Unexpected

All week the weather people have been predicting major snow that would be south of us...but they were wrong!
We didn't get major snow, but we got a lot of snow fast this morning. Beautiful, fluffy and frigid! Winter weather.
I tried to take my walk at the track without realizing how much snow we had already gotten. There were no tracks even in the parking lot at the high school and it was so slippery that I thought I wasn't going to be able to stop when I got to the wall... but I did. Walked around the track twice, but it was a sheet of ice under 5 inches of fluffiness and I only had on my tennies...remember, I already told you I didn't realize how much snow we had already gotten...
I finally gave up and walked in the tire tracks of my car in the parking lot for awhile and came home.
Listened to the Mountaineer game, created a couple of Whimsical Woolies, ate some homemade potato soup, took a nap...
This kind of snow causes you to slow down, maybe even stop completely. Appreciate that time - you need it. God is so smart. He knows we need a time to rest and slow down...He gave us winter in Preston County. Enjoy!

It's All Good

Today was a stellar day of giggles and good news. Kids that made me laugh and prayers that were answered...big prayers!
Our God is amazing and wonderful and he loves us. He is the Good Shepherd, Abba and the Big Cheese.
How amazing it is to feel the relief of lifted worry. More giggles that make you realize it's been awhile since you laughed.
A perfect end to a fairly tense week! Thanks so much to all who prayed along side. Is there something you need prayer for? Ask! It is powerful.
Amen and amen.
ps One of the kid giggles: Stevie dropped something and one of our little men rushed over to help and when she commented that he was being very nice, he (kindergartener that he is) said with a straight face, "Well, I want to make sure I get good grades." (report cards go out tomorrow for the first time for K kids and we have been busy with them all week) When Stevie looked at him with an incredulous look, you could just see him thinking...did I say that outloud???
Another kid giggle: We "shopped" with our proud slips for the first time today and one of the little ones said, with a voice full of wonder, "I just can't stop smiling!"
And several had the best day of their lives, again!

Birthday Beginnings

Another year come and gone. Makes you stop and think...
I had a sweet birthday. Funny cards from friends, sweet cards from the husband and handmade cards from kindergarteners...it just doesn't get much better than that. Well, there was the cake and the other fine gifts. Phone calls, gifts in the mail...and it's snowing again!
After today I want to make a good effort to make the coming year more about others than me. More about God than anything...after today, which is, of course, all about me!
Just kidding...mostly, sort of...
Spent the evening with strong friends of faith, praying for healing of various issues for various folks....wow...just wow.
Happy Birthday, to me!
And Shirley Smith.

Too Much?

It has been building up for a bit. Now, I have to ask the question...is it too much?
There are so many people who need prayer. At church the list is lengthy, but I feel like we share the responsibility so I am not completely overwhelmed. But, now, for me,personally, there are babies and parents and friends that have asked me to pray for them.
Quandry - they know I am Christian and a prayer...that's good...how to do them all justice...that's bad.
So, again, I am learning. In order to be effective for all these in need, I must seek God first for strength and wisdom. I must be full of God before I can share. Learning...again! And praying.
God doesn't expect me to fix things...as I am wont to try and do...he wants me to lean into him on behalf of these others.
Lean and hang on! It isn't too much...for God or for me.
Amen...

Drip Drip Drip

You know how they say you don't realize how much you love something until it is gone? Well, I must be a little slow because I didn't realize how much I missed something until I got it back. Stay with me here. Today, when driving to Morgantown, I got to drive fast! I love driving and unfortunately, I love driving fast...not dangerously fast, I am older and wiser afterall, but speedy fast is good. All the snow prevented that for oh, so long.
Here's the other thing I got back...a full length stride when walking! I could go fast again and not worry about crashing! So, I walked twice today!
Hope you got to get out and enjoy the drips today!
Lot of exclamation points in this post...wakie, wakie lemon cakie...
OK. I'm going now.
smile

Answered Prayer

A week ago tonight, I woke up in the middle of the night and thought I might be having a heart attack. I had pain down my left arm, over my shoulder and up my neck. I felt like the air I was trying to breathe was heavier than usual. I couldn't lay on my left side. There was no sharp pain, but massive discomfort. I got up and took an aspirin just in case...you're supposed to do that, right? I lay flat on my back for about an hour and fell back to sleep.
Having never been any kind of sick or hurt really, and having a high pain thresh hold AND most importantly, having had an ER nurse for a mother, it never really occured to me to wake my little husband over this event.
On Saturday, I was still having a little trouble breathing that heavier than normal air. Did finally tell my little husband. He turned the heater on in the bathroom and told me I could take my shower before we went to the ER. I talked him out of that.
By Sunday after church even I decided I should be well by now. I went to Med Express. They did an EKG and wanted to put me in the hospital over night for blood work and a stress test. I voted no and came home. She did say I wasn't a likely candidate, but at my AGE she felt compelled to recommend the hospital visit! Should you say something like that to a person who might be having heart issues???? I was still breathing heavy air, but mostly only when I didn't have anything else to think about.
Monday after school I went to the doctor here. He gave me nitroglycerine tablets and said I should get a stress test.
Monday morning I had stepped out of my comfort zone, admitted I had a weakness and a need for prayer. Now, my little husband and I had been praying regularly since this happened. Not enough. God was inviting me to invite others into my life...not just the surface living but the whole messy wonder of me. I let them in and they came gladly and wholly.
I am convinced that my friends at school prayed me whole and well again. I haven't had any problems since Monday...none, nada, zilch, zippo!
Thank you, God. Thank you, friends.
God's people are powerful.
Amen.

Back to Work

Back to work tomorrow. It's a good thing. Although I have seen more and more clearly that I am going to be able to do this retirement thing pretty well. I just love the relaxed pace of my own time schedule.
I get to think, create, think, read, think, enjoy...
I got a new camera with my Christmas money and am enjoying it totally. I had about given up taking pictures although I used to take lots. This might get me into it all over again. You might be seeing more and more photos on here...
Enjoy your week!

Creating

I have been spending parts of each day this week at school getting ready...I am assuming that they will be back eventually. I love this part of my job. It is the creative part where I get to think and plan and imagine the best, most exciting way to get the needed information into their brains and hearts. I wonder if there is a job out there where people could say, "I need to teach "this", can you figure out a fun way for me to get it across to my kids?" I would LOVE that job! I love my job now, too...most days.

This is a photo of one of my new Whimsical Woolies. The title is, "Two Peeps in a Pod". I will have a show at Mountain Made in March, so I have to be creating! Tough life. Great way to spend snowy days.

Snow Snow Snow

It's still snowing! I love the snow. It is so quiet and clean. I have loved walking in the snow each evening. It sparkles so beautifully in the lights. I feel like I am walking in a snow globe. This last bit of snow has been so fluffy that it doesn't even look quite real.
One evening I sat down on one of the benches on Price St that was full of snow. The next evening it was full again. I drew smiley faces on top of the planters that are heaped with snow. Simple pleasures!
Last night my little husband and I were snug in our house with a fire in the wood burner and fresh bread out of the oven! Ahh. Yummy.
I'm thinking this is practice for retirement and I'm thinking I can do it!
Off to create some woolies!

Finnegan

Don't you love that song? Michael Finnegan...begin again. It just feels good in your mouth when you say it. Go ahead and try it...am I right?
OK. Aside from that, I love beginnings and this is certainly the time of the year to be thinking of beginnings. Although I am not inclined to make any "resolutions" this year, I am inclined to continue to strive living my life abundantly and out of my abundance to share generously.
The one thing I do want to do is lose the weight I have gained back. Not very original, I know, but necessary...and doctor's suggestion - might need an order, but we'll see. Haven't done too badly for 2 days! Yippee! Tonight, my little husband and I even went for a walk together in the 12 degree snow storm. It was wonderful. We bundled up, walked fast and sang like crazy people. It was a walk made for the song, "Oh, the weather outside is frightful..." We sang a bit of "Walking In A Winter Wonderland", too.
That's the kind of abundant living I'm talking about and I love sharing it with my sweet little husband.
Happy New Year. Celebrate your beginnings and your abundance!