For those of you who follow my blog, I cannot believe it has been almost three months since I last made an entry; my only "excuse", I have been busy. (Sometimes I wonder if anyone really cares, or reads this blog; my daddy does.) (OK enough with the pity party)

Last weekend I took Friday off and go for a weekend trip to the coast with five other ladies. We try to "get out of Dodge" about two times a year. We had the pleasure of having a "first timer" with us. Deloris you gave us a lot of laughs, I look forward to many more mini vacations with you. (Debbie thanks again for the use of the condo; I never meant what I said about inviting someone new.) I drove down by myself which gave me the opportunity on the way home to stop a couple of times and get a few pictures. I will post them for you later. I am waiting for my friend to send me some of her pictures to post all at once.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday. I spent a good amount of time on the beach at low tide searching for treasures. I found a few. I finally had to get back inside as it was getting colder and the wind picked up. At my age my hips were sore from stooping down for so long, I sure did pay for it Sunday.

This week I have been preparing for an Arbitration. I got 186 pages of exhibits emailed to me at 2:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. yesterday, for me to organize and label for a 9:00 a.m. arbitration today. For those of you who do not know the normal process, usually the opposing party prints, labels, divides, etc. the discovery and "snail mails" it several days before. This discovery was requested three months ago. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Well it is over now and the matter is being heard right now.

So there are my two excuses for the past two weeks, do not know what to tell you about the other 7 or 8 weeks but I am sure I could come up with a lot of excuses.

I enjoy looking at all the blogs of others; helps me keep up with some of the news.

Until next blog. . .

CONTINUED THANKS

In my study Wednesday we were enlightened with an object lesson. The object was a pair of ordinary eye glasses. The question was how do these eye glasses reflect the Glory of God? I am changing it a bit to say what things can I be thankful for because of my glasses?

The lenses are made out of glass (at least some are) and glass is made of sand, someone had to figure out that if you heat the sand it melts and becomes glass. Sand is nontransparent but when you melt it it becomes transparent. Over 30% of the world consists of sand. Who created the sand?

Then there is the fact that once the glass is created we are blessed with doctors who can tell us what lenses we will need in order for us to see clearer.

Add to that the person who creates the lenses for you in order for you to see clearer.

The frames fit over your ears (the ones you hear with), and rests on your nose (you have the sense of smell), and holds the lenses that give you clearer vision so you can read.

This is a condensed version of the 10 minute lesson that was shared with us. It caused me to think that something as simple as a pair of glasses can cause me to be thankful for a numerous amount of things such as:

Sand; inventors; creators; doctors; my eyes (sight); my nose; my ears; ability to read; teachers that taught me to read; and clearer vision.

I can see clearer now the reason I should give thanks in everything I have.

This is only a few of the things that I can be thankful for because of a pair of glasses.

CONTINUED THANKS

I have been very busy at work and unable to get my thanks in so I logged on this evening after I returned from our small group meeting.

My Daddy: I want to thank you Daddy from the bottom of my heart for your unconditional love. You have been there for me and always knows when I need you to stop in and just say "hi, how are things going?" While I miss my Mom very much; I am very blessed to have a wonderful "step"-Mom; she is beautiful from the inside out. I love you Daddy, I love you Mom.

My Big Sister: While we are not in contact I think of my sister often and I am thankful for her. Marcia thank you for all the times that you were there when I needed you. For being supportive during some of the most difficult times in my life. I know I do not say it enough and want you to know that I love you very much.

My Big Brother: Mark, thank you for your words of wisdom when I needed them. Thank you for putting up with me during your "dates" (it should be recognized that he dated my best friend). I remember all the times that you dragged me along with you. I am sure that I got in the way many times. I love you.

Again I would like to know what you are thankful for. For those of you who have shared thanks, for those of you who have not; I would love to hear from you.

Thankful for:

Freedom; I believe that the word itself is self explanatory.

Grace; something you get that you do not deserve; unconditional; giving without expecting anything back.

Committed employees; since we "let go" of one of our employees in early August, I have not had one "early morning, I am sick, I can't make it to work" telephone call. (By early morning I mean 4:30 am)

If you read my previous post you will remember I emphasized that my "goal" was to post daily. I had three things in mind for Friday but I was so busy at work that I did not get any time to blog; and that is the reason for my first "thankful" today:

1. I am so thankful to have a job. With 1 out of every 12 people being unemployed it is a blessing to have a job I can go to each day.

2. My sencond blessing goes hand in hand with number 1; not only do I have a job, I enjoy going to work each day because I have a boss that is caring, understanding, patient, and all around a wonderful guy. (Some of you that used to work with him in the same office know what I am talking about.)

3. Today I am thankful that it did not rain; not that I have any reason to worry about flooding, but I know that many lives have been effected by the rain. (Better yet it is not snow or freezing rain.)

Thanks to those of you that have responded. I love hearing from you. I probably will not do an entry on Sunday. Have a great weekend.