More than two years! And... thought for the week.

I can't believe how fast the last two years have passed.  I am hoping to contribute to my blog again, in meaningful ways as well as mundane.  Because there are so many facets of my life, I will go back and tag my posts so they are easily skimmed on the sidebar and easily accessed without scrolling.

For now, I want to say that I am so grateful and happy that we have found a local church we enjoy attending as a family... that feeds each of our souls in the different ways that we need.  There is a vibrant children's ministry that Kaylee looks forward to before and during the service, which serves her needs in a relevant way, and serves our practical need to be able to be fully present during the teaching.  There is a small group ministry (actually there are several small group ministries!) that allow us to dig in deeper and get to know others in ways that we wouldn't get otherwise.  There are very strong friendships that have developed as a result of this small group, and we now have close friends here that we can serve, who serve us, and we can help each other and meet needs that come up.  I have girlfriends here locally and Ian has guy friends here locally - friends who really care about what we are thinking about, feeling, and who have our backs.

There are also opportunities to serve that are presenting themselves.  Our church is a very social church; that being said, the sense of community is what I like best.  There are practical ways to serve; from helping set up or clean up after a church-wide activity - to providing a meal for the small group we attend - to using musical gifts during worship - to being able to communicate with the church body on topics that are relevant.

That being said, I was asked to provide a small contribution to our church's emailed weekly newsletter once a month or so.  Kind of a blog, of sorts.  I am honored to be able to contribute in this way and look forward to seeing what direction the Lord leads me in as I think of things to write about.

This month, I have written a short article on FEAR.

Until next post, we wish you a fabulous 2014.

If you're local to us and you're looking for a really great group of people to worship with, you're welcome to join us on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM at The New Community Church, 1560 Old Alabama Road in Roswell, GA.  Our small group meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30.

http://thenewcommunitychurch.com/


FEAR

What could you do if you had no fear?  The beginning of a new year has placed this question on my mind and in my heart.

What kinds of things do people fear?
    Change - though you want to change, fear of the unknown is more scary than fear of the known; keeping you in a trap of stagnation and feeling unmotivated.
    Failure - this fear also keeps people from trying new things or changing an undesirable situation.
    Death - it is often perceived that death is the end of our existence.  This should give us a sense of urgency, but often paralyzes us into experiencing the first two fears, fear of change and fear of failure.  It's true we have a finite number of moments here on our earth; however, we have the hope of spending our eternity with our Heavenly Father in a new home he has prepared for us, where time and fear have no relevance.  This should give us hope! 

I have a five year old daughter, and I have been re-learning so many of life's lessons by watching her live and learn.  She is fearless!  Some of her lack of fear stems from lack of experience; this is where we guide her into making good choices to minimize risks.  It is glaringly obvious, however, that our fears in our lives are as a result of our learning experiences and conditioning.  My daughter does not have the same learning experiences and has not been conditioned to fear the unknown.  She also is not weighed down by worry of what people will think, whether God or her family loves her, whether she will fail.  She is pure joy, excitement, and enthusiasm.

What does God say about fear?

I John 4:16-18 says that God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.  This is how love is made complete among us, so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE.  Perfect love drives out fear! (emphasis mine) 

What a powerful passage.  Perfect love drives out fear.  To me, this verse says that we need to strive to love, and fear will sort itself because where love exists, fear cannot exist.  There is no fear in love!  There is no fear in love!

I resolve to love.  I will love my life.  I will love my parenting.  I will love my work.  I will love my time on earth.  I will love my experiences.  I will love to learn from them.  I will learn to love from them.  I will love, and I will not fear.

What could you accomplish if you had no fear?  Isaiah 41:10, "Do not be afraid—I am with you!  I am your God—let nothing terrify you!  I will make you strong and help you;  I will protect you and save you."

EDITED TO ADD:  Just ran across this blog on my Facebook news feed about Trauma.  Trauma and fear go hand in hand sometimes, and I thought this was a great bit of info on how trauma can change you and what healing looks like.

A New Normal blog post

Firepit

I love this firepit.  I wanted to pin it on Pinterest, but I couldn't pin directly from Facebook.  I am going to post here and then pin.  :)  Isn't it great?  I have the rim already, will source some bricks when the sales start this fall.

Verizon/iPhone

I have been waiting for YEARS for the exclusivity contract Apple has with AT&T for the iPhone to end.

Verizon is supposed to make a big announcement today.

However, I still don't know if this will be the right time to go for it.  There are rumors of an iPhone 5 to come out this summer, and there is speculation that the transition to LTE (4G) won't be complete until even later than that, sometime in 2012.  So maybe by iPhone 6.

Guess I need to figure out what makes sense.  I am not thrilled about our current cell phone situation though.  :P  I have one for US and one for Canada.  Both are pay-as-you-go.  Both suck, but the Virgin Mobile Canada phone at least has decent battery life and reception.  The TracFone I hate more and more with every road trip we take.

It'll be interesting to see what transpires.  Everyone talks about how great Verizon's service is, and about their wonderful customer service.  However, ever since I had to deal with them as they took over my provider's network, they have sucked and they didn't even try to keep me as a customer when I went in and cancelled my contract.  So as far as I was concerned, Verizon sucked.  :P

Anyway, that's today's rant.  I may come update when I know what the big announcement is today.

 

A couple hours later...  Just wanted to edit this post a couple hours later to say it happened!  Verizon is going to release iPhone in early February 2011!  So excited to have another option available.  Now I just need to nail down data rate and whether there is tethering available and we'll be rocking!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!

This year's Christmas Card!

Learn Sarver Heart Center's NEW CPR

Very good information that can save a life! View the video here:

http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr

Self Reflection - 20 Questions

I read this on a blog today and it really struck me as a great way to reflect on the past week and plan for the new week. I might try to do it weekly on this blog, actually.

From: http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/07/24/20-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-every-sunday/

--- QUOTE ---

At the cusp of new beginnings many of us take time to reflect on our lives by looking back over the past and ahead into the future. We ponder the successes, failures and standout events that are slowly scripting our life’s story. This process of self reflection helps maintain a conscious awareness of where we’ve been and where we intend to go. It is pertinent to the organization and preservation of our dreams, goals and desires.

If you would like to maximize the benefits of self reflection, I have 20 questions for you. These questions should be reviewed every Sunday morning or sometime during the weekend when you have some quiet time to think. Remember, reflection is the key to progression.

1. What did I learn last week? – If you have trouble answering this question, it’s time for a change. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you should learn something new every week.
2. What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week? – Reflecting on your accomplishments is a healthy way to raise self confidence and contentment. It’s also an effective way to track your progress.
3. Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why? – It may open up your mind to new passions and goals, or simple pastimes worth revisiting.
4. What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week? – Everything else is secondary, and should be treated as such. Nevertheless, this question will also shine light on other noteworthy tasks.
5. What can I do right now to make the week less stressful? – Set reminders in your calendar, get your laundry done, fill the car with gas… organize yourself.
6. What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week? – The idea here is to learn from your struggles and better equip yourself for future encounters.
7. What was last week’s biggest time sink? – Steer clear of this in the future. Setup physical barriers against distractions if you have to.
8. Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped? – Physical clutter, mental clutter… eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may shine bright.
9. What have I been avoiding that needs to get done? – Pencil in a time to get these things done. For any 2-minute or less tasks, consider scheduling them first thing Monday morning.
10. What opportunities are still on the table? – If it’s still available and you want it, make a concrete plan to go after it this week.
11. Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to? – Regular communication can solve problems before they fester. Always keep an open line of communication to those around you.
12. Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’? – Take time each week to thank the people who have helped you. Your kind gesture will not go unnoticed.
13. How can I help someone else this coming week? – The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. If you help them, they will remember you when you need help.
14. What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years? – You’ll never make any progress in life if you don’t setup realistic goals for yourself.
15. Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals? – If the answer is no, something needs to change.
16. What’s the next step for each goal? – Knowing the next step is the key to accomplishing the whole.
17. What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week? – The answer can act as a great source of motivation. If nothing exists, schedule something to look forward to.
18. What are my fears? – Consciously address your fears each week and slowly work on resolving them. It’s all about taking baby steps.
19. What am I most grateful for? – It’s a smart way to keep things in perspective, and something you should never lose sight of.
20. If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with? – Another helpful reminder… Life is short. Spend more time with the people you care about.

Take 30 minutes every Sunday and give yourself the gift of self reflection. It has worked wonders for me, and I am confident it will do the same for you.

--- END QUOTE ---

So, here are my answers for this week.

1. What did I learn last week? – that I'm fairly out of shape and need to make changes in this area. I had a hard time climbing out of the dunk tank and need more strength in my legs.
2. What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week? – Bought some living room furniture after not having a couch for just over a year.
   
3. Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why? – The dunk tank at the Summer Fest in New Denmark. I've never done anything like that before, I was slightly terrified and claustrophobic, it was COLD, but I did it and survived. It was for a great cause and I was glad to do my part.
   
4. What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week? – My MIL is coming to visit soon, so I am in an organizing and cleaning frenzy. Trying to get Kaylee's space figured out, dust and vacuum and hang stuff up, and need to deep clean Ian's bathroom.
   
5. What can I do right now to make the week less stressful? – Hmm. What I always do. Make a list and eat cookies. :)
   
6. What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week? – lack of motivation, loneliness, physical exhaustion.
   
7. What was last week’s biggest time sink? – Hehe. Do we need to even ask? FACEBOOK. I'm trying to cut back but I just discovered Netflix Streaming. On my Mac and on the Wii. Uh oh.
8. Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped? – Yes. Not going to mention it here, but yes.
   
9. What have I been avoiding that needs to get done? – Dentist, Auto Glass Shop
10. What opportunities are still on the table? – Shopping at Value Village at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. I'm thinking right now it's not going to happen, though.
    
11. Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to? – I'm pretty good right now, but I'd like to spend some time with my grandparents this week.
    
12. Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’? – I will try to thank all those people who I need to thank this week. I'm fairly good at remembering this though, it's basic etiquette and it's just a nice thing to do and part of my makeup.
    
13. How can I help someone else this coming week? – I want to help Ian by making good progress on the organizing and cleaning so he can stop stressing about it. He's got enough work stress to deal with.
    
14. What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years? – Get fit, lose 20-30 pounds, sell house, re-enroll in university.
    
15. Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals? – Hmm. Georgie, put the cookies away.
    
16. What’s the next step for each goal? – Taking action would be a good step.
    
17. What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week? – Making some progress on Kaylee's room and my office space.
18. What are my fears? – Argh. Dentist. But I have taken the step of making my first appointment. I am NOT looking forward to 9/22, but it'll be good to get it started and work through it.
    
19. What am I most grateful for? – My life, my family, my friends. And good Canadian beer and good chocolate.
    
20. If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with? – My hubby, daughter and other family and extended family that I care about, all in one place on a beach somewhere.

Until next time,
Georgie XO

Awesome. Finally! CUTE and modest swimwear!

My friend Amy blogged about it here. Lime Ricki! Yay! Go see it here. Not sure how she got to be so lucky to review one for them. That's awesome!

G.

Mars Hill Wind Farm

So a few weeks ago, we went for a Saturday drive. Went to see a friend in Houlton, and on the way home, decided to do a little exploring to see the Big Rock ski resort area in Mars Hill, ME and make our way around the mountain.

First, we saw a young moose just walking around...

He was obviously just a yearling, he only looked to be about 6 feet tall at the head. He was pretty scruffy and still shedding his winter fur. He meandered around for a few minutes while we watched him walk away...

Then we went up and got close to the ski hill area. We just stayed in the parking lot, but we had never been there, and it was nice to get our bearings and know how to get to the place we always drive by and never stop at.

Then we took it a little further and went around the mountain, to the north side of the range, to see where the road would take us. We got these fabulous views...

First, it's difficult to give you an idea of scale here. There's no real point of reference. But know that these towers are probably about 400 feet high and you can see them pretty clearly from Limestone, which is about 35-40 miles north of Mars Hill.

It was cool to see them all moving.

And it looks like they're all just in a straight line.... but keep looking...




Once you pull up to the side of the line and look due south, you can see that they are oviously NOT in a straight line.

It was pretty cool to see them.

We were pretty surprised. There is a small fence at the entrance to the service road to the wind mills. The only sign posted is a warning sign saying to be cautious of flying ice off the propeller blades.

There wasn't much for audible noise - not really any humming, but just the gentle swoosh swoosh of the blades moving the air around.

These windmills are VERY close to homes on the north end of the line of windmills. I would estimate the closest house to be almost directly across the street from one of them, and it would be less than 1000 feet from what we could tell. I don't know if this is an issue for these people or not. If it weren't for the flying ice, I would probably be happy to have one of these giant propellers in my yard. They look cool and it's mesmerizing to see them. Not sure if I would want to deal with a strobe pattern should the sun be shining through them, but other than that, we didn't have any issue being near them.

We don't live near them though.

We hope to have a small home-sized windmill sometime in the next few years to help offset some of our electrical costs if we convert to electric heat.

Anyway, it was an interesting day and an beautiful drive, even if cloudy weather...

Yo shorty, it's your birthday, we're gonna party like it's your birthday...

So I had another birthday.

I think the best thing about birthdays is homemade cake. Mmmmm. I love cake.

This year I got lucky and had TWO cakes.

The first one, I got a day early. My friend Kelly came over and had one of those giant cupcake pans and we played with it. This one was from a mix, but it was delicious!


The second cake was with family, on the weekend. My mom made a chocolate layer cake, from a recipe from an OLD Betty Crocker cookbook. It was sooooo good. Really deep chocolate cake.

She sent the leftovers home with us and between the two cakes, we had chocolate cake almost all week!

Kaylee *loves* chocolate cake, too! :)

So now I'm 38.

Whoah. When did *that* happen?

Memories of warmer times...

I love this pic. Mom and I were camping at New River Beach, NB. It was hot and sunny and the beach was GORGEOUS. I kidnapped her and made her sleep in a TENT! Heheh.... she loved it.

I can't wait to go back. I want to go with my brother's crew and my daughter and hubby. I hope we can get a few folks to join us, too... I love camping. I really want a pop-up camper though. That's the way to go camping - you can leave it packed up and then you have your interior vehicle space back. Plus you're not sleeping on the ground.

Anyhow, hope to have more camping goodness going on this summer! Can't wait until summer. It's currently the gray, cold, doldrums of February. This picture really cheered me up today.

Until next time,
G