My Thoughts after Christmas!

A Family Christmas

We had a wonderful couple of days of Christmas celebrating.  We spent Christmas Eve in Denton with my mom and it was perfect!  There was about 21 of us.  We had a good time, and even though it was raining and cold, we stayed dry and warm.  There was lots of love in the room.  (Found out today that there will be a new baby in this family next year)


We spent Christmas day at my mother in laws and a good time was had by all I think.  I think the final count was some where around 54 1/3 (there should be a new baby in this family next Christmas, too), but not everyone was there. 


There was plenty of food at both places and life was good.  We were the first ones to my mother in laws, and the second or third to arrive at my mom's.  My niece Misty, was there for the day from the halfway house where she is finishing up her rehab.  I am so very proud of her.  She is turning her life around and is serious about not messing up.  I love her a bunch. 

Thoughts of the Future

Norman and I have been praying about what direction God wants us to go and what we need to do.  We have talked of moving to Gunter, TX and living and working on the ranch there with my family, sisters and mom to be specific.  We are still waiting for confirmation of that, and as I've been praying today and reading different things that have come by way of email and blogs that I follow, I'm not sure that is going to be right for us.  Although it would help in lots of ways, just not feeling a 100% about it.  I know that all will be revealed when the time comes. 


What else does the future hold?  No one really knows.  We are not promised our next breath, so how can we really know what God has in store.  We know only that He will never forsake us and that He is always with us, even when we are places that we shouldn't be. But that is a post for my other blog.  


My dreams of dogs and being a published writer, well I don't know if this is the year or not.  Have I given up on those dreams, definitely not, but just waiting for the right sign that I need to pursue one or the other or both.  My teaching degree?  Well I'm still working on that as well. 


Is there anything that I know for sure will happen this next year, yes, I will continue to strive to be the best Christian I can be, finish my recovery steps, study, go to school, and do my best as a mother and a wife.  Is there anything else I want to happen?  Well yes, I would like to find a better place to live, but if it takes a while, I will survive. 


May you all have a great week!  God Bless!

Only Four More days!

We are spending Christmas Eve in Denton with my family and I am so excited!!!  I'm making cookies today for the kids and some of the grownups and I'm finishing up Christmas presents for my husband's side of the family.  I'm trying to make cookies for the kids there too, but don't know if I have enough time with the size of the family on the Farnsworth side, but I am going to do my best.

I haven't been excited about Christmas in about four years.  The stress always gets to me because I can't seem to get everything done that I need to do and I'm so tired by the time it is over, I just pass out....

On December 31st this year, it will have been one year since I've had any kind of alcoholic beverage to drink and I think that is something to be proud of...  It is not that I am an alcoholic, but there were times when I didn't think I could relax without something alcoholic.  However, I made a promise to my husband that when we got married I would quit.  It has taken me a while, but I am there. 

Anyway, back to Christmas Eve... my niece went through rehab this year and has been transferred to a half way house and I will get to see her on Christmas Eve for the first time in about nine months.  She has finally gotten her life straightened out and I'm so very proud of her!!!  She can only visit from seven am to seven pm on Christmas Eve, and I want to get there sometime between ten and twelve so that I can spend some time with her.  I love her very much!!

Anyway, I know we will be a little sad this year too, because this is the first Christmas without my dad.  However we have lots of memories and things from the years that will make us laugh and smile. 

Hey Mom do you remember the year we dropped the ham or was it a turkey taking it out of the oven????  We laughed for hours!  Anyway, I know we will have a good time, and next year we won't have to travel at all on Christmas Eve.  We will all be together.  I can't wait!  I told my husband this morning that next year we are taking the week of Christmas off!!!!

God Bless you all and Remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!  Happy New Year!

Love, L

A Couple of Thoughts I wanted to Share

First Thought

My Mom was down here this last week and I got to visit and have coffee with her.  I really miss that!  Hopefully in the next year I will be where I can do that on a regular basis.  My Mom, Julia or Jude, as she has been known most of her life, stayed with my daughter Caity.  That is my daughter's nickname.  Her full name is Lauren Brianna Caitlyn Shipley Woods.  She will get upset when she reads this because if i call her Caitlyn, she will tell me that is not her name, but it is because that is what I had put on her birth certificate. 


Okay so I went off on a tangent, but I'm back.  Anyway, we are going to Denton on Christmas Eve to be with my family.  We drew names this year between the adults except for my mom.  That way, we buy for one person, plus our kids, and then of course my mom.  I wasn't sure I like the idea at first, but it works good and thank God because we cannot afford to buy gifts for everyone nor do I have time to make gifts for everyone, although I am trying, and I don't have to feel guilty for not being able to get family gifts. 

I'm have been married for almost five years and I'm not sure what the Christmas present program is at my in laws.  We have been trying to buy for my Mother in law and Step Father in law, and then we were buying for his siblings, and his kids.  That was not possible last year, nor will it be this year.  Parents are bought for no matter what because without them, there would be no us.  So I am trying to decide what to get our parents.  I have a few thought, but have not fully decided.   I still have a couple of weeks, right????

Second Thought

My favorite things in life are animals, writing, and teaching.  My goal for this coming year is to do all of that and I think it is definitely foreseeable.  My sister, Ann or Julia, or I use to call her Sissy, but she made me stop after I started to school, is about to see her dream come true.  You can read about it at http://www.rememberwhenranch.com/.  She has a place for Norman and I if we want it.  I do without a doubt.  We will have a house of our own, and work if we want it.  I know this is a good step for us.  We will have to move to Gunter, Texas, but I will be close to my Mom, and a lot closer to my daughter and son in law who are moving to Keller or that general area.   Although my husband has said he will move, I feel like he is holding back.  We love each other and I just want us to be happy, not stressed over money or work.  He can work on the ranch there or he can continue to do siding if he wants.  But it would be a place where we don't have to worry about paying rent, or utilities or buying groceries or having gas money.  I have been praying for God to show us the direction we need to go, and I think this is it.  Now I need to pray that He will show my husband as well.  God Bless you all

What A Good Weekend!!!

Okay so when I came home from work on Friday I was extremely tired!  It seems I constantly run just trying to get things made, sold, written and cleaned just to make a few dollars.  I didn't write any on Friday, mostly because I was tired, but also because it is hard to write when I can't concentrate, and my concentration on Friday was definitely gone. 

As we prepared to go to bed on Friday night, I looked at my husband and said, "I need you to be totally honest with me."  He looked at me and I asked, "Do you want to move or not?"  He said, "Yes that is okay, we can move up that direction."  Not his exact words, but close.  I felt much better as we went to bed.

Saturday as we sat at the computers, he was reading his newspapers, while I answered emails, and caught up the check book, went through bills and then I decided to check out real estate in the general areas surrounding Keller.  My greatest fear is that it is too populated and not enough open spaces that I will like it, but I quickly saw that there are plenty of areas around that are out in the open and has some land with some of the houses.  I don't want to live so close to someone that I can open my door, spit and hit the neighbor's house.  That is not for me, or my husband. 

So a realtor contacted me through Face Book and supplied his website, and the list of cities that he covers.  I did a search using his website and found a few places of interest.  However, I used realtor.com and found lots more in some areas around Keller.  We looked in Rhome, Azle, Haslet, Newark, Ponder, Aubrey(half between Keller and Denton), Boyd, and a few others.  We found several things that really interested us. 

So what is our next step?  Well I am continuing to look for a job in that general area.  I'm going to widen my search, and my interests on Monster.com, but I know all will be okay.  I have been praying for God to give us direction, and I know He is talking to my heart.  Am I afraid?  Yes, but not of moving or starting over.  My greatest fear is that God will call me to do something, and my husband is not going to be ready.  However, even in that, I know that God will prepare us both for whatever He has in store for us. 

Church was awesome yesterday.  My husband is in the Christmas program and he had choir practice yesterday afternoon.  While he was gone, the dogs and I listened to the sound track of Elf, and I made 68 dog treats, Honey and Oats.  The dogs were very ready for them last night.

Have a God filled and blessed day!
Love, L

Feels Like Winter!

Okay so on Wednesday I was wearing shorts and flip flops and walking around outside.  Drove to the store with the windows down and the sun was heavenly.  Yesterday I carried a coat to my Mom's and wore it home.  Heat is on, and all the ceiling fans are off.  Two of the three dogs are wearing their sweaters.  The big dog needs a pony blanket, because they don't make dog sweaters for dogs that weigh 120pounds and stand six foot tall on their hind legs. 

Anyway, I have mini muffins in the oven for the dogs all though they smell so good, i might eat one.  ( It's oats and honey flavored)  Okay get a grip!  It is people food, not dog food.  Okay, so we drew names yesterday for Christmas at my mom's.  We did couples and i got my niece and her boyfriend.  I'm not sure what we are going to do for them yet, but I have a couple of thoughts. 

Every time I think about Christmas, or anything like that, I have heart palpitations...  No it's just that I want to do so much and money is tight, and I don't have any place to put a Christmas tree where we live.  I was really hoping that God would provide us with a new place to live big enough I could put up a tree and decorate, but maybe next year. 

Thanksgiving was great yesterday!  Ate too much!  Just normal for a holiday.  Looking forward to Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Norman's family.  Of course if someone wants to send me on a cruise to the Virgin Islands I won't complain.  Soaking up sun on the beach with temperatures in the 70's and 80's sounds so good today!  But I would miss everyone. 

Don't forget your dogs for Christmas this year!  Go to http://dixiedogtreatsntraining.com  The What's new Page has a link to purchase my dog treat recipe book.  Your dogs will love you forever!..  It's not very expensive!!!  Please share the link and page with your friends. 

May you all be blessed abundantly in whatever you seek!  Have a God Filled Day!  Love, L

My Christmas Wish

My Christmas wish is not something that family and friends can necessarily fill. My Christmas wish is not something you can hold in your hand, it doesn't come in a box nor can it be placed under the tree. My Christmas wish is for both my husband and me. My Christmas wish is something only God can fulfill. My faith is strong and I know deep in my heart and soul that God hears my pleas and cries. I know He will answer in His time, but it is hard as the days go by not to be disappointed that my prayers have not been answered. Maybe God is trying to teach us a lesson. I'm not sure. So what is my Christmas wish? It is simple. My wish is that God show my husband and I where He wants us to be and what He wants us to do. My wish is that we do work that glorifies God and not so that we have to worry if we can pay the rent and the utilities and buy a few groceries. My wish is that we can help others prosper from doing that, but prosper not monetarily but spiritually. I know I probably didn't say that right, but hopefully you will know what I mean. I know that God will. My wish is that we can live our lives and not have to worry or stress and that we can be happy, and help others with the life that God has planned. Love, L

Typical Monday

Its a typical Monday morning, chilly, damp and I don't want to work outside today.. But I will if we go. We are close to finishing this job and I really hope we make enough to catch things up and have enough for a little Christmas. If not, I'm sure God will take care of our needs. I miss my family, my friends, and my socializing outside of family with co-workers and clients. I don't miss the clients enough to want to go back to corporate America, but I do miss it.

We made both church services yesterday. I really like the church and the people. I can feel God at work there, and sometimes it is hard not to cry during singing and invitation. I know that is God working in my life. I know God has something wonderful planned for me and Norman. I just wish He would let us know what it is.

Hope you all have a wonderful, God blessed day! Wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas!

Bible Verse: 1 Peter 1:16

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Too Much Thinking

Sometimes I think it is possible to think too much... Lately, I have been losing sleep because it is like my brain never shuts down. Impossible right? Wrong... I hate it when I have so much on my mind that I can't sleep. We all have troubles these days, and yes those keep me awake and worried, but I know that God is taking care of that... but lately, I've been thinking that maybe my life needs to be pointed towards a new direction. I've been telling my husband for a long time, that I would love to be able to try to live off the land, and live "green" instead of trying so hard to keep work coming in, and not having a place of our own. I know to go green, and be financially free, it takes money. Is that an oxymoron? Anyway, I would love to have a little farm or ranch, that would produce enough for us to have food, and money, and not have to worry. Is that possible? I'm not sure. Of course, if I could use my writing to help bring in the income that would be cool too. Does my husband share my same wish? He would like to be financially free, and able to work as a general contractor when he wanted too, and not because we have to have the money. Will we ever get there? I'm not sure, but it has made us both stop and re-examine our lives, and think more seriously about what we want our futures to be. Could we sell everything we don't have to have, and get up and walk away from the life we have now? I'm not sure. I would also love to be able to do more with the church. So have I been thinking too much???? Only God knows that, and God also knows what is in our hearts and what we need and what we want. God will take care of everything in His time, and not ours. We love our new church family. Is this the church we are suppose to be part of? God will let us know in time. God Bless each and everyone of you.

Three Questions

I have a friend who writes a blog called, "Striving for 31", http://www.strivingfor31.com/. She is the wife of a Baptist preacher in North Carolina. Her blogs are more, so much more than mine are and raise a lot of questions for me sometimes. Today or the last post I read was titled, "Getting to know you...". She asked 10 questions, three of which I left blank. The three questions that I didn't answer are as follows:

• What do you really want for Christmas?


• If you could ask God one question (anything goes) what would you ask Him?


• What inspires you?

Those three questions have stumped me. Normally I would have an answer flying from my fingertips to a key board, but this year has been so different, unusual, full of trials and tribulations and has made me step back and re-examine aspects of my life. I have no regrets about the decisions that I have made and that have brought me to this point. So I'm trying to answer these questions and I'm trying to be as truthful with myself and with you, my readers.

So here is one of the questions: What do I really want for Christmas?

This should be a fairly easy and simple question, but its not. I could ask for something frivolous like a bottle of perfume or some new clothes or a video game or a new DVD, but that is not what I really want. I guess deep down, I just want to be happy and healthy and I have both of those already. I love my husband and my family and I want for all of them to be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise. That is or would be an exceptional gift! It is a gift that only God can give and I ask that for them all.

As for the other two questions, what question would I ask God? That one will be addressed on the following blogspot: http://livingbythewordofGod.blogspot.com. What inspires me? I will address on this blogspot as soon as I write my answer. May God Bless each and everyone of you in the days to come, and may He fulfill all your needs, desires and wants... Love, L