If You Receive my blogs by email

This is just to let everyone know that if you were receiving my blog posts directly by email, you won't receive them any longer.  Most everyone that was receiving was on face book.  You can sign up to follow if you wish or you can unfollow if you wish.  I just thought this way was simpler.

Look for new posts on all blogs, except for Beagle Downs sometime today.....

Later,
L

How Do You Measure Your Happiness?

This has been on my mine a lot lately.  How do you measure your happiness?  Do you measure it by the material things you have?  By the amount of money you have in the bank?  Or do you measure it by the number of friends you have? 

Do you truly know if you are happy?  If you are happy, what is it that makes you happy?  Is it knowing that you are safe and secure?  Is it knowing that no matter what your spouse will love you?  When was the last time you were truly happy and laughed all the time or had a smile on your face all the time? 

I would love to see your answers or your thoughts on the subject.  I will answer those questions myself in a blog to come.  As I said, I have been contemplating these questions myself lately. 

Later,
Love, L

A Special Friend

I have many female friends that I talk to every now and then.  I have a couple that I stay in close contact with and even though we might not talk on the phone for weeks, or months, it is always like we just saw each other  and have great conversations. 

One of my friends, whom I have known for many years now, sent me an email today and it was just what I needed.  She is a very sweet, special lady, and always has a kind word and is ready to pray for me or anyone else whenever it is needed.

We are not of the same religious beliefs but that has never been a problem for us.  We talk about our religion and I try to understand hers, and she understands mine.  I'm never afraid to talk to her about Jesus or God. 

We worked together for years and she has always been there in time of family emergencies like when my grandfather was in and out of the hospital and passed away, when my grandmother died, and she was that at my dad's memorial service after he passed away. 

She came to my wedding shower, and my wedding and it meant a great deal to me.  She is someone I have lots of memories of and with, and we both shared a special place for Mexican food when we worked in Las Colinas.

So This is a special blog for my very special friend, "Betty Cookie Kabakoff".

Thanks! 
Love ya,
Laura

Time is getting closer

We are proceeding with the plans for our vow renewal ceremony.  Originally we were going to rent a place to party afterwards, but have decided to use the fellowship hall at the church.  I also have talked to our youth band, "Unchained" and asked if they could play for us.  Makayla agreed.  I'm going to talk to her some more. 

I also want to get some pictures from my mother in law and do a slide show of Norman and I to play before the ceremony.  I plan to order a cake, have punch, coffee, tea, sodas, and some finger foods. 
It may not be a very big ceremony or affair but it is something that we want to do.  We would love for our families to be there, and some have responded.  However, we are also going to invite our church family.  I want this to be a cherished memory for us both. 

I probably won't do much decorating in the sanctuary, but a few things here and there in the fellowship hall will probably happen.  This is going to be a real fancy affair either. Again, though Norman and I are going to dress up, because we did a western wedding before.  I've almost considered doing the wedding dress thing, but that isn't really me.  Anyway, we want all our friends and family to come, and just visit and have a good time and be part of the cherished memory. 

Now I just need to come up with how I want the ceremony and that will be another part complete.

Good night!  God Bless!

A Driving Need

I am looking forward to the things that are in store for us next year.  I'm looking forward to a house in a new town, making new friends, and just living our life together.  I'm looking forward to having grandchildren.  I'm looking forward to having beagles again.  However, with everything I'm looking forward to I have a driving need to complete unfinished things and get rid of it before we move. 

What things you might ask?  Well I have at least 5 story lines at different levels that I want to finish.  I have three books, a short story, and a collection of thoughts that I would like to see get typed and finished and hopefully published.  I have several craft things that I would like to get finished and put away and in some cases give away to friends. 

I am also taking intro to algebra which I would like to get finished in January and I want to start pre-calculus and get it finished in no more than three months.  If I am able to get that accomplished, then I can enroll in school and start getting my teaching degree. 

It sounds like a lot, but I do know that I can get this accomplished.  I just have to stay focused and rely on God to give me the energy and strength to get this all done.  I like having things completed and put away.  I like it when we are able to close a chapter, and start a new one and that is what I feel like we are doing.  Closing the old chapter.  Starting the new chapter.  I know it will be difficult for us, but those that are close to us are already talking about coming to visit.  We will have room for a guest or two in the new house.  Everyone will be welcome that wants to come visit.  We will still make the trips for family reunions and Christmas Day with his family.  The rest of the year will be in God's hands and so will our lives. 

God Bless you all!  Love, L

The Future

We cannot predict the future, and the choices we make in life shape our destiny.  God however is in control of our lives, if you are a child of God that is....  I have been praying for Him to show us which direction to take and what we need to do.  I don't know if this is a sign from God or not, but here is what has happened. My daughter and son in law will be moving after the first of the year to the general area of Keller, Texas.  That is a good 2.5 to 3 hours away.  I don't want to be that far from my daughter, so I have started looking for jobs in that area. 

Yesterday, I came across a website with employment opportunities and they are headquartered in Southlake.  That is not very far from Keller and a heck of a lot closer to Denton than I currently am, and that is where my family is at this time.  With the prospect of grand babies in the next year or so, I've decided to apply for the job.  I told my husband last night, and he said okay.  We have been talking lately about both of us finding jobs that are regular and where they are not contingent on good weather and sunshine.  He has stated once of twice about going back to work in the grocery business.  I told him to do whatever makes him happy and not to worry about anything else.  It is time we thought of ourselves and what will make us happy in the long run. 

We would be leaving behind other family, friends from church and lots of memories, but we would be gaining a new outlook and chance at a life together and not having to worry all the time about money or asking for help from family, who is always there when I need them.  (Thanks Raven and Caity)  Love you both! 

However time will tell with everything, and if that is not the direction I'm sure God will give us a sign. 
Hope you all have a God Filled, and Blessed Day!  Please pray for my job opportunity.  It is something I could be happy with for a long time, and it will give me a chance to complete my schooling as well.  Love, L.

Thanksgiving Eve (I know)

Okay, I haven't felt this way about the holidays in years I think..... 

I worked over at the church today and put in 3.5 hours.  The office is closed on Friday, and my husband went to do a small repair job, which if he doesn't finish today, he will on Friday.  I just spent about twenty or twenty five minutes on the phone with one of my best friends, Jean.  She gave me a tip for a job.... I think I will email the lady and see what is going on.  It would be back in relocation, so I'm not sure.  It would depend on the job.  Anyway, I'm trying to decide whether to go ahead and boil potatoes and get everything ready for the potato salad tonight so that all i need to do is put it together in the morning or to wait.  Maybe I'll get my husband to make his cake tonight and then I can do the potato salad in the morning.  I want to get to my mom's by lunch time at the latest. 

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  To Family and Friends that read this, I'm wishing you all the best day possible!  May God Bless each and everyone of you abundantly in all that you seek.  Seek His face first in everything you do.  He is always there.  Love you all, L.  Have A God Filled Day!

Finally Friday!!!

It's finally Friday and it has been an awesome week!  My mom came down on the 30th of July and stayed with my daughter until this morning.  BY THE WAY MOM....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

It has come to my attention that I haven't lost my temper but once this week.... That is a major accomplishment, and I haven't been angry but once this week... same day.  I know that is because I've given my life to GOD. 

GOD has answered two of my prayers this week, so if you doubt that GOD hears you, DON'T.  However you have to be willing to listen and to do what HE asks you to do, when you give your life to GOD.  I know this is a bunch of rambling, but my mind has been running 100mph today, even when I took a little nap, I dreamed in super fast speed.  HAHA!  Glad there wasn't any policemen in my dream... I might have a ticket!!  LOL.

Recovery meeting was awesome last night and my husband, Norman (For those who don't know his name) stood in front of the group again and shared, and made a joke, which I was part of... it was quite funny!  He told the group that anyone that needed to talk, could call the house and it didn't matter if it was 4 am.  He said, "My wife will answer the phone," and there was a 1000 laughs (okay so I exaggerate a little).  Then he said, "No really she always hears the phone and will answer and wake me up.  It's true.  I'm not a very deep sleeper. 

What prayers did GOD answer for me this week?  I will share one.  Since I quit working in corporate America, I haven't had any friends.  Oh I have email buddies, and people I talk to on Face book, but no one to call and say let's go to sonic, or want to go to the movies or anything like that.  So I've been praying that someone would come along.  Some one that was a christian, that shared the same beliefs, and that it would just seem inevitable that we were going to be friends.  Well it happened.  A young lady from church that I see almost every day asked me to become her prayer partner and we just hit it off!  We've been talking and sharing for awhile.  She is sooooo sweet!!!!!  Anyway, she was the answer to my prayer.  She is a great friend and I know we are going to be good friends for a long time. 

So let's see oh yeah, I was cleaning the auditorium today.  The baptistry has been filled going on three weeks now.  On Thursday, I went over and threw some bleach in it to kill anything growing (Just kidding), but we do have a cricket problem right now.  The little buggers are every where.  So today after I dusted the auditorium I went up into the baptistry to dip out crickets.  Well I got what I could reach by standing on the very top, no water.  However, some of the little buggers were in the middle.  So being a good Baptist, I took off my flip flips and walked down the first couple of steps.  Water just above my ankles and I was able to get a couple more.  However, the pump kicked on, and they started swirling out to the middle.  Now I wear shorts and a T-shirt to clean in, but I really didn't want to go swimming in the Baptistry.  So I took one more step down, water to my knees now and was able to get a couple more.  However, then I guess I swirled the water to much because on the filter, a couple that were stuck fell off. And went to the bottom.  As I stood there looking at the crickets, and the depth of the water, I realized that there was no way to get the rest without getting a little wet.  So I pulled my shorts up and took the next step down with my left foot.  The edge of my shorts still got wet.  I leaned over and now the left half of my shirt was wet, but I got 'em!!!  The little buggers did not get away.  SO I climbed out and looked and then I notice, one had swam to the other side.  I dried off, walk out of that side, went to the other side, unlocked the door, climbed the steps and he was floating towards the other side and was almost to the middle...... so back into the water I went...  LEANED WAY OUT!  Foot started to slide, but swiped him up in the net, and didn't get any wetter.... WHOA!!!!  Actually... it wasn't too bad, and I came home afterwards, but it was necessary since we are Baptizing 4 people on Sunday!!!!  I won't mind if I have to get a snorkel and wet suit and clean the baptistry for the rest of the year as long as God keeps leading new people to church and they keep accepting HIM as their Savior.  Can I get an AMEN???  AAAAAAMMMMMEEEENNNN!

Have You Ever Wondered Where Your Life Has Gone?

Okay so its not like my life has ended, but it just seems like it has all been a blur, especially the last 7 years. I mean we moved, my life changed dramatically when I had gastric bypass, I met and fell in love and got married, and things got complicated. Complicated is not bad, just hard to handle sometimes. I love my husband and would not change the last 4 years for anything. He filled a place that had been empty all my life. My daughter grew up, fell in love and got married. I quit a job with an industry I had been in for 23 years, and I don't miss the job, I miss the people. My parents moved to Denton, I lost my grandmother, a home, and all my dogs. Do I have any regrets? No not really, just wish that I had done more in the last 15 or 23 years than I did. I think if I had thought it possible, I would have had a gastric bypass when they first came up with the surgery. I would have traveled more, been better with my money, and maybe made a few decisions differently. However, if that had changed the people I have met, then maybe I don't really want that after all. It is true, that people come in and out of your life for a reason. Some are there just for the moment, others are there for the long haul. But all of them leave you with some little tidbit of information, or a feeling or a memory, or a thought that makes you smile, or makes you cry. What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Well that is another post and another day. May God Bless you all. L

Realization

I've been thinking about this for awhile. I exchange my old cell phone and service carrier for one on my husband plan with a full keyboard. It seemed that I used text messaging more than the phone service. So at the beginning of July, I got a whole new set up. I sent the new number to my friends and family, expecting life to be the same. It has occurred to me recently, that I don't need a cell phone. I work with my husband now, so we don't even use ours to call each other and now that there is unlimited text messaging on his phone plan, we don't use that feature either. I receive no calls from my family or friends except my daughter and occasionally my son in law, but no one else. So what changed? Did I just tick everyone off? Did I say something else that I should have kept to myself? Or have all my friends gone away? I'm not sure the reason, but I feel very alone. I have my husband and my daughter, but it doesn't seem like there is anyone else in my life. I'm on facebook and I have little conversations there, but it is really just another addiction I have to play games. Anyone have any ideas? May God Bless you all. L

Doors and Friends

I guess the phrase “when one door closes another one opens” is true. However, sometimes we don’t always get confirmation that this is absolute. Sometimes we make decisions and never know if we made the right one at the right time. So I guess that sometimes we close those doors and can only hope another will open and immediate confirmation is not always there. I did however receive confirmation that I made the correct decision from about 14 months ago. After 23 years, I left the relocation industry on a venture, that I hoped and prayed would be fruitful, and even though the venture was not, my decision was still correct.

The company I worked for was sold and I believe there have been two layoffs and insurance benefits have gone up and some people have had to take pay cuts to keep a job.

During the last 14 months, many doors or opportunities have been opened for me. I temporarily worked for a furniture store, a movie theater and I have been able to write articles for people. Many doors have also closed during those 14 months. I left behind the security of a monthly paycheck, health insurance, good friends, lost a home, gave up my dogs, and lost a sister in laws friendship. This wasn’t all because of the decision I made, but because of things that happened emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally during that time. I drifted to a place of darkness that I never want to visit again, but some days I feel myself drifting towards that well of darkness.

Just like doors, friends come and go in our lives. They arrive to fill a specific need and sometimes, are gone very soon, and sometimes are with us for our entire lives. God fills our lives with those people to take care of needs whether they are emotional, spiritual, mental or physical. Sometimes those particular friendships or relationships end on a good note or end horribly and make us wonder why on earth we ever met.

There are many regrets when it comes to friends. Some if those friends, I lost due to their death, some because of words said or written and some because we just lost touch with each other. My regrets come from not saying good bye, some from not saying, I’m sorry, I did mean that the way it sounded, and some I just didn’t get to say how much I loved them and how much I enjoyed having them as friends.

Just remember that doors and friends open and close, come and go, and we don’t always know when that will happen. Cherish your friendships, say you’re sorry when you need to or even if you don’t think you need too, be there for them when they need you because you may need them some day as well. Never dwell in the past, live in the present and look forward to the future and pray to God for the things you need, the blessing you have received, for loved ones, for those that are sick or in need of healing. It doesn’t matter what people think of you or say about you. It matters as to what is in your heart, and that God lives there and knows your soul. Life is stressful enough without trying to worry about what people might say, think or do. Live life to the fullest; love unconditionally; laugh often, cry it cleanses the soul, and don’t expect anything in return. God will see to all your needs. May you be Blessed to the fullest and may God shine through your soul.

Short Survey Just for Fun... Provided by Amber at Striving for 31

Okay a friend of mine gave this on her blog. It was provided to her by her mother in law... So here are my answers. Feel free to leave your answers in a comment if you would like.

1) What is your salad dressing of choice? - Light House Italian
2) What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? - Anything Mexican for the most part
3) What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? - Grilled pork chops
4) What are your pizza toppings of choice? - Beef and onion
5) What do you like to put on your toast? - Cheddar Cheese
6) How many televisions are in your house? - 2
7) What color cell phone do you have? - Bright blue
8) Are you right-handed or left-handed? - right
9) Have you ever had anything removed from your body? - Some cysts, a baby, uterus, tubes, gallbladder, most of my intestines, tonsils, adenoids, appendectomy, a ruptured bursa sack, I think that is it, oh wait, several skin tags.
10) What is the last heavy item you lifted? - a five gallon bucket, 3/4 full of water
11) Have you ever been knocked unconscious? - Nope
12) If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? - Definitely not
13) If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn't change it now
14) Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? - Easy money.
15) How many pairs of flip flops do you own? – six?
16) What are your goals for the year? - To become a better christian, closer to God, stronger in my faith, a better wife, and to get a job working from home writing, get my books published and get another house.
17) Last person you talked to? - My husband who called to tell me he is in love with me
18) Last person you hugged? Norman, my husband
19) Favorite Season? - Spring
20) Favorite Holiday? Christmas, I guess
21) Favorite day of the week? Thursday
22) Favorite Month? - March
23) First place you went this morning? Bathroom
24) What's the last movie you saw? Book of Beasts
25) Do you smile often? - Probably not
26) Do you always answer your phone? - No
27) It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? - My daughter
28) If you could change your eye color what would it be? - It changes by itself depending on how I feel, but for a permanent color, purple.
29) What flavor drink do you get at Sonic? - Just plain old coke classic with extra ice.
30) Have you ever had a pet fish? - Yes
31) Favorite Christmas song? - It came upon a midnight clear
32) What's on your wish list for your birthday? Already had my birthday. Spent the day being spoiled by my husband.. Of course, he included our anniversary too, since it was two days later.
33) Can you do push ups? - Yes
34) Can you do a chin up? - Maybe one or two
35) Does the future make you more nervous or excited? - Both
36) Do you have any saved texts? Yes
37) Ever been in a car wreck? - Yes
38) Do you have an accent? - Of course not, I'm from Texas
39) What is the last song to make you cry? – High Cotton by Alabama
40) Plans tonight? Yes,just to be with my husband when he gets home.
41) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? – Yes and more than once
42) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Coke, creamer, juice
43) Have you ever been given roses? - Not lately, but my husband use to bring me yellow ones all the time.
44) Current hate right now? - Worrying about our finances.
45) Met someone who changed your life? - Jesus
46) How did you bring in the New Year? - sleeping
47) What song represents you? "I was raised on country sunshine"
48) Name three people who might complete this? - Not sure
49) What were you doing 12am last night? - looking at the clock
50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I need coffee

Taking Advantage of People

I guess we all take advantage of people at different times in our lives. It's not right to continually take advantage of someone over and over again. It's not right to do it the first time. Its the same as being taken for granted. People who use other people for personal gain are just wrong! Okay, so maybe I'm on my soapbox today. To ask someone to help you occasionally is okay, but to only come around or use them when it benefits the user is totally wrong... Did I already say that once? Okay well, It really upsets me when I see it happen to someone very close to me, and I've witnessed it several times with this one really good friend. It does know good to say anything to them, and I suppose then they don't mind it, but, it is so wrong!!!!!!!! If you continually use some one, whether it is an acquaintance, a friend, or a family member, you need to re-examine your life and your goals, and your priorities, and I hope God convicts you for what you are doing. You should be ashamed of what you are doing. If you can't suck it up and do what is right and deal with the consequences you have made, then you have an issue. It shouldn't be everyone else's responsibility to bail you out. And another thing, don't talk about someone in a negative tone and then take advantage of them. Don't ignore them either and only call upon them when it is to your benefit... Okay, Okay, Okay, I realize I'm repeating myself.... I guess that is it for now. L