Well My Friends...Thank you once again for coming to spend some time with me..
I have been praying for all who read this... That somehow, the Holy Spirit will touch your life.
The way that he has touched mine.
That as you look back through the rear-view mirror of your life you will come to realize
That nothing is by chance
All we have been through ,
The Good ,The Bad, and The Ugly as they say
Have brought you to where you are now.
How God has worked through others
to bring us closer to him.
I am humbled every day knowing that every single day of my life he loves me.
No Matter what.
He fills that space in your soul, you know... that emptiness... that feeling of loneliness.... of hopelessness...
I can tell you... from experience that there is only one answer to the Pain you are feeling.

There is something that I am guilty of that I must confess. I have had many friends whose husbands have lost their jobs over the past year. I have not been there for them like I should have. Funny how when something happens to someone other than yourself you have a hard time putting yourself in their shoes.
I am in your shoes now.
Will you please forgive me for not being there for you as I should have?
Really had no idea how devastating losing a job is for a man... Even as a wife who knows that her Husband will find a job worthy of him, I am still reeling from the shock.
Watching your husband worrying every single day is not a fun thing to go through...
As I have stated in the Past... I have tried to invoke my Faith that God will provide into him... but this is his lesson.
Who knows what this will do to our lives...what lessons will be learned..
How you should never never underestimate the importance of a job to a man...
How you should always be there in times of need.

This is one tough Valley we are trudging through...filled with all kinds of thorny bushes and rocky paths. But God is on our side. Of this I am sure. I feel him in my heart . I am sure a year from now... wherever where we may be...(hopefully still right here!) We will look back ..or down ... really... because I plan on keeping on trudging.... over the rocky paths... and up the mountain... Until we can look down and say...Look how far we have come... and feel the Beauty of all that is around us.
Life is Beautiful...Really. The craziness of it, The running all over taking care of kids, animals or whatever it is you do everyday. That, my friend is LIVING! Would you really have it any other way?
Really?
Look at your day today and make a collage in your mind of your favorite moments... Every day has them.
Focus on those... those special times... and Thank God for giving us this Life... For all the Joy, for all the Heartaches... The struggles... The bad times don't compare with the Good... Focus on the Good things...

We have had a couple of leads for Mark.... I am praying that he has a dozen offers and has to choose between them.Or just one job that he feels in his heart is the right one...

We had a Great time in Orlando...It was a nice break for us all and allowed us some time away ... It did wonders for Mark.... as I knew it would...
Laughter... The best medicine.
Well friends.. it is late... and I am tired...
Please continue to pray for Mark, as he makes his way through this time.

Defining Moment:The day you accept Gods Grace... without feeling you don't deserve it.

Love you all! Night Night...

Come sit with me... Tell me your story... I know you have one.... We ALL have a story to tell... Tell me of your trials and triumphs, your heartaches, your joys!
I wish I could sit with you all.... hear your stories.. How God has changed your life... How when you finally just gave up and handed it over what amazing things started happening in your lives! I want to hear them all! I want to share in your glorious transformations! Your stories give me hope, strength, inspiration!
Is it not amazing how God loves us!
Oh Friends... My poor husband is still struggling! How I hate to see him broken like this! How can I stay strong? I am praying and praying and trying so hard ! What more shall I do? I fear he will lose his mind if he does not have a job offer soon... and it has only been a week. He spends hours every day, (And night!) searching, calling everyone he knows ....I try not to get caught up in his worry but I am HUMAN!
Please God! Send him some Peace of mind and Heart!
I am comforted by our Lord, I am sure that all will be okay in the end.. But I cannot portray this to him.
I fear that this is between He and God and that I cannot push this upon him any more... That it is a Peace he must come to on his own as he struggles through....
I have to break in this for a moment and laugh... my two teenage daughters, Carli (17) and Sydnee (15) are doing P90X behind me in Sydnees room for the first time... Carli,( the cheerleader..). coaching poor Sydnee ( the writer...) It is quite entertaining... Lets see if they make it through!
I,myself,am taking a break from the lo carb diet in favor of the stress diet( not really by choice!)My mind and my Body seem to be on different playing fields... although in my mind I am calm my body sometimes is a churning mass of nerves! If I find myself with any idle time at all... I start over-thinking... I guess God put me back to work full time just in time... Funny how things work out that way... I don't really have time to worry between working, running the store and trying to keep these kiddos entertained.
We are all taking a short trip to Mall of America this week.. just a short overnight-er... but as I have stated in the past... I prefer the overnight trips... too many days away from home does me no good!
So we will take a little breather...have some fun away from home and hopefully get Mark some stress relief! (my ultimate goal!!! Have him forget for a minute!)
I love my life. I love where I am right now.. and I know it is only going to get better.. I have faith.. Whatever lessons we need to learn,we will learn...As long as we have faith and keep our focus on God... He will never let us down...That is awesome... I am so happy to be able to share with you... and I hope you can share with me... I want to hear... I want to know what Jesus has placed in your heart...
As we walk through life, looking around us, and maybe maybe just wanting to feel sorry for ourselves... take a deeper look... look at the homeless man on the corner... look at your neighbor who is hurting... think of the struggles of those all around us... I can tell you, as I have before,, we all have them.... all of us...... Someone may be going through something you never even will know about.. and those kind of struggles... those kind of things where someone feels as if they can't share their burden... those are the ones we need to become more sensitive too...
I promise...as you help others... take the focus off yourself... and put that energy into someone else... you will feel a different kind of satisfaction. Of Happiness....
But first... you must fill yourself up with Jesus... For without him... you are of no good to anyone.

Thank you friends.. for once again sharing this time with me... It has been nice talking to you once again...Thank you for sharing some of MY burden... for listening to me ... for taking the time to care...

Defining Moment.....having your kids help out with everything that needs to be done... with love in their hearts..and thankfulness on their lips...... Is there anything more you could possibly ask for?
Jesus...Thank you for changing MY LIFE!

There you go changing my plans again
There you go shifting my sands again
For reasons I don't understand again
Lately I don't have a clue

Just when I start liking what I see
There you go changing my scenery
I never know where you are taking me
But I'm trying just to follow you

Wow... What a week I have had... WE have had... It has been a rough week.. But you know what.. We survived and will continue to LIVE, and to LOVE in spite of the heartache, in spite of the attacks, in spite of all that life may throw in our way...

It is as we feared... Marks Program with Hills has been cut.,.. which means his job will be eliminated.
The Vice President(of his Company) flew in on Tuesday personally to deliver the news to Mark. They have great respect for Mark...(of course.. he IS the best we all know!) The news is bad but at least Mark knows how much they respected him and loved him for all he did. They were forced to lay he and Dennis off(poor Dennis...) ! But as bad as it is... and it is really bad, they are keeping him on for three months, will pay him three more after that, keep us insured for over a year, paying him his bonus, vesting his pension and they also hired a Professional Recruiter to find him a new job.
I am so proud of my husband. He shows such grace and such strength in times such as these. He is my rock... He is OUR rock.
So... our lives will be changing... But I can not fret .. I have faith that our God has his hand in this and that Mark is meant for bigger and better things.... Honestly he is the most brilliant person I have ever met, other than my Grandfather...(they are the same level of brilliance!!)I KNOW he will be placed in a job , a job that was meant for him to flourish and use his talents.
We do need prayers.. It is very hard to see him broken like this... I know he is trying to be strong for us and he is so worried about letting us all down... He could never let us down... no matter what... not possible... !
It is so sweet as he cradles me in his arms and tells me I don't need to worry ... That he will always take care of us... that he will do whatever he needs to in order to do so... I LOVE HIM!!!!!I cherish him.... Thank you GOD for sending him to me!
Do you know how nice it is to be able to count on someone... ? To know that if he says something he means it... I could go on and on... I am sure I will...
I will keep you all updated...Pray for his peace of heart...

I have been working ...and working...and working... I had to work out of the office today... for the first time in over a year... I got to see my friend Beth... I didn't realize how much I miss her! She is my little Hawaii girl...she travels there a couple (or more) times a year... She brought me much comfort today by just being there and listening to me...Thank you Beth... I am so glad that we are friends... that we have each other... even if we don't see each other much...!
I have found as I grow closer and closer to God that my heart softens towards the loved ones in my life... I feel as if I need to tell them all how much they mean to me... what a difference they have made in my life... I have been so blessed with the relationships that God has sent me...

Liz,oh..I need to tell you about Liz.... The strongest woman I know... I don't even know if I have words to express how she has changed me... I just realized it... TODAY!
Her and Kevin have been struggling with their seven year old son Joe, having Cancer. The heartbreak, the constant trips to the hospital for treatment, the not knowing.... every day... Yet she has time to be there for ME! Liz... I love you... Your example of staying strong in times of need, your faith, your love of God.... all have taught me by example...Instead of worrying and fretting I am having faith... Instead of feeling sorrow.. I am finding Peace... knowing God has a plan. You are so special... I hope you know this.. I know how you have suffered in the past... I am so sorry... so so sorry... You are in my thoughts daily, my prayers constantly... You have shown me that you can heal ... that you can go on living....and LOVING!!!!!
I need to tell you about all of them... Ginger, Jennifer, Jenn,Julie, just to name a few... the ones that really have made a DIFFERENCE in my life...
and of course.. Rochelle... thank you Liz..... and Carla...
I want to share them all with you.. Tell you and them how much I love them... People that take time out of their lives when they are hurting and down, and struggling.... to take time to lift you up...REALLY take time... Who stop what they are doing to help you.
God has a plan for our family... I know that... I know I should never grow content... for if I shall I shall need to be shaken by his mighty hand lest I forget who is really in charge...
Well Guys... I am really tired... and it is my BABY GIRLS SIXTH BIRTHDAY TOMORROW:
Her lists of demands are that of a true Princess and of course we must fill every one..
Hide her presents... at least ten... in the kitchen and living room only
Take her to Bearcat Park... then Sonic to Ice Cream...
Childrens Museum on Friday.. then the Omni and Olive Garden,
and MARBLE CAKE with a green candle on top...
Oh... that child is something else... Through all of this she is bringing joy to our hearts...
I love my kids... they are awesome...!
They are all doing all they can to help us get through this difficult time..
Thank ALL of you for your prayers...Please add Dennis Nixon to your prayer lists as well...He is a very good friend of ours...(Our SANTA!) He will need strength as well...
They have helped....
God is GOOD...
Goodnight! (:

Lord:
You are all I need.... take all that's in me... I give it to you.. For your Glory...
My flesh may fail me
My heart may fail me
Everything I have may fail me
My only hope is waiting at your feet..

I have been singing this song all day today... Yesterday ...today... very stressful days here in the Damato household...
Life changes in an instant... I am sure there are several of you out there that can agree.. How you can just be living your life... then a minute later everything changes.
I am telling you all this against my husbands wishes... But I feel I need to ... for we need the prayer... (s)!!!!
I wish I could tell you the specifics but quite frankly we don't have any yet...
All we know is that there will be some major changes happening around here starting probably next week... Something is going to happen with Marks job...There is alot of realignment going on in his company, and he will be affected...That is all we know...
If he loses his job...Well that is something I really can't think about right now... I have faith that he will be put into a new position.... That God will provide. He has always taken care of me. Always... I am just so scared right now... I really don't know what to think... or what we will do... I know there are so many who have gone through this in the past year... I have several friends in fact who are still suffering the after effects of our bad economy.Please God... give us the strength to get through whatever it is you have in store for us... If it means Mark has to travel back and forth to Kansas... we will do it... Please put your hands over our family and protect us! It could be a number of things, and as I stated no matter what, things have to change... Mark loves working from home....and I fear that is going to change.
But his having to commute over not having a job...We will take the commuting part!
Please pray for him... his heart and his pride are broken.... Although it is no fault of his...He is the best at what he does....always... so that is why I am keeping faith that they will keep him and just reassign him to new duties...
If you would have asked me a few days ago if I was okay with him traveling back and forth and only being home on weekends I would have emphatically responded "NO!" But... as I stated in the beginning... life throws these curveballs at us when we least expect them... It is our job to keep our faith strong... Just believing that as a family, with God on our side we can get through anything... I feel strong right now.. Ask me in a couple of hours as I am tossing and turning unable to sleep....
I really want Mark to have faith... to have Peace in his heart no matter what happens. It is hard for him, as the provider... especially as he is such a Perfectionist!
It is going to be a tough weekend, Did I say that already?? The NOT knowing is the worst... of course coupled with the fact that jobs at his level aren't really a dime a dozen... ...
See... Here I go... losing my strength and resolve to stay strong... Help me!!
They say that when you start bringing people to God get ready for the attacks.... I don't know if I am strong enough for any attacks right now!
There are so many suffering, Good people... I feel guilty even saying these things... I am just so very worried about my sweet husband... I don't think he has eaten for two days... So.. again... I ask you to lift him up in prayers...(Mark)... to help him find peace and give him strength... If he ends up having to commute back and fort to Kansas that he finds it bearable... That Jesus will reside in his heart to keep him company...
I will let you all know what happens... As you know.. I am back to work full time with American... so it may be a couple of days...


Defining Moment... realizing that what you have, can swiftly be taken away.
I am giving it to God... He is almighty and does not make mistakes.

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
Nelson Mandela

It is late... and here I am... once again...! Another interesting day with American... It seems as if Obama decided to take a trip to Chicago thereby shutting down the airport for a number of hours on one of the busiest travel days of the year... Interesting...It is funny to me how people react to things they have no control over... Very Very few are just "okay " with it..Most are angry, frustrated,and all those emotions that go along with losing control of our situation.
I have learned to just sit back and let them vent for the most part... I have learned it does no good to tell them that it is beyond my control... That the snow is not my fault, the mechanical prolems not my doing..I now just sit quietly as they rant and rave...not saying a word until they finally say" Are you there"? At which point I quietly tell them I am here to help them if they indeed need my help..But if they want to continue to complain and yell then I will have to release the call so that I can help others...
This tactic of mine is fairly new.. It is hard not to take it personally when people are yelling , screaming, name calling etc...I use to actually break out in hives on my arms I was so upset by these people..
Now,although some of them can still get under my skin, I have an easier time not taking it personally and putting myself in their shoes...
The other day I was talking of this with one of the Supervisors... How I could not understand how some people no matter how hard you try to explain things they just did not get it.....How you could tell them something five times at least and they still are angry at not understanding...He, The Supervisor then told me I was judgmental...
"Judgmental !?" I said How is it being judgmental when I am explaining this time and time again and they are not UNDERSTANDING ME? He quietly told me that some people really just don't get it...That they don't understand things like we do ...and for me to get frustrated with them was being judgmental...
Wow...what a slap to the face that was to me... But he was so right!
So... that is my goal...add that to my list of daily sins... I am judgmental... I don't want to be!
Lord help me!!!
My friend Beth that works with me tells me I am mean on the phone... She laughs at me, and I at her.. for I like to get my conversations done , and stay at business at hand for the most part and she knows all the kids names and birthdays when she gets off the phone...(sorry Beth if you are reading this... but you know it is true..!) Ilove Beth... she is awesome... Don't get to see her much at all since we both work from home, and we don't have to go into the office often.. But I enjoy sitting next to her when we are there... She has such a calming spirit about her.(she is LDS...funny out of all the people there we gravitated to each other!)
I never thought of myself as judgmental...before...But he ...some stranger for the most part...(I only have talked to him on the phone a handful of times in the almost four years I have been at home) was quick to point it out in a hurry....!
But as I thought about it... it has become clear to me...I am not judgmental in the way that I think a person should look or dress a certain way but I am, I suppose, because I think people should react to things the way that I would...
I need alot of prayer...! Please God...go to work inside me and open me up to understand all that I cannot...!!!!!
I wonder... Do we ever get it right...? Life, I mean... Is there ever a day when you don't look back at a moment you wish you could change... a word you wish you could take back...
an opportunity missed...We really do need to realize that we,as Christs followers are setting the stage... that others look to us, that call ourselves Christians...that we have a GREAT big role to fill...It is scary to me to think that the example that I set will be the wrong one.
So...my goal at work now is to treat people that don't understand me, how a NASA scientist would treat me if I didn't understand how a rocket booster operates...I am sure it would be completely foreign to me...
Sorry all you people I have talked to in my bordering on mean voice when you didn't understand me..I truly am.. It is my issue...not yours...I feel horrible!

I have had several people , in my life,ask me how I have overcome so much , and just seem to be at peace with it all..I have to tell you...it has not been easy...as I have told you before.....But, you see... the sorrow in my life I have overcome is the same sorrow that has brought me into my relationship with my one and only Father.. Jesus Christ... the savior of us all...Isn't that amazing? That the bad things actually led me to the most Wonderful...That, my friend is how it works...!It is awesome! The peace I feel in my soul is truly something I wish I could explain in words... But I am afraid I cannot... it is something you must experience yourself. My special time with God, my alone time with him ...those times when I feel him with me, encouraging me when I am down or sharing my Joy at special moments....He wants us to be joyous... If we only knew what he had in store for all of our lives.....
When I was young, an early teen..I was so unhappy... miserable.. I hated my homelife.. I use to run away every chance I got.. The only place I ever felt safe was with my Grandparents... I would just run as fast and hard as I could..wanting to run from the pain.
I remember those times of helplessness...those times of being so alone...
My friend... I have been through it all.. I know what it is to lose faith in your family. I know what it is to be single Mommie trying to make ends meet... I know how it feels to have your heart aching.. knowing that there has to be something more......
I have been there... If you are reading this and feel as if you have no purpose in life, no direction...like you are not good enough.... Please pray ...right now for Jesus to give you direction...Your life will change...I promise...
God is GOOD!!!!!! Life is oh so GOOD! Life is for living!
I was talking to a 92 year old very special lady this eve as she was planning her yearly vacation dates... She is sharper than I... When she volunteered her age as we were talking about dates of travel I think I choked...She is a very special spirit...I asked her how she did it,how she kept her mind sharp and her attitude bright.
She told me two things...
Be Thankful for every day.Live life with a positive attitude... the negative will kill you.
Truer words could not be said..
If we live every day feeling sorry for ourselves, if we allow the ugliness of the world to seep into our lives, we will feel the effects physically, and mentally....it will bring us down.
Of course we all have our good and bad days... But let us all strive to live to be 92 and still traveling the world with a smile on our faces blessing all around us...!
Can we just take the bad,knowing it is for the better good? I know it is hard, especially in the middle of it.. but there is alight at the end of the tunnel... it is our choice...! we can let it bring us down, but what good does that do...really? There is alot we have no control over... ALOT!!! MOST things! But we can control how we react to those situations... And that is what will change your life...
I am going to change the way i\I react to those people on the phone that dont GET IT! I think of God and how probably thinks the same of us everyday... How many times do I have to tell them? Will they never understand? They just DONT GET IT!! But he , in his infinite wisdom does not judge us.
Everyday is a struggle of some sort.. some have it worse than others... but we all have our struggles...believe me... That is God working in our lives.. Can we make him proud?

Defining Moment...Having your kids pitch in to take care of little ones, cook dinner AND clean up because Mommie is back to work...all without being asked... My heart is full.

Okay.. So my first day back at work wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.. I met some really interesting people.. The gentleman who helped create Twitter being one of them... I asked him how to pronounce his name so that I made sure I pronounced it right .. It was very complicated .. three very long names and I couldn't even begin to say any of them correctly...... and he says.......
"Kevin."
It was HILARIOUS!!!!..he told me about the new app he is creating for the iphone.. I will post more on that later... I was suppose to work until 9 but got off at 6 ...phones were slow.. so we were all VERY happy.. We have a Wonderful child staying with us... She is actually Bonners cousin ...Her name is Allegra and she is so sweet.. We met her at dinner the other eve when Bonners Parents were here..Found out they actually live in Tanglewood.. So she wanted to come and spend the weekend with us.. She is a character.. She has been bugging the boys all day ...She fits right in.. I love her to death... I have a feeling she will be spending alot of time in the Damato household.. and you know me... the more the merrier...
My sweet son Jordan brought me home a surprise last night.. a smoker! He slaved away smoking his first brisket today while I was working... it was AWESOME!!!!That boy can cook! He and Tyler my oldest are both chefs... I love it..When Tyler comes to visit they both spend all day in the kitchen cooking up the yummiest creations... I too love to cook... Well more bake really... I love cookies and brownies and all those things I cant have right now... Still five more pounds!!!!
Spent alot of time creating the past couple of days.. I am going to post some pics... I needed a floral arrangement so I made it.. My first one.. So Proud! We have also been busy making jewelry...
Sydnee made her first necklace this evening and I taught sweet Allegra how to make Tutus ...She is in the kitchen now attempting her first necklace... I love when these girls make something and are so proud.. It makes me happy!!!!


The sky is so clear, the starts so bright..
As I sit on the outside
looking in
All is right with the World
My Baby Girl climbing into Bed
Arms reaching out one more time
For one more hug from Daddy
The breeze is blowing, it is perfect.
Kids gathering up suits to go out for the night
to a block party they go
I laugh as I remember those days
of my youth.
Lights flashing in the dark
from the Video game upstairs..
But all is quiet out here.
Two girls painting toenails
Tying Tutus, beading necklaces
I watch it all through the Windows.
Stealing this moment of quiet
I quickly pray
God Thank you
My house is full of love and laughter
A place where all are Welcome.
and safe.
Where little girls dance and sing
and puppies beg for food
My place of bliss
My Heaven on Earth.
If I don't tell you enough
My Lord
My savior
I love you. I believe in you.
I thank you and I will praise you.
Today, Tomorrow and for the rest of my life.



Defining Moment..The moment you realize that no matter how tired you become, raising our Children is a privilege..not a chore.