Books

I gave myself a goal to read 20 books this year. I love to read, and I don't always keep track of how many. I wanted to encourage myself to keep going. So far I have finished Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs (Cackleberry Club #2), and The Gingerbread Bump-Off by Livia J Washburn (A Fresh-Baked Mystery #6), which were both mysteries. I am currently reading Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly (A County Cork Mystery, #1) and The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.

March 1, 2013 52 Lists

Wow, it's already March and heading into the 9th week of the year! I shouldn't be surprised that time is seemingly passing faster. Trying something new. I saw it on Ali Edwards' blog and Stephanie Howell's blog. It's called 52 lists. So, I started it. I was late to the party, but I am working on it, catching up, anyway. I made myself a little paper titled "52 Lists" in a cute font and numbers 1-25 on the side (I'm not sure if they encourage more/less? 25 seemed to fit nicely on my page.) I print one out for every week and write the theme in the top corner. After I finish it I sign my initials and the date at the bottom. So far the themes are: words that touch your soul, greatest comforts, things you should be proud of, current/future goals/dreams, what you're grateful for, the ways you can love others, things that make you feel healthy mind/body/soul, and (the one I still have to do) favorite albums. I think it's a fun idea to encourage me to write/journal. I think I will put them into our Project Life album, maybe... Might be fun for my regular bloggy friend/readers to try, too.

Accept?

Things I know and must accept about myself: *I go through bouts of lacking motivation. I slack off on doing laundry, cleaning, etc. and instead I surf Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Hoping it's winter doldrums and not sleeping well having an effect on me. I get lazy... not very often, really, but I do. *I like food. During this running injury time out I have put weight back on, since I wasn't running. I should be happy with myself, but that 80 pound high schooler who ran and ate like a horse all the time nags in my mind and memory that I need to get fit again (not back to that weight, mind you, that would require giving up afore-mentioned love of food. ;)) *I would love to be a regular, daily blog/journaler, and picture a day taker/poster, but I'm not. I just don't sit down and force myself to write. I should, it would be nice to give my husband's ears a break. ;) It's a habit I'd like to get into but I haven't. *I like wine. I like it's taste, comparing the types, etc. It's extra calories I don't need and it encourages me to snack while drinking it, too. Neither are good for the figure, but it's nice to sit with my husband, chat about our days and watch tv together (I probably like tv too much too...) *I have fallen so far behind in scrapbooking and Project Life-it gets frustrating-an overwhelming thought sometimes, about how I will get caught up... but it's supposed to be a fun hobby, right? These things are things I either need to work on or push aside and move past. None of them are terrible, but they frustrate me about myself, sometimes.

Geography Songs

I'm getting ready for our school's geography bee later this week. Since I am the social studies teacher, and it's a yearly tradition, I am in the midst of planning. We do the normal geography bee things, like early rounds earlier in the week to narrow down our finalists and prepare with more geography lessons, but I also tried some new things last year. It was my first year and I was still figuring things out. I incorporated songs all the kids could sing, participants and observers. Here are the two I had the students learn last year: The Alphabet of Nations by They Might Be Giants (no West Xylaphone isn't a country, but they approach it in a cool way in this video-the kids love it, even my middle schoolers!) Also: Fifty States that Rhyme (We are from Ohio so we hold our nose when we say Michigan and Say Ohio rather loudly ;)) The students still sing and remember them, which I love! :) I'm thinking of trying a new song this year: Animaniacs Geography Song It needs some updating-some country names have changed, but it might be fun to get them thinking-maybe I will just show parts?

January 7, 2013

7 posts in 7 days. My goal is 365. We'll see. I know I won't post everyday, I can't even stick with a month long blogging goal. But this I can do, I think. I can post more than one per day (like yesterday) and not worry that I didn't get to it the day before that. As far as my other goals: 1. Less worry, more growth: I haven't had very many moments to worry about our girls, they have been involved in their normal activities, at home and school. I have been praying for them, and that helps keep the worry at bay, though. 2. I need to grow in wisdom...I Have 2 books on my "To Read" list: Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power and Ladies of Liberty {Thought this would be perfect for Women's History Month coming up!} 3. Attention span -too much social media... Well, it's beginning to erode my happiness, also. People say the meanest things, or false things they don't look up before they post. That is frustrating. 4. I need my time with the Lord and His Word to grow. I have appreciated my time working on this, thus far-and our church sermon was good today, as well. We were encouraged to come up and light candles as the need struck us. My oldest took my hand and had me come with her because she wanted to. So sweet it made me teary. 5. My exercise has been worked on and not ignored. 6. I scrapbooked last night with some friends, and accomplished a bit! 7. I want to grow in activities, but haven't taken action on skiing or kayaking... 8. I will be sending at least two cards/notes this week. It's on my schedule! 9. I have been documenting in a notebook and blogging, as well! 10. Organization goals haven't been met, but I think the work on some of the above goals has been good for the first 7 days of January! :)