The Lazy Meme

The Lazy Meme

The instructions with this are to bold the ones you've done, leave the others in normal type.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing/quilting)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (want to... need to build up to be in better shape for this; maybe in the next 5 years?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (no, but I've had a caricature done)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (would love to do this too... but I'm waiting...)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 

77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous  (Jake Gyllenhaal-when he was touring colleges to promote student voting)92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone99. Been stung by a bee

"Kits" to give the homeless

So I've decided that starting this summer I want to make small kits and have them available to donate to homeless people I see sometimes.  On my way to or from work, I sometimes see people standing on the corner with little cardboard signs.  I just feel as though this will be a good way for me to give more back.

I've been looking up ideas on Google, but if you have any ideas-especially for any little "luxuries" that might be nice to include.  I have the basics down, but I would like to include a little extra comfort items in the bags/kits.

I would love suggestions!  Thanks!

Hair Donation

On Tuesday of this week, I went and got my hair cut-I got 10 inches cut off-the minimum in order to donate.  It felt so good!  I have a LOT of hair-people are always telling me. So I thought I would share one of the gifts God gave me with someone who needs it.  My hair is now about shoulder length, and I'll be growing it out again; but this will be nice for summer-with all the humidity-my hair gets very heavy. 

So for now, I'm growing it out again, and I'm gonna donate it again when it gets long enough.

The girl had to put my hair into two ponytails-rather than just one-because she couldn't cut through all my hair if it was in just one. 

But I just wanted to share this experience with all of you-because it was so rewarding to me.  And to the little girl who was with her mom-I hope it helped show her that giving back is important.

Celebrating slow-cookers

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore slow-cookers?   So far my favorite use for mine is making applesauce.

However, on Friday when I go grocery shopping, I will be getting ingredients to make either pot roast or pulled pork.  I found a recipe for each.  Haven't tried either one yet-but the look like they should be good recipes.

And the best part, they are slow-cooker recipes! So I get to just throw the ingredients in and let it go!

I will post how things go once the recipe is put to the test.

Long time, no post...

So I know it's been quite some time since my last post (over a month).  But I've been pretty busy with the end of the semester.  However, now that it's over, I will not have to worry about homework and studying for awhile. 

I will be increasing my hours at work-hopefully to full time-for the rest of the summer.  Which means I will be getting more money!  But because I would really like to save some, not be a spending fiend; I used a template in Microsoft Excel to make a budget!  It was surprisingly easy-and even a little fun-basically it was a good feeling to know that I have such a realistic financial plan for the summer.

I get paid over $8 an hour (can't remember exactly at the moment-I'd have to see my check-but I do direct deposit into my checking account) and preferably I'll be getting 40 hours a week.  But since I don't know that I'll be getting the full 40 every single week, and I don't know exactly how much is taken out for taxes; when I put my income into the budget, I calculated $8 an hour and 35 hours per week.  This came to $280 per week, $560 per paycheck, and $1120 per month.  This is just a projected budget at this time, I will adjust it as the summer progresses.

But here are some of the things I've factored in so far for monthly expenses:
Rent: $322
Utilities: about $30-my roommate and I only pay for electricity, which is great-all else is included
Car payment: $80
Fuel: about $60
Supplies/Other: $20-I'm just giving myself a some extra money for any maintenance or such things
Groceries: $80-I have never actually figured how much I spend on groceries-so I just threw out a number
Dining Out: $25-this includes any food while I'm at work. Although I need to bring my lunch more often
Cat stuff: $20 for food and litter
Clothes/Personal: about $60-this is for work clothes too (I go through a fair amount of khaki pants-spilling on them and what not) and shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
Prescriptions: about $25 (actually a little less, but I'm rounding up)
Church offering: $20
Entertainment: $80-10 for DVD's, 30 for movie theater, 20 for sports (namely-baseball games), and 20 for other

Yes, I know this seems like a lot of spending-but since I've never actually made a budget for myself or kept track of how much I spend on certain things-this is truly just an estimate.  Once I get a better idea of how the summer will go, I will (try to remember to) post another-more accurate budget.

I would definitely appreciate tips and advice you may have!

Holy Spirit vs. the spirit of the world

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'

As Christians, we are hilarious to the world we live in.  People think we are arrogant and ridiculous-yet unsophisticated in today's world.  But according to John 3:18, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's
one and only Son."  This verse shows that we are not arrogant, we are humble. 

We are humble because apart from God, we are condemned.  On my own, I am nothing.

The world only wants to see Jesus as a way, not the way.

Matthew 7:13, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Most people in this world are on the wide path.  This is why people call Christians arrogant.

Most people are filled with the spirit of the world, but a few are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the Way.  I will not water down my beliefs.

Our only hope is Jesus-the one way.  And he is not hiding, he is open for people to find.

Like a burning building with many doors; but only one way to safety.  God has called me to stand by that door and call to the "blind" and urge them to safety and life.  Is that arrogant?

Jesus Christ is the Way.  This is not what the world wants to hear, but what the world needs to hear.

Prayer without ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today let's focus on "pray without ceasing".  How can that be?  We breathe without ceasing, and our hearts beat without ceasing.  Our other organs work behind the scenes and we don't consciously tell them to work for us.  Can we learn to pray as naturally as we breathe?

In the morning as we wake up we can talk to our God, "OK Father...I'm awake; I'm feeling a little tired and grumpy this morning but I give this day to You and choose to praise You instead!  I praise You for Your beautiful creation, thanks for a comfortable bed and for the breakfast You have provided.  Guide my steps today and show me Your ways."  Then it is time to listen.  This on-going conversation can become a natural part of our day.

So what if I'm feeling weak in spirit and mind and can't even voice my feelings?

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.   Romans 8:26-27

Continue to pray, focusing on people in your immediate surroundings, your family and your brothers and sisters at Valleybrook needing prayer.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

As we spend time praying, God has promised to show us exciting things!

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.  Jeremiah 33:3

It will be exciting to change, grow and practice "prayer without ceasing" as it starts to become as natural as breathing.