Thursday, November 27, 2008

To Be Thankful

As I sit and reflect upon this past year, I have so many reasons to be thankful, so many ways I have been blessed. This has been a year of change and growth, and every step of the way the path has been made clear - even if I couldn't see it. So many blessings abound as 2008 comes to a close.


- I am thankful for my country. For all the ways it has blessed me. That I can praise God freely and openly.


- I am thankful for my new home in Knoxville, TN. The beauty that surrounds me


- I am thankful for having a true and sure love in my life who provides nothing but constant support, encouragement, and is the best love anyone could ask for.


- I am thankful for my new church that has been a source of great happiness.

- I am thankful for my job. Especially in these economic times, that I can use my background and degrees and manage to learn new things still.

- I am thankful for my little Gibson. His constant companionship and energy that brings me happiness.


- Thankful for wonderful friends, those that I can call upon at any time.


- Thankful for a sister who has such a


- Thankful for the future and the light that is ahead.


- Thankful to God for the many blessings he has given me.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Beard and Glasses Guy- Awesome.

I couldn't agree more. ;)

Perfect Date for Cold Weather

This came from Glamour's article.

In the winter, you might feel tempted to stay indoors (a movie? homemade dinner?) and that's all well and good. But there's something really invigorating and giddy about bundling up and walking arm-in-arm in chilly weather. (Plus, everyone looks great with rosy cheeks! A cold wind is like the most perfect blush ever.)
So, here is a perfect winter date:
****** A Hot Chocolate Taste Test ******
You and your date pile on your coats, scarves and hats and head out into the wintry streets. Choose three cafes, chocolate shops, delis or restaurants and walk to each of them. Order the hot chocolate--and don't be afraid to try the fun versions, like Mexican Hot Chocolate. Split each cup, and then head to the next spot. Strolling around will help you burn off the chocolate, you'll definitely have something to talk about and you'll get a buzz from both your date, the walking and the caffeine. Plus, have you ever kissed someone after drinking hot chocolate? Yummmm-y.

Tell me, what are your favorite wintertime dates? Have you ever ice-skated with your crush or built a snowman together? How about snow angels? Do you love the chilly weather, or do you prefer to stay inside and be cozy? (I would give my left arm for a working fireplace!) Tell me your thoughts about how to make freezing weather a little warmer....xoxo

Friday, November 21, 2008

Love and Respect


Recently something has spoken to my heart and I feel compelled to write about it. Nothing is probably more evident to us as humans that their are stark differences between a man and woman. Not only in all of the most evident ways, but in ways that go deeper. We not only communicate differently, but our deepest needs are different.

In reference to Ephesians 5:33 Paul writes to the people about relationship. He speaks to the heart of the matter when he says "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she gives respect to her husband." In that beautiful passage the apostle Paul speaks to us of the divine nature of the man and woman.

A woman's focus is on love. Feeling loved, making others feel loved. Just imagine it's like seeing everything through pink sunglasses and these pink hearing aides. What makes her feel most valued are Closeness, Openness, Understanding, Peacemaking, Loyalty and Esteem. Men on the other hand are much more focused on earning Respect, Leading, Providing, Relationship, and Insight. He has on the blue sunglasses and hears through the blue hearing aid.

Simple example of this:
She says: "I have nothing to wear"
He says: "I have nothing to wear"

She means: I need new clothes

He means: I have no clean clothes.


I know, really. That's the honest truth.

An example that illustrates this further is. Think about an anniversary or birthday. He goes out, so proud of himself that he remembers. Runs into hallmark, grabs a card that he thinks "looks perfect." He comes home offers it to his wife, and looks on proudly as she opens it.

She opens it. It says "happy birthday" on the inside. It's their 2nd anniversary. She looks at him, and instead of acknowledging his efforts, says "how could you, how could you be so insensitive to give me this card."

All the man hears is "my actions are not good enough. I'm not good enough. She doesn't even care that I tried."


I think this speaks volumes. And I think it speaks to the heart of the matter. We need to see the Crazy Cycle for what it is.When a woman doesn't feel loved she acts out of disrespect and negativity. When a man doesn't feel respect he isn't apt to show much love. See above. But the cycle can be reversed and change into the Energizing Cycle so easily.

It's when we acknowledge these differences and take on the approach "my response is my responsibility" and look to work on ways that we can show more love and more respect that our hearts soften. It's working to understand the differences between our deepest needs that we can truly begin and work to fulfill them.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Challenge to You.


Christmas is my most favorite holiday because of the family and the friends, and the all around good cheer even grinches seem to adopt for at least a few days.

People have already started to talk about what they want and make their lists. This seems silly. If I know you, I have ideas about what you would like.

Challenge to you:

How about instead of lists of things we want we wrote down people and things we are thankful for.

Challenge me.

Confronting Ourselves

Could one of the deeper purposes of an intimate relationship be to make us confront our own character flaws, the behaviors and attitudes we would never have seen nor faced otherwise? If we allow the challenges of a relationship to force us to confront ourselves, we will be applying a spiritual discipline of tremendous value.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Sewing Machine


I semi-want a sewing machine. I've been feeling the creative urges lately. I think there's one back up north perhaps yearning for a home at my place. Now how to get it down here. That is the question!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Change

Change is a word so frequently tossed around in the business arena. A study recently done by David M. Herld and Donald B. Fedor, authors of Change: The Way You Lead Change, examined more than 300 changes and talked to more then 8,00 people.

What they found was that people encounter change all the time, but the mindset surrounding change is that its usually only one change that can be handled in a one step process. Wrong. In fact few people actually lived in a "one change at a time" environment. Instead people "exist on a roller coaster of change" with overlapping changes being driven by different events, led by different executives, and originating from different parts of the organization -- all at the same time.

And most importantly, while the need to change may be quite clear, what needs changing is a totally different and more complicated matter.

Friday, November 07, 2008

{HaPpY WeEkEnD}

Make some banana pancakes, cause it is the weekend now& curl up next to your cozy bear.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

There's No Such Thing


There is no such thing as perfect, but there is such a thing as great and wonderful. And even if you can't have perfect, you can have a good attitude.

I've been experiencing some minor frustrations lately, and despite that they may be valid, I can choose my attitude everyday. This can make all the difference.

I'm putting on my good attitude helmet and letting my heart feel good mood flutters.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008