The Bible in 5..........

Waaaaaay last year in 2009, I received a forwarded Meme challenge from Tess about summarizing the Bible in five words or phrases. I don't know that "easy" would describe what came to my mind but having saved it in a little notepad I carry in my handbag, I decided to share my words/phrases with you today. The challenge can be fully understood by visiting Tess's post of 12/22/09 but the five words/phrases are to be constructed by #1 being one word, #2 two words, etc. Here are my words -

1. evolutionary
2. historical hysteria
3. laws for living
4. tales of humanity's confusion
5. deliverance from sin; good news

So what do you think of my five phrases and why not add your own five in the comments section today?

Photo courtesy of Anchors and Masts Blog 12/22/09

SAVOR - Word of the year

- SAVOR -
TO APPRECIATE FULLY;
TO RELISH

My word for 2010

So instead of resolutions for the last couple of years, I've been going with the trend of choosing a word on which to concentrate. Being reminded of the new year over at Abbey of the Arts, my mind has been tossing about maybe half dozen words that I really wanted for myself. The words were not cooperating in that they just didn't seem to want me. Then without any provocation, while we were driving to church yesterday, the word savor just popped into my head.

Granted I had been thinking about the past year and how many new and interesting experiences with which I had been blessed, as well as how fast the year seemed to have flown by......and there it was - the word - SAVOR. I'll endeavor to remember this active verb and apply it to as many experiences as I can muster this year. It may not be your word but my wish is that you will savor the challenges, joys, and even learn from the disappointments and failures of the coming year. Now try and savor this for the day, o.k?

Two Sisters or Four

There are two of us now but could there have been four? Technically I am the firstborn but what of the child aborted prior to my birth when my mother was running for a bus? Was it a girl, was it a child, a fetus, or even a young woman's miscount of her days. Am I really number two?

That would make my brother number three instead of number two.

And what of the first trimester miscarriage after my brother's birth and toddler time? Was it a girl, a baby, a beloved child miscarried, then cremated, flushed, forgotten? Did my parents mourn the loss alone, together, maybe, not at all? Was she baby number three or baby number four?

My brother may shake his head in wonder, these women, their minds, my sisters!

My beloved sister now - destined, amazingly, to always be fourteen years younger than I. What if baby number three (or maybe number four) had lived to birth, would my sister be here now? The sister with whom I share joy and sorrow, silliness and seriousness, the trivial and God. Is she baby number three or baby number five? Is she my sister number one, or perhaps my sister number four? Two sisters for sure, born, bonded, still remembering, still wondering, still honoring the unborn of our lives.

My brother, God bless him, he remains in the middle.

Life is too short

Crisp cold air, sunshine on the snow and he smiles
Why for heavens sake would a snowman smile on a sunny day
Perhaps he's felt the joy of being fashioned by tiny, cold hands
Heard the giggles and squeals of happiness while being coaxed into life snowball by snowball

Crisp cold air, sunshine on the snow and he smiles
How for heavens sake could he avoid a smile on this sunny, though icy day of his creation
Life is too short to worry about melting
Suck in the brisk cold and smile; life might'nt be longer but it could be happier with a snowman's smile to mime

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Image by mugley via Flickr

To all my wonderful friends, family, and even total strangers who dropped by the MindSieve in 2008 and 2009, thank you so much for taking time to visit and to post a comment here! It seems in my day to day way, I have managed to rack up 403 posts during the past 2 years; I think that's because I like speaking out on this page and because I like hearing from you - again, thank you and Happy New Year!