Observations, Surprises and Updates

Time for some more updates, obeservations and surprises...

 1. IT HAS BEGUN-- I finally started Christmas shopping, My mother in

 law sent me somemoney to buy Christmas presents from her for the kids,

 that way she won'thave to lug them on the train, so I officially have presents

under the tree. I still haven't started my shopping yet, thinking I'll do it next

week.

2. SANTA--This Santa and other childhood imagination stuff is hard.

 My kids allstill believe in Santa, so I am still trying to plan Santa wisely.

I bought thewrapping paper that Santa will use yesterday,of course I had to

 hide it sothe kids won't see it.. Sometimes I think we as parents are crazy for

adding one more thing to our list...

3. BUT KEEP THE OLD- I got an unexpected email from two of my friends

that I have not heard from in a long time(one of them over a year). What a true

blessing to be able to catch up with those people again. God has blessed me

with them and I am thankful that even though life has keep us busy we can

still catch up every now and then.

4.JOBS AND MOVING- For the time being it is looking like we will be staying

put. A mix of emotions, I know that I was secretly hoping that the one option

would work out and make a good situation for Coach. If its meant to be it will

work out.

5.FUNDING- I found out I got a grant award at school. It isn't a lot of money,

it covered the cost of books but it is that much more money I don't have to spend

and that is always good news!!!

6. I'M DREAMING OF A BROWN CHRISTMAS- So I've been trying

to decide what to give my siblings and parents for Christmas. So I've decided

to do treat boxes. I'm making truffles, oreo truffles and peanut butter balls. I

know that the last thing most people need is a little more sugar but come on

the new year means resolutions right?

7. FB TO BE OR NOT TO BE-- I've had so much success not being on FB

that I am trying to decide if I should ban it forever. I think however I am going

to reactivate it and then dump a whole bunch of people that I don't need! This

should allow me to keep the upbeat nature that life is taking. No changes till

January 1st though!

8.CHRISTMAS CARDS-- So I changed my mind. I'm gonna send out

cards but not until after Christmas. I'm gonna send them out to the ones who

send me a card and a couple of other people that I am thinking about! Guess

I couldn't keep my Bah Humbug attitude very long..

9. STOCKINGS ARE HUNG-- My Martha Stewart side came out, I went

to Walmart and bought 7 stockings( the $0.97 ones) and a bottle of glow in

the dark fabric puffy paint. Well lets just say that for less than $10 we have

7 personalized stockings that glow in the dark(the kids get a kick out of it).

10.VOW RENEWAL PLANNING- So I haven't been planning too much

but I have created my save the dates and started working on the brochure

that I am sending out when we know the exact date. Very cool things and

creative to say the least. Also decided to do a bon voyage party for those

that can't take the trip with us.

Alright I'll limit this to just 10 today. But I'll probably be posting some more

stuff soon...

Trust is the name of the game

I've been listening to the christian station a lot lately. On this station they have these one minute ministry things from a group called Proverbs 31.org. I was listening yesterday and heard this one.
(CLICK ON LINK OR READ BELOW)
http://proverbs31radio.blogspot.com/search/label/Trusting%20God

Hostess: Lysa TerKeurst



Contributing Writer: Lysa TerKeurst

Last week I was up most of the night with a very sick child. Hi, I’m Lysa TerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries.  My daughter Ashley was supposed to be competing in a State Gymnastics Meet the next day. I know in the grand scheme of life, skipping the Meet pales in comparison to many more serious matters. But, to her this was a really big deal. One that she had worked SO hard to prepare for. And now her body was too weak to attend. So trust was the word of the day. But sometimes trust is HARD. Especially when it means taking a completely different route than what we were expecting. Are you going through some tough times right now? Are you full of questions but short on answers? Maybe we’re just supposed to say, “God I don’t like this and I don’t understand but still I trust You and that’s enough.” For more encouragement visit Proverbs 31.org.

Well yesterday I found out that my cousin, who turns 30 in a couple of days, has
to have both of his legs amputated. This is due to complications with diabetes.
So after hearing the news I started to think, why would god take the legs of a
person so young, with two little boys? Why would he confine a young man to
a life in a wheel chair? As my heart filled with questions that I knew I would
not get an answer to, this little ministry minute came on the radio. As I listened
I got the overwhelming feeling that this was a direct message to just me, as if
at that very minute God was trying to talk directly to me.

I started to think that maybe he had heard my questions and although he knew
that I wouldn't understand why it was the way it was, he wanted me to know
that he did hear me and that if I trusted in him then it would work out. I sat for
a minute, in silence, thinking about my cousin and how much he must be full of
all kinds of questions, anger and frustration. Then I said a prayer that he too
would get that message and that even though it wouldn't make his life any bit
easier that maybe he'd be able to accept it and be able to move along the new
path that was before him.

So today trust is the name of the game. As things change and something that
I don't like comes up I'm gonna work hard to remember that I have to
trust in God!

Updates--Life's Happenings

So here is my updates for this last week. Just to keep everyone posted, and
to let everyone know what is going on in the Jordan house!


1. Finals, Finals, Finals- I've made it to the end of another term in school
which means that I am slammed with final papers, projects and tests. All
of this being due on Dec 23. Let's just say more than one bottle of wine
will be drank on Christmas Eve!

2.No Jamaica-The invitation for my brother's destination wedding came
this week. At a cost of $1,500 a person and a date of August 15th we
have been scheduled and priced out. That is about $10,500 and right
in the middle of football camp for those that do not know. I am filled with
 a mix of emotions over this, anger and hurt, sadness and depression.
 But life will move on and I will be ok!

3.No Christmas Cards- For the last 6 years I have sent Christmas cards
to everyone on my list, we are talking maybe 60 cards. This year I am not
sending any cards. With finals and a limited budget I don't have much money
of time to send them, besides I don't think that a lot of people should get
them.

4. Job possibilites- We have some jobs in the works. One of them will take
us to a very familiar place. I can say that I am excited and nervous about it
at the same time. Coach really wants this, although he won't say it. In all
honesty I must admit that I do too.

5. Let the shopping commence- Time to admit it, I am beginning to make my list.
If you don't know me this is a big deal, cause I am usually almost done by
now. But I am starting to make my list, filled with all the things that the kids
want. I'm only buying for my kids, and our parents.

6. I DO Part Deux- Early stage planning for the renewal is holding until I know
 about the jobs. Location wise we may be smarter to take one option over
 another that would alter the cruise in whole. When we know more, I'll pick
up with the plan again.

7. I resolve- Still holding sold on this. Feeling really good about things lately and
even the news of missing the wedding has not been able to rain much on my
little parade. I've been working on meditation and finding myself more focused
and a lot more relaxed.

8. Facebook Free- That's right you have heard that right. I have been FB free
 for 9 days. I miss it a little but have learned a lot about people that care and
those that don't. Interesting how people I never expected have contacted me
and those that I thought would, well they didn't..Helped me to set some new
 priorities for 2012.

9.Let is snow- It is Dec 6 and it has not snowed yet where we live(Global
Warming).It's had its cold spells but over all it is really warm here. I mean I live
about 10 miles from Lake Ontario. Meanwhile places like New Mexico have
gotten snow. I know that I will probably change my mind, but in all honesty one
of the things about being in the Northeast is that you get a White Christmas...So
I'm saying Let it snow!!!

10. Christmas Visits- My mother in law has decided she wants to come visit for
the holidays. We are really really excited about this. She came for Thanksgiving
and we really had a great time with her here. It is refreshing to have some time
with her and the kids are loving it when they get to see granny! Her affirmation
and support brightens my dad and I'm so thankful that she is the soul that she is!!!


Okay well that is 10 updates for you! Hope everyone has an awesome day and
I will leave you with one quote....

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched,
but are felt in the heart" - Helen Keller ...



SUCCESS

Doesn't this picture just make you laugh??? Okay I made me smile!!!
So what was I successful at, well I made it through 5 days without my
husband being home! I not only made it but I think I did really really
good.

When I say really really good I mean I stayed on target with classes,
which is no small feat considering I am in the final 3 weeks and I am
busily doing final papers and projects. I also managed to work on vow
renewal stuff(ooh more on that later!!!), the house stayed relatively clean,
and the kids didn't even stress me out too much... All in all it was a
very successful week!!!

I was successful because when Coach shared some news that might
have an impact on our future I didn't even get nervous or worried or any
of the other things that I have clung to in the past. It would seem that the
inner strength has been renewed, amazing what 5 days away from FB
will do for you!!!

To me the biggest success of the week was not even being upset that
Coach didn't want to talk to me for hours at a time on the phone, did I
ever mention that I was a little bit psycho in my young coach wife days.
Last week we talked a couple times a day for like 15 minutes. But in
all honesty I didn't need to be on the phone with him.

Another success I've managed to only be on the scoop once this week.
For those of you not in the industry it is basically a website/blog, that
college coaches go on and post "scoop"(a manly way of saying gossip)
about what coaches interviewed where, what jobs are being changed,
what is happening in football. It is pretty interesting and believe me
it is the way that everyone finds out about changes.

As it is football silly season right now we keep an eye on the changes
that are happening. I'm not saying we are looking to move again, but
if the right opportunity came along we would consider it. We aren't
actively looking but if Coach get the right call we have to think a lot
about it.

Lastly, I am successful this week because we are officially in December
and I haven't even started to worry about Christmas shopping or any
of the present things that would have filled my head in the past. I'm
taking a new approach to it this year. I'll get them when I'm ready
and everyone will get what they get. I'm not trying to find the perfect
gift anymore. It will be something nice and if they like it they like it.

So in short this week has been a great start to the resolution I talked
about in the last post!!! It was A SUCCESS!!!

P.S.Also be on the lookout for the coming blog post about our vow renewal
(In 2013--I'm planning early)

Changing my life

Please excuse this blog for a moment. As you have probably been able

to tell lately I've had some things that have been requiring a change in the

order.

I've been secretly struggling with it for some time. Trying to decided

what needs to be done and the best way of fitting everyone and

everything into the priority schedule that is me. After taking on way

way too much I decided in the last couple of weeks that it isn't gonna

be that way anymore.

So I made an early New Year's resolution. My resolution is to make

the next year of my life focused on my goals and bucket list. I'm not

totally sure what all that truly means yet, but I'm guessing it will have

some big implications in the lives of people around me.

First step was to deactivate Facebook. I find myself reaching out to

people, being friendly, commenting on their stuff, letting people know

that someone pays attention. Yet I get very very little of that in return.

So until I figure out how to treat Facebook and the people on it in a

way that doesn't monopolize my life I will not be using it.

Next step I am taking is that I am going to start blogging more. I have

set a goal of at least one new post a week. Maybe just an update on

how the world seems to be going for me, but at the very least it will

be a weekly post, maybe more depending on the inspiration of it.

As far as everything else I am working out plans for that. I have already

made some decisions that will change our lives. I'll start posting about

those things and choices in time. Right now I have to figure out how to

say it.

So the changed priorities will have some good and some bad. I know

that it will be both for me and I am finally ready at 30 to take on that

challenge and get what I want out of life. I guess people will have two

choices either they can accept the change and stay in my life or they

can have a problem with it and then be left behind because one thing

is for certain this train is about to leave the station with a new schedule

and you are either on board or left at the station....



Decisions decisions!

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” ~Flora Whittemore

So I find myself on this little blog burst lately about decisions. Part of it is that I
 have a rather difficult decision that I must make regarding some extended
 family situations. I put the idea out on facebook the other day and it seems
that I am making the right choice but that doesn't make the choice any easier
 to make.

Sometimes we are forced to make a choice off of another's actions. It is
 often not fair but that is part of the world that we live in. We have to know
 that our world is not just controlled by our own actions but by the actions of
 those around us. We will be presented with the choice of a door that we did
not intend to open or close and we have to choose to react to it in a way that
is not only reprsentative of our goals and desires but of the goals and things
we want to encourage in our children.

We can't expect people to schedule their lives around our activities. That is
a very selfish idea in all. We have to accept that sometimes people will want
to do something that does not fit our own goals and desires and we will have
to accept it and move forward. No matter how hard we try we can't make
someone do something that is in our best interest if it is not in the best interest
of their own lives.

Just like the way leads on to way, life is full of all kinds of choices between
a path and another path, both might seem equally nice but we know in
our hearts that one might be better for us than the other. Maybe its the one
that is harder and even though it would be nice, just this once to take the
easy way out we know that doing this would set us back a step on our
ultimate goal.

Sometimes making the executive decision involves doing what isn't easy
and then standing by the choice even when it gets hard. I know in the
long run that this gets me closer to my intended goal and I guess that I
should stay focused on that part.

Here's to hoping the next decision will be much easier to make though.
 

A Football wife-*Taken from another blog*

THE FOOTBALL WIFE

Thank you to my friend who gave me permission to share this with all of you! This is why a football wife is something special!

THE GOOD LORD WAS CREATING A MODEL FOR FOOTBALL WIVES, AND WAS INTO HIS SIXTH DAY OF OVERTIME WHEN AN ANGEL APPEARED. SHE SAID, "LORD YOU SEEM TO BE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THIS ONE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE STANDARD MODEL?" THE LORD REPLIED, "HAVE YOU SEEN THE SPECS ON THIS ORDER? SHE HAS TO BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, POSSESS THE QUALITIES OF BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER, BE A PERFECT HOSTESS TO 4 OR 40 WITH AN HOURS NOTICE, RUN ON BLACK COFFEE, HANDLE EVERY EMERGENCY IMAGINABLE WITHOUT A MANUEL, BE ABLE TO CARRY ON CHEERFULLY, EV EN IF SHE IS PREGNANT AND HAS THE FLU, AND SHE MUST BE WILLING TO MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION 10 TIMES IN 17 YEARS. THE ANGEL SHOOK HER HEAD. "SIX PAIRS OF HANDS? NO WAY." THE LORD CONTINUED, "DON'T WORRY, WE WILL MAKE OTHER FOOTBALL WIVES TO HELP HER. AND WE WILL GIVE HER AN UNUSUALLY STRONG HEART SO IT CAN SWELL WITH PRIDE IN HER HUSBANDS ACHIEVEMENTS, SUSTAIN THE PAIN OF SEPARATIONS, BEAT SOUNDLY WHEN IT IS OVERWORKED AND TIRED, & BE LARGE ENOUGH TO SAY, "I UNDERSTAND WHEN SHE DOESN'T, AND SAY I LOVE YOU REGARDLESS."LORD, SAID THE ANGEL, TOUCHING HIS ARM GENTLY, "GO TO BED & GET SOME REST. YOU CAN FINISH THIS TOMORROW." "I CAN'T STOP NOW," SAID THE LORD, "I AM SO CLOSE TO CREATING SOMETHING UNIQUE. ALREADY THIS MODEL HEALS HERSELF WHEN SHE IS SICK, CAN PUT UP 6 UNEXPECTED GUESTS FOR THE WEEKEND, WAVE GOODBYE TO HER HUSBAND AND UNDERSTANDS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE LEAVE."
THE ANGEL CIRCLED THE MODEL OF THE FOOTBALL WIFE, LOOKED AT IT CLOSELY AND SIGNED, "IT LOOKS FINE, BUT IT'S TOO SOFT." "SHE MIGHT LOOK SOFT," REPLIED THE LORD, "BUT SHE HAS STRENGTH OF A LION. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT SHE CAN ENDURE."FINALLY THE ANGEL BENT OVER AND RAN HER FINGER ACROSS THE CHEEK OF THE LORD'S CREATION. "THERE'S A LEAK," SHE ANNOUNCED. "SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT IT HAS CRACKED. YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT TOO MUCH INTO THIS MODEL."THE LORD APPEARED OFFENDED AT THE ANGEL'S LACK OF CONFIDENCE. "WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT A LEAK, IT IS A TEAR."
"A TEAR WHAT IS IT THERE FOR?" ASKED THE ANGEL.
THE LORD REPLIED. "IT'S FOR JOY, SADNESS, PAIN, DISAPPOINTMENT, LONELINESS, PRIDE & DEDICATION TO ALL THE THINGS SHE & HER HUSBAND HOLD DEAR."
"YOUR A GENIUS!" EXCLAIMED THE ANGEL.
THE LORD LOOKED PUZZLED & REPLIED, "I DIDN'T PUT IT THERE."