New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s that time of year again! To keep me somewhat accountable, I’ve decided to list some of my New Year’s resolutions.

1.) Develop healthier living habits. Eat better. Get more exercise. Actually see a doctor about an illness before it gets to the point of near-hospitalization. (This will be easier as we’ll have decent health insurance.) Pray more. Don’t stress over things.

2.) Get my driver’s license before I hit the BIG 2-4. (Translation: get my license before May 19th.) I’m so close and if I can get some more practice in during the next 3 weeks, I can get my Minnesota license.

3.) Accept that I cannot change everything. Part of my stress problems have to do with my doggone insistence that I can change things… when in reality, I can’t change everything about a situation. I need to accept that some things are problematic and can’t be fixed.

4.) Not stress about money. Jon is making more money this year and we can meet our bills. I need to chill and remember that there has never been a time when the Lord hasn’t provided daily bread — that is, exactly what we need — and He will never stop providing for us.

5.) Tame my gremlin not to eat my books, especially the ones that blaspheme her name. She likes to chew on Njal’s Saga. Enough said.

New Year = New Layout

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Happy New Year y’all! I’ve been wanting to do a new layout for awhile so here it is! There will be color once spring comes (or I get sick of the lack of color — whichever comes first).

Jon and I spent the evening chilling with the cats and we celebrated the New Year by trying to open the wine bottle without the aid of a corkscrew. (We can’t find it. Maybe this is why my kitchen needs to be fully unpacked???) We finally stuck a screwdriver in and pushed the cork into the bottle so it was submerged. I then had the job of straining the cork bits out of the wine. (This of course would only happen to us…) The wine was actually for getting a red wine stain out of Jon’s alb. Failing this, we’ll turn to the magic of Dryel and hope that works.

I’m looking at purchasing a laptop in the next week or two. Any suggestions on what I should get?

The Da Vinci Code

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After listening to my brother (who is spiritually somewhere between being a deist and a Unitarian-Universalist/Lutheran hybrid) and I talk about theology and early Christianity (well… that and Sean having to act it out during our “friendly” family game of Charades on Christmas night), my mom decided that I needed to read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I had three hours of air time yesterday (and a 15 minute sprint across MSP to my gate because we were 30 minutes late leaving Great Falls due to the crew needing to sleep in and the airport taking its sweet time in de-icing the plane) so I read it. Did I enjoy it? Immensely on an intellectual level. Did it wreck my faith? No… but it did cause me to really ponder some of the things in there.

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Family Bloodsports

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The following innocent games become full contact sports when played at family gatherings:

Scrabble (I’m terrified to introduce Speed Scrabble to them)
Monopoly (my brother is EVIL)
jigsaw puzzles (blows can be exchanged)
Trivial Pursuit (I show no mercy and I am darn good at it!)

These have been the highlights of the last few days.

Highlights of the Last few Days

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  • Kicking my brother’s tail at Trivial Pursuit thrice

  • Playing Charades with my family members, especially after a rum and coke and the 20somethings cleaning out the rum and whiskey balls

  • Watching my mom try to act out “The Screwtape Letters” during said game of Charades

  • Teaching Kristin and Sari how to play Cribbage

  • My cousins flying in from North Carolina to surprise my aunt

  • Being with my extended family and getting a chance to recuperate from the move

  • Teaching Kristin and Sari how to crochet

    • A Hymn Sing for Christmas

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    Of the Fatherï??s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
    He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
    Of the things that are, that have been,
    And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

    At His Word the worlds were fram’d; He commanded; it was done:
    Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
    All that grows beneath the shining
    Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

    O that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
    By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
    And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
    First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

    This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
    Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
    Now He shines, the long expected,
    Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

    O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
    Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
    Let no tongue on earth be silent,
    Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

    The first Noel the angel did say
    Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
    In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
    On a cold winterï??s night that was so deep.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    They lookï??d up and saw a star
    Shining in the east, beyond them far;
    And to the earth it gave great light,
    And so it continued both day and night.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    And by the light of that same star
    Three Wise Men came from country far;
    To seek for a King was their intent,
    And to follow the star wherever it went.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    This star drew nigh to the northwest,
    Over Bethlehem it took its rest;
    And there it did both stop and stay,
    Right over the place where Jesus lay.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    Then entered in those Wise Men three,
    Full reverently upon the knee,
    And offered there, in His presence,
    Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

    Then let us all with one accord
    Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
    That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
    And with His blood mankind hath bought.
    Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
    Born is the King of Israel.

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    Minnesota Bumper Stickers

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    My wonderful mother-in-law sent me this. It’s bumper stickers that should exist for Minnesota. Among my favorites (with my commentary in parenthesis) are:

    -My governor is a bigger crybaby than your governor!
    -You think YOU’RE cold – try riding on the bumper!
    -While your governor was fighting crime and injustice, our governor was wrestling pink feathered boas.
    –Minnesota: Our peace and justice people can beat up your peace and justice people. (I WANT THIS ONE!!!!!)
    -Our Governor is more embarrassing than your Governor. (I think this should apply equally well to California.)
    -Minnesota . . . where gravity is not just a good idea . . . it’s the law!
    -Our public radio network is better than yours . . . if you listen, you know that already!
    -Minnesotans – so nice we walk on water – in winter.
    -I bet my governor can beat up your governor.
    -I brake for lutefisk. (Ewwwwww…)
    -Minnesota: where all the mosquitoes are strong, all the loons are good looking, and all the snowmen are above average.
    -Minnesota: Norwegian for mosquitoes and snow.
    -Our governor is more narcissistic than your governor. (Ahem… California?)
    -Home of the Chosen Frozen
    -Lena of Sven thousand Ole’s (Um Ya Ya!)
    -This governor is for entertainment purposes only.
    -I survived Minnesota traffic.
    -Minnesotans are God’s frozen people
    -Peace and good wool from Minnesota
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