How are you doing?

So the last couple of years I've given a lot more thought to when someone asks "how are you doing?" My sister had said to me that when I tell people I'm "fine" I take away their opportunity to minister to me.

Well, I wasn't sure how much I agreed with that....but OK...I can see her point. And she is older than me so I'm supposed to listen to her wisdom right?!?!?

Then yesterday I was at the store standing in line. A regular customer of the store come over to the cashier to say hello and then asked her "how are you doing?" The cashier said "I'm fine" and the continued to talk for a few moments. The women then asked again "how are you doing?" and the cashier said "I'm fine". Then a third time the customer said "how are you doing?".

The cashier then finally admitted that she was having some trouble with her son and they continued to talk about it. (the cashier was ringing people up at the same time....so I didn't feel like she wasn't doing her job....you know that would have driven me crazy! But I was intrigued by the interchanged between them)

The customer proceeded to give her sympathies and even some thoughts on what she could do about the situation and some people she could talk to.

But it got me to thinking about my sisters comment about taking away other people's opportunity to minister. What if that customer hadn't kept asking the question? What if she had just walked by and not asked the question at all. The cashier now knows that someone out their truly cares about her and she even has some resources that she didn't have before.

So here's to my sister! You just might be right about this one! :o)

Church today

Ok, so I must admit it. I don't like one of the pastors at church as much as I like Pastor Charlie. Now, Pastor Brian always teaches me something and I have to force myself to listen to him. I'm not exactly sure why. I really like what he has to say but somehow I have a hard time following his outline.

All of that to say that today I was sitting in church between my niece and my 10 year old nephew. My niece is in high school now so she behaves :o)

My nephew has a hard time sitting still and I was starting to feel bad for the people that were sitting behind us. He was drawing on some paper that his mom had given him and he was trying to behave. I could tell that it was just hard.

He got to ride with me on the way over to his house since I had been invited for lunch (yeah!). While we were in the car I asked him what the sermon was about. And he was right on.

He said that Pastor Brian talked about how some people do not model Christ in our lives and how we need to surround ourselves with people that do. Right on Andrew!!! It was sinking in even when I thought that it didn't.

So I've been thinking, ever since the sermon about how I need to do that for myself. I moved to Greenville about three years ago now. And I don't have very many people that I would consider good good friends. There are my sisters of course. I love them deeply but they have their lives, and I don't want to burden them with what is going on in my life too much. You can only hear the same sob stories so many times. I'm afraid I bore them.

Now I know all of you are saying that I have wonderful sisters and they would never feel that way or say that to me. And you are right....but I can't help but feel like that is want I do to them. So I want to spread it around a little! LOL

There are some girls that are going to start and bible study in January and I'm really excited that they have asked me to be a part of it. I feel like this is a beginning to get some women in my life that will model Christ to me. And hopefully me to them.

I am around a lot of women at work that are jealous and spiteful to each other. And I think that this will be a great way for me to renew my spirit and renew my love for other people.

So thank you Pastor Brian for once again teaching me something at church today and for being a great model of Christ in my life!

So, does this mean I'll never be able to sky dive? Does this mean I'll never be able to work out again?

Does it mean I'm getting old?

It is really weird and I can't seem to get it out of my mind that I'm old that I'll never be able to do some of the things that younger women can do.

In many ways that's good. In many ways it's not. But then maybe I'm just tired.

Really just blown away

I've never been a fan of Vera Bradley. I'm just not a patterned purse kinda girl. I like the solids. The kind that you can wear with any outfit. I don't change purses every day. I don't change it to go from brown to black....well mostly because I really only do black.

Anyway....my sisters love Vera. One of my sisters has quite a few pieces. My nieces love Vera....they have even more. But I just don't get it.

Well, I've had the opportunity to make some money on Ebay by selling some pre-owned and defective Vera. And some of it gets bid on within 10 minutes of me adding it to my listings.

These people LOVE their Vera. It's selling like Hot-Cakes. Good thing I have plenty to sell...and the extra moolah is really nice! But I'm still just really blown away that they love this stuff so much. I'm glad though.....and so are all the bill collectors!!! LOL

I decided to quit

One day I decided to quit...

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.

I wanted to quit my life...

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.

I gave them light.

I gave them water.

The fern grew quickly from the earth.

Its brilliant green covered the floor.

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.

I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed.

I wold not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me, "Did yo know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling,

you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo.

I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others, " He said.

"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern.

Yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come," God said to me.

"You will rise high."

I asked, "How high should I rise?"

"How high will the bamboo rise?"

He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me the glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see the God will never give up on you.
NEVER, NEVER , NEVER GIVE UP!

Veterans Day

I guess growing up in the Mid-West has really made me a patriot. I remember when I was a kid getting a record (yes....I'm that old!!) of all patriotic music. I remember the album artwork. It was a blue sky with Old Glory flying proudly! I wonder what happened to that album?!?!? Hmmm....some day I'll have to ask Mom :o)

But with the state of our country and the way that things are this country is meaning even more to me. I find myself being very emotional when I see military men! (well...it may have to do with how great they look in their uniform too!) I try to always thank them for their service. I try to always treat them with great respect. They put their life on the line for us and I am very appreciative of the person that would be willing to do such a thing for me.

I'm glad that we are a country where we love our country and we are proud of what and who we are!

Thank you thank you thank you to all that have served!!!! And to all those that have given their loved ones to assure my freedom! I love this country!!!!

Do you Big Puffy Heart anything?

So, I've added some blogs to the blogs that I read every-once-in-awhile. The reading part probably happens about as much as I write one....so now you know how often I get to reading them.

Anyway....so I was reading one of my blogs and the lady kept talking about how she "big puffy heart"s everything. I'm thinking that there is an "unfollow" in my future! :o)

Here is the new visual for the store. It's always fun to see what corporate comes up with.

Charming Charlie's was exactly that!

Love her!

Where was I?

Pretty fall leaves

Yummmmmmmm!

well, well, well...

It's another day here in the land of "Over 40 and wondering what it's all about"

Is this what a mid-life crisis is?

Oooooo......New Dyson commercial on the tv.....sorry, easily distracted. (Hand held though...it looks really cool!)

Ok, back to it. One of my issues is that I really never thought I'd make it past the age of 25. I thought that I would either have died from some kid of freak accident or Christ would have come back. Therefore I made no plan.

I didn't plan my life, past that age. So now, I have been living without a plan. Each time I try to make one, it all goes awry. So now, how do I get back on track? How do I get a plan in place now that the train is moving quickly down the tracks? And all the tracks have been laid, how do you change directions?!?!?!? Oh boy.... lots of questions that I just don't have the answers for.

Well, I guess that it is back to the drawing board and I'm trying to figure out how to create a new line of track for me to go down. Any suggestions? Anyone want to throw out some ideas for me?!? LOL

I must put some stipulations though...no circus jobs. The clowns kind of creep me out.

No rocket scientists or anything....don't quite have the attention span for that! LOL

Thanks for listening!

And dessert to go with.....couple of nights ago....wish I had one now! :0)
favorite aunt liana

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My new 10 inch fry pan!
favorite aunt liana

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I just don't get it

I've never worked full time in an environment like where I am now. People don't know how to resolve issues, are jealous of each other and just in general are unhappy people.

I don't understand. I just don't understand.

And when confronted they act like nothing is wrong and you are too sensitive from bringing it up. I so don't get it. Most people will talk with you and will resolve things but this group of people don't know how to do it.

Is it because they aren't Christians? Is it because they are old? Is it because they are women? Is it because they don't like me? Or what is it? I so just don't understand.

Jack of all....master of none

I've had many varied experiences in life. And it has qualified me to do exactly nothing.

I am experienced in quite a few things and can get along in so many areas....but I'm just not quite good enough to be a master at the things that I need to be.

And it all comes down to lack of a plan. At least that is what I attribute it to. I could be completely wrong. But I haven't had a plan for my life. So I've moved to different experiences as they have come my way.

Now don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed the many experiences that I've had. And I definitely wouldn't give them up for anything. But.....I do wish that I could have had a plan.

I guess it's not too late to start a plan. Many people start their life over at this age. Everyone keeps telling me that I'm young and have a whole life ahead of me. So maybe I'll draw up a plan.

fall

Since having moved to the south I really miss the fall colors. There's just something about the crisp air and the lovely leafs that turn to beautiful different hues. It's funny to me that people in the south think that 80 degrees has a nip to it and they say that it has such a nice chill to it.

Oh boy. So not what I remember about fall.

Fall to me means, school starting and the Illinois State Fair. I remember going to the fair and for the first time after summer having to wear a jacket during the night. I remember the colors of the rides and how I had to wait sooooooo long before I was big enough to ride the "cool" rides. My two older sisters got go with friends while I had to wait and go with Mom and Dad.

I remember Dad working with his side of the family on those engines. The ones that just did the bang bang bang. I never did really understand the point of them but Dad's family really liked them and Grandpa had quite a few of them that he showed at the fair.

I remember Mom figuring out things for us to make and enter in the fair. We would crochet, or sew or bake and try to make it good enough to enter in the fair. I didn't ever win anything. Although I seem to remember my oldest sister won some ribbons. And I think my other sister did to for some drawings, but I'm not sure about that.

Mom used to sing at a tent that the church set up. We would go with her to hear her sing. That was pretty cool. I don't remember going to any of the professional concerts that they would have. But usually the lines to the rides were shorter while the concerts were on so that was the best time to ride the rides.

Then there was the saltwater taffy. We would wait all year to get a couple of boxes of that. The cart was always over by the train office. You could ride the train all the way around the outside of the fair grounds. We usually rode that one time each year. But the taffy....oh that was fun. I don't think I've had any of that since at least the 80's....hmmmm....may need to tap into some IL contacts to get me some next year.

Then there was livestock. I really enjoyed going through that barns and seeing the horses, the cows and the pigs. For some reason I could live on a farm and enjoy it. Especially the horses....although I think they like to wake up early. :o)

Anyway, I enjoy fall. I love the crisp air, the smells, the sights and the sounds. I would love to experience the fall of my childhood one more time. Maybe I'll have to take a road trip this year and find a place that has the atmosphere of IL.

Blast from the past

ok....so I'm here to make a confession! And here is the story of how the last couple of events have unfolded.

Back in the day, I lived in Chicago. I met a young man that I completely and utterly fell for, I was madly in love! I don't think he ever realized the extent to which my emotions ran so in case he ever were to read this I'll keep his name out of it to protect his innocence! I remember the moment at which I knew my heart was gone. We had met at a party for another person, but he and I spent the night talking and getting to know each other. The next day I hung out with him and a couple of his friends. We were in his car and I was in the back seat, he was talking to me and looking at me in the rear view mirror. I remember looking at him in the mirror and just knowing that I had lost my heart. Boy, even to this day that brings back some strong feelings. But alas, we were not meant to be.

We kept in contact for a while. Even after I left Chicago we emailed every once in a while but I lost contact with him after I married and moved to TN. I have often wondered where he ended up and what he was doing. Which brings us to modern days.

A young man from Italy walked into the store. He is gorgeous! I mean he could have been a model a movie star or anything else where women would stare at him all day. He was very nice looking. It reminded me of the fellow that I had fallen for so completely in Chicago. So I went the Google and looked for him. (now- here is part of the confession part) I have done this before with no results. I haven't found him, nor a friend of his that I wanted to reconnect with either. But this time....payola.

Of course it was through the wonderful Facebook that I found him. He is married now with children...sigh.....I'm glad he's happy....sigh....but, now I have to tell you the funny part!

I asked to be his friend and I sent a cute little note. From the looks of his Facebook page he doesn't go on it much. So I was thinking it would be a week or two or even months before I heard from him....if at all. So I was not prepared for what happened next.

I was reading The Count of Monte Cristo on my phone....I love that book! This is about the sixth time I've read and I still remember new things every time. Anyway, I heard the notification that I had an email. So I switched over to see what it was and it was a return note from HIM!!!!!!! (confession time!) I ducked and tossed the phone aside!!!!!!!!!! I was expecting any response to be days or weeks away! Not hours!

When I think back to my reaction I had to laugh!!! Here it is over 10 years since I've seen him or talked to him and still I react like a little school girl. It's amazing what our minds and hearts hang on to. And amazing how they affect us years and years later.

I'm glad that I've reconnected with him. He looks happy in his pictures and he's got a nice family and he's done well for himself. So thanks Facebook for all you do....thanks!

lianagrace

It's all over now

Done deal. It's all over. I am a divorcee. Of course I have mixed feelings about this. There are many things that I truly miss about my ex and things that I will forever love him for. But I know that he never truly loved me and is incapable of that. Therefore I move on.





Now, there is much fear and trepidation in that moving on! whew....you should see what the dating world looks like out there!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeeeeekkkkk...... Seeing that it's been over 12 years since I've had to worry about a date I must say that it is scary out there.

I've heard that the place to meet people now is online. Well of course that just opens all kinds of questions for me as far as the safety and all that....but also how do you really get to know someone when they can hide behind a computer?





Anyway, I did decide to join a website for the fun of it and to get my toes wet. And I thought that I would be one of the emotional messed up ones! Ha! I might actually be more stable than most.....HOW IN THE WORLD DID THAT HAPPEN!?!?!?!?
I'm telling you....don't be in a hurry to get out there to the dating world young ladies. It's not pretty. And if you got yourself a man....hang on! There isn't anything out there.

Ok, well it's not really that bad. I'm sure there are some really great guys that got the same bum deal I did and one of them is just waiting for me. So I'll keep watering that little sprout of hope and keep nurturing it so that it will grow. And one day it will be ready.

Until then you'll get to read all about the lovely adventures called dating. I know you can't wait!

lianagrace

Hilton Head

It's been a really long time since I've had a true vacation. I've had a few day trips here and there, and trips across the country for business...but nothing since I went to Mexico.

So I was quite pleased when my wonderful sister asked me to accompany her family to Hilton Head for a week. I gladly went and enjoyed EVERY minute of it....well ok....there were a few moments when I had to sleep and didn't get to enjoy the sunshine that weren't as great as the rest of the time.

But I have to say that it was a very nice thing for my sister to ask me to come with her and I am very thankful for some long awaited R&R.

I have a fabulous tan and I am not looking forward to that fading! :o) But the memories will last forever!

My five-year old niece was a joy to be around and I had a great time with her as my roommate! She cracks me up...my sister has done a great job raising her and giving her the confidence that every young person needs to succeed in this life.

Who am I?

Who am I, Jesus
That You call me by name

I am counting the stars
On Your Blackened sky
You call them all by name,
You know them all by sight
In this sea of lights
I sense Your majesty
And I break at the though that One so great
Could care for me

Who am I, Jesus
That You could call me by name
What could I ever do
To be loved this way
Who am I, Jesus
in Your eyes, tell me who am I

I am counting the mountains
That I've laid at Your feet
And I'm reduced to tears when I think of how
You've moved them for me
In this storm of life
You've been my safe retreat
Through the wind and the fire You always were there
To carry me

No greater honor could I ever find
Than the privilege to love You for the rest of my life

By Margaret Becker


I am accepted....
Ephesian 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

I am complete in Christ.....
Colossians 2:9-10
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

I am God's workmanship....
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I am created in Christ for good works.....
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I am chosen and ordained by Christ to bear fruit.....
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved....
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.


I am a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance in every place....
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

The tangled web we weave

Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh LORD my Rock and my Redeemer.


It's been driven home to me lately how important are the words we speak. And even the words that we don't speak. If we are to live in integrity and honor even the words that we don't speak can cause harm.

Recently I have acted in a way that was not honorable to the people in my life. I knew that if they found out what some of my actions were that they would be hurt and fell betrayed by me. And yet I continued in my actions. Of course I had my justifications for what I've done and how I convinced myself that I was blameless in all of it....in fact even as I write this I find myself going back over everything and finding myself blameless.

But if I am truly honest with myself I should have never done it. I should have put the others before myself and I should have given them the respect and honor due them.

So now, I'm in a tangled web of words and actions the I need to find a way out of. Lord, help me learn through this situation that I am to be more conscience of the words that are spoken and the words that are spoken through my actions. Help me to hold the people in my life as more important than I am and help me to use my words to show them that that is true.

Flying!
favorite aunt liana

Andrew's fish he wanted
favorite aunt liana

favorite aunt liana

favorite aunt liana

Class Reunions

Well this weekend is my 25 year High School Class Reunion. I didn't go. I'm at a place right now in my life where I don't get many luxuries. I get a few here and there that I indulge in, but they are small and not big, like travel.

In some ways I wish I could have gone. In some ways I'm glad that I didn't. I don't like where I am in life and I don't want to have to admit that to people. But it would have been nice to see everyone from high school. Of course with Facebook I get to see the pictures that they post.

Maybe I'll get to go to the 30th reunion.....just don't hold your breath! LOL

favorite aunt liana
[CB]8642382204

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crafty and clever

I wish I was more clever :o)

I see and hear so many things that people say and do that show their creativity and cleverness. I wish I could find mine!!! LOL

I know it's in there somewhere and I'm searching to find it and bring it out....any hints on where to find it?

My new phone

Oh am I excited! I love love love my new phone! :o)

I don't really have the need for a smartphone. Maybe in a couple of months I will when some deals I have in the works kick in. But for right now....it's a luxury. But I love it!

So I might start doing the 365 days of pictures. So beware! LOL

Mental Well-Being

There's something that I've noticed about myself through the years. The more emotionally messed up I am...the messier my house and home. Hmmmm......I'm sure some people would have a hey day with that!!!! :o) But it's true...


Right now, my apartment is a mess! And I should be saying mess with a capital M-E-S-S! So it's a really good thing that my sister is coming to town. (More on that later!)

I first noticed this problem back in college. When I was cramming for exams my room would get messy....now, not dirty...messy! I do differentiate between the two!!! LOL

Then I noticed it again when I was living by myself. I think when I had roommates in apartments I was more conscience of the roommates and wouldn't be messy in the common rooms. But unfortunately when your roommate is you mom.....well.....it's easier to let things go a little....well....maybe a lot.

So...here's my apology to Mom for letting my messiness come out into the common areas of the apartment!

Is it all in the details?

So many times things just pop into my head and I'm not sure where they come from. (Now I know that the picture really has nothing to do with details per se....but when I found Christian on the front of the mag I couldn't resist!)




Ok, so things pop into my head from years ago....things that I would have thought long forgotten. Is this what it's going to be like when I'm 90 and I can't remember 5 minutes ago? Maybe that'll be a good thing...at least I've lived a somewhat colorful life.




Here are a couple of things that I want to remember when I'm 90 then:

My trip to England, Switzerland, Holland, Germany and France

Chicago

New York City

Grand Canyon

Los Vegas

Moody...ok well certain things about it! :o)

My nieces and nephews




I'll come up with some more, but this was short notice!! LOL

I want to know.....who's going to buy them for me?!?!?!

Keeping your eye on the goal

I have come to realize that I am bad about keeping my eye on the goal. I am very easily distracted. oh look....pretty shiney thing!

So maybe it's really a focus thing. I have to keep focus on what I need to focus on.

No....I think it's a goal thing.

Anyway! I have a few goals that I would like to accomplish. Some are for physical health, some for spiritual health, some for mental health (can't we all use better mental heath!) and some are for financial health. And they are all really good goals that I should be excited about and be jazzed about hitting. But for some strange reason I find that after I have set the goal, I wake up three weeks later and think "oh yeah, I was supposed to be working on that!"

So I guess I need to become orgainzed. I need to write down my goals. I had a list once of 101 things to do in 1001 days....or was that 1001 thing to do in 101 days?!?!? Anyway, I've lost track of that list. I've been distracted from getting those things done. And I really wanted to do them too.

Well, I guess my goal for now is to break down my bigger goals into smaller ones so that I'll have more reasonable goals to hit.

I'll keep you updated on how that goes.....oh look...something shiney!

Families

I'll say it. Families are messed up.

A while back, my sisters and I did some searching for my dad on the Internet.

My parents were divorced my senior year in high school. The day of my graduation was the last day that I saw my father. Well, no not really I guess. I saw him when he came to visit my little sister once. But that was only from behind and we didn't speak.

Anyway, we found him. He has some things on the Internet posted about him and his new family. He did mention about his four daughters though. He statement was "....but who cares".

I'm not sure why, but that really hurt. Somehow it cut me deeply and it probably shouldn't have....if my family wasn't so messed up!

But I guess we all have our baggage no matter what our family is like and no matter who we are. And the messed up situations make us who we are. I used to say that I wouldn't trade my life and the things that I've been through for anything. That it makes me who I am. I like who I am....well...most days. :o)

I do think that God uses what we've been through and circumstances in our lives to make us more like him. I can only say that it's about our reaction to the circumstances and it's about how we glorify Him in our reactions. Sometimes I feel like that is glib, but it is true.

So how does one find someone to have a "normal" family with? How does one go about weeding through all that baggage out there and find a matching set? It seems that so many people are carrying baggage that doesn't match my set and of course I want my baggage to co-ordinate!

lianagrace

cats in my life

I really miss the cats that I've had....especially Charlie and Looie. They were a big part of my life for such a long time. They were a little nuts but they were mine....

I would really like to have another kitty. But it's too hard in an apartment. I recognize that, and I wouldn't do that to a cat, but maybe soon I'll get to live in a house where I can have one.

I heard about a cat called a Savannah. It's about the size of a dog. It seems like it would be a cool cat to have .

Then I'd want another tabby. This time maybe an orange tabby.

Rain

I usually really like the rain. It seems to cool things down or warm things up. It can also clean things up or water it down.

Really like the rain.

Today it was sunny all day. Then when it was time to go home it started raining...really it was more of a down pour.

I tried to wait out the rain but somehow it kept coming and kept coming. I finally decided to go ahead and make a run for it to the car.

It was rather funny to me that there was a bunch of people waiting at the door for the rain to stop. But I took the plunge. I'm sure they enjoyed watching me make my way to the car! LOL

But again, I'm glad for rain and how it cleans up the grounds. I don't have to wash my car now.

Divorce

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Of course it just might have to do with the fact that I filed for divorce just two weeks ago.

I remember so many things about divorce growing up. I remember the preacher teaching that divorce was wrong and that we should never, under any circumstances get divorced because that would make God angry.

I remember couples that got divorced and it was a gossip that they had "been divorced".

I remember finding out that my grandfather had been divorced before he married my grandmother! I felt like that was a deep dark hidden secret in our family. Imagine!

I remember having roommates after college. When we would move on to other roommates it felt like you were getting divorced. You had to decide who got what. I did end up with a really nice marble pastry board because a roommate didn't want to move with it across the country. And I got the ironing board because someone else didn't want it anymore. I did lose a few things that had wanted to keep. And it really was the ending of a very important relationship.

Then, my senior year in high school my own parents were divorced. That was a good thing though. I do know that my parent's divorce was biblical and it was better for everyone involved that happened.

But it got me thinking about divorce at that age, and I did a paper in college about what the Bible says about it. I studied (maybe for the first time!) and wrote what I felt was a very good paper. I went to a Christian college therefore everything was from a Biblical perspective.

My teacher was quite impressed as well. When we was handing out the papers he asked if I had read has thesis on divorce (I thought I was in trouble!). But I hadn't run across it in my research and therefore didn't read it. So I told him that I hadn't and he said that pretty much we had both come to the same conclusions on what the Bible says about divorce.

Ok....all of that to say, that the Bible does allow divorce in certain circumstances. And I feel that I have Biblical grounds to file for divorce. But I can't help but have regrets. I don't have any regrets over the roommates that I have moved on from over the years. But I have regrets over the husband that I am divorcing.

I know my own faults and know that I could have handled certain circumstances differently and can't help but wonder if things would have turned out differently if I had. I miss him and the part of him that I fell in love with, and that brings certain doubts and fears.

I also have a part of me that knows I'm doing the right thing and that God is in these details. Therefore I'm confident in my actions. But I can't help but be sad. I can't help but wonder...

I got the b est love gift! Someone that knew I lost my watch gave me another one to replace it!!!! How fabulous?!?!?!?!

It is amazing that God takes care of us in small was that we don't expect.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Losing things

When I was a kid my Grandma invited me to go to the horse races with her at the Fairgrounds. She was working a concession stand and therefore was busy. I was allowed to roam around and visit the vendors, go see the horses and enjoy myself.

Now, Dad had given me a $20 which in those days was a lot of money...and for me it was especially a lot of money! We didn't usually see that kind of money. Dad didn't give me any stipulations on how to spend the money, nor that he wanted it back if I didn't need to spend it.

I found the best silver ring! To this day I love silver rings and buy them all the time :o) But I spent that whole $20!!!!! When I got home Dad asked me where his money was and I told him that I bought the ring. He was mad, I could tell. But he didn't punish me or anything. I think he must have realized that he didn't give rules on the $20 when he gave it to me.

A couple of days later I was out playing by our swing set and lost the ring in the grass. I spent hours trying to find that ring. I never did.

Since that day I have been very careful to not lose anything. In fact, I have been mystified by lost and found and what you see there. I am also befuddled by the items that you see lying on the road that people have "lost". But today I just lost a watch that cost me $75. I am sick...sick, sick, sick!

First of all I didn't really have the money to spend on it...I should have saved the money to be used for something else, like bills!!! So the splurge was indeed a splurge!

Second, I don't lose things! I didn't hear it falling off my wrist, I didn't feel it falling or anything. So now I'm out the $75 and that bothers me too! Grrrrrr.....

Third, I'd only had it for about two weeks. I'm sick, sick, sick.

So I only got to enjoy the silver ring for a short time...now the watch has gone to join it in the cosmic black hole of lost things.

lianagrace

Have I mentioned that my feet hurt?

It's true. My feet hurt. I've embarked on a new journey in life. A new chapter if you will. I'm not sure I like it. I do in many ways. I'm good at it. I'm familiar with it. But, at my age I thought I'd be somewhere different.

I want to be somewhere different. I want to be doing something different. But, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. So therefore, my feet hurt.

I've tried many different shoes. I used to be able to wear big heels (not *high* heels....big heels) and be comfortable all day long on my feet. But now, I must wear comfy not pretty shoes.

So I'm on the look out for great comfy shoes.....but I don't want to give up cute either!!!! Am I hard to please or what!!! LOL

If you know of any great shoes that you can wear for long periods of time that won't kill your feet pass that information on to me! I need it!

Thanks again and I'll pass any information on to you that will help in your feet issues

lianagrace

Fav Aunt Liana