For His Service

Dec. 15, 2010 Dear Friends and Family, Another year has flown by. So many things have happened; some good and some ..not so good. January 8, 2010, John-Michael turned 6 years old and had his yearly MRI and there was no significant growth in the tumor. Good news! His next MRI will be 1/13/11 and we expect the same news. We enjoyed 3 different snow storms, well as much of a snow storm as Georgia gets. The kids had fun with snow/ice ball fights, making snow angels, and miniature snowmen. Russell took Noah to see a Braves game, and they actually placed decent ball this year. Aunt Linda and Uncle Carl were able to visit with us…all the way from Oregon. Russell took Noah to Franklin, North Carolina for Noah’s 12 birthday. They enjoyed seeing Steven Curtis Chapman in concert one night and seeing the hysterical, family-friendly comedian, Tim Hawkins, the next night. For several months, our 15 year old Chihuahua, Lupe’, had health issues. She passed away 3 months ago. We really miss her. Russel...

Today, I ran in my first 1/2 marathon. I completed 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 27 minutes. After completing a 1/2 marathon, I have learned a few things. 1. Shoes and music are two of the most important things you need to run well. 2.I am so glad there was Gatorade and water every 2 miles. 3. I found out that I could run more than 2 hours without my bladder exploding, as it tries to convince me otherwise... 4. I have a husband that I think would follow me to Spain if he had to...down town Atlanta with at least 13, 000 people is crazy enough... 5. I am so proud that I did it! 6. I am thankful for good peer pressure.... thanks, Kathy Lee!

Sometimes you just have days like that. Yesterday was that kind of day. I just felt weepy, kind of out of sorts...a depression for various reasons. I had to make John-Michael's yearly MRI appointment. He goes in Thursday, Jan. 13 th . I try not to think that there will be any negative changes to the tumors, but his increased nerve pain has me wondering. I also had to make his yearly appointment with the NF ( neurofibromatosis ) specialist. He can't get in before the end of March. That was both disappointing and surprising. My family is still grieving the loss of Michael, and some forgetting to grieve as those who DO have hope...knowing we will see him once again. It hurts to see others hurt. There are friends going through their own various trials that make me feel heavy hearted. Sometimes there are just days like that. That's when I try to remind myself that God delights in me (Psalm 18:19)...and that He is STRONG and He is Loving... (Psalm 62: 11-12)... . And Finally.......

Our nephew, 18 year old, Michael, died suddenly and unexpectantly two weeks ago. It seems so unfair for him to go so early. One week before he passed away, he went to see a pastor and made a confession of faith. Russell had to speak at Michael’s funeral this past week. I thought you all might like to read what he told them. Thanks for praying for the whole family. Good evening. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Russell and I am Michael’s Uncle. I don’t know how much you might know about me, but if you heard it from Michael, it might not be true. You see, I don’t know what stories his mother told him about me and our growing up together, but I do know that anytime she needed to threaten Michael with the worst punishment she could think of, she would tell him, “I’m going to send you to live with your Uncle Russell.” And apparently, that would do the trick. So if what you know about me comes from Michael, please get a second opinion. Let me begin by telling you what Bishop B...

I met Russell in 1986 and we married in 1989 . God has granted us a great love for each other and great patience with each other. He and I are very different. He is an introvert; I am an extrovert. He is logical/ analytical and I am all heart. It works...He stole my heart 24 years ago and I do not want it back. I thank God for 21 great years of marriage and look forward to all we have ahead....

I think we all have days that we wish we could redo. I had one of those this week. Madeline, my daughter who is almost 10, was swinging outside with my 6 /12, year old son, John-Michael. John-Michael is my son that has NF, a tumor disorder. I am overly motherly, overly protective with him because he is the baby and because of his health. This is one thing that I have to be aware of as I parent him. I know it isn't' good for him and I have to make myself not baby him to death. Anyway, they were swinging in our backyard together and John-Michael had decided to swing with a 2 foot long stick. Well, I don't know if you all let your kids swing with sticks, but I don't even like them playing with sticks. I am forever saying, "put that thing down." She didn't alert him to the danger and tell him to put it down. John-Michael didn't remember those many, many conversations that I have had with them about sticks. He comes in crying....he has scraped himself with ...

Look at her.... isn't she lovely? My precious Lupe' was a chihuahua/ papillion or a long-haired Chihuahua. We really miss her. It is hard to believe it has been several weeks without her. I keep thinking she is here. We miss her so much. This is why we decided to look for and find a papillion/ poodle....basically Lupe, minus the shedding. This is Olivie (Ah-Lee-Vee) our 7 week old papipoo. I once heard someone say, "isn't that a gynecological process gone awry?" LOL...anyway, we get to drive 7 hours to go get her in less than 2 weeks. I think she is just sweeter than sweet. 8 years ago, we did the puppy thing with Dirk, our schnoodle. I remember those nights of getting up every 3-4 hours to let him out. I am trying to get extra sleep now in anticipation of that. :) I will keep you all posted.

Beth Moore talks about her experience in listening to...and (the hard part)...obeying God's voice. She talks about what blessings we miss out on when we choose not to listen to His voice because of our own pride, our own fears (fear of rejection, etc), or just because we don't want to... I heard a homeschool mom say her life was turned around when someone said to her, "Are you afraid to disobey God?"...and she had to answer no. Well, which is scarier...a wild lion or the creator of the entire world. None of us would consider going on an African safari and getting our of the jeep to go touch a wild lion, but daily...we choose to disobey our God. Are we crazy or what? Watch the video. It is funny...it shows the joys of obeying a "bossy" God. :)

Fifteen years ago, I adopted my long-haired Chihuahua, Lupe'. She was my first baby. She slept with me until Noah came along a few years later. A few months ago, her trachea started closing or collapsing for a few seconds at a time. She needed two kinds of pills every 6 hours. That was a problem. I couldn't force it down her throat, because of her collapsing trachea. I tried crushing it and adding it to her food, but she ate very little. When she did eat, it usually didn't stay down. She was getting smaller and smaller. Despite the frequent visits to the vet, we couldn't make her better. Yesterday was a very, very hard day. We lost her. I miss her very, very much. Who knew loosing a pet would hurt so much? She was a fabulous dog. I am so glad for the time I had with this precious little girl.

"Mommy, what is this little blue pill I found in the bathroom?", my six year old son said. I KNEW my husband wasn't on anything . ..LOL.... I instantly remembered that I had given Dirk, our 8 year old snoodle, a blue pill...for his allergies and ear infection. You see, Dirk gets raging ear infections and skin infections each spring and fall. Apparently, poodles and schnauzers, both are proned to both types of infections. Noah, my 12 year old, accurately described Dirk's ear, when he said, "Mom, it looks like a ear wax ball exploded all over his ear". Anyway, it is painful , for both of us. I have to put drops in his ears each day. I have to figure out how to hide a pill and get him to eat it....without him spitting it out (which is where I failed today). I thought, "Dirk, if only you knew that the 10 seconds or less it takes to take the pill, which you sooooo obviously dread, will keep you from having pain for months. It will keep your skin and ears inf...

I have been painting for about 15 years. I don't get to paint as often as I would like. However, today.... I painted these two in response to David McNeeley's sermon . He said that too often we say we are holy because we aren't as bad as so and so. However, the goal isn't to say we are sinless and pretend that our sins aren't as offensive as someone else's sins. Our goal isn't to jump 5 inches (be holier than the person beside us)...our goal is the MOON (to be HOLY for HE is holy). Of course, when we try to jump to the moon in our own power, we are doomed to failure. It is only CHRIST in us that can jump at all. We must not judge our neighbor and say we are righteous. We must not puff ourselves up when we get it right. We must not smash ourselves when we get it wrong We must cooperate in the sanctification process, but know the results and timing of how quickly it is done is up to Christ alone. It is His power alone that we are able to do what He wants. R...

I started this morning at 7:00 running at the Greenway. My friend, who is much, much faster than I am, Cathy M., joined me at 7:20. She left me in her dust and I turned around to get my friend, Kathy Lee. We ran and walked about 15 miles. My calves are so sore, but I am so proud of myself. It looks like that 1/2 marathon will be ok come November. I will keep you posted.

It was a long time ...a lot of waiting...to finally be a mom. You see, I met my husband when I was 16. I married him 3 years later. Around age 22, I began asking him, "Can we have a baby?" He just wasn't ready. Each year, I would ask, "Can we have a baby?" Each year, he would say that time wasn't right for one reason or another. Finally, when he was 30...he was ready, but my body wasn't. It was close to a year and a lot of tears and disappointment, before we got the news that we would be parents. Noah didn't like waiting either. He came 3 weeks early... 6 lbs.. 9 oz....on August 26th, 1998. Oh, how wonderful he has made my life! Happy 12th birthday, Noah!

My husband took our soon to be 12 year old to Franklin, North Carolina to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert. Two nights later, they saw Tim Hawkins in concert. Tim Hawkins has to be the funniest, clean comedian I have even seen! We own his two videos...a riot.! http://www.timhawkins.net/video.php AT this list, you can watch a few of his videos online. I warn you. You might bust a gut or pee your pants. :) Russell also took Noah white water rafting, bowling, and mining for gems. I get to take our daughter to a her 12 year old trip in 2 years....can't wait..

So, as soon as I get bad news or something bad happens (little or small)...I instantly ask "Why me, God?" I am so much better than I was . I was a spiritual 3 year old. I would cry, pout, and be angry with God! I was horrible! I am so surprised God didn't squish me! LOL... Why do we ask God "Why me?" ..when things are bad, but we don't ask God "Why me?" when HE gives us blessings. Why was I born in the USA? Why was I allowed to meet my sweet husband at 16? Why was I allowed to live to my current age? Why was I allowed to have 3 children? Why was I allowed to have a house? Counting my blessings... learning more each day, Rachel

Wow...remember in the day when parents had Chicken Pox parties. If one kid in the neighborhood had Chicken pox, they would get all the kids together and have them "get" chicken pox from that kid so it could be done and over with it. There is no vaccine for Fifth's disease also known as Parvo B 19. (It isn't the parvo dogs can get). If a pregnant woman gets it, it can lead for big issues for the mom and baby. If an adult gets it, it can kick his/her rear. I can't remember being sick for so long. Kids often get a fever and after the fever breaks, get this slapped faced look. Then, they are done! This isn't the case in adults. I laid in bed for a week and on the couch for another week after that. My liver didn't enjoy the virus. I have to go back in 3 weeks to make sure my liver enzymes are back to normal. I am feeling so much better so my hope is that the liver enzymes will be normal. Madeline, my daughter, does have it. (This isn't h...

On July 12th, Noah (my 11 1/2 year old) got a virus. July 16th, I began to run a fever. That fever lasted 4 days. I went to the doctor on July 19th and she said it is a virus, "come back if you still have a fever in a few days". July 20th, I developed a lacy rash all over my torso. The next day, the lacy rash moved to my arms. The next day, the rash looked just like a very bad sunburn. It was the weirdest thing! All the while, I felt just wiped out! I have been training to run a 1/2 marathon yet, I couldn't even get off the couch. I went back to the doctor on Friday, July 23rd. After buckets of blood work, they tell me I have Fifth's Disease ..a nasty virus and the my liver is in rebellion. My white blood count was also way too low. Please pray when I go give them more buckets of blood today, that my counts will be heading towards the normal ends. My poor husband has been pulling double duty for almost 2 weeks. I am ready for our regular normal. :)

Well, I had to do it. I had the Vente Mocha about two hours before bedtime. I suppose having completed 60 minutes of P90 X with my sweet husband a few hours before, I still had no problem going to sleep. However, I woke up at 3:30 and now I am not able to sleep. I still think the coffee...and the company I had at the coffee shop...was worth it, but ask me again tomorrow when I am juggling Bible Study, 3 kids (one of which is sick), preparing dinner, training for my 1/2 marathon in November (I have to run over 5 miles tomorrow). ...I think I hear another Starbucks calling...

We had one week of craziness at the Pate household. Our waterline was accidentally cut so we had a day without running water (no flushing toilets, washing hands, etc). Our van's radiator developed a hole in it and we did without a van for two and 1/2 days. You have to do some fancy car juggling when your family is going in many different directions. Then, Dirk.... our 7 1/2 year old snoodle developed another ear infection and sneezed more than not. Well, the plumber repaired the pipes. Gerald's automotive repaired our radiator and we have it back once again. Orr animal hospital gave Dirk a shot, ear drops, and doubled his dosage of allergy medication. The sneezing has stopped. Enjoy the silence, Rachel

This is another way I have stayed busy this summer. In the far left, you can see part of my waterfall that dumps into the pond below. The hillside, which you can only see a small part of it here, is full of flowers and veggies. I love my garden and the joy of getting food out of it for my family and seeing humming birds and butterflies enjoying the flowers.

Well, I do claim them. I do love them. And, actually they do come when I call them. So, I say, "Bluebird, bluebird" and they come because they know that I have a plate full of mealworms. I suppose I could say "hotdog, hotdog" and they would still come. It makes no difference to me. Apparently, the baby bluebirds listen for me as well as they too come within 15 seconds of me calling. This is just one of the many blessings I enjoy. May you see your "bluebird" today. Blessings, Rachel

I really dreaded my 40 th birthday. It's such a BIG birthday. My husband and my friends made it really special. Birthday cakes, flowers, balloons, surprise lunch, surprise dinner-party, and other gifts. Most of all I appreciate their presents, not gifts, but time with me. Nothing is more important to me than the people in my life. God has taught me so much in my 40 years, but that is one of the things I really, really get. I am grateful that I don't struggle with keeping up with the Jones. I happily look for ways to save money and don't care if I don't have a $500 purse. I have learned... blood doesn't make family. I have some amazing sisters that grew up in different homes, but I love them dearly. You know who you are. (If you wonder if it is you, it is). I have learned to not judge God based upon my circumstances, but to judge my circumstances based upon who I know God to be. I have learned not to say "if only" for that leads me to be bitt...

My friend, Vicki wrote this about a man that I only had the pleasure to meet a few times. This is really good, so please take the time to read it. Remembering Tom Carpenter April 27, 2010 by acupofearlgreywithme I have been desiring to post a blog on a friend of ours, who recently past away in February, for some time now. Tom, a servant of Christ and custodian at the church we attend, was diagnosed with cancer and went to be with Jesus three weeks after his diagnosis. He was at the young age of 51 when he passed. He never married or had children, but had a huge family in the Lord that surrounded him, especially in his final days. Do you ever wonder what your thoughts will be during those last moments or days before Christ calls you home? People have quoted the famous last words of people and sometimes, because of the final circumstances, made them words to live by. Tom’s last words to his friends and brothers in the Lord (Kevin and Caleb) were, “Could you pray for me?” and “I love you...

Do you sometimes just feel like you have put yourself in a room with razors for walls? If you have ever dealt with anger, unforgiveness, or bitterness, you know this feeling. But, how do you get rid of it? Alot of it is focusing on what is true..NOW. We can't live in the past. Didn't someone famous once say that? :) Anyway, one book that is so helpful for not wasting your energy and life on such negative emotions is a book called Life is a Vapor by John Piper. Here are some nuggets out of it. James 1:19-20 Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God required. Eph. 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath...ang anger and clamor..and slander be put away from you. 1. Ponder the right of Christ to be anger, but how He endured the cross, as an example of long suffering (1Peter 2:21). 2. Ponder how much you have been forgiven, and how much mercy you have been shown (eph 4:32)/ 3. Ponder your own sinfulness and take the bea...

We went out of town for Easter and when we returned, I saw that my pond had a leak somewhere. I had Russell to brave the spiders that might be lerking near the outlet so that he could unplug the waterfall, because the waterfall is usually the problem...most of the time. This morning I started the task of removing rocks to get down to the liner to see if I could see what the problem actually happened to be. I found it after looking a minute or so. Some critter, likely a chipmunk since a family lives 4 feet away under the pine tree by the waterfall, chewed through the top of the liner allowing water to leak at the top of the waterfall. After fixing the leak, putting more water in, I plugged the pump that controls the waterfall...and started to inspect every inch of the waterfall. To my surprise, I found thousands of tadpoles in the waterfall. I love listening to the spring peepers at night..I imagine these tadpoles are their doing. If the chipmunk hadn't caused a leak, I might ...

************************************************************************* **************************************************************************** www.youjotube.com/watch/e2NlnRYQPhE Follow the link to watch Anita Renfroe parody of Beyonce's All the Single ladies. She says , "All the Wrinkled Ladies". If you still don't laugh, go to this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5qx-MVrXfk It is Justin Timberlake dancing to Beyonce's All the Single ladies. Enjoy...

http://www.sportsma nsparadiseonline .com/Live_ Owl_Nest_ Box_Cam.html Check out this link of a Barn Owl nest box. This is a live feed of a wild female barn owl named Molly. The owl box is located 15 feet off the ground. The male(McGee) has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female. Owlets hatching this week. I think birds are especially sweet to watch. http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Live_Webcams.html You can see cams from all over the nation at the link above. (Bears, bald eagles, deer, raccoons, etc). Enjoy His hand, Rachel

Oh, for years I lived "on hold"; my life will start when I get the right job, the right man, the right child, the right house, etc. We are often shortsighted and can't extend our vision beyond tomorrow. As Linda Dillow says, "Living only from week to week is like a dot-to-dot life". She goes on to say that a psychologist asked 3000 people "What do you have to live for?" An astounding 94% said they were simply enduring the present while waiting for the future. We seem to be in a waiting mode. This poem was written by a 14 year old boy, yet it holds such much wisdom. It was spring, but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors. It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season. It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature. I was a child but it was adulthood I ...

www.bestwebbuys.com/books This book, Calm My Anxious Heart , by Linda Dillow is probably the one book besides the Bible that has helped me with not having as many "If only's " and "What if's ". I have read parts of this book more than a dozen times and highly recommend it for anyone struggling with anxiety, contentment with your role, contentment in your relationships, anger with God, anger with others, etc. Now that I have recommended this book to all of you, I will tell you the best place to buy it. The link above is to Best Book Buys .com. It searches 12 or so different places and comes back with the best price in buying books, music, etc. I have used this website for a number of years and have been very pleased. Back to the book. One of the questions this week's study focused on being content with things/ money. Simply, not having the "give me's ". One of the verses she focused on was Matthew 6:19-21 19"Do not store up for y...

Perri often posts yummy recipes for us to try. I thought today I would post one of my favorite. It is from the Food Network and it is called Chicken Tamarillo. Ingredients- 1 ( 4 lb chicken), 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 1/2 Spanish onions, julienne/ 1 red bell pepper, julienne/ , 1 green bell pepper, julienne/ , 5 garlic cloves, chopped or 1 large tablespoon of garlic from the jar. 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 3 ounces Worcestershire sauce, 4 ounces chipotle sauce, 1 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano, 2 tablespoons adobo seasoning, salt and pepper. Place whole chicken in stockpot and cover with water. Bring to boil, over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until fully cooked. Remove chicken. Strain and save the stock. Remove skin and discard it. Shred chicken. Heat olive oil on med. heat in large skillet. Saute onions for 10 minutes. Add peppers and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes to skillet along with the juice from the ca...

We just had our 3 snow storm of the season. We usually get one snow storm a year, if we get any snow at all. The kids enjoyed building another small snow man last night and blasting each other with snowballs. I, as you know, continue to dream of spring and all of the relaxing things it brings. I have been painting for close to 20 years. I first began painting when I attended Wesleyan College, but began painting regularly 12 years ago right before my son was born. About 6 years ago, I began painting more on canvases than on walls (murals). About a year and 1/2 ago, Russell developed a website for me and I began selling my paintings through a local Christian bookstore. Painting is very relaxing. It seems to be the perfect hobby for me. Here is one of my paintings, but you can see and order others at my website at http://www.scripturepainting.com/ .

You can go to www.babyblues.com and look at all of this week's Baby Blues. The kids have decided they would like to be home-schooled and their reasons are so very funny. If you can enlarge your picture enough to see the cartoon here, you will see that the mom is about to be told about the kids wanting to be home schooled and she says, "I sense a great disturbance in the cosmos"...just like Star Wars. I was a public school teacher for 7 years. I have my master's and specialist's degrees in Early Childhood Education. I thought I would be a principal, not a homeschooling mom. I still take classes to keep my certification active so I can quickly go back to work in the public school system if God calls me there. My hope is that God allows me to home school my kids all 12 years. I don't know. I don't dare to think I can figure out His plans...as this is certainly not what I thought I would be doing. This week has been one of those weeks that I l...

Spring has to be about my favorite season. Here is a picture of the pond and waterfall I built two summers ago. I love feeding the fish, looking for frogs, seeing tadpoles, and watching dragonflies dance about. I love smelling the flowers and seeing what new beauty has bloomed that day. I love growing tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and other fresh veggies just waiting to be eaten. I love seeing the chipmunks scamper about and play in the grass. Nothing is sweeter than seeing a daddy bird feed his baby. I look right out and see God's handy work and it still amazes me! In Georgia, we have had an unusually wet and cold winter. It will make this spring all the more enjoyable. We get a little taste of spring the next two days as the temperature will be in the warm 60's. I am certain that the temperature will once again dip to chilly winter degrees but so thankful for the break in the midst of the winter. Thank goodness for the small blessings and big blessings; new life in the spring ...

I think I have a PHD in worry. Don't get me wrong; God has been working on this in me daily for over 3 years....and in a slow and painful process he is helping me to stop trying to help him. (I tend to try to get a Junior-god pin). I also instinctively want to trust myself and my own abilities instead of going to the one who created me. I used to stupidly and full of pride shake my fist at God. It is hard to fathom that I was stupid enough to do that....and do that for years. He has been so gracious and merciful to me. So, my trust issues with people had spilled over to trust issues with God. I wanted to trust in no one to take care of me...other than myself. However, experience and God's gentle correction, I have learned to trust only in Him. I love how Psalm 25:3 says no one who's hope is in God is put to shame. I love how Psalm 37:25-26 says King David was young and now he is old and he had never seen the righteous forsaken. Those are the things that bring me ...

I am going to try to update this blog every day. I feel like so much happens and I will forget it. It astounds me that 23 years ago I met Russell and began dating him. It shocks me that we have been married for 20 years. It doesn't seem possible that Noah is 11 1/2, Madeline is 9, and John-Michael is 6. Why does time speed up as you get older? It is a fact. Shouldn't it really just be October? It certainly feels like it. And ...on top of all of that ...I will be 40 in a couple of months. How is this possible? I feel like I am in my 20's, except when I see the wrinkles and gray hair. :) Enough of that... I am thankful that God is creating in me a go with the flow attitude. I don't easily get ruffled. I couldn't always say that. Want proof? Thursday I decided to go get my nephews from middle Georgia to give my parents a break as they raise them. I arrive in Byron, get my nephews, leave Madeline with Grandmama to spend the night (Russell's mom)..and head back towa...

John-Michael said he wanted to tell me a secret. (John-Michael is my 5 1/2 year old son with some medical issues/ www.carepages.com/johnMichaeldp ) He said not to tell anyone but I am his best friend. That is the best feeling . He sees a surgeon next week. Pray for Dr. Williams and for us to have wisdom as to what to do.

God talks to me in the strangest ways. I was in Lowe's and passed by a shelf full of Amaryllis flowers stuck in a box. A few were trying their best to grow and poke right out of the box. Others had given up and it was obvious they would not grow. Only I would be sad by this fact. :)Instantly, I heard God speak in my heart and say, "How many times are my people like that and they blame me?" I feel like He was saying that He created us to bloom and be free but we stay stubbornly stuck in a box and blame Him for being stuck in the box when He has given us tools NOT to be stuck in the box. How? First, we must choose to see we are stuck in a box and decide to open it. Then, we must take additional steps to make sure we thrive. We need the right amount of water so the compacted soil can soften and expand. We need that soiled tucked in around us. Then, the bulb, being nested into the soil will have the nutrition and warmth needed to grow. What does this have to do with us? I fe...

I look forward to a new year...a fresh start. I look forward to see what blessings this year will hold. Not to see I am naive, as I know things will be hard as well. Next week, John-Michael sees a surgeon for his tumor by his spine. I still have a friend dealing with terminal cancer. I still have several friends grieving the loss of loved ones. I still have friends in abusive relationships. I still have friends who have imperfect lives, as do I. However, I look forward to the laughs with friends, conversations with loved ones, times with people I care about..... These are the things that make all of the bad stuff more tolerable. So, I look forward to the New Year....trusting God is good...all the time. John 1:16 From the fullness of His grace, we have all received blessing after another. Look around in 2010. They aren't too hard to find.