Writing progress to report: Or rather, editing process. By now I would have liked to report that I have chapters 3 and 4 edited now. But instead, I went back to Chapter 2 and completely re-wrote it. I think I like it better now. But I have to STOP completely re-writing things if I'm ever going to get to the point where I can submit something for publication. There is such a thing as re-writing to death.
Still, I'm glad I did it. Now, don't lose momentum...
I'm keeping up with my Bible read-through in one year, though I'm skipping around a lot. I'm in May already... ah, wouldn't it be nice if the weather outside was skipping ahead to May, too!
Keeping up with Beth Moore's scripture memory challenge too. So far I have memorized Galations 2:20, Matt 9:12,13, Romans 11:33-36, and now I am working on:
Hebrews 10:35-36
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly reward. You need to perserve so that when you ahve done the will of God, you will recieve what He has promised.
Which leads directly to my forth commitment I made this year, which I like to delicately refer to as TTLW (Try To Lose Weight). I decided to memorize this verse (which was Beth's selected verse for March, for reasons entirely different than my own, I'm sure), because it seemed to speak to me about this particular challenge. I AM confident that if I keep asking God for help (even if it 5, 6, 7 or even 15 times a day), He can help me overcome the desire to overeat. But this verse reminds that I also need to PERSEVERE.
The benefit of having to ask for so much help is two fold: I've lost 4 pounds in the past 2 weeks. That's a start. But even better, coming to him many times a day to ask for help has been such a blessing in many other ways, too. The more time I spend talking to God and thinking about Him, the happier I am, and it prepared me to face a really TOUGH trial this week. (Which may be the subject of another blog post some time. key word to remind myself: KOA).
I am also including something fun that's been going around on Facebook.
25 random things
The rules: If you are tagged, you are supposed to post a note with 25 random facts about yourself and tag 25 other people. (It's fun; I'm actually learning new things about my friends!)
1. I only ever planned to have 2 kids, but I love having 4 and a stepdaughter
2. When I moved to Wyoming my secret plan was to marry a cowboy and live on a ranch
3. I grew up in New York but wanted to live in Wyoming since I was 10 years old and read "My Friend Flicka"
4. I don't drink coffee, only tea, and only with cream and sugar in it, and I'm a beast in the morning until I get my first cup
5. My absolute favorite thing to do is ride horses with my family in the mountains. I can't wait till the rest of my kids are old enough to go.... but can we afford that many horses? :)
6. My second favorite thing to do is curl up with a good book near a fireplace (with a cup of tea, of course)
7. I can read a 700 page book in 7 hours if it's good enough
8. I am a terrible driver. Keep an eye out for my van (the back of it is all caved in) and STAY AWAY from it
9. I got saved when I was 23 when a friend challenged me to read the Bible and I read the whole book of Job in one night and couldn't believe God would let such terrible things happen to someone who loved Him but then I read Job 38:1-8 and oh, wow. Wow. I still get the shivers.
10. I have named every car I have owned, and most of my Christmas trees (my cars: the Beast, Shade, Flicka, Snow Flicka, Cindy)
11. I collect nutcrackers and quotes
12. I have to watch movies with subtitles, because my kids interrupt all the time
13. I am terrified to share my faith with others unless they specifically ask me questions about it
14. I like to play practical jokes on my husband (anyone have any good ideas?)
15. I like to read blogs and lists like this one
16. I have been planning a trip to Alaska for 14 years now. (Maybe this will be the year?)
17. I expected to published before I was 30. Now I'm aiming for 50
18. I love road trips
19. I am a geography geek - I look up locations in my atlas that I hear about on the news or on nature shows
20. I hate materialism but I get suckered into wanting things all the time
21. I was a terrible shoplifter my senior year in high school but I haven't done anything illegal since
22. I can't believe I just wrote that!
23. I'm going to end this list now before I admit anything else incriminating
A few weeks later a friend from church (T.S.) posted her random 25 things, and I thought so many of her answers were so thoughtful - like what I might have written if I had given more thought t what I was writing - that I've pasted in some of them here, with my own comments
2. I am a thinker. I like to question, reason, and consider both sides of an argument.
3. I think that one of the most quintessential questions that one must ask is this: Is Jesus who he said he was? There’s no gray area---either he was telling the truth--died for our sins, was resurrected, appeared to many witnesses, and is the only way to heaven….or, he was the most egomaniacal, self-deluded liar that ever existed.
4. I believe the former……Jesus told the truth and he is who he says he is. This is good news!....and I’m not ashamed to share it. [AMEN!]
5. If you disagree, I will love you anyway. [and I will enjoy respectful debates with you]
6. I had a wonderful childhood. [I did too, absolutely... my stepdaughter thinks this is because I was an only child, but I know it was because my parents cherished me and gave me lots of opportunities, and a lot of freedom]
7. I absolutely adore my family…..every single one of them. They are precious to me. [Not only my own family, but I am extremely blessed to be able the same thing about my husband's family too.]
16. I care about political issues, but I simply cannot identify myself with a political party. Until I find a party that actually stands for what they claim to stand for, not to mention what I believe in, I will remain a Liberpendipublicrat. [I love the name of this new party! I'm signing up!]
17. I like to play silly little word games with friends. Cereal you might not want to eat?.....Frosted Flukes….Count Botula.…Trixinosis. [I have got to ask her about more of her word games. Excellent character tag]
18. I really dislike the phrase “woman driver, no survivor”. The last time I really gave it much thought I backed into a car while the gentleman that I had just started dating laughed at me from my passenger seat. [I can relate to this all too well]
19. I love irony. [I like to call it "what goes around, comes around"]
22. I care about the environment, but I strongly believe we have to find solutions that are practical, fair, and sustainable. I find radical environmental groups that destroy industries with false propaganda (NRDC) as deplorable as self-serving, polluting mining companies. [as we get older... and hopefully, wiser, we have a harder time taking sides; or perhaps it's just that we can more readily see both sides of the situation]
23. I like being challenged…..mentally, spiritually, and physically. I enjoy a respectful debate, but dislike arguing. [I love being challenged too... respectfully. Arguing makes me want to cry]
25. I walk by faith and believe in things not yet seen, holding on to a glorious hope and future. [I believe the same, that we are actually only visitors here in this life, awaiting the day when we can go to our true home]
A late addition: here are a few more random things from another friend, H.L., that I wanted to keep (because I'm nostalgic, and also because some of these are wise)
7. I love chocolate. [I do, too, I think it is one of the greatest panaceas of life...one of many reasons why H.L. and I relate so well with each other!]
10. I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior after our daughter was stillborn in 2003. Even though I thought I was one of the smartest, most capable people I know, I realized I am not the one in control of my life or my eternity and I turned it over to the One who is. [so well said]
11. It is and always will be the best decision I've made. [AMEN!]
12. Second-best decision, marrying my husband, he's made my life better than I thought it could be. [my list said I like to play practical jokes on my husband. I am ashamed that I did not also mention that he is the most wonderful person I know, and I still can't believe I found the love of my life... and got to keep him]
18. I love to travel. [this should have been on my list, too. Oh wait, I did say that I love road trips]
19. My most appreciated daily luxury is a long, hot shower.
20. Some of you might have thought I would say reading, but in my world, reading is a necessity, not a luxury. [I agree with the necessity part for reading. For me, my daily luxury would be computer time - whether it's having fun on Facebook, writing/reading emails or blogs, journaling, or writing stories.]
22. I became a vet because I like animals better than people, but I've finally grown up enough to value people more than animals. [I like this humble admission]
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