Morning!  Hope everyone's Christmas Eve is both relaxing and joyful.  If you must go out, please be careful ... please be kind ... pray for those who are not kind to you ... and always remember who this season is truly about ... our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I am feeling a bit downtrodden this morning.  Not really sure why, but then again it could be multiple things.  After writing this blog, however, I am going to pick myself up ... put on some makeup ... cast my cares ... and press on!  I have to or I would simply drown in the issues of life.  We cannot allow that to happen.  We must take it to Him, lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, walk in faith, and strive ... though quite a struggle and near impossible at times ... to press on.  If not, then the enemy wins.  It is a constant battle.  It amazes me at times how I can go to bed with a smile on my face and wake with such heaviness in my heart. 

I once heard a sermon ... it may have been Joyce Meyer but I am sure others have spoken on the same thing ... where the morning is where you are most vulnerable.  If you do not kick the enemy's butt as soon as your eyelids flutter, then you could be in a sinking mode throughout your entire day.  I believe this.  If he can attack our minds before we have even had a chance to fully awaken, then he has accomplished what he has set out to do.  Do not allow him to defeat you this easily.  Put on your battle fatigue ... hope, faith, endurance, etc. ... and show him who is in charge.  Lay your negative thoughts ... your heartaches ... your illness ... the illness of your loved ones .. your financial woes ... your broken relationships ... whatever it may be ... at the foot of the cross and carry on.  Even if you have to cast your cares every five minutes, then do so.  Be determined to be victorious and not be the victim.  We have been victim far too long in this lifetime.  It is time for us to open wide and receive all He has for us.  He is right there ... with His arms outstretched ... waiting!  Call upon Him today and reclaim what has always been yours ... His peace, His joy, His blessings!  Do not allow another second to go by with the enemy in control.  We have the authority to put him under our feet, and by gosh, it is time we do exactly that very thing!!!!!

All ready for the big day tomorrow?  I am sure this is half of the battle ... if not most ... which people are facing today.  Lack of funds ... broken relationships ... remembrance of the loss we feel because of loved ones gone way too soon ... money spent we could not afford to spend.  This is not what Christmas is about, nor what we should be feeling on this day.  Please, listen to me ... I was this very person at one time.  Not many years ago, I would go out and spend money I did not have to make others happy.  I would charge things on credit cards and then worry after the holidays how I would pay the bills.  I would sulk and cry over situations I had no control over.  Eventually, I would end up on the pity pot for most of the holidays, but pretending I had it all together.  My friends, it is simply not worth it.  The love He has for you is worth so much more than this.  Do what you can do, and then just love your family.  Feel the blessings of what you have in front of you.  If you are alone, then go visit with others.  Teach yourself to rejoice and find joy in the happiness of others.  Remember, His love should be our joy and it should be enough to carry  us through anything.

I realize you may be facing circumstances or situations which are out of your control ... you did not ask to be alone during the holidays ... you did not ask to lose your loved one(s) ... you did not ask to be thrown in the trenches of life for which you find yourself ... you did not anticipate being a single parent ... you did not ask to have to care for ill parents ... you did not ask for all the burdens which have been laid upon your delicate shoulders!  I get it.  I truly do!  However, there is a remedy you can reach for today ... something you can ask for ... someone you can call ... which will relieve your stress, dry your tears, lighten the burdens deep in your heart for which you tote, and bring joy to your withered soul ... His name is Jesus!  Give it over to Him today.  Call out to Him and He will answer.  Seek Him and you will find Him.  He is so anxiously waiting to hear from you today!  Do not tarry or fall under the weights of this world.  Allow Him to carry it for you and restore your joy!  He did it for me and He will do it for you too!

Regardless of your plight in life today, I wish you only the best Christmas possible.  Find the true source of joy, and you have found the best gift ever given!  Merry Christmas!

Morning!  I hope you are ready for another week.  Have you finished all your shopping?  I have except for one gift and some stocking stuffers.  My son and I went into town yesterday and we had a very enjoyable day.  Lots of laughter!  He certainly can keep his momma smiling.

As a child, he loved to watch "I Love Lucy" and that has not changed over the years.  Where most things he enjoyed as a child is no longer the case, his enjoyment of this show has remained in tact.  Lo and behold, we found at Sam's Club the entire set of "I Love Lucy", all 194 episodes.  We came home and started to watch them.  I do not think I have laughed so much in quite some time.  It felt good and was long overdue.   Sometimes I do not think we get opportunities to truly laugh in life.  I do not mean a chuckle here or there, but the deep down belly laugh.  The one that comes straight from your soul.  The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones."  I do not laugh from the soul enough in life, do you?  We need to make it a point to have more joy in our lives.

I realize that there are situations in our life that may rob us of joy, but we have to intentionally find it.  This weekend was very challenging for me for various reasons.  I truly believe had I given into the issues at hand and remained in a sad, downtrodden state of mind, then God would not have brought the laughter into my life this weekend.  I choose, however, to work around my issues at hand ... to remain upbeat ... to find solutions though temporary ... and press on relying on Him for my joy.  I did and He was faithful.  I am finding the more I cast my cares and move ahead in life, the more He shows Himself to me through others ... through situations ... through circumstances.  As I strive to move forward regardless of the situation, I find myself growing only stronger for the bigger challenges which lie ahead.

I am not making light of dire circumstances you may be facing.  I realize sometimes it is very difficult to simply cast your care and move on.  There are times in life ... the loss of a loved one ... illness of a loved one ... situations which bring fear into your life ... when you struggle with casting your care and remaining in the emotional state for which you find yourself.  God understands.  Just because you walk this journey with a heaviness of heart does not mean you are not walking in faith.  Sometimes we have to cast our cares every second of every day just to keep our heads above water and to believe He is in control.  It is alright ... the fact that you are casting your cares ... the fact that you are calling out to Him ... the fact that you are holding onto your faith with everything inside of you ... regardless of how many times a day you have to cry out to Him ... He is hearing you and providing you with the strength you need to persevere.  When this crisis passes in life ... and yes, it will pass ... it may never go away entirely ... you may always carry a piece of this struggle in your heart daily ... you will look back and realize your strength came from above.  All good things flow downward from His grace and mercy.  James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."  How awesome!  Another good one is Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." He is faithful if we strive ... make an effort ... to do our part.

Before I end, I need a favor.  I have a friend who is going through a very difficult time right now.  She received a call last week to come home as her dad had taken ill.  He is in serious condition and needs continued prayer, as does his family.  We communicate daily and it breaks my heart I cannot do much for her to alleviate her worry and fear.  It takes me back to when I was in her very shoes with first my mother and then my dad.  He is even suffering with ICU psychosis as my mother did.  It is where the fluorescent lights and lack of sunshine ... beeping of the machines ... cause a person to hallucinate.  We went through this with my mother every day for almost two weeks.  The things that came out of her mouth during those times was both heartbreaking and confusing.  God did hear our prayers and brought her out, but it was a very difficult time.  As soon as my friend shared this with me, my heart and mind went back to 2004.  I wish I could have just hugged her.

I have written enough for my morning.  I have to get to work early today as I have a 9:00 appointment to start my week off.  I am so excited it is Christmas week.  My daughter is coming on Tuesday with her family to exchange gifts.. AND, today I go get my son's biggest gift for which he knows nothing about.  I love giving ... God has truly worked wonders in my life!

I have no idea why I am up at this ungodly hour ... 3:00 a.m. ... when I did not go to bed until 11:00.  I will pay for this later, especially in light of the fact that I have an event to go to after work.

Had a wonderful time last night with my co-workers celebrating Christmas with dinner and an exchange of gifts.  We were short one person due to a family emergency.  My heart was with her most of the evening, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves.  We spoke of doing it more often.

Life at times seems to throw you curve balls which you simply do not know how to dodge.  I have my faith and I know God is in control, but as a mere mortal, we constantly try to figure out what to do a ... how can we fix it ... how can we resolve the issue ... is our course of action best!  I know that I know God has my back.  I continually cast my cares knowing He is working it all out for my good, but!  Well, you know where that 'but' leads ... straight to worry and frustration.  One second I am telling myself, "Janet, you know God has this.  You know He has a purpose for it all.  You know you just have to take one day at a time, and see where He leads".  On the other hand, my mind is saying, "This is what you need to do!"  It is a forever battle within.  Ultimately I will leave it where it should be ... in His hands ... but I think the 'not knowing how this will turn out' is something we deal with every time we have situations in our lives.  I will continue to pray ... strive so desperately to keep my mouth shut and not react ... knowing all things work for the good for those who love Him, which I most definitely do!

Christmas is getting closer and I am getting excited.  Nothing does the heart better than to watch your loved ones open their presents.  Watching the joy and surprise on their faces is priceless.  This kind of happiness cannot be purchased or boxed.  It is pure adrenaline for me.  Then, on Saturday, I am having my family dinner!  Family ... it truly is what it is all about!

My son is at his daddy's until Sunday.  My life certainly is different when he is not around.  Different good or different bad?  I think a combination of both.  I find myself at times with such a void in my heart, and then at other times I enjoy the added time where I can focus on my desires.  I enjoy watching him grow into the young man God is molding him to be.  He has always been such a blessing to me, as are both my children and grandchildren.  My heart simply is overwhelmed with joy and love at just the thought of them!

Ok, Peeps, I am going to try to go get some more shut eye!  I pray you have a truly blessed day ... walk in faith knowing He has you in the palm of his hands!

Morning!  How about this weather?  Can you believe this?  I so want a white Christmas.  Now before you start hollering about hazardous driving conditions, etc., I only want the ground to be white on Christmas morning.  It can be gone by noon or so.  Is that really asking too much?

I know I have gone on and on about my birthday, but this year has been  unbelievable.  I have NEVER EVER had a birthday last so long.  I went from hardly having a birthday to this.  I am still trying to soak it all in. My birthday was the 10th, but the celebration started on the 9th with my husband and son giving me my laptop.  Then on the 10th my co-workers gave me flowers ... my daughter came and gave me a beautiful cross necklace ... sisters surprised me with a birthday party on Friday and another beautiful necklace and some bath stuff ...  and then my co-workers gave me a luncheon yesterday with a gift card to my favorite store ... Kohl's!  My birthday stretched over 6 days!  Yep, that is right ...  I said 6 days!!!!  I feel so blessed!

How has your week  been thus far?  Are you ready for Christmas?  I have done all I am going to do except for a few stocking stuffers.  What I am really looking forward to is my family dinner on the 26th.  It is not going to be as big as our past Thanksgiving dinners, with only siblings and children in attendance, but it will be so nice to have them all at my house.  It is the greatest gift of all.

Well, I have to run.  I need to get ready for work.  Please keep me in prayer for the next few days.  I am meeting with someone today to discuss an additional strategy to supplement my income.  I am hesitant and I want to make sure this is of God.

Have a great remainder of your week!

When your heart is so full ... when you are feeling so blessed in life ... when you are overwhelmed at the love shown  you by others ... when it is simply more than you have ever felt, how do you express it to others?  This is how I am feeling this morning.  As I sit here typing this, my tears are simply flowing.  Tears of joy ... the most joy I have felt in a very long time!  It is nothing I did ... It is nothing I deserved ... It is nothing I earned ... it was simply given by those who have precious hearts!  I love them all so dearly ... I call them family!

One of my sisters was hosting a Mary Kay party last night, and she had notified me over a week or so ago of this party.  I thought about whether I could go or not, and then I decided it was just not workable for me.  Friday nights are really the only evening I can spend with my brother ... the one who suffers with Parkinson's.  I normally go by his house on Friday evenings, maybe go out to dinner or take him something, take his clean laundry and pick up his dirty laundry, and then just do whatever I can while there.  I did not feel in my heart I could intentionally put this evening aside to go to a Mary Kay party.  I just did not feel on the inside of me it would be the right thing to do, so I sent her an email the first of the week advising her I could not attend.  As the week played out, I never gave it much more thought.  Then, on Thursday night my brother advised me that his daughter and her husband would be working at his apartment all weekend painting, starting on Friday night.  Though I was sad not to have this time with him, I was happy I could now go to my sister's house as I do not get to see her often.  Plus, I knew other family members would also be there.  I sent her a text advising I would be there.

During the work day on Friday, I called my husband to see if he minded me going.  Normally he would go to my brother's with me on Friday nights so I was not sure what he would do.  He said, "No, it really works out good because I will go with you and hang out with the husbands."  I never thought anymore of it.  Then my other sister told me to tell Donnie he could hang out with my brother-in-law while the party was happening.  A good solution. 

After I got home from work, we left immediately because I still had to swing by my brother's house and take his clean clothes to him.  When we got there, he was asleep on the sofa.  He said his daughter's husband got called into work so there would be no painting on this night.  My husband then asked him if he wanted to hang out with them while I did the Mary Kay party.  My brother said yes, and off we went.

We got to my sister's house.  I went in as the Mary Kay party had already started.  My brother and husband were hanging out in the family room as my brother-in-law had decided to come hang out with them at my sister's house.  Again, I never thought much of it, and I really did not pay attention to it.  We went on to have our Mary Kay party.  It was great.  The consultant was the best!  It was my first time at a Mary Kay party where the consultant was male, but it definitely worked to his advantage and ours.  He told me, "With your face and my body, we could go far!"  He knew what to say to make an old lady feel good ... :)! 

As the party was wrapping up, I was sitting at the table placing my order.  All of a sudden I heard people singing, "Happy Birthday".  For a second, I was clueless.  I looked around to see whose birthday it was.  As I looked to my left I could see my sister coming towards me with a cake.  I was totally surprised and twice as shocked.  They really pulled this one off!!!  It was great.  I got a Christmas ornament that says "Big Sister ... We love you, 2015"!  I love it.  I got bath stuff and another beautiful necklace.  How could someone not feel loved with all the attention I have gotten over the course of the past two days?  Between my family ... my job ... my Facebook friends ... my private emails, it could not have gotten any better.  I love you all so much!!!!

Even in the midst of great joy, at times we must still suffer some tests.  It is so here today.  I cannot say more than that but I can ask for prayer for a loved one.  Throughout this morning the enemy has tried to get me to walk in fear, but I refuse.  We serve a great and mighty God who I know WITHOUT a doubt is in control and is working this to our favor.  Walk in faith with me today, saying a prayer of healing and comfort for my loved one and for us all.

Have a great Saturday!  I cannot wait to see what God has ahead for me ... smile:)!  God bless you all!

Morning!  What a beautiful day to celebrate your own birth ... LOL!  Yep, today is my birthday and I started celebrating last night.  My hubby decided to allow me to open the gift which I have had to stare at for the past week.  It was a laptop!  I have wanted one for quite sometime.  Him and my son had wrapped it in towels and sheets to disguise the contents.  Now I just need to learn how to use it.  What ever happened to cutting a laptop on and ... shambam ... everything was right there?  All you had to do was click and press on.  Now it is so difficult when you are as computer illiterate as I am, but I will have fun trying.  My grandson is coming this evening so he will set grandma up!  My son got me started, but he was too engrossed in his video games to pay much attention.

I made a big pot of soup last night for my daughter's visit.  I am very excited she is coming.  We do not get to see one another very often because she does not live nearby.  This is a special day for me all around.   My heart is overwhelmed with joy and blessings this morning.   It is probably one of the best birthdays ever!

Do you know why I think it is one of the best birthdays ever?  It is not because anything much has changed.  It is not because it is being treated much differently than most (except for the laptop, of course).  I think it is different because I am different.  I strive to no longer allow my happiness to be based on what is going on around me ... I strive to no longer allow others to determine my happiness ... I strive to always remember that "the joy of the Lord is my salvation".  It has been a long and difficult journey to achieve this.  It does not come overnight.  It does not come because you simply say it.  It comes from practice and lots of stretching.  You have to continually repeat ... over and over and over ... Bible scripture to support what you want your heart to believe and accept.  Bible verses such as:

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJ):  Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 21:1 (NKJ):  The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Isaiah 29:19 (NKJ):  The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.

Simply put ... you have to make the joy of the Lord be your salvation and you have to desire it!  When you do, though you will still endure difficult days and trials, you can cast your cares and press on in joy.  Monday was a very difficult day for me.  I was toting a very heavy heart and much sadness.  When I arrived at work, however, no one would have suspected a thing.  It is because I cast my care on the way in and left it in His hands.  When the fear tried to stir up on the inside of me, I pushed it away and reminded myself God had my back ... this was God's battle and not mine.  As you know He won the battle and delivered to me victory!  He will for you too!

Have a blessed day!

Morning!  I have been up since 4:30 or so.  Just checking emails ... catching up on emails ... paying bills!  You guys know ... the norm, right?

I am pretty excited as I have started back on my 7.2.   I may have already shared this but I had fallen by the wayside in my 7.2 regimen.  The good news is I did not gain a single pound back of the 18 pounds I had lost.  I was so happy!  Since Monday ... I have not weighed yet this morning ... I have lost 2.1 pounds.  Not bad for 3 days!!!!  And, as I always knew, I am feeling much better.  More energy which we definitely need this time of year.  A friend from work has been doing it with me and she has lost 2.6 pounds since Monday.  7.2 definitely works and the benefits to your health are as no other diet plan out there.  How many diet plans do you know that prevent cancer from residing in your body ... improves eye sight ... improves mentality ... helps alleviate the pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, lupus, MS, and the list goes on?  I know about the alleviation from pain firsthand, and I can testify to the fact that 7.2 is all it claims to be. I have heard testimonies from people all over the world, not one complaint.  I have not seen a negative thing about 7.2 since it was introduced in our lives almost a year ago.  People claim it is too expensive, but it is not when you weigh it against what you may be paying for other things in your life.  If you take 7.2 for pain relief, how much is it saving you in medicine and doctor bills?  If you are taking it for weigh loss, how much is it saving you in groceries?  I can answer these questions quickly and tell you it is saving you big!  The shake alone replaces 14 meals a week.  How much money does it cost you to grocery shop for 14 meals, or go out to eat 14 meals.  If you pay $5.00 per meal, which we know is quite low, you save $280.00 a month. 

The second biggest complaint I have heard is I have to eat with my family in the evening.  Yes, you do and you should.  I do my shakes for breakfast and lunch.  If I get hungry in between which I sometimes do, I have a handful of carrots or celery ... something to stave off the hunger.  I may have a cup of salad.  It works no matter what it is.  Then, I go home and have dinner with my family.

For every reason you give me you cannot do or afford 7.2, I can give you the answer.  Bottom line ... if your health is important to you ... if you want to alleviate pain and suffering in your life ... if you are tired of being overweight or even obese ... you will find a way for 7.2 in your life.  As with all things, it is a choice.  It may even be a sacrifice, but we sacrifice for those things that matter.

My husband and son surprised me this week.  My birthday is not until the 10th.  Keep in mind my husband has never been one for shopping for birthdays, etc.  It is just not something he is good at.  Well, I came home on Monday and there was a pretty big box ... beautifully wrapped ... sitting on our antique desk.  I walked over to it and it had written on it, "To Mom ... Happy Birthday ... Love Donnie and Chris"!  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  I went to reach for it and was told ... instantly and firmly ... do not touch.  If I touch it again before my birthday, they will return it.  Is not that mean?  I have to look at it daily for over a week.  The curiosity is killing me!

I had wrapped some gifts for Christmas and put them under the tree a few days prior to the birthday surprise.  When I said to my son, "Son, 10 days is a long time to have to look at that gift.  You are so mean to mommy."  His response, "Mom, Christmas is 25 days away and I have to look at the gifts under the tree!"  Smart boy!

Work this week has been good but busy.  We have audits coming up which we are trying to prepare for.  Plus, my workload is just so unpredictable.  I can be busy as I can be one minute, and then the following day nothing to do.  It is crazy the way it works.  We drew names for Christmas yesterday and we are planning a dinner together.  I like doing things like this, and I am excited.

I have to run.  Not much to report as nothing much happening.  My struggle I have spoken about in other blogs is improving daily.  It is a slow process, but I am good with it.  Keep praying for me.  And, if you read my latest article entitled, "The Good Deception", then you know I requested prayer for someone else.

Have a great week and many blessings to you all!