Great ways to deal with Burdens of Life

• Accept that some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.
• Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
• Drive carefully, it's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.
• It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.
• Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
• Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
• You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
• Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
• We could learn a lot from crayons...some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

Erica Holly Ritchie

Erica Holly Ritchie was born this morning at 4:37 am. She weighed 7lbs 1oz. and is 21 inches long.

Mom and Dad are doing well.

Congratulations Tanya and Wayne Ritchie!

I am still here!

Believe it or not I miss blogging. It was a great way to keep people informed on our life. I am amazed at how busy my life has become.
Paul and I were just talking about how BUSY we have made ourselves. And every way we look at things for now that is how things must be. Paul has been extremely busy with school. I am going to start a count down to when Paul will be done with school- then maybe we will return to a semi- normal life. I love spending time with Paul- and while he is in school my time with him is limited. So selfishly I am looking forward to the day he is done.
Work for me is going better than expected. I have started taking my Bible to work with me and doing my devotions in the morning early (before everyone shows up) and I am amazed at how that has changed my outlook to work. Not that I didn't like work before but I felt overwhelmed all the time with all the work I had to do... but since I have been reading my devos at work- I feel more at peace- I thank God for that.
Pastor Mario and Gabby leave for Argentina on Thursday. It is bitter sweet for me- Bitter because I hate to see my friends leave for 2 months- but sweet because I know that they will be with family that they have not seen in years and they need a vacation.
Their dogs Che and Piba will be with us the whole time- but here is the kicker- we think that Piba is pregnant again!!!! She may be due at the end of November- It depends on when she conceived- This means that we may be the ones to take care of her with the puppies. I am a little worried about this- I just don't want something to happen to either her or the puppies. So I am praying that the puppies come after the 27th of November. Pray with me please.
Tomorrow is donations day. I made fiesta tamale pie for the workers along with a salad. I hope they enjoy it.
We will see what the Lord blesses the church with tomorrow.

Small Mercies

God is good.... I was able to keep one of the employees!!! Hooray for us! I really do not like working on the personal lines desk- And God knew that... because the decision to fire one of the employees was reversed!
I have been very thankful for that!
Work is going better than anticipated- but the days ahead will be getting harder as Tanya goes on maternity leave. Okay- enough of that! NO more sad news... On to the more fun stuff.

Paul and I have truly enjoyed having Pastor Mario and Gabby living with us. We enjoy the meals together and the fellowship we have with them. We have shown them how important it is to spend time as a family. SO once in a while we have family night- which usually consists of a dinner and a movie. Three weeks ago for our Saturday family night I made spinach lasagna and we watched Get Smart - the movie that came out a few years ago. It was great to see them relax and enjoy the time. They seem to always be busy, between visiting people from the church and the church activities, that Paul and I felt like they never take time to just RELAX and do nothing... That mental down time is DESPERATELY needed. I am starting to grow attached to their dogs. They have 2 small dogs. They are really funny to watch. It is amazing how dogs make you forget about everything that is going on around you and help you relax.

On another note- Paul is taking two classes right now that are BRUTAL. He is spending most of his free time with school. Reading, writing and taking tests. I think he will be very thankful when these two classes are over.

I on the other hand- seem to be more relaxed at home. I truly think it is more because I have great help with the chores of home. Pastor and Gabby clean the house for me since they are living with us. This is a HUGE help to us. I am ever so Thankful for them and their work.

My parents may be coming out to visit in October, and I am looking forward to the possibility of this visit. My mother used to come quite frequently and work at my office while she was here but my father has not been out here in probably 5 or more years.

For all of my blog prayer warriors please keep my in-laws in your prayers. My mother in law is in Nebraska spending time with her mother since she is not doing well. My father in law is in Argentina continuing their ministry in Argentina. I know that my MIL needed to make this trip to see her mother but I am also very sure that my FIL is missing her. We keep them in our constant prayers.

Okay- I guess that is enough news for one blog... I am getting tired and really looking forward to my night of sleep.

Until the next one.....

Be Thankful Always

Never in my life had I imagined I would have a week like the last week I had. God must really be wanting to teach me something. Work has been really busy- which will only get worse in the weeks to come.
Most of you know how I post at times about my WONDERFUL staff! I must say that the group gets along really well and works well together. We help each other out when needed and we do it without complaining.
The horrible part of this story is that as of yesterday- When the group consisted of 9 people (that is including the owner) now we are down to 6. Yesterday we had a lay off at work. We are now left with the owner, the accounting lady (who only works 12 hours a week), one sales person, 2 support staff to do the day to day activities (which might I add- one is pregnant and due in 3 weeks) and ME-
Now think about this carefully- We had someone that handled the clients that had life and health insurance- we now have no one to handle that.
We had someone that handled all the personal lines (auto insurance and home insurance) we now have no one to handle that.
We had an AWESOME customer service representative- who was a jack of all trades- she was at the front desk as a receptionist, did quoting, checked policies, set up accounts, etc... She is no longer with us.
So.... do you think we have less work since they left? ABSOLUTELY not. Who do you think will be straddled with that work- I think you have figured it out... YES ME!!!!
Well- instead of being negative about it I have decided that I will do my best with a smile on my face- I will Honor God and keep giving my ALL in these difficult times.
When the decision was made to lay off 3 employees- it cut me deep- because there is not a performance issue with the employees- it is an economic issue that caused the lay off. I went home very sad- Thank you Paul for the moral support (while I cried on your shoulder).
Yesterday was a very emotional sad day. Many tears were shed.
I think for the first time since I have worked at Landini the entire office was SAD, quiet and emotionally spent.
So- in lieu of the situation at hand... I am fully aware that my life at Landini will not be the place it used to be. Paul and I are both praying for direction- That the Lord show us clearly what he wants of our lives and where he wants our lives.
Praise the Lord I have a job- Of that I am truly thankful- I will continue to Rejoice on the positives of the whole situation and pray for daily strength to make it through the day.
Pray with me wont you?

Only Thing

I was touched today by this song- it says so much how I feel of my life!
By Ronnie Freeman

Only Thing

I heard someone say the other day

They'd seen in me true love displayed

Blessed by something I had done for them

No sooner had they said these words

I found myself somehow disturbed

Uneasy as I took their compliment

Cause I know the heart inside this man

I know the truth of who I am...

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

I know me well enough to know

No matter what this life may show

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

If you could walk the hallways of my heart

And see things as they really are

I wonder if you might be surprised

Seeing faded walls of pride and fear

Rooms I've filled with faithless tears

And corners where I've stood in compromise

But you'd see the work His grace has done

You'd know just how far I've come

In a thousand years

When the dust of this world clears

And I look back on my life

And see in perfect light

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

I know me well enough to know

No matter what this life may show

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

I know me well enough to know

No matter what this life may show

The only thing that's good in me is Jesus

Thank you dear friends for your prayers this week. We have laid our fears and troubles at the feet of Jesus and we rest that HE will show us the way.

Rest on the LORD

Today, I have had to remind myself that I need to REST ON THE LORD in everything. Have you ever felt like everything is going just right-walk with God is good- things are good- job is good- relationships are good- and then all of a sudden a wrench is thrown into the mix-then you feel like the supposed solid ground you were on is NO LONGER SOLID but shaky? Well, I am having one of those days. I think we are approaching a time of change in our lives. Paul's job has been shaky the past few months. Today, after months of praying and talking about it we decided that it was time for Paul to find a new job. Not that he does not enjoy his job- because he truly has enjoyed the years he has been with them- There are some decisions that the company has been making that have made Paul feel unsteady- A few months ago they laid off his entire department. Paul thankfully was not one of the ones laid off- but there are signs once again that another lay off is coming. This is not sitting well with either one of us. We have finally come to a point where we rather have a PLAN B- and through prayer- God has given us peace about a job change. Sometimes for some people change is very scary.
So- Please pray with us these next few weeks we will need to see what and where the Lord leads us. It is so important that we follow God's leading and NOT our wants. We truly don't want to do something that is out of God's will- since there is ALWAYS consequences to not following God.

Busy Saturday

I love Saturday and Sunday! They are both days that I get to rest. I needed to get the oil changed for the car so I got up early and went to do that! PTL we have a 4 year maintenance contract and the oil changes are FREE.... However when they were done with the oil change they brought to my attention that the tires needed changed. It did not surprise me... We have not changed them since we got the car over 3 years ago. Toyota wanted me to change them there- but NO WAY am I paying the price they have! I went to Walmart to get them changed. It is great to kill two birds with one stone- I went grocery shopping while they changed my tires. I am home tired now~ I just finished cooking lunch and I am waiting on the spinach quiche to cook in the oven. We are having homemade quiche with fresh fruit.

Promised pictures

Remainder of the visit

Well, all of my house guests are gone! We had an interesting few days- full of fun and excitement. Rachel and Lizzie arrived and it felt like we were non-stop the whole time they were here.
Wednesday of last week we went over to Pastor Mario and Gabby to help with the donations. They were blessed with many donations this time. God has been good to them and supplying all their needs. It is a great testimony to me on the power of God! We helped sort, organize and make bags for the church members.
Thursday we had a fabulous "girls day". We went to get pedicures and Rachel even got a manicure. We truly enjoyed ourselves this day.
Friday- I had mediation to attend- which took a whole lot longer than anticipated. I drove to Pahrump, NV and spent 6 hours there with no resolution at all. The attorney was quite upset that NO resolution was accomplished. After mediation, I raced home (it took me 45 min to get home) and packed up for our trip to San Diego. We picked Paul up at work and started our California adventure.
Saturday we spent the day at Sea World. It was so much fun- Best of all was watching Rachel and her reaction to certain shows and animals. We spent all day there until 7:30 p.m.- when we decided that we had enough. We were tired, crispy (we all got burned except for Rachel who we made sure we sprayed down 3 times throughout the day) and hungry.
We got to the hotel- We laid down and all of us had a laughing fit- I think mainly because we were exhausted. We slept really well that night from pure exhaustion!
Sunday was a long day of traveling- and once we got to Las Vegas we went to Bellagio to see the dancing waters.
Monday Lizzie and Rachel started packing for their return to Atlanta. We relaxed that evening since we were all pretty tired from the long weekend.
Tuesday- Lizzie and Rachel left. It was hard to let them go- but I totally understand their need to be home with their families.
Wednesday we said goodbye to Veronica.
Last night we came home to a quiet home- all alone again! For the first time in 3 weeks we went to bed early-
What a Great time we had with everyone! Missing everyone already.
I will post pictures of our adventures later tonight at home.

Day 10-11

What a busy few days. We picked up Rachel and Lizzie from the airport and have not stopped since.
We went to the park and played bochas. Rachel played at the park where there is a water section- good for the heat of Las Vegas.
We also went to Pastor Marios house to help with the donations. There was a truckload of blessings that arrived. Veronica could not get over the amount of stuff that was donated. We spent all day yesterday- unloading a truck and sorting the items that were donated. Rachel even got to enjoy organizing with us. We got home after the long day and Veronica and Rachel made empanadas. We enjoyed them very much.

Days 6-9

I am bunching a few days together because we were away from my computer so I could not blog. We have had a wonderful few days...
We got a Cabin in Williams Arizona about 45 miles from the Grand Canyon. The first night we cooked a chicken- it was yummy. We enjoyed every aspect of this trip. The weather was fabulous. It was in the 80's during the day and at night it was in the 50's.
The Grand Canyon was AMAZING. We had a wonderful time walking and checking everything out.
We also taught Veronica how to make a smore... She thought they were YUMMY.
Today we go and pick up Lizzie and Rachel. We are getting real excited of their visit.

Day 5

Paul and Veronica spent the day driving around finding things that Veronica was looking to purchase. When they picked me up from work they both looked tired. We made our plans for the trip to Grand Canyon. Not much else to report for that day!

Day 4

Some of you have been wondering about Veronica and how we know her- so I guess it is time I give you some clarification. Paul and Veronica are childhood friends. Veronica lives in LLavallol, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a police officer- does administrative work. She and I have become very good friends throughout the years!

Day 4 was full of excitement. (not as much for me because I had to work) Paul and Veronica started the day off with a round of tennis. I cannot believe they lasted 2 hours since the weather was already over 95- (we had a high of 115 for the day!) Then they decided to take the canoe out. I could not believe that they did not even fall in the water once! They came to pick me up and they both looked a bit crunchy! They forgot sunscreen- ouch! Paul was more red and Veronica was more tan. She has the kind of skin that only tans when in the sun! How fortunate... I just turn red and then right back to my nice white!
Right after work we went to LouAnne's house for dinner and hair! LouAnne is the lady that does my hair- She is really good at what she does. I got highlights done with a trim and Veronica got a trim. We also had the opportunity to play with her two daughters.

By the time we got home we were exhausted!

Day 3

Veronica spent the day at home resting and getting used to the time change. I think the jet lag finally hit her. When we got home she had dinner almost all done. She just needed Paul to grill the steaks. We enjoyed the evening eating, talking, laughing-
Paul was officially on vacation so he was plotting and planning what he and Veronica were going to get into! He wants to play tennis, take the canoe to the lake, play soccer... he wants to keep her real busy in the 115 degree weather!