Spunk or Moxie?

Main Entry:	spunk  [spuhngk]  Show IPA
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	courage, nerve
Synonyms:	backbone, determination, doggedness, fortitude,gameness, grit, gumption*, guts*, intestinalfortitude, mettle, moxie*, pluck, resolution, spirit,toughness, true grit

goole image....now this is Spunk or Moxie!!

Recently I heard someone describe life after 50 as the years that women regain their "spunk" which is a characteristic of young girls.  For some reason that has just stayed with me as I  mauled it over and over again in my heart.  I let my memory go back to the age of unrestricted "spunkiness".  Some of you have never left it behind...your blogs always show "spunk".  I, however, allowed it to slip through my hands as the balls of life I was juggling filled my hands to capacity.

One of my words for this year is just a fleshy, fun word - Spunk.

Do you know when you are feeling "spunky"?  After I heard this thought on my age, I started to see when I felt "spunky".  As I felt it, I started to become acquainted with this again.

I felt it start to crawl up my spine as I got up from my seat at my friend's daughter's wedding to join my friend on the dance floor.  We are in our 50's and share similar backgrounds of having been in the drill team in high school.  These shared experiences has brought us to laughter many times.  I have put away my dancing shoes (and my teaching of dance), years ago, so  for me, to venture toward a dance floor was a pure spark of "spunkiness".  We both joined the group in a line dance with giggles and laughter, while celebrating the marriage of her daughter.  Here I felt a little spark.

The following week found me downtown Grapevine at night.  Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas with its streets lined with lights which blink to the sounds of Christmas Carols.  Along main street is a large white gazebo where you could see people dancing to the music.  Benjamin said, "let's dance, Mom!"  Now I have to admit dancing in my home with my children yes!, but dancing out in a public gazebo - it hasn't happened, until I felt that "spunk" set in.  I grabbed Benjamin's hands and danced him around the gazebo.

I was starting to recognize "spunk" again when I ventured onto the sunlit basketball court with my teenage son. He has been in a slump in making baskets.  I strolled onto the court as if I knew what I was doing and asked for the basketball.  Now remind you I WAS NEVER IN SPORTS - I danced.  I took the basketball and challenged him in a shooting contest.  I started to shoot the ball and low and behold...it went into the basket! In fact, it went into the basket nine times in a row.  I was winning...it took him a couple of tries before he could beat my record of nine baskets.  There it was, my "spunk".  I knew when to leave the court when other teen boys came to shoot...so I stepped aside and cheered from the sidelines...again acting more like a girl than a mom.

Now one of my words for this year is to get my "spunk" back.  I don't know what forms it will come in...and I am sure there will be times I look silly.  I just think it is time to let that little girl back into my life.

Okay are there any of you who need to add some "spunk" in  your life?  Those of you that have it...well, I am watching you!

High Ho, High Ho

google image 

"High Ho, High Ho, now off to work we go."  Now are you singing it?
It is January and for me that means making a plan.  So this year, I think I will take it one month at a time...mark down some objectives and see what happens.  I know not to plan too far in advance and not to be too set in my plans...God seems to always come along and change them anyway.

First goal for this month..."High Ho, High Ho - Off to the Gym I Go!!!" 
I worked out alot this past year, but the scales didn't reflect lower numbers. I did, however, lose a couple of inches, but not enough to change my clothes size.  I have also observed that I am an emotional eater.  Now since confession is good for the soul, I hope acknowledging that fact will help me to watch it.  So when I'm in a stressful event or just feeling bored - I need to learn how to relieve that feeling by a more productive way... other than eating.


Second goal of the month - Clean out and Organize my pantry and refrigerator
After the holidays, both need attention. I need to cook up some freezer breakfasts and meals for the remaining basketball season.  If I have healthier alternatives available to both my teenage son and me, we will eat better.

Third goal - Well, the appointment is set...UGH!!!!!!!!  So that annual doctor's appointment that was three years ago...well, it is finally on the calendar and I must go!

Fourth goal - Do something fun that re-energizes me.  It is too easy to be caught up in children's schedules and never leave any time for play.  I am going to work on at least one fun thing for each month.  I think I might take a weekend off to go see my friend...this is something I have never done and it would be good for me to try something new and refreshing.  She is one of my friends who says, "pull up your big girl panties and deal with it!"

Fifth goal - Do something creative.  I think I will paint my laundry room.  It connects to my kitchen and I sooooooooooo LOVE my kitchen walls that I will carry that color into the laundry room.  I will put in some accents of red to cheer me up while I am doing that weekly chore.

How about you? Do you have some things you are planning on this month?  So, here it goes for my once-a-month goals...we will see what twists and turns happen.

Start at the Beginning

This week holds three birthdays in our household, two basketball games, return to school schedule and a new year.  Could you load anymore in one week?

January the beginning of the year.  Genesis the beginning of His Story.  My Bible at my side, the music I sing to lift my spirit to His throne room playing, the empty calendar to be filled by His design - beginning.

As in the past I have shared music that has reached past my flesh to my spirit.  There are times to just dance around with fun music and then times to stop and allow God to speak through His composers.

My daughter-in-law shared with me this Christmas season the music inspired by The Story written by Max Lucado.  Today I want to share the site that tells about this inspiring work.  For some this genre of music may not be your style...but the words still speak truth.  This video only presents the music and the words.

http://www.thestorycd.com/ - this link supplies information on this CD.

I share one of my favorites from this CD...I hope you have time to be inspired and remember that from the Beginning He had a Plan for each of us.  Look what He sees..."I see a star, He sees a galaxy....Who but You would dream your dream in me?