Cherish This Day

The days of the month are speeding by like a calendar blowing in the wind. I can’t get over that it is almost the end of the year. I am truly thankful though as this year has been full of challenges and I will be happy to start a new year with a clean slate.

Meantime, the Christmas holidays are up on us. Our Christmases are changing quite a bit now that most of the kids are gone. It is a time of transition in a parent’s life, a time to rethink and adjust. This mother finds it sometimes difficult and lonely. Yet, I can also remember when I was young, newly married and with small children. There were times I wished to make new traditions and after a few years we did just that. Pulling away from a parent’s traditions and beginning one’s own is not a bad thing, it is part of growing up.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful children, six in all. Our oldest is married with two beautiful grandchildren. I can remember the days when she was tiny and in awe of Christmas. Now here she is a mother and wife doing her own thing and I am so proud. Our second oldest daughter is married with a handsome little boy. She and her sister are just one year apart.

When I think of the two of them, the beginning of my young life, my married life, my family life, I get all misty-eyed. They are the children of my youth. I am amazed at how beautiful they have turned out despite my many mistakes and mishaps in parenting. They are each in their own right strong women, intelligent women who have formed into compassionate people.

In counting my blessings this week, I count my children high on the list. They are my lifeblood, my reason for being. God saw fit to bring me six children to love and care for in life. I didn’t not always do well; I stumbled and fell along the way trying to find a step to our dance in life. I did love them the best I could, with every fiber of my being.

They challenged me at times and I challenged them along the way. I would not trade one single moment of my life with any of them. There are moments in which I dream of turning back the hands of time for a chance to be still with them. I hurried too much through life and often feel as if I blinked and they went from newborn in my arms to grown women and men.

It goes all too quickly, this life we have. My prayers to each one of them is to slow down and savor every second of their lives. Dear Children, life will pass you by if you don’t take time to stop the hands and be still. God has given you this beautiful present of a life, use it wisely, slow down and cherish these days, for tomorrow is a day away or not at all. Live this moment and love those you are belong to. I pray for each one of my children and that they may find the true meaning in life. God be with you all.

I love you.
Teresa Gale

Brand New Day

Each day I awake to a brand new day full of so many possibilities, it is what I do with this day that makes it effective. The last few days off from work has been a whirlwind of activity; tis the season of Christmas. I have cleaned, scrubbed, washed, shopped, wrapped, cooked and visited with family. Still I am not as yet done. However, I am not as stressed this year as in the years past.

Every Christmas, I feel it is my duty as a mother to buy, buy, buy more and more gifts that I don’t think anyone needs. My blessing this year is that we put a stop to it. It did take a few years of discussing it. I still have that old nagging guilt, that feeling of I wish I had the money to shop for everyone, but truth is…I think…I might have been set free at last.

Christmas is not about the gifts of material things that matter, I know this in my heart. I still have several beautiful grandchildren to shop for and that makes me happy. Each day off this past week, I have planned, but not to the point of stressing as Christmases past.

December 10th : A day at work, finishing up the last details before I was off and running for a vacation day. The night before was my Wednesday Group from church. I enjoyed a lovely evening with new friends studying God’s word. It was delightful to see them all after a couple weeks break.

December 11th was spent cleaning and decorating. I enjoyed my day off alone to make our home more pleasant. I counted it as a blessing that I was free that whole day just to enjoy the fruits of my labor. God is good, vacation days are blessings. I treasure those times when I can be alone, but know that shortly family will follow. It is great time to do things I never have the chance to do.

December 12 Saturdays are bliss! I love being able to sleep in a little later, although later for me might be 6 or 7 A.M. It is nice to lie in bed with eyes close and listen to the hums and sounds of the house. I can hear the cat at the foot of the bed, trying his hardest to wake me for his can of food. I listen to the wind howl outside and feel thankful I have a warm bed and home surrounding me. The stirrings of the mind begin and up and out of bed I go. Coffee awaits upstairs and the tantalizing smell calls to me.

I then greet husband and settle in the leather sofa for my time with God. I read the bible each morning trying to devour His word. Many times I have to stop my wandering mind and turn it back to Him, but I love reading His word. After an hour in the bible, I switch to devotionals and bible studies. I pray for loved ones along with needs of my prayer group and friends. As I think of each person I lift up to God, I thank Him for them in my life. I am so blessed with my family.

The rest of the day was spent with one of daughters, Suzanne and grandson Cooper shopping for Christmas. What joy in the lights and decorations, what joy in tiny hands reaching for all the bright colors! Spending time with my children is one of the richest blessings in my life. We had a wonderful shopping spree and talked quite a bit. Returning home, Mark had fixed us a most delicious meal. Cooper finally noticed the tree and spent lots of time laughing and reaching for the ornaments. Thank you Lord for the children and grandchildren in my life.

Sunday, December 13: I spent the day at home with the Lord. I opted out of the Church service to spend quality time with God. I poured over the bible, prayed and did my studies. I felt rested and good relaxing and worshiping in my pajamas.
The day went too swiftly, but I managed to wrap several gifts, enjoy time watching two movies with my husband and eating another scrumptious meal. The house was warm, the food was good and the movies were enjoyable.

Now we are on to Monday. I must say one of the blessings I have found this week has been in the emails from my friends at church. Three women who are journeying with me on a new health plan to eat better and mindfully. I have been encouraged, inspired and brought to tears in laughter and stories. Our feelings are sometimes raw, we admit our faults and lift one another up each day. I open my mailbox excitedly to see what is happening in their life that day. I love these ladies and feel truly blessed God has brought them into my life.

As I let the dogs out at 4 A.M. this morning, I was amazed and thankful that on December 14, I didn’t really need more than my sweater. We have no snow on the ground and the air was actually refreshing. I can’t believe our weather.
I counted so many blessings the last few days, everything from weather, friends, family and a roof over our heads. May each day be blessed by all you who read, may you also find the rich blessings in your life. Count them one by one and give thanks.

Teresa Gale

Blessings Along the Way

The long and wonderful weekend ended too quickly. On Sunday, the service at church was a wonderful blessing. Pastor spoke on the Ten Commandments and honoring the Sabbath. I loved how he related to us it was not important what day mattered, but that we rest and make a whole day the Sabbath.

Rest, the word seems almost foreign in our busy, hurry-up, fast paced world. However, God wants for us to find rest. It is a time of standing still and enjoying what God has given us, a time to draw closer to Him without the many distractions that surround us.

December 6th became a day for me to worship the Lord at my church. I enjoy the people who attend there and the powerful sermon. I leave feeling lighter each time I am with them in the Lord. Once home, it was time to prepare some lunch. I felt truly blessed that I could open up my refrigerator and find food. It makes me think of so many others who do not have anything. Our church is preparing Food Baskets and our family will contribute.

This Sunday was a day for me to reflect on the Word of God and count my blessings.

December 7th a Monday. Mondays take me back to work and can be very stressful. As we drive in each morning, I pray. It’s a good time to chat with my husband and pray. I was just very recently put back on to 40 Hours and I thanked God for this. With the economy so bad, husband and I had suffered with reduced pay and hours, but felt blessed to have jobs. I pray for the many who are struggling for work, may God’s hand and blessings be upon you.

The evening brought a couple of ladies from my Monday night bible study together for a new session, weight loss. Four of us meet to start our journey on the Weigh Down Diet. We watched the tape, discussed the book and prayed together. These ladies have been a true God-send to me in so many ways. I have enjoyed getting to know them and develop wonderful friendships. We are praying for better eating habits and encouragement for each other. When I left them that evening, I felt wonderful, determined and so blessed.

December 8th Tuesday was another busy work at work that rushed by. I felt the blessings of a new health plan to begin eating consciously and made it through the day pretty good. I even was blessed with a extra hour of overtime. Praise God, the blessings just keep coming and when you really stop and look or listen, you will find there are many in the day.

Our evening was spent decorating our “’Fat Girl” tree as a family. We had fun loading her down with our lights and ornaments. I snapped pictures and loved the feeling of family. As my son and husband put the final touch of the angel on the top, I felt a rush of love for them both and took their pictures.

Our daughter called later laughing hysterically over the posted pictures on Face Book and we chatted while laughing over the “Fat Girl” tree. I love talking to our children during the week. In our busy lives, we seldom get together as much as I would like, so the phone calls mean a lot to me.

December 9th Wednesday more blessings to count, another extra hour of overtime, safety in our windy drive to work and a pretty good attitude at work despite the stress. My evening brought me to my Wednesday night Church Group and wonderful fellowship. I love this group of people and am encouraged by their love of God and friendships.

So many wonderful blessings this week even more than I have counted here on this page. My journey in the month of December of counting my blessings is making me so aware of what God is doing in my life. Even with some bad news this week and that old stressful feeling nagging at me, I was able to leave it to God and feel lighter. I pray for all that read my blog and count my blessings along with me, that you will also pause during your day and see the rich and wonderful things in your life. December is the month we celebrate the birth of Christ and cherish those we love. Take a moment, pause, breath in the air around you and give thanks.
May you all make it a truly blessed day.

Teresa Gale

Life's Blessings

Life’s Blessings

It’s been a wonderful and long weekend that is coming to its end. Monday will bring back work days and appointment. Today is full of promise and more rich blessings. I am finding that when I close my eyes and see I can find more blessings in my life. It is digging deep into our lives that we find the treasures.

I don’t want to merely flit through life haphazardly missing what is right in front of me, and so often in the past I have done just that. Life is living in the present moment. Each day is a gift from God, a present ready to open and waiting for us to take pleasure in.

December 5 Blessings: I spent the morning with a bad headache; this made me so realize how often I don’t give thanks for good health. I am so thankful I pushed myself along with prayer and spent a most delightful day with my daughter and grandson. We had a fun filled day shopping at Root Candle, Dunkin Donuts coffee and then a yummy lunch at Pizza hut. We laughed and enjoyed the sights and smells with the little guy.

Arriving home, I felt truly thankful for my husband who listened to me about smelling gas in the house. He had been busy working on our furnace all day cleaning it out. It was full of black carbon. God bless that man, he saved our lives. Lord, what a blessing to have my husband in my life who can fix things and works so hard.

After cleaning up, we loaded all five us in daughter’s truck and set out to buy my “Fat Girl” Christmas tree. I love it when it snows on tree cutting day. It was bitter cold, but we bundled up and felt the snow falling around us. Trudging out into the field, Daniel our son carrying the saw as he loves to be our Christmas lumberjack each year sought out our tree. We wound ourselves through the trees, wet ground and snow to find the tree every year I say is mine. My men relented even though she is a “Fat Girl”

The covered bridge made me take pause in the beauty of God’s creation as the tiny waterfall tumbled over rocks. The half frozen pond greeted us with the setting sun dipping into her frigid waters. We trudged back to the barn where hot apple cider and donuts were waiting for us and enjoyed Aunt Bobby’s visit.

Our slippery ride home was filled with laughter and joy over how big the tree was and how we were going to fit it through our door. That will wait for Sunday decorating. Hubby fixed us a wonderful meal of French Fries and ribs for dinner.

A call came from our other daughter who I missed seeing buy her tree as they went earlier than we did. How I adore it when I speak to my babies. I often feel as if our house is empty with our grown children gone and love it when they stop and visit or call. Plans are in the making to get our four-year old grandson soon for a movie date.

My blessings this day were many. Everything from family to new fallen snow made me smile today. I am so blessed to have the family I do who cherishes time together and doing family things. Thank you God for blessing me once again.

Teresa Gale

Blessings

So often I am busy grumbling about this or that. I complain a lot, something I need to pray about. Today, I thought why not count a blessing a day through December. I am sure I could fill many months with a blessing a day.

I truly am blessed and so thankful for all God's blessings. In an attempt to see the rainbow and not the clouds in life, I plan to post my Blessings here often.

December 1 Blessing: I am thankful I am a child of God.
If I were not a child of God, covered by His Son's blood, my life would have no purpose. But God has adopted me into his family and I belong to him. What a blessing!

December 2 Blessing: I am Forgiven.
God sent His only Son to die for my sins. I believe in Jesus and what His blood did for me. I know I am not perfect, but I am forgiven. Praise God.

December 3 Blessing: I am thankful for my parents.
I am truly blessed with an earthly Father I adore and I have had the blessing of two mother's in my life. One has passed away, but God blessed me dearly with my other mom who is truly a friend and an inspiration to me. Thank you Lord for my parents.

December 4 Blessing: I am truly blessed with my Husband.
God sent me a wonderful man who is true, lovinging and a good provider. He is my best friend. I feel comfortable with him and know he is there for me. What a true blessing to have him in my life.

I have counted only four blessings for each day of December so far. I am so blessed to have so many more to count. What are you blessed with? I find blessings in even the smallest things, like walking my two dogs this morning in crisp, cold air today and watching how they took such joy in the walk made me take joy also.

Try it out. Think of all your blessings and write them down where you can see them. When you have a bad or grumpy day, take them out and look at all God has blessed you with. I am sure it will lift you up.

God Bless.

Teresa Gale