The Letter X

Well, I've made it through most of the alphabet, but I must say this is the hardest letter.

The Letter X.

We have X marks the spot





Then there's X-Ray



And X-Men



And the old show, X-Files



and you can play a xylophone



That ever famous movie flop Xanadu




You can play video games on an XBox 360



No matter where you live in the United States, you can pay for and listen to XM Radio




But here in Chicago, you can always listen to wXRT radio.

Sunday Blessings

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

God has two dwellings, one in heaven,

and the other in a meek and thankful heart.

Izaak Walton

Happy Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

--Scott Wesemann

Cleaning and Decorating and Turkeys - Oh My!

We're skipping the letter for today and moving right to the insane week that I am in.

Friday I went to my aunt's funeral. Well, she didn't want a funeral - but a small, simple, prayer service. But, it really makes you think. Everything we have can disappear in a moment. Without warning. No plan. No list. No oopsie, but I forgot to do... It's just gone - Poof! So, I decided that life is too short NOT to live in the moment. NOT to live it up 100% of the time. I have things I want to do, places I want to see, people I WANT to spend time with and I'm going to. I'm thankful that my Aunt left me with such wonderful memories and blessed me with such a great change of heart and mindset.

Saturday was spent shopping like mad for the Thanksgiving Feast that I am having here at my house. Now, let me tell ya - it doesn't matter if you're having 4 people or 20 (I'm only having 8) - it's expensive and it's a LOT of work. But, it's not going to be perfect. I'm okay with that. Really, I really am. While shopping I did 2 things. First I met this amazing woman who was 83 and shopping on her own at the store. She told me all about how she has been making flan for her family since she was a young girl and she told me step by step how to make it (I have no idea - but I would have loved to follow her home and watched her!). She was the sweetest woman and she told me how she prepares her sweet potatoes ( I was looking for some ideas). I told her to make her daughters and grand-daughters watch her make the flan so they can carry on the tradition. Very sadly she told me that they have no interest and want to have their own traditions. This made me very sad. I am thankful that my shopping trip was blessed by this woman and I am thankful that I was able to help her find pumpkin so she was able to go home (as she put it). Then while in line, I noticed the woman behind me was alone and had a newborn with her. He was obviously fussy as she was holding him and trying to unload her cart. So, as the checker was ringing up my groceries, I unloaded her cart for her. She was so appreciative by my small gesture that I felt I wanted to share this with others. Perhaps we could all take a moment in our hectic days and just do something to make someone else's day just a little bit nicer. I am thankful for the amazing blessings I received from small encounters with strangers at the grocery store.

Sunday was a mad hectic chaotic combination of things. I discovered that my son's book report / research (which in 3rd grade should really be defined as a "family" project) was due on Tuesday and was not completed. So, he and I spent a couple of hours on that. My husband (a.k.a. Clark Griswold) wants to have the house decorated for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving so I ran here and there helping him with those things. My son (the 19 year old) came by to tell me all about his trials and tribulations and raked the leaves (he owes us money) and then tried to skate out of Thanksgiving dinner (which he AND his friend asked to come to) and I had a wee mommy meltdown. He and his friend ARE coming for dinner now as he saw the errors in his ways. (gotta love those mommy and me moments). Teenage daughter announced that she had to go and get her coach her birthday gift (right now) so I got to drop everything to run to the local spa for a gift card. But now, as I sit here looking at the chaos that surrounds me, sipping my glass of wine, I am thankful. I am thankful that my son and I got to do an awesome report and learn about a really cool Pilgrim. I am thankful that my 19 year old still comes by to terrorize me because he loves me. I am thankful that my teen daughter has such an awesome heart and with every day she amazes me at what a terrific person and leader she is. I am thankful that I have a house to decorate (and clean) and food to eat.

Life is Good!

What are YOU thankful for today?

Sunday Blessings

The godly may trip seven times,

but they will get up again.

Proverbs 24:16

Saturday Sayings...

Grace isn't a little prayer

you chant before

receiving a meal.

It's a way to live.

Jacqueline Winspear

2009

It's almost over.

The Year 2009.

The year I will forever call "The Roller Coaster".

This year I faced the lowest of the lows.





This year I have grown in ways I never imagined.

This is the year that I learned to let go.

This is the year I was stripped of my dignity and lived.





This is the year that I learned that I'm gonna be okay.

It's okay to hurt and let people know.

It's okay to love and let people know.

It's okay to cry and let people see.

A roller coaster is a series of ups and downs.

A roller coaster is a series of twists and turns.


There's fear, exhilaration, and the realization that you aren't in control.

I'm a control freak. I'm learning to let go.

I'm a perfectionist. I'm not perfect.

This has been the year of the roller coaster. Everything went out of control.

Next year. I've determined. Will be the year of change.



No more being afraid.

I will be okay.

I am okay.

I am.

Word-Filled Wednesday

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

—1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

happy dancing!

No, not dancing with the stars (although I do enjoy that show), but happy dancing for me.

I've been on a rough road. I'm tired of being on this road. It's been a long couple of years.

No, my problems didn't magically wash away (hey, now that would be good huh?).

But I've had some realizations. Some a-ha! moments so to speak.

First, always look UP first. There is no-one in this earth that can give you peace like our heavenly father. He is where we need to place our fears, our joys, our troubles, and our concerns.

Second, I am a survivor. I can do it.

(all photos were in my "dreaming" file on my computer - I have no idea where I found them, but if they belong to you or you know to whom they belong, please feel free to tell me)

Third, if I slow down enough to listen, I will find the answers are and always have been in my head and in my heart.

I was really stressed last week about hating, no, being unhappy with my house. The place that I should call my home. Getting it out there really opened the emotions to a great deal of things in my life, but it got me working to resolve the problem.

I grabbed paint and a sample board and went to town.

I went blog shopping (only window shopping mind you) and scanned the web for pictures and ideas.

I looked through magazines (old issues because not too many good publications left).

And I hit the stores.

What did I discover? I discovered so many things about myself and my likes and dislikes.

My taste has evolved. Changed.

The ideas are flowing and I'm inspired again. I can fix this place and make it home.

Yes. I. Can.

W is For...

Wubzy

the Wiggles

Wigwam

Wienermobile

the Wubulous World of Dr. Seuss

the WIZARD of Oz

Waffles

Wal-Mart

Wanted

Watch

Water

Weather

Weeds

Weight Watchers

Whale

Whitney

Whoopi

Williams Sonoma

Window

Wine

Winnie The Pooh

Wishing Well

Witch (Wicked Witch of the West)

Wolf

Wolverine

Wool

World Map

Wrong AND Way