I realize I skipped this week’s Holy Sunday, but in my defense this whole “spring forward” thing really took it’s toll. And by “spring forward”, I mean the two glasses of wine I had Saturday night. GRACE, thank you, Jesus.

I did manage to drag myself out of bed and go to church, so points for attendance! I also spent some time reading a book on gratefulness. Quoting Julian of Norwich, Ann Voskamp writes:

The highest form of prayer is to the goodness of God…God only desires that our soul cling to him with all of its strength, in particular, that it clings to his goodness. For of all the things our minds can think about God, it is thinking upon his goodness that pleases him most and brings the most profit to our soul.

Obviously, I’ve been doing this Joy Journal wrong. Instead of just concentrating on thankfulness on Mondays, I should be doing this EVERY DAY. Oh.

I’m thankful for:

91. A beautiful day of cloud watching

92. Dinner and dancing with good friends

93. Ibuprofen

94. The deliciousness of croissant rolls

95. Italian Mastiff puppies at the dog park

96. Spring breezes and kids with kites

97. watching dvd’s and eating soup

98. free Friday downloads at Barnes and Noble

99. a clean house

100. recipes shared online

So now I’m adding all of these to an actual journal, then I’ll try and write in it daily. Hopefully, next Monday I will be on a number much higher than 100. I have a blessed life – the Lord deserves to be praised. And even if I don’t – the Lord deserves to be praised.

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together … Psalm 34:1-3.

Apparently, Ohio doesn’t get me. I’m sorry, Rick, I did my part. I can’t believe my 40 phone calls didn’t help you carry the state! Stinkin’ city folk, to heck with ’em. When America goes down the drain, don’t come crying to me to teach you how to skin a buck or run a trot-line cause a country girl can survive, in Zollicoffer where my dad is. You ain’t welcome!

Watching the election returns put me in a foul mood. At least I think it was the election. I was playing the worst round of bridge of my life, while checking the news on my phone, so I’ve at least narrowed it down to one of those two things. It got so bad at one point that I kept hoping my opponent would stop breathing for the ten minutes she was at my table. In my defense, she had asthma and who CAN PLAY WITH ALL THAT WHEEZING?

Today was a little better in that I didn’t want anyone to die in my presence. I met a group of ladies where we talked about writing, then I came home and hung out with a friend. Oh, fine, I did a whole bunch of work in between those things cause Mama has to pay the bills, but not so much that it put me in a bad mood. I hit that perfect work-to-friends ratio and everyone around me is happier and healthier for it.

The only person in a bad mood at Chez Tyre is Moon. She had to log-on to her school’s website to do math. You have to get an 80 or better to pass. So if you miss a few questions, you have to do the whole thing over to raise your grade. Math is her favorite subject and she did the first series of questions perfectly. Then we got to some odd definition math thing. You had to tell which equations were examples of words I’d never heard of. I passed the whole thing over to JD. Which is why I had to come and break up a fight fifteen minutes later. Seems DAD kept convincing Moon that her answer was wrong and that she should go with his answer and that’s how she ended up with a 50 and he ended up with a sore nose. True, both of those things.

I was very proud. She is going to be a natural at the bridge table.

Kittens, this is never going to be a political blog, I can promise you that. First of all, I’m not smart enough to write about politics and secondly, with fewer than 17 people reading this blog per day, I can’t afford to tick anyone off. But it is SUPER TUESDAY, so I must tell you about my involvement in the political process, cause I’m pretty sure I’m making all the difference. (Look, if you’re on Team Obama, good for you. Seriously, I mean it. You don’t have to go through this crazy up and down process that those of us voting for the GOP are watching. Enjoy the fact that you’ve been spared this particular hell.)

I decided several weeks ago that I was going to vote for Rick Santorum, so yesterday I decided to make some phone calls on his behalf from home. This is what I was SUPPOSED to say:

Hello, May I speak to Mrs. Lewis? This is Zolligirl and I’m supporting Rick Santorum for President. I’m calling to urge you to join me  in supporting Rick Santorum in Ohio’s primary being held on Tuesday, March 6th. Can I count on your support for Rick Santorum as President?

Thank you for your time. This message was paid for by Rick Santorum for President.

Mine went more like this:

Me: “Hello? Is this Mrs. Lewis? Yay, a real live person! Hey, this is Zolligirl, and I just wanted to let you know I’m supporting Rick Santorum in tomorrow’s primary, and I’m hoping you’ll join me cause I LOVE HIM.”

Potential Voter: “Uh. Okay.”

Me: “So are you going to vote? Cause I think Rick Santorum is awesome!”

Potential Voter: “Well, I guess I might vote for him.”

Me, yelling: “YAY! THAT’S GREAT! I’m really hoping he’s going to pull it out on Tuesday.”

Potential Voter: “Uh, bye?”

Me in a cheery, sing-song voice: “Okay, then. This message was paid for by RICK SANTORUM! You enjoy the rest of your day!”

I’m expecting my invite to the victory party any second now.

It’s easy, when asked “Who or what are your greatest priorities?” to answer – God, JD, Moon, of course. What else would they be? Work? No. Housekeeping? Get real. Facebook? As IF. But when the question becomes, “If I took a look at how you spend your TIME, what would I see as your greatest priority?”, things get a little bit less clear.

But I have to work!

Have you seen my floors??

I just want a few minutes to check in with old friends, is that too much to ask?

A few weeks ago, I was sent Andy Stanley’s new book, When Work and Family Collide. In it, Andy tackles that very subject. He writes:

Reprioritizing your world around your family is not just a good idea; it’s a God idea. As a Christian, I don’t think I have any options when it comes to establishing my priorities. To ask my family to take the leftovers is more than insensitive. It flies in the face of everything we’re taught in the New Testament about the family. Nowhere in Scripture are you commanded to lay down your life for your stock options. Or to love your career like Christ loved the church. We’re instructed to Do our jobs and LOVE our families (see Colossians 3:323). When you love your job and do your family, you’ve not only stepped outside the bounds of family life, you’ve stepped outside the will of God.

Wow. I loved this book for so many reasons. Andy Stanley is a great communicator and it was easy to read. He tells stories to illustrate the issue, gives tools to help prioritize, and all of it is under girded by scripture. I want to buy this book and give it to just about every working person I know!

Take a look at YOUR schedule and ask yourself what it says about your priorities. Then go here to buy Andy’s book. You won’t regret it.