God and His Wacky Sense of Humor

People say this a lot: "Well, God has a sense of humor!" and it's never in response to a funny joke you just told them, like they're commenting on how God created us and our funnies. It's always stated in response to some weird thing you're dealing with, like how something crazy nutso is happening in your life and you're like, "What? And, also, why?" and that's when someone comes along (usually my mom) and she's all, "Well, God sure does have a sense of humor, right?"
So this:

One Word 2011

I read several blogs in which they have decided to choose
ONE word
that will define their year (instead of making resolutions).

I really liked the idea, but I had already made my resolutions. So, I have decided to do both.
I knew my word, instantly! I even commented on one of the blogs with my word: Challenge.

"Good word, Jennie. Good word."

Then...BOOM!
I started to feel like God was giving me a different word to define my year, and I wasn't happy about it.
Contentment.
Man....God, Why?! Why contentment?!
I struggle with contentment. I am restless a lot....with my life and circumstances.
I need to strive for Contentment, not in the sense that I will be complacent and inactive in my life, but okay with where God has me. I still have desires that I feel are God-given, but I have to be content with what God has given me. So here goes trying!

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Philippians 4:11-13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

New Years Resolutions

We are officially in the NEW YEAR....2011. Wow, how did that happen so fast?

Christy and I were discussing how well we did on accomplishing our 2010 Resolutions last week. So, I am pumped to start working on my 2011 New Years Resolutions. So far, I have been pretty lazy this year :) but I think I have some great resolutions to work on.

So here it goes.

1. Read MORE books, Buy LESS books.

I have the tendency to buy books and never read them. It will also help me financially to use the library for the majority of my reading material :)

2. Apply/Attend Graduate School.

I have decided to pursue Graduate School. So my goal is to apply and start in 2011!

3. Skydive

I have wanted to do this for a few years and I think this is the year!

4. Reach my Goal Weight.

I have been doing weight watchers for several months and haven't been too serious about it. So I want to buckle down and reach my goal weight. It is VERY possible and I would only have to lose about 5 lbs. per month.

5. Start running again.

This one is tough for me. I have a love/hate relationship with running. In my mind, I want to be a runner. I used to run. I hated every second, but I loved the way it made me feel. So I am going to give it another try. But I want to lose about 10 more lbs. before I start.

6. Travel.

That is ALWAYS on my list. I love to travel, so every year I want to go somewhere new, somewhere I have never been before.

So here it goes! I am ready! Are you?

Places to Go and People to See (or.... My Resolutions)

Last year, I posted my New Year's resolutions for 2010, and I think that posting them and keeping a list of them hanging in my cubicle really helped me do pretty well in accomplishing them.
I've been working on them for 2011, and I think I've got a good start.
Numero Uno on my list is a leftover from 2010 (yes, I have quite a few of those...):
Finish. The. Book. As in THE book. My book. oh broken son. It's a good book, really. And one day, maybe someone other than me will read it.
That's under my "Mental" heading, and it's the only one listed there.
Any suggestions?
Maybe I'll set a goal about reading books or something.
Under the "Physical" heading, I have some repeats that will be on my lists annually until I'm physically unable to do them anymore:
Continue to improve in tennis
and Travel somewhere awesome.
(that last one is my faaaaaavorite resolution every year! Plus, it can be combined with other resolutions, like...)
My next one under the Physical heading is:
See Federer Play!
Yes, I've had this on my list for a long time. Every year, I wait with bated breath, hoping that Federer will say, "I'll be back again next year!" at the end of his speeches. Please do not retire, Roger Federer, until I get to see you play in person. So I printed out his 2011 Schedule, and I'm trying to decide where to go. Some are ....easier (but expensive) choices like Miami or Cincinnati, and some are awesome but expensive choices, like Roland Garros in Paris or MADRID OR ROME OR GERMANY.... Ahhhh, choices.
Next heading: Spiritual
My two resolutions here are:
Read the Bible in one year (my church is doing this, so I've got a schedule and about 300 people supporting me), and
Go on a Missions Trip. yikes. but yes.
My last heading is Social, and the two resolutions under it are repeats from last year
Do something out of my comfort zone (like, go on a missions trip, perhaps?) and
Make new friends ( ♫ ♪ but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold ♪ ♫).
So I've got my work cut out for me, but there are definitely some things that I can do that would check off several resolutions in one fell swoop. But really, this is the year to see Federer. I'm feeling that.