Nice Matters

My Bloggie friend, Val, has chosen me as a recipient of the “Nice Matters Award”. "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass on to seven others whom you feel are deserving of this award".

I have been “visiting” Val now for about a year and have been touched and inspired by her writings. She is a Godly woman, a wife and a mother to two daughters. I have learned from my regular visits that she is a woman who loves deeply – God and her family. I’m glad that she thought my blog was also worth the “Nice Matters Award”.

That I would get her message today about the award seems most appropriate. My family and I are members of LifeChurch and right now our Pastor, Craig, is presenting a series of lessons titled “30 Days To Live”. I have talked about this series of lessons before, but also wanted to mention our lesson this morning.

The series focuses on the question, “If you had only 30 days to live, would you change anything about your life?’ Craig’s message today was a reminder to say everything we wanted to say to loved ones, or to embrace every opportunity to share God’s wonderful love and his message of life while we have time.

”Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is feeling away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5 NLT

Craig talked about “meetings” in which he was asked, at the end of someone’s life on this earth, to give a special message about that person. A message shared with those attending this special meeting in honor of the deceased. There were “horribly wonderful” (Craig’s words) funerals and others that were just “horrible”. Those “horribly wonderful” meetings consisted of family members and friends having beautiful memories to share about the person – complete with tears, laughter and celebration. There were those that were just “horrible” in which family members and friends could hardly find anything about the person that was worth sharing – or evening remembering.

Craig encouraged us to think about what our legacy would be when our “meeting” was held. Would it be “horribly wonderful” with shared memories and loving moments of our time here on earth? Would we have taken the time, while still able, to say to our loved ones what was most important for them to know – or would we wait – until there was no time left in which to say those things?

”My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:20-24

Nice does matter and it matters whether or not we say and do the things God wants us to do while we’re here. Nice matters each and every moment because we do impact lives – even without being aware of it.

”However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

I was not raised in a household where there was shown a lot of outward demonstrations or vocalization of love. I knew my parents loved me but because it wasn’t demonstrated outwardly, I have always had to make a conscious effort to show my own children my love for them through hugging and kisses. I can tell them much easier and try to tell them a lot! I want my children to always know how much I love them and how very proud I am of each one of them just as God showed the world His love for His son.

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21,22

I want to live my life, each day, as if it could be the last day – because it could be! LifeChurch has a site with helpful ideas and inspiration from others to help and guide you when you think about the things that are most important to you. You can find it here at www.30daystolive.tv. I know that this series is definitely changing the way I define my life and the legacy I want to leave behind.

Thanks, Valerie, for the award and here are my choices for others who know that “Nice Matters”.

1. Natalie – a single mom, raising her children, one of whom has been diagnosed with Type I diabetes. Natalie talks about the many aspects of this disease and how she and her daughter deal with it every day. I just recently met Natalie, in real life, even though I have known her parents for several years. I attended church with her parents and know them to be wonderful, loving followers of Christ.

2. Elizabeth – my daughter. She is always ready to share her faith in the Lord and also ready to share tips on parenthood, childcare and many others subjects which she is passionate about! I talk about her a lot! I am so proud of the woman she is – her faith, the way she is as a wife, a mother, and the way she lovingly cares for the children in her home daycare. I am blessed over and over by the things she has taught me!

3. Michael – Elizabeth’s husband, my son-in-law. Michael came into Elizabeth and Addy’s lives, becoming a family in the Lord. Michael is such a strong believer – in God and in his responsibilities to his family. He works hard to take care of “my” girls – both spiritually and financially. He believes in Elizabeth and values her as a mother, encouraging and supporting their home daycare, home schooling, and their service to the Lord. He has a heart of gold and I’m thankful that they are in his care.

4. Julie – Natalie’s sister. Julie is a young, stay at home mom to seven (7) – yes, 7 children. She writes about her life in a way that makes it seem like having 7 children, a husband, and building a new house is a breeze! I told her once – in a comment on her blog – that if she ever decides to mentor others – I’m in line! I am old enough to be her mother, but she definitely has a lot of wisdom and I feel inspired and blessed each time I visit.

I know I’m supposed to pass this award to seven others, but honestly, I don’t know a lot of bloggers. I visit a lot of blogs and have a list of those that touch me – but I don’t feel that I know the writers well enough to pass on this award. So my list is short – but each one of the bloggers has touched my life in a meaningful way!

Wordless Wednesday Aug 22

100th Post - Not mine!

My Daughter, Elizabeth, posted her 100th on her blog today. If you have a moment - check it out and let her know you stopped by! She is an awesome woman and I would love for you to get to know her!

My Week “In Reflection”

This has been one of those weeks that I could have totally skipped over and not missed it one little bit! It was a really bad week for me. As I try to think about the good things from my week – I’m not sure there are any worth remembering.

I started off Sunday morning with a sore throat and had to skip working the nursery at church because I didn’t want to make any babies sick. I did go to worship and I’m so glad I did! Okay, I guess that was one good spot – but I already listed that on my “Grains of Gratitude” last Sunday!

Monday morning I got up – feeling really bad – and went to work. We had scheduled –after three earlier attempts – a “Grandma” shower for my friend D and I had signed up to bring the cake and punch! Couldn’t very well have a shower without that, could they?

Well, I left work early hoping to get in to the doctor, but they couldn’t get me in until Thursday! That wasn’t doing me much good on Monday! The Dr did call in a couple of prescriptions for me – an antibiotic and a decongestant.

I ran fever every day, sore throat, both ears hurting, congested, coughing and just really yucky! When Thursday came along and I was still running fever I called the doctor and they got me in that morning. She changed my antibiotic to a stronger one and added a prescription for cough and another for a nasal spray to help with the congestion along with the decongestant.

I missed work the entire week, ran fever and felt pretty crummy the whole week as well! I started on the new antibiotic Thursday as soon as I picked it up from the pharmacy. Oh yeah, that’s another story!

When the pharmacist called the insurance company for approval on the meds, they would not okay the nasal spray! The pharmacist had to call my doctor and ask her either to prescribe one of the two suggested by the insurance company or call them to explain why I needed the particular one she prescribed.

I get so frustrated when trying to deal with insurance companies. It seems like if my doctor says I need a particular medication and my insurance premiums are paid – why can’t I get it?! It seems like the doctor would know better than they would what I need for my illness.

Anyway, my practitioner called me later that afternoon and said she would call in one of the “recommended”. She said there probably was not that much difference and if it didn’t work then we would try something else.

Today is the first day that I’ve not run fever! I can tell that the new antibiotic is working! Praise the Lord! I’ll be back in the nursery for first service in the morning and then attend worship directly after I serve. We started a great series of lessons last week and I’m anxious to hear lesson two tomorrow.

I’m praying for a much better week and looking forward to getting back to work!

Grains of Gratitude August 12

Hosted by Christine at http://bradysbunch02.blogspot.com

I am so thankful for LifeChurch where recently my husband, our son and I placed membership after attending there for about four months. I can’t tell you how everything about it touches me and lifts me to a greater desire to serve my God!

Today began a new series of lessons titled, “30 Days To Live”. This series of lessons will focus on the fact that our lives are but a moment in time and what our reaction might be if we knew that we only had 30 days to live. How would your life be different? Is it possible to make the most of every day, right now.

Part of each lesson in this series includes conversations between Craig and someone who has a terminal illness and has been told that they are going to die from their illness. Today that person was a young wife and mother, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. She had a mastectomy, had chemo and did everything right – but something went wrong. The cancer spread to lymph nodes behind her breast bone where it lived inside her, undetected, without symptoms until it spread to her bones.

She talked about how this illness and her imminent death has affected her in two ways. In one way she said she looks forward to her death because she knows where she will spend her eternity. She also said that she feels “cheated”. Cheated out of seeing her children grow up, marry and have her grandchildren. She hurts for the people she will be leaving behind.

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life." Psalm 39:4

Our lives are over so quickly! Our children grow up so fast! If I were told that I only had 30 days to live, I would want to spend my remaining days with my family and friends who also share a love and commitment to Christ. I would spend time in meditation and prayer – also with my family and close friends. I would want to spend the time soaking in every moment of every day I had left to live.

The woman Craig talked with today said she tries to enjoy everything – even the most mundane things that go on each day – because she knows she doesn’t have many moments left. Our moments will be gone in such a short time as well.

None of us are promised tomorrow. Craig encouraged us to live in the moment and to stop waiting to live until “when” as in, When I have a good job – then I’ll be happy. Instead he said to turn our “when” into “now”. Turn our “intentions” into “actions”.

I know that I can certainly gain a lot by using this encouragement in my life. I have a tendency to think “when” and worry about tomorrow – how will we pay the bills? Are we setting enough money aside for our retirement? What really matters is today and to rejoice in each day we are given by God.

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while

and then vanishes." James 4:14

Have you ever thought about how quickly a mist vanishes? I relate it to our foggy mornings we have here in the fall. At times the fog can be really thick, but how quickly it dissipates. When I think of my life in that context, it really is but a moment!

James 4:
13) “Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14) Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15) Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16) As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.”

Tomorrow is not ours. The past will never be again! We have today. The opportunity we are given, each day, to live for God and to share His plan of salvation with others is an awesome gift. I intend to live each day as if it is my last day on this earth – because it might be! Each morning when I awake to see that He has blessed me with another day, will be my opportunity to praise and glorify Him in everything I do and everything I say and even the way I present myself to the world.

At the beginning of each worship service, our Pastor shouts from the stage, “God is good all the time” and the congregation responds, “All the time God is good!” At the end of each worship service, we all speak together – “Whoever finds God, finds life!’ Truer words are never spoken!

A Meme and a Tag

A meme - a good meme and a tag!

My "bloggie" friend, Valerie, tagged me for a meme - "8 Things about My Marriage". I enjoyed reading Valerie's answers and learning a little more about her family. I first "met" Valerie when she posted the following comment on an entry I had written about my Mom in her struggles with Dementia. You can read the post here.

My Kid's Mom said...
Hi Ann:My name is Valerie, one of the writers at Christian Women Online (I write for the blog and I'm a monthly contributor). I am featuring your blog tomorrow (on Monday the 25th) because I was very touched by this entry. Blessing to you and your family.

I was surprised, to say the least, to learn that people actually read my blog and even more surprised to learn that someone considered it interesting!

Well, I guess I got a little sidetracked, but here is my list of "8 Things about My Marriage".

1. Jody and I were married on February 14. I decided to plan the wedding for that particular day because Jody couldn't seem to remember important dates and I thought he surely would be able to remember that our anniversary was also Valentine's Day.

2. Jody and I had both been married before and started our marriage together with children. Three girls - Jody's two girls, Toni age 9 and Candace age 6 and my daughter, Elizabeth age 8. To say the girls were not thrilled with the "blending" of the families is an understatement!

We immediately got into family counseling to get professional help with the "blending". Times were rough around our household for most of the eight beginning years of our marriage. It was really difficult and many times - especially in the first four years - I wasn't sure we could ever make it work! Now, add into the family a baby boy, Chance, born exactly eleven months after the wedding and you've really got a lot going on! I can't honestly say that I wouldn't change things about those years if I could - but know that the things I wouldn't change are those times that we really grew together as family!

3. We had reserved a cabin at the lake for four days to spend for our honeymoon. We had about a three-hour drive to the cabin that night. When we left the church building it was cold and raining!

At the time we married, Jody was driving an old pick-up which had broken down the day before we got married. Jody was up almost the entire night preceding the day of our wedding, so he was already starting off tired as we left to make the three-hour trip.

We had gone about 35 or 40 miles when the left front wheel suddenly, for some reason, came off the truck while we were traveling at 55 miles an hour on the interstate! When the wheel came off, Jody got the truck stopped and off on the shoulder, but the wheel kept going! It traveled about a quarter of a mile down the highway - in the rain - with Jody running behind it all the way!

It was late - it was raining and we were both exhausted from the day's events. Jody started working to get the wheel back on the truck while I waited in the cab - tired, worried about how we would ever get to the cabin - worried about how the girls would do while we were gone - and just not in the best state of mind considering it was our wedding night!

Jody did get the wheel on and we decided to rent a motel room close by for the night. The next morning we left bright and early for the lake cabin. We cut our "Honeymoon" short to get back to the girls and we're still together after 18 1/2 years - so I guess even that eventful wedding night didn't deter us from our life together!

4. Jody and I had a very short courtship. We met and went out for the first time October 18 and married the next year on Valentine's Day. I knew Jody's mom - or knew "of her" - before meeting Jody because we attended the same church. I had never met Jody or even seen him before that first date even though he and his first wife had also attended the same church.

It wasn't "love at first sight", at least not for me. I had been deeply hurt in my earlier marriage and carried a lot of "baggage" with me, finding it difficult to trust people. Even when we married, I was still hiding behind huge walls I had built up to prevent anyone getting close enough to hurt me again and it took a long time before I really trusted Jody and believed that we would be together always.

5. Jody and I have lived at the same address for our entire marriage. We moved twice, but never from the land we live on to this day. We lived in a mobile home at the front of the property when we first married and moved the home to the back of the property not too long after getting married. A few years later we bought a bigger, newer mobile home and had it put next to the one we were living in at the time. We moved everything from the older home to the newer - still on the same piece of land we now own.

My parents bought five acres when my Dad retired and later sold the front half to my sister and the back half to us. The back half that we live on is covered in trees, away from neighbors and very peaceful and quiet. I love living here. We talk, sometimes, about buying a house - but so far haven't found it necessary.

When my Mom moved in with us, Jody - with financial help from my two older brothers - built on a bedroom and handicap-accessible bathroom for my Mom and an entry room to tie everything together. Jody has great carpentry skills and I'm happy with the improvements we've been able to make to our home.

6. We have a good marriage. It's not been perfect - in fact at times it has been far from perfect! Jody has always loved me for the person that I am - even though I had a hard time believing or understanding how he could possibly have those feelings about me. As the years go by I have learned to trust him when he tells me that he loves me and learned to trust that his feelings for me are real. I definitely love Jody more today than I did even on our wedding day.

One of Valerie's "8 Things . . . " list says - "We've had our difficult stretches, but we got through them because the word "commitment" is the cornerstone of our marriage." I know Jody and I also share a strong commitment to each other. Because we both are committed to our marriage and put our trust in God our marriage works. It is strong and I have no doubt that it will last "Until death parts us."

7. Jody and I are very different! We don't have a lot of the same interests. Jody likes to fish, hunt, visit every pawn shop, flea market and swap meet in sight and I don't really like any of that.

I love to read, play games or "bloghop" on the computer and I like quiet evenings at home. Jody doesn't like to read - except that he does consider the books on tape that he listens to while driving, as reading! Jody would rather be going somewhere - doing something and/or talking about anything rather than sitting quietly at home!

We don't have much in common but we share a love of God and respect and love for each other. I believe that God brought us together and know that He will guide us in the paths we take together in this marriage!

8. Jody and I started our marriage with children. We have always had children in our home - for 18 1/2 years now. This summer is the first time during our marriage that we have had a house with no children!

The girls are all married and have their own homes, husbands and children. Chance is our baby who is now 17 1/2 years old. He has been gone most of the summer - first on vacation with his best friend and family, then this past month he was hired at the same company where Michael works, after Michael arranged an interview for him. He has been staying with Michael and Elizabeth so that he can ride to work with Michael each day. He came home on the weekends, but as soon as he got home each week he was off again to spend time with his best friend.

It's been a huge change for us! It's like we have to get acquainted all over again - figuring out who we are without children! It's an adjustment, but one I think has been good for us. We've entered a new phase in our lives and in our marriage.

I pray that God will continue to bless us with a greater knowledge and understanding of His plan for us. We recently placed membership with LifeChurch where we have been attending for about four months now. It feels good to belong and I know that God has great things in store for us. Jody actually stays awake during worship service - believe me that's quite an accomplishment! He also quotes scripture to me - in conversation, which he has not done during our entire marriage. I'm looking forward to the rest of our life together and am anxious to discover "us" - who we are at this stage and who we can be as we continue to grow together!

Thank you, Valerie, for the tag! I now tag - Elizabeth, Michael, Annie and Julie.

Grains of Gratitude August 5

Hosted by Christine at http://bradysbunch02.blogspot.com

Today begins another new week and I can’t start the new one without showing my gratitude for the blessings I enjoyed last week! Expressing my gratitude here is another way to thank God for His mercy and for the greatest gift ever given – the life of His son, for our salvation!

Today I’m thankful for . . .

. . . . LifeChurch! Craig’s message was awesome today with the focus on Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Many of us, myself included, have difficulty concentrating on the fact that we are “God’s workmanship” instead of believing the negative image we have of ourselves based on criticisms and hurts we carry with us from the past. I actually talked about this same thing here, in a recent post on my other blog “In Due Time”, which is where I write about issues I face in regard to lifestyle changes I am implementing in order to be a fully devoted follower of Christ.

Once again, it seemed like Craig’s lesson was meant especially for me. I always come away from the service feeling uplifted and ready to face another week with new tools to use in my daily life, which will strengthen my relationship with God.

I signed up to serve at church during the worship service which is one hour earlier than the service I attend, so today was my first day of serving. I asked for the babies and I was put in the classroom for the babies between 12 and 24 months! I loved it! The babies were so sweet and came right to me to hold them. At this age, they all want cuddles and loving and I’m more than happy to oblige!

One of the team leaders came to the classroom about twenty minutes before the class was over and asked if one of us would like to move to the class just below – the ages from birth to one year. I immediately volunteered thinking how fun it would be to cuddle those little bitty babies! I have definitely decided that I want to stay in the older group! There were a lot of newborns in the class and when I first walked in there were either three or four babies crying. Each of the workers had one baby in tow; there were babies in swings all around the room; two babies in their little jumper seats and it was chaotic! I immediately took one of the crying babies and got her to sleep, laid her down and then had two more to give bottles to at the same time! I had one in each hand! I was much calmer in the room with the “cuddlers”.

. . . . My team of co-workers. My boss is so great at knowing when we need a break because the work we do is very detailed and everything has a deadline. Now, just having a deadline is really not the hardest part. The hardest part of meeting our deadlines is that we have to rely on other people to submit to us all the documentation necessary to complete the job. Most are really good about it, but just a few who don’t realize the impact late submission causes, can really throw a kink into everything!

We had a working lunch away from the office on Thursday. We went as a group to Cattlemen’s restaurant. It was so nice to be able to spend a little time away from the office, just being together. We had a great lunch and went back to work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the job again!

. . . . My son, Chance! Last week was his third week on his job and I am so proud of him! His boss, along with Michael, the job foreman and others have really bragged on what a great job he’s doing for them. He really has shown that he’s not a little boy anymore, but that he can do a man’s job and do it very well! He was in Sayre from Monday through Thursday last week and by God’s grace, Michael was able to go with him. They will go back for just a couple of days this week to finish and then Friday this week, will be Chance’s last day. He starts school on Monday.

He has the opportunity to work during his school breaks, but right now at least, he is saying that he doesn’t think he wants to do that. He would rather enjoy his senior year and then go back to work once he graduates. This has been a great opportunity for him and I believe, and am praying, that it will lead to great things once he is out of school!

. . . . My Mom and Dad. Friday was their wedding anniversary and it really made me think about them a lot. I’m so thankful that they taught us to love the Lord and to live a life of service to Him! I know that they could not have given us a better gift! I miss them every day, but I know that we will be together again!

. . . . My husband, Jody. This summer Chance has been gone from home more than he’s been here. Jody and I have been alone most of the summer learning how to live each day without children in our home. When we married we already had three children – two from his first marriage and one from my first marriage. Eleven months after our wedding, we had our fourth child. We’ve never been without children since the beginning and it is definitely different than we are used to in our home. It’s been nice. It’s been quiet and peaceful. Jody is really becoming quite the “Handy Helper” around here. He has even unloaded and loaded the dishwasher several times! He is truly one of God’s blessings in my life!

I love to count my blessings and see what the Lord has done each week! I am so blessed and know where my blessings come from! I love the Lord and wake every day thankful for another day to serve Him!

I love Christine's question, "What are you thankful for today?" and it always makes me stop, think and be thankful for my blessings!

Prayers for CJ

Tonight as I was visiting my usual regular blog "reads" I was touched by a post on Valerie's blog. Valerie posted yesterday about a young woman who has gone to court in a custody battle over the son she has raised from birth and now is facing the possibility that he may be taken from her and from the home he knows and from his family. I can't even imagine how difficult that must be - waiting for someone who doesn't know you or your child, but is making a decision that could change your lives forever! You can read Valerie's post here.

Please read Valerie's post for today here and visit the link she includes to see a video of this young man with his sisters and his mom. It's a touching tribute to the love they share. Valerie's friend, CJ, is a friend who is in need of prayer right now and I am joining in the prayer chain asking God to lead the judge in this case so that he will make the right decision for this young boy's future! I also encourage anyone who reads this post to visit these links and see if you are moved to pray for this family, too.

Silliness and More Silliness

I never did get my “Grains of Gratitude” posted this week, but not because I did not have anything to post. Last week was a good week and this one is proving to be good, also!

Friday, Chance told me that he would be going to Sayre, OK this week on his job and would be gone from Monday morning until Thursday evening. There was a crew going there to do a job, working 10 hours a day for the four days and then coming home. I was not excited about him going – he is still my baby (at 17 ½)! He would be staying in his own room – ALONE, with a crew of guys I don’t know at all! Michael would not be going on this trip.

To say I was worried is an understatement! I have been accused, many times, of being overprotective of my children and I admit – It’s True! There is only one of each of my children and there’s no replacement!

Well, of course, there was nothing I could do about the trip – it is his job, after all! Jody assured me everything would be fine and I tried to believe it – but I didn’t have to take that as the final word, right?!

I began praying on Friday, as soon as I heard about the trip, for God’s protection over Chance while on this trip. Unbeknownst to me, Michael called the boss on Sunday evening and tried to persuade him to allow him to go and telling him that he, Michael, needed to go to Sayre also, but the boss told him he couldn’t – all the reservations and plans had already been made.

Well, let me tell you - man certainly does not have power or control over the things of this life! I serve an awesome God and He heard my prayers and sent His answer! Monday when Michael got to work, the boss let him know that he would, after all, be needed in Sayre because one of the guys on the crew was in the hospital!

Now my prayers of thanksgiving have been going up ever since! I know that when I let go of issues before me and give them over to God that He will provide the best answer!

Friday a couple of the girls in the office and I decided to decorate the office of one of our coworkers, L. She was on vacation and returned Monday and we just wanted her to “feel the love”! K blew up balloons – over a hundred – while I tied the knots in the top of the balloon after she blew it up. I have asthma and couldn’t help blow up, but I can tie a great knot! My friend, D got back in time to blow up two of the balloons to help K!

We also tied streamers from the ceiling and put confetti all over the surfaces in her office. (We didn’t want to make a mess in the floor for the cleaning lady) We then got the brilliant idea to take some funny pictures of all the women in the office and lay them all around L's office! We had so much fun! I’ve included a few pics below for your enjoyment!

These are pics of the office once we finished "decorating"

Here is a pic of my lovely boss, D

This is my good friend, D

We got a little crazy with the pics and had so much fun trying to figure out sillier and sillier pics to leave around L's office - As you can see in the next few, we had a blast!

I even stood on my head!

Now you see one of the reasons I love my job so much! These women are great - fun-loving, able to laugh at ourselves and not afraid to be silly!

Praise and Worship was amazing – as always – on Sunday morning. Our youngest daughter, Candace, went to church with us along with Levi and Joey. She was as impressed with the service as we have been and plans to go back with us. I’m so excited to have three of our children worshipping with us and I’m praying for the fourth child to join us, too.

I took the day off from work on Monday because I had an appointment to get a perm. My appointment wasn’t until late afternoon, but it was fun to have the whole day! I spent the morning at home and then went to Elizabeth’s before lunch and played with Addy and the daycare kids and visited with Elizabeth. I had not seen the daycare kiddos since I went to work the end of March. They remembered me and it was fun to see them, hold them, read to them and just basically love on them for a couple of hours!

My hair appointment was with someone new and I absolutely love her! She is a Christian and was very sweet. She did a great job with my hair and I’m very pleased with the perm. The girls at work all complimented me and said they really liked it, too. It’s so nice when your hair turns out the way you imagined! I know I’ll be visiting her again!

Well, that’s my update for now! Time to get on with something else!