I'm a Putz

I put up a give-a-way over a week ago - almost two weeks ago, I think... And then, I got the flu and completely forgot about it!

It was for my 365 Days of Simple Pleasures flip calendar ( I LOVE these things!).

So, I entered the comments into a random number generator (random.org) - and #1 won! Congrats, Beth J. from Walk a Mile!

Goodness... I'm losing my mind!

Commitment

"'I think people expect too much from marriage today,' he said. 'They expect perfection. Every moment should be bliss. That's TV or movies. But that is not the human experience.

'Like Sarah [Reb's wife] says, twenty good minutes here, forty good minutes there, it adds up to something beautiful. The trick is when things aren't so great, you don't junk the whole thing. It's okay to have an argument. It's okay that the other one nudges you a little, bothers you a little. It's part of being close to someone.

'But the joy you get from that same closeness - when you watch your children, when you wake up and smile at each other - that, as our tradition teaches us, is a blessing. People forget that.'

Why do they forget that?

'Because the word "commitment" has lost its meaning. I'm old enough to remember when it used to be a positive. A committed person was someone to be admired. He was loyal and steady. Now a commitment is something you avoid. You don't want to tie yourself down.

'It's the same with faith, by the way. We don't want to get stuck in having to go to services all the time, or having to follow all the rules. We don't want to commit to God. We'll take Him when we need Him, or when things are going good. But real commitment? That requires staying power - in faith and in marriage.'

And if you don't commit? I asked.

'Your choice. But you miss what's on the other side.'

What's on the other side?

'Ah.' He smiled. 'A happiness you cannot find alone.'"
--from the book, "Have a Little Faith," bu Mitch Albom

Beautiful book!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. New pants - I love comfy new pants.
2. Pumpkin shakes - 1st one of the year!
3. Being alone at work most of the day - I got a lot done, and my office was cozy and warm!
4. Candy corn, chips and salsa, and chocolate cake at book group. Whoa!
5. It's supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow! Hallelujah!
6. Funny emails from friends throughout the day.
7. The dog tilting her head at my phone as it rings - you'd think it was a live animal. Too funny!
8. Ha ha ha. The hubby telling me he likes my new pants. *Grin*
9. The Twins won. (No, I didn't watch the game - but it's fun to see everyone else so excited!)
10. Looking forward to being awake and relaxed as the hubby shows me pictures from his trip and tells me more stories - tomorrow night!

A Simple Woman's Daybook - October 5th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... A cool, gray day - again.

I am thankful... for my friends and family - and reminders of how great they are!

From the kitchen... mulligatawny soup that my mom made. Yum!

I am wearing... a cream-colored henley short, blue jeans and my warm REI socks.

I am creating... a work plan for the week - so much to do!
I am going... to break down and get me some Ugg-type boots. I've wanted some for awhile and I finally found some that I like (just not in my size...). But no, I will not be paying $180 for them! Goodness, gracious!

I am reading... "So You Want to be a Innkeeper" and "The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus Christ," and "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom.

I am hoping... that this busy week won't wear me down too bad!

I am hearing... my soap opera in the background...

Some plans for the week... meetings, book group, open sanctuary, dinner and a movie night, possibly paintball or go-karts this weekend!

One of my favorite things... sales associates at stores that are available to answer questions, but otherwise, leave you alone!

A picture thought I am sharing: My niece, Finley - isn't this hilarious?! I love it!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Mini-wheats.
2. Slippers.
3. A new necklace.
4. Ingrid Michaelson.
5. Staff meeting pushed to Wednesday!
6. Friends sending me resources about B&Bs!
7. How I Met Your Mother.
8. The book, "Have a Little Faith."
9. Book Group tomorrow night!
10. The dog pulling her "Badgers" jersey out of a pile and sitting on it til I put it on her. So funny! (If only she knew it was the Packers and Vikings playing tonight...)

Action

"Every time you forgive someone who hurt you, encourage someone who feels defeated, extend compassion to someone who stands alone, confront someone in love, open your heart to a friend, reconcile with an enemy, devote time to a child, you align yourself with God's central purpose in this world."
--John Ortberg

LOVE this quote! It was on my little daily quote calendar today - and it fits with everything I've been learning and growing into this week!

Today's sermon at church was about anger and how we deal with it. About forgiving - and moving forward with our anger to do good in the world. If we are angry at an injustice, turn it around and use that energy to fight for what is right. If we are angry at being hurt by someone, turn it around to learn more about ourselves and how we treat others.

Regardless of what it is you are angry about: 1) Be attentive to what's going on and why you feel the way you do. 2) Pray about your feelings. Let God in and pour out the good and the bad - be brutally honest with God. By doing this you open yourself up to how God may use the situation or you! 3) Pray for your enemies. Hard I know, but DO it! 4) And lastly, use that angry energy to do something good for the world. It can be small, it can be huge - but DO something!

I found it so interesting that this tied in so well with what we talked about with the confirmation class this week, too. We used the NOOMA video, "Open" by Rob Bell - talking all about prayer. If you haven't seen it, here are the links for it on youtube.com. I don't think I've ever heard someone talk about prayer in this way before - and I LOVE it! It spoke directly to my heart - and I've been thinking about it all week. So, if you struggle with the concept of prayer, take 11 minutes and watch this. I highly recommend it!


Part One
Part Two

Blessings on you today - and on all the ways you struggle with anger and prayer. May God help you through your struggles in new and wondrous ways!
Megs

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Pastor Penny teaching class today, so I could go to an "adult" education class (for the first time in 5 years!).
2. Ken, at church. He makes me smile.
3. Carol's surprise at me actually giving her fuzzy socks! Ha ha ha. So funny.
4. The movie, "Nottinghill." It was on TV today - I love this movie...
5. My hubby and our friend, Mark, getting home from their backpacking trip safe and sound.
6. Listening to all their stories, laughing at all their excitement, and enjoying their banter - a good trip this year!
7. The hubby and I going out to dinner after dropping Mark off at the airport. A nice "welcome home."
8. The hubby ordered dessert - gourmet mini donuts (with a hint of orange) and chocolate habenero dipping sauce. Delish!
9. The dog's joy at having the hubby home - so cute! They curled up on the couch together and were asleep within seconds.
10. A good night's sleep in a warm, comfy, bed - with all three of us together! Ha ha ha.

Just Another Saturday

Things I am thankful for today:

1. REALLY sleeping in. Lovely.
2. A call from Dad asking to watch the Badger/Gopher game - tempting me with Mom's chili.
3. Bailey, my dog, wearing her Badgers jersey.
4. Mom sending chili, mulligatawny soup, and cornbread home with me. Yum!
5. Hearing my niece say, "Annie May" (translation - Auntie Meg) on the phone. So cute.
6. Badgers won!!! (The hubby will be so happy when he re-enters civilization after his backpacking trip.)
7. The book I've been waiting for for MONTHS was at Costco today! Woo-hoo! (It's the next Diana Gabaldon book in the Outlander series... I LOVE these books!)
8. Dad asking about my B&B ideas, and giving advice.
9. Laughing with my parents today. It was fun to have them to myself!
10. Chillin' out with a little wine on the couch before bed. So nice...

Friday Fave Five - October 2nd

It's Friday! Time to share our favorite things about the past week. If you'd like to join in and share what five things you are thankful for - link up to Living to Tell the Story! Here are mine:

1. Going to Madison for a Wisconsin Badgers game last Saturday. It was a lot of fun! My hubby's a HUGE Badgers fan and this was his first game ever at their stadium (a birthday gift from his sister and her hubby). Unfortunately, his sister had to leave during the second quarter... with the flu. So we missed spending the rest of the day with them... But the weather was great, our team won, and we still had time to play on State Street before heading home to MN.

2. Going back to work on Wednesday. I was sick Sunday-Tuesday with the flu. Ick. So it was nice to get back into my daily schedule and back around other people. Wednesday afternoon I met with one of my youth group kids and we had a lot of fun talking about all the ways we share God's love through our actions. A good day back at work.

3. Being able to be there for a friend yesterday. After a rough day, I was the one she thought to call to share her burdens. It meant the world to me. Being able to pray with her and check in on her again in the evening... Working at a church can be exhausting - but also, so rewarding.

4. Getting to see all the pictures of my sister's family during their first week in Alaska! They're getting settled in and their move is becoming "real," and it's so cool to realize they LIVE in this beautiful place now!

(I think that pic of my sis and niece is from their yard! Mountains! And this moose pic was taken in their yard... They came home, and there the moose were! Whoa!)

5. The hubby and his best friend got on the road at 5:45am today for their 2nd Annual North Shore Backpacking trip! Mark's flight didn't get in til after 11:30pm last night, they packed til 1:30am, the weather forecast this weekend is cold and rainy... and they were as excited as two little boys going to Scout camp! I'm praying that everything goes well - but excited that they're finally on their way!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. The hubby and our friend, Mark, getting off to a good start.
2. Having the bed all to myself for awhile... Hee hee.
3. Going to visit Kelsey at college (one of my former youth group kids). So fun to see her liking college and doing well!
4. A stop at Trader Joe's for some yummy weekend food!
5. Wearing the hubby's sweatshirt...
6. A cool tea shop in Eau Claire - over 200 kinds of teas! Whoa.
7. The new David Gray album. Good stuff.
8. A beautiful drive today - even in the rain, the colors were vibrant.
9. Cuddling up with a fuzzy blanket, the dog, and a glass of wine.
10. Car seat warmers! They got their first use of the year today!

Blessed

Oh boy. Today was a day. One of those days where you leave your office (at 7:30pm) and make the long drive home (in the driving rain and fog) - emotionally exhausted and looking forward to the calm and quiet of home.

I have been an ear, a shoulder, and a prayer partner, for a few people this week - people dealing with heartbreak, sorrow, fears, and frustrations with life. While it emotionally wears me down, physically exhausts me, and mentally taxes me... I feel so blessed to be invited into their lives. As I sat listening to a church member and friend tonight, and prayed with her in her grief, I was reminded of what a privelege it is to be the one with whom she chooses to talk.

It's a big deal. It's a big responsibility and a gift at the same time. I don't know that I always have the words - in fact, I've been reminded lately that I often don't. But one thing I can do is listen. And pray. If that's one way that God can use me - so be it. (I can always nap later...)

Where have you been blessed today?

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Feeling a little bit caught up at work.
2. A granola bar that I forgot about in my bag - Lunch!
3. Fun emails from my buddy, Gil.
4. It's Clergy Appreciation Month - have you thanked your pastor for all they do for you?
5. Having a couch with a pillow and a blanket in my office... It comes in handy on days like today!
6. Being there when someone needs you.
7. The smell of lit matches.
8. Windshield wipers and good tires!
9. Hot tea on a cold day.
10. Season premiere of Private Practice (even if it was even more emotionally draining...).