A look inside: Convenience=Happiness

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Convenience=Happiness

SA-WEET! I have made the most wonderful discovery. Now, some of you are going to laugh that it has taken me so long to figure this out, but I have just discovered Google Reader!!! Do you know what a huge difference this makes in my life? This is truly life-changing folks.

Let me give you a little background:
*WARNING* Boring, Detailed Daily Schedule ahead

5:00 am - Alarm goes off. I always hit snooze 3 times which means I get out of bed at 5:27. Shower, paint my face, straighten my hair, find something to wear that doesn't require ironing, decide if it's worth it to wear fabulous heels or just go comfortable and wear my favorite go-to Report flats.

6:15 am - Wake up Daniel. Repeat 3 times every 10 minutes until he is up and in the shower. Make breakfast. Pack his lunch. Make sure he has all his assignments in order, gym clothes, water bottle, and backpack packed.

7:15 am - Leave the house (nothing short of a miracle I tell you)

7:30 am - Drop Daniel off at the big scary world also known as Middle School. He always says the same thing to me every morning as he's leaving the car, "Wish me luck and pray for me today mom". And I always say, "I will, I love you buddy" with a lump in my throat. As I drive to work, I keep my promise and pray for the little guy(who is only about an inch shorter than me).

7:45 am - Call numerous people "idiots" and "morons" and tell them "it's not that hard to use your turn signal retard"

7:55 am - Pray for forgiveness

8:00 am - Begin my day at work

4:00 pm - Leave my office and walk across campus to the Willamette University Spark's Center(fitness center). This is pure torture, ladies! Do you know how old and fat I feel running on a treadmill next to a bunch of college students? I do not recommend this.

5:00 pm - Arrive at my favorite place: HOME! Followed by a family debriefing, where everyone simultaneously starts filling me in on their day.

5:30 pm - Make dinner, or sometimes if I'm lucky Big Daddy takes care of this for me, or sometimes (quite often) we have frozen pizzas and dinosaur chicken nuggets.

6:30 pm - Clean up, help kids with homework and piano practice, spend time with Olivia, lay out clothes, pack backpacks, brush teeth, say prayers, get everyone in bed.

10:00 pm - Pass out (Actually, it's usually like 11:00)

Notice anything missing?

BLOGGING!!!

That's right folks. Number one reason why I didn't post a new blog in over 12 weeks: TIME. There has been little to no free time where I could sit down and type out boring, random happenings of my life for you all to read. But the thing I've missed the most about blogging is YOU! I've really missed reading everybody else's boring, random happenings in their lives. I love checking in on everyone and seeing what you're up to, and looking at pictures of your adorable children. So this is where Google Reader enters the scene and forever changes my life.

I have everyone's blog entered into Google Reader so I just go to that one site and it shows me if anyone on my list has updated their blogs...Genius!!!

I am on my computer all day at work. I don't take a lunch break, because I'd rather just get the 8 hours over with and go home. But...by law, I'm entitled to two 15 minute breaks. :)

I now just click on my Google Reader, and Booya! I can see if anyone has a new post, and I have time to leave a fabulous, witty comment that could only come from LizzyG! It's been wonderful! Every day I just do a quick check, and now I can stay on top of all the exciting happenings in Blogland! Very convenient, which makes me very happy.

Olivia and I cuddling with my new nephew, Colton

9 comments:

Rachel said...: First of all you look fantastic and you could pass as a college student!
Second, I'm so glad you now know about Google Reader! Isn't it fantastic?!?; November 6, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Tiffany said...: Confession: I'm scared of the big-bad-world too (middle school, heck, elementary school for that matter!). 2nd confession: You are not the only one who was late in discovering Google Reader. What a time saver! Oh, and your 7:45am activities crack me up - maybe because I do the same thing?; November 6, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Christi said...: Hooray for dino-nuggets! We recently got really healthy and started dipping them in marinara sauce...I know, a whole added food group.

I admire your hard work so much...I'm exhausted reading your schedule.; November 6, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Happy McNally Mom said...: It is so fun to read your blog again. It sounds like your days are so long. You handle it with such grace.; November 7, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Valerie of Momia said...: Regarding Google Reader: I tried to set it up about a year ago. I failed. I can't remember what wasn't working. I'm just so not smart when it comes to technology (hense my boring looking blog and lack of constant updated pics!)

I'm glad you figured it out. You are a busy woman!; November 7, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Kim H. said...: I found you through Glory Laine a while back and put you in my Google Reader - it truly is the best invention that I've seen yet! Especially for busy ladies who - well... - have a blog reading/writing addiction! (that would describe me completely!) If you ever want to stop by my little piece of bloggy heaven - feel free!; November 7, 2008 at 10:56 AM
February Jill said...: All I can say is that I'm glad you're back!

Working out next to college students might not be fun but it'll sure keep you motivated! At least you do it, that's the hard part.

Keep up the updates on the mundane stuff. That's the best part and how we all get to know eachother.

Jill; November 7, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Michelle said...: You are so beautiful!; November 7, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Unknown said...: Hooray for Google Reader!!!! I love your typed out schedule, especially that you have to wake Daniel up 3 times!!; November 7, 2008 at 4:43 PM

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.