Fruitful Words

I found that out when I started sorting all my Christmas decorations. Many had positive emotions connected to them.

• Like the one my ds made that has lots of eyes glued to it – the LORD is an ever-seeing, ever-present God.

• My dd rolled a blown brown egg in red, blue and green glitter.

• Of course, both children made several renditions of Mr. & Mrs. Clause out of Styrofoam balls, felt, and cotton. 

But then there’s the one my dh and I bought on a trip to Hawaii.

• We also bought one in Belgium and London.

• The year we had our house built in CO, my dd and I took a 2×4 from the site. We cut it down and painted a Mr. & Mrs. Bunny Claws. Cute. But full of memories that now cause pain.

My first instinct is to throw them all away. I don’t want to have any items around that remind me of my failed marriage. That’s why I wanted a Christmas tree that’s so different from any we had in the past. I wanted new memories. New associations.

But, if I throw these “emotional bomb decorations” away, will I be sorry in 10 years?

What do you advise? I know some of you have gone through similar situations. Please comment and lmk what has or hasn’t worked for you.

• Secret Sister “All About Me” form is due January 14th.

  Pick one up at the Secret Sister bookcase. Or I can email you one. Please consider joining. This is a rewarding program.

• Retreat 2007 signups are under way. Turn in your deposit ($50.00) and registration today.    

  14/70. Know what this means?

  14 women have already taken one of the 70 slots. Act today!

• $14.99. So you can buy a cookbook of course!

   

Ladies, as we listen to our speaker, we’ll have tea and brunch. Put this 10 am happy event on your calendar. We’ll accept RSVP’s in Feb.

3/10. Know what that stands for? 

We have filled 3 of the 10 hostess slots for this tea. Please sign up today, if you are interested in being a table hostess. Call Susan Wright at 635-5992.

“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”

Chaim Potok: The
Chosen 

Hi CNC Ladies,

Much is happening in 2007: M&M Saturdays, Annual Tea, Secret Sisters, Retreat. Of course, buy a cookbook!

To read the specific details download the attachment and keep it handy.

I hope your holiday preparations are going well.

• I’ve sorted through most of the Christmas boxes. My intent is to divide all the decorations amongst my children and I.
• My tree (a white one) is up and gorgeous. I’ve gone with a red, gold and green theme. Plus I’ve hung the ornaments my children have made throughout the years. If you are in the area, I’d love for you to come visit. Maybe I’ll figure out how to take a photo and post it here.
• The Christmas cards are not done.At this point I may not get to that. They are bought. Some are even addressed. But I haven’t written our Christmas letter. I can’t send the cards without that!
• The presents are all bought (except one). They are wrapped in red paper waiting for green/red/gold bows to be attached. I’ve never wrapped all my pressies in one color before. It looks festive.
• So what’s on your agenda for today?

Last night I attended my nieces’ Christmas dance show (from School). They did wonderfully, all the kids did. Afterwards we were in the library watching people outbid each other on the silent auction baskets. A 3 foot, pigtailed cutie touched my arm and posed the question:

“Are you the boss of the library?”

I’m afraid I laughed as I said “no.” It was so cute. I looked around and noticed that I was the only grey-hair in the room.

Add to that, the only grey hair with glasses.

And even more, the only grey hair with glasses who was a women.

Can’t change the glasses thing. Don’t want to change the woman thing. BUT I can change the grey hair thing.

But then I wouldn’t be mistaken for a librarian. And if I could choose another career, librarian would be at the top of the list.

If I were the librarian, I’d have a plaque made up that read, “Ms. Susan: Boss of the Library.” Hmmpf. I could still have that plaque made. I have so many books that should qualify me as a book boss.

NOTE ABOUT MY GLASSES: We are still trying to figure out what’s wrong. Next week I will have a third pair made. Please pray that the problem is resolved and that I’ll be able to read with my glasses on.

I don’t mind being 48 - most of the time.
But I do mind the indignities of sprouting hair on my face.

In the morning I’m fine. Then I’ll be out in public, pat my cheek or stroke my chin and discover a 2 inch disaster.

Then I got smart. I keep a pair of tweezers in my car and by my computer. Now when I’m waiting in traffic or waiting for my (dial up) computer to get moving, I check my chin and cheeks.

I haven’t had a wayward hair embarrass me for months now. Don’t buy those cheepie silver tweezers. You don’t have to buy the most expensive ones either. Mine are the turquoise slanted kind.

That’s my Works-for-Me Wednesday tip and I’m sticking by it. Go on over to Rocks In My Dryer for more tips.

The 4th Annual missionary tea/brunch is on the calendar for Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007;10 am in Rudat Hall.

 The Women’s Ministry is looking for 10 ladies to hostess tables. Each lady will decorate her table and then take care of the ladies at her table. The church has pletny of tea cups should a hostess need some.

 Let me know if you are interested. Spread the word. Dowload the advertisement flyer by clicking on the link below….

Tea Flyer Download

Please lmk if you can see it ok? I’m still learning here.

The pdf file was made into an insert for this week’s  church bulletin. The one for church had a tea bag glued to it!

Here’s the BEST of my last week . . .

Friday, Dec 1 – Turned in all finals for school.

I received an A for the Pastoral Understanding of Women class. I loved that class, the classmates and teacher. I haven’t heard about my grade for the Discovering Your Ministry Potential class. However, it’s a pass/fail and I’m sure I passed.

Saturday – Helped set-up for and played at the Secret Sister party. What a blast! Legal stealing, legal food (no calories you know), and lots of laughter. 38 women joined us that night. Lovely food – we need some of those recipes for the next cookbook.

Sunday – The nieces and I wrote, produced and performed a lovely show for the “rents return. I played Go Tell it on the Mountain on the piano (right hand only) and was accompanied by S who sang and K who played her violin. I’ve always wanted to do something like that! We plan on having another show at Christmas. This time I hope to play a song with both hands.

Monday – Watched Akeelah and the Bee. Very motivational. Good acting. If you haven’t seen this –DO! Thanks to CR for letting me borrow the DVD.

Tuesday – Saw The Polar Express at the Imax with three from church. Not just anyone could get in that night! Channel 10 sponsored a coat drive. The admission was a child’s coat. Thanks JH for letting me know about this. The 3-D movie was truly magical on that big screen. Can you hear the bells ring?

Wednesday - Drove around looking at Christmas lights with my sista’s familia. So far the best lights are on Agena off Huntsman in Rosemont. Practically the whole court is lit up. Thanks again to JH for this info. Anyone know of a must-see house or street?

Thursday – Dinner and an Advent worship time with the dear I family. Dinner was a sausage casserole topped with croutons. Crunchy tastiness. I loved hearing M and S read and explain how prophecy is a part of our Advent preparation. Their focus wasn’t just on learning. It is about preparing our hearts for Christ.

CNC’s mommies group debuted today. I was able to spend some time with these lovely ladies and their lovely babies. It is a support group for mom’s with nursery age children. It was sooo precious to see them crawling, talking, and sleeping - the babies not the mommies. If you want inforamtion, call me, the office, or RW.

Friday – Found some winter clothes, lost more weight, and spent a NICE evening with my sista. We are involved in a project that will impact me and you, the readers. BUT, I’m not telling now!!

Oh yes – I also had the privilege of attending K and S’s award ceremony at school. Both received awards – ‘Natch! (I hope that didn’t come off as too braggish.)

Saturday – Christmas tree chopping is slated for this afternoon. It’s a bit drizzly so we’ll have to see if that’s still a go.

I am blessed!

What are some of your December highlights? Leave a comment here or on your own blog. Do let us know if you do write something at your own place.

Drink water!

Yep, that’s it. About 10-12 cups a day.

I mentioned here that I’ve lost 15 pounds without trying. Drinking more water is how.

I have not (consciously) been doing anything else differently. In fact, I wasn’t drinking more water to lose weight. I started because it was an easy health action I could implement. One Sunday I put on my dress shoes and they were loose! That’s the first place I noticed the weight loss.

I have not noticed increased skin moisture, memory or energy. I’ve heard that the last two are also side-benefits of drinking adequate amounts of water.

There are increased bathroom trips. Read below to find out why.

As you continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn’t need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. . . Your body figures it doesn’t need to save these stores anymore; it’s trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life.

“But it’s so yucky to drink that much water,” you say. I used to say that too. I helped myself by drinking it hot, in a class with ice cubes, sipping it through a straw and by adding lemon or lime slices or squirts from concentrate. Now, I actually LIKE drinking that much water. (I used to drink maybe 3 cups daily.)

Go here to get more ideas on how to drink more.

Well, that’s my Works-For-Me-Wednesday tip.

Share your best tip at Shannon’s. Or go to Shannon’s, Rocks-In-My-Dryer, to read other great tips.