christmas cards at Bomgaar's 25 for $1.99--YAY! We came back home and I cleaned the oven, did laundry, cleaned house, mixed up dinner rolls, went to see my mom, then baked the rolls. I still need to give Logan a bath this weekend if Jon doesn't get to it. I was hoping to make cinnamon rolls this weekend, too, but we'll see. I sure hope I can pull off the full meal with desserts and all the rest. I feel a little overwhelmed by it all right now. I think I may have a stress fracture in my left foot. It's bothered me a long time, but seem worse now than it has been. Rats. Okay, so this doesn't seem very inspiring....moving on.

Thought for the day

"We seem to consider that divine love is hard and self-seeking and distant, concerned about its own glory, and indifferent to the fate of others...But divine love is tender and self-sacrificing and devoted, and glad to bear and forbear and suffer, and eager to lavish its best of gifts and blessings upon the objects of its love...The slightest barrier between your soul and Christ may cause you to dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar or under a bushel. Keep the sky clear. Open wide every avenue of your being to receive the blessed influences your divine husbandman may bring to bear upon you. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Drink of the waters of His goodness. Keep your face upturned to Him as the flower do to the sun. Look, and your soul shall live and grow."
"He is able to turn any soil into the soil of grace the moment we put our growing into His hands. He does not need to transplant us into a different field, but right where we are, with just the circumstances that surround us, He makes His sun to shine and His dew to fall upon us and transforms the very things that were before our greatest hindrances into the chiefest and most blessed means of growth. I care not what the circumstances may be, His wonder-working power can accomplish this; and we must trust Him with it all."
From "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith

Okay, so I accept with joy all that I face in this moment....better now! :)

Wind Chimes and Birthdays

These are the beautiful wind chimes that our kids gave me for my birthday. I just got them at Easter and I'm really enjoying them. They have a wonderful tone, and, as you can see, they are very nice to look at, too! Thanks, everyone!!!

Speaking of birthdays.....today is Kelli's birthday!!!!! It was great to celebrate with you, honey!!

We had a very nice weekend with kids coming and going. The cousins had a great time playing together, coloring eggs, celebrating Tre's and Kelli's birthdays, going to church, hunting for eggs, and eating. Wow, no wonder I'm tired! I don't know how they keep going and going, or how their moms begin to keep up with all the demands of keeping up with them and working as well! It makes me realize how old I am!! It sure is fun to be a part of the craziness, though! Thanks to all of you for sharing your lives with us!!!!!

Tomorrow Jon goes back to four 10-hour days each week. In fact, some days may be closer to 12 hours. That means we'll be getting up at 5:00 so he can be at work at 6:00. He's already in bed, and I'm hoping to be there in about a half hour.

Jon Heads Out

Here are some pix from last weekend...the boys ready to trick or treat as Thing 1 and Thing 2, some shots from Emmy's early 5th birthday party, and a picture of her with Uncle Greg. Great fun!!!!

I'm sure you've all heard about the heavy snow and high winds out in the Black Hills area, well Jon got the call last night that he would be leaving today to go out there to help restore power. He spent all evening packing up lots of clothes and boots here and getting paper work done and the trucks ready to go over at work. One of the newer guys at work, Grant, will be going, too. Grant will take one of the big trucks and Jon will drive a pickup. They met this morning at the shop at 5:00 and left town around 6:30. Because the big truck was pulling a trailer they thought it would be better to take I80 to I29, but the on ramp was blocked by semis full of windmill parts so they had to turn around and drive through the Loess Hills anyway. When I talked to him a little after 9:00 they were just north of Sioux City. It will be a long drive since the big truck has a top speed of only around 65 mph which will feel really slow because a 75 mph limit is SD means you can drive 80 with no problem. It will be a long day for him with lots of long days ahead. They will be working from the REC at Newell, SD and fortunately probably in a plains area rather than the more mountainous Black Hills. Please pray for them both when you think of it. At least the temps will be comfortable---30's and 40's. Anyway, we appreciate your prayers for health and safety as they drive and work. He will probably bring home some impressive pictures that I can share later.

Thought for the day

We are very blessed when things like electricity and water are working, and it would be good to stop and thank God for these blessings even though they are "material and temporal". I know none of us want to be without them. Pray for those who are waiting for these services to return, too.

Staying Focused

Hi there! Seems like I'm not getting things done this week or something. Weird. Didn't even remember to check in here last night. Oh well, I ramble too much anyway :)

Hope you're all having a good week. Pray for Kelli...her cold (?) is getting worse and she plans to go to dr tomorrow. Megan is working a lot this week and is still trying to get the weekend off to go with us to see Kelli's. Jon is working evenings but fortunately has been getting home in pretty good time. We're getting plenty of corn in this week so the days are very busy.

We're looking forward to going to Kelli and Jon's for the weekend. I keep collecting stuff that I need to take with...hopefully it all fits!! Maybe I'll have to ride on top of the van! BRRRR! We plan to run over to Tabbi's Friday night to see the boys in their Halloween costumes and the girls will show us theirs Saturday. Next week I should have some pix to share---yay!!!!

Thought for the day

In busy days like these it can be hard to stay focused and remember how to keep renewing our minds in the truth. When we are rushed and pressed it is more crucial than ever that we think correctly. If we don't, we fall prey to the world and to the enemy.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:4, 6-8

Long Day

Tonight I spent all night in the kitchen, first making a couple of messes then cleaning them up. The end result was supper and a big pile of chocolate chip cookies. Felt good to get some of that done...Jon was working all evening also so it was a good time to catch up. I got to talk to each of the girls. All in all, a productive night after a day at work. I didn't get my walk in though...oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Thought for the day

Sleep....everything will look better tomorrow.

Are We Tired Yet?

Well, the week just gets crazier and crazier. This first week of each month is always very busy for me at work. Today that meant a ten hour day with laundry, groceries, and phone calls to follow. I don't know about you, but I'm tired. So when the extra stress comes and the questions that I can't answer are asked, it's hard to remember that Jesus lives in me and is equal to the task. I know I'm definitely not equal to it on my own, but the reality is that He does live in me and can face what I am facing. I am trying to learn how to depend on Him more in that way. How about you?

Thought for the day
Lord, life can be so relentless some days, and I feel l'm spinning my wheels. I want You to have Your way and live through me, yet so much time can go by before I have a chance to step back and consciously lay the moment before You.

I know your life, child, and the pace of your days. I do not only enter your life when you "have time" to deliberately acknowledge Me. I AM your life and am always present with you, and you can depend on Me, trusting that I am at work in your heart and circumstances even in the midst of your busyness. Give Me your day, your work, your heart, and all the messiness of stress and uncertainties. I am big enough to handle all of it and weave it all into the tapestry of your life. I waste nothing that is placed in My hands.

Back to the Grind

So how did we all do going back to the workweek? My day was busy and a little stressful. Had a couple of treats after work, though. Got a haircut (finally) and my daughter and two grandsons were here for almost two hours after that. She brought me a package of wonderful pictures we had done of our two grandsons and two granddaughters together all decked out in John Deere t-shirts. Of course they're the most beautiful kids ever!!! Did I tell you I really love being a grandma?
It's 20 degrees cooler today, and it feels wonderful outside this evening. I'm hoping all of you enjoy your shortened week and the approach of fall.

Thought for the day
You know how in Iowa we can get an ocassional stretch of cloudy days and not see the sun for a while? After about one day you hear people complain and say they wish the sun would shine. It always reminds me of the reality of God's presence. We may not see the sun for days on end, but has it stopped shining? Of course not, but our view is obstructed by the clouds. In the same way, God has promised to always be with us, to never leave or forsake us. When we do not see or sense His presence and we look for Him and see nothing, is He any less with us? We can count on Him because of His promise even when we see and feel nothing. Whether the "clouds" blocking our view are circumstances, illness, exhaustion, apathy, conflict, or even sin, we can count on His word to be true---He loves us and is with us. Let's count on Him and surrender it all to Him.