God sends people...

I have been struggling over the past few weeks of whether I should go back to work. Well I applied at a particular nursing home, and I know they pay very well. Today I was in the doctor's office and a friend of mine who works for an area home health company. Anyway, she told me who the administrator was and right then I knew I was not to go back to work. There is NO WAY I could work for this man. He is very unethical; I will leave it that. So I will continue to stay at home and take care of my family.

I will have a Christmas post in a few days. So many magical and wonderful things happened to us over the holidays that it will take me a while to write it all. However, I will tell you that my hubs has surprised me with a New Year's trip. I am a rediculous fan of Martina McBride. We are going to the Silver Star Casino to see her in concert...in a very small setting. There are only about 30 rows in the concert hall. I am so excited......

I hope everyone has a safe and prosperous New Year.

look at me now

I am too ashamed to show you what it looked like before, but I think it looks pretty good myself. This blanket was made by great grandmother. The quilt rack was made by my dad. This is a view of my dining room. We'll see how long it stays looking like this!

Christmas in Georgiana...

Watch out 2011.....

This may turn into a long post, but I will try to be concise. Most of you know that this has not been the greatest year for me. If you have failed to realize this then you must wear rose tinted glasses. Anyway, I have gone through some severe depression from having to resign from my job due to my health, which continued to decline. Recently thought I was ready to go back to work and was absolutely blown away by some comments that were made to me. I was humiliated to have to apply for disability. The depression just got worse and worse. I have been in a very dark place. Well there are three things that happened to me over this weekend that tell me that 2011 is not going to be that way.

The first thing that happened was I had the pleasure of hearing a group called Crystal River, www.chrystalriveronline.net. A trio of guys who are on fire on for the Lord. Everyone song they sang I needed to hear. One song in particular, My History is Not My Destiny, really slapped me all in the face. I have done things in my past that I am not proud of, but I know that I am a child of the King. All of that mess I created is gone - forgiven and forgotten. I have to let it go.

The second thing that happened was a sermon I listened to on Sunday morning. The preacher at Frazier United Methodist Church in Montgomery is awesome. He preached about all the times in the Bible where God refers to himself as the Light. He talked about the Light will never be put out by the darkness. How we have so much darkness in our lives due to losing a job, having failing health, depression beyond your control, disappointed in your kids and their behaviors - hello are you talking to me? I mean there are over a 1000 people in that church and he is all in my face. The one thing he said that stuck with me is this statement, "What better gift to give Jesus this Christmas season than all your darkness...He can handle it....Let Him bring light into your life." That really stuck with me. Why am I hanging on to all this junk that I can't do anything about? Why am I not leaning on Him rather than myself - I think there is a Bible verse about that. :) I looked up how many times the word "light" is used in the Bible - 232 times where darkness is used 163 times. Even in the Bible, light takes over.

The third thing that happened was I read Beth Moore's blog - per ususal. Well she is a phenomenol Christian, teacher and woman. She is a firm believer in memorizing verses. Her theory is that if you have a plethera of verses in your head, you can pull one out at any time to fit your situation. This could be while ministering to another person, your having a bad day or you want to give glory to God for something He has worked out in your life. So she suggested taking a spiral bound index card and using it for memorizing verses that apply to your life. To do this you would memorize 2 verses a month. In addition she suggested to get an accountability partner who will do the same thing. Each one will hold the other accountable for memorizing their verses. (Well I picked another awesome Christian, Becky. She was my college roommate and kept me straight!) Anyway my verses for the year are going to be all about light. If it is used 232 times in the Bible then surely I can come up with 24 verses about light and how He will guide, guard and keep us in every situation we have. There may still be darkness that comes into my life in this New Year, but I am going to have a weapon ready for it.

I know this is kind of lengthy, but I just felt I had to share. So many people have been an encouragement to me, and I know they too must face darkness in their life at times. I want to be that person who can encourage in the New Year. I want to thank each person who reads this for all the encouragement you have given me this year. I hope I can return the gift....

Blessings,
Ginny

i have decided

i have decided alot of things in the past few days...

1. God will come first...no ifs, ands, or buts about it...
2. I am going back to work...
3. If my house gets cleaned it will be on my time...I can't do it all...I have always just wanted my house to be "pretty", but I guess I will have to wait on that
4. I am going to begin a gratitude journal...this will keep me out of the dumps
5. I will do two loads of laundry a day - my house looks like a Chinese laundry mat
6. I will take my meds first thing in the morning to include a multi vitamin - sometimes I get busy and forget...
7. Call my friends when I am in a good mood not just when I need a shoulder to cry on...
8. Be more patient - Lord help me with that one
9. Be more involved in Jacob's school...
10. Throw away more stuff...you have no idea how much junk I have....

family pics

He wanted to jump in that creek so bad...at one point he had his shirt off before we knew it...

This pic was taken just so we could get my new houndstooth ring in the picture.

This is just a cool pic.

I was trying SO hard not to laugh...I cannot look at him without laughing.

This is a perfect picture of Jacob...always laughing.

The monkeys were in the tree.

All the monkeys....

This is just an awesome pic...my photographer is so talented.

It looks like we are in love doesn't it?

My sweet daughter....

The Thinker

The "true" version of a Bama Belle....

Just the whole gang....

It took alot to keep these two still, close together and not kill each other....

My babies....

more pics

these are just a couple of snapshots we took today...we had professional pics made with all of our Alabama gear on...will post those pics later....

a week in pictures

my nativity scenes

my Christmas tree

me being caught off guard

my aunt marg and her birthday cake

my cousin, Jae, aunts Kathy and Marg, my mom, me and my aunt sharon

It has been a great day...just a glimpse into my family!

i am troubled....

i am troubled...have not been this way in a while...i am wanting to go back to work...no one thinks i am ready for it...i don't know if i am ready for it...but the desire to go back is still there...i was offered an interview for a contract position, but now i am nervous...i like being at home but this "schedule" people keep talking about that I will fall into, well it hasn't happened...i have been home since march and my house is still a disaster....my health is only somewhat better....and i am still depressed...please if you read this give me some feedback - positive or negative...

menu plan monday....

I get on these kicks where I try to be real organized and plan out meals for the week...well we are going to give this another try...

Monday: breakfast - fried ham, eggs and biscuits
Tuesday: Crock Pot lasagna - delicious and much easier
Wednesday: Black Eyed Pea Casserole and cornbread
Thursday: Chili
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: you are on your own - do you need that recipe....

I hope everyone has a blessed week...remember the season and why we have it...remember the less fortunate...give to the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, etc...you will get the most satisfaction I promise....

my heart continues to overflow....

jacob and i went to church this morning in lincoln rather than at logan martin...anyway, the preacher, mark martin, preached on the fruits of the spirit...when we got back in the car jacob said,

jacob: i feel so good about myself today
me: why
jacob: because i have forgive myself for my sins and so has God
me: that is wonderful
jacob: i want to go back to that church
me: ok we will do
jacob: those are nice people...it was a good service

i just teared up and thanked God for this day!