The Color Run 2012

Doesn't this look fun? I so want to do this. I am going to try to do it with my sister and nephew. You get  powdered pigment thrown on you for each kilometer you run up to 5k. There will be one of these in 18 cities starting in San Diego and finishing in Fla. Ours here in Nashville is on Oct 11.

Check out the you tube video and come join me!

I have enjoyed all of Lisa See's books but I think I like this one and Shanghai Girls best.
.
I really enjoyed this one as it takes place during the Chinese Revolution in the 1950's.I find that my favorite character in both books has been Pearl. I admire Pearl's character for her strength and her love of her child. I think with Joy's character she sees herself come full circle.
I feel Lisa See does really well in depicting a sense of place and time in history and helps us to see parts of the Chinese culture in ways we might not otherwise.I also think that she can take a time in history and place us there and help us to see what those who lived through it were like. I found that after reading this book that I have a keener understanding of how China became such an international industrial state.

I think this is a very good read for anyone who enjoys and good historical fiction book.

This review from Good Reads: In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy. Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives. Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love

I am up early waiting for the phone to ring as I am on call today at work. It is my least favorite part of work as you can't plan anything on this day other than sitting by the phone waiting to have to go to work.

Oregon especially Western Oregon is on my mind because they are having very bad flooding the worst since the mid 90's and as most of you after having lived there 5 years this place holds a special place in my heart.

Today I am:

Tasting : Diet Coke which is my way to start the day. I have never really like coffee.
Listening: to the quiet of the house with everyone asleep.
Touching: a fleece blanket that keeps me warm on the couch
Watching:Coast Guard Alaska  on dvr. I find of late I love all the shows filmed in Alaska.
Reading: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
Outside: it is cold with stars brightly shining. I love winter nights
Inspired by: Karen Russell (please go read her most recent post and follow her link to Momastery)
Smelling : my fake scentsy wax warmer from Wal-Mart that smells like Vanilla.
Wishing: for snow on a weekend that hubby and I don't have to work.
Thankful: that hubby got a job working for the state with benefits.
Anticipating :Springtime.
Dreaming of: going to the beach this summer in either Flordia or North Carolina.

Thoughts on a Sunday

Thoughts for Sunday . I think this is as good as any sermon on what is important in life!

Click on picture to make it pop out larger.

Goals, Plans and Wishes

Isn't this beautiful? It is on the island of Oahu in Hawaii! Why you may ask do I show you?I show you because it combines a goal, a plan and a wish.

Here in the south there is a church on every corner and most have a sign out front that has a quote on it.One I saw just last night said : A goal without a plan is just a wish.This really struck home with me and made me stop and think about what my goals are and how do I plan to reach them.

One of my goals I have set for myself this year is to Move More and Eat Less to become more healthy and fit. It is not necessarily a diet but a lifestyle change which I know will take years not days or weeks. I want to change my unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one because I want to feel better and not be so tired all the time. I want to Explore (my word for the year)  a more healthier way of life.

In that context one of my goals that I have set for myself is to do 2 5 K's, 2 10 K's and beginning training for a half marathon by 2013. I want to be able by my 50th birthday in 2014 To be able to hike this trail in the picture above without getting out of breath with my niece and nephew.It will include a goal(to be healthier and fit), a wish( to see this place  and experience it actively ) and  a plan ( listed above). It also contains one of my passions which is travel.

I feel like that over the past couple years but especially the last year that I have been existing not really living but just going through the motions and I want to live again to explore the joys of life. I want to find my simple joys in life that make me feel alive and happy which are travel, family, nature and books. I also want to explore my faith and grow deeper in it.

I also want to say thanks to all who prayed for me and my hubby. I passed my test which was such a relief as if I had not passed it I would have lost my job and hubby is in final stages of hiring process so please keep him in your prayers.I know that when I saw that I had passed this test it felt as though a weight was lifted off me because I knew that we would still be able to pay our bills and keep our health insurance.

I am continuing with my 1000 gifts:

37. For prayers that really work.
38.For the joy of catching snowflakes on my tongue
39. For the  beauty of a cardinal in the snow
40. the winter sky full of a multitude of stars
41. for the laughs I get from The Big Bang Theory
42. the joy of public libraries and getting lost in them
43. for the pruning of god on my soul
44. for a roof over my head
45. for a warm coat and gloves
47. for  a good night's rest.

Hope You Have a Wonderful Weekend!


Life's problems wouldn't be called "hurdles" if there wasn't a way to get over them. ~Author Unknown

Scandi Love

I have to admit that I am mildly obsessed with all things Scandinavian. I would love to go to this part of the world and Iceland and Greenland. The above Picture is of a village in Norway. One of my bucket list dreams is to someday see the Northern Lights.

I became more interested in this part of the world after reading the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series of books and since then I love all of the different authors I have read from this part of the world. I love reading Nordic mysteries in winter as I can more easily identify with the setting.

In compiling my too long To Be Read list for 2012 for Good Reads I have many authors I plan on reading from this part of the world in the winter months. (Click on Good Reads link in red if you would like to read about each book and see my books I want to read for 2012).

I recently read Snow Angels by James Thompson which was set in Finland and liked it very much for the dark characters which so reflect the Nordic Culture and for the excellent descriptions of the setting. I plan on going to the library in about a week and plan on checking out The Snowman by Jo Nesbo and The Cruel Stars at Night by Kjell Ericksson.

I also have found two Scandi blogs one on Scandi food and one general interest. Here are the links:

Kanelstrand

Scandi Foodie


I also would like to ask that if you pray could you say a silent prayer for my husband and I . He went for a job interview today for a job he likes and is qualified for after no luck for 4 months and I have a really big test for work in a week. I would certainly appreciate any good thoughts and prayers you could send my way.

I thank each of you who left comments on the last post. You encouragement and words mean so much to me.

My wish for you

I know I have been absent for awhile here but I wanted to stop by and wish each of you a wonderful New Year.
It has been a year of tremendous change for me and been extremely hard but I am eager for the new year to come.I know that we all have these years and this one was mine.I know at times this year I have felt like a ballon floating along in the wind with no moorings. It seemed that the foundations of everything I held to be true was shaken but I am still standing and still here.

I have a couple of questions for each of you if you would take a minute to answer them.

Would you like to see this blog stay the way it is or change to being a book blogging ,craft type blog?

Do you prefer Blogger or Wordpress?

Do you think I should start a new blog or keep this one?

Any information and feedback on this topic would be greatly appreciated.


I have decided my word for 2012 will be explore.I thought about savor,quest, up, light, and story.I settled on explore because I have much I want to change about my life the way it is. I want to explore fitness, find a creative outlet that I enjoy, find a church home and explore the new community I find myself in. So explore is my word. What did you choose?

Here is hoping 2012 is the best year yet!