FYI

I have to say, that blogging is really a bit easier when I wait until I full of things to write...there is thinking involved when I am trying to meet commitments!

This weekend, I went on a rather last minute trip to a funeral. I had wanted to go, but didn't feel that I had the money or the car to take me. I had just decided to not go, when a friend asked me when we were leaving. I was a bit surprised, cause I thought she was joking, and she was very very serious. So, last minute we threw together plans and took off!

The trip gave me good opportunity to think a bit about life and death. I decided a few things.

1. I am not ready for my parents to die. (parents...take heed)
2. life is short...live well
3. eat asparagus with caution...it can get stinky and akward
4. Garmin is not perfect...and neither am I with a map
5. My family lives on without me, and I without them...but coming home is sheer joy
6. things get smaller over time...I am pretty sure Marcellus has shrunk. (why does that not apply to my stomach...?)
7. I am blessed with friends and family, who love me, and I them--it makes life sweet.

Household excitement

(as always, forgive the picture quality)
So we had a pretty exciting occurrence on Sunday. One of our chickens layed a particularly big egg. I was suspicious, and we decided to make cookies. Everyone gathered around to witness the cracking.(well, several people gathered around...some were party poopers) It WAS a double yolker!!! We all hooted and hollered...it was quite fun.

The good news is this means that we have been baking together, something that I have not done in a while. So, another sign that things are getting better!

Yikes...I am already behind in my commitment.

So I had an interesting thought Sunday...we will see if I can express it clearly.

So the lesson, actually two Sundays ago was about honesty, and how very few of us are truly honest in all we do. We were left with a challenge to be truly honest in all we do. I don't know if I can say that I have done that perfectly, but I have certainly been very aware of my level of honesty in the things I do each day.

So this most recent Sunday, a class member reported back about a positive experience in being honest at work, which helped clear the air around a difficult work relationship. The teacher followed up with a comment about how it is most difficult to be honest in our closest relationships, because we don't want to hurt the ones we love, breeding little white lies, etc etc.

This comment really got me thinking about being honest within my relationship, and I realized that I am a chronic liar! I should be labeled..."habitual liar"..."addicted to lying"...etc. I might be asked..."What are you upset about?" and I will without fail say..."Nothing." As I have pondered this, I have realized that there are many such instances. I am also not truthful with myself.

Of course, I do not believe in hurtful honesty. Just like when someone asks how they look in a particular outfit, you find a way to be honest without being hurtful.

So, I have a goal for this coming year. I want to practice being more honest in my closest relationships. I want to practice being more honest with myself. I say practice, because this is a big part of how I cope, so It will take work, and repeated efforts and lots of awareness.

(Now...how many of you are thinking..."Has she lied to me?" Ha!...Go ahead and ask!...In the new spirit of honesty, I will have to answer frankly! I warn you, the answer is most likely yes...I have probably lied to cover uncomfortable things, or to avoid hurting someone's feelings...it really is a problem!)