Tag Archives: power of words

No 2015 New Year’s Resolutions for Me!

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Jennifer Jensen

I love lists, and always have.  I love goals, and always have.  Which means that I grew up thinking New Year’s Resolutions must have been created with me in mind.  (The phrase “it’s all about me” was also probably created with me in mind!) I don’t think I ever included reading books in my childhood resolutions because I read constantly anyway, but my lists did have things like Earn Girl Scout Badges and Win 1st or 2nd at Horse Shows. As a young adult, I included things like Lose 10 Pounds and Keep a Journal. (Hmm, I’m still trying to do those!) Parenting school-age children, my goals were Keep School Papers Organized and Have Family Home Evening Weekly. Last year made a change. I realized that because I’m easily motivated, I’m setting goals like these all through the year – New Year’s Resolutions were just another occasion to set new … Continue reading →

Posted in Goals | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Redemption of Scrooge

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Jennifer Jensen

I can never decide which version (and star) of A Christmas Carol is my favorite: George C Scott, Patrick Stewart, Albert Finney (mostly because of the song “Thank You Very Much,” although only disassociated with the fact that they’re thanking Scrooge for dying), or even, yes, The Muppets.  One of the things I like about the Muppets is that Gonzo narrates it with quotes directly from the book.  Anyway, I love them all and we watch at least one every year. But today I want to share a blog by author and social media guru Kristen Lamb, talking about the meaning of the story, not just the acting and directing.  Why does it speak to us so deeply?  And can you separate the message from its Christian context?  She ponders the power of names, the power of words, and more.  So without further ado . . . heeeeeere’s Kristen: Why … Continue reading →

Posted in Deep Thoughts, Guest Blogs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Redemption of Scrooge

The Power of Words – Memory vs. Truth

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Jennifer Jensen

My earliest memory is rather dim and fuzzy:  I’m sitting in Mom’s lap in a big chair and she’s reading a letter and telling me that somebody was having a baby. That’s all I remember – not where we lived, how old I was, or even any sounds or smells. Just the snuggly feeling, the letter and the baby.  But when the question of an earliest memory came up through my school years, and it did numerous times, I always answered with this story. The striking thing is that in my 20s or 30s, when I mentioned it to Mom, she stopped to figure out the timing – from the details, it had to be a particular cousin, and I was only a year and a half old! To have a memory of such a young age is rather unusual, but even this memory wouldn’t have lasted past my own … Continue reading →

Posted in Deep Thoughts, Home & Family | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments