A weekend to remember

This past weekend was wonderful.  I was reminded time and again how awesome my Father in Heaven is and in his Grace I am loved and forgiven.  Through Jesus as my Savior I am promised a place in Heaven.  I know I have a long way to go to know more about him and myself.  I have layers of things that are bogging me down and I need to get rid of the layers in order to truly feel his grace in my life, really though to accept it.  I still try to be in charge of my life and have to remember that when things bother me or bog be down all I have to do is give them to Him and he will take care of it.  In his own time and sometimes not the way I thought it should be done but his way.  Since He knows what is best for me.  I don't always know myself enough to make the right decisions.  I keep trying to remember all of this.  and Need His saving Grace. 

I also have to remember how very blessed I am.  Not everyone has children who totally care about them.  Or can find love a second time in their lifetime.  Or have grandchildren like the ones I have.  Who love me for who I am and not for what I can do for them or give them.  They are so very precious to me.  I have a wonderful son-in-law.  I have a job and can pay my bills.  I have my health.  and so on.  So I AM BLESSED.

Update

I just looked at when I last left something.  Goodness time goes so fast.  To give and update since then would be overwhelming.  I am so looking forward to the holidays.  By Christmas there will be one more grandchild.  Just wondering how many will be able to be here.  Planning doing Christmas dinner with the Henderson's the Sat. after Christmas this year.  That makes it maybe a little easier for Melinda and Chris to come with the new baby and it is the weekend closest to Christmas when I am off.  Today I have to go to E'ville and get flowers for Donna.  Boy am I possibly in the doghouse there.  Haven't really talked with her since you were here and then I forget her birthday on the 7th.  Soooooooo going to pick up the flowers myself and deliver them at some time today, or this evening.  It is Helen's birthday today.  I realized all this yesterday while shopping and looking for birthday cards for the kids.  Can't seem to find a hat for Katie and that kind of upsets me.  But all I can find have Dora or Hannah on them.  Just wanted something with out endorsements for someone.  So today I will be sending the package on to Texas.  Just finished reading the last book on the Baxter family series.  Very good books.  I also need to finish the blanket for Melinda's baby.  Really looks nice even though I would never have picked out those colors for a baby blanket, but like she says it has the colors of the baby's room.  Have had you on my mind a lot lately so maybe will try and call sometime today.  I am going to a Women of Faith Conferance this weekend in Minneapolis with a group from church.  I am looking forward to it and also nervous about it.  I'll also be glad when the elections are over.  Just hoping the american people are voting for the candidates stance than whether they are young and good looking.  Or because they are veterans.  Been watching a lot and listening to what people are saying, and some are voting for Obama either because he is black or because he is young or because he is young.  Not caring what he can do and what kind of experience he has.  Still say the president is only as powerful as the senate and house in the government.  I just pray that in the end we get the right one in office.  Work is going pretty good these days.  We have a new Director of Nursing, she seems to want to know our ideas and is willing to help out when needed.  It will take her a while to be able to learn everything she needs to know but I think she will do a good job if given the opportunity.  Well I had better close so I can get things done.  All my love  Mom   God Bless all of you.   

Musings

It has been a long time since I last left a message.  So much going on at once.  Not as much as being a Mom of 3 young ones but enough for someone who has never been much for joining groups at church or anyplace else.  Work seems to be going ok.  I am scheduled to work on the floor next Sunday, which doesn't set well with me, since I have only worked on the floor once in 3 years.  Also that they have a temp. working in the Haven instead of me.  Since it is a Sunday and a Holiday it will be more stressful than I want to tackle.  So I am praying that I will be able to handle it and not get too stressed out on overload. 

Our group meetings seem to be going pretty good.  We had to extra people decide to join our group last night.  I have opened the house to the group and Clara and I lead it.  Thankfully Travis is here to help out with it.  We won't be meeting next Sunday since it is Easter and some will be gone for the weekend.  We tend to go a little lire also.  It was after 10 last night so I was glad that I didn't have to work today.  My purposeful living group meets on the 30th for the 4th time and boy do I have studying to do for that.  Travis keeps telling Melissa and I that we have to go through the whole book before the next meeting.  We just look at him and role our eyes.  It is interesting to hear him say how much he thinks I have changed since being in the group.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with what there is to do.  I am confused by what the lesson plans tell us to do to prepare for the next meeting.  Melissa is doing more than I am.  She and a friend are reading the bible together and keeping each other working at that.  I am reading it by myself and am just starting Acts.  seems like as much as I like to read it is taking longer to get through one book of the bible than it would take me to read a regular book.  But I think it is because the bible has 2 columns and because I am reading it slower so that I don't miss anything.  Most of what I am reading I have heard before and read before but have forgotten some of it or didn't read the  before and after certain verses that I have heard all my life. 

As for everything else happening here.  Not much.  Burt is planning a fishing trip with a few guys.  Pete (he and Burt hit is off after they met through me and Petes wife Ruth,) Travis (once he heard of the trip wanted to join in)  and Don, ( Burt just met him through Pete at church)  So it is sounding like a pretty good trip.  Travis says he can't wait since he will be spending time with 3 old men and will be only one awake after 10 at night.  Ha Ha  he turns 29 in a few weeks.  Ruth is wondering what we will do while they are gone and sorry to say I have to work.  I had planned on having a sleep over with friends that weekend but now that I have to work I won't be doing anything other than working and coming home. 

Well can't think of anything else.  The girls are doing ok, haven't talked with them since sometime last week.  John flew out to Colorado last week and came back last night.  He went to see a friend and I was hoping that he would do a job search while there since he isn't getting ahead here at the job he has.  I think he needs a change of scenery.  I feel the same way about Kathi and Kelly I think they could do so much better if they lived someplace other than Iowa since there isn't much in the way of good jobs in this area.  Still praying for all of them, that they will eventually find someone special.  I know that eventually God will answer my prayers but in his time.  Including my Texas family moving closer.  All my love and prayers go out to you and your family. 

Holidays

answers

I just read your post.  Funny I thought I was the one that was supposed to have shown a better example.  And your dad.  We both missed the boat on that one.  By not standing strong and making sure that all of you were brought up with the faith that you gained from being with others of good faith in the Father.  If I could turn back the clock I would change all that, and insist that your dad and I showed a differant example to all of you.  You my daughter are to be admired for being able to break free of the strings that bound you to a family that was basically disfunctional, to say the least.  I am hoping that what we did show you was love. If we missed the boat on other things I am hoping you still felt loved by us.  I always wonder how things would have been for your sisters and brother if your dad had lived to show true faith the way he did when he died.  He did believe totally (in my minid at least) that the day he died he was going to see the Father of us all.  I keep hoping that what little I do mention to your siblings about the Father will eventually sink in.  I try not to push but sometimes I feel like I don't have a lot of time to not push my new belief at them.  I feel that all we can do is pray that someday and hopefully soon they will come to rely on Him instead of their friends. I am hoping that by example that they will eventually look up and say thankyou Father for being in my life like I do most days.  Sometimes I forget that only by his grace am I here.  Kat made the comment one day about you having it all. that when things are bad for you something always happens to help you out.  That day I should have said that she has one thing Kat doesn't and that is faith in the Father and prayer, that helps you make it through each day and problem.  Know dear daughter that you are blessed by the Father in Heaven and that with time maybe together your family and I will be able to show the others what it is like to believe in and trust God above all things and people.  I love you and keep you and your precious family in my heart always.  MOM