Thinking....

There is a problem when I start thinking. I have so many things that I would love to learn and do. I am doing exactly what I wanted to do all my life right now - taking care of my family and being a MOM. That is all I have ever wanted to do. I also get the privilege to watch my nephews and niece- just knowing that they know who I am is a wonderful thing. I have seen all of them grow in different ways and I have gotten to watch Ellyn grow from the start, something that I was not able to do when Virginia and Rebekah were born.

I have some friends that have moved to Texas just in the last week, David and Cynthia. While saying our goodbyes or see ya soons (they will be back in May for ND Graduation), Cynthia said some thing that got me to thinking. She told me that she really appreciated the hospitality that I have offered to my friends and always having people over to our home. If you do not know me well, I love to have parties and people in my home, I love to be surrounded by people that want to be around me and just enjoy company. I think that is the reason I love selling Tastefully Simple - I can get a group of people together just to spend time with one another, I am not in this business to make money really - although it is nice when that happens. I have had a wonderful holiday season this year with my sales and it seems to be picking up a little for the New Year...I already have 5 parties coming up for the first quarter! I am very excited! I hope it continues but what if it doesn't?

I have two degrees that I can put to work, or at least one. The one that doesn't do me too much good is the psychology degree, but I am glad that I have it. The other is an Accounting Management degree, which I have used and I am hoping to use again in the future to take some of the pressure off my Mom as the accounting officer of the family business. I hope that this is not a surprise to her or any one else. I do not want to take over the business but I do want to have a part in it. Both my sister and her husband know the ins and outs of the production and processes that go on in the back, so that is one thing that I know I don't need to have a total grasp on., although I know that I could do it if I needed too! I am a fast learner!

I have started thinking about the future that lies ahead. Nicklus will be starting pre-school next fall and Ellyn will be following the next year I am sure. I have thought about when they all get to kindergarten I will start substitute teaching, that way I know that I am home when the kids get home. While I was sitting and thinking about this I realized that Virginia will be in Middle School by the time Ellyn starts school...oh my!

In the past I have always tried to come up with a plan of action for what is to come. What I have learned is that GOD always has a different plan. So, I am going to have to wait and see where GOD decides to put me. There are so many talents that I can build off of, so I am going to just wait and see where He puts me and stop trying to think of where He wants to put me and sit back, listen and wait.

FIRE!!!!

Okay, so we have been gone most of the evening for Birthday parties. We pull up to the corner of Jefferson and Ironwood and we cannot get through. Panic starts. We go around the back way and see smoke and fire....not our house! Thank God. But it is a house that is 8 houses to the North of ours, one that I wanted to look at when we were looking for houses.
Tate and I walked down to make sure that everyone was alright...the couple that lived in the house was alright...thank God. But, I was checking WSBT.com to see if they had anything on about the fire and found out that a firefighter was injured. I have met quite a few firefighters in the last few years and I am hoping that he will be okay. And I hope that it was not one of my friends or family (we have a couple family that serve too).
I am asking that you all pray for these families. This is going to be rough for this family, as I think that the house will be a total loss.

Today is my birthday. I am now 34 years old.
I have spent my day with Ellyn and Nicklus. Soon Virginia and Rebekah will be home from school and we will spend our time doing what homework needs to be done. I will then be cooking dinner for 4 girls, one happens to be the babysitter, Haley. I hope that spaghetti is good for them tonight, cause that is what they are going to get!
Tate and I are going to have dinner with Kat and Wally at Logan's...because we have a gift card and I am being cheap. Normally we would be going to Red Lobster, but we ate there last month. I like Logan's, so it is no big deal.
I have been blessed over the last year with friends that are just wonderful. I have been blessed with the opportunities to help out friends, and been blessed by their help too. I have reunited with friends that I hadn't seen in a long while and I have made new friends.
God has truly blessed me this past year, and I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for the next year.