AHHHHH!!!

Ever have one of those days where relief comes from screaming at the top of your lungs!

Today is one of those days.

So feel free to scream with me if you please.

I'm counting down to a break. Right now, the first week of January looks like the next one. Phew....just one day at a time.

Long time

Well, its been a while since I've blogged. Not that I have forgotten, but I've just held off.

There's plenty on my mind, but I've found myself preoccupied with other things.
So be looking maybe later this week. There should be time in my week to lay down some thoughts that I'm wrestling with.

Hope Thanksgiving went well! Ours was great. I love family and friends. It is always hard to leave and jump back into the swing of normal everyday life. I love where I'm at, but definitely miss people.

I was Tagged!

I was tagged by a friend Shane in something called Meme.  

The meme rules are go to the book closest to you that has at least 123 pages.  Go to the fifth sentence and post three sentences.  

So here it goes.   I was in bed and the top book of the two next to me was...(drum roll please) Green Chic, Saving the Earth in Style.

Pg 123, first three sentences after the fifth is...

"Just because a cotton item is natural color doesn't mean it's organic. I know you already figured that out, but I just read an article about "green" fashion in a certain high-end lifestyle magazine , and the page was filled with clothes in shades of cream, tan, taupe ---but not even half of them were organic.  Read the label. "

I have this rule where (well it is more Jose's rule for me than my own, I just adopted it to make him happy) I can't start a new book until I finish the last one I was reading.  I really enjoy this book, I haven't finished it yet.  Posting this brought that to my attention! Just TWO chapters left....TWO!  Man I can slack sometimes. 

But so far, this book has been sticking with me.  I enjoy it when I read books and I implement things afterwards.  This is one of them.  

Some green things I've implemented so far.

• Taking my own bags shopping. I've only taken three plastic/paper bag home from the store in the past 4-5 weeks.  This includes my trip to the mall, grocery, Target, etc.  I was pretty upset with myself when I had to take the bags home with me.  Oh well, I guess now they will come in handy with Smalls in the house. 
• Shorter showers and less time drying my hair. (although there are mornings where a long hot shower were really needed)
• Cloth napkins.  They're white and they clean up nicely!
• Organic foods as much as possible.  
• Recycling! Recycling! Recycling! We are just starting a recycling program here at AU and I'm on the committee.  This definitely helps me dive in deep.  Jose and I could go probably two weeks with out changing our trash if it didn't smell so bad (cooking with garlic tastes great, is good for you, but it can reek havoc on your trash-bin).
• I'm watching the fabrics that I'm buying. 
• I'm watching the cleaning products that I buy.

I'm sure there is more, but the with a smashing headache I had today there isn't much I can dig for up there. 

I would encourage everyone to take some steps to becoming "greener".  Not because its the in thing, but because I do believe it is part of our responsibility to do so.   I'm going to be digging out a book on environmentalism and being a Christian.  I'm sure there will be a post to follow up with that. 

The New Little Man In My Life

So...he gave in and we have a new boy in the house.  

His name is Buddy Smalls, or just Smalls for short. Yes, like " You're killing me Smalls!"(from the Sandlot).  Only a few times have I really wanted to say that, but its just funny enough that you can't help but laugh afterwards!

His story? He's ten months old and came from a litter of 6 brothers and sisters.  Tragically his mom was hit by a car when he was young so his first family held on to him a little longer than normal.  He came to us with the name Rancher, but it just didn't fit him (or us for that matter).

A few of his favorite things?  Well he's a pretty good sock thief.  As soon as I pull the drawer open, he is in for the grab and off with the sock.  He could sit all day and let you rub his back, belly, ears, really anything. He just loves a good back rub. 

A few things I love?! He will fall asleep in your hands.  Several times I've started to pet his sweet face and he just falls asleep with his head in my hands.  He's a lover boy.  Loves to be near me, and when invited loves to be all up snuggling in my neck. He gets really excited to see me when I return home from work. 

A few things we're working on.  Well all of the basics. Sit. Come. His name. How to be friendly and not afraid of everyone we live with. How to eat a meal in one sitting rather than snacking all day long. And not having to show the world that I'm a little man 

(aka marking his territory at my mom's house). 

Although Jose may tell you differently, I think he's sold already. 

Two times in a row!

So an addition to my goals is to not use a plastic bag when I go shopping. Even when I go shopping at Target.

I did this the other night. I am definitely not missing the big plastic bag. I carried my items around the store so why can't I just carry them out, place them in the seat next to me, then carry them again into the house until they reach their proper place?  It really is rather easy.

And when I go clothing shopping, I plan on using a large purse/bag that I already own to throw my things in.  1. I save plastic (which is the goal) and 2. I will probably buy less (this makes Jose happy).

Grocery shopping is a cinch. I already have three reusable bags that I purchased for my groceries, plus two freezer bags. I fit all that I needed tonight in those bags. No plastic bags! It really was a good feeling to come home and unpack my groceries and not have ten plastic bags laying around. 

I'm going to see how long I can go with out having to take a plastic or even a paper bag home from the store. I'll keep you updated on my record!

Yet again!

I'm turning it over again. I wouldn't say that I failed the last attempt, but I have most definitely slipped.

So I've got a new attitude..again.
So I'm going to try it...again.
A slightly modified plan, but still the same goal.

What I've done well so far...

We haven't really eaten out (at least not paying for it ourselves!). I did set it as a treat. We have one day a week that we eat out (and we pay out of our pockets). We ate all that we could at home, some days I had to scrounge around to find something to work...but it did!

I am reading more (not sure if that was on my list I posted) which is what I want to do. I fell in love with the book Green Chic and it is definitely making me think through some of the things we can do at home to save money and the environment. Definitely a good read and one book that I may have to revisit time and time again.

What I've NOT done well...

I haven't worked out in two weeks. So I've set a new plan. I'm going to try just walking/jogging. Jose is doing this three days a week...in the mornings! So I've got to give it a shot, but not in the mornings. I love my sleep to much! So I'll go and walk/jog in the evenings. I met with the director of our wellness center to help me get on track. She gave me some idea's of what I could do at home or while I was traveling. I'm going to learn to use the cardio lab so I can burn some of that extra fat. I told her my issue is more I need accountability. So next semester I think I am going to utilize a personal trainer. They're booked up this semester, but maybe once a month I can meet with a student trainer to help keep me on board. If I know I have to "report" to someone, then I'm much more likely to stick with it. At least stick with it long enough to create a habit!

So thats the update. I'll turn the leaf over many times I'm sure, but I'm ok with that. Its when I stop turning it over that a problem starts to form.

Today's thoughts...Apathy

Why is it that we are never satisfied? More, why is it that I am never satisfied.

I was flipping through pictures and places my friends are. Colorado, Florida, Chicago, Des Moines. I want to be there more than I want to be here. But really, would that bring me what I am looking for? NO!

I'm at a place where I am great. Love my job, love that my husband has a job he loves. We're in a great place to pay of alot of debt and we can do ministry(not always an easy combination to find). I have family close by and can see them when I want to. But why am I not satisfied? This is what I asked for months ago!

I have lost sight of alot of things. I have lost sight for the need of my Savior. He is the only one who can satisfy all that is within me. It is through Him that I find peace and satisfaction with all things. I've known this for a while now. And I've known that I am creating a divide. How did I let it become The Great Divide though? Laziness? Apathy?

Yes...all of the above.

I know where I need to be, I know how to get there but I repeatedly don't do anything about it. Why? WHY? I was hit straight between the eye's this weekend. I have a desire to lead and wonder why I haven't had the specific opportunities I am looking for. I can't lead beyond where I am. And right now I'm pretty low. Who needs a leader who isn't doing anything about their own spiritual growth? NO ONE! Who needs a leader who is merely going through the motions? Who knows the right words and the right things to do, but isn't deeply rooted? Again, No One!

I'm rooted, but I'm not cultivating those roots. So be praying for me. I'm going to create The List that several friends have created. I'm going to post my distractions around my house so that I visually see those things that are keeping me from being where I want to be...growing, rooting, and blooming in HIM!

I need to be challenged, I need to be encouraged, I need to be pushed towards Him.