New Years Eve 2008

Well, another year has come and gone and tonight I am going to celebrate!

I have plans for a rip-roaring party, the likes of which I have never experienced.

Tonight I am spending New Years Eve with the boy scouts of Troop 282. We are having a video game all-nighter. I am going to kick some teenage video game butt! Ok, well since they won't have Galaga and Centipede there, I may have to take a back seat on some of the games, but let me tell you I am psyched for an opportunity to throw housework and responsibility out the window, spend hours doing nothing but gaming and calling myself grateful that these days I don't have to worry about running out of quarters.

Best purchase EVER!

This was one of my better purchases. It's a hat and glove tree. I saw it in a catalog and "just had to have it!" It sits right at my front door near the heater vent. Everything gets dry quickly. The nice thing is that it is so convenient that the boys just walk in and load it up. It has had LOTS of use this year as we are at record snow fall levels.


Besides, it goes with my Christmas "tree-scape"!

I feel old and slow.

Today we bought two new pieces of electronic equipment. They are supposed to work together. The outcome will be shock and awe. I told Pat, just go to bed hon, I will read the manuals while I am sitting in the orthodontist's office tomorrow and figure it out.

Aging sucks!

Resolutions, Already? Part 2

Yesterday, I posted an introspective regarding Veronica.

Today, here’s the humorous part.

Standing in front of her casket, I was talking with a friend, telling how I had seen Veronica raking leaves in her front yard the day before she died. I was inquiring as to the details of her passing. (Reminder: sudden death, me in front of casket) I was told that in the evening she and her husband had gone to a Halloween party of which her costume was the most hilarious in attendance. When they got home, since the children were being cared for at a grandparent’s home, she decided to shampoo the carpets. *note my disgust for cleaning.* Shortly thereafter, her heart stops and she dies.

I blurt, “Well, that just shows that cleaning will kill you!” Immediately, my hand smacks over my mouth in horror. The friend tells me not to worry, Veronica would have thought it was hilarious. I sure hope so!

Resolutions, Already?

These past few days I have been thinking about people. Specifically, how the people I meet affect me and how I can learn from them. Before you click over to another, more interesting blog…

I want to tell you about a woman I knew that died unexpectedly at an early age. Her name was Veronica. Tonight I was talking about Veronica and that one of the things that was said at her funeral was that when she was talking to you, it was as if no one else existed. I experienced that with her. I wasn't a close friend by any means, but during the few conversations I had with her I was the center of her world while we were talking.

I was moved to immense levels of grief when she died. I barely knew her. However, on occasion, I had been the center of her universe. I knew I never would be again.

It is important that we treat each other with that same consideration. During the Christmas season, focusing on others should be the norm.

The most profound concept of this entire situation with Veronica is that her giving of herself always uplifted the recipient. It never uplifted or glorified her.

A goal. Something to attain to. Focusing on others.

Is it "New Year's Resolution" time yet? Why wait?

My confession

In an earlier blog, I had indicated that I was going to be coordinating the worship music for a women's retreat in January. After hiding the fact that I was diligently practicing and depending on a miracle, I decided to lead the music myself. This is a stretch for me, but over the past few weeks I have been practicing my guitar daily, building confidence, working at learning new songs, building confidence, conferring with a fellow worship leader, building confidence, and lo and behold, I am really thinking I can do this!

My dad is visiting with us for a few days. It was practice time for today. "Oh, Dad, did I tell you what I'm doing? -yes playing and singing in front of about 40 women. I am going to do my practicing in the room right here with you, ok? "

Then it started. The uncontrollable giggling. Not the funny ha-ha type giggling mind you, but the …Oh crap…What have I done!?...nervous…what's a guitar?...I'm dying here…giggling…

Uh, oh. I found out the hard way that public playing is going to take some actual practice. Perhaps if I invite my neighbors over under the auspices of signing up to join a pyramid scheme they won't be too offended to find out that they are actually being subjected to an impromptu concert! It will work! Yes, YES! I am sure it will!

Giveaway opportunity

Ryan over at "This Is Reverb" put up a post the other day about giving. The first part of his post featured a woman that is participating in the Giving is Awesome challenge for photographers to reach out and bless someone during this season of giving. I contacted the photographer that I worked for over the summer and he chose to participate too! Check it out. It is a great program.

To find out more about the program click here:Giving is Awesome

To go directly to my photographer friend's website click here: Aspen Photography…and for those of you that are following along, this is the website that I worked on putting up over the summer.