Unexpected delays

I'm sitting in traffic as I type. I have been here over an hour now, trying to get the few hundred yards to my exit to get home. I wonder what those in the vehicles around me are thinking and feeling. Are they mad? Are they late for an important meeting? Is anyone sick and needing to get home to rest? Probably someone was going to have lunch with a friend and they won't make it. I'm so glad I didn't tell Caleb I'd eat lunch with him today as I'd considered.

I have talked to my husband. He found out there was an accident claiming the lives of three people, plus others with injuries.

Why am I sitting here? I had the thought as I headed towards home that I'd be home by 11 today. It's now 12:37. I made a stop at the grocery store for my husband. I'd gone to the store yesterday, but I'd missed Grapenuts that he'd written on my list. Since I was in town I stopped by to pick them up for him. I can't help but think maybe I didn't see it on my list yesterday so I wouldn't be involved in the accident today. (Later I found out it was up the interstate a bit more than I would have traveled. Still I know God had a reason for me to be sitting there. That hasn't happened to me in a long time and I don't think ever when I've been by myself.)

What attitude do you have when you face unexpected delays in life? This goes back to the idea that we have a choice about our attitudes. So I sit and wait. I've listened to my audio CD of Karen Kingsbury's Take One, balanced the checkbook, and read some from another book.

Join me in saying a prayer for the families of those who lost their lives.

PS: I got home and it's 12:55. I did get home by 1. Thank you God.

Have a day of blessings!

You're Gonna Miss This......Moment #4

Friday was full of fun moments with me and my boy. I like to get most of the chores and housework done earlier in the week so I have less to do on Fridays. Friday morning started out cloudy and rainy so it was the perfect day to be lazy in our pajamas. Caleb was watching a video and I warned him that we might lose electricity but if that happens we'll start the video again later. He looked at me one time and said, "Um, is it still daytime?" It got really really dark right before it poured rain. His comment made me laugh how he said it so innocently! He got his flashlight and got on the couch with me to read books. Later he wanted me to be a dog so I made doggy noises and he had to take me to the vet. He covered me with a blanket and gave me a pillow and curled up beside me. I said, "Do you like curling up by a doggy?" At that moment I was thinking it is just a couple more weeks till we sign him up for kindergarten. I emailed my Mom to tell her what we'd been doing and she said it made her think "You're gonna miss this." Oh yes, that is what I was thinking.
Click here for other moments!
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"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone." Zechariah 10:1

Raindrop day (or evening)

The title of my blog is "Raindrops & Rainbows." Normally I feel like I have "rainbow" type days and weeks. I will admit, though, that last night though was tough. It seemed like everything we told Caleb he wanted to do the opposite and got upset about everything. By bedtime I was worn out and just needed to cry. It is in these times when things start piling up in my heart and I think of all the things I think I'm doing wrong and all the things in my life I think I have to change. I have to be very careful not to let the "F word" start going around in my brain. I get bogged down in "why can't I...." and feel very discouraged. Add to that my tiredness and last night I knew I just needed to go to sleep.


One thing that came to mind during this weariness is how to balance my computer time each day. At one point I was part of a message board where I felt a connection, group closeness I guess, to the women there. I was always amazed at how these women had time to have so many posts each day, commenting on everything anyone posted, and still have time to be a mommy. Then we changed from dial-up to DSL so I saw how it was less time consuming to just pop on leave a comment, and go about the day. About the time I felt I was spending too much time on this board, it broke up and dissolved. I've tried out some other boards since then but am not really into them and don't know the people like I thought I knew the people at this one board. Some of the stories posted on the message boards I could never determine if the women were being honest or were just always "one upping" things that were said to get attention. I questioned their sincerity. I DID make some very good friends on this board, and I continue to value the friendship of these ladies even though we've never met in person.


Now I feel I've gained a new community of support through my blogging friends. I feel these friends are honest and genuine. I feel like I can read people's hearts as I'm reading their posts and get so much encouragement from other wives and moms. I've told my husband before that I appreciate being able to just take a break from whatever I'm doing in my day to check my email. It is nice to have communication with others. My Mom and I write emails back and forth to each other and I like this connection, for example.

Thinking about this last night I felt weighed down, asking myself what ways I need to change my computer habits, trying to figure out how to balance my time and not spend too much time on the computer, figuring out what is enough and what is too much, looking for answers. If you have ever struggled with this, I'd appreciate reading your ideas of things that work for you. It doesn't seem so terrible and heavy in the morning as I was making it out to be last night in my mind, but I still want to see if I can improve in this area.


I am thankful it is a new day. I am thankful that we have our boy to raise and teach as he grows. I realize we all just have bad days sometimes when nothing seems right or good. The verse below was on my calendar today so I wanted to share it. Have a good day!
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"Every morning tell him, 'Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness." Psalm 92:2, TLB


"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night" Psalm 92:1, 2

Our exciting day!

We did some errands this morning after going to the food pantry. We were by Chick fil a so I asked Caleb if he'd like to eat lunch. We rarely go to this location because 1) it's on the opposite side of town, 2) it is really a drive thru with some tables in a covered area over to the side. So since we were there and it was a nice day out I thought we could get our lunch and eat outside. Birds fly around and peck at crumbs people have dropped near their tables. They don't bother me so much unless they fly by and surprise me. We had our lunch spread out on our napkins and Caleb says awwww loooooook. I thought he was talking about a bird at his feet. I scooted over and saw in the dirt this huge rodent. It was sitting in their flowerbed near a large bush looking around. It was too large to be a mouse so I guess it was a rat. Uggggh! I don't even like typing about the silly thing! I'd watched a lady drop some french fry crumbs into the dirt of the flower bed for the birds. This rodent dashes over and grabs a fry and scurries back under the bush. I had pulled my feet up onto the bench by this time. I didn't think it would really come up onto the cement (it better not!). We were really close to it in the first row of tables next to the bar fence around the flowerbed/dirt. A girl was out cleaning off the tables so I showed it to her. She'd never seen it out there. I tried to continue eating and then I saw another one. I know this is a different one because it was a different shade of brown and it's tail was much longer. Uggggh! Then I see them both dash out, one chasing the other down the side of the flowerbed. I told Caleb I didn't think I could finish my lunch! I don't know why it bothered me so much. I knew they weren't going to come get me. It just grossed me out to see them while I was eating, right there, so nearby! We went to get Caleb's refill and told the girl who'd been cleaning tables we saw another one. As we were leaving I told Caleb I was sorry we couldn't stay and finish our lunch (I'd taken mine with me and he carried his fruit cup along with him to the car). He said, "It's okay, it's not your fault."

We went to the library and then came home for Caleb's nap. We had the "pest patrol" coming over at 2:30. Sunday night my husband found a long line of insects crawling from Caleb's window down to his outlet behind his dresser. After doing some research he was scared they were termites. Caleb didn't want to go to sleep because he wanted to see "those people" when they came. I told them he had time to take his nap and then see them when they come. Thankfully, they are not termites. They are swarmer ants (I think that is what he said). He gave me their various treatment options so we'll decide now what to do. We were really glad they were not termites.









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"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:3,4

Our Wednesday

Early this morning I felt and heard a loud bump and realized Caleb had rolled out of bed. I didn't even know he had come to our bed, I must have been sleeping soundly! I was instantly wide awake. Apparently it didn't phase him thought. We asked if he was hurt, and he said his side but was mostly asleep as he said that. He didn't seem to remember it this morning.

This morning we went to the food pantry and then ran by Walgreens to drop off our ink cartridges. I know we had one refilled a while back, but I couldn't remember if it was the black or colored ink. So I took them both and the guy said they'd fill up both of them! I asked how long it would be because I had a couple more things to buy, thinking he'd say 30 minutes or so. He said they'd be ready to pick up on the 4th! I looked back on their counter, and there were rows and rows of envelopes with cartridges waiting to be refilled. I got there at a good time because we didn't have a line like I saw forming as we finished our shopping. After Walgreens we went to the bread store and then to story time at the library. Caleb makes me laugh every week as they're doing the opening and closing songs. He really gets into it with the motions!

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"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it we're called children of God! That's who we really are." I John 3:1

Exciting news and being productive

First for the exciting news! I won a blog giveaway!!!!!! I had forgotten I'd signed up and saw my blog initials at To Know Him yesterday. There is a book exchange called "Pay It Forward" hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy. I've never participated before, but this particular giveaway was for Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I've always heard what a good book it is, so I signed up . I still can't believe I won the giveaway! Now I will be having my own PIF book giveaway. Stay tuned for details (probably later this month or early February).

It always makes me feel good to have a productive day. I got dressed quickly when JMP left for work this morning and did my work out. I did the two mile video on the Walk Away the Pounds with Leslie Sansone. I have several videos I use for workouts, and this is one of my favorites that I always enjoy doing. When Caleb got up I fixed breakfast and got a load of clothes in the wash. After breakfast he wanted to put up his tent. It was a sight I'm sure to see me putting the tent together. Daddy normally does it! Caleb hasn't had it up in a long time and was excited to have it out. I played in the tent with him for a little bit. I told him how much he has grown since the time he first got it (Christmas 2005). I got out the scrapbook for him to see. He said there's a baby. I told him that was him! He looks so different, we enjoyed looking through the pages together. I got my Avon order submitted also, got the clothes in, and we had lunch. Then we did Caleb's lesson. We're starting a new unit on winter and the letter Q (or QU really). Now it is nap time.

It was nice to hang the clothes out on the line today. I tried a couple times in the past few weeks, but it was too cold for me to hang them. I like hanging them in the morning and not waiting till afternoon because it gets dark so early and the temperatures drop. And in the morning was when the temperatures were still low. But it was really windy so I thought they'd dry in the wind. I didn't enjoy it though with the chill in the air, wind, and the wet clothes making my hands more cold. So today was warmer and I hung out two loads. It is very cloudy and I'm thinking it will rain. We got a few sprinkles. Some of the things weren't totally dry, but I didn't want them to be left out and soaked so I brought them back inside.
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"Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities."