I thought I would ask you a question this morning. Can you believe it is already November 1st? October flew by, and my birthday is just a couple of days away. As I look back on October, I realize it brought us a little bit of everything: sadness, joy, changes, answered prayers, and some firsts for our family. Through it all, I know the Lord was walking beside us.
October was a month of firsts for Charlie. He took his first solo road trip to Oklahoma! As a mom, that’s a pretty big milestone. We’re waiting for him to return, and today I’m going to ask him if he would consider coming home Tuesday instead of Monday since David will be off work. That way, if anything happens, we can get to him. It’s another reminder that our children grow up, spread their wings, and start making memories of their own.
We also experienced the loss of someone we loved very much. Although our hearts are sad, we find comfort in knowing that he is reunited with the Lord. There is something beautiful about knowing that we will see our loved ones again. Several of my friends dealt with health issues but they handled those problems with grace and dignity. If I had to go through what there going through I hope I could be as strong as they’ve been.
October also brought me something I had been missing for months: time with my best friend Debbie Finney Sutton! Thanks to David making it happen, I was able to meet with her several times. I cannot tell you what a blessing that was. Sometimes the Lord sends us exactly what we need through the people He places in our lives.
We spent time working on our home, getting things cleaned and organized, and making some progress on things that needed attention. David was able to keep most of his work hours, even though we had been hearing that they might be cut back considerably. Some hours were reduced, but thankfully, not nearly as much as we feared.
Are we completely caught up financially? No. We still have a little bit of October’s rent to take care of as we enter November. But I’m choosing not to let worry take over. I believe the Lord will provide, just as He always has. If not then I know that was the LORDs will and worrying will not change anything so I will just work harder to help David with these issues.
And speaking of November, we are officially two months away from Christmas! Goodness, where did the year go? I don’t know exactly what Christmas will look like for our family this year, but I know that worrying about it today won’t change tomorrow. Instead, I’m choosing to believe that November will be filled with answered prayers, new opportunities, and blessings we haven’t even imagined yet.
Before we completely say goodbye to October, I’d love to hear what your family did for Halloween! Our Halloween was pretty simple this year. We went to Sonic and enjoyed their fifty-cent corndogs. That might not sound like much, but it has been a family tradition since my children were little.
And here’s the sweetest part: Charlie even had corndogs in Hobart, Oklahoma! So, in a way, we were still having dinner together, even though we were in two different states. It’s funny how the simplest traditions can bring us the biggest smiles. Did you have Sonic Corn Dogs?
Sometimes making memories doesn’t require an elaborate celebration, expensive gifts, or a big night out. Sometimes all it takes is a corndog and remembering the people you love. I would be leaving something important out if I didn’t mention that November is also a difficult month for me.
This is the month my beautiful daughter, Suzzane, passed away. There are some dates that never become easy, no matter how many years go by. You learn to keep living, celebrating, laughing, and making new memories, but you never stop missing the people who should still be here.
So, if you think about it, please keep me and my family in your prayers this month. I know that being grateful doesn’t mean we never experience sadness. It means that even on the difficult days, we look for the blessings that the Lord continues to place in our lives.
Yesterday, the Lord even led me to some new businesses and opportunities for Greatful Moments. That was something I wasn’t expecting to happen on a Saturday, and I am so grateful, thankful, and blessed because usually the weekends are slow and that is how it should be people spending time with there families should come first and that happens on Saturday and Sunday.
Today is Sunday, and yes, I plan on working. Maybe I’ll work all day, or perhaps I’ll only get a few things accomplished. Either way, I’m leaving that in the Lord’s hands. I have learned that we don’t always have to know what comes next. Sometimes we just have to take the next step and trust that the Lord already knows the way.
As I celebrate another birthday this week and welcome a brand-new month, I want to approach November differently. Less worrying. More praying. Less fear. More faith. Less concentrating on what we don’t have and more gratitude for what the Lord has already given us. Which I’m grateful, thankful and blessed for.
My prayer for November is that the Lord blesses our families, provides for our needs, opens doors to new opportunities, and gives us reasons to smile even when life doesn’t go according to plan. I pray that David’s work continues to provide for our family, that Charlie stays safe wherever the road takes him, and that our home is filled with love, laughter, and precious memories.
I pray for everyone reading this who is struggling financially, missing someone they love, waiting for an answer to prayer, or simply trying to figure out what comes next. May you find comfort in knowing that you are not walking alone. And most importantly, I want to remind myself and everyone else that we don’t have to let tomorrow’s worries steal today’s blessings.
November, we’re walking in Faith, not Fear!
So, come sit on the front porch with me, share what your family did for Halloween, tell me what you’re looking forward to this November, and let’s encourage one another as we begin another month. In November I’m walking in faith not fear Buttercup you can walk with me or get out of the way because nothing is stopping me now.
My family would like to wish you a beautiful November filled with love, laughter, answered prayers, and countless blessings. May all your dreams come true.
GreatfulMoments.com
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed! ❤️
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
