I wanted to make my title a little more catchy - like "Giving Up Lint for Lent"...but it seemed a little sacriligious...so I'm just sticking with the simple.
Last night, not sure why, but I asked Dylan when Lent begins. And I'm not sure why I even thought about asking Dylan...because all I got from him was teenage shrug, raised eyebrows that said "why are you asking me" and a gruff "I don't know".
So, of course, trusty iPhone in hand...I googled it. And found out that this coming Wednesday is "Ash Wednesday" and the beginning of the Lent season.
Quite honestly, I don't know that much about Lent. I know that it's a time of self sacrifice and it's the 40 days leading to Easter. I know that Protestants don't truly observe Lent, as a Catholic would...but every year as I begin to hear about "Fat Tuesday" and Mardi Gras and the other things leading up to Lent, I always think...what could I give up?
One year, our Pastor asked us to give up something during the season of Lent as part of a churchwide fast of sorts. He actually fasted for the 40 days, while others gave up sugar, coffee, TV and other things that they really enjoyed. I personally gave up TV for the 40 days. And truth be told, it wasn't that difficult.
But I don't really know that I truly embraced the meaning of Lent. Truly the act of abstaining from food or an activity that you enjoy is meant to be replaced with times of more focused prayer, scripture reading and meditation on God's word. I'm pretty sure that instead of filling my evenings with continuous TV watching, I read - and not my Bible. I don't remember spending time meditating on God's word, nor do I remember praying any more than I do normally.
Every year, I think - I really should give something up for Lent. And every year, the 40 days pass, without my observance...and once again, I think "next year".
I'm aiming to turn "next year" into "this year". Lent has snuck up on me, though...but I don't think it's too late. By the end of this week, I am determined to come up with that one thing that I can give up for Lent. Either sugar, TV, desserts, candy...any of those things would be good places to start.
Do you observe Lent? If so, what do you give up?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Where the Heart Is...
My heart is...
Snuggled down in my oh so comfy bed with a good book or a favorite movie
In a brown eyed boy who has grown up way too fast
Buried in the notes, lyrics, melodies and harmonies of a broad range of music
Between the pages of my favorite books that line my bookshelves...and some that are stacked here and there
Within the walls of my little yellow house
In a quiet, snowy morning
Around the corner from my little yellow house in my momma's kitchen...where I've been fed so many times - both physically and emotionally
In a musty, old auditorium at Fort Caswell where I gave my heart to Jesus
In the smiles, giggles and chatter of a blonde haired, hazel eyed 2 year old little boy
With my Aly-gator
Beside my best friend...in our laughter...and our tears
In the mountains of NC...and on the warm sandy beaches
Pieces and parts...left here and there...
Thank you to my friend Jen who let me "borrow" this idea! :)
Snuggled down in my oh so comfy bed with a good book or a favorite movie
In a brown eyed boy who has grown up way too fast
Buried in the notes, lyrics, melodies and harmonies of a broad range of music
Between the pages of my favorite books that line my bookshelves...and some that are stacked here and there
Within the walls of my little yellow house
In a quiet, snowy morning
Around the corner from my little yellow house in my momma's kitchen...where I've been fed so many times - both physically and emotionally
In a musty, old auditorium at Fort Caswell where I gave my heart to Jesus
In the smiles, giggles and chatter of a blonde haired, hazel eyed 2 year old little boy
With my Aly-gator
Beside my best friend...in our laughter...and our tears
In the mountains of NC...and on the warm sandy beaches
Pieces and parts...left here and there...
Thank you to my friend Jen who let me "borrow" this idea! :)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
2012 Goals
So...I know it's been a while since I've posted...and it's certainly WAY past over due for me to be setting my 2012 Goals...but here it is anyway.
Last year I attempted to set "Eleven in '11" which was supposed to be eleven things that I was going to do in 2011. Sadly, I think I might have accomplished about three things on that list. And really and truly, that is SO sad. Because they weren't hard things AT ALL!
I hate making "resolutions" - for the same reason no one else likes to make them - we all FAIL miserably at keeping them. So, instead, I've decided to make some goals. I've been rolling these around in my head since January and on Tuesday I finally got around to putting pen to paper so I could keep track of what I was setting out to do.
And when setting these goals, I wanted to set things that were reasonable...within reach...nothing too complicated. Most of these things are just one step to something bigger...and I think these are all great places to start.
So without further adieu...my 2012 Goals (as posted on my dresser mirror)! :)
I'm really excited about this list. And yes...I do think it's funny that "replacing blinds" made my 2012 goals list...but I've been meaning to do this since I moved in...and it's just not happened yet. There are a few other things that I'd like to do (buy new living room furniture, fix the drainage issue in my side yard, buy a Kindle fire) but I truly believe that by accomplishing these things first, I'll eventually be able to do the other things that I'd like to do. And if I do everything in 2012, what will I have to do in 2013??? ;)
In other news, the great college onslaught has begun for my high school kid. He took the PSAT in the beginning of the school year, plus he is now Microsoft certified in Excel & Access (whatever that means)...so the college info has started pouring in. This makes me both excited and sad...excited because out of the colleges that have contacted him, Wake Forest is on the list (to me this is HUGE because Wake is hard to get in to...but it would also mean MAJOR scholarships since 4 years of tuition would probably equal the cost of my house) and I'm excited to see so many colleges reaching out to him. Sad because we are getting closer to the day that he will leave me behind...
And to correct another issue that has been a thorn in my mother's side...I put a special "call out" for my Dad on his birthday in November...but didn't for my mother in December. Why you may ask? Because I only blogged ONCE in the month of December...and it was a full 15 days after her birthday. But, she will not let it rest...so I want to officially wish my mother a belated Happy Birthday via my blog...it's only 2 months & 8 days late. I guess the birthday dinner & gift were not enough for her! ;)
This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents...taken last June...
Seriously, I do love my momma! And I know she had a happy birthday in December! :)
Hope you all are doing well...maybe I'll get back into the blogging habit...we shall see!
Last year I attempted to set "Eleven in '11" which was supposed to be eleven things that I was going to do in 2011. Sadly, I think I might have accomplished about three things on that list. And really and truly, that is SO sad. Because they weren't hard things AT ALL!
I hate making "resolutions" - for the same reason no one else likes to make them - we all FAIL miserably at keeping them. So, instead, I've decided to make some goals. I've been rolling these around in my head since January and on Tuesday I finally got around to putting pen to paper so I could keep track of what I was setting out to do.
And when setting these goals, I wanted to set things that were reasonable...within reach...nothing too complicated. Most of these things are just one step to something bigger...and I think these are all great places to start.
So without further adieu...my 2012 Goals (as posted on my dresser mirror)! :)
I'm really excited about this list. And yes...I do think it's funny that "replacing blinds" made my 2012 goals list...but I've been meaning to do this since I moved in...and it's just not happened yet. There are a few other things that I'd like to do (buy new living room furniture, fix the drainage issue in my side yard, buy a Kindle fire) but I truly believe that by accomplishing these things first, I'll eventually be able to do the other things that I'd like to do. And if I do everything in 2012, what will I have to do in 2013??? ;)
In other news, the great college onslaught has begun for my high school kid. He took the PSAT in the beginning of the school year, plus he is now Microsoft certified in Excel & Access (whatever that means)...so the college info has started pouring in. This makes me both excited and sad...excited because out of the colleges that have contacted him, Wake Forest is on the list (to me this is HUGE because Wake is hard to get in to...but it would also mean MAJOR scholarships since 4 years of tuition would probably equal the cost of my house) and I'm excited to see so many colleges reaching out to him. Sad because we are getting closer to the day that he will leave me behind...
And to correct another issue that has been a thorn in my mother's side...I put a special "call out" for my Dad on his birthday in November...but didn't for my mother in December. Why you may ask? Because I only blogged ONCE in the month of December...and it was a full 15 days after her birthday. But, she will not let it rest...so I want to officially wish my mother a belated Happy Birthday via my blog...it's only 2 months & 8 days late. I guess the birthday dinner & gift were not enough for her! ;)
This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents...taken last June...
Seriously, I do love my momma! And I know she had a happy birthday in December! :)
Hope you all are doing well...maybe I'll get back into the blogging habit...we shall see!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Baby, It's {NOT} Cold Outside
I do not like cold weather.
To me, this is so funny because the college of my choice...the college that I loved...in the town that I seriously considered moving back to...is in the mountains.
And it gets cooooolllldddd up there.
But quite honestly, I can only deal with cold weather for about a week and then I'm done.
I don't like wearing coats. My feet REALLY don't like "real" shoes. And I just generally hate being cold.
There is just about one time of year that I will tolerate the cold...and even hope for a little bit of cold weather...and that's at Christmas. In NC, our white Christmases are few and far between...and I remember Christmases where it was cold, without snow...and I remember Christmases where the high was in the upper 60's. Upper 60's is not Christmas weather.
Not to mention that for the past two years, we have been spoiled with snow right before and even on Christmas. Two years ago it snowed on the Friday before Christmas. It was just about as perfect as any snowfall in NC has ever been. It started snowing in the afternoon of the last day of school before Christmas break. We were able to stay home, play in the snow and by Monday when it was time for me to go back to work, the roads were clear...so I didn't have to miss any work for the snow. Talk about your Christmas spirit! Then last year, we had snow that started Christmas mid-morning...and snowed all night...and we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland the day after Christmas. Another perfect Christmas gift.
This year, it appears that there is no chance of Christmas snow. And this makes me sad.
This is our 10 Day Forecast:
This is NOT Christmas weather.
I need it to be cold.
I need to make chicken-n-dumplins.
I need to make chili.
I need to use my heated throw...Ok, well I have already used it...but it's not really warranted yet.
I need to see beautiful snow flakes falling from the sky.
*sigh*
Maybe next year...
Of course, you may want to remind me of this very blog post in February when I say "I'm tired of winter and the cold"! :)
In other news, all of my Christmas "events" are coming to a close and I will be Christmas shopping/crafting/baking for the next week. Can I tell you how excited I am about that?
I hope to see you again before...but you all know how hit or miss I am in the blogging world...so, if I don't get here, Merry Christmas to you all!
To me, this is so funny because the college of my choice...the college that I loved...in the town that I seriously considered moving back to...is in the mountains.
And it gets cooooolllldddd up there.
But quite honestly, I can only deal with cold weather for about a week and then I'm done.
I don't like wearing coats. My feet REALLY don't like "real" shoes. And I just generally hate being cold.
There is just about one time of year that I will tolerate the cold...and even hope for a little bit of cold weather...and that's at Christmas. In NC, our white Christmases are few and far between...and I remember Christmases where it was cold, without snow...and I remember Christmases where the high was in the upper 60's. Upper 60's is not Christmas weather.
Not to mention that for the past two years, we have been spoiled with snow right before and even on Christmas. Two years ago it snowed on the Friday before Christmas. It was just about as perfect as any snowfall in NC has ever been. It started snowing in the afternoon of the last day of school before Christmas break. We were able to stay home, play in the snow and by Monday when it was time for me to go back to work, the roads were clear...so I didn't have to miss any work for the snow. Talk about your Christmas spirit! Then last year, we had snow that started Christmas mid-morning...and snowed all night...and we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland the day after Christmas. Another perfect Christmas gift.
This year, it appears that there is no chance of Christmas snow. And this makes me sad.
This is our 10 Day Forecast:
This is NOT Christmas weather.
I need it to be cold.
I need to make chicken-n-dumplins.
I need to make chili.
I need to use my heated throw...Ok, well I have already used it...but it's not really warranted yet.
I need to see beautiful snow flakes falling from the sky.
*sigh*
Maybe next year...
Of course, you may want to remind me of this very blog post in February when I say "I'm tired of winter and the cold"! :)
In other news, all of my Christmas "events" are coming to a close and I will be Christmas shopping/crafting/baking for the next week. Can I tell you how excited I am about that?
I hope to see you again before...but you all know how hit or miss I am in the blogging world...so, if I don't get here, Merry Christmas to you all!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Blogging Fail
So, what does one do when you have a built in blogging topic for 30 days...hoping that this will get one back into the blogging routine? Well, if you are me, you do nothing...and fail miserably! HAHA! Yes...my 30 Days of Thankfulness continued on via my Facebook statuses...but never made the transition over here to the ol' blog.
And what do I have to blame this on??? Pinterest. Yes...I've become a hopeless Pinterestaholic. And what's even worse is that I've brought my BFF and sister into my addiction. So...now we are all addicts. Almost every night I snuggle down in my bed, turn on Gilmore Girls or whatever Christmas movie is featured that evening, and scroll through the countless pins. And my lunch time has now become one big Pinterest-fest.
However, Pinterest has also inspired several Christmas gift projects...which I can't go into right now...because certain people who may be receiving these gifts may or may not read my blog...so, you'll have to wait in great anticipation to see what Pinterest inspired me to do.
And I'm hoping they all turn out...because if they don't...I don't know what I'm gonna do! ;)
Finally the weather in NC has turned cooler and I can begin to feel like it's almost Christmas! I mean, for me anyways, it's hard to be in the Christmas mood if I'm wearing flip flops and t-shirts. Which, yes, I wore on Monday...and the mountains had snow on Tuesday. Welcome to NC!
Christmas also means a month of running around...church events...family events...gift buying & wrapping. While I love Christmas and everything that it represents, I h.a.t.e. the general busy-ness of the season. And everything that I do has such value that it's hard to give anything up. So...when you see that blur...that's me running by! :)
Tomorrow, I'm very excited to say that we are headed to the mountains to pick out a Christmas tree. We used to do this every year when I was younger. Several weeks ago, I told Mom & Dad I wanted to do this again and we decided to go this weekend. Dylan has never picked a tree in the mountains...so I'm very excited to share this with him. Plus our tree will be much fresher than if we pick it out around here...meaning that hopefully it will last a little longer and not make me scared that it's going to burn my house down! I love having a real tree...and Dylan isn't particular about many things...but he is VERY insistent about having a real tree! One of the blessings of living in NC is the close proximity to Christmas tree farms galore!
Hope you all are doing well. I feel like the worst blogger ever...I never post and I almost never read. Although, sometimes I read and don't comment...which is probably even worse! I hope to see you again soon! :)
And what do I have to blame this on??? Pinterest. Yes...I've become a hopeless Pinterestaholic. And what's even worse is that I've brought my BFF and sister into my addiction. So...now we are all addicts. Almost every night I snuggle down in my bed, turn on Gilmore Girls or whatever Christmas movie is featured that evening, and scroll through the countless pins. And my lunch time has now become one big Pinterest-fest.
However, Pinterest has also inspired several Christmas gift projects...which I can't go into right now...because certain people who may be receiving these gifts may or may not read my blog...so, you'll have to wait in great anticipation to see what Pinterest inspired me to do.
And I'm hoping they all turn out...because if they don't...I don't know what I'm gonna do! ;)
Finally the weather in NC has turned cooler and I can begin to feel like it's almost Christmas! I mean, for me anyways, it's hard to be in the Christmas mood if I'm wearing flip flops and t-shirts. Which, yes, I wore on Monday...and the mountains had snow on Tuesday. Welcome to NC!
Christmas also means a month of running around...church events...family events...gift buying & wrapping. While I love Christmas and everything that it represents, I h.a.t.e. the general busy-ness of the season. And everything that I do has such value that it's hard to give anything up. So...when you see that blur...that's me running by! :)
Tomorrow, I'm very excited to say that we are headed to the mountains to pick out a Christmas tree. We used to do this every year when I was younger. Several weeks ago, I told Mom & Dad I wanted to do this again and we decided to go this weekend. Dylan has never picked a tree in the mountains...so I'm very excited to share this with him. Plus our tree will be much fresher than if we pick it out around here...meaning that hopefully it will last a little longer and not make me scared that it's going to burn my house down! I love having a real tree...and Dylan isn't particular about many things...but he is VERY insistent about having a real tree! One of the blessings of living in NC is the close proximity to Christmas tree farms galore!
Hope you all are doing well. I feel like the worst blogger ever...I never post and I almost never read. Although, sometimes I read and don't comment...which is probably even worse! I hope to see you again soon! :)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 8 & 9
As I expected...there was no blogging for me yesterday! :) But it's all good...I'll catch up as I can!
Day 8 - Today I am thankful for the life God has given me...it's not often easy, but it's full and I am most certainly blessed beyond what I deserve.
I'll just let you guys know...I wasn't feeling thankful yesterday morning. I was feeling stressed...down...and ready to focus on the "don't haves". But I had to re-direct my thoughts. I don't know that many people have an "easy" life...mine is probably "easier" than I sometimes want to admit. BUT, it is most certainly a rich, full life filled with people who love me and make me laugh. And that is truly something to be thankful for!
Day 9 - Today I am thankful for Godly parents...my parents have been such an example of Christ to me...they have shown me grace, mercy, compassion and love. I am so blessed they are my parents.
This is something I DEFINITELY can be thankful for. My parents are truly the best. They have loved me when I didn't deserve it...and have taught me how to be a good parent for Dylan. There aren't enough words to adequately describe what they mean to me.
With that being said...
Happy Birthday to my Dad! :) He is most certainly one of the kindest, most humble men I know!
Have a great Wednesday!
Day 8 - Today I am thankful for the life God has given me...it's not often easy, but it's full and I am most certainly blessed beyond what I deserve.
I'll just let you guys know...I wasn't feeling thankful yesterday morning. I was feeling stressed...down...and ready to focus on the "don't haves". But I had to re-direct my thoughts. I don't know that many people have an "easy" life...mine is probably "easier" than I sometimes want to admit. BUT, it is most certainly a rich, full life filled with people who love me and make me laugh. And that is truly something to be thankful for!
Day 9 - Today I am thankful for Godly parents...my parents have been such an example of Christ to me...they have shown me grace, mercy, compassion and love. I am so blessed they are my parents.
This is something I DEFINITELY can be thankful for. My parents are truly the best. They have loved me when I didn't deserve it...and have taught me how to be a good parent for Dylan. There aren't enough words to adequately describe what they mean to me.
With that being said...
Happy Birthday to my Dad! :) He is most certainly one of the kindest, most humble men I know!
Have a great Wednesday!
Monday, November 7, 2011
30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 7
So...to start things off...don't go looking for Day's 1 through 6 of my own personal "30 Days of Thankfulness"...because you won't find them! Yes, I continue to be a slacker in the blogging department...I have no excuses other than to say that I just haven't done it!
A few weeks ago, I began to look into my November curriculum for our Children's Worship time (I lead this at our church). Our "theme" for the month is gratitude...very fitting as we move towards Thanksgiving and then on into Christmas. I began to think about my own "attitude of gratitude" and I realized that I have a great tendency to focus on what I don't have instead of what I do have.
So...I decided to devote my daily Facebook statuses to one thing each day that I'm thankful for. What was really cool is that others have joined in! And I have been AMAZED at how much more happier I feel. Now, I won't say that I don't have my moments of aniexty & self-doubt...or that I don't slip into thinking again about what I don't have, can't do and can't give. But for the most part, taking a moment each day to focus on what I am thankful for...and reading others' notes of thankfulness...has blessed me beyond measure.
With that being said, I am going to transfer my 30 days of thankfulness right here to my blog. I may have days where I play catch up, like today...but I hope to at least write a few short sentences every day about what I am thankful for.
Here goes! :)
Day 1: I am thankful for my job. The people I work with can drive me crazy, but I'm thankful to be able to have a job where I can laugh a lot and, for the most part, know that work will not be a drudgery every day. Mostly, I'm thankful to be part of a company that strives to serve and honor God with what we do.
Day 2:
A few weeks ago, I began to look into my November curriculum for our Children's Worship time (I lead this at our church). Our "theme" for the month is gratitude...very fitting as we move towards Thanksgiving and then on into Christmas. I began to think about my own "attitude of gratitude" and I realized that I have a great tendency to focus on what I don't have instead of what I do have.
So...I decided to devote my daily Facebook statuses to one thing each day that I'm thankful for. What was really cool is that others have joined in! And I have been AMAZED at how much more happier I feel. Now, I won't say that I don't have my moments of aniexty & self-doubt...or that I don't slip into thinking again about what I don't have, can't do and can't give. But for the most part, taking a moment each day to focus on what I am thankful for...and reading others' notes of thankfulness...has blessed me beyond measure.
With that being said, I am going to transfer my 30 days of thankfulness right here to my blog. I may have days where I play catch up, like today...but I hope to at least write a few short sentences every day about what I am thankful for.
Here goes! :)
Day 1: I am thankful for my job. The people I work with can drive me crazy, but I'm thankful to be able to have a job where I can laugh a lot and, for the most part, know that work will not be a drudgery every day. Mostly, I'm thankful to be part of a company that strives to serve and honor God with what we do.
Day 2:
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