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 big 5-0-0

This post is number 500 since I started this blog in June of 2007. It really doesn't seem as if it has been that long. I have been blogging every weekday excluding some holidays and the occasional "oopsie."

So how this blog affected my life (and let's make it 5 things!):

1. I am getting better at putting my thoughts into words. I think this is something I will always have to work on. I'm an introvert so I think about a lot of things. It is hard for me to convert those thoughts into something that is understood by the greater population -- if only your brain worked like mine . . . :-) heehee
   
   
2. I am taking time to stop and smell the roses. Blogging forces me to stop and think about the things that are going on in my life instead of simply living and leaving them.
   
   
3. I am learning more about myself. Again with the thinking! This blog has created a different way for me to view myself -- and internet mirror, if you will. Okay -- bad metaphor.
   
   
4. I started a new habit, yes I do have that ability -- creating a new habit. I can think of a couple more habits I should start. And I wouldn't mind the ability to fly either.
   
   
5. I have photos of my life. (I think my digital camera also helped me with this one.) From about freshman year of college to about three years ago I have very little documentation that I was living on this planet other that my yearly tax returns. I don't take photos just to add them to my blog but I have to admit that I think about which photos I could/should post while I take pictures.

I'm sure there are more ways that blogging has impacted my life. However, I am just about ready to fall into that oblivion of sleep and I really don't think I can keep my brain functioning much longer. So . . .

Happy 500 "A Mess of Blessings"!

5 recipes I'm excited to try

I haven't done one of these for a while (5 things Friday). I ran out of things to list! But I have one today . . .

1. Bagels
   
   
2. Ice cream
   
   
3. Graham crackers
   
   
4. Yogurt
   
   
5. Soft pretzels
   

5 things I remember

I am going to combine two posts today, as yesterday I was too lazy too tired to post. Recently, I have been thinking a lot about my childhood. I think it started when Santa (yes, I still get presents from Santa -- he loves me!) delivered some Skittles Lipsmackers in my stocking. Granted I didn't have Skittles-flavored Lipsmackers when I was younger but I did have Dr. Pepper-flavored.

Anyway, I have been craving Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers since then and I picked some up today while I was on my walk. My walk in the lovely 40 degree afternoon! The packaging has changed a little bit -- now it has a very shiny label. And I don't think it cost $1.50 either . . .

5 things that remind me of my childhood

1. Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers
   
   
2. Dum Dum lollipops
   
   
3. Mr. Bubble bubblebath
   
   
4. Orange or Raspberry Push ems (the brother, the sister, and I called them Push ups)
   
   
5. Jelly Shoes -- my pair were clear and I usually wore them with socks!
   

5 surprising things I did (or didn't) do today

1. I didn't read the day away. (This has been known to happen. Frequently.)
   
   
2. I did wash all the dirty dishes in my kitchen including the ones I had to wash by hand. (This is a most dreaded chore. I have a sinkful of pots & pans drying and my second load of dishes waiting to be run in the dishwasher. Dreaded chore.)
   
   
3. I did buy an mp3 player with my Christmas money. (I really wasn't planning on doing this today. Didn't I just mention that this was on my wishlist recently?)
   
   
4. I did clean three rooms of my house and bake bread. (I'm finishing the bread up right now. Yummy.)
   
   
5. I didn't step one foot out the door. (Some days it is nice to hibernate a little bit.)
   

5 healthy foods I have been snacking on this week

1. Homemade wheat bread
   
   
2. Homemade granola with yogurt
   
   
3. Green salad with basalmic vinegrette
   
   
4. Celery
   
   
5. Dark chocolate (good for you in small doses!)
   

5 of my all-time favorite movies . . .

1. Princess Bride -- "Inconceivable!"
   
   
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom -- I really don't care for the other Indiana Jones movies although I haven't seen the most recent one . . .
   
   
3. Lord of the Rings trilogy -- the books are better (but isn't that always the way)
   
   
4. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -- a classic
   
   
5. The Goonies -- I've mentioned it before and I just have to again
   

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 . . .

Over my break this weekend I was going through some of the bookmarks of sites I saved to visit at a later date -- when I had more time to peruse them.

One of the sites was the Flickr photostream for the Smithsonian Institute.

Here are 5 of my favorite photos:

5 things I'm thankful for today

1. The innocence of children
   
   
2. The opportunity to enjoy family and friends
   
   
3. Laughter
   
   
4. Sunny days
   
   
5. My salvation

---

(11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12)

5 of my favorite Christmas decorations

1. Mini Christmas Tree: I (the brother & the sister got one too!) got this for Christmas one year way back when I was in Jr. High so we could decorate our rooms for Christmas.

It is only a little worse for wear.


2. This is a jingle bell wreath currently being used as a candle ring. I made this one year -- I can't remember where I got the idea from. Most of the bell I bought at craft supply store with a few others thrown in. Most of the "others" are from Mom's collection of stuff!


3. This is only the second Christmas I have displayed this nativity -- because it is the 2nd Christmas I have had it. Grammy gave it to me when they moved from their house to the Good Sam condo. I really love it. (Grampy made the stable piece.)


4. This is from my Grandma. My mom has a set like this too. I love this nativity because it reminds me of my childhood . . .

All the pieces are set in white sand so they can be arranged and rearranged. It is really great for kids -- a hands-on Christmas story.


5. This set of four figurines is from Grandma too. All the angels hold a different item (gift, bells, etc.). A little slice of the 60s.

These are not all my favorite Christmas decorations by any means. I didn't get my tree decorations out this year because I didn't put a Christmas tree up this year -- time just got away from me.

---

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. (Micah 5:2)

5 things I will be praying for this weekend

1. Safe travel to and from the Cities
   
   
2. An enjoyable time with friends
   
   
3. Blessings on our hosts
   
   
4. Frugal shopping
   
   
5. Good weather

---

(9) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted

 by the law as transgressors. (10) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. (11) For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:9-11)

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)

5 brain boosting websites

1. Whack-a-bone -- What better way to pass an afternoon but to remember your junior high science! Plus the funky theme song
   
   
2. FreeRice -- Improve your mind and the world! For each correct question a portion of the advertising goes to purchase rice for the UN. I got stuck around level 40 . . . .
   
   
3. Can you name the U.S. States? -- A geography review . . . and you don't have to know the capitals!
   
   
4. Split Words -- Create words (within a certain theme) from syllables. It's harder than you think!
   
   
5. PuzzlersCave -- A varieties of crossword and suduko puzzles created by members. Easy to hard. I tend to gravitate towards the easy . . . .
   
   

Other links :

Games for the Brain
Happy Neuron

5 good things about this snowfall

1. I don't have to shovel!
   
   
2. No ice
   
   
3. It isn't frigid . . . only 33 degrees -- hey it could be worse!
   
   
4. It makes for a peaceful walk
   
   
5. It's so pretty . . .
   

5 jobs I have had

1. Babysitter -- my very first job!
   
   
2. Barista -- although at the time my job title was a little too swanky for small-town Iowa, so I worked at a coffee shop
   
   
3. Museum intern -- this was a fun job, I basically could work on whatever I wanted and I learned so much about local history
   
   
4. Periodicals aide -- this was my college job. I worked with the periodicals at the library. Lots and lots of journals. :-) It was fun though -- and led to my current job.
   
   
5. Front desk clerk -- I learned a lot of my interpersonal skills from this job.
   

5 things that make me thankful today

1. Kitties that cuddle
   
   
2. A warm bed to linger in
   
   
3. A good book to enjoy
   
   
4. Hot tea
   
   
5. Future plans
   

5 enjoyable things I did today

1. Slept in (oh so enjoyable!)
   
   
2. Visited with my Grammy
   
   
3. Made scones
   
   
4. Froze zucchini (which you wouldn't think would be enjoyable but that's because you didn't know I used my mom's food processor to grate up the zucchini before I bagged and froze it-- very cool, I gotta get me one of those!)
   
   
5. Had tea and scones with my Mom and Grammy

It was a smiley kind of day!

5 things I accomplished today

1. Cleaned my shower/tub (*it's sparkling*)
   
   
2. Read a book (taking it back to the library tomorrow!)
   
   
3. Made homemade pizza (yummy -- and there's leftovers!)
   
   
4. Cleaned my kitchen
   
   
5. Fed *Pfitt* some warm milk (and I stuck around to play a little bit)
   

5 things

5 of my favorite snack foods:

(In no particular order)

• Cheetoes (the crunchy kind)

• Oreos (sometimes with milk, sometimes without)

• Sour Cream & Onion flavored chips

• Dried cherries or cranberries (cherries are better though -- if you can find them!)

• Dark Chocolate (M & M's, Hershey minis, bars, and if I'm desparate chocolate chips)