Hey friends!
I just want to apologize for not responding to your emails recently. I owe many emails! Please don't think I have forgotten about you. I do read your emails and I do think about you often and pray for you when I think of you! If you haven't gotten a response, or an email from me lately, please don't give up on me. I will write when I have more time! Please keep praying for Joe and the girls and I. Pray that we keep the Lord first, and not try to do this by our own will. Please pray that the Lord keeps providing for us and we will get through this tough part of pre-opening! Thanks you guys! I love you so much. More than you even realize! Friends are gifts from God! NO DOUBT! Sue
Friday, January 09, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
A glorious day!
I woke up early this morning and walked to Jimmy's restaurant on the corner in New Wilmington. I met three really wonderful women. We had breakfast together and talked business. I'm loving life.
This is short. I'm working on the menu. It needs to be done by tommorow.
Pray for me. It's important to get this done and done right. Pray for God's wisdom and guidance Thanks you friends! I love and value you! Susan
This is short. I'm working on the menu. It needs to be done by tommorow.
Pray for me. It's important to get this done and done right. Pray for God's wisdom and guidance Thanks you friends! I love and value you! Susan
Sunday, January 04, 2009
One more day of Holiday left...
My girls go back to school tommorow. Vacation is over. They are feeling down in the dumps. I'm taking the day off today to take them out to eat and to the mall to exchange some Christmas gifts. It's a free day today. They've been so good. So understanding and patient with us. I am so proud of them.
Ally & Lauren's mom
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Psst,
Hey! How are you? What's going on? How's life? I am taking a few minutes out (I've been working on our menu) to shout out a praise. Thank you Father God, for my husband. He works from early in the morning to seriously..early in the morning. 18 hour days..getting this restaurant together. He is such a man of character. He is a hard worker. He is a good man. I am blessed.
Joe..thank you for helping to make this vision a reality. Thank you for your labor. You will see the fruits one day... God promises. No need to worry,., my partner in life,..no need to worry! Keeping the Faith, Susan
Hey! How are you? What's going on? How's life? I am taking a few minutes out (I've been working on our menu) to shout out a praise. Thank you Father God, for my husband. He works from early in the morning to seriously..early in the morning. 18 hour days..getting this restaurant together. He is such a man of character. He is a hard worker. He is a good man. I am blessed.
Joe..thank you for helping to make this vision a reality. Thank you for your labor. You will see the fruits one day... God promises. No need to worry,., my partner in life,..no need to worry! Keeping the Faith, Susan
Friday, January 02, 2009
Table cloths, Computers and Coke!
Many meetings today for the Tavern.
Linens, computers, and coca-cola.
Working on the menu.
It's harder than cleaning that basement...
But it needs to get done.
Looking for lots of input, ideas and suggestions..
If you have any, send them our way.
It's so good.
SLH
Linens, computers, and coca-cola.
Working on the menu.
It's harder than cleaning that basement...
But it needs to get done.
Looking for lots of input, ideas and suggestions..
If you have any, send them our way.
It's so good.
SLH
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
May our Lord and Savior fill all of your days of 2009 with joy and peace and love. May you have a healthy and prosperous year. Let this be the year that you realize just how much Jesus loves you. Let your hearts be filled with His love and I pray that you pass that love on to others. Love makes the world go round, ya know? : )
Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for coming along in this journey of mine. I love you all. Susan L. Hougelman
Monday, December 29, 2008
I've missed you!
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Hello my friends and family!
I'm back : ) Did you miss me? I sure missed blogging! I have so much to tell you about this past month! I will begin by saying, Joe and I have been working 16-18 hour days at our new Restaurant, scrubbing and cleaning and washing and painting! We've been working very vigorously trying to get it ready for it's January opening! We took Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off to celebrate Christ's Birth with our family and right after that it was back to work!
I wake up each morning exhausted..my body aching, my hands rough and chapped, my back hurting..but with a huge smile on my face and incredible joy in my heart!
I am falling so deeply in love with this beautiful old building that my heart races to get downstairs and work inside of it. We are making it clean and beautiful for people! Oh friends..I can't wait for you to see it! The Tavern on the Square..there is no doubt in my mind that God has prepared me for this adventure. The road I've been on has led me here and this is just the beginning of this leg of the race!
It is early morning now and I must get up and prepare for the day. Today is a day filled with errands and mental work. My body will appreciate the rest and I will enjoy talking on the phone and running errands.
Do you know what I've missed most this month? SOCIALIZING! I have been a shut in. I haven't been able to communicate with my friends and family and bloggers! I haven't been outside enough. I MISS PEOPLE!!!!
It will all come soon enough though.. I realize that! Please know, if you are reading this that I love you dearly and I miss you. Please don't feel shut out of my world if you haven't heard from me..we truly have had to work this much in order to open. We have not had an income for the past month, and we have to open as soon as possible or we will run out of money!
See you soon! With Christ's amazing and neverending love,
Susan
Monday, November 24, 2008
Today is The Day!
Today is the day of our closing. I am so very nervous. I have such cold feet, and my entire body is filled with butterflies. I want to run the other way...I want to cry. I'm scared. I'm so scared. Where did my confidance go?
Noooooooooooooo. What have I done?
Brenda said it's like giving birth.
Labor pains hurt.
But in the end...
It's so worth it.
God, please lead us. Guide us. Fill us with wisdom. Please breath your Holy Breath into this restaurant, and all around it. Please Lord, let us be able to use this place for your Glory and your praise! These are times of economic uncertainty, and I know we can't do this without you. There is no doubt that you have given Joe and I incredible blessings. We know that. We are unworthy of all that you have done for us, yet you continue to give us grace and mercy and patience. Lord, I am so grateful. My words can't even express how much I appreciate what you've done and are doing for Joe and I. Lord I dedicate the Tavern on the Square to YOU Father God! I WANT TO USE OUR RESTAURANT FOR YOUR KINGDOM!
THANK YOU FATHER! THANK YOU.
Your daughter who loves you so very much, Susan
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Life in a fish Bowl
I have been traveling along this bumpy path of life and another stumbling stone got in my way. It has caused me to have to change direction slightly.
As I've told you many times before, I have layed my life down and given it over to Jesus, so I believe that He knows best. He speaks to me..sometimes in whispers and sometimes in shouts..sometimes through His word, and sometimes through a song. Sometimes He speaks when I am praying, sometimes when I am not. Sometime He speaks while I am laying in bed, sometimes while I am walking. Sometimes He speaks through others, and I know..I just know He sends people in my to help me to hear His voice and to help me along this journey and to live this life.
I have such amazing friends. Godly friends. Some of those friends speak truth to me, and in this world there are not many people who will tell you the truth, especially if it's not pleasant.
These couple of weeks really have been rocky. Some people haven't been very kind to Joe and I. It's hard for me to understand why people aren't kind. My lawyer told me this. He said, "Susan, your a good Christian woman, but your problem is that you think every one is good, but they're not."
People are mean and nasty and even evil. And I know myself, I know it's true, but I forget. You see, I'm so weird. I know I am. I'm not naive, not stupid...maybe I am stupid..but I live in this kind of bubble world ..I just want to be myself, and I want to love people, and I want to do good, and I really want people to be happy, and I want to change the world, I want to make it a better place for others. I want to bring light and love to the world! I want to bring happiness to other people's lives..it is what I live for. But..I have such a hard time seeing other people's points of view. I go through life with blinders on. I don't have perephial vision! I see things from my view!! That's bad!!!!!!! It's burned me many times before!!! I hate that I'm like that! I can't see how other's might feel about something!
I write so many of my feelings here. I am real and honest. I am truthful. I tell people that i'm sinful and dirty and I am sooooooooo far from perfect. I fail so many times. See..but I'm okay with that because I know that I am human, and all of us are dirty, and ugly, and sinful..but God loves me anyway..God loves us anyway, and honestly.....when your eyes focus on God, who cares what the rest of the world thinks of you...I ONLY want to please my Father in HEaven!
That's how I live. But once again..that's me. There's the rest of the world out there!
BUT... as my lawyer said..not everybody lives like that. And those people who aren't good, they will hurt you. And maybe even people who won't mean to hurt you, will hurt you.
Am I being ambiguous? sorry..
It has been brough to my attention, that my life is going to more public now. My blog has been getting more attention then usual. I've seen that in the numbers of visitors I get each day.
A friend, who I love because they are not afraid to tell me the truth, has told me that my blog exposes myself to much. I say things that people shouldn't know about me. I talk about private things and I shouldn't in a public way.
When this friend told me this, I was shocked. I mean..really shocked. For those that know me deeply, know I would NEVER EVER do anything to hurt anyone intentionally. NEVER!! If I wrote a post that hurt someone's feelings, I would want to cry. I try to be so encouraging and positive and uplifting to everyone! As I said earlier, I want everyone to be happy and filled with love and happiness etc..
But my friend pointed out examples..and she was right. They were very personal blog posts. I just didn't realize..I didn't think..I was stupid, naive, thinking everyone is good and they won't think bad thoughts.. they just love me and want the best for me etc..etc...
My mistake. I was corrected. I thank God for this friend who loves me enough to tell me the truth and to correct me.
So..I called a few others up and got some advice. They agreed with the friend. They didn't think I should take my blog off entirely..they told me they enjoyed reading it..but said I shouldn't post such private thoughts..
But I love posting my private thoughts. I am real and I can't be any different. I won't be any different.
So what do I do?
Thinking...thinking...thinking...Lord help me to discern. Give me wisdom.
I will keep blogging, because both of my girls LOVE reading my blog. It will be my legacy to them one day. They will always be able to feel me through here, when I am gone.
So should I make my blog private, should I share it with only a few close family and friends? Or should I stop writing so intimately?
I still haven't decided. My thoughts are going towards, doing two different blogs. One private..one public. But that will take even more time, and my free time is getting smaller and smaller.
So..which direction will i go?
Where will it take me?
Who will come with me?
Who will cause me to stumble?
Who will hold my hand and help me?
Who will walk beside me and listen to me
and talk to me and be my friend?
Who will I encounter along the way?
What will I do?
I don't know these answers but I do know who will lead me and I do know where I'll end up.
Susan
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Guess what?
Want a good laugh today?
Ready?
My dog ate my TEETH last night!
Yup!
I have a partial that I wear in my mouth to replace some teeth I lost.
I was so tired last night that I took them out and put them on my nightstand instead of the normal spot in the bathroom.
I woke up and Nikki had her tail between her legs looking at me with that dopey look she gets...
I knew
I looked on my nightstand and..
they were gone.
I said, "NIXON!!!" and she rolled on her back and closed her eyes
The partial was next to her..
The teeth ripped off
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate leaving the house with my missing teeth showing!!
I had to go to work.
I called the dentist and he said to come in and he would be able to make me a new one..by the end of the day.
I love Dr. Snow! Honestly...He is a really, really great guy and awesome dentist!
I love the girls in his office. They are so nice too!
Guess what else?
Dr. Snow's grandma invented the Tavern Sticky buns. WOAH!
Her name was Rose Roberts..she rode her horse to work everyday to make the sticky rolls... Fascinating!
Everyone seems to have a story to tell about the Tavern! I love it!
I hope you had a good day today. I hope you are keeping warm! I hope and pray that you have safe travels wherever you go!
Thank you Brenda
The flowers are beautiful!! I put them near the register for everyone to admire!!
You touched my heart today. You are such a wonderful friend. I am so glad that we are living life together. I love dreaming, and sharing and praying and talking and laughing and inspiring and counseling and listening and encouraging and supporting.and understanding...and all the many other things that we do together!
The future holds something exciting girl... dare to dream it!!! *And to believe it!!* I love you,
Sue
Party Planning!
I am going to have a party! A celebration party! A gratitude party! A love fest! A God is Amazing and we want to glorify Him with thanksgiving party!!!
I want my friends and family with me to celebrate what God has done in our lives!
It's going to be in January. I will look for a date today. Who wants to celebrate with me?..Come on.. Let's PARTY!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Our closing is Monday!!
Many of you have emailed and asked why the Tavern blog has been made invite only. After the closing, when the Tavern is officially ours, I will open up the Tavern Blog and continue to update everyone on the happenings!
Until then I will post all I can here.
Please know that our lives will be very, very busy these next few months, so If I'm not emailing or posting as much, it is for that reason!
Yesterday Joe and I went to Boardman to do some Christmas shopping.
I'm trying to get as much done as I can now.
I talked to my Aunt Linda and David is still in ICU, but doing better. I pray that he continues to improve.
Brenda is still not feeling well, please keep her in your prayers.
Anne's cat died so please send a prayer her way too. I know how she feels, losing Sarah just a few months ago.
Lauren is doing really good without having her computer! I am so very proud of her! She is going to try to better her life, by conquering her addiction to the computer!
Go Lauren!
Ally tried out for the school play "The Music Man". I'm proud of her for trying out! Go Ally!
Nikki is much better. We truly thought she was going to die yesterday. If you didn't know..We took Nikki to a new vet Monday afternoon, and she gave her two sets of shots and a heartworm pill. The heartworm pill was too much for her, and Nikki got really sick. We read the heartworm pamplet that described what happens when a dog is over-medicated, and she had all the symptoms. She was very lethargic and had dhiarria and vomiting. It was scary.
I miss Kim! We need a girls night out my friend.
Speaking of girls night out..my mentoring group is meeting this Friday evening! I so look forward to brainstorming with these amazing women that I'm lucky enough to share ideas with!
I have been watching my diet more carefully and I am at 81 lbs lost! I would like to lose 10 lbs by Christmas!!!
Next week is a really busy week for us and it is our last week at The Neshannock Creek Inn Restaurant!! *That is so weird to think!*
I hope you have a beautiful day today! God is so good. I am so incredibly blessed. Lord thank you for your grace and mercy and love!
My friends..thank you for loving me and showing me grace and mercy too!
His Servant, Susan L. Hougelman
Until then I will post all I can here.
Please know that our lives will be very, very busy these next few months, so If I'm not emailing or posting as much, it is for that reason!
Yesterday Joe and I went to Boardman to do some Christmas shopping.
I'm trying to get as much done as I can now.
I talked to my Aunt Linda and David is still in ICU, but doing better. I pray that he continues to improve.
Brenda is still not feeling well, please keep her in your prayers.
Anne's cat died so please send a prayer her way too. I know how she feels, losing Sarah just a few months ago.
Lauren is doing really good without having her computer! I am so very proud of her! She is going to try to better her life, by conquering her addiction to the computer!
Go Lauren!
Ally tried out for the school play "The Music Man". I'm proud of her for trying out! Go Ally!
Nikki is much better. We truly thought she was going to die yesterday. If you didn't know..We took Nikki to a new vet Monday afternoon, and she gave her two sets of shots and a heartworm pill. The heartworm pill was too much for her, and Nikki got really sick. We read the heartworm pamplet that described what happens when a dog is over-medicated, and she had all the symptoms. She was very lethargic and had dhiarria and vomiting. It was scary.
I miss Kim! We need a girls night out my friend.
Speaking of girls night out..my mentoring group is meeting this Friday evening! I so look forward to brainstorming with these amazing women that I'm lucky enough to share ideas with!
I have been watching my diet more carefully and I am at 81 lbs lost! I would like to lose 10 lbs by Christmas!!!
Next week is a really busy week for us and it is our last week at The Neshannock Creek Inn Restaurant!! *That is so weird to think!*
I hope you have a beautiful day today! God is so good. I am so incredibly blessed. Lord thank you for your grace and mercy and love!
My friends..thank you for loving me and showing me grace and mercy too!
His Servant, Susan L. Hougelman
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Whenever you get close to doing something really great for God...you know..you JUST KNOW..Satan is right around the corner ready to pounce! We've been under attack this week..big time! BUT GUESS WHAT???? GOD is SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!! God is Good in good times and bad times! When the sun is shining or when a hurricane is knockin' God is ALWAYS GOOD!!! Jesus CHrist you are the ruler of my life, and I have layed it down for you. You never promised us that life would be easy but you did promise us that You'd be there with us! I love you Lord so very much! I praise your name ..I shout it from this little ole' blog..all over the internet! I love you LORD! I love you Lord! I love you Lord!
This next note is written to my enemies as well as my friends..because I love Jesus
I love you too : )
Amen
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Please send some prayer our way..
Pray for my Uncle David who had a heart attack this past Friday. He is doing fine, but this will be very scary for him. Please pray for his wife Linda too.
Please pray for my friend Brenda who is feeling very sick and is on her second round of antibiotics and still feeling miserable.
Please pray for Joe's dad and the situation that his family is in.
Please pray for my family. Thanksgiving is a time for families to get together and my family has been torn apart. Please pray for healing.
Please pray for Lauren, who we are trying to help her get away from her addicting behavior.
Please pray for Joe and I and the girls. Our life is going to change very dramatically in two weeks. We need strength and guidance and wisdom that can only come from our Father in Heaven. Please pray that we continue to follow and obey Him and keep Him first in our lives!
Thank you. Susan
Please pray for my friend Brenda who is feeling very sick and is on her second round of antibiotics and still feeling miserable.
Please pray for Joe's dad and the situation that his family is in.
Please pray for my family. Thanksgiving is a time for families to get together and my family has been torn apart. Please pray for healing.
Please pray for Lauren, who we are trying to help her get away from her addicting behavior.
Please pray for Joe and I and the girls. Our life is going to change very dramatically in two weeks. We need strength and guidance and wisdom that can only come from our Father in Heaven. Please pray that we continue to follow and obey Him and keep Him first in our lives!
Thank you. Susan
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