I have 27 days to fit into smaller jeans.

See, I’ve been making some major progress on the whole “motivation” front !! For one thing, I finally put together that little artwork/crafty project that I was going to create to represent the 40 pounds I need to lose. Remember that ? I decided to use the small, golf ball sized dark grey river rocks that I have about 1,000 of scattered around the edge of my deck. (My apologies for that atrocious sentence.) When I collected them, I accidentally got some dog poop on my hands, so I guess that satisfied the requirement that they somehow be unsightly or dirty ? I did wash them though … And now there’s a pile of clean, shiny dark grey rocks stacked in the middle of my kitchen table. Not in a bowl or anything fancy … just sitting there in a pile. And every time I lose a pound I’ll be taking a rock off the pile and tossing it back into the yard. Until the pile is gone and my kitchen table is bare again.

Motivational tool #2: My guest bedroom is empty and I have already begun my “pre trip packing” process of placing certain items that I want to bring on a trip – mostly clothes – in there on the bed. Next trip is in 27 days to Newport to see my oldest & dearest girlfriend. Yes, yes … Disneyland is in April and that’s the longer term goal (plus ?? shorts ! tank top, maybe !!) but the current short term goal (that isn’t getting its own header on the blog) is this upcoming trip. And the reason I can start to pile clothing in there this far ahead of time is (1) the jeans I want to take don’t even fit me right now so that’s not an issue !! and (2) I’m packing for rain and sub arctic temperatures and would hardly need to wear the items that I bought for Newport here at home. I got Capeline thermal shirts in level 4 (the warmest) and have a new raincoat coming. So it’s not like I’m keeping all my everyday underwear in there or anything.

But I ramble … my point is was motivation ! And I am about to reveal to you that I am the Queen of Dorky Motivational ideas. Seriously. I am not just piling the stuff randomly on the bed … I have actually arranged the clothing into the various outfits that I want to wear*. Like a store dispaly or something … I have the currently too-tight jeans laying on the edge of the bed, and arranged perfectly above them would be, for example, one of the new Patagonia thermal shirts, complete with undershirt inside if it, and matching scarf lying across the neck. The only thing I haven’t done is place the shoes on the floor beneath the jeans (Ooo ! I may try that tomorrow !) All these clothes are horrifically too tight on me right now, or just unflattering … and now I see them EVERY DAY when I walk past the guest room … and they call out to me (along with the pile of rocks on the kitchen table) “Hey fattie, if you want to wear us, you better get on the ball and quit making excuses to eat cookies ! Let’s see some follow through !!”

Yes, I’ve just revealed to the Interwebs that I think inanimate items in my house shout out to me and call me names.

*Amy, with crazy like this going on, how could we NOT be friends ??

The humble "Countdown to Christmas" paper chain

I loved the Christmas countdown paper chain when I was little.  It was so satisfying to tear off that single ring of paper each night, to see the chain shorten, to have a concrete reminder of how soon Santa would be visiting.

I’ve used paper chains for other countdowns.  Once my husband got the job offer he wanted last winter, I made a paper chain to count down the remaining weeks he had left in his old job.  It helped us realize that there weren’t many weeks left until my husband would finally have better hours and more time with us.

I think I’m going to start making paper chains for all kinds 0f countdowns.  When the days are dragging toward an event you’re eagerly anticipating, there’s just something about tearing those little paper rings that makes the days drag a little less slowly.  Here are some events for which I may be making paper chains:

The Winter Olympics.  Always inspiring.  If you haven’t followed Stephen Colbert’s campaign to be part of the 2010 team, you should.  It’s quite entertaining.

Chocolate Tribute Weekends on Food Network. These usually take place right before Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day.  I like this holiday because it fills that sad void that grows in me after Christmas is over and I’m looking for an excuse to put childish decorations on our walls.

The Oscars. Entertaining even when I haven’t seen any of the nominated films.  (An interesting side note:  I hate going to movie theatres.  I find that rude people are even ruder in the dark of a theatre.  I am not going to shell out twenty bucks to sit by some jackass who has to loudly critique the film to his jackass friend.  I have not been to a movie at a movie theatre since Chicago.  That was 2003.  So, come to think of it, it’s really pointless for me to watch the Oscars at all.  I’ll save the paper for my next chain.)

March Madness. College football is long gone.  NFL, too.  Thank God for several weeks of great competition.

NBA finals.  But only if my honorary imaginary boyfriend is part of the finals.  (For those of you who don’t know, LeBron James and I are an item.  He just doesn’t know it.  See this post if you’re curious.)

Labor Day Weekend.  College football begins.  Fall unofficially begins.  It’s not that long until the leaves start changing, the air gets cooler, and the holiday issues of magazines arrive in your mailbox.  What’s not to like?  (Another side note:  I really hate summer.  My husband thinks I have reverse seasonal affective disorder because I get so irritable and down during hot weather.  I don’t like hot weather.  I don’t like hot weather clothing.  I don’t like bugs.  I don’t like sweating as soon as I walk outside.  I really don’t like bugs.)

The World Series.  Not because I like baseball.  Quite the opposite.  I hate baseball.  The start of the World Series means there are only at most seven more games until the worst sport of the year is over.

Halloween. So much fun when I was little and so much fun now that I have a little one.

The Start of Food Network Thanksgiving Specials. I like to cook.  I like to eat what I cook.  When I’m not cooking or eating, I like to watch other people (far more talented than I) cook and eat.

You get the idea.  There are all sorts of things to look forward to the whole year long.  And paper chains are kind of fun to make.  You may have noticed that my daughter’s second birthday is not one of the events I’m counting down.  I’m not really looking forward to that big day.  Maybe if I don’t make a paper chain for that particular event, my daughter can stay a one-year-old for a little longer.

5 more days till my birthday, I am not excited.
There’s a massively tall bookshelf in my hallway that’s waiting to be put into a painted room that has yet to be painted despite me asking time and time again to call the painter. IT’S BEEN 2 WEEKS! D:

Nothing ever gets done.
People are so disappointing.

What am I doing for my birthday?

A nice way to start your day is with a piece of chocolate, not gonna lie.

When I was little, starting Dec. 1, we had a calendar that we’d take turns opening every day and under each little flap for each day of the month, there was always a piece of chocolate and usually something to read. We had them every year for a long time. I don’t remember when they stopped. But it was exciting to have that to do every morning when we came downstairs before school in December. We didn’t always like having to take turns, but we did.

I haven’t had an advent calendar for a long time though – and the other day the roommate said we should’ve gotten one. Maybe next year. They’re not expensive. And you get chocolate for breakfast.

Besides, I love countdowns too.

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Es ist wieder soweit, ab morgen gibt es den beliebten Weihnachtscountdown bei Lisa.

Also in this year, there will be the wonderful Christmas Countdown at Lisa.

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This week  www.sermoncentral.com is making available the  “Freedom in Christ”  Scripture Video Countdown as their Free Weekly Video to their PRO members. (You can get a 30 Day Risk-Free Trial Membership)  The countdown was created to compliment the Veteran Interviews, “Remember the Sacrifice-Full Version”  (WWII & Vietnam Vet) and “Remember the Sacrifice-Short Version” (WWII Vet). The interview video got a standing ovation when we showed it in our church last year! The ending creates a springboard into many sermon topics such as Christ’s sacrifice for us, our sacrifice of service for others and appreciation.  SermonCentral.com is the largest sermon preparation site on the Internet with over 150,000 free sermons, illustrations, videos, and PowerPoints designed for better preaching. The amazing resources on their site are available to everyone with some extra free perks like this for members.

4 Minute Freedom in Christ Countdown

Veterans Day Interview Videos

Watch the Video: Remember the Sacrifice-Full Version  Includes Vietnam vet as well as the WWII veteran.  Run Time: 5:27

Watch the video: Remember the Sacrifice-Short Version  Highlights only the WWII veteran. Appropriate for any day.  Run Time: 3:37Link to coordinating videos: Patriotic and Freedom in Christ Countdowns and Video Loops with a selection of Music Styles.  Choose the style that’s right for your service!

Countdowns…I got rid of mine.  Why? Because I want to live in the present.  I don’t want to get distracted by the “what if” or “I wish” or “I can’t wait until..” game like I have before.  In the past, I’ve written posts about things I’m looking forward to and how far away they are.  Some of those countdowns aren’t as exciting anymore or don’t have the same significance.  Some take/took away my focus and let me play those games of selfishly wanting things as they are not.

I refuse to complain or get caught up in the wilderness because of my selfish desires.  Instead of counting down, I’m asking God to help me count the day, the season, the moment.  To take that step into the Promised Land.  To let go of my picture of what I want life to be and trust that He wants to give me a life that is immeasurably more than the anything I could dream up for myself.

To take up my cross daily and to die to myself for Him.  To live in such a way that the Holy Spirit guides my path and every word.  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead by focusing on what I can do today to press into Him and dig deep to have more of Him and less of me. The rest doesn’t matter.

I need to obey today because if I love him, I will obey His commands no matter what.

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Ronaldouche 1.0

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