Monday, February 28, 2011

Spring?

Is it spring yet? Mother Nature keeps teasing us, so I am not quite sure if we have finally come to the spring season. It was hot enough yesterday so that I could finally bathe my two dogs! That was something that really needed to be done. The sheepdog is in desperate need of a shave, not a haircut, a complete shave down to the skin! She is all matted up again, and I cannot do anything with her hair...not fur...HAIR! Poor girl, she is really a sweetie pie. Her hair/fur, however, is a different story. It gets in a drastic mess very easily.

Progress has been made on my dissertation. I sent in chapter one to the mentor. It is not a full chapter one, but it is almost complete. I am now working on chapter two and three. So, wish me luck!

I also started using my breathing machine (CPAP) again. I do believe it helps me to think much more clearly. The only problem with it is that the mask hurts my face and leaves dents in my skin. Maybe I can find something to put under the straps of the mask to help soften the connection to my face.

Along with all the dissertations, articles, and books that I am studying, while writing my dissertation, I am also trying to read a book called Just Choose Happiness: A Guide to Joyous Living, by Nell W. Mohney. I cannot seem to find the time to sit down and actually read through more than one chapter at a time, but that might be a good thing. By taking so long to read it, I can keep it in my thoughts! This book is one that is on the United Methodist Women's Reading list. The UMW has a great resource of books, and each year certain ones are picked for us to read. I really do enjoy finding a good one each year.

Something that really stuck out to me in the first part of the book was a reiteration, or restatement, of a quote by St. Augustine.

He said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."

She rephrased that to say, "All aspects of our personalities are drawn to wholeness and happiness when Christ is resident within."

Isn't that just awesome!! Those words just HIT ME like a ton of bricks. I wrestle with a loss of happiness and joy, and this book is one more step for me back into the living world and freedom from the darkness.

I also bought the new Prayer Calendar for the Methodist Women. The prayer calendars have the birthdays of all of the missionaries who are serving around the world and in the United States. The calendar also lists the names of many others who are working for our Lord through missions of some type.

The artwork that is used for each month is always created by children. The pictures are always wonderful.

The purpose for the calendars is for people to send birthday cards during the year to some of our people who work in missions. I have always tried to send several throughout the year. I choose to send cards to people who have birthdays on the same day as my children, my parents, and other important people in my life.

My cards have gone to Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. Maybe I can find someone in Australia this year. I doubt if anyone is in Antarctica, but there may be! haha I might finally round out the continents this year, with my birthday cards! Hopefully, the cards reached the persons to whom they were sent!! I have never received any type of response from the people, so I just assume the cards always got to their locations.

It is time to stop messing around and get back to the process of writing my dissertation and studying. Toodeloo! (Is that how you spell that??!! HA! HA!)

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Been away

I have been away from blogging for a while. Time just gets away from doing things you want to do sometimes.
The new year began well. I actually got my decorations down before the end of MARCH!! haha
School has been busy. I am coaching an Odyssey of the Mind team, and the competition is next Saturday. Whew, it will be good when that is over
I am trying to start again on my dissertation, but not much has been accomplished in that arena.
Thankfully, we don't get snow here in Savannah. We did have flurries the day after Christmas, but it was nothing like what so many places have been enduring this winter.
Today's blog will be short and sweet. I am just checking in to see if I still know how to do this! haha