Stop! Be Still!

We don't stop.  Our lives are filled with craziness and we just keep moving from one thing to the next.  Work is busy, the kids schedules keep us hopping and our church ministry is ongoing.  Teaching a bible study, making dinner, getting homework done….it just doesn't stop.

Our family was forced to stop over the past several days.  "Christian" had another really intense knee bleed and everything came to a screeching halt so we took him to the hospital where he was admitted for five days.  Work takes a back seat, making dinner definitely does not happen, and running back and forth from home to the hospital commences.

When you are in the hospital with a child, there is only so much you can do.  You are forced to put your life on hold and take care of what is most important.  I think this is one of those "God things".  I am forced to take a moment to breathe without the worries of everyday living.  It's not exactly the best way to slow down, but sometimes it takes these moments to make us focus.

Waiting teaches us who we are.  That still, small voice in our heads is God trying to get through to us.

We should use the Lenten season to listen to what God is trying to tell us as we prepare for Easter.  Slowing down is not in our vocabulary, but it's amazing what becomes important when you do take a moment to really look at what is going on around you.

"Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!"  Psalm 46:10 (AMP)

Love

When I found my soul mate, at the time I didn't know he was "the one".  But God sure did.  By all accounts, Joe MacDonald and I should probably never have gotten together.  People said we were too different, he was wild and crazy, I was extremely uptight.  He was spontaneous, I loved knowing what was coming next.  He was Protestant, I was Catholic, wasn't that a big enough difference? :)

"The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life."  Sir Hugh Walpole

All these years later after career changes, children, relocating, losing parents, ministering...I can honestly say that the thing that has bound us together through everything in our lives is love. 

• Love so deep that I never dreamed it existed.

• Love so profound and overwhelming that you can hardly breathe. 

• Love so rich that if God took you from this world at this very moment, you would say that you had experienced everything life had to offer with no regrets.

You don't have to be a "soul mate" on this Earth to experience this kind of love.  You already have it, Beloved.  God loves you this way.  He loves you in a way that you can't put into words.  He loves you at this moment, just exactly how you are.  We are all broken people.  We struggle with something and God will meet us right where we are at.  You just have to have an open heart.

My prayer for you today is that you know you are loved with an everlasting, unfailing love that only the Creator of the Universe can give you. 

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."  1 John 4:7-8 (NIV) 

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  A surprise serenade by a barbershop quartet!
2.  Old sweaters
3.  Surprising my children
4.  Sunshine in Winter
5.  Joe Keith MacDonald, the love of my life

Preparation

One of my new roles at our church is head of the Worship Committee.  This committee ensures that every part of the worship experience is thought through for each service.  Are the bread and juice ready and set out on the altar, is the music playing at the appropriate times, are ushers and greeters available to direct people, and are the paraments and banners hung and displayed in the appropriate colors for the season? 

Last night I enlisted the help of my family to get the sanctuary ready for the Lenten season.  We have long pieces of fabric that drape the sides of the church and it takes time (and going up and down a high ladder several times) to hang it correctly.

It took a while, but we changed all of the colors on the altar to purple, hung the banners, straightened up the choir loft...and I hate to admit it, but I was stressed out and in a terrible mood when I was doing it.  I failed to realize that I was doing one of the most important things I could be doing for the Lenten season...I was helping to prepare.

Today I was thinking about John and Peter and how they were sent in to Jerusalem to prepare the Passover Seder for the disciples.  They had to get the food, make a sacrifice in the Temple, clean up, set the table….there was much to be done.  I am not sure what their attitudes were while they were in the midst of preparing, but I like to think that they were mindful and prayerful, knowing that something amazing was going to take place in that Upper Room.

In what seems to be unimportant to many can be miraculous to others.  We can take the times of preparation in all things to glorify God.  The time it takes to prepare a meal, to prepare clothes to be laundered, to prepare a presentation for work, to prepare a bath of warm water to bathe a child.  All of these moments can be used in prayer...not just speaking the words, but in demonstrating through our actions the importance of each act.

As we enter the Lenten season, remember that this is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.  Use these 40 days and nights to prepare your heart to become closer to Christ.  Join a Bible Study at church, read a daily devotional, be intentional about your prayers and most importantly work as though you are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Ring pops

2.  Wheelchairs

3.  My stylus

4.  trying a new restaurant
5.  a compassionate 1st grade teacher

Joy

Some people try to find joy in "things".  Material things.  They may find joy for a moment, but not the kind of joy that lasts a lifetime.

I saw joy last night as my little "Christian" went to bed with a painful ankle bleed.  I went into his room several times to check on him and in bed with him was the light saber that his friend bought him at the  circus.  It drew his attention away from his pain.  He was experiencing joy in the midst of pain.

At that moment, he asked me to rub his foot.  Whenever he has a bleed in his ankle, he asks for someone to lightly stoke his swollen joint.  It's soothing to him.  In that moment where my son was feeling pain, a pain I cannot understand, I found a moment of joy.  Joy that I have an amazing child who endures more than most people I know.  Joy in knowing I had everything I needed to care for my son.  Joy in the fact that I have been taught how to be strong and courageous when I didn't think I could. 

Joy is a "source" of happiness.  Having joy doesn't mean we are happy all of the time.  It means we have that deep down connection inside of us, knowing that God is truly our inspiration for all things.  He is the one who brings us joy.  Often times we have difficult situations thrown at us and those are the times when it is hard to find that joy. 

We need to stay strong and courageous in our daily living.  There is nothing that is given to you that you are unable to handle...absolutely nothing!  Believe that, Beloved!  Dig down deep within yourself to find joy in every circumstance and in every situation. 

God loves you more than you can imagine.  That should bring you joy to last a lifetime.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Rice
2.  Frozen, precooked chicken = lunch in a flash
3.  File folders
4.  A new t-shirt
5.  Ice packs

A Bad Attitude

I had such a yucky day on Tuesday.  I wasn't feeling good, I had to work and I had zero energy.  And to top everything off I had to teach Bible Study in the evening.

The absolute last thing I felt like doing was teaching Bible Study. I mean I was in the kind of mood where I was ready to pick a fight with someone!

I had no one to call in at the last minute to teach for me and I had to get it together.  How in the world could God use me when I felt so crummy and I didn't want to even be present?

The Word of God just does something to you.  You read it, you speak it, you share with others and you can be transformed.  That evening of Bible Study brought laughter to a soul who needed a lift, a new scripture to a woman who needed something to hold on to and a bond to a group of women that are looking for connection.

Beloved, God uses you in ways you can't even imagine...in places you would never dream and even by doing things you consider routine.  If you live your life to serve others as if you are serving Christ, you just can't go wrong. 

"Oozing" is a way of life.  It doesn't always happen when you feel great, but if you step out in faith and do the next right thing...especially when you don't feel like it.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Colossians 3:23-24  (NIV)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  A stack of new magazines

2.  Blow dryers

3.  iPad's

4.  Missed appointments

5.  Dinner at church on Wednesday's

Having The Right Words...when my Facebook Chimed

Have you ever been in a situation when someone needed your help and you just did not have the words?

I have an amazing friend who lives in a neighboring state.  To say she has difficulties in her life is an understatement.  She has a husband, kids, job, and tons of responsibilities and I have never seen her get angry with God or run away from what she believes to be true.  She is a solid example of what a woman of faith looks like. 

I have to admit that I ran away from her.  She confided in me regarding a terribly difficult situation and I just absolutely had no idea what to say.  I didn't know how to comfort her or help her make sense of anything.  And I have not talked to her since...until my Facebook chimed in tonight.  I know that we don't always have the right words, and sometimes just being a presence for someone, even on a telephone line, or the other side of a Facebook chat is all someone needs.

But what about those times where you can't spit out the words fast enough?  As I was sitting in the hospital last weekwith my little one, my Facebook chat chimed again.  It was a very dear friend of mine from High School!  I haven't talked to her since our 10 year reunion (in 1996) :)

She was my "Baptist" friend who was always at church.  She always went to "youth group" or VBS.  In my Catholic upbringing (not everyone's Catholic upbringing), religion was not discussed.  We just "went to Mass" and my mom never let me go to her church even after I pleaded with her time after time.  I think I was always searching, even at that young age. 

 

"Gina" had some questions about being "Methodist" as she and her husband just joined a wonderful Methodist church.  I told her, "Call me anytime!"  And my phone rang five minutes later.  Hearing the twang of her Southern accent warmed my heart and when she asked me questions I had the words.  She even said, "Cazandra, isn't it funny that all those years ago God knew we would come together talking about faith even though we didn't back then?"
 

Yes, Gina, He did know that.  And I will continue to pray to God to give me the strength and wisdom to have the words when needed and the wisdom to know when my presence is enough.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Discharge papers from the hospital

2.  Pretty boxes

3.  Friends who trust you

4.  Extension cords

5.  chimes

Always Searching

I enjoy shopping at Sam's Club. I don't go very often and am not one to buy hundreds of dollars of items at a time, just a few things now and then. One of the things I enjoy most about shopping at Sam's is visiting the book aisle. They always have a pretty good collection of Christian books, journals and Bible Studies.

95% of the time I leave with a book. Not because I am looking for a curriculum to teach at my regular Tuesday night group, but because I am always looking for words and truths that will enhance my spiritual life.

"Maybe this is the study I need to work on during my devotional time? It may just be "the one" that helps me get closer to God. This could be the book that highlights that "certain scripture" that changes everything for me!" I just don't want to miss anything.

I think everyone is on a quest. Some people want to be famous and have stellar careers in their industry. Others want to have the comforts of the world and want to make tons of money. And there are even people on a quest to have good, solid relationships with those in their lives.

I am on a quest to know the Creator of the Universe. In my world, it is Jesus Christ. I am not concerned that I am "still searching", it's when I stop searching and wanting to be closer to Christ that I need to worry.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NIV)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1. rakes

2. potting soil

3. a rainy day (not very common in New Mexico)

4. spot remover

5. Christ meeting me when I step out in faith

 

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On Fire!

Sometimes you need a reminder. A reminder that what you are passionate about is truly something to dive into with your whole heart.

I have a passion for ministry and over the past several years I have let my passion for speaking to women take a backseat to life. With all of my "Christian's" health issues, being a pastor's wife and making a big move to further my husband's ministry, I've not given a lot of attention to my speaking ministry.

I am at the She Speaks Intensive Conference and let me tell you....I am on FIRE! I needed this. I am learning some new ways to approach my messages and I am realizing that it is time to move forward and not make anymore excuses.

I'll be in the thick of learning through Tuesday and am beyond excited :)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1. SONIC being close to my hotel

2. Getting past the fear of meeting new people

3. A good night's sleep

4. Contributing to discussions

5. Travel plans gone really, really wrong :)

 

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What is Waiting?

I remember when I was a young girl how I would dream of the man I would marry, the house I would live in, the names of my children and what my life would be like.
It's funny how none of what I dreamed of so long ago ever came to be...it's only better :)
I thought I had completely learned how to let go of what I "expected" to happen in my life and am coming to realize that there is a big part of me that still holds on to some things. Sometimes I feel as if I should just stop and accept my position in life... mother, wife, pastor's wife...why should I want more? Is it selfish?
I know the answer to that is no. I just start to doubt myself as I step out in faith to further my ministry and my calling.

This week I have my first meeting with the District Committee of Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church. This group will help me in the process of determining whether or not I am called to ordained ministry, or if my ministry as the wife of a pastor and speaker is enough for me.
I also leave for the She Speaks Intensive on Saturday. I will spend three days in intensive workshops developing my skills in message preparation. I am completely stepping out of my comfort zone with this, but know I am called to attend.

Things happen and plans change. Sometimes at the drop of a hat and other times change happens over time. Change is inevitable. It's how we respond to it that determines what our future will look like.

And we just never know what is waiting for us.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1. homemade soup
2. quick trips to Wal-Mart
3. kleenex with lotion in each sheet
4. horses
5. a hug of thanks from my sick teenager

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Moving Forward

I am called to ministry. I have definitely felt God's call since my family moved to New Mexico six years ago. My biggest question is how to live out that calling. Most people would think that being the wife of a pastor would be enough...it's just not. My passion is to speak and teach and I have had some amazing opportunities in speaking to women's groups and speaking across the country to families affected by bleeding disorders. The beautiful thing is that my ministry has not been solely in the "religious" realm, but also in the corporate world of motivational speaking.

Now that we have settled in to our new lives in Rio Rancho, it is time for me to step it up. I will be attending an intensive speaker's workshop in a couple of weeks in North Carolina. The women at Proverbs 31 Ministries have developed a program for women who are Christian speakers. I attended their She Speaks conference several years ago and it was amazing. I am looking forward to the next step in this journey (and am fighting doubt about this daily).

I don't want life to pass me by by making excuses for not pursuing my passions. One big step I have taken recently is that I have started taking horseback riding lessons! I have loved horses all my life and decided it was time to make time for myself and feed my passion.

What are you doing differently this year to feed your passion?

 

Today I Am Thankful For

1. Baking cookies on a Sunday afternoon

2. Peanuts

3. The Food Network

4. Paper towels

5. The kids going back to school!

 

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Joy in 2013

I was not feeling too well and my hubby and I had a date to go see the touring production of "Rock of Ages". Honestly my heart was not in to it but off we went.

Now I love a good production, and when they come to town you never know the quality....this was FANTASTIC! The show was so much fun and all that great 80's music....it just doesn't get much better.

At the end of the show, the big final number had everyone on their feet like we were at a rock concert! It was a moment of pure Joy. Just pure (not exactly clean) fun.

You never know when those moments of absolute joy sneak into your life...grab those moments and cherish them.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1. Hot dates with my hubby
2. Benadryl
3. A built in babysitter (my "Lance")
4. Conference calls
5. A friend finding the love of his life

 

 

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New Beginnings

I love this time of year.  It signifies a time of new beginnings.  "Out with the old, in with the new!"  I used to always have a lengthy list of resolutions.  And as the years passed, my list would get shorter.  I finally realized that resolutions did not exactly work for me.  When you have that perfectionism gene in you, one missed day of a resolution meant failure. 

Two years ago I jumped on the One Word bandwagon.  Instead of writing a list of resolutions, I chose a word to focus on throughout the year.  I still find myself trying to commit to a list of things that would definitely make my life better (losing weight, exercising regularly, keeping true to my daily devotional time, and even being kinder to myself).  I don't think anything is wrong with resolutions...you just have to keep everything in perspective and know that one missed day or slip will not destroy your intentions.

My word for 2013...Joy.

My prayer for you is that the year 2013 is filled with an abundance of love, good health and joy beyond your wildest dreams.

Today I Am Thankful For:
1.  Vacation days

2.  Ziploc bags

3.  A new scarf

4.  Warranties

5.  Simple recipes

Gifts

"Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmastime with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words."  - Harlan Miller

Buying gifts makes me a little crazy!  Don't get me wrong, I love to give gifts, but the commercial madness of the Christmas season makes me uncomfortable.  I find myself trying desperately to find the "right" gift for people who really don't "need" anything. 

The truth is, I want to show the ones closest to me how much I love them and there is no gift able to capture that love.  I do give gifts, but my love is truly shown through the meals I prepare, the surprise SONIC drink I bring home, even by washing and folding clothes.  Sometimes it's just by sitting and listening.

Sacrifice goes hand in hand with Love.

When you get married, you sacrifice things you never dreamed to make a relationship work.

When you have children, you truly sacrifice your needs to meet the needs of your child.

And offering yourself to a friend in need often means sacrificing time, energy and maybe even possessions to help them out.

 The ultimate sacrifice was given for each of us.  And that is what this season is all about.  God sent His Son to earth knowing the pain he would endure in order to save each of us.  His gift was not an afterthought...it wasn't equivalent to a generic gift that can be given to someone at a moment's notice without thought.  It was the gift that keeps on giving.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  John 15:13 (NIV)

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Dinner by candlelight with the family

2.  Sparkly sweaters

3.  Horseback riding on a cold, clear New Mexico afternoon

4.  Antibiotics

5.  Christmas music via Pandora

My "Bestie"

I believe God is always at work.  Sometimes we see his work pretty clearly and other times it takes years to "get it."

I didn't "get" what was happening to me on December 19, 1992.  Yes, it was my wedding day, one of the biggest days in my life, but I didn't know how big a part God truly played in putting the two of us together.

The first year was rough!  Definitely not a bed full of roses.  We struggled and had our moments, then our first son was born, with hemophilia.  Our lives changed in a way we never imagined.  We've been through the deaths of our parents, loss of relationships, another son with hemophilia and career changes.  We even relocated (a true stepping out in faith).

My life is not what I ever dreamed it would be...it's better.  It's better because 20 years ago I married the love of my life.  Joe is my best friend, my confidant, the one that I want to spend all the days of my life with.

God has blessed me immeasurably.  My children are amazing, my career is thriving, my marriage is fantastic and most importantly I know who my God is.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  the smell of candles
2.  time off
3.  fleece
4.  waiting for snow
5.  pancakes

Breathe

"In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse."

                                                                    2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (The Message)

When was the last time you took a good, deep breath?

• I went horseback riding this past weekend and stopped to smell the air on the trail.

• As I was playing my oboe in church, I had to be very exact in my breathing so that the music would make sense.

• I stopped on the main floor of our home and caught a scent unfamiliar to me...I had been too busy to notice the smell of our Christmas tree.

• And I even took a moment to take a deep breath outside in the cold as a few snowflakes began to fall.

As "oozers", we should be working to live lives pleasing to Christ.  When our words or actions cause others to experience Christ, not only are we shining the light of Christ through our being, but the fragrance of Christ lingers after our encounter is over.

Let the holiday season take over and fill you with the Spirit of Christ.  The joy that the baby in a manger brought to our world.  Enjoy the reason we celebrate the season...breathe deeply.

 

Today I Am Thankful For:
1.  Hugs

2.  Play therapy

3.  Ice cream on a cold day

4.  Plastic containers

5.  My iPod dock

 

 

Center

This past weekend was filled with entertaining.  We had a house full on Friday night as we hosted my husband's staff party and then Saturday afternoon we hosted an Open House for members of our church.  It was great fun.  I was extremely proud of the fact that I was able to enjoy myself and not get too caught up in the "hosting" part of everything.  It's part of enjoying the season.

At the end of our hosting duties on Saturday, we took our sons to dinner and a movie.  And let me just say that this is now one of my all time favorite movies ever.

The Rise of the Guardians!  Talk about some great theology!  It is an animated story based off William Joyce's The Guardian's of Childhood book series and a short film The Man in the Moon by Joyce and Real FX.  The evil spirit, Pitch, launches an assault on Earth (all based off children believing in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the Sandman) and the Guardians team up to protect the innocence of children around the world.  Jack Frost comes in the picture as the newest Guardian and it tells the story of how he became Jack Frost and his journey to knowing who he is/was.

When Jack Frost is summoned to the North Pole, Santa Claus is explaining to Jack Frost what his "center" is…."wonder."  Wonder is what Santa's focus is and what makes him the person he is meant to be.  Jack was puzzled by the concept (and yes, by the end of the movie Jack has an Ah-ha moment about his center).

I want to take some time during this amazing season to stop and think about my center.  I challenge you to do the same.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Winter arriving!

2.  Tired feet

3.  Horseback riding

4.  Cold toes

5.  Dirty floors

Hope for the Season

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13 (NIV)

The holiday season has barely started and I am already getting stressed out!  I guess spending four days in the hospital last week with my little one did not help me get a jump start on getting into the spirit :)

The laundry has taken over, Thanksgiving decorations are still up, my little one's room is a disaster and I have company coming on Friday night and Saturday afternoon! 

This season is not for stressing out and being the ultimate hostess...it's about hope. 

 

Hope that came in the form of a baby that changed the world.

Hope that we never know what is going to come and that it may be the best yet.

Hope that in what seems like a hopeless situation, God is with us always.

I am challenging myself through this season to truly keep Christ at the forefront of everything I do.  Whether it's buying presents, trimming the tree, or hosting a party, I am working hard to keep Christ at the center of the season.  I plan on having a time each day to focus on prayer and reading scripture to keep me grounded.

How are how are you going to keep the season focused on Christ?

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Dirty clothes
2.  Freshly groomed dogs
3.  Too many television channels
4.  Catalogs
5.  Nail clippers

 

 

Time

Time flies.  The older I get the faster it goes by.  I think I really notice it when I have a few days off  from work to spend with my family.  You try to rest, relax and get everything you need done in a matter of days and before you know it, it's Sunday night and Monday is looming.

 

Another thing about time is that as each day passes, my children are experiencing more and more and growing into some pretty amazing young boys/men.  You often have a landmark in a year that makes you think back to "one year ago" or "five years ago" and when you realize all that has happened in that amount of time, it can be pretty overwhelming.

 

Today is one of those days.  One year ago today, my dear mother-in-law, Ruby, passed away unexpectedly.  I've caught myself time and time again wanting to give her a call to tell her the latest with my boys, or just share something silly that one of them said that day. 

 

It is painful to lose someone close to you.  It also hurts to see others around you grieve that loss.  Some family members keep their grief close, some express their grief through talking and crying, others even express their grief by completely shutting down and staying stuck.  I've come to learn that all you can do is meet those folks where they are at in the process of grieving and be there for them.

 

There is a time for all of us to live the fullest life possible, to grieve, to invest in others and yes, even a time to die.  But what we need to remember is that God will never leave us.  We need to take each day and live the best life we can live.  That is what Ruby did.  Every day was a gift to her.  I don't think a day went by without her giving us a call to check on us and tell us she loved us.  She lived a very full life.  She loved well and was loved in return and she knew her God.

 

Today I Am Thankful for:

 

1. Routine
2. A beautiful, cold New Mexico day
3. Sweat pants
4. An afternoon of riding horses
5. Memories of Ruby

Great Things

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love spending the day in the kitchen creating our "feast".  My family does not like the occasional Thanksgiving that we are not at home simply because there will not be any leftovers :)  I love that they love my cooking.  Cooking is something I do with my whole heart for my family.  It is a pleasure.

Thanksgiving is a very special time and what I try to share in my ministry, my writing, my witness is that Thanksgiving is a year round practice.  We should be giving thanks not only through the good times, but through the bad times as well.  So often we get going in a good place in our lives and we forget to keep that conversation with God going and telling Him we are thankful for all of the many blessings in our lives.  Every day we should be doing this. 

And what about the bad times?  The truth is that things can always be worse.  The hard part about giving thanks to God during those dark times is remembering to send up words of praise to Him.  That is probably one of the hardest things to do.  Praising during the storm is a true test of faith.

How are you going to keep this season of thanks going throughout the year?

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Lamps

2.  The scrapbook store

3.  Page protectors

4.  Receipts

5.  The smell of a clean head of hair

Too Close??

I traveled to Florida on business from Wednesday through Sunday last week.  I work with some great people and enjoy their company when we are off the clock, but when you are a homebody like I am, after a day or two, you are ready to come home.  I caught myself at Universal Studios on a perfect, Florida night with friends, wanting nothing more than to be watching a movie at home with my guys.  I just adore them.

 

I often wonder if there is a such thing as being "too close" to your family.  After three days traveling alone I just start to shut down because I miss them terribly.

 

I did enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new colleagues, but what I want more than anything is to be present for my husband and children.  Our lives could not be going better and I just don't want to miss out on a thing!

 

I am glad to be home.

 

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Empty seats on a flight

2.  Laughing with the girls

3.  Hugging the neck of an old friend

4.  A tall glass of iced tea (at home)
5.  A high of 30 degrees!