God Works in Mysterious Ways

What a week we have had.  To be honest, it has been a very hectic time since May, or maybe last May, when we expanded our new business, or since September 21, 2013 when we bought a batch of equipment and started a new business.  Or maybe I has been this hectic since we moved "off the mountain"  Or maybe it was when we moved "up ON the mountain"  Could it have been the day we said "I Do"  That we DID?  Who even knows.  We just know that we stay very busy. 

Today, however was a bit different, and quite hopefully it is the beginning of a new normal.  A normal involving "having a margin around our weeks.  The idea has come from a Bible Study that I just completed with my young adults class.  It is called Breathe,  If you are interested in more information about it let me know. 

So, for the last 5 weeks we have been studying about the importance of the Sabbath and a Sabbath rest.  (the margin I spoke of)  Today we talked about other ideas for how to tune out the URGENY of our culture to see and do the IMPORTANT things of God.  We go into the sanctuary to begin our service.  I forgot to bring my Bible today so I was in the process of trying to bring up the Bible ap on my phone to be prepared for our sermon.  To be perfectly honest, at first my Facebook page came up and I looked at it.  The second post was of Jonathan's cousin, Bud, paddle boating with his family, Brady and Brooklyn,  where?  Up in Ruidoso!!!!!!!  I quickly showed him the post and we went on with our sermon, which was great by the way. 

As soon as church service was over, the three of us jumped in the truck and headed up the mountain, leaving messages for those on the mountain to see just where they were.  The short version of the story is that we met up for some of the best fun we have had in quite a long while.  We explained to the rest how I saw their post (gasp) during church (can you believe????)  and here we were. We all agreed that this was an appointment that was just supposed to happen.  Lunch was at the Irish pub up there, which I can highly recommend the food.  It was just the ticket to sit out side on their deck to eat.  The conversation was easy and fun.  Stories of childhood that I had never heard before, stories of more recent days, getting to know Brady and Brooklyn a little bit better and generally catching up on work and life. 

After we all said our goodbyes for this trip,  we parted ways.  Them to go back to their hotel to rest after a big day and us to wander around town looking in a few shops for a couple of hours, just to be out, walking and spending some time together.  

Now, that we are back in the valley, I realize that I really need to go back to carrying my camera with me all the times like I used to do.  I know that I have my phone, but it just isn't the same for me.

The rest of the evening is being spent lounging peacefully while watching an old black and white movie and then off to sleep, to be ready for tomorrow. 

The Margin around this weekend did not include the laundry I needed to get done, nor the dishes that are usually a priority for Sunday.  I didn't get any extra cooking done to prepare for my week or any of the rest of the things I usually do on my weekends, but today was such a blessing, I wouldn't trade it. 

Thank you, you guys, for allowing us to horn in on your vacation, I hope we spend many more meals together over the years. 

Family Reunion in South Texas

     And the party began with a prayer.  Well not really began, just for us.  We were late getting there< as usual, some would say>.  I don't apologize as we were very tired.  I had been up well over 24 hours when I went to bed and we had all 4 worked very hard in the days leading up to us going south for the weekend.  When my alarm went off, I turned it off and honestly was JUST going to close my eyes for a few more minutes before I had to wake everyone.  That few more minutes turned in to an hour and a half before the big guy in the red shirt woke up.  I still had to go and bake my cobblers that were my contribution to a wonderful spread of food. And so, we were late. 
      But, as I say, our part began with a prayer.  The big blue-Hair by the pillar was asked by his Aunt to offer the blessing over the food.  Usually Uncle Sonny does it but this time, they decided that it was time to start passing some of the traditions on to other generations and since Blue Boy, is a locally liscensed minister in spite of his young 17 years, it was time to ask him to do it.  "Mom, What do I do?"  I gave him the best piece of advice I knew.. Pray, son, just pray over the food and bless us all.

After the dinner bell was rung, we all filled our plates and found a place to sit and eat and swap tall tales. This is Texas after all.  The food was wonderful and very filling.  I think we could have fed another army besides.  It was good to catch up on each others lives as well.Deep conversations of the oil and gas industry from several different points of view.  Amazing how corners are turned to take us places we had no idea we were going.  And some of them full circle back to where we started.

Discussions of continuation of college, and moving to other places.  Spending time with cousins, and friends.  Laughter is a great sound. 

Sharing experiences of recent retirements and new days to come over a juicy slice of cold water melon,  Does it get better than this?

Can you imagine this being the window to your world every summer?  I would never cook in the house all summer if this were my house.  Just the serenity of that space would move me to tears every day.  Even though the kids said NO!  Aunt Linda, Would you adopt me? 

Then, Uncle Harold took all the kids to see the cows.  What a treat for the kids who don't get to see those things very often.  And the cows LOVE cow candy!!!  And kids love cows.  And, getting to meet REAL COWBOYS!!!

I brought the scrapbook that I started from the very first year I attended  2004.  I would love it if someone would add the 9 years in between to it or send me pictures from those years. 
I really did have a grand plan for that scrap book but as we all know, sometimes time slips away from us, no matter what our intentions.

 

 

Maybe a joke or two was told, or maybe just a "do you remember the time when?" That brought about the bright smiles.

 

While the laughter and frolicking continued in groups around the house,  others were more content with more intimate conversations away from the fun. 

Each was able to enjoy the day in his or her own way. 

  

 And THEN,   

                                                        

 Sigh, we were done.

Linda, and Harold, I want to tell you, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you put in to doing this,  Thank you for all the hugs for me and mine and the wonderful support for our endeavors in this life,  and thank you for sharing your world with us.  As for me, and mine, we love you more than you will probably ever know. 

 

Several days of Gratefulness all rolled in to a Saturday

Saturday November 16 brings forth several things to catch up on.   So we will be counting this post for several days.  

First thing in the morning.  Its a toss up. I'm not sure which was the best part of waking up.  Waking up next to THIS amazingly handsome man or a cup of THIS being served in a jug from Disney land with the seagulls on it saying Mine Mine Mine Mine... hehehe  Or maybe it was the kiss that came as he handed me my morning cup of coffee in bed.  I am thankful for the abundance of Love that my husband and I share for each other. I am thankful for simple things like him introducing me to a wonderful flavor of coffee just because he thought I would like it and now he makes sure I have it in the house. 

 

 

From there we move to item of the day number two.  A MASSIVE Garage Sale.  It had een planned for yesterday but due to weather, we have actually postponed it till next weekend.  This is a good thing because we went on with allowing people who came in to go a head and shop and then the other people who are planning to sell things also will be there next weekend, weather permitting. 

So, what am I thankful for here?  Abundance.  This si a yard sale involving things that are still around from my grandparents that I honestly thought went to others who needed them about 7 years ago, there is the stuff we hauled down here from the mountain when we moved back down the valley way too many years ago for it to still be there.  There are items from my daughter and her husband that have sat in storage also for several years, unused.  My 2nd daughter and her husband brought items that were sitting unused in their house.  My niece has items that she is unable to use at the moment as she is living in a very simple situation and those things are taking up space she does not have.  Add to all of that are some items that we were left with from a previous customer.   This has been the most amazing thing to look at all of these things, think of the history behind each item and then realize that someone else needs to use these things, but what I am most grateful for is that we have been so blessed as to have all of these items when we needed them.  

 

 

Move on through my day past the yard sale and we have to race up to the pick up station for my Bountiful Basket delivery.  I know that we are having a large group of family for Thanksgiving week so I knew I needed to stock up.  It turned out to be more than I really expected but it will be used and appreciated by all who eat it.

 Do you see the ginger hidden in on the table? 

Today will be a very busy day taking care of all of this as well as the things I already have in the fridge waiting to be taken care of as well.  After church, here I go. 

I am grateful for the abundance I have to provide for my family and make our times together "filling" in more ways than one. 

 

That leaves us with our 2nd Amendment Right which also brings fun and family time in with the training and practice that is required in my mind if you are going to participate. 

I don't have any photos of me shooting My new pistol because, ummmmm yeah, I'm not very good at it YET!!!  But I will be shortly.  I have a great teacher who will make sure I know what I need to know. 

 

My abundance is overwhelming.    

 

Day 16 The Bluebird Bus Christmas

Disclaimer:  Since Blogger is currently not letting me post any pictures because, in my few short months of being on here, it says I have reached my maximum, I will be photo less for a while. 
I know that November is over and the 30 days of gratitude, OF COURSE, only takes place in November.  Yes, I'm joking, but made ya think anyway.  My choice, however is to continue as I think of them to no matter the number.  This entry was one of my planned entries anyway and now that it is December, it just fits. 



The Bluebird Bus Christmas


First, our family tradition
Christmas Eve

      Christmas Eve, my mom, dad and my brothers would drive around town looking at the Christmas lights.  We would usually also drive up to Tularosa where they did a beautiful, huge luminaria display on the highway through town.  We listened to Christmas music on the radio and ohhhed and ahhhhed till bed time. 

Christmas Morning   
      For most of my life, our family Christmas tradition involved not just my immediate family but that of my maternal grandparents as well.  We got up Christmas morning and called them to let them know we were up and waiting.  They came over and we started opening presents and then my dad cooked a big breakfast for us to all share. 
     Sometimes, that breakfast included deer steak from the newly finished hunting season, sometimes it was sausage.  In later years, it became, "lil smoky sausages"  Most of those early years it also included home made biscuits and gravy. ( I loved watching my dad make homemade biscuits they way his mom taught him.).  Then when it became time to share this tradition with the next generation, breakfast became pancakes, lil smokeys and fried eggs. 
     After breakfast we all got in the cars and went to my grandparents house to open their christmas gifts.  It was always so exciting to me to see what they got for Christmas as well as my own gifts. 

Next Generation: 

     As in all things, time goes on and as my brothers and I moved out on our own, married and had children somethings changed but one did not,  Our Christmas morning just expanded.  Now the tradition was that who ever had the youngest child at the time, of present opening and excitement not to be delayed age, got to make the "we are up, ya'll come on over" phone calls.  We started at that families house, them made the rounds to each house, up to my grandparents house to open gifts and then went back to my Mom and Dads house for breakfast.  The year that each of us had a child of the same age was kinda tricky, but that is a story for another day. 

This explaination however, brings us to the YEAR OF THE BLUEBIRD BUS
    By way of explaination, we live an area with a heavy military presence and have over the years done a great deal of "civilian contractor" work for that military range, and this was one of those years.  Because the sight where my brother was working was about an hour and a half away to even get to and there were a number of other people working in this area, my brother decided to purchase this retired school bus.  Yes, it was a bluebird bus but it was actually robins egg blue as well.  (I so wish I had pictures.)  My brother transported about 15 people back and forth to the jobsite in the bus each day so that they could rest on the way too and from.  So, with this at our disposal that year,  Christmas went from our normal wonderful pastime, to AWESOME!!!!!

     Christmas Eve consisted of my grandparents, my mom, dad, my younger brother, my husband and myself and this brother, Eddie, and his wife and their 18 month old son piling into the bus to drive around the whole county to look at the lights.  Since the 18 month old was the only grandchild that year, it was such fun to be able to watch his reactions to the lights sitting there, strapped in to his carseat on the seat behind his daddy, and next to his mommy.  It seems like we drove for hours that night until he was fast asleep and we decided it was time to take him home to await the morning.  

     And morning came.  When the call came in that they were awake and it was time to open presents.  We each got in our cars and drove to their house, just as normal.  However, when presents at that house were opened and properly displayed for all to see, and it was time to move on to the next house, the idea arose,  Why drive 4-5 cars from place to place.. when we had......... THE BUS!!!!!!   I cannot tell you what a wonderful day we had by being able to literally spend it in each others presence, each and every moment.  The laughter, smiles and contentment still shine in my eyes when I think of that Christmas time. 

I hope that all will find ways to build relationships through out this holiday season, however you choose to celebrate, or even if you don't celebrate.  Use this time to get close to someone and learn about them down to their soul.