Shameless

Saturday, April 03, 2010

This blog is a shameless effort just to get 3 more Spark points before the day is over. I have less than 100 to go before I reach 40,000 and a new trophy. I'd really like that to happen tomorrow, on Resurrection Sunday! I really hope Sandy makes her goal of 50,000, too. She'll probably beat me, though because her day in Oz starts quit a bit earlier. Yay, us!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my last blog about having fun. I'm fine, I know I'm not a failure (see my signature line on my message board posts!) but have been rather down lately. Some people mentioned things - like book-store browsing and RL conversations with a good friend - that reminded me to make time to do those things soon. In fact, I got on the phone and arranged to have breakfast in the city with a friend on Easter Monday morning. We are both busy and don't get to see each other too often.

I agree, too, with the people who were on the other end of the planned vs. spontaneous spectrum. We can really be surprised by fun if we just allow it to happen. Other people might not recognize what were doing as fun (I love to do library research, for example!) but that doesn't mean it's not real fun.

It wasn't just the ideas, it was the thought and time you put into responding. I am blessed with some wonderful Spark friends. Have some fun this holiday weekend!

...and blessings on this day of days - He is risen indeed!

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What is Fun?

Thursday, April 01, 2010

From Failure to Fun! :)

I didn't FAIL to turn in my term paper -- it's gone!... and now I'm having a postpartum kind of day. I want to do something to celebrate that doesn't involve much money or many calories. I also have little energy today as I battle yet another cold. It sure felt good to sleep in this morning! But is that FUN?

I remember going through the Artist's Way (do you know that book?) The author encourages you to schedule "artist's dates" - ways to spend time that nurture your creativity. These are to be real "dates" in your schedule, even if they are only for an hour or two. I found it hard to do these - just too many "shoulds" on my program and now I'm finding it a little hard to think of a way to have fun.

And like one Spark friend said, if you put it on your "to do" list - is it still fun?

Suggestions? What do you when you want to have fun? What did you do just before you said, "That was FUN!"?

(Oh, and I'm going to post a goals list for April. I FAILED to do that in March and I could tell. It helps me keep my priorities straight and my focus intact.)

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Failure

Monday, March 29, 2010

I'm writing a term paper that includes a section on John Wesley's mission trip to Georgia in the early 1700's. Many historians consider that trip to have been a failure. In his journals, you can read that Wesley himself was humbled by the experience. Yet, it put him in a position of spiritual poverty, an awareness of a need for God, that allowed him to have his famous "warmed heart" experience at Aldersgate in 1737. What exactly happened there we can't say, but he came to new depth of understanding, a new assurance in his relationship to God his Father. Now we remember him as the founder of Methodism. His sermons and writings continue to touch lives today. He was never really personally involved in foreign missions again but what an impact his "failed" mission has had on the greater church!

Thanks for letting me share that today. I need to get back to writing because I don't want to "fail" to meet my Wednesday deadline! No time for tracking, but I will get in at least a short walk to the post office.

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Castles in the Air

Sunday, March 21, 2010

I was teaching an English lesson in a town nearby on Saturday. Had some time in the afternoon before I was to meet a friend for dinner, so I decided to take advantage of the spring-like weather. Thought I'd stroll up to the top of this hill and take a look at this castle: www.preussen.de/en/today/burg_hohenz
ollern.html

It took me about an hour to get up there and about twenty minutes to get back down. Super view! I'd love to go back when it's green and leafy. That may be possible if I continue the lessons with this young couple who are preparing to move to the States for a couple of years. Another teacher has been working with them, and it's a long drive for me, but I can use the hours and they want me to take over. We'll see.

Notice I said "spring-like"! Two weeks ago, we had a major snow storm and about 6 inches of fresh white stuff on the ground. So I'm not quite ready to trust the warmer temperatures just yet. But I'm hopeful.

As I posted on my status today, I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the work I need to do to finish my course by the end of the month - reading assignments, a term paper, article critiques! I need a plan. I notice that NOT making a goal list this month was probably the wrong way to save time. I won't make that mistake next month and am putting together a plan for the next two weeks. I don't want my degree plans to be a "castle in the air." I much prefer the real ones like Burg Hohenzollern!

P.S. This isn't the "Disneyland Castle" (Neuschwannstein) that you may have visited in Bavaria!

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Where'd the weekend go?

Sunday, March 07, 2010

I've been back from Florida for a couple of weeks, but dove into an 8-day intensive course in missions history only two days after I got back. Can you say jet lag? It was actually very good for me to be almost forced to adapt to the time zone right away. And as I posted on my status, I did not fall asleep in class. It was a very good course, but an awful lot of material to cram into 8 days. I gave a short presentation (in German) about Amy Carmichael and that kept me busy when I wasn't actually in class.

Now that the lecture part of the course is finished, I'm feeling the need for a rest. I have four weeks to complete the rest of the reading, and do the written assignments and turn them in, but have been taking it easy the past couple of days. Monday always comes soon enough, doesn't it!? It will be a full day at the language school. Tuesday I'll be back to hitting the books.

This Monday will also be my first weigh-in for the month - I don't think I'm going to be too happy with what the scale has to say. I've been back on track for a couple of days, and always keep up with exercise so it shouldn't be toooo bad. During my trip to the States and in the evenings after the lectures, I did some extreme snacking and I feel it. Daily exercise was non-strenuous for long stretches because of another cold bug. I can't wait to get back to running, especially outdoors if it ever warms up! We had a blizzard here Saturday and still have several inches of snow on the ground. I was really glad I didn't have to drive anywhere yesterday:

There's more to say about my trip, my goals, what the Lord has been doing in my life, and about some decisions I've made. Will share more as the week progresses!

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