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I haven't been blogging, but I have been Facebooking. If you are on, look me up! It's a great way to stay in touch...share ideas and have some fun.

Tea Party

I was very pleased to see our town respectfully holding American flags today in our fight to regain our country. We drove up and down the street honking our horn in support, and we heard many other folks doing the same.

My only fear is that our outrage will disappear by week's end. If you haven't seen V for Vendetta, I urge you to watch it carefully. It's fiction but not far from the truth...what could be the truth if we continue to sleep walk and allow the government to own our lives and ruin our country.

One sign that really caught my eye: Silence is acceptance. America...we have been silent too long. We let prayer be pulled from our schools which led to taking the word "Christ" out of Christmas. We've let terror invade our schools, and we're giving away all that our fore Fathers worked so hard to protect.

To all who participated, may it just be the start of our involvement in letting government know...we aren't going to take it any more!

Check Your Temperature

I recently attended a discussion on Intelligent Design, and the host reminded us at the beginning what a controversial subject it is and to take our own temperature before we participated. She used the analogy of a meat thermometer...the kind that pops out when the meat is done. Well, she said if anyone got to heated/hot over their opinion, she'd yell out "the roast is burning!" We all laughed.

What a GREAT way to measure how we are doing...in any conversation. Most arguments or conflicts are a result of not getting our way or someone not seeing our view point. We have a clash of ideas, desires, values, etc. If we monitor our temperature and are aware that "our roast may burn" if we aren't careful, we could defuse some situations before they even start. Besides, who likes burned meat?

Gotta move

I've been sitting at a desk a lot more lately than I am used to, and I'm finding that I munch more. I'm not a muncher! It isn't that I'm hungry or even bored. I'm busy enough. I got to thinking that my movement creates energy for me. Sitting still depletes it, thus creating a feeling like I "need" something. So, I'm walking the stairs more and moving as much as possible to curb the cravings. Awareness is the first step. Worth exploring why you might munch and looking for solutions. I certainly don't want a winter layer to have to work off in the summer!!

How Great We Are

I've been learning more about puppies, and I've come to realize that they think they are pretty great. Give them a bone, and they say, "Hey, I'm such a great pup that I got a bone." Give them a hug, and they say, "Wow, I'm such a loveable pup." Buy them a new toy, and they say, "I deserve that new toy because I am the greatest pup ever!" They don't quite seem to get that their owners have something to do with it.

This made me think of how we can often think of ourselves. God gives us special talents and abilities, and we say, "hey, I'm pretty great." I think that we can often forget WHOSE we are and and WHY we are. Our goodness comes from Him, plain and simple. I'm not saying we are worthless...I'm not into the beat ourselves up. To me, that isn't honoring God. But acknowledging that God gave us all that we have and made us all that we are is important...even critical.

Perhaps that is why the song "How Great Thou Art" continues to be a classic...to remind us of who really is great!

Ups and Downs...and Flats of Life

We went skiing on Superbowl Sunday. What a great day to go...everyone was gearing up for the game. The snow was fantastic. We were able to go up, ski down and immediately go back up and repeat. We skied enough for two days worth I think!

It made me think about life, as most things do. Some times we can feel like all we do is climb up hill. But I think we forget about the times when we get to zip down. They go so fast they they are but a mere memory. Yet, they are good times and part of life. Let us not forget them.

Then there is the flats of life. We encountered way too many cat walks at Winterpark. They require extended push and pull, and you don't feel like you are getting anywhere. At least with a hill, you feel each step getting you closer. These days feels like flat times. We are all drudging along doing the best we can. The end doesn't seem in site...or feels so very far away.

I encourage you to remember the fun times and moments when it went smoothly and easily. We all have them. In Biblical days, people would erect Standing Stone monuments so that they wouldn't forget the good that God had done.

Zipping down the slopes in tucked position, skiing as fast as I could, I was reminded of good times. I mean the snow was great, the skies blue and the people scarce. Hold on to your good memories. They will get you through, and they will come again.

What I'm Learning from my Puppy

Kuma turns 4 months old on Monday. He's growing like a weed! Never having a dog in my life, this has been a new experience for me. Dogs are way more work than cats, but they are more interactive. And, I'm learning some valuable lessons:

-Play EVERY day!
-Moving creates energy
-You can't get or give enough kisses to those you love
-Walking not running can be just as fun
-When it is 20 or below with high winds and snow, sometimes the fireplace is a better option
-Sometimes you just have to howel!! :)