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

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

Monday monday!!!

Well Monday has arrived and I find myself at home, taking antibiotics, cough syrup, nasal gel and trying to keep Dooley from stealing my cough drops.  I have a respiratory infection and probably for awhile, but I visited the doctor on Friday and he loaded me up. 

I have missed work since Friday, although I have been writing my income level from that is not enough yet to sustain us on days I miss from work, or to replace my lost income from the school.  I've started inquiring about going back to school to get my teaching certification and my degree in education.  I have thought about being a teacher quite a lot lately because I enjoyed it so much while I was at the Day school at the church.  Before then though, when i was in my twenties i considered it then.  I love history, science and math, and reading and writing of course.  I've been looking at online schools all morning and I will need to do this online since we live so far away from a major metropolitan area. 

I finally finished my dog treat recipe book and hope to get it set up on line on my website for sell.  I'm praying for it to be a hit and make us some money.  That is one of my goals for the day, to get it up on the website and ready for purchase. 

Other than that I'm thinking a lot about the fact that my daughter and son maybe moving before Christmas.  They aren't moving out of state, but they won't be five minutes away.  If and when they move, most of my family will be driving distance of at least two hours except my baby sister and her kids.  What exactly does that mean?  Probably that I will want to move closer to my daughter.  I have already asked my husband how he feels about moving and I was answered with a question.  That is okay.  I know God will lead us to where we need to be and if it means closer to my daughter or my mom, or staying right here, that is what we will do, at least until my grand babies start arriving. 

I guess that is enough rambling for the day!  I have things I need to work on, and information I need to gather.  May you all be abundantly blessed by God in whatever it is you are seeking from Him.  Love, L