Six Bricks High

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:14:00 +0000

Fab Forty Update

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:36:00 +0000

Here we are another month into 2010, another month closer to my 40th birthday, another month I've had to work on my '40 Things' list. February seemed to fly by! I think I said that about January as well. It is hard to believe it is already March.

Here is a little update on what I accomplished in the month of February...

I wrote a guest post for another blog. In keeping with the whole 40 theme, I wrote about 40 Things I've learned. (Thanks Linda for asking me to do that)
I went on a date with my husband
I had an evening out with girlfriends
I gave away $40
I did a random act of kindness

You can click on the 'Fabulous at Forty' button to see my updated list. I'm enjoying accomplishing things on my list, but am eagerly awaiting spring and nice weather to do a few more things.

I've got some stuff in the works that I'm excited about too, like some guest posts here at Six Bricks High, and a giveaway too. Yes indeed, there will be a giveaway here sometime this week.

In other news, I went bowling this weekend. I bowled a 92 and I may have used bumpers to assist me. My score may have been stinky but it sure was fun. How was your weekend? Did you get to do anything fun?

Spirit Week Continues

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:49:00 +0000

Today was duct tape day.

Tye-Dye duct tape, who knew?

Like Totally Tubular

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:30:00 +0000

This morning as I was upstairs getting ready for the day my daughter was preparing for spirit week at school. I was applying make-up when I received this text message…

Mom get down here I need an 80s expert

It happened to be 80’s day at school and Tori wanted some input on her outfit.

Just another indication that I will indeed turn 40 this year.

40 Things I've Learned

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:07:00 +0000

Some of the details are hazy now but there are things about that late August day that have stuck with me through the years. The year was 1975; it was the year I started I school. The bell rang and the moms got their kindergartners settled into the classroom. I remember carefully checking out my surroundings. As I looked around the room at my new classmates I saw one girl crying. She was scared and unsure and more than anything she wanted her mommy. I went and stood by the crying girl thinking that maybe she would feel better if she had a friend on that day. We could face the big, scary world together and perhaps that would be a little easier...

If you would like to read the rest of the story, head over to Linda's blog where today I am her guest poster.

Linda is turning 40 just like me this year, she even has a '40 things' list.

Be sure to check out her blog, I know you will love it! She has got a great giveaway going on too.

Because I’m Too Busy Watching Speed Skating

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:50:00 +0000

I am unable to come up with anything to say here on the blog because I’m entirely too consumed with the Olympics. And since I have nothing to say, I think you should read what someone else has to say…

If you are a parent, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post. I happened upon it as I was doing a little internet browsing all while watching the Olympics. Know this, I love youth ministry and those that serve in youth ministry, but I’m wondering if us parents have allowed it to take a greater role in the life of our kids than it really should.

I’m hoping that you, my friends, have had an enjoyable Valentine’s Day!

Let's Talk About It

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:11:00 +0000

Somewhere along the line my thinking became distorted.
It is my desire to be a good mom, wife, and friend. And I have done my best to be just that. I've tried to give everything I have to do those things well. Often neglecting my own self to care for others; thinking it was selfish to take time for myself. I haven't taken very good care of myself.
But now, my thinking is beginning to change. I'm starting to realize that if I take care of myself, I can be a better mom. A better wife. A better friend. I'll have more to give.
This year I've got a goal. I'm planning on taking better care of myself.
Go visit Genny at My Cup 2 Yours where people are Talkin' About their goals this week.

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:37:00 +0000

Did you notice that things here on my blog have been a bit slow lately? It is because my life outside of blogland has been anything but slow. In the words of my sister, "Sometimes life is like a marathon, sometimes it is like a sprint, but recently it feels like I am sprinting a marathon".

Here are a few bullet points to hold you over until I can compose a real post...

I am working on getting up earlier in the mornings. I like to have slower mornings and not feel like I am rushing around in a frantic state. Eventually, I'd like to get up at 5 but 5:30-5:45 is the best I can do right now.
My television watching has really slowed lately too. I'm not watching American Idol or Biggest Loser but I am planning on watching Survivor. Anyone else planning on it?
I'm looking forward to the Olympics. I have always loved the Olympics. If I could choose one winter sport to be an Olympic athlete in, I would totally want to be a speed skater.
I love my Google Reader. But when life gets busy, I'm guilty of reading all the blogs in my reader and rarely clicking through to comment. Do you feel like reading in a reader is a deterrent to commenting?

Happy Wednesday to you all!

Post-It Note Prayers

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:20:00 +0000

This mom is on my heart in a real big way. I'm praying for Lisa as she battles cancer. I've got Lisa's name written in purple sharpie marker, on a yellow sticky-note, stuck to my bathroom mirror. Every time I see her name there on my mirror I take time to pray for her.

Will you join me in praying for Lisa?

And if you could use some prayer too, please let me know. I would be honored to write your name on a sticky-note and plaster it on my bathroom mirror right next to Lisa's.

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:55:00 +0000

How would you like to win $100? Yeah, I'd like it too. Go check out Sharon's blog for your chance to win. I thought about trying to keep this giveaway a secret in hopes of increasing my chances of winning. But, I'm working on being a more generous person, so I decided to go ahead and share it with you. Because I'm nice like that; it's just how I roll.

Go ahead, go enter.

Fab Forty Update

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:48:00 +0000

I thought it about time to give y'all a little update on my '40 Things in My 40th Year' list. If I've got my math right, I figure I need to be crossing off about 3.3 items off my list each month if I plan on having them all checked off at the end of the 12 month time frame.
And now that the month of January is over (can you believe we are already in the 2nd month of 2010?) it is time to evaluate my progress. I'm a bit disappointed to say that I don't get to check off any items on my list...none, nada, nothing, zilch-o, a big fat ZERO. It isn't that I didn't do a few things; it is just that I put several things on my list that were multi-parters. You know, things I want to do more than once, or things I want to do once every month.
So, the way I'm figuring it, I'm way behind. And for a girl who loves to check things off a list it is a real bummer to come to the end of the first month and not get to make any check marks. I love to check things off so much that I'm known to actually add something to my list after I have completed it just so I can cross it off.
Let me tell you what I did do this last month...

I went to physical therapy recently, and for the first time since my knee surgery they put me on a exercise bike for a few minutes. I rode 2.5 miles. 2.5 miles down, 397.5 to go.
I went on 1 date with my hubby...dinner and a movie.
My goal is to do 1 girlfriend get-together every month. January held 2 girlfriend get-togethers for me! So fun!
I'm working on being more hospitable again. It is something I used to do real regularly, but then life got kinda crazy and I let the whole hospitality thing slip in a big way. In January, we invited friends over one evening, and I really enjoyed it.
My list included giving away $40 every month and also doing some random acts of kindness. I kinda feel funny talking about these things so rather than telling you what I did, I will just let you know that I did giveaway the money and I did 1 random act of kindness. And I really enjoyed doing it.
I also did one giveaway on my blog...3 more to go.

How did your January go? Did it seem to fly by like mine did?

Guess Who

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:35:00 +0000

Guess who is 10 months old?

Guess who started walking? It is the cutest little bundle of wobbliness ever!

Guess who has learned the sign language sign for more? Now between bites in the high chair, he signs for more rather than blurting out an impatient yell.

Guess who loves his Grandpa? When his grandpa leaves the room, or if his grandma wants to hold him while his grandpa is within view, this little someone throws a big ol’ fit.

Did you guess…

my grandson?

If you did, then you are absolutely correct! And it is all so cute! Well, except that part about him liking his grandpa more than his grandma, that is not so cute.

More Thoughts on Socks & Scrabble too

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:40:00 +0000

I considered wearing mismatched socks today, but I realized my socks are either black, brown, or the no-show athletic white ones. Somehow doing a little mix-up from my selection didn’t look so appealing.

I loved all the comments to the socks post. Jules let me know she just ordered some…there is actually a site where you can buy mismatched socks. Too fun! My daughter checked it out and apparently you can buy a shower curtain with the periodic table too.

I laughed when I saw my sister’s comment - “I wore mismatched socks the other day, one was black and one was navy blue. For some reason, it wasn't so cute on me.”

In other news, Granny is home from the hospital. She came home earlier this week and is doing well.

Speaking of Granny…that makes me think of crossword puzzles. Do you all do those things? On my grandma’s 91st birthday, as she was lying in that hospital bed, she was working on her crossword puzzle books. She would occasionally ask the question out loud and I was always clueless. But I think those have been good exercises for her brain, and I wondered if I should start exercising my brain. After all, I will be turning 40 this summer. Oh and scrabble, my granny has played a lot of scrabble too.

I’m excited that it is Friday! I’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Maybe I’ll even play a game of scrabble.

How about you, what are you looking forward to this weekend?

Just for the Joy of It

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:10:00 +0000

When I took my daughter shopping for jeans this is what I saw peeking out from the under the dressing room door…

I took my daughter to the doctor and when they asked her to remove her shoes and have a seat on the table this is what I saw…

Her mismatched socks make me smile.

Tomorrow maybe I will wear socks that don’t match Just for the Joy of It.

Granny

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:18:00 +0000

I had intentions of doing a sweet post about my grandma who celebrated her birthday today. She is 91.

I grew up calling her ‘grandma’, then when I had kids we began to refer to her as ‘great-gran’. Now that I have a grandson that makes her a great-great-grandma. Five generations. And now we lovingly call her ‘Granny’.

Unfortunately, Granny spent her birthday in the hospital. So instead of taking time to put together an elaborate post with pictures of my precious grandma and the kids that call her granny, we spent time at the hospital with her.

My granny, my mom, myself, my kids and my grandson we all spent time in that hospital room today (along with other family members). We were celebrating granny’s 91st birthday. We were celebrating granny.

And we are all praying she gets to come home soon!

It’s the Thought That Counts

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:31:00 +0000

I’m hanging out with my daughter today. We are getting ready to head out and do some shopping. But first, Tori made breakfast for us.

Tori was excited to make pancakes for breakfast. She had found a pancake mix that was compatible with her food allergies. Wheat free, corn free, potato free. We haven’t had much success with wheat free pancakes in the past.

This morning the pancakes looked like this…

and we were hopeful. Tori even topped the pancakes with strawberries and they looked even more appealing.

Tori took a bite and squealed with delight. Finally, a pancake that she wasn’t allergic to and she actually liked it. I waited to see her reaction before taking a bite myself. After seeing a positive response from her I went ahead and took a big ol’ bite. And then I almost puked. Then I thanked God that I wasn’t allergic to wheat.

For now I need to go get ready to do some shopping. Oh and I need to find something to eat for breakfast. And Tori, she is enjoying her pancakes with strawberries.

If you have any wheat free recipes that actually taste good, I would love to hear them.

Happy Monday!

Haiti

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:34:00 +0000

I was in bed for two straight days this week. I began to feel better yesterday. The tissue is still on hand by my bedside. But it only got used once last night. My body must be well rested, because on this Saturday morning that I was hoping to sleep in, my eyes have been wide open since 5:45 am. None of this really matters though; it all pales in comparison to what is really on my heart.

Not quite ready to start my day, I decided I would grab my laptop and stay in bed. As I sit in the dark with only the glow of a computer screen, my mind seems to only be able to think of one thing. Haiti.

My heart and mind are heavy with thoughts of Haiti.

The devastation is horrific.

All I know to do is to pray and give.

I am praying. Praying for the people, the hurt, the sick, the scared, the family members who have lost loved ones. Praying for the people, the workers that are coming to the aid of those devastated, the doctors, the nurses, the ones desperate to help in some way. Praying for the people who are in the midst of devastation.

Praying for the Livesay family, living and serving in Haiti.

Everyone can do something. Not sure what to do? Pray.

You can also give $10 to the Compassion Disaster Relief Fund by texting “disaster” to 90999 (it will be added to your next phone bill).

Let’s all do something to bring help to Haiti…let it start with prayer.

Please Pass the Tissue & the Decongestant

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:18:00 +0000

I’m sick today. I’m in bed with a mound of pillows propped behind my back and many a blankets covering my clammy body. And my nightstand looks something like this -

Except mine has a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of nasal spray in the midst of all those wads of tissue rather than a nice box of Kleenex.

Since I’m not feeling so great I can’t think of anything profound or insightful to share here on the blog. Come to think of it, even when I’m feeling good I have trouble sharing anything profound.

So today, I thought I would browse through my pictures and pick a few to share with you. Please don’t pay any attention to the quality of the photo or even the mess in the background. Just notice how stinkin’ cute my grandson is.

For your viewing pleasure…

This grandma bought the little guy a rocking horse for Christmas.

I think he may grow up to be a cowboy. He takes his riding real serious.

It didn’t take him long to figure out that if you grab the ear of the horse it will make noise and move its head and tail.

I think that grandbaby of mine may be a genius.

The Gift Card Goes To...

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:34:00 +0000

Winners have been chosen courtesy of Random.org...

Jenn @ A Country Girl's Ramblings is the winner of the $15 gift card.

Because I'm feeling generous (and I'm wanting to giveaway $40 month), I decided to randomly choose 2 more winners.

Cathy of Tales of the TCKK Family and Melissa from A Familiar Path you two are winners too.

I'll need to know if you gals would like a gift card for Starbucks or Sonic.

Just like that I am on my way to crossing things off my '40 list'.

Fab Forty {40 Things My 40th Year}

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Twenty-Ten is the year that I turn Forty.

There was a time in my life that I couldn’t imagine being older than 28. But 28 has long since come and gone, and come July I will be half-way to 80. And you know what? I’m actually looking forward to it. I’m excited to see what 2010 holds for me, I’m hoping that 40 IS Fabulous. After all, they say that 40 is the new 30.

Since I’m turning 40, I’ve decided to make a list of 40 things that I would like do this year. Some of the things on my list are just for me, some focus on my relationship with others, some are things I want to do around my house, some are even blog related, and some are just for fun.

Without further ado, here is my list of 40 things -

Lose 40 pounds
Bike 400 miles (I don’t own a bike or a gym membership so I don’t yet know how I’m going to accomplish this one)
Get a pedicure
Go have a facial (I have never done this before and I have no clue how much it would cost. If it costs a gob of money then my sister will have to come over, wrap my hair in a towel, and put some cucumber slices on my eyes. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind giving me a facial.)
Read the book of Proverbs 4 times
Go to the dentist (I’m dreading this one, but it needs to be done)
Read 4 books, at least one of them a novel (I know, 4 books in a whole year, I really am an over-achiever. Seriously, it has been awhile since I’ve read anything more than a blog or a magazine.)
Read the New Testament through 2 times
Go back to school
Eat some Gelato
Go on at least 12 dates with my hubby 2 done
Go on an overnight/out-of-town trip with my husband
Get together with girlfriends once a month just because done in January, February
Be more hospitable – invite people into my home at least 5 times 1 done
Take each of my children out…just them, just because
Giveaway $40 a month done in January, February
Take a meal to someone
Choose new paint colors for the outside of the house (I don’t know when the house will get painted, but it takes me forever to make paint color choices)
Try my hand at a crafty project and blog pictures of the completed project (even if it is super ugly)
Do 7 random acts of kindness 2 done
Go golfing
Go to a show or event of some kind
Plan and go on a summer vacation – on a budget
Do something spontaneous
Take walks by the river at least 5 times – I want to enjoy outside more
Do one nature-y thing I’ve never done before
Plan a surprise
Watch Pride and Prejudice (the long version)
Make bagels from scratch
Plant flowers
Make some decorating decisions – Decorate a room on a budget
Paint 1 piece of furniture
Tackle one organizational project
Spray paint something
Go to IKEA
Have 4 giveaways on my blog 1 done
Have 4 guest posts on my blog
Be a guest poster on another blog did that here
Make a batch of freezer jam
Have family pictures taken
Get a tattoo – I’m thinking big butterfly wings across my back

Oh wait, the list was supposed stop at 40, so I guess I have to scratch that last one. Did I have you worried Mom? I’m laughing out loud at myself right now about that whole tattoo thing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to tattoos, it’s just that I’m not the kind of girl that volunteers to do anything that causes any pain. That’s exactly why I had to put go to the dentist on my ‘40 things list’. I have put off going to the dentist because I haven’t wanted to be in any pain. But I am a list girl and if it is on my list I will be motivated to get it crossed off. Besides that I already have a tattoo Mom. Here I go, laughing at myself again. I’m just kidding! About the tattoo, not the laughing out loud at myself.

I’ll be keeping you posted on my progress. Remember, my friend Jill is doing a ‘40 Things List’ too. And Kim, she is doing a list too, but hers is 100 things in 1000 days. Let me know if you are going to do a ‘list’ this year too. I’d love to follow your progress.

40

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:57:00 +0000

2010 is a big year. Big things call for big celebrations.

I’m turning 40 this year!

And In the words of Kool & The Gang…

There’s a party going on right here 
A celebration to last throughout the year
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate and party with you - Come on now
Let’s all celebrate and have a good time
We gonna celebrate and have a good time

What? You don’t know that song? You must not be 40 yet.

Yep that is right, there is a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the year. Want to celebrate with me? It will be good times and laughter too.

Because I want to live this year with intention, I’m setting out to do forty things this year. 40 things as I turn 40. My friend Jill is also turning the big 4-0 this year and she is doing forty things too. I think it is going to be a ton of fun.

Here’s the deal, on Monday I will be posting my list of 40 things I want to accomplish this year. Simple things really. Then throughout the year I will keep you posted on my progress.

But what is a party without presents? Actually, a party without presents is still a good time, but to kick-off this celebration I’m offering a little prize. A $15 gift card to your choice of Starbucks or Sonic.

Wanna win? Here’s what you have to do:

Leave me a comment on this post, just for fun

And for one more chance to win -

Visit Jill’s blog and leave her a comment, then leave another comment here letting me know you went to visit her

Then come on back here on Monday and I’ll let you know who the lucky winner is.

Let’s get this party started!

Scrolling Blog Buttons – A Tutorial

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:43:00 +0000

You asked for it, you got it. You wanted to know how to do one of those thingies like I have over there in the sidebar of my blog; that widget where the blog buttons are scrolling. Well, you all didn’t ask for it, but at least one of you did. {Katie this post is for you.}

Let me first tell you that I am a real novice at the whole HTML thing. I learned to do this by doing a google search for ‘scrolling blog button thingy’. Chances are, if you have any questions about the little tutorial I’m about to give you I probably won’t be able to answer them.

Here you go, a guide to making your blog buttons scroll…

Go into the Layout page and click ‘Add a Gadget’
Choose HTML/Javascript
Add the following code in the text box:

<center><div class="textwidget"><marquee direction="up" width="200" onmouseover="this.stop()" scrollamount="5" onmouseout="this.start()" height="400" align="center"> Put HTML codes here for the blog buttons you want. You can add as many as you want. </marquee></div></center>

4. Click save

A couple tips:

the number 5 highlighted in the code above determines how fast the buttons scroll. The higher the number, the faster they scroll.
I like to save mine in a word document, it seems to make it easier for editing purposes. When I want to add a new button I just go add it to my word document, then edit the html code by copying and pasting the whole thing.

There you have it, that is all there is to it. Go give it a try and please let me know if you do. And if you do have any questions, please go ahead and ask, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Let your blog buttons scroll!

Life Can Be Hard

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:09:00 +0000

Sometimes life is hard. And if life isn’t hard for you right now, it is hard for someone else.

School resumes schedule tomorrow, but my daughter will return to a school with one less student. A precious life of a teen lost over Christmas break.

A young dad, doing his best to provide for his family, lost his job as the New Year started.

One mom loses her fight with cancer. A husband left now without a wife, children left without their mother.

These things are hard.

Like an earthquake to our very being, shaken to the core, broken hearts are left in the rubble.

While these hurts are not my own, my heart aches for those that are hurting. I can’t begin to imagine the depth of their pain. As I look on from the outside, I have a reverence for their hurt.

Life is insistent, it forces itself upon you. I don’t want it to be so forceful. I want it to slow down, to stop, to be respectful of others. I want life to be considerate. Instead though, life insists on pressing on.

But I want to stop, I want to pause.

Pause and be still for just a bit.

Be still and know that in the aftermath of these life shaking events hearts are hurting.

I will pause and I will pray. Because when life is hard that is all I know to do.

My {Blogging} Year in Review

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:52:00 +0000

A year’s worth of blogging is coming to a close and I’m reflecting on my little place here on the world-wide-web. Lots of stuff goes on in life and only a portion of it makes its way onto this blog of mine.

Here’s a re-cap of the things I’ve shared this last year…from the serious to the silly.

I started the year off talking about the year ahead and a few goals I had. This post, ‘Financial Diaries of a Regular Mom’, talked of my desire to make some changes to the financial situation of our family. Overall, it has been a year of experiencing progress in this area…maybe I will share more lessons learned later.

In February I told you I was ‘Signing Off’, my heart was heavy and I needed a little bloggy break.

Then I came back from my break and let you all in on the ‘Unexpected News’. It took me awhile to share with you about my teen son having a baby on the way, but when I did you were all so very sweet.

I told you about the time I asked God to speak to my anxious heart, and He did, right in the middle of the dentist office waiting room. I had a ‘Waiting Room Revelation’.

In May, I kicked off my Family Life Series. Week 1 of the Series was done by a favorite blogger of mine, Sara. She talked about how parenting teens starts when they are young. I really enjoyed doing this series. It was so fun to have such great guest posters. I think I would like to do a few more series in the upcoming year. Would you like to do a guest post?

Later, I told you how ‘Unexpected News Brings Unexpected Blessings’. I showed you a picture of my son playing Jesus Loves Me on the guitar for his son. Totally melted this mom’s heart.

I told you about ‘A Day that Changed Our Lives’ – that is exactly what happens when your baby gets her driver’s license…lives are changed.

I let you in on the time that ‘we made caramel apples and we ate them for dinner’. That post of mine had the fewest words of any post I’ve ever written, but the most comments I have ever received…and for some reason that totally cracks me up. Maybe in 2010 I will write more posts with fewer than 15 words since those kind seem to be well liked.

There you have it, the serious and the silly of 2009.

I have enjoyed blogging this last year, but even more than my own blogging, it has been reading your blogs that have brought me great delight!

I’m looking forward to reading what you all have to say in 2010.

sixbrickshigh@gmail.com (Jamie @ Six Bricks High) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:28:00 +0000

I love these days leading up to the New Year. The busyness of December has come to a close and the pace of life is slowed to a enjoyable one. I bask in the leisurely pace and the time spent with family.

Strewn about the house are the remnants of Christmas and I’m not rushing to clean it all up. I decide not to grocery shop; instead we will live off the abundance of food bought and prepared in the week prior. Even an extra trip or two through a drive-through if need be.

I enjoy it while I can, knowing that there is only a small window of time where this feeling lingers. In just a few short days the leisurely pace will come to a screeching halt and life will resume its normally busy and sometimes hectic routine.

I’d love to have more days like these.

During these days I spend time reflecting over the year behind and looking forward to the year ahead. I love the beginning of a New Year, it signifies a fresh start. And something about a fresh start thrills me…it is so refreshing, it renews my hope, and ignites enthusiasm within me.

And while I know these slower paced days are ending soon I’m wondering if the feeling is more of a heart issue. I’m thinking it is a feeling I can cultivate in my heart through-out the year.

In 2010 I’d like more days like these.

In 2010 I’m hoping for more. I want to…

smile more
give more
pray more
love more
laugh more
relax more
read more
befriend more
say nice things more
enjoy more
encourage more
be generous more

How about you, what are you hoping for in the upcoming year?