Spaghetti... Yes, That's It.

 

Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash

Spaghetti...

Yes...

That's it...

That's exactly what my brain has felt like for the last week!

There's so much to learn.

I'm glad the trainers are patient.

Learning to use the computer programs is more than a bit challenging. 

I hope to be back to writing soon. 

Condensing a 16 hour day into about 5 hours isn't easy. That's what it feels like to go from being a homemaker, writer, knitter, sewist, and all the other things woman to a working woman who doesn't want to give up any of those things!

And I want to be with my husband, too!

I'm not sure yet what is going to give, but something will have to be lower priority. 

I keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for a season to help us to be in a better place for retirement. I'm going to work on paying off debt and saving money. 

I believe that God called me into this ministry.

It's a Catholic healthcare system. They refer to it as a ministry; and, talk of Jesus is heard often. 

So, I'm going to keep on keeping on. This week will be easier than last week; because, I have last week's learning to build on.

"Keep telling yourself that, love."

~ Captain Jack Sparrow

LOL

It will all be good.

Thanks so much for your encouragement and prayers!

Laura

I LOVE YOU MONTH... LEARNING

I love learning!

    I love learning new things. Over the years, I've learned to quilt, bake bread, can, sew, crochet, knit, cross-stitch, embroider, and many other things. 

    Currently, I'm learning Spanish with Duolingo, Western Heritage from the Book of Genesis to John Locke with a free online course from Hillsdale College, rug twining using YouTube videos, and I'm using The Bible Recap on the Bible.com app, too.

    Monday, the 16th, I'm adding something new. I've resigned from the school district. I enjoyed four years of substitute teaching; but, God's moving me into a new phase and a new position. I've accepted an office position in a pediatrics office just three minutes from my home. It will be a learning experience in a couple of ways. 

    First, I've got to learn the computer system and the job. At 60, that will be a challenge. ~smile~ I'm a reader and a learner, so I'll be able to do it. Second, it's been 35 years since I've worked full-time outside the home. That, too, will be a challenge. ~God's plan—not mine!~ His plans are always good, though, aren't they? I'll tell y'all about it sometime. 

    A third challenge will be that I've been having bad headaches three or four days a week for a long time. The doctors haven't been able to help yet. 

    

    Will you please pray for me?

• That I'll comprehend and grasp all the details of the position
• That I'll have the energy and ability to fulfill my duties at work and home
• That headaches will not interfere with my ability to focus and be pleasant

    Please be patient with me as I learn to balance all the areas of my life including this blog. I do not want to let any part of my creativity go. I'm not sure how I'll do it all, but I choose the abundant life. That means husband, family, friends, work, creative outlets like writing and learning, hospitality, and most importantly, growing closer and closer to God. 

    

    This is a new assignment. This is a new era of my life. This is the way that I shall serve Jesus until he moves me into a new era. 

    Don't give up on me if I don't write as much for awhile. Y'all are an important part of my life; and, many of you have been for a long while. 

    Have a wonderful week! 

Laura

Happily serving God in a new way

My new badge photo

*Image by ChatGPT

Wordless Wednesday

 

I LOVE YOU MONTH... Get to Know Me

    One of my favorite bloggers is Billie Jo from Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea. Billie Jo encourages me so much. I love the way she celebrates everything. Yes. Everything. She has great style, but it is her enthusiasm, love of home, family, her doggies, and candles that makes me feel appreciation for her and for my home and family. She's so positive, and Jesus just seeps through her in her zest for life. 

    She just posted a "Things I Like and Things I Don't" list. She asked us to share, too. So, here's my list in abbreviated form as I think of them this morning.

A Few Things I like:

~ Old-fashioned phone calls from friends and family

~ Learning! I'm taking a free online course from Hillsdale College: Western Heritage from the Book of Genesis to John Locke. It's been challenging, but good.

~ Homemade from scratch cocoa 

~ A good balance of time with people and by myself

~ Giving gifts

~ A new type of relaxing music that I've found on YouTube. It has storybook style animals and ambient music. Here's one I listened to yesterday. I find it very nice to play in the background as I'm doing other things.

~ Black and white movies

~ Cozy fall and winter times

~ Knitting— especially socks

~ Candles, candles and more candles

~ Making things from what I have on hand

~ Sewing

~ Cozy mystery books

~ Learning new skills ~ I'm learning to twine weave a rug.

Things I don't like:

Mustard on or in anything but a Schlotzky sandwich

Tight clothes or excess skin showing on anyone

Raspberries and blackberries

Dirty words

Acrylic clothes or yarn

Horror movies

True crime books or movies

So, that's just a few of my likes and dislikes. I'd love you to share some of yours with me as well.

Be blessed,

Laura

I Love sharing my life with you 

and...

JESUS

MOMMA

LOWELL 

MY KIDS 

MY GRANDSON

I LOVE YOU MONTH... My Grandson

 

A Storybook Christmas*

    Oh me oh my! 

So many friends told me, "Just wait 'til you have grandkids. 

They're the best." 

Well, my friends were right!

    My grandson is the source of so much joy! Gibby is the name I use for my grandson on my blog. Gibby is short for grandbaby. I want to keep his little face and name private as do Mommy and Daddy.

    He's 2 1/2 now. He's so much fun to be with. We play cars most of all. Boppop (his name for grandpa) has his old Hot Wheels. We play with them on the coffee table for long stretches. He likes to feed the birds, blow bubbles, and play outside. We also have blocks, spools, Don't Spill the Beans, and dominoes. We don't play the games the right way, but who cares? I got out the dominoes a few weeks ago. He handed one to me, and picked one up himself. He put it to his ear and talked into it like a phone. Oh the times we live in! By the time we finished playing, he was calling me and saying, "Hi Gammy!" I finally had a name! There's nothing sweeter!

    He's going to come for a sleep over Saturday evening so Mommy and Daddy can go to a movie and dinner. Boppop and Gammy are going to have lots of fun, but we'll sleep well!

    Thank you, Jesus, that you allowed me to live long enough to enjoy my grandson. Life is an incredible gift that I don't take for granted. Thank you for healing me from cancer, Jesus, my LORD and savior!

I LOVE MY GRANDSON! 

and...

JESUS

MOMMA

LOWELL 

MY KIDS 

MY GRANDSON

   

*AI generated from a photo

I LOVE YOU MONTH! I Love My Kids!

 

This is a very old photo from long ago!

    I am a very blessed woman in so many ways. God gave me and my husband four babies to love and raise the best we could for Him. We did the best we could. 

    

    I had the privilege of homeschooling them all. It was fun. It was hard. It was wonderful. I wouldn't change those years for anything.

    They're all grown up. The little one, Amy, has a toddler of her own. The others have all flown the nest as well. They all live within an hour of our hometown. I'm so thankful for that. I love it when we can all be together. 

    I thank God for each one of them. I pray for each one of them, for my son-in-love, and for my grandson.

I LOVE MY KIDS! 

and...

JESUS

MOMMA

LOWELL 

MY KIDS

   

I LOVE YOU MONTH! I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

 

I love my Lowell.

He's been my Lowell since November 23, 1981.

That's when he asked me to go steady with him.

That boy had no idea what he was asking!

I had no idea what yes meant!

It's been quite a wild and curving ride together.

~ ♥♥♥~

True committed love always... 

even through 

4 years going steady,

1 year of engagement, 

39 years of marriage,

26 jobs, 
4 businesses,

14 deaths, 

4 children, 

26 years of homeschooling, 

19 chickens, 

4 cats, 

3 dogs, 

1 goat, 

11 churches, 

9 homes, 

17 surgeries, 

cancer, 

chemo, 

radiation,

and a knee replacement.

Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Lane 

until death parts us. 

THIS is marriage...

never wondering if you will face tomorrow alone...

until one of you steps into eternity.

I LOVE YOU LOWELL! 

Thank you!

Love,

Laura

HAPPY I LOVE YOU MONTH!

JESUS

MOMMA

LOWELL