A Crazy Week

Well, it's been a week since my last post. And what a week it has been. I tried to start off the week with a positive attitude, but there is just so much negative it is hard to maintain it. Work keeps getting worse and worse. Since January 1, we have lost 4 people from our team. Guess what that means? You got it, more work for the rest of us. And yes, the rest of us are the people they didn't like enough to keep in the first place. Oh well. I will persevere. God has already laid out the path of my future and He will guide me in the way I should go.

I guess the funny spot of the week is I worked a popcorn stand for the Cheetah Girls concert on Tuesday night. I have never seen so much cheetah print in all of my life. And some of these little girls were very decked out. Even some moms! I would not be a cool mom when it comes to these things. I think it is because my mom never did these things with us and I think we turned out normal (of course, what is normal.) We'll see which is better: the Cheetah Girls or the Monster Truck show I have to work at tomorrow night. Hmmm....

I have been blessed by getting to spend time with good friends this week. H and I hung out Monday night and worked on our various cross-stitch projects. J and I had our monthly "date" night last night. We went to Mimi's Cafe. The food was really good, but I would have to say the service was lacking. We had an appetizer of zucchini sticks and then we both had different pasta dishes for our main course. I had jumbo spinich tortellini in an asiago cheese sauce. Very tasty. Tonight I will be going with my friends A & E (isn't that cool) to Regas. It has ranked high on mine and J's list of good restaurants in this city. Definitely leans toward "pinky up", but good just the same. And not unreasonable priced.

So, until I come up with more random thoughts for you, TTFN.

It Doesn't Get Easier

I have received news twice today of people who have passed away. One is a father and a husband. He spent several years here on Earth and experience life. The other is a baby. She faced the same battle Emma did (in fact a little too eerie the similarities.) So much life to live, yet God was ready for her to be with Him. It just breaks my heart to hear of these things. Not for the one who has passed and is enjoying their eternal life with our Father, but for those here on Earth who are left with a void. So, say a prayer for these families who are now facing a void in their life. Pray that God will give them a peace they cannot understand. And pray that He will wrap His arms around them and comfort them when the sorrow seems too much to bare. I have often been told, and completely agree, "Life is hard, but God is good."

The Children Need You!

On Sunday, January 28, Children's Hospital will do their annual Children's Miracle Network Telethon. I hope that you will pray about making a donation to this hospital. They did so much for my family and others. In fact, it was the night of last year's telethon that I met Gus's sweet family. Both Gus and Emma got TV time that day! And while Gus and Emma are now healed in heaven, it is because it was God's choice to take them home, not a lack of care on the hospitals part. Children's saw my cousin through a serious infection when he was in primary school. He's now a healthy (though very skinny!) 22 year-old college freshman. My dear friend, A's, nephew also spends time there receiving treatments for his CF. (I'll be writing more on him in an upcoming post.) It's very easy to make a donation, and through you all children who go there will receive the best and most up-to-date care. If you wish to donate, please click here or watch WBIR on Sunday afternoon/evening on January 28 for the phone number to call in and donate. And remember, most companies will match gifts over a certain amount!

Thankful

I have recently been convicted of things I need to be thankful for. One thing I never mention but am often thoughtful of is the fact that my parents saw to it from an early age that my teeth were straightened. I believe this stems from the fact that my dad's parents did not have enough money to put braces on his teeth as a child and he was always self-conscious of his smile. So, come 2nd grade, I was in the dental chair getting fitted for my first set of retainers. From 2nd grade until 10th grade I had some form of metal in my mouth. After several retainers, multiple teeth removed, and a nice, full set of metal braces, the results is pretty nice (if I do say so myself.) Granted, one tooth is still a little off, but it gives my smile some character (and most don't notice.) I no longer have an underbite, I was able to keep all of my "adult" teeth (except my 1 lonely wisdom tooth), and I can smile knowing that people aren't going to be staring at my teeth. I know this is vane, but I am so thankful that my parents sacrificed so that I could have straight teeth. And the best part of the story...my sister and I got to spend time with my dad at the orthodontists office, watching him live out a dream of his. After all, if his daughters were going to have straight teeth, so was he.

Monday Night Football

Ok, I have never been a big football fan. And when I watch it my team is Auburn. Mom made me pick a team so I did. Go Tigers. However, I did find myself looking forward to Monday night’s match up of Ohio State and Florida. I have personal reasons for not wanting Ohio State to win. I had however, resigned myself to the fact they probably would. Needless to say, I'm old so I did not stay up for the whole game, but went to bed when Florida had a comfortable lead 24-14 in the second quarter. When I got up this morning and heard Florida won, I had two reactions. The first one was excitement because the team I was pulling for won. The second, disappointment. I mean, these are supposed to be the #1 and #2 teams in the country and the final score was 41-14. That is not a game. That is like a high-school team taking on a peewee team. I (who in the past have never really cared) am completely in favor of an overhaul to the BCS championship structure. Next year I would like to force myself to stay up to see a real game played, not go to bed in the second quarter due to boredom.

Some Random Thoughts

It's been a few days since my last post so here are a few thoughts:

1) What a difference a year makes. When I think back to what I was doing a year ago, who my friends were, and where I thought life was headed, it's amazing to see where I really am. God is awesome! He is the constant I look to and am so thankful that no matter where I see things going, He always has the best plan for me.

2) If you see my friend Craig around, ask him about the cat and the vacuum cleaner. Best story ever!

3) My friend Erin just moved into a new home. She had a few of us over for a potluck on Saturday night. It's so nice to get to spend time with friends.

4) My friend J's mom and dad were in town this weekend so I got to sit with them at church. I miss them dearly and wish we got to spend more time together. I think I need to take a trip to Brevard and surprise them sometime. :-)

5) My cousin, J, and I bonded over earrings this weekend. I had the second hole in my ear repiereced and she got a second hole. You haven't really shared anything as a family until you have been pierced together.

In Remembrance

Today Baby Emma would be 1 year old. It has been a difficult holiday season thinking that we should have been celebrating her 1st Christmas. Instead we spent it missing her terribly. New Year's was no fun because it brings back memories of the past year as everyone asks you to reflect on the past year. I told my care group in Bible Fellowship that I have dubbed the year 2006 as the year "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away." He gave us so many blessing, but He also took things as well. It is all part of His will and I know it is good and perfect but it still hurts and you still feel voids in your heart. Baby Emma is better and home with Jesus. Am I jealous? Heck yes! But I know that my time will come when God is ready for me. And I can't wait until the day when I see Him face to face and am able to praise Him for all He has done for me and my family and for the blessings (even those in disguise) that He has provided during my days on Earth.

Please also say a prayer for the Doriot family as they are experiencing a trying holiday season and January. Their sweet little Gus would have been 2 in a couple of weeks. They have been such an encouragement to our family all the while working through their own grief. You can read more about Gus at the Gus's Gang Link on the right.

2007 Goals

For 2007 I am setting goals for my life, not creating a list of resolutions. For one, I believe goals are more motivating and secondly I believe that several of these are changes I need to make in my life long term, not just for the year 2007. So here is my list. I hope to provide a monthly update on how I am doing.

1. Memorize 26 individual verses and 1 chapter of the Bible
2. Read the New Testament
3. Run 3 times per week (failed miserably...but I'm still trying!)
4. Keep house cleaner (not necessarily spotless, just cleaner!)
5. Eat healthier
6. Lent: Give Up Eating Out (I only had to eat out when I was out of town...and I felt better and lost weight during this time. Go me!)
7. Find a new job
8. Run 3rd half marathon (hope for personal best)
9. Raise $150 for Cystic Fibrosis -- I raised $270! Woohoo!!!!!!!!
10. Take meals to Ronald McDonald House Twice
11. Read all the books on my nightstand and dresser (except the scary one that mom lent me)12. Watch all the movies that I own (DVD and VHS)
13. Go hiking at least 4 times
14. Finish cross-stitch projects
15. Finish scrapbooks that are "in-process"

Some of these obviously have to be completed like number 7, while numbers 1 and 2 are areas where I know I need to improve in my spiritual life along with more time spent in prayer. I have also already started reading the New Testament, but I do not count this as cheating since it is a goal to have read it all by the end of the year (in addition to my small group study and other personal study.) What are some of your goals? If you are having trouble determining goals, I would encourage you to visit the Sevier Heights webpage and listen to Pastor Hollie's sermon from 12/31/2006 when it is available (which should be this week.)