I can tell you why it's called Black Friday.

The reason it's called Black Friday is really not because of shopping- that's just a rumor/myth. It's really called Black Friday because of how much ink gets on mail carrier's hands from all of the MAIL we have to deliver on that day. My hands still hurt, but think about it..... what a great thing. Think about how you feel about getting your mail during this time of the year. The magazines are beautiful, the catalogs are fun to look through and imagine and the Christmas cards are so special. If you manage to get a package.....WOW! I really love the Christmas season.

Delivering the mail at this time of year is busy and hectic, but what a feeling knowing that you are bringing a little happiness into people's lives.

Although yesterday I was more like the Grinch or Scrooge. Bad day for me personally for no particular reason, just everything jumbled up together. You know the interesting thing about it was that I found myself singing one praise song over and over, well at least one part of it anyway..

"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say, Blessed is the Name of the Lord".

With all the crazy stuff going on in the world, how do people who do not know God deal with it? Where is the hope? Where is the peace, even when your world is crashing down around you? It sounds so "scary" to me thinking about dealing with any of this stuff in my life without God. Where is their anchor?

Of course, the main problem that Will and I are dealing with right now is finances, which I'm sure that everyone is dealing with. It's just compounded on our side that I am up for a I guess you would call it promotion in the next couple of months that will result in worst case scenario a $22,000 raise for me. That in itself would fix the problem, but God's timing is not ours and I have to wait until at least March unless something happens that is unforseen in the next couple of months. I do not know what God has planned, but it is a very frustrating thing to know what is going to happen (at least the general idea of what will happen) but to also know that God's perfect timing is what is going to happen. I have never been a good "waiter" for anything. In fact the worst thing I ever did was pray for patience... So here we are waiting and let me tell you it is not a comfortable place. It is not warm and cozy and reflective. It is not even anticipation any more (although it probably should be, but right now it's not). It is like waiting in that hunched over posititon at the starting line, only we've been hunched over for almost a year now. My back hurts, my legs are sore and when the starting pistol goes off.....I will probably fall flat on my face. BUT the course is set and it will begin....in God's time.

Now let me tell you this, even though I am tired and worn right now... I know that when he finally says "GO", it's going to be great. It's going to be what's best for us. His word promises that and that is the promise that I have clung to for the 19 years that Will and I have been together. Even though sometimes it didn't seem like anything was changing or getting better...if I look back at it, there were so many changes we were just too close to see. Now these growing pains will end and who knows what will be the end result, but I know that we will have grown in God, in each other and as a family. It's going to be fine.....

I've been counting my blessings trying to get out of this mood...Wonderful hubby, GREAT kids, good dog, nice cat, grumpy cat, huge messy house, car/truck that run, jobs, great church, fun youth group, family and friends. What else could a person ask for?

Although there are a few things I could imagine, but then you hit that old "wants vs. needs" thing. I'm not even going there, because so far God doesn't seem to be too "in tune" with my whole idea of April through Jan 2 in Wisconsin, Jan 2 through March in Florida and then March in Tennessee. I'm thinking it would be great since spring is my favorite season I could enjoy spring in Florida, then Tennessee and then come home for spring again. Seems like the perfect plan to me, but it's not coming together, so I guess there's something else in the mix for us. sigh.

Have a great day!
dea