I've been focusing on my problems <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

D.

You're absolutely right! Focusing on the problems only gives them prominence in your life.

My friends and I have switched our focus to the positives in our lives, and to our goals.
Pray for what you want, visualize it, and it will come. Our futures await!

Mornin' WGTT! It's so easy to let our problems "rule" us...they are always there, popping back up in our faces, mocking our attempts to get past them. Guess What??!!??
They lose!!! You and God together are so much bigger at any given moment then the problem is.
And you are a "go-getter" - you are a "survivor".
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
I've spent alot more time reading the Bible, drawing strength from the Words that God has given to guide us - and I have a long way to go to understand it all - but I know I am never alone in my problems, and you know that too.
My pastor sent me some really encouraging words the other day. He told me, "Pat, know that our Lord loves you. And He will go ahead of you. He will make a way when it seems there is no way."
He won't let you be overwhelmed. And someday, when you look back, you'll do so with the satisfaction and peace of knowing you did your very best with everything, in spite of the problems. It's a gift.
Keeping you in my prayers!

I have started in a year long mentor program & that was one of the first things that hit me.

By changing my focus this is what has happened (since Jan 8th)

Got one of our old car's fixed so OS could drive it - it had been broken down since June
Just bought used ( but very high quality & nice family room furniture)
Found a wonderful financial advisor that we have started to put together a plan to reduce all this crappy debt.

These may sound like little things, but I have been really struggling financially and "stuck" for so long worrying about the outcome, knowing that I need to put my complete trust in God. Light bulbs keep going off in my head! And WH continues to only call when money is needed as guess what - yesterday I didn't give him any. His account was overdrawn & he amazingly found a "loan".

God Bless,

D

GOOD GIRL!! I'm so proud of you. From personal experience, I know how important those small positive steps are to you and your esteem and your life!
Keep up the good work - you continue to be an inspiration to me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

WGT--
YES! I know that feeling -- I have been there too! It's a wonderfully uplifting feeling to move from "problem focused" to "solution focused."
In addition, what I have found helps me is that I spend a few moments with God (or whoever is important to you) in the morning and I say "thnak you" for another day that I can make even better than the day before. And I mean it. I have come to relish each new day with an enthusiasm that I did not know was within me.
Keep it up! Remember: That which we focus on becomes real.
1Red

1red,

You are so right, God is awesome. Each day I start asking to do His will for the day and in prayer. Before bed, I thank Him. This is God working through me so I can't take any of the credit for anything!

D.

widgett, Im proud of you too. I wish I had as much confidence and trust in God as you do. And me, growing up in a ministers home. I have just been so abused that its still hard to see a way out. I know God doesnt give us more than we can handle, but sometimes I cant help but question why?

Things have been better though,I have really been focusing on other areas that need attention...Like my college education so I can better support myself and kids, the kids...We are so much closer than we were a year ago. Really developing a more "family" relationship.

Trying to get myself in a more healthful and spiritual state. And, YES Al-Anon is great.

<small>[ January 31, 2003, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: sunrise1 ]</small>

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
I had even more good news today - but first here's the background

Washer overflowed into the family room and ruined all the old yukky carpet (darn!)
But I had a $1000 deductible so I didn't think I would be able to put tile down <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

Found contractor who will do it at a discounted rate <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
So I ordered the tile and am scheduling the contractor .....

Now, today, the insurance co called, they were able to collect from the washing machine people and I am getting my deductible back <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
So now I won't have any out of pocket expenses for the tile AND we will be able to get a TV <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

God is good

Hi sunshine

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Things have been better though,I have really been focusing on other areas that need attention...Like my college education so I can better support myself and kids, the kids...We are so much closer than we were a year ago. Really developing a more "family" relationship.

Trying to get myself in a more healthful and spiritual state. And, YES Al-Anon is great.

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Just keep picturing yourself as a graduate already working in your dream job comming home to a warm close lovable family, experiencing radiant health and spiritually fit. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

D.

<small>[ January 31, 2003, 11:35 PM: Message edited by: WillGetThruThis ]</small>

WGTT - That's great news about the washing machine fiasco! My washer is at "death's doorstep", but I'm hoping it dies a peaceful death and does NOT overflow!! At least I'm not doing quite so much laundry now... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
Ain't it funny how all these things work out??

Sunrise - Honestly, when I opened the board this morning, I scanned to see if you had posted anything lately, I was getting a bit concerned and ready to contact you to see if everything was okay - sounds like it is!! On a personal note, I have been re-reading "Love is Tough", hadn't read it again since last summer, and in view of all that has happened it gave me alot of new insights. Funny, I opened to the page that quoted from the Bible, "But if the unbeliever leaves let him do so." God has definately been with me through all this!!

WH stopped by to pick up YD this morning to take her to lunch with middle D...you know, the "Father of the Year" routine. I had the house neat and cozy, the driveway shoveled - I looked pretty damn good too! - small talk for about 5 minutes and then I disappeared upstairs. Actually it didn't bother me all that much to see him. I was polite but distant. WGTT is SO right about not focusing on the problems. I too want to really get cracking on the future, continuing education, myself, where do I go from here...now if only I could win the lottery! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

On that note, I'm off to breakfast - why not treat myself on a snowy day? - and plan my schedule for the week!

OH YEAH, OH YEAH <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> As my YS would say.

We just got a new TV for the family room. The little one we have is from the 80's!!! We used the money from thr washer overflowing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

Now is the challange - We bought a stand for the TV & it has to be put together. (That will wait) and the TV is too heavy to lift to a piece of furniture that we could put it on in the meantime, so that has to wait. Darn, where is a good man when you need him <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

It feels so good, because for soooo long we did with out. There were even times that we hardly had enough food to eat. When WH first left, he spent $ like crazy & OS who went to college near him, said Dad lives like a king up there. So, now it is working out. Its so funny that God can use a washing machine overflow for good, but He did!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Broken says - Funny, I opened to the page that quoted from the Bible, "But if the unbeliever leaves let him do so." God has definately been with me through all this!!
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">A good Christian friend of mine gave me that same verse recently.

Love must be tough - if you can get ahold of the tape is expands on what was written in the book & very insitefull. I think I got it from Focus on the Family.

God Bless,

D.

PS - We may be turning over the business to someone that has been working with us. That is good. I want to be out from under the Co up there.

As part of not focusing on my problems, when situations come up that triggers fear and uncertanty in me, I tell myself that what I want to happen will. For example: When I start thinking about my financial situation instead of being fearful, I picture money comming to me and say " I am so happy and greatful now that money comes to me in increasing quantities thru multiple sources on a continuous basis in a calm confident manner with very little effort on my part"

When I do this again and again, I begin to believe it. Today on a positive note, I was notified that I will get the deductible back that I already paid when the SUV got fixed (daughter's accident) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Yeah - I am so excited!

I am sooo ready for the good to happen <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

D.

Me too <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

D, youve got mail!

It's been very interesting lately. God has put people in my path when I needed them. God is sooo good. I had asked for help in doing all that I needed to do so I didn't feel so overwelmed & this is what has been happening:

The head of the half way house that If it were up to me is where WH would be, was at the open AA meeting Fri night. I got to talk to him. That saved me a call or a trip to see him.

Then today I lugged this HEAVY, heavy, heavy box that contained the TV stand out to the SUV on a dolly so I can return it. As I'm stuggling to get this out the door, I wonder how I am going to load it as I can't lift it. It was hard enough just to manuever it onto the dolly! Just then, my neighbor drives up, says sure & it's done.

Also Friday, a business partner (another business) tells me that she is giving her share to another partner (no problem, I knew & it's ok) but here's the kicker - she is going into full time ministry (had been going to school for a while) and this is what she's gonna do ------ pray for business's. We talked for a while and I asked her to pray about mine. This was a direct question to God just a few days before, but like so many things of God, I would never have imagined this response to my prayer!!!!!!!

God things are happening !!!!! I just read what I wrote - I meant to say good things are happening but it really is God things !!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

D.