Joy Journal – The Silver Lining Edition

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Zolligirl

I was thinking about how often I complain, and how often it’s about really stupid stuff, and that maybe today’s Joy Journal could be about perspective. So here goes –

51. It’s freezing outside. I’m thankful I have heat.

52. I’ve gained weight. I’m thankful I have food.

53. I hate doing laundry. I’m thankful I have so many clothes.

54. These politicians are terrible. I’m thankful I have the right to vote.

55. I look old. I’m thankful I’m alive.

56. I can’t sing at all. I’m thankful I can hear.

57. My lawn looks awful. I’m thankful to have so much space.

58. I keep losing at Words with Friends. I’m thankful I have so much free time.

59. I don’t have a whole lot of money. I’m thankful I have enough money.

60. I know longer have TiVo. I’m thankful that even though I’m the most spoiled person in the world, the Lord still loves me.

What have YOU been complaining about lately? Is it possible that despite what’s going wrong in your life, and I’m sure that all of your complaints aren’t as trivial as mine, that there is something you can find to praise the Lord about?

Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name ..” … 1 Chron 29:12-13.

Holy Sunday

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Zolligirl

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11

I spent most of Friday seeing the world through blurry eyes. Watching my daughter get ready for her date with JD, seeing him prepare good things for her – the corsage, a new heart necklace – the whole event just made my heart soar. There is nothing JD wouldn’t do, no length he wouldn’t go to, to keep her safe. And yet the Bible tells us that what we feel is nothing compared to how the Lord feels about us.

If I could remember that, I think I’d walk a little differently through life. I hate to admit it, but I spent the first 30 years of my life thinking that God was watching and waiting, just trying to find a way to keep me out of heaven. How warped is that? He wasn’t, isn’t, trying to keep me out, He’s already done what He could to get me IN.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

It wasn’t pretty, all shiny in a velvet box, but He’s right. His gifts are way better.

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Zolligirl

Is it me or does school start way to early? 7:50 a.m., really? Normally, I wouldn’t complain, because normally, JD is the one to take Moon to school. Unfortunately, today he had to be across town by 5:30 a.m. so I had to do it. Yes, he often inconveniences me like this, but what can you do? Tuesday, he also had the gall to schedule an early morning job, but I dealt with it by sleeping in, and taking Moon to school an hour late. Sorry, Principal Peterson, but you can’t expect us to get dressed AND go through the Burger King drive-thru, and still make it before eight.

I think school is all together too difficult anyway. Poor Moon had a book report due today and she hadn’t even read the book! How is that supposed to work? I guess some would say she should have read it since the assignment was given a week ago, but how is she supposed to read a book AND take tennis lessons four nights a week so we can crush Helen? Maybe I should send a note to the teacher explaining things. Or maybe a link to this blog. It’s obvious she doesn’t understand the life of a 4th grader.

But then again, who does? Moon came home yesterday complaining that a boy told her friend Katie, that “Those pants make your butt look fat.” Yeah, 4th grade and he’s already going there. I considered marching up to the school today and giving him a piece of my mind, but then I remembered the size of MY butt and thought maybe we’d just pray for him instead.

I’ve reminded Moon three times this week that I told her if she’d learn to play bridge we’d home-school. And by “home-school”, I mean play bridge every day at the Ruff-n-Sluff. Hey, those people don’t care about the size of your butt. But play the wrong card, and they’ll make Helen look like Mother Theresa.

Competition *UPDATED

Posted on February 7, 2012February 7, 2012 by Zolligirl

Hello, Kittens! Is everyone having a zippetty-doo-dah day? If I sound a little perkier than usual, it’s because I decided to write this blog post in the middle of the day while I was actually awake. We’ll see if it makes any more sense than usual. I’m actually in a FINE mood because I’m doing something really exciting tonight. That’s right – BRIDGE. But not just the usual night of bridge where I get beat and eat myself into a carbo-loaded coma, but a bridge night at the CLUB, where I nervously eat myself into a carbo-loaded coma THEN go get beat. See the difference? Not that I’m really worried. Carolyn and I are going to DESTROY somebody.

Ahem. Sorry, but there’s something about competition that gets me fired up. Speaking of which, MoonPie has totally caught the tennis fever! Well, fever for the clothes. I found a $50.00 Nike skirt in her size at Goodwill for less than four dollars and the girl loves it. She struts around the court like she paid full retail. Helen? She wears jeans. I think we all know who the real winner is, amiright?

Winning runs in the family. This past weekend, we went to see Rimfire kick serious booty in the National Paulding County Grand Finale Basketball Championship for the Gifted. Her team won by three points in a real nail-biter. Rimfire scored 2 baskets so I think we can safely say she totally won the game for them.

Hey, the first rule of competition is learning to take the credit when you win! And the 2^nd is learning to place the blame when you lose. See Gisele Bundchen Brady for more on that. Or Carolyn tomorrow depending on how tonight goes.

*Alas, Carolyn and I lost. It wasn’t out fault, the other people totally cheated. And that’s rule #3, in case you’re keeping track.

Congrats to Patty and Vicky who took 3rd EW. Way to represent the Cartouche Bridge Club ladies.

I Want to Be Known as Blog Master

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Zolligirl

Every now and then, I’ll get up and find JD has put the television on some weird “wake-up” channel. You know the type, where it just shows a lake at sunrise, with the sounds of crickets, etc. I guess it’s supposed to give you a peaceful, easy feeling.

This is like that for me.

Joy Journal 44-50

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Zolligirl

My Sunday was full of great stuff – great worship, a convicting message, a good lunch with friends, and MORE great worship. There are days when all of the junk of life makes it hard to have a grateful heart, but this morning is not one of them. I am BLESSED. Here are just a few random things I’m thankful for.

44. Lunch at the Colonnade

45. Reading The Underneath with Moonpie

46. That I can watch sermons online

47. Ranch dressing

48. Good BBQ

49. That I went to India

50. Giants win!

It’s been a busy weekend, Kittens, so I’ll stop there. I’ll have a full recap of the happenings tomorrow, so until then, know that if there had been a #51, it’d be YOU.

Holy Sunday

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Zolligirl

I’m not very good at writing about issues of faith, so this week I decided to start the Holy Sunday posts again, so that I’d have to get more comfortable. I had every intention of writing something deep and inspiring, but now it’s Sunday morning, I still haven’t showered, eaten breakfast or figured out what I’m going to wear.

Doesn’t matter, Andy Stanley is WAY better at this faith stuff anyway. If you’re passing on church today, or if you’d just like to hear a really good message about focusing on your ONE THING, click this link.
It’s what’s driving me this week.

You Can’t Take It With You, Might As Well Sell It.

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Zolligirl

My mom and Aunt Fay were in town this past weekend and I’m STILL exhausted. They pulled in the driveway at noon on Thursday, and as we are wont to do, we headed straight to an Estate Sale. I don’t remember what we bought, but I remember the two ladies working the sale. Cause they were HORRIBLE. Mainly because they were sitting behind a tiny table, eating pizza while we were trying to check out, and yes, “horrible” is used loosely here.

Friday, I had a meeting with my writers’ group, while mom and Fay went to another Estate Sale. They came home with a few more items, but nothing too exciting. Unless you consider TV trays exciting.

Saturday morning came and we were back on the streets. For the first time in history, we went to an Estate Sale and bought NOTHING. Kittens, there is nothing more disheartening than prowling through a house full of dead people’s stuff and not getting to take any home, amiright??

The whole day would have been a waste except that I found a lady on Craig’s List advertising thousands of pieces of vintage jewelry. Thousands! We called and she told us to come right over. Right over to Jonesboro, an hour away. Luckily, she hadn’t lied about the jewelry. We told her we were only interested in the cheap stuff – which didn’t seem to surprise her at all – and she pulled out box after box of $5 dollar jewelry.

My mother didn’t look up for two hours straight.

This is my favorite find:

It has an L on it. Hello? The Lord wanted me to have it!

After emptying our wallets, we finally made it home. The ladies immediately left for Tennessee, and I collapsed on the couch. We had fun and found a few things, but as Estate Sale weekends go, it was just meh. Where are all the dead people? I blame all the cushy retirement communities. Oh, for the good old days when people died in their thirties! Oh well, maybe we’ll get lucky this winter and have another outbreak of the flu. Hopefully somewhere where they wear a lot of rhinestones.

Birthday Images

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Zolligirl

MoonPie and my brother, Ammo Guy, celebrated their birthdays last week. Moon is TEN (10!) and AG is FORTY (40!!!). I think one was a little more happy with their number than the other.