February Book Report

Title:  The Circle Maker
Subtitle:  Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
Author:  Mark Batterson
What the Book is About:  BHAP  (Big Hairy Audacious Prayers)
Something I learned from the book: 

The brain is a goal seeking organism.  Setting a goal creates structural tension in your brain, which will seek to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be, who you are and who you want to become.  If you don't set goals your mind will become stagnant.  Good setting is good stewardship of your right-brain imagination.  It's also great for your prayer life. 

AND...Goals are dreams with deadlines
What I Liked Best About the Book:  The idea that I need to Dream Big, and Pray Hard, and Think Long.  To pray prayers that may not be answered today, tomorrow, or in my lifetime. 

What I am Doing Today:  (Not really part of the book, but just continuing the format...) 
Getting ready to get ready to travel to Mexico.  (Yes, the country to which the USA has discouraged travel.)  For a missions trip--one of my biggest dreams. 
What I am Not Doing Today:  Dusting

Off to a great start to my experiment in giving up dusting for lent.  (Experilent?  Experilint?)  In order to make it a more spiritual (lack of) exercise, I am going to write Bible verse references in the dust.  This week I give you 1 John 4:19.

I was thinking by Good Friday, God Himself may reach down and write something on the front of the TV. 

The STP suggested it will be "DUST ME".

To Dust or Not to Dust

From dust I was made and unto dust I shall return.

Thinking of giving up dusting for Lent.

Crying Wolf

While the STP and I were in Yellowstone we saw the wolves.  First we saw this lone wolf on a rocky outcropping.

Oh no, that was the plush wolf on a pillow top that greeted us in our room upon arrival.  For $17.99 he could have been mine.  I just took his picture.

This is the lone wolf on the rocky outcropping.  What? You can't see him?  You're not even sure where the rocky outcropping is?

Use your glasses, or your 12X camera zoom and voila!  Lone wolf on rocky outcropping.

Okay, wait for the snow to let up and try again.

Oh, you aren't really disappointed with my wildlife photography are you?  Any of you who know my Lassie history should really appreciate the awesomeness of this shot.   Just think of this as "blurry memory jogger".  The wolf was lifting his head and howling.  Way cool sound.  Across the road a flock den pride herd pack of wolves was moving about the hillside and howling back.  Oh, you'd like to see a picture of that too?   Let me not disappoint you further.

Guess you had to be there.  I did snap this pic of Teddy Roosevelt who was wolf watching with us. 

And when I came home I did a little research on wildlife photography.  And I came across a website of a wild life photographer that takes wicked awesome pictures of wildlife in Yellowstone including wolves.  And for an undisclosed fee, he will take me along on a custom tour.  And I started dreaming about actually doing this.  And then I read that Tom (If I am going custom touring with him in the Yellowstone wilderness, we might as well be on a first name basis) would like to go on a bicycle tour between chocolate shops in Belgium.  And for just a moment, I forgot all 107 things I love about the STP.  Because I have just found the man of my dreams.  But then I read that I would need to take along an extra camera body, and multiple lenses, and various other items which I do not have.  Really Tom, if I had an extra camera body and a 700mm lens, would I need you to help me get a picture of a wolf.  Well, maybe. 
Adding this to my bucket list.  And my Christmas list.  And my to-do list.  And the list of things to do tomorrow.  And my grocery store list.  Because the chance of it getting crossed off any one of them is slim to none.  But it doesn't hurt to dream.

The Good Ones

V-day Via Facebook Pics

I took 241 pictures of our one day trip to Yellowstone.  I have about 2.41 good pictures of our trip to Yellowstone.  Mostly I just take pictures to pass the time in the car and to remember things I saw.  I never really have good pictures, just blurry memory joggers.  I took a few pics of the STP and I.  This one I took to pass the time in the car.  The STP is blurry and not looking at the camera because he was actually, you know, driving at the time.

This one I took so I could remember that the soap was shaped like a little bear.  We had to stand on our tippy toes so the little bear soap was in the picture with us.  Pictures of ourselves in the mirror--how facebook are we?

This one was so we could remember that we went to Yellowstone in the winter.  And it snowed.  We have to try most of these shots of ourselves at least twice before we are both in the picture.  I delete the bad ones.  I made the Goob see all 241 pictures when we got home.  Just so he would remember how thankful he was that he wasn't along.

This is us in the hottub.  It was dark and snowing.  I'm not sure why I took this one.  Time was flying and I think this was one of the unforgettable moments. 

Finally someone else offered to take a picture of us.  Because it was Valentine's Day and obviously we were meant to be together.  I guess they didn't know how good we were at facebooking ourselves.

V-Day Plans

The STP and I are headed to Yellowstone Park to celebrate Valentine's Day.  We have a dinner and room reservations at Mammoth Hot Springs.  We will be touring about in a snow coach.   Because we are that sickening still in love.

 And this year I am way ahead on a Valentine's gift.  I mean this is so good you are probably going to want to pin it on your "Sickening Sweet Things" Pinterest board.






First, I compiled a list of over 100 things I love about the STP.

Then I gathered my supplies.  Chocolate.  Scrapbook paper.  Ribbon.  Tape.

And then I individually wrapped each chocolate and put them in a jar with a manly ribbon. 

I think I have a winner here.

Bring Your Antlers to Church Day

The second annual.  Just in case you've been wondering what we've been up to.  Sad that the STP had to stand next to the guy with the gigunda antler.  And the girl.  Remember, don't judge a man by the size of his antlers.

And because I was neglectful in keeping you updated on the STP's hunting season here are a few pics from the archive.

The elk.  (This hunting story from Novemeber was too gruesome for me to share.  When the up a hill and down a hill was followed by shooting an elk and when it included tracking 'her' up a hill and down a hill, additional shots, and pools of blood, I couldn't bear to listen.  So I will likewise spare you the details.)  I will not hunt until it is shoot and release.

The butcher.  The Goob with a cleaver.  Cross one more life skill off the list of things he has to know before I launch him.  So the season ended with a freezer full of deer and elk.  Let's call that success.

Thanks For The Comments

When I use the wi-fi at the hotel, I open myself up for unsolicited comments.  And I do love comments.  I love when you tell me you appreciate the effort and time I put into my thought provoking posts.  When you tell me to keep up the quality work.  When you tell me that you are bookmarking my most excellent blog.  But I start to wonder about you when you think I might need transcription services or a rice importer.  And I have to question your sincerity when all I said was "I ate Pizza." 

Pizza Pie

Today I ate pizza, but I still miss being home.

On the Road Again

Spending the week in Greeley, CO researching blood bank computer applications.  And shopping.  And eating out.  My MapQuest directions said that if I had reached the Red Lobster I had gone a little too far.  I.  Don't.  Think.  So.  Wandered around in Michael's this evening.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Mostly resisted the urge to buy more craft supplies until I finish some projects I have already started.  But it was delightful just to see the possibilities.  And touch the yarn. 
I am done watching people shop for houses on HGTV.  Really.  I raised 4 kids and none of them starved to death even though I never had granite countertops.  The STP and I have remained married despite the fact we share a bathroom sink.  And if I don't like the paint color on the walls, I just repaint it.  Really.  Done.

Random Thoughts

Extraordinary things happen to extraordinary people.  (Spoken by a large mouse to a dragon in Narnia.)

Last night I dreamed about snakes.  I might like my drowning in my car dreams better.

The STP made supper tonight.  Steak salads with seasoned fries.  I love that man.

I ran with the dog this week and now she has renewed hope that it will happen again.  I avoid making eye contact with her.

Trying to figure out how I can get to a color run this year.

I ate too much today.  And yesterday.

I start work at 6:00am tomorrow. 

Bedtime.