thinking in type...

Starting anew in 2016...

more reading: this list from Challies.com. I'd like to get past Light and past Avid to Committed, but let's be honest, there's little chance of making it to Obsessed.

more Scripture memory: it's a discipline that I've added to my morning routine over the last couple years, and I want to continue in it. I've memorized complete chapters of Scripture, but never an entire book. Yet. (want some encouragement as to why? How 'bout this? or this?) ScriptureTyper has been a great help to me and my girls. But best of all is a partner to be held accountable with...

more photos: I was gifted a ReallyNeatLens for Christmas, and I am newly inspired. It's so easy to take pictures with my phone, but I am remembering how much I enjoy my camera, too.

more running: I logged just over 400 miles in 2015, but fell off the wagon in the last quarter of the year. I'm getting my shuffle back on.

less social media: I love aspects of being connected to far-away friends and family. But my OCD characteristics become too much so. And Panda Pop... (sheepish guilty grin)

less...?: 2015 was full, too full, I think. The hardest part is that there's nothing that stands out as "No more of this..." How to choose what to do less of?

Praying for wisdom and that "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13) as this new chapter begins...

list 12

easy.

list 11

and some mornings, but not many,
I just turn off the alarm, and roll back over,
and start on the rest of the list later...

list 10

craving- a great or eager desire; yearning.

thankfully, I'm willing to wait.

list 9

thinking on it, we pretty much only go to the beach when someone visits, not that often.
thinking on it, I wish we went to the beach more often...

list 8

Chocolate mousse!!
I forgot to write chocolate mousse.

One of The Best Meals I Have Ever Eaten was at The Boat Shed, on the water in Bremerton, Washington. Dear old friends came to visit, and Tim was out to sea and the twins were just little, less than 2 years old, I think. But our friends have a passel of kids and they were old enough and responsible enough and experienced enough to babysit my 5. So the adults went out to dinner. In those days, going out and talking to adults uninterrupted, THAT was rare and luxurious.

We ate and talked and looked out over the water. In truth, I don't remember what the main course I ordered that night. But I do remember, I had chocolate mousse for dessert. And I had friends that loved me well when I really needed it most.

(hmm... thinking about it, don't the greatest food memories come in the context of relationships and place?)

list 7

I don't love a purse. (for the record, I also don't love heels or lipstick. sometimes, in the sorority of womanhood, I feel on the outs. but that's rarely.)

But I don't switch out purses. I have one black leather (OK- fake leather...) purse, just in case and one fancy schmancy beaded little bag for Really Dressed Up Occasions.

My current purse is better called a bag, I think. I bought it at Academy Sports (not Dillards. Not even TJ Maxx.). Come on- you can't buy a "purse" at a sporting goods store!! Kavu made the bag, a company out of the Pacific Northwest, and it's sturdy and functional and even what I would call cute. It holds Just Enough.

And that's good enough for me.

list 6

tal-ent [tal-uh nt] noun

1. a special natural ability or aptitude

- from  Dictionary.com

list 5

"Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better."
- Flannery O'Connor

list 4

But really?
What is an "average day"?
It seem like there is always something quirky about our days; the exception seems to be the rule.

Yet even with the exceptions, my days tend to be pretty ordinary. My comfort in that is summed up by by GK Chesterton-

“The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.”

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
    line upon line, line upon line,
    here a little, there a little.

- Isaiah 28:10 (ESV)

and we press on.

list 3

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

list 2

When I lose my way,
And I forget my name,
Remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see,
Is who I don't wanna be,
Remind me who I am.
In the loneliest places,
When I can't remember what grace is.

Tell me once again who I am to You,
Who I am to You.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to You,
That I belong to You.
To You.

When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home,
Remind me who I am.
When I can't receive Your love,
Afraid I'll never be enough,
Remind me who I am.
If I'm Your beloved,
Can You help me believe it.

from "Remind Me Who I Am," by Jason Gray.

( Jason Gray has a fun website- quotes and reviews and such)

listing

My friend Julie is participating in the 30daysoflists this month- 
a REALLY Fun Idea!

But... alas... I'm cheap. And I didn't really want to pay the $$ to "officially" play along. Basically I'm just following her and lifting the ideas. (hmm.. shameless? I really feel like it doesn't qualify as "stalking" if the person gives you permission, right?)

Julie has a really cute notebook to keep her lists in. I love that! A good excuse to get out my crayon box.

So every once in a while, a list might appear here... (bloggy note to self- add new "lists" label...)

Thanks for the idea, friend!
Check out Msicybird's lists on Instagram too.