The Christmas story - Luke Chapter 2 - in the Bible

The Birth of John the Baptist in Luke Chapter 1

King David's Victories - READING THE BIBLE

PROPHESY OF JESUS BIRTH - 2nd Samuel

The Ark of the Covenant - Reading the Bible This Year

READING 2nd Samuel Chapter 5-King David

Join us as we learn what God says in the Bible

Reading the Bible this Year: 2nd Samuel Cptr. 3

The Houses of King David & King Saul are at War

The Resurrection of Jesus is the Good News of the Bible

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ - Mark Chapter 15

What the Bible Teaches about The Last Supper - Mark 14

Jesus teaches us using many stories and parables

What does God Say about righteous Anger? Read Mark 11

Divorce - What Does God Say About it? Mark 10

Saul's Death - 2nd Samuel Chapter 1 - Reading the Bible

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ - Mark 9

Reading the Bible - Mark Chapter 8 - Jesus Feeds 4 thousand

Demons, Dogs & Deafness - Bible Discussion Today

Jesus Walks on Water - READING THE BIBLE - Mark 6

Demon-Possessed Man Gets Healed - Mark 5 - READING THE BIBLE

Join us as we READ the Bible Today

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR - 1st Samuel Chapters 30 & 31

The Witch of Endor - READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR

Spend 5-Minutes in the Bible Today - Reading the Bible

5-Minutes in the Bible - READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR

KING DAVID escapes Saul

5-Minutes in the Bible

Jonathan Saves David - 1st Samuel Chapter 20

SAUL TRIES TO KILL DAVID (AGAIN) - READING THE BIBLE

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR: 1st Samuel 18

A Story About a Giant Battling a Boy - David & Goliath

Spend 5 minutes in the Bible today

TO OBEY...Reading the Bible this Year

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines-1st Samuel-READING THE BIBLE

Jesus and Beelzebub - READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR

Mark Chapter 2 - Jesus Heals

John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus

Christ's Resurrection - READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR

The Death of Jesus and Judas Hangs Himself

THE LAST SUPPER - Matthew 26 - Reading the Bible

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR-1st Samuel Chptr. 13

READING THE BIBLE - 1st Samuel Chapter 12

5-Minute Bible Study

Reading the Bible this Year: Samuel Anoints Saul as King

The 7 Woes - Parable with Warnings from Jesus

The Wedding Parable-READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR

Jesus Enters the City on a Donkey - READING THE BIBLE

DIVORCE-What does the Bible Say

The Supernatural Ark of the Covenant-READING THE BIBLE

The Ark of the Covenant-READING THE BIBLE

READING THE BIBLE-1st Samuel 3-The Lord Calls Samuel

Hannah's Prayer-READING THE BIBLE-1st Sam. Ch. 2

Reading the Bible This Year: 1st Samuel Chapter 1

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR-Matthew 15-Jesus Heals

Jesus Walks on Water-Matthew 14

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR: Matthew 13

READING RUTH CHAPTER 4

Reading the Bible this Year: Ruth Chapter 3

5-Minutes in the Bible-Ruth Chapter 1

Curious about Demons? Join us as we Read the Bible

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Judges 20

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Judges 19

Reading the Bible in 1 Year: Judges Chapter 18

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Matthew 10 - Jesus Sends Out the 12

What does the Bible Say About Judging Others?

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR: Micah's Idols

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Samson & Delilah

Read the Bible with Us-Matthew 5-The Beatitudes

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR-John the Baptist Prepares the Way

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR-The 3 Kings

Reading the Bible this Year: Judges 14-Samson's Marriage

READING THE BIBLE THIS YEAR: Judges 8

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Revelation Chapter 22

Forgiveness in the Bible

READING THE BIBLE - REV. 20 - SATAN'S DOOM

Hallelujah! - READING REVELATION 19

Curious What the Bible Says about Prophesy?

Reading the Bible - Revelation 17 - The Woman on the Beast

7 Angels & 7 Plagues - The Tribulation in the Bible

The Angel of the Lord at Bokim - Reading the Bible

666 - The Number of the Beast - READING THE BIBLE

Joshua's Farewell-Reading the Bible this Year

The Woman and The Dragon - READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR

The Two Witnesses for God - Revelation 11

The Angel & The Little Scroll - Revelation 10

Misunderstandings Can Start Wars - Joshua Chapter 22

Cities of Refuge: Joshua Chapter 20

END of DAYS: DEMONS & DESTRUCTION

The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation 5

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Joshua Chapter 21

Revelation Chapter 2 - Angels, Stars, & the Future

HAVE A PEACEFUL WEEKEND - Read the Bible With Us

Reading the Bible in 1 Year: Joshua 18

Revelations Chapter 1 - Hope in Crisis

Reading the Bible-The Division of land of the Children of Israel

Our Daily Reading of the Bible

CHAOTIC TIMES - READ the Bible with Us for Peace

Join Us As We Read Through the Bible This Year

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Lies, Trickery & Deception

Reading the Bible in 1 Year: Ai Destroyed

READING THE BIBLE IN 1 YEAR: Joshua 7 - Greed, Theft & Punishment

Reading the Bible- Talking about Atlantis, Math & More

Angels...? We're Reading the Bible Today: Joshua 5

Reading the Bible in 1 Year: The Death of Moses

Generosity and Divorce are themes as we Read the Bible this year

Reading the Bible in 1 Year: History of the Children of Israel

The Nation of Israel - Reading the Bible in 1 Year

Thursday, December 30, 2010

BREAK THE RULES in 2011

People tell us to “Set realistic goals”.

I say, "WHY?"

New Year’s Eve
Is the perfect time
for new beginnings,
forgiving and forgetting
things better left behind.


Goals shouldn’t be practical. Not at a time like this. This is the dawning of a new year, a new decade, perhaps even a new life.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life
. Start it right. Dare to dream, believe in yourself, try something new. Have faith. There’s no better time than NOW.

We’re all standing on the edge, leaning over a precipice, take the leap, plunge headfirst into the New Year.

You can become the person you want to be
Don’t tell yourself “It’s just not me”
Step outside your box today
Remember
You’re never to old to run or play


Mom used to say, “If you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains”.

I’m saying it doesn’t need to be a mountain you move, but at least start with a molehill.

Change something, try something, dare something, become something. . .new.

Turn the page and start anew
Try something you never thought you’d do
Wear red or yellow, pink, chartreuse
Order calamari, duck or goose


Isn’t that what the New Year brings to all of us. . .the chance to change?

You can achieve something you’ve never done before. All it takes is opening, not closing, the door. . . to possibilities.

Goals shouldn’t be realistic. I say, “Shoot for the Moon even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”


So, start by setting some Resolutions or goals for yourself. Remember a goal is only an objective or stated intention. Even if you don't make it all the way, you'll get farther than if you never had any focus.

Let's state our intentions or, a goal or two, maybe even ten.

One piece of advice is to make goals specific and measurable: “I want to enter a cooking contest” rather than “I want to be a good cook." People need quantifiable results and I love to set goals so I can cross those little suckers off my never-ending bucket list.

Here are my goals for 2011:

1) Train for a marathon
2) Run a 15k, a half-marathon and get ready for the biggie in 2012 (baby steps)
3) Knit some fingerless gloves (I started some in 2010 but never finished them)
4) Take a class (it doesn't matter what - I want to be a lifetime learner)
5) Start skiing again (snow-I never gave up on water)
6) Volunteer (I volunteered for Wordstock in 2010 and it's worth doing again)
7) Write another novel (I have a few manuscripts but want to finish another one)
8) Share seeds, plants, and flowers
9) Ride my bike to work more than I did in 2010
10)Plant more vegetables in 2011

I could go on and on...how 'bout you? Share some of your goals in "comments" and I'll leave you with: Auld Lang Syne (translated: Old Long Since)

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
on Old long syne.

CHORUS:
On Old long since my Jo,
in Old long since,
That thou canst never once reflect,
on Old long since.
My Heart is ravished with delight,
when thee I think upon;
All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight,
and speedily is gone;
The bright resemblance of thy Face,
so fills this, Heart of mine;
That Force nor Fate can me displease,
for Old long since.

CHORUS
Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief,
when from thee I am gone;
will not thy presence yield relief,
to this sad Heart of mine:
Why doth thy presence me defeat,
with excellence divine?
Especially when I reflect
on Old long since

If you want to read more on blogs, resolutions and writing, check out RedRoom.com

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Kindle Tips and Hints

Okay, I just got my Kindle so I might not be an authority - yet - but I've learned a few things in a day or two and one is that Squidoo did a post that links some great books to fill up your empty 'cyber' bookshelf with.

But, I've been checking out samples to see what I want to buy. Amazon lets you browse through books, just like at a bookstore, to see if you like the writer's style and the way the story is moving. I've checked out two books and looked through the first three chapters to see if I want to buy them. I'm probably going to be buying more books than I did before - just because of the convenience factor. But, I've also heard that I can "check out" books from my local library - on my Kindle. I haven't figured that one out- yet. But, like I said, I'm just getting started.

One thing I did do, I uploaded one of my own manuscripts so I could work on it during my lunch hour. That was way cool and super simple to do. I just had to email the story to my "approved" email and then send it to my kindle email address. Within a minute, there it was. Waiting for me.

Another thing I really like is how light the kindle is. I tend to read very late at night - or maybe I should say very early because it's usually after midnight when I crawl into bed to read. And, lots of times I fall asleep reading. The Kindle saves my spot - so no more re-reading pages to find my place the next night.

I do have one gripe. I wish the screen was a touchscreen, just like my phone. But, I'm not complaining, or maybe only a little.

Still, I think I'm going to love this.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tuesday Emo-Trauma and Drama

We all wanted to go rock wall climbing on Sunday, it was one of our "family gifts" from the holidays. So we climbed in the car(s) and headed toward the Portland Rock Wall Gym. Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived in the parking lot the person who was planning to belay for us suddenly got ill. He said he could still hold us, but I'm a Mom and didn't want to take any chances having someone "hold our lives in their hands" when those hands might be weakened by the flu-like symptoms we were witnessing. I wasn't so reassured.

So it was a quick EZ decision: alternate event.

We headed off to the movies:

Narnia and the Little Fockers.

I laughed so hard at the Little Fockers my son even commented on the tears rolling down my cheeks. I told him, "Maybe you have to have in-laws to find it so funny". Not that I've ever been asked to take a lie-detector test...that I remember ;) of course I'm data dumping from my hard drive (or cerebrum and little neurons) all the time as I get older and older.

Still, I had a great time. Then we went home to catch up on a little more movie-madness. We watched The Walking Dead on Demand. Nothing like a little zombiefied footage to help finish off your holiday festivities and the weekend.

I enjoyed it-not so much my husband. He's not a zombie-kind-of-guy, unless it's Saturday morning and I haven't had my coffee yet--then he's totally hanging with the zombiettes.

So, this weekend we'll be celebrating by ringing in the the New Year while we're making up our previously scheduled Rock Climbing.

How 'bout you? Any special plans for the holiday?

Monday, December 27, 2010

Kindle for Christmas

I got a Kindle for Christmas! I've been wanting one of these for a couple of years but, with two kids in college, I just couldn't justify the expense. Now I have one! Yipee!

I've been playing with it. I've only gotten about 70% through the tutorial but, already it's much cooler than I thought. I had no idea it could cruise the net like it can.

I'm enjoying the gift and I haven't even read any books on it -- yet.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Pretty as a Present


Presentation is everything. And it's amazing how the "devil is in the details". Just look out how a simple bow can do the trick when it comes to making a square box look beautiful. Take a peek at this present...ation. Isn't the package pretty?

And, believe me, the picture doesn't do justice to the pretty, pretty perfect present. The silver paper acted like a mirror and reflected the light back when I tried to take the picture. But, I think you'll get the idea.

Remember sometimes it's the small things that matter the most: a smile, a gentle touch, or even a kind word. So take a moment to add that final touch. You'll be glad you did.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

It's the Busiest Time of the Year


There will be much mistletoe-ing. And hearts will be glowing. When loved ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

And what makes it wonderful is sharing time with family and friends.

The holidays always make me think of family and this is one of the only pictures I have with my brothers and sisters all together, at least the seven of us all together. We had it taken for Mom and she was so happy. After all, she'd had nine kids and there aren't any pictures that exist with all of us. Maybe because Mom and Dad never owned a camera. Photos were few and far between. Any photos we had were always taken by friends or other family. So, this is a special picture.

And, today is a special day. It's Tammy and Steve's birthday!!! They aren't twins but that's a strange phenomena in our family: people share birthdays. My husband and I share a birthday and two of my kids share a birthday, plus my brother and sister share a birthday. Strange...

Anyway, I'm planning a party but it's hard to squeeze parties in at the holidays because it's a crowded calendar this time of year.

It might be the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
, but it's also the biz-biziest-time of the year ;)

There will be last minute buying and parents a-sighing
as they rush to the store looking for "just one present" more. . .

Wednesday, after work, we went Christmas Shopping at Pioneer Place, then Nike Town, then Michael's and after that we went down Peacock Lane and off to Palio's for hot cocoa and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The holidays are rolling in. . .more like a tornado than a soft breeze but

I hope you're having a fun-filled season.