he's here! and the calm before the storm...

 

Jonny is home!  From Germany, through Denmark, through Sweden, to Norway, then a flight to New Jersey, picked up by Abigail on her way here from Delaware...finally got home, what a trip.

Happiness...

The peanut butter fudge

Even clearance prices are going up!

A nice fresh batch of cookies...

A trip to the car wash, sunny day, before the storm...

Yeah, the temperature is going to drop a bit today...a flash freeze, with high winds, some snow blowing....

Lots going on, going to make the lasagna today...made the regular fudge last night along with the peanut butter fudge.  We had a late dinner, a celebratory dinner, for Jonathan coming home...strip steaks, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and rolls...mmmm.

We are going to bring some firewood in, in case we lose power, and it's ten degrees out...Kathryn and Darius are coming over with their kids soon...the fun and festivities are upon us!  

I thought I'd throw this out here:  Life isn't all sunshine and roses, so if you read my blog and think my life is just a series of adventures, well...it sort of is...but.  I have my trials!  Not to complain, but to keep it real:  I have aches and pains. If I sleep on one side, my arm fall asleep.  If I sleep on the other side, my hip aches, sometimes excruciatingly.  If I sleep on my back, I snore, and probably have sleep apnea, because I usually get a headache.   If I can fall asleep before any of the ailments above kick in, I'm good, but the tossing and turning nights, oh dear.  Then I get up, and if I lean over wrong, my lower back...sometimes I have a Bad Knee day, as I have horrible arthritis in my knees...sometimes, a Bad Hip day.  I try to move, to do my exercises, to get out and about and walk and get my steps in, Use it or Lose it kind of thing...sometimes I feel spread too thin, forgetful, unorganized, a day late and a dollar short...but, I do know this:

Thankfulness solves so many problems.  Faith in the knowledge that God loves me, and wants only what's best for me, and knowing that this life is temporary, and the trials are refining me, like gold, testing and proving, what God's will is in my life.  Is this the day which the Lord has made?  Or is that tomorrow, or next week when the house is going to be really clean and I get a good night's sleep?  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you..."(1 These 5:16-17)

ALWAYS?  yes.  always.  God does NOT make mistakes, and when we place our lives into His keeping, he sends all things for our very best.  

I know that the next few days are going to challenge me. It's going to be loud and busy and messy and I kind of like quiet, and cleanness, and down time.  I AM excited to see all the kids, and the grandkids, I really am, I do love them all...but being real: it will challenge me.  So, I am extremely thankful that God hears the longings of my heart, that He will give me more patience...I don't have to argue with anyone, I don't have to be RIGHT, I don't have to have the last word...so there can be peace....in the midst of all the personalities, peace. 

(ha, when the kids were growing up, I pictured myself with my striped shirt and whistle, holding up my hands and making the judgement calls:  Penalty!  Think about what YOU said, stop blaming her!  NO HITTING!  Take a minute, calm down, don't interrupt, stop arguing....I would tell them, "My favorite verse in the Bible is:  Oh, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity..."(psalm 133)

Evelyn is on her way here, and Kathryn too....the fun is starting!   Have a very Merry Christmas, and God bless you!