Friday, July 29, 2011

Funky Friday

I'm not sure what it is about blog posts, days of the week and alliteration, but it seems to be running rampant in the blogdom. Why fight it?  It's hard to find a good use of the word funky otherwise. But since we did work it in, let's start today's music post with some TobyMac!  Hit play over there -->

Thursday, July 21, 2011

On the back of a snail

I've said my heart lies with Jesus, music and hospitality. I could have said food, but I'm not a foodie and I'm not a chef. I love making a home, sharing a home, lending a home, bringing home to less homey places. And yes, even sending a little home out on the back of a snail.

Cutting back on my social networking made me more aware of other ways to reach out and touch someone. Remember being a kid and getting a piece of mail, any mail? SO EXCITING!! As adults, we get mail and the thrill is gone. Until we see something with handwriting and maybe a fun color. Then we perk up just like when we were kids. I GOT MAIL! REAL MAIL!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Lazy Monday

Sometimes I wish I was rich. If I was, I'd pay someone to stop my procrastination. What's the difference between the physical shape I'm in and the shape some of these movies stars are in? A personal trainer. I have a gym membership that includes classes. I have time. What I don't have is a person I PAY to make sure I DO IT. (not at all to downplay the training and expertise of physical trainers!) In my fantasy world, this person would come to my home, so I'd also be motivated to make my house visitor ready on a regular basis.

This weekend my pastor started a sermon series on Keywords. It's a fun concept since you never know what he's gonna throw at you. He started with PROCRASTINATION. As he taught and shared scripture, something became clear to me. I'm lazy. That wasn't the main or only focus of his teaching, but it was the one that applied to me.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Encouragment Weekly


As I've focused on making this blog my Little House on the Internet, I've also been visiting around and discovering a few other great blogs. Below are three links to blogs that really made an impact on me, as well as a bonus article. Check them out now, and come back here soon for my next post.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A little taste

I've introduced you to Anthem Lights and shared a little about what Jesus is doing with my internet habits, so now it's time for a dash of hospitality. Since this might not appeal to as large a readership, we'll keep these posts short and sweet.

I'm not an expert cook or baker, though I can hold my own. But I love presentation. For a birthday party recently I threw a trifle together that, I must say, came out looking pretty spiffy due to my trifle bowl. When I moved into my studio apartment earlier this year, I culled my kitchen down to my idea of the bare essentials, which included keeping this bowl!  I was able to fill it with yummy layers, seal it up with the lid, throw the removable stand in my purse, and voilĂ ! Have trifle, will travel!

Let's call this THE Trifle ;)

Friday, July 8, 2011

Backwards = Forwards

I adore technology. My Droid is my BFF. My laptop is my bread and butter. My fiber optic wireless internet is a beautiful gift. I live in anticipation of the day I can go 4G. These things allow me to be on constant communication worldwide. And yet, there is an emptiness that they multiply.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:12
FaceBook has had power over me for some time now.  A year ago this month I took a month away from it and that was was wonderful, but it pulled me back. If I didn't log in, how would I know when someone I was friends with 15 years ago got married? WHAT IF I MISS SOMETHING??  Only weird people don't have a facebook!

I've also found that status updates and tweets leave me without anecdotes when I see my friends face to face.  "I saw the most beautiful rainbows yesterday" "I know, I saw your pic on facebook" "Oh"  *awkward silence*  How much better is it to have a few moments genuine conversation about something than to exchange a sentence or two over the internet? On the flip side, do you ever expect your friend to know what's happened in your life, only to find they didn't read facebook that day?? Oh the horror! They must not really love you! Wait, is that an overreaction?

July 31st I will be deleting my account. I love all 316 of you that are my "friends" over there, but it's time to kick the habit. I've started a new account that for now will be family only.  I've also started a page just for this blog. Anyone and everyone is welcome to "like" the blog page and keep in touch that way. I'll be blogging more often in an attempt for my internet communication to be RICH & FOCUSED and not 140 character snippets. You are also welcome to follow me on twitter where I'll still be tweeting, but that account will be much more of a news-ticker than anything else. Please do not be offended if I don't follow you back.

My internet communications with people will be here on this blog and through email.  I know, I know, how 90's of me! Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards.  I want my communications to be intentional

And because bulleted lists are my favorite, here are the ways to know when a new blog is published:
(useful since 98% of you come here from my facebook statuses)
  • Subscribe with an RSS reader.  Look for the button over there  ---^
  • Subscribe by email.  Also over there ---^
  • Follow my twitter account.  Over there ---^
  • "Like" the blogs Facebook page  Over...well, you get the idea.
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January 2012 edit:
Be sure to read the FOLLOW-UP POST almost six month later!

    Thursday, July 7, 2011

    Introducing... Themes and Anthem Lights!

    How can I made my internet presence more RICH & FOCUSED? I'm going to try out some theme posting!  Right now my topics might be: Entertaining (hospitality, food, etc), Music (albums to buy and concerts to attend) and God Stuff (more like the stuff that has already been on this blog). This list is open to change right now, but once it's a little more settled down, you might even see more scheduled posts for your regular reading pleasure.

    Today you get... MUSIC!  

    Friday, July 1, 2011

    Rich + Focused = Bursting

    I desire to live a rich and focused life.  Not scattered.  Not diverse. Not wide. Not perfect. Focused. Rich. And in case you wondered, I'm not taking about cash, though I wouldn't mind some of that.  I want my life to be bursting with...well, life!