BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!!!!!!

Hey Ya'll!!!!!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, ya'll..... I've just been up to my eyeballs with so many things that my blogging just came to a stand still.  Seriously, my head has been spinning from the whirlwind I was caught up in for the last half of 2011! I began to wonder if I was ever gonna get my blogging grove back...... no blogging, no FB and no emailing which resulted in feeling so out of the loop it's ridiculous!!!!!  HOWEVER, things have begun to settle down (finally!!) and I've really had the urge to climb back in the saddle and get back on the blogging trail and see what you wonderful blogging buddies have been up to.  I've thought of you often and I pray that you are doing well and growing closer to the Lord everyday!  

First, I want to share that my sweet mama is still hanging in their but her journey is really tough.  My heart remains heavy as I see her grow weaker and more confused.  BUT, I know He holds her in the palm of His hand and will call her home in His time.  And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for her.  

Honestly, ya'll....months ago I reached the point of burnout, both physically and emotionally over my mama's decline.  The Lord, as well as her hospice workers, warned me that I was gonna "hit the wall" if I didn't pace myself and get my life back in order.  My husband saw it, my kids saw it and the Lord knew it......I was spending practically every daylight hour by mama's side at the nursing home and  consequently, being in such a sad daily environment  of people dying all around me and watching the heart break of loved ones on their "death watch" began to drag me down and I KNEW I had to make a change.  With the Lords help, I began to allot only several hours each day at mamma's side and was blessed to find a wonderful, loving care giver that would visit her when I couldn't (GOD THING, YA'LL!).  It came down to either collapsing or TRUSTING GOD!  I love my sweet mama with all my heart, but He knew I needed a change and a new perspective, so gradually I "allowed" myself (with His help) to slow down.  I chose to embark on a study of how Great and Faithful He is to His children.  I purposed to "see" His promises of His Faithfullness through "fresh eyes" and with an expectant heart of renewed faith I looked to Him to refresh and restore my spirit, soul and body.  I purposed to replace worry and concern about my mamma's care with the Peace of knowing He would take of care of her and me.   I still have my days where I feel guilty about not being with mama practically every waking moment, but I'm learning more and more about entering into and remaining in His rest and remind myself that He can handle it, there is nothing too difficult for Him! Glory to God!!!   Isn't it amazing how He lovingly guides us through lifes ups and downs if we let Him!!  What a wonder He is!!  Oh, and I was even able to take several wonderful trips to Florida to visit my daughter Katie and you better believe I enjoyed every minute of it!!! Oh yeah...laying on the beach, shopping the outlets and hanging out at Disney World was just what the Great Physician ordered!!!  And I hope to get back to FL again soon!!

Moving along here.....And I do mean moving!  You might remember that we sold our house (God thing!) and moved into a great rental but had to move (again!!) to another rental because the owner let it foreclose (soo bummmed!).  Well, OMG!!!!..my hubs territory suddenly changed to Phoenix and we had to up and MOVE AGAIN.......this makes five moves in five years....are you kidding me!!! I also had to find a new nursing home for mama and He directed me to a wonderful and loving facility near my house that had an immediate opening for her, PTL!   I told the Lord that I was beginning to feel like the children of Israel having to pick-up and move continuously.  I recall laughing at myself as I once again packed and loaded my kitchen into my jeep and wondered if the Israelite women had the same ponderings running through their mind as I did when they once again loaded their donkeys and moved again  in their journey to the Promise Land......"I mean, really Lord, are you serious..... move again, right now?"!!!  And His reply....Yes, daughter!"  And so, like the children of Israel, we loaded up "and followed the cloud" (U-Haul truck) to Phoenix...:)))!!!

Well, we got moved in record time and I'm slowly beginning to nest again, PTL!  But in the midst of the  move I managed to pull an abdominal muscle (yeeeouchhhh!) and subsequently threw my lower back out, OMG!!!  My docs told me it might take months to heal and I was to rest, not lift anything (duh! like I wanted to!) and take muscle relaxers and pain meds until things start to feel better. Over several months  my heating pad and ice pack have become my new BFF's, watched The Help (luv that movie) so many times that I can practically quote the entire script verbatim and just about OD'd on HGTV and DIY network.  But, however, I've gotten some really great decorating ideas for when I'm back to 100%, ya hoo!  I thank the Lord that I'm on the mend now and pray that the word MOVE is nowhere in my future anytime soon.  I may not be ready for Zumba just yet, but I'm getting there!  PTL!!

Oh, I left out one minor huge detail....I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy in December but put it off for a while.....I'm mean seriously, a hysterectomy on top of everything else....are you kidding me...I don't think so!!!  I'll keep you posted!


Well, that's what's been going on in my corner of the world -  another move, taking care of mama, recover from burn out and exhaustion, pulled abdominal muscle and back out of whack and impending hysterectomy, oh my!  But, it sure feels good to be back in the bloggin' saddle again and I'm sooo looking forward to  riding the bloggin' trail and visiting everyone again....You always bless my heart so....I've really missed ya'll!

Whoopi-ty-aya-oh

Bloggin' to and fro

Back in the saddle again!

Whoopi-ty-aya-oh

Where He leads me I will go

I'm back in the saddle again!  :)))

HE IS FAITHFUL!!!


The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you or forsake you;
Do not be afraid;
Do not be discouraged.
Deut. 31:8

Happy Trails Ya'll!!