Garbage In -- Garbage Out

You change what you are and how you think by changing what goes into your mind.  If an undesirable or detestable thing enters--kick it right back out the door,and deny it entrance next time it arrives on your doorstep!  Take control of what is allowed to dwell in your thoughts! 

A New Year . . . Time For Change!

Dwell on Good Thoughts

The New Normal

Ahh, it's a new year and, hopefully a new start! For me, today is the first day of "back to normal", but also for me, the question is: "Do I really want to go back to 'normal'"?

What is "normal"? (besides a setting on the dryer)

1. Is "normal" good or not so good?

2. Is "normal" boring or exciting?

3. Is "normal" enjoyable or depressing?

4. Does "normal" feel like freedom or captivity?

5. Does "normal" hurt or heal?

6. Does "normal" drag you down or lift you up

7. Are you looking forward to getting back to normal or dreading it?

I think I would like to start out 2015 with "abnormal"--a cut above last year's "normal", and make that my new "normal". However, making new year's resolutions is usually just a exercise in futility! Maybe I'll try taking one day at a time for this week, trying one new thing each day. (It may work best for me if, at the end of the day, I jot down what I did different that day, so I won't forget!) Then, on Saturday or Sunday, I'll look back through my list and make a note of any progress I made. Repeat the experience the next week, and evaluate again on the next Saturday or Sunday.

Hmmmm...it would be so nice to get to the end of January and find overall, the month was a cut above "normal" for me.  What if I repeated the experience in February and each month thereafter for the whole year? What if by the end of 2015 I had a new "normal"? It could happen. It really could! It's up to me.

I'm not going to make a list of all the things I'd like to change about how I do life. I'm just going to make a list of what I actually do differently--today, and tomorrow, and this week, and this month, and this year!

Perhaps it will be a slow start and slow progress, but I'll rejoice over each thing as it happens! Rising above "normal" is definitely possible!

Where do I start? Lord, help me to see it, know it, and do it!!!

Ah, life!

No posting here for awhile! Life has been busy and fun! Between the times of activities with church and friends, visits with friends far away (coming to us and us going to them), times of illness and recovery, etc., my time is spent with catching up on things that must be done around the house! And, sometimes I just want to rest from everything for awhile.

Overall, life has been good, and we are enjoying it the full! Larry has been doing a lot of traveling on business, and that will continue for awhile. He is usually gone for a full week each time he goes, all over the country. So, it seems like I should have plenty of extra time to write some blog posts, but I tend to fill up my time with other things--either necessary catch-up or focusing on things more fun than blogging.

We are finally in the last year of counting down the months until Larry's retirement. Next April he will complete five years of working for FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) here in Dallas. He's already 65, but his goal is to have five years in with FDIC in order to qualify for some retirement benefits. What comes next after that, we haven't a clue!

We have been praying about God's plan for us when we enter the retirement stage of life, but so far we don't know His leading. We know we would like to travel, but we don't know where we will live. We love it right here, but we also love being near our kids and grandkids. The problem is, both of those families live very far apart (Northwest Montana and Southern California). Yikes! Even if we chose a place half way between them, it would still be an awful long drive to either of them, and we would have to totally start over again with finding a new church and friends. If we stay here, then we will need to choose between staying in our current house, or moving into a retirement community which also looks good to us. It is in a very good location for us, and living there would be lots of fun, but more expensive than staying right where we are.

Choices to make, seeking God's wisdom and direction, enjoying life in the present while thinking ahead as the months are flying by!

Passion of the Christ

My friend, Karen, (from Oregon) is visiting with me for a whole week--what a wonderful week we've had together! She just shared this video with me and I am still stunned, in awe of what I have just experienced through this! Please take the time (30 minutes) to watch this video in its entirety. You won't regret it.

Food Poisoning

If you haven't had it, you are truly blessed!  I was infected with it a little over a week ago after eating at one of our favorite restaurants--Mediterranean.  Spending most of your time in bed may sound like a special treat, for Mothers Day, perhaps, but after one or two days of it, it get's old!  Plus, the abdominal pain (make that abominable pain) and bowel cramping is enough to make even a strong person cry after several days of it.

The only upside I can think of is that, even though I've just been lying in bed day after day, the sudden jumping out of bed and running to the bathroom frequently has been exercise for me. 

Yesterday, after 3 days of being on an antibiotic and a "sedative" type pill to calm the cramping, the doctor added another antibiotic and replaced the sedative with a different one, since there was no improvement or relief  yet.  So today is a day and a half later, on the new medicines, and I think, maybe, there is slight improvement, but I'm not sure yet if that is just wishful thinking.  I have to call the doc again later today, but I'm not sure yet what I'm going to tell him.

So, if you're bored with your life, and want to try something new, how about food poisoning?   

Dance of the Peacock

Click here to enjoy the show of this stunning white peacock!

His stance is fanciful, his look is proud!

His display is glorious, his voice is loud!

He must be seen, and must be heard!

His desire is strong; and will not be deterred!

He steps and struts and swirls about

As he spreads his fan and gives a shout--

His mating call, his dance of pride,

To display his love and woo his bride.

We watch in awe as he turns and calls,

With graceful feathers that rise and fall.

His winsome beauty was meant to attract.

His Creator made him thus, and that’s a fact!

He began as a peacock, and is still that today.

His species didn’t evolve as others went away.

Males attract females, and their pairing produces

More peacocks with feathers, not monkeys or gooses.
 

Here's two more peacock pics from my friend, Sandy. She took these pictures in Hawaii.

The Circle of God's Help

I just read something this morning that made me stop and think about the way of life for those who ask God for HIs help: He is the giver of true joy. It starts with hope. When you get hope, you get joy. When you get joy, you get strength. When you get strength, you get more hope . . . and so it goes, on and on, as you look to God for His help in your life.

Want more of this? Look to God more often. Focus on Him throughout your day. Deepen your relationship with Him. It's a "delicious" circle (instead of a vicious circle.)

Like a Good Cup o' Coffee

Tepid coffee just isn't very satisfying, and I want to be satisfied to the last drop.
So glad I have a microwave!

Thinking further on this one:
That's how it is with my relationship with God--
I want to be satisfied to the last drop!
I'm not satisfied with just a "tepid" relationship with God.  I want full and deep satisfaction, which requires keeping it hot, not just luke warm!

Think On These Things . . .

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace with be with you." ~ The Apostle Paul (Philippians 4: 8-9)

Greatest Day in History!

The Thrill of Bluebonnet Hill

Contrary to the well-known song "Yellow Rose of Texas", the bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas. This time of the year we see the bluebonnets, but only for a short time, so it's a BIG deal when the bluebonnets are in bloom.

Everyone finds the closest bountiful field of blooms, and goes to take pictures with their loved ones sitting or laying on the ground among the blossoms. It's tradition and must be done if you're a real Texan!

So, this past Saturday we went for a "stroll"--or should I say "roll" (actually, we drove in our Corvette with the top down--the car top, not mine) down Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis, Texas. It was beautiful--both the weather and the scenery! It always delights me to see people enjoying the beauty of nature in this way. Lovers snuggle, children romp, and parents just try to keep everyone in the picture, always trying for just the right pose.

I love this tradition!

 

Here We Come -- Ready or Not!

(This is part 3 of our move to Dallas, Texas. To start at the beginning of the story, click here.)

    Sunday, April  11, 2010:    Texas, we have arrived!

  We are soooo glad to finally be here! Man, was that a long drive!



 It feels great to be out of the car and into our new homeland!

For the first few days we will bunk in with some family friends.

Tomorrow (Monday, April 12, 2010) Larry starts his new job with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Dallas.

        It's good to be "home"!

That's all for now, folks. It took me way too long to get the photos and the text to align properly and then stay where I wanted it!