A few words of truth for today...

Ephesians 4:31- Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And BE KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (emphasis mine)

1 Corinthians 14:33- For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. (emphasis mine)

Romans 12:9- Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Romans 13:1- Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
13:3- Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have approval of the same.

1 Corinthians 7:19 Keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

1 Corinthians 13:5- (Love,) does not behave rudely.

And finally, from Romans 3:23- for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

5 Questions-Audience Participation Edition

I think that Sarah and the Goon Squad used to do something like this but I don't remember what she called it. I suppose it's better than 20 questions, right? Here's what we do: Below are 5 quick questions. Answer them in the comments. I'll answer them too, just a little later in the day so others get a chance to respond first. Go ahead and respond to other's answers too-it's more fun when everyone jumps in and talks to each other. It's that simple!

1. What is the date, time of day, and general location (East coast, Europe, West coast, etc.,) where you are right now?
2. What did you eat for your last meal?
3. Silver or Gold?
4. Boxers or Briefs?
5. What song is in your head right now? Artist and title if you know it.

Aaaaaand...... GO!

Progress

This is what I woke up to this morning. The blue was much blue-er than it looks in this picture but still, really pretty. Just thought I'd share even though it doesn't have anything to do with my post. You're welcome!

This is what happens:
 

when I'm working on this:

Don't forget to compare my progress to this picture!

Hey Stimey! How's your progress?
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Motivation

I'm trying something new today. Maybe putting this out there in public will help me get motivated.

This is a photo, straight out of my camera, of my living room. You might remember it looking like it did in this post, almost a year ago after our flood. No, there is not much change, thankyouverymuch.

My goal over the next couple of weeks is to get this room back in shape. Christmas is in about 10 weeks, (omgomgomg) and I REFUSE to have my house look like this when I'm trying to decorate for Christmas. Plus, after the crappy holiday season we had last year when my kids said that it didn't feel like Christmas, I'm determined to make it feel like Christmas this year.

The only part of this room that has been deep cleaned since that damn flood is the piano. I kinda had to since my #1 started taking piano lessons in June. Yes, there have been things that have been emptied out, but the rest of the room has not been cleaned. So. Here is a partial list of what has to be done:

• transfer all of the files (in the middle of the floor) to the new filing cabinet
• take the old computer to the e-recycling center (along with the full box that is in the garage)
• find a home for the 2 boxes of board games, etc., that are in front of the pink chair on the left
• wash and find a home for the extra blankets in the chair next to the bookcase
• remove all books, etc., from bookcase and deep dust and clean all
• vacuum, including the furniture
• clean the inside of the windows and sills
• find a home for all of the framed stuff that is slid in between the other furniture
• get rid of all of the old National Geographic magazines
• put my grandmother's quilt back on display behind the piano on the railing
• rearrange furniture so we can put up the Christmas tree

See, I think it would be easy to do if I didn't have laundry, carpool, football, making meals, you know, a FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF. 5 minutes here and there haven't made much progress so far but now you're all in on this. If you see me on fb, shoo me away. Email me to ask about progress. Text me and tell me to get my a@@ in gear. See? We're in this together.

I'll post pics every day or so to show you what I've gotten done. Hopefully I won't embarrass myself!

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30 Days of Truth: Day 4

Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.

Forgiveness. I don't think that I carry unforgiveness around. I try to let things go for the most part, although I have carried a few things around through my life. They haven't been the ugly stuff that makes you have a hardened heart, but maybe the more average things that you tend to remember. Remember without fondness.

There is one person though that I should forgive. The problem is that it is not my situation to forgive. I wasn't there when the events in question happened. I harbor these bad feelings without first-hand knowledge, and that isn't fair. It is hard, though, when that person hurt people that I love.

Essentially, it's not mine to forgive, yet I still should forgive.

30 Days of Truth: Day 3

Day 3-Something you have to forgive yourself for.

There's plenty of those but most of all I think I need to forgive myself for an inappropriate relationship back in my single days. I was, um, a little reckless and threw good sense out the window in that one. I plead temporary insanity. I would certainly take it back now if I could. I do, however, think that it shaped me and has helped me to be a better wife and partner now. I would love to forgive it and forget it, and never, ever, ever think about it again. It actually makes me sick to my stomach when I think about it too much.

So, on that note...

30 Days of Truth: Day 2

Day 2: Something you love about yourself

I'm not sure whether this is going to be easier or harder than yesterday. Rather than talk about one thing I'm going to make a list. It's nice to have a number of things in this category, right? (To refer to on the low days!)

• I love my arms, shoulders, upper back and decolletage, as well as my legs. These 2 areas are by far my best physical features.
• I actually love my eyes, too.
• I think that I'm a supportive friend.
• I love that I can keep a secret better than almost anyone I know.
• I love that I am good at keeping our family finances in order.
• I love that I am organized most of the time.
• I love that I can usually find great bargains when shopping for my family and I'm not bothered by things like brand-names and trying to keep up with the Jones'.

OK, that's enough love for today. What do you love about yourself?

30 Days of Truth: Day 1

If you haven't see this around the web then you either don't read many blogs or live under a rock. There are a ton of bloggers doing it and I have no idea where or who started it. The gist is that there are 30 prompts for writing, truthfully, about yourself. Day 1 is "something you hate about yourself." Since I've been in a blogging rut lately (no, really!) I thought that I'd start. Whether I finish is another story all together.

What I hate about myself:

Long ago, as a teen, I realized a few things about my genes. One, my hair would be more gray earlier than my peers thanks to my father that had salt and pepper hair as far back as I can remember. Two, that I would always have issues with my teeth, thanks again to my father. (Love ya, Daddy!) And three, that I would never, ever, EVER have a flat stomach.

I have always wanted a flat, bikini-wearing-worthy tummy, but it is and never has been in the cards, or genes, for me. I hated that even in high school and college at my thinnest and most fit I always had a small pooch under my belly button. After I had two children, (huge children, I might add,) it has only gotten worse.

Granted, I got 2 awesome boys out of that, and 3 kids total out of the deal, but still.

Jillian's fab abs

Jillian Michaels? Now there are some perfect abs. Look- all the way down to the 'waist' line of her shorts. Flat. Or at least small and worthy of being bare. The thing that I hate most though is that while I "know" that my genes are not in my favor, and I have other features that are awesome, I still hate my tummy. I obsess over it. I camoflauge it when I can, and 'spanx' it when I can't. The part I hate most though is that I know I could do more to be 'closer' to that ideal and I'm too lazy to do it. Yes, I exercise. You all know I do. But the extra ab work, and changing up the cardio, and everything that could give me those abs? Nope. Not willing to do it.

And I think that that's what I hate the most is that I know what could fix the problem and won't do it.