1 Corinthians 7:32-35

[from the second reading at mass this weekend...this scripture always makes me pause, as I would love to remarry]

Brothers and sisters:
I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord,
how he may please the Lord.
But a married man is anxious about the things of the world,
how he may please his wife, and he is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord,
so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.
A married woman, on the other hand,
is anxious about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
I am telling you this for your own benefit,
not to impose a restraint upon you,
but for the sake of propriety
and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

Seven Word Status

Had a sleeper sofa installed for guests.

Help Me Fight Back

I just signed up for an event that's really important to me: the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Martin County, to raise money in the fight against cancer. Would you visit my my personal fundraising web page http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12National?px=19861467&pg=personal&fr_id=38401 and support me with a donation?

This year, over 1.4 million Americans will hear the words "You have cancer". ***Last year, my dad was one of them!*** I know too many people who have been touched by cancer, and that is why I choose to make a difference by participating in Martin County's Relay For Life. I hope you too will choose to make a difference by supporting me with a donation.

Your donation will help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer, a world with more birthdays.

Thank you so much for your help - I will keep you updated on my progress.

Jeff is 21!

My baby turned 21 yesterday. Twenty-one! I'm not sure when I got old enough to have a 21-year-old. But in looking back, I can't really remember my life without him. Sure I remember being a kid and going to school, living with my parents and all. But sometimes I feel like my life didn't really begin until I was grown up and knew what I wanted to do with it. And Jeff has always been a part of that life.

Being a parent was not always my favorite thing. Probably because there were times when I really didn't feel like I was all that good at it. And Jeff has not always been a joy to parent. But he's come a long way. And I have to admit, he's a cute kid and a pretty funny guy. He makes me laugh! And I love it when I can make him laugh too.

Oh, and I taught him how to give a great hug. So, he's got that going for him. And he gets to practice every time he sees me. Gotta love that!

We don't live in the same town anymore, so I don't get to see him as often as I'd like. But I think about him every day. He's definitely one of my favorites.

Thank you, Lord for blessing me with Jeff.

Mark 1:14-20

[from the Gospel at mass this weekend]
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

Seven Word Status

Spent the day helping a friend move.

In Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Darkness cannot drive out darkness;

only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate;

only love can do that.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20

[from the second reading at mass this weekend]

Seven Word Status

Mary Kay event.

Mass with parents.

Basketball!

Relay for Life

It's that time of year again when we start planning for Relay.  Only this year, I am the Team Development Chair.  That's HUGE for me.  I'm a bit nervous.  No, I'm REALLY nervous.  And I'm not accustomed to being nervous.

I don't worry about singing into a microphone.  I have no qualms about speaking in front of a crowd.  I am the opposite of shy and timid.  And I've rarely struggled to find something to say in just about any situation.

But in this role, I have to motivate others.  I'll lead the meetings and keep everyone on track.  I need to find new teams.  I'm not so worried about finding new teams.  We've had LOTS of teams in the past.  We just need to tap into some of those sources again.  I'll start doing that this weekend...calling area churches and businesses, calling family members of cancer survivors.

My real concern is whether or not I can stay on top of this and keep the energy high.  This role is a balance between providing information and being enthusiastic.  I can do this.  I can DO this.  I can TOTALLY DO THIS!  I just need to stay focused.  And pray.

God, bless this event.  Everything from the kick-off tomorrow night, through every meeting and every phone call, all the way until we've turned in every donation and taken down every tent and honored and celebrated every survivor we've known.  With You, we can do anything.  With Your blessing, we will continue to fight this fight and honoring You in our efforts.  In Your most precious Name.  Amen.

Look at this sexy thing I'm now sleeping in...

I had a sleep study done in December.  It was decided that I have sleep apnea.  I would venture to say that most people do to some point.  At any rate, yesterday I was set up with my very own CPAP machine and comfort gel mask.  It's not difficult to work and it's not nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it would be.  I don't know that I slept any better last night.  But we'll see how things go over time.

Psalm 72

[the psalm from mass this weekend]

R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Seven Word Status

It's 2AM and I'm still wide awake.

New Blog

I'm not ready to give up this blog yet.  I enjoy it.  But I started a new one nonetheless.  I want to get back to writing.  So, my new blog is just Exercises in Writing.

I Googled 'exercises in writing' and found a few dozen exercises that I can start with.  Some of them give the first line and ask the writer to write for 20 minutes, kind of a stream of consciousness exercise.  Some of them suggest that the writer take a published writing and convert it to a different genre.  So, some will be quick and probably not as well written; others will take awhile, but will hopefully be better.

At any rate, I'm looking forward to the challenge.  I find typing therapeutic.  And I find writing therapeutic.  I like making up characters the most, but I'll work on other aspects of my writing as well.  Check it out every once in awhile.

Galations 4:4-7

[from the second reading at mass this weekend]