The Challenge: Read 12 books of 200 pages or more in 12 months. That's one book per month.
The Time frame: January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011
The Reason: Studies have shown that reading helps keep your mind healthy and active. The mind you save may be your own.
Books I've Read So Far:
January
Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La! - Robin Jones Gunn
Sisterchicks in Gondolas! - Robin Jones Gunn
Sisterchicks Go Brit! - Robin Jones Gunn
One Tuesday Morning - Karen Kingsbury
Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! - Robin Jones Gunn
Sisterchicks Down Under! - Robin Jones Gunn
Redemption - Karen Kingsbury
Remember - Karen Kingsbury
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
What I'm Currently Reading
Return
Karen Kingsbury
Book Count 2011: 8
I have one word for today. Brrrrr. If that's not a word, it is now. And this is just the beginning. The Weather Channel and all the weatherpersons in Chicago are predicting the worst blizzard to hit our area since 1967. We're looking at the possibility of two feet of snow or more. Can you imagine? Two feet dumped on you all at once? If it really winds up this way, we're going to be in a real pickle here in Chicagoland.
They say the snow is supposed to start falling by Tuesday afternoon. It's a good thing all the running around I need to do is scheduled for the morning. But that'll be tomorrow's entry. I don't want to give anything away that can give me something to write about tomorrow.
This morning Corri let me sleep until about 6:30am. When I woke up, she already had her coffee, the pot had brewed, and I stumbled out wiping the sleep out of my eyes. She gave me a few minutes to get myself together before we did our morning meditations. I wanted a cup of coffee SO badly to help me wake up, but I couldn't have anything but water because I had to go have labs drawn this morning. Why is it that you always want what you can't have?
Woke Al up at 7:30am, and he was grumpy because he had to get up so early. Whatever. I told him not to stay up late last night and he didn't go to bed until 1am, so that's his own fault he didn't get enough sleep. I gave him plenty of notice that he needed to go with me when I dropped Corri off at SAP this morning because we were going to go right over to the new health center at the VA. I didn't know where I was going or where anything was, and since Al had been there already and at least had a working knowledge of where things were, I wanted him to go with me. At least now I think I can find my way around. I still won't call my prescriptions in over there, and would rather pick them up at the NEX, which Al hates, but now that I have my own car, I can go pick them up myself and not worry about it.
On the way back from getting the blood draw, which by the way, impressed me because the guy actually found and hit a real vein in my arm on one stick, Al and I stopped at Wal-Mart because he needed to buy creamer for his coffee. That was all the money he had left, but at least he's got his creamer. That's good for me, too. LOL
We came home and relaxed for maybe 20 minutes or so, and then Al had to leave for work, and I left to go pick up Corri. She remembered to get her letter from SAP, which will hopefully be enough to prevent us from having to drive to Kentucky this weekend for her Indiana court date next Monday. She's trying to get her lawyer to continue the case so her Illinois case can be heard first. The Indiana lawyer is giving her a hard time about it, so she needed a letter showing that she is still in rehab and will be unable to appear in court. I'm praying this works, otherwise, it's off to Kentucky we go and Corri will have to miss her SAP class.
After picking up Corri, we made a stop at the library so I could pick up another book for Twelve in 12. Again, I don't want to give anything away before tomorrow, but I am pretty sure that no one from Twelve in 12 actually reads my diary. Since February is Black History month, I'm going to post a list of books by African American authors for people to choose from. They don't HAVE to read a book by an African American author, but I thought it might be a nice thing to do. At any rate, I'm going to do it. Even if I have to take a break from the book I'm currently reading in order to do it.
Now we're back at home and I'm settled in for the day. Not planning to go anywhere else at all if I can help it, and in anticipation of a peaceful day and night at home, I've already gotten out of my clothes and back into pajamas. Corri, on the other hand, is going back to Jason's house.
I know, I know. Nobody has to tell me twice. It's not a smart idea, but what can I do about it? I asked her point of fact if she thought perhaps Jason has a hard time thinking of her as a friend because she spends the night over there. She said she didn't think so because nothing happened at all between them over the weekend and he's respecting the fact that nothing will. I just hope it stays that way. At least that's what I'm praying.
I'm going to try and read some more tonight, and who knows, maybe I'll actually get through "Return" before tomorrow. I won't be watching any soaps without my sister. Might as well read. Sad thing is, we only got through one episode each and we're still like three behind on everything. I could always watch a few episodes of The View though. I'm behind as well on those. Maybe I will do that while I read. Who knows? I'll have the night to myself to do with as I please.
Oh so much fun.
The morning devotional today was a really good one. I think it was appropriate for both Corri and I, and like a continuation of a conversation Amy and I had last night. We were talking about how other people in our lives have influenced our feelings of worth either for the good, or in most cases, for the bad. And you know, that's a really sad thing, but I think most of us have the tendency to believe that bad things said about us, and rarely do we allow ourselves to believe the good. Unfortunately, all those bad things decrease our feelings of self-worth and make us not only unlovable to ourselves, but we often feel unlovable to anyone else, including God.
I know that God loves me wholeheartedly. I have value in his eyes. It's through HIS lense of love that I should be viewing myself. I have value and worth and when I'm allowed to use and share the gifts God has given me, others around me see that value and worth as well, but their opinions shouldn't matter so much. The only opinion that really matters is God's. Behind him, the only opinions that matter are those of my husband, my family, and my real friends - the ones who build me up, not tear me down. I hope I do the same for them.
Something else that was made very clear in this devotion is that I also need to be aware of other people who need to know that they are loved and valued and are priceless works of God's art. There are many people wandering around the world who don't know that and we have a responsibility to let them know just how much they are worth. Everyone has worth in one way or another, and sometimes it's just a matter of allowing them to be who they are and use the gifts God gave them, in order for them to recognize their own value.
It seems too easy to cheat on a diet. There are so many good things to eat, and it doesn't seem like it could hurt to cheat just a little. The problem is when we try to convince ourselves that a little cheating is okay, then we never seem to draw the line, and a little cheating becomes a lot of cheating. When we are deceitful with ourseles, we find ourselves in big trouble. It is much better for us to do what we know is right, avoiding the things we know will give us trouble. When we stick to our diets, then we can expect nothing but reward.
Today's thought: There's no such thing as cheating just a little!
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