dusk of January, dawn of February 2011..

January was a fresh start to 2011.  All of my failures and mistakes of 2010 are in the past.  I have sought God's forgiveness and now I am moving on with my life.  I'm not going to let 2010 hinder me this year.  2011 is a fresh start..well, 31 days into a fresh start.  

January is gone... until next year.  Surprisingly, I am still doing pretty good on my new year's resolutions.. but I shouldn't brag or anything because come fall, I'll probably have slacked.  

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This past month has been a good month for me.  We got lots of snow! I only wished that it was here for Christmas time. I have a job and no longer on the FLEX team.  I am now a part time associate.  Wahooo. I volunteered at COH for kitchen help for a Saturday morning.  I was able to teach 2 nights of Awana (given, the first night was a complete flop).. I turned 24 and went out to eat with my family and it snowed on my birthday.  Also on my birthday, my ex de-friended me but I didn't let that ruin my day.  I did my first wheeley.. but I didn't tell my mother about that..she would never let me drive in snow again.  I was fine and so was the car.  This month I've also been faithful to enter daily the dream house giveaway.  Weird. I know. But I'm hoping and praying.  This month I also got my hair chopped off with my mom..we went to ulta and it was a great time.  Mom was completely nervous through it all.  I've also been blessed with a new friendship this month and a new nickname. And I ran 61 miles on the machine for marathon training.  

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February will be an interesting month...let's see, there is the Superbowl and Valentine's day and Groundhog's day.  The drawing for the dream home is in February as well.  On the 3rd Saturday there is the Camden trip.  On the 7th, (if my memory serves correctly), I'm going to help Danae paint her new place.  Danae will be moving away.  A bittersweet time...its just amazing how close we've come in the months that we've had together.  I have a dentist appointment on the first day of the month...so not looking forward to it.  A snow and ice storm is supposed to welcome February in.  By the end of the month, I hope to be able to run 8 miles straight on the machine.  Go me.!  This month I also have to mail out baby hats for warm up america .. even though I don't think the hats will be staying in America, that's what its called.  I'm also going to write to Mr. PResident about warm up America.  I can't wait to tell my brother what I did.  And in February... I get to see what happens to the hope that my heart is holding on to.  

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Hopeful is how I would describe my outlook for February.  I am certain that my God is in total control and He knows the plans He has for my life.. and this upcoming month. 

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 1:6 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

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Welcome February 2011!!!! 

question

where did January go????

Random....a letter to facebook...

Dear Facebook,

 I've decided to write a note about the things that I just can't stand about your site.  Now, I realize that Facebook is free to use however I think that you should consider our opinions when making changes. 

Things I can't stand:
1. Blue is my favorite color but I can't stand that Facebook has always been blue and white.  I understand that the blue and white scheme is kinda like a trademark of facebook just as how coke always comes in a red can.  However, it would be nice if users could pick out various blue and white color schemes. I like having a Twitter and a blog because I can change the backgrounds as I feel the need to.  Seasons change and my backgrounds for these two services change. I am sick and tired of seeing the same blue and white boring color scheme on your website.

2.The annoying adds along the side. I realize that you get funding from displaying adds - but please, they bother me. I like to see a clean screen.

3. Facebook chat. You basically stole the idea of IM... and I'm really not a fan of facebook chat.

4. Groups: what is the point of groups on facebook anyway?  Its not like we hold a group meeting and we don't do things in groups...so why bother?

5. I do not like the new facebook.  I think its silly.  You should take a popular opinion vote before making major changes. 

6. Privacy- I do not like the fact that I read about facebook privacy the other day in the newspaper and didnt find out about it until then.  I am a "consumer" of facebook, so to say.  Normal products have warnings on the bag that are visible to the consumers.  Facebook doesn't play by these rules.  The warnings of facebook are hidden to consumers and we find out about the fine print of privacy and other concerns, not through a message but through the newspaper or by word of mouth (or status).  Lame.  Please inform everyone before making a huge privacy adjustment. 

7. No, I do not want to play games on facebook.  No i do not want to raise a farm, be your neighbor in cityville, or play mafia wars for hours at a time.  PLEASE STOP SENDING ME INVITES TO THESE STUPID GAMES.

8. Maybe this is just me, but lately facebook has been kicking me off.  I log on and am not even on facebook for 5 minutes when all of a sudden a window pops up telling me that I have to log in to continue.  Excuse me?  But I just logged in.  So I log back in again but then I find myself being kicked off again... needless to say, after getting kicked off 2 times in 15 minutes, I decide that facebook is acting up and I could be doing better things.  So, in reality it is a good thing that facebook has decided to be kind and kick me off so that  i can use my time better.  However, it gets annoying being kicked off so often on this "new" version on facebook. 

9. To be honest... I just want to scream.  So many people are hooked on facebook.  You have so many people in bondage to their computer screens.  Shame on you, Facebook. 

10. Facebook is really shallow probably because it seeks relationships minus the personal contacts requried to maintain a healthy relationship.

11. Just so you know, Facebook... I was really concerned about trying Twitter out when it first started.  Now, I'm glad I did.  Twitter is much easier to use. The profile is brief, and all you have to do is update your status.  No games, no twitter chat... none of that and you can change your background.  Even though i have more "friends" on facebook, I think twitter is the way to go just because of the simplicity and the fact that I feel safer on twitter with my privacy levels than I do on facebook...who knows when russia will buy facebook and then so long to all of our identities.

..well, that's not all of my fustration, but that's all i'll share for now.
    
     Sincerely,
                     An Annoyed Facebook User .

Hope is such a lovely 4 letter word...

Such a short word, but great meaning.
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noun, verb, hoped, hop·ing.

–noun

1.

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

2.

a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.

3.

grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4.

a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.

5.

something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

–verb (used with object)

6.

to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

7.

to believe, desire, or trust: I hope that my work will be satisfactory.

–verb (used without object)

8.

to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring.

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right now, I'm in a season of hope... but i don't like to hope too much in case things don't work out like I would like them too.
Oh, but at least Jesus is my Hope who will never fail me.  PTL!
I can rest in Him and Hope in Him.