Love Is . . .

Does anyone remember these comics? I hadn't seen them in years and came across this website tonight. I'm so excited. I used to love these comics when I was a young teen. I cut them out and collected them in a scrapbook, only my mom made me color clothes on them! I was so excited to come across these tonight and there are tons of them! Nice little things to tuck in my husband's lunchbox!

Procrastinating with Robin

Found this on Robin Lee Hatcher's blog, and since I'd rather procrastinate than finish the short article for my church newsletter due this week, I took her up on this invitation to procrastinate!

My name ... Dianne
My childhood ambition ... to be a teacher
My fondest memory ... time spent with my Gram
My soundtrack ... Far & Away
My retreat ... the Smokey Mountains, or Amish country in Ohio
My wildest dream ... believing I can be published (and paid for writing!)
My proudest moment ... everyday as I realize what a wonderful man I've married
My biggest challenge ... daily obedience to God
My alarm clock ... weekdays: around 6:15am by force; weekends and days off: by 7:30 am can't wait to get up!
My perfect day ... hmm, I think it would be just a long drive somewhere with my husband and spending the entire day with him
My first job ... babysitting
My indulgence ... reading, reading, reading, with no worries of dishes to do or laundry to fold
My last purchase ... veggies for a veggie tray this morning!
My favorite movie ... Finding Forrester or The Princess Bride
My inspiration ... my sister, mom of four
My life ... is just getting started
My card ... VISA

So What Was the Best Part of YOUR Christmas?

Do you keep Christmas memories from year to year? I do. There was the one where our house burned down just days before Christmas. I remember being overwhelmed by the outpouring of love on our family by relatives, friends and strangers. I remember my first Christmas home after being away at college, and insisting we string popcorn and cranberries for our tree like I'd learned to do decorating the tree in the college lobby. There was that Christmas at my mum's when we were first married, when my husband and brother-in-law carried my gram over from her house. So like a little queen she was, her face glowed as they brought her into the livingroom. I also remember that last Christmas with Gram, as we gathered in her livingroom by her wheelchair, and she presented us with gifts she'd chosen from around her house.

Tonight another such memory has lodged itself in my heart forever. After the company had gone (and you didn't hear me say finally), I sat downstairs, finally getting my feet up, reading a book and listening to the CMT Christmas special on TV. Suddenly I heard something upstairs, music to my ears. My dear husband was tackling the pile of dishes in the sink. (No, we don't own a dishwasher!) I turned up the volume on the TV, then thought better of it and headed upstairs to express my gratitude to Mike. I saw the clean dishes piling up so I grabbed a towel and began to dry as he washed, and we just chatted together for a bit about the day. Tonight you couldn't give me a dishwasher. Nothing can compare to the joy of just doing dishes with the one I love. I told him, "This is the best part of my day," and he agreed.

So what about you? Any "keeper" memories made today? I hope so. Tuck them away in your heart and bring them out again next year. They'll never go out of style, like some decorations do, and they'll never wear out either.

How 'Bout a "Ta-da" List?

Last night as I was preparing for bed, I caught myself mentally starting to plan my next day's "to do" list. The Lord has really been dealing with me about my lists! (See previous post on the subject). Anyways it was as though a light bulb went on and I realized what I was doing. Instead of winding down from the day and preparing to relax, there I was, going into mental overdrive. It seemed as if the Lord said to me, "How about reflecting on all I did for you today? All I helped you to accomplish?" That's it, I thought. At night, rather than make a to-do list, I just need to make a "ta-da" list - and celebrate God's goodness to me throughout that day.

Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

The Problem with Status Quo

Main Entry: status quo
Pronunciation: -'kwOFunction: noun
Etymology: Latin, state in which: the existing state of affairs

There's a verse in Psalms, that great book of reflection, that says of Israel ". . . because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God." (Ps. 55:19 NKJV)

I don't think I'm alone in resisting change. But what would my life belike if things never changed? It might be like a trip on a perfectly straight, flat road. Uneventful sure, but boring. Life, however, is anything but a perfect journey. Every bump in the road, every jolt and sidetracking serve to redirect my attention back to the One who sees the beginning from the end, the One who holds my future in the palm of His hand.

I'm really resisting some changes taking place in my life right now (not to mention making chasms out of potholes), but God in His goodness reminds me I don't need to fear change. I need to fear Him. Keep my eyes on Him and view change as His hand in my life.

When the To-Do List is Done

I get a lot of three day weekends - every other month I have either Fridays or Mondays off. Add to that holiday months and vacation weeks, and I have lots of long stretches away from work. All the better for the To-do List. The longer the weekend it seems, the longer the List.

Tomorrow I'll head back to work and be met with the inevitable "How was your weekend?" from my co-workers. And I'll reply with a list of things I did, but mostly I'll think about all I got done. The List. My weekends, even my days, seem to rise and fall on the List.

Today in my devotions, I read one of my favorite verses, Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Suddenly it occurred to me that the List probably matters very little in God's eyes. My lengthy, organized list of items to do and be done . . . the carefully placed checkmarks signifying my accomplishments . . . are all so insignificant in the light of eternity.

Tonight as I head off to bed, there's another list running through my head:
Did the thoughts of my heart and the words of my mouth please you today, Lord?
Is my attitude right before you?
Did I stop to listen to Your voice and seek direction from Your Word?
Did I share Your love with anyone today?

I'll make a to-do list tomorrow. And probably another next weekend. But the bigger List, what God really requires, is so much clearer to me now.

Christmas Movies, Anyone?

What's your favorite Christmas movie? I think mine still has to be It's a Wonderful Life. My sister and I were in college before we ever saw this movie (and that was the 80's so yes, we were a bit behind the times!) One year my dad taped it for us . . . thanks Dad! Oops . . . he taped a Steeler game over the last five minutes of the movie. My sister is a teary one to begin with; tears on top of tears over not knowing the ending to this tearful story - not a pretty sight!

I also love the classic Grinch cartoon and the Bill Murray version of A Christmas Carol (Scrooged, I believe is the name of it). My niece & nephews have watched my copy of Frosty the Snowman a zillion times; I swear I know that one by heart and the sound of Jimmy Durante's voice still warms my heart. Oh and I'm such a sucker for those sappy Christmas movies on TV every year around this time . . . on Hallmark and Pax/i. I can restrain myself all year from watching much TV until Christmas rolls around.

So what's your favorite Christmas movie?