Tomorrow

Group: Third Day
Album: Come Together
Song: It's All Right

Year: 2001

Lyrics: 

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn't know how long
I have never stopped believing
That one day you would return
And though waiting is the hardest
Part of everything I do
I do confess it's getting better
Knowing I will be with you

It's alright
It's okay
I won't worry about tomorrow
For it brings me one more day
Closer than I was to you

Now the question isn't "will you"
What I want to know is "when"
If it's one day or a million
I will wait for you 'til then
So I'm holding on to your words
And the promises you've made
There is not one you have broken
There's not one I didn't take

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn't know how long
I will never stop believing
I know one day you will return


This song is a song with so much hope. So much hope that tomorrow brings us closer together than we were the day before to the one that we love. I have said words like this before. I may have even heard words like this before. But I have never stopped believing that someday you would return to me. Here you are with me now and forever. Here you are to stay. This song gives me hope in tomorrow.

I am thankful each day for you and the tomorrows that we will share. I will strive not to worry about tomorrow. I will strive to remember and be thankful that we have more tomorrows ahead.

It's all right.
It's okay.
I won't worry about tomorrow.
For it brings me ONE MORE DAY
Closer than I was to you.

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -- Matthew 6:34

Prayer at the beginning of the day

Thank you Lord for letting us see the rising sun and the start of a brand new day. Thank you for letting us wake up next to the one we love. Watch over us and protect us through the day. Give us the strength to make it through to the end of day.

Prayer at the end of the day

Thank you Lord for letting us see the end of another day. Thank you for giving us one more day with the one we love. Watch over us and protect us as we sleep. Give us a brand new day tomorrow.

Goals for the Future

I have never been one to make resolutions for the New Year. Resolutions have always been like empty promises that get broken a day or two after the New Year begins. Most people are quick to give up when a resolution is broken. They have nothing to strive for the rest of the year. I prefer to set personals goals. With a goal, you strive all year long to accomplish it. You are freer to go about your day, week, month, and even the year with each goal in mind rather than the resolution looming over your head. Some people are quick to break their resolutions so that they do not have the extra added pressure on themselves to keep up with something that is next to impossible to do. The advantage with a goal versus resolution is you give yourself an entire year to accomplish it and if you do not make it on the first day then there is always the next day. There is even the next week and month for you to try and achieve the goal. A goal takes time to accomplish and there is a great feeling attached to it when you have finally reached your goal. The key is to set a modest goal. Set goals that you can reach within the year. Set goal that you can even reach within 6 months so as you start to slack off as the year drudges on you can still hit them by the time December 31st comes sneaking up on you. And who says that you have to wait until January 1st to start working on your goals? If you set them early, then you can start them right away. By the time you get to February, you can be 1/3 of the way to reaching your goal and then you can relax a bit before you have to go at it full force again.

In November 2008, I set pretty lofty goals for 2009. They might have seemed unattainable at the time but my life was going in an upward swing and I wanted to set some pretty high goals to strive for throughout the year. I started them before 2008 ended and even as unattainable the goals seemed, I managed to accomplish them all before the year was even half over. The one goal I thought would be the hardest to attain was to find the one person I was going to marry. I did not have to be married or even engaged by the end of the year. I just wanted to find the person that I could say “He’s the one.” Not only did I find him (he had actually been right there all along) we were engaged on May 29 and the year was not even half over. I had so much to look forward to the rest of the year.

With a wedding set for April, the goals for 2010 were set naturally through planning. Moving to a new town helped to set a few more goals. I wanted the wedding to go off without a hitch. Things went pretty smoothly. There were a few things that could have been done differently but for the most part it was a great wedding. Everyone all around had a good time. Adjusting to a new town and a new life was not such an easy task. I did not know anyone here and finding new friends was not so easy. I missed my old friends and activities in Orlando. There was always something going on at least once a week to keep me busy. There was always someone to call or close by to cheer me up when I was feeling a bit down. Adjusting to a new role as full time wife was harder than I thought. It took a while to get into the swing of weekly versus daily house chores.  Eventually we were able to find a Church that we both could agree we could grow. A parish we could be active parishioners and raise our kids. I was able to find two prayer groups I can go to once a week and feel like a larger family. I am still adjusting to my new role as wife but I am happy to have found a nice young adult group with other young families I can look to as examples of a good Catholic home. There is still a lot of adjustments to be made but I would say that the goals that were set for 2010 all have been met just in time to ring in the New Year.

Setting goals for 2011 has been different than previous years. I am used to setting my own personal goals. I did not have to think about what anyone else wanted or was trying to accomplish. For this New Year, I not only had to set personal goals but family goals. I had to think about what goals we wanted to accomplish together as a family. Kris and I decided to set a few goals together so that we can try to encourage one another to stick to them. We have already decided on a few goals. We want to read a book a month. Twelve books to enlighten us and make us wiser. We want to exercise – walk or ride our bikes – 2 to 3 times a week. We want to increase our faith and become more involved in our Church. We want to stick to a tight budget and work on paying off our debt. We will encourage each other throughout the New Year to keep up with the goals that we have decided on as a family for 2011.

Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it is a beautiful and sunny 54 degrees.

I am thinking... what “goals” are we setting for 2011?

I am thankful for... a wonderful husband. He is the best gift I have ever received.

From the kitchen... dishes are done. Food is made. Just a tad bit more tidying and organizing to do before the cycle starts all over again.

I am wearing... my pajamas – sweats and long sleeve shirt – to stay warm.

I am creating... our scrapbook.

I am going... to enjoy the beautiful sun and cool day outside. It is a great day to sit outside with a book and a hot cup of coffee.

I am reading... the end of House Rules by Jodi Picoult. It has been a while since I started reading it and with only a few days left in the year, I hope to finally finish it. Then I can start one of the new books on my 2011 reading list.

I am hoping praying... we do not have to keep driving up to Pasco County to check on the rental property late at night. Prayers for a renter very soon!

I am hearing... an archive of Dave Ramsey’s radio program from Wednesday, December 22, 2010. What an inspiration! I cannot wait to call his program to scream “We’re debt free!”

Around the house... there is just tidy work to be done before the cycle of major house chores begins again.

One of my favorite things... cuddling with the one you love especially when it is cold outside.


A few plans for the rest of the week:

Thursday: Quality time with my husband on his day off

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My Kelly girl…

Kelly presented flowers in honor of Mama Edad who could not be at the wedding with us.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
The Simple Woman's Daybook is a brief outline for women/mothers who blog to use as a way to compose thoughts, plan the week, and keep a grateful heart. It is typically published once a week on Tuesdays.

Happy birthday my love!

Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, we also celebrate my husband's birthday. I was so happy to attend Mass together with my husband not only on his birthday but also on a great feast day as well. We went to Mass at The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.

Readings for Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

First reading: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12-21
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

Each reading today looked at the role of each member of the family with a lot of emphasis on the Father. We are given the qualities it takes to be a good family and good member of that family.

We both look to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as our prime example of what it means to be a family and the importance of a family. We know that not only do we possess the things we need to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, husband, father, brother, and son that we are meant to be but we also know that God's grace is sufficient enough to be all these things.

The Holy Family - The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Peterburg, FL

I ask and pray as a blessing on my darling husband on this day of his birth that he may someday be the father that the Lord intended him to be. I ask St. Joseph to intercede for him. I pray that he may have the humble heart of St. Joseph to lead and his family as the Lord commands him.

Happy birthday to my amazing and wonderful husband!

First Holidays

One of the difficult things to figure out during marriage is how to divide our time between both families for the holidays. There are a couple of really big holidays during the last few months of the year that give us a great opportunity to spend time with family. But it is hard to divide our time between two different families when our family is spread pretty far across Florida. Even harder when our schedule only gives us a day or so off to celebrate holidays with family. Someone has to be at the paper to make sure those after holiday sale ads make it to your driveway Thanksgiving and Christmas morning.

This year Kris was able to get both Thanksgiving day and Christmas day off from work. With only one day off for the holidays, it was easy to decide where to go for the holidays. All of Kris' family lives within 20 minutes of one another and only about 45 minutes from us. Having just one day off gives us a perfect chance to spend time with them and be able to make it home all in the same day. The hard part is with only one day off we cannot make it to see both sides of the family. Since my family is spread across three different parts of the state more than an hour away from us, it is more difficult to visit each of them. We try to visit them all when we have a day or two off but that does not happen very often.

Unfortunately, our Thanksgiving plans did not go as well as we planned. A few unexpected events changed our family plans for Thanksgiving but we still managed to spend a little time with Kris' parents as well as his sister and her family. We were happy to see the kids and how much they had grown over the last year.

Annika - age 3

Minnie Annika

Twins Ella & Owen - age 9 months

Ella - age 9 months

Owen - age 9 months

We spent our first Christmas with Kris' family.The day started off with cookies and punch at Mom and Dad's to open our Christmas gifts. We were happy to receive many gifts to add to our display in our china cabinet. One of my favorite gifts was a picture Dad painted of our first house on a stained piece of wood. I was so surprised to see it that it almost made me cry. Dad even put our name and address on the corner. It matches well with the wooden plates Kris received of the homes that the family lived in during his childhood. It is a very touching piece and for now it completes our set of paintings of the homes. For dinner, we went over to Hannah and Olli's for a real German dinner. We enjoyed a perfectly cooked pot roast with a delicious sauce, mashed and scalloped potatoes, sweet potato and carrot casserole, and a salad. After all that food, we were so full there was no room for dessert. It was nice to spend with friends and family this Christmas. We got to see how much Ella and Owen have grown since we had seen them last just a month before. Both babies were able to crawl around. They had fun with their new toys but had even more fun with the the balls of wrapping paper. I am so amazed how tall Annika is getting. At almost 4 years of age, she stands almost half as tall as me. Pretty soon I will be looking down at her.

The painting of our first home

Aunt Eileen was making animal noises with Annika

Uncle Kris and Owen

Aunt Eileen and Owen

Owen was sitting up straight and tall...

...but he loved playing ball with Uncle Kris.

Uncle Kris had a great time too while Ella looked on

Owen thought the wrapping paper was a lot of fun.

Annika was so sad to see us go

The holidays have been great with family. We look forward to next year's holidays and all the fun with the children. We look forward to time spent with both sides of the family next year.

Daybook

FOR TODAY


Outside my window... Right now it is 56 degrees with winds from the NNE at 5mph. The low tonight is going to be 42 degrees. The highs are in the 50s for the next 12 hours. Why does it FEEL so much colder????

I am thinking... Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  Please Santa do not bring me a lump of coal. I have been a very good girl.

I am thankful for... friends who are prayer warriors and are always there to offer prayers when you need it. Thank you so much to Sharon, Kathy, Pat, Laura, and Maria for praying over me last night when I really needed it. Prayers have helped tremendously and I am on the road to a clear mind.

From the learning rooms... Although we do not have children yet, there is always learning going on. I am learning every day how to be a better wife and someday a Mom.

From the kitchen... the sink is full of dirty dishes, the dishwasher needs to be unloaded, the stove needs to be cleaned… There is so much to be done!

I am wearing... my pajamas. I love pajamas. They are so comfortable.

I am creating... a home with my husband. A home that will someday be suitable for children to laugh and play. A safe home full of love. A home they can always come to and find a warm hug and gentle kisses from Mom and Dad.

I am going went... to buy the last cards we needed for this year including one for my darling's birthday. I love to send and give cards. They make someone feel they are loved.

I am reading... Currently, House Rules by Jodi Picoult. I do not have the time or sometimes the motivation (it comes and goes) I only have ¼ left and I do not want to put it down when I get the chance and motivation to read.

Reading list for 2011:

Six books for learning and growing

1. Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

2. Graced and Gifted : Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker’s Heart by Kimberly Hahn

3. Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage by Kimberly Hahn

4. The Body Reveals God : A Guided Study of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body by Katrina J. Zeno

5. The Authentic Catholic Woman by Genevieve Kineke

6. Good News about Sex & Marriage : Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching by Christopher West

Six books for leisure and pleasure

1. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

2. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

3. Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

4. The Shack by William Paul Young

5. Fireproof : Never Leave your Partner by Eric Wilson

6. The Equation that Couldn’t be Solved : How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry by Mario Livio

My original intention was to alternate between book of learning and leisure but I have decided that these are the 12 books I would like to read next year. They can be read in any order but all 12 must be read by the end of the year.

I hope also to do more Bible reading and praying on a daily basis to keep myself spiritually connected.

I am hoping praying... May everyone have joy, peace, and love that the Christ Child brings this Christmas season. May everyone always have happiness, good health, and prosperity throughout the coming year.

I am hearing... the sound of the washing machine and dryer. There is ALWAYS laundry to be done!

Around the house... there is much to be cleaned and organized. There is so much to do for our house to become a home. We have papers to be filed and organized and a whole room that needs to be cleared. We are in no rush as we know it takes a lifetime of love to make a home complete.

One of my favorite things... is warm fresh, crisp laundry. I love warm soft clothes as they come out of the dryer. Sometimes I just want to put it on right there. I do not mind washing it because the washing machine and dryer do all the work. I dread folding it and putting it away.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Clean and organize the house
Saturday: Christmas day with the in-laws
Sunday: Hubby’s 35th birthday and the Feast of the Holy Family

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged. Then have my lips the sin that they have took. Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
The Simple Woman's Daybook is a brief outline for women/mothers who blog to use as a way to compose thoughts, plan the week, and keep a grateful heart. It is typically published once a week on Tuesdays.

Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it is way too cold for it to be Florida. Temperatures are supposed to drop into the 30s with highs only in the 50s. Someone please tell Mother Nature that this is STILL Florida. We prefer it to be a bit warmer or ask that it snow.

I am thinking... it better warm up pretty soon. Late night drives to check on the rental in the cold are not very much fun. Having to drive up every 3 days or so are not fun either.

I am thankful for... a heater that works, warm blankets, and someone nice and warm to snuggle up with at night.

From the kitchen… the only things I have made recently are finger foods or treats. I need a new recipe or two to get the creative juices flowing again.

I am wearing... sweat pants, a long sleeve tee shirt, and socks and I am STILL cold.

I am creating... more holiday memories. This first Christmas is turning out to be a very special one.

I am going... on an adventure with my hubby to check on the rental and make sure the pipes do not freeze. I have to wonder if this is still Florida when you are talking about a hard freeze warning.

I am reading... House Rules (still) and thinking about the reading list for 2011. I want to alternate every month between a book for pleasure and a book that helps me to be a better wife and someday a mother. Our goal is one book a month for 2011. I want to exceed it and read 18 books.

I am hoping praying... for warmer weather and for all those who do not have a roof over their head or proper clothes on their back to keep them safe and warm this winter.

I am hearing... the sound of the computer working hard.

Around the house... not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. (Well, maybe the cat but she just may be too cold to even scamper around the house)

One of my favorite things... a cup of hot coffee on a cold winter’s day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Check on the rental, Quality time with my husband
Thursday: Prayer group
Friday and Saturday: RELAX
Sunday: Baptism, Simbang Gabi

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Feast Day: December 12

Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

San Juan Diego & Our Lady of Guadalupe

http://www.sancta.org/juandiego.html
http://www.catholic.org/about/guadalupe.php

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Holy Day: December 8

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

The Magnificat
Luke 1: 46-55

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
The Simple Woman's Daybook is a brief outline for women/mothers who blog to use as a way to compose thoughts, plan the week, and keep a grateful heart. It is typically published once a week on Tuesdays