Thanksgiving thoughts~

Been quite the busy week~ with Thanksgiving and getting ready to begin work this week.  We had a quiet holiday with just Tom the kids and I and Titi Sylvia.  My brother popped in for dessert with his wife and my niece.  The kids have spent the past several days at her house decorating and keeping her company.  I think it did them all a world of good.  She has been a real blessing to us.  She has been a stabilizing force in the kids lives since dad's passing.  I did not see my mom~ she has been quite busy socially.  I did call her though to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving.  I am very thankful that the Lord has given me this chance to work.  I know that it will relieve some stress from Tom and the kids.  I am hoping to surprise the kids with a Christmas tree this weekend.  So many of our things have gone missing since the move~ so it will be a little bit of replacement at a time.  We have always decorated the whole house for Christmas...last year with dad's passing we didn't have a tree...so I am going to try and remedy this!  The girls are going to be very busy the next couple of weeks with choir and Gabby with singing in the band as well.  Lord willing once my training is over I will be able to get a doctor for Austin.  I so want him to be well; so he can start to live like a teenager.  I continue to pray  for work for Tom and a home that will give Austin his own room.  I know God knows and sees the needs of our family...and I know his timing is perfect.  Just have to remind myself of this~  We are so blessed in so many ways...when I start to get discouraged I remind myself of the blessings that we do have~ so much more than many.  Praying you all have a blessed week and that the Lord would give each and everyone of you just what you need when you need it.

Happy Thanksgiving~

It is the start of the holiday season~ Wow...time has flown by this year.  I am thankful for many things...
Missing those that will not be around the table this year~ my dad, grandma, titi Eva....I am praying that the Lord would bring each and everyone of  you a wonderful day tomorrow with your families.  Make the most of each moment....Make memories...Enjoy each other....and always remember to say I love you~ I am thankful for my family, for God's provision and for cherished memories.

The Lord bless you and keep...May he shine his face upon you.....

Faithful~

In the presence of hope, faith is born.  In the presence of faith, love becomes a possibility.  In the presence of love, miracles happen. ~Robert Schuller

I start work on Monday! What an answer to prayer!! I have been running around this week between Titi Sylvia's radiation appointments getting all the paperwork done.  Wow~ very excited.  Gabby started singing this past weekend in the praise and worship band..she loved it!  I am so happy for her~ just what she needed.  Now I continue to pray for that the Lord would bring Austin some godly friends that will be an encouragement to him.  He is having a struggle wondering what the Lord is doing in our lives.  Titi Eva's passing was the icing on the cake for him and I am watching my son; who always had such a love for God and his word...start to drift.  He has shared with me that he is struggling to understand where God is in all of the losses....and I continue to watch Tom struggle as well.  My constant prayer is that the Lord would show himself faithful because we are weary....and although I keep walking it is a sometimes a day to day struggle~ so I can understand how and why Austie has so many questions.  I just encourage them on a daily basis that God has not forgotten them and he does indeed have a plan for our lives.  I am praying for that miracle that I know God has for us.

Keep Walking~

Got a call this morning from the bank~ they wanted to know if I am still interested in a job.....yes!  So they will be getting back with me on Monday with the details.  It's part-time and from what I understand they have great benefits.  Very happy~ will be happier still when the particulars are worked out and I am one hundred percent sure that I have a job.  Tom is waiting on the test to come through to take it.  The recruiter told him it is a long process and to be patient....Tom and I found this very funny.  I am just thankful that Tom continues to keep going no matter what~ that he is faithful to our family and that we stand together.  I am simply exhausted after the past two weeks but have found that when I need it the Lord gives me the strength needed.  My former sister-in-law surprised me the other day with a gift card to the grocery store...what a blessing!  It was so sweet of her to think of us~ and it was a big help.  Provision has been my prayer and I am continually amazed how the Lord provides for our family.  I know without a doubt that I need to trust and obey and even when I don't understand ...I just need to keep walking.

Thankful~

Today was the Mass and celebration of  Titi's life~ it was a beautiful service and than we had a lovely luncheon at my cousin's home in her honor.   The girls and I my cousin's and Titi Sylvia were all there cooking, laughing and telling stories all afternoon.  We had a wonderful time!  The girls learned from their cousin how to cook Titi Eva's rice and gandules.  Making memories~ the kids are now over keeping Titi Sylvia company.  We took her to her radiation appointment this afternoon and than she took us out for burgers.  I am now trying to enjoy the quiet after a whirlwind of the past two weeks....sitting here reflecting over all that has happened and how God has given me the strength that I have needed daily.  Thankful for time spent wisely on relationships~ all the stuff that we collect along the way can never take the place of the relationships with family and friends and all the memories made along the way.  I am so blessed that God has allowed me to have such wonderful examples of loved ones in my life that drew their strength and faith from the one who will never leave us or forsake us~ so on those days when I am running on empty...when I feel like I just can't keep keeping on; I just remember what they told me...trust in the Lord~ He knows what we need and he will provide.

Tea and Sleep~

So I am down for the count with a horrible cold.  I knew it was just a matter of time until the past few months caught up with me~ so I have been home resting the past several days.  Lots of tea and sleep.  I am feeling much better than yesterday; and for that I am thankful.  I will be taking the next week or so to play catch-up in the house...but housework will always be here~ Very happy that I was able to relationship first!  Tom and I took a drive up to Jacksonville on Wednesday for a job interview for him.  What a drive~ it was beautiful going up with fall weather and colors!  Something we don't get here in South Florida.  It was good to get away for the day and clear my head.  The interview went well~ and he has a second one by phone this week.  I have left it in Gods hands.  Gabby got into the praise and worship team as a back-up singer to start; she is very excited. Mandy is out tonight with friends and Austie is going to have his first shaving lesson...Tomorrow is the visitation for Titi Eva and Monday the church service.  It will be hard for the kids but we have many wonderful memories.  The holidays are right around the corner and Lord willing we will be making new traditions and fun along the way.  I know God has good things in store and I just have to trust in him.

Titi Eva~

I was called to the hospital this morning~ Titi had taken a turn for the worse....everything was shutting down.  My cousin and I assembled the family to say our goodbyes...everyone came.  She left us at noon and later in the afternoon my cousin had everything shut off ~ with everyone in the room and my cousin Sandi and I holding her hand~ she left us for good.  I don't know what it is going to be like without her...I just adored her.  She was so wonderful and kind and loving and she meant the world too me.  The very last sister~ gone....She told me Friday...if something happens to me remember I am with the Lord.  So these tears that just won't stop are not because I have no hope...simply because I will miss her.  I have nothing but wonderful memories of her as a child and than with my own children....they were/are crazy about her.  She was a tiny woman  and she would run and play with the kids.  I remember her playing football with my son when he was a toddler.  She was famous for her rice and gandules....I remember her climbing my fruit trees with the kids when they were little...taking care of me when I was so sick and pregnant with my last~ Gabby....Simply said she was the most wonderful great-aunt anyone could wish for...and she will forever be missed and always loved.  I know she is rejoicing to be with her beloved son and family again~ I know she was welcomed with shouts of joy...I will take everything she taught me through life and be the better for it~ I love you!