may roundup

June has begun and summer is starting to come around after a cold May. Although May was cold it was a great month. I went up to Wisconsin (I wrote about this on May 28) over Memorial Day weekend. I also went to see the musical Wicked, along with a Cubs game at the end of the month against the Rockies. Wicked was great and I would recommend it to anyone. It leaves Chicago in January of 2009. The Cubs game was great too! It was the first warm sunny day of the year. It was great to be at such a historical ball park for a great game.

In the blog on May 12 I set some goals for May. Some I accomplished. Others I did not. I didn’t manage to finish the book I was on. (Although I have read 200+ pages since then.) I also did not go out for a meal with a friend I don’t usually eat with. I did get to go out to a Cuban restaurant (blogged on May 19) which was great. I also had a great conversation with my brother on the phone.

Over the past couple of months I have been trying to be more ‘present’ with God. In a world that cannot stop moving (i.e. work, hobbies, music, tv, etc) it is no wonder that I find it hard to converse with God. It’s been a challenge but a good challenge for me and I will continue to be more present with God each day.

Lastly, in the month of May I have really appreciated the few friends in my life and the generous, gracious, and loving manner that they each bestow. In a world that is not always welcoming, it is gratifying to have good friends that stand by me through thick and thin.

case of the mondays

On this unmotivated Monday morning I thought to myself “what would I like to do in my lifetime?” As I thought more, I realized maybe I should start smaller and think about what I would like to do during this year (2008), this month (May), and this day (May 12). Sometimes it is good when setting goals to have one of the first goals be something that is easy to accomplish and then to move forward with harder goals. So, I will start with my goal for the day: to complete a blog post. Check.

So, what about the rest of the day:
1.) Drink a healthy amount of water
2.) Go for a run
3.) See God at my job
4.) See God in others

How about this week:
1.) Write a blog about something in the news
2.) Read a 100 pages in the book I am reading^1
3.) Go to the Cuban restaurant I have been craving
4.) Scan my family’s old photos onto my computer^2
5.) Call my brother

And for the month:
1.) Read more
a. Finish my book: Washington’s Crossing
b. Read: The Practice of the Presence of God (I am still waiting for this book to arrive in the mail.)
2.) Eat less junk food
3.) Be more fully present with God
a. Seeing God in the places I don’t normally
b. Seeing God in my emotions
c. Seeing the bigger picture while I look at the smaller picture
4.) Go out for a meal with a friend I don’t usually eat with

So, why am I telling my goals for the month on a public blog? It’s really not that interesting, is it? It’s not. But now it keeps me accountable to try and complete these goals. Plus, it may actually motivate someone else to make some goals and complete them as well.

^1 I only read about 50 pages

^2 Did not scan any pictures

april roundup

April has been a busy month for me. I’ve been to Iowa, Florida, and Michigan. They were all great trips to visit family and friends. I hung out with a couple of friends from seminary in Iowa. We went geocaching and explored what is Decorah. In Florida I got to hang out with my Aunt and Uncle while eating unusual food, seeing how FLW would design a college, and seeing some great football. For my birthday I drove up to Michigan to see my parents.
I also got some things squared away, finally! In April television shows finally started having new episodes so The Office is back on, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I also finished Alienable Rights which is a book about laws and politics and how they have affected African Americans for the past four hundred years. A great book which I will eventually write a post on.