God's Will - Can You See It?

<sup>Do you sometimes wonder if what you're doing is God's will?  Even though you know it's good, is it where God is leading you?  I do.  What a cool example of God showing answering a specific prayer instantaneously...


44</sup> and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.’

 ⁴⁵ “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

 ⁴⁶ “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also. ~Genesis 24:44-46

Lord, You know what I need before I ask, and provide it before I can finish asking.  Thank You Father, for Your constant provision.

My Favorite Song This Week

I've heard this song on K-Love a couple times this week. It's from Francecsa Battistelli's soon to be released album. The song is called "This Is The Stuff."

I think she wrote it for me. Describes my chaotic moments. And reminds me how BIG I'm blessed! :)

Look for your 2% temporary raise

I don't know if I like this or not.  I'm pretty sure social security is going to run out before I retire.  And I don't see anything being done to prevent it.  So I'm paying in every paycheck for possibly nothing during retirement.  This will likely put the SS pot further in the hole.  But here it is anyway...

Now that 2011 is here, there is a good news for millions of workers in the United States—more money in their paychecks. Thanks to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, there has been a 2 percent decrease in Social Security withholding taxes. The short-term tax break has been referred to as the payroll tax holiday. Both self-employed individuals and employed workers will see the bump in their regular pay effective January 1, 2011.

How Change Has Come

Employees were paying 6.2 percent of their pay toward Social Security. For 2011, employees will only have to pay 4.2 percent on income below $106,800. For self-employed individuals, the self-employment tax also drops from 12.4 percent to 10.4 percent. There will be no additional checks accompanying your normal paychecks. The adjustment will be made on your regular check, with the two percent difference added in throughout 2011.

The tax act for 2011 will only be a short-term tax break. Once 2012 hits, the payroll tax holiday will no longer be in effect unless the federal government once again steps in to extend the time period for another year. In 2012, the Social Security withholding amounts will go back to the current rate.

What are you going to do with your two percent?  :)

Is Guilt Good?

Recently, I read an article in Harvard Business Review: "Guilt-Ridden People Make Great Leaders."  As one that is prone to guilt, I find the study intriguing and think there is some truth to it.

The study: About 150 workers in the finance dept. of a Fortune 500 company took a standard psychological test, which measured the tendency to feel guilt.  Those results were compared with their performance reviews.  They found that people who were more prone to guilt received higher performance ratings from their bosses. Studies also showed that they were more committed to their organizations and seen as stronger leaders by their peers.

The finding: People who are prone to guilt tend to work harder and perform better than people who are not guilt-prone, and are perceived to be:

• harder workers
• better leaders
• more altruistic and willing to help others
• higher performers
• more committed to their employers
• able to see the big picture

http://hbr.org/2011/01/defend-your-research-guilt-ridden-people-make-great-leaders/ar/1

Wonder Years: In the Country

Lived here from the time I was in 3rd grade until I graduated from HS.  This was out in the country with plenty of space to roam.  Also lived across the street from best friends Courtney and Jaime.  We had so much fun!

Mom had this sign on the front porch when we lived there.  Guess what?  When I visited recently (new owners were kind enough to show me around) it was STILL there!  How funny.

 There used to be a playhouse behind the mailboxes where we'd wait for the school buses in the morning.  There is a story behind that PVC pipe newspaper holder.  The newspaper boy used to fly down our gravel road (only three families lived down it) every day.  Well, he ran over my dog one day.  One of our neighbors and dear friends, Jerry, forbid the paper boy to ever come down that gravel road again.  When they got tired of not getting the paper, I think he built that receptacle for it.  :)

 Handprint from the front porch.  :)

12 Resolutions for 2011

OK - quick break in the Wonder Years posts...

I’m excited about 2011. Are you?  Like my dear Susy blogged about, I was happy to say good riddance to 2010.  Don’t get me wrong, there were so many good things about it, but 2010 also marked some life-changing difficult times for me.  I did learn – albeit a difficult lesson – that life is not easy, nor is it supposed to be.  I don’t think we were promised happiness, were we?  Rather, we can find joy in our Creator who is just so in love with us, and in aiming to please Him.  Wow – it is so amazing as I look back to see the strength and peace He blessed me with this year.  Thank you, God, and please go gentle on me this year!

Louis L'Amour  wrote, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."  All I know is, 2011 will mark the 30^th year of my life and I am going to relish every moment of this year and celebrate the start of a new chapter, a new decade.

So…

My friend Tiffaney and I are mixing it up with resolutions for 2011.  Instead of one 12 month resolution, we’re taking it by the month.  For example, we’re on a “buying cleanse” for January.  We have agreed not to buy anything that is not considered a consumable this month.  Obviously, groceries and gas are okay.  But, no indulgences.

As I was shopping in Whole Foods on New Year’s Day (buying a homemade birthday cake for mom – ha), I realized that this is going to be a little more challenging than I thought.  I saw a 2011 wall calendar that I “needed” for the kitchen, but remembered that I couldn’t get it.  Also, as I was checking out, I saw a Norah Jones (don’t you love her voice?) duets CD that I would have purchased without a second thought before, but did not.  So that’s probably $25 right there for those two items.  I may make a list and see how much I potentially save throughout the month.

We also thought about using one month to do things for one week at a time.  For example, maybe in August, we’d go without tv for a week, drink only water every day for a week, etc.

We talked about the need to get into the habit of daily Bible reading.  That will be a yearlong resolution.  College Avenue C of C has a bible reading guide to take you through the Bible in a year.  Here’s a link to one I found online.  My parents’ church is on board: “One Church.  One Bible. One Year.”  They’re using a Daily Bible that is arranged in chronological order that takes you through in one year. 

Back to the monthly resolutions – we’re still developing the list, but here are some ideas:

• No sugar
• No Dining Out
• Working Out 3  Days a Week (my issue, since Tiffaney's always at the gym)
• No Driving Distractions (phone, makeup, etc)
• Daily Random Act of Kindness
• Arriving on Time ~shudder!~
• Organizing
• Journaling

Help!  What are your ideas?  What can I do to develop myself physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally? 

Wonder Years: Forest Place

 We lived in this house from the time I was three until I was about in 3rd grade.  

I have a lot of good memories with Leah and Jenny when we all lived in the this neighborhood.  We spent a lot of time at each other's houses.  I remember playing "teacher" at Jenny's house.  How about that time that I rode the skateboard barefoot in your driveway, Leah?  I think I lost a toenail over that one.

 Can't see the imprint below very well, but it is my name and my 3 year old handprints on the front porch.  And the next one with it is Mary Claire putting her hands in my imprints.  Lots of happy memories in Forest Place.

The Wonder Years

Remember "The Wonder Years"?  Kevin and Winnie?  Ran from 1988 - 1993, but was set in the late 60's-early 70's.  I loved that show.  The reruns are back on t.v. now on some network called the HUB.  I recently visited my childhood homes and had my own Wonder Years moment.  For your reading pleasure, I'm going to document it over the next couple posts.  :)

"...things never turn out exactly the way you planned. Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; next day you're gone.  But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. 

I remember a place... a town... a house like a lot of other houses... A yard like a lot of other yards... on a street like a lot of other streets.

And the thing is... after all these years, I still look back... with wonder. "