The First Act of Simplification

image by jag@lwh via flickr

As soon as I published the last post I went online shopping to order 2010's word necklace.

I picked one out, customized it to say simplify, and was on the verge of entering my credit card information and pushing "send order".

The word simplify seemed to glow at me on the screen.

Well, it didn't actually seem to glow, but wouldn't that have been cool?

Actually, the phone rang. I have learned my lesson about pushing the final "buy" button in a hurry when I received two cameras for Christmas.

That short break gave me a moment to think about my new word. Simplify. I have enough necklaces to accessorize a small nation. Do I really need another? Is that really simplifying?

Simplify means to "make simple or easier"

Simple means "having few parts, not complex or complicated or involved"

It is painful, because I really like word necklaces.

I really like jewelery in general.

I really like ALOT of things.

But I don't really use ALOT of the things I already have. Like that second camera.

(just joking, I returned it about 10 minutes it arrived!)

Simplify

2008's word was "faith" and was a big success. I loved it and loved thinking about it and trying to understand the word throughout the year.

2009's word "embrace" was a big FAIL.
I didn't embrace many changes, and didn't embrace the status quo.
The necklace with the word "embrace" on it was cute...I'll still wear that!

I embark upon year three with a word that I need to ponder, think about, and hopefully love.
SIMPLIFY.

Now off to find my necklace for the year!
(The best part of a "word of the year")

What I Blogged about in 2009

This is my year in blogging.
book.
read.
like?
Do I use that word the most? I must because the bigger the word the more often it appeared in the blog.
I must expand my vocabulary.
You can do this too! Make a word cloud out of any written passage in just seconds at
http://www.wordle.net/
Happy New Year Beloved Reader(s)!

Christmas Thoughts

This message touched me when I heard it in Sunday School yesterday, and redirected some of my thoughts as Christmas rapidly approaches. It was originally given in December 1994 by President Howard W. Hunter at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

Enjoy!

This Christmas,

mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.

Wrtite a letter.

Give a soft answer.

Encourage youth.

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

Keep a promise.

Forgo a grudge.

Forgive an enemy.

Apologize.

Try to understand.

Examine your demands on others.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind.

Be gentle.

Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude.

Welcome a stranger.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Speak your love and then speak it again....

Christmas is a celebration and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of the true meaning of Christmas--with a sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most.

-President Howard W. Hunter

Merry Christmas!

(photo by maaco on flickr)

Cool but I can only do titles, not a real post :(

Blogging from 36,000 feet!

The Power of Sleep

I wrote a post last night lamenting everything in the world that can be lamented.

There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Partway through my teeth started to hurt from the gnashing and the weeping was clouding my vision so the post was saved and I retreated to an early bedtime.

12 hours of sleep later, I revisited the post and felt sympathy for the poor pitiable soul that wrote it.

me.

Everything looks rosy and the world is a good place this morning.

Sleep. I highly recommend it when upon life's billows you are tempest tossed (that's a hymn- and it tells you to count your blessings which is a fine idea also- but sometimes sleep trumps all!)
And if you are the mother of young ones....this too shall pass. Your day of uninterrupted sleep will return.