A Blahg Post

Do ya'll ever just feel blah about blogging?

Yeah, me too.

I'm just a little blah today in general, I guess.

The kids went back to school today after their EIGHTEEN DAY break. That's a lot of days.

I loved it, and until yesterday I wasn't ready for it to end. I was a tiny bit sad when I dropped Abbey off at school this morning, but I forgot about being sad as I made my way to meet a friend at the tea house.

It hit me when I came back home though. I like quiet, but it's just a little too quiet around here right now.

So yeah...blah...blah...blah.

Let me just quickly catch ya up on a few things going on around here.

1. I'm fasting from sugar again. I did this for about three weeks in November and felt great. I also lost 6.5lbs. I tried to do it again in December, but the lure of sugar was too much. I failed miserably. I'm tired of feeling the miserable side effects of sugar consumption--bloating, no energy, poor sleeping, skin breakouts--so I'm attempting to detox yet again. I have one day and one killer headache under my belt but I'm on my way! Wanna join me?

I'm not eating any refined sugar for two weeks. No honey or agave either. I will add those two things back in gradually after my initial two weeks.

I DO allow myself to have fruit--usually an orange or apple once a day.

I'm trying to eliminate white flour as well.

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2. I'm attempting for the 8th time to read the Bible in a year. I need to apologize to Betsy because I told her I'd done it twice. I thought I had but I haven't. I've gotten VERY close to finishing it twice but never have I actually read from cover to cover.

I'm using this reading plan and I plan to use the New Living Translation for most of my reading. I always get bogged down in the Old Testament though so I think I'll probably use the Message to make that a little easier. I like the way the Message translates the Psalms though so I've been using that this week.

Here's the wonderful thing about the Discipleship Journal plan. You only have 25 readings per month so if you get behind you have a grace period to catch up. I've used this plan several times, in fact, I found my old reading plans last weekend (while searching high and low for my Message Remix Bible) that I've saved from my prior attempts. One year I made it to the end of November--so close--and for the life of me I can't figure out why I didn't finish that last month? [Note to all of you who save stuff: Write the date on things you save. It makes looking back way more fun. I wish I had dated my reading plans!]

Some wonderful advice that has stuck with me over the years is this: if you start this plan/any plan and only make it three months, don't look at it as failure, look at it as having read 1/4 of the Bible.

There's still time to catch up if you want to join in. There are actually lots of us doing it which helps with accountability!

Alright, it's time for lunch, and I have some reading to do. See ya!

Happy New Year!

I love New Year's Day! I have no idea what lies in store for the next 364 days, but the adventurer in me gets a little excited thinking about the possibilites!

I've been thinking about my goals for 2009. I had a LOT of time to think while in the car last week.

Last year, I categorized them into physical, spiritual, and creative categories. Totally works for me this year too.

Here's what I've come up with:

Physical:
1. Climb another Colorado 14er with my Summit Sisters! We got together with them last night and talked about some possibilities! I'm excited! (hence all the exclamation marks!)!!!!

Creative:
2. Continue to chip away at our family albums.
3. Continue blogging (because it IS a creative outlet, right?)
4. Start a book club. A plan is already in the works...and the first book that I will suggest is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Seriously, people, it is the most fascinating book I've read in a long time. Read it!

Spiritual:
5. Strive for consistency in God's word. I don't have a quiet time every day. I don't know why that is so hard for me, but it IS. I'm not committing to every single day but rather consistency because that seems a bit more realistic (for me).

Looking back at last year, I'd say I did reasonably well with my goals.

I didn't get away every single month for a spiritual retreat, but I managed about five of them. That's pretty good. I didn't take up a new hobby, but I did scrapbook consistently (and that's always been my hobby of choice) and I did pull my sewing machine out for a few projects. I'm good with that too. And I DID CLIMB PIKES PEAK, OH YES I DID! I'm kinda proud of that one. So all in all, I'd say I did okay!