Oh, To Be Six Again

To Whom It May Concern:

I hereby officially tender my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks. I want to think M&M's are better than money, because you can eat them. I want to play kickball during recess and paint with watercolors in art. I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables, and simple nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn't know all the things that should make you worried and upset. I want to think that the world is fair. That everyone in it is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible.

Somewhere in my youth I matured and learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, war, prejudice, starvation, and abused children. I learned of lies, unhappy marriages, suffering, illness, pain and death. I learned of a world where men left their families to go and fight for our country, and returned only to end up living on the streets, begging for their next meal. I learned of a world where children knew how to kill....and did!!

What happened to the time when we thought that everyone would live forever, because we didn't grasp the concept of death? When we thought the worst thing in the world was if someone took the jump rope from you or picked you last for kickball? I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again. I want to return to the days when reading was fun and music was clean. When television was used to report the news or for family entertainment and not to promote sex, violence, and deceit.

I remember being naive and thinking that everyone was happy because I was. I would walk on the beach and only think of the sand between my toes and prettiest seashell I could find. I would spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike. I didn't worry about time, bills, or where I was going to find money to fix my car. I used to wonder what I was going to do or be when I grew up, not worry about what I'll do if this doesn't work out.

I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days of the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones. I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow. I want to be 6 again.

--author unknown--

Mario Strikes Back

Just thought this was one of the coolest pictures! Being a Mario fan, as well as a Star Wars fan this totally makes my day!

Up and running.

Sorry for the delay. Blogger shut my info out for a month or so. I am finally back in action now and will have a great deal more coming soon! Thanks to everyone that has stopped by and looked! Have a great day!

Uh Oh.... Buying homes is hard work

I discovered something today. I don't like uncertainty! In fact, I hate it. There I said it... now I can go to meetings.

I really am in the beginning stages of buying a home and right now I feel really nervous. That is a huge chunk of money to put against a home. I am really uncomfortable with the idea of dumping money into something that I am not sure I will live in very long.

It's a little unnerving to be in this position. I am trying to wrap my head around the idea but am not really sure what I should come up with. Have any of you bought a home recently that would like to share some wisdom?? I would love the insight!

What should people be looking at? What should they know before getting into it? Just wanted to see what other people think!

The Power of the Imperfect

There is something to be said about imperfection. This Christmas I learned something about staring off into the imperfect world.

Let me back up just a touch and let you know how all of my thoughts on this started. Each Christmas the Women of the ELCA put up a single Christmas tree in our sanctuary. The tree is 10 feet tall beautiful in shape and stature, decorated with beautiful white lights....and that is all. No ornaments, no decorations, no angel on top of the tree. Just white lights. Sitting amongst those white lights is something that I find absolutely beautiful.

1 single red light.

For the first two Christmases that single red light has bothered me. I understood the reason they put it there. Nothing is perfect during the holiday season except Christ himself. I get that...but that red light still bugged me. This Christmas it did the same. 1 simple thing that is just enough to make me take notice. Well how can something like that get to me as much as it does. Well, to be honest...it's because I point out the imperfect. I like to see the faults in myself as well as the faults in others. My first tendency is to notice that which really bugs me. Instead of taking the time to reflect on what really encourages me.

I really have to focus in order to notice something beautiful. Some things aren't really all that I wish they would be. My life is not in perfect array, nor should it really be. The bills still come in whether there is money in the bank. Let's face it... our lives are not perfect. But I wish it was. I wish there was a way that I could make it all go away. To be perfect when I need to be, and to understand that the world is perfect. But its not!

There is something to be said for looking through the eyes of the savior. Realizing that someone who is perfect could look at me through the eyes of perfection. It's amazing the type of person who God wants you to be. Imperfection and all. I am learning to look at my life through the eyes of the Savior. It's really easy to point out my own faults instead of looking at my life through the eyes of God. So, here is what I started doing.

Instead of being quick to point out my blunders. I am learning to become quick to point out the perfectness of my savior. Instead of whining about my situation, I take time to rejoice that I have a situation to be in. I am learning to spend more and more time digging into the word and learning about what my savior says about my imperfections. God isn't the type that points out our weaknesses. I believe God is the one to point out our strengths and focus on changing us for the better.

I like this new outlook on life. I like being imperfect. I wish I was much better at being the imperfect person that rejoices in a perfect savior. I hope that you find something about yourself that is beautifully imperfect so that you can see that God is so much bigger!

It makes looking at my imperfections a lot easier when I can look at myself as though I am only slightly imperfect. God is so much better!

The Best New Year's Resolution Ever

I Choose Love...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrents bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice my it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...
I am a spiritual being... Adter this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Written by Max Lucado. When God Wispers Your Name.

I'm Baaaaaack!

So, part of my new year's resolution came back to me today! I am going to blog more. Feels like years since I even wrote an article, thought a blog topic, or even had a chance to write! So guess what... here is my brain on display for people! Have a nice slice!