Simple Goals for 2010

Simple Goals for 2010

1. Live out Matthew 6:33
2. Cook simple healthy meals each day
3. Continue to exercise everyday
4. Continue to keep in daily contact with my family and friends
5. Keep a food diary
6. Read more, watch less TV
7. maintain healthy relationships
8. Spend less... save more
9. write more real letters
10. Strive for excellence at church, work, home...

Back home...

The organic low sodium soup from Trader Joe's is very good. Home sweet home...

Trader Joe's in Indianapolis

The address to Trader Joe's is.... now leave... thanks Brother! I love you too. What about those yellow duck feet.

The view outside the Big Boy Restaurant in Anderson. Sharing a few moments with my brother and sister before heading home .

This morning, the view from my hotel room. My sister calls it disturbing. Can you figure out why this is so creepy.

Traveling to Indiana...

Traveling to Indiana, I cross a long bridge. Sometimes I am so scared, I have a one word prayer... Jesus... Jesus.. No fancy phrases... a simple heart felt cry... whispering the name of Jesus.

This is the trip to see my brother.I think it is more dangerous to take pictures while I am driving.

"G"'s (my brother) had a cardio - version procedure. Thank God, things went fine. ...the procedure and driving over the bridge

"gephyrophobia: an abnormal and persistent fear of bridges, especially crossing bridges.

Tuscan Vegetable Soup and Sandwich

It was just yesterday, that Jara and Kenely returned to their home in Omaha. I miss them... we had a sweet visit. talking, laughing, cooking together...
green bean casserole, sauteed Swiss chard, and Kenley's peach cobbler...
Light dinner today... Tuscan Vegetable Soup.

I wonder

I enjoy reading bumper stickers... messages on church bulletin boards...flyers stuck in unexpected places.. I think that those messages are intended to be provocative.
I read one of those messages this week. Outside St. Luke United Methodist church in Lexington, ..Two simple words after Christmas... Now What....For me, I fill in the blanks, gifts have been unwrapped, dinner is over, visitors are their way home. Soon, all the decorations will be packed away. Now what... has Christmas changed how I live my life? Or it is like last week's newspaper...ready to be discarded? forgotten, and shoved aside? Or is there some timeless truths I can depend on and trust... or will I simply look for the next event or celebration. I wonder what the minster preached about...

Christmas Day

"Christmas was the day when God ensured forever that nobody need ever be lonely again. One of the most honored names of Jesus Christ is "Immanuel"and the word 'Immanuel" means, "God with us."...


That first Christmas, when in a drafty cave a newborn infant lay nestled in straw, pondering virgin gazing into the face of Deity. Scarcely could the mother know that within those swaddling clothes was the one in whom were hidden "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) . This Christmas Night, Billy and Ruth Graham

Nativity scene from Poland. Sharon's collection

Shopping on Christmas Eve

After picking up Kenley from the airport, we had dinner at Bonefish.

Shopping on Christmas Eve, it was easy! At 3:00 this afternoon, I was heading toward the mall. As I was traveling on New Circle Road, the traffic was light! Then, I was able to park near the entrance of the store. Once in the store, I immediately found the book. Now, to make my purchase . A line of customers curled around the front of the store. The wait in line was the longest part of this shopping trip.

Dinner and a basketball game in Ohio

Outside Palimino's Restaurant in Cincinnati.

For me, it is easy to be nice to people when they are nice to me. Wait until they are rude or unreasonable,then my true emotions often slip out...Sometimes we pass the test, other times, we fail... Tonight, our waiter was kind and attentive.

Earlier today, I almost bit my tongue when a cashier was rude. I barely passed that test.

Welcome friends

"The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it." ~

author unknown

Tonight our house was beautiful because of our guests.

They even grilled part of our dinner.

Bethlehem

" Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night, made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men failing to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love." Lucinda Franks

Nativity scene from Israel... Sharon's collection

Christmas Tea with friends

After a full morning, I was looking forward to an afternoon tea @ Jessica's home.

Dinner, friendship, and laughter...

Laughter is good medicine...Researchers from the University of Maryland found, "laughing apparently causes the endothelium, the tissue that lines the blood vessels, to expand, which increases blood flow. Laughter may also improve arterial health by reducing metal stress, which constricts vessels and cuts blood flow. Researcher Michael Miller told the New Scientist --that a healthy lifestyle would include 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15 minutes of of hearty laughter each day."... At dinner tonight, I had my 15 minutes of laughter. At first, I had a few giggles at the beginning of the meal. Later, I was laughing so hard, tears were slipping down my cheeks. It was good medicine .
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)
Pictures are from a local restaurant.

Class Party

What is Christmas? When is Christmas celebrated? What is a nativity? Are there special songs for Christmas. Who is Jesus? Why do people exchange gifts? What about Santa..who is he? Addressing those questions were a part of today's class content. Class ended with gifts, food, and music.

Final Week..show off what you know!

Final week at a high school some where in the United States. Whether it is chemistry, physics, child development, or world languages, students are taking finals this week. Table settings... part of the culinary class final.
No pictures of students are in this entry.

Santa Claus makes a visit

Yesterday afternoon, Santa Claus visited our neighborhood. When Santa was not riding around the neighborhood in a horse drawn carriage, he was in the model home reading stories. If that was not enough, Santa had to judge neighborhood decorations. Hm...
In addition to this sighting of Santa, I saw another Santa driving a red Cadillac convertible. true.. Where is my camera when I need it? At home...

Joseph...Who was he? Why did God Chose him?

For the past week, I have been struggling writing this entry about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. What was most helpful for me? The Teacher Connection in my teacher book... posed these questions.Who was he? Why did God choose him? I love teaching three and four year old children.... the truth is made so simple. Today's Sunday School lesson, Joseph Heard the Good News. Matthew 1: 18 - 25. This nativity scene was created by a Kentucky Artist

Below is a picture of the Lady Bug Sunday School Class. Our fellowships... simple building relationships.

Decorating Cookies

Lady Bugs in my house

This afternoon, the Lady Bug Sunday School Class came to bake Christmas Cookies. Little fingers cutting out cookies, baking, decorating, and eating Christmas cookies. The aroma of freshly baked cookies filled the house this afternoon. It was hard resisting the temptation to eat those warm cookies.

A Christmas Greeting

A quiet evening at home.

December Cooking Light

December Cooking Light at Ruthie's home.

My contribution to today's luncheon. Shh.. cupcakes from a local bakery. Everyone brings a recipe that they selected for the day...After last night's late cookie preparation, I decided not to bring the cookies... but I had to bring something to the luncheon.

Ruthie, thank you for hosting today's luncheon. In the picture, Becky, Maureen, Anne, and Ruthie.

Candles on the mantle

Today's luncheon table setting

Arriving home last night at 9:00, I was emotionally and physically exhausted. After working, attending a friend's home going service, and participating in the John study at church, I started preparing my recipe after 9:00. The recipe is December's issue of Cooking Light...Lemon Ginger Pinwheel cookies... around 11:00 p.m. I decided, this is crazy, I am going to bed...The picture below is how the kitchen looked when I went to bed.

A Paradox

"I have found this paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."

Mother Teresa

Since this scene is from India, I selected a quote from Mother Teresa.
Scene from Sharon's collection

The Star

The majority of the people will go on observing forms that cannot be explained; they will keep Christmas Day with Christmas gifts and Christmas benediction; they will continue to do it; and some day suddenly wake up and discover why." On Christmas,"
Generally Speaking... C.K. Chesterton
Country of origin: Poland
From Sharon's collection