Oh, I still work, but only with my multi-media design and development company which is steadily growing.  I never thought I would be able to be in this position, but trust me living without the intense pressure of working for someone else is so wonderful.

There was a second and perhaps more important reason for me to enjoy this semi retired status.  That would been serving as the  full time primary care giver for my Mom who passed over into Glory in August of 2010.

I am not a native Pennsylvanian, but have lived here since mid 2001 and have no real desire to move.  Pennsylvania is  such a beautiful state, it has greater variety of trees than I have ever seen anywhere else.  Then there is the  historical features, that I encounter at every turn. 

I came here because I was recruited by a major hospitality company that hired me,  moved me from Nebraska and then following the tragedies of 9-11, went into bankruptcy as a result of the massive impact suffered by the travel industry.  So, although the job ended, our desire to remain in Pennsylvania to enjoy life only improved.

Obviously, when chasing a career in the hotel industry it makes a nomad out of you,  especially as a female.  The existence of "glass ceilings" precluded the ability to have upward mobility without enduring a number of relocations.  When I arrived here, and finally got settled it meant that I had lived in 9 locations in the 2 and a half years prior. 

I have moved enough to pretty much last a lifetime.    For business I have traveled much in my life, and basically visited all the states south of NY and PA.  Perhaps now that I live in the NE United States that I will see the remainder and finally be able to say I have seen all of our great country.

The year of 2001 was also very eventful for me as I  began an array of other changes in my life ......  any reader that knew me prior to 2001 will certainly understand what that means!

For the rest of you, let's make it simple and say that it became ever increasingly necessary to make adjustments in my life that would allow me to live my life to its fullest and with greater balance and congruity than ever before.

As any spiritual walk with Christ grows, most if not all Christians choose a "life verse" from the Bible.  However, I just couldn't reduce things that simply and have adopted a life chapter instead.  I have chosen the New Testament Book of Phillipians, Chapter 4, because to me there are so many things in that chapter that can hold such great promise for anyone of us. 

The first is Verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". 

The second one is Verse 19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus". 

Thirdly, the real clincher is Verses 4-6, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! "    "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

These Verses have allowed me to function  stress free for the first time in my life.

By the way, in the above paragraph I underlined what I consider the "meat" of this Chapter and the verses that mean the most to me.  For my own use I have reduced them a bit and here is my paraphrasing: 

"Praise God for who he is and how generous He is, turn your needs over to Him, and stop worrying, because He can do all things through Jesus whose riches are beyond our imagination and He will give us peace of mind" 

Those words indeed empower me daily and can become important to you as well.

If you feel something is missing from your life and are interested in discovering God's Mercy and Grace for all, and would desire to know more, then please, do not hesitate to send me an email!

Speaking of sending me a "fe-mail", I will be happy to respond to you.  You need to be warned however, that I can be a very "Chatty Cathy", and I might try to talk your ear off!