I get my morning news courtesy of Good Morning America. I once was a fan of the Today show but when Katie left, so did I. Besides, my local news team of choice also happens to be the ABC affiliate so now I don't waste time channel jumping between local and national news when I need the First Alert weather team to tell me how to dress for the day.
This week GMA is featuring each of the team telling about The Year That Changed My Life. The segment title was intriguing. It got me to thinking...
What year would I say changed my life? I didn't have to think about it for very long.
It is really more about a relationship than a year-- but more about that later.
It was 1976. Nadia Comaneci gave perfect performances at the Olympics. The Eagles released Hotel California (back when you bought vinyl albums, not tracks, tapes, or discs).
Gasoline was .59 a gallon, and I graduated from high school. The original Rocky was showing in theaters and a couple of guys started a company--something about apples and computers.
I was a rebellious preacher's kid who couldn't wait to be independent and in charge. My family had moved to another state the day after graduation. I didn't know where I belonged. The life I was leaving behind was filled with deceptions, regrets, and flawed decisions. I was fully under the cultural influence of the 70's. I was in church 3 times a week but didn't see a connection with what went on there to my everyday life.
Moving to another state was somewhat of a relief. A chance to re-create myself. Start over. Clean slate. The outside was pretty easy to change. Our new church had a large youth group. They were cool kids, popular in their school and we shared a love of music. They were fun in a good, clean way. I knew what to do, I knew what to say. I fit in. After only a month or so of hanging out, I saw that for them, it wasn't an act. They lived what they believed and were a positive influence on their peers. I wasn't content to imitate, I wanted what they had. The Holy Spirit was working on me. At 8 years old I had prayed to God asking him to forgive my sins and let me go to heaven when I died. I believed with child-like faith and I know He heard. I was His child, but a self centered one for sure. I wrestled with the double life I lived. In a moment of total submission, I declared that I wanted to walk in obedience and follow Christ in every aspect of my life.
Nothing would be the same after that. I changed my college plans, ended a 2 year relationship, and headed off in a new direction. 33 years later no regrets and not many detours--it's been quite a ride!
Here's to 2009 and more opportunities to grow in grace!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
No Joke!
Q: How do you take out the trash on an ice covered driveway?
A: Very carefully! yuk, yuk, yuk.
Seriously, it's trash night and my driveway is covered in ice. Our little municipality has a few guidelines in regards to trash disposal and pick up. As a law-abiding citizen, I am strongly compelled to follow these guidelines. And there was also the one time they banned a guy in our neighborhood from trash pick up due to non-compliance--seriously!
The trash policy goes something like this:
"All pick ups are at curbside and must be out prior to 7 a.m. on the scheduled day. Trash may be placed on the curb after 7 p.m. the night before the scheduled pick up day but only after dark and only by persons in acceptable attire as is proper for the disposal of solid waste, yard waste, and recyclable waste. Containers with attached/hinged lids are not acceptable for garbage collection or yard waste. The maximum weight allowed per container is 40 pounds. One container or bag is allowed per week. Additional garbage must be tagged with a sticker."
I may or may not have elaborated on some of the policy but the truth is that it is easier to put out the night before, under the cover of darkness, while still fully clothed and properly shod.
So today as I pull in the driveway I decide that I should just get it over with and put out the trash. Normally, our weekly haul is not that significant and I can take it all in one trip. However, we've had Christmas, we've had a New Year's Day party, AND we've been cleaning out the basement--we've got LOTS of trash this week. My code compliant 32 gallon, non-lidded container was smack dab full. Perhaps even exceeding the acceptable height of protrusion "beyond the lid/rim of said container." In addition to the over-stuffed trash can, I have 2 (two) recycling bins full this week. This will require at least 2 trips. Did I mention that my driveway is ice covered? And is on a slant? I can't tell you the degree of incline but it seems steeper when ice glazed.
After surmising the situation, I decided that using the power of gravity, I'd just slide the containers down the driveway. Unable to calculate the velocity at which the full containers would travel downhill on a slick surface (that would require, like, math skills), I deducted that keeping hands on the containers and controlling the speed would be preferable to chasing the containers into the cul-de-sac. The recycle bins were first-- low and wide their area surface (see I know something about math) gave a fair amount of resistance and they travelled at a manageable rate if speed and they ended up where I wanted them. The trash can was next-- taller and with a smaller base--this presented new challenges. Once sent into forward thrust, it traveled more rapidly than the afore mentioned bins. Should I let it go, hang on to it and risk a face plant on the ice? That could have been painful or funny depending if you were the one participating or the one observing.
Good thing it was dark... nobody will ever know.
A: Very carefully! yuk, yuk, yuk.
Seriously, it's trash night and my driveway is covered in ice. Our little municipality has a few guidelines in regards to trash disposal and pick up. As a law-abiding citizen, I am strongly compelled to follow these guidelines. And there was also the one time they banned a guy in our neighborhood from trash pick up due to non-compliance--seriously!
The trash policy goes something like this:
"All pick ups are at curbside and must be out prior to 7 a.m. on the scheduled day. Trash may be placed on the curb after 7 p.m. the night before the scheduled pick up day but only after dark and only by persons in acceptable attire as is proper for the disposal of solid waste, yard waste, and recyclable waste. Containers with attached/hinged lids are not acceptable for garbage collection or yard waste. The maximum weight allowed per container is 40 pounds. One container or bag is allowed per week. Additional garbage must be tagged with a sticker."
I may or may not have elaborated on some of the policy but the truth is that it is easier to put out the night before, under the cover of darkness, while still fully clothed and properly shod.
So today as I pull in the driveway I decide that I should just get it over with and put out the trash. Normally, our weekly haul is not that significant and I can take it all in one trip. However, we've had Christmas, we've had a New Year's Day party, AND we've been cleaning out the basement--we've got LOTS of trash this week. My code compliant 32 gallon, non-lidded container was smack dab full. Perhaps even exceeding the acceptable height of protrusion "beyond the lid/rim of said container." In addition to the over-stuffed trash can, I have 2 (two) recycling bins full this week. This will require at least 2 trips. Did I mention that my driveway is ice covered? And is on a slant? I can't tell you the degree of incline but it seems steeper when ice glazed.
After surmising the situation, I decided that using the power of gravity, I'd just slide the containers down the driveway. Unable to calculate the velocity at which the full containers would travel downhill on a slick surface (that would require, like, math skills), I deducted that keeping hands on the containers and controlling the speed would be preferable to chasing the containers into the cul-de-sac. The recycle bins were first-- low and wide their area surface (see I know something about math) gave a fair amount of resistance and they travelled at a manageable rate if speed and they ended up where I wanted them. The trash can was next-- taller and with a smaller base--this presented new challenges. Once sent into forward thrust, it traveled more rapidly than the afore mentioned bins. Should I let it go, hang on to it and risk a face plant on the ice? That could have been painful or funny depending if you were the one participating or the one observing.
Good thing it was dark... nobody will ever know.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year, New Lists
My husband asked me if I'd made my new year goals (aka new years resolution) to which I grumped, "NO"!
It's not that I'm opposed to the tradition, in fact I'm quite a fan of setting goals in general. It's just that I am tired of lists. I just need a break from lists. First there was the Christmas Gift List. It was actually a pretty short list. The men in my life couldn't come up with anything and The Princess' first draft looked like this:
1. Puppy
Needless to say, I handed it back to her and suggested that she fill it in with a few other things. Then her list looked something like this:
Puppy
OR
Chi hair straightener
Ugg boots (tall)
Tiffany heart toggle necklace
iPod (newer than the one she has which is "full")
I think it was her strategy to get me to think that a dog wouldn't be near as bad as this pricey list. It didn't work.
Then there was the Holiday Food Shopping List. Due to bad weather and slightly loose meal and party plans, I decided to stock up on all ingredients for several of my traditional party foods as well as menus that could be put together as the need demanded. I ended up with an overflowing pantry, 2 full refrigerators, and about 10 blocks of cream cheese. Apparently every appetizer I think is a must-have for a successful party requires cream cheese.
Next came the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day menu list. I have a great mother and mother in law who have set a very high standard of Christmas menus. I was compelled to re-create their meal traditions for my crew. My mother-in-law is a master at preparing most of her dishes ahead of time so she can enjoy the family and not spend all her time in the kitchen. That is also a goal I set for myself and so it required a strategy--another list.
Just when I thought I had it all wrapped up...came the Last minute things I forgot to get/shopping with my procrastinating sons list. It was Christmas eve and I was out shopping with my two sons and as well as many other males. It could have been entertaining if I'd had the time to stand by and watch the fiasco. These poor guys were at the mercy of some aggressive sales clerks pushing their wares.
Fortunately, my lists were helpful. The meals were made, parties were thrown, gifts were distributed and nothing made the Things to Return to the store list.
It's only the first day of 2009, I've got 364 more to go to get my new years goal list completed. I'll think about that list another day...
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