Guess who is 15 today?

Figured it out?

Our "middle child" - our 5th born - Jared - is Fifteen today! Every one of our children bless us. Today, I'll focus on Jared.

We prayed about Jared's name. We named him Jared David - Ruler Beloved. It's been our joy to watch as he moved from immature leadership (um...fostering a rebellion among the younger ones against the older ones ::snort::) to humbly serving (House of Faith these past 3 years) to more mature leadership (Civil Air Patrol involvement - Cadet of the Year) now that he is a young adult. But where does he lead - those are CACTUS? Jared is an extrovert extraordinaire among his siblings who run the spectrum of introverts to mild extroverts. He has always kept us laughing, from day one. This photo was taken IN ACADEMY - he owns none of this.....but loves to poke fun at TT/Aggie fans.

Jared has developed a passion for God that humbles us, his parents. I love the way God covers parenting with grace as we spend time on on our face before Him. He's also developed a passion for politics and dreams of someday being in national politics (hey - can you think of a place where passionate lovers of Christ are more needed in this generation?)

You won't see a lot of birthday party pictures today. We had Jared's "birthday dinner" when the girls and David were here. Jared has asked us not to give him gifts yet.....it seems too soon after Christmas. He and I are discussing either gifts on my birthday later in the month or waiting until April. ::snort::

We love you, Jared and we are blessed to have been entrusted with mentoring/discipling/parenting you. We look forward, with eager anticipation, to where God leads you.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Cleaning Up - Taking Down....

Saturday was both a lazy day and a screaming productive day. Mike was out and about until 2 a.m. on Friday night. He did this so that he could avoid the office on Saturday and spend the day with us. EVERYONE slept in - long and deep.

Jared took Arielle and Nolan and they went in search of a yard to rake. They found one "customer" who paid them $20 to rake her front yard. I'm not sure what the younger two needed the $ for but I know that Jamin and Jared are considering a mission's trip in March. (Meanwhile, back in Spokane BreAnne reports 5 feet of snow and shoveling the church roof).

We were blessed to receive a call from old local friends, Ian and Becki. Ian said they had two hours before they had to hit the highway. We quickly made plans for them to come by for a BBQ and visit. Would you believe when they got here three of their little ones were asleep? We know what its like to travel on a "schedule" with little ones. I visited with Becki quickly, hugged necks, Zander played with Nathaniel and I got to hold Elizabeth, the baby. Then they were off for the highway to get as far as possible while the little ones slept.

Mike and Jared returned from the store (picking up meat for BBQ) and we began to take down decorations. There are no photos. We were focused on work - even I. ::snort:: Mike took the boys and Stacia outside. We women tackled the inside. By 7 p.m. it was done. I chuckled at the little touches of Christmas we left out. I always leave a nativity out. The family asked me to leave the Jesus stocking out for use throughout the year. I leave little white lights on some scrubby pine in the corner year round. Arielle wanted to leave the snowmen out. I've developed an ATTITUDE about winter in TX. It's NOT winter...forget the snowmen and flakes...think leaves and lady bugs. ::snort::

Leaving Christmas out - that could be a separate post. I do this deliberately to remind us that Christmas is a season of the heart and not the calendar. Yesterday, I realized that taking down decorations in our home often meant, "going back to Faith Academy" or some such farewell. I wonder if THAT is another reason that I leave a bit of Christmas out year round - it reminds me of family who isn't nearby. Enough analyzing.....I can tell I've been reading a self help book. ::snort::

Something is missing? All my trashy treasures...the old gold pan, the old railway spikes, the gone fishing sign and the old fishing pole.....I sort of like the empty look but will look for things tomorrow. LOL


I spent much of the day jumping on google docs - trying to send our United Order form. Deadlines are looming and more than 1/2 our group doesn't have their order form. Grrrr... "server error".

As usual, something is found after all the boxes are in the attic.

This year it's Bartholomew's Passage, the camel from Kuwait given to Mike for our Nativity by one of the interpreters, and the donkey from our Fisher Price Nativity. I put the Fisher Price Donkey with the Willow Tree nativity that we left out this year. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight
Karen Scalf Linamen

Blog Tour and Giveaway

Publisher's Take: Every woman longs for change in some area of her life. Unfortunately, fear, fatigue, adversity, heartbreak, past failures, and even the choices of other people get in the way and make lasting change seem out of reach. Having been there herself, Karen Linamen knows exactly how to take readers from where they are to where they want to be.

In Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight, she examines 52 powerful actions readers can apply to any change they long to embrace. Her insights apply to career, finances, personal health and fitness, relationships, faith—in fact, every facet of a woman’s life.

Blending laugh-out-loud humor and sage advice, Linamen shows readers the link between dissatisfaction and transformation, how to remodel habits, the little-known truth about procrastination, how to generate the energy they need to pursue the life they desire, how to benefit from options and resources they never dreamed they had, and much, much more!

Author Bio: Karen Scalf Linamen is a popular speaker and the celebrated author of ten books for women, including Due to Rising Energy Costs the Light at the End of the Tunnel Has Been Turned Off and Just Hand Over the Chocolate and No One Will Get Hurt. She has been featured on more than one hundred radio programs, including FamilyLife Today. Publishers Weekly describes her as “funny, forthright and unforgettable.” Linamen lives with her family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit her website at www.karenlinamen.com.

My Take: To use a line from Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight, reading Karen is like reading a cross between Dr. Laura and Dave Barry. I'm a bit late posting this because: 1. the girls were here and 2. I was dissatisfied with this book about 1/2 way through reading it and wasn't sure if I'd recommend the book or not. I was impatient for some "meat" from the Word to "bring home" several of the author's points. This may be MY personal problem. Karen did not say a THING that I would say is "anti-Christian", this book is a quick read, it's funny, she's inspirational, but personally I would have liked a bit more back up from the Word.

That aside.....reading this book is like sitting down with your best friend at Baker's Street (local coffee shop) and sharing heart to heart over your favorite drink. There are things shared in this book that I will ponder for some time to come.

~I've been motivated to go beyond what I term "jello goals" to making concrete choices and decisions. I'm motivated to work a simple 30 min (or maybe 15 min) a day towards some of my big goals.

~When speaking of procrastination, Karen, states that instead of asking, "WHY" don't I get to it, we need to ask "WHAT" do I feel when I think of doing this? Often a looming task will make one feel inferior, fearful, fat, like a failure....and so we avoid doing whatever brings on those feelings. Karen humorously talks us through to dealing with the WHATS.

~Here is a quote I've been pondering, "If you know how to use it, your discontent can be a doorway, your pain a portal and vision is your key." p 28.

~Karen leaves us with many outstanding illustrations. One that I plan to remember illustrates our feelings when hurt, wronged etc. She told her daughter that her bitter feelings were her own and she could keep them forever and do what she wanted with them. Then she asked her to picture a crystal vase thrown on the ground and broken. Your feelings are the shattered glass. You can clutch them tight - and cut your hands to shred while you experience ever increasing pain, or you can let the shards slip between your fingers. I thought this was an excellent illustration of how we can deal with pain and bitterness (here is one example where I loved the thoughts, but would have appreciated Karen bringing it home with a few passages of Scripture on choices, forgiveness, bitterness etc).

~When you long for change round up a herd of catalysts rather than pacifiers.

~Another interesting quote which integrates with my Charlotte Mason background, "Addictions are acquired by practicing a certain type of behavior often and excessively. Character is acquired by practicing certain types of behavior often and excessively." Attributed to Matthew Kelly, Rhythm of Life p. 55 (Of course, I also am left with the thought that character is really acquired by coming into contact with Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform me day by day).

~Keep a dream journal. Write down wild, out of the box dreams (ambitions). Occasionally, as you write down wild plans and dreams, ask yourself, "why not?"

~Here is a quote I've already used several times and one that I plan to use as a signature line...."You have built castles in the air.... Now put the foundations under them." Henry David Thoreau

~Between dissatisfaction and transformation is vision.... (Again - where is the role of sanctification, walking out my salvation? Transformation, I believe, may begin with a vision, but I need Him to walk it out.)

There really were quite a few nuggets to ponder in this book. I've struggled with a review because I did like this book....but I also wish it had had a bit "more" to it.

If you'd like a copy of this book please leave a comment. Be sure I can reach you on your blog or leave an email address. I may have two copies to give away, I know I have one. We'll randomly draw a number on Friday.

This is the first book on my 2009 Reading List.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Christmas Must Be Over.....the kids are gone and the whole neighborhood (except MY house) is dark tonight....... I guess 1 Jan is "the day" around here to take lights down. Jared says he misses Alaska and wondered why we've taken them down so "early" the last couple of years. I told him AK leaves them up until "the last dog reaches Nome" and that is NOT the norm in the lower 48.

Passing the Produce Baton this a.m. I went and PICKED up my produce - already sorted. I didn't have to order, pick up at the store, sort or anything. ::snort::

Quick lunch before Jamin had to be at work

Parking Lot farewells

One of our young men was overheard warning David that Mom, "really goes wild with the camera at the airport." ::snort::

Men farewells?

There's a lot more I could write - but I don't feel like it.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Goodbyes...

I'm Choosing Joy while feeling a bit blue, wiping tears and inhaling chocolate. Yes, today is the day that BreAnne will leave too. Their flight leaves at 2:57. It's good to get up early and take care of emotions before taking care of leave taking. ::snort::

If you want to read my past thoughts on saying goodbye to family members, you can read this, my thoughts haven't changed much since 2006.

For now - let me share photos from yesterday.

Josiah shows Mike the finer points of texting - sending Krista a text while we work on FAFSA forms.

Then we played basketball.

I looked up to see this when Zander was telling a man at the park, "...then the Police chained me up like this..."

Bre assembles a dragon kite

They kept crashing around Stacia...

I suppose it DOES look a bit scary zooming in on you


My favorite kite...

Ah....David helps Stacia

We took BreAnne and David out for dinner. Josiah got off work and joined us at 7 p.m. We spent the night playing cards, Taboo and Mafia. And yes, as reported on Facebook, I RULE as Mafia. I was straight-faced, logical, methodical, evil (Mike's assessment) and devious enough to kill each and every one of my smarty pants sons.

Now, I really must get on with THIS day and meet it face on.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

2009 Reading List

This is my running list of books which I'm reading or hope to read in 2009. Books in red have been READ....If I've reviewed it on the blog, the title should be a different color. You can click the title to read the review.

The Holy Bible

Biographies

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
Ten P's in a Pod - Arnold Pent III
To Fly Again - Gracia Burnham
The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million - Daniel Mendelsohn
Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth - Kristen Iversen
The Romanovs - Robert K. Massie
Dawn - Elie Wiesel
Night - Elie Wiesel
The Testament - Elie Wiesel

Family
Heartfelt Discipline - Clay Clarkson

Biblical Parenting - Crystal Lutton

A Turansky Book

The Love As A Way of Life Devotional - Gary Chapman

I Do Again - Cheryl & Jeff Scruggs

Intimate Issues - Linda Dillow & Lorraine Pintus

For Couples Only - Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn

When God Writes Your Love Story - Eric & Leslie Ludy

Health
The Maker's Diet - Rubin - Maybe. LOL
What the Bible Says About Healthy Living - Rex Russell

The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer - Chantel Hobbs

Never Say Diet - Chantel Hobbs

The 15 Minute Meal Planner - Emilie Barnes & Sue Gregg

Parenting
The Out of Sync Child - Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.
The Joyful Home School - Mary Hood

The Out of Sync Child has Fun - Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.

Preparing Sons to Provide for a Single-Income Family - Steven Maxwell

Christian Life

Clutter-FREE Christianity - Robert Jeffress
A Place of Quiet Rest - Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Flashpoints - Stephen Arerburn
Daring to Dance with God - Jeff Walling
A New Kind of Christian - Brian McLaren

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight - Karen Scalf Linamen

Sparklng Gems from the Greek: 365 Greek Word Studies for Every Day of the Year.... Rick Renner

Non- Fiction - Misc

Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2009 - Sally Stuart

Fiction - pure fluff for enjoyment!!

A Prize for Princess - Rex Stout

Ransomed Dreams - Amy Wallace
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie - Sharon Dunn

Sassy Cinderella - Sharon Dunn

Desperate Pastors' Wives - Ginger Kolbaba & Christy Scannell

A Matter of Wife and Death - Ginger Kolbaba & Christy Scannell

All the Maxine & Stretch series by Sue Henry

All the Meg Langslow books by

The Blight Way - Patrick F. McManus

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

2008 in Review: First Sentence Meme

I saw on Lisa's blog. She found it at Small World. I thought this looked like a fun way to summarize 2008. 2009 begins my fourth year of blogging. In 2008 I posted 763 entries (that's down 255 entries from 2007). I've reviewed countless books, shared private thoughts, a zillion photos (not sure how to count them all) and believe I've met my goal of keeping family and friends connected with our family. These excerpts are not necessarily what I would consider the MOST IMPORTANT things I've blogged about in 2008 (M/M's don't show up even ONCE), but this exercise does give a sample of the conversation of my life in 2008.

How to Play.
1) Look back to your archives for 2008.
2) Collect the first sentence you wrote every month for the whole year. (This doesn't have to be the literal first day of the month--just the first post.)
3) Entertain us on your blog, link back here, and post a comment here with the link to your blog. (And if you're blogless, just remember the first sentence you spoke every month for the whole year and post it here. LOL)
***********
1 January
The most shocking discovery of the day was that someone had gone into my My Space and changed the photo, added photos, and changed the background to bright pink and BARBIE!!!!

1 February
Jamin is meeting with three publishers today.

3 March
Have you ever heard of Bocce?

1 April
We have a Ticket System in our home.

1 May
Mike has trained us all well. (Title - Do Your Research; entry about local gyms.)

1 June
There have been changes in the planning at the local chapel and today is the day they were implemented.

1 July
Warning - if you've got me on the pedestal, I'm about to be vulnerable again. ::snort:: (Title - Choosing Joy in Seasons of Discontent)

Later that day: Early this morning Josiah began moving boxes.

1 August
FIVE DAYS UNTIL WE SEE THEM!

2 September
I began this blog 3 years ago on Labor Day, September 5, 2005.

1 October
Our house is very quiet with Jared (14) gone for the week.

1 November
I called Deja for friend support.

1 December
This begins Nutcracker crunch week.

(Pssst....reviewing the sentences for Aug - Dec illustrates for me WHY I'm so tired lately. It's been a full fall).

This took longer than I expected so I won't write about my "Word of the Year" quite yet....and I'd like to recap the road that the word "surrender" has taken me on....but those posts require a bit more thought and quiet....and today is my last day with BreAnne and David. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.