Stuff That Matters in Life

Katy’s Weblog

Last week at church, R gave me some feedback that I really appreciated. Without going into details, I asked him and C how I can improve. They gave me good advice that I will definitely act on. Thanks, R and C.

We all have blindspots that need good friends to point them out to us. If you are at a certain level of friendship and trust with people, it is appropriate to tell one another how they can improve. I don’t mind if someone tells me how I can improve, provided he says it nicely and not critically.

However, other than to my family, I am very hesitant in giving people feedback. “Who I am to tell them?”, “Maybe it’s my problem, not theirs”, “I should accept them and love them as they are”, “I shouldn’t give people unsolicited advice.”

I suppose there is a fine line between giving helpful feedback with love and being critical.

What do you think?

I realize how little I expect from God by the prayers I pray. I have such low expectations from life.

What do I really want God to do in my life? What do I really want to see happen in the world around me?

Don’t I want God to do more than just easing the pain in my shoulders, or helping my daughter do well on her test?

I am going to start praying bigger prayers. I’m excited.

When a caller would complain to Dr. Laura about her spouse or about getting a divorce, her response would be something like – the person you hate now is the person you were once so in love with you couldn’t live without. You had babies with this person.

How is it that a couple could be inseparable and so happy one day, and in just a few short years, can’t stand to be in the same room with one another?

This is the havoc of sin. Left to ourselves, we are selfish, demanding, impatient, unforgiving – all those characteristics that does not make for getting along with people.

Left to ourselves, marriage wouldn’t work at all.

I think marriage only works when people look at marriage with a bigger perspective. Marriage is bigger than 2 people in love. It’s bigger than having kids. It’s bigger than buying a house and going on vacations together.

Marriage is sacred. It’s the foundation of every society. Marriage is 2 people willing to put aside their own desires for the family. Marriage is not to get what we want, but to give of ourselves for the sake of the next generation.

Marriage is not for the weak.

Ever have one of those days when you have time on your hands…and you don’t know what to do with it?

I have lots of things I want to do, need to do, and should do. But when the time is finally available to me, I don’t know where to start. My mind is in a million places and I can’t focus on one thing.

While being able to set my own schedule is a good thing, I can also end up undisciplined and unproductive.

So it is today…tomorrow I’ll settle down at my to-do list.

Nice people

Filed under Generalby Joyful

Several people came up to offer me help with the graduation celebration I am planning. They were not casually asking if I needed help. They actually offered specific help.

How nice to have people who volunteer without me having to ask.

While planning an event gives me the opportunity to interact with people, I find that I get too focused on the tasks that I overlook the people. I ask what they can do for me, instead of what I can do for them.

Case in point: I am planning an event to honor the graduates. I talk to one of the graduates to ask for help, and I didn’t even congratulate her on her recent graduation. I’m sorry Cinnie! Congratulations!! And you too, Tony, congratulations!! And anyone else I overlooked.

Planning details is not my strong point, and when I have to do it, I am just not at my best.

There should be as few tasks as possible so that people can focus on one another.

Up was …ok

Filed under Generalby Joyful

The previews were great, setting us up for a great movie.

It turned out that the previews were the best parts of the movie. The rest didn’t live up to expectations.

Things I liked about the movie “UP” – The dogs were soooo cute. Russel was an exemplary character with courage and compassion. All the characters were really cute – short and chubby.  Oh, and the short in the beginning was really cute too. Yes, the movie was cute, but that’s about it.

Now for the things that were disappointing – There were hardly any special 3-D effects, you could’ve watched the whole movie without 3-D and wouldn’t miss anything. The basic storyline was too sad. That just puts a damper on the movie for me even though it had a good ending. The whole bad guy thing wasn’t right. He was not really a bad guy, but was made so sinister that it didn’t fit.

I don’t think “Up” is up there with Ratatouille and Cars.

With my oldest son, everything was a first – first to check out a preschool, if it’s good, the sisters will follow along later. First to enter kindergarten, first to go to one week of 6th grade science camp, first to go through the complicated process of choosing classes for high school, first to write essays for college applications, first to move into the college dorm, first to go through college commencement. I expect he will be the first to move out on his own.

With my son, being the first, there was a sense of adventure, of new beginnings.

My youngest daughter just graduated from middle school today. With her, everything is last – Last time I plan a kindergarten party, last time being room mom for elementary school, last time I chaperon a field trip, last time I attend a school concert.

Today was the last time I attend a middle school promotion.

As my daughter goes through each stage of her life, I say good bye to those phases of life as a mom.

I heard it said that a good parent is one who works himself/herself out of a job.

I suppose I should be glad that I’ll be unemployed in a few years. Sigh…

I know, the details do not all fit, but i still liked it. I like the Artemis Fowl series because it’s fun reading, a little humor, a little action, and lots of imagination.

Everyone wants to be Artemis Fowl – a boy genius with a criminal mind, but deep inside, he has a soft heart and a sense of justice. He has all kinds of gadgets, outwits the magical fairies,  plans several steps ahead, anticipates his enemies’ every move, has a large muscular well-trained bodyguard who cooks, and yes, he’s filthy rich.

I think I’ve read all the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen). But there are a few thing I don’t like about The Lost Colony. The end is left with some questions setting itself up for the next book, the enemies are not smart enough, and in some situations, Artemis Fowl acts out of character.

But overall it’s mindless fun reading, good for a lazy day.