A New Day...

I've been struggling with a less than congenial attitude as of late.  I've blamed it on various factors: the never-ending winter here in the Northeast; aches / pains / headaches; the unpredictability of my work flow...

To be honest, I've just been making a choice to put on my crabby pants and be snippy with my beloved husband.  I was doing some serious wallowing in my prolonged pity party.

Today I chose differently...

I got out of bed shortly after our alarm starting playing hits from the 70's & 80's and started a new morning routine:  I sat myself down at my desk and cracked open one of my devotional books and then another; next, I pressed play on one of my Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs and did a mile while never leaving the house.  The rest of my morning played out as normal with a shower, breakfast, coffee and a twenty-minute drive to work.

After a full day at the office and some time updating our worship backgrounds on the multi-media computer, I'm feeling tired - but not exhausted (like I have been feeling for the last several months).  Tonight I get to hang out with my musical friends in the Worship Team Life Group.

Has this ever happened to you?

I had a line from a movie pop into my head this morning:  Listen to it here

I had to Google to remember the source of the quote (because the coffee has yet to kick in this morning).  When the You Tube link popped up I was amazed at myself for not remembering that these words were uttered through Clint Eastwood's clenched teeth.  (We are HUGE Clint fans in this house).

The hubster was concerned that I was attempting to send him a subtle message about something he did - or was thinking about doing.  I quickly reassured him that this advice was for me: I am on the verge of spreading myself too thin (as is my habit, because I have a speech impediment which makes it difficult for me to say the word "No" to people).

I am a habitual people-pleaser who avoids conflict and hard feelings at all costs.  As a result, I easily over-commit myself to help friends when I should be taking care of myself or my family.  Well, that buck stops here today!  For once, I actually saw it coming before it happened.  (Hooray for me!)

So - What's it gonna be?

Today is yet another opportunity to make choices:

• what do I eat for breakfast?
• dark magic or donut shop coffee from the Keurig?
• does the dog get a crunchy dog biscuit or one of her special bacon treats after performing her morning constitutional?
• oh, and can't forget the wardrobe for the day - will I be leaving the house (which forces a certain level of decorum) or do I get to just hang around the house for the day?
• then there is the all important attitude... will I pattern my outlook after the concept "the glass is half full" or will I be more like Eeyore?

Circumstances come and go. I can moan about the rain or think of it as "liquid sunshine."  We all have the chance to make choices in our lives.  So, what's it gonna be?

Is it just me?

When someone says to me "you can't miss it.", I think to myself, "you don't know me very well."

When told NOT to do something, THAT thing is the ONLY thing I want to do.

When someone tells me to "forget about it" - I find it impossible to do so.

Just wondering...

How Quickly Things Can (and Do) Change

My Friday dawned to find me in full blown anticipation for the start of the Relay for Life event.  My team mates from Team Tied Together have been fundraising since the beginning of the year and tonight at six the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Saratoga Springs Relay for Life - Time for a Cure will start.

My morning at the office was quiet and uneventful.  I was starting to think I would be able to call it a day earlier than usual, so I could go help get tables set up for the Survivor reception, but then the phone rang.  A sheriff was on the line calling to inform the pastors that one of our member had been killed in a motorcycle accident today.  He was the one who went to the house to break the news to the wife and had volunteered to make calls and stay with her until other family members could get to the house. 

Both of the pastors took off for the house, so I am left struggling to process the emotions raging within me.  My heart aches for the wife and daughters he left behind.  The swiftness of their tragic loss is mind boggling.  My stomach is in knots and yet my eyes are dry.

I am struck by the thought that this area has been inundated with motorcyclists due to the annual Americade gathering. There are warning signs along the highway remindig the motorists to watch out for the riders.  It just seems inconceivable that this has happened.

Getting Into a New Groove

Three short weeks ago, I started a new job and I LOVE it!  I get to work with some great people, doing things I love to do, and so far, it really doesn't feel like "work."  (I know, I know, it has only been three weeks, but I'm still driving to work each morning with a goofy smile on my face and I come home happy every day!)

Now that I am feeling more secure with my job duties, I need to get myself back into an exercise routine.  (I fell off the fitness wagon a couple of months ago due to a bout with a sinus infection which knocked me on my butt.)  I've been able to get back to semi-regular crafting sessions - which really contributes to my outlook, but I have yet to lace up the sneakers and don my workout gear.  While I don't believe my husband would join in my workouts, but I think I need to draft him as a motivatoring force to get me back into the groove of hopping out of bed, mixing up a recovery shake & making my fat cells cry for 20 to 45 minutes in the morning.

Hope Is Never Lost

Hope is the basis of my faith.  

Sometimes it can be hidden from view, obscured by our daily toils, but it must never be abandoned.

Behave Like a Christian

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 

~ Romans 12:9-13 (NKJV)