Memories

New day. New month. New year. New adventures.

Where in the world did 2014 go? Wasn't last night January 2014 and today it's already January 2015. My how time flies the older you get and when you're having fun!

While reflecting back on 2014 all I could think about was how blessed I am and what a great year it was. Yes, we had our troubles but our blessings far out weighed our difficult times. Saying goodbye to our sweet little Spice Girl in March was the most difficult thing I was faced with. It is amazing at how those little four-legged babies can touch our hearts. There still isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about that little girl. Then there were a couple of times that LC just wanted to act plain stupid. Not sure why he insisted on breaking down and making us spend a lot of money on him. I know he wants a little TLC also, and we do give him plenty, but when he makes us dig deep...and I mean DEEP into our pockets...it's time for a talk and maybe even a change. Our goal this year...sorry LC but we may just have to say goodbye and hello to a newer and less needy LC.

When I think about the blessings and the grace that was shone upon us this past year, I am brought to my knees. In April, My Love said goodbye to that horrible, stinky, life threatening thing called smoking. I am so very proud of him! I know it is a struggle for him but prayer and the Lord got him to put them down and prayer and the Lord will continue to get him through each day and each temptation of wanting to pick another one up.

In July, Carlos and I actually spent our family vacation time on vacation. For the past several years something has happened that caused us to either be late or have to leave early or him not getting to go at all. But this time we arrived on the same day as everyone else and we all left the same day. What a blessing it was to spend the week resting, relaxing and enjoying time with the rest of our family.

At the end of November Timothy and Haley's little chihuahua had four beautiful little puppies. It was amazing watching her go from a rambunctious little dog to a protective, caring mother. Watching her motherly instincts take over was so sweet. She was doing exactly what she was supposed to do. She was doing just what God created her to do. What a miracle it is when babies are born, no matter how many legs they may have! There were several times that tears welled up in my eyes as I watched her bathe, nurse and snuggle with her babies.  Now y'all know that it doesn't take much for me to cry and I did a lot of crying during the Christmas season. I think my hormones just went whacko.

Pinky and her babies

My sister and her husband and family followed God's calling to be a host family to an Ukrainian orphan girl during the Christmas season and half of January. She doesn't speak any English and none of us speak any Ukrainian but that certainly didn't hinder us from being able to communicate. The first day we all met her was on our traditional Christmas Cookie Day and oh my goodness, I shed so many tears that day, it was just crazy. Just seeing her eyes light up and the smile on her face when she saw a cookie that looked good was all it took for me to just lose it, but when I saw her and my niece working together to cut out Christmas sugar cookies...the flood gates were opened! Pure innocent sweetness! We take so much for granted and don't always appreciate the little things in life. But those little things meant so much to "T". Sugar cookies...simple star shaped Christmas cookies put the biggest smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes and the smell of cookies coming out of the oven received a huge, enthusiastic thumbs up. There was so much laughter, fun and excitement in that kitchen that day. Have mercy, I'm losing it just trying to write this! And then, on Christmas Eve during our brunch  when the local news station came and interviewed my sister, her husband and my eight year old nephew about having "T" with them, I lost it again! They opened their doors to a young 15 year old girl who has probably never experienced the feeling of real love from a family before. As my brother in law said, "We wanted to be a blessing to her but instead she has been a blessing to us." Not just to my sister's family but to the whole family. I was only able to see her a few times before we had to go back out on the road but each time I saw her she ran up to me and gave me a great big hug and kiss. Love...love is the universal language. With the help of a Google translator app and lots and lots of love T experienced true love, joy, happiness and family. As my nephew told that news reporter, "She has a family!"

A sweet, fun mess!

Sharing his love for "T"...let the tears flow!

 

Laughing at some silly pictures "T" found on the iPad

And then, on Christmas Eve afternoon more tears were shed...Timothy proposed to his long time girlfriend! There were tears flowing from everywhere...Haley, Timothy, me, Carlos, her parents and sister. Tears, tears, tears...tears of  joy, happiness, excitement, thankfulness and love. This was probably the sweetest and most humbling Christmas I have ever experienced.

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (NIV) Over 2000 years ago God sent His one and only son to us. A young, poor, virgin girl from a small town gave birth to a son...a son we call Immanuel...a son that saves...a son that forgives...a son that rescues...a son that loves...a son that took on human form...a son that was/is perfect...a son that hurt and felt pain...a son that was born just so he could die...for us. He was born for me and he was born for you. His blood was shed so that I may have eternal life and so you may have eternal life! That is real love! Because of the love that God showed us and continues to show us each and everyday, we can show love...even when we can not understand each others language. With love there is no language barrier!

One of my favorite songs is by for King & Country "The proof of your love."

(Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is the scripture this song is based on)
If I can speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy
But don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rust gate
If I speak God’s word with power, revealing all of His mysteries
And making everything as plain as day
And if I have faith to say to a mountain jump and it jumps
But I don’t love, I’m nothing
If I give all I earn to the poor
Or even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr
But I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere
So, no matter what I say, no matter what I believe, no matter what I do
I’m bankrupt without love

Let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love

I want my life to be the proof of His love! What about you?

I hope each and everyone of you had a very Merry Christmas and will have a blessed New Year. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for my family and me in 2015.

Til we meet again!
Only by His Grace,
   Lynne

Sweet Time! Family Time!

My oh my! What a vacation I have had! My sweet loving boss (aka My Husband) gave me 10 1/2 weeks off. Wow...I knew I was home a long time but until just now I  didn't realize it was that long.  Well Mama.. guess that explains why I seemed to be a little short and snappy at times. I must admit that there were times when I probably should have read one of my previous blogs on attitudes. Carl did get to take a week off at Thanksgiving and 2 weeks for Christmas but the rest of the time he was working. So 7 1/2 of those weeks were spent away from my hubby...no wonder I needed an attitude adjustment at times! My heart, thoughts and prayers really go out to all the men and women of our military who are separated from their love ones for LONG periods at a time. I know 7 1/2 weeks is nothing compared to the months and years they go through. I so appreciate the sacrifice they make for us each and every day. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Even though I was home for so long, there wasn't much rest and relaxation going on. My family kept me hopping! Mama thinks if she keeps me busy I won't miss Carl as much. :) I do love being home during the Christmas Holidays and taking part in all the activities that go on during this time of year. After Thanksgiving my calendar fills up in a hurry! Well, it's really the only time of year my calendar fills up or even has anything written on it. This year one of my nieces started the season off by having an Ornament Door Hanging making party after our local Christmas Parade. The children had so much fun decorating the hangers, eating cookies and then delivering the door hangers to the residents of our local Retirement Home. What a blessing that was...for all of us! That will certainly be a new Christmas tradition for us. I also went to a luncheon that Mama had for the women of our family. We don't get to see some of our aunts and cousins very often so this is something we all look forward to each year. Then comes my nieces and nephews  Christmas Program at Church, their school programs, and this year my 2 year old niece danced at her hometown's Victorian Christmas. How precious that was! I also helped my parents with a luncheon they had for the widows of our church. Our favorite Christmas tradition is Cookie Day. My mama, sisters and I and all the children get together and bake cookies and fix tins filled with goodies for family and friends. Even Timothy comes over and samples some of the treats and this year he got in on a little bit  of the cooking. He helped my sister fix her delicious divinity...which is always a 2 person ordeal. We had our traditional Christmas Eve Brunch at my sister's....had Carl's family over for our traditional Christmas Eve Oyster Stew Supper and then supper at my parent's Christmas Night. Carl and I did some babysitting for my sisters and had a Get-to-Gather at my house for some of my high school friends. In my "spare" time I worked on a few DIY projects. The best part about being home was being with Timothy! Even as busy as I was, it was so nice to see his handsome face, his glowing smile and to hear his contagious laugh everyday. So morning, noon or night I had something going on but I loved every single minute of it.



Well, my vacation time is over and Carl and I are back on the road. We loaded up Jan. 2 and are headed to San Diego, CA.  We are traveling with 2 other drivers and last night one of them asked Carl how much we weighed (the truck and trailer not us personally) Carl said 90,000 lbs which is about 3,000 more than the other driver. They started laughing and said his extra 3 was from me.  At first I was like "Wait just a minute!" I thought they were talking about my weight. Then I realized they were talking about ALL the stuff I put in the truck. Carl told them it took me 4 hours to load everything up. He was exaggerating just a little bit. Three hours and six pairs of shoes later I was ready to go! This time of year a girl just doesn't know how to dress, especially when traveling all over the country....so I need to be prepared!

P7 (Personnel Carrier)

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas. I pray that the LORD blesses each and every one of you in 2013.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17





Til We Meet Again!
Only By Grace!

  Lynne