Believe in yourself!!

As I sat in the classroom this morning, waiting for the exam to begin, I looked around at the typically colorful room with it's brightly decorated bulletin boards. Various themes for each bulletin board: Halloween, Reading; Be kind to others. My attention shifted to the open door as another exam taker entered the room. I re-checked all the forms I had completed - date, time, place of exam, all the pre-exam jitters making me check them one more time (about the 10th time in all). "Hmmm," I thought, "did I see all the bulletin boards in here?" I turned to my left at the largest bulletin board in the room and I could feel my eyes water as I gazed at its message. In an rainbowlike arc across the board I read:
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!! Immediately, in my heart, the words were spoken to me in the voice of so many people....Ron, Laurie and Stephen, Scott and Tina, my sister, and my friends. I can't explain it, but it was a message that was sent exactly when I needed it. And I said thank you Lord. How great is He who brought me to a classroom that I have never seen before, and will likely not see again...but which displayed a powerful message.
The test? It was the most difficult exam I have ever taken - but likely the last. I went through all of the questions - answered those I could answer - marked the ones that needed to be thought about, and went back to them later. After that, I went back to the very beginning and re-read all the questions and all my answers. Two hours and 43 minutes later, I put my pencil down, gathered all my exam papers and forms, and gathered my things...bottle of water, calculator, my two #2 pencils, and my purse. The last thing left to do was to put my jacket on. Once I left the room, it would be over. Stopping at the proctor's desk, she checked to make sure everything was there in my test booklet, signed and complete. I thanked her and walked out the door...feeling behind me that colorful arc and taking it's message to heart. As I was leaving the building, one of the hall monitors - an elderly man with a smiling face said to me,
"piece of cake, eh?" Laughing, I said..."oh sure."
But as I walked to the door, I smiled to myself. And I believed.
Thanks for your prayers...see you tomorrow.
Blessings.
Sue

TESTING, TESTING ~ 1, 2, 3!!

It's time for putting aside the books and other study materials - and pack everything I need for the long awaited exam tomorrow morning. Number two pencils, my calculator, and a quiet snack in case I get hungry. It's going to take several hours - so I am told, anyway.
I'm not really nervous - just want it to be over. I've been preparing since July so if I'm not ready now, well then it's not for lack of trying. So if you could say a small prayer for me tomorrow, I'd appreciate it. And besides, God has it all figured out already. I know that He will be with me tomorrow and I will listen carefully for His wisdom to fall upon my ears and heart.
We have another winter storm system moving in for the weekend - and it will be a good night tomorrow to sit and relax with my flannel pjs on. Might watch the Sabres go for their 11th straight win. Thank goodness the Bills have a bye this weekend - we don't have to suffer through that on Sunday. They really need to work on their game.
October has been a terribly costly month. So much damage from storms, including the fire storms in CA.
But also, there has been a human toll this month - our troops suffering terribly, and the families of all deployed troops counting solely on God's mercy and grace.
His mercy and grace and our trust in Him. No matter what we are trusting in Him for - a good grade on an exam, or the life of someone we love - there is no comparison between the two, but that's just the thing. It's all important to Him.
Whatever you seek Him for, trust in His answers. Remember - Father Knows Best.
Thanks for stopping by - have a great weekend!
Sue

SOUP'S ON!!

At the end of a long work day, I used to come home and cook dinner - like most women do. But I am blessed to have Ron - who is retired now - and who LOVES to cook. Actually I should say CREATE!! Today he called me at work and said "would you mind stopping on your way home to get a loaf of crusty bread?" Immediately I thought..."YAY!!! Comfort food!!"
You see my day started out kind of bad. I had just pulled out of our driveway this morning when I realized that I forgot some cards that I wanted to write out and put in the mail during my lunch hour. So I copped a U-ee and went back up the hill and turned into our driveway. Ron and Lilly had just gotten up and were surprised to see me back already. I ran in, picked up the cards, and ran back out. Just as I was pulling the garage door shut behind me, a gust of wind came along and slammed it shut on my hand. I saw stars, and as I looked at my hand with the headlights providing the only light in the early morning darkness, I could see that it wasn't gonna be pretty.
It's not bad - there'a a small little lump that seems quite sore in one finger, bruised a couple of other fingers and one of my knuckles looks a little bigger than usual but I think I'm gonna live. :) All my data processing got done today so I'm definitely not disabled. But work didn't go too well - just technical problems with our financial aid reporting system but it will get worked out tomorrow, I'm sure. Anyway, I was really glad when Ron said we needed crusty bread.
As I drove into the driveway with freezing rain pelting the windshield, all I could think of was that Ron and Lilly were waiting for me - and that thought alone was enough to erase EVERYTHING that had happened today.
So, when I opened the door, there was Lilly sitting on the steps in the hallway - waiting for mommy...and Ron was standing right behind her. The aroma of homemade soup hit me and I thanked God for this man He has blessed me with. Oh and the doggie too.
Soup. It warms the tummy - but the love that's in it because of the hands that made it, that warms the soul. I love you, Ron.
I need to ask for some prayers for some military mom friends of mine who are going through a rough time right now because they fear for the lives of their children who are in the sand. Actually, this could be a request for many moms - or other loved ones of those serving. But the ones I am thinking of know who they are - and more importantly God knows who they are and who we are asking Him to protect. Our troops are going through some rough waters right now - may God keep them in His care. And may He give us peace in our hearts - for His love gives us a spirit of courage, and not fear. May that be so for us all.
God bless you and thanks for letting me share.
Sue

Sweetest Day!!!

Ok today is Sweetest Day. Ever hear of it, or is it just an Eastern part of the country tradition? It's always the 3rd Saturday in October and is a day set aside for people to remember their sweethearts or spouses. Now it may sound like Valentine's day but the difference is that Valentine's Day is for everyone. So, anyway, last year - for the first time in our 36 years of marriage, I FORGOT and RON REMEMBERED. Never again would I do that. Until this morning. MAN OH MAN - you want to see upset? Me, this morning, as Ron presented me with a card and box of turtles...THAT is upset. So anyway, if you are reading this and you observe sweetest day - today is the day...go out and buy something. :) Me, well, Ron is taking me to a movie - I think the WWII Flags of our Fathers movie, and then I am buying dinner. We'll do someplace nicer today.
Got a phone call on Thursday from the Personnel office - exam postponed because of the storm we had. Thank you God - cause I still have some accounting studying to do.
Time to get ready for our date...but before I leave I just wanted to say thank you for being here. I try to always offer something positive or to make you smile. It's not always easy to come up with a post - Cat, Heather, and Erik can all tell you that words don't always come easy (well Erik, my friend, always seems to have stuff to say - and I mean that in a good way Erik - you've given me lots to think about and smile about). For my friends here with military loved ones, I know from experience that sometimes the days seem soooo long. And the weekends seem to never end - so many hours to fill. But remember, please, that we are praying for your troops - and for all the troops. And thankfully it's not our prayers that change things - but God's answers.
God bless your day - I'll be thinking of you.
Sue

Ahhhh - tylenol, tea, and fruit, and cake.

Tough day - lots to do at work and just one of those "oh my gosh - where did this headache come from?" types of days. I think it's the weather but it's the worse headache I've had in awhile. On campus today, we watched the work crews with chain saws splitting up the tree limbs which have fallen down all over the place. Kind of sad to see so many beautiful trees depleted by the storm we had last week, but I know that God makes all things new according to His plan. So now, the brilliant colors that were once reaching out from the branches look up at us from the ground. But that's the thing - the colors still shout out the glory of His handiwork. And the branches they still cling to will not be renewed, but the trees that they once were connected are probably already beginning new growth.
In the news today was a very sobering report out of the sand - 11 soldiers lost yesterday and today. I do not understand, sometimes, how this all works. And I know that my questions do not fall on deaf ears when I pray "Why does this happen, Lord?" He hears me - hears us all - but it's not an easy thing, is it? I pray for it to end, yet also I know that His will has already determined the exact moment when that will happen. And so I trust in that will - for your loved ones who serve, and for mine as well.
Studying to do tonight - we will also talk to Laurie and Stephen and Kasey. For now, I sit at my computer allowing the tylenol to kick in, and enjoying my cup of tea and my fat free fig newtons (fruit and cake :).
The long day is behind me and a quiet night lies ahead. I wish you restful sleep and a blessed Thursday.
Thanks for stopping by,
Sue

Storm heroes...and what we do best

As life goes on....

Well, everyone here is calling it the October Surprise. It was a surprise alright - 23 inches of snow fell on Buffalo Thursday night and by 1:30 Friday morning, our power had gone out and would be out for 3 1/2 days. Towns are actually closed to all traffic except emergency and utility vehicles; schools and churches are open only as warming centers, and several school districts are closed for the entire week. Of course our office has been closed so I have been home from work and Lilly is trying to figure this whole thing out. (Why is this lady home? Isn't she supposed to be out making money to buy my biscuits?).
She has been sleeping with us - good, warm doggie.
On Friday night, Scott, Tina, and the kids were here because their house was without power or heat. Our family room has a gas wall furnace which still had working burners, although the fan didn't work. But it was toasty. We played Star Wars Trivial Pursuit by candlelight, and ate lots of comfort food. (couldn't let the food in the fridge spoil now, could we?).
My fridge is cleaner than it has been in ages because I had to clean it yesterday after tossing the bad stuff...that's a good thing. Today, I'll be doing a few things around here that I've been wanting to do for awhile but don't normally have the energy to do after working all week.
I did manage to make Ron learn that living with me is a challenge - ok let me re-phrase that: Ron found out that I am always coming up with new ways to make him shake his head...like yesterday morning as I was getting ready for church. I lined up some of my heat rollers on the wall furnace in the family room. I don't do straight hair very well, so I thought this would do the trick. They warmed up fast, but alas, it was just the outside that warmed up and not the core of the curler. Bottom line, it didn't work well. But I wasn't the only one at church with bad hair. And you know what? It didn't really bother me. We find out what's important in times like this.
I have a friend at church who is suffering from lung cancer, but who has the most wonderful attitude about it. Her daughter, also a very good friend of mine, said that her mom said about the weather and power failure: "If I weren't sick this would be fun...but I am glad to be here to see it. " Ok THAT puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
And everywhere there are heroes...the men and women who work for the power companies, the fire and police departments, and everyone who has helped anyone during this experience. The local radio stations who have kept going on generator power, linking those with portable radios to the outside world. We bought our short wave/am-fm radio in December 1999 when everyone was concerned about the millenium. So we put some new batteries in it and listened to the heroes of the airwaves tell the stories of the heroes out in the storm. I am in awe of the people who work for utility companies.
So I am home for at least today, and counting my blessings. Thanking God for the extra time I had with my children and grandchildren, for the fact that we have power when others don't - and maybe they NEED power more than Ron and I do. And for the fact that even in darkness, God's light doesn't disappear. He is always with us.
About 10 minutes after our power went on yesterday, I turned on the TV. Kind of reluctantly, but still wondering what was going on in the world, I put Fox News on. There, as it seems happens so often these days, the breaking news was telling about a disaster...this time the quake in HI. And there were all the things that were going on here...lines at the grocery stores, the working gas stations, hotels...the only difference was that the temperatures there were in the 80s.
And life goes on...just as we do - no matter what.
Because God always helps us to find the blessing.
'Til next time,
Sue

My best friend for life


A reason, a season, or a lifetime.

I got one of those emails from a friend of mine - one that had been forwarded a million times but the message is new each time you receive it because it's sent by a different person. And so this one explains why people come into our lives...it's for a reason, a season or a lifetime. If someone comes into your life for a reason, you have asked for that friend...and you think that the person is a Godsend because you never could have made it through without this friend. This is true. because it's God's way of answering your prayer for help. In this friend, He is present. The friends that come into your life for a reason don't always stay...but God does ~ and you (and prayerfully the friend) are far richer than you were.
As friends come into our lives for a season, it could be to help you through several situations - or to make you laugh, and know how blessed you are by God's love. These friendships, too, are not forever, but hopefully our lives will reflect that wonderful season God gave to you both. Share the laughter, or the goodness, or the love with others. Maybe share all three.
Lifetime friends - well, those friends need to be just as blessed by your friendship as you are by theirs. Lessons learned and taught; blessings given and received; strength offered and accepted. Some of you are friends I may never meet, yet your being here is a blessing. Friends sent for a reason or a season and who are a gift. Others are helping me to realize that this season of life I am in is to be experienced to it's fullest. You encourage and give me your shoulder or your ear (sometimes I need both of your ears cause I have a lot to say).
But my lifetime friends - well many of you know who you are. My family ~ I love them so. The picture above of Ron and I is one of my favorites - the smiles are real - our love is real now, and has been for over 37 years since we first met. I can't believe God has been so gracious to me in giving me Ron to spend my life with - but I don't question it and I praise God every day.
And my "heart friends" ~ those who truly understand me. And some only God knows will be lifetime friends ~ it will be my joy to discover who those are. Lifetime doesn't necessarily mean the time we are here on earth. If you believe as I believe - in eternal life through our Lord Jesus - then we can look forward to spending our lives together for another lifetime with Him.
When we meet new friends, we may not know the length of that friendship - or why God brought that person into our lives. But we need to enjoy the blessing and thank Him each and every day...just as I thank Him for you.
It's been a few days since I last posted - busy at work and busy at home and also taking care of some issues that needed to be addressed.
But wherever you are, know that I am grateful that you are here. Even when I can't be.
See you tomorrow, friends.
Sue

Half full or half empty??

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? It's late on Saturday night - now I COULD say that the weekend is almost over because Friday night and Saturday are behind us. BUT, tomorrow is Sunday - usually a busy day for me in the morning with church and Sunday school. But Sundays are great! Come home from church, change into comfy clothes and have my 2 weekly eggs over easy and rye toast. Not very exciting, but then I get to sit and relax with a cup of coffee too - do a few things before the football game starts and then try to get something done during the game like folding laundry or dusting - you know, just so I get things in order before the week begins again. Soooo Sunday is a great big day still ahead of me and what's behind has been a wonderful night and day as well.
Last night Luke and Veronica slept over - boy Veronica is a busy little girl. Luke, well, he's more laid back - watches his movies or cartoons and occasionally likes a snack. He's a great kid and we enjoy watching him as he grows up. He's nine now - 4th grade you know - big stuff. Quite a dude.
But Veronica, well, she was awake at 0430 this morning and standing in her portacrib crying her little eyes out so I put her in bed with Ron and I (and of course Lilly). After an hour or so she fell back to sleep and we did too - til about 7. Then our day began...took the kids to Denny's for breakfast before we took them home. Tina cut my hair, we did some shopping, and went to an RV show. Perfect day for that...not too warm, but sunny. A nice fall day. The leaves are beautiful and will be on the ground very soon (but we can hope for strong winds so they just keep blowing down the street). All in all a wonderful day.
But then we have a whole new day tomorrow - and I for one am an optimist. It's going to be just as good, if not better!
I hope that God will bless your Sunday...
Thanks for stopping by.
Sue

I just love this picture of Ron and Kasey, don't you?








TRIAL BALANCES??

Well, here I am, studying for this exam. I do very well with sorting out numbers and with the multiple choice questions about supervision and math. I do all that stuff every single day in my job. But then there is this accounting stuff....ledgers, and debits and credits. And trial balances.
Huh? Is that like, you know, the scales of justice? Nope, no such luck. And so I am making tons of notes - maybe I can understand my own notes better than this Accounting for Dummies book I borrowed.
There is also the matter of Lilly. I curl up on the couch with my books and my notes and my calculator and my cup of tea. (trial balance of a different kind :) And of course since she hasn't seen mommy all day, Lilly gets as close as she can, puts her little face on my arm (awwww) and falls asleep. Therefore, I do not write. I read. And I do not calculate because you have to hold the book with one hand and the calculator with the other. So I read. About ledgers and liabilities and assets...and trial balances. Geesh.
I only have 16 days til this exam. Lilly is gonna have to nap somewhere else - or I am going to have to learn speed reading.
This picture of Ron and Kasey is one of my favorites.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Erik, I hope Missy is doing well...getting close now. Tomorrow night I need to sit down and figure out how to post links...that might mean I'll have to look for instructions.
And that will mean more reading...oh goody, more reading.
Blessings my friends - tomorrow is another day.
Sue

Sore is good...

Well, yesterday was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. It was the annual Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk. I am always in awe of these things - how they always seem to be a success. But this year was different - I was no longer on the outside looking in. And it was awesome - just awesome. It began with the worship service led by our Pastor for anyone who had gathered there in the hours before the walk began. Soon, the downtown square was wall to wall people - men and women in "I survived breast cancer shirts" (men too because breast cancer does not discriminate against men); women with pink hats covering the hair loss from chemotherapy; and men, women, and children of all ages with signs on their jackets and shirts: "Rosie's team" or "in memory of Donna."
There was the warm-up, and the count down...and then the walk. Over 3 miles of winding streets and sidewalk through the lakefront developments.
Eventually these old legs just needed a moment's rest. So I sat on a rock on the lake's edge - took a sip of bottled water, and prayed for the strength to finish. If I could finish, then the excitement, and the fundraising, and the trust that my family and friends had in me would be well placed. So, I got up and continued walking. A friend from church came up behind me and it was good to have someone to walk with. As we neared the home stretch we heard the people cheering for those nearing the finish line, I knew that soon it would be me walking past the cheerleaders and into the crowd of those gathered at the end of the line.
My eyes welled up with tears as volunteers offered water and apples and granola bars to the walkers. Tears not of sadness, or fatigue, but of unbridled joy at having been a part of this event. Not everyone would understand the tears, but I think most of you do ~ because you know me. The tears were because I wasn't watching and wishing I was part of it. They were for all who hadn't made it through the battle of cancer, and they were because I was realizing God had answered my prayers every step of the way. Truly, He was my strength.
When I got home, it was hard to explain what the day had meant. I made a snack, laid down on the couch with Lilly to watch the football game, and woke up 3 hours later.
Today, I am sore and tired and happy. And more thankful than ever because God truly was with us yesterday - all 8,000 of us.
The theme of this year's event was "Hope Starts Here."
Well, maybe that is partly true, but for me, hope began 2000 years ago on a cross, on a hill.
And because of that hope, we have the strength and the desire to pass the torch of hope to others.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings,
Sue