Caffeinated Randomness 5/22

You know that song from American Idol a few years back, when they'd vote someone off they'd play "you had a bad day." I can hear that song playing in my head right now. I'm tired from an overly busy week and don't have the energy to pull together a riveting post.

This is especially troubling now that Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing) is following me on Twitter and could pop over any second to see what I wrote. And he'd find this. Oh, the agony. {Mr. Hyatt, please come back on Monday, I'll write something amazing...or I could just fax over my book proposal now...it's ready!!}.

In any event, I found this meme at "Under Grace & Over Coffee." Her tag line is "I take my coffee with milk, sugar, and the joy of knowing Jesus." Well I could have said that! So I thought, since I'm feeling random, I'd link up. Here are some random things this week:

1. Too many school programs, play dates & picnics have left me exhausted, and tomorrow is the last day of school for my preschooler. I need another week, really. Can't she go one more week?

2. The pool opens this weekend! My kids are thrilled. I am facing the reality of wearing a swim suit in public. I'm not ready for this. Where is my self-tanner?

3. I loved the American Idol finale! I knew Kris would win, because all the Danny people threw their votes to Kris. It was a great show.

4. I haven't been reading my Bible. This is leading to writer's block, not to mention getting farther behind in my goal to read it in a year. I need to skip ahead...Leviticus & Numbers are so overwhelming. I love the New Testament, and I am bogged down in the Old Testament details (how many in each tribe, what sacrifices they made).

5. My in-laws aren't doing too well physically, and this is leaving me really bummed too. I love my in-laws SO much, they are awesome. You can read about them here. But if you get a chance, say a prayer for them.

Okay, so that is my completely random post today. It's not my usually upbeat fun. But every one has a bad day now & then.

Thankful Thursday - 5/20

Five things I'm thankful for this week:

1. My 5 yr old, Cici graduated from preschool yesterday. It was a wonderful event! I'm happy and proud, but it's bittersweet this end to the preschool yrs, as next year I'll have both girls in school full time.

2. My 9 yr old, Gigi had her Spring musical Tuesday night and she did a great job as narrator. I'm happy and proud of her.

3. I wrote my book proposal! I may not ever need it (sigh), but I wrote it, so I'm ready for the "next step" in the pathway to publication.

4. A coffee date with my friend Sue J tomorrow. Our last outing sans kids until next September. (We really should get a sitter over the summer and go out for coffee one day. We always say we will, but never do).

5. A friend took both my girls on Sunday from 2-7!! Hubby & I spent the afternoon together and went out to dinner. A very rare treat.

Hebrews 12:28 -- Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

What are you thankful for this week?

Kickin' the Sugar Habit

My friend Bella-Mella gave up sugar in February, and posted this post on some hot tips after my post on self-control Monday. Thought I'd link over to hers today in case any of you are trying to get rid of sugar in your diet too.

So blogger friends, meet my blogger friend Bella-Mella. Melanie, her come my bloggy friends.

Self Control

I've always prided myself on not being addicted to anything. (Lest you think this is going to be a pat myself on the back post, hang in here for a few more lines). Growing up with an alcoholic (and 4 pack a day smoker) mother, statistically my chances of also being addicted to alcohol are higher than average. I've never been much of a drinker or smoked.

The "addictions" I do have are all socially acceptable: Sweetened coffee and chocolate to name two. The fact that I've always been slender adds to the perception that my sweets habit isn't too bad.

YET, the fact is I lack self control when it comes to sweets. I've been trying to cut back. My reasons are purely in the physical. I've put on weight (welcome to fabulous 40's!). I'm not fat. But would I look better and feel better even 5 lbs lighter? Yes.

But I've tried, and have a hard time resisting the sugary treats. I'm weak. I'm easily tempted. And I'm getting an attitude adjustment on addictions. Until I turn it over to God, I won't be able to stop. But I don't want to turn it over because I really really like sugar. I really want to eat it. But I really want to lose some weight.

There is no nice bow to wrap this up in, at the end. Am I addicted to sweets? Is it a problem? It's socially acceptable, but that doesn't make it godly. I'm not impacting anyone else's life with my behavior. (My kids aren't suffering because of my sweets habit.) None the less, would it be better to change? These are the self control issues I'm facing.

What area of your life is not within control? What can you do to change it?

Proverbs 25:28 -- Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

1 Peter 5:8 -- Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

2 Peter 1:5-7 -- For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Lost & Found

Six years ago on my 35th birthday, my husband gave me a beautiful bracelet. I love jewelry and this bracelet was made even more special to me by the giver (my husband) and the occasion (my birthday). So imagine how I felt 3 years later when I lost it! I was devastated.

It was insured, so we filed a claim and later I purchased a replacement bracelet. I got over the loss and life went on. Until my daughter pulled all the sofa cushions off of the sofa to build a tower with them and exclaimed "Look mom, I found your bracelet!"

Now some might think I was thrilled by this news, but actually my first thought was "quick, stuff it back into the sofa!" We'd already filed the claim, gotten the money and spent it on another bracelet. Not very graceful, huh? Of course I had to let the insurance company know, and we had to repay the money. So my first thought was not to be thrilled. (I am happy now to have it back. And having 2 bracelets isn't so bad when you realize you have 2 precious daughters whom you can pass them on to).

We are blessed to have a God who is more committed to us and finds us more precious, than I did that bracelet. If we become lost, he doesn't just replace us with a new believer. He continues to try and bring us back to him, regardless of the cost.

What once was lost, now is found. That is God's grace to us. Isn't it amazing?

Matthew 18:12-14 -- If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Luke 15:3-7 -- Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Thankful Thursday - 5/14

Here are my 5 things, big or small, this week.

1. That you guys were so understanding about me dropping Wednesday for blogging. I used that writing time to do 2 articles, and submitted them for publication. Now I'm in the waiting phase.

2. I'm still faithfully going to the gym, only missing a few days since January. And boy are you guys good on accountability. Most of you gave me big grief for missing last week. But I'm all better and back to the gym!

3. School! I admit it. I enjoy the time while my kids are at school so I can do writing, meet with my friends, or even just do housework ALONE. I'm especially conscience of this now, as my 5 yr old only has 1 more week of school.

4. My kids! Yes, I enjoy my time without them, but my life wouldn't be complete without them! They are my heart & soul and I love the stuffing out of them. THANK YOU GOD FOR MY CHILDREN! (& my hubby).

5. My life. Don't you know your life isn't yours alone, but a gift from God? He came to give us life so we could live it abundantly! I am so thankful for my life through Jesus! Thank you Lord!

What are you thankful for today?

Good Intentions or Good Character?

Once upon a time I was in a committee meeting. (I've sat through a LOT of committee meetings in my time). On this particular committee we were deciding who should fill an open spot. A name came up, and I immediately thought it was the wrong name. I sat for a moment thinking how I could politely say that this person lacked follow through in my experience with them.

As I was formulating my thoughts, another committee member voiced their own reservations. I concurred. Then another, and another. When all was said and done, every person in the room shared how this person, while having the best of intentions, had failed to do what they promised.

After the meeting I wondered if this person realized how often they let people down. I wondered if they realized that they had become characterized as someone who had good intentions, but lacked follow through. Then I wondered how I would be characterized in a room full of people.

I realized that day, that your character is not defined by some epic moment in your life. Rather it is the sum of your daily actions. Are you characterized as reliable or unreliable? Are you characterized by being prompt or late? Are you characterized as caring or impatient?

Because people are noticing, whether you realize it or not. Your every day actions define your character.

What are your actions saying about you today?

Ruth 3:11 -- And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

Acts 17:11 -- Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Corinthians 15:33 -- Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."