I Am So Grateful...

It was 40 years ago today that my husband and I got married. 40 YEARS! Sometimes it seems like only yesterday. And at other times it seems like a lifetime ago. You probably know how that feels. Time passes so quickly. And, of course, the older I get, the faster the time seems to go. At times, our life together has been like a roller coaster ride. Lots of ups and downs.

Some of the "ups"?
Well, we have had two great kids, who have both graduated from college and both are married to wonderful people and between them they have given us 7 beautiful grandkids. We had some great times camping with our kids when they were young. Every year we looked forward to getting up to the mountains with our big tent for a week or two. I hope my kids have the fond memories of those days that their father and I do. We did take one very long trip in a motor home one year and saw 14 states. I think we saw everything there was to see between here and Minnesota and back. I think our kids will remember that trip! We did it all in about 14 days!. There have been LOTS of other "ups", as well.

And some of the"downs"?
There have been a few of those, too. Like the 6 surgeries for my husband and the 12 for me. And then there's the Valley Fever, Mononucleosis, Pneumonia, West Nile Virus, and Cancer that my husband has endured. But that's the operative word - "endured" - because he HAS endured and he has survived it all. Praise to the Lord! And being out of work now for over 20 months has been one of those "downs". (But I was recently interviewed - twice - for a job and I might still be in the running for it!) Times are tough all over though and we are managing.

So, in spite of -- or maybe BECAUSE of -- all the ups and downs of life, it has made us a stronger couple. We have overcome obstacles that we never imagined we would have before us 40 years ago and we are all the stronger because of them. So I guess I would have to say that I am grateful for all the bumps in the road that we have come across. Rather than split us up, they have drawn us together. And isn't that God's Plan for a man and a wife, after all?

Pretty As A Picture

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Looking Up...

   So I've been reading a lot of articles about women who have lost their jobs after so many years and about the struggles they are going through to find work again - and to just survive in the meantime.  I think I have learned a couple of things.  First: I am definitely not alone in this predicament.  Being a woman over 50 and looking for work is a very daunting experience and there are many, many of us in the same boat.  Second: I am more fortunate than a lot of those women.  I have a husband who has a job and is still bringing in a paycheck.  We still have our home and car(s).  We are still able to pay our bills (mostly).  And we can still buy groceries. 

 

   I read a story about a woman who was an executive with her company for 30 years and she was asked to prepare a list of ways that the company could "tighten their belts".  Next thing she knew, she was handed her pink slip.  Then there was the woman who just bought a 4 bedroom home on which she & her hubby were going to do major renovations.  Then, suddenly,  she had no income.  So now they live in this big house that needs lots of repairs that they can't afford and they can't sell.  Or the mother who put her son in college, then lost her job.  She refuses to let her situation impact her son's life, so she swears she'll scrub toilets, if necessary, to keep him in school.

   I actually began to feel fortunate after reading these stories.  Sure, I know there are always people out there less fortunate than ourselves.  But for a short while there, I admit that I was beginning to feel a bit depressed about my situation - no job, no interviews, no prospects.  But there are definitely a lot of worse things that could happen!  So I am beginning to have a more positive attitude once again.  

   I have been praying for my own job situation for a long time.  But now I am praying for all those other people out there who are in this same situation - or worse - that I am in.  I have known  for a long time that it is always better to look at others and pray for them rather than to look at yourself all the time.  But I am afraid that I sort of "forgot" to do that for a while. Now that God has put me back on the right track once again, I think things are looking up!  I know I am!

Still Waiting...on Him

   Well, I have been out of work since January of '08.  At first I was on State Disability since I had to have both of my knees replaced.  I thought I'd be off work for 3 to 4 months.  But complications set in and it stretched into 9 months of disability.  My employer was unable to keep my position open for that long - so I had no job to go back to.  In this economy, there are just SO MANY people out of work and there are just not enough open positions to go around.  I am trying to be patient and to "wait upon the Lord" but it is getting a little tougher every month.  Sending out resumés almost every day and still no job offers.  I know He has something in mind for me.  I just hope I find out what that something is pretty soon.  So I am not only praying for a job offer, but I am also praying for patience.  That's usually a bit of a problem for me.  You know..."I want PATIENCE and I want it NOW."  But I am learning to take it all to Him. It's all in His timing.

Everyone Has One...

Here's a little something I picked up years ago that I thought was worth passing along...

  "It costs nothing but it gives so much. It enriches all those who receive it, without making poorer those who give it.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.  None is so rich or so mighty that he can get along without it.  And none is so poor or weakened that he cannot become enriched by it.  It brings happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business...and it is the countersign of friendship.  It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is Nature's best antidote for trouble.  Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something of no value until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you one of theirs - so give them one of yours...as none needs it so much as he who has no more to give."

  What is it?  Why, it's a SMILE, of course!  Give one to someone today!  :o)  

She Is Free

    I attended the funeral of a dear friend last week.  Linda put up a valiant fight against cancer and survived well beyond the time the doctors expected.  She was so strong in her faith.  She was an encouragement to any and all who knew her, but especially to those who also suffered from the ravages of cancer, or any other illness for that matter.  I remember in '07 when I spoke to her of my concerns about my upcoming surgeries to replace my knees.  I had been going through so much pain - but it all seemed so very insignificant compared to what SHE was going through.  But Linda saw everyone's pain and concerns as more than her own and always had words of Hope and Encouragement no matter how badly she was feeling.  She was amazing that way!  

  A "Letter of Farewell" was given out to those who attended Linda's service.  In part, it said, "But most of all, remember that I have gone to sleep believing in my Lord our God...that when the coming of Jesus Christ takes place, I will be able to be among you all once again, to finally meet our God and be at His side forever and ever."  

 

                          Goodbye, good friend, until we meet again.