Favorites of 2012

Is it part of our DNA or mainly media driven that January is a month of reflections into the past?  Here is a reflection on posts of the past year.

The Art of Making a Good Decision

This post I have linked to multiple times because it is good, sound advice.  This week, as I watched a favorite show premiere, the number of characters making multiple bad decisions was almost comical.  It is sobering to know that too many individuals will model this poor behavior. 

F F and the Super Bowl

January 2012 was the last post for the FF.  The title has been abbreviated as I recognized that the second F was garnering a large number of search hits for a different meaning, the majority being from behind the iron curtain.

Your Thread In the Historic Fabric

This is a personal favorite reflecting on my hometown, much like the small hometowns all across America.

I'm Sorry. . .

A powerful lesson abides here.

Inside the Uni, Outside the Classroom

A guest blogger I love offering a different perspective.

Not much to say . . . but I'm sayin' it.

Beginnings don't begin only in January.  

P.A.T.I.E.N.C.E.

Christian Insights is the tab for my spiritual reflections.  This post speaks to where we all are...often.

Disaster!

Nothing moves me like seeing the goodness of people pouring out toward their fellow man.  This is a shout out to all those who believe in helping, caring and loving their neighbor.

If you missed these posts I invite you to click in.
What reflections do you have on 2012?

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What Should I Know About You?

When I used to drive L. to school I loved picking him up.  It was time spent sitting close over an extended period with nothing available to do but talk.  When we got home he was off to his homework and game console and I was off to make supper.  We had great conversations riding home.  I often treated him to a soda so I could extend our visits.

Christmas break is over and L. is back at school.  In 2010 our family participated in a Wellness Program that helped us make significant lifestyle changes. We exercise regularly and often walk a neighborhood path.  When L. is home he makes a point of getting us out walking, daily


Our walks recreate that special after school time. Current conversations often revolve around dating and relationships. Our desire is strong for L. to meet that special girl. A girl he can build a loving relationship that will last their lifetime with. The odds for them to be successful in this world are so long. How can a couple shorten the odds?

It is not uncommon for me to say, "If it is that important to you it is a topic to discuss before getting serious."  Could a variety of serious relationship landmines be missed by discussing mundane topics early?  These are just some of the topics I would encourage anyone to broach in conversation with that possible 'significant other':

1.  Do you like to snuggle or don't touch unless given permission?
2.  Do you fold/put away your laundry or leave it in the basket until you wear it again?
3.  What is/was regular meal time like; home cooked, eat out, carry out?
4.  Do you regularly arrive just in time, before time, or late?
5.  What is you opinion about daycare?
6.  What was your relationship like with your grandparents?
7.  How did your mom/dad interact with their in-laws?
8.  What is your level of clean; cluttered but clean, don't like to dust or vacuum but can't stand clutter, clean queen, hoarder.
9.  What is your current debt level?
10.  How did your parent's disagree; shout and stomp out, go quiet and brood, calm discussion?

What other issues would you suggest a possible couple consider?

Google images:

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2013 Kick-off!

The year is hardly out of the bag and I'm jumping into a new project with both feet and dragging L. along with me.  There is a 'honey-do' list still on the counter with my name on it, (two items already crossed off) but the sewing machines weren't scheduled to return until the list was down to just two items.

L. has one more week of break before heading back to school and we've watched movies, taken walks and cooked our favorite meals.  Time enough left but to do a project together!

Re-covering a big, old, arm chair has been in the back of my mind since we bought it over 5 years ago.  When we moved here (L. was just starting high school) we bought a house with a one room basement.  We turned it into L.'s Man Cave, the perfect location for a ratty, comfy chair...and yet...out of sight out of mind.

The springs in the seat need repair and therefore our first step is to see if we can handle that part of the project.  Pulling the bottom apart has abraded our knuckles, broken fingernails and shot staples across the room but we were rewarded with success.  After close examination and some Googled videos we have a plan and a purchasing list.

Springs repair and seat reassembling will be completed before Sunday night.  L.s physical strength is critical with this step as well as his math skills in measuring and calculating fabric requirements.  He'll also help get the chair pulled apart so I can work on re-covering.

We have a successful trip to the fabric store to move us along.  We found this gold/brown textured piece that was originally $16.99 per yard but it was in the sale area but not marked.  We were hoping for $6, like the others around it, and lit up when the clerk said $3!

I can't imagine we could complete the whole process before L. flies off but it will keep us busy and be a shared treasure when complete.

Stay tuned for pictures of the finished product!

What have you jumped into, already this new year?

 beccarama.com

Welcome 2013

At the beginning of a new year it is customary to make resolutions for change.  Whether we keep these resolutions or not, recognizing the need for change is as important as structuring a plan to make those changes.

The new year is an excellent opportunity to 'clean the slate'; to ask and offer forgiveness, to mend relationships, to put grievances aside, to leave bad habits behind and choose to start anew.

Then again . . . you may be content with yourself, your relationships and the place where you are.  You may have reason to celebrate the here and now and the bright future you see ahead.

As 2013 begins may you embrace whatever opportunities that afford improvement to you and allows you to make the world around you a better place.

For those who are feeling a bit raggedy, here at the end, or those who need a little hope take a moment to view this story courtesy of  CBS Sunday Morning.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.  NIV  Numbers 6:24-26

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A Special Christmas Message For You

Guest blogging my Christmas message is the better part of me, my husband, D.  May his words bless you this holiday season.

While this letter has pictures of 'peace' and 'joy', we know that our world is full of fear and strife.  We grieve with families in Newtown, CT and at the same time pray for the safety of our loved ones.  As Christians we seek a merry Christmas (just like everyone else) but we know full well that Christ did not come into this world because humanity deserved salvation.  Instead it is just the opposite. 

Christ was sent as a baby, the most vulnerable human condition possible.  He was sent through a woman chosen by God.  Mary, a woman who agreed to God's plan even though it put her in both physical and economic danger, who would experience both great joy and immeasurable heartache as the mother of our Saviour.  Her betrothed, Joseph, would agree only after the angel's convincing, not to follow the ways of the world and divorce his pregnant bride.  Still, hardship and tragedy followed.  They had run for their lives from King Herod.

God gave us the freedom to cause suffering and peace, fear and joy.  Instead of separating and distancing from our destructive actions, God chose to join us in pain and suffering.  Sending His only begotten son to suffer and die that you and I might have life abundant and eternal, God suffered with us and continues to weep over our sinful actions just as Jesus did over Jerusalem.

May the tragedies in our world remind us that we are called to be peacemakers and that we are responsible to show the love of Christ to the world.  All too often Christian love has been replaced with worldly hate.  May we, like our Christ, bear one another's burdens.  May we mourn with those who morn and rejoice with those who rejoice. 

Let us remember this Christmas that Jesus did not come to give us riches and wealth beyond measure as the world understands but instead came to make us holy and right with our father in heaven.  This is the greatest Christmas gift ever!

May your Christmas be filled with joy and may we proclaim along with the angels who announced Christ's birth, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

May God bless you and others through you this Christmas.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Google images:
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All I Want for Christmas...

In the wonder and joy that is the holiday season gift giving can hit a sour note.  Those who rank "Gifts" high in their level of love languages, I'm assuming, find joy in hunting and presenting that perfect gift.  As "Gifts" is not high for me I find it more of a chore than a cheer.

Companies have made the gift-giving process enormously easy.  The gift box assembles items that are packaged for your convenience; all you add is the wrapping paper.  One trip through the box store's holiday aisles and your gift-giving requirements can be met.

When L. was in grade school we knew his gift list before he wrote it.  As he aged his gift requests grew more specific and expensive.  As an independent, young man who purchases what he wants when he wants, his gifts have to come from our creativity.  (An onerous chore for the not-so-creative.)

'Touch' is my love language and for those who share this, as well as those with 'Quality Time', will be as cheered by this article from Science of Relationships: "All I Want For Christmas Is You". 

As a family, this year we decided to forgo individual presents in lieu of a tasting tour of New Orleans.  This hits the perfect note for each of us at this particular time in our lives.

Whatever your personal view of gifts I urge you to find the method that produces joy in you because if you are joyous you will give joy.  Don't be the the pivotal point to the phrase "If I'm not happy, no body's happy".




To all who take time to stop by and read my words I wish you much joy and happiness in the new year.  My wish for our broken and hurting world, "Peace on earth, good will toward men."

Google images:
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Marking Two Decades

L. is 20 years old today.  We celebrated his birthday early, at Thanksgiving break, today being the last day of classes at UT.  He has plans to celebrate with friends tonight, which is likely preferable, at age 20, than hanging with the folks as we tearfully walk down memory lane.

It was December 7, 1992 in Louisville, Kentucky.  We were 32 years young, married for 12 years and, me, not being of a modest nature, allowed my mother to video L. as he made his debut.  He doesn't share our continuous awe of the process nor our fascination for reliving it yearly.

Being an only, and having a writer for a mother, he has always been very gracious about living his life on the printed page.  This may have a lot to do with our shared love for reading and writing that started at an early age.

In first grade we wrote the first installment of The Logan Chronicles "Errand Day or The Serpent Slayer".  It was a true story that I put into words and a good friend (and excellent artist) illustrated for us.  

About this same time Harry Potter made the jump across the 'pond' and was becoming quite popular.  We started reading aloud these chapter books and continued through many series together; Redwall, Hank the Cowdog, Mortal Engines, Game of Thrones...to name a few.

L. excelled in English classes as he penned his own tales.  His love of math and science has him double majoring in Chemistry and Computer Science but he shared some of his writing talent by guest posting his series "Inside the Uni, Outside the Classroom" here, last summer.

L. has been the subject of many a blog post which will undoubtedly continue, so on this special day let me wish my muse, my literary companion, my son a very Happy, Happy 20th Birthday!