I want to read more...so...

I don't know about you - but how often do you read? I do read a bunch online - that counts (someone on my team told me that recently, and I was sooooooo relieved). But honestly, most of my "book" reading has been kids books, or the occasional book I skim or scout in prep for messages or work stuff. OK, well, maybe I've read more than I give myself credit for. But bottom line - I want to read more.

I remember being in high school and having all that "required" reading - and not wanting to do it. You were making me - I wasn't choosing it. I would get the reading list and read the books during the summer at my own pace so that when it came up at some point during the school year I could review and skim for class discussions (I know - I just showed my age - this was prior to the age of summer reading requirements...). Anyway - so what's my excuse now? I used to read allllllllll the time. Now - not so much. It could be time. It could be content. I don't know. I want to read more.

So... I recently started following Michael Hyatt on Twitter . He's the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. I'm not exactly sure how it started, but he actually requested to follow me first - HA! a shock to me - so I figured sure - why not. I've already found myself reading more after following him. Not because of the number of tweets he sends out each day (which I admit are alot) but because of what he sends out. Links to articles or to his blog - he even posted his daily reading list, how he sets it up, etc. I have so much to learn to make the most of my time in this arena... but...

One of the things I found by following him is the Blogger book review program you can be part of with Thomas Nelson - you agree to write book reviews and post them to your blog, and to a retail consumer site, and they send you the book for free. Pretty cool. So, I've requested my first book - a Steven Covey - Everyday Greatness. Watch for an update on that in the coming weeks. Now I want to read, and have to - if I want to get another book. I hope this turns out to be fun for all of us.

So...I'll probably get in gear with this and start writing about some of the other books I've read lately that I really like. And... tell me what you've read lately that I just shouldn't miss!! I'd love to know...

I'm back...it's been toooooooo long

OK...so we've just gotten back from a looooonnnggggg time away from home. Back to the ATL for time with friends and fam, and then off to Michigan for a vacay with fam there too. Both were wonderful... one was complete whirlwind... one was complete rest... both were refreshing and fun to just be all day with our fam. When Steve went back to work on Monday I really didn't know what to do. I loved just looking across the room and seeing him there...every day...2+ weeks... aaaaaaahhhhhhh... He's the best...

So - I've got to get a little more consistent in this blogging thing. I did pretty good for a long time, and I've just been out of it for a while. Busy? Tired? Juggling a bunch? Yeah, maybe. But I don't really think that's gonna change at all... but I like doing this - really I do. I don't really know that it matters to anyone else, but who knows...hopefully it helps us connect on a different level - sharing ideas, thoughts, randomness together... so...here's some randomness...

Let's start with MJ - can I just say I'm kinda tired of all the speculation on what caused his death? I mean, please people (namely media outlets) - can't you just let the coroners office do their thing and give the results. I saw on 3 different news shows moderators asking viewers to send in (via Twitter or Facebook) their ideas of what caused Michael's death. Really? Seriously? Is that where the news has come? Hey viewers...tell us what you think could be news and we'll make it the news... UGH!!! So frustrating... I honestly remember the original Thriller days. My brother got the album...I didn't. But it sure was played a bunch in our house. We didn't have MTV (man, I'm showing my age huh - album...no cable or MTV...sigh...), so we had to see the videos at other people's houses. I remember watching the famed intro of the moonwalk and being amazed. I remember watching the Jackson 5 cartoon program. Michael (and the rest of his family) brought much to our music culture...and still do. It's going to be cool to hear the recordings, of which there are supposed to be bunches, when they get released...but it's also gonna be sad as people fight over the rights, the proceeds, etc. I could go on and on about MJ...but I won't...

I will say, that with his death, along with Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, David Carradine, and today Karl Malden...there's been a bunch of talk of legacy - things these entertainment icons have done, stood for, supported. It makes me look at myself and think, am I really doing all I can do...do people really know where I stand...am I as passionate as I could be for the things that truly matter to me...and to the Lord? I know I can do better. I want to do better. Not for the sake of doing more stuff...or even being known by anyone...but just to honor God with my life. Yep - I just want to honor Him by giving Him my best. I know I don't do that every day. Do you? How? What's the key for you?? I'd love to hear...

Rabbit Trails... Have you ever noticed that it's soooo easy to get distracted when you're on the internet? Right now I have 4 different internet windows open, and on 2 of them, the number of tabs open exceed the length of the window so that I can't see the others. I was doing some prep for messages this weekend, and a link on a site caught my eye, which led me to get distracted and just keep searching on something else. It doesn't even relate to what I was researching and preparing for...but it caught my eye...and it bugs me. I'm not really going to get into the "what it was"... yet. I really am looking at this discussion so that I feel as though I can truly talk about it intelligibly. I'm not there yet. But isn't it interesting that you can be on a site you truly appreciate, only to have it linked to something that makes you shake your head.

I remember taking a class in college, where literally the answer to every question on the final exam was "it depends." The prof drilled that into our brains - every single day. You had to be prepared to give your answer, based on giving circumstantial support for why that was the right answer, and give an alternate answer for some circumstance that would be different. I'm not saying that the views of what I was researching are alternate to the link - but it was just one of those things that caught me off guard to see something I totally agreed with linked to something I totally didn't. (sorry...not meaning to make you more confused, or curious). Maybe it is just proof of one of those instances where it's not a "deal-breaker" to disagree on some things. Although the link would say differently. It would say this topic is leading Christianity to the ultimate of liberalism... I don't agree. OK, I'm not making sense...moving on.

I think I might be allergic to dogs. When we lived in Atlanta, and had 2, I always always always attributed my scratchy, irritated eyes and sniffles to the ever present pollen in the air (and dust, and horses...and all that other stuff I'm allergic to). When we moved to Oregon we soon noticed that I wasn't having those problems any more. And since there isn't yellow snow in Oregon (i.e. spring pollen so think that it coats everything around you...) we were convinced that it was a pollen issue. Well...this week we are enjoying dog-sitting for our friends. He's such a great and sweet dog, who adores Steve (who doesn't?) and adores me almost as much (when Steve isn't around). But last time he was here...my eyes starting itching the 2nd day, and sniffles set in... and this time...it's the same. I don't want to be allergic to dogs. I love them. My kids are praying that I'll feel better and that God will help me not to be allergic to dogs, because they really want one (hang on kiddos - we gotta get a fence first). Me too. I don't want this to happen. (Note...to my friends who own this beloved pup... no worries...we love this little pup and are taking great care of him. Noah & KJ are doing a fab job...he's doing GREAT!)

OK... this is long enough for now. I'm committed to this. I'll keep it up. If I don't - drive me nuts til I post again... Chao...for now...