I'm back - I'll be posting on both this blog and on www.AmandasHope.com - this blog allows me to keep track of my viewers.  Please keep reading!  You make it worthwhile! 

What a day! Today I've worked 7.75 hours (spent 1.5 hours of those looking for something that didn't exist but in the mind of an attorney in another office!); came home; scraped the mortar smoothe between the stones on the patio (don't ask me to explain); washed and dried 2 loads of laundry (well, the last load is now in the dryer); fixed dinner (fortunately, it was only for me so leftovers sufficed; Bob was at a meeting); watered the outdoor potted plants (we need rain again); did an aerobic workout, my first since my second back surgery a little over a year ago; paid a bill on-line; balanced the checkbook; and am now writing this blog. And what in all of this has eternal value? I'm not sure any of it does, but it's life.
As I was searched the file at work today, thumbing through correspondence and e-mails only to find out that it wasn't our problem if someone else couldn't find something in their file, I felt like I had been chasing the wind! Life is sometimes like that - chasing the wind. So many things need to get done, and when all's said and done, what has really been accomplished? Well, the patio looks better, the laundry basket is empty (but only for about 2 hours), I'm not hungry, the plants will survive another day, the power company won't shut off my power, and I know how much money we have in our checking account -- and to do aerobics for the first time in over a year simply made me feel good! Yet it all feels like chasing the wind! So much of life is necessary but seemingly pointless! Does anyone else feel that way?
I have 1082 days until I can retire at age 66, and I've got plans to do things that I can't find the time to do now -- writing more books will be one of them. Volunteering will be another, as will spending more time with our kids and grandkids. They are growing up too fast! More time in Bible study is also on the list. Traveling is not a priority for me; I haven't seen much of the State of North Carolina yet, so I would like to visit my back yard, so to speak. In the meantime, I'll have to keep chasing the wind and pray that God will bless the work of my hands in the doing of everyday life.