Busy times...

Well, it's been a busy month. I've been to two birthday parties, a weekend in Indiana with my Grandpa and I had a great Easter Sunday with my "local" family. Work has been busy too. We finally got the approval to get another temp in here to help us out in finishing all the backfile process. We've done the interviewing, chosen, and just found out that our first choice didn't pass the background check, so we will start the drug screen and background check on the second choice tomorrow. Hopefully it will go more smoothly. Overall, though I've made some significant process in the portion of the daily grind that is my person repsonsibility.

I also finished two baby gifts this month and have started on a new afghan. I've delivered one of the gifts and as soon as I've sent the other one, I'll try to remember to post some pictures of them. This past weekend I also cut out a skirt and a skort for me. I finished the skirt yesterday, all I have to do is hand stitch on the hook and eye and then I'll be able to wear it. I've finished several books too, including some audio ones - I've done a good job so far in keeping up a list of everything I've read since the beginning of the year.

The most exciting thing that I've picked up this month is some new habits. A friend of mine told me about the FlyLady (you can get all the details at www.flylady.net) and both she and I have started. I'm learning so many things about how to organize, declutter and clean my house in a manageable way that works for me! I'm seeing progress and I'm working towards being able to have the ability to invite people over to my house again on a fairly regular basis and have room for them to move around, be comfortable and enjoy themselves. This is so exciting to me I just had to share! If you are like I was and feel like you are never going to be able to get it under control - check out this site and see what you think!

I've recently cleaned off my kitchen table too and thus have back the space that I use to scrapbook, so I'm looking forward to working on some pages in the near future. I think part of me has gotten so used to doing this when I'm with friends that it just isn't quite the same to sit at home and do it by myself. I need to just get over this and sit down and start - once I get started I enjoy it, but I just keep putting it off wishing I had the room to invite others over.

Well, I suppose that doesn't seem like as much when you write it down, but I guess it filled up my month just fine! Oh, Grandpa sent some more lilac bush shoots home with me and I planted them and are keeping them well-watered hoping that they will take well. If they do, along with the 2 others that survived from the first planting campaign in 2004, it will make a nice little hedge row someday along the back of my carport. Someday they will have grown enough to blossom - I can't wait, they are some of my favorites. I also got several blossoms from my irise this spring too and have been enjoying them.

So, it's almost May already and hard to believe that 1/3 of the year is gone. I need to get going on some of the things that I was wanting to work on this year! How about you? How are you doing on your yearly goals or "want to improves"? Hopefully well! If not, now is the perfect opportunity to get back into it!

Smile - God loves you!

Joy... Joy? Joy!

I so enjoy the deep conversations that I'm able to share with very close friends of mine on a regular basis. Our topics run a wide range, but it just so happens that we touched on the topic of joy a few nights ago. Realizing how many of us as Christians miss out on the Joy of the Lord, for more reasons than we can even fathom. Joy is one of those complex things that is part of the mystery of Christ. It is more than just being happy. You can have joy even while you are walking through dark days. Joy is something that I think we should let the world see more often because it is at least one if not the only thing that the unsaved world can see as a difference in us that might attract them to God Almighty. If they see us only as having the same grumblings and problems as they encounter, but don't see a difference in how we handle things, or our inner attitude of dealing with life as it happens, what exactly is it that's different about becoming a Christian that is worth it.

They need to see the joy...
so that they will come closer and wonder about the hope...
and become curious enough to ask about the love...
and then we can explain the sacrifice, the Salvation and the grace.

We need to immerse ourselves in the joy that God has given us and then let that overflow out of us into those lives that come in touch with ours everyday. ("The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45). They need to see a difference! I was reminded again today as the radio station I listen to played this simple song by Cheri Keaggy. If you've not heard it, I recommend you call your local station and request it, then sit back and soak it up!

There Is Joy In The Lord
Cheri Keaggy

CHORUS:
There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in His Spirit.
There is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There's a fountain that flows,
Like a river from heaven
Abounding in love to my soul.

VERSE:
All blessing and honor are His,
All glory and power are His.
Let all wisdom and strength be the Lord's in this place.
Let all glory be given to Him.

CHORUS 2:
There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in His Spirit.
There is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There's a fountain I know
Every time I am near it
My heart overflows to the Lord.


Words and Music by Cheri Keaggy© 1992 Sparrow Song (BMI) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI Song ID #1184209