I'm Thankful......

Things I'm Thankful For

• my family
• real friends
• wednesday morning bible study
• that i have a job
• my pets
• my church
• good doctors
• that our kids have jobs
•  the people who protect our country
• our land in patsburg
• our home
• our christmas memories
• memories of my grandparents
• i married a good cook  :-)

Thank you God for blessing me much more than I deserve.

Love the people God gave you....

I am very lucky to have my mother still in my life.  She is my rock and my inspiration.  Very few days go by that we don't talk....many times more than once a day.  I love talking with her and I never want to have any regrets.  To make me even luckier...I had one of the best grandmothers you could ever have.  She lived to be 98 years old and we also talked often. I spent time with her whenever possible. When she went to be with her Heavenly Father, I could rejoice in her life because I had no regrets.  Before my dad's mother died, I went to see her at least once a week and called her every few days.  When she had her stroke and died I never had to say that I wished I had done this or I wished I had done that.  I hope that in God's eyes I had done the things that pleased Him, also.  This doesn't mean that I haven't missed my grandmothers, I just never have looked back and said "I wish".  And my dad's father....WOW, we had some really special times.  He was such a special man.  We were so close, talked often and spent lots of time together.  He did lots of special things for me and with me. 
I guess I am writing all of this because I saw a sign that made me really think about life.

Sometimes God needs these people back sooner than we think.  I have had Lauren Austin on my mind a lot lately.  Last month was her birthday month.  She would have been 28.  Lauren went to heaven when she was a Junior in high school.  I wonder how many people thought they would never seen Lauren again on that day she left to go get her hair cut.  God just needed her back....loaned her to her mom, sister and friends for a short time then needed her with Him.
So..................................

I'd rather hear.....

I'd rather hear the ugly truth, than be told a lie.

never

Never give up on something you think about every day.

Here's your sign....

It is hard living with regrets....wondering if you have done all that you could do.  What else could have been done to make things better for those that you love?  I've always tried to live with forgiveness....that is the easy part for me.  The forgetting is the hard part. 

Color it beautiful.....make the world a better place by being in it.  I hope that when I am gone someone will say that I colored the world a better place.

I always try to find the happiness in every situation and make the best of it.  Doesn't that make the day go better?  Your life go better?  Look for the happiness....it isn't hard to find it!

Just do it!!!! Always have a smile on your face and find the positive!  When you see someone smiling doesn't it make you feel better?  I know it does me.  It makes me feel their happiness and it sure is more pleasant to be around.

                                    and guess what????  you might find you like it!!!! 

confessions...........

• my favorite drink is diet mountain dew
• i like to be in bed early
• i have been to california and new york but i have never been on a cruise
• i'm not very good at wrapping presents, but i can make a pretty good bow
• i do judge people who wear their pj's in public
• i listen to all kinds of music
• i would rather give gifts than receive
• i would love to live near the water....our pool will probably have to do! :-)
• i'm often last minute sending off christmas cards
• i enjoy taking pictures but i don't "get" how to use the manual settings
• i'm overdue for an eye exam
• it bothers me when kids run wild in stores
• i'm actually kind of shy
• i love to try different perfumes
• i always wanted to be a nurse but i can't stand the sight of blood
• i love visiting new places
• i have a 38 pistol in the drawer beside my bed and i know how to shoot it
• i don't like the way thrift stores smell
• i have been spending too much time reading blogs
  

"I used everything you gave me!"

With my children, I always look back and think of the mistakes I have made and the things I wish I could have done differently.  I always wonder if there will be special things that they will remember that we did together or that I said.  If I instilled the right things.  And then I look forward into the future for my hopes for the most precious possessions of my life.  I want them to be Godly adults with a positive attitude. I want them to wake up every day and think that this is going to be the best day of their life.  I want them to be known for their beautiful smile.....because they all three have one!  I want the room to light up with their happiness each time they enter. I want them to know that if I was ever "hard" on them it was because I always wanted the very best for them.  Mickey and I did the best we could or knew how in raising our kids.  We made mistakes, but we were doing what we felt was right at the time.  Sometimes it was and sometimes it was not.  We lived and we learned and now as we give advise it is advise from experience and from the heart.  We can kind of see into the future with the mistakes we made and try and keep our children from making the same mistakes. 

We are so lucky that Bill and Shelly found each other and seem to have unconditional love.  They are about to have their 5th anniversary and they still seem just as "in love" as they were 5 years ago.  What a blessing that is.

Be with a man who.......I saw this the other day and it made me smile.  I hope these things for our girls!!

 And I think Erma Bombeck said it the best!  I hope our children use all the talents that God gave them and glorify Him with them along the way.