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

Am sitting at Bruce's this morning...two cups downed and fairly awayke oops,...well, not quite! Even though I left $105 on Graham Rd...Nellie (my pc) is still down Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I'll get it straightened out. Thankfully, I can pop off a blog from C'bus.

As the mental fog is lifting...(Bruce is still asleep)...it's fun to enjoy another cup and think about my most recent visit with you. Such a wonderful time...so many good connections and heart to heart talks over coffee and diet coke. Bob Evans, Brueggers, Mustard Seed, Crave...did we eat and talk our way thru the week??? I think so.
I loved it...and as always, the week flew by and the next thing I know...it's time to head to another one of my favorite places...C'bus!

The bump in the road for me is always the same...I have a wonderful time with you...love every minute...and yet leave feeling like I didn't get everywhere I wanted...see everyone I wanted to see...for as long as I needed. It really bothers me. So much so...I spent time on Wed. evening talking it over with some of my favorite people...Dr. Moshe Torem and Ronit. " How do I do this well???" was my question.
We talked...that is always great...the man has so much wisdom. I need to be mindful of and thankful for the friends in my life. No problem there...that's a definite. Maybe I need more time............ Hmmmmmmmmmmm...will think about how to do that. Will look over the past year...Have I put my time in to stay connected? I certainly tried. Cindy says I need to schedule time better...I think she's right. Will work on that. My friend David Nemer...an MBA, bright, a successful businessman and he has 10 years of experience doing this from New York to family and friends in Akron...I'll ask him. He says it's still tough. Darn. Still lessons to learn. Don't think that will ever stop. (Don't want it to.) But I come back to...We Can Do This! Not sure how it will ultimately look...but definitely....WE CAN DO THIS!!! I am sure I'll make some mistakes in the process. Please know for absolute certain...my heart is in the right place even when my feet aren't.

Thank you for a wonderful time. I truly loved every minute. It was just a great time! Now for a wonderful day with the best attorney/guy in C'bus! , BPP,...Bruce Paul. We'll do church at 11 and then head out to finish the work we started on yesterday...curtains...check
wall art...check ...end table...double check ! You should see what we found. It has a top that slides across so you can move your snacks right by you. Kind of like a bedside table in the hospital. .

Will call Suzy and Norm later today. Will be back as soon as Nellie is lo longer MIA.

Take care and Thanks!
Love always, Sue