This past weekend a group of ladies gathered at a beautiful home on Smith Lake for our first Sojourn ladies retreat. We had a wonderful time. We discussed where we were in the stage of the wilderness, forgiveness and contentment. We had a small group session that was really a blessing. We had a time of song, teaching, skits, games and plenty of food.I was most touched by the realness and the honesty of the women to open up and share part of their hearts with each other.

I went down to my parents lake house this week to help clean up from the recent tornado that did a great deal of damage to their property. House was damaged buildings were smashed and trees uprooted. Amongst all the chaos, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. After working for a couple of hours, I sat outside alone and just watched the wonderful beautiful creation of God. As I sat there and watched the birds fly over and play, I was reminded of the peace that only God can give in the middle of chaos. It reminded me that in the chaos of my life, I need to seek for the peace only He can give.

As I watched football yesterday, I was amazed at how much the people playing gave glory to God while they are doing it. It is so common that most of the time, I don’t really pay much attention to it, but as Eric and I sat and watched the game yesterday, there was this one shot where someone got hurt during a play and the camerea was on the injured player. Directly behind him, there was another player bent down on one knee praying. Many guys also would point up when they made a good play and say a prayer when they needed God the most. I just hope that when something good happens to me that I will point up and when I need God that I can pray wherever I am.

I read a poem today that really made we think about the day God created the earth. Can you imagine actually being there when everything began to work together and He created this great place we live and everything beyond. It is hard for me to even focus on such a thought. It is really totally beyond my comprehension. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Those few words say a lot. As I wake up, I take for granted that I can breathe. He even thought of that. How did he think of everything in only six days?

If someone would have written a newspaper about my life, that would have been today’s title. I had worked on our budget today for the upcoming year and with wisdom from God began to make some since out of it. Turned out to be a pretty productive day. I head to pick up my youngest from school and as we were waiting to pull out into trafic from school. My car decides it is going to sound like a full working metal shop. It begans to shriek in cries of anquish. It sounded like someone muffler was dragging down the hiwaay. I looked around like it was someonelse. I was in dismay to find out it was me my little red honda making that sick twisted noise. Come to find out it was me. I called Eric in a panic of course to tell him something was seriously wrong. Then Heidi and I headed over to the mechanic to get the car looked at.

I read For One More Day written by Mitch Albom. It wasn’t as good as another one of his books Tuesday’s With Morrie, but it was a quick easy read and there were things to glean from it. Some thoughts that crossed my mind as I read this book were about family, friends and relationships. I want to be able to live in the moment more. Enjoy the people that I am with when I am with them. Many times, I find myself so distracted by other things, and I forget that other people are around me. I just need to slow down sometimes and realize that the moments that are passing will never come again and the people I am with will not be there forever.

This year we made a family decision to put our kids in public school. We had homeschooled up until this point. Today, Christmas break ended. It was back for another semester. I really miss them being at home. Most might enjoy the time to get things done or just some peace and quite. I have not yet got to that point. I really like my children. I love being with them. I know that eventually they will leave the nest, and they will establish their own lives. Until that day, I will enjoy every moment I can with them.