this little life of mine

Sunday, April 14, 2013

"Have you been on Facebook today?"

I know this is a little late, but I now have computer so I can keep up with this thing a little better (hopefully).

This year for Lent, I decided to give up social media. Well, really just Facebook and Twitter. I know what you're thinking. How did I survive, right? Let me tell you, it wasn't easy.

I gave up Facebook one time before, for about a month when I was in college. It was a struggle, but it definitely helped keep me focused on my school work. Giving up just Facebook wasn't as difficult, though, because I still had Twitter to keep up with news, sports, friends, and the like. I did miss not having Facebook chat, but that forced me to interact with friends in other ways like texting or actually hanging out.

This year, I posed to stay off of Facebook and Twitter for the full 46 days of Lent. Let me just point out, I am not Catholic, but I always try to give up something for Lent that might be taking up too much time in my life and hindering my walk with the Lord. I picked Facebook and Twitter because I knew it would be tough and that I spend entirely too much of my time checking to see what everyone else was doing and not doing anything productive with my day.

The first few days went by slowly and I tried to find other ways to fill the time I spent scrolling my newsfeeds. I downloaded a couple of games to my phone, but those didn't hold my attention for long. Suddenly, about a week in, it clicked that I was supposed to be spending that time with the Lord. Once that realization hit me in the face like a load of bricks, the pulling that I felt towards games or other apps on my phone turned to opening up the Bible or the Bible app and reading chapters of God's word. It was then that I realized the hold that these social media sites had on my life, it's the same hold that it has on many of your lives.

Now that Lent is over, I'm back on these sites but I don't feel the need to check them as often throughout the day. Partly because every time I do, someone is engaged or married.. but that's another topic. I still use Twitter to find out the latest news or sports updates, but I don't have to be glued to the feed all day to find that out.

The only thing that really got me when I wasn't on Twitter was that I wasn't able to keep up with the feed for Secret Church to know what the answers to the blanks I missed were. I seriously considered giving in a day early just for that.

Lesson Learned: these sites aren't bad on their own, but don't let them takeover your life and interfere with your walk with the Lord.

Friday, January 25, 2013

A few of my favorite things

*changing leaves in the fall
*coffee
*when strangers become friends
*sunsets that look like cotton candy
*books that take you places
*the sound of string instruments
*jumping in puddles (in rain boots)
*daffodils and daisies
*sleeping late
*good night/ good morning texts
*black sage honey from Savannah Bee Company
*snow that sticks to the ground
*Australian accents
*Cheesecake Factory cheesecake
*hugs from children
*nail polish that doesn't chip (currently, Spoiled by Wet n Wild)
*baseball season
*calling the Dawgs
*movie nights with best friends

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Random Questions

Before you started this survey, what were you doing?Trying to get our scanner at work to cooperate. It has joined forces with the computer to conspire against me.
What is the last thing you watched on TV? Boy Meets World- I watch it every morning while getting ready for work.
Without looking, guess what time it is. noon
Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 12:04pm
With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? Pandora radio and cars driving past.
Do you remember your dreams? I remember the crazy ones.
When did you last laugh? I'm always laughing
What is the last film you saw? Zombieland- poor Bill Murray
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Realistically- Nashville, TN. Dream- Sydney, Australia.
If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? A house. I don't know what I would do with the rest.
What was the last present you received? My "will you be my MOH" gift from my sister.
Do you like to dance? I love to dance. If it was acceptable to dance all the time, I probably would.
Would you ever consider living abroad? Probably not for ever, but I would love to live abroad for like 6 months to a year.
Type of music you like most? Tough question. I love all types of music- Rock, 70s, 80s, 90s Alternative,.. pretty much the only thing I'm not a huge fan of is Country.
Are you listening to music right now? Am I breathing? I don't think I'm ever not listening to music.
What was the last thing you bought? I ordered a necklace from Very Jane yesterday.
Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Yes, and most of the words to Canada's national anthem too... don't ask.
If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be? Does Brandon Beachy count as famous?
Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Target. They get most of my money already, why not spend it all there?
Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? I was Little Miss and Junior Miss SCA when I was younger.
Is the glass half empty or half full? I always say that it's always full- partly with liquid, partly with air. Nerd alert, I know.
What’s the farthest-away place you've been? California state line. ...
Do you believe in love at first sight? No, I think you have to know a person before you can truly love them.
What was the name of your first pet? The first pet that I remember having was a cat named Barney
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? Zooey Deschanel, hands down.
What is the last movie that you saw at the cinema? The Hobbit.
Do you sing in the shower? No, the acoustics are better in my car
What did you want to be when you grew up? A Disney Princess or a DJ
Who’s your favorite Villain? The Riddler (Batman)
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? Sydney, Australia. I have a slight obsession with all things Aussie.
What kind of books do you like to read? All kinds. I love Nicholas Sparks novels and some sci-fi/ fantasy a la JRR Tolkien or JK Rowling
What are you reading now? The Pursuit of Holiness and Emma
Are you a morning person or a night owl? I'm more of a middle of the day person.