November 27 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude

I am grateful for places. Places occupy a special  spot in my mind. Since I don’t have pictures of  most of them, the only place I’ll see them is in my mind.

Below are 5 of my special places  . . .

  1. Any trip to any beach. Going to the ocean is one of my all time favorite places. It is relaxing, invigorating, and a health tonic for my mind and body. I always feel close to God there.
  2. The one room church in Levington, England that was open any time I wanted to visit (1988-1993). It even had an old graveyard. I have special memories of me borrowing the key from Mrs. Clarke so I could walk the aisle singing and praying. I also remember times when my 2 kiddos along with neighborhood kiddos put on Christmas plays there.
  3. School. For the past 7 years I have been in school getting my BA and MA. Both William Jessup University and Western Seminary have been special places. Lots of learning, healing, and relationship building went on there.
  4. Visiting the Garden Tomb (in Jerusalem) was  a highlight from this year (2009). We even had communion there. Visiting the place where Jesus was buried

    Garden Tomb

    and rose again made my faith more real and made me more grateful.

  5. 5. Mignionette’s Home. Mignionette was a friend of my mother’s when I was 7 years old.  She was French, liked to entertain and liked to talk even more. Mignionette was so gracious that she let me do all the talking when I was around. I’d even follow her to the bathroom and continue the conversation through the closed door. Because Mignionette really listened to me, it gave me the feeling that what I had to say was worth something, that I was worth something. Who was your Mignionette? Who are you a Mignionette to?

What are some of your favorite places? Why? What can you do to make your home a favorite place?

Previous Photos from November’s Photo-a Day.

Other Related Posts:

P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able  to read other participants on this thankful journey.

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Laughter Quiz

What makes people laugh is an unexact science. What makes you laugh might not make me laugh and visa-versa. I tend to be a serious person and not prone to laughter. I’d like to change that especially after experiencing a day of laughter at our Thanksgiving feast.

“You laugh at me because I am different, but I laugh at you because we are all the same” (anonymous).

Have fun taking this True or False Quiz on Laughter.

  1. True or False. The study of humor and laughter is called humology.
  2. True or False. People laugh thirty times more often when they are with others compared to when they are alone.
  3. True or False. As children go through developmental stages what makes them laugh changes.
  4. True or False. Laughter is contagious.
  5. True or False. Laughter is physically good for you.  
  6. True or False. An adult laughs 400 times a day whereas a child laughs 17  times a day.

Click below on (more…) to read the answers.

(more…)

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November 26 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude

 Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.  ~Victor Borge

I am grateful for laughter. The kind of laughter that comes from  . . . safe relationships  . . . gentle teasing . . . silly humor . . . anecdotes of the absurd and/or slapstick . . . unintended meanings . . . clean jokes . . . and stories with surprising endings.

This is the kind of laughter we experienced today at our 2009 Thanksgiving Feast at Ocean Beach. 

I cannot remember the specifics for our laughter, but I DO remember laughing within the cocoon of loved ones.

Click here to take the Laughter Quiz.

Previous Photos from November’s Photo-a Day.

Other Related Posts:

P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able  to read other participants on this thankful journey.

 

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Memory Falters When Dealing With Pain or Grief

Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there was
A time when it was not.

It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.

By Emily Dickinson

“Grief disrupts your mind and thinking abilities. Confusion moves in and memory takes a vacation. . . Just as your leg can experience a cramp and not move, it’s as though your mind has a memory cramp. Your mind is paralyzed and shuts down…” (Wright, 12-13)1

Constant pain can also interfere with memory retention or recall. Fatigue, lack of sleep, depression, stress, and some medications also contribute to memory issues. This article about memory loss cites studies that show how disturbed sleep patterns and chronic pain affect memory.

Remember to cut yourself some slack if you are dealing with grief and/or pain. Your mind is working very hard right now trying to cope.You are not going crazy.  

You don’t have to wait for your memory to right itself. There are a few things you can do now.

  1. Get adequate sleep. Figure out how to overcome your sleep issues. Getting the proper amount of sleep is necessary for your brain and body to function well.
  2. Get adequate exercise. Do more than exercise your body though, exercise your brain too.
  3. Manage your stress level. Prayer, exercise, practice gratitude, and journaling can help. Click here for 20 Ways to DeStress Your Life. Talk with a professional, if you are concerned about your memory, talk to your MD and/or a therapist.
  4. Practice your faith. We have a God who loves and cares about us. Even if you don’t understand your “why’s,” you can still find great help from God.

Works Cited

1. Wright, H. Norman.  Experiencing Grief. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2004. 

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Recovery Actions for Woman in Chronic Pain

Chronic pain/illness can be a sneaky intruder. It can sneak up on you and throw you off-balance, send you into a tail-spin, or plunge you into a deep depression. Take steps to prevent the pain/illness from taking over your life and defining who you are.

The following five steps are a good place to start.

  1. Grapple with God until peace is found.
  2. Find new meaning for living – finding and embracing a new normal. Change is not necessarily bad.
  3. Learn new coping skills.
  4. Grieve well and each time losses come up.
  5. Keep current with communication so that relationships remain strong or get stronger.

Recovery is not a one-time arrival at a set destination. The process is ongoing and ever-evolving. Life will be different because of the pain and the losses suffered. Remember you don’t have to navigate this life alone. My goal as a shepherd and friend is to help you (a woman in pain) to become healthier in spirit. Give me a call.

“When we go through any significant grief experience we come out of it as different people. Depending upon the way we responded to this event we are either stronger people than we were before or weaker-either healthier in spirit or sicker.” Granger E. Westberg

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November 25 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude

I am grateful for delicious smells. This time of year simmering potpourri and baking cookies scent the air.

Michelle and I spent a nice morning making 3 batches of Mexican Wedding Cake cookies.

Previous Photos from November’s Photo-a Day.

Other Related Posts:

P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able  to read other participants on this thankful journey.

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Reviewing Educational Goals Before Making New Ones

School is done. So is the licensing interview.  The move is finished. Now I have time, time, time to devote to new life goals.

Before I decide upon new goals and habits for 2010, I need to see how well I’ve done these past 2 years. Therefore between now and January 1, 2010, I am going back over my 51 Things to Do in 365 Days List I made for my 50th birthday. Click here to read the original idea. Click here to read about my goals and click here for the habits I hoped to meet and acquire during my 50th year of life (2008).

Let’s start by reviewing my Educational Goals.

  1. Complete 1/4th consecration requirements. Before I could work on consecration (ordination for men) requirements, I needed to become licensed with the C&MA first. Getting ready for the licensing interview was bigger than I thought and so I postponed that until I completed all my MA coursework. On November 12, 2009, I had that interview. I had a few bumps, but passed! Now I am working on consecration requirements. I hope to be done with all this in 2012.
  2. Vote intelligently for presidential election. Done
  3. Read 2 books for fun. I read The 21 Balloons by William Pene Dubois. Click here for the review. The second book was The Secret of the Old Clock - the first of the Nancy Drew mystery series. While attending seminary I didn’t have time to read for fun, so these quick-to-read youth books were what I had time for.
  4. Figure out what’s wrong with my camera. Couldn’t figure it out. So it was tossed. But my sista and her family bought me a camera for my graduation (June 2009). I LOVE this camera. And it loves me back by rewarding me with GREAT photos.
  5.  Learn to do one thing on my blog.  My sista introduced me to stockxpert – the leading free stock photo site. So I have been able to include pictures on my posts. It is quick to sign up for a free account. Nice choices. Easy to use. And if I can use it, anyone can.
  6. Finish courses for masters degree from Western Seminary. DONE as of September 1, 2009!!! 

My score is a low B (83%) with 5/6 of my goals accomplished. I am happy with this especially since I decided to wisen up and postpone Goal #1.

 When you look back over the past year or two, what educational goals have you achieved?

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5 Reasons to be Grateful to God

gratitude [ < Latin grâtitûdô < grâtus (pleasing < favorable)] The state of being grateful. Grateful: appreciative of some sort of benefit you receive from someone; esp. to the point of doing something in return to please your benefactor. Gratitude is a frame of mind rooted in grace. In the same word-field: thankful, appreciative. (By Robert Longman Jr. at SpiritHome)

I like this,”Gratitude is a frame of mind rooted in grace.” Gratitude definitely is a choice, although one that is not always easy to make. But the reason I can make this choice is because of what God has given to me.

What are some of these things God has given to me out of His grace and His love for me?

  1. Rescue, Forgiveness, Freedom: “God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free” (Colossians 1:13-14).
  2. Eternal Life, Eternal Protection: “I [Jesus] give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,  for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)
  3. Unearned & Undeserved Salvation: “You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  4. Weaving of Bad into Good: We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves Him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose…” (Romans 8:28)
  5. Empowerment & Desire to Follow God: “God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him” (Philippians 2:13).

What would you add to this inexhaustible list? What are you grateful to God for today?

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November 24 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude

I am full of gratitude for the generosity of people. In particular, the people of CNC. Below are just two examples of this generosity.

Bob created this stained glass cross. The glass came from windows that used to be part of the church. When Rudat Hall was renovated, the glass was removed, but kept safe for such a project as this. Gorgeous work, Bob. Thank for your time and talent!

  

This sign has generous news. Our church turned in 143 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Thanks everybody. Thanks also to Kathy, Dan and Dona for organizing this.

 

  

Previous Photos from November’s Photo-a Day.

Other Related Posts:

P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able  to read other participants on this thankful journey.

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