Not much happening right now. I'm listening to the rain and thunder as I write. I use to lay on a float in my pool and stare at the sky and marvel at its clarity. I would look at the trees and leaves and their vivid colors and be amazed at how perfect it all was. Now as I listen to the rain and thunder, I close my eyes and think about how this is just as clear as the blue sky. It's amazing and beautiful to think about nature and it's beauty and how it affects our lives.

This is so not me! Usually I'm too busy or too lazy to pay attention to nature. It's at times like these that I think God is trying to get me to listen for His will. In the past I would have found something else to do. Tonight I'm going to turn off the lights and listen.

This week is Thanksgiving. This is my favorite holiday. I love the Fall weather. I love the fact that it's one day and it's a relaxing day. People just get together and eat and talk and are generally happy. There are no expectations like at Christmas with the gifts and decorations.

I have wonderful childhood memories of Thanksgivings at my house with my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents...

We always played football and watched football. My aunts and uncles were so loving and I loved my cousins. The food was always good, but not the most important thing.

This year will be different for me and my children. This is the first Thanksgiving and the first holiday we'll celebrate as a family of divorce. It's also the first holiday I will include a son-in-law. It's all somewhat bittersweet. I'm a little nervous about cooking a turkey, actually a turkey breast! I've never cooked a turkey before! My mom or husband has always cooked or smoked the turkey. Should be interesting!!!

I will begin making new memories this week. At 50 years of age, I will begin making new memories...

I believe the first memory will be a happy one.

Well, it's been a while. I've been on the trip of a life time! I visited South Africa and had a great time. The country is beautiful! I was in Cape Town and then went to Kruger National Park. Both places were incredible. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to take the trip. There were 37 of us in total, but my core group was four, including myself. I've traveled with these ladies before and this trip just reiterated how blessed I am to have these women in my life. One of the women is a life long friend, but I see her about once a year. The other two women I've seen only once before this trip, but we already have plans to meet in January and we're already planning our next big adventure!!

While I was away a lot happened in my family life. I had no idea what was going on here at home, but God took care of it all!! I know He will continue to bless me in all areas of my life.

I have had a wonderful night! I began a bible study a little over a month ago. I was down and trying to find something to fill my time. I had also been trying to find my way into a closer relationship with God. So, I asked a friend of mine who is always in some sort of bible study if she knew of one I could attend. Well of course she did. So now I'm studying The Patriarchs with Beth Moore.

I've always heard how wonderful Beth Moore's studies are, but attending a Catholic church I never had a chance to experience one. I am so blessed to have gotten this opportunity. She, Beth Moore, is wonderful. She is funny and real! She is the ultimate reality chick!

This week's lesson was on Isaac and his marriage to Rebekah. Actually it was on the beginning of their relationship. God is a romantic! This story rivals any romantic novel I've read!! We also began learning about Abraham's other son, Ishmael, and is connection to the Muslim religion. It is all so fascinating!

As I was listening and reading tonight I began to get excited and feel at peace. I have mentioned in previous blogs that I am in a transition in my life and I believe I've mentioned my transitioning relationship with God. Well, let me tell you, He is real and alive and working in my life.

I've struggled lately with what to write. I've wanted to keep things real, but I've not been comfortable writing what's been real in my heart. The reason is because God has been trying to get me to write about Him and what he's doing for me. I have been resisting this for a variety of stupid reasons! I'm not going to resist anymore. God has shown me, by hitting me in the head over and over again, that I am supposed to share my relationship with Him with you. I praise Him for continuing to hit me over the head until I finally got His message!

I'm not saying everything I write about will be God specific, but whatever I write about will be what He wants me, us, to know.

Peace is a wonderful thing!