LIFE IN BLOOM

Learning How to Flourish in God's Grace

Tag Archives: Life


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Friday Favorites- Electronics and Gadgets

Since most of the first world is observing Black Friday, stocking up on all these electronics and gadgets that they feel will make their life better, I figure I’d take the time to make this “Friday Favorites” about my favorite electronics and gadgets.

I’m not really a techie, or a gadget person; however, I appreciate anything that makes my life easier.  That said, here are the gadgets that I keep close:

  1. Apple MacBook Pro– this is a new addition to my life, as a result of begging and bartering with my parents as to what would be a sufficient birthday present.  I had friends who told me it would change my life.  They were right.  It is SO intuitive and user-friendly.  I don’t know how I went this long with it.
  2. Apple iPhone– this is my latest tech addition, and again- I love it.  I love having my apps and music with me all the time.  Again, it’s super intuitive and user-friendly.  I haven’t had to look at the user-manual for anything.  And it has GREAT battery life.
  3. Apple iPod Nano– I love music and being able to have my iPod in my car has been WONDERFUL.  Again, Apple found a way to simplify my life and bring things that I love to my fingertips.
  4. Amazon Kindle– I have always loved to read; however, I was hesitant about getting an e-reader because I was afraid that I’d miss the feel of a book in my hands.  However, with my Kindle, I have SEVERAL books with me at once, and I love that I can go back and forth between them whenever I feel like it.
  5. Flash drive and Portable Hard drive– I’ve lost enough flash drives, documents, and other things on a computer to always keep these with me.  I try to back up my computer and flash drives once a week to make sure that I don’t lose anything.  I suppose I could also transfer all of my stuff to Google Docs…but…I like my current system.

I feel like my gadget list is pretty basic.  All of my essentials; nothing flashy or extra.  What are your essential/favorite gadgets?

Until next time…


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Learning to Sit Still

I’m kind of a busybody.  I don’t know that I always intend to be, but I think it started as a kid.  For the first 8 years of my life, I was an only child, and I had to find ways to keep myself entertained.  I think it’s also because of my parents stressing the value of working hard for everything that you have and the value of earning your success.

So, I enjoy working hard and staying busy.  There are many things that interest me, and my work (both with my job and with graduate school) keeps me busy.  So, on most days I have a to-do list that reaches somewhere from here to heaven, even after checking things off.  My to-do lists have to-do lists.  It’s actually quite ridiculous.

But now I’m on break.  So, I’ve decided to put my to-do lists on hold and actually “break”.  I had no idea that this would be so difficult.  Like, I seriously had to FORCE myself not to do anything on Saturday but go to the grocery store and go get the oil changed in my car.  While I know that taking time to rest is important, I didn’t think I would struggle to do so.

The truth of the matter is that by failing to rest regularly, I’ve done myself (and those who are in constant contact with me) a disservice.  We need rest.  Our minds do, and our bodies do.  So often we get into the habit of just working all the way through- pushing through the pain and fatigue until our bodies shut down.  That’s happened to me for the past 2-3 years that I’ve been at my job and it’s horrible.

So, I’m using part of this break (if not all of it) to learn how to sit still.  As much as I love being busy, I need to love resting.  I’m not going to be good for anybody if I don’t learn how to take care of me first.  And while it sounds selfish, it’s completely true.  If God can take time to rest, surely I can as well.

Here’s to finding more balance, taking time to rest and observe a Sabbath, and being a better, healthier me.

Until next time…