Thanksgiving

As the day comes to an end, I thought I would tell some things I am thankful for.

1. My family and their health

2. A warm house to live in, more than enough food to eat, and clothes to wear

3. My friends, both old and new

4. My church where I know people love God and want to serve Him

5. Children who are growing up and making me proud

6. Jobs for me and Mike and that Mike's job is still going well

7. Parents who raised me to love God and live for Him

8. And most of all the gift of eternal life made possible through Jesus

We had a very good day today with just my family and my parents. Quite a different Thanksgiving than we've had the past few years since we chose not to cruise this year. One reason we chose to stay at home is because my mom is getting in really bad shape. Each time I am with her, I realize more and more how she is going downhill. Her mind is really going and it is so hard to see her like this, when I still want my mama to be that same person she was as I was growing up. She still knows all of us, but she is just so forgetful and is not really able to do much for herself anymore. This year I actually did all of the cooking and she didn't even really come into the kitchen to even see what I was doing. I have to hand it to my dad. He is taking such good care of her and is so patient. I know it is so hard for him to see his bride in this way. I have always told Mike, since before we even married, that it was going to be a hard time for me when I lose my parents. Unfortunately that time seems to be drawing closer and closer. I have been so blessed to have the parents God gave me. They have set such a good example for me over the years and their faith has been an inspiration to me. They have such love for God, their family and their friends. I just pray now that God will be gracious to them as they continue to grow older and that He will prepare me for the day ahead.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and good luck with your shopping.

Decorating Complete

Well, I spent much of yesterday and today doing my Christmas decorating. I really can't believe I'm done. I've never decorated this early for Christmas. I hope I don't tire of the tree and such before Christmas. As excited as I am about putting up my tree, I'm also just as anxious to get it down when Christmas is over. I am not one of those who leaves up their tree 'til New Years. I won't it down and put away long before I have to go back to school. I'm sure another reason I've decorated early this year is the fact we are actually home this week. The past 4 Thanksgivings we have been on a cruise. I am really missing that, especially with the cold and rainy weather. Maybe we'll go again next year. It is just getting really hard to be away with all the kids activities. If we had gone, Chris would have had to miss his first wrestling tournament of the season (he was 4 for 4 with 3 pins) and Katie would have had to miss 2 basketball games (they won them both in the last seconds/minutes of the game). It would have been bad to miss those.

Also, we have tried to talk my Mom and Dad into going on the cruise with us for the last 4 years, but my Mom just won't go. She doesn't like to be so far away from home. So, we decided we needed to be here this year to spend Thanksgiving with them. They will be coming down on Wednesday to spend the night. I am now the one who cooks most of the dinner. My Mom just isn't up to doing it any more. She does still make the dressing, because I haven't learned how to do that yet!! I'm looking forward to the rest of the week of taking it easy and spending time with family.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

New CD

I just got Michael W. Smith's new CD, A New Hallelujah, and I love it. It has some really great worship songs on it. I got to see him sing many of them when I went to see him and Stephen Curtis Chapman in concert. I've not been to many concerts in my life, but that was a really great one. It was more like a praise and worship service than a concert. If you have the chance to see either of them in concert, go. If you like Michael W. Smith or worship music, you have got to get this new CD. You won't be disappointed.

Why?

I sometimes wonder why I do the things I do. For instance, playing tennis in the freezing cold and rain!! I got home from a match about an hour ago and still haven't completely thawed out. I hate cold weather, but for some reason I feel like I need to be out in it playing tennis. I love to play and enjoy it in the warm weather, but I continue to put myself through the torture of winter tennis. I guess it is fun in the long run, but sometimes I wonder! What makes it worse is when you lose in the cold weather. What a bummer! Of course if I hadn't been playing tennis in the cold tonight I could have enjoyed the cold at Cagle's Dairy with the rest of my family. They had the cold and rain there too. Not a good night for being outside. At least when I play again tomorrow the sun will be out!

Enough of that, I can't wait until Thanksgiving Break. I need a week out of school. From Labor Day to Thanksgiving Break is the longest part of the school year. It seems if I can make it 'til Thanksgiving, the rest of the year cruises by a lot easier. It does seem crazy that in just 4 weeks the school year will be half over. It seems to go by faster every year. It seems to go even faster each year as Chris nears graduation. This time next year I'm sure I'll want the school year to slow down for his senior year. Wow, I'm getting old!

Today as I was doing errands I was getting very excited about the Christmas season. I know Thanksgiving hasn't even gotten here yet, but I must say I LOVE Christmas time. I love to decorate, shop, bake and all the things that go along with Christmas. I've not done any shopping yet. I actually enjoy waiting until it nears Christmas to do my shopping. I like being in all the craziness. It doesn't seem like Christmas without it. I did get some things for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes today. That has become a yearly thing to participate in. It really amazes my children that a shoebox of toys and goodies will be the only Christmas present some of these children will recieve. It is a good reminder for all us to remember how blessed we are.

Homecoming

My family spent the weekend in Statesboro for GSU Homecoming. It was also an FCA/Fletcher Baptist Church reunion. No one else in my family was excited about going to this event. Mike doesn't have much love-loss for Statesboro and the kids kept complaining they wouldn't know anybody there. Too bad, we're all going anyway!! It turns out we all had a great time. Even though it has been 8 years or more since I've seen some of these people, the bond we shared makes it seem we've never been apart. It was great seeing old college and church friends from the past. It was a reminder of the times I had in FCA during college and the times at our church in Statesboro and how God used all of that to make me what I am today. It was awesome to see how we have all gone our separate ways and how God is using us all today in the places we are now. My college years were some of the best and I have memories I'll treasure forever.

It was also neat for my children to experience what I had during college. Especially as Chris nears college age, it was good for him to see how it important it is to stay plugged into Christian fellowship when you leave home. He went to the college Sunday School class this morning. When I asked him how it was he said it was really good. He said it was kind of odd because he knew the people who were there wanted to be there. They had nobody making them go to church. I pray he and Katie will be that way when they leave home. They will want to go to church even though noone is making them. I was also glad for them to see what I surrounded myself with during those days and how it is now part of who I am, all which ultimately impacts them. They had a great time meeting all the other kids and spending time with them. It was neat to see how they could bond just because of the friendship of their parents.

This weekend kind of makes me think this is little of what heaven might be like. The chance to reunite with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ we've known throughout the years. The chance to worship the One who made us one in His sight.

History is Made

Well, history was made yesterday. I guess it would have been made no matter which way the election had turned out. This will definitely be an election we will all remember for years to come. Unfortunately it didn't turn out as I hoped, but be assured God is still in control. I've received the following from a few people since last night and wanted to post it here as well. It is a good reminder for us all to remember God is still on his throne no matter who will be sitting in the White House. We, as His followers, just need to continue to pray for our nation and do what God has called us to do. We need to continue to set ourselves apart and live for Him as an example to those around us.



Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10 Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him

And God approves this message!

Isn't it great to know who is really in charge.

May we never forget these truths!

Just Getting Started

Okay, I've decided to give this a try and am creating a blog. Hopefully I'll have some interesting things to share from time to time:) I've gotten to where I read several other blogs and this is the reason I'm trying one myself. Tune in soon for all the fun and exciting happenings in the Morrison household!