Dear Friends,
I gasp in shock as I realize that not two, not four, but SEVEN weeks have passed since I last posted here on my little blog!! *gasp* How could I leave you all for so long? I am sure that all sorts of things have happened in everyone's lives in the past seven weeks and now I'm terribly behind on reading blogs as well as posting ...... the upside of the scenario being that I love to read your blogs, anyhow, so I will have fun "catching up" over the next week or more!
In my life, much has happened in the past seven weeks. For one, I had spring break. Well, a semblance of a break, at least. They call it spring "break" in the graduate world, but what they truly should call it is something along the lines of spring break-your-neck-working-on-all-you-haven't-done-yet-week!!!! Yes, I am serious. However, I did manage to enjoy myself and have a bit of R&R for a few days in there, as I recall.......we had a couple we are good friends with down to visit and stay with us on the last few days of my break. And the highlight was, we all got to see The Hunger Games newly released in theaters that weekend!! That was fun!! I enjoyed the movie. Typically I am not a fan of movies made from the books I had loved (such as the entire Hunger Games trilogy), however, I felt the movie was mostly on target with the book so I didn't despise it!! LOL I still love the books best, though. I'm a diehard bookie. :-)
Far as classes go, I have just on presentation left in the next week and two class meets, then spring semester is over! Of course I signed my happy self up for summer classes, so I literally start those only eight days after spring semester is complete!! What did I do? haha It is hard even for me to realize that I have already completed a full year of my Masters! How exciting is that? Very, I say! It flew by! Time flies when you're having . . . . fun?!?
I am still in physical therapy. Wow, talk about wearing a person out! Of course I speak from only one person's perspective, but honestly, it has been a rough road! And it's not over yet. Been pretty painful but I'm hanging in there, hoping for good results and improvement! I have seen a little change in a positive direction, which helps to encourage me and keep me motivated.
I have read a few interesting books in the last two months. A biography of Steve Jobs (if you have read anything about him, you'd understand when I say he was a highly creative and inventive genius but sorely lacked in the social skills/interpersonal relationship department! Quite the character!) was a long, long read but interesting overall . . . . then there was "Confessions of a Shopaholic" that was a light, very amusing read I took with me for our short vacation to Florida (also very enjoyable and much-needed respite!). I read the first two books in the Ada's House series of Amish novels by Cindy Woodsmall, also very good. Well I should say I read the second book in the last eight weeks, that's the truth of it. Now I'm starting the second Shopaholic book in my "spare" time (does that exist?!?) and enjoy it as a welcome relief from otherwise serious and often very research-focused reading found in my graduate studies. I mean, don't get me wrong, typically I actually find the majority of my required school reading fascinating, and at least educational . . . . but it does not remotely resemble "fun" reading! :-)
So, dear friends, what is up in your world? I know I can have at least a partial answer to that question by reading all of your blogs, which will take me a while to catch up on . . . . but just the same, I thought perhaps you'd like to stop in a leave a wee comment for me? I'd love that!! I always get so excited when I see that someone has taken the time to read my rambling posts and leave a word or two! Comment on anything above, if you wish! What have you read and loved or despised? Seen any interesting films? Done anything interesting in school? Physical therapy? ;-) Well I suppose that last one isn't as common, which is a good thing!
Have a lovely day!!
p.s. do you like this new template for my blog? I rather like this one, it looks like a watercolor painting! Let me know your thoughts. . . . . :-)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Brevity is My Blogging Word . . . Giving Thanks
As you may realize, I am not always one for brevity when it comes to blogging. I love to write. Truly, I do! I also enjoy blogging most of the time. But lately, my life has been very full and I find blogging lengthy posts is not on the top of my agenda.
Just the same, I love to check in with the blogs I follow and I do enjoy posting and of course, I absolutely am thrilled when any of my friends comment on my blog! Makes my day so much brighter! :)
So, here is my rather brief post today . . . I am thankful. Though I face so many challenges now and some days it seems so much harder to forge on through, I am thankful. Here are some things I can think of that I'm thankful for, even in the face of so much adversity and so many hurdles . . . .
* I am thankful for a God Who never leaves me, never forsakes me, promises His love and guidance and comfort as I keep Him in the forefront of my life, promises to be the strength of my heart when I face physical, emotional and mental challenges as I am so very much right now!
* I am thankful for a dear, sweet man that I love to call my husband, a man who loves me and is gentle with me and shows me patience and kindness, even when I get tired and whine, or when I'm really tired and frustrated, get snippy!
* I am thankful that, even as I face starting physical therapy to help me with basically my entire body and issues with weakness and tension and pain, I do have that option. That I have what seems to be a kind and capable therapist, and that somehow, the money needed to pay for the therapy to help me become strong again will make its way to me! My God is the God Who provides! And He can help me gain and keep strength, too, which I need to keep in mind!
* I am thankful for two adorable, frisky little dogs and two sweet, soft, timid but friendly little rabbits, all of which I call my pets and who make me smile every single day!
* I am thankful for a roof over my head that does not leak, running water in hot and cold, good nutritious food, and electricity!
* I am thankful for the ability to get on my blog and write out my thoughts to share, and to be able to read the posts of others who help me know "where it's at"!!
May you find at least as many things to be thankful for today as I do! Trust me, it helps!
Just the same, I love to check in with the blogs I follow and I do enjoy posting and of course, I absolutely am thrilled when any of my friends comment on my blog! Makes my day so much brighter! :)
So, here is my rather brief post today . . . I am thankful. Though I face so many challenges now and some days it seems so much harder to forge on through, I am thankful. Here are some things I can think of that I'm thankful for, even in the face of so much adversity and so many hurdles . . . .
* I am thankful for a God Who never leaves me, never forsakes me, promises His love and guidance and comfort as I keep Him in the forefront of my life, promises to be the strength of my heart when I face physical, emotional and mental challenges as I am so very much right now!
* I am thankful for a dear, sweet man that I love to call my husband, a man who loves me and is gentle with me and shows me patience and kindness, even when I get tired and whine, or when I'm really tired and frustrated, get snippy!
* I am thankful that, even as I face starting physical therapy to help me with basically my entire body and issues with weakness and tension and pain, I do have that option. That I have what seems to be a kind and capable therapist, and that somehow, the money needed to pay for the therapy to help me become strong again will make its way to me! My God is the God Who provides! And He can help me gain and keep strength, too, which I need to keep in mind!
* I am thankful for two adorable, frisky little dogs and two sweet, soft, timid but friendly little rabbits, all of which I call my pets and who make me smile every single day!
* I am thankful for a roof over my head that does not leak, running water in hot and cold, good nutritious food, and electricity!
* I am thankful for the ability to get on my blog and write out my thoughts to share, and to be able to read the posts of others who help me know "where it's at"!!
May you find at least as many things to be thankful for today as I do! Trust me, it helps!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Last Days of February
February 2012 is nearly at a close. Two more full days after today. Then it's done. Oh, where does the time fly?
As for us in our part of the nation, we haven't had much of a winter. Not even enough to sneeze at. Seriously. We had ONE 1-inch dusting of snow, for one day, this month. That was it. That was IT people! I'm so disappointed. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love moderate temps, sunny days, weather like we've had for the most part since early January! But I also like a bit of winter. It just makes spring sweeter, somehow. Not to mention, today my seasonal allergies are going BONKERS! Too much pollen, my eyes and nose scream!! TOO much pollen!!!
In my corner of the world, most things are going the usual way. Nothing too exciting. There are a few new things that my husband and I are facing with every new day . . . and prayers are always appreciated. Some are good, some are so-so, some are not so great. But whatever I face, I know I am not alone! I have a wonderful, loving husband and I serve and am loved by an AWESOME GOD!
So, this post will be brief. But I would still love to hear from you! It seems my blogger friends haven't visited and left me comments here in some time . . . it is honestly a wee bit lonely here in my little patch of the world wide web!
Have a lovely day!
As for us in our part of the nation, we haven't had much of a winter. Not even enough to sneeze at. Seriously. We had ONE 1-inch dusting of snow, for one day, this month. That was it. That was IT people! I'm so disappointed. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love moderate temps, sunny days, weather like we've had for the most part since early January! But I also like a bit of winter. It just makes spring sweeter, somehow. Not to mention, today my seasonal allergies are going BONKERS! Too much pollen, my eyes and nose scream!! TOO much pollen!!!
In my corner of the world, most things are going the usual way. Nothing too exciting. There are a few new things that my husband and I are facing with every new day . . . and prayers are always appreciated. Some are good, some are so-so, some are not so great. But whatever I face, I know I am not alone! I have a wonderful, loving husband and I serve and am loved by an AWESOME GOD!
So, this post will be brief. But I would still love to hear from you! It seems my blogger friends haven't visited and left me comments here in some time . . . it is honestly a wee bit lonely here in my little patch of the world wide web!
Have a lovely day!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Biographies: Recommends, Anyone?
Hello Friends!
Wow time just has a way of slipping past us in our full lives, doesn't it? I didn't realize January 25th was the last time I made a post, though I knew it was a while ago! Well, I'm back!
Truth of the matter is, I have been doing a fair amount of reading. Most especially due to taking a more than full-time course load in my graduate studies right now! Talk about a LOT of reading!
So this post actually is about . . . . . *drumroll* . . . . reading! Yes that's right. And no, I'm not insane, I promise. I do have an assignment, however, that requires even MORE reading on top of all I already have each week. Specifically, a biography. Or autobiography.
Here's the deal. I have read more biographies than I can remember in my lifetime. But that was when I was younger, I haven't read all too many in the last several years. And honestly, for this assignment, I'm thinking a bio of someone I'm not as familiar with could be fun, possibly.
It's for my Family of Origin class. Simply stated (or understated, rather), this class involves putting together family trees. Yes, family trees. But they are much more involved than your average family tree, and they are called genograms. Professionals in the counseling/psychology field make use of genograms fairly regularly. Thus, my assignment involves reading the biography (or autobiography) of someone, preferably relatively well known or famous, and making a genogram of their family from all the info I find in the book. I'd need a pretty good book where talking about their siblings/parents/grandparents is involved. Please keep that in mind.
Here's where you all come in . . . . recommends! I am asking for you to recommend to me any great biography or autobiography that you've read. Especially if it was about a fascinating person (I'll leave the definition of fascinating up to you in this case! haha) or if it was very well-written and engaging. AND if it's not terribly long . . . . have mercy on a graduate student with chapters upon chapters to read every week, already! :-)
Thanks for the help, everyone! I greatly appreciate it and am excited to see what everyone recommends in their comments. Just throw 'em out there folks. I'm waiting and I have to start reading sooner than soon! All recommends will be considered. :-)
Wow time just has a way of slipping past us in our full lives, doesn't it? I didn't realize January 25th was the last time I made a post, though I knew it was a while ago! Well, I'm back!
Truth of the matter is, I have been doing a fair amount of reading. Most especially due to taking a more than full-time course load in my graduate studies right now! Talk about a LOT of reading!
So this post actually is about . . . . . *drumroll* . . . . reading! Yes that's right. And no, I'm not insane, I promise. I do have an assignment, however, that requires even MORE reading on top of all I already have each week. Specifically, a biography. Or autobiography.
Here's the deal. I have read more biographies than I can remember in my lifetime. But that was when I was younger, I haven't read all too many in the last several years. And honestly, for this assignment, I'm thinking a bio of someone I'm not as familiar with could be fun, possibly.
It's for my Family of Origin class. Simply stated (or understated, rather), this class involves putting together family trees. Yes, family trees. But they are much more involved than your average family tree, and they are called genograms. Professionals in the counseling/psychology field make use of genograms fairly regularly. Thus, my assignment involves reading the biography (or autobiography) of someone, preferably relatively well known or famous, and making a genogram of their family from all the info I find in the book. I'd need a pretty good book where talking about their siblings/parents/grandparents is involved. Please keep that in mind.
Here's where you all come in . . . . recommends! I am asking for you to recommend to me any great biography or autobiography that you've read. Especially if it was about a fascinating person (I'll leave the definition of fascinating up to you in this case! haha) or if it was very well-written and engaging. AND if it's not terribly long . . . . have mercy on a graduate student with chapters upon chapters to read every week, already! :-)
Thanks for the help, everyone! I greatly appreciate it and am excited to see what everyone recommends in their comments. Just throw 'em out there folks. I'm waiting and I have to start reading sooner than soon! All recommends will be considered. :-)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Sky is Crying
I awoke far too early this morning, unable to fall back asleep though the sound of rain pattering on our roof often acts as a sleep aid for me. Perhaps the numerous thoughts prancing about inside my head are partly due to waking up too early and feeling sleepy at present, but just the same, I felt the need to make a post. To share some of the thoughts so that they will run off onto this "page" and out of my head. Perhaps then I can take a little nap and truly rest! :-)
The sky is crying today. I know not what for. Its tears have been falling since last night, apparently there is something to cry about. The yard is land of miniature lakes now, every leaf awash and twigs acting as lonely ferries as they slowly move across the face of the each tiny pond. The air looks heavy even from my window, and the heavens sigh as the tears fall fast.
I love a rainy day. I do. Many folks I know hate rainy days. But I have never seen the sense in that. We could go with the old adage (I think it's an actual adage? Or perhaps I just thought of it? I don't know honestly), if we never had rainy, gray days then we'd never fully appreciate the dry and sunny days. But I love the rainy days for themselves. There is something almost magical about a rainy day.
I wouldn't want to have rainy days all the time. After about 4 days to a week of rain, I also grow weary of the gray, dull light and the constant wetness that seems to seep into every corner and sort of absorb you into its cloak. But for a few days, even, I can love it.
The sky is crying. I know not what for. But as I sit here and listen and watch its tears fall, soft and steady from the swollen clouds above, I hope that it knows that someone appreciates its tears. Someone listens, watches, is grateful and understanding. For whatever reason, the sky is crying. And it is a soothing sound.
The sky is crying today. I know not what for. Its tears have been falling since last night, apparently there is something to cry about. The yard is land of miniature lakes now, every leaf awash and twigs acting as lonely ferries as they slowly move across the face of the each tiny pond. The air looks heavy even from my window, and the heavens sigh as the tears fall fast.
I love a rainy day. I do. Many folks I know hate rainy days. But I have never seen the sense in that. We could go with the old adage (I think it's an actual adage? Or perhaps I just thought of it? I don't know honestly), if we never had rainy, gray days then we'd never fully appreciate the dry and sunny days. But I love the rainy days for themselves. There is something almost magical about a rainy day.
I wouldn't want to have rainy days all the time. After about 4 days to a week of rain, I also grow weary of the gray, dull light and the constant wetness that seems to seep into every corner and sort of absorb you into its cloak. But for a few days, even, I can love it.
The sky is crying. I know not what for. But as I sit here and listen and watch its tears fall, soft and steady from the swollen clouds above, I hope that it knows that someone appreciates its tears. Someone listens, watches, is grateful and understanding. For whatever reason, the sky is crying. And it is a soothing sound.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Life is Good?
Hello Friends!
Life is Good. We hear this often enough. A phrase toted about by people in a good mood, when everything in their life is falling into place and they couldn't be happier if they took a free flight to the moon. Right? Life is Good. There is even a company that makes their living mainly off this phrase with their apparel and accessories. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the stuff that company makes, I have a little backpack and a shirt of theirs and both are sweet, optimistic, and cute. But here is my thought today, as this statement becomes more of a question: Life is Good?
What about Life is inherently Good? Nothing. Now before your eyes grow wide and you gasp in shock at this "pessimistic" pronouncement, let me explain my line of thinking here.
Life, in and of itself, is not good. Think about it . . . how many times have you found yourself battered, broken, barely breathing and clinging on to the last piece of driftwood floating by you on the tumultuous "sea of life"? How many times have you been dealt a sudden blow by "life" that you couldn't have seen coming in a million years? What about when something dreadful has happened to you or to a loved one of yours and someone shrugs it off with a simple, "Yeah, well, that's life"??
Life, in and of itself, is rarely ever good. That is just reality. I have been there, seen that, and am sure you have too.
Now for the bright side of this thought: GOD IS GOOD. God is Good ALL the time. Life CAN be good because GOD is good. Without God, life is nothing, life isn't pleasant, life is extremely far beyond difficult, life is often unkind, and even more often unfair. Am I right?
So as you go about your day today, do us both a favor. Don't simply think to yourself when things are looking up and the sun is shining and your relationships are smoothly sailing along, that "Life is Good," as if Life has any way to contribute anything worth having on its own. Let me re-emphasize, on its own. Rejoice in the fact that life is going well for you . . .but think about the ultimate fact that the only way our life is good is because we serve a God Who is inherently GOOD. Think to yourself today, "God is good! That means my life is good! I can rejoice in God Who makes my life good!" And give thanks to the One who makes our lives good. Good even when the storms are raging, and when we are tossed about with the latest squall and feel like we cannot take another step in the right direction. Good when we wake up with a song in our heart and words of sweet encouragement on our lips. Without Him, the phrase Life is Good would be an appealing phrase but ultimately, a lie.
Life is Good. We hear this often enough. A phrase toted about by people in a good mood, when everything in their life is falling into place and they couldn't be happier if they took a free flight to the moon. Right? Life is Good. There is even a company that makes their living mainly off this phrase with their apparel and accessories. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the stuff that company makes, I have a little backpack and a shirt of theirs and both are sweet, optimistic, and cute. But here is my thought today, as this statement becomes more of a question: Life is Good?
What about Life is inherently Good? Nothing. Now before your eyes grow wide and you gasp in shock at this "pessimistic" pronouncement, let me explain my line of thinking here.
Life, in and of itself, is not good. Think about it . . . how many times have you found yourself battered, broken, barely breathing and clinging on to the last piece of driftwood floating by you on the tumultuous "sea of life"? How many times have you been dealt a sudden blow by "life" that you couldn't have seen coming in a million years? What about when something dreadful has happened to you or to a loved one of yours and someone shrugs it off with a simple, "Yeah, well, that's life"??
Life, in and of itself, is rarely ever good. That is just reality. I have been there, seen that, and am sure you have too.
Now for the bright side of this thought: GOD IS GOOD. God is Good ALL the time. Life CAN be good because GOD is good. Without God, life is nothing, life isn't pleasant, life is extremely far beyond difficult, life is often unkind, and even more often unfair. Am I right?
So as you go about your day today, do us both a favor. Don't simply think to yourself when things are looking up and the sun is shining and your relationships are smoothly sailing along, that "Life is Good," as if Life has any way to contribute anything worth having on its own. Let me re-emphasize, on its own. Rejoice in the fact that life is going well for you . . .but think about the ultimate fact that the only way our life is good is because we serve a God Who is inherently GOOD. Think to yourself today, "God is good! That means my life is good! I can rejoice in God Who makes my life good!" And give thanks to the One who makes our lives good. Good even when the storms are raging, and when we are tossed about with the latest squall and feel like we cannot take another step in the right direction. Good when we wake up with a song in our heart and words of sweet encouragement on our lips. Without Him, the phrase Life is Good would be an appealing phrase but ultimately, a lie.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:16,17
(italics my are my own)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
11 Facts About Me! And Check Below in Case You Have Been Tagged!
My dear blogger friend, Evelien from A Glimpse of Me tagged me when she recently made up the list of 11 facts about herself! So I'm going to attempt it too and at the end will tag 11 people so look for your name to continue this fun post! :-) Thanks, Evelien!
So here are the rules of this tag:
1. Post 11 things about yourself on your blog
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you and create 11 new questions for the
people you tag
3. Choose 11 people to tag and link them on your post
4. Go to your page and tell them you've linked them
NO tag backs!
11 Things About Me . . . . .
1. The state wherein I reside is also the place I have lived for the longest time of anywhere, EVER!
2. I am married to a wonderful man, namely my husband Joe who loves and inspires me.
3. I do not like to say goodbye . . . so I say "see you soon," instead.
4. I actually like precious gemstones such as ruby, emerald and blue sapphires MORE than diamonds!
5. I am an avid reader.
6. I like to play Sims 3! :-)
7. I have TWO dogs and TWO rabbits for pets! And, random fact - rabbits have DOUBLE chins! They're just called a "dewlap"! hahaha
8. I love Jesus!
9. I love the color purple almost as much as I do my favorite since I was little, the color blue!
10. I want to visit Italy someday.
11. I would be THRILLED to live in San Diego, California or close by!
Now for the questions Evelien asked me. . . . .
1. My favorite dessert is a toss-up between Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake and Lemon Cake.
2. I am a full time graduate student studying to be a counselor (psychologist).
3. I do have a husband! Married almost two years now!
4. I celebrated the New Year by watching the ball drop in NYC on t.v. and snuggling with my husband!
5. I live in the Southern USA.
6. Definitely prefer reading the book 9/10 times! However, I can also enjoy a good movie!
7. My favorite room . . . .probably living room. Because I can snuggle on the couch and read or watch tv!
8. I play piano!
9. Oh just one blog for a favorite? That's hard! Well I love LeAnna's blog, ThoughtsnWhatnots.
10. I guess I do like tag-posts! This is my first!
11. The only thing I might not like about blogging, is when I do NOT blog due to time constraints, or lack of energy or motivation! :)
Here are my questions for the folks I will tag:
1. What is your favorite breakfast food?
2. What is your least favorite food?
3. If you had to pick the worst color you could wear, what would that color be for you?
4. What is your favorite genre in books?
5. What is your least favorite genre for movies?
6. When was the last time you gave someone a hug? Who did you give it to? :-)
7. When did you last see a sunrise?
8. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
9. Where do you live? (again, no addresses please!)
10. Are you married or do you have a special someone?
11. Do you have any pets or wish that you did?
Now for the people I am going to tag!
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