It's Just a Mailbox!

Ok..So my daughter just had her first car wreck yesterday! She's ok. Car's ok. Everything is ok..except for one mailbox. It was a massacre...bricks everywhere! We ran out to see what happened..but started laughing and hugging when we realized she was fine and the car was fine. I mean..it's just a mailbox, right? Well you wouldn't think so from our neighbors reaction! They came out and didn't even ask if she was ok! They were devastated! No smiles, no "it's ok!", just stark faces, crossed arms, and angry words. They even called the police! Seriously? The wife called the husband home from work too! Why?? Larry was out there graciously cleaning up the mess. He even called a place that could come out and fix it same day! We even brought over money to cover cost! But still..stark faces, crossed arms, and angry words. Why?? Is this something to get that upset over? Is it something that is unfixable? Is it something that is life changing?? Not in the least!! It's just a mailbox! It's no inconvenience to anyone except maybe the mailman ..who will have to get out of his truck to deliver the mail to the door. There's just too many things that happen in life to get upset about things that don't matter. I watched my sweet niece get ravaged by leukemia...THAT'S bigger than a mailbox! 4,000 babies were murdered by legal abortion just today...THAT'S bigger than a mailbox! Kids in Uganda are working all day long in a rock quarry for one penny...THAT'S bigger than a mailbox! I have friends whose spouses have left them this year...THAT'S bigger than a mailbox!

Let's cherish this life we are given. Let's get upset about things that we should get upset about! and let's let go of things that don't matter at all... after all, IT"S JUST A MAILBOX!!!

The Year in Review

Coming up to the end of the year is sobering. You start thinking of how the year went, what all has happened, choices that were made or weren't made. But it's also a time to think of the year to come. So much can happen in a year. Life just seems to speed up every year. Some highlights and low lights of the year:

• I have 3 teenagers now!
• Larry and I celebrated our 20th year of marriage!
• I started a part time (almost full time!) job--which I love by the way
• We remembered the one year anniversary of Skylar going to be with Jesus
• Larry and I were in a terrible car wreck that totaled our car-thankfully we weren't hurt badly
• 4 of our a/c's went out in 5 of our rent houses this summer! ugh!
• I got to go to Ireland!
• the boys had some great trainings with Sea Cadets
• Renee got a job at Sonic!
• Renee got a car!
• Scott got a motorcycle!
• I have 2 kids driving!
• it was our last year at our homeschool co-op (we've been there for 8 yrs!)
• Sam started Jr. High
• Sam played football at school and did awesome!
• Scott was gone for 3 weeks this summer and rode halfway across the country on a bus!
• I attended my 20 yr high school reunion!

The Lord is good. He's always with us. Sometimes you feel like He's not there but He's not the one that moves.

Who knows what next year will bring. Larry's job is uncertain. The election in next year. (Larry is running for governor.) Renee will be 18 next year and may move off.. who knows! Things change so quickly. It's good to remember the good and the bad. It's good to continue to walk with the Lord. He is our strength. One of my favorite verses is Romans 5:3-6 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Look at it like this:

problems/trials ----> endurance ----->strength of character ----->hope------>God's love