Friday, May 30, 2008

Star Athlete

Matt and I got a Wii a couple months ago. We love it! We looked all over for this thing, and couldn't find it anywhere. Finally Matt's mom and dad found it on their side of town, bought it, and we reimbursed them. (That's great teamwork, don't you think?) We play it nearly every day. Seriously. We love tennis. We love bowling. We love pool. We love racing cows. We love shuffleboard. We love darts. We love way too much about this system!

Our favorite game is probably tennis, with bowling coming in at second. We ROCK at tennis, and we're pretty good at bowling too. This sounds silly, but I've found myself thinking, "Wow! I'm really great at tennis! Maybe I'll play in real life, and I'll be some sort of tennis pro. Maybe it's a talent that I am only now discovering!" OR "STRIKE! I'm so good at bowling! The next time we go bowling in real life, I am going to tear.it.up!"

What I'm about to say will probably be no surprise to 99.5% of the people on this planet, but here goes...
Being good at Wii Sports does NOT make you a good athlete. Period.

I became painfully aware of this fact when Matt and I went bowling tonight, and I bowled a 70. Yeah. 70. What's scary is that this is not even my worst game! My worst game is like 29 or something.

So sorry folks...I'm probably not the next great tennis pro or bowling champ. I'm still the very out-of-shape-super-clutzy-unathletic Katie I've always been. Wii has not changed my athletic ability. It has possibly gotten me interested in tennis though...anyone want to watch Wimbledon with me?

Monday, May 19, 2008

Checking In

I know I promised I would be blogging more lately, but I've just been so busy! Who is tired of hearing me talk about how busy I am? (Katie raises her hand emphatically from behind her monitor...) Sometimes I think that if could just get rid of this job, I would have all kinds of time to do the things I need to do! Who wants to pay me to not work? (No one? Really?)

So that I don't turn myself into a liar (again), I have decided to share some of my new favorite websites with my dear readers (reader? anyone out there?). Just a few faves that have been keeping my attention lately...

www.jellyfish.com - shopping has never been so much fun! It's like a game and a bargain hunt all rolled into one. Give it a shot!

www.foundmagazine.com - interesting to peruse - it's amazing what people actually leave lying around!

www.rottentomatoes.com - great movie reviews, showtime listings, etc. all in one place!

http://gsalr.com - Who loves garage sales? If you do, you'll really love this website. You can search for sales in your area, click the ones you want to visit, and the website will produce the route for you! Amazing...

Okay - I'm done for now. I do have actual work to do. (I'm stalling on this 8 page newsletter I'm trying to publish...blech.) Peace out!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

What's Next?

Hi, I’m Katie, and I’m a foul-mouthed Christian.

Ugh…that doesn’t sound good, does it? But that’s what I am right now. I’m having some serious issues taming my tongue lately.

I’m a part of a bible study/mentoring program on Wednesday nights this spring. It’s a 6-week program. I really don’t like the book that we’re going through (don’t get me started…it’s a tirade I’m not energized for right now!), but I do enjoy the conversations and the relationships that I’m building because of it.

Last night’s lesson was on purity. I always think of “purity” in relationship to sex, but we talked about so much more than that last night. This study really helped me understand that my foul language is a purity issue, and that hit home. The author uses a phrase in the book that helped me to understand more about what might be going on with me. She says something like, “What goes down in the well comes up in the bucket.” That little phrase made me realize that I must have a lot of muck in my well!

I talked with Matt about it last night, and after he listened to me jabber on and on about it, he said, “So what’s next?” It wasn’t the response I expected. I actually expected him to tell me about how my bad language has affected him, and how it bothers him when I let foul things fly from my lips. Instead, he said, “What’s next?”

It was exactly what I needed to hear. That simple little question packed a punch of possibility! It not only indicated that he agreed and noticed my little problem; it let me know that he thinks I can overcome it and believes that I will. I love him for that.

So what is next? I’m not quite sure. I really think I need to be careful about what I’m listening to, reading, watching on TV, talking about, etc. It really does have an impact on my mind. I also have some scriptures that I’m going to try to reflect on daily to really help drive the point home. I really do want God to clean out my mucky well…even if it’s going to be difficult for me.

Anyone else struggle with this stuff? Comment, and let’s chat about it!

Here are the scriptures I have decided to focus on:

Psalm 51
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 19:14
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
James 3
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.