Yes, HE Cares!!!

I woke up feeling a bit discombooberated,

slept for over 10 hours!!!

Not sure why I slept so long

and I felt bad that Ron had worked almost 16 hours straight

(though he would never say anything about that)

so once I was done with the daily report ~ we had 43 loads yesterday

(this is in a 24 hr period ~ 6am to 5:59am)

I opened up my Bible to the study I am doing with some others on Facebook

(https://www.facebook.com/groups/542643912918608)

Today was Day 3 & 4 for me

Proverbs 20

this is such a rich passage

His throne is made secure through love;

Our MARRIAGE is secured through love! (Ali's version)

One of the drivers this morning asked me how long Ron and I have been together.  I told him we met June 22, 1975,

got engaged on July 21, 1975 and

married on December 20, 1975!

and we will be celebrating 44 years this year.

Arius reply was "WOW, I don't know anyone who has been married longer than I've been born!!! That must be a record!!!  How do you do that?"

It gave me an opportunity to tell Arius that without the Lord, the love and prayers of family and friends we wouldn't be...that we have had our fair share of struggles, some that would have caused others to flee but that divorce was never an option (though Ron will tell you he thought of it once!) through it all, we have loved each other, through thick and thin, the good and the bad, the easy and difficult,

we knew/know that God brought us together.  Arius seemed a bit in shock that we have only been married once and that is/was to each other.

1 John 1 ~ 2:6

all speak to me in so many ways,

Jesus is our light and without him we are in darkness,

Jesus loves us more than anything, He gave his life for us,

we need to love others just as He loved us,

when we do wrong, we need to confess to Him

clear the darkness from our lives 

and 

finally in 1 John 2:1-2

we are reminded that our parents, who are supposed to be our advocates in life while we were younger, that Christ is our advocate now, today and forever.

I have always struggled with the many verses in the Word that talk about honor your parents, the good that parents are to be, and how parents are to be there for us at all times...because of my own upbringing...what I finally came to terms is that my parents did the best they could with what they knew/could and I must do better than them.

I was not always the best parent my children should have had,

but I learned, through trial and error, through the good and bad times,

with the help of a wonderful husband!!! and many others in my life 

and being open to learning  new ways to parent but more importantly new ways to love myself I was then and am now able to love others

just as God commands us!!

Genesis 2:5-25

shares about how husbands and wife came to be,

how we are to be with each other

and I am so thankful for the helpmate that the Lord brought into my life...

December 20, 1975

December 22, 2000

Celebrating 25 years of marriage

43 years and counting!!

Thank you Lord

for loving me enough

to send YOUR SON,

and making 

Ron just for me!!!

All this shows that

HE cares for me!!!

Time in the Word

First...rambling thoughts...

TITLES are hard to come up with!!!

Just saying!!!

The verse for today is

which is the verse I chose many years ago as my life verse.

I can't count the number of times I have repeated this verse but I know thousands or more...often times I find myself asking "what should I/we do?"

and for those who have been reading my blog for any length of time,

know that we are often asking ourselves that question

and then seeking the Lord.

As I shared with a friend this morning,

even though we may not understand the why of something,

anytime we look back we can see the hand of God in our lives...

most recently,  I can say we thought taking the job in Utah last spring was a good thing for us both financially and personally...that job did not work out (for a few reasons) and we ended back here in Texas in early May 2018 and in July 2018 Ron was diagnosed with breast cancer (yes men get breast cancer); because of the type of work we are doing right now he only missed 4 days of work! The way we are being paid does not affect his SS pay either...both BIG blessings in our life right now. Though we were scared about leaving Utah and taking a job we knew absolutely nothing about we have experienced such peace here...and are reminded daily that God does know what he is doing even when we don't.

Continuing in the Word this morning

Genesis 1: 2, 4 & 16

really spoke to me this morning

about depression and gratitude

Just as God started out the earth was formless, empty and dark

and then he formed light & dark

but then He formed the 

sun, the moon and the stars

and at the end of each day he said

"and it was good"

depression is a dark and scary thing,

but when we peel back the covers

and allow the light to come in

our hope is raised and grown

and no matter how dark it is 

there is always the smallest sliver of the mood and the tiniest of stars to

shine some light on the situation

and through it all 

God said it was good

and no matter how difficult life can be

or seems to be,

we always have hope,

hope for the light to shine through

I know that over time,

Ron and I have become more grateful

each and every day

and if I could even 

encourage one person today,

find something to give thanks for...even just a little thing

because remember at the end, its the little things that 

become the big things!!!

Today, even in the dreary gray sky

I am thankful it's not raining,

raining here in West Texas = a big mess for us!!

and so for today I am thankful it is not raining.

What are you thankful for today?

Rambling Thoughts

The last couple of nights I have had trouble falling asleep.

It is what it is but at the same time it's hard if I don't sleep then it means Ron doesn't get to sleep at a good time either.

The last two nights I have been tired when I go to bed

but sleep just doesn't come,

I know I'm fighting an infection of some kind and I am sure that is contributing to not sleeping well.

I find myself writing letters to many different people 

in my  mind

Dr. Phil,

Jamie & Brandon,

my sister, Joanie,

aunts and uncles

I find myself praying

and then get frustrated when my mind wanders

and I have no clue how I got from praying 

to thinking about York peppermints.

I have lots of things to be working on

...but I find myself playing on my phone,

putting together puzzles,

playing Solitaire

or Mahjong

I have a To Do List that 

is growing

and the countdown is on...

...we only have 132 days till we leave on our trip...

and yet I find myself 

just vegging,

zoning

and who knows what else.

I haven't been crocheting much

and yet have so many projects to do...

...mail the granddaughter her slippers,

finish grandson #3's slippers,

make a friend's tank top,

finish the granddaughter's birthday present,

a graduation blanket waiting to be made,

an anniversary blanket

and who knows what else...

...oh all the Christmas projects for 2019!!

I know I'm rambling,

I'm frustrated as I can't find

some important documents that I need,

...enough rambling I guess...

maybe the next post will be a bit more informative!!

Reflections and Reminders

This morning as I sit snuggled under my afghan

Pictured while being made!

and my beanie on covering my ears

Purple Beanie

because it's so flippin cold outside 

and I'm tired of putting it on and taking it off,

plus it's very warm

reading in the Word

I am reminded over and over how God takes the old and makes things new!

What happened yesterday, is past

today is a new day

and to Just Be!!!

Winter of 2002 I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and was out of work for 12 weeks...I worked at home, at my pace, keeping up with payroll and reports but for most of the time I laid on the couch,

hurting and too tired to move.

I remember calling Pastor Charles  one day and crying, I hate not being able to do things, just getting up to go to the restroom makes me tired and I sleep for two hours!!!  He calmly responded, "use this time to learn what the Lord has for you....maybe it's JUST BEING!  

Not doing for others,

not taking care of others,

letting others take care of you...

...so hard to do!!!

I wish I could say I learned how to Just Be and can do it quite well now...

but that would be far from the truth...and I'm learning it again,

as I continue to read in Esther...

I need to live and enjoy life in this moment.

and I think I'm finally succeeding at it (somewhat)

as I am so enjoying the few hours each morning 

I am setting aside to be in the Word,

to prayer,

to color and think,

to write...and realizing I write for me and no one else...and if others read what I write I hope they find something they can use.  

Oh I like it when people comment on my writings, 

but in reality, I'm enjoying writing for me and sharing out loud what thoughts run through my mind as I read and just be.

I love the little nuggets of reminders that come to mind each day...

today...

and my heart warms with memories of coffee dates, sharing emails,

laughing and crying with my bestie, sharing play dates with  my grands with her, did I say coffee dates and sharing emails...

as she will say to me 

"God hasn't failed you yet, what makes you think He will start now?"

He hasn't and I know He won't!!!

And then in 2 Kings 18:32 and

to take every thought, concern, every detail,

large or small to the Lord as He cares about every detail of my life, 

to Him!!!  as He cares about me, every single detail about me

and to 

Choose Life not death!!!

and then the memories started flooding my heart

and tears started rolling and then I remembered,

for such a time as this

I am where I am

I have faced many struggles/demons in my life 

and just as God words tells me 

he cares about me, every little detail

because now all the hatred and negativity I thought about myself 

is behind me

and

and I reminded that God has healed me in so many areas of my life and for that I am so thankful!!!!  Life is so much better without all the hate and hurt that I carried for so many years.

and then my girlfriend, TR, posted this on Facebook:

So let's address this comment: 

if you read God's word enough and had enough faith your marriage would not end. This said to a divorced person.

First of all, this is a religious spirit talking. If you hear it, walk away. If you hear yourself saying it, time for some serious reflection.

Second, this is the same mentality that said my Father-in-law died because we didn't have enough faith to heal him. No. Cancer killed him. Not us. And the spouse who is leaving a marriage for her safety and her children HAS not ended her marriage. The abusive narcissistic man ended their marriage.

Third, God did not exclude himself from divorcing Israel. Why would he require a higher standard for human relations?

Fourth, the Bible speaks of making a way of escape for those who are oppressed. If you think enduring physical abuse of your body, mental and emotional of your identity and spiritual abuse of your soul is not oppressive might I suggest you check your heart to see if it's still beating?

I will not stay silent about this any longer. I am for healthy marriages. That means supporting those who need to escape relationships that are not even remotely a marriage. That piece of paper we sign is not a license to physical, sexual, emotional, mental or spiritual abuse. If you insist that a man or woman should stay oppressed because "the Bible never allows for a divorce" then i am going to speak the truth in love: You have a religious spirit that needs rebuked.

And I was reminded just because I see one side of the picture I may not know the whole situation, and am reminded in Psalms

that I need to think before I speak,

and words can't be taken back once they come out of the mouth

and

and my thoughts 

are jumping around like

so on that note I will 

make myself another cup of coffee and 

get busy crocheting...I have grands who want their slippers!!!

Do you see reminders in different ways?

Promises from God

Woke up this morning

with that nagging cough in full swing, 

drank some tea and sucked on a cough drop for a bit...

and thought I am so blessed that I have one of the easiest jobs ever that even when I don't feel well I can still do my job...looking at the positive!

Another perk of my job is that I can chat with friends while I sit and drink my coffee, they understand that "truck brb" means don't leave, I will be right back, need to go check in a driver and then I come back to the conversation and we just continue...I am blessed with friends who we just pick up from where  we last left it,

not just those I chat with on Facebook but in real life too...they are the best kind of friends...who love me for me, accept me for who I am and just keep on lovin' me.

My morning routine is usually to watch last nights news while doing the daily report and then watch all my shows I record from IDHD...yes, those murder mysteries...so easy to get caught up in them, shake my head in wonder of "how could someone do ????" and then I take a glimpse back at my past and I can understand...sometimes life's pains and hurts are just too much to bear.**see the bottom of the blog for the rest of my thoughts on this**

This morning I turned the TV off, turned on the worship music and opened my Bible

The picture reminds me of one of our first business cards we had for

"The Wandering Workentins"

as we wander through life though not alone.

In the RV lifestyle world, many of us say our plans are written in 

Jello

as life wobbles and weaves

like a bowl full of Jello!

God knows the plans He has for me/for us, 

He wants good and not disaster and He reminds us daily

my HOPE always lies in Him.

We can make all the plans we want, 

as long as we remember God's plans may not be our plans.

I have learned to be flexible when it comes to planning.

For those who have known me for a long time

can probably remember

the temper tantrums I've thrown when plans didn't go the way I wanted

(right JF!)

for flying ambrosia salad (right RW!) 

and many other occasions where the emotions took over...

BUT I am happy to say that I have learned, sometimes the hard way

how to be flexible and let go and let God!!

So keep making those plans,

I know I will,

just be open to wherever the Lord leads!!!

Next up,

I was immediately taken back to a Sunday worship service in

Federal Way where I was sitting next to Gene H.  He leaned over and said to me "do you know how to tell God has a sense of humor?"  I replied, "No" and he said oh so softly, "just look at the person you are sitting next to."  Well, needless to say I laughed out loud, which was not really appropriate to what what Pastor Dick was preaching on and got a surprised look from many.  After the service as Gene and I were walking out, Dick asked "what was so funny during my very serious point in the sermon?"  We both tried to tell him, but it just didn't seem as funny then.  

Laughter is good medicine for the soul, a broken spirit saps our strength...oh so true...I used to not laugh a lot, I hurt deep inside and I made sure others knew it, that meant it wasn't fun to be around me.  BUT I am delighted and blessed beyond measure that the Lord, through many trials and hurts led people into my life that helped me to see God's love for me and that the hurts were in the past and didn't need to continue through today.

I have learned to steer clear of situations, things, and people who cause destruction in my life and my home and my family.  

Is a verse that has guided me more and more,

sometimes I have to be reminded by others, 

pay attention girly, sometimes I need the signal (right ML!), to get back on track,

As I was reading and reflecting this morning,

so many people came to mind and I am sure there are many more who I can't remember

that have walked this journey of life with me and I am so thankful for each of you, you know who you are, some are still a major part of our lives and others were only in our lives for a season.

and with that two verses come to mind

and

which gives me HOPE for each day...

with the Lord I can do anything,

with the Lord I can have peace in my heart,

with the Lord I am blessed

and am 

What gives you hope each day?

*****************

By the way, one thing I think about when I watch those murder type shows is that anyone of those stories could be mine...

...and then I shout THANKS GOD for loving me

and bringing me through the fire!!!!

Reflecting and Rambling

After getting the daily report done this morning,

I took a nap.  As I was drifting off I thought about a few things...

...it's cold here today...29°

and I keep thinking this cold...there should be snow on the ground 

but then again, what a mess that would make in the trailer,

so I'm thankful we only have the cold.

Between our little electric fireplace

and running our propane furnace we are able to keep our 

little home on wheels toasty warm.

When I woke up I spent some time in the Word and praying for our family.

how appropriate for today,

New Year's Day

I am not one to make resolutions

but I like thinking about new beginnings,

new month, new day, new week

and starting new things

and so today, I started a new devotional

I'm doing it a bit different,

I don't plan on doing one Proverb a Day.  

Instead, I plan to do one page a day which works out to about one proverb over 

four days.  

One of the things I read today was by Billy Graham

" a Psalm a day builds vertical relationships, between me and God,

and a Proverb a day builds horizontal relationships, between me and the people

I come into contact with each day."

Those are the things I want to work on this year,

my relationship with the Lord

as well as my relationships with those I see each day.

And I thought about my word for 2019

and how I want to be thankful, grateful and appreciative 

of the many blessings in my life.

and finally

where I am reminded

my heart rejoices in the Lord,

He is my rescuer and my rock!!!

and then I saw 

and my heart was filled to overflowing

as I think of the many  blessings in my life:

my Savior,

my Husband and Partner

our boys, their sweet wives,

five wonderful grands!!!

so many friends that I can't name them one by one,

What are you thankful for on this first day of 2019?

2019 has Begun!

The holiday season has been a bit different for us this year while we have been working as Gate Guards...we decorated our little home on wheels

Matilda the Flying Pig!

Making Gate Guarding Fun!

A different Christmas tree this year!

Mrs. Claus joined Santa thanks to Heather Peterson

We were able to FaceTime and Chat with our boys and their families,

which we always enjoy!

We fed 9 drivers Christmas Dinner...it was fun to see them get so excited about a home cooked meal and we loved making their day.  Also gave out numerous goody bags with fudge, homemade candy and cookies.

To close out 2018 I made my mom's chicken gumbo,

our grandson's call it hot dog soup because of all the different kinds of sausages in it,

and we ate on it for three days...which is good because the 2nd and 3rd days are the best!!!  Told Ron I think I will make it again towards the end of January as it not only warms the tummy but my heart!!

And today is 

January 1, 2019

We have enjoyed being together today,

I made a chicken/ginger/soy sauce dish, served over rice and green beans 

and watched a little football and a couple of recorded Christmas movies.

We are looking forward to 2019

and new adventures.

We are working on plans for our 2019 Summer Trip

which will actually start on May 20,2019

when we leave our jobs as Gate Guards 

and head to Waco to see "one of our boys" graduate from MCH

and then make our way to Florida and places in between.

What plans have you made for this new year?