2012 Will Be Just Swell

Things are gonna gel in 2012

This coming year my focus will be on:

• Developing my own personal principle and values based mission statement.
• Put together a plan to take better care of my physical and mental health.
• Assisting with Courtney’s wedding.
• Plan to continue my college studies in journalism.
• I will continue to expand my AVON business.
• Launching the Uintah Basin Informer in January to help build and strengthen the community in which I live.
• Ultimately I wish to make a difference and be useful in the building up of the kingdom of God here upon this earth.

This year will be very busy and challenging to say the least. I will be working to stay focused on "the things of a better", putting my perfectionism and self-doubt on a shelf. I have the incredible support of my family and friends to help lift me when I fall, as well as some very valuable resources to aide me in this coming adventurous New Year.

As I lose myself in the techno babble of the internet and webpage building that is at times hard to understand. I am learning a ton. Setting up and maintaining a website has consumed countless hours. Knowledge is a good thing. Obtaining that knowledge can be overwhelming at times.

Christmas Traditions

 

Family Christmas Traditions run strong at this house. Every year on "Black Friday" the tree and the lights go up.

We play and sing Christmas carols and of course each nativity set in my collection finds a special place in our home for display. Each year I try to find another nativity set to add to my growing collection. Currently I am up to seven.

One of these years I will add the rest of the outdoor set to the Holy Family.

After dinner we each take a turn to draw the name of the family member we get the opportunity to express our love for this year. You see gift for each other are made from the heart not bought at the store.

Each gift is a treasure that last through the years because of the thought, effort and love that is expressed in this way.

Some time through out the month of December we take the time to go drive around looking at Christmas lights. For me this is one of my favorite activities. I have always loved the lights and the music of the Christmas season.

On Christmas Eve friends and family gather to sing Christmas songs and to have a white elephant gift exchange. I'll never forget the year that there was a couple of pair of maxi pad slippers  that found their way into the pile of presents.

Then everyone quiets down for the Christmas Story told from the Bible in Luke chapter1 and chapter 2 After that all the kiddos get rushed off to bed after putting out cookies and milk for Santa.

Social and Cultural Media Changes

What will be the tipping point and what will the long term effects be?

Amazing, is what comes to mind when comparing the events in the 50’s to the events of today.  Looking at the power of one’s voice on a simple blog and the far reaching effects of influence it may have on society not just locally but globally.

There is such a delicate balance right now, but little by little I feel the power of influence returning to the consumer.  People are rejecting the idea that they are little more than a product to be molded, shaped and sold to the highest bidder.

As more and more people break the mold the balance in power and influence will shift causing the information age as we know it to crash to the ground busting into millions of pieces.

Just as society weathered the storms of the past it will take its shattered pieces and create a beautiful mosaic.  A system of communication that will far surpass today’s outdated system. 

Changes in history

     Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001?

     I do.  I was at my in-laws getting ready for a job interview.  My mother-inlaw started going on about us being attacked.  I laughed at her and told her she was crazy.

     A few minutes later we had the t.v. tuned to the news and it was as if I was watching sci-fi.  It didn't register that it was really happening.

     While checking the headlines for my mass media class I came across this article and thought it interesting.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140156564/5-other-surprise-attacks-that-changed-history