Saturday, November 19, 2011

Leave It to God


Thanksgiving is Thursday! I'm so grateful this year for our many blessings. Our children are all gainfully employed, and we are going to have another grandchild in three weeks. How blessed are we!

The joy of the Lord is my strength! John 16:22 says that "no one will take away your joy." God is still God, and God is still good has become my mantra. I know that whatever happens in life, I have a choice about how I react to it. Recently, my oldest daughter Teresa lost her job. It was an unjust situation, and I was worried about how things would work out. A baby was coming into that family, and she was the sole provider. I just prayed every day about it. I tried to remain hopeful and even joyful, but it was challenging. I am happy to report that she regained her job with the promise of back pay. I am so proud that she didn't give away her power when she lost her job. She contacted corporate, and after an investigation, they realized that she had lost her position unfairly and restored it to her. Wow! Talk about an answer to prayer.

I am pleased to say that for the most part, during this trying time, I kept my inner peace and confidence that things were going to work out for good. I did what I could to alleviate the situation, including an offer to let her and my granddaughter move in with us. I knew in the long run, though, that I could not control the situation. Only God is in control. As long as I am a child of the Most High, everything is going to be OK. As long as I stay on the high road, God will fight my battles for me if I allow Him to do so. In Luke 10:5-6, Jesus told His disciples to speak peace over people and "if they don't receive it, then the peace you're offering will come back to you." No matter how much I wanted to fight Teresa's battles for her and how upset and frustrated I was over her job loss, the only thing I could really do is pray and try to stay peaceful and calm.

I was concerned that Teresa was too meek and mild to fight a big corporation, but I was wrong. She documented what occurred and presented her case and won. It brought new meaning to the verse, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Joel Osteen wrote about this in his new book when he said, "Meekness is not weakness. It's strength under control." I was proud of Teresa for not giving away her power and for standing up for herself. She showed strength under control. She met the challenge with the right attitude.

This kind of thing gives me faith and brings me joy. It restores my inner peace and gives me a sense of well-being. I guess the whole point of this message is to stay in the Light, no matter what happens. Have faith and be grateful. Most of all, leave your concerns with God and don't give away your power or your joy.

Love and Light,
Patty

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Christmas Letter 2011









Dear friends and family,

Frank and I decided that this year 2011 would be our slice of heaven, and it has been. Our reality usually follows our expectations. We enjoyed a wonderful trip to New York City last year during the holiday season where we saw the Rockettes, the Broadway musical Wicked, and the David Letterman show live. In late March and early April while Frank taught insurance agents we took in the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas, and Vegas. June was a test of endurance as we attempted the Bike Across Kansas. We made it 100 miles before running into mechanical difficulty with our bikes. The end of June and first of July we visited Colorado and Utah while Frank trained. The end of July and first of August we enjoyed the Black Hills and the Badlands on another business trip. Labor Day Frank's brother David and his wife Sherry came to spend the weekend with us. We went to Liberty Memorial Museum in KC and to the lake. Late October found us in Eureka Springs enjoying family and the beautiful fall foliage.

Our family is doing well. We celebrated milestone birthdays with our moms this year. Frank's mom Alice turned 75 and my mom Joan turned 80. Chad graduated from Pitt State Suma Cum Laude in May. He is now teaching in Jasper, MO. Tori became a naturopathic doctor so she is busy with her practice in both Fort Smith and Eureka Springs, AR. Sierra is in junior high and receiving straight A's. Tori and Caleb's other two children are growing up quickly. Kaya is in kindergarten and Samson is three already. Caleb opened a drum shop and sells beautiful drums that he makes himself. Teresa and Jess are still in Kimball, NE, although we want them to move closer. Jess painted two beautiful murals for the library and sold her art in the park this summer in Eureka Springs, AR. She in involved in One Acts and won the Outstanding Actress Award this year. Dustin and Mandy live and work in KC as CNAs. Mandy is taking classes in hopes of becoming an LPN.

Our big news is that we are going to have a new grandbaby by Christmas. Jess and her boyfriend Alex are expecting a baby girl. I hosted a shower for them. They are young, but I know they will be good parents.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Come out and visit our Video Christmas Card!

Love,
Pat & Frank