It's raining, it's pouring

Finally, rain. Not snow. The last day of March.

In school I seem to remember our teachers putting up March bulletin boards with the saying, "In like a lion . . . out like a lamb." Referring to the old wives' tale that if March's weather was calm in the beginning of the month it would not be at the end of the month and vice versa.

I don't think that saying works very well for March 2008. Well, we could always blame it on global warming!

5 things

I was reading an article on names you should never give your children and I started thinking about what I would name my children.

5 girls names I like:

1. Evelyn/Eve (which happens to be a family name)
2. Leanora/Leanore
3. Daria
4. Dinah
5. Livia
   

Holding my breath

It seems like every conversation I have had with every person I have encountered this week has begun with "weather-talk."

• When is spring coming?
• Did you ask for this snow? (wink, wink)
• Yeah, it is supposed to snow again this week.

Is there really a science to meteorology or is it just a guessing game? I have no idea. I just know that meteorologists have to have a sense of humor to get through their lives! I cannot imagine working at a job where I am blamed for weather patterns and where I am wrong 90 % of the time!

All day I have been holding my breath. (Figuratively, not literally.) Hoping we will not get the 6 inches of snow they predicted. So far the snow has fallen intermittently but not stuck to the ground. Here's to melting snow!

Photojournal

I haven't posted photos for a while. Here are a few:

My clean and rearranged bedroom -- a testament to the fact that I can complete some New Year's resolutions:



And a couple photos of my Easter lily, which as of today is not dead yet:

Wings like eagles

I recently posted some of my favorite scripture passages -- I think it was last week's 5 things Friday post. I really hesitated on doing that because my favorite scripture passages change depending on my life situation, my devotions, etc. But I figured I could always post my new favorites.

Anyway, this has been one of my favorites off and on. A passage that encourages me and challenges me:

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

For some reason when I think of this verse I also think of hobbits and eagles. In the Lord of the Ring the eagles help out the hobbits -- give them a lift when they think everything is almost lost.

The sun will come out tomorrow . . . (or today)

Sorry, but I watched Annie yesterday so the song is in my head. And really, it is kind of in my life today as well.

The sun is coming out -- no snow, yeah! And I am recovering from my cold. I actually slept well last night. And am only occasionally coughing and blowing my nose. Much better than Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Now I am going to go home and eat some Easter leftovers: ham, potatoes, and jello!

Resurrection Sunday

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

5 things that make today better that yesterday

1. It is not snowing.
2. The sun is shining (off and on)
3. I am not coughing every second.
4. I can walk around without getting dizzy.
5. I am posting on my blog!
   

Sick and tired

I have been fighting a cold the last couple days. And today I lost. Ugh.

Being sick like this makes me thankful I only have a couple colds a year. I can't imagine being a person who is sick constantly.

Busy, busy

Work has been crazy lately. I don't know if it is the changing weather or the upcoming holiday but people have been haunting the library like there is no tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong. This is good. But . . .

1. I can't get as much of the things I want to get done.
2. My day is busier.
3. And sometimes I wouldn't mind a breather or two -- especially when I am trying to fight off a cold. (Which, by the way, I seem to be losing.)
   

Oh well, I just have to dig down, pull out my patience and use it for a while. In the meantime, I am heading home to take a nap and work on ending this cold.

On the brink . . .

of a cold. My eyeballs itch. I am a little bit achy breaky but not quite. I have had to blow my nose several times today. And I woke up this morning with a little tickle in my throat.

I will use all my powers to combat this cold: drink lots of liquids, eat meals -- even if I am not terribly hungry, and go to bed at a decent hour.

Despite my best efforts, I may fail. I may get the cold that is threatening my body. But I have to try. Because I really do NOT want to get sick!

St. Patricks' Day

I have very little Irish in me. However, I couldn't resist this video:

5 things

5 favorite Scripture passages:

• There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. (Ecclesiastes 3:1ff)

• While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:3ff)

• The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10)

• We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:16-17)

• Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Spring is in the air

I am looking forward to this weekend.

I have three days off. It feels like spring. And I'm visiting with friends.

Who could ask for more?

The end is near

Tonight is Awana night. As I was sitting here thinking about this, I realized we only have about 7 nights left of Awana. That seems so short a time.

I will go fast too. One night is the Grand Prix Pinewood Derby -- so the kids will be racing the cars they have made during club. And the last night is Awards Night -- the kids will get their book and end of the year awards.

It seems like just last month we were starting club.

I am told -- by the wise women who go before me -- that as I get older time will seem to go faster and faster.

Every once in a while -- like today -- I think about when I was a kid and it seemed like the last day of school lasted for an eternity.

Or the days seemed to multiply just before my birthday, a holiday, or special occasion. I'm sure I said, ''but that's forever from now" more than once.

Wouldn't it be nice to feel that way every once in a while?

Flip the switch

Despite the amount I read, I don't really post about books much. Since I read so much -- and I rarely stop reading something I have started no matter how bad the book is -- I am discerning about the books I do post about or recommend.

The book I am reading now, I mention only because it has made me think. It is a look at the world should the moon be bumped into a new orbit by an asteroid. It puts forth some natural disasters -- tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, climate changes -- that create a new living environment.

This book is a nominee for an Iowa book award -- teenagers read them and vote for their favorite. It is called Life As We Knew It and is by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

The book is told from the perspective of a journaling 16-year-old. What really has stood out since the beginning of the story is how we all take for granted everyday conveniences.

• We can walk into the house and flip on a switch and we have light, the ability to wash our clothes and dishes, and store our food. (In the story, they have unreliable electricity. The mother keeps a load of laundry in the washer so they can attempt to wash it when/if the electricity comes on. The ate all their perishable food the first week. They get up at dawn and go to bed a little after sundown.)

• We can bop over to the grocery/convenience store for milk, a chocolate bar, or fresh produce. (In the story, they stocked up on canned goods the second day after the event and the stores have not been restocked in 3 months.)

• We can contact friends and family via telephone or internet. (In the story, cell phones don't work, landlines rarely work, and the internet only lists those family and friends who are missing or dead.)

Those are only a few of the things that struck me. I hope I am a little more thankful for the things I have. Especially when I walk in to the house tonight and flip the switch.

Cleaning bug

When I catch the cleaning bug I have to ride it out for all it's worth. I am proud of myself for all the cleaning I accomplished this weekend.

I rearranged, mopped, dusted those places that rarely get dusted (like the overhead fan blades).

I can feel the bug wanting to fly so I need to get home and try to hold onto it.

5 things I'm looking forward to come Spring

1. Walking to work without gloves, scarves, coat and boots.
2. Mowing the lawn -- although I will probably change my mind about this one about July
   
3. Rain, not snow (I don't have to shovel rain)
4. Lower heat bills
5. Opening my windows -- letting the fresh breeze flow through the house

Around the corner

You know when you are a senior in high school (or college) and you wake up one day and think, "Yeah, it's all down hill from here"?

Or your working through as difficult situation or problem in your life and you realize you have turned the last corner. Yeah, you still have some things to deal with and process but the hardest part is over. The end is in sight.

Today feels like that.

Yeah, it is still cold out, there are still piles of snow everywhere I look, but the sun is shining. I haven't had to shovel my driveway in weeks. I think winter has finally turned the last corner.

Oh look . . . is that a hint of spring?

Ahhh, I can't believe I WANT to clean

The last couple of weeks I have been extra busy . . . with work, with church, etc. So my "keep the house clean" resolution has fallen by the wayside. So far to the side that I WANT to take my day off tomorrow to clean.

Ugh.

Anyone who has met me knows that I will do anything pawn, short cut or otherwise avoid cleaning.
Not tomorrow, though, tomorrow I am pulling out the big guns: the mop and bucket.

Yep, tomorrow by this time my house will be smelling like roses and looking shiny new.

A time to slow down

This is the first Wednesday in a month I haven't been rushing because I have to work, teach a computer class, and go to Awana. It is kind of nice to be able to take a little breath.

It isn't that I don't enjoy all of those activities -- maybe just not all at the same time.

Anyway, I am catching up on some of my "internet activities." Correspondence, checking some websites, etc.

And watching clever little ditties to make me smile:

Bad hair and will you?

My day began with bad hair and a marriage proposal. Granted the marriage proposal was teasing by a patron but I count it as a compliment considering what my hair looks like today.

I have finished teaching my adult continuing education class on basic computer skills. I have to say I really enjoyed it. I was asked if I would be interested in teaching again -- I said yes, so we will see.

One good (?) thing about the completion of this class is I will have more time to work on "the pit." I haven't done anymore cleaning in there since I have been trying to keep up with the clutter in the rest of the house.

I have also called my new internet provider to remind him I still exist and am still waiting for hook up. I was very polite. I think my initial withdraw symptoms are starting to abate! :-)