The Night After CHRISTmas

The guests all went home, the decorations are down and put away until next year, the cleaning is done. What a grand celebration of Jesus' birth it has been and will continue to be in our hearts everyday.

We are now packed and ready to take our "first" retirement road trip. We have the camper packed and ready to head to Redding, California to visit my brother and his family...neices, nephews and all their children, some from New York, some from Florida. We haven't spent a holiday with them in over twenty years and are very excited!

I will be posting on our "Luxury with Blessings and Fun" blog about our trip. You can join us there to keep up with where we are and what we are doing.

CHRISTmas Day Celebration

The Birth of Jesus ~ Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Luke 2:1-7

WOW, what a blessed CHRISTmas we had celebrating with about 30 family members. Some come from Texas, some from Washington State, who arrived on Monday. Many from different surrounding areas in Oregon arrived early Christmas morning.

The turkey went in the oven at 8:am, pork tender loin went in the smoker at 8:30. About 1:00 potatoes were cooked and mashed, gravy made, veggie warmed up and the table was set, ready to eat at 2:00.

We all gathered in a circle, joining hands for a prayer of thankfulness and blessing on our bountiful meal. We enjoyed our Christmas feast together, cleaned up, sang songs, laughed, played cards, Scrabble, visited and reminised about the good ol' days. Had a good ole' fashion time together with family.

Many of the guest left around 6:pm...hubby and brother watched the Portland Blazer/Denver Nuggets Game...Blazer's won.

Celebrate ~ Day 30

WOW, what a fantastic 30 day journey this has been!!

I will celebrate the new people I have met, the fun, connecting with friends and the learning experience.

I celebrate Susan's faithful efforts for keeping the 30 days going with much enthusiasm.

And I celebrate that I hung in there (even though I was late at doing some of my posts), doing my best to read, comment and keep up with the other bloggers who were involved.

I want to wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year!!

Journey and Discovery ~ Day 28 & 29

Journey ~ Where will I take my blog in coming months/years?

I pray that I can take my blog to higher heights personally and in business. I will work at it in a new light with all that I have learned during this 30 Days of Blogging. Focusing on relationships. Getting to know and trust others, meeting others, allowing them to look, listen and decide.

I will PRAY, BE unrealistic, think big, think out of the box, work from my passion, stick my neck out take a risk, get out of my comfort zone, be brave, be impulsive, take my time, take my rest, create, dream, have fun, help others to score, listen, admire, give compliments, be supportive, change, surprise myself, re-invent, give, think but not to deep, take action, live life to the max and ENJOY IT!

Discovery ~ Opportunity is never lost. It goes to those who want to accept and grab it. we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I will use my time wisely. I will try hard to post often on my business blogs, Prosper and Be In Health and Luxury with Blessings and Fun as well as The Hand of God blog.

I want people to join, but I want them to LEARN first. You see, if they learn first of their own volition, they are: "SELLING THEMSELVES" When they do that, there is no pressure and it becomes their idea, which makes them serious, which means they stay longer and are more likely to succeed.

Investing in the lives of others is what we are truly all about.

Growth ~ Day 27

Things I have noticed in the last few weeks...How much fun blogging is. What wonderful people I have met and how much I have enjoyed learning more about...

What are you noticing as you reflect on your life: That I do have something good to offer others...your business: That i can mix pleasure with business, it isn't all about business...your relationships: I have met some wonderful people, I've learned about others and their desires and passions.

The seed must be planted and watered before growth can begin.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase...He who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)

Seasons ~ Day 26

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, poet and philosopher.

What I like about the season I'm in right now that's important to me...

I love the change that usher out the old year and brings in the beginning of the new...

Though the Winter binds us in its icy grip, we have the bright promise of Springtime to look forward to.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

I Use To Know...Now I Know ~ Day 25

What I use to know, and what I now know about blogging.

I use to know...nothing about blogging, I thought is was a way to promote, of course, God first and our businesses.

Now I know...it is about meeting and sharing with people around the world, getting to know them, learning about them, and they about me, exposure, building a relationship. I have learned that it is people helping people.

I am blessed to have met so many wonderful people through blogging.