The Power of Prayer

As 2010 winds to a close, I have been reminded several times of the power of prayer.

These reminders have come in many forms - even by reading some blogs.

A dear friend of mine found out she has cancer and had surgery today.  

I've prayed.

I have faith.

My eldest son is on a freight train traveling at a 1,000 miles an hour toward disaster and I can't stop him.

I'm praying.

Others are praying.

I have faith.

My girlfriend whose marriage recently fell apart has had a miracle occur.

Her husband came to her to work things through.

He's making wonderful efforts.

I prayed.

I had faith.

So, when life seems bleak, pray.

Never be afraid to ask for prayer.

Never be afraid to pray for others.

Have faith.

There is power in prayer.

Time For New Beginnings

Time for New Beginnings. . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Addison, Blue Mountain Arts, 1989
"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.
As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,
Remember each experience for the good that has come of it
    and for the knowledge you have gained.
Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.
Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.
Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.
Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings
    and the celebration of life."

A Prayer For Christmas Morning...

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven,
    and crowns another year with peace and good will.

Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus,
    that we may share in the song of the angels,
    the gladness of the shepherds,
    and the worship of the wisemen.

Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love
     all over the world…

Let kindness come with every gift
     and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings,
    and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy
    to be thy children, and the Christmas evening
    bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts,
    forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

from A Treasury of Christmas Stories.Henry Van Dyke
edited by James S. Bell, Jr.
Harold Shaw Publishers, 1993

Let the Races Begin...

Last night I started thinking about the upcoming week.

I actually felt my brain starting to overheat.  LOL

Today is our major cleaning day and my daughter and I have an appointment at the salon and while we are out, we have a few stops to make on our way home.

Tonight hubby and I are having dinner with my oldest friend and her husband (a Christmas tradition).

Tomorrow, church and then the Pastor and his wife invited us to lunch.

Then baking will occur.

(During this time, hubby will be... fixing our daughter's car, grouting the new tile, painting and staining stair railing parts, and a few other misc. repairs that need to be completed)

Monday I have to work

Tuesday I have to work, my daughter has an ortho appointment and cheer practice and we have a dinner and event for my son's elementary school

Wednesday I have a hair appointment and a cub scout den meeting and we have to bake cookies for my son's class cookie exchange.

Thursday I have to work my son has his book club meeting and we have a cub scout pack meeting and I have to have everything baked and ready for my son's class party on Friday.

On Friday I have to pick up my son's birthday cookie for his class, get his class party ready, host his class party and my daughter has a basketball game in the evening.

On Saturday (my son's birthday) he has a scout event at 8 a.m., my daughter has a cheer event (they run from about 8 a.m. till 6 p.m.), and we are having a birthday dinner for my son.

On Sunday we have church and we're hosting a party for about 30 people to celebrate my son's birthday.

Somewhere in-between all this "stuff" I have to find time to cook, clean, do laundry, and grocery shop.  Sleeping and showering and working out must also occur.

I'm pooped and really need to get moving (and motivated) to clean this house!!  Clean now - fun later.

Ladies...
Start your engines

A Post With No Title

I was watching my girlfriend's daughter perform at a recent cheer competition.

This was an emotional moment for me as my girlfriend and I are reconnecting after being apart for 8 years.  This is a blessing beyond words.

During this time I received a text from a dear friend of mine, asking me to call her right away.

Upon explaining to her (via text) my location and circumstances she sent me a text in response

"He's packing and leaving"

"He" being her husband of 26 years.

My heart ached for my friend who is devastated and alone and many many states away from me.

Shortly after the performances, the reconnecting, the rejoicing at watching my daughter showcase and my girlfriend's daughter take first place in her division - I listened to my dear friend sobbing over what had happened in her life.

She said words that pierced my heart and have made me look differently at my marriage

I have taken my marriage for granted

I have taken for granted that my husband loves me, really loves me - despite my issues, despite my mistakes (and there have been many), despite everything - he loves me

Marriage is a commitment, not to be taken lightly or for granted

Marriage isn't a promise of perfect or happiness, but a promise to be there every day

Nope, there are bills and leaky faucets, taxes and children, distractions and obligations to work and grown-up things

Sometimes we have to fall back in love with that person who has seen us at our worst, the person who stays up late with us and paces with us when we have a sick baby or a troubled teen

I'm guilty of not loving my husband fully

I'm guilty of taking my marriage for granted

In the good moments

In the bad moments

In the everyday and mundane moments

It is up to us to see the beauty and love in the little things

My girlfriend was truly what I would call the perfect wife.

Honestly, she is amazing.

Her husband left her for another woman who he says made him feel alive

Her told my girlfriend that he loved her, but he didn't love her "enough"

Despite all that, my girlfriend simply wants her husband to come back to her - to realize that he loves her

I'm in awe of her.

My head is just spinning over the words, the hurt, the whole thing

Marriage is a gift.  A precious and priceless gift.

It is in this moment that I realize my life is full of precious and priceless gifts.

I hope that my sharing might help one person, touch one person.

It's far too easy to see and dwell on all the negatives - it can become the focus if we let it

Despite all the things in my life that are sad - I am blessed and I am thankful

What Would YOU do?

So...

We're redoing the stairs (yes, it's Christmas and we're insane)
The risers will be white, the treads stained.

Here comes the question...
The handrails and balusters  (those kooky spindles)

The handrails (and base) will be stained.

Should the balusters (those kooky spindles) be stained OR should we paint them??

Frankly - I'm leaning towards staining them simply because of the upkeep issues.

But, I do love the look of them painted.

So, I ask you...What would YOU do??

Shhhh...

We're expecting snow.

I'm afraid if I talk about it that it won't come.

It needs to come.

I need to listen to Bocelli and watch the snow fall gently from the sky.

I need that peaceful, gentle, wonderful feeling that comes from being home while it snows.