Okay so I couldn't come up with a title for this blog entry so the above will just have to do. I've had my blogs open several times today and although I have a lot on my mind, the peace inside me is great, but I couldn't decide what to write.
I have been thinking back about all the things that have happened this year and still can't quite get my head around some of it. As I look towards the new year, I know several things I would like to accomplish. A reader suggested I step out in faith and commit myself to God and He will fulfill my hearts desires and care for me. I know this is true... but I have been thinking about that ever since I read it. My hearts desires?
Do I truly know what those are? I'm not sure. I've been doing a lot of research in the bible, talking to my pastor, an evangelist, and the pastor husband of one of my blogging friends. Two have answered an email I sent and I am waiting for the response from the other, but I am pretty positive, that I will receive the same answer from Pastor Josh as I have from the others. What am I going to do with the information? Nothing. It confirms my beliefs as a Baptist. I am a Baptist because the doctrine of the Baptist follows closely to the New Testament Church it talks about in the Trail of Blood. I am secure in what I believe. Everyone is entitled to believe however they choose. If you are a child of God, you believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin under the law, died for our sins and rose 3 days later and now sits on the right hand of the father. I await His return with open arms and a heart full of love and the desire to do what He wants of me.
There are many things I want to do, but most of all I just want to live one day at a time, worship God, teach others and live happily with my husband Norman. I am going to sit and think about my heart's desires and I am going to right them down. My husband and I have been discussing doing something to help churches and missions in the state of Texas to help others reach those that are lost. I know that God will point us in the right direction.
Now for the human side of me, the mortal that I am, I realized this morning that I need to lose at least 30 pounds. I gained 10 pounds when I met my husband and I was 10 pounds away from my goal weight. I have gain another 10 pounds in the 5 years we have been together. So one of my goals for this year and I mean the beginning of this year is to lose all that. I would like to have that done prior to our Vow renewal ceremony on 4/2/11.
I guess that is it for now. May God Bless you all! Thanks for reading and why not subscribe to one of my blogs.... I try to share the human side of me, the dog lover in me, the Christian me, and the writer me. I think you will probably find something you like in one of them.
Good night!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, December 20, 2010
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
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
Saturday, December 18, 2010
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
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
Saturday, December 11, 2010
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
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
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