Wow!  It's been a SUPER LONG time since I have blogged.  I have thought about it and my blogging friends, but it has just not happened.:(:(  Following my last post in December my precious Dad and precious sister  Amber came all the way from MN for a short visit.  It was soooooooo GREAT to see them!!  God has certainly blessed me with an AMAZING family!(all of them: near or far) !  

Dad and Amber came and blessed us with their love, time, fellowship, laughter and just plain old HARD WORK!!  They are sooo special because of who they are and their actions (working their tails off ) at our home.  The fact that they travelled 942 miles (one way) to help us and bless us, speaks volumes about who they are, their committment to family  and their character!!  My other family members would have done the same if they had the time or opportunity! They are all pretty amazing, too!!   Again, God has richly blessed me with my earthly family!  Yeah God!!:):)

Next of course, was the blessing of the Christmas season and all the joy, love and traditions that come with celebrating the birth of Christ.  I could have written lots of posts about that!!   A few short weeks after that in the first half of January, two of our three sweet, precious kiddies have/had their birthdays.  We had parties for them and tons of fun!:)  Then our homeschool coop registered and began again.:)  I teach two classes which involves more fun and more work.  :):)

Now, its the beginning of February and time is already flying.!!  On February 4th, I turned 37.:)  I still feel like I am about 18 or so, though. :):)   I am very thankful for my life and glad to be alive.  My sweet family sang to me a gazillion times and between them and other friends and family... everyone just blessed my day.!:):):) 

 I haven't been feeling my new age, or my old age for that matter, until last night.  A friend of mine called and asked me if I could come and play a game of Rec. League basketball in less than an hour.  Mind you, my friend was so desperate for a breathing, warm body, that she did not even know whether or not I had EVER played basketball.  I said "yes" and panicked when my dear husband Kevin said that he and the kids would come and cheer me on.  UGH!!  Fear and trepidation set in. :(:(:()  My husband is a natural athelete.  With little or no hard work sports and excelling in them has always come easy for him.  That is not the case with me.  I am glad that I has soooo little time to think about it. 

The rules of the game came back to me as I played and wheezed and realized how ABSOLUTELY OUT OF SHAPE I am!!!  I was encouraged that I did not seem to be alone in that boat.  I was also encouraged that I did not have a heart attack on the floor!  At half time our sweet 4 year old came over and informed me that I needed to make some baskets.:)  I smiled and just went back out and did my best( my husband wishes that he had the video camera.... I am eternally grateful that he did not!:):):))  I did make two baskets and super impressed my hubby and our 11 year old with a few blocks and some defending.  I am glad that I did it, but today, my body feels like that of a 37 year old.:) We won;  I had fun;  I conquered the fear of having my hubby watch me do something athletic and then a young twenty something mom yelled at me and called me a very BAD NAME!!  She thought that I nearly ran over her three year old and let me have it by calling me/yelling at me some VERY colorful nasty names.  I was sooo shocked that she was speaking like that, let alone calling me names like that!  And to top it off, I was not near enough to her child to run her over.    I think that her intent to protect her child was great, her delivery system left much to be desired, however!!    I told my friend that invited me to play what happened and she told me that sometimes people playing and watching are drug users.:(  Boy, have I forgotten about some of that "worldly stuff."  But, I sure have prayed for that young mom!!!  And for some of the other people I saw and played with.

Thanks Lord for the opportunity to be alive and loving you and serving you!  Thanks also for the opportunities to try and be a little salt and light.:)