Strength

“As your days, so shall your strength be.” - Deuteronomy 33:25

For the past 9 days, things have been very different for me. Before, my days were filled with apathy, struggle, failure, discouragement, and then weak resolve to try again the next day. But, lately, my days have been more peaceful, hopeful, and not filled with failure.

Why?

Simply put: God has been gracious to me. He remembered me and heard my cried for help...and he answered me. He has given me strength for today and great hope for tomorrow...and new mercy every morning.

And I am thankful.

Strength

“As your days, so shall your strength be.” - Deuteronomy 33:25

For the past 9 days, things have been very different for me. Before, my days were filled with apathy, struggle, failure, discouragement, and then weak resolve to try again the next day. But, lately, my days have been more peaceful, hopeful, and not filled with failure.

Why?

Simply put: God has been gracious to me. He remembered me and heard my cried for help...and he answered me. He has given me strength for today and great hope for tomorrow...and new mercy every morning.

And I am thankful.

1st Infant Photoshoot

Sunday, I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so with a precious family. The intention was to snap a few pics of their newest baby boy, but, of course, we also took a few shots of the family.

It was so much fun!

"Eees for fun!"

1. Your SPY name (middle name and current street name):Marie Park South

2. Your MOVIE STAR name (grandfather/grandmother on your dad's side and your favourite candy):Bertha Dove

3. Your RAP name (first initial of first name and first three or four letters of your last name): T Gas

4. Your GAMER TAG (a favourite colour, a favourite animal):Purple Giraffe

5. Your SOAP OPERA name (middle name, and city you were born in): Marie San Diego (I like that one!)

6. Your STAR WARS name (first three letters of your last name, last three letters of mother's maiden name, first three letters of your pet's name): GASINESAM

7. Your JEDI name (middle name spelled backwards, your mom's maiden name spelled backwards): Eirameniomel

9. Your SUPERHERO name: ("The", your favourite colour and the automobile your dad drives): The Purple Sierra

10. Your ACTION HERO name (first name of the main character in the last film you watched, last food you ate): Hancock Sausage.

If y'all want to reply in the comments...that would be fun!!

Redecorating

I love redecorating! I always have. When I was growing up, I changed my bedroom around every other month. A hallway full of furniture and a washer full of dye for my comforter was not an uncommon sight in my home. Even now, I could change, re-arrange, switch out or add accessories, revamp existing decor and paint the rooms in my place daily and never be done or get tired of it. Just when I think I am completely in love with a room, I find something that sets the design wheels in my head racing and, I'm itching to start all over again.

Now, I am no interior desiger. Decorating shows on TV leave me feeling like even my best efforts will look more "Frank" from Trading Spaces than "Candice Olson" from Divine Design...more trailer park than sensible chic. But, it's fun, so I continue.

My latest project was a livingroom re-do. Here are some before and afters:

I Hope Every Day is This Easy.

Meet Jonathan. He is my little atheist, vegetarian, liberal, sloth-like friend and one of the few bright spots I have at work these days. I can be grumpy or headachey or tired or hating my pinky toes, but if he walks by my office and calls me "Joyce" or pretends to shoot me Wild West style or makes a wierd face at me, it's all better. For a few minutes, anyway.

I'm easily amused.

And so is he, so that works out great, especially when it comes to keeping my "make someone laugh every day" New Years Resolution!

A few days ago, I told him a story about a lady at my church who says "How are you?" in a very specific, slightly exaggerated way. This "How are you?" is generally accompanied by her leaning in to look right in your face and an affectionate hand clasp. She's a very sweet lady and very sincere. "How are you?" it isn't funny when she says it...it would just be funny if anyone besides her did it that way. So, yesterday, I ran into Jon-Jon in the copy room and looked at him as seriously as I could and said "How are you?" in that very particular and affected way. He cracked up laughing. So did I.

And with that, Day 1 of the "make someone laugh every day" campaign was officially a success!

Note to self: Having inside jokes helps when you are trying to make people laugh.

Resolutions

I generally don't make New Year's Resolutions. Don't get me wrong, I think they are great...um...for people who can actually keep them and accomplish things in life. I would not be one of those people, however. My resolutions of years gone by have been akin to the proverbial beauty pageant "world peace": it sounds nice but is impossible to accomplish alone. Or by simply donning a tiara.

For example, my New Years Resolution for 2000 was to be a size 8 and married before I was 30. Actually, thinness and marriage were my new years resolutions most years. My inability to attain these goals has led to my current aversion to making new resolutions...and also a lot of crying, self-loathing and nacho eating. Oh, and perhaps some crankiness, too.

But, this year, I am facing my fears, thumbing my nose at past failures and bravely making resolutions. More realistic and attainable resolutions. In addition to the resolution I mentioned on my other blog, I plan to try to make someone smile or laugh every day. Giggles will also be accepted. This resolutions has the potential to be either really fun or really painfully annoying. If I am successful, those around me will be happier than they ordinarily are at least one day out of the year. If I am not, I will be pitied and avoided like Michael on "The Office". If that happens, I'll have to hire a film crew to document my abysmal failure which then might make some sect of You Tube watchers happy whilst also making those who actually know me want to pelt things at my head. Which could be fun for them.

Wish me luck!

Resolutions

No, I didn't forget I was shutting up already. But, since this post isn't about friends or singleness or weight-loss or the dark and treacherous cave that is my emotions...so I figure I'm safe.

And, so are you.

This post is about, well...Resolutions. You probably guessed that by the title because you are smart and I am not at all ambiguous or vague. I don't generally make New Years Resolutions. It's not that I think they are a bad thing, I just su...I mean "stink" at keeping them.

It might help if the resolutions I made were a bit more attainable by sheer will-power and God's grace, but mine typically involve marriage, miraculous weight-loss or a total personality make-over. But I'm not supposed to talk about that right now... See how little stick-to-it-ness I have! So...resolutions. Yes, I don't generally make them, but this year I made an exception and made two. I'll share one here and one on my other blog.

My first resolution is to read at least 6 books this year. I used to read way more than that, but over the past couple of years I've really gotten out of the habit of reading and I miss it. So, I'm starting small and hope to exceed my goal. There are already a few books on my "must read list", but I'm open to suggestions.

You got any?

The Belly Button Song.

Many years ago, I fell in love.
The object of my affection...Larry the Cucumber.
Today, however, I may have a new love. His name is Mr. Lunt.
Please enjoy the following video, which clearly and undeniably displays his wonderfulness:

Shutting up...

So, this morning, I re-read what I posted yesterday and was like, "That doesn't really make any sense!"

I blog because I have one-sided relationships in which I am free to share and pursue but it isn't reciprocated? I blog because it's just like the friendships I have?!?!

Clearly, my emotional state has effected my ability to effectively communicate my thoughts and feelings. So, until I can rightly do that...or I forget and post again...I will just shut up.


In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of a puppy snuggling with a stuffed animal.
























Additional, non-puppy pictures can be found on my other blog, too.

Shutting up...

So, this morning, I re-read what I posted yesterday and was like, "That doesn't really make any sense!"

I blog because I have one-sided relationships in which I am free to share and pursue but it isn't reciprocated? I blog because it's just like the friendships I have?!?!

Clearly, my emotional state has effected my ability to effectively communicate my thoughts and feelings. So, until I can rightly do that...or I forget and post again...I will just shut up.


In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of a puppy snuggling with a stuffed animal.
























Additional, non-puppy pictures can be found on my other blog, too.

Giving the People what they really want...

Over the past few months, I've come to the realization that I say way too many words. In fact, most people I think would rather it if I didn't say more than 10 words at a time. And, it is generally best if those words are (in no particular order): good, great, awesome, amazing, blessed, beautiful, thinner, excited, grateful or fluffernutter. Not sure why the last one helps...but it always does.

So, for this post, though I've exceeded the 10 word limit, I intend to honor the spirit of shutting up by posting pictures.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, though.

So...um...maybe the exchange rate in this instance is different? I hope so!

Keepin' it Real, Part 3. The Digression.

This installment has very little to do with eating.
It also might be my last post.

How's that for drama?

I'm only half serious about the last post thing, because, lets face it...I like blogging even if no one really reads it. Its a release. I need it.

Why?

Well, I don't really have many close friends. I have people that I know. People that will listen if I need to talk. People that will meet me for dinner or coffee if I extend an invitation. But, I don't really have anyone that calls on me to listen or meet for dinner or anything like that.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy hosting things and initiating get-togethers and such. It's fun. It's just also nice, and I think necessary sometimes, to be on the receiving end of that...to know that people aren't just being kind, but actually do want to spend time with you. So much so that they invite and initiate.

When that doesn't happen, it sometimes makes being a single woman in her 30s very, very hard.

I'm not sure what is to be done about this, but I pray God will show me and give me the strength to change.

Keepin' it Real, Part 3. The Digression.

This installment has very little to do with eating.
It also might be my last post.

How's that for drama?

I'm only half serious about the last post thing, because, lets face it...I like blogging even if no one really reads it. Its a release. I need it.

Why?

Well, I don't really have many close friends. I have people that I know. People that will listen if I need to talk. People that will meet me for dinner or coffee if I extend an invitation. But, I don't really have anyone that calls on me to listen or meet for dinner or anything like that.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy hosting things and initiating get-togethers and such. It's fun. It's just also nice, and I think necessary sometimes, to be on the receiving end of that...to know that people aren't just being kind, but actually do want to spend time with you. So much so that they invite and initiate.

When that doesn't happen, it sometimes makes being a single woman in her 30s very, very hard.

I'm not sure what is to be done about this, but I pray God will show me and give me the strength to change.