Once again not one, but two lives cut short. Not taken by God, but by man. Children without their earthly Daddy. Mothers without their sons. Wives without their husbands. Friends without their friends. This life is too precious too short to be taken too soon. Prayers go out to two families and two sets of children that are hurting so deeply that their are no words that can ever be spoken that will truly ease their pain.

I've already walked this path with friends this year and in the years past. My heart aches, but I know GOD is in control. I will continue to pray and lift these dear families up to him... the only true comforter.

Aussies shared...

American packaging

Australia packaging

In 1993, I had the trip of a lifetime when Wade went to work for Air New Zealand for many weeks in the summer. Being a teacher and having free airline miles, I could jet set across the world with him. (Those were the days :-),but I love these days too) We stayed in New Zealand but took the opportunity to go to Sydney and surrounding areas as well. Fast forward to when Cara was 3 in 2001, Wade had the opportunity again to go to Australia for business. Cara and I went alongside him and had the time of our lives each day while Wade was working we went ALL over Sydney by foot, bus, train and taxi. The first time we were there we discovered something very unique about Australia.. TIM TAMS! They are an incredible chocolate cookie with chocolate filling covered in chocolate. When we went the second time, we brought as many boxes home as possible.

Over the years, every time a friend would go to Australia we would beg them to bring us back some Tim Tams.

One year, Santa Claus brought us some Tim Tams.

Last weekend, I was away at our Ladies Retreat. When I got home, Wade took me to the refrigerator and said you are not going to believe this... he opened the door and there in front of me were TIM TAMS. In a much different packaging than in Australia but they taste the SAME! Yum! However, they are 2 Weight Watcher points a piece!

Pepperidge Farm finally got the Aussies to share their infamous cookie! Even on the package it says.. Australia's favorite cookie! Well, it is the Kelley's favorite cookie too besides Thin Mints of course!

So next time you are at the store, look for some Tim Tams.. you will LOVE them!

Thankful..

This month is a month of thankfulness. In a few short days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving.
Here is the defintion of thanksgiving from dictionary.com

thanks⋅giv⋅ing  /ˌθæŋksˈgɪvɪŋ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [thangks-giv-ing] Show IPA
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–noun 1. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, esp. to God.
2. an expression of thanks, esp. to God.
3. a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
4. a day set apart for giving thanks to God.

I find it interesting that all four of the definitions all give reference to GOD. It is God that we owe all thanks to.

In the Kelley household, we have a thankful tree each November. Every night, we take time to write one thing we are thankful to GOD for and write it on a leaf and place it on the tree. On the 2nd day of our tree this year, my daughter wrote she was thankful for "school". I was surprised but blessed. You see there are so many things in life even the simplicity of being able to go to school that we should be grateful for.

You might not have your own tree to place leaves on at your home.. but I do pray that you will think of at least 30 things for which you can give thanks to God for He is so good!

In Gratitude...

God Hunt...

This past weekend, I was able to get away from the hustle and bustle and go only 30 minutes away from my home to our Ladies Fall Retreat. Our speaker was Nancy Sebstain-Meyer. It was a great time of refreshment and renewal and recommitment.

One of the things that really spoke volumes to me this weekend was that in God's vocabulary there is no such thing as coincidence. God orchestrates all things for His Good. He is not controlling but controls all things.

Nancy requested that we think over the last 7 days and think about how God had worked in our lives. For those of us who know Christ, God is with us every day. You really don't have to look far to see his hand at work. But you do have to LOOK!!!

On Saturday, we divided up and went into breakout sessions on different topics. My breakout session was "Keeping Christ in Christmas" led by Kelli . As any Mom knows, it is hard to get away on a Saturday at anytime of the year because we are all so involved in our kids sports. As our session began, Kelli received a text she apologized but read it to us all. It said that her youngest daughter, Kelsi who is 8, had struck out when she went to bat. Kelsi had played softball all year long and had not hit the ball once. Kelli also shared that the coach had not been very encouraging. Kelli not only wanted Kelsi to hit the ball for the game, but more so for her confidence. As Moms we understood and shared our hearts with her. My friend, Sheri spoke up and said, "Let's pray for Kelsi and that she would hit that ball". Sheri prayed. We went on with our session and toward the end. Kelli received a text again that Kelsi had hit the ball and got a RBI. We immediately gave God the praise and honor that only He deserves. You see this was no coincidence. This was God!

God cares about everything that is important to us. This is not a new concept for me, but one which I needed to be reminded of. Nothing is too small to bring to the feet of Jesus.

This story of Kelsi is only one of many examples I could tell. Nancy, our speaker, had asked us to make a list of our God Hunt. As I truly looked over my past week, I was able to think of over 30 different times I had seen God in my life. I am now on a hunt. Each day it is my goal to truly look for God and where he is working.

May I encourage you to do your own God hunt? Where do you see God? He is at work in the lives of his children and in our world.

Richer than we think...

"when we've lost a friend, when a dream has failed, when we seem to have nothing left in the world to make life beautiful-that's when God says, You're richer than you think. "- Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place

Five years ago today, October 28, 2009 my life radically changed. My dear sweet Mother who I called Mommy at the age of 35, went to be with the Lord. My perspective on life changed and my viewpoint and anticipation of heaven changed dramatically as well. This life is truly just a blink of an eye and eternal life is everlasting!

Two weeks ago, my pastor spoke about the book the Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I realized that I had never read that book although I truly love all nonfiction books about World War II.

The quote written above is the last sentence in the book. It was written by Elizabeth Sherrill who helped Corrie write her book. It really spoke volumes to me.

A week ago, I was a huge blubbery mess. Sad doesn't even begin to describe my sorrow and the ache in my soul. I was lamenting again the loss of my Mom and that she left me way to soon. She did not get the years that I thought she would have or deserved. During those days, I had just begun to read the Hiding Place. Most everyone knows that those who lived during World War II especially in Europe, had everything taken from them. As I read Corries account, I learned new things that I didn't realize before. When Germany occupied Holland, they had all their food rationed and a curfew set. They were questioned about everything and Corrie was not a Jew. She a law abiding citizen who also loved the Lord immensely. The book really made me begin to truly put life in perspective.

"when we've lost a friend, when a dream has failed, when we seem to have nothing left in the world to make life beautiful-that's when God says, You're richer than you think. "- Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place

You know I titled the name of this blog, "Living in a World of Blessings". If I learned one important lesson from my Mother, it was count your blessings. Look at the positive.

So today, although my Mother left me too early in life.. I know that I am RICH! I count my blessings here are a few...

I thank God

1. that life is eternal for those who know the Lord and that we will live forever in a place that is undescribable and that I will see Mommy again one day!

2. that I had a Godly mother who taught me so much and who I can still hear her voice playing in my head.

3. that my Mom showed me Jesus by being Jesus with skin on.

4. that my Mom showed me the power of prayer and how to pray.

5. for all the wonderful trips that we took just me and Mom as a young child after my parents divorced.

6. that my Mom showed me the power of forgiveness.

7. that my Mom shared with me the appreciation for the small things in life...

8. that my Mom knew how to laugh!

There is more.. but I will close with those.

Thank you God for loving me and for placing me in the family that you chose. Thank you for a Godly Mother who showed me you in every step of her daily walk.

Appreciation when the wait is long

A new car... we've had new cars before, but never one of such importance. For those who don't know.. my husband is a Hot Wheel collector. He has all of his Hot Wheels from his childhood. In fact in the two houses we have lived in.. we have had air conditioned attic space added to help store the collection.

So for as long as I've known Wade, he has loved cars especially Hot Wheels. However, his dream car has been a 1967 Camaro. 1967 was the year he was born. About 3 years ago, we learned that Chevrolet would be releasing a new updated Camaro. Wade knew that he wanted one! So he drove his Chevrolet truck faithfully and waited patiently. Then, in April of this year his truck was stolen. Wade had ordered his Camaro in April and thus was not in a shopping mode for a car, but we did find a great Camry.

On Saturday afternoon, we were watching football and Wade received the phone call he had been waiting for 5 months! His Camaro had arrived in Grapevine. We went to look at it, but had to wait to possess it until the banks opened on Monday. While Wade had driven his truck faithfully for the last 8 years, he also had been saving.

Wade grew up on a farm without much luxuries of life. I on the other hand would have to say that although my life wasn't always easy.. I did have it a lot more easier than Wade. I am grateful to my parents who afforded me a lot of luxuries in life such as paying for my first car and paying for my college. Wade has worked hard for everything including his college education, but with all the hard work has come an appreciation that goes above and beyond.

So today as we drove Highway 114 together test driving the new camaro, Wade reached out and grabbed my hand like we were kids on a date.. tears filled my eyes because I knew that this was a dream that began when Wade was just a kid himself on a farm in Nash, Oklahoma.. a dream for a car of his own..a sports car.. a CAMARO!

So proud of my Man and that he now has his own Camaro!

First days of school

***This post was written but never published... **** so here it is now.. :-)

A lot of firsts the last two weeks..

Cara,my oldest started Middle School last Monday. The previous Thursday, she had school orientation. As she left that day, she had a lot of nerves but by the time she arrived back home she had her locker number and combination memorized, and her schedule memorized as well. On Friday, we went up to GMS and walked her schedule and dropped off all of her supplies and decorated her locker!

She completed her first week of classes with quite excitement. I am confident that she is going to have a great year.

This week, I sent my boy off to his first day of preschool. I purchased a Buzz and Woody backpack and lunch box for Caleb. He is so in love with Toy Story. Once he saw, his backpack and lunchbox he could not keep his hands off of them. He walked around the house all morning carrying both of them. When it was time to go, he carried them to car and was insistent that he hold them in his lap. He knows the word "backpack" and said it over and over until they were safe and secure in his little hands.

When he arrived, he walked in a little hesitantly and then grabbed my finger to go with him to play. Caleb then got engaged in a toy and I sneaked out the door to go to the "parent meeting". As I sat down at the "Mourning and Muffins Meeting", the lady next to me was clearly upset as tears fell down her cheeks. I had those same feelings with Cara, but must admit I was excited..five hours of "ME" time.

Caleb had a great first day and Cara has had two great weeks! Here's hoping that the weeks continue on the same path.