New Beginnings

The word NEW has several different meanings:

• recently made
• first hand
• replacing the existing one
• recently discovered
  

The one that I like the best is the third one listed here, replacing the existing one. I think that is what happens with each new year, the old year is replaced with the new one. I am reminded that we can't go back to yesterday, last week, last month or last year but what we can do is to make the best of each day that we are given and that each day is the new day that replaces the previously existing one. I am trying to learn that each day is full of new things and that I shouldn't worry about the days to come but to enjoy the day I have been given.

I also like the definition of new that refers to things recently discovered. Over the past few months I have discovered that I can be a new graduate student and make good grades, I can handle new transitions at my job, and best of all I will be learning to be a new grandmother around the middle of April!!

I realize that life is full of new things to be discovered. As I begin this new year, I hope to look for the new things in different areas of my life with joy and anticipation.

Spring Break

Spring break is always a welcome time in the life of an educator. I look forward to this week off as much if not more than the children at my school. This year is no exception. I have made some plans for the week but I have also left some time to do what ever I want. I spent some of that time today reading a book. It has been so long since I have been able to put things aside and just read for the pleasure of reading. It was so nice and peaceful to do that for awhile today.

Yesterday I went to Murfreesboro to spend some time with my son, Ben. We had a great time despite the fact he got called into work for a few hours. I did his laundry for him (what a great mom I am!!!) while he was working and then he took me to dinner for my birthday (which is Thursday) and then we walked around "The Avenue" for a little while. The day zoomed by and before I knew it I had to leave to come home. As I drove home I couldn't help but wonder where had the time gone. It is hard not seeing him more than I do but I am thankful to be able to talk to him a lot on the phone. We always have a good time when we are together and yesterday was no exception!!









I am looking forward to the rest of my week that will include more reading, organizing, maybe some shopping, my birthday on Thursday ( I am looking forward to dinner at Tornio's with my hubby) and then on Friday I leave for Louisville, KY to attend the Women of Joy conference with Angela. What a fun week to look forward to!! I am so excited to see both of my children in the same week! I started my fun week spending time with Ben and will finish it off with time with Angela and sandwiched in between is time with my wonderful husband and my birthday!!! How great is that?

Fabulous Friday

Snow days are always appreciated, especially in March. We were supposed to get snow and sleet yesterday and last night but it didn't happen the way the weatherman predicted and all we got was a dusting. I guess the school system thought it would be worse than it was and decided to call off school for today. It is hard to realize that just 4 days ago it was 80 degrees and spring fever was being felt by a lot of us. Now, I look out and see a dusting of snow and a temperature of 35 degrees.

I was reminded of the 8 inch snow we had this time last year and how beautiful everything looked with a blanket of fresh snow and had to share these memories.

One of Those Days.....

Today is one of those days that I am reminded that no matter what is happening in my life there is Someone who knows what I am going through.

I look around me and see the blessings of my life and I am so humbled. I have so many things that I am grateful for:

A God who loves me unconditionally,
A husband who cherishes me,
Children who love me and that I have a wonderful relationship with,
My family,
A church family that is always there for me,
Friends,
Food on my table, my home, and I could go on and on.

I encourage you to look around you, especially on days when things seem to be all mixed up, and begin to think about all the good things in your life. You will be surprised at how much better you feel when you take your mind off the negative things that may be happening and focus on the good things that are around you everyday.

Answers

The economy; will I have enough money to make it? Job security; do I have it? Marriages crumbling, is mine secure? The welfare of our children; are they okay? Health; am I okay, what about those I love, will they be okay? On and on the list of questions in our lives grow. I seek answers to these and so many more questions in my life.

I think we are all seekers. It is in our nature to want to know. We have become a society to want things quickly. Fast is something we have become accustomed to and when we don’t get it quickly we become irritated and begin looking else where for answers. We turn to the news; according to what you hear or read these days the answers to many of our questions are gloom and doom. We hear then we react accordingly. We become discouraged and depressed. We have a tendency to focus on the bad things in our lives and forget about the good.

Okay, maybe things are tough for you right now but if you would only look out the window, you can find some good. Look at the birds, watch the clouds or stars. Listen for the laughter of children and the rush of the wind. Smell the fragrance after a rain shower, open a bag of chocolate inhale the wonderful aroma then reach in and put a few of these wonderful morsels in your mouth, don’t chew quickly just let them melt in your mouth and enjoy the taste of this delicious treat. Your taste may include something salty as well, so popcorn could be your tasty treat. There are good things all around us; we just have to look for them.

As I was watching the news last night a story came on about the economy. I watched and listened with interest and sadness as the jobless numbers were announced. So many numbers given, so many people and families affected. What caught my attention in this story was the fact that indeed there was a business that was flourishing right now. It is the business of psychics. The news story introduced us to a woman whose business has picked up tremendously over the past few months. People come to her wanting to know what they should do about their money, job situation, will the economy get better, and on and on the questions come. She says that she can tell them exactly what is in store for their lives by reading it in the cards. People are so desperate for answers they will go anywhere and trust anyone.

What has happened to spending time in the Word of God to seek answers? I was reading His word this morning and was once again reminded that the answers for everything that we face in life are given to us in His Word. EVERYTHING. We have to take the time to seek and study His word. So many times we skip this resource because it takes time or even because we think we may not like the answer when we find it. It may require more from us than we are ready to give. We run here and there seeking answers to questions. We trust man to give the answers to us and when we don’t like their answers we run to someone else to seek answers that have a better sound to us.

When will we realize that He has given to us all the answers we will ever need? That there is not a question that He cannot answer. He knows the economy is shaky, He knows that many are sick or lonely, He knows marriages are crumbling, He knows that many are discouraged and hurting. He knows and He cares!!

Trust what you read in His Word. He has the answers!! Spend time with Him, let Him give encouragement and fill you with His Peace.

Sad Day

Tomorrow will be a sad but exciting day as the football season of 2008 comes to an official close. I love football on both the college and professional levels and it will be hard to see the games come to a close once again.

My favorite college team is Ole Miss. What a finish they had to their terrific season. They had earned a post season bowl game by beating teams such as the Florida Gators,( who, by the way went on to be the National Champion), LSU (the defending national champion), and other SEC teams. No one gave them a shot to win many games this year. They went into the new football season with a new coach and a new approach to playing the game. What a season they had!! They ended up with a record of 9-4, which includes a Cotton Bowl win against Texas Tech. Ole Miss was not a favorite in that game, but once again they played with focus and intensity and won the game!!

We had a great time watching the National Championship game with Florida and Oklahoma. Of course we were cheering for Florida because they were from the SEC but also because the only game that Florida lost was to the OLE MISS REBELS!!!!!

My favorite professional team is the New York Giants, mainly because Eli Manning their quarterback is a former quarterback from Ole Miss. I am also a big Tennessee Titian fan. Because neither of these teams are in the big game tomorrow, I will be cheering for the Arizona Cardinals. I have several reasons for this, I like the colors, they are the underdog,(no one thought they would make it this far) and I like the quarterback, Kurt Warner. He is a man of integrity and is never afraid to acknowledge where his strength comes from. He is a believer that carries his faith and witness onto the football field with him. I first heard of him when he led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl a few years ago. I heard him give and interview and he was not ashamed to share his faith while being interviewed. I have liked him ever since.

I am looking forward to the big game tomorrow, but it will be bittersweet to know that it will be several months before we hear the wonderful words

"It's football time in Tennessee"

Let it Snow (or ice)!!

One of the fun things about working in the school system is the anticipation of snow days. Teachers as well as the children get all excited wondering if we will be out of school when there is a chance of snow or as in the case today a chance of ice in the forecast. There is talk of doing the "snow dance" and the run on the grocery stores that always make me smile. I always say that I won't panic and go to the store on night before the big event but I found myself at Walmart last night buying up my bread and milk and cookies and chips and any other snack food that sounded good. I really did "need" some groceries and it was fun to be in the store watching what others would put in their cart. I got some ideas on what to buy such as cereal, hot dogs and the ever popular snow food of bread and milk!!

I went to bed last night wondering if there would be enough to close the schools for today and sure enough at 5:30 this morning the phone rang saying that our school system would be closed for the day. Looking outside ( a few hours later and sleeping in a little) there really didn't seem to be much out there but when I looked harder I could see a thin layer of ice on the driveway and sidewalk.

I was reminded of how sometimes things are not really as they seem. Everything outside looked normal at first glance but by looking closer I could see the danger that was looming if the ice was not given the respect it deserved. We must always be on guard to not be too causal in our everyday lives.

I am excited about the extra day off this week and plan to do fun things like make cookies, wrap presents and watch White Christmas!!