My new weakness

Thinking

When there's not any specific show on tv that I am dying to see, I do what all normal people do.

I channel surf.

Tonight I stopped on a movie I watched for years. Armageddon. I used to love this movie - to the point that I watched it all the time. This time though my thought processes went beyond what I was watching on the screen. I found myself thinking and questioning...

If you knew your time left on earth was limited, how would that change your life? What would you say or do that you might not have otherwise? What wouldn't you say or do that you are currently? And if this was true, why are we living the way we are?

Loves of my life...

My adorable nephew and niece!

Irony

Tonight I met up with a friend for some great conversation at one of the many local Starbucks. On the ride home this song came on and it suddenly reminded me of a topic we covered. A topic I think all women have struggled with at some point in time or another.

Beautiful
by Bethany Dillon

I was so unique
Now I feel skin deep
Count on the make-up to cover it all.
Crying myself to sleep ‘cause I can not keep their attention
Thought I could be strong, but it’s killing me.

Does someone hear my cry?
I’m dying for new life.

I wanna be beautiful,
Make you stand in awe.
Look inside my heart.
Be amazed.
I want to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
I just wanna be worthy of love

And Beautiful

Sometimes I wish I was someone
Other than me
Fighting to make the mirror happy
Trying to find whatever is missing
Won’t you help me back to glory?

You make me beautiful
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart
And I am amazed
I love to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
You make me worthy of love
Beautiful
You make me worthy of love
Beautiful
Beautiful

My two current favorites...

There are two songs I just can't get enough of right now. The first is Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down and it is a tribute to the National Guard. The video is amazing and you can catch it on the National Guard website or watch it here via the wonders of YouTube! Props to Corey for first blogging about this.





The other song I just discovered minutes ago - The Power of One by Bomshel. Amazing song and, get this, is currently FREE on itunes! Yes, you read that right, FREE! You can check out the lyrics or watch the video made to encourage people to get involved and volunteer that I found on none other than YouTube.

A Matter of Perspective

I believe there are three times when a hot shower feels better than any other time.

After you've worked up a sweat.
After coming in from the cold.
After returning from a third world country.

Is the shower any different on these days than on any others? Not really. Is the water pressure better just because it knows you deserve it? If only. Does the hot water last as long as you could possibly endure? I wish.

It just feels better because you appreciate it more. Suddenly something so simple and common becomes extraordinarily wonderful. Simply because you aren't taking it for granted.

How often do we take the everyday things of our life for granted? The people we see everyday for granted? The experiences we are lucky enough to have, for granted?

And how often do we realize what we are doing, and in a matter of hours or days or weeks, forget yet again...

Fall Family Fun

Ethan decided we should rake the yard. Just like any normal six year-old, his motivation was to play in the leaves. Smart kid. He also decided to attack my sister Jaci with leaves right at this moment.


Hmmm...I wonder where Ethan went??


Our huge leaf pile! Trust me, it was big. And took us a good hour to accomplish given we were using one adult-size rake, one child-size rake and a broom.


Ethan thought the flag needed to be flown from our pile. What a patriotic kid.

Our reward was to make Halloween cupcakes - even though it was a few days after Halloween. Sprinkles = even better!

I'm distressed.

Curious?

Here's the reason.

If you have ever been near me from January to May you should know why.

Late Night Update

• I can't believe I just called a blog I am composing at 10:15 pm a late night update. Can you tell I'm tired and completely drained??
• I'm fighting a sinus infection. I can feel it. I get them every year. Hopefully if I up my vitamin intake I can defend it all on my own!
• I had a great weekend with my family - fun pictures and blogs to come!
• After house/animal sitting for three different families one right after another, it will be nice to sleep in my own bed and not have to worry about any other being except myself. Guess it's a good thing I'm not a parent...I hear you can't just give them back when you are tired.
• Yesterday I broke down. I got out the winter coat. I didn't want to. I tried to fight it. But my comfort won out.
• Many people from my team at work are gone to share their knowledge with other churches for workshops. They are in California. It's warmer there. I'm jealous.
• Sometimes I really hate being an adult and all you have to worry about. Making dentist appointments, eye appointments, getting your car serviced, remembering to return important phone calls. Can I be three again? I hear three is a good age.
• When I was three I split my lip open and knocked out my front teeth. Maybe three wasn't such a good year for me...
• God's doing some work inside of me lately. I'm not quite sure the how, what or why, but I can feel it.
• It's getting harder every day to get up early and go to the gym. I don't like getting out of a warm, cozy bed to face a cold day. And it's only just begun...

"Why are you reading when you could be petting me?"