Driving pet peeve # 241

One of my favorite (insert sarcasm here) things when driving on the highway happened this evening.  I am driving in the right hand lane.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the appropriate lane to be in if you are not passing a car.  All of a sudden I look in my rear view mirror and there is a car that is quickly approaching behind me.  And then it begins to ride slightly closer than I want it to.  There is no one in the passing lane, but this car continues to follow closely.  A mile or so later, as I'm about to merge onto a new highway, the highway adds a new lane.  As soon as I get into the right lane (so now there are three lanes) the car continues in the middle lane and passes me very quickly.  Not a huge deal, but why didn't the car just pass me two miles back when it had every opportunity to do so?  Silly car!

New Years Resolutions

Every year I say that I think New Years resolutions are stupid.  But every year, I do make some changes, I just choose not to call them stupid.  Last year I made a resolution that I didn't share with anyone.  And I'm still not going to share it because most people would think it is not much of an accomplishment.  But I will share that I was able to keep that resolution all but 4 or 5 times (it was based on doing something at least once every 2 weeks).  I also usually set a spiritual goal for myself.  Last year it was to memorize the book of 1 John.  I didn't make it.  I made it through 2 1/2 chapters and then set it aside and did not pick it back up.

I like to set Scripture memory goals for myself or else I don't get anything accomplished.  Every other year, Beth Moore, through her blog, does a Scripture memory challenge.  I did not find this until half way through 2009 so I didn't participate, but then I did it on my own in 2010.  I joined the challenge in 2011.  When I saw that she was going to do it again this year, I was torn.  I didn't really want to commit to it.  But then I didn't set any other goal for myself.  So tonight, I just decided that I would join the challenge again.  24 verses in 12 months.  It is so doable.  Maybe I'll use some verses from 1 John that I haven't memorized yet.

My first verse is from Genesis 15:1: After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward."

Blessings Jar

So, I mentioned in my last post that someone on Facebook posted something about a jar where you put in good things that happen throughout the year and then read them on New Years Eve.  So, I have officially decided that this is my project for the year.  I tend to focus too much on the negative, so I think this will be a good opportunity to try to focus more on the positive.  I'm calling it my Blessings Jar.  I will put in good things that happen, blessings from the day, things that made me smile.  You get the idea.  I don't have to put something in every day and I am not limited to one thing per day. I'll write the date and what the good thing/blessing is.

Because I'm more motivated when I spruce things up a bit, I took a trip to Hobby Lobby after work.  Here is what I came up with:

A jar, some ribbon, and some small square scrapbook paper.  $10.  I'll probably need more paper later, and might just do regular paper, but to start off with, I thought the colored paper would be more fun.  Here are my first two entries:

Sometimes short and sweet and sometimes a mini journal entry so that I can remember the context of the note.

Hopefully I can keep this up throughout the year!

Blogcation or Blogblock

As some of you may have noticed, I haven't blogged much lately.  I don't really know why that is.  Nothing to say?  Other things going on?  No inspiration?  Writers block?  Who knows. 

However, I can't let January 1 go by without a blog post.  So here I am.  Blogging.  I haven't really thought what I might say.  I just read my posts from Jan 1, 2012 and Jan 1, 2011 to get inspiration.  I don't know if it worked.  Last year I made a list of "anothers" from 2011 because I realized that not much new had happened in my life.  As I read it, I realized that this year was much the same.  I have watched those around me change a lot.  Here are some of the changes that others have had:

1. Emily started a new job.
2.  Ann had a baby.
3.  Daynah graduated.
4.  2 coworkers left to start new jobs.
5.  Members of my small group moved to England.
6.  Daynah started college.

Although these things happened to other people, it is kind of amazing how much many of these things effected me. 

Here are some of my 2012 highlights/changes:
1. I moved to a new Sunday School class in January.  It was a big change for me, as I had been attending the Singles class for 6 years.  While I am still single, I decided it was time for a change.  The class I am in now is a multi-generational class and I have really enjoyed getting to know other people in the church through the class.
2.  I went on a canoe trip with my small group.  This is another area where I have been able to meet new people in the church and I continued with the same small group in the fall.  Plus, I shocked some people by getting into a canoe :)
3.  My second nephew was born at the end of January.  It is hard to believe he will be one at the end of this month!
4.  In April, I made a solo trip to Georgia to meet Michael and help Chris and Ann out.  It was fun to spend time with them for the week.
5.  Daynah came back to Illinois for her last semester of high school.  We had Tuesday night dinners while she was here.  It was good to have family in the same town as me again.
6.  In July, I did another family vacation to Florida.  It was fun to be with family and see how much John had changed since the last time we had been there.
7.  I continue to direct in AWANA, but this year I gained a codirector, which has been a huge blessing!
8.  I joined BSF in the fall.  We are studying the book of Genesis, which is one of my favorite books.  I have gotten to know others through this study, which has been fun as well.
9.  I started attending the Career Impact Bible study in the fall as well.  I had not attended in several years as I have been doing other studies.  We were able to tackle 1 and 2 Thessalonians in the fall and will study Hebrews this next semester.
10.  Although still at my job, I have seen many changes since the summer.  A complete overhaul of our program which has left us a little leary of what the future might bring (although with my job, I'm always a little leary, so it hasn't effected me all that much).  A move to a new building.  A couple of coworkers leaving. 
11.  My second Christmas in Arizona.  It was a great trip and I will hopefully do a post just on that trip soon.  I miss Dad, Amy, Daynah, and Josh and it was good to spend a week and a half with them. 
12.  Various trips to see family in Illinois.  Another get together of the girl cousins.  Sara, Todd, and Autumn came to visit me in Peoria in September.  The Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore in October.  Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family.
13.  Chickfila opened in Peoria! :)  I couldn't compile a highlights list without that.

That's all I can think of right now and I have to get ready for a day full of games at a friends house.  On Facebook, I saw an idea to start the year off with an empty jar and then fill it with good things that happen throughout the year.  I might have to try that--it would make my highlights list a whole lot easier to make on Jan 1, 2014!

Happy New Year everyone!

Texting gone bad

These are the three texts I just got from Daynah:

Text 1: Is it still snowing in Illinois and we miss you and we hope that you can come back soon and Dana says she's glad driver Rome are your medicine in the way I'm

Text 2: bye

Text 3: sad misses you so much and he wishes you could come back is Santoli Cleacene very very much and we love you

They all came in one after another.  My text back was: What?

Daynah texted back and said that Josh was texting me and talking to Siri.  So, I still don't know what he really meant to say.

Conversations with the roommate

Emily was getting ready to head for bed tonight, and I am leaving in the morning for Arizona, so we were saying our goodbyes.  You know, the standard, "have fun with your family."  "Merry Christmas."  "I'll try not to be jealous of you while I'm working."  "Don't miss me too much."  But my last remark, "If I don't see you before the world ends on Friday, I'll see you in heaven."  K, now all our conversational bases have been covered.  Goodnight!

On Sending Christmas Cards...

I've had several discussions with people about etiquette and the lost art of sending Christmas cards.  Here has been my answer to them.  I send Christmas cards because it makes me happy.  Not because someone sent me one or because it is what is expected of me.  I only send cards every couple of years, when I have time or have inspiration of what I want to do.  I have a hard time just sending a card without a personal greeting or letter of some sort.

One of my favorite things about sending cards, which I just discovered today as I was addressing cards...seeing the fun street names that everyone lives on! :)  It sounds silly, I know, but fun street names are important.

This year, I am excited to send out cards.  I wish I could attach a camera to my cards to see everyone's response to getting it.  I have a feeling there will be many questions and a few people who will say, "I don't get it."  That is what makes me smile.  If you need an explanation, just let me know, I'll be glad to tell you the story behind the card.  If you didn't get one, I'm really sorry, but I had a limited amount that I could send out.  I might post a picture of the card after the fact so that everyone can enjoy it, even if you didn't get one.

PS.  I always love getting cards.  December is the one time of year I get more fun mail than I do junk mail or bills!  And picture cards go up on the refrigerator so that I can see your smiling faces all year long!

Dressing up for your dad

On Wednesday I was preparing my client for the fact that I would not see her for two weeks because I would be on vacation.  When she started bargaining with me to only miss one week, I had to help her understand better that I would not be working and would not be close by. 
Client: "Well, where are you going?" 
Me: "To see my dad and he lives far away."
Client: "Are you going to dress up?  You should dress up!"
Me: "Probably not..."
Client: "You should wear something pretty.  And the earrings you wore last week!"

She was so excited, I just agreed with her.  Do I remember what earrings I wore last week when I saw her? Nope.  Am I planning on wearing a hoodie sweatshirt to get on the plane next week?  Yep.  I hope Dad calls that dressed up! :)

What a difference 6 years makes

The first winter I lived in Illinois, the first weekend in December started with a really bad snowstorm.  It iced on Thursday and then Thursday evening it started snowing, covering all the ice with at least half a foot of snow.  No one went anywhere on Friday, which was December 1.  The plows didn't make it down our street until sometime Saturday afternoon, I think.  I made someone come pick me up for church on Sunday and then the first time I attempted to drive, even though I didn't really want to, was Monday. 

Fast forward 6 years and you get this weekend, also the first weekend in December.  Sunday I wore a knee-length skirt to church with high healed sandals and short sleeves.  Today I wore flip-flops, jeans, and a short sleeved shirt.

The reality is, I prefer something in between scenario number one and scenario number two.  I'm not really complaining about the warmer weather even if it's not what I would wish for.  I was a little hot Friday and Saturday night while I slept, but flip-flops and jeans is my favorite clothing option, so I can't really complain.

However, just to make a point...all of you warm weather people would only understand what I'm going through if we had snow in July.

3rd Annual Cheesy Christmas Movie Night

Yesterday was the 3rd Annual Cheesy Christmas Movie Night.  For those of you new to the blog, a cheesy Christmas movie equals a movie in the genre of ABC Family or Lifetime Original or something along those lines.  There was some debate last night about what the first annual viewing was.  We decided it was either Holiday in Handcuffs or The Night They Saved Christmas, with a heavy lean toward The Night They Saved Christmas.  Last year we watched Call Me Mrs. Miracle.  For the Second Annual Cheesy Christmas Movie Night we included dinner and decided to do that again this year.  I was in charge of the meal and Emily was in charge of dessert.  Here we are enjoying dinner:

Emily made a peppermint pie for dessert.  It was delicious.  This picture does not even begin to do it justice:

Amanda and Joanne are super-duper excited for the 3rd annual choice of cheesy movies, A Nanny for Christmas, with Dean Cain:

While not my favorite cheesy movie, it definitely met the requirements.  While the love interests in the movie are out shopping for a Christmas tree, she says (describing the tree), "Tall, dark, and handsome.  Just like you." :)  If it doesn't make you throw up a little in your mouth, it does not meet the requirements for a cheesy Christmas movie.  Below, we are ready with popcorn by the glow of the Christmas tree to start the movie:

And now, all we have to do is press play:

Can't wait for the 4th Annual Cheesy Christmas Movie Night (I think it might need a shorter title)!