Happy New Year 2011

A New Year and a new name for my blog... and a new format look with bigger photos.

After some great family time where we all got together at Shelby's for Christmas, we spent a few more days with Sherilee and Alan at Cannon Beach.

It was there that I saw a book that Sherilee bought for Seth called, "Every Monday Matters."  It was full of lots of ways that we can make a difference in our lives and those around us.  The timing could not have been better!  Later I found out they had a website that was just like the book.

The very first Monday exercise for the new year is to make a list of "What Matters Most."

So after some reflection, and a few minutes catching today's spectacular sunset, I scratched out my list... not necessarily in order of importance.

• my sweetheart
• my family
• my health
• my business 
• my computer (new MacBook Pro)
• my artistic pursuits
• my iPhone
• our home (and future improvements)
• my kindle (and other reading)
• my friends
• faith and hope
• travel
• golf
• my tractor

This is the first year in a long time when I haven't written out my New Year's resolutions.  Instead I am making a list of some activities and projects that I hope to see accomplished this year.  One of the projects is to follow the "Every Monday Matters" website and see how much of it I can work into my life.  From my list of what matters most it was easy to get priorities set for the year,

Question for Thought: What are the things that matter most to you?

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Book Review:
Here is a story of a teenage boy in Africa...in Malawi, from the poorest of the poor in a rural farming community, who overcame incredible obstacles to accomplish his dreams. His parents couldn’t afford to send him to secondary school. The drought of 2002 caused a serious famine where thousands of Africans starved to death. But William loved to learn. He would borrow books from the local library and read everything he could on science. He started first tinkering with radios and fixing them for everybody.

One day he saw a light on a bicycle that worked as one pedaled. This sparked an idea. If he could use the wind to turn a dynamo he could have a light in his room. No one else had power in that rural community. It was truly amazing how he accomplished this without any proper tools or supplies!

As the word about this crazy inventive kid got out, people came from all over to see his windmill. Doors started to open for William and he has inspired the whole nation. This book will inspire anyone who cares to read his incredible story of pursuing your dreams.

Be sure to have a box of Kleenex handy for the last chapter.