A New Year, A New Beginning

With this new year, I am starting a new blog. I have been blogging here for a little while but felt it was time for a change. I will eventually move some things to my new blog, though not everything. I'd love to welcome you to join me at my new blog, Pieces of Life. as I share thoughts, ideas, crafts & DIY projects, organization, recipes and other puzzles life brings along. I hope to join you and share your pieces of life as well. :)

Emergency Preparedness

I've been MIA here for a while now. I have to admit... Facebook lured me away. I know a lot of bloggers maintain great attendance with both a blog and Facebook but I did not. I have been weening myself from way too much Facebook time after the election. I witnessed too much negativity in the midst of the campaigns. Voicing opinions and "Liking" various posts and statuses was harmless in itself. But I saw too many people taking it to a personal level... calling those of an opposite party names and demeaning them. I was heartbroken to see some posts I did. I decided I need less Facebook time and more blog time. I've missed this place. :)

In light of the tragedies as a result of Superstorm Sandy, I'm linking up and joining A Bowl Full Of Lemons in a series of posts on Emergency Preparedness.

This couldn't come at a better time, after feeling the earthquake shake my house here in eastern Kentucky this weekend. It was my first earthquake experience in my 44 years. And was quite eye opening for me. I didn't see things in the house shaking. Nothing fell off the walls. But my house moved back and forth a number of times.

I've been very blessed to have never experienced any natural disasters. I've never had a house fire. I've never been in a flood. I've never had tornado, hurricane or earthquake destroy my home and life. But I have watch the horror of others in recent times and can't help but wonder... will something happen here next? Will I or others around me close be in similar situations in the near future? Will I be prepared to face it? And my answer to myself is NO. I am not prepared for any of those events. I plan to change that. Join me in getting your home... family... and life prepared should a natural (or even man-made) disaster come your way.

Good Morning Girls!

Today I started the new "Proverbs 31 Woman" Bible Study with the Good Morning Girls! The idea of the Proverbs 31 "perfect woman" has always seemed so intimidating to me but, because I want to be the best wife, mother & daughter of Christ that I can be... I'm excited to study this mystery perfect woman, verse by verse and learn, not how to be perfect, but a better me. I have chosen to post my S.O.A.P. notes from today's first lesson. I'm sure future lessons won't be shared in their entirety because they will be much more personal to me. I hope you will choose to join in this study as well. All materials (eBook and Study Guide) are available to download FREE. Visit the Good Morning Girls site for your free download links.

Week 1: Monday

Read: Proverbs 31:1--‐2

Proverbs 31: One Virtue At A Time - pg 5

S - Write out the scripture passage for the day.

1.    The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2.    Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

O - Write down 1 or 2 observations from the passage.

King Lemuel was an answer to his mother's prayers. A child that she prayed she would have one day. She urged him to listen to some inspired teachings on what to look for in a wife.

A - Write down 1-2 applications from the passage.

My son is an answer to my prayers... someone I prayed that I would be blessed with one day. I want the same "perfect" woman/wife for him. Not perfect by the words standards, but perfect FOR HIM. Someone who will honor and compliment him.

P - Pray over what you learned from today’s passage.

Lord I pray for you guidance in teaching my son what to look for in a life mate. Teach me how to  lead him and prepare both our hearts for the lessons you want him know.

I've waited all week for this!

TGIF! But not because the weekend is here. Well that too... But I have waited all week to wear my new shoes on this "casual jeans day" at the office. I took my niece, Samantha, to K-Mart last Sunday for something specific. I hadn't shopped at K-Mart in a coon's age! (Don't ask me how long that is, but in Kentucky that's a LONG time!). So I was surprised when I saw these really cute ankle boots on clearance for $10!!

I couldn't resist. I didn't own any boots of any kind before. I've avoided that whole fashion statement most of my life. It's because of a condition I have known as FCS, better known as Fat Calf Syndrome. Even at my smallest size, and I have been small before, I have suffered from FCS.

But I thought what the heck... And tried on a pair. Or at least attempted to. My size 8 foot wouldn't fit in them because evidently it's spread to the top of my foot!? But a size 9 fit perfectly! Jacklyn Smith must use a different size chart because all of my other shoes still fit and feel fine.

My niece agreed with me that they looked so cute with the jeans I had on that I decided they were for me! And it's finally Friday so I can wear them to the office! I love them!!

One Thousand Gifts

It's been a year since I blogged. I had plenty to say but it's nothing anyone would care to read, I'm sure. I would have been mostly complaining about how unhappy and miserable I was about something... mainly my old job. So I chose instead to say nothing. Wasn't it Thumper on Bambi that quoted this advice from his mother... "If you can't say nothing nice, don't say anything at all."

I now have better things to say. I have a new job! I've really missed blogging and I'm not sure who will even read this after seeing nothing here for do long. (Is anyone still out there?)

I'm making an effort to find things to be positive about and grateful for. I found this wonderful app, "One Thousand Gifts" (available for iPhone and Android). You can share your daily "gift" of focus also through Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr. It can be media or text. I started my One Thousand Gifts focus with this picture of my son, Adam... taken by his girlfriend just the other day.

What gift are you thankful for today?