Check your eyesight!

Yesterday, without my reading glasses on, I was making a piece of jelly toast for my little grandson. I reached in to the fridge to grab the strawberry spread. Now my daughter & her husband buy the O

organic natural brand that is different from the one I'm used to buying . As I was spreading the topping on the natural, organic piece of bread, I noticed it looked a little different today. At closer observation I realized I had inadvertently taken the wrong jar from the fridge & was spreading on organic salsa!! I had to grin, knowing my mistake of not ready the jar. I had just grabbed what I thought looked right!

I began to think about that as I made toast today. How many times have I gone through life making rash decision not only to find myself with the wrong answer, look, purchase, or time, but also having to redo things. I run on a structured schedule with little time to waiver from the norm. Even with routine, especially with routine, I have to be cautious to double check to make sure the things I'm doing are still the right things for this day!! Have I thought I was doing it right but forgot to stop & pray & as; is this still how I should do it, Lord? Is there something different you want me to try? Is this assignment still ok? Is the same thing I'm suppose to be doing still effective? Has what I thought was the thing you asked me to do been tweeted by my own actions or thoughts?? 

Help me Lord, in this, each and everyday, to consider you first before running through my routine. Encourage me to Stop & Sit at your table, pausing,  Before I begin. Allow me the wisdom to seek your ways first. Just like that jelly jar, help me to seek for what you want me to have.  Seek, then proceed. Not

Embrace the New!

It's been almost two years now since I've posted to this long ago started blog.  I had good intentions.  I really wanted to do it.  I guess life just took over. 

Things are much different than they were two years ago!  I've found myself single again and continuing to raise my 18 year old daughter. She is a senior now and anticipating the opportunity to venture off to college next year. We've been busy in the process of applying and auditioning for colleges in the surrounding area.  She is a very gifted and talented young lady with training in vocal music.  She has a passion for music performance and music theater and does both quite well.  Who knows what will turn up for next year?  But we are waiting and preparing for something good.

I've returned to college beginning this past April.  I always wanted to finish my degree and now I have that opportunity. I've been blessed with the avenue to do that and the ability to pass the courses! in another week I'll finish the associates degree and continue on in pursuit of the bachelor's degree.  I'm thankful and nervous all at the same time. It's been a real adventure and a big stretch out of my comfort zone to be back in classes.  Although exhilarating at times, it has me working very hard.  I'm finding out what I can do and how to do it.  Juggling three classes this semester and working at the college as well as continuing my fragrance rep job has kept me busy but probably more disciplined.  It's amazing what one can do when determined.

The Christmas season is upon us now.  We just experienced a big snow storm yesterday and overnight so today has been a "snowday" for us.  I love the unexpected times off from the rest of the schedule.  It is such a blessing to behold.  I love the beauty of the snow and opportunity it invites to bundle up in warm running suites, furry heavy socks, and boots as we try and stay warm without exhausting all funds by running the heater too high.  Hot chocolate (with whipped cream), oatmeal, chili and hot tea are just a few among the comfort foods to keep us warm. The house is decorated for Christmas and we are watching Christmas shows and movies to embrace the day at home during the holiday time. I've even slipped in a little bit of homework for my last week of classes this semester.

Life finds us with all the ups & downs and challenges us to gather ourselves one more time to accept the job of making things beautiful.  We have to accept the challenge and go toward all the possibilities that are offered to us.  The question is often to which possibility do we journey? God lead the way and show us the right path to take.  We must learn to follow our heart.  Seek wise counsel.  And then proceed.  As long as we proceed (in a positive direction) we will be ok.  We must not stop.  Even if the journey we set out on turns out to lead us in a different direction, we are farther than if we hadn't taken that first step.  In our hearts we have to be at peace as we sometimes enter unchartered territory.  Embrace the new.  Embrace the experience.  Only then can we embrace the future.

Today I'm home for a while sick with a chest cold/flu. Mostly I think my body is worn out from the business of the schedule I've been keeping. A month and a half ago we took back over the coffee shop for the third time. Two 1/2 months before that I began a full time job. Who knew when I accepted the job that our lives would be so crazy just a couple of months later. I guess we knew it was a possibility but we never experienced it in quite the same way.

Two years ago I quit a job to join Jeff in running the coffee shop. My schedule became very different and I loved the new adventure and totally embraced it with all my heart. Maybe too much. I was excited to see what could happen. I loved serving coffee and interacting with the customers. Although exciting the new position as full time barrista didn't provide income for me. We chose to put everything back in to the business to see it grow and succeed. And that it did. We were able to expand our menu offerings with the purchase of a sandwich bar, a convection oven, and the addition of a licensed catering kitchen. The potential was endless. It still is.

My new job is a very busy one. One I totally enjoy. One I feel totally (mostly) qualified to do. I love the people with whom I work everyday. We have a great relationship and totally respect each other and the unique gifts that we've brought together to create an awesome team. I also receive benefits. I am saving for retirement. I'm also able to obtain insurance for our family at a more affordable rate compared to what we've had the past 6 1/2 years. The biggest change is the hours I work. It has made an adjustment in our schedule for sure. In the beginning it was workable because Jeff had time in his schedule to accommodate our daughter's activities and school schedule. At onset of running the coffee shop again that a a challenge. Thankfully I've been able to adjust my schedule to take her to lessons and appointments thus far.

Life is exciting when we're extremely busy. It's also very tiring. The reward comes when we see that what we are doing is really working. The challenge comes when we work to find someone to help and relieve Jeff's hours. Right now it's exhausting, physically and mentally. But we must keep going. We have to be reminded, "Do not grow weary in well doing." I believe it's all "for such a time as this." We'll sleep later. God sustain us as we continue on and God help us as we search for the right people to join this team.