Happy New Year!!

Can you believe it is 2011? I've got a feeling this is going to be a good year! If you've read my blog at all then you know I am a pretty positive person. However, the last couple of years I've not been very positive which is why I've not blogged very much. Since 2009 life has given me a lot of lemons and I forgot how to make lemonade so for the most part I've wallowed in self pity. I've had people tell me that it is normal to be depressed after all that we've been through, and that has almost enabled me to continue being down in the dumps. No More! That is my New Year's Resolution! I will be happy! Even in the bad times I'll remember that God is in CONTROL!

Romans 8:28 (KJV)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

My Pastor quotes the verse above often. I know he has been preaching to me for several months about letting God be in control, to have faith, to trust in God, and to remember that all things work together for good to them that love God! I'm sure he'll have to keep on preaching so that I'll remember all these things but maybe, just maybe, he'll not have to preach to me as often!

I already know that this year is going to have a few trials, but I'm am more prepared. I am going into it the year with prayer and asking God for guidance. No more wallowing in self pity! I am going to find the blessings in each and every trial!

This year I will be starting a new job! Yes, on January 5th I will be going to work in Oak Ridge as a goverment contracted secretary! I am very excited about this because the pay is great & ultimately the benefits will be too! I can't believe I've changed jobs 3 times since 2008 but I've finally been offered the job that I'd like to retire with. I will be working 4 days a week, Monday-Thursday, 10 hours a day. That will leave Fridays open for anything I want to do! The 10 hour days will probably be hard for a sleepy head like me but the reward is great!

In May my baby is graduating! Yes, both of my children will be out of high school this year. Can you believe it? It seems like life goes by so quickly. I would love to turn back time but we all know that is impossible. Now I want to enjoy every day, every moment, that they spend with us. Thankfully our kids still like to spend time with their parents! Just last night both of the kids chose to spend New Year's Eve with us. We asked them what they wanted to do and they both said just stay home with y'all and watch a movie or something! Can you believe it? My 17 & 19 year old kids just wanted to stay at home with their parents!

The biggest change to our lives coming in 2011 is that we have decided to sell our house. We currently live in Farragut which is basically West Knoxville. Our church is in Claxton which is Northwest of Knoxville. It takes us about 25 minutes to get to the church and our lives revolve around church. When we moved to Knoxville in 2003 Charlie wanted to live in Karns or Powell. We looked for houses in that area but we just couldn't find anything. My parents lived in West Knoxville so we gravitated there or should I say "I" did. Charlie never wanted to live in West Knoxville. Now that both the kids will soon be out of high school and in college we are going to try to move closer to the church. Our plans are to rent a house in a community close to the church until we decide if we want to buy a house or not.

With just those few things we know that life is going to be a roller coaster during 2011, but I am prepared! God is Good! I know that he'll be with us through it all!

Happy New Year!

Coupon savings

I thought I'd lost the coupon mojo, but alas I've still got it!! I just saved $93.34 at Kroger! The entire back of the vehicle is full!! It took me all morning to go through my coupons and the ads but I was able to buy everything I needed for dinner tomorrow at church, dinner at work on Wednesday, Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, and last but not least Trevlyn's birthday cheesecake with the family on Thursday!! Of course I also had to buy food for everyday meals at the house this week!! I spent $147.63. I know it sounds like a lot but it could have been a lot more!

It Is Well

This was the sun rising on my way to work this morning!

I know I've posted this song before but it is one of my favorites! I felt like rehearsing it again today. This is a beautiful hymn and a beautiful history! It reminds me to Praise the Lord no matter what the circumstance. Last night my husband was preaching and I was so proud of him. He said we can complain of our circumstances or we can count our blessings. He reminded us that we could complain 'I'm about to lose my car' or 'I'm about to lose my house' or we could say at least we have a car or house to lose. There are homeless people and people without work all over the world. I want to remember to praise the Lord! He has given me so much and he blesses my family everyday. I realize that I complain about my job all the time but I must remember today that I am thankful that I have a job. I get a paycheck every 2 weeks that helps me to pay my bills. Without it I could be homeless too! I thank the Lord for all he does for me and I thank Him for letting me see another sunrise on my way to work!

It is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

HYMN HISTORY:

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled, 'It is well with my soul', you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words, "When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul”, were not written during the happiest period of Spafford's life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.

Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.

Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned.
He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone."

On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her,
"You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.

The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told "her soul is vexed within her", she still maintains that 'It is well." And Spafford's song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is as unwavering as hers was.

It would be very difficult for any of us to predict how we would react under circumstances similar to those experienced by the Spaffords. But we do know that the God who sustained them would also be with us.

No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford... It is Well With My Soul!

October 22, 2010

I am done with all the supplements that the doctor put me on, and to be honest with you I can't tell that the detox has done much of anything...

I do feel better. I have more energy, and I've lost 15lbs. I guess I just had bigger ideas of what the detox would do. I am still doing the diet. I have almost grown accustomed to eating this way. I wanted to do a blog everyday but what I've been eating is very boring!

This is basically what my diet consists of....

Breakfast
Smoothie
Almonds

Lunch
Salad - Mixed greens, feta cheese, broccoli, cauliflower, and my homemade vinaigrette

Dinner
Baked Chicken or Fish
Asparagus or Green Beans
Roasted Peppers
Sometimes a salad

Boring, right? But I like it. I going to keep eating this way, and I hope that by the time Caleb & Courtney get married in May that I'll be down to 150lbs. I won't tell you how many pounds that is to lose but just know that it is a lot! Believe it or not this time I have a lot of will power. The hardest part is going to be making it through the holidays. I love to cook, and I'll be pacing myself. I'll indulge on Thanksgiving & Christmas day only!!! That's my plan anyway....

I am writing a monthly post over on our local church's website. If you are interested in checking it out go to http://www.thechurchofgoduaclaxton.com/ and it is on the ladies group page.

Wednesday, Sept 15

I started pretty good today, but let's see if I can keep it up!

Breakfast
2 boiled eggs
8oz of V8

Lunch
Roast Beef
Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower
Salad with grilled chicken & feta cheese with Italian dressing

Snack
nada

Supper
2 eggs & 2 pieces of turkey bacon

I didn't really like my lunch today. I brought roast beef & the steamed vegetables. I ended up throwing away the cauliflower, and the roast beef was like leather! Thank Goodness my supervisor brought in a huge salad that was left over from a meeting. It made my day! Teach me to not bring a salad for lunch! I should know better.

Monday & Tuesday, September 14

I know I'm a day late, but it is really hard to find the time to document my meals every night. Since I was sick and slept most of the day I don't even remember if I ate at all on Monday.

Tuesday

Breakfast
Hot Tea

Lunch
Mixed Greens Salad

Snack
Bell Peppers & Homemade Guacamole

Supper
Chicken Salad

I drink lots of water everyday! I still haven't lost anymore than the 5lbs. that I originally lost. It gets a little discouraging but I have to keep reminding myself that the doctor said it could take up to 60 days before I see any results!

Monday-September 13

Today is 2 weeks completely on the Cellular Healing Diet. I will say the weekends are really, really hard! I don't have a problem not eating starches, sugars, etc but I do have a problem getting in 3 meals with snacks.

Saturday

Breakfast
2 hard boiled eggs

Lunch
Nothing

Supper
Salad (mixed greens, broccoli, cauliflower, oil & vinegar dressing, 1 boiled egg)


Sunday

Breakfast
Nothing

Lunch
Grilled Chicken & Shrimp with stir-fry vegetables (zucchini, onions, mushrooms)

Snack
Hot Tea (decaf ginger tea)

Supper
Grilled Chicken Salad (lettuce, tomato, guacamole, cheese, salsa)

No weight change...

I do have a cold so I don't even want to eat! I can't taste anything. I didn't go to work today because I just don't feel good. I have laid in the bed all morning so I still haven't eaten breakfast. Today probably won't be much better than the weekend. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and I'll feel like eating.