Week 5 Summary for 51 Things

Habits . . . .

1. Taking a walk with Chip. This didn’t happen much because Chip was under the weather last week. In fact, I was sure he was going to die. Happily, that didn’t happen. He is in a very perky mood and even eating well. It helped that he and Elisabeth got to spend some time together this past weekend.
2. Sleep. Except for Friday night I was in bed by 11 pm. Friday it was 1 am and up at 4:30 am. Look at #5 under the One Time Events to see why. I am getting serious about my sleep though. The other day I wrote a post on sleep here. I also wrote how to destress your life. #17 is about sleep. Getting a good night’s rest every night is essential. You can really make yourself ill or even kill yourself by slacking in the sleep department. I’m now convinced this is something I can take control over and I need to in order to have a healthier life and longer lifespan. Go here for 33 Secrets for a Good Night’s Sleep.
3. Trash. This has been the easiest habit to form. Picking up trash around church one time a week has been easy and an enjoyable way to spend time with Chip at the same time.
4. Spanish. I just printed off vocabulary words for the next 2 weeks.

One Time Events (kinda) . . . .

1. Funeral planning - I spoke with my kiddos over the weekend about this. They thought I was crazy and obsessing. They do NOT care whether I am cremated and then scattered, buried, or kept in some container somewhere - as long as the container isn’t with them!. Nor do they care if I am marinated (embalmed) and then buried. Now I’ll do research on prices and legalities.
2. Read Thru the Bible in 90 Days. SM and I will meet tonight to discuss this. It was interesting to fly through Genesis without getting bogged down in the details. Now we are flying high above Exodus. So far I would give this reading program a 5/5.
3. Prayer Study. I finished the book on prayer by John Wesley. I want to go back through the book and write down all the things I underlined. Anyone else underline and make notes in their books?
4. Jokes. I can tell 3 jokes - pretty well. I’m on the lookout for joke #4. If I haven’t told you a joke lately, ask me. I’m ready.
5. Hot Air Balloon Ride!!!! Yep. It happened. I can cross this off my list and include it in the list of things I’LL NEVER FORGET.

My 51 Things List is dwindling down s-l-o-w-l-y but building some mighty big memories. How’s it going on your own list of things to do or habits to form? Please share. Let’s keep each other accountable.

Why Writing a List is Good for You

Sometimes I don’t know what to write, whether it’s for a post, school paper, or letter. There are all kinds of ideas swirling in the thought soup called my brain. Or there are no thoughts. Writing a list of ideas on one topic helps me corral similar thoughts or kick start the thought process.

Below are five more reasons writng a list is good for you.

1. It is fast to write - so it gets the brain thinking.
2. It forces you to summarize each point in a sentence or phrase.
3. It helps you to see all the points at one time.
4. It helps you stop, sit down, and start writing.
5. You could win a prize!

Network Blogging Tips is sponsoring a List Blogging Challenge. The deadline is April 20th. The prize is a“One Touch 4 Mini 250 GB external hard drive, worth $129.00.” Go here for all the details.

Continue reading for more information on list posts.

• 5 more reasons you should write a list post - Click here to read these. Written by Deb Ng from Network Blogging Tips
• 8 reasons why a list post will help you get back your blogging groove - Click here to read. Darren Rowse from Problogger also explains Simple Lists, Longer List Posts, and Lists as Parts Of Posts.
• Need help coming up with a topic? ChrisBrogan.com has a 100 Blog Topics he Hopes You Write On. Click here for that list.
• Writing a 100 points helps you tackle any issue - Click here to read this post from Luciano Passuello from LiteMind.
• Write a list, change your life. This is the promise of an article in the Scotsman.com. Click here for the full article.
• Even 7 year-olds can write a list. Click here to read about a life list created by a 2nd grader. Leon Ho shared this on his site LifeHack.org.

I’ll be writing list posts all week and then submit the best one Sunday, the 20th.

Get busy writing your list post. Be sure to let me know when you’ve written and submitted your post. It will be fun to have some competition amongst friends.

Week 4 Summary of 51 Things List

I’m 4 weeks into my 50th year. I’ve accomplished a few items from my 51 Things list. When I sorted out the habits from the one-time (or so) events, it was much easier to track my progress. Getting rid of the habits left me with 37 things.

• Go here for the one month summary post on my habits.
• Go here for the week one summary.

So far I’ve done the following from the 37 things on the list . . . .

1. Read one book of the two I plan to read strictly for fun. Go here for the book review of The 21 Balloons.
2. Started with my funeral planning. I need to talk to my kiddos about some of their preferences. I won’t care once I’m dead.
3. Studying Prayer. I’m still reading and taking notes in How to Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer. I’m using some of what I’m learning in my daily prayer time for the Women’s Ministry. I am looking forward to rereading my prayer journal at the end of this 40 days of prayer commitment.
4. On Thursday M and I cleaned out my trunk and washed my car (not on the list). Now that was a fun, useful time and deserved a thank you note. (Written but not mailed yet.)

I didn’t do too well accomplishing things on the list for weeks 2 and 3. It was too busy of a time and I didn’t schedule well. I’ve also learned that I NEED to look at my schedule every day. I need to ACTUALLY look and THEN USE the schedule I’ve made.

Do you have any tips on schedule making? Schedule following?

Week 4 Summary of Habits for 51 Things

Almost 4 weeks done in my 52 weeks of accomplishing my 51 Things List.

Click here for the summary of week one.

Here’s a recap of the past 4 weeks on my 18 Habits - I worked on 8 of them -with varying degrees of success.

1. Taking a walk with Chip 5 nights a week - More like 3 nights is what I did. Which is a shame because he enjoys this so much.
2. Picking up trash once a week. Yep - Did that each week.
3. Crafty thing once a month. Yep. Did that yesteday and today. Yesterday I made up some fliers for the bulletin board at church. My roomie designed a card (and flier) to pass out to the women for M&M Saturday on April 19th. My part was to cut and glue. Today I made about 16 butterflies for the Women’s Ministry bulletin board. Easy, fast and cute! Go here for the directions and visual from HowAboutOrange. I used the paper I had (scrapbook) and I think they are cute! Check out the bulletin board to have a looksee.
4. Sabbath Rest twice a month. Thiis Sunay will be a busy one; so, I did this once. And it was wonderful.
5. Write letters on 3rd Sunday. Check. And I’ve taken time to write a few letters/notes on other Sundays as well. One of the letters I recently sent was put into an envelope made from a calendar page - a picture of a sassy, bright watermelon.
6. Random Act of Kindness (8 times these 52 weeks). Did this twice.
7. Invite people to my house (6 times these 52 weeks). Did this once. I cooked all the food on Saturday. House was cleaned on Saturday. All I had to do was set the table and reheat the food. It was an easy, delightful way to celebrate with my guests.
8. Go to bed by 10 p.m. nights a week. Not so good. Last week I was semi-regular about getting to bed by 11. The other weeks not so good. This is the habit I’ll be working on for Smart Habit Saturday until I have my sleep patterns under control.

So how are your habits coming along? Have you taken the time to decide how you’d like to be different this time next year? Come join me as I change and impact my world one habit at a time.

What Are Your Life Lessons?

You’ve all seen these lists. They include pithy thoughts like, “In 3 words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” Robert Frost.

This is good. And it is applicable. But . . . .

• What if I actually thought about my life and came up with my own list of things I’ve learned?
• How many could I come up with?
• Would I be able to express who is responsible for teaching me that?

Stu Gray from The Creative Mouthpiece has done just that. Click here to read the 33 things he’s learned in the past 33 years. I think this is a very thoughtful list.

I’m not going to think about Stu’s list too much. Not until I’ve come up with my own list. I wonder if I’ll be able to come up with 10 things, much less 50!

What are some things you’d put on your list. Who did you learn it from?

51 Things Minus 18 Habits = 32 Things

Now that I’ve taken the habits out of my 51 Things List, I have 32 things left. Below is that list . . .

Educational

1. Complete 1/4^th consecration requirements
2. Vote intelligently
3. Read 2 books for fun (I’ve read one book. Click here for the review.)
4. Figure out what’s wrong with my camera
5. Learn to do one thing on my blog
6. Finish courses for masters (I’ve printed out what’s left. By taking 2-3 classes each quarter, I’ll be done by next June!)

Finances

1. Make a will
2. Know my FICO score
3. Fund a ROTH IRA
4. Pay off 1/4^th of my student loans

Organize

1. Sort out stuff in my bedroom
2. Catalog books
3. Create handbook
4. Put together mother’s day book

Outings

1. Go on Cruise to Alaska or Hot Air Balloon (My family is taking me to Napa Valley for a Hot Air Balloon Ride April 19th!!!!)
2. Go camping 1x
3. Attend a “show” in SF with kiddos
4. Go on a bus tour of SF
5. Spend the day at the beach 2 x’s
6. Go to Crocker Art Museum
7. Go ice-blocking: take pictures

 Personal

1. Do 1 thing out of my comfort zone
2. Learn and tell well 4 jokes
3. Clean out trunk of car
4. Go to the dentist
5. Get a pedicure (before retreat)
6. Plan my funeral (I’ve composed a poem and directions for the Pastor. I now need to talk to my kiddos about cremation vs. burial.)
7. Install a clothesline – use 2x’s mo

Spiritual

1. Read thru Bible in 90 days w/ sm
2. Go on a missions trip
3. Study Genesis w/ lv

And One To Grow On . . .

1. Study prayer (I am currently going through How To Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer. And I am embarking on 40 days of prayer regarding ministry. 2 other women are doing this (from school) which will help hold me accountable.)

World Health Day Goes Green: Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Today, April 7, 2008, is World Health Day. This year’s theme is Protect Health from Climate Change. Now whether you think there is global warming and resulting disastrous changes going on or not, we can do things that will make a positive impact on our environment and wallet.

The World Health Association has put out an A-Z list of ways we can help. Most of the ideas revolve around going green - reducing our energy consumption and being smarter about waste disposal/recycling. Below are some of the suggestions.

• Calculate your personal carbon footprint. Then reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Go to carbonfootprint.com to get your number.
• Half your emissions by setting the thermostat at a lower number in the Winter (65 degrees) and higher number in the Summer (70 degrees). Keep the filters clean. Evidently almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to cooling. (I didn’t know that.) I am guilty about checking the filters. 
• Off! Turn off appliances when not in use - TV’s, Computers, Coffee Makers, Toasters, Stereos, Lights, VCR/DVD Players and Photocopiers. My TV, Stereo and VCR/DVD Player are all connected to the same power cord. It is easy to turn them all off at the same time. It is not so easy to remember to turn them off.
• Quit plastic bags. Bring your own bags when going shopping. Did you know that Seattle is considering charging customers 20 cents for each disposable bag? Paper and plastic! Click here for the full post on this.

Click here for directions on making your own shopping bags.

Click here for directions on making a canvas bag.

YouTube has directions for those wanting a video (7 minutes), instead of just words, for making a canvas shopping bag.

• Read green blogs. (My idea) Here are a few to check out: Things That Make You Go Green, Tree Hugger, and Tree Hugging Family. Please share the green blogs that you read. Also share your favorite post.
• Use less energy and conserve more of it. Think when using water - turn it off when not needed - like when brushing your teeth, washing hands, soaping clothes or dishes.

When we lived in England, we didn’t have a lot of hot water available for the shower. So once we got wet, the water was turned off while soaping the body and shampooing the hair. Then the water was turned back on for a quick rinse. I still do that - for the most part. 

Another way I am going to use less energy, is by installing and using a clothesline. I’ve never used a clothesline before.

Click here to read how I use an electric blanket to save energy & money.

Check out the whole A-Z list by clicking here.

What are your green ideas?

18 Habits to Instill This 50th Year

When I made up my 51 Things List, I was crazy.  I mixed habits with one-time events. But since these are all things I want to accomplish this year, I’ll stick with my original list.

Of course this list is not comprehensive of ALL the habits I want in my life.  Just ones I’ll concentrate on this 50th year of my life.

Educational Habits

• Practice Typing (6 times a month)
• Listen to/Do Spanish (6 times a month)

Finance Habits

• Participate in an investing group

Others Habits

• Write letters (8 of them this year)
• Do Random Acts of Kindness (8 of them this year)
• Special time with each niece (3 times this year)
• Special time with each of my children (3 times this year)
• Take a walk with Chip (5 times each week)

Personal Habits

• Go to bed by 10 pm (4 nights per week)
• Sabbath rest (2 Sundays a month)
• Do one crafty thing each month
• Find a sport I like (do 3 times a week)
• Invite someone to my house (6 times this year)
• Join an accountability group
• Get my nails done (every 6 weeks)
• Pick up trash ( 1 time every week)

Spiritual Habits

• Tithe to BtN and Missions (6 times each)
• Reflect on day (3 times each week)

These are my proposed habits. What are yours?

13 Things I Learned in New Testament Class

New quarter has started and I had my first class last night.The prof is funny, intelligent, personable, exhaustive speaker, soul-touching preacher, and moving pray-er.  He’s been said to be a cross between Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park) and Rodney Dangerfield.

The book of Acts was the topic. Here’s some of what I learned in class.

1. Acts is the only book of its type in the Bible and because of this it is the single most important book in the Bible. (Every prof says this about every book we study.  ) We could lose 3 of the 4 gospels and still know about Jesus. We could lose most of Paul’s books and still have Pauline theology. But without the book of Acts we would not have information about the early church from 30-60 A.D.
2. Acts does what no other book does; it speaks about an historical Jesus and the church.
3. Acts is an historical book, but misses a lot of history. Its focus is very narrow.
4. The book got its name, Acts,  in the 2nd Century- can’t remember by whom. Some have suggested the title “Acts of the Holy Spirit” (for obvious reasons) or “Tale of 2 Cities”because it records how the Gospel went from Jerusalem to Rome.
5. Before 40 B.C. old was better (in Roman thought) than anything new. But in 40-50 B.C. there was a new wave of artistic expression and so there was friction between this new stuff and old ways. It was an exciting time for some and a confusing, difficult time for others regarding the shifting morays.
6. The Roman authorities consistently ruled that the charges against Christians, sedition, were false. Christianity’s intent was never sedition; they weren’t preaching the gospel in order to overthrow the government. Rather, Christianity had a reforming emphasis. Therefore, those who practiced Christianity were the best citizens.
7. All of the external evidence points to Luke, the physician and traveling companion of Paul, as the author of Luke and Acts. None of the evidence says anything different.
8. Every archaeological point expressed in Acts has proven to be true per the work of Sir William Ramsay.
9. Every legal point expressed in Acts has proven to be true per the work of A.N. Sherwin-White.
10. Buy this book: According to the Scriptures by C.H. Dodd, the greatest scholar in English. There are 15 Scriptures that are consistently used in the New Testament. I.e. Psalm 2, 118; Isaiah 40, 53; Daniel 7. These form a complex theology and are mutually interpretive. Somebody did this. Paul says he didn’t do it. He never saw this mystery in the Old Testament. Rather, he received this information from the risen Christ.  This same risen Christ explained this mystery  to His Disciples as well.
11. Fellowship/friendship in the ancient world was one of reciprocity: “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.”  Jesus’ admonition for His Followers to practice “disinterested goodness” was unheard of. It was unique for groups/individuals to consistently do good for the sake of doing good.
12. The Christians are described as being “one in mind and one in heart.”This is a deep theological statement about commitment. Their ideology was one of “If it’s mine, it’s also available for your use.” 90-94% of the ancient population lived below the poverty line. Most people were days  away from starvation. So this type of unity and sharing made a startling impact on the people in Jerusalem. Perhaps this is why they added to their church number so quickly?
13. Words are not mere baubles that dissipate into the air. God takes them seriously. Therefor, be careful of oaths and the promises that we make. 

Thanks for letting me share some of my notes. Only 5 more classes left.

If you’d like to read more Thursday 13 posts, click here. Don’t forget to check out the blog of RunningShoes too.

A Grown Up Book Report on The 21 Balloons

The 21 Balloons by William Pene Dubois was a fun, quick read. This was the first book I chose to read for my 2 just for fun books this year.

Fun because it talked about  . . .

• Fantastical riches (diamond minds beyond compare)
• A government and society organized around 20 days (which equals 1 month) of different types of food
• Working 1 long day in 20
• 19 days a month (out of 20) where you can read, craft, invent, swim, visit, explore
• Creative inventions that made work easier and play cooler
• Where walking and falling down like a drunk person is normal
•  A hot air balloon ride and hot air balloon escape pod
• All the while living on an island with an active volcano

Since this is a grown up review, I can skip the character sketches, plot summary and book  jacket redesign. Instead I’ll tell what the book made me think about . . .

• The 1969 movie, Krakatoa, East of Java. It has a G rating and I probably saw it that year at the young age of 11. I’ve misremembered it though. As I thought it starred Mia Farrow and included a doomed romance - Which of course I loved.! Maybe someday I’ll have the chance to re-watch this.
• The professor’s dream was to get away from it all for a whole year. His plan was to float high atop the earth in a hot air balloon. My recurring fantasy is to get away for the winter - holed up in a well-stocked, cozy cabin in the wilds of Maine.
• For his hot air balloon  the professor designed and built a little basket house in which to live. I am intrigued by small houses. Someday I’d like to buy one of those prefab tiny homes and put it  on the rooftop of some generous soul’s home, on a dock at a quiet lake, or maybe in some wildflower field. Click here and here and here for more info.
• The professor wanted to go away for a year because he was tired of his job. He needed to follow his bliss. Isn’t it sad that so many people are just putting in time at their place of employment? Of course, if I worked as an arithmetic teacher for 40 years to 10-14 year old boys, I’d want to get away too!

Tell us about your last read. What were your favorite parts? What did it make you think of?