Oh....to be Chinese!!!

Today is the Chinese New Year!!!  And I think we should celebrate!!!!  Sounds awesome!!! Here is what it entails....

The new year is by far the most important festival of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the second new Moon after the winter solstice. The holiday is a time of renewal, with debts cleared, new clothes bought, shops and homes decorated, and families gathered for a reunion dinner. Chinese New Year is marked by fireworks, traditional lion dances, gift giving, and special foods.

Dylan and Maddie when we got my van new... watching a movie!

I am so excited this morning!  Our van is paid off!!! It is ours! We owe nothing on any vehicles! Praise God!!!  But this is still a very rough month financially... without my income and Walmart. Just trusting God to see us through and looking forward to top ramen and pancakes. But the van is paid off.  When we bought the van it was to drive grandkids around. I was taking care of Lauren and Maddie and picking Andrew up from school every day and I didn't have the room in the car I had. Plus when I had Dylan it was even more crowded.  This van has been wonderful. It has driven the grandkids around, Ms. Mary, my mama, and my dad for a brief time. It took us and Karla's family to the zoo, it took us and Ryan's family to Porter's BBQ, I grieved in it, laughed in it and had some road rage in it!  I love my van and thank God for it!

The only picture I could find of my van while looking at the house for sale... that we bought!

Dave called me yesterday (my ex).  He is doing really well!!! Amazing good!  He said he should be a text case for how great it could go!  I said..."You know why don't you?" He said "Why"... I said "The power of prayer....you had people praying all over this country!!!!" He said "Aw, Joyce, you know I don't subscribe to that way of thinking" I said... "Well, you should think about it. You should be a dead man and you're not."  He doesn't realize God still has a plan for his life and I cannot wait to see what it is!  We talked about how after surgery the doc told him he probably would have died within a few days had he not had the surgery... that is how bad his valve was!!!  I, personally, see God's hand here!  We talked for quite awhile.  After we finished I updated Kevon on how his dad is doing and we talked a bit.  I pray someday they reconcile.  I pray a lot.  In God's time.  I thought this would have done it but I guess not.

Yesterday I did a lot! I watched a hoarders show and that is all it takes. I started cleaning... cleaned my bathroom; the walls and mirrors and stuff, went into the den and moved the tv and emptied the bookshelf in our room that threatens to kill papa in his sleep if it fell... and put it in the den and put the video's, dvd's, and video games on the shelves.... dusted and rearranged pictures.... and tossed out some videos and dvd's!!!  Wow!  Did lots of stuff.  Found stuff I thought I lost.... threw most of it out since I haven't needed it this long! Felt good!

Today I am taking a house break and picking up Lois. We are meeting Libby at mom's and all going to the doctor appt with mom.  Mom will have all her girls together today which will thrill her!  Looking forward to the day! I love my family!!!!

Papa is off tomorrow.  Yay!!!!  He can go to the store with me.  Well, that's all I got... looking around my area to see if I forgot anything... but I think I said it all!  Have a great day... a God day and I want to leave you with this: