The Desert

Ever feel like you're in the desert? Some days I do. It is dry. Parched. Lonely. Quiet.

I've recently had a few desert days. And while I prefer to be in a place that is more lush and green...and full of life...I'm thankful for these times too. For it's in these times when I am able to once again, figure out who I am. It's also a place where I am more aware of God and his mercy.

I love the desert pictures we get from scripture:

The burning bush was in the desert. God's people wandered in the desert, but he was there with them even when they were grumbling and complaining. Jesus prayed in the desert. He spent 40 days there fasting and endured temptation there.

In Psalm 63 David said, "1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."

So, while my spirit is a bit dry right now. I TRUST that there are streams of living water that come to the dry land. I KNOW that it's here that I can leave more "old stuff" and put on the "new". It's in these dry times I realize just how much I thirst for God's mercy and grace. And I lean in to him a little more than usual...I quit trusting ME and start trusting HIM. In essence, I surrender.

We have choices here in the desert....shrivel up? Dry up? OR Press on? Seek water? Find the stream?

I choose to run to the stream....

What about you?

A Little Toe-Stepping and an Update

Saturday, I had an experience that simply has me baffled. I was in the salon for a pedicure and nail fill. After I finished, I went over to the drier. In this salon, it's a long table and you put your hands somewhere under it and your feet under the bottom. There are other hands and feet under the same drier.



So, I went to the drier and sat across from a woman who already had her hands and feet under it. I thought I left her enough room when I put my feet under. But apparently, I didn't guess right. I felt her foot near mine and saw the utter disgust on her face when I hit her big toe. I started apologizing. I wanted to CRAWL under the drier and hide! She just GLARED at me...like I had just robbed her blind and spit on her. Her face was that of a spoiled BRAT prima dona who didn't get HER way.



She began frantically looking for her nail tech to fix it. And when the nail tech came to see what's wrong, she said, "What did you do?" I said, "She didn't do it...I did. I am SO sorry!" The nail tech laughed and said, "It's OK...it can be fixed." I think at that point prima dona's hair started standing on end. She walked to the pedicure chair to get it fixed and I watched it all with such amazement.



I mean all was still OK in the world. I didn't do it on purpose. But when the nail tech said, "You can go back under the drier." She shot me a look and told the nail tech, "NO WAY! I'm going to sit right HERE and let it dry."



My nails were done drying and I left. It still has me so baffled that people let little stuff get to them like that. I feel sorry for her. If that's all it takes to set her off, then I wonder just how satisfied she is in the rest of her life.



And, as always, I took a lesson away from it. I am pretty sure we all get our "toes stepped on" occasionally. And I'm pretty sure we all overreact too. Perhaps, when it happens, it's time to step back and really try to get new perspective. And, we need to extend forgiveness when the opportunity presents itself.



____________________________



And now for my updates...which could be titled, "Why it's been so long since I've blogged..."

* DH flew to Texas a second time last week in his new airplane. I was not nearly as panicked watching him via the flight tracker as I was the first time he did it. He likes it.
* DSs 2 and 3's video made the top 20 for the CBS Grammy Award contest. They really could use any votes that anyone can send their way. This is the link for their video. You can vote more than once. I just mute my computer and hit "refresh/vote" several times at a sitting. They will narrow it down to 10 videos on Friday based solely on votes. Then there will be another voting window where they will be narrowed down to three that will be shown on the Grammy awards. The winner will receive $5,000! (NO they didn't get to pick the song. I don't like the song...but they worked very hard and think the video is funny and well-done. If you're willing, please forward the link to anyone you know that might vote for them. They will need a lot of support to make it the whole way.)
* I hosted the first of 6 scrapbooking nights at my house the other night. We had a great time getting to visit with each other. I am hoping that this is another way to reach into the community.
* Yesterday, we celebrated my brother's birthday and DS 4's birthday (again) in Tampa. It was a nice afternoon.

OK, that's it from my neck of the woods.

Until next time...

We need your VOTE again!

My boys are at it again. This time the video contest they entered is sponsored by CBS. The winning video had to lip synch to this song (that I don't like) and submit a one minute video. The winner will be shown on the Grammy's and gets $5,000. They worked really hard on it and need your help cause voting is 33% of the score. There will be four separate voting windows and the first one is open now. (Read: I'll be asking you to vote three more times after this!)

This one is even easier than the last, you just click on the link and hit "vote". No registration or anything. I appreciate it if you can help!
Here is the link:  Matt Kissed a Girl

Just Keeping It Real...

My blogging friend, Lauren, over at Baseballs & Bows recently reported on her family's trip to Disney. I loved it because at the end of each wonderful recollection post, she'd include the "keeping it real" section where she reported if and when there was conflict or some other less than positive event on that day. Not long after I hit publish on my last post, birthday boy and a portion of his day, went sour. I wasn't going to share it, but I think it's important to know. So, Lauren, and all the rest of my sweet blogging friends, here's my attempt at Keeping it Real:

Before you think I'm a horrible Mother that ruins birthdays (like DS 4 told me), I want to show you visual evidence that there WAS fun that surrounded this celebration:


The photo above shows what happened at my house on Friday night. DS 4 had several friends over. They roasted marshmallows, ate pizza, skateboarded, opened gifts, and played Wii Rock Band. DS 3 and DH even MADE him his birthday cake (not the norm in our house).

On Saturday, his actual birthday, I took him to mini-Golf. We had a great time and he even got two holes-in-one! And only moments after the golf game was done, and these happy photos were taken, it all went down...though not as smooth as the airline that just landed on the Hudson.

I suppose I should have turned around after DS 4 took this shot of me, cause it was very telling. I am standing in front of the "sheriff's office" at the golf course. Little did I know, the sheriff in me was going to have to come in and take over.
It was after we finished our golf game, that DS 4 said, "I just want to hit a bucket of balls." I told him that we could not do that now and the 3-year-old that lives in all of us came out in him big time! He started whining and begging (which drives me CRAZY). I repeatedly told him no and explained that we just spent money on something fun and it was time for lunch.



After we got in the car, I thought it was over. But, like my car, it was just REVVING up! I told him he had a choice for his birthday lunch: restaurant A or B. He hemmed and hawed around and "couldn't choose". I warned him, "Place A is coming up on the left, you have until just after this stoplight to make your decision. Otherwise we are going to head off to the other place." He kept stalling and I passed place A. He cried. He said, "I don't get why you can't make a U-turn!" I said, "I gave you a choice. And by not making one, you made it."



I pulled into place B. We are now going on about 30 minutes of fits! On the way there, he said, "Mom, you're ruining my birthday!" Thoughts of him sitting on some therapist's couch when he's 40 ran through my head. But they were quickly replaced by thoughts of a young man who can't make a decision and thinks he can talk his way out of most situations. And I decided that I had to stand firm.


As I pulled into place B, I knew I was hungry and I DEFINITELY "needed" a Diet Coke! He said, "I am NOT eating here." I said "OK, I am. You can wait for me." He got in line just behind me as I placed my order. I handed him money and explained that he could order if he chose to eat. I also explained that when I finished, if he did not have food, we were leaving and he would eat at home.


The questions...and the child tug-o-war....started immediately after I sat down. He continued to be non-decisive and whiny. I ignored him except for the occasional reminder that the clock was ticking and the window of opportunity was shutting.


Sure enough, it ended. When I finished my food, he announced, "I know what I want now." I took the money from his hand and said, "I'm sorry, you chose not to eat here. You'll be eating at home." As he followed me to the car, mortified by the line in the sand, the tears and words began to flow. I explained to him that he was "only making it worse". I reminded him that he needed to stop and then my timer began. I told him for every disrespectful word out of his mouth, he was earning an amount of time in his room. Let's just say, by the time we got home, it was 2 hours and 15 minutes. I sent him directly there with no food.


And when he was quietly tucked away in his room to think about his attitude and actions, I tucked myself quietly away with my diet coke to settle down. I KNOW the boundaries are important. I KNOW that we ALL push them when we can. I KNOW that he needed the parent that would set the boundary and abide by it no matter what day of the year it was. It still made my Mother's words come back to me, "This hurts me more than it hurts you!" (I don't know if that's quite the truth...but I understand it.)


Later, DS 4 came out of his room, had some lunch and said, "I'm sorry about my attitude, Mom. I'll try and do better next time."


And that's when I knew it was all worth it. And someday, he will too!

Today He is 10

Ten years. In some ways it feels so right and in others, it feels as if it cannot possibly be, but my "baby" is 10 today.

He was the fourth. He was a total surprise. A jolt out of our day-to-day routine that shook me to my core.

Ten years and 9 months ago, my youngest was heading off to school and we looked forward to being out of the whole preK/baby mode. We needed no stroller to walk Disney. We were done with potty training and other "baby stuff". I got rid of everything that remotely said "BABY". There was no crib. No clothes. No toys. Nothing. DH and I had decided that we were done with that phase of our lives. And I was glad.

But God had other plans.

Suddenly, on a day in May, I wasn't feeling great. It felt remotely familiar, but I put "that thought" right out of my head. Still, I knew I was off kilter a bit. I went to the doctor and he told me I was pregnant. "Pregnant?" I thought. "No way!" That day, I remember laying on our couch in total silence. It wasn't my plan. I was done. HOW could this happen? (No smart answers, I know HOW...but I really wanted to know WHY?) DH kept telling me, "It'll be fine! It's a good thing." I didn't believe him.

My pregnancy plodded along. I was uncomfortable and could barely walk when I left work in early December. I remember that Christmas being oh-so-special as I felt like I could understand young Mary better than ever before. And I could not imagine plodding anywhere by Donkey! In that final pregnancy journey I think I experienced every single emotion that Jesus' young Mother must have felt. Shock. Fear. Anguish. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Still, in many ways, I was going through the motions. Always in the back of my mind were the words, "This wasn't MY plan."

Three weeks or so before I had DS 4, the ladies at church threw me a surprise baby shower. It was such a blessing. I also had a shower from my friends at school. Still, I brought the things home and put them in a closet. We did get a crib...although I cannot remember where it came from! Still, the room was pretty much undone two weeks before I delivered.

My friend, Mellissa called me and said, "Have you used your gift cards yet?" I said, "No." She said, "Have you picked up sheets and the basics yet?" I replied, "No." She said, "Susan, you ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY! You HAVE to get ready." She was right. I went to the store the next day and picked out a few things that I knew I would need for a brand new baby.

Those last two weeks were brutal. I could barely walk. I was lonely. I was scared. I couldn't sleep. He kept me up from 11:30 - 3:30AM almost every single night doing acrobatics in the comfort of my womb. I would sit in our recliner and cry. I prayed for him. And for me. I asked God to help me be the Mother he needed me to be. I admitted that I simply didn't know if I could do it again. I was scared to have another delivery. My last two were no picnic at more than 9 lbs each.

Sunday morning, January 17th, I knew we had to go to the hospital. We left before 6:00am. By mid-morning the doctors were very concerned because his oxygen levels were dropping and he appeared in distress. They broke the news to me. C-section. More fear. More panic. More anger. By noon, our fourth son....a gift from God...was born.

The cord was wrapped around his neck AND in a knot. The doctors said he would not have survived a trip through the birth canal as that knot was cutting off the oxygen. I cried. I knew we had a miracle on our hands. And at that moment I felt as if God finally whispered in my ear: "This one is born for a very special purpose. For my work. He's going to do great things."

And the bond was made.

I always knew that I would have boys no matter how many I had. God had shown me that when I had DS 2. I feel so strongly that DH and I were "supposed to" help raise up Godly men that would one day make great husbands and fathers. And I have been so greatful for that call.

After I gave birth to DS 4, I started savoring moments more. I knew this was my "last". There would be no more. Each of my children have taught me so many lessons--and in a way I learned from HIM to take the time to enjoy the others even more. In this past ten years I have learned more about love and life and compassion and joy. He lives life to its fullest. HE enjoys moments and makes memories. He is tender and kind. He loves his brothers and family beyond belief.

And, today, as I reflect on the joy he has brought to our family, and the way in which he arrived, Isaiah 55:8-9 comes to my mind:

My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the
Lord.'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than
your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.

And, to that I say, "Thank you, God!"

Happy Happy Birthday, Son! I love you!

When Changes Come...

I opened the morning paper only to find that my position is being removed from all of our schools in order to meet the budget reduction in our state. I have known that this was a distinct possibility for quite some time. Still, when it's finally in black and white, it hurts.

I came to school and several colleagues asked how I was doing. I appreciated that. I really do work at a GREAT place. And I reminded them that the one thing that is constant is change. It happens every year. This year it is just much deeper than normal. At this point there is still no way to say what my job WILL be next year. Unlike so many who are facing job changes and/or losses in this economy, I have options.

Today, I'm a bit shell-shocked. But tomorrow will come and I'll be fine. I feel sorry for young teachers who are just starting out and cannot get jobs. I hurt for those who are already in classrooms who will be "bumped out" by more senior people. I can't imagine being certified in one area and being told that the area will not be offered next year. Those people are in a position that must be so very frustrating.

So here is the verse I am resting in today from Isaiah 26:

3 You, Lord, give true peace
to those who depend on you,
because they trust you.
4 So, trust the Lord always,
because he is our Rock forever.

Slow Fade

When DS 1 and DS 2 were little, we did a lot of singing in the car. One of the little songs we often sang was: "Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little eyes what you see." And we would repeat with "ears" and "hearing" and "lips" and "saying." It's quite a simple song. Yet it's message is quite clear: "Watch our actions, God is watching."

I am only really starting to realize just how different that picture is for each human being. For some of us, it feels like "God is watching with his big stick ready to strike at the first sign of sin." For others, it's "God's watching, so you better be on your best behavior." And others it's binding, "God loves us now, but watch it, cause he might not if we do a wrong thing."

One of the smaller words in the song is actually one of the most important: Love. God watches us with so much love and adoration. And, just like any good parent, he never wants to see us self-destruct because of our attitude or actions. I really think THAT'S the message of this song.

Recently, the radio has been playing Casting Crowns' song "Slow Fade" more often. It is on their album titled "The Altar and the Door". And within these grown-up lyrics is woven the little song that my boys and I used to sing together. This song takes the child's song to a whole new level. It cautions all of us that we must be careful with our attitudes and actions cause it's a "Slow Fade when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day."

And I love this picture because it is so true. For most of us, we fall a little bit...maybe even stumble...then we say "Oh that one time was OK..." and soon it mushrooms out of control (a la Oprah's recent weight gain admission). It doesn't happen all at once. But all at once we can find ourselves in the midst of fear, doubt, frustration, loneliness, emptiness, anger, etc. And we must realize that it is a "Slow Fade" that usually brings us to those places.

I love the piece of the picture that is so clear to me now..."there's a Father up above looking down in love." He's calling. Beckoning. And no matter WHERE we are or WHO we are or WHAT we've done, he's there. Waiting. And like the parent says to the wounded child, he says: "I told you to be careful. Now come on home and let me help get you cleaned up. I love you!"

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the
strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

(chorus)

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

It was a blip on the screen...

If you've been reading my blog for any time at all, then you know that my DS 3 and my DH have both been learning to fly small airplanes. DH is much further along in the process and recently got his instrument rating so that he can fly in clouds and such. In addition, just before Christmas, DH bought a plane to use for his business travel.

Yesterday, DH began his busy travel season. And, instead of flying a large carrier, he flew his plane to Texas. Now, in case you don't know, I DON'T like flying much at all. I can do it...and I do do it....in big commercial planes. These little things just are NOT for me. But they like it and I'm happy for them. I'm not going to pretend that I don't worry about them when they are airborne, however.

Shortly after DH left yesterday, DS 3 introduced me to a flight tracker. I know you can do this because I've "followed" his big planes home before on the radar. It's kind of neat. And, actually, for someone who doesn't like flying, it's a good thing to look and see just how MANY successful flights are moving across the US at any given time. It is a good way for me to be more rational in my thought life---which can be quite irrational at times!

So, DS 3 shows me how to find DH's plane on the radar and I start watching it. It updates every 4 - 6 minutes. Can you see where the green line turns "left" up there at the Florida panhandle? During the flight, there is a little green airplane to mark the plane's actual coordinates. I "saw" DH's plane make the left turn to kind of shave off a bit of the coastline and head out over the Gulf a bit. The tracker tells me that he is flying at 10,000 ft. Suddenly, the little green plane goes away, and a message appears on the screen: "No data for this flight."

WHAT???? I didn't go into full-blown panic at first. I know technology isn't always good. BUT, after I waited 45 minutes, I started to get nervous and let my imagination run wild. DS 3 tells me, "Mom, it's FINE! It's not the FAA website. It's probably just switching control towers. Or he stopped somewhere."

Whatever! I hate it when the 14yo is so calm and logical! All I could see is this green line that showed a flight path that appeared to stop over the water. And I found it hard to trust at that point.

DH WAS fine. He made it to Texas in the time that he expected to do so. And I was once again reminded that there is NOTHING that my worry can do to change anything. It doesn't add one single hour to anyone's life. And, from all the research probably shaves a few minutes off of my own.

It was a blip on the screen that set my fears and feelings into motion....

The truth is...I was looking at the wrong radar! Listen to this:

• Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7


• The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1


• So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31


• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Over and over again, the word sends out a beacon of light to those of us who wrestle with fear and anxiety and any other life issue. Over and over again I have to be reminded that THIS should be my FIRST response, not a second or third. Today, at church, I was reminded of a piece of scripture that is just so beautiful to "rest in" and "grow from". And so I am going to leave you with this beacon from God's radar that I am going to be using this week from Ephesians 3--I highlighted and bolded my favorite part of this scripture:

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The Facts and the Lessons

The morning after the closet fell, I sat staring again at the MESS and found my thoughts like this: "cheap builder supplies" "WHO didn't anchor it right?" "I'm sure it was the humidity" Finger pointing. Finger pointing. Finger pointing.


And, then the evening after, when I was actually able to start digging out, reality started to set in. DH was so sweet. He said, "The boys can help." I immediately said, "No, it's not their mess or their closet." He reminded me that they live in the house and that it would be a quicker process with five of us emptying it vs. just one. He's SO PRACTICAL!


It was a bit more than five minutes, but it certainly didn't take long with them helping. The boys were a great help...even if they made me endure their smirks each time I piled their arms full of clothes and purses and STUFF. And thank goodness DS 1 isn't home, cause his room is now "my closet" until we can get the repairs done.


After we dug out the stuff that was actually ON the shelf that fell, I was SHOCKED. I mean, there is still a lot of stuff in there. STUFF. That's all it is.


Scrapbooking STUFF.
Christmas STUFF.
Letter-writing STUFF.
Cards and STUFF.
Memory boxes for the boys' STUFF.
Sweaters I "might" wear again someday STUFF.
Tote bags that I have picked up at conferences STUFF.


Now, none of this stuff caused the fall. It's planted firmly on the floor of the closet and on the shelves that were under my clothes and other STUFF that fell. I'm going to have to do some serious purging both of things that were hanging and stored and those things that are underneath it all because there is simply no NEED for all of it.

I don't know what the tipping point was. I don't know what it was that suddenly made it give way at 3:31am. It doesn't really matter now. There is nothing I can do but clean it up and move on.


And, because we can learn so much from everyday living. I realized a few things:


This is kind of like life isn't it? We all have STUFF inside that we most likely ignore and pretend doesn't exist. I mean, if you look at the bottom picture of my CLEAN closet, it was organized. It was FINE...right? Maybe. And maybe not.

Sometimes there are things hidden inside that we simply have to clean up and purge in order to be the best we can be. Sometimes things hide and we don't know they are there until suddenly the anchors break and the light comes flooding into every crack and crevice.

So, while I clean up my physical closet, I am also going to reassess my spiritual closet. I'm going to ask some questions:

Are the anchors secure?
Is there a load that I should not be carrying?
What STUFF is in there that may need to be purged?
If something breaks, will I find things I didn't realize existed?
What can I clean out now to prevent a serious problem?

Every once in a while we have to ask ourselves the question...

How are MY closets?

It Was 3:31AM...

...and I WASN'T laughing!! DH and I were startled awake by an enormous noise this morning at 3:31. We immediately jumped out of bed to see what the crash was. Honestly, I thought one of the cats might have done something, but it was TOO BIG even for them. When we went to our closet, this is what we saw:

MY WHOLE side of the closet completely came off the wall and CRASHED!! Oh. My. Gosh. My first thought? "Laughter is my word for the year, Lord and I'm sure I can do that right after I CRY!" Then, DH started with his reassurance: "At least we HAVE closets and lots of things to put in them." OK, it was kind of one of those "Eat those nasty veggies cause there are starving kids in Africa" comments...and I wasn't amused in my "Cranky I just got rudely awakened at 3:31am" mood. So I did what my Mother taught me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." And I layed there wondering just HOW I was going to get to whatever I needed to wear to work. Let's just say you go for the closest thing you can find.

Now, before you go judging that mess up there, let me remind you that I made a true confession when I deep cleaned it a while ago. And the result, when it's normally hung is over here to the left.

Other than the fact that there was a bit on the floor on the right side that still needs to be put up from Christmas, this is pretty much what it looked like before it fell. You can't tell it from the angle of my evidence photo, but the back rack and my husband's rack (on the left side) are JUST FINE.

So, I'm going to start digging out tonight. Doesn't that sound like a BARREL of FUN??

And, I'm guessing it will be better when the sun comes up...

And I'm quite sure I WILL laugh!! Just in case I don't yet...maybe YOU can have a laugh---HERE, it's on me!

Have a great day...

By the way, if you haven't voted for my boys' video, will you scroll to the post below and see if you think you might be able to help them out? Today is the last day to vote. They'd so appreciate your help. And, yes, you can only vote ONE time.

We need your help...

My boys, DSs 2 and 3 created a video and we need VOTES! They made the finals and already won $100 for their video. NOW they need votes to win the whole thing...an Xbox and FIFA Soccer '09. To vote for them...go to this link: http://www.take180.com/contest/home.do?contestId=cm4a

You have to register for FREE and then go BACK to this link and cast your vote for the Ultimate Frisbee video. Here's their video:

And Speaking of Laughter...

I love this magazine. Now, that alone might make you laugh. If you know me at all, then you know that I REALLY don't like to cook much. And I really don't cook much thanks to my DH who DOES like to cook.

So, you might think I bought it cause I thought it meant "hardly cooking" vs. "cooking healthy." The truth is, I got it because it was one of the choices on DS 3's fundraiser order that I thought was reasonable. And I also got it because every once in a while the cooking urge hits me and I like to have new recipes to try out.

This month's issue is full of great recipes that I plan to try as soon as DH heads off to Texas this month. I won't even explore why I wait until he's gone...I guess I just like a smaller audience.

As you might expect, the January issue has some articles on healthy living. One of the articles is called, "5 ways to boost your metabolism". I thought..."I NEED that article!" My metabolism is something I struggle with. Trust me, though, it boosted with #5, "Laugh it off." The article says:

When researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, put people into a "metabolic chamber" (a small room that measures heat output in order to
calculate a person'a metabolic rate) and showed them funny videos, the subjects' metabolic rates rose by 10 to 40 calories. It's a small increase, but every calorie counts for those seeking weight loss, says lead researcher Maciej Buchowski, PhD.

I know that there are many research studies out there about the effects of laughter on a person's health. I just thought this was so timely since my "word for the year" is LAUGHTER!

Go ahead and do it...It's GOOD for YOU!!!

A New Year...A New Word

Two years ago, my SIL, Heather posted something I had not heard of before. It had to do with finding a "word" for the New Year. And so I prayed. And I asked God to reveal a word to me that would be "my word" for that year. And He really gave me the word "promise". Again and again, He showed how he keeps His promises.

Then, the next year, my heart was impressed with two little words: MOLD ME. This past year, although I didn't blog specifically about it, I am certain that my word was "FORWARD" as I needed to look forward to what lies ahead.

And, here I am in 2009 asking once again for a word on which to focus for this year. And this word LAUGHTER keeps coming to my mind and heart. I know that I get too serious. I get focused and although I LOVE to laugh, I forget to do it. It's like a muscle, and it must be exercised.

When I went to the Bible to really see if that's the word that God has for me. I thought, "No, God must want me to have the word "JOY" for the year." Cause over and over again are verses about silencing laughter. I looked at some different versions of the verse that most caught my eye and my heart in The Message version:

Psalm 30:3-5:
2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life
when I was down-and-out.

4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
Thank him to his face!
He gets angry once in a while, but across
a lifetime there is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out
give way to days of laughter.

And, then, because I know the Message is a translation---and sometimes considered inappropriate, I read the verse in the New American Standard Version (which was my first study Bible):

3O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
4Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
5For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

So, here I am, at the beginning of another year knowing that "LAUGHTER" is to be my word...but also understanding that it's not the kind of laughter that is without pure JOY. And I'm excited to see what I learn as I seek those moments to rest, laugh, and enJOY my life.

Happy 2009, everyone!

Book Review: Eclipse and Breaking Dawn

One thing I have enjoyed a great deal over the past two years is sharing my reading life with the blogging world. Today I spent a great deal of time going back and fixing broken pictures from my 2007 Reading List. I also finished reading book 4 in the Twilight Series. When I started trying to close out my 2008 Reading List, I noticed that I have not reviewed the last two books in this series. I suppose it's because I read them back to back in the midst of all the holiday hoopla. So, in order to take care of all "unfinished business" from 2008, here are my reviews:


Eclipse is the third book in Stephenie Meyer's now famous Twilight Series. It continues the story of Edward Cullen, the handsome, extraordinary vampire and Bella Swan, the human high school senior. In this portion of the series, Bella is once again torn between her love for Edward and deep friendship with Jacob.


It is clear with this book that you must have read the first two to understand. Meyer does not spend a lot of time with backstory in her narrative.


Again and again Bella is forced to confront her choice of whether or not to maintain her relationship with Edward (and eventually become a Vampire). She knows it means she will have to give up a great deal...and quite possibly Jacob's friendship as well.


I think one of my favorite parts is when the Vampires and the Werewolves actually work together to overcome a group of young vampires who are set on killing Bella. It's the love of this woman that helps the opposing sides come together as one and break "history" so-to-speak.

I found this book, like the first two, a page turner. It took me very little time to read and I was "hooked" from the first page. I have read several reviews and know that some people fault Meyer with too much teenage angst in the pages. Since that is har target audience, I think it's perfect. And, for me, it just seemed "real" in an odd sort of way.



There was no break in time from reading Eclipse to moving into Breaking Dawn for me. People kept telling me, "It's the best one yet." I did have a moment of "stuttering" at the beginning because I thought that the outcome might go totally against what I wanted to see.


Some other readers assured me that it has a "happy ending"...so I pressed on. And they were right. It had a great ending.


This book begins with the wedding of Edward and Bella (a condition of Edward's before Bella can become "changed"). But it also deals with the treaty between the Quilete werewolves and the Cullens. The treaty agrees that no other human will be "changed" or used as food, in Forks or La Push and they will co-exist in harmony.


The tension grows as Bella is figuring out how and when and IF to "change". Of course, Jacob, her ever-loyal werewolf best friend is there each step of the way (OK MOST steps of the way). This continues to paint the triangle that exists between these three (Bella, Edward, and Jacob). But, Jacob realizes that he loves Bella too much to cut all his ties with her.


In the end, it's true love that pushes past all the laws, and rules, and rituals, and histories to paint a new picture of this fantasy world. I loved reading these books and found them hard to put down. I am happy, however, to move to something else to start my 2009 Reading List.


Let's just say, like Bella and Edward and Jacob: "I'm Satisfied!"


{Note: As I was finishing book 3, my Assistant Principal called me and told me that her daughter (who's home on leave from college) was flying through the books over holiday break. They didn't want to go buy the other two, so she was hoping to borrow them. She borrowed book 3 two days ago and came and got book 4 today. She's not a "reader" per say...but has loved these books for her holiday break.}

Happy Reading, Everyone!

Welcome 2009!

2009 came rather quietly here in our house. DH and I went to a New Year's Eve party for a bit, but then came home to watch the ball drop in Times Square. I am always amazed when Dick Clark makes it for one more year (although it's sad to watch him).

DS 1 leaves tomorrow to go back to basic training. The Christmas decorations are put away. We are going to go to the "river" as a family for the next couple of days for one last visit before my Dad sells it. And Monday we will return to school/work.

I have to say that my mood at the end of 2008 and looking into 2009 is content. I love where we are in our lives. We are enjoying our friends and family. And I am blessed.

When I count my blessings, there is no doubt that my blogging friends are a big portion of them. And I am so greatful for my friends and my family. So I want to wish each of you a year filled with blessings and joy!

Happy New Year!