Happy New Day

No, that's not a typo in the title. We should recognize that every day is a new beginning, just like what tonight/tomorrow is for us. We should appreciate what the new chance every morning when we wake up means to us.

I'm back from the funeral and will post more on that later. For now, I will be getting ready shortly, loading the kids in the VW and heading to the tire store to handle year-end stuff. 

May the best of last year be the worst of next.

Take care - Me

Lo Needs Prayers

The MarLo house needs your prayers.

Last night, Lo's Daddy passed away unexpectedly. 

Please keep the whole MarLo family in your thoughts and prayers as they try to get through this troubling time.

For those who know us in person, I should know arrangement information shortly if you would like to call me. I'm at home right now, with expectations to go up there either this afternoon or in the morning.

Take care - Me

Merry Christmas

Peace on earth, goodwill to all...

May your day be Blessed from God, may peace be within your heart so that it might shine out to others, may you see the gifts that are not under the tree but within the heart.

Take care - Me

Oh yeah, that Christmas spirit...

So, until today, I've been somewhat in the Christmas mood. I've actually decorated, bought some gifts & had the kids wrapping some of those. Those gifts not from Santa. I've been playing the holiday music and even sing along when nobody is within hearing range so as not to ruin their ears.

Today I finished my part of the Christmas shopping. This year I've actually done my shopping, most of Mother's and Daddy's & some of my sister's. 

Today kinda crept up on me when I least expected it. Like standing in Sam's looking for the carbon-copy receipt books for the store and getting a call from Mother to say that my uncle, in fact, does not have cancer. The spots on his lungs are just that, spots. Probably from the infection he's currently fighting. That's great. Really. I'm very happy to hear that my aunt, uncle & cousins don't have to go through what we're going through.

On the other hand, a part of me is saying it's not fair. Why couldn't we have been able to make that phone call too? Why does cancer skip some and hit others? I certainly wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy, but sometimes life is very unfair. I'm sure that sounds as childish to you as it does to me, but it's a sound statement. I don't like looking at gifts I've bought for my Mother and thinking that I hope she lives long enough to get some enjoyment out of them. I don't like her telling me not to go overboard buying her things. I don't like that she's not strong enough to go out and do her own shopping. She loves to surprise us with her gifts, but this year that just hasn't been possible. I hate seeing her cry over things like telling me to pick out my own pajamas because she doesn't have the strength to walk into the store. 

I listen to a lot of the older classic Christmas music. I remember standing in our kitchen as a child with the Kringla baking and dancing with my Mother. I remember her telling me not to watch my feet. I am missing my mother before she's even gone and there's a part of me that feels guilty about that. But there is a large part of my heart that is crying.

Take care - Me

List No. 359...

Christmas Music on iPod - Check (A couple of weeks ago)

Lights - Check (Last week)

Christmas Tree - Check (Today)

Christmas Gifts - Nope. Not all bought, none wrapped, some I don't even know what I'm getting. And while I did purchase the first gift online on Black Friday, the majority of the shopping has been done in the past 7 days.

This one's for you, Marcus. :)

Take care - Me

And for everything, a reason...

I'm one of those that believes everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we won't know the reason until much later in life, or sometimes, the reason is fairly immediate.

Such was the case a couple of weeks ago.

I had to shop at the local Wally World. Normally I am in and out of there in under an hour. I do NOT like shopping there, but there are times when it's just unavoidable. I become one of the most impatient people in that store. I don't browse, I don't deviate from my planned list of goods which is made out according to the store layout. I try to get into the shortest checkout line and if this store offered the automated checkout, I would choose that. 

On that evening, when I had been away from my home all day, taking care of Mother, I went there, did my shopping in record time and had loaded my groceries on the checkout belt. The people in front of me were in the process of checking out, so I thought this was going to be a breeze. Instead, the young girl processing their payment form made an error. The manager had to be called and my thoughts of getting out of there quickly came to a screeching halt. The cashier offered to put my items back into my cart so that I could switch lanes. Where normally I would take her up on that offer, I felt calm and peaceful. I told her that I could wait, no worries. After about 15 minutes, we were able to continue. The cashier felt horrible about her mistake and the time it had cost me. I calmly told her not to worry about it, everything happens for a reason and I'm sure it would all work out OK.

Driving home, about 3 miles into that 10 mile country drive, I came across a horrific accident. Flipped cars, broken windshields, etc. It had happened about the time I would have been driving through had I not waited in that line. I got chills as I slowly made my way past the county patrol cars and ambulances. I said a thank you to God and His angels watching over me. For there, but by the Grace of God, go I.

Take care - Me