Luke posted about his thoughts and reflections this last week. It's funny how similar thoughts have been running through my head. Every year I reflect on my life and where I am and where I'm going. For awhile there, I could say I knew exactly what I was doing. I was a Bible College student, working on a degree, and I knew my future!

Once I graduated, my future became muddled. I had a faint idea that I was supposed to stay in Eugene through the next school year. The things that needed to happen to allow me to do that fell into place. Yet, I'm unsettled. I know I'm here until June, but after that I don't have a clue what's going to happen.

I feel a change on the horizion. But where that change will take me or what it is, I have no clue. Part of me wants to pack and just start driving, heading out and seeing where I end up. That's a risk though and I have a very hard time taking risks.

This time of year is also a good time to step back and see what things I need to improve on. My personal life has become a wreck (to be honest) and certain things have convicted me that I need more discipline and care. I'm actually going to have a list of areas to work on. I will be enlisting several of you to aid me in this endeavor.

The grand adventure of life continues...

I wasn't really looking forward to Christmas. Thanksgiving had been different, not being able to be around family, aznd I wasn't looking forward to another holiday without being with family. As it was looking like either I or my brother were going to be working the weekend of Christmas, I began thinking about getting a tree. There was a fake one at the Thrift Store that I had my eye on. Lo and behold, my boss just gave it to me. Thus begins the tale of the Christmas tree...

I was feeling very sick that day and headed home early. Instead of taking the tree apart and then loading it in the back of my car, I just stuffed it in - hearing a crack while doing so. The tree then proceeded to keep me company for at least a week and a half until I finally had the time to cart it upstairs and set it up. I had to take it apart and try and fix the base. Duct tape was my tool and I tried to reinforce the obvious strained areas.

Unfortunately Duct Tape failed me and I came home to a fallen over tree. That stayed that way for a week. I kept puzzling over what to do and finally decided to take the bottom layer of branches off and insert it into a large box. That appeared to work. We bought some ornaments, but they didn't have hangers. One of us is supposed to get hangers, but we keep forgetting. Maybe sometime this week all the ornaments will be up...

And that's the tale of the Christmas tree.

I'm still alive.

Dec05 - Bookworm

Dec05 - Bookworm
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

Stolen from Brian,

Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.

- Arnold Lobel

04Dec - Tired

04Dec - Tired
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

It's almost 10 on this Monday night and yet I'm tired. I did get up earlier this morning than normal for a Monday. *shrugs* Oh well.

The End.

03Dec - Me and a tall can

03Dec - Me and a tall can
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

I hadn't been enjoying Sunday mornings much 'cause I've been sick and miserable. Well, this morning was a welcome relief. I'm almost over my cold and was feeling better and then this morning's service was excellent.

I'm in a much better frame of mind now that I've beaten the sickness. I can look at things through normal colored glasses instead of brown ones.

Oh, I went to Shari's today with Jeremy and his fiance Jessica. Yes, you read right, they got engaged yesterday. It was fun to hang out with them and Jessica's daughter, Stephanie (either 3 or four). Stephanie is a cute kid.

02Dec - Self Portrait

02Dec - Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

Today was a good day. I worked 10 to 6 at TC and then headed over to Robert and Jodies for a dinner with them and Jack and Lisa. We had decided that each person would bring a course. Lisa brought a dip that was simply awesome, as well as a potatoe side that teased and satisfied my taste buds. Robert made turkey and burger stuffed peppers that were yummy! I brought an Applescotch Crisp that turned out really good with Ice Cream. Oh and they were all cooked in crockpots. *grins* I love slow cookers.

The picture is right after I left Robert and Jodies. I had left my camera in the car and while it was warming up, I snapped this shot.

01Dec - JC

01Dec - JC
Originally uploaded by jcforgod.

Even after being up since 5:30am, I can still smile. Today I worked from 6:45 to 3:00 at Shopko. We had a 6 hour sale this morning. That was fun. We're clearing out a lot of merchandise and sending it to other stores. Electronics is starting to look rather empty. I have a feeling that it'll look a lot different when I go back on Tuesday.

I've decided to do something I've seen on other blogs and on flickr. Every day I'm going to post a self portrait. So you are going to be graced by my smiling visage this entire month.

I'm waiting for my friend Shawn to bring a pizza and then we'll hang out for the evening. Should be fun.