Last year, instead of resolutions or goals, I picked a “word” for the year. For 2008, the word was “closure.” Looking back, 2008 was a year of closure, in many of the areas I listed.
This year? My word is “action.”
I’m taking action in a number of areas. Health, spiritual growth, career, home, finances . . .
I actually began last year, but I’m going to keep my momentum. I’ve got some posts drafted about things I “acted” on last year, and I’m sure I’ll write about my “actions” this year.
Next up?
OnJanuary 26th, when my GYN asks me if I’m finally “ready” to get rid of these stupid fibroid tumors once and for all, I’m going to say YES. I’m going to get OFF these iron supplements. I’m keeping my ovaries, but this uterus? Buh Bye.
As always, when faced with a problem, I’m seeking information. Anyone? I’m hoping for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, but with these fibroids, I’m not sure how that will work. I have a friend going in for one and SHE has fibroids, but she has many small ones and I have a few large ones. I’ll find out how many and how large they are THIS year at my annual sonogram.
Why am I taking action on this after so many years?
One. I’m done having kids.
Two. FirstHusband said, “If it was already over, you would have done it already.”
I get that. It’s the recovery I’m avoiding.
Not anymore. I’m taking action.
The funny thing? Independently, FirstHusband came up with his word. “Rest.”
It’s January, time to shred 2001. At the advice of my accountant, I keep documents 7 years. As I rotate 2008 into storage, I’m reminded of a three part series I wrote entitled “Don’t File Paper at Home Anymore.”
If you are SICK of managing the paper in your house, check it out.
We’ve made one modification to the process this year.
We now throw away all the receipts we don’t need. Why were we keeping grocery store and restaurant receipts? Why were we keeping receipts for household cleaning products and stuff we weren’t going to return?
Many of the expenses we need to track are on our bank statement. We now only keep business receipts. We don’t even need to shred many of them because they don’t show our account numbers.
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.Romans 13: 1-2, 5-7
No. I didn’t vote for him, but he is the President of the United States and my children, friends and family will bear witness to the respect I have for that office and the person who holds it.
I don’t know if he is a Christian. He says he is. I pray first for his relationship with God, then for his choices.
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 1st Timothy 2:1-3
Two of my favorites visited at the same time this morning – a tufted titmouse and a woodpecker. A red bellied woodpecker from what I could see. The titmouse is my true favorite, but he is so much cuter when he’s fatter. I’ll have to work on that.
This is why I filled the squirrel feeder last night. The raccoon left all the bird feeders up and full! He didn’t even raid the suet! Of course the shriveled blackberries I left on top of the squirrel feeder are long gone this morning.
So anyone know how to attract blue jays? Do I even want to? I just love the different sounds they make. One in particular reminds me of an old school yard swing. You know, the noise those old metal swings used to make as they went up and back? Wikipedia refers to it like this:
“One of the most distinctive calls of this type is often referred to as the sound “the rusty pump” owing to its squeaky resemblance to the sound of an old hand-operated water pump.”
I think it may be cold every where in the U.S. right now, and I don’t pretend to be whining. I actually like it. But of course, I have heat and snow doesn’t blanket Florida. I grouse about hurricanes and humidity, not cold weather.
The freeze warning last night? You know, take in your plants, blah, blah, blah. No need.
Basketballs don’t die.
We had a fire in the fireplace last night and the first chili of the season. I wanted to have white chicken chili, but as I was doing my impression of a short person trying to see on the top shelf at the grocery store, the manager stepped up behind me and asked if he could help me find something.
“White chicken chili mix?”
He copied my impression of a short person, made a “sorry” face and apologized.
“I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought of chili tonight.”
Another (taller) manager was with him and, after sliding her hand across and back the top shelf (show-off) she said:
“Well we should have thought of it too – it’s only freezing outside. Of course people would want to make chili.”
So I made the standard “Chilio” chili instead. (They were out of those packets too, I just had some at home.)
I’m hoping to score some white chicken chili packets today at another grocery store. This is how easy it is:
It needs to simmer a little, but the prep is only 5 minutes if you use the canned chicken (from Sam’s Club) and the canned beans. I’m hoping to make a double batch. A little corn bread, some s’mores and smears over the fire for dessert . . . that, combined with no athletic practices and some family night American Idol watching.
Shoot. We might even take the Christmas tree down. Yes. Yes, I said it. No judging. Our family rule is “if you’re not willing to help, you’re not allowed to complain.”
Tina is doing her taxes and she reminded me of an old post I wrote back in July of last year. I highlighted a FREE online tool to help value the items you donate to charity. Check out the post and the screen shots!
We will probably break in our new fire pit this weekend. And there will be s’mores.
I personally prefer what I call “smears.” Take a single “brick” of Hershey’s chocolate (I prefer special dark) and stuff it inside a marshmallow. Toast it to your preferred gooeyness and pop it in your mouth. If you handle it to much after it’s toasted, the chocolate smears all over – hence the name.
“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. ”
— Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)
There’s a similar quote by Henry Hartman:
“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity”
My fear is that I’ll get what I’m asking for.
That would be singing and speaking work.
And I’m not sure I want it.
My other fear is that I won’t get any singing or speaking work.
I know. I’m so decisive.
I called my assistant pastor last week and told her that I was available to sing and/or speak at events. For years, I’ve been making myself UNavailable. She immediately had a few ideas and she asked me if I had any recordings of my singing or speaking. And now I’m on youtube.
A number of years ago, I led music and performed at a weekend retreat and was a key speaker at another. I left Friday afternoon and returned Sunday afternoon. A LOT of work, but a very comfortable fit. LOVED the experience. HATED being away from my family for the entire weekend. I missed EVERYTHING! With a husband who sometime travels and works late, weekends are FAMILY time. I didn’t – and still don’t – want to give that up. We don’t have that many years left until the kids have their own agendas on the weekend. It’s starting with FavoriteSon already.
And with a husband who sometimes travels and works late, evening speaking engagements aren’t really a good idea either. Years ago, we actually instituted a family “policy” about school nights. We don’t participate in activities that required weeknight involvement. We didn’t go to Wednesday night church for years because it ended AFTER PinkGirl’s bedtime. We tried it a few times, but Thursday mornings were HORRIBLE, and on Thursday afternoons after school my children were replaced by their evil, cranky twins.
But now, the kids are older. They stay up a little later. If they stay home alone they actually do what they’re supposed to do – like homework or cleaning up. Okay, they’re kids, so SOMETIMES they do what they’re supposed to do. The point is that FavoriteSon babysits his sister pretty well. She sometimes calls us to tell us NOT to come home because they’re having too much fun.
Now, my family could come with me if I travel. Now, for some reason, I’m thinking that leading a weekend retreat every once in a while wouldn’t be a bad idea. FirstHusband is interested in joining with some other dads at church who take their kids camping one weekend a month. And I would be home all weekend alone. I could relax and do nothing . . . but seriously. Regular readers. Can you see that happening? B O R I N G.
So. I opened a door. Now I prepare, because I believe Randy and Henry.
For me, preparing includes getting my voice into shape. I appreciate the compliments on the youtube videos, but I heard me too. I’ve got some serious work to do. My range is diminished, my breath control is weak and my repertoire is very thin. Since I do better with deadlines, I’m scheduling a recording session at a local school. I’ll be a student project. I’ve done it before and it was a great learning experience. There’s nothing like listening to yourself all alone on a track. eek. I can REALLY tell what I need to work on after that.
Preparing also means putting together some presentations. The hard part is deciding which topics to do first. If someone would just give me a topic, I could just do it. FirstHusband thinks I should create a presentation on “grace based parenting.” hmmm. Is he thinking I need a little reminding? Couldn’t hurt.
Preparing also means updating my website. I’m thinking. I’m learning.
I’m preparing for opportunity.
And hoping it occurs Monday through Friday during school hours.
