You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

Labels: Meme World

Happy belated Thanksgiving, all.

Had a nice time with 'rents yesterday. Mom made the turkey, pumpkin pie & gravy but everything else came from Boston Market. I can't get over how good their stuffing was. And I could eat a VAT of their mashed potatoes, so I was a happy camper. Afterwards, we watched old home movies that my mom had transferred to DVDs. Boy, you can really see how weird you are when you watch yourself on the screen. One Christmas (1993), apparently my favorite gift was a Disney screen saver. I kept talking about non-stop and picked it up between opening every present. I was totally thrilled. Where it is today, I have no idea. But I do remember that it was cool! :P The best video of all was of me & my friend Jessica - probably 9 or 10, playing with my dog, Thunder, in the snow. I think we all laughed until we cried watching this one! It was a hoot.

On another thankful note, Laura over at "I'm an Organizing Junkie" has prepared a plan for my spare room/office space! I posted a while ago that I was too overwhelmed to join her 30-day organizing challenge but I was so STUCK about what to do with this room that I emailed her. She was so kind and so helpful. I'm really thankful that she took the time to look at my pictures and make suggestions that I can really use. Head on over there and take a look at my "dirty secret" and see her suggestions! Very cool. I'll be giving them a try over the holidays when I have some time off - and then I'll post my new and improved room.

No Black Friday madness for me today. I went to Kmart on my way home last night and took advantage of a great bargain on a pre-lit Christmas tree, which I promptly put up in the living room - and shockingly, none of the cats seemed to care. The last time I had a tree, Norm took a flying leap right into the center of it...and that was it for trees for the last three years!

Anyway, today I took Nellie to the vet and myself to the doctor and then spent most of the day alternately cleaning and lying around doing nothing. Tomorrow I expect more of the same - although I do need to get some photos together for our scrapbooking in the evening. I have a big project I need to work on - need to get some photos printed and probably get some paper and stickers together. I love scrapbooking - it's the getting organized before going out I don't enjoy!

Well, I've still got some cleaning up to do and LOTS of wash (what is it with me and wash???) to get at least started before bed, so I must bid y'all adieu.

Well, I finished Max Lucado's "Cure for the Common Life". I'm glad I read it, as I love his writing, but it didn't really hit home with me at the moment. There is a kind of self-assessment in the book to see where you are best suited to serve in this life but I haven't taken the time to do it. I'm enjoying work (though I was there 10.5 hours today! Yikes) and trying to sort out some ministry issues. I have someone in mind, however, who could probably benefit more from it right now.

I also finished "The Witness" by Dee Henderson. I've really enjoyed her other books but this one left me frightened at points and cold at others. It may just be my mood and mindset right now but it wasn't as I had hoped. I do like her writing, as I said, so I'm going to see what else she has out recently that's new and check it out.

I started "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. The start has me disturbed and I know if I stick with it, I will love it - her writing is excellent and I've heard such wonderful things about the story.

Maybe this weekend...tonight I am thinking of starting, "Unlikely Angel". I have some downtime this weekend - the only thing on the agenda are drs appts on Friday (for Nellie and for me) and scrapbooking on Saturday with Michelle and the girls. I'd also like to watch Under the Tuscan Sun so I can send it back to Netflix soon. I am so bad with this!

Ah, downtime. How I dream of thee!

Labels: Fall into Reading Challenge '06

I'm not sure quite what a whirling dervish is, but I am beginning to think I may be one.

Friday I rushed home early from work to take Nelliecat to the vet for her yearly checkup and shots. But alas, Nelliecat was having none of that and hid in the furthestmost reaches under my bed. When I finally got her, she flipped out and wouldn't go in the carrier, so I gave up. We'll try again on Friday. While others are shopping, I'll be fighting with a crazed wild animal.

Anyway, then I went to a drama demo of two of my youth. It was wonderful - I was so proud of them. They both did a wonderful job.

Saturday, a new friend from work and I went up to a new outdoor mall in the area. It was a little chilly but the shopping was quite lovely! We had lunch there and then I had to head home to get down to Sarah & Joe's for our annual Temple friends gathering. But alas, the usual guests of honor, our friend Deb and her family missed their flight out from California and couldn't make it. We missed them but carried on anyway. It was a nice evening.

Today of course was church and then we had to run and drop off our Operation Christmas Child boxes at the local drop off point. After that, I took Michelle & David out to lunch for their birthdays and then came home and did my usual - started watching the race, got sleeping and took a nap. Now I am trying to get all my household chores done and I feel like I wasted yet another Sunday. But the next several days and evenings are just as busy...so I have to stay up and take care of a few things.

Is it possible to have adult onset ADD? Or maybe I had it all along but was just such a spaz no one noticed? I got online to email the pastor something. Then I went to look for some Christmas gifts online. I needed my credit card, so I went to get it. Instead, I end up cutting some brownies I just baked, putting away some groceries, getting a load of wash out, only to come back to the computer and say, "OH!" and having to go back for my wallet. This happens CONSTANTLY. I'm too young to be going senile...so ADD seems my only answer.

Ha! Two posts in one day.

I am so tired but can't sleep. This is quite maddening, really. And even when I do sleep, I don't FEEL like I slept. So you would think that I could use this non-sleeping time more wisely and get my proverbial act together.

Ah, but no. Instead, I log on to the computer, check my email, check my Bloglines (which, by the way, is one of the greatest inventions ever if you are a multi-blog reader like me), comment on some blogs, post random things on my blog, etc. I've actually been trying NOT to log on at night after work, though that is not always practical since there are so many things I need to be online to do. But I had heard that it stimulates your brain too much and contributes to this not sleeping thing. I think there is some truth to that but, again, sometimes it must be done.

Anyway, on a more fun note, our youth group had a service project tonight with a local food pantry. We made placemats for their Thanksgiving dinner and cards for people who receive Meals on Wheels. I had a lovely time drawing and writing encouraging notes. Some of the youth, as usual, were infinitely creative. They always astound me. I am so blessed that I get to be a part of their lives!!! Truly.

On Sunday, I had our seniors in high school over for dinner to kind of kick off a new ministry we are starting for them. We didn't really do anything but eat and hang out and talk but I had a wonderful time. I hope they did too. It was nice just to be relaxed and I was really interested to hear some of their ideas and plans for the future. They are at such a scary yet amazing time in their lives. They can do or be anything - they can reinvent themselves, they can learn who they really are...so much lies ahead. I pray that they will be blessed in all they do and that they will stay commited to their relationships with the Lord, no matter where the future leads them. And I hope that I can be a touchstone for them here, always ready to listen and remind them.

Sorry for not posting more often lately. I am swamped at work - still trying to find my way around my new job, I guess. I'm also exhausted and fighting my annual fall flare up of the fibro monster. I'm having to do a great deal of positive, encouraging self-talk to get even the bare minimum done at home. And it definitely shows!

I wanted to sign up for the 30-day organizing challenge over at I'm an Organizing Junkie but I knew I couldn't commit to it. I need some major help, especially in my spare room. I showed photos of this mess before and I can't bear to show what it looks like now. I just have no time to take care of it and no where to put everything in an organized fashion. It's driving me nuts. I need to tear the room apart and start over. I hate not being able to find things...and I've lost some software I really, really need to keep my act together. It's here somewhere...but, oh, where!

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

Labels: Meme World

I wrote a whole long post yesterday and sent it via email...only to get a response back that it could not go through to Blogger. So, all was lost! How frustrating.

My voice is back and I am feeling somewhat better. Exhausted, for some reason. Maybe my body wasn't ready for me to jump back into life this week. Sorry, body - we've got work to do!

Just a quick update on what's been going on:

**Work is still going well. I'm thankful to have made some friends already and really feel comfortable. I have only been there about six weeks but it feels longer.
**I've delegated some of my administrative tasks in Children's Ministry to some very capable folks. That is helping a lot but I have to focus on some policy/procedural issues I need to get in place - and soon.
**I'm really enjoying my Beth Moore Bible study. It has really made me reflect on a lot of things. It's amazing how you can read something in the Bible once and then when you read it again, you get something totally different out of it. Amazing! The ladies at this Bible study are also great. Even though I don't attend their church, they have all be so kind and welcoming. The other week, someone said it was far to go for a Bible study. But to me, it's important. God knew what I needed and brought me there at this time. Who am I to quibble with that? (Plus, it's really not THAT far.)
**This Sunday, I am starting a new ministry. It'll ultimately be a post-high school/college and career ministry. I argued with God a great deal about this. Seriously. I tried to put it out of my mind. I tried to forget about it all together. I told him, "NO WAY." But like Jonah (see Cindy, I learned something in our study!) he wasn't letting me go that easy. So we made a deal - I will get it started and off the ground, because it is a real need, right now. And I will pray and find a godly couple to take it over. I've said I'll do it once a month for six months; I'm thinking it'll be more like June when most of the girls who will be a part of this officially graduate. And I do truly mean it. I know that I cannot take this on long-term with my other commitments...and I also know that there is so much they can learn from someone OTHER than me.
**I was supposed to go shopping with Mamacita last weekend but the dread illness procluded that. So instead, we go this weekend! First to the Creative Memories Open House (oh, my poor pocketbook!) and then some other places. I'm looking forward to it but I wish I had my pay schedule a little more under control...but that's a whole 'nother issue.

Well, Norman is whining to beat the band. It's either a signal that his furry little body is about to self-destruct or that I should get myself to bed. I'll choose the latter.

Night, y'all.

And I have to say, I left my polling place this morning filled with righteous indignation. I know that is not the right attitude, but that is what I felt - and really, how I still feel at the moment.

Voting is a privilege, people. How many people around the world so desire the opportunity to live in a democracy? To choose their own legislature? To have some say, no matter how small, in their government? People died in order to give us this opportunity!

Yet I got up early and rolled into my polling place, expecting to find a line out the door. No line. In fact, I parked directly in front of the door. Inside, there was only one other person voting. I was totally and utterly appalled. In our state, we are voting for on the Governor today. The Governor! That alone should bring folks out.

There is no excuse for not voting. In our technological age, resources abound. You can visit any number of websites to find out the real deal on the candidates in your district. You can find out where to vote. You can find out when to vote. All in a matter of minutes! Seriously - minutes.

I know as well as anyone the value of time and the constant need in our culture to rush hither and yon constantly. But really - isn't democracy at least worth a few minutes of our time?

Labels: Voting

I've lost my voice.

Completely.