Yesterday was interesting. Got things done here at 401. For the first time, I used a cleaning service for the carpets that utilizes the dry cleaning method. That was unpleasant. I grabbed Mitzi and Opal and ran for the door as I was experiencing a paroxysm of coughing and headed for respiratory distress. Where's Ken from Acorn Rug and Carpet Cleaning when I need him?

Just one of the many wonderful people that helped me over the years. Sherri, Ken, guys at RC Norman....just to name a few! What a wonderful bunch.

Now, I need a plumber. Tried to fix the powder room "loo" myself. After the nastiest chemical I could find didn't work...I bought an auger! Armed with my $8.00 potty auger...I was certain that I'd get things flowing freely again. Not so...Darn!...I hate that when it happens. Now I'm forced to call in a plumber that will charge me 5x what my co-pay is at the pharmacy.
Crazy!

Dinner last evening with a friend and church this morning. Two very good things. Will finish out the weekend working here at 401. I have much to be thankful for...and I am.

Have a blessed day.
Love always, Sue

Called DanaMarie at 6:15 a.m. to sing "Happy Birthday to You!" It sounded BAD! REALLY BAD!!! but, hopefully, she knows the intent was much better than the musical preformance. She's 28 today.

Decorated the store for Christmas. I have no idea how many times I ran up and down that ladder! Good Grief! After I got one area done, I learned that only guys have done it in the past because of the ladder. And.......I'm the one that's afraid of heights!

Am watching the Presidential Debates tonight from Las Vegas. Heaven help us! The only good thing I can say is that Hilary's make-up artist did a good job. Not good.

We need to pray for this upcoming election.
Have a great day tomorrow.
Love, Sue

Healthcare made a lot more sense. Retail just seems nuts! The trunks keep coming...unloading palettes of "stuff." There's no place left to stuff the "stuff!" It's crazy.

Tonight was the dinner for the single moms and choir...and in a week I'll be heading to Kentucky!

Have a great day tomorrow.
Love, Sue

Have been back a week as of last night...and things are falling back into place. The laundry no longer resembles a small mountain...the fix-it list is shrinking...and I'll be headed out for a walk on the beach tomorrow (after work and before the single moms dinner at church). In just 8 days I'll be heading to Kentucky for turkey and family time. Sis and Bruce will drive in from Columbus and I'll fly into Louisville. I am blessed not only with kids that I adore, but in laws that I would choose for friends...even without the kids! My wish is that you could all have in laws like ours!!!

I know that you are praying for us and wondering how things are going. It's not "everything's OK"...or "everything's horrible"...which makes it really hard to describe. However, I will tell you that something really incredible happened a few weeks ago.

I got up on a Sunday morning to practice the music for the Christmas Concert... (not because I was feeling even remotely spiritual...but simply because, if I say I'm going to do something...then I need to do it to the best of my ability.) I had purchased a small keyboard to help me practice...so I started to "do the Next Thing"...which in this case was practice. Over and over again....repetition has always been mastery...so there I was...alone in 401...me and the words to "Miracle."

Here are the words...

the Narrator starts and says: "I'm absolutely convinced that nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable, absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

the lyrics start and a male voice sings:

When the wrappings have all been undone,
when the carols for a season sung,
when that manger scene comes off the shelf,
I'm tryin' to trust that story for myself.

How our Father's love would grant His Son
to reclaim His lost and helpless ones.
That the lame would walk and the blind would see,
it all reminds me of the mystery.

Neither life, nor death, nor powers unseen,
not the fears about tomorrow,
neither height, nor depth can ever separate us
from Emmanuel,
Miracle with us.

...next a woman sings:
When the sorrows of my desperate heart
and all hope and love and beauty part,
when the ache of loneliness and sin
dowse the fire of my peace with in.
Yet in the light of Your redeeming love
Through the power of Your name, Lord Jesus
I could scream it from the mountain tops,
I'm a child of the King, of God with us.

Neither life, nor death,
nor powers unseen,
Not the fears about tomorrow,
neither heighth , nor depth can ever separate us from Emmanuel,
the Miracle with us.

and the Narrator says:
O Father, what an honor it is to be called Your children.
What an honor it is to be loved by You today.
Thanks You for walking with us.
Thank you for never leaving us, never forsaking us,
never abandoning us, never divorcing us.
You are Emmanuel, You are God with us
and we are grateful.

...as I'm practicing, I notice a feeling...so real...but so surprising...I have to stop. I'm feeling Joy...true, quiet, unmistakable joy...about the Greatest Story Ever Told...about Christmas. Wait...me feeling joy about Christmas? ....I thought that was gone forever...and all I would ever want to do is delete "the holidays."
Unmistakable...and for all the right reasons...there it was. I was amazed...humbled...in awe...as if seeing it for the first time...
all the hope...all the joy...all the Grace...it was there. It's because of Christmas...and Jesus birth...that I know where Dan is...that I don't have to worry about that...ever. It was a very special Sunday morning...so I gathered myself together...and in this case...doing the next thing meant heading off to Grace Com. and ...like I always do, sit in the back row...only this time...I couldn't wait for Christmas to come.

That's still there...and I am so thankful for experiencing again the true joy and meaning of Christmas...here's the tough part...
Just as real as the joy...is the sadness and loss. They live side by side in my heart. Some days...one is more evident than the other.

Right now...I'm working really hard to exercise...read more of Elisabeth ...eat broccoli rather than ice cream and potato chips...and occassionally make a large pot of Tear Soup. A day doesn't pass that I'm not aware of all that I have to be grateful for. And I've learned that...Gratitude is powerful and transforming...and fatigue is a mighty enemy. (wish I could remember who said, "fatigue makes cowards of us all" can't remember...but they definitely knew what they were talking about!)

Not simple,...not easy,...but thankful...for so many things. And right now...doing the next thing means I get to watch DWTS!
Go Max and Mel!
Much love...........Sue

Hi from HHI. Nellie has a new wireless modem from Verizon, two days at the repair shop...and though she's not running well, at least I can get to the blog.

Arrived back at 8pm on Monday. Would definitely use Skybus again. It's nice not messing with a connecting flight in Charlotte or Arlanta.

So many thoughts whirling around in my brain. Need time to sort them out. Will write more tomorrow.

Take care.........Love, Sue