"Today We Celebrate!"

TODAY WE CELEBRATE!
By Becky Conrad ©
Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ
Today we celebrate the One who gave us life.
Laughter, joy, sharing and caring,
A day of family, celebrating need not be wearing.
If peace on earth is in our hearts,
it can only begin with me.
Peace on earth, is within each one of us,
with the tenderness and love of Thee.
He can sustain us, beyond our understanding,
He can lift us up, that our hearts can soar,
beyond the stars, the heavens, beyond time.
We need not want for more.
With each new sunset, and each new dawn,
if given the privilege, peace on earth within, can be mine.
So give a hug and a warm smile,
Wrap His love around you.
Savor the memories of days gone by,
Revere in the future of loved ones nearby.
Celebrate today!
It is a free gift of priceless treasure,
an eternal gift to cherish beyond measure.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

"Today I pray" by Becky Conrad

Today I pray for my friend who is dealing with a lot of anger. The anger is deep within. The anger is consuming her. She really is a wonderful, caring person.

Today I pray for my friend who is very sick, her life has been hard to deal with---physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Today I pray for my friend who just lost her sister to cancer yesterday---they were very close.

Today I pray for my friend who has her elderly mother in her home and her father that is in a Rest Home. He does not know who she is.

Today I pray for my friend. Her husband has been shipped to Iraq. They have two young children.

Today I pray for my friend. She has taken a "leave of absence" from work to take care of her mother who is battling cancer.

Today I pray for the man who lost his 9-year-old son, hit by a car while getting the mail out of the mailbox after he got off of the school bus. This same man lost his wife two years ago, and his father earlier this year. I pray for the young girl that hit the boy and her family. Their lives have been changed forever.

Today I pray for the family of a woman who was hit and killed by a car while crossing the highway. I pray for the girl that hit her, and for her family too. Their lives have been changed forever.

Today I pray for an elderly man who has been diagnosed with colon cancer. He faces surgery the first of January.

Today I pray for a young boy who injured his shoulder in the early spring playing ball, which he really loves to do. He suffered and endured a lot of pain at a young age. He recently had surgery on his arm to find out what the problem was. It was very hard for his parents to see him go through this procedure and he is on the mend now. Praise God.

Today I pray for my country and for all the men and women in the Armed Forces fighting for our freedom. They are sacrificing so much for us.There are so many others. The list is endless. So many hurting souls of the world.

Does it take long to pray? Yes, but it is only a small amount of time compared to the time in a day. I can pray all day if I want too. The opportunities are everywhere. In my car, sitting in my living room, before I go to sleep, after I wake, while I am cooking supper, or just having a quiet time to myself. Anytime is fine. The prayers really do not have to be fancy or said with a lot of dollar-words. They can be as simple as a child's prayer. Are we not His children no matter what our age?

I pray to not be judgmental, but respect others for their worlds of strife. I have not walked in their shoes, nor have I lived their life. I only know my own limitations and expectations.

I only pass through this life but once. As I travel this through this life, it is my privilege and choice to pray for the healing of broken hearts, sickness, words left unspoken, or spoken in anger. There are hurting souls everywhere---every town, every street, every country and nation. A prayer is only a breath away, whispered quietly, and prayed for someone else.

Simply said, "I lift them all to Thee. Peace begins with me."

Thursday morning, Dec. 20, 2007

Hi, Folks,
Well, it has been a long week so far. Most of it spent in bed with B-Bob the cat by my side. Gosh, I didn't realized I could be such good friends with my toilet, but hey, glad it was there for many reasons! I finally made it to the doctor's on Tuesday, and got some anti-nausea drug, which has helped some. I was only able to get some dry wheat toast, and chicken noodle soup down this week, and that was not easy. It seemed as soon as I ate something, the nausea would return big time. I've talked with some people and they said it is going around everywhere. So be careful out there! I thought I was, but evidently not!

Now hubby is sick. He called into the school this morning. He never misses work so he must be sick. He said it hit him around 1 am. this morning. Great. I hope he gets over it quickly.

I'm off this morning to take some hams to the renters we have, then the stores with my elderly neighbor.

It just seems like the year has gone so quickly. Soon it will be Christmas, then a New Year beginning. Where does the time go? So fast, so fast.

Gotta go for now.
Be blessed, and stay well!
Becky :)

Monday morning, December 17, 2007

Hi, Folks,
Sorry I didn't blog over the weekend. I got some kind of stomach flu and the bed and the bathroom were my best friends over the weekend. Not nice. A little better this morning, but still not all the way feeling normal. (Whatever that is!)
I had an MRI on Friday morning as my back has been giving me fits for two weeks now. My Chiropractor thought it was best to have the MRI to see if the herniated discs, L-5 & S-1 have flared up as I am having a lot of difficulty sitting, standing, bending, and walking.

This is going to be short, as I hear the bathroom calling me again!

Gotta go.
Later,
Becky :)

Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2007

Hi, everyone,
My gosh! What a trip down to Columbus. What is normally a 2 1/2 - 3 hour trip took 6 hours and 10 minutes. I was totally exhausted when I got there, and yes, my knuckles did turn white gripping the steering wheel on more than one occasion. Whew! The roads were treacherous, numerous accidents, and very difficult driving. I don't think I ever used my windshield washer fluid in a year compared to what I used on the way down. (Thanks to hubby who filled it before I left!)

What amazed me was how some drivers drove as though it was a sunny-80 degree day. Sheesh. They drove without any regard to road conditions. Especially the truckers! I know they have deadlines, but you would think they would slow down a little.

At one time, just as I got onto I-70 West, everyone had to exit. It took all of us one hour and ten minutes to go eight miles through a little town! Very exasperating and slow-going. Actually we sat at numerous times and waited and waited. While waiting, the snow was falling in huge flakes, and it was serene. Still, when you have to go to the bathroom, serene was nice, but my mind had to keep telling my bodily function-NOT NOW! Although I did at one point think I could possibly get out of my car, squat down between my car and the semi in front of me and go, but then I would probably have been arrested for indecent exposure or something! Finally, when we reached the entrance back to I-70, it was only a few miles and there was a roadside rest. Whew!
Many cars stopped. In the restroom, the news was revealed that there was a huge accident on I-70. Two semi trucks, and 11 cars were involved. Hmm. I do hope no one was injured severely, but people just have to have some common sense and take more time, go slow, and be considerate.

The ODVN workshop/seminar was absolutely awesome! I learned so much, although my mind was on overload for two days absorbing all the information. Now I am anxious to implement it and help more women that come into my W.I.S.H. program.

I met so many wonderful people. We shared so much and had a great time. I was also allowed to hand out my bookmarks to people that were interested in them.

The trip back was so much better, even though it was dark returning, I was very thankful I made it home safely. I surely hope and pray the other participants did also.

I had to visit my Chiropractor yesterday again for the third time this week. I went on Monday and Tuesday before I left. My back was pretty good while at the seminar, but when I got up Saturday morning, it was a mess again. It is better this morning. I didn't do too much yesterday as I knew I had a lot to do today. Hubby helped me bring up the Christmas tree decorations and I am going to tackle that this morning.

Father-in-law and girlfriend are going to come down for a pre-Christmas dinner. I am cooking a ham that he brought. He is going to call this morning to see if it is a go because we had ice move in last night but it is suppose to clear this morning.

Gotta go,
Have a blessed week! Stay safe.
Becky :)

Sunday morning, Dec. 2, 2007

Hello everyone,
Well, according to Fox News last night, evidently there have been 18 domestic violence charges against "Peterson" but never any charges stuck. Hm. I smell "cover up" to the extreme!

Does anyone out there remember Tracy Thurman? Ann Jones wrote about her in her book, "Next Time She'll Be Dead". Although this happened way back when, it is a similar scenario. Her husband was a cop, and they (other cops-co-workers) covered his butt numerous times. Numerous calls for violence at the home, stalking, abuse, kids involved, cop-friends and covering for him---he killed her on their front lawn in front of their children. Even after he did it, he still thought he was "justified" in doing so and that everything was "all her fault."

In my opinion, Peterson is an arrogant, cocky, coercive, violent, and abusive individual. He believes he can do nothing wrong. He more than likely chooses his victims, to have the power and control over them, and feels justified for any and all of his actions. How could his other wife drown in a bathtub without water???? Maybe there will be some better answers that will surface for her family too.

Did he chose the relative to dispose of the body because he had mental problems? Did Peterson chose this guy hoping he might go over the edge (because the guy supposedly thinks he helped him dispose of the body) and he might commit suicide and therefore not be able to testify against him? Lots of questions here, folks.

I started putting up Christmas decorations outside yesterday. The day was cool but the sun was shining and it wasn't too bad. I did manage to get the lights on the fence rail, some out by the driveway, and some in the front of the house. More to do today, maybe, depending on the weather. I love Christmas lights. When I was a little girl, my Dad used to take us kids all around the ritzy-expensive homes to see all the light displays. I really enjoyed that. We didn't do any decorating on our house, (it was far away from the road and down a big hill), but we did put up a tree.

Last night, around 7 p.m., I was sitting in the chair watching T.V. when I heard sleet coming down. I went outside to see what the weather was doing and it was as if ice crystals were falling from the sky. I hurried around outside and unplugged all the lights I had on. Not sure if we are going to get anymore of the ice/snow storm that is moving across the midwest and heading our way. Iowa sure got hit badly. We have been fortunate that the weather has been fairly decent, but winter is fast approaching and it is inevitable we will get some nasty weather. Uh-oh. It is starting to rain, I think, or is it snow or sleet? It is dark outside so I'll have to check as soon as I'm done here to see what it is doing. I called father-in-law last night and advised him of the weather. He may or may not make it down today. (Hubby is going deer hunting as he did yesterday morning.)

I have to drive to Columbus on Wednesday for a two-day seminar/workshop for work on Thursday and Friday. I am looking forward to it to learn new things to help other victim/survivors. I'll return on Friday evening.

Next Sunday, father-in-law and his girl-friend are coming down for the day. I'm not sure what to fix for dinner. Maybe a ham? His friend is such a delightful person. Her sister is dying of cancer and is not doing very well. I do believe the hospital sent her home now, and hospice has come in to help her.

I met a dear friend of mine yesterday morning for breakfast. She looks fabulous. She was married a year ago to a wonderful guy on New Year's eve. She went through a terrible marriage of abuse and controlling, and at the end, he killed himself because she finally left him. (He showed up the next day were she had moved to, and I truly believe, if her other friend had not been there and she called the police, he would have killed her also. He always told her, "If I can't have you, no one can."

I'm so proud of her. She has come a long way and is doing well now. We talked about scars, and healing, moving on, and flashbacks. Yes, they do happen, but with God's saving grace and his loving, caring arms around us, we can move out of the darkness and into the light.

Until next time, Blessings to you,
Becky :)