I’m testing a new plugin. Postie is supposed to post to my blog via email. We’ll see…

Sent via my Samsung Blackjack II

Sometimes I have so much to say, but there are no words that come freely or easily. I do not think we appreciate each day enough. I know that I do not. Monday’s are dreaded. Tuesday’s are just Tuesday. Wednesday is mid-week and there is hope that the weekend will soon be here. Thursday is just one more day and Friday is TGIF. Saturday and Sunday we try to fit in as much as possible or sometimes seek to achieve nothing at all. I believe I will make the decision to appreciate each day as it is and view each day as an adventure that I am blessed to have.

There are dark times that we face in life and there are bright spots through the clouds. Most of the time I seek to find the bright spots and seek to find what I can learn from the difficult times. Sometimes it is more difficult than others. Regardless of the belief that everything serves a purpose, it is sometimes difficult to see the purpose that could possibly be served. I look back on the darkest times of my life and I can see the purpose served. I can see where the troubling times of childhood have made me stronger. I contemplate the almost 14 years that I have been married and can see how we have grown closer and even stronger. The times have not always been sunny days, but there have always been bright spots in the clouds.

When I was a child and complained of stormy days, or even cloudy days, Gran would tell me that when you can see enough blue to make a kitten’s boot then sunshine was coming soon. I knew that the cloudy days would not last forever and searched for enough blue to make a kitten’s boot. I think we have to do the same thing in life. Search for the bright spots and let them bring a smile.

I’m glad Friday is upon us.

It is such a pleasure to teach at a school that is excited about ALL student achievements, not simply the score of Friday nights football game.  Other than the lack of a band program and marching band, it is sort of nice not to have a football team at all.   We have other sports…soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, track, and cross country.    Our school is mostly focused on academics and related competitions. 

With our Mock Trial team advancing to state level competition I have received many congratulatory comments from faculty AND students.  The students here care about each other, their school, and celebrate achievements across the board.  It is rather refreshing. 

I must say that I am rather happy with our small academic family.  I have my husband to thank.  Without his dream we would not be here.  I am very happy here and embrace the future for the adventures it will bring.  Despite the bumpy road behind us, I have faith that the path will become smooth and great things are to come.   Granted, we are forced to endure the patience lesson along the way.  That’s fine, it is a lesson we can learn together.

 In the words of the great Hannah Montana, “life’s what you make it so let’s make it rock!”

~*~

Testing the Postie plugin

*update*
New Plugin! Postie

Blog updates was one thing I wanted to use Twitter for. However, when I enabled the tool that would do a blog post the Twitter plugin went a little schitz. WP has an email-post function, but it required manual action to get the post to show. Not interested in that. If I wanted to manually update after an email post then I would just manually post! After periodic searches and a solid hour of wasted time (it took me that long to give in and read the instructions) I installed, activated, and configured Postie. I like it. Perfect for techno geeks like me! If you choose to play with Postie I recommend that you read the instructions FIRST. That whole part about creating two new folders in your WP directory…yeah, he meant that. It has to be done or the plugin won’t work. Simple to install (if you follow directions) and simple to use. Make sure the email addy you use is secure. Kind of an important point if you don’t want some twit posting to your blog for kicks and giggles.

Playing with Movie Maker again this morning. I uploaded to Picasa to share, but You Tube’s quality is SO much better and they accepted it without removing the sound so…

It is a video created with pics I’ve taken, or those that my FIL took. The music is This Is Your Time (reprise) by Michael W. Smith. Included in the video are various quotes and verses that I have enjoyed this morning. It seems the final quote is one that has great meaning to me lately.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (New International Version)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

I have been dwelling on this a good bit lately. The reason, I guess, is life and the situations we have faced this year. Regardless, I cling to the truth of the words and knowledge that even through the valleys there is light. I know not everyone believes this. We are free to believe as we choose. This is my choice.

After a VERY long day of regional competition my mock trial team advanced to state! WOOHOO! All the hours and hard work were worth it! Of course, it does mean that we have four more weeks of long days and hard work.

Hard work…pays off!

2009 has not gotten off to a good start for our family. My husband’s father passed in January and today we find out his Grandmother too. Believing that there is a better place, a place where the pain is gone, is helpful. However, it does not remove the sadness and feeling of loss.

I find myself at a loss for words. There are several things I would like to express, but I don’t know how to put it all together. Maybe later…

For now…please, again, remember our family. Many will be traveling over the next few days and my husband and his brothers have already faced one loss this year.

I am learning to use movie maker and it isn’t as easy as I imagined. Put pics in, add transitions, etc…yes, not too difficult. I, of course, am not satisfied with simply doing the basics. I am now practicing with a few of my favorite songs. I’m not to the point of creating my own anime productions, and that truly is not an interest. However, I do like putting images to music and creating something special. Here’s one of the first attempts…a very powerful song by one of my favorite artists.

I got to meet him several years ago

Music: Mark Schultz He’s My Son
Images: from my stock and the web

From Videos

So much has been our minds lately. We feel strongly that we are where we should be. We are closer than we have ever been. We are happy…but everything has not worked out like we expected. Life is like that sometimes. Sometimes we feel that we are doing all the right things so our prayers should be answered immediately. When they aren’t we feel ignored by God. It is important to remember that God is not ignoring us. God is not letting our prayers go unanswered. Sometimes God is simply saying no, not right now. I don’t know why, but that is just the way it is.

A few verses that were pointed out today and my personal favorite:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (New International Version)

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Don’t forget about others.

Galatians 6:2 (New International Version)

2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

My favorite verse, one that I apply to just about everything…

1 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I have often wondered why life has always been so difficult. Why did I have the childhood I had? Why was my grandmother sick my entire life? Why did she have to struggle for every breath? I don’t think I ever heard her blame God, or question God. Not ever. Sometimes life is just the way it is and it is that way to shape us into something useful later. I don’t have the answers, but I do know that I have been shaped by my life experiences and by the strength of my Gran who raised me when no one else wanted me. She was not what anyone would describe as religious. But she lived the best life she knew how. Survived life’s tribulations, including lifelong health difficulties, the death of two husbands, the betrayal of another, poverty, and the many hardships inspired by her sons. She did it all without complaint or question.

There have been ups and downs in my life. When I tried to go my own way I messed it up royally. Leaning on God is so much easier than walking without Him.