It’s The Little Things That Make Life A Big Deal October 20, 2007

Gosh, I hope my last post hasn’t come off as all depressing and sad. I am really happy. Really. And today has been a real interesting day in terms of gratitude. I think the more you are thankful for what you have, the more you are blessed …and continue to be blessed.

What has happened so far today is proof that there is a God and that He does love unconditionally! And those events are nothing huge, mind you…little things like waking up in a comfortable home that is heated while outside, the skies are dark and gray and it’s beating down rain. Having coffe klatch with my neighbors before going off and starting our days. Little things like having only $75 to spend on groceries and getting everything I needed for $74.86. Like having Stephanie, the gal I rent from, stop by just to say hello and I happened to have had a money order for her for next month’s rent. (Whew, six more weeks of not worrying about house payments! YES!)

I have been so giddy all day long, I am like the school child kicking her feet under the sheets the night before Christmas just to release some nervous energy.

And tonight, I am spending the evening with my girlfriends watching chick flicks and gabbing it up.

Life is good!

P.S. And just as I finished this post, I looked out the window at my car. There on the windsheild was a CostPlus bag, something from World Market. I went out to see what it was, and inside was a jumbo-sized package of Flake (Irish chocolate bars.) Hmmm…..God is Great!

Bon Apetit October 19, 2007

Have you noticed how after you hear a word or phrase for the first time, you start to hear it over and over again in various conversations? Well, this happened to me the other day. Only, I have heard the Word before. It just seems like this time, the Word keeps appearing in increasing frequencies, to the point I find myself seeking It out at every opportunity.

I look back on the days after my marriage to Doug ended (yesterday would have been our 10 year wedding anniversary) and I remember reading the Psalms everynight before I went to sleep, closing my eyes with the feeling Christ Himself had rocked me to sleep. I don’t know what happened to this routine or the feeling. Perhaps He fell asleep.  Or maybe I haven’t woken up from my slumber.

I just know this feeling started to occur after I sold my favorite Bible at a yard sale. This was somewhat accidental…I didn’t realize it had been put out with my other books until a nice lady asked how much I wanted for it. At first I balked, but an inner voice told me she needed it more than I did at this time, not to worry, I’ll get another Bible to replace this one. So I sold it to her for $1.  That was four years ago; I haven’t read the Bible since.

I am hungry for some faith right now, something solid in my life, something steady. I think God hears the hunger rumbles and is reaching out to me. I think He inserts Himself into my daily conversations because He is trying to wake me up. I liken this situation I am experiencing to the one of being a kid and waking up to the smell of bacon and pancakes on Saturday morning (mmm…that hasn’t happened in a very long time. That sounds so delicious right about now! I am so hungry, I would devour every last morsel of that hearty and rich breakfast.)

Yes, that sounds so delicious right about now.

God, I need You.

We Can’t Rewind, We’ve Gone Too Far October 17, 2007

Okay, so I am looking for a new job. It’s no secret. I think I bombed my first two interviews. Some of the quesitons they asked were pretty basic and my answers were lame! Argh! Perhaps I can save grace with a stellar thank you note! Must get on that right away!

I do have to share my almost-three-year old is brilliant! Today, she made herself cinamon rolls, swept the floor and took out the garbage. All by herself and without prompting! I say all she needs is a bank account and a bus pass and she can move out on her own!

Okay, so the cinnamon rolls required my assistance with the microwave (but she did get them out of the freezer by herself and she iced them by herself) and sweeping had to be redone, but hey…the garbage??? She even put a new bag in the trash bin after she had taken out the old one! Her brother and sister can learn a thing or two….

Oh, and on the comfort food front…orange marmalade. It’s my new secret weapon. For tonight’s dinner, I seasoned a pork roast with salt and pepper, then seared it. Before I put it in the oven with the usual accoutrement (potatoes, carrots, onion and celery) I deglazed the frying pan, poured the juices over the roast, and then smeared orange marmalade on top.  MMMMMMMM. Delicioso! I am stuffed.

But don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.

Happy Birthday, Little A! October 1, 2007

Today Aliyaa turns the big O-N-E! What a sweetheart!  She has been walking for about a month and a half, has a very large vocabulary for a one year old, and is absolutely in love with her mommy and daddy! And just like all the other fabulous-o Champines out there, she is BRILLIANT!

Channeling Mary Catherine Gallagher September 25, 2007

To sum up how I feel tonight, I’d like to share a scene from the 1993 hit movie, “A Thing Called Love,” in which Samantha Mathis portrays Miranda, a woman who knows a thing or two about struggle and triumph.