Sat. morning, December 11, 2010

Hi, Everyone!

Well, first off I apologize for not responding to emails sent to me since August! Only a few have come through. For some reason my server has not forwarded my emails from my website since then! Very strange! So, I contacted my web guy, and he found the problem. When I checked my emails, there was almost 100! Sheesh. Some of it was trash of course, but some of them were from my readers and from a couple bookstores wanting me to come for a book signing, etc. I feel really bad I didn't know of them to respond. I did so this morning.

So that taken care of, and I know now how to access them from home, I will keep up with them from now on. Forget trying to use the server I have, (dial-up for now until DSL comes to this rural area), and I will hopefully get a better server when this happens. It can't be too soon!

Winter is upon us and it is been very cold and snowy...with more to come Sunday night for three or four days. Father-in-law and his girlfriend are coming today for a visit and I'm fixing a ham with all the stuff to go with it. We will probably eat early as they will have to head back to Kent (where girlfriend lives), and if the weather starts changing later today, then dinner will be done and over with around 2 p.m. We will have a good visit and probably play some cards. They love to do that!

I've been sick for a week. Flu, bronchitis, laryngitis, etc. I finally decorated the Christmas tree yesterday but have done nothing else. No lights up outside, or much done inside. I just don't have the energy to do so. I wasn't even out of the house for almost a week with hubby and the dogs in the afternoon because it was to cold and I was coughing up a storm. I slept last night almost through the night without waking up and having a coughing fit for hours. Sheesh. It makes me really tired. But, this to shall pass, and I feel pretty good today. Maybe I'll get those decorations up after all!

My W.I.S.H. group sessions have been going well. I believe three of the gals in my sessions are starting to realize they can have a better life, but it will be up to them to change it and set better goals for themselves. I had the blessing a couple weeks ago on a Monday when two of my "graduates" came in and shared their stories with the gals that were there. I think those present learned a lot from them telling their stories and how they dealt with their abusive husband and boyfriend. It just fills my heart with so much gladness when the girls come back and share their accomplishments and to see how great they look and how wonderful their life is better.

Hubby and I agreed this Christmas not to exchange gifts but use the money instead to help needy families in the area. I even talked with my family, and hubby's family and they are okay with this decision to not buy gifts for each other but use the money also for needy families. We are fortunate to be able to do this, and hopefully it will help some families have a better Christmas. There are so many hurting and struggling today. Christmas is too commercialized today anyway, and the meaning of Christmas has been almost lost. All they talk about on T.V. is the "retail sales" and no one seems to mention about the birth of Jesus and why He was born to save us.

Crazy world we live in today and it isn't getting better. But, if one person can share love and help to another person, and let them know Jesus loves them, it will help. Jesus has to be crying to see so much evil in the world.

Gotta get going now to prepare for the company. Better sweep and dust too!
Take care, stay safe, and thanks again for stopping by!

My best to you,
Becky Conrad :)

Sun. morning, December 7, 2008

Hi, Everyone,

Boy is it cold and snowy! I tried to get some decorating done outside this week, but it has been difficult with the cold and snow blowing everywhere! Hubby and I was out with the dogs yesterday and they seemed to have a great time in the snow. Clara was especially frisky and wanted her ball thrown numerous times. I was trying to staple red bows to the posts on our fence while she was bringing me the red ball, her favorite. I had so many clothes on, it was hard to move around let alone try to put up lights and decorate! I feel like the little child dressed up to the hilt and can barely move for all the winter garb, but it is a necessity if one is going to be out in the elements!

It was too cold to work outside yesterday morning so hubby and I took off to Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping for our annual Christmas party next Saturday. The place was really busy but we managed to maneuver around the isles and the many people just fine. Hubby has a tendency to get antsy in crowded places, so we moved swiftly. He did good!

I am receiving more emails from readers and this is so uplifting! Many are either still in an abusive relations and trying to find a way out, while others have already moved on to get a better life. I know it can be done, and anyone deserves it. Absolutely no one deserves violence and abuse against them.

The CCAPL had their annual meeting this past Tuesday and we showed the animal shelter plans to those present. They were impressed. Now we just have to get the land to start building and procure more funds to do so! It will come...we just know it...when the time is right.

Check out the new things on the front page of my web site. "Healthy Relationships" and the new "ALERT" in regards to kidnapping. Pass it on to your friends so they are aware too of the potential dangers that are out there!

With all the cold and snow, it reminds me of when I was a little girl on the farm and winter started around the first of November and lasted until March. It might be that way this year as we got a head start on the snow back in October!

Hubby's school implemented a two-hour delay for the first time ever, so we'll see how that works out for the school cancelling for the day.

We have company coming today for a pre-Christmas dinner. Father-in-law and his girlfriend (they are so cute together-both in their eighties), will be here around 11 a.m. so even though it is early in the morning, I better get busy getting some things done. Tooter, the cat, woke me up at 3:30 a.m. but I didn't get up until 4 a.m.

I have been having trouble with me Internet server and my emails, so if you don't get through to me at first, keep trying. They changed their whole system around and it has been a nightmare since as far as sending and receiving emails for the last two weeks!

Thanks everyone for stopping by...be safe...stay warm...and keep in touch.
Hugs and prayers,
Becky :)