When My Heart Is Overwhelmed

Tonight, a nation sits around with heavy hearts, asking why.

Those of us on the outside cannot even begin to fathom the grief that has struck a small town in Connecticut.

Young parents who have presents waiting under the tree for their precious babies-gifts that they will never see them open.  

Mothers who have lost not only their child, but who have also seen their best friend just lose her child.  

Fathers who can come up with solutions for any family problem, except this one.

Brothers and sisters who just lost their favorite little buddy.

When this world turns up another horrific tragedy, I am so thankful that I am not the biggest thing in my universe, because my heart cannot handle these things on my own.  So often I think of "When my heart is overwhelmed".  Psalms 61:1-4 says (Amplified):

¹ Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

² From the end of the earth will I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [yes, a rock that is too high for me].

³ For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary.

⁴ I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever; let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings.Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

I don't have all the answers.  I have no great words of wisdom to make everything a little better.  But I can go to the Lord when my heart is hurting, and the heaviness of this world weighs down on me.

This song is one my heart feels.

When you hug your babies, your teenagers, your nieces, nephew, grand-babies and your best friend's children, say a prayer for the families that have lost some of the greatest gifts they've ever had in this life-their babies.  For the little community in Connecticut, and for all families who have had to face the horrible tragedy of losing a child.

And be thankful.  Extra thankful.  Grateful that you got to hug your family today.  That your holidays have not been shattered.  That tomorrow is another day to show your loved ones how much they mean to you.

A Question And 5QF!

Here we are, coming up on the end of another year!  I'm the type who almost always sets goals for the next year, how about you?

If you've read my blog in the past, you've seen that I have written mostly about humorous things that have happened in my life, such as the time I accidentally stole some elderly man's shopping cart.  Or the time my daughter's friend asked if Pennsylvanians hunt with machine guns.  Ah, the good times!

Over time, I ran low on stories, and there was a time I hit major brain block, and felt no inspiration.

And then, life took on some great changes, and my hubby and I and our children (the two who still live at home) moved to a new city and started a Pentecostal church.  I decided to change the theme of my blog, and share more things that are relevant to real life, every day living.  I have a few posts in draft that I plan to start posting in January.

I've found that one of my greatest desires in life is to write.  I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm hoping my fellow bloggers can help me out here because I do have a question:

How do you continue to have fresh ideas? 

This is the fear I face-that I'll begin to blog again, but will quickly run out of ideas.  I started this blog just about four years ago.  At one point, I decided to quit blogging, and took about a year off.  A few months back, I decided to blog again.  Have you had any similar experiences?

I would really love to have some input, and I thank you in advance.

5QF!

1. If you bake during the holidays, what is your favorite thing to make? I don't normally do any special baking for the holidays, but this year, Amber and I are getting together with friends (a lady and her daughter) to make cookies!  

2. Present giving: Gift bag vs wrapped box?  I usually wrap things. Gift bags are great for those odd shaped things tho!  

3. What do you keep your thermostat on during the winter/summer in your house?  In the winter, 72 to 73 is good in this house.  I know that seems just a touch high, but it is most comfortable there, and Dan feels the same, which is unusual.  It's probably has something to do with this house that we are currently renting.  It's an older home, and maybe just doesn't hold the heat in as well.  For summer?  The thermostat is off, and the air conditioners are on.  Not sure what temperature is most comfortable tho.

4. When thinking of your "Christmas to-do list" what percentage "done" are you? Oh.....I'd say I'm about 30% done.  Dan and I will probably go out together someday soon to get our children their gifts.  I do have a few things, but need to finish up.  I'll admit-I'm having a hard time figuring out just what to get for my 14 year old son.  He's not much into video games (thankfully!), and it seems the choices are limited for his age group!  Any ideas for me?  

5. Do you do the "Elf on a Shelf"? If so, is your Elf naughty and what shenanigans has he gotten into?  I am not sure if I had even heard of Elf on a Shelf until this year!  So no, can't say that I do it.  I have seen a few pictures of other people's Elves tho.  Some have been cute.  =)

Well, my friends, thank you for stopping by!  I do appreciate comments, and am really hoping you all will leave some for me with your helpful ideas.  Have a wonderful weekend!