I saw this on Amy Blayliss' blog www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com She helped me design my blog and did a wonderful job!  I have been wanting to come up with my list for a couple of months now! 

The following are the guidelines which I got from her site.  Please visit her at her blog.  She has a lot of interesting info and insight.

Creating your own 1001 Day Project

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

MY LIST:

Organize and use a Home Management Notebook.

Make and use weekly menu plans.

Ask husband "What can I do to help you today"....everyday.

Help husband get his blog designed and going for his new business.

Plan date nights with husband which includes obtaining babysitters etc..

Save money needed for daughter's dental procedure due in January 2009 - $1800.

Look into dental insurance - calculate the costs.

Learn to use folders on the computer.

Organize and back up pictures on computer.

Put girls recitals on YouTube so family can join in the fun.

Put shelf liners in the pantry.

Catalog all books and curriculum using Google spreadsheet .

Plant Garden.

Plant an herb garden.

Plant rose bush under the bay window.

Paint Living Room.

Wallpaper guest bathroom.

Paint girls rooms.

Get a new bedspread for master bedroom.

Frame and hang all pictures starting with master bedroom.

Paint master bathroom.

Organize shelf in master bathroom.

Buy a new mattress and bed frame for master bedroom.

Take ACLS class.

Finish ECCO online class.

Take Starting Points Class at new church.

Get important papers off office bullentein boards and into files.

Schedule for Christmas card picture in October.

Get all Christmas cards mailed BEFORE Christmas.

Make a Holiday planning notebook.

Have an Elsie Dinsmore Christmas tea.

Make learning posters for pre-k.

Take all unused clothes to Salvation Army or Goodwill frequently.

Give baby items to neighbor who needs them.

Write Thank You notes.

Take girls each month out on their "birthday" date .

Have weekly schedule posted on large white board.

Re-organize and use devotional basket.

Complete at least 5 hours exercise each week.

Lose 10 pounds.

Log exercise and turn it into ECHO program at hospital for credit.

Organize bookshelves with books into categories .

Take picture of girls projects.

Go on at least one nature walk per week with girls.

Keep prayer obligations.

Make a prayer guide using Lisa Wechel's Guide to Prayer for Busy Woman and have in Home Management.

Make a list of family reading books for this year.

Make a list of family devotional reading for this year.

Make and enforce a reading pathway list with prize at end.

Run Lemonade Stand at least 2 more times for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Place bins in van for each girls "things" and one for mom too!

Keep a record of all books listened to on tape/dvd.

Get a tape player installed in van.

Utlize the 6 basket system in laundry room (buy 2 more baskets).

Clean those two boxes out over washing machine.

Keep a list of what is in the freezer.

Get BobJones TV/VCR moved upstairs and have dvd's and papers easily accessible to girls.

Fertilze trees and plants.  Research proper care of citrus trees.

Reseed lawn for winter grass.

Take girls to an opera.

Take girls to symphony. (Handel's Messiah)

Take girls to a ballet.

Have piano tuned.

Do something with courtyard in front of house (pavers?) (patio furniture)?.

Clean off back porch - move rocking chairs downstairs and get some patio furniture so we can do some school outside.  

Hang a porch swing.

Create a t-shirt for our homeschool, purchase and wear.

Get a fish aquarium.

Tile kitchen and and living room and hall.

Celebrate Grandparents day.(September 7th)

Have a cultural dinner one night per month and invite quests.

Get all books on a bookshelf and off the floor.

Organize school room desk and files.

Learn to use IPOD more.

Finish baby books.

Take a meal to a family in need at least once per month.

Read the entire Bible using The New Inductive Study Bible.

Go on camping trip.

Clean and organize dresser in master bedroom.

Find a Naturpath MD that I trust.

Change primary care Doctor.

Obtain medical records and keep in a file.

 Purchase Rosetta Stone French Homeschool Program.

Clean off top shelf of master closet.

Clean out and organize storage closet under stairs.

Have school pictures done through EVCHE.

 Implement the reward system using the "poker" chips

Get all CD's together in one book.

Organize all movies and have them labeled and put out of sight.

Participate in a science fair with girls.

Participate in a history fair.

Make copies and organize "important paper file".

Hang other upper case living sayings already purchased.

Keep a log of movies watched.

Schedule annual womens exam...mamagram...etc...

Utilize CE Direct and take at least 10 continuing ed online classes per year.

Go to one nursing live seminar per year.  If possible, exercise related or something husband could attend and benefit from as well.

Get a screen door for front door.

Keep a record of unit studies and resources taught in co-op in co-op folder and blog.

Administer the Stanford Achievement to girls.

Label all cords to what they belong to with a stickey.

Pack and keep swim bag in car for last minute swimming at gym.  This includes CLEAN swimsuits and towels, swim toys etc...

Always keep "picnic" basket stocked in car....forks, spoons, paper plates, bowls. cups, napkins, and wipes...for lunches on go from the grocery store.

Keep picnic blanket in car for spur of moments picnics to park.

Buy some cracked wheat and keep in car to feed ducks at park.  They don't allow to feed bread.

Plan romantic picnic just for husband.

Set up "quiet time" areas for the girls with bean bags.

Learn how to use digital camera more effeciently...download all pictures to disks and computer and put into files.

Get all Flat Stanley projects back within 4-6 weeks depending upon agreement.

Have photographer do some shots just of husband and I at a different time family Christmas pictures are done.

Have Christmas presents purchased for MS family members before leaving for trip in Nov.

Learn to use the scanner.

Send cards to nieces for all holidays.

Do something about the "important memory drawer" in dresser.  Maybe a trunk? Not one more thing can be stuffed in there.

Complete the timeline book with Mystery of History as we go through the book.

Go on a family hike.

Take in-laws at least one meal per week.

Keep the gospel granolas or something similar in the car at all times. 

Buy a new metronome ... not the digital kind.

Pre-plan Easter study by Feb and have all supplies gathered and ready.

Have a pencil sharpener mounted to wall in laundry room?

Keep well stocked pencils and school supplies in boxes in the girls desk at all times which are only allowed to play during school time.

Keep a box of pencils, colors, markers, paints, arts and crafts to be used during free time or whenever they want to create.  (In kitchen cabniet).

Participate in Christmas Around the World and have the girls prepare their speeches.

Have new "calling cards" made for the girls.

Find ballet class for M.L.

oops...I think  I went over 101 ... now how could that happen....

Beef Stew
1-2 lbs. Beef stew meat, cubed
salt and pepper
In a large measuring cup or bowl stir together:
2 Cups beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic
½ teaspoon Paprika
2 teaspoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Set aside and chop vegetables below.
3 carrots, sliced
3 potatoes, diced
1 onion chopped
1 stalk celery
Place meat in large ziploc bag. Season with salt and pepper. Pour beef broth mixture over the top. Add chopped carrots, onion, celery and potatoes to bag. Seal and freeze. When ready to cook allow to unthaw overnight and pour into crock pot cook on high 8 hours.

Today was my "Once a Month Cooking" swap.  Everything looks great!  This beef stew is one of the things I prepared.  We are doing 2 dinners and a lunch or breakfast item.  Here is a list of this months items! Yummy!

Chicken Sate with Peanut Sauce Super Buger Patties, Bacon Hash Brown Roll Ups, Tater Tot Casserole, beef stew, and pbj sandwiches, Tequila Lime Marinated Chicken, Vegetable Beef Soup, Hot Wings, Chicken and Bows, Chicken Enchiladas, Ham and Cheese Buns, Chicken Quesidillas, King Ranch Chicken Casserole, French Toast, Wet Tacos, Refried Beans, Sausage English Muffins.  

6 Portabello Mushroom caps
1 cup onion -- diced fine
3 stalks celery -- chopped fine
16 baby carrots -- chopped fine
2 tablespoons butter
16 ounces chicken broth
1 pound sausage
2 cups stuffing cubes
16 ounces spinach, frozen
1 cup parmesan cheese -- fresh, grated

Thaw frozen spinach and press dry.

Wipe the mushroom caps with damp cloth to clean, remove the stems and chop
finely. Lightly coat the cap with oilve oil and place in a large pan. Cook
at 325 for approximately 20 minutes, turning once.

In a skillet, brown the sausage and drain, reserving drippings. Add butter
to the skillet and saute the onion, celery, carrots and mushroom stems until
tender, adding sausage drippings if dry. Add chicken broth and heat to
almost boiling.

Add sausage, spinach and stuffing cubes, stir. Add parmesan cheese and stir
well.

Add a heaping portion to each mushroom cap. Return to oven and bake until
lightly browned.

To freeze: Cool and flash freeze. Store in zippered freezer bag.

To heat and serve: Microwave: Place on a microwavable plate, heat on 50%
power for approximately 5 minutes until warmed through, checking often. Oven:
Heat in preheated oven until warm through and through.

In the past, we have celebrated several authors birthdays and had fun parties as we read their books.  This year we are going to celebrate composers birthdays and have a mini birthday each month to celebrate.  I have a compiled a list of the composers for each month.  I will have music from each composer for that month for us to listen to in the car and when we are doing art or a craft.  I have a large "Happy Birthday" poster posted on the wall with each composer in the balloon for their month.  We may celebrate at home with a special cake or dessert or we may go out for ice cream or something special!

September - Bach (9-5)

October - Strauss (10-25)

November - Copeland (11-14)

December - Beethoven 12-15)

January - Mozart (1-27)

February - Mendelssohn (2-3)

March - Vivaldi (3-21)

April - Ellington (4-29)

May - Tchaikovsky (5-7)

June - Stravisnsky (6-17)

July - Foster (7-4)

August - Schuman (8-4)

I haven't blogged in a while about my 30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge: 

This is the challenge:

"You can't say anything negative about your husband....to your husband...or to anyone else, about your husband.  "Each day, say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your husband...and to someone else, about your husband."

Check it out for yourself at www.reviveourhearts.com.

As I am reflecting back over the last 30 days and preparing for another 30 days... I am looking at the most difficult days

...Day 9... "...be swift to hear, slow to speak..."  James 1:19b.

Sometimes I get so wrapped in what I am doing I just comment - negatively or positively - without even thinking.  I really need to listen and to "hear" my husband's heart.  I pray that I will hear the Lord's admonition: "Be swift to hear."

....Day Twenty-one:  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33.  Am I remembering that everything I think, do and say should be seen from an eternal perspective?  Someday I will give an account for my failure to speak words of love and encouragment. 

Day twelve:  "With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."  Eph 4:2 

Do I sometimes get disillusioned because of my own unreasonable or unrealistic expectations (Prov. 13:12)?  I must remember that my expectations must be met in God alone and then I will have the right perspective to ask God for the grace I need to respond to others.

Mostly through this challenge,  I have remembered and reaffirmed how wonderful my husband is!  He is a servant to our family, he is considerate of my needs and the needs of the whole family, he is a very hard worker, he is diligent and resourceful, he is faithful and loyal, he is handsome and strong, kind and compassionate, he has great integrity, he is respectable, he is attractive, he is honest, he communicates with me, he has a vision for our home, he is walking with God, he has a playful side and a good sense of humor, he is unique, he has an eternal perspective on life, he is persistent and organized, he is leader in our home and a wonderful father, he shows our children love and encourages them, he spends time with them everyday, he takes an interests in their activities and takes a part in developing their character, he turns his back to wickedness and he is my best friend.

Now looking over a list like this....how could I say discouraging words.

Our piano teacher does some incredible things with her students.  She lines up great perfomances venues at different locations throughout our city throughout the year!  It is so much more encouraging and motivating than the typical "one recital" at the end of the year.   She has some casual events and some formal.  They play at the mall, the bookstore, the  coffee shop, the park, resort hotels, and the music hall at the university. 

At the end of the year she normal has a "Gala" performance in the music hall at ASU.  It is a very exciting event and pictures of the students, trophies, and a biography of their performances are displayed.  Now, in the midst of all this attention to the students...our teacher does a very wise thing.  She has a adopted a wonderful charity to donate the money collected at the final Gala.  Tickets are sold to the final performance, family and friends are invited, a meal is served and a silent auction is in place.  

Yes, it is important to recognize the students and allow them to dress beautifully and to have fun and be rewarded for their accomplishments but it is also important to remember that many, many people in the world in need of the basic neccessities. 

The organization that she has chosen is www.wheelchairfoundation.org.  There are so many to show the love of Jesus throughout the world if we just take a few minutes to think and look and listen for the nudging of God.   We have pictures of two people in China whom received a wheelchair from our donation.  We have them hanging on our bullentein board so we can look at them and pray for them.

These pictures are from the Katzin recital this year.  The reason for the all the tears is that Nana and Papa, Cousin, and Poppy were leaving right after this to head back home to MS.  So after all the fun and excitement came the tears and the goodbyes.

I was tagged for 5 Things I Love - by www.homeschoolblogger.com/thelordismyshepherd.

Please visit http://jt-jantom.blogspot.com ... originator of the "5 Things I Love".

Dates with my husband!

I love to go out and just hang out with my husband.  We like to go on different type dates.  Sometimes out to eat...to our favorite restaurants...out for coffee and the bookstore...sometimes just for a ride...or a walk....sometimes stay in and watch a movie and eat in our room (our favorite foods...brie, green apples, boiled shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, dark chocolate with raspberries and strawberries...or to the grocery store or shopping...sometimes for lunch.......a picnic...to the gym for a yoga class together and then to the whirlpool and then for a healthy lunch or protein shake ..sometimes for overnight hotel dates...and about twice a year...weekend long dates.

I love books!  I love to read all kinds of books except for fiction.  I like to read my Bible, spiritual growth and development books, study books, homeschool books, history books, marriage books, magazines and nursing journals and books of encouragment.  Right now I am trying to rearrange my books and have piles all over the house. ugggh!  Check out my Shelfari for books that I am currently reading.  My Amazon Widget has some of my favorite homeschooling type books.

I love the beach!  I love the smell of the beach and the fresh air!  I love the heat and the water!  I love to see the girls playing along the edge.  I love to build sandcastles and to write our names in the sand.  I love to sit and look over the beach and relax and read.  I love the food around beach towns!  I love shrimp, oysters, crab, and fish!  I love to look for shells and to walk up and down the shore.  I love to hear the crashing waves!!!!

I love old country churches and old hymns.  I love outdoor picnics and researching old family cemeteries and family reunions.  I love Magnolias and beautiful flowers and remember every Memorial Day my grandmother would cut fresh flowers from her yard and cover the graves of our relatives and tell me about family stories.  I love the open windows and the old wooden benches. 

I love coffee and tea!  I love to sip coffee in the morning with my husband.  I love fresh coffee beans and I love to go to Starbucks get a cafe' au lait before I go into work my nursing shift.  I have to have my coffee really HOT and really fresh or I can't drink it!  I also like to drink tea.  In the school year, the girls and I drink tea from our tea cup collection in the afternoons and I read to them.  It is a fun time.  We love to visit coffee houses and tea rooms.

My Grandfather just came out to AZ with my Mom and Dad for a family vacation.  They planned the trip around the girls big end of the year recital.  It meant so much for them all to be here to see them perform.  They really work hard at memorizing all their songs to play and sing.  This picture is saying goodbye thus, the teary eyes!  It is a 2 and 1/2 day drive for them to come out and see us.  My granddaddy does not want to fly so my Dad drives them out! 

I was reading another homeschool blog this morning that I wanted to recommend:  www.homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies. 

There is some history and information on the the hymn ... Jesus Loves Me as well many of the other great old hymns.   I love to to incoroporate the old hymns into our music studies and this blog is dedicated to "hymnstudies" and is very useful in music studies.  I have some old hymns playing on my blog right now starting with "Jesus Loves Me" and Jesus Paid It All.  There is so much doctrine in these old hymns and it would be such a shame to let a generation grow up with memorizing these hymns to their hearts. 

I have good memories of these type hymns sitting in the pew with my granddaddy in his old country church that he was faithful to attend for around 60 years!!!!

Here is a recipe for easy Homeade Chocolate Ice Cream

1/2 Gallon Chocolate Milk ( I use whole)

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

8 oz. Chocolate Syrup

Milk (whole, 2%, or fat free)

Add first three ingredients in ice cream freezer can and stir together then fill the remainder of freezer can (to fill line) with regular milk and freeze according to your ice cream freezer's instructions.

We have made this three times this summer and it has turned out great every time!

I used these books along with the main guide by Diane Pendergraft -

Further Up and Further In - A Literature Based Unit Study Utilizing C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia.

Many can be find at the library.  We have listened to the audio version by Focus on the Family over and over again. 

Chicken Shish Ka-Bobs

1/3 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp olive oil

4 cloves crushed garlic

1/4 cup honey

Mix all ingredgients together.  Use as a marinade for beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables.  Marinate overnight.

For ka-bobs add peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, pineapple.  Grill or bake.

This is our music curriculum this year along with piano and voice lessons.  We are using these books along with Rebecca Berg's The History of Classical Music. These are all really great books.  We will do this study over about two years.  We usually do this study on the day we have piano lessons and then we listen to the composer we are studying in the car on the way.  My nine year old daughter asked for opera tickets for her birthday one year!  We did find one appropriate for her ... Beauty and the Beast ... not the Disney version for sure ... but she loved it and begs to go back.  Most cities also have some great symphony programs for students. We try to do at least two performances per year.  This year I have my heart set on Handel's The Messiah.

A while back I blogged a little about a unit study we were doing about Earth Day and recycling.  We have our worm bin up and going and it is really working great! I love it! Yes, it is in the house - too hot for outside even in the garage in AZ - but it is totally self-contained - no flies - no odor. In fact when you open it and are working with it smells good - the earthy fresh plowed field type smell. We are incorporating the book Worms Eat Our Garbage for Classrooms in our curriculum this year. It is a very fun project, and we are able to compost almost all of all of our food waste in the bin. Soon we will be able to do it all, as the worm are multiplying at a rapid rate. You can put any fresh peels, old fruits, veggies, egg shells and coffee grounds and you use alot of newspaper to keep the food in the food tray covered. Here are some pictures of us setting it up! I am not a Martha Stewart fan, but this is the worm composting system she recommends. We have tried to do our own and this works so much better and is much easier because of the design of the trays. At the bottom there is actually a spout where you can get "compost tea" for your plants. You can search it online as many different companies sell it. Can-O-Worms - Worm Composting System.

My husband and I have been feeling like this lately.  We want to be sure to cherish these times while the girls are young ... I loved this video and it does help me to remember when they come to stop and listen and play with them ... and to be really interested in what they have to say or what they are doing and not just to rush them along to get to the next thing.  Life can become overwhelming...but we don't want to lose focus...on what we are doing...Enjoy this video!  After he gives the background for the song you can select a video to watch and hear the song.  I like the one with the ballerina in the background.

Macaroni Casserole Plus

This is a healthier version of macaroni and cheese which I have been cooking for years!  Since I was pregnant with our now 19 year daughter.  The recipe was in the orginal version of What To Eat When You Are Expecting.  I often give this recipe to  my pregnant and nursing friends so I thought I would post it to me by blog.  Its great even if your not pregnant or nursing.

8 ounces high-protein macaroni (wheat if you like)

2 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine (no trans fats)

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

2 Tablespoons whole-wheat flour

2 cups evaporated skim milk

6 ounces low-fat Swiss cheese or cheese of your choice

2 2/3 cups broccoli florets

2 cans water-packed tuna, drained and flaked; or 2 pounds firm-style tofu

1/2 cup whole-wheat bread crumbs

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until barely tender.  Rinse with hot water and set aside.

3  Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat in a nonstick skillet.  Add the mushrooms and saute' for 3 minutes.  Blend in the flour until smooth.  Lower the heat and gradually stir in the evaporated milk.  Continue cooking and stirring until smooth and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

4.  Stir in the grated cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts.  Stir the cheese sauce into the macaroni.  Add the broccoli and tuna or tofu and toss until evenly distributed.  Transfer the mixture into a nonstick casserole dish.

5.  Melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon margarine and blend well with the bread crumbs.  Spread the mixture over the top of the casserole.

6.  Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.  Serve piping hot!

Have you ever wondered what people do when it is 112 degrees outside?  How about make a huge mud slide to play in!!!!!  That is what our town did today!  In July and August it is monsoon season here and so we celebrated Monsoon Madness in a giant mud puddle! 

Afterwards we walked home and ate snowcones!

What a fun day!

I am continuing on with my 30-day challenge!  Wow! This has been convicting.  I am going to do it again when my 30 days are up!  I think I  am being semi-successful and my husband really LOVES it!!!!!!! Actually, I guess at times I am being so out of "character" my husband ask me if this is some kind of "program" I am following! My husband loves it so much that is just encouraging me right back! Its funny how these things are so reciprocal,

Anyway, in my challenge I have been trying to meditate on the LOVE chapter in the Bible ... 1 Corinthinans 13.  I have been... as I always am... really convicted when I read and mediate on these verse ... especially in the beginning verses where I realize I can DO all these wonderful things but if I DO NOT have love then its just all meaningless!  I am talking about real, true, unconditional love that God speaks of in His word and that only God can give.  So...first, I have to ask God everyday to please instill this type of love in me for my husband and my kids.  I have to pray everyday for Him to "create in me a clean heart, Oh God".  I often begin my prayers with Psalm 51: 9-12 or even the whole chapter sometimes.  I have said before that I really love to pray back scriptures.

So when I am looking over the list that I copied down from the chapter... I have to ask me self ...

Am I patient?...is what am saying and doing to my husband filled with patience....oh dear... I fall down here when I ask him to please do something and he doesn't do and then I remind him of it... and then I ask him AGAIN!  He knows it has to be done...he doesn't forget and he does not need to be reminded...this is where the dreaded term '"Nagging" comes in.  One thing I am trying to do here is ask myself first ...Can I do it?.. There are some jobs that I consider "man jobs" just because of how I was reared? ...  I don't know.. but there are some things I ask of him that really I could just do myself and then I wouldn't have to re-ask or think about it anymore.  If I can't do it myself or really need him to do it I am going to write it in his dayrunner and then I would know for sure that he didn't forget and I wouldn't have to mention that anymore...and then I am going to try and be patient.

Okay, are my words kind?  I can use speech with a sarcarstic or mean tone.  I think God is really helping me here.. but it can creep up...especially if I am feeling tired or sick. (which is no excuse).

How about do I show envy or boastfullness or arrogance (pride) with my husband. Not really envy but sometimes I can have a prideful or boastful attitude with my husband...especially when I think I could have done something better

Am I rude?  Well, I can be rude at times.  Sometimes without even knowing it as evidenced by the comment ... "that was rude"  and I am just setting there like "what?"  it just a FACT!   I think I am getting better at this and I am just thinking to myself...if I say this will it seem rude to my husband.  And if so, how can I restate this where it is more kind and loving.

Do I insist on my own way....oh my... this has always been a hard one for me... I really want and desire to submit to my husband...our marriage and life is so much more fufulling when I do that...because I am following with God's will ... but that old sin nature gets a hold of me at times with this one.  One thing I have done with this is realize is even if I still think "I am right" and I want done my way....there are others ways it can be done...and in the grand scheme of things it absolutely does not matter.....and when I do this I remind myself I am obeying God when I do this... I am following along with God's will for my life when I am in obdience to Him...so its really irrevelant on how I "feel" or what I "want".  I have to remind myself it is what I "know' and I have to stay in the word and meditate on God's word to KNOW what he wants me to do... yes it's a life long process...that's why one of favorite verses is Hebrews 12:2  ... I am running a race and trying to run it with endurance...slow and steady...until I meet Jesus... The day my beloved Grandmother died...that morning when I was in the hospital room with her I was holding her hand...we had a long night and she knew the end was close...I had been reading her favorite passage in the Bible .. and she was still ministering to ME...on her death bed... she was amazing calm (she was in resp failure and not sedated) and she said ... "Claudia, don't cry...don't be sad...(in the past we had actually had long discussions of how I would handle her death and how I would "live" without her)....she said... I have lived my whole to get to this day.... the day I will meet my Saviour, the day I will meet Jesus...face to face...she was so calm and peaceful...and so serious and happy...and later on that day she did...she died and then she met Jesus...and began her new life... and one day I will too...and I want to look back at my life... and be able to say .... I have lived my whole life to get to this day... the day I meet with Jesus! (I got off subject here but just had to add that in!)

Am I resentful?  I am fairly good on this one...I rarely hold grudges or carry around a lot of baggage...so thank you, God!

Do I rejoice in the wrongdoing of my husband.  No, I do not like to see my husband fail.  I am behind him 100 percent and want to see him succeed in all aspects of his life.  Now, there are times when I have a "I told you so... type attitude or even actually verbalize..." so I am trying to work on that aspect...but I do not like to see him fail at anything or make wrong choices.

Do I bear all things?  I think so ... he knows that he can ALWAYS count on me... that I would never just give up and leave...that I am on his side.  There are times when I feel like I can't bear things but I give the load or the burden to God and He tells me in His word that HIS yoke is easy and...HIS burden is light..(Matthew 11: 28-30 and so I claim that promise...and go on.

Do I believe and hope all things... I think this as above... as well as endures all things....and love never ends...

Well, I think in the whole picture of things... I am doing okay through the grace and mercy of God... but its those little everyday things patience, kindness, rudeness, arrogance, insistence on my own way, irritablity...that have to be dealt with on a day by day basis.

Please check this video out...you can even download it as a screen saver:

www.interviewwithgod.com/lovemovie/