Twas the Tuesday Before Thanksgiving...

November 25, 2014

   Twas the Tuesday before Thanksgiving
    At 10:47 p.m.
    As I watch Chicago Fire
    And all the gorgeous men.

  My Christmas tree is up
  The lights all aglow
  Warming my heart with memories
  Of holidays long ago.

  Thanksgiving morning
  Waking up to wonderful smells.
  Turkey roasting in the oven
  Pumpkin pies cooling on the shelves.

 Anxiously waiting
 Watching Macy's parade on TV
 Santa coming down 34th Street
 Our hearts filled with glee.

As we grew older
The holidays seemed to change
 But the true meanings
 Forever remain the same.

 Thanksgiving is not about
 The fabulous foods we will consume.
 It is a time for reflecting and thankfulness
 For all the blessings that did bloom,

Christmas is when,
A gift we did receive.
God's son was born on earth
He came for you and for me.

As we grow older
We continue to learn the real reason.
That love is forever intertwined
Throughout the holiday seasons,
     
         Written by:  Darla E. Palombia
                             November 25, 2014

          So many blessings have been happening in my life.  November 3, 2014 I began my college journey.  November 17, 2014 I started to transition into my new position as the new bookkeeper at Potomac Falls High School.  One more week of transition and then on December 8th I am there officially.  It is an exciting time, but sad too.  I have enjoyed my years in the World department and have learned a great deal.  I am so thankful for these blessings that God has brought into my life.  I am filled with excitement, happiness and of course, anxiety.  But that does not last long for I trust God,  My driving force:  If God brings me to it, He will bring me through it.
          My fitness journey is staying on course and I now have a new goal.  In 2016, I am determined to run the half marathon Princess Race in Walt Disney World.  Thirteen miles, so I am going to start training.  I will research training techniques.  On November 15, 2014 in Pittsburgh PA, my sister and I ran/walked the 5K Color Run.  We plan to do it again next year, it was a total blast.  Forty minutes of Zumba got us warmed up.

      Part of the fitness journey is healthy eating and keeping the focus.  This week is a challenging week with all the wonderful foods.  I, however, will make smart choices but I will truly enjoy.

 I do so love this time of year.  Lily and I have been walking and enjoying the lights that are starting to light up the streets.

  Still watching the Hallmark Holiday movies and this weekend I will complete my decorating of my condo for the Christmas holiday. The decorating of the tree has brought many memories.  Decorating the tree with my mom and dad, throwing tinsel on the branches.  The first is one of my favorite ornaments from my mom & dad's.  I would look for this ornament to put on the tree every year.  The second ornament, I received while I was in the Girl Scouts.  Memories!

                         May this Thanksgiving bring you many blessings and warm memories.

Thoughtful Thursday

November 13, 2014

   Here it is 12:35 a.m. on a thoughtful Thursday.  Lately I have found myself wide awake at this time of night.  I know that it is because there is so much happening in my life and I am actually at peace with my journey.  Three years ago, I completed online the Oprah Winfrey's O Board.  This was a digital version of a vision board.  Recently, the Women of Value group gathered together for the monthly meeting and we began creating a vision board for 2015.
   I began to reflect on the vision board I created three years ago and starting to see clearly how God has brought many of my visions to reality.  I had wanted to vacation in the Smoky Mountains and the Poconos.  I had two wonderful vacations in the Smoky Mountains and a Thanksgiving vacation in the Poconos with my family.  I wanted to step up in my career and I became the Instruction Materials Technician for the World Languages Department of Loudoun County Public Schools.  I wished for a cozy home for Lily and I to live, and I presently rent a very nice two-bedroom condo.  I wanted to go to college and on November 3, 2014, I began my college career. I wanted to conquer my fear of singing on a microphone and in front of people, although I will always be nervous, I find joy in singing God's praises and lifting my voice up in song to His glory.
    My new vision board for 2015 began with Jesus being the center of my life, for He is.  Next I put health and fitness.  To continue to strive towards eating pure and healthier meals.  To gain strength in my fitness routines and to actively participate in a 5K.  This Saturday, my sister and I will be run/walking in the Pittsburgh 5K Color Run.  She registered us on the Sunday after I created my new vision board.  Third, I put financial peace & security.  Last Tuesday, I interviewed for a bookkeeper position at Potomac Falls High School, which is a higher pay level.  This Monday, I was offered the position.  I begin on November 15th with a three week transition period to officially be in the school on December 8, 2014.
     I have also put a new wardrobe, for with losing weight and getting into shape, the majority of my clothes no longer fit me.  I put a new car, for as much as I love my HHR, she is getting up there in mileage, plus all-wheel drive or four wheel drive is what I really need.  I also put a home for Lily and I with a fireplace and a beautiful kitchen.  What I find so fascinating is how God is already putting into place the things that I need and fulfilling my dreams.  I ponder these things and realize it is because, He is giving me the dreams that He has for me.  Step by step and in His time, all things  that He has planned for me, are becoming reality in my life journey.  And yes, I also put love and romance, for I believe in my heart, God has someone special for me.  With individuals He has brought into my life, I can feel that God is bringing that special man closer to me.  He will be a man that God has chosen for my life.  One who will comfort me, support me, workout with me and love my dog Lily just as much as he will love me.
     I have been watching the Holiday movies on Hallmark.  I just love this time of year and enjoy the new and old movies.  I watched Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire the other evening and was transported to a time that seemed so much more simpler than this mad rush of a world today. I stopped by Harold's house and picked up my Christmas tree and plan to clean and put it up on Sunday.
      I have to say that, for two weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the changes taking place in my life.  The biggest one is starting college.  I have to retrain my brain to go into student mode while doing my readings and I believe that I am putting two much thought process into the writings and wigging out over little things.  Online classrooms are much different than being there, but I am slowly adjusting.  Now if I could just get my computer to do what I need it to do, I would definitely be okay!
      Life is a journey that God has placed us on and I am going to do my best to serve Him, for all the good He is giving me, I can only joyfully share it with family, friends and those in need.  Once I get the new wardrobe, I will be able to donate the clothes that no longer fit, to those in need.  I want to get blankets and toiletries for the homeless.  There is so much more I need to put onto my vision board to complete it.
     No matter what happens, I trust God with my life.  He loves me and has deemed me worthy.
Well I must turn in now, I have much to accomplish later this morning before heading to Pittsburgh PA.

 Always remember Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
                                 5 For His anger is but for a moment,
                                    His favor is for life;
                                    Weeping may endure for a night,
                                     But joy comes in the morning.

               
         

Until we meet again!

 

Sensational Saturday

November 1, 2014

                                                 Saturday!  Saturday! Saturday!

  How I love Saturday!  Saturdays are sensational because they are days to do absolutely nothing or absolutely everything.  Saturdays are cleaning days and singing days, they are the days that we look forward to account we can do whatever we want to do.  We can clean, sing, walk, dance or just kick back and relax.
  My Saturday begins with a morning walk with Lily.  Today we went 3.2 miles in 56 minutes, then I came home and did a 30 minute cardio workout.  Afterwards I made a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

  Then it was time to go and practice singing for church tomorrow.  Then I came home to relax along with Lily by watching Hallmark's holiday movies from previous seasons.  While enjoying the movies I did some laundry and made a healthy meal for dinner.

    Tonight's meal was a mixed green "holiday" style salad with a homemade lemon vinaigrette along with Butternut Squash & Barley.  Then it was time for Lily and I  to take our evening stroll.  We

 went for another 40 minute walk on this brisk cold start to November.

  Once back home, I went onto my college account to get my books for my classes that begin on Monday.  If someone were to tell me that at the age of 50 I would be going to college, all be it online, I would have told them that they were crazy.  But God is an amazing Father and over these past two months, He diligently has been putting everything in place.  He opened the doors that I need to be going through, He also gave me the courage to step through them.  So as November begins, so does the new path in my journey.  Scared, but so excited that I know He is going to see me through account this is were He brought me to.  What a wonderful weekend for it to begin.  Here I sit watching the first of the new movies of the holiday season.   I do so love these movies and they always make me cry, smile and laugh.  These movies bring hope and joy to a lonely heart,  Here is tonight feature:

   

  Autumn is my favorite time of year.  The many colors that are being displayed every day.  So vibrant and crisp.  Then the holiday seasons begin with Halloween which then flows into the joy of Thanksgiving with winter beginning and the celebration of my Savior's birth, Christmas.   Then the beginning of a whole new year.  But, for now I am enjoying November 1st.  November is going to be a great month.  I start college, I am volunteering at the Fun Run in Pittsburgh on the 15th and then Thanksgiving.  Yes, this is definitely going to be a good November.  

   I am singing in the Christmas Cantata at The Leesburg Church on December 14th.  The cantata is called The Winter Rose.  It is beautiful and the soprano parts are very challenging.  I have been so blessed.  I am blessed with song, I am blessed with words and most of all I am blessed with love.  Love from family, friends and most of all, God.  

  On nights like this, the only thing missing is a crackling fireplace.  Next place that I am blessed to live in, will definitely have a fireplace.  Then I can enjoy holiday movies, popcorn, Lily snuggled by my side and a warm fire crackling.  Who knows, it may just be that there will also be someone special in my life too.  It is all in God's hands.  

       I hope that everyone has a wonderful evening and a start to to this season of thanks

                                                    Until Next Time!!