Sweet Beginnings

This week I began my "Great New Adventure" in the Chemistry Lab with Craig. It was also the end of our time with the kids - bittersweet. My list of gifts continues.

292. Shoulder-to-shoulder time for 1 1/2 hours with my hubby, 5 days a week and not having to talk to enjoy being together.

293. Dinner prepared and served by each of our children when we got home from work each day.

294. Playing and laughing together as a family during our last evening together for the next four months.

295. Enjoying learning my new job.

296. Helpful co-workers.

297. Working together as a family to be able to send venison jerky with the kids.

298. Safe travel home from work on treacherous, snowy roads.

299. Helpful phone airline agents.

300. On-line Flight Check-In.

301. Boarding passes printed at home so all the kids had to do was go through security and walk to the gate.

302. Airlines agents doing their job, and getting Cristin on an alternate flight when they canceled her booked flight - again.

303. Friends who are willing to pick up Cristin and Chad from the airport.

304. Post-Christmas Photo Greeting Card and note from my college roommate and sorority sister.

305. Receiving a forwarded photo greeting card and annual newsletter of a high school/college friend. His son looks just like him!

306. Seeing "fruit" of God's work in my family.

2010 Goals - Not Resolutions!

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” ~ Fitzhugh Dodson

Goals give me direction and achieving them, motivates me. It gives me something to focus on and  those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE to check things off of a list. I also believe in "never give up or give in", and "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again"!

So here goes...my goals for 2010:

1. Read through the Bible. (Using the reading plan, Every Day in The Word )

2. Memorize one Scripture verse each week. (I post one every Monday)

3. Lose 25 pounds. I really need to lose 50, but we'll start reasonable. (I am working on a plan and looking for an accountability partner to work with me - praying that my hubby will join me.)

4. Complete a full sprint triathlon. (Start training, Monday, indoors)

5. Complete a 10K run - the Crim? (Run at least 3 times/week)

6. Finish the knitting projects I've begun. (Knit 1 hour, 3 nights/week)

7. Use up my yarn on new projects.

8. Complete the photo albums I've started. (One day each week)

9. Clean each room in the house thoroughly. (Schedule weekend time)

10. Finish repairing the hall wall, and re-hang the coat rack. 

"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord...Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established...The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps...Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 16:1,3,9, & 19:21

Lord,

Most of all, my heart's desire is to please you and accomplish Your purpose in my life in 2010.
 

Wondering...

...what the new year will bring. There is my new job...Chad is applying for summer co-ops and internships... and Cristin is already thinking about her summer job, away. We are not promised tomorrow on this earth, much less another day with any of our loved ones. I am learning to treasure each moment we have together, to overlook offenses, and to seek out the positive in every situation, because life is short and very fragile. Note - I said "learning".

Here is a continuation of my list of "1000 Gifts" from the past couple of days:

282. Bargain buys at the NEW Salvation Army Thrift Store in Oxford. Eight shirts to wear to my NEW job in the chem lab for $15 and name brands like Liz Claiborne, Croft & Barrow, Old Navy,...

283. Visiting a long time friend, catching up on each other's lives for over three hours! Good friendships never die, they just grow old with you.

284. An e-mail from an elementary school friend I haven't talked to in a while. I cherish friends who make you feel like you've never lost contact; you pick up where you left off...

285. An evening of fun with my family, sister, and nephews - eating tacos and playing games: WIZARD, Catch Phrase, and Apples to Apples - Bible Edition

286. Laughing so hard I could barely breathe

287. Having adult conversations and laughing with all the "young" adults in our family. They are all grown up, talking about college, their futures, and much more.

288. Playing pinnochle with the family until bed time. It is a gift to have the family around the kitchen table, again. 

289. Cuddling between my gal and my hubby during worship - being able to squeeze a hand or a shoulder, and knowing what each other is thinking without saying a word.

290. Coffee time between services to connect with some new friends.

291. Happy for my gal being able to spend the day with "That Boy" and his family. :)

 

Lord,

I thank you for the gifts of family and friends; relationships that last a lifetime, stand the tests of the trials of life, grow through the good and the bad times - they are gifts from you and just a glimpse of the love and faithfulness you show me every day of my life.

Committed to you for life, 

Cheryl

Parting Gifts of 2009

271. Coffee and catching up at Starbuck's with the gals.

272. Going to the theater as a family, and looking silly together in 3D glasses.

 

273. Learning a new card game - Wizard.

274. Playing games with my kids AND my parents. Three generations around our table.

275. Making a fancy breakfast - Eggs Benedict - for my family, even though no one was impressed.

276. Getting the house ready for a party.

277. Watching my "kids" interact with other adults.

278. A house full of people.

279. Lots of loud laughter.

280. Lots of yummy food.

281. Family bringing in the New Year, together.

Lord, I am thankful for your goodness to me and my family throughout 2009, and am looking forward to all that you will do in and through us in 2010.

The 2009 Highlights of the 4-C’s

What an amazing year 2009 has been for the O’Briens. God has poured out His blessings to overflowing!

This spring, Craig and Cheryl traveled to Israel for a “once in a lifetime” trip. It was an awe-inspiring, two week “Prophecy Seminar” with Baptists for Israel Institute. They spent a week in the northern part of Israel - the Galilee - and a week in the southern end - Judea, spending two days in Jerusalem. Their teachers opened the Scriptures in a new way and have caused the Bible to “come alive” for them.

The highlight of Cristin’s year was her summer at Spring Hill Camp as a “New Frontiers Wrangler Counselor Coach” for 6th-9th grade girls. She was overwhelmed that God would use her to impact these young women for Christ. She is now in her junior year at Charleston Southern University, working in Residence Life on an upper-class women’s residence hall, and loves her studies in Music Therapy.

In June, Chad graduated from Oxford High School with Highest Honors. He spent the summer working at Meijer and saving before embarking on his next great adventure studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The highlights of his first semester include the coolest roommates, spending fall break and Thanksgiving with the Alabama Knable Klan, a visit from Nonna & Gramps Knable, and a road-trip visit from Cristin for a long weekend during her fall break.








Cheryl is looking forward to ending 2009 by spending two full weeks together as a family, before embarking on her next “Great Adventure”, a six month contract working in the Chemistry Lab at GM with Craig. We’ve come full circle, and are enjoying life as “empty nesters”.

May you and your family find the Peace that comes from God through His son, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach.

Shalom,

Craig, Cheryl, Cristin, & Chad O’Brien

Bowling and Bargaining

Can you see the smile on my face? Well, I'll tell you it goes from ear to ear. I am having a GREAT time with my family. Today's gifts include:

267. Bowling - guys against the girls, then changing the teams to Chad and Mom vs. Dad and Cristin to even out the teams. Wouldn't you know, Cristin's game got better with her dad, and Chad's declined with Mom as his teammate. Dad was the big winner and Mom the big loser, but I felt like the champion laughing and playing with my family.

269. "LIFE IS SHORT. EAT BETTER PIZZA" - $20 JET'S for lunch, and three additional meals left over!

268. Finishing one Monopoly game, then playing another complete game...It's funny how our disposition changes with our circumstances. *raises eyebrows* Lots of laughs and digs...:-)

270. A determined, problem solving husband...disassembled my old vacuum, and with $50 in new parts, reassembled it to work like new! I got another Christmas gift - a "new" vacuum! (You should have heard me giggle and squeal as I used it for the "first" time. It works sooo well; just like new!)

The simple things in life are fun right now. They are gifts of everyday.

Enjoying Family Time

...is always a gift to me. I'm so thankful that we have had plenty of "together" time during this break.

258. A winter walk in the sunshine with my hubby.

259. A quick shopping trip to Meijer for "After Christmas Sales" with BOTH my kids.

260. Walking arm in arm singing Christmas songs with my music major daughter as we leave Meijer - not caring who hears or what they think! ;-)

261. Playing Monopoly with my kids.

262. Putting the house back in order.

263. Sitting with my family in church -well, minus Chad who was scheduled to work. :-(

264. BBQ Venison Ribs and homemade sweet potato chips for dinner

265. Watching "Lord of the Rings" with Cristin, like the "old" days.

266. Knitting for hours, and seeing progress in a project.

I am blessed!