A Literary List

I started titling this post something about 2011, but that just seemed strange to me. I remember thinking it was weird having to get used to typing/writing 2008. Oh the good old days.

I love this week. The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. Don't get me wrong--I do love the season. But there is something about the planning and looking ahead to the next year that I really love. The fresh start. Clean slate. Blank canvas. You get the picture. I haven't done much planning the past couple of years and have promptly added that to my list of regrets. I feel like I've wasted the past couple years of life (for many reasons that would take up a whole other post) and I'd like to be more intentional this year on several fronts.

One is reading more. When I worked at Starbucks I would get through about 2 books a month. Seems like a lot, but with a set 30 minute break every day it was easy to do (especially with a mocha in hand). Since being in this rotten funk of a season, I've had trouble finishing any books. I have shelves in my room packed with un-read titles, but I can't bring myself to get through one. So hopefully this new year will bring new motivation to finish. Now, the issue is narrowing down my list. Since this is my blog (duh) and I love lists (if you don't know that about me, you shouldn't be reading this) I've added a beauty below of all of the books I currently have on my shelf that I want to read. The few that have ** are because I've already been through them once, but really want to re-read.

Please note that these are only the Christian titles. This doesn't include all of the other biographies, fiction, kids books (I'm currently working through the Chroni-what-cles of Narnia) and hope to get through Harry Potter as well. But as you'll see.....I'm in over my head.

To Read in 2011: (this list has been alphabetized to feed my quirky-ness)

-The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
-Crazy Love – Francis Chan
-Forgotten God – Francis Chan
-Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborne
-In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day – Mark Driscoll
-Walking with God – John Eldridge
-Scouting the Divine – Margaret Feinberg
-Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster **
-The Christian Atheist – Craig Groeschel
-Thin Within – Halliday
-Prodigal God – Tim Keller
-Counterfeit God – Tim Keller
-Mere Christianity – CS Lewis **
-Outlive Your Life – Max Lucado
-A Million Miles in a Thousand Years – Donald Miller **
-Jesus, the One and Only – Beth Moore
-So Long Insecurity – Beth Moore
-Bittersweet – Shauna Niequist
-Cold Tangerines – Shauna Niequist **
-The Me I Want To Be – John Ortberg
-Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
-The Attributes of God – AW Tozer
-The Kneeling Christian – Unknown

So what do you think? Have you read any of these? Suggestions? Care to list them in order of importance? See any that I need to add? I'm open to input. I guess I'll have to tell you this blog is here first :)

Tidbits

3 posts in and I've committed a blogging "no no"....I haven't posted consistently. Good thing no one knows this exists yet. Keeps the pressure down that way. I'm still waiting on a lesson in proper blogging, so I'll just leave you with a short list of randomness. Welcome to my brain!

1. I love a key change in a song. 9 times out of 10 it'll give me chills. Weird...I know.

2. I happened to catch a part of 60 minutes this past Sunday and story was absolutely fascinating (and a little scary). I'll have to do another post on this when I get the link up. But, it sounds like there is an explanation for my memory...and how it holds onto details more than others.

3. I've learned that I enjoy planning and prepping for something way more than actually doing it. I don't think there is a study on 60 minutes about that.

4. Close to a month in, and I'm still loving Christmas music! I especially like it on Delilah's show (guilty pleasure). You know that the rest of the year she has listeners call in, tell her a sappy story and then she picks a song that fits their request or need. Christmas time is no different except none of the Christmas songs apply to the sappy stories. Ha ha ha. I'm not sure why I find that entertaining, but I do. It's the little things in life, people.

5. I like odd numbers more than evens, so had to end on a 5. Now to think of another quirk..... Nah. Maybe I'll just leave you with 2 lies and a truth. (1) I've been to every Disney Park in the US (2) I don't eat the peanuts on airplanes (3) I've visited all of the states except Wyoming.

Merry Christmas!

What's To Come

I have big dreams for this place. I've been thinking about a blog for months....planning out post ideas, theme ideas, lists, stories, and memories to share. That doesn't surprise me. I'm more of a thinker than a doer (not a trait I'm particularly proud of). Today officially changes that. Since I hit the first publish button, I declare myself a doer.

Please bear with me. I'm blog illiterate. I don't know how to set up links or upload videos. I don't even have a scanner for some of the valuable (read embarrassing) pictures from my past. So while I hope this will be great place of laughs and ponderings, right now we're just stuck with plain old words.

Here is one of my favorite quotes that I keep reminding myself of daily:

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." -Neale Donald Walsch

The Beginning of the Beginning

This is officially my first blog post. Which makes you, one of my first blog readers! Can I have a blog if I don't have kids? Only kidding. I'm so used to seeing blogs pop up among my friends when families expand or other life changes happen. With me? It's none of the above....per se.

I've never started a blog because I didn't think I had anything to say. To be honest, the things I did want to say, I wasn't sure I wanted anyone to read. So the farthest I got was a mental blog that would keep me entertained. The silent monologue would start with "if I had a blog, I'd post about this", hence the title here.

It recently occurred to me that most all of my nearest and dearest friends live in different states. I've done life with each of you in the past in different seasons and while I don't get to see you every day (or even every month), I'd still like to do life with you.

So here we go....