1. Geoff just applied to spend his next two years of high school (his LAST two years - gasp!) at the Advanced Technology Center. It's a high-tech learning lab sponsored by the city and Microsoft, Cisco and other tech companies. He applied to the Computer Networking class. He will graduate with an advanced diploma AND microsoft certifications.
2. Danny is just the same. Funny, exasperating, snuggly, bewildering, loving and driving me crazy. I thought I'd have a nervous breakdown doing homework with him last night. Then today, he zipped right through a big old pile of stuff with a smile on his face. Of course he has to exasperate his teachers too.
3. Hubby is working too much. He's short-staffed like everyone these days.
4. The weather has been crazy warm, even for Virginia. We've been riding bikes, going out for ice cream and opening the windows.
5. Poor old Summer dog got a nice haircut. She's acting very old and sleepy. I'm hoping the haircut will help, because sheltie hair is so heavy and thick in the winter. But she is still a sweetie. All she ever asks for is a dog treat whenever a door opens and closes. It's Pavlovian.
6. I've packed up my quilting and moved on to scrapbooking for a while. The dining room is a wreck. I'm working on digital and paper both. I'm not going to do any more paper albums, but I have all of the supplies for about 3 books, so I'll finish them. That should take about 5 years.
7. Can't wait to go to FL in May! We'll be staying near friends. We won a free ticket to Universal Studios during the Super Bowl. We were planning to spend a day there anyway, so that worked out great!
8. Getting ready to rip into the master bathroom! Anyone want a harvest gold shower or toilet? We picked out tile for the shower and the floor at the tile store, then went to Home Depot and found the same thing for 1/3 the price. Love Home Depot!
9. Danny and Brad are building a 1000+ piece Lego Star Wars ship in the family room. I've never seen so many grey Legos in my life!
10. Geoff is back to working on the Student Ministry web site.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Mood Swings
I've got to admit, since the election I've been very pessimistic about our country and our time on earth.
1. I am shocked at Congress' idea of economic stimulus. Their plan will leave our nation vulnerable by amassing huge foreign debt, while not strengthening anything except for their own political influence.
2. I am disheartened by the new president's attack on unborn children and schools that allow religious services.
3. On the recent "sanctity of life" Sunday, a representative of the crisis pregnancy center unrolled a scroll filled with tiny footprints. There were 18,000 footprints, representing the 9,000 babies who are killed by abortion each year in our area. The scroll went the whole way across the front of our huge sanctuary, and part way down both side isles.
4. The expression of Christianity is under attack while the practice of other religions is protected and celebrated.
But that is only part of the story. Here in this country where the Living God is becoming less popular and liberal agenda is steamrolling through congress, God is alive and well.
1. He still answers prayers and performs quiet miracles and triumphs over evil on a daily basis.
2. He heals, comforts, encourages.
3. The sun shines because He allows it.
4. Friends love one another, families support one another.
5. Crocuses and daffodils herald spring.
6. Churches and ministries continue to reach out to their communities. Faith based organizations feed the poor, clothe and house the homeless, provide medical care and counseling.
7. We have jobs, good health, great education, transportation, a safe home and beautiful children.
So when looking at the dark side of life gets depressing, I just choose to celebrate the Light. That list is always longer.
1. I am shocked at Congress' idea of economic stimulus. Their plan will leave our nation vulnerable by amassing huge foreign debt, while not strengthening anything except for their own political influence.
2. I am disheartened by the new president's attack on unborn children and schools that allow religious services.
3. On the recent "sanctity of life" Sunday, a representative of the crisis pregnancy center unrolled a scroll filled with tiny footprints. There were 18,000 footprints, representing the 9,000 babies who are killed by abortion each year in our area. The scroll went the whole way across the front of our huge sanctuary, and part way down both side isles.
4. The expression of Christianity is under attack while the practice of other religions is protected and celebrated.
But that is only part of the story. Here in this country where the Living God is becoming less popular and liberal agenda is steamrolling through congress, God is alive and well.
1. He still answers prayers and performs quiet miracles and triumphs over evil on a daily basis.
2. He heals, comforts, encourages.
3. The sun shines because He allows it.
4. Friends love one another, families support one another.
5. Crocuses and daffodils herald spring.
6. Churches and ministries continue to reach out to their communities. Faith based organizations feed the poor, clothe and house the homeless, provide medical care and counseling.
7. We have jobs, good health, great education, transportation, a safe home and beautiful children.
So when looking at the dark side of life gets depressing, I just choose to celebrate the Light. That list is always longer.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
25 Random Things
1. I've totally loved Barry Manilow since i was 11. [I know, you're thinking - what a geek! :)]
2. I've totally loved my husband since I was 18 [gasp! how'd I get old enough to do anything for 20 years????]
3. #1 ice cream Mint chocolate chip Mmmmm.
4. #1 baseball team NY Mets
5. #1 football team Steelers!!!!
6. I'd rather be on a Caribbean island, in a hammock under a palm tree
7. When the kids have grown up, I want to learn to sail
8. I still remember my childhood phone number 676-8303. weird.
9. I have a pink beach bike - the kind with wide tires and a comfy seat.
10. I still love Disney World
11. I am trying to learn how to quilt
12. I will never learn how to use Photoshop!
13. Love to read fiction (especially scary books), hate to read nonfiction
14. Places I'd like to see: the grand canyon, Hawaii, Paris
15. I'm from Western Pennsylvania
16. I have a beautiful office at work, with gigantic windows (not bragging, just appreciating)
17. Next home improvement project - the master bathroom. Anyone need a harvest gold potty or shower stall?
18. I love Target - hate Walmart
19. My boys are awesome!
20. This is my 4th year as a VP on the PTA
21. I can't sing, dance or play an instrument
22. I will start my MBA next year
23. I have a license to teach middle school and high school math (again - geek!)
24. There are at least 9 operating computers in my house. There could be more, but I don't want to know about it.
25. Can't wait to watch Top Chef!
2. I've totally loved my husband since I was 18 [gasp! how'd I get old enough to do anything for 20 years????]
3. #1 ice cream Mint chocolate chip Mmmmm.
4. #1 baseball team NY Mets
5. #1 football team Steelers!!!!
6. I'd rather be on a Caribbean island, in a hammock under a palm tree
7. When the kids have grown up, I want to learn to sail
8. I still remember my childhood phone number 676-8303. weird.
9. I have a pink beach bike - the kind with wide tires and a comfy seat.
10. I still love Disney World
11. I am trying to learn how to quilt
12. I will never learn how to use Photoshop!
13. Love to read fiction (especially scary books), hate to read nonfiction
14. Places I'd like to see: the grand canyon, Hawaii, Paris
15. I'm from Western Pennsylvania
16. I have a beautiful office at work, with gigantic windows (not bragging, just appreciating)
17. Next home improvement project - the master bathroom. Anyone need a harvest gold potty or shower stall?
18. I love Target - hate Walmart
19. My boys are awesome!
20. This is my 4th year as a VP on the PTA
21. I can't sing, dance or play an instrument
22. I will start my MBA next year
23. I have a license to teach middle school and high school math (again - geek!)
24. There are at least 9 operating computers in my house. There could be more, but I don't want to know about it.
25. Can't wait to watch Top Chef!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
New Addition
My friend is a foster mom. A new baby can arrive anytime. It's exciting and suprising each time. When we have a biological baby, God gives us 9 long months (really, 10 if you add it up) to prepare our hearts and homes. This little baby just popped in. And we'll love her even more because she has had a rough start.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Year - New Outlook
The buzz on the blogs and scrapbook sites is all about two hot trends, both focused on the new year.
The first is the kind of movement that drives me crazy. In theory, it sounds good. It is called Project 365. The idea is to take a picture every day of 2009. It could be of anything, a sunny day, your coffee cup, the dog, slippers, computer screen or of course, people. Then you must scrap them and journal them so you have a lasting record of this year in your life. It sounds creative, nostalgic and CRAZY! Good grief, who needs more pressure, more things to do, more guilt about not getting them done? It looks like a set up for disappointment to me. I won’t get sucked in to that one!
The second trend is sort of like a New Year’s resolution, but simplified. You choose One Word to symbolize the changes you want to make in the new year. The word can encourage you, remind you of a goal, inspire you to create or whatever. I am not an introspective person. I’m more of a “what’s next on the to do list?” kind of person. I admire people who have time for self reflection, personal goal setting, and internal conversations but I just don’t have that kind of time. So I thought – One Word. That’s quick, easy, sort of inspirational. Maybe I could do that…
But it is a lot harder than it sounds. I know what I want to work on. I want to appreciate the life I’ve been given. I want to cherish my children and adore my husband. I want to enjoy the home we work so hard on and spend so much money on. I want to have less activities and more hanging out time. I want to enjoy my days, not just make it through them. I want to stop feeling guilty that I can’t do more – more cleaning, more activities, more things for the kids, more yard work, more PTA stuff, more blogging, more entertaining, more sewing. Every new activity just adds more guilt and pressure and disappointment in the end because I expect more of myself. I want to let go of always “doing” and just be content with “being”. I want to be proud of what I accomplish and not critical of what I haven’t. I want to celebrate my wonderful life, family, house, job, church, friends, and creativity.
Does anyone have One Word for that?
Here are some choices: Content, Adore, Delight, Renew, Treasure, Release, Trust, Value, Accept, Cherish, Joy, Shine, Sparkle (don’t know how to apply that one, but isn’t it a happy word?), Listen, Peace, Relax, Simplify, Appreciate.
Do you see the irony? Here is an opportunity to make a complicated resolution into a simple, memorable, encouraging reminder. Simple. Easy. Quick. But instead, I can’t think of a word that is good enough. So there is one more project that is hanging over my head, that I just can’t pull it all together and get it done. I can’t make my life simple because it is not. I can’t finish a project because I just can’t accept that it is not perfect. Maybe I need counseling. Maybe I should just pick a random word and live with it as an exercise in accepting my life the way it is. How about Hotdog?
The first is the kind of movement that drives me crazy. In theory, it sounds good. It is called Project 365. The idea is to take a picture every day of 2009. It could be of anything, a sunny day, your coffee cup, the dog, slippers, computer screen or of course, people. Then you must scrap them and journal them so you have a lasting record of this year in your life. It sounds creative, nostalgic and CRAZY! Good grief, who needs more pressure, more things to do, more guilt about not getting them done? It looks like a set up for disappointment to me. I won’t get sucked in to that one!
The second trend is sort of like a New Year’s resolution, but simplified. You choose One Word to symbolize the changes you want to make in the new year. The word can encourage you, remind you of a goal, inspire you to create or whatever. I am not an introspective person. I’m more of a “what’s next on the to do list?” kind of person. I admire people who have time for self reflection, personal goal setting, and internal conversations but I just don’t have that kind of time. So I thought – One Word. That’s quick, easy, sort of inspirational. Maybe I could do that…
But it is a lot harder than it sounds. I know what I want to work on. I want to appreciate the life I’ve been given. I want to cherish my children and adore my husband. I want to enjoy the home we work so hard on and spend so much money on. I want to have less activities and more hanging out time. I want to enjoy my days, not just make it through them. I want to stop feeling guilty that I can’t do more – more cleaning, more activities, more things for the kids, more yard work, more PTA stuff, more blogging, more entertaining, more sewing. Every new activity just adds more guilt and pressure and disappointment in the end because I expect more of myself. I want to let go of always “doing” and just be content with “being”. I want to be proud of what I accomplish and not critical of what I haven’t. I want to celebrate my wonderful life, family, house, job, church, friends, and creativity.
Does anyone have One Word for that?
Here are some choices: Content, Adore, Delight, Renew, Treasure, Release, Trust, Value, Accept, Cherish, Joy, Shine, Sparkle (don’t know how to apply that one, but isn’t it a happy word?), Listen, Peace, Relax, Simplify, Appreciate.
Do you see the irony? Here is an opportunity to make a complicated resolution into a simple, memorable, encouraging reminder. Simple. Easy. Quick. But instead, I can’t think of a word that is good enough. So there is one more project that is hanging over my head, that I just can’t pull it all together and get it done. I can’t make my life simple because it is not. I can’t finish a project because I just can’t accept that it is not perfect. Maybe I need counseling. Maybe I should just pick a random word and live with it as an exercise in accepting my life the way it is. How about Hotdog?
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