five things I wish I could get into (but just can't)

My friend Melanie posted this on her blog and I am being a copy cat.  I have different things than she did, though.  So go look at hers, too.

The thing is, as I thought about this I realized that most of the things I'm not into, I'm pretty content to be out of.  Like coffee.  I will drink it occasionally, but if I never had another cup, I'd be ok with that. (I know some of you are hyperventilating right now just thinking of a world without coffee.   Breathe.)

Cell phones and texting.  I use my cell, but really despise talking on it.  And I think I've texted someone once - ever.

Sports.  I like the idea of gathering with friends to watch them and eat snacks.  But my family isn't into sports either.  We can eat snacks and watch movies.  Don't need sports.

But here are a few things I would really like to be into, but... just can't seem to.

1. Baths  

2. Size 9 or smaller shoes

3. Exercise

4. Charles Dickens

5. Veggies

This was sent to me as a blonde joke, but in honor of my dear blonde friends, I changed it.

A woman is watching the news with her 

husband when the newscaster says 

"Two Brazilian men die in a 

skydiving accident."            

The woman starts crying. 

She turns to her husband, 

"That's horrible!

 So many men dying that way!"            

Confused, he says, "Yes dear, 

it is sad, but they were skydiving, 

and there is always that risk involved."            

After a few minutes, still sobbing, 

she says,"How many is a Brazilian?"

the trouble with a new year

I mentioned that I don't do resolutions.  I don't even really set goals.  But even with just making "plans" for what I hope to change I run into a problem.

See, about the second week into the year I realize that I'm not really doing things any differently than I did in December.  I haven't written any more.  I'm not walking the dog any more.  I certainly haven't been doing more laundry.

So I feel bad then say to myself, "Well, maybe next year."

I think perhaps that is a common occurrence... or is it just me?  

I really need to drop that mindset and instead develop the "every day is a new beginning" mindset.  So,  failed in my New Year plans.  I can make New Day plans for today.  And if I fail, maybe tomorrow will be better.

I don't know.  I have noticed as I look back, that I have changed a lot in a lot of different areas.  But it hasn't been through striving to reach goals as much as through gradual, little baby-step changes.  And it has perhaps been God at work in me more than myself at work.  

I'm doing a lot of thinking about all this because there is always so much talk about goals this time of year.  I am trying to figure out what motivates me and work from there.

What about you?  Do you relate to the "maybe next year" thing?  Do goals motivate you.  Are you able to set them and succeed?

happy new year?

How does the new year make you feel?

Are you excited at the prospects and potential?

Are you relieved to have the old one behind you and to be given a clean slate?

I almost always feel overwhelmed and a bit blue.  I haven't ever analyzed it before, but this year I'm curious as to why I get down in the dumps in the early days of January.

So, that's why I haven't been posting much.  I'm kinda blah and blue and very tired.  I don't seem to have much energy for turning thoughts into words.

So you tell me about how January makes you feel.  What do you think about?  Is it exciting, daunting, refreshing, or other?

some noteworthy thoughts

First of all, I get to decide whether it is noteworthy - - it's my blog.

I did not start the new year off according to plan.  I sort of went right by without thinking about my "spend an hour each day writing" and "put away the clean laundry" ideas.  A friend told me that it was because new year came in the middle of the week.  I think that's part of it.  Also, my kids were still home.  It was still vacation.   Christmas vacation always completely messes me up.

So.... today is the start for me!  I will be doing the above mentioned things today.  Just so you know.

I don't see the point of eating eggs unless they taste like butter and salt.

I love my new blog layout and it isn't even red!!  I hope you like it, too, but if you don't, well, too bad.  I find it very relaxing and soothing.

I am reading The Godfather for a book club.  It is a very big book.  I've never seen the movie.  It is rated R - the book; don't know about the movie.  So I am trying to read with one eye closed so I miss the bad stuff.

I've heard people comment that they get tired of their Christmas decorations.  I can't imagine.  I could leave mine up all the time.  But I don't.  I try to get them down before June.  This year I am taking them down this week.

My friend Robbie's husband is improving steadily.  His mental capacities seem to be fully functioning, but he is still sleeping a lot.  Hopefully this week he will be able to come to a rehab hospital in Denver since he is now in another city.  That will make life easier for dear Robbie.  

So, the holidays are over.  Time to get back into the blog mode, right?  Seems it all slowed way down there for awhile.  Fewer comments and fewer posts on other blogs.  I did alright, though, didn't I?  I tried.

scripture memorizing

I don't like memorizing things.  I used to have to memorize scripture in school and didn't like it.  I do like that the verses are in my head and my heart.  They frequently come to me when I need them.  I don't always know them word for word and I seldom know their exact location, but I know what they say -- what they mean.  

But I am feeling led to memorize again.  It's because Michelle posted about it on her blog and she is doing it because Beth Moore started a challenge on her blog.  The idea is to memorize two per month.  Michelle decided to use her creativity to help her memorize and I loved that idea.  Because I know that repeating a phrase over and over and over bores me and I won't stick with it. 

So what I am doing is using an unlined journal to write the verse in.  Then I will do whatever I feel like doing to help me learn the verse.  So far I have written it in two different versions.  Written my own paraphrase.  Written some thoughts and a prayer about the verse and looked some words up in my Greek dictionary. 

I may later draw or just color, or find pictures to paste into my book that help me learn the verse.  I personally am not concerned with word for word accuracy, but want to learn the concept -- the truth -- of the passage.  Word for word would be a nice bonus.

So, the first verse I am learning is 2 Peter 1:3.  Seeing that He has granted unto us by His divine power all that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by his glory and excellence.  Something like that.  I am using the New American Standard translation.  

So, who wants to join Beth, Michelle and me in memorizing God's word this year?

friday fill-in

Click here to participate.

1. The world is _big, broken, and not my home_.

2. _In all caps? _ was the last thing I said.

3. I wonder _who was the first woman to shave her legs - and why_.

4. _God is_ at the end of all things.

5. There's something to be said for _clean socks_.

6. _A cabin in the mountains_ is where I want to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _dinner with friends_, tomorrow my plans include _a family after Christmas Christmas party_ and Sunday, I want to _go to church and then rest_!