There are a lot of people who are having a hard time right now.  Maybe they are out of work and are wondering how they’re going to feed their children.  We know of several during the past year or so who have gone into work to a job they’ve had a long time, only to find out they no longer had a job.  And think of those down on the coast who might need an offshore injury lawyer.  There are also those who are grieving the loss of a loved one and those who are separated from their loved one who is in the military.

As we go about our daily life and encounter people, we don’t know what they’re going through.  A smile, a kind word, a thoughtful gesture or a random act of kindness might make a difference in their day.  We never know how some little thing we do might help someone having a hard day!

Let me start by saying that I love good homemade cookies!  The past few weeks, I have been substitute teaching just about every day.   One thing I like about where I’m subbing now is that the cafeteria ladies make homemade cookies for the teachers several days a week.  That is one thing that’s really hard for me to pass up…a delicious homemade cookie!  I haven’t gained weight that I know of so far, so I won’t need to check out www.fatburnerreview.org.  But I may need to start exercising more if I eat one (notice I just eat one) cookie three days a week or so!

I’ve also really enjoyed subbing the past couple of months because I’ve been primarily working with special ed students.  When I first began teaching many years ago, I taught for six years in special ed  before I taught first grade for eleven years and a first/second bridge class for two years.  I would love to get back into teaching special ed.  And it’s not just so I can have a homemade cookie every day.  (smile)

Note:  These are not cookies from school.  These were from Central Market where we bought 1/2 dozen Ginger Snaps.

I am such a “list” person with my daily “to do” lists.  And making out a grocery list is something I do weekly.  I always look at the grocery ads for products I use that are super bargains (“loss leaders”) at each store and add those items to my list.  There are certain staples that I put on my list when we start getting low on them such as Ezekiel Bread and Central Market’s Organic Frozen Corn.   I don’t buy diet pills, but I do order vitamins and supplements online which means a whole different list.  Having lists helps me stay organized, be more efficient (I still have plenty of room for improvement), and save money.

A lot of people have to deal with joint pain on a regular basis.   Seems like that would make it hard to concentrate on a task or hard to enjoy some fun activity.  Having a temporary headache is evidence of that.  We shouldn’t take for granted the days when we feel great.  It is a blessing for that day, and we might not always have an abundance of those types of days.  We should be thankful for each day we feel good!

I didn’t write down a list of New Year’s resolutions this year.  I just want to continue growing stronger in my faith walk with God and develop an even closer relationship with Him.  And I want to lose the pounds I gained during the holidays without having to buy phenphedrine.  I plan to do this by eating healthy and getting more exercise.  So there’s my short list of resolutions.

Cleaning house is on my agenda since I’m at home most of today.  I need to do one more load of laundry, and I think I’ll finally be caught up.  I’m not planning on using a colon cleanser but am planning on cleaning the bathrooms.  And I need to dust and vacuum.   Hmmm…it will be nice when it’s all done.  It’s nice having a clean house!

It is chilly here today in north central Texas.  I am ready for some warmer weather, but I think it’s chilly everywhere in the states, even at the north myrtle beach hotels.  Of course, it is winter and we’re supposed to have cold weather in the winter.  But I’m used to having some nice days in the 60′s here in Texas, and I’m ready for a few of those days!

I’ve been sick the past few days, actually got sick at work this past Friday morning and had to leave my substitute teaching job.  (So I guess they had to get a sub for the sub.)  I had been able to fight off all the sick germs I’ve been around while subbing until now, but the flu finally got me.  I haven’t had a huge appetite, so I don’t need an appetite suppressant.  The main thing I’m having to deal with now is the cough.  Yuck!  I hate waking up during the night coughing.  But thankfully, there’s cough suppressant.  Hope y’all are staying well!

I’m still in Christmas mode, trying to get everything done!  (and I still haven’t even thought about New Year’s resolutions like some people who might want to use a colon cleanse or some other healthy thing)  I sometimes think that Christmas gets too busy.  This year it’s not so bad, but I know I need to get busy this next week and try to finish up everything!

Can you believe it’s the end of the year and December is already here?  This year has flown by so fast.  Before we know it, people will be making out their New Year’s resolutions for everything from spending less time on the computer to taking a fat burner to lose weight.   I’m not thinking about resolutions yet, though, I’m just trying to get ready for Christmas!