haphazard musings

Well...

I just started a post, but I guess I wasn't meant to write about that.  I do believe it is lost in the black hole that is cyber space...hmm...oh well.  So here are my other thoughts for the day.

Praises:

• Great community - friends, church, family.  Wow...what a relief to know they would be there in any circumstance should we need them.
• Snow.  As much as it makes travel difficult, I do love snow.  I love watching it swirl outside my window.
• The smell of freshly popped corn from across the hall.  It happens every once in a while, man, gotta love it.
• Great news of new life in the face of difficulties.  Congratulations friends.
• A little girl who is recovering and likes having visitors.
• A mom and dad who can be an example of unshakable faith - no matter what.
• A husband that loves me unconditionally, no matter how many times a day I complain or tear up (and a puppy too).

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Pray More!

Good morning everyone.  We need to keep praying.  So far Cora is doing so well with everything, but they sure did find a ton of cancer in that tiny little girl.  For the full update and story, read Jess's (the mommy) blog . 

The McClenahans are such a perfect example of trusting God in a frustrating and trying time.  Read her blog, if nothing else just to see the amazing list of praises she was able to come up with despite the situation.  Wow.  What a couple of role models for how Christianity should look.

Let's Pray.

This little lady is needing some prayers today.  She has been sick for a long time and the doctors are working hard to find out what is wrong.  According to one doctor her  liver is enlarged which could mean many things, some not so bad and some not so good.  So lets pray for this little lady, Cora Paige.    Isn't she adorable?
 

Finley

For all you you longing for an update on our pooch, here are some new pictures.  If you are interested in stats...we think he is 80 pounds or so and is a little taller than my knee.  He is now one year old.  Isn't he cute?   He is just pretty sure that the camera is a treat for him hence the jumping in my face! 

His other favorite thing is the snow.  He loves snow.  His favorite trick is running through it and then throwing himself down to skid on his belly.  Its pretty much hilarious.

Finally his other favorite thing.  The ball launcher - a Christmas present.  He loves it and so do we.  It really wears him down!  In this picture he is saying shoot it already...come on...come on...HURRY...I really, really want to chase it!!!

My trip to DC ...

was thankfully two weeks before the craziness of this inauguration.  I have never been to DC before, and if you want to open a really old can of worms, you can ask me why.  We'll just leave it at thanks Dad for now.

I went for training.  Training for a job that I honestly didn't know very much about despite having worked at it for 9 or so months.  Thankfully, the training revived my spirits and has hopefully taught me how to do what I do effectively.  So thank you United Way for showing me the ropes.

I also got to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of the city (even though my luggage was MIA for a short period of time - thank you Atlanta...).  I went down to the mall (by myself) on the Metro.  I love that its call the metro.  And just walked around for a few hours.  There are so many things to see and observe.  Plus I have always enjoyed watching how others live their lives in other places.

A few surprising things
1. Kids rode the metro to school.  Probably not that uncommon for cities... I have just never thought about it.
2. People run a lot in cities - like exercising, not hurrying. 
3. The traffic...was not that bad.  Congratulations to folks who have figured out the Metro and public transportation!
4. I love craftsmanship.  Old buildings and cities are full of it.  So included are a few photos of details that make me swoon.

Here are some photos.

 

101 in 1001 Days

Yes.  After much anticipation, it is finally here.  My list. 

Lindsay’s 101 in 1001 Days

Start date: Monday, January 19, 2009

Finish date: Monday, October 17, 2011

Updated:  8.3.09

Personal / Being healthy

1.     Make some really long term goals.           

2.          Run a 5K. (Emma Creek 4.24.10)

3.          Run a 10K . (Easter Sun Run 4.11)

4.          Stick to my read the Bible in a year plan.

5.          Start & keep a prayer journal – at least once a week.

6.          Play on a rec league team.

7.          Pray more often.

8.          Workout 4 days a week for a month. (4/4) (June 2010)

9.          Eat more fruits and veggies.

10.     Eat out less.

11.      Floss.

12.      Get new glasses.  (5.6.09)

13.      Remember reusable shopping bags when going shopping.

14.      Work on praying for specific things and for His will.

15.      Listen for God’s instruction to take on a project or to create a project.

16.      Share my faith with someone.

17.      Have a better attitude about work.

 

Financial

18.      Make weekly dinner plans.

19.      Increase our monetary giving.

20.     Learn to save.

21.      Double our savings/investments.

22.   Put away at least $100 a month. (33/33)

23.     Buy a digital SLR camera. (Nikon D60 - April 2010)

24.     Stick to the budget.

25.  Buy a new computer - a mac.

26.     Buy an original piece of art.  (Puerto Vallarta, February 2010)

27.      Make a list before going to the store – every time.

 

Family & Friends

28.     Explore & choose a way for us to invest in the family ranch.

29.     Increase the size of our family.

30.     Write one letter or personal note to a friend or family member each month. (24/33)

31.  Update the blog regularly...not just once a month.  

32.     Take a Saturday to spend in McPherson with the girls shopping & exploring.  (12.09) 

33.     Take time to call friends that don’t live here.

34.     Host a fancy dinner party.

35.     Host a marathon game night.

36.     Take a class at Wichita Center for the Arts with Mom.

37.      Celebrate our 4^th anniversary!

38.     Pray for our small group once a week.

39.     Send cards and presents on time!

40.     Bathe Finley once a month. (19/33)

41.      Have a movie marathon with friends and popcorn (the good kind).  (Jill - Emma, Pride & Prejudice, & Sense and Sensibility - April 2010)

42.     Make breakfast/brunch ten times. (7/10)

 

The House

43.     Make a cleaning schedule.

44.     Stick to the cleaning schedule.

45.     Finish decorating the house.

46.     Plant both flowerbeds.  6.09

47.      Touch up the paint job in the living room.  4.4.09

48.     Plant 2 trees. (2/2) (May 2010)

49.     Decorate above the cabinets.

50.     Make sense of the basement. 3.28.09

51.      Tile the bathrooms and kitchen. (01.16.10)

52.     Fold and put laundry away when its clean.

53.     Keep fresh flowers in the house for a whole month. (Poinsettia - 12.09)

 

Just Because

54.     Spend six weekends without TV. (4/6)

55.     Catch, tag, & weigh a calf alone.

56.     Hand make all family & friend birthday cards.

57.      Finish college scrapbook.

58.     Go on a picnic – with the blanket and the basket from our wedding.

59.     Take more pictures.

60.     Spend a weekend with all the girls from college.  (Tiffany's Bachelorette - 4.4.09)

61.      Baby-sit for friends so they can have a night out.  (Lakey's 4.24.09 - 4.25.09)

62.     Paint a painting to frame.

63.     Get a pet fish.

64.     Watch a sunset.

65.     Watch a sunrise.

66.     Fill up with one tank of gas, pick a direction, see where we end up.

67.      Start our own holiday traditions.

68.     Organize craft supplies.  3.28.09

69.     “Create” a crafting room.

70.     Go to a Farmer’s Market

71.      Buy a pair of red shoes. (2.12.10)

72.       Plant a garden.  (5.9.09)

 

Travel

73.      Go on the Frasier Farms trail ride with Ryan.

74.      Get a new stamp in my passport. (February 2010)

75.      Go on a family trip – the whole family.

76.      Go skiing.

77.      Go on a weekend getaway.

78.      Camp – using only what I can carry in my backpack.

79.      Spend a day at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

80.     Take an out-of-state trip with Ryan.  (College Station, TX 02.19.09)

81.   Visit our friends that don't live in Newton.  (Kansas City, Summer 2010, Denver, Summer 2009)

82.   Visit four unique Kansas attractions. (3/4) 
    Botanica - Wichita (5.9.09)   
    Boot Hill Museum - Dodge City (6.19.09)
    BoBo Drive In - Topeka (9.26.09)
    Coronado Heights - Lindsbourgh (04.18.10)

83.     Visit our grandparents twice. (2/2) (June 2010)

 

Learn something

84.     Read one book per month (5 of which Ryan can choose). (27/33) Confessions of a Shopaholic, Imperial Woman, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, Angels and Demons, Book of Job, Utopia, New Atlantis, Paper Bodies, The Lost Symbol, The Last Song (Ryan), Jane Austin Ruined My Life (Ryan), Love Walked In, The Age Curve, Little Bee, Belong To Me, Pride and Prejudice, The Help, Incidents in the Life of  Slave Girl, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, Pudd'nhead Wilson, Maggie, The Red Badge of Courage, Conjure Woman, The Hermaphrodite

85.    Learn patience.

86.     Take a hunter’s safety course.

87.      Learn to play Clare de Lune on the piano.  (5.16.09 started)

88.     Make a school plan – and start.  3.13.09  Class starts 6.09.

89.     Try one new ethnic recipe.

90.     Learn to compose pictures for framing.  6.09

91.      Re-cover the dining room chairs.

92.     Learn a new crafting technique. Sewing - 04.02.10 - Baby Blanket

93.     Refresh my water coloring skills.

94.     Watch a new sport.  01.30.08

95.     Watch an opera.     

96.     Go to the ballet.

97.      Practice the piano at least once a week.

98.     Make one new recipe a month.

99.     Read a book that’s written in French.

100.Read the news (paper or internet) every day for a month.

101. Lean to love openly.