Every Day Life: Life Goes On...

By Beth

Here we are, at the end of the road, the path we've been walking down is splitting into two. This will be my last post for MAD21 as the next few paragraphs will explain. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience I was given and this will not be the end of my writing, I don't think I'll ever stop writing. This is not a result of an argument or difference of opinion, simply my life is heading in a much more complicated direction and I would not be able to keep up with getting my posts in, let alone getting them in on time. I wish everyone here the best and hope to actually meet some of you someday. Good luck!!

My life has taken a significant turn over the last several months. Last summer I started a new full time job, my first full time job since my son was born. He's 10. I chose to stay home and work part time while my kids were little because I thought that was best for them. I wanted to be the one raising them, not a daycare or a babysitter. My plan had always been that when Ben started middle school I would find a full time job. Things just kind of got rolling a year earlier than I had planned.

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Living For Today

By Pat

Last night we got some snow, a very heavy, wet snow. I went out in the morning armed with my shovel and began the daunting task of clearing the driveway and also the road we share with neighbors, but after a very short time, I knew this would be no easy chore. The snow was like concrete, and after a while it became clear to me that I would be shoveling for quite some time and I became discouraged. I looked at the area I had done, but it was so small compared to what was still ahead of me. And so, slowly and painstakingly I continued on, and I discovered that if I kept myself focused on what I was doing and what I had finished rather than on what was still to be done, I felt more able to continue on with confidence that I would be able to finish. But in looking at what was still before me, I wanted to simply give up, thinking I would never get it all done.

It's easy for me to allow the same mentality to overtake me in my daily life. I look too much at the future, worrying and wondering how I will pay certain bills...or will I someday find a new career? Will my husband finally find a new and better job? Will my business pick up? Will my learning-disabled granddaughter learn the things required of her, and will she have friends? What is God's plan for me"? The future is uncertain... tomorrow is not promised.

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Every Day Life: Winter Wonderland

By Beth

I was planning on doing an article this week about the changes happening in my life right now, there's a lot going on. But as I sit here getting ready to email my article, I am staring out my window into pure beauty and I just have to write about it.

Every winter all I do is complain. I don't like being cold, or wet, or especially cold and wet at the same time. I don't like shoveling snow (because I get cold and wet doing it, and it hurts my back). I don't like driving in snow, not because I am afraid to, it's all the other people out there acting like idiots! Of course, doing a 180 on my way to work this morning was not exactly the highlight of my day! I haven't been able to go sledding in years, the last time I did I hurt my knee. So what do I do all winter? Complain. It's too cold, it's too wet, people are crazy, when can I move south, what happened to global warming, get me another heating blanket.

As I sit here looking at this winter storm, listening to the thundersnow and seeing the way the ice and snow lay on the trees and bushes, all those complaints just disappear. This is truly beautiful. God made this and it is breathtaking. Yes I'll have to shovel my long driveway at 4:00 tomorrow morning and brave the roads to get to work (unless they are closed, everyone cross your fingers!) and I still won't like being cold and wet but for tonight I can sit in my warm house watching the beauty of God's nature unfold around me.

Beth is a gorgeous, size 6 blonde married happily these 20 years to Sean Bean, dreamy British actor. Their perfect children attend a boarding school in Scotland that they take the scarlet train out of King's Cross Station to each term. In her spare time, Beth likes to perform interpretive dance in local parks and raise awareness for S.P.E.W. Sean and Beth also own a German Shepherd named Chauncy who likes to nap. Beth M. and Lara were the brains behind our fun series on the Year of the Birthday. We are thankful they have decided to continue the fun with the Bucket List and Every Day Life.

Life Is Funny: Not-So-Welcome Surprises

BY MAD21

Imagine yourself in your garage, looking for something that rolled under a cabinet, only to find more than what you are looking for. You think to yourself, "What is that?" And then, uuuhh-it moves...

What is worse than finding this:

Is finding THIS...

No worries. We got him out unscathed (him and US). He is now residing in the forest across the street... I hope he stays there...

And... at least it was two feet smaller than the one I found a few weeks ago in our front yard...

My friend and fellow blogger Wendy at Weight..What? has a fun carnival at her blog called "Life is Funny." Every Monday we talk about something in life that we find funny. Be sure to go visit her blog to read her post along with links to other blogs who are participating.

Looking For God...Again!

By Pat

Okay, I admit it. I'm struggling again. Struggling with finances which is forcing me to struggle with decisions, among a few other issues, and therefore struggling with my faith. I know I'm not alone; we all have our moments, our days, even weeks and months, don't we? After all, God never promised a trouble-free life for any of us.

Looking back through the Bible, we recall David, Paul, Peter, just to name a few. Even Jesus! They all had their problems. In fact, thinking about the problems they faced make mine seem kind of, well, petty I suppose. And yet, I still struggle. Am I a fair-weather Christian, relying on everything to go my way in order for my faith to be strong? Why can't I hear God? What am I doing wrong? Where is that window God's supposed to open for me when it appears there is a door fixing to slam shut?

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