I was talking with my one of my sisters tonight. She lives in Pennsylvania and I live in New York. Our other sister lives in North Carolina. We each love the place where we've made our home. We don't love that we're so far away from each other, but life is like that.
While we were chatting, I was reflecting on the busyness of my life this year. My sisters and I have plans to attend a conference in Pennsylvania. In addition to that, Paul and I have been invited to four weddings! One was this month.We have two more weddings in August, which is also our wedding anniversary month, and the month our newest grandbaby is due. The fourth wedding is in October, which is also the month of the conference.
There are so many things I would like to do in addition to all these, but there aren't enough days off or enough money to spread around so many wonderful occasions. Choosing which to say no to is going to be very difficult.
I think for starters I can say no to the bridal shower invitations. That cuts down on some expenses. The next problem is the two weddings in August are one week apart, and the due date of our grandbaby is two weeks before them. I hope to manage to arrive in time to attend the delivery of said baby. My daughter and her husband asked me to be there for labor and delivery, and I wouldn't miss that for anything! (barring flight difficulties, I WILL be there in time!)
I realize that all this activity, along with some other important events that I have sceduled, is in spite of all the negative things that are happening around the country. All the nasty political stuff, the economy being in such bad shape, joblessness, injustices, media bias, wars and rumors of wars; in spite of all these and more, life goes on. People fall in love and get married. Babies are conceived and born. Conferences are held and attended. People stay married for 42 years.(that's us) There is still a great deal of good, love, and happiness in this world. We just need to take a breath, step back a minute, and take a good look. There is beauty to behold in every simple, regular day. There is something to be thankful for every minute. I'm thankful to be alive. That's no understatement. I survived cancer. I also survived some very reckless times when I was much younger. I have three wonderful daughters and their husbands and children to be grateful for. My husband loves me. That's nice to know after so many years together. He still tells me too.
And I realize that all these invitations tell me something about myself. I am loved. I'm not invited because of obligation. I'm invited because I'm wanted. I treasure that knowledge. I never thought of it that way before, that I'm invited places because I'm loved. Maybe that wasn't always true. It is now. And I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful too that I realize it.
Take a look around today and see where you're loved. It may surprise you. In fact, I hope it really does. If you can't see that, look up at the sun or the moon, and know that the One who made them made you too. Just because He loves you. And He always will. If you never did before, I hope you realize that today. Thanks for stopping by. You're always welcome here.
While we were chatting, I was reflecting on the busyness of my life this year. My sisters and I have plans to attend a conference in Pennsylvania. In addition to that, Paul and I have been invited to four weddings! One was this month.We have two more weddings in August, which is also our wedding anniversary month, and the month our newest grandbaby is due. The fourth wedding is in October, which is also the month of the conference.
There are so many things I would like to do in addition to all these, but there aren't enough days off or enough money to spread around so many wonderful occasions. Choosing which to say no to is going to be very difficult.
I think for starters I can say no to the bridal shower invitations. That cuts down on some expenses. The next problem is the two weddings in August are one week apart, and the due date of our grandbaby is two weeks before them. I hope to manage to arrive in time to attend the delivery of said baby. My daughter and her husband asked me to be there for labor and delivery, and I wouldn't miss that for anything! (barring flight difficulties, I WILL be there in time!)
I realize that all this activity, along with some other important events that I have sceduled, is in spite of all the negative things that are happening around the country. All the nasty political stuff, the economy being in such bad shape, joblessness, injustices, media bias, wars and rumors of wars; in spite of all these and more, life goes on. People fall in love and get married. Babies are conceived and born. Conferences are held and attended. People stay married for 42 years.(that's us) There is still a great deal of good, love, and happiness in this world. We just need to take a breath, step back a minute, and take a good look. There is beauty to behold in every simple, regular day. There is something to be thankful for every minute. I'm thankful to be alive. That's no understatement. I survived cancer. I also survived some very reckless times when I was much younger. I have three wonderful daughters and their husbands and children to be grateful for. My husband loves me. That's nice to know after so many years together. He still tells me too.
And I realize that all these invitations tell me something about myself. I am loved. I'm not invited because of obligation. I'm invited because I'm wanted. I treasure that knowledge. I never thought of it that way before, that I'm invited places because I'm loved. Maybe that wasn't always true. It is now. And I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful too that I realize it.
Take a look around today and see where you're loved. It may surprise you. In fact, I hope it really does. If you can't see that, look up at the sun or the moon, and know that the One who made them made you too. Just because He loves you. And He always will. If you never did before, I hope you realize that today. Thanks for stopping by. You're always welcome here.
