It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

Welcome...come in and take a look around at our 2010 Christmas decorations.

We had a great Thanksgiving with friends and families!

Looking forward to this Christmas Season.

Listening is a Discipline

Do you know the difference between a wise man and a know-it-all? They know the same amount. The difference is that a wise man waits until he is asked to share what he knows.

"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered."
Proverbs 17:27 NLT

"Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."
Proverbs 21:23 NLT

This is certainly something I have struggled with over my life. I'm sure more than once I have been called a know-it-all.

More recently I have come to learn and actually put into practice listening twice as much as I speak. It is not easy at first, because many times I felt like I just really know how to "fix" that person's problem.

I'm grateful for learning that it is not my job to "fix" others...that is God's job. Do you know how much weight that takes off a recovering control-freak's shoulders??!!

So today I'm grateful for the discipline of listening twice as much as talking...as the old saying goes...that is why God gave us TWO ears and only ONE mouth.

Could it Be?

Could it be that fall is actually on it's way? The morning temperatures the last part of this week are just lovely (between 60 and 65 degrees). I love the fall with the temperatures cooling off, the high school and college football games, the holidays are around the corner...for me it is a time for getting to enjoy being outside again...sugar melts in the heat, you know...hee hee!

We are looking forward to spending time with friends and family this fall. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas time. We are looking forward to a weekend trip to Northwest Arkansas in the next couple of months. Although there are many things that we are looking forward to, mostly we just take it one day at a time. Living in the present...being present in the present. We only have the time that we are in and we have learned to enjoy that time.

"Verbal Reality"

I had not heard of that term before reading this blog post, however, I have lived it. This is the reason I encourage all family members to get into a recovery program for themselves.

There is much we can learn from the support of those who have been through or are going through the same chaos as you. Letting go is the hardest part, but the best thing that can be done.

My heart is always heavy when I hear of people I know that are in the chains of addiction and my heart goes out to the family as well (I have two families from my past that I am praying for this week). Although not the path I would have chosen for my life, GOD gets all the glory in my story...because now I am able to be there for others going through this process. He truly is in control!

Catching Up

Wow! It is has been more than a month since I posted anything. We have just been enjoying the summer...going low-key this summer. Since my last post we have both had our birthdays where we spent time together and enjoyed watching movies and going out to eat. We stay involved with our Celebrate Recovery group/friends and have been reconnecting with older friends.
We are pretty boring these days which is what seems to work for us. It seems my blogging has fallen to the wayside in place of the few sentences of status updates on Facebook. So, that is the place to stay in touch with me on a more regular basis.
Until I post again! Here's to a blessed summer and trying to stay cool!

Think on the Positive!

Do you need a laugh this morning?
Dog Entertains a Child

Here is a little positive thinking!
A Kid with a Positive Attitude

Book Review: "Plan B" by Pete Wilson

Have you ever come to the point in life and thought "This is not what I had planned" or "Why me, God"? If so, this book is for you.

As a person who is living out Plan B in her life, I appreciate the honesty with which Pete writes this book. He has included personal stories as well as stories of Biblical characters that have faced a time of Plan B in their lives.

The book was easy to read and one that I will personally re-read over and over again.

Pete reminds us that when you find yourself in a situation where you are faced with living Plan B, “…God knows how hard it can be to live in Plan B…He just keeps whispering into our bruised souls this gentle reminder: You may not sense me or feel me. But take heart because I really am here.” This is the comfort and hope that is offered in this book.

This book is a must read for anyone facing or living Plan B, and it is one that I plan to purchase several of just to have as a resource give to others that may be facing their own Plan B.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to review this book, which was provided to me by Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze.

If you want more information about Pete and this book, or read personal Plan B stories visit the book's website: http://www.planbbook.com/