Friday, October 29, 2010

Addicted to Facebook

Recently, I've noticed some addictive behaviors in my life. No, I don't do drugs. I do... Facebook.  So, I've decided to make a list of such behaviors in order that others might recognize the addiction in their own lives before it's too late.

You know you're spending too much time on facebook when...
  • You're reading a blog and think "Ha! I like that! Where's the 'like' button?" 
  • You feel the urge to hit the "report spam" button when an ad comes in your (actual) mailbox.
  • You take a picture and the first thing you think is, "That one's going to be my profile pic!"
  • You haven't gone out with your friends in weeks, yet you know every detail of their lives.
  • Someone tells you a joke at work and you respond by shouting "LOL!"
  • The logo on your milk jug makes you wonder if your "Farmville" crops have come in yet.
  • You stamp "remove from friends" on the forehead of that annoying chick in the next cubicle.
  • You go to the bathroom in the middle of your date to post a status update: "Rocking this! I see a second date coming soon."
  • You start to receive emails offering you a position in support tech.
  • The only way you talk to your partner is by commenting on his/her wall.
  • You're considering starting up a second profile for your dog.
  • You would rather post youtube videos than watch that movie you rented.
  • Your Warcraft friends have joined facebook to see what all the hype is about.
  • Your friends recommend going to a local chapter of Facebookers Anonymous.
  • You just googled Facebookers Anonymous.
  • You're offended by any of the above.
If you or anyone you know suffers from a facebook addiction, please seek help immediately.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Changing Season

Ahh, fall..  How I love it; the changing leaves, the breezy days, the hustle and bustle... I especially love the memories fall brings. I remember roasting marshmallows in our back yard. I remember jumping into huge piles of leaves, not worrying about the dirt or bugs inside. I remember the excitement of picking out a Halloween costume and going to fall festivals and, of course, trick-or-treating.  When I was a kid, the span between Halloween and Christmas seemed to last forever.  But now that I have my own kids, I find myself thinking, "Halloween is in a couple of weeks, and Christmas is just two months away!! AAAHHH!!"

Nevertheless, I love it. The short weeks from now till New Year's are my absolute favorite time of the year. I love the scarves and sweaters. I love the sounds and the smells. One of my favorite smells is burning leaves. It signals change and warmth and fellowship to me.  I can't wait to take my kids camping or to build a bonfire and roast marshmallows with them. Last year we had a fireplace so we were able to roast marshmallows over the fire in our apartment. We made s'mores. Need I say more? Fun! But not the same. Strange though it may seem, I also love the busy feel that lies in the months ahead. I enjoy the rush and the excitement of visiting family and friends, trying to find that perfect gift for someone, and asking yourself, "Does this sweater match these boots?" about a hundred times. *Sigh*

In many ways, the past year has flown by. It was just last fall that I started this blog. In the past year, I have laughed, I have cried, I have learned, and I have grown (and so have my children, albeit differently). We have experienced many changes and many blessings, as well as uncertainty at times. The days seemed to stretch on and on during the hard times. But these hard times are what have made us stronger, as we trust in the Lord who lead us here. As with the new season, change is on the horizon for us. The new steps my husband is taking in his job are leading us onward and upward, and we can't wait to see what God has planned for us next. I love the Changing Season. I can't wait to dive headfirst into the excitement that lies ahead. Change is a good thing!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Inspiration (or: "Music of My Own")

When inspiration hits, you can truly be anywhere - in the shower, in the kitchen, seconds before you fall asleep. Inspiration hit me in the face today while sitting on my couch drinking my morning cup of coffee. Thankful to have my pen and notebook handy, I began to write... and write... and scratch that out.. and write some more. It just seemed to pour out of me: a praise song. Usually when I write, poems pour out. But recently songs have been coming to me, seemingly out of nowhere. This is where I wish I had stuck with those video taped keyboard lessons as a kid, because it's not just the lyrics that come to me, but the music as well. Of course, without recording myself singing it I will forget the tune within a few hours. Which sucks. But I guess I can always come up with a (better?) tune later as long as I have the lyrics written down. 

From the day H was born I've been making up songs. Songs about cleaning up. Songs about washing our hands. Songs about going to bed. They're just silly little songs that usually follow a familiar tune (Twinkle Twinkle, London Bridge, Mary Had a Little Lamb), and my kids love them. But up till now I've never written any songs down, nor have I written a song more serious than going pee pee in the potty.  It's definitely piquing my interest a bit, and I can't wait for more inspiration to flow. I'm not secretly wishing to become a songwriter for famous singers or anything (cause who would want that??), just enjoying the music.

I've always been a musical person. My grandmother used to pick me up from "school" (daycare?) when I was little, and we would sing all the way back to her house.  I was in children's choir by 2nd grade. I was in the competitive chorus group in high school.  Every year at Christmas, my (other) grandmother "asks" (it's really not optional) me and/or my sister to sing in front of the family.  Yet, somehow the thought of singing my own songs to other people scares the crap outta me.  Here's the hitch, though: I genuinely want to get over this fear. It's a bit ridiculous, don't you think? Ok, so I may not be the next American Idol or anything, but I have a decent voice. Why should I be nervous? Maybe one day I'll get over my shyness and share my songs with the world. Until then, (ba-da-da-da-da!) I'm lovin' it!