Memoriam

As church began this morning, I glanced over at my mother. She was scribbling some numbers on her bulletin, I looked at her quizzically. She looked up and murmured "Dad would have been 92 today."

The brother got married a few weeks ago. It was a lovely celebration of love and family.

Both these poignant moments reminded me that memories are blessings. . .

• Grampy assisting with our math homework during Thanksgiving break.
• Picking strawberries (into our mouths) with the cousins.
• Cardboard sledding.
• After dinner conversation-not the content but the company.

Today I am thankful for the memories I have and the memories I'm making.

Blessings of Weeks 4-6

Wow, you let one week slip by and it turns into 3! 

Here are my blessings:

1. The pursuit of knowledge at any age.
2. Family.
3. Friends.
4. Laughter.
5. The sun.
6. The stars.
7. The comfort of a reread book.
8. Tax refunds.
9. Technology.
10. Silence.
11. Weekends off.
12. Budgets.
13. Giving to others.
14. Change -- I know, I was surprised too.
15. Unexpected & rising to meet it.

Blessings of Week 2

1. Income from an unexpected source.
2. The days are getting longer -- the sun shines just a little bit longer.
3. Lovely Bible Study with friends.
4. Warm, snuggly bed at night.
5. Homemade mashed potatoes...mmm.

Blessings of Week 1

1. Accomplished most of my to-do list.
2. Woke up with a cat snuggled on my lap. :-)
3. The satisfaction of seeing girls accomplish goals they didn't realize they wanted to reach.
4. The peace of spending the day at home.
5. The challenge my job gives me.

New Year, New Outlook

I haven't been here in a while.  One of the reasons I started writing this blog in 2007 (that seems so long ago) was to have some accountability--both in my daily life and in my writing.  I had set some goals for myself the first two years and I met them.  Then I decided not to set a goal for my blogging and we can all see where that ended up.  :-P

In past years, I have made New Year's Resolutions and have vowed to follow them.  Some I did and some I didn't. Sometimes I think that my New Year's Resolutions are doomed to failure simply because they are called "New Year's Resolutions".  This year I have decided to make lists.  Lists have a slightly different connotation than "New Year's Resolution." Not so lofty sounding--more attainable.  (Who knows maybe it is all just in my head.)

Anyway, here is my first list of things I would like to accomplish this year:

1. Post on this blog at least twice a week. I want to have a little flexibility with this because there are just some days that I have too much to do to prioritize a blog post. Saying that, I think 2 posts per week is very doable.
2. Keep to my budget. I just went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University in October through December and I want to incorporate his methods into my financial life.  One of the biggest parts of that is spending within my means by using a budget.
3. Be more organized. This one is slightly more vague than the first two.  One thing I want to do is spend some time on Sunday evenings planning out my week. Whether it is events, meals, to-dos, or whatever else, I want to have an overview of my week.  Granted I can't predict everything that will come my way in any given week or at any given moment even; but I can have some idea what needs to be accomplished for my life to go just that much more smoothly.
4. Read. Hah. This one isn't that hard for me but this year I want to challenge myself a bit.  I'm what I call a "for fun" reader which means I mostly read fiction with no real deep and thought provoking message.  Not to say that the books I read don't cause me to think, just that they are not intended for that purpose.  I also tend towards the romantic suspense genre. 
   
   This year I want to read at least one non-fiction (or biography) book a month -- or at least 12. I also want to read at least 6 books I wouldn't normally pick up off the shelf.
    
5. Learn something new. This year I want to learn something new. Whether it be a community Continuing Education class offered through the Community College, an online course via Universal Class from my library, or something I teach myself through books, magazines, or the internet.

There...I have my first list all set and ready to start work on. I have to say that I'm excited about this next year.  I think I will be greatly blessed!

Giving thanks for

my health and the health of my family.

In the midst of a million things

I have a lot of things to get done within the next week. I have absolutely no idea how I will manage them all.

BUT, tonight was a blessing. It was great to see the kids smiling faces (some familiar, some not so familiar) as they played games, laughed with friends, and ate ice cream.

It made the aching feet and weariness all worth while.

Thanks

5 things I am thankful for today:

1. My health, I haven't been sick since this past spring
   
   
2. My job, I am thankful that I have one and that it provides me with challenges while allowing me to provide for myself
   
   
3. My finances, see above!
   
   
4. Vacation -- upcoming!
   
   
5. Simple, happy times with friends
   

The depth

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Romans 11:33

It never ceases to amaze me the wisdom and knowledge of God. The plans He had to bring me to this place in my life. Work, job, friends, family . . . AMAZING!

Holding pattern

Sadly, I have nothing new to post about.

Nothing out of the ordinary. That in itself can be a blessing.

Tomorrow, I'm sure I will be rolling in blog fodder. I have a huge list of things to get done and the roommate and I are having guests over for movies and games (and food, of course).

Blessed

Fan (noun): an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin. Origin: 1885–90, Americanism; short for FANATIC

I have never been one to follow celebrity lives religiously, to go to concerts, or scream and cry when I see a pop superstar. I do occasionally read People magazine, or click through to an entertainment news story that catches my eye. I tend to roll my eyes at said screaming, crying fans.

However, to my eternal embarrassment, there was a time that I was a closet fanatic.

During my teenage years I purchased the obligatory teen pop magazines and promptly dismantled them to post photos on my walls of all my favorite celebrities -- mostly consisting of NKOTB (on my honor I did NOT know this site existed -- I simply Googled it for linkage-sake). And when I say "on my walls", I mean, I'm surprised my mother didn't complain about the fact that the walls in my room were re-wallpapered because you couldn't see the wallpaper anyway as they were completely covered with posters. I know I threw in a couple of other teen heartthrobs but to be honest I cannot remember who they were.

Obviously, they all had lasting impact on my life [she said dryly].

A couple weeks ago my roommate received some hand-me-down People Magazines from a relative. While we were looking at them I teased her that I had picked the better of the two -- it was the best bachelors edition.

I laughed my head off when I found this in my room this afternoon:


I laughed so hard I cried.

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

I was blessed to have a family who put up with my foolishness and imperfections.

I am blessed that they continue to do so.

I am blessed to be able to enjoy life.

I am blessed to laugh with friends.

I am blessed to laugh at myself.

I AM BLESSED.

Today's blessings . . .

• The sun came out
  
  
• Three-day weekend
  
  
• Coupons

• Blueberries

Just a reminder

That the sun will shine . . .

A kleenex box walked into the library . . .

No, that is not the beginning of a great joke . . . although it would be a great joke. It is currently my life and the punch line . . . I have a cold.

Not the most convenient thing to have while I am trying to clean up and out, teach a class, and work at a job where I have to talk often.

I missed out singing in choir for church on Sunday as well.

The blessing in all of this:

• this is the only time I have been sick ALL winter!
  
  
• it is ONLY a cold!
  

Odds and Ends (aka Blessings in Disguise)

• I have been reading some really good books lately. I'm kind of excited to write some reviews on them!
  
  
• Spring is just around the corner!
  
  
• Today was a really great day at work -- not extraordinary but great all the same!
  
  
• I have a really fun group of students in this class of Beginning Computers for Older Adults!
  
  
• I have the day off tomorrow!
  
  
• I am ready to crawl into my nice cozy bed with a book!
  
  
• Spring is just around the corner! (I said that one already didn't I? It deserves another mention!)
  

Take a breath and dive right in

Last week I took a little break from blogging. (I don't like to do that because once I stop I may never start again.) The next few weeks I may have some laconic* posts.

I have a busy month:

• I have started teaching my Computers for Older Adults class again
  
  
• I am cleaning out the Pit to make it bedroom-ready
  
  
• I am sorting furniture for a garage sale (to be held at a later date -- I have no time right now!) :-)
  
  
• I am priming and painting 2 bedrooms
  
  
• I am moving my bedroom
  
  
• I am moving a friend in

And those are only the activities extraordinary to my daily life!

Busyness can be a blessing, right?

One consolation . . .

. . . SPRING is almost here!

*added to Locution List

5 things I am looking forward to this year!

1. Teaching my "Computers for Older Adults" class again this spring
   
   
   
2. Visiting friends
   
   
   
3. Paying off my credit card bill
   
   
   
4. Completing my new year resolutions (of course!)
   
   
   
5. All the blessings yet to be discovered

5 things I'm thankful for

I took a couple days break from blogging to enjoy the holiday with my family. I hope everyone had blessings this week.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16

1. Food to eat -- especially wonderfully delicious food!
   
   
2. Good friends -- old and new
   
   
3. Joy in contentment
   
   
4. Joy in the ridiculous
   
   
5. Scripture -- especially encouraging and instructing scripture

(Photo: Library of Congress)

Nothing quite like it

There's nothing quite like coming home, slipping into some cozy, comfortable clothes and curling up with a book.

Even better is doing all that with a hot cup of cocoa.

And maybe a purring kitty warming the lap.

:-)

5 things I'm thankful for

1. Living in a country where my beliefs and opinions can be spoken without fear of prison, torture, or death
   
   
2. A job I enjoy while being able to pay my bills
   
   
3. My family -- dad, mom, the brother & the sister
   
   
4. Laughter
   
   
5. My salvation

I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21