2007, going, going......almost gone!

They say as you get older time goes by faster. Someone knows what they are talking about. It is true! So many things we thought would happen, didn't. And many things caught us off guard. Who knows what this new year will bring?! I guess life would be pretty boring if we knew what was coming. I had a couple of prayers answered this week. One was that it would snow Christmas Day! And it did!! But melted by evening. That's OK. It looked beautiful and made the day more special.
We've had very little snow so far. The picture above of Roxy and Chewy playing in the snow at our pond, is from last year. What we've had this year hasn't stuck. But Winter isn't over yet.
We've started one new year resolution; we worked out at the gym this morning. My back has been in bad shape, and then after getting rear-ended, it will take some work to get it back where it was. They tell me I just have to keep moving. It's the secret to staying younger longer. We all want that. But it takes work.

We've no great plans for this year, just taking it a step at a time. Jennifer, our youngest daughter and her family, may move east to Spokane. There is a chance we may follow. It's something we've talked about for a couple of years. I'm going with Bennie this month over there while he works. Aunt Cherri lives there so it's a good chance for us to visit and for me to look around. Definetly colder there, but DRIER! That's what I'm talking about!

We've almost finished Love and Respect. Excellent help for any couple. Anything good in this life takes work. And I'm not afraid of that. The benefits are priceless! Well my pot-roast is in the oven, and I'm off to make a lemon meringue pie for my sweetie. His favorite! I hope your New Year holds promise of better things for you and your families.

Love And Respect

This time of the year seems to be more difficult for relationships than any other. I find myself spending more time pondering that. Did you know the R-E-S-P-E-C-T was originally written and sung by Otis Redding? Not Aretha Franklin? Learn something new every day. The latest book (Bennie and I) are actually reading together, is called Love and Respect. It accurately describes the "Crazy Cycles" many of us get on and are on at any given moment. And the reason being, like everything else in our life; we get off the track! Take a look at what is stated in Ephesians 5:33: Husbands, love your wives unconditionally. Wives, show unconditional respect to your husbands.

Whoooooa! I'm detecting the reigns being pulled in tight! Isn't unconditionaly respect an oxymoron? I suppose it could look that way, but no more than unconditional love. We all have the tendency to reserve the right to wait until someone earns our love...OR respect, before we think we have to actually give it. But....these words in Ephesians aren't suggestions for us to ponder. We're actually commanded as children of the King to obey these words on how to live towards each other, even when we don't feel like it.

Our first allegience is always to the Lord God Almighty! You know, the One who created us in the first place. It is Him we obey, serve and.....adore. And when we do all the above, we show Him to the world, making Him proud of His children. Our faith is not based on how we feel towards someone, just as His love is not based on how He feels about us, thankfully! If we all got what we deserve .... ouch!

So for me personally, respect is one of the things this book is helping me to understand the importance of. I know the other part is coming soon, the unconditional love thing I want to hear about. God wired men and women a little different from each other. (You think??) And I admit it is sometimes very difficult for me to cough up some respect, especially when I can't see why I should! But it doesn't matter how I feel about it. If I make a habit of living my life according to how I feel about someone or a situation, then I am no better than the rest of the world.

I will update you on the rest of the book as I get through it. The unconditional love part is what we women are naturally wired for, and it talks a lot about that need we have from our men. For now I am just focusing on being obedient. Past experience has proven to me there are rewards for me in doing so; peace, assurance I'm on the right track, harmony in the house, power to stand my ground despite all the opposition, a viscious circle becoming a road I can actually see down, with light at the end, and Who knows what else.... Remember the "golden rule".... in Matthew it says "Treat others the same way you want to be treated." Makes sense, just not always easy to remember.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:2-7

And the angels sing......