The house and the end of week Psalm

 Project: Write for five minutes to a photo prompt of your choosing--no editing--simply writing.
Here goes:
You can barely see the house, but it is huge.  I took this photo while barely stopping the car driving home from school on an early dismissal day due to snow.
I drove past this house countless times in my teens.  There's two ways to the lake from my hometown and this is one of them.   There used to be a humongous tree on the corner where you turn to head to the marina and the other side of the lake.  I always knew I was close when I saw that tree.  I don't remember noticing the house, just the tree.  Now it's the house I notice.  Someone still keeps the grounds up, but no sign of life from inside for at least three years if not more.   Paint is peeling, but otherwise it looks in good shape.
I wonder what happened?  What family grew up here?  Did they have a big farm on land that now is dotted with smaller homes?  Why does no one live in it, but yet someone cares enough to maintain it?  It looks lonely. Just like the show on TV, I'd love to hear these walls talk.  I bet they have some glorious stories.

Part of Lisa's-Jo's five minute prompt

Well the second week of school of the new year is over and we teachers and students are feeling the crunch.

Next week are midterms, the end of the second nine weeks, and a deadline of short assessment tests.  These latter tests are to be accompanied with a full scale chart of what OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) standard each question met and what percentage of students missed each question; then we are to break it down into economically disadvantaged  and special needs students, so the district's "Race to the Top" team can put together stats.

 Four hours was added to the last short assessment test's grading because of that chart and I didn't do the disadvantanged and special needs break down, because he only asked for that after the young teacher with social issues,  who lives with her parents, and only goes out with her sister once in a long while, thought adding that to hers might help her relationship with the principal.  Oh it impressed him, but also got her lots of razzing by other teachers (not me).  There are two other single teachers, but they're older, have their own homes they maintain, and are very active in their extended families (nephew, neices, etc.), plus they do a lot with friends.

She is the teacher who is a thorn in my flesh because she's the only other one in my department and she doesn't want to do team work.  Her idea of team work is her choosing the source of questions, then choosing the questions, typing them out and handing me the hard copy as she enters the questions on the Smart Board's computer.  I'm supposed to nod my head in approval, then show up with my class, and share in the principal's approval at our 'joint project.'  I didn't receive that well and she didn't receive my reaction well. 
I tried to reach a compromise--an understanding-- a reconciliation, but she responded with a resounding "No!"  From here on she will do her work; I can do mine, and when he insists we share the hard copies with each other, then we will.  Other than that she sees no point in having any kind of relationship.  Great.  (Did I mention that she does not take any kind of criticism well---even constructive?)

Then a student got mad at me and stormed out when I got irritated with the fact that he asked me to spell a state.  Seeing as there was only one question on the test that required a state for an answer, he thus had announced the answer to 29 other students. 

Talk about words undoing you: I had complained of that student to another teacher the day before, and she immediately went to him and told him.  Since he's constantly trying to get my attention, finding out that he's not my favorite student by a long shot injured him deeply.  Thus he came into my room 'loaded for bear' as the saying goes.  My prep period was spent in a mediation process with the counselor (the principal is gone on a wedding anniversary trip) and it's to continue with the principal on Tuesday (no school on Monday).

So it's with heavy heart I turn to my Psalm part of my blog.  I'm choosing to write several of the ones that appear at the bottom of the pages in my Psalm section of my Bible.

"I bless You, Lord, because You have not rejected my prayer or removed Your mercy
and loving-kindness from me."   Psalm 66:20

"God, I am trusting in, leaning on, and relying on You; trusting You at all times.
You are a fortress and a high tower for me!"   Psalm 62:8

"God, I will release the weight of my burdens and cast them on You, knowing that You will sustain me.
I declare, God, that You will not allow the righteous to be moved!"   Psalm 55:22

"God, I thank You that You have redeemed my life from the battles that are against me."  Psalm 55:18

"Lord, I will thank You and confide in You forever because You have delivered me and kept me safe.
I will wait on, hope in, and expect in Your name because it is good."  Psalm 52:9

"Thank You, God, for being my helper and my ally."   Psalm 54:4

Blessings to you this weekend!


[Our five-year-old grandson is with us.  He spent the night and will spend most of this day (Saturday).
We've not had him alone before, so it was his turn.  He's quite charming when he's not trying to compete with his three-year-old little sister (the Irish lass as I call her).]

Shattered--a story

Note: The lines are not meant to be spaced like they are, but this particular post has given me 'fits'--it's like 'something' was trying to stop it.  So I apologize for the choppiness.  I pray it won't detract you from reading it.
 "She doesn't just envy you; she wants your life.  You must beware of her; put some space between you."

The daughter listened to her mother's words in disbelief.  Thirteen years earlier this vivacious woman
came into her life by swatting her on the butt with a dishtowel in the church kitchen.  She and her husband and kids were new to the church and had come to this event to get to know folks better.

An impish grin awaited her when she turned quickly to see who had the audacity to swat her.
 Those eyes drew her in and she knew she'd found a friend like no other.

Later that friend told her how she had prayed to God to bring a Christian sister into her life.  When
they met, she knew God had answered her prayer.

And oh, how they were friends.  Their children grew up together.  Tears mixed with belly laughs---long
phone calls, Bible studies, couple get-togethers---they were almost joined at the hip.

So she scoffed at her mother's words.  She figured her mother was jealous of her time with her
vivacious Christian sister/friend.  She didn't say so, but she thought it.
"I saw the look in her eyes; I heard the tone when she said, '    always gets whatever she wants.'
 Believe me it was not joy I saw or heard!"

She refused to believe her mother, even when the warning was repeated several more times.
 Instead, she grew angry at her mother as she hoped she wouldn't be forced to choose
between the two.

Ever wise, her mother  sensed that she was facing banishment.  So she said no more about the
 friend. She told her daughter several years later that she knew if  she was cut off, the daughter
would feel like she had no one to turn to  when the inevitable occurred.

And it did occur.  Fifteen years of Christian sisterhood and friendship shattered.  For you see,
the vivacious friend  stepped in when the woman was at her weakest.

A terrible accident had occurred and the woman had spent months caring for an injured child. 
Everyone reacted the day of and the days that followed the accident.  Everyone BUT the woman.
 Someone had to keep a head on straight to make life and death decisions.   Someone had to look
 the teen in the face without tears, giving her hope.  Someone had to break  horrific news to her or
a stranger would in a cold, sterile hospital ER in an unfamiliar hospital, for the teen had to have
 a specialist, so would be moved.   Someone had to stay nearby the ICU all night long in case
her child were to 'crash.'  She made it quite clear that she was to be brought in to hold the child's
 hand out to God if that moment came. 
It didn't come.  The teen not only survived---the recovery was quick and amazed hospital personnel.
 She moved out of  ICU in record time to a regular room.

The husband was finally able to look into the teen's eyes and he took his turn during the day.  The
vivacious woman helped the mother out by taking over in the morning, helping do the hair and such.
 Folks later told the woman how strange it was to see the husband, the friend, and the teen together
when they visited.  You see, the woman took the night shift because she was a 'night person' and could stay awake with the teen during the toughest times of pain.

But I am taking too long.  When the teen healed externally and all restraints were gone, the woman fell
into a hellacious depression.  But the husband did not believe in depression, so he just saw his wife as becoming selfish and uncooperative.   Meanwhile the friend continued to be very helpful and when the marriage showed signs of strain, she came to counsel---to help.  The woman confided much too much
to her sister friend--her weaknesses, her husband's displeasure, her anger at her husband---on and on.
Thus the sister friend knew exactly what the husband wanted and needed and he had what she wanted and needed.  So two marriages died and another was born.

Meanwhile the woman's mother paced and worried and prayed. Then she prepared herself for the day
that her daughter's life would shatter into a million colorful pieces. 

The day finally arrived when the sisterfriend became the enemy--when the daughter  looked around  in
 horror and confusion.  Deeply depressed, she didn't have what she needed to fight back.  She wanted
to dig a hole under the bright pieces into the deep earth and hide in shame.

Her mother knew what was in the woman's mind--she knew suicide hovered, waiting to snatch the
woman into its womb.
So the mother did what any good mother would do.  She went to her daughter's side, took her into her
 arms and told her how special she was---how loved she was.  Then---
the mother simply and quietly stooped down and began to pick up and glue together  the jagged pieces
of her daughter's life.
 And perhaps most important of all, never once, did she say, I told you so.


A mother's love, especially when mixed with God's healing power, can put a child's shattered life back together whether the child is 4 or 30 or even older.  Oh the child's life will not be same.  No, for the
jagged edges don't glue together seamlessly.  Some pieces are not even found, so a filler is used. 

The result is a very special  piece of art  welded together with love and faith and hope.   In some ways
 it's more beautiful than before,  for the glue of  love, faith, and hope has fiery strength in it that forged the broken person in a way that is different, but in many ways better.

Shattered, but not destroyed ---fixable if someone is willing to put forth the time and effort and give a
 selfless love.  If that person lets God work through them.  Then His love will flow and heal.  It won't
happen over night for the broken person has a say in the reconstruction and sometimes may bulk---may snatch a piece and throw it ---may add water to the glue so some pieces don't stick together as well as they could.

Free will.  Broken, we have free will to decide if, how, when, and sometimes  to what extent we will
allow ourselves to be healed.  Please understand that FORGIVENESS has to be a part of the healing;
other wise the healing will not be complete. 

God is there waiting.  He may take on the face of a mother, a father, another family member, friend, or
even a stranger.  But I believe with all  my heart and soul that He will be there, holding out his hand.  He excels in putting jagged, shattered pieces back together.  We just need to take His hand in whatever form
 its given to us and  then  BELIEVE.

         "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
 yea,I will help thee;  yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
          For I the Lord thy God will hold they right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
                                                         Isaiah 41: 10, 13

          "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
         Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
                                             Romans 8: 37-39

Part of One word carnival  and imperfect prose on thursdays

For some reason, I could not get rid of this picture below and I was making  things worse, so it remains.

 I struggled in writing this and in fact, bulked, but God is persistent.   Why this?  Why now?  I know not.

I do want to make clear that the woman's life is happy and she long ago made peace with the vivacious woman and the ex-husband.  She's actually happy for them---they do fit together much better than she did with him.   She is free to be herself in a way she was never able to be with him.

 She also has acknowledged her part in the break down of the marriage and the subsequent fall out.  She allowed anger to keep her from compromise and she didn't seek God's guidance at some very crucial times.  She doesn't think divorce was God's answer, but she didn't seek His help until the damage was done and the marriage had gone up in flames.
 It's been seventeen years (approximately), so the healing was a process.

 I figure that some people (some family members most likely) are experiencing less than satisfactory reactions, but I'm writing for God and me, not anyone else.  That "for God" probably is really making some heads shake.   Go ahead and shake them.

A wonderful woman, quiet weekend, and the Monday Prayer

 Aunt Ruth with her favorite (only) nephew and three nieces at her 80th birthday celebration.

Here she is --the star of the afternoon--many turned out to wish her a very Happy Birthday!
 That was three years ago.  She preferred to have others in the picture with her, so she's not smiling
like in the first--she can be shy.

Quiet weekend.  It continued to snow Friday night, all day Saturday into the night.

I stayed inside.

My husband ventured out to see his aunt who was in the local hospital.

She was moved to an assisted living facility today. 

She is 83 with multiple problems and seems to be fading. 

She never married.

She lived with her parents, helped her mother care for her father

and then she took care of her mother.

She's lived in the family home alone now for many years.

Her only brother was my husband's and  his three sisters' dad.

One of Mike's sisters has been the main caretaker,

but now Mike is here to help her, which she very much needed.

She's a sweetie who is loved by us all. 

She has good friends who take her places when she is able,

(she stopped driving years ago).

She has lived a full and active life,

but she seems very tired now.

My husband is preparing himself for her departure,

but if she could stay and feel good also--

that would be more welcome

by those who love her.

Please lift this situation up in prayer--thank you.

Husband worked on the shop room down in the basement.

It was the workshop of the man who lived here for five years.

His wife lived here fifteen more after he died, until she sold the house to us.

He's finally cleaning out Mr. S.'s stuff---stuff his wife never had removed

and then left behind when she moved.

Husband needs the space as he is cleaning out the garage in Cinci

and he wants his main tools here.

Some things he will store in his dad's old barn that we now own

along with the acre it's on.

I put Christmas decorations away, sorting, and then repacking

in such a way that most boxes could be stored in the barn,

except for the fragile items and heirlooms.

So it has been a quiet but productive weekend.

Tomorrow begins another school week.

Here is the Monday Prayer.

Lord,

as I wait on You,

help me to grow in my understanding of Your ways

and not succumb to impatience or discouragement

because my timetable does not coincide with Yours.

Shine Your light into any dark corner of my soul

that needs to be exposed.

Strengthen my faith to depend on Your perfect timing for my life.

Help me to rest in You and be content with the step I'm on

and the light You have given me.

Amen.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I do hope.

My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.

Psalm 130: 5-6

Blessings to you all as you begin the week!

With  great-nieces and nephew and then nephew's son (great-great-nephew?).

My Way Home and Psalm of the Week

 On my way home from school each day, after I round the last bend of road that has lake beside it,
I come to this curve. There is a junction here.  The road to the right leads to several homes/farms.
 Right before this junction there is a 'pull off' spot where I can park the car
 and know I can get out and still be safe.
Yesterday afternoon (Friday) it had begun to snow which is what I've been waiting for, so I could
take winter pics of this area.   (I've featured it before.)

 The first picture was taken from my car; the rest are taken from outside the car. 
This picture better shows the junction and how there is a pull off for a car.  I could have used
S. Etole's special gloves here as my hands got cold quickly, but my gloves were too bulky to wear.



Here is a close up of the barn.  It is set on the edge of a hill right before the hill slopes down into the road.
On a small plot beside and above it is a pasture area where four horses graze.  I tried to get good pictures
of the horses, but those came out blurry.  (The spots are snow and at some point, I probably should
have wiped off my lens!)

This is on the other side of the road--the side where my car is parked.  This is the sweet cabin I've featured
before.  Whoever built it tucked it into a nook of that hill and it certainly looks peaceful and sheltered.

 These hay bales are what is kept on the far side of the pull off and I would venture is the reason
there is a pull off here.  But then I don't know much about farms, farm animals, hay, etc.

 To the right of the cabin, nestled between the hill behind the cabin and another one that butts into it,
are these buildings and animals.
 Below is a view on the other end of the building.

 I tried to put into perspective where I park, where I'm standing, where the hay bales are, and where the
buildings are in the distance.  I used my close-up feature to get the other pictures.





Last is the picture of the way from which I came.  The sign in the bottom right-hand corner turns into a diamond shape when there is high water.  The warning (High Water) is now hidden because the sign is closed. 
But someone goes around and opens all these signs during heavy rains.  This area floods and becomes impassable quite quickly.  Our school district shuts down for floods  as well as snow issues.

It was a good week, especially for the first week back after a holiday.  The end of the nine week period
and midterms are looming ahead, so the students are paying attention.  A lot of them don't want their grades to plummet---not all, but most of them care.

I spend more time reading and writing in devotion time on Sat. mornings, thus getting to the computer later; then I fixed a big brunch for hubby and me this morning.  Therefore, it became afternoon before I could get the camera downloaded and this written.

Here is the End of the Week and Beginning of the Weekend Psalm.

Psalm 67

1. God Be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us.
Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
2. That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3. Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God;
let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide,
lead, or drive the nations upon the earth.  Selah!
5. Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God;
let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You! 
(This is repeated almost like a chorus or refrain).
6. The earth has yielded its harvest [in evidence of God's approval]; God, even our own God,
will bless us.
7. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.

Blessings to you!

adapting

adapting

changing

shifting

clothes, furniture, ideas, attitudes

rearranging

making room for each other

as we become a couple again

daily

instead of on weekends

(sometimes it was every other weekend)

we lived alone before we lived together

and we were both good at being alone

i believe wholeheartedly

that alone need not be lonely

i learned after my divorce

that only when i become comfortable

 being with myself

 can  i truly be comfortable with others

some days i'm more comfortable with me than other days

i still have lots to learn

but i'd rather be alone with no one else in the house

than live with someone and still feel alone

"i've been there, done that"

i am missing him

he's back in cinci consulting for his old company

and checking on the house--

 the first open house looms ahead this weekend

normally he has to wear headphones

for football games

for tv---period

you see, he likes sound

and

i have sound overload all day long

so

 i crave quiet in the evenings

and

some on weekends

tuesday night

 he would not have had to wear head phones

for i put away the lessons

and the work to be graded

curled up in his spot on the couch

with his warm 'throw blanket'

two cats

 and some cookies

and let the ohio state/arkansas game

blare throughout the house

i stayed up and watched

the WHOLE game

four hours of sleep was the result

but ---

ohio state beat an sec team

broke a record

that needed breaking 

i'm glad i sacrificed sleep

to see 

the interception that sealed the game

and

coach tresler dodge the gatorade

this house is tiny

only one comfortable spot for watching tv

it's the same comfortable spot for grading

therefore

we're

adapting

changing

shifting---

love makes that possible

love makes it worthwhile

the house feels empty without him

good--it should

"Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit),

sympathizing [with one another],

loving [each other]as brethren [of one household],

compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble)."

I Peter 3:8

I'm joining emily w. at imperfect prose

Being goofy among other things and Monday's prayer

 This was taken on 'Mismatch Day'.  The week that we observed our school's newly reorganized
club against drugs, texting when driving, and anything that can have disastrous results, we had a different theme for each day.  (I just made a mishmash of what the club stands for---I'll get the acronym and the
explanation from the co-leaders tomorrow and share it with you all.)

Anyhow I participated in all but the camouflage day. I didn't have any such clothing nor did my husband or son or neighbor.  A lot of the teachers participated each day,  in support of our librarian and school aide, the co-leaders. They are much loved, respected, and appreciated.  

 Less teachers participated on this day.  But I thought it would be fun and I worked at keeping it within
my school wardrobe, yet funky.  A lot of my kids got a kick out of my outfit and that I'd be goofy
enough to participate.  Sometimes I can be really, really serious and really, really stern.  The size of my classes and the fact that I have special needs students in some large classes without any help, necessitates
seriousness and sternness---at times.

But I need to be goofy too. 

As I align my head and heart for heading back to the classroom tomorrow, I'm thinking about serious, stern, and goofy (and other moods/attitudes also).  Above all, I want to be 'Christlike'---in attitude, actions, words, body language, facial expressions, thoughts---everything.  That is my prayer.

Later this week I will share my word for 2011, but tonight I leave you with Monday's Prayer.  I got a new book over the holiday break--bought it for myself.  It's another Stormie Omartian book.  Her prayers reach down deep inside me where feelings and desires are tucked away ---ones that need to be brought to the surface---out in the open.  She is down to earth--real---a woman speaking to whomever will listen.

However this book is especially for women.  It's called The Power of Praying: HELP FOR A WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE.    Sounds like something a lot of us could use, huh?!  It's a small paperback packed full of 'God Inspiration'.

Here's the prayer to begin the first full week of 2011.

Lord,

May Your love manifested in me be a witness of Your greatness.
Teach me to love others the way You do.
Soften my heart where it has become hard.
Make me fresh where I have become stale.
Lead me and instruct me where I have become unteachable.
Make me to be faithful, giving, and obedient the way Jesus was.

May Your light so shine in me that I become a light to all who know me.
Make me to be so much like Christ that when people see me they will want to know You better.

In Jesus' name I pray.

And as always she accompanies the prayer with scripture.  In this book she uses the heading:
 "GOD'S PROMISE."
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  I Peter 5: 6 - 7

This picture looks like I'm dancing, but I'm not.  I was starting to point out my mismatched socks
when the librarian snapped the picture.  I like to do at least 3 pics at a time, so since I only have 3
of this day, this one gets included.

Blessings to you all as you begin this week!

Calendars and the End of the Week Psalm

 Two calendars:  the above one is 2010 and the one below is 2011.

Both contain photos of my grandson in Texas.

They also contain photos of people cherished by him and who cherish him.

I took one down this evening and put the other up.

I cherish these calendars and will keep them long after the year they represent expires.

Of course the photos are of Aaron and other folks taken during the past year,

so that none look the same as they do now.

But that's okay.

They still make me smile.

 January 2010 above

and January 2011 below.

Quite a difference!



I put up a new calendar on the fridge also.  It is one that I will write appointments on.

I don't mark up the ones pictured here--I can be messy when I write on calendars

and I don't want to mess these up.

Another week has gone by and tonight a year ended and another began.

I hope you found bits of joy and happiness tonight

and that you find much more of both this year.

Here's the End of the Week Psalm:

Psalm 66

To the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.

!) MAKE A joyful noise unto God, all the earth;

Sing forth the honor and glory of His name;

make His praise glorious!

2) Say to God, How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works!

Through the greatness of Your power shall Your enemies submit themselves to You.

3) All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You;

Selah.

7) He rules by His might forever,

His eyes observe and keep watch over the nations;

let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

Selah.

8) Bless our God, O peoples, give Him grateful thanks and make the voice of His praise be heard. . .

May your New Year's Day be a lovely and restful one.
Happy New Year!

Update--we're back home

Hubby and George share a quiet moment after the grandkids had left last Sunday.

 

This is the house in Cincinnati back in July.

I forgot to take a picture of it before we left today.

A white wrought iron railing has been added to the porch and steps.

Mike and I drove down for a quick visit to do some little touch-ups.

It has been listed and the pictures in the listing of inside and of the big back yard look great.

We intended to be back last night (Wednesday), but our furnace froze into a huge block of ice

and then died.

We had been having trouble with it, so we're actually thankful it happened when we were there

AND

before we had a buyer.

We got an energy efficient Crane 15 seer (government rating of the efficiency) unit.

Mike called several companies to come give estimates.

The first guy had a decent estimate, but the company had sold all three units in stock by the time we called him back, after the next guy had come and gone. 
This second guy's estimate was high and he couldn't put it in until next week either.

We were looking at next week with the others also.

Then---

The  fifth company that we called, sent a guy who said he could install it Thursday morning
(this was Tuesday).
His estimate was lower than any given so far, so bingo-
-we said yes.

After realizing we still had some energy tax credit coming,
Mike asked him about the more expensive energy efficient one.

They didn't have the less expensive brand of this type in stock,
therefore they gave us the best at the same price as the lesser one would have been!

So the small crisis worked out after prayer and then a fervent thank you to God.

We are now home safe and sound.

A big sigh of relief.

The cats were thrilled to see us, although our diabetic neighbor is great with them

and has no problem giving George his insulin shot.

The picture below is of Mike's truck and the trailer

 that he's been hauling huge loads on each time he made a trip.

We did take my SUV this time, because of my fibromyalgia--- 

 I have a multi-adjustable with lumbar passenger seat which his truck doesn't have,

and it's a four hour trip, which can be very uncomfortable.

The trip went well and I was comfortable both ways.

(This picture was taken in summer from the screened in porch off the kitchen, thus the checkered look).

I will catch up on all your news and will also write more later.

Blessings to you all.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,

that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15

A special smile

 P. got braces put on about a month ago.

She was thrilled to receive this t-shirt

with a very special smile on it.

I will leave that image in your mind as I go without Internet access for a few days.

I will be back before New Year's Eve.  Enjoy your week.

Blessings---Beth



Christmas, grandchildren, cats, and the Monday prayer

 We had Christmas today

with

my son, his wife, and three of their children.

Colton was at his dad's today,

but we saw him yesterday

and gave him his presents then.

Above is a picture of the Irish lass getting ready to open a present.

This picture shows off her bright red hair.

                                            Below is big sis showing dance moves to little sis.

Gifts have been opened.

Pizza has been eaten,

and

now is the silly time.

Getting ready to leave. We wanted to show off his doggy face hat,

but he decided to look 'cool', cock his head to the side, and wink at us.

The Irish lass wouldn't get into the picture.

She wasn't very happy about leaving.

So Grandma posed with Peyton and Dillon.

Dillon is into Toy Story and clothes.

So he loved this outfit,

although

at first he was shy about getting his picture taken.

Then

he got over the shyness and posed.

The two cats after an exhausting day of dodging small children

and if possible -- hiding from them.

Mike and I had finally opened our presents to each other

and the cats settled in on some of the wrapping and tissue paper.

It was a good day.

Tomorrow is Monday and thus Beginning of the Week Prayer Time.

Since it will be the New Year before another Monday Prayer Time,

I thought this one was particularly good for wrapping up one year

and

beginning another.

Lord,

Help me to forget all that is behind me

so that I can reach forward to the future

You have for me.

My main goal in life

 is

to fulfill Your calling.

Help me to do that.

Help me to run the race well,

to fight the good fight,

to not compromise the life

You have for me

in any way.

Help me to not look back into the past

where

 I let fear, doubt, and ignorance

of Your ways

influence the decisions

 I made.

Enable me to rise above all that

into

the complete wholeness and purpose

You have for my life.

Amen.

I do not count myself to have apprehended (captured and made it my own yet); but one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward

to those things which are ahead,

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God

in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13 - 14

From one of Stormie Omartian's prayer books.

Blessings to you all as you begin this week.