Psalm 51:10

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me

I've been reflecting on this verse for the past couple of days.  Maybe it's the idea of a new year and a chance to start over.  A chance to make changes in my physical, emotional and spiritual life.  A chance for me to renew my faith in God, to look towards him to heal me.  To create in me, a loving spirit.  A spirit that honors God.  A spirit that honors the preciousness of my being and all human beings.

Gracious Lord, I seek Your forgiveness and patience as I struggle with life's many changes and challenges. Renew in me your loving spirit, so that I may honor your name through out my daily life.  In your name, I pray.  Amen.


Peace be with you!

Day 4 of 365 project

Days 4 of the  365 project

This is a square from the quilt that my paternal grandmother, Marie Kiesling, made.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 70's.  Before she died, she made quilts for each of her 3 granddaughters that were to be given to them on their wedding day.

Renew

One of my resolutions for 2012 was to increase my donations to St. Anthony's Retreat Center and to the St. Francis Horse Rescue.  In order to do this, I had a plan of increasing my savings deductions by another $50/paycheck.  So with my direct deposit that I have, I won't even see the money.  But, my anxiety level is increasing as I'm contemplating doing this. Like everyone else, our house hold budget is getting pretty lean.  Everything is costing more; from gas prices to the cost of groceries.  Can I really afford to do this?  These thoughts are going through my mind as I'm going to the credit union to fill out the paperwork. But, as I was driving into the credit union parking lot a bible verse from Matthew 'popped' into my head.  I couldn't remember the exact verse nor could I have quoted word for word but, I knew that it had to do with sparrows and look how they don't worry about things.  I felt a little less anxiety about increasing my money into savings but, I was still nervous.  So when I got home, I looked up the bible verse.  It's Matthew 6:26,

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And further on Matthew 6:30


So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

At this moment, after reading those verse, I know that I have made the right decision and things will work out.

Peace be with you

Day 3

For my 365 project.

At a stop light on Center Point Drive

If interested in learning more about the project click here

Day 2

I'm attempting the 365 project.  Each day I'll take a photo of my everyday life.  This is a picture of my lunch bag.  For the longest time I stayed safe in my lunch bag choice, "plain Jane', that was me.  This lunch bag represents the first time that I didn't play it safe and did something that wasn't expected.

If interested in the project follow the link

Day 1

Woodpecker condo on our property

12 for 12

What would a New Year be without some resolutions.  This year I'm doing 12 resolutions for 2012!

1. Cut my debt by 40%.
2. Read 25 books
3. Log 10,000 fitness minute
• When I did my 1/2 marathon last year, I focused my running in terms of mileage.  The goal was to get a certain number of miles in per week.  I would like my running to become more time based and not mileage based.
4. Go scale free
• I have issues with my scale.  On some level, I know that I have an eating disorder.  By weighing my self, I'm continuing the cycle of looking at food (and fitness) in terms of numbers.  If I weigh "X" amount, than I need to do this amount of fitness or I can have this to eat.  I'm so much more than a number on a scale.
5. Become greener
6. Buy locally or at the very least US made
7. Strive to make time for friends and family
• I use to love making cards.  I use to make cards all the time.  I have enough card supplies to keep myself occupied for a couple of years; making cards!  I need to get back into the habit of making cards and than....sending them.  I'd like to strive to make enough cards that I could send them every month to a few of my girlfriends every month.  Who wouldn't like to receive a piece of mail, that isn't junk mail or a bill?  I know I would.
• I, also need to start spending time with my parents.  Even if it's just calling once or twice a week to see how they are doing.  I could right a book on my relationship with my folks; it's dysfunctional but yet it's functional.
8. Limit my TV viewing to 1 hour/day
• The amount of time that I spend in front of the TV is time that is spent not doing things that are productive.  Do I really need to see how Candy Spelling is selling her manor?  How many episodes of Hoarders do I really need to view?  I could be reading, making cards, cleaning, cooking, writing, walking, making love, etc.  Life is passing me by, while I sit on the couch.
9. Take a class for writing
10. Do a modified version of the 366 project
11. Increase my contributions to charities to $1200
• There are two charities that I really believe in; St. Anthony's Spiritual Center and St. Francis Horse Rescue Center.  My goal is to send these two charities a check, every quarter, for $105
12. Enjoy 2012
• I need to recognize that the life I'm living, this is it.  There is no dress rehearsal, no do-overs.   Let the fun begin.

Hello!

I’m making the jump; it may not be a polar plunge to celebrate the New Year but, I’m making the jump into the blogging world.  Growing up, I had a dream in grade school, that I was going to be a writer.  I’m not sure why, or even when I stopped believing in that dream.  This is my attempt to revive that dream and other dreams that some how got lost along the way.