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Last night I went to bed at 8:30 and finished reading a book (already one book read in 2007!). I honestly had nothing else pressing to do.
Oh sure, I could have tackled some work-related tasks or got started on some SPJ project. But nothing was screaming, "I should have been done yesterday!" Particularly because I'm not teaching this semester at the College of Charleston, my evenings aren't filled with lesson plans and grading.
A friend called while I was reading and I admitted my guilt over what I classified as "doing nothing."
"It's a sickness," I told her. Truly, I have a tough time relaxing. I feel guilty when I do something that's just for me. But step one is admitting you have a problem and one of my goals is to get better about this. Last weekend, I watched a movie. On Sunday, I'm participating in a four-part mystery book club.
I'm also checking into a women's crafting circle, church Bible studies and adult swimming lessons with an equally water-terrified friend (this should generate lots of blog postings).
I'd say my 2007 is off to a pretty good start.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Happy New Year
Wow. I blinked and 2006 blew right by me.
We spent New Year's Eve with two close friends. I believe this was our fifth New Year's Eve with them. We enjoy having a good dinner, playing some games and watching the ball drop in Times Square. Each year we talk about how fast the previous year went. But, truly, 2006 really zipped by in a flurry of work, moving, home renovations and even more work.
I am ashamed to say I didn't ride my bike once in 2006. I camped zero times and I read a very tiny handful of books. While I had some terrific accomplishments, I really want to relax the pace a bit this year.
Goal for 2007: sloooooow dooowwwnn. I want to work hard but I want to play hard too. I want a little more down time, a little more quality time, a little more me time.
Considering I extended my vacation into Jan. 3, rather than going back to work Jan. 2, I would say I'm off to a good start.
We spent New Year's Eve with two close friends. I believe this was our fifth New Year's Eve with them. We enjoy having a good dinner, playing some games and watching the ball drop in Times Square. Each year we talk about how fast the previous year went. But, truly, 2006 really zipped by in a flurry of work, moving, home renovations and even more work.
I am ashamed to say I didn't ride my bike once in 2006. I camped zero times and I read a very tiny handful of books. While I had some terrific accomplishments, I really want to relax the pace a bit this year.
Goal for 2007: sloooooow dooowwwnn. I want to work hard but I want to play hard too. I want a little more down time, a little more quality time, a little more me time.
Considering I extended my vacation into Jan. 3, rather than going back to work Jan. 2, I would say I'm off to a good start.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Merry Christmas!
We're off to Ohio tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with my family. Here's wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas holiday. Truly we have much to celebrate.
Thought you might enjoy Mocha and Belle's Christmas photo.
Holiday plans
It's hard to believe another holiday is upon us. Once again, I haven’t accomplished my holiday mega list. Each holiday season, I have grand plans for all the things I plan to do, see and experience during this most wonderful time of the year. My plans are usually askew by Dec. 9. But just to give you an idea of those grand plans:
• Bake dozens of cookies in dozens of varieties, including sugar cookies cut into holiday shapes and decorated so beautifully they might be considered artwork.
• Make hand-made gifts for friends and relatives. Really make each gift personal, meaningful and heartfelt.
• Wrap gifts in amazing paper (I might even make it myself like I saw on a crafty TV show once), tying them up with intricate bows.
• Host an amazing Christmas party with wonderful appetizers and festive punch while my guests marvel at how beautifully I’ve decorated my home.
• Attend every Christmas play, concert and festive function available.
• Watch at least a dozen Christmas movies, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Elf.”
I think you’re getting the point. I’m really striving for a holiday that probably only exists in my Southern Living Christmas book or a Martha Stewart magazine. But it’s a nice fantasy and each year I’ll keep trying. I mean, at least this year, I watched four Christmas movies, baked one variety of cookie and attended one Christmas performance. You have to start somewhere.
• Bake dozens of cookies in dozens of varieties, including sugar cookies cut into holiday shapes and decorated so beautifully they might be considered artwork.
• Make hand-made gifts for friends and relatives. Really make each gift personal, meaningful and heartfelt.
• Wrap gifts in amazing paper (I might even make it myself like I saw on a crafty TV show once), tying them up with intricate bows.
• Host an amazing Christmas party with wonderful appetizers and festive punch while my guests marvel at how beautifully I’ve decorated my home.
• Attend every Christmas play, concert and festive function available.
• Watch at least a dozen Christmas movies, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Elf.”
I think you’re getting the point. I’m really striving for a holiday that probably only exists in my Southern Living Christmas book or a Martha Stewart magazine. But it’s a nice fantasy and each year I’ll keep trying. I mean, at least this year, I watched four Christmas movies, baked one variety of cookie and attended one Christmas performance. You have to start somewhere.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Student blog
A new assignment I added this semester is the creation of a class blog in which all the students have access to the blog and post journalism-related comments. They procrastinated for two weeks before one was finally brave enough to post something (and I gave a stern warning about not doing all five required posts the last day of class -- that would make Professor Fisher very angry.)
So check it out here. But please don't post any comments -- it's for the students only. Enjoy! :-)
So check it out here. But please don't post any comments -- it's for the students only. Enjoy! :-)
Monday, November 06, 2006
The greatest of trials
Even though I have no children of my own, I can imagine hearing the doctors tell you that your 2-year-old son has cancer must be like a like a bowling bowl hitting the pit of your stomach. Your eyes burn, your throat constricts. Surely, life is not this cruel.
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When Clint and I moved to Charleston, we attended a “newcomers” event at the Air Force Base. We happened to sit next to another couple with a baby girl about 6 months old. We exchanged some pleasantries and I didn’t really expect to see them again. We all ended up at the same Nazarene Church a couple weeks later. I believe God wanted us to meet again.
The four of us became friends and a year later we even bought their house when they moved to a larger one. They expanded their family with a son and several months later were relocated to an Air Force Base in Florida. They had another son, Micah, now 2 years old. A few weeks ago, we received word that Micah has an aggressive form of cancer. He is undergoing chemo and treatment in Nashville. It’s a challenging time for this young family, to say the least.
Every day I ask God for a miracle. I ask God to be with our friends, with their older children and with Micah. I can’t even fathom how you all explain this to a 2-year-old. I ask God to give them strength, comfort and just to wrap His arms around them. I believe in miracles and I believe God is faithful.
Interestingly, I’m attending a Bible study on James, which deals with trials. Trials are a test of our faith and if we aren’t sure how to stand up under a trial, we are to ask God for wisdom.
I pray Nate and Jacque will take comfort in the fact God tells us we are to rejoice in our trials because they will ultimately make us mature and complete in Christ.
If you are so inclined, please pray for Micah and his family. They have created a Web site with updates, so feel free to follow his progress and watch as God works a miracle like only God can.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
===
When Clint and I moved to Charleston, we attended a “newcomers” event at the Air Force Base. We happened to sit next to another couple with a baby girl about 6 months old. We exchanged some pleasantries and I didn’t really expect to see them again. We all ended up at the same Nazarene Church a couple weeks later. I believe God wanted us to meet again.
The four of us became friends and a year later we even bought their house when they moved to a larger one. They expanded their family with a son and several months later were relocated to an Air Force Base in Florida. They had another son, Micah, now 2 years old. A few weeks ago, we received word that Micah has an aggressive form of cancer. He is undergoing chemo and treatment in Nashville. It’s a challenging time for this young family, to say the least.
Every day I ask God for a miracle. I ask God to be with our friends, with their older children and with Micah. I can’t even fathom how you all explain this to a 2-year-old. I ask God to give them strength, comfort and just to wrap His arms around them. I believe in miracles and I believe God is faithful.
Interestingly, I’m attending a Bible study on James, which deals with trials. Trials are a test of our faith and if we aren’t sure how to stand up under a trial, we are to ask God for wisdom.
I pray Nate and Jacque will take comfort in the fact God tells us we are to rejoice in our trials because they will ultimately make us mature and complete in Christ.
If you are so inclined, please pray for Micah and his family. They have created a Web site with updates, so feel free to follow his progress and watch as God works a miracle like only God can.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
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