I am Thankful!

I love the holidays! Everything seems to take on an excitement - the briskness in the air (Ah, yes even down here in S FL!). . . Poeple tend to be more joyful. . .families getting together. . .I am sitting here awaiting the arrival of my family, tomorrow night. It will be good to have them all pile in here and spend some time with us.

I love to cook and have all those smells roaming through the house. That is one of the joys I have - having my family looking forward to the meal. It's fun.

I am so thankful for so many things, but mostly for my wonderful husband, Jeff! Who thankfully isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. I love him so much! He is my best friend, my own personal comedian, my encourager, the one I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with, we have made it through almost 25 years and I am looking forward to the next 25.

Funny how when you get married you believe your life will be complete when you have your kids. . .and they are a wonderful part of marriage. But, I don't think we ever stop to consider that the time you spend raising them is not very long (looking back of course). That there is life after they are grown and living their own lives! We are coming out of that phase of 'wondering how we got here and what do we do now?"

I am so excited about the rest of our lives! We plan to enjoy ourselves, do things we have always wanted to do, go and see things and places of interest, play with our grandkids as much as we can, live life to the fullest. But most of all we plan to spend this time doing whatever it is God wants us to do. Not caring what anyone else thinks about how much we move or anything like that. Just wanting to please Him and make Him known.

What is down the road? we do not exactly know, but we are confident in Who is guiding us there. "We aint Skeered!" as Jeff would say!

Answered Prayer

I was told when my children were young to start praying for their future spouses. I have done that through the years and have actually looked forward to the day I would get to meet them.

There has been one answer to my prayers already - my daughter-in-law is a wonderful young woman who loves the Lord and is such a wonderful life-mate for my son! It has been a joy to watch them grow in their marriage and come together after being apart while TJ was in Iraq. What a blessing to see them start their family and begin the rearing of our precious grandson.

My cup was near full the day they wed.

My daughter's future has been a praying challenge! She has her father's spirit and my heart. She is such a wonderful, independant (in her own way), young woman and I am so thankful for her. My heart always hurt for her, knowing she wanted someone to love and to love her (besides us), but not finding it. Until now. . . She is head over heels in love, with a wonderful young man. I have never seen her glow like she does now. The change in her is amazing and heart warming.

Her father is having trouble with this - (if you have ever watched "Father of the Bride" you know why) She is still 'his' little girl that climbs up in his lap and says "Oooh wee!" (her version of I love you!) She is not the beautiful young woman she has come to be, to him. He still sees her in her puppy dog tails and Osh-Kosh out fits, playing dress-up, singing & quoting verbatim the movie 'Cinderella'. The one who gave him a "sugar spot" in his beard from kissing him so often. It's amazing she still has eyelashes from all of the butterfly kisses she has given.

Change is hard. . .but change is good! God answers prayers in His timing and in His way! I am so glad He knows best!!!! He has blessed me with so much!

"My cup runneth over!"