Whoa, it's been a while since I've done an entry.  So if anyone is still checking in, here you go.

Do you remember my January 15th entry when I said I was claiming this year as my year of Jubilee?  ( Great rejoicing).  The Bible talks about a year of jubilee when all financial debts were forgiven and everyone was given a clean slate.  My Mom always thought that was the neatest thing and wished we could have had that.  Wouldn't we all!

I wanted to make 2007 my year of great rejoicing.  Wow, I had no idea what God had in store!  My stress level has dropped to zero!  Things have settled down and new stones are paving my pathway. 

First, there is Danielle.  For those of you who know our family well, you've most likely had the privilege of meeting her.  What a sweet spirit she is and a delight to get to know. 

My daughter recently got a new job which she loves.  More money, triple commission and friendly co-workers are some of the perks.  She also just finished an awesome semester at college.

My son is starting summer classes at college.  This has been a goal of his for years and the Lord has made the way and the perfect timing.  A definite heart's desire for my son.

Another one of my loved ones has gotten out from under her stressful situation.  Her strength is to be admired!  She is so steadfast in her pursuit of God's will for her - she couldn't be in a better place in her life right now!

I have just been blessed with an incredible new job.  It is so amazing to me.  I could go on and on about the blessings of this new position.  And to think that the Lord has given this to me.  Me, so undeserving!  I just keep thinking about how I MUST keep it first and foremost in my life to show grace, mercy and keep my eyes open for ways to bless others. 

I have to mention my husband as a big part of my life to rejoice about.  He is my love, my friend, my help mate, my biggest supporter and I am blessed by him every day of my life.  As we like to say to each other, "I love us."

I so much enjoyed Joel Osteen's book, "Your Best Life Now," that I read at the beginning of the year.  It talks about claiming God's favor in your life.  I have tried to keep myself in 'favor mode' this year, remembering how much God loves me, how He wants to do good things for me and that I should expect them!  I am in shock over this new job!  Why do I let myself continue to be surprised by Him?  Why haven't I come to expect His favor, His miracles?  I'm learning, I'm learning.

So if you come by my house in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, don't be surprised to see me out enjoying lawn work or sitting on my swing.  Fantastic hours are one of the things I look forward to the most with this new job.  I rejoice in our Lord and His great mercies, kindnesses and generous gifts!  Claim your own Jubilee and watch for great things to rejoice over!

I've been doing lots of thinking and reflecting lately.  My how much life can change. 

I lost my beautiful mother last year.  I usually don't like to talk about the "losing" part unless it's an opportunity to give God the glory for how He made the best of a horrible situation.  But talking about how wonderful she was/is (she will always be alive in my heart), now that's a different story.  I never took my mother's love and devotion for granted.  She always made me feel confident, safe, cherished, loved and like I mattered.  She had high morals and standards that she lived by and expected no less from me and my siblings.  The Lord was first in her life and she passed that heritage on.  So the past 14 months without her physically here have been an adjustment.  But my Mom still loves me (present tense, not past tense) because I will carry her love with me the rest of my life.  I once heard, "Life is full of meetings and partings."  Thank our glorious Lord that the partings are only for a season for those of us who love Him.

I'm thankful that life is lived in seasons because seasons change.  Bad times may come our way but thankfully they don't last a lifetime; only for a season.  My family has been experiencing some of that recently and most gratefully, is coming out of it.  Watching those you love and care about suffer and hurt, especially at the hands of others, is heartbreaking.  A good Christian friend told me that sometimes God asks us to give up something good for something better.  I find that to be so true.  Right now I am taking joy in watching one of my dearest, most cherished loved ones do just that. . . go into a season of "something better."  Oh my, HOW much better!  I have another beloved one who is just getting ready to enter into her season of something better.  And I cannot wait to see her soul dance again!  It all goes back to my favorite scripture, "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord," Romans 8:28.  He truly gives us beauty for ashes, strength for tears, gladness for mourning and peace for despair! 

I'm getting sleepy so I probably shouldn't be trying to do an entry!  Oh well, here goes.

Life has been busy.  So much going on with so many people.  So many to think about, so many to keep in my prayers.  So what does that mean?

I am BLESSED!  So blessed to have a hard working husband who loves me unconditionally.  He sees me better than I am - how fortunate is that?  I have wonderful children who are completely different but at the same time so much alike.  They bless me with their love and make me feel significant and valued.  I have two incredibly sweet, loving little grandgirls.  Being a Grammy so rocks!  They bless me beyond my ability to express it.  I have siblings who are there for each other (our Momma raised us right!). I have only one sister.  What a blessing!  No sister rivalry because it's just us to support each other as only sisters can.  More blessings!  I have friends; all kinds.  One in particular who manages to never see my faults or should I say, she never lets on that she sees them.  I have a large network of prayer warrior friends.  How can you express how much that means!  How awesome to have one friend in particular who prays for me and my family everyday!  I have extended family that I hold so close as well.  Blessings!

So having this amazing, huge crowd of loved ones is more than one person deserves!  I love them all, their families and their children.  What a privilege to be able to love them back, to lift them in prayer, to be trusted and welcome into their lives. 

Life has been busy with so much going on with so many others.  I am blessed, blessed, blessed!

Hey, stinky weather today.  Oh well, spring IS just around the corner. 

Have a four-day weekend - woo hoo!  Spring cleaning is on the agenda for sure.  Maybe a trip to State College to see our Grammy.  Actually she's my hubby's grandmother but I couldn't love her any more than I do.  She is incredible.  Never had close relationships to my own grandmothers.  It's great being an adult and having a grammy.  You know someone to unconditionally love you, someone who remembers you in her prayers and someone who is always cheering for you.  She is so sweet!  She is a great-great grandmother to my granddaughters.  Can you imagine having a great-great grandmother?  Grammy is 90 and in very good health so I hope we have her for a long time to come!

Talking about Grammy makes me appreciate how much I love and cherish my family.  What an awesome gift God gave us!  How blessed I am to have unbreakable family ties.  To always know that there is someone (lots of someones!) there for you.  I'll close with some quotes I like about family:

No matter how great the distance, we return; bearing the bruises of the paths we've chosen.

We come to join in laughter, in comfort, and in grief.

In this house spirits soar, souls dance, and we magically make up for lost time.

We gather in a whirling celebration of life and like the rivers that run into the sea, we are once again whole.

We take comfort in knowing that through moments of great joy and times of sobering reality, we are surrounded by all that we will ever need . . . each other.

So we're halfway through the weekend - it goes so quickly!  It's been really productive and fun.  The spring cleaning bug has bitten and I'm excited to get into it.  There is such satisfaction and reward in it.  I've done some closet cleaning, sorting (some things for yard sale, some that were burned/pitched), cupboard cleaning, etc.  It's just a good feeling!  I don't like clutter or things that aren't organized.  Can't wait until the weather warms up so I can get out into the yard and clean out the flower beds.  The deck needs painted again, too.  At least the increasing hours of daylight will give more time to get things done.

Can't wait to grill out, sit out on the lawn swings and play outside with the little granddaughters!  I even enjoy cutting the grass. 

Yesterday my daughter and I ran to Roller Mills.  They expanded last year and now have over 400 dealers instead of 250.  We both found awesome things that we are so pleased with! 

Today hubby and I are going out on a date with friends.  I'm looking forward to that.  Too bad it's to be SO cold!  Stay warm everybody!