Finally moments of Christmas day, following my old solo tradition....a final quiet hour tucked into the couch pondering upon the glow of the Christmas tree, the blessings of life, and the desire to lift the want and need of so many of those who are walking upon this earth....
No matter how joyful the season due to the birth of a most magnificent gift, I'm always left pondering on the messages that he came to this earth to teach us--that of loving and providing and caring so deeply and profusely for the brothers and sisters who walk this earth with us.
A rather relaxing day begun with traditional coffee and sticky buns and a few opening of presents (mainly socks under our tree!), conversation, cooking, a meal with friends, and the evening wrapped up together with a viewing of my old holiday favorite A Christmas Carol....
This particular year we watched the 1984 version and for the first time the scene where Scrooge is exposed to the ghoul-like children Ignorance and Want struck a cord. Why I never quite got all the symbolism this movie provides I'll never know....but this year it made sense just why this particular movie reaches straight down into my core. Ignorance and Want which can be the ruin of the best of men and which encourages many and most of us toward indifference to others in this world. Ignorance and Want which lead us to make poor choices. Ignorance and Want which lead us to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to our fellows.
So frequently I get caught up in the ease of Ignorance and Want, but how much I do not want to be within its grasps...
And so this holiday season--frequently full of materialism---I am grateful for the simple blessings that surround. The large items: Family, friends, work, passion, health, love and on down to the small: lights a' twinklin', fuzzy blankets, warm socks, dog sighs. I am reminded that to those whom much has been given, so easy it should be too give and from whom much can be expected.
And to each of us regardless of our stead in life, well Tiny Tim summed it up best when he said, "God bless us, EVERYONE!"
So in this holiday season and as our Christmas comes to a close, let's head into a new year thankful for all that we do have, expressive to those who have done much for us, and open and willing to give to those who could benefit from our abilities and gifts. May each of you be passing through your own version of a beautiful, silent night headed toward a most blessed and fortunate year ahead.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Christmas Happenings
Definitely feels like the Christmas season is upon us! The hub is now on two weeks of vacation to relax and work on some of our transition items. So far the holiday season count has included:
--Two office/work parties for my work.
--The hub's mandatory work holiday gathering.
--The incredibly fun military ball last weekend located 1.5 hours south of here in a casino and including an overnight.
--The local town's parade which were the last pictures I posted.
--Picked up and decorated our free Trees for Troops tree last weekend.
--The Natchitoches Holiday Lights festival and dinner in our favorite little nearby town last night.
The tree all decorated with a few gifts from Granny underneath.
The main street looking down historic Natchitoches.
The light displays along the farside of the river bank in Natchitoches.
The dogs enjoying their holiday treats!
Our Christmas cards are ready for pick up and mailing out, and this morning I ordered the final two gifts for my niece/nephews. (Yea for Amazong and free shipping!) The hub mailed out the few packages that we actually sent earlier this week. We're not big on receiving nor on sending gifts, although we do gifts for my siblings kids for their birthdays and Christmas each year. We try to keep the consumerism and materialism of holidays to a minimum and I have spent at least two Christmases in tears due to family giving me gifts when there are so many other individuals in the world who actually have needs. We both prefer to pick things up for others throughout the year to fill a need rather than to purchase something for someone due to society telling us that we're supposed to do so. Thus this year we donated money to a preferred charity of my parents and we did send three usable items out--1 to Granny and 2 items to the hub's family.
Somehow this season has not been stressful and each moment has been enjoyed in its own way. I've spent several evenings loving the scent and twinkling of the tree, and we've had Christmas music playing since Thanksgiving. In the midst of normalcy so many amazing memorable moments exist such as last night's hour drive home including a Christmas sing-a-long in the truck with our neighbors. ;) The season is one of the hub's favorites and so I came home mid-week to find him elbow deep in Christmas decorations and preparations!
We're planning on going to midnight mass with our neighbors down the street (why exactly the hub wants to go to mass when we aren't Catholic I'm not sure.....but I'm just stoked to have us planning on being in a church!) and on Christmas Day we'll cook a meal together and invite some of the single guys who didn't go home to head over as well.
Somehow I envisioned this week at work to be slower but so far the schedule looks otherwise! I've got a doctor's appointment on Thursday morning and then I'll be looking forward to a day off on Friday! Woo hoo! The best Christmas gift---besides the remembrance of the gift of the birth of Jesus Christ--will be the opportunity to have three days of rest and relaxation.
Hope each of you has a happy and healthy holiday season! May you be able to enjoy moments of quietude in the midst of the hustle and bustle!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Local Christmas Parade
We had the military ball on Thursday, which while fast was a pretty fun event! My office Christmas party was last weekend. This coming Friday we have a Christmas lunch for the Dept of Human Resources on post that the husband actually elected to try to come to if he can get off work early enough.
We recently had a message from the hub's good friend wanting to know if we had the same address and were ready for the holidays. The address might be the same, but since we do not yet have a tree, lights or decorations up, or holiday cards figured out....I'm not entirely sure we're ready for the season. ;) Although tomorrow we'll hopefully get a free tree again via Trees for Troops and we hope to find some decent Xmas cards when we go to the local large town to return my original ball gown. We haven't decided if we want to put lights up on the house yet, but if so....then we'll just about be in holiday season. :)
Hope you all are progressing into the season with calm and thankful hearts. Sending positive thoughts and blessings out your way!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
A Year of Running
JANUARY 2010 started off with my no longer fitting into my largest jeans and thus was the start of a new running plan. The plan was to run every day of the month, and the hub got me started off on the first two weeks. Now I will mention that the plan was that he was to stick with me, running at least a couple times a week, but that didn't exactly happen.....although he did continue to be ever present in my head. In fact, I still hear him cutting me a deal that I can go as slow as needed but walking and stopping is not permitted! :)
FEB 2010 included about two weeks of slowing down or decreased activity, but March is when I began working full-time with my skinny coworkers. Nothing says motivation like working with thin, assertive women.
MARCH-JUNE 2010: Pretty much ran at least 5x a week, but only covered about 1-2 miles each outing. When I started thinking about total mileage in early June, it dawned on me that I really hadn't covered all that much ground...somewhere in early April I wore out my shoes and suffered from shin splints. New shoes took care of the splints and the running continued without much of a missed beat. And by mid June I was back in my slimmest pair of jeans.
----Pause for a bit of running history here-----------
I've never been much of a true long distance runner (although somewhere in my mind I've wanted to do some sort of mini-to-full triathlon). I ran cross country my senior year of high school just to prove to myself that I could in fact do it, but the highest mileage I ever ran in one day was 7 miles. In the last 10 years I've had bouts of becoming enamored with running again (mainly when I wanted a quick drop in fat--nothing slims you down like 1-2 weeks of daily doubles.....well until you turn 26 and your body suddenly doesn't respond quite as fast as it used to.....). When I was teaching high school health, I ran frequently after school to shake off the day but also because I knew I needed to be a healthy role model for my students. However, most of these outings have always been 2 miles or below...
Three other lil' fun running facts about yours truly: 1) I almost always run better WITHOUT headphones 2) I always cover more distance when I run with a friend and 3) Being from a hilly area in rainy Oregon, I have always hated running indoors on treadmills and preferred instead exposure to various weather and terrains....
---------BACK TO PRESENT RUNNING TIME---------------
JUNE-JULY 2010 is when I changed my goal in an effort to increase total mileage. Quickly it went from covering 5-7 total miles, to 7-9, and then on to 7-11. The end of July with these great turn-outs and the fact that running started to feel easy, I decided to take off a week to rest my body.
AUG 2010--getting back into grove after taking a week off was not fun. The month itself was somewhat shot due to the family events that unfolded that particular month, however running definitely still happened just back to 3-5 outings per week with an average of 2 miles each outing. At least two weeks though I still made the overall mileage goal.
SEPT 2010: Back covering original 7-11 miles although occasional treadmill running is getting thrown in more frequently. By this point, have discovered that treadmill running allows me to go farther (5K) which transfers into an easier time and increases road distance to nearer 3 miles also. By this point, I've beat my high school PR (personal record) and the new PR is just under 26 minutes. By end of month, shin splints returned with a vengence.
OCT-NOV 2010: Try to run through shin splints as I start to think it's just because I'm starting to pound out the mileage/outings again. I finally think of overall mileage since the last new shoes and I purchase a replacement set. Within 3 runs, shin splints are gone--amazing what shoes can do! Carrying on with 3-5 outings and about 11 miles a week. Somewhere in the summer I mastered running with one dog/leash per hand, and the gals eagerly look forward to our outings. I'm able to tackle the 2.5 loop I've created pretty easily with the dogs in tow.
AND THEN NOV-DEC 2010: Somehow, someway last week I mastered 20 miles split between 6 treadmill and outdoor runs. While some people get excited about 20 miles in one day, I was pretty stoked that I made 20 miles in a week. And for the first time in a LONG time, I have a committed running buddy who I meet on the gym treadmills after work. While treadmill running might not always be my favorite, I'm much more motivated now that I have a friend. And let me tell you, if you want to be motivated and pushed to go further than you thought you could, take up running with a good gal pal who is trying to get back into shape after having an adorable kiddo! ;)
For someone who can easily become bored with the same work-out plan and who doesn't consider herself an actual runner, I can hardly believe I have stuck with running for just about a full 12 months. I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with just running after our move home, but I'm honestly excited to see what I can accomplish with what's left of our time here. While this might seem a little downerish and I'm not entirely sure how people might perceive this, one of my primary motivating thoughts when I'm struggling to keep going another mile is to think of those individuals I work with or personally know who would love the opportunity to be able to flex their muscles and pound out another mile along the pavement....
So to quote the Gingerbread Man "Run, run, run, just as fast as I can!" :)
FEB 2010 included about two weeks of slowing down or decreased activity, but March is when I began working full-time with my skinny coworkers. Nothing says motivation like working with thin, assertive women.
MARCH-JUNE 2010: Pretty much ran at least 5x a week, but only covered about 1-2 miles each outing. When I started thinking about total mileage in early June, it dawned on me that I really hadn't covered all that much ground...somewhere in early April I wore out my shoes and suffered from shin splints. New shoes took care of the splints and the running continued without much of a missed beat. And by mid June I was back in my slimmest pair of jeans.
----Pause for a bit of running history here-----------
I've never been much of a true long distance runner (although somewhere in my mind I've wanted to do some sort of mini-to-full triathlon). I ran cross country my senior year of high school just to prove to myself that I could in fact do it, but the highest mileage I ever ran in one day was 7 miles. In the last 10 years I've had bouts of becoming enamored with running again (mainly when I wanted a quick drop in fat--nothing slims you down like 1-2 weeks of daily doubles.....well until you turn 26 and your body suddenly doesn't respond quite as fast as it used to.....). When I was teaching high school health, I ran frequently after school to shake off the day but also because I knew I needed to be a healthy role model for my students. However, most of these outings have always been 2 miles or below...
Three other lil' fun running facts about yours truly: 1) I almost always run better WITHOUT headphones 2) I always cover more distance when I run with a friend and 3) Being from a hilly area in rainy Oregon, I have always hated running indoors on treadmills and preferred instead exposure to various weather and terrains....
---------BACK TO PRESENT RUNNING TIME---------------
JUNE-JULY 2010 is when I changed my goal in an effort to increase total mileage. Quickly it went from covering 5-7 total miles, to 7-9, and then on to 7-11. The end of July with these great turn-outs and the fact that running started to feel easy, I decided to take off a week to rest my body.
AUG 2010--getting back into grove after taking a week off was not fun. The month itself was somewhat shot due to the family events that unfolded that particular month, however running definitely still happened just back to 3-5 outings per week with an average of 2 miles each outing. At least two weeks though I still made the overall mileage goal.
SEPT 2010: Back covering original 7-11 miles although occasional treadmill running is getting thrown in more frequently. By this point, have discovered that treadmill running allows me to go farther (5K) which transfers into an easier time and increases road distance to nearer 3 miles also. By this point, I've beat my high school PR (personal record) and the new PR is just under 26 minutes. By end of month, shin splints returned with a vengence.
OCT-NOV 2010: Try to run through shin splints as I start to think it's just because I'm starting to pound out the mileage/outings again. I finally think of overall mileage since the last new shoes and I purchase a replacement set. Within 3 runs, shin splints are gone--amazing what shoes can do! Carrying on with 3-5 outings and about 11 miles a week. Somewhere in the summer I mastered running with one dog/leash per hand, and the gals eagerly look forward to our outings. I'm able to tackle the 2.5 loop I've created pretty easily with the dogs in tow.
AND THEN NOV-DEC 2010: Somehow, someway last week I mastered 20 miles split between 6 treadmill and outdoor runs. While some people get excited about 20 miles in one day, I was pretty stoked that I made 20 miles in a week. And for the first time in a LONG time, I have a committed running buddy who I meet on the gym treadmills after work. While treadmill running might not always be my favorite, I'm much more motivated now that I have a friend. And let me tell you, if you want to be motivated and pushed to go further than you thought you could, take up running with a good gal pal who is trying to get back into shape after having an adorable kiddo! ;)
For someone who can easily become bored with the same work-out plan and who doesn't consider herself an actual runner, I can hardly believe I have stuck with running for just about a full 12 months. I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with just running after our move home, but I'm honestly excited to see what I can accomplish with what's left of our time here. While this might seem a little downerish and I'm not entirely sure how people might perceive this, one of my primary motivating thoughts when I'm struggling to keep going another mile is to think of those individuals I work with or personally know who would love the opportunity to be able to flex their muscles and pound out another mile along the pavement....
So to quote the Gingerbread Man "Run, run, run, just as fast as I can!" :)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Take a Few Hours to Understand the Experience
So....(How many of my posts seem to start with this word anymore?!)
I never intended to write many posts about the military and I'm still holding most my final thoughts until after we are no longer active duty....but since the military is what surrounds me, is what currently defines my husband's life, and is part of the institution that employs me, then I'm sure you can imagine that much of what I think about is, well, the military.
I come from an area of this nation where most individuals are opposed to us being at war, but I don't ever feel that any of my friends or family are ever opposed to the soldiers themselves that are over there fighting. I like to believe, that for the most part, the nation does stand beside these men and women who are fighting and who are continuously putting their lives in harms way.
Now anyone who has been a long-time reader here probably knows that I have a mixed bag of opinions on the military, "defense" spending, the lack of services available to soldiers after separation, etc etc. I will whole-heartedly reiterate that I completely believe in my current job, however, and I feel honored to have the experience to interact with such a diverse group of individuals on a daily basis.
One thing that I think we as a society often struggle with is a sense of what it's like to be fighting in this current war. In all honesty, I was under the impression before coming here that we technically weren't at war anymore...but at this point, I can't remember if that was due to the media or a governmental decree or what. What I can tell you is that the military definitely believes that we are still at war and are active participants in Operation Enduring Freedom.
I don't feel that any of the media we see truly documents what the current deployment experience is like however, not that I would know exactly what that experience is or could be like. What I can tell you and urge of you is that you might seek out a recent documentary that my husband and I viewed on the National Geographic Channel. It's called RESTREPO, selected based on the name of an out posting built by a platoon (approximately 30-40 soldiers assigned to more or less the same duties and location) in memory of one of their fallen.
This documentary gave me my first glance at what the actual mountainous terrain of Afghanistan looks like. It exposed me to what an ambush scenario feels like, what it's like to be constantly exposed, raw, and potentially always in fear. It showed me how at times the leadership might lack, that the men bond and form a brotherhood in spite of personality and background differences, and it showed me how difficult it can be to be a soldier and yet need an opportunity to grieve. It gave me a snap shot of the experience that most of the infantry soldiers face and are currently facing, left me applauding the interviewed soldiers for their honesty amid the difficulty of sharing such innermost thoughts and feelings, and left me with an aching heart for these soldiers I serve on a daily basis and for those who have already separated and are attempting to integrate back into a world of civilians who for the most part have a limited understanding of their experience.
If you have the opportunity, please take the time to try to understand this experience and view the film. This link: http://restrepothemovie.com/ will provide you with an overview and the film itself might increase your perspective. You'll probably walk away with new insights but you might also walk away with a stronger argument for some of your previously held beliefs. Regardless, I always think its worthwhile to attempt to understand another human's experience and to gain a better, more honest picture of what is going on in other areas of this world.
If you are in the US and a Netflix user, the film is able to be delivered via DVD although its not yet instant. And I can tell you via the soldier who sat along my side and from commentary from other wives, this film is a vivid snapshot of reality.
(Although a word of caution, you will hear the F bomb dropped consistently and this film is not suitable for children....)
I never intended to write many posts about the military and I'm still holding most my final thoughts until after we are no longer active duty....but since the military is what surrounds me, is what currently defines my husband's life, and is part of the institution that employs me, then I'm sure you can imagine that much of what I think about is, well, the military.
I come from an area of this nation where most individuals are opposed to us being at war, but I don't ever feel that any of my friends or family are ever opposed to the soldiers themselves that are over there fighting. I like to believe, that for the most part, the nation does stand beside these men and women who are fighting and who are continuously putting their lives in harms way.
Now anyone who has been a long-time reader here probably knows that I have a mixed bag of opinions on the military, "defense" spending, the lack of services available to soldiers after separation, etc etc. I will whole-heartedly reiterate that I completely believe in my current job, however, and I feel honored to have the experience to interact with such a diverse group of individuals on a daily basis.
One thing that I think we as a society often struggle with is a sense of what it's like to be fighting in this current war. In all honesty, I was under the impression before coming here that we technically weren't at war anymore...but at this point, I can't remember if that was due to the media or a governmental decree or what. What I can tell you is that the military definitely believes that we are still at war and are active participants in Operation Enduring Freedom.
I don't feel that any of the media we see truly documents what the current deployment experience is like however, not that I would know exactly what that experience is or could be like. What I can tell you and urge of you is that you might seek out a recent documentary that my husband and I viewed on the National Geographic Channel. It's called RESTREPO, selected based on the name of an out posting built by a platoon (approximately 30-40 soldiers assigned to more or less the same duties and location) in memory of one of their fallen.
This documentary gave me my first glance at what the actual mountainous terrain of Afghanistan looks like. It exposed me to what an ambush scenario feels like, what it's like to be constantly exposed, raw, and potentially always in fear. It showed me how at times the leadership might lack, that the men bond and form a brotherhood in spite of personality and background differences, and it showed me how difficult it can be to be a soldier and yet need an opportunity to grieve. It gave me a snap shot of the experience that most of the infantry soldiers face and are currently facing, left me applauding the interviewed soldiers for their honesty amid the difficulty of sharing such innermost thoughts and feelings, and left me with an aching heart for these soldiers I serve on a daily basis and for those who have already separated and are attempting to integrate back into a world of civilians who for the most part have a limited understanding of their experience.
If you have the opportunity, please take the time to try to understand this experience and view the film. This link: http://restrepothemovie.com/ will provide you with an overview and the film itself might increase your perspective. You'll probably walk away with new insights but you might also walk away with a stronger argument for some of your previously held beliefs. Regardless, I always think its worthwhile to attempt to understand another human's experience and to gain a better, more honest picture of what is going on in other areas of this world.
If you are in the US and a Netflix user, the film is able to be delivered via DVD although its not yet instant. And I can tell you via the soldier who sat along my side and from commentary from other wives, this film is a vivid snapshot of reality.
(Although a word of caution, you will hear the F bomb dropped consistently and this film is not suitable for children....)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Reason for Blogging & A Book Response
I've mentioned my recent questioning about the purpose of maintaining the blog.....
....and then today, when I was whipping through the end of "Living Simply" by Joanne Heim, the following passage stuck out at me:
"How are you making and recording your memories? What are you doing to remember today? Nothing important has to happen--it could just be Thursday. But if you happen to be driving down the beach with your hair blowing in the breeze, smelling a tantalizing mixture of sea and Mexican food, singing your heart out along with the Indigo Girls--then it might be a good idea to stop and think, I want to remember how this feels forever.
Feel the sun on your face, take a deep breath, and hold it for a second. Let it out and continue on your merry way, knowing the memory is made and stored away for the next time it's cold and rainy and you're feeling blue (pg 192)."
So even though I might not feel that I'm where I intended to be on this simple living journey (in fact most the time lately I've just plain forgotten.....), this passage reminds me that this blog has the capacity to be a living document---of those moments, of my life, of who I am at this exact time....if only I actually take the time to sit down and click out a few moments into script. In the few moments that I think about shutting down the blog, I do always contemplate using one of those hardbound services to convert the experiences and thoughts from previous years into paper......hmm....although I've thrown away/recycled some of my old journals, so not entirely sure about the point of that either. ;)
And now here are some thoughts on the book itself and the other lessons that I took out of it:
Honestly the first 3/4 of the book I wasn't overly impressed. Some of the reviews I'd read before purchasing the book had been mixed as well, but mainly from individuals who didn't know until the book arrived that the author is a known Christian author (and really you wouldn't know easily if you saw the book as a suggestion). There were many things about this book that didn't speak to me mainly based on a difference of lifestyles and that the author's manifestation of simplicity didn't necessary correspond to my idea of true simple living. The initial annoyance with the book surprised me as in the past I've delved into this material from other authors and felt much deeper connection and/or similarity of philosophy. However, there were some passages I highly enjoyed and that caused me to pause and think, including this referenced quote on friendship by CS Lewis:
"Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I [should] say 'sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.'"
Truly I only finished the book because a) I hate giving up on books and almost always see them through to the end regardless of how frustrated I become with them and b) I feel like my sister may relate more to this book and I wanted to honestly be able to send it on to her with a positive reference for her. Honestly the last three chapters of the book were my favorite: Simple Sabbath, Simple Pleasures, and Changing Seasons. From those chapters the things that stuck with me the most harken back to one of my primary reasons that I fell in love with a "simple life" in the very beginning: we need a time to refresh and restore leaving ourselves open to what God has to tell us, we are surrounded by so many incredible experiences that can bring us such pleasure if we only stop to notice creation and the daily gifts of life, and that it's not to be about us but rather about how to glorify God.
When I think of the moments from 2007 that I love the most, I am engulfed with memories of trusting in God and his provision, of keeping in mind a global outlook while focusing on my local surroundings, of relishing the glory of what surrounded me, of trying to live rightly to benefit others on this planet, of feeling that my truest gifts were minutes and hours in the company of friends and family, and of realizing that in all things it never was nor is about me. All of those thoughts, those moments to me are the foundation of Christianity, of simplicity, and of sustainability....
So for every individual there is a book, while this one may not have been my favorite, it will probably speak to others....and at the very least it did remind me of a fabulous reason for blogging! :)
....and then today, when I was whipping through the end of "Living Simply" by Joanne Heim, the following passage stuck out at me:
"How are you making and recording your memories? What are you doing to remember today? Nothing important has to happen--it could just be Thursday. But if you happen to be driving down the beach with your hair blowing in the breeze, smelling a tantalizing mixture of sea and Mexican food, singing your heart out along with the Indigo Girls--then it might be a good idea to stop and think, I want to remember how this feels forever.
Feel the sun on your face, take a deep breath, and hold it for a second. Let it out and continue on your merry way, knowing the memory is made and stored away for the next time it's cold and rainy and you're feeling blue (pg 192)."
So even though I might not feel that I'm where I intended to be on this simple living journey (in fact most the time lately I've just plain forgotten.....), this passage reminds me that this blog has the capacity to be a living document---of those moments, of my life, of who I am at this exact time....if only I actually take the time to sit down and click out a few moments into script. In the few moments that I think about shutting down the blog, I do always contemplate using one of those hardbound services to convert the experiences and thoughts from previous years into paper......hmm....although I've thrown away/recycled some of my old journals, so not entirely sure about the point of that either. ;)
And now here are some thoughts on the book itself and the other lessons that I took out of it:
Honestly the first 3/4 of the book I wasn't overly impressed. Some of the reviews I'd read before purchasing the book had been mixed as well, but mainly from individuals who didn't know until the book arrived that the author is a known Christian author (and really you wouldn't know easily if you saw the book as a suggestion). There were many things about this book that didn't speak to me mainly based on a difference of lifestyles and that the author's manifestation of simplicity didn't necessary correspond to my idea of true simple living. The initial annoyance with the book surprised me as in the past I've delved into this material from other authors and felt much deeper connection and/or similarity of philosophy. However, there were some passages I highly enjoyed and that caused me to pause and think, including this referenced quote on friendship by CS Lewis:
"Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I [should] say 'sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.'"
Truly I only finished the book because a) I hate giving up on books and almost always see them through to the end regardless of how frustrated I become with them and b) I feel like my sister may relate more to this book and I wanted to honestly be able to send it on to her with a positive reference for her. Honestly the last three chapters of the book were my favorite: Simple Sabbath, Simple Pleasures, and Changing Seasons. From those chapters the things that stuck with me the most harken back to one of my primary reasons that I fell in love with a "simple life" in the very beginning: we need a time to refresh and restore leaving ourselves open to what God has to tell us, we are surrounded by so many incredible experiences that can bring us such pleasure if we only stop to notice creation and the daily gifts of life, and that it's not to be about us but rather about how to glorify God.
When I think of the moments from 2007 that I love the most, I am engulfed with memories of trusting in God and his provision, of keeping in mind a global outlook while focusing on my local surroundings, of relishing the glory of what surrounded me, of trying to live rightly to benefit others on this planet, of feeling that my truest gifts were minutes and hours in the company of friends and family, and of realizing that in all things it never was nor is about me. All of those thoughts, those moments to me are the foundation of Christianity, of simplicity, and of sustainability....
So for every individual there is a book, while this one may not have been my favorite, it will probably speak to others....and at the very least it did remind me of a fabulous reason for blogging! :)
A Wonderful Sunday Morning
A perfect Sunday morning:
--dogs running around like fools, Roxi's sharing her toys
--hub and I snuggled under layers of covers watching Definitely Maybe projected on the big screen hung on the wall across from the foot of our bed
--Major curled up tightly near our feet, relishing the extra flannel duvet
--steaming mug of espresso w/ peppermint mocha flavoring on the nightstand
--bundled up in the same layers of sweats I've had since college
--no heat on, but plenty of warmth in this room
At this point, it really doesn't matter what else the day brings. The dogs and I might start the week's 5K running this afternoon. We could hang our outside christmas lights or vacuum up the carpets. We could eat the left overs from my office Christmas party last night.....
No matter what the rest of the day presents, the morning most definitely got started off right.
--dogs running around like fools, Roxi's sharing her toys
--hub and I snuggled under layers of covers watching Definitely Maybe projected on the big screen hung on the wall across from the foot of our bed
--Major curled up tightly near our feet, relishing the extra flannel duvet
--steaming mug of espresso w/ peppermint mocha flavoring on the nightstand
--bundled up in the same layers of sweats I've had since college
--no heat on, but plenty of warmth in this room
At this point, it really doesn't matter what else the day brings. The dogs and I might start the week's 5K running this afternoon. We could hang our outside christmas lights or vacuum up the carpets. We could eat the left overs from my office Christmas party last night.....
No matter what the rest of the day presents, the morning most definitely got started off right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)