I wanted to mention that I have heard from a few different sources now that they have had some difficulty in the registration process here on this blogging site. With the fact that they offer the free services I know they do the best they can.

Most of those who have been struggling with the registration process have been able to get it done within a few attempts and once registered no one seems to be having any on going problems.

So, I encourage you to keep trying to register until it allows the process to be completed. Be patient!

In the mean time, your comments, suggestions and personal experiences as they relate are most certainly welcome here! Please feel free to comment away!

Yesterday was wonderful and the past several days as you all are aware from my previous blogs. However, today is different. Not in a negative sense of the word, but for the purpose of rejuvination. As if there is so much input the past few weeks that my mind, soul and body just needed to take a moment to process and catch it all up. I sat outside for quite some time today in the sun on the swing, half asleep, half day dreaming but most of all rejuvinating my spirit.

This is my least favorite week of the month, every month. It is the week when all the paperwork is due; we have to attend on-going training courses for fostering; and coming off a holdiay seems in some strange way to add to it. I had thought of starting on the endless paperwork that will have to be ready by the first of next week, but opted otherwise.

No, instead I have spent the day conversing breifly with a friend, enjoying the spring sunshine, listening to the birds sing God's song and considering where I would place the swings on the new property.

Do we know anything definitive as of yet? Can you believe we are still awaiting? Everything is in God's time and one way or the other I know that God is in this process as well. However, I am still feeding the mind and soul positive affirmations regarding the house, the move, the horses, the kids, and all that my life implies.

I have had so many thoughts on what to blog today but for the life of me, here I sit not recalling even one of them. However, it isn't forgetfulness today. It is more or less as if I rebooted all systems and those thoughts were simply unsaved when the system shut down.

I've got it - I ran a scan, eliminated the cookies and defragmented the disk of my soul today. I should feel much lighter! LOL In any event the process appears to still be under way as I am feeling the compulsion to leave the office cubicle and head out to the rays of the sun once more.

However, the boys will soon be home and that will set me apart from the perfect balance of the outdoor and the animals as they remain in such perfect balance with all that surrounds them as well today. So, rather I will busy myself with thoughts of what to fix for dinner.

I dare say that I am looking forward to the word from the banker. He said perhaps as soon as today or tomorrow morning. Waiting!!! I have never been good at waiting. In addition, the news reports on prime time TV tend to work on one's affirmations. There is no doubt the economy isn't helping any of this get done any sooner. However, I still feel good about my positive thougths and I know there are so many things in the works right now that this is just a formality of life. However, I sure do hope that there is not someone else out there sending positive wave lengths to the Universe beyond on the same property...



So, on that note, the school bus just rolled to a stop and in only seconds I will be bombarded by news of the day. Better sign off here!

In closing - I am continuing to "Trust the process", and though todays journey has been over all uneventful thus far, it's still been absorbing in the renewal of my mind, heart and soul.

Love to all!

Here it is, one of the most sacred days of the entire year! He is risen, he is risen indeed! But best of all as Pastor Shorty reminded us today -the significant difference in his rising and his ascending. He rose and defeated death which is awesome! However, the fact that he ascended to prepare a place for us to be with him in Eternity is nearly beyond comprehension! If I give it ample time and thought I feel like I am ten years old and awaiting Christmas morning one more, but ten fold greater than any nominal gift of choice I may have requested back then!

God is beyond great, beyond awesome, generally beyond words!

We had a great day - truly! Sharell was so upset last night when she called to find out if it was snowing here, dashing her considerations for a moment at least, to getting to make it up in time for sunrise service at our church home which was once her home church before moving nearly two hours away. They made it.

I tend to believe the Lord may be calling her and her family back to this area... Home to a church family that is familiar and beloved to her and to a Christian community of believers where her boys, our grandchildren can thrive in God's word and promise for their future. Not that they can't find a community of believers where they are, but the burden appears to be upon her to return to this area where they can be with family and around the rural farm life that they are currently so far removed from.

I have accepted her decisions to spread her wings and fly, as difficult as it may be to watch from the distance. We have no choice but to allow our adult children to set out on their own chartered course and many times the most and the least we can do is pray! If it is God's will they will return, then so be it. However, if his plan is different then what we may hope for, so it seems, we have to let go and trust God to watch over them for us. Back to trusting the process!

However, when the course turns back to the possibility of their moving back and the potential is there, one can't help but embrace the considerations! It would be wonderful to be near the grandchildren again. I spent the better part of a couple years with her in my life before she was pregnant with the twins and the first couple years of their lives. I counted on her, as she did me... So when her life started dissolving before her eyes and out of her control, I could only stand back and let her do what she had to do in her process.

Today we took them over to see "The Big House on the Hill". She loved it and the kids had a wonderful time running around the yard, harmless for the limited time we were there. Brisket was in the pot so we couldn't be gone too long. However, I think she is ready to move to the house on 2 1/2 acres that nearly adjoins the Big House property that is for sale. Would I mind? Nope - not at all! The biggest problem would be the fact she could simply come find me when I don't answer my telephone. LOL

However, that may be no more than wishful thinking - to have the family so close once more... It is not impossible for her to begin her own process of visualizing and believing. It has to start somewhere and why not here?

Once more if we can control our thoughts, fill ourselves with more positives, and find ourselves walking in Gods will for our lives, our joy can conquer the pain life deals us.

The long and the short of it, the snow stopped, they took their chances with the slick roadways at 4:30 a.m., braved the fog on the way and arrived to church 20 minutes early, even after missing their turn off the highway due to the dense fog! Of course, they had to travel nearly two hours and were early... We had to travel ten minutes and guess what? You know it... We were late! Oh well, the church family seems to know this about us and loves us anyway...

I'm pretty sure it would be unfashionable at this point to show up to my own memorial service without being fashionably late... I just don't want to miss any of the singing! I love the singing! My favorite song I'm pretty sure is "I'll Fly Away” What a great old song!

Here I have to toot my sister-in-law’s horn a little! She wrote yet another absolutely beautiful song of which she sang at church today. You see, she’s the music director of our church. Her along with the Taylor family, who is also incredibly musically blessed, is a wonderful team and has become much like family! So when she sang her song of which she called “Through the Eyes of Love” backed up by the Taylor’s, it was beautiful and meaningful! I wish she could get her songs into the hands of some of these big name singers who could make them known, the songs at that point would make themselves popular!

I truly feel like I'm rambling here tonight - and should probably bring this thing to a close! But there is one more thing that has occurred to me today. It has become more apparent to me over time, but today it really hit me!

I have had several people ask me about my up-coming book which is currently in book cover design. The format and text is done as I have previously reported. However, today I had someone who I would not have guessed ask me about it at church. Boy, did it make me feel good, once I got past the initial surprise. LOL But then I hear from Sharell that ALL the girls she works with can hardly wait for it to come out, with plans of buying it and having me personally sign it via Sharell's visiting me. This made me feel so special and blessed beyond belief! But in any event, it appears there is a bit of curiosity stirred up over my book’s arrival to the market place. How exciting is that?

And too boot, my husband, apparently of late having been abducted by aliens, has been so wonderful! Not that he isn’t always wonderful in his own regard, which goes without saying by the fact we’ve been married going on 28 years. However, he has my new vehicle in tip-top shape to make my trip up to the Wyoming/Montana region where the book is based, for my anticipated book signings up there, hopefully this summer sometime! I can hardly wait! God is so faithful!

I have known that I know that this would be a great year and so far it appears to be one of the best...again, not because life as we know it isn't occurring all around me every day. Take for example, I have a kiddo who appears to come up with the best timing to be up-set about something, or a head ache, or... or... You guessed it, tonight he got to go to bed without enjoying the treats of his Easter bag since he was apparently too consumed by a head ache that didn't seem to get worse until it was time to do chores which should have been done earlier... Oh well... And there are always those little disturbances that get you. Mom made a yummy desert that is served frozen, like an ice cream cake sort of thing. It went into the freezer yesterday; so you can only imagine my concern when tonight it wasn't frozen yet! The freezer has since been turned up and the desert was not served tonight. Fortunately we made two different deserts! Oh well... And I could go on....

However, all in all, my mind set and thoughts are so much improved as I have recently been speaking of – that apparently everything can't help but be better. I have before stated that if I died tomorrow that I would die very happy and content. I am not afraid of dying, as I see that as the promise that we have in this life if we have accepted Christ as our Savior. So, there you have it! Life is going to be what I am going to make of it. I haven't done half bad to this point, but I sure feel like the cake is being iced of late.

I wish the same joy, fulfillment and happiness for each and every one of you as I am experiencing in my life right now! And I pray that I am guided to continue to embrace his word and his promises to seek his will and purpose in my life for not just this phase or stage of my time on earth; but from now forward! And I hope to share such with all that I come in contact with!

Life is a journey - embrace it! Embrace the good and the not so good and be content in all things, finding joy from within. After all, we truly are blessed, just so often we take the obvious for granted! I encourage you to find the lessons in all; and as a little reminder, remember: "God is in the process - therefore trust the process!"

Again - we celebrate that he has risen and ascended and thank him for the gift, the price he paid and the promise not only for eternity but for each day of our earthly lives as well!

Yesterday was an incredible day for me. Not because I did something I had long since dreamed of doing, or because I realized any looming goal I may have set for myself and not because nothing negative occurred.

In fact, yesterday was quite normal in most every sense of the word. I woke up before the alarm went off - bah hum bug. One of the boys was late coming up to check in. I had forgotten to go the bread store for Entenmanns famous pastries the night before while in Denver, to take to the church breakfast following sunrise service on Sunday. Therefore, Mom ended up baking all morning long. We were out of milk so she had to improvise. All of which in turn caused us to be running late to town for Easter shopping. The funds are low a week earlier than pay day arrives. The kids are lagging on their chores. The sun was out but it was windy. We were later than the boys in getting home from Easter shopping from starting late. I forgot to call in a prescription which means I have to make another trip on another day. Two of the boys had issues with one another of which I had to unpleasantly mediate. The banker was gone for the day before the guys got there to give him the extra information on the house project. Sounds like a picture perfect day to you? NOT! LoL

There is more! My new car was being worked on (new brakes and shocks since the steering has remained a bit squirrelly even after fixing the leak in the power steering) so I had to drive Ron's truck. That's not soooo bad, but I have to admit, I’ve come to like my new car that I was so vehemently upset over a few weeks back.

After shocks and brakes, though better, there was still an issue with the front end. Therefore, lo and behold after further checking, the ball joints needed to be replaced and they are doing an alignment. I know what you're thinking, that car must have turned out to be the money pit from Hadie... but not really. In fact, the only thing remaining at this time to do is tires and those that are on it now are not horrible... I'm thinking fall or before winter really hits again... However, Ron is thinking maybe sooner than later.

So, was it an exceptional day where life as usual didn't befall us? Nope, sure wasn't! It was a day like many others that we all face in life.

However, speaking of Ron and the tires before next winter.... I'm wondering what date and time my husband was abducted by aliens and what they did with him???? I told him this last night as he was taking the family to CiCi's for dinner.

He asked "You mean the last day or two?" I think he was contributing it to having more than a day in a row off in several months.

However, I told him "NO! For the past several weeks!!!" <>

I then told him the scariest part of the possibility of the abduction theory is that I'm afraid they may bring him back... That is, the aliens who abducted him and left this imposter in his place. lol He’s been simply charming…
He smiled warmly and told me that wasn't very nice. Of course, we laughed and how refreshing was that. I wonder why the change? Then I ask is it him or is it me?

Okay, so I know what you're thinking by now! Ah ha, she had a great day because her husband made her happy. Nope! That isn't it, but it was a nice attribute after all. However, he simply doesn't have the power to control my happiness or lack there of. No one does have such power over anyone unless it is given to them!

We can't even contribute the wonderful day to the fact that NASCAR season is fully under way for the season. For those who don't know this little tad-bit of information, they don't race on Easter weekend. Though I frowned when I recalled there would be no races on the TV when checking in for qualifying results yesterday; but I truly respect the fact they don't race on this, the holiest of weekends.

Ah... You think you have it figured out now, right? You suppose that I am so into this whole holiday thing that it must be the explanation for the good day... To be honest, I am into Easter but in a more solemn sense of the word. So, wrong again!

You see, I had to ask some of the same questions. Why was it such an above normal day if all the normal things of life still came our way? Sure, those reasons above all have a place in the time machine of happiness, but why did they amount to anything more than they would on any other given day?

While I was writing a very long email to a very dear friend and after I had completed it late last night, I was pondering the reality of the day. I also considered some of which I had shared with her. What was so different this time around? To be honest with you, I have been considering these things quite a little bit in the days and weeks of recent.

I hear a few snickers here and there when I admit my resolution for the year. I suppose it would sound a bit out of the range of what most people, including me would pursue as a resolution.

Not to lose weight, though the thought has crossed my mind more than once or twice over the past many years. It wasn't to get organized, though I probably should have considered that one. It wasn't to ride horses more or ever again... Even though there are 25 of them outside my door. And it wasn't to renew goals or dreams of old... It wasn't to find myself, though I've been looking for sometime.

Nope, it was nothing so profound as the obvious things in life. Instead, it was to quit cursing.

Some might say I didn't cuss much anyway, but I know it was more than I used too. I also realized it was becoming an anger management tool instead of a get some ones attention tool. It was becoming a part of who I was, a piece of my identity of which I didn't like!

When all this hit me was the latter part of 07' when I realized I was looking at a stranger in the mirror. A person I wasn't too sure I really wanted to be around, much less have to live with on a 24/7 basis.

As I took a closer look and inventoried my life and surroundings I realized the emotional calluses that had formed and the layers that were building up.

Have you ever had a pedicure? If not, I highly recommend doing it at least once in your life! However, I compare the realization to this. The bottoms of my feet start to toughen; the skin gets rough and creates layers to protect the more tender skin beneath.

There are many ways to remedy this, from store bought creams to stones that gently massage the rough, dead skin away. The best by far is a pedicure. With a good soak in warm water with special skin conditioners gently massaging and softening your feet in a hydro tub designed specifically for this purpose. Then the artist goes to work, whittling and working away like a sculptor peeling away the layers to form the work of art.

Okay, my feet are anything but a work of art, no offense to God here... But it's sort of like that. When it's all said and done the roughness is gone, the feet look about twenty years younger and even tempt you to wear sandals out of season. They are a softer, more appealing element of ones body following such a treatment. When complete, one can even recognize them as the limbs they have come to know over the years past. lol

So it was with me, but I didn't realize just how crusty I had become. The only thing initially obvious was the cursing, specifically when hurt or angry. So I decided it had to go.

I'm still working on the occasional slip ups here and there. Like when I went to shake the milk carton and the lid wasn't on.... Not a biggie really, but I'm still working on it. It isn't about becoming self righteous or holier than thou. In fact, not at all! I would not and could not judge anyone else who curses... That isn't the point.

However, what I realized is to break a habit as such, I had to change my thoughts. I had to rethink my anger process, how I respond to little things, big things and every day things.

I pondered how in the world a few cuss words here and there could have such a huge impact on my whole life. I didn't even realize what was occurring as I began yet another chapter in my life's journey. I didn't realize giving up a few words in my vocabulary would force my brain into over drive and it happened without my knowing. It was like a stranger who sneaks in the side door and you don't even know they're there.

It hit me! This week, maybe yesterday, what has been occurring! Here I've been working on the Biblical principals of The Secret for over a year now and it suddenly came in like a freight train! Duh George!!!!

Where my thoughts took me, so my words followed. Therefore, when I forced myself to revamp my choice of words I had to revamp my communication skills. Fix communication skills and whamo... That in turn forced my thoughts to have no other option but to change! A no brainer, right? But I caution, don't be so quick to say so!

If it was so blatantly obvious to everyone, no one would struggle with any hurtful addictions or behaviors. Let's face it, if we are honest with ourselves we'd have to admit that we all struggle with some sort of hurtful behaviors knowingly or unknowingly in our daily lives. Let me rephrase that, intentionally or unintentionally they are still there.

Yesterday I woke up thinking about what a bummer it was I woke up at the regular time when I could have slept another half hour or more before the changed alarm clock would have sounded. Then I reconsidered my position. I prayed as I generally do, or at least communicated with God. Some don't really see the way I converse with God as prayer, but that is no more than a matter of personal opinion.

Then I visualized. I visualized Chad getting a call or calls for work coming in. I visualized the news arriving that the financing is in place for "The Big House on the Hill". I visualized happy and refused to allow the negatives to come to pass before ever coming out of my bedroom.

When I came out I thought to myself, that was fun... But the day feels pretty much the same to me. Drats! Double Drats!

I wanted an epiphany from Heaven, a revelation so clear when I looked outside it's practically written on the sky for only me to see. But there was none.

I considered hearing someone talk this week somewhere, maybe it was Gregory Dickow Ministry, but I’m not sure. Regardless of where, I heard someone say that an employer/business owner was struggling with the poor moral that lingered with his employees. But upon entering the place of business was several of those cutsie little signs saying things like "It's hard to soar with the eagles when you work with turkeys." They pointed out the obvious; the mental picture was created even if it was in fun. Okay, I'm not going to do away with all my little signs hanging around here like "So it's not home sweet home, deal with it” and such.... But you get the point. tee hee hee....

I blogged very little yesterday. I guess it was due to being distracted by my own considerations. However, when the day was nearing it's conclusion, I had to think of it as a day well done.

I wish I could feel so good about all of them... Then I thought about it! I can! I have to start somewhere. Just like I started somewhere with giving up cursing... If I made it through a day, a week or a month without a cuss word and then failed miserably, I was still that much closer to my original goal. Remember, failures are merely stepping stones to success.

I know I'm going to struggle to embrace the morning every day, specifically the days I have to do things I really don't want to do. However, if I create in myself one or more days in a week that I succeed as I did yesterday, then that is one day closer to becoming a new habit. If I can arrive at 75% of the days being above average in my life then very little will be wasted.

By many people's standards my life does not appear wasted at all. But I know how much time has been whittled away with "would of, should of and could of's...."

I have to admit a very small percentage of the every day moments of life have not been all they could have and should have been.

"The next thirty years" as the song goes... I am going to put a lot more effort into not focusing on goals and ambitions, but rather controlling my thoughts. I have finally come to my day of awakening! The goals and ambitions and even the financial stability are a by-product of my thoughts being in the right order.

As I think, re-think, and think again, not all of them, but certainly many of the negatives in our lives and relationships are no more than a mirror image, reflecting back to us what we first put forth.

I am forced to really reevaluate the principles of, "reaping what we sow"; "We are what we think we are"; : "We can do what we think we can do"; "If we think we are defeated, we are before we ever begin." and so many other sayings that I have not only considered but voiced in my life. How ironic is it, that only now I have come to such a depth of understanding them.

For me, it's really no more than creating a new habit... However, let’s face it... Good habits can be difficult to start. But I'm betting the farm on the "thought" that this one is the key to the rest. Just a "thought" I know, but I'm suspecting the weight issues, finding one self, liking oneself, having better relationships, spiritual growth, and all that one needs for perfect or even good balance in their life truly does lie in the secret... And the secret? The secret is your thoughts!

The interesting thing here is that I know full well there will be many who read this and say "I know all that" just as I would have a month ago, a year ago, or several years ago. I know many will think they get what I'm saying when the reality of its truth will inadvertently escape them. All I can say is "Thank God it's my time of enlightment! Truly - I do Thank God!"

When it's all said and done... I can only hope and pray that maybe in some small way this will serve to help someone else along in their process and journey.

Remember:
Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks within, so is he."
There is a great deal of meaning to this short little proverb; certainly more than I first identified.

One last consideration; I have found myself wondering why I'm where I'm at and if I have totally screwed up God's plan for my life so many times over the years that I couldn't begin to count them! At times I get stuck in memory mode, hitting rewind over and over to times past.

However, I want to encourage myself and anyone else who has ever or is now struggling with such doubts; let yesterday go. Truly, the memories of our past are to build our future on.

I am forced to consider that memories that touch us in a special way are not necessarily for the purpose of returning too. But rather, I suppose these special recollections are more about building at the point where God has brought us too. You are not where you are without purpose and to think anything less would be to corrupt the process.

I suppose I need to take this a step further. I am not referring to those who are beaten, abused, threatened and otherwise put in harms way. God clearly outlines the boundaries of which we are not asked, required or expected to remain within.

In experiences where lines have to be drawn and escape hatches have to be utilized, God can and still does use the unfortunate past for good and glory for those who trust him to guide them out of their present or past circumstances. The point being when all seems lost and without hope... Such as the day that Christ died on the cross.... Just when you think there is nothing left.... Life is renewed just as Christ was ressurected. Nothing in God is impossible! So, I encourage you to start today with visualizing, building up and believing in the future. And the future is NOW!

HE'S ALIVE!!!! And he's coming again!!!! Rejoice, for he Lives!

Happy Easter and may God bless and keep us all!

I know, all Friday's are good, but not the same sort of good as this Friday. Actually, good doesn't do it justice. Then again, it was a very sad day but remarkable in itself. To consider the price that was paid for us to have such a gift. Most assuredly, awe inspiring!

The wind was supposedly blowing in a cold front today - but you sure couldn't swear by me from looking outside and hearing the birds outside my window. Perhaps, a bit cooler, but so very nice just the same.

I have a ton of things to do today with perparations for the Easter Holiday, but I wanted to stop in this morning and put in a good word for all.

I also wanted to share that this morning I prayed and visualized. More specifically than I might normally. I visualized Chad coming to tell me he had received calls on excavation jobs. I also visualized the call for the letter of credit for the house.... So far, Chad has come in and reported his flyers hung up must have worked as he received a call and thought he had at least one job thus far already today! I simply told him "I knew you would."

Now, just waiting on the other. I prayed for a few other matters too, but I thought you'd find this note inspiring to start your project visualization, faith building, future progressing note of encouragement.

I will probably be able to write more later today or this evening - but for now - Good Friday to all!