Can’t say that I did a whole lot this weekend. We did a lot of cooking for Thanksgiving and good time was had by all. Lots of left overs… yum! Spent the weekend relaxing, reading, washing the floors, and helping R with his website, which we hope to move over to a WordPress theme soon, which will be easier for him to work with.

No progress in the job scene. I have to admit – it feels pretty discouraging at times. It seems like at times like this, you just feel like you are slogging through the mud, and keep on going, no matter what. Been there, done that, and now have to do it again…

Times like this, I am encouraged by some of the books I’ve been reading. Been reading Randy Alcorn’s Heaven. First time I’ve read a book that has stretched my thoughts about the future in a new and even more positive way than I thought possible. Reminds me of a poem I wrote some time ago…

Made New

When the architect bought this building
no one could imagine the plans he had made
making new
but no one makes new like this
everyone knows
you knock down the building smash the rubble
build on the ruins.

How may layers does Jerusalem have?
16? 17?
No one has ever dreamed of clearing it out
and starting from rock bottom.
The New Jerusalem – descending from heaven
what kind of foundation is that?
The architects scratch their heads
and wonder.

The Master Architect smiles
this is what I meant
by all things made new
in you.

(21 June 1997)

How I long for that day….

Tonight at church they are having a Pie and Praise evening. Cherry pie will soon go in the oven (Sarah Lee – sorry – I don’t make pies!), house straightened up for tomorrow… and thinking of what I DO have to be thankful for…

• Rich found combined house and car insurance that saves us $250 (half our winter taxes)
• My job interview went well, at least I felt good with it… will only know next week if I made it to personal interview
• Had a great time at lunch yesterday with E, my step-daughter… found out many interesting things about her likes, dislikes, and dreams…
• We had a family evening, the four of us and Rich;s older son and his wife – bowling. Got a 101 – almost won but Lloyd beat me by 3 points! Nice to bowl with my “peers” and one of my best scores ever
• Went to Goodwill and found 3 pairs of new condition winter slacks for a total of $9 (not 90 but 9 dollars! – sure beats Israel prices)
• Today is one day closer to heaven than I was yesterday
• Today is one day closer to the Lord’s answer for work for me and Rich, than yesterday
• No major snow yet, and relatively not cold (low 30s…)
• And, despite how everything looks in the world, God is STILL in charge and knows what He is doing (even if we and I don’t)

So I guess that is a good start for Thanksgiving… hope you all have a blessed one!

Well, yesterday was quite a day. I had some ladies (10) over last night to teach them how to make home made falaffal, hummus, and Israeli salad. I used a friend’s recipie (Layla), and man – was it fun! Noisy, crowded, confusion, and good food – I felt like I was back in Israel.

One of the ladies in our congregation is in her 80s and was thrilled to help… she LOVED the falaffal and kept taking more, saying, “these are better than the ones I ate on my trip to Israel!” First time I’d had that kind of meal since I left Israel. Several of the ladies commented on what fun they had and that we need to do more activities like this.

One of the husbands came and visited with Rich – so he was not left on his own. We all had a great time. It was so nice to have a house full of people, laughter, fun, and sharing.

Days like that fill me with hope. Yes, I do need to get some work, and soon, but life is not just about work. It was nice to completely forget about work for a while, and to just be and enjoy friends.

So yes, you can find falaffal in Michigan, just come over and visit and I can show you… o, but please bring your own food processor – smashing those garbanzos by hand can be a pain! <grin>

So today I have to focus on a presentation at a professional meeting tomorrow… but did want to keep you posted!

Well, this day didn’t start out so well. I felt like everything was crowding in on me. Then the thought hit me, maybe there IS something wrong with my resume. I had written it for an Israeli audience from way back. So, I swallowed my pride and wrote to the US tech writing news list and asked for help.

I am stunned by the number of people who have been willing to give of their time and wise advice to help me get something whipped into shape. All via email, several people’s comments led to my being able to get my resume down to 2 pages! I had been clueless on how until people gave me some concrete advice. So, I now have that posted on my other website, and Monster, and other sites, and we shall see.

In the meantime, I’m having several friends over for a Middle Eastern evening, teach them how to make Hummus, Falaffal and Israeli salad… and have to get a major presentation ready for an STC meeting this Thursday evening. So I am definitely not bored!

And with the new resume done, and the abundance of good will from so many wonderful people, I go to sleep this night with a great deal of hope and thankfulness to the Lord for His goodness to us all.

Isn’t it a strange world? It began snowing last night – but not much stuck, just a light powder over the leaves and driveway – roads are all clear. Took the car in to be repaired today, and it cost $100 less than originally quoted! We are so thankful.

Then I found several job postings, all of which I’d enjoy doing. Applied for all of them and am hoping one of them comes through. Two of the positions are with a Christian organization that sounds very interesting. The day ended with four calls from recruiters for the same position.

Rich and I were talking earlier today. I told him that I just have to accept that once I’ve put out my resume and applied for the jobs, I will not get any job but the one HE has for me… and that is more important than anything.

It’s weird. I started out this morning feeling so, well, desperate. Finally spent some time reading and praying, and again being reminded of priorities, and of how temporary this world is. It is easy to forget.

But isn’t that what being Hope Challenged is about? We fight a battle daily to cling to the hope which we know is true, as opposed to the falst hope this world offers.

It stuns me to think that so many people think that the President Elect is going to bring America the change and hope our country needs. Hope can never be based in any man, for eventually, all men will fail. I am so glad my hope is in the Creator of the Universe… a much more solid foundation. My job? To remember this every day, no matter what happens.