*Polar bears do not eat penguins...apparently, they live in two different places. Why didn't I know this important fact before?!
*Leggings are always fashion-forward...of course, she has the legs for them and I don't.
*Hot chocolate cures almost everything that is wrong...I can buy that!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Memories that make you say "Ouch"
I was just catching up on some blogs and happened upon Snoodling's story about her beautiful daughter. After saying "ouch" out loud to the computer screen on Snoodlings behalf, I had a flash back.
A few months back a thoughtful couple in the church left a bouquet of flowers on "our" seats. (Note: I have always been a back-of-the-auditorium-sitter, but this is the small price I pay being married to my man...same front row seat every Saturday night and Sunday morning.) Anyways, back to my story. So I took a second to read the handwritten note pinned to it before I put it in water...it says, and I quote, "for Pastor (and 1/2 too)".
So I am sure they were simply wanting to include me, and maybe just went blank on my name at the last minute but still felt they had to write something, and they probably refer to each other as "the other half" in loving sorts of ways and so that was all they could think of. But it still made me feel... like saying "ouch"!
A few months back a thoughtful couple in the church left a bouquet of flowers on "our" seats. (Note: I have always been a back-of-the-auditorium-sitter, but this is the small price I pay being married to my man...same front row seat every Saturday night and Sunday morning.) Anyways, back to my story. So I took a second to read the handwritten note pinned to it before I put it in water...it says, and I quote, "for Pastor (and 1/2 too)".
So I am sure they were simply wanting to include me, and maybe just went blank on my name at the last minute but still felt they had to write something, and they probably refer to each other as "the other half" in loving sorts of ways and so that was all they could think of. But it still made me feel... like saying "ouch"!
Monday, January 25, 2010
It Really Works!
Have you ever just wanted to give some inanimate object a swift kick out of frustration? But you didn't because that would be a bad example for the kids? But intuitively you just knew things would improve with a swift kick?
Next time, give it a try! It really works, and not just to make you feel better. My washer wouldn't move on to the spin cycle, leaving me with a full load of water and towels...and 4 baskets of loads yet to be washed. I was...irritated. I kicked the washer on my way out of the laundry room and like magic it began to spin like crazy.
So now I feel validated that my intuition was leading me right all along!
Next time, give it a try! It really works, and not just to make you feel better. My washer wouldn't move on to the spin cycle, leaving me with a full load of water and towels...and 4 baskets of loads yet to be washed. I was...irritated. I kicked the washer on my way out of the laundry room and like magic it began to spin like crazy.
So now I feel validated that my intuition was leading me right all along!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Smell of Popcorn...
...has made its way back to my room where I am working away on the computer. Smells can take me places in a snap!
Popcorn has such a yummy, hot, buttery smell. It reminds me of watching a chick-flick with CoffeeGal last year and tossing in a few peanut m&m's just to sweeten it up a bit. Fun times!
And it has reminded me of other distinctive smells from my memory...like the exotic sweetness of the orange trees in Israel as I disembarked off the plane onto the tarmac about 22 years ago with my parents. That was a LONG time ago and SUCH an adventure!
And then there are nasty smells. I remember the stench of burning trash on the foothills of Haiti 11 years ago. Praying for them. It was already so hard for them to live day to day and now this...
Popcorn has such a yummy, hot, buttery smell. It reminds me of watching a chick-flick with CoffeeGal last year and tossing in a few peanut m&m's just to sweeten it up a bit. Fun times!
And it has reminded me of other distinctive smells from my memory...like the exotic sweetness of the orange trees in Israel as I disembarked off the plane onto the tarmac about 22 years ago with my parents. That was a LONG time ago and SUCH an adventure!
And then there are nasty smells. I remember the stench of burning trash on the foothills of Haiti 11 years ago. Praying for them. It was already so hard for them to live day to day and now this...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Discount Discoveries
Conveniently located catty-corner to our church is an upscale-resale shop. So after Bible study (Beth Moore, the book of Daniel), I just happened to mention to a friend of mine that I might happen to run in that cute little shop on my way home. And in the ways these things go, she just happened to end up there too! (Just so you won't worry that I have lost my sense of humor, we did get a good laugh at the irony of us shopping after a study highlighting the materialism of Babylon.)
Discovery #1: My friend is the discount shopper of the year! She is really, really good. A darling $2 cropped jacket, name brand.
Discovery #2: I, on the other hand, do not have an eye for racks and racks of discount clothing. I just don't find things.
Discovery #3: My friend is generous with her talents. She found me this complete namebrand outfit for $14:
D just rolled his eyes when I suggested we might end up there every week after Bible study at this rate. But he has to love the pricetags!
Discovery #1: My friend is the discount shopper of the year! She is really, really good. A darling $2 cropped jacket, name brand.
Discovery #2: I, on the other hand, do not have an eye for racks and racks of discount clothing. I just don't find things.
Discovery #3: My friend is generous with her talents. She found me this complete namebrand outfit for $14:
D just rolled his eyes when I suggested we might end up there every week after Bible study at this rate. But he has to love the pricetags!
Friday, January 15, 2010
What to do, what to do...
So here it is Friday morning, and I just can't decide what to do.
Dublin always needs a little love...
I guess the counters need to be wiped down...
I wonder what is going on in the world today. I should check the internet news...
I could blog...
Dublin always needs a little love...
I guess the counters need to be wiped down...
I wonder what is going on in the world today. I should check the internet news...
I could blog...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
So What Now?
During last month's craziness with my extended hospital stay, surgery, and recovery, I decided to deliberately not ask God "why" but to instead ask "so what now".
One of the answers to that question has been "the project" that has been percolating in the brain of several like-minded friends at my church for a few months. It just so happened that the right timing for "the project" to finally take some recognizable shape was exactly when I had been stripped away of all extra responsibilities, was mostly stuck in my house recovering, and at a place of heightened spiritual listening. Interesting!
Anyways, here it is in its baby form, and it is a work in progress but we are slowly getting closer to what it needs to be.
http://giventhetime.wordpress.com/
It is meant to be a combination effort...a way to reach out to women who are seeking and asking spiritual questions (the blog), a way to reach out to women who don't have a whole lot of time to study (daily devotional), and a way to reach women who want to jump into the Bible deeply yet can't make it to a classroom (online Precepts class).
If there is anyone in your life who you think would benefit from this type of effort, feel free to send them our blogs way.
One of the answers to that question has been "the project" that has been percolating in the brain of several like-minded friends at my church for a few months. It just so happened that the right timing for "the project" to finally take some recognizable shape was exactly when I had been stripped away of all extra responsibilities, was mostly stuck in my house recovering, and at a place of heightened spiritual listening. Interesting!
Anyways, here it is in its baby form, and it is a work in progress but we are slowly getting closer to what it needs to be.
http://giventhetime.wordpress.com/
It is meant to be a combination effort...a way to reach out to women who are seeking and asking spiritual questions (the blog), a way to reach out to women who don't have a whole lot of time to study (daily devotional), and a way to reach women who want to jump into the Bible deeply yet can't make it to a classroom (online Precepts class).
If there is anyone in your life who you think would benefit from this type of effort, feel free to send them our blogs way.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Scratch and Sniff
That is Dublin these days. Not to be gross or anything. He is just a dog after all...
THAT JUST GOT HIS CAST OFF!
Did you ever have a cast on your arm or leg? I did a couple of times and I vividly remember poking all sorts of sticks and pencils up the edge of the cast (in total disregard to Dr. order's otherwise) because I could not stand the itching. So poor Dublin all these weeks has probably been about to DIE of itchy leg and now he is free to scratch and sniff that poor scrawny leg to his hearts content. He is so happy.
And so are we. We just gave him a bath and he smells so much better!
THAT JUST GOT HIS CAST OFF!
Did you ever have a cast on your arm or leg? I did a couple of times and I vividly remember poking all sorts of sticks and pencils up the edge of the cast (in total disregard to Dr. order's otherwise) because I could not stand the itching. So poor Dublin all these weeks has probably been about to DIE of itchy leg and now he is free to scratch and sniff that poor scrawny leg to his hearts content. He is so happy.
And so are we. We just gave him a bath and he smells so much better!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Projects make me Procrastinate
I have a HUGE project going on right now...HUGE, I tell you! And it is a group project and it is ministry and exciting.
So, apparently, that is all the more reason to pull every box of pictures out from under my bed dating back to 1970. And also work through the box of trophies that has been moved (but never unpacked) to at least 4 other houses before this one.
I think projects make me procrastinate.
So, apparently, that is all the more reason to pull every box of pictures out from under my bed dating back to 1970. And also work through the box of trophies that has been moved (but never unpacked) to at least 4 other houses before this one.
I think projects make me procrastinate.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
My Dog's New Year Resolutions
It is Jan. 5th.
Usually by this point I am so over the whole fresh start, New Years resolution thing and am busy just living life. But for some reason it keeps coming back up in my mind. Like there is unfinished business of some sort that I can't quite put my finger on.
So I am sitting by the fire, pondering these deep thoughts when my eye catches sight of Dublin laying there sublimely happy and asleep. And off my mind goes on this little rabbit trail through the forest...
What would Dublin's resolutions be for this year?
*To not pee his pants anymore when he gets scared.
(Author's note: Actually his kennel got pee'd in...he doesn't really wear pants because he is a dog after all. It only happened once but he was pretty embarrassed after the fact and I KNOW he doesn't want to repeat it. Right Dublin?!)
*To not break his leg this year.
(Author's note: Again, it only happened once so far, but it was a real pain...)
*To not growl at J when she pulls on the fur between his toes because his fuzzy paws are just so darn adorable.
(Author's note: It is hard to be adorable apparently!)
*To gain weight.
(Whatever!)
I find it is so much more comfortable to contemplate new beginnings and fresh starts for my dog then for myself. I feel better now and can get on with living my day.
Maybe the next time I feel contemplative I will work on Hidey Cat's resolutions for the year...
Usually by this point I am so over the whole fresh start, New Years resolution thing and am busy just living life. But for some reason it keeps coming back up in my mind. Like there is unfinished business of some sort that I can't quite put my finger on.
So I am sitting by the fire, pondering these deep thoughts when my eye catches sight of Dublin laying there sublimely happy and asleep. And off my mind goes on this little rabbit trail through the forest...
What would Dublin's resolutions be for this year?
*To not pee his pants anymore when he gets scared.
(Author's note: Actually his kennel got pee'd in...he doesn't really wear pants because he is a dog after all. It only happened once but he was pretty embarrassed after the fact and I KNOW he doesn't want to repeat it. Right Dublin?!)
*To not break his leg this year.
(Author's note: Again, it only happened once so far, but it was a real pain...)
*To not growl at J when she pulls on the fur between his toes because his fuzzy paws are just so darn adorable.
(Author's note: It is hard to be adorable apparently!)
*To gain weight.
(Whatever!)
I find it is so much more comfortable to contemplate new beginnings and fresh starts for my dog then for myself. I feel better now and can get on with living my day.
Maybe the next time I feel contemplative I will work on Hidey Cat's resolutions for the year...
Monday, January 4, 2010
In Pursuit of Kindness
My "fruit" for this year of 2010 is...drum roll please... kindness.
It doesn't scare the be-geebers out of me like the year I prayed for patience.
It doesn't intimidate me like love did this last year.
But I am very curious!
How, really, is kindness different then love? Or is it?!
How is Biblical kindness different from the kindness our world promotes? Or is it!?
Am I going to spend my year compelled to be randomly kind to all I meet? That could get exhausting for an introvert like myself.
And who is the "person" in Scripture that best personifies kindness? Pretty sure it won't be Jonah...and I already used Jesus for love in 2009 so I probably should use someone else.
Very curious indeed! I will let you know how my pursuit of kindness goes. (Yes, yes I know it is a fruit of the Spirit so in essence I don't need to pursue it since it is ready and available to me through the Spirit living within me, and yet, for all that, pursuit still feels to me like the right word to use!)
It doesn't scare the be-geebers out of me like the year I prayed for patience.
It doesn't intimidate me like love did this last year.
But I am very curious!
How, really, is kindness different then love? Or is it?!
How is Biblical kindness different from the kindness our world promotes? Or is it!?
Am I going to spend my year compelled to be randomly kind to all I meet? That could get exhausting for an introvert like myself.
And who is the "person" in Scripture that best personifies kindness? Pretty sure it won't be Jonah...and I already used Jesus for love in 2009 so I probably should use someone else.
Very curious indeed! I will let you know how my pursuit of kindness goes. (Yes, yes I know it is a fruit of the Spirit so in essence I don't need to pursue it since it is ready and available to me through the Spirit living within me, and yet, for all that, pursuit still feels to me like the right word to use!)
Friday, January 1, 2010
Looking Ahead...
at the year before me, and I can hardly process that it is the year 2010!
In this year I will have a son leave for college.
Another son will get his driver's license.
One daughter will enter her highschool years.
My youngest daugher will officially enter her pre-teens.
My husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage.
And God knows what else?!
I am excited for the changes, with a touch of nervousness.
2010 should be an adventure!
In this year I will have a son leave for college.
Another son will get his driver's license.
One daughter will enter her highschool years.
My youngest daugher will officially enter her pre-teens.
My husband and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage.
And God knows what else?!
I am excited for the changes, with a touch of nervousness.
2010 should be an adventure!
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