Fav Words of 2011

Churlish 

:   boorish :

Cooee (aus)

: prolonged, shrill, clear call or cry used as a signal by Australian Aborigines and adopted by the settlers in the country:

'precautious'

My life is a bit chaotic all because they updated the operating system that my work is using.  I have no fear when it comes to computers so that isn't the problem.  I do fear the boss.  I am under such a backlog that drives me insane.  So to keep my tiny nose just above the rushing water all around me, I keep my precious nose pointed towards anything that buoy's my sorry backside.  Last Wednesday it was the beautiful dusky sunset that my Heavenly Father gave me after the computer and the rainy dash to the stores.  This Wednesday morning it came in the form of the love or silliness of words.

I have started to catch up on news and such from DownUnder because the RadioAlarm App on my iPod has made it easy to stay tuned in to my friend's world.  I happened upon this little show called Adventures in English with Sue Belinda Meehan.  If I can't listen to it because it is early morning for me, I will catch it later online.  I get a kick out how fun it makes English and it helps that I am a bit partial.

Do you know what 'to poodle' means?  It is two words put together - putter and tootle.

put•ter (Brit. pot•ter) verb
occupy oneself in a desultory but pleasant manner, doing a number of small tasks or not concentrating on anything particular : late nights is the best time of the day to putter around the craft room.
• [with adverbial of direction] move or go in a casual, unhurried way : the duck putters on the surface of the pond.


too•tle verb  (I thought Sue Belinda said this word came from England too)
[intrans.] informal go or travel in a leisurely way : they were tootling along the coast.


Sue Belinda said 'to poodle' has origins from England.  I think her mother would use the term a lot.  This is the first time I have heard it used this way.  I think it is quite enjoyable!  I now have three fun words that are related and I shall have a ball using them.

One of the questions posed to Sue Belinda had a running theme through out the hour.  Of course us bad yanks just messed up the language.  ARgh!  So is precautious a word?  The answer was no!  It is doubling up on a word.  If you are already cautious, how can you be cautious beforehand?  Ok, understood.  If you write the word, spell check says it isn't a word but it is in the American Dictionaries especially the older ones.  The newer dictionaries are moving away from them.  I did get out of my nice comfy bed to see if my dictionary had it.  It sure did.  I kept thinking about the word.  It is a bit weird on the tongue but I think I have heard it used in everyday language.  I know I have heard precaution and precautionary before and a lot.  I fired off a tweet but they didn't respond.  It was a hoot.  I think I will try to pay more attention to those silly words.

The other intriguing conversation was this blind man who was teaching young blind children a computer language program.  He was using a program from America and the kids were having a hard time spelling words because of the American accent.  My ears perked and my eyes rolled as a Yank hearing Aussies yack on about how they use 'r' and 'shaw' sounds as extras where in America we just pronounce the words with no extra sounds.  I am thinking how hard spelling must be in Australia with all those extra sounds that are not in the word.  They were making it sound that their extra sounds was the best and there should be no problems with spelling.  Did you know that Aussies pronounce calf with a 'r' in it?

Anyways I latched on what a delight it was to learn about English and the nuances that come from England, Australia, and America.  I love words.  I love learning.  This was a treat and a thanksgiving to carry with me though the stressful days I have been having.

One last interesting tidbit:
English is the most spoken second language.

churlish

I enjoy a good word when I hear one.   The other day I heard this one and I had to indulge myself in a bit of word candy.

The word was used about Abigail's husband, Nabal who was churlish.  The use was a big give away and has a negative meaning.  I sure wouldn't want that label.  What I like about this word is the way it comes out over the tongue.

I was listening to Sue-Belinda/Adventures in English on 612 Brisbane.  She said that spelling needs to be taught in five ways.
1.  the way it looks
2.  the way it sounds
3.  the way it feels as you write it
4.  word family - what other words are related to it
5.  memory tricks

If I don't pay attention to the way it looks, the 'h' would hide and I would see curl and say it that way.  Opps!  I love the way it sounds and you really can push out the 'ch' and 'r' which makes it sound rude like its meaning.  I can hear the sneer.

churl  noun.  \ˈchər(-ə)l\   rude person
Churl used to mean an ordinary man opposed to royalty.


churlish adj. \ˈchər-lish\ rude


A memory trick for me almost sounds like vomit.  Instead of hurling how about 'churling'.  Ok, I know that isn't a word but it should be.  


Hope you like this word as much as I have!!!!

Fav Words of 2010

* Mellifluous* = 1) having a smooth rich flow 2) filled with something (as honey) that sweetens
I definitely love this word. I of course love honey now that I can't have the wretched white stuff.

* Cacophonous* = marked by harsh sounds
I love compare and constrast and this word is a perfect foil to mellifluous.

* Aubergine* = eggplant
I was told this was a word for the color of eggplant. She probably found the word in a catalog. I have looked for this word in the dictionaries and I cannot find. (doesn't help if you have too many u's in the word) Another thing is that this word is a British word originating from the French. Merriam-Webster has a neat feature that speaks the word. This word was a surprise to me!

I love purple and what better word to add to my vocabulary.

I enjoyed the movie "Love Happens" where the florist was like a word gorilla. I love words and I want to put more wow in my word knowledge! Now to be sneaky and leave words for other to discover!!

I had two other words that is on some yellow sticky note somewhere. I was bad and didn't retain them in my head. I will do better!

What is gentleness?

Mr. Aggression strolled into my day and I was taken aback. I thought I completed my tasks to a tee but Mr. Aggression who does not know me made a very bad first impression of himself and was ugly in an email. Now it was my move. Knowing I should just cover it and go on, my tongue wagged instead to the resident Talker. She told our boss and told his boss. ARgh! Why couldn't I keep quiet?

Feeling small, I got out the Fruit of the Spirit for polishing and as I polished them for better absorption in my system. As I drew in the Scriptures for each Fruit, I had to look up gentleness as I don't believe I knew the difference between it and kindness. I now have Gentleness polished and figured out now the task is to display it in my life.

“Gentleness is chivalrous & quiet in nature, having a gracious (covering) & honorable manner to soothe, calm, & tame agitation.”

highway ...

I know that my journey as a believer is on a narrow path. Jesus even said this in Mat 7:14 'Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.' Many times I have felt the narrow begin to squeeze in. That is ok and it is as it should be. So imagine my surprise that my beloved narrow way could be describe in another way - a more broad means.

I love words and as I read I find God giving me words that intrigue me and keep me in the wondering about them. The word is highway.

Isaiah 35 has quickly become a favorite because it is totally about JOY. Here in verse 8 I found 'way of holiness' described as a highway! Hmm, that is way different from what I have always known as a narrow way. Look up the meaning of highway and it is a public road. Another hmmm.

Isaiah 35:8-9
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there

When I stumble upon something intriguing like this in the Word, I tuck it back in the brain to ponder. To my lovely surprise as I was reading a chapter of Proverbs a day, highwaycame up again two days in a row.

Prov 15:19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
Prov 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

Each verse is more meaning to this highway and yet I want to learn more. I can't help but think the meaning has something to do with the Way being lofty and high up. I love sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Godly meditation vs earthly meditation

Again on the radio (bnn), a contrast was given on meditation. It was clear and precise. Now I won't be timid in my admitting to meditation! So here it goes:

earthly meditation = emptying the mind.

Godly Meditation = filling the mind.

Need proof?
What to fill the mind with?

Jos 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Ps 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Ps 63:6
When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.

Ps 77:12
I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.

Ps 119:15
I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.

Ps 143:5
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands.

my HOPE ...

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you to be afraid of mortal man?

Jer 17:5-8
This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands, he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where there no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Ps 105:4-5
Look to the Lord and His Strength;
Seek His Face always.
Remember the Wonders He has done,
His Miracles and the judgements He pronounced,

1 Peter 3:13-16
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

'Aged Love' {v}

While talking to a co-worker, our conversation was about how a marriage relationship becomes real good when it goes through the different seasons.

There are different things and issues that happen in the teenage years compare to the 20's, 30's, 40's and so on it goes. You can't just give up when it gets rough and redo an age. You lose out on the deep and wide of love and stay in the shallow end forever. It is sad to see so many marriages lose out when there is divorce.

I being still single am afraid that I missed out on the good stuff of the ages. I've been told that you still feel the giddy teenage stuff of every new love and this from a widower who now on her third. Not sure I believe it. There is a lot of things packed into each season.

At other times I just don't think I was made for marriage in the 20's & 30's. How sad is that? But this new age I am entering might be ok. It is more about the two of you and not about the kids. However, I do not have much to work with as the guys out there in my age bracket still have kids and there is no way I want to jump in that kind of soup. It is not fair to the kids with so many pot stirrers. However, I thought I was ready in my 30's and that didn't happen. At moments I wonder if it will ever happen. So why do I have this want? I have prayed to for my future mate and I have prayed for this want to just up and die! Argh.

Oh well, I will still believe in marriage as it should be - as God designed it to be. I will still believe in the aged love with all its depth and flavor. I will continue to discover it even if it isn't mine ...

crown {n}

If a wife is a crown of her husband ...

Proverbs 12:4 'An excellent wife is the crown of her husband ...'

and if God has crowned us with lovingkindness & tender mercies,

Psalms 103:4 (God) Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies ...

then shouldn't a wife be a crown of lovingkindness and tender mercies for her husband?

I do like this picture because I when I read Proverbs 12:4, I wondered what the crown entail besides royalty. What better royalty than to bend low enough to spread lovingkindness and tender mercies!

lovingkindness {v}

Did you know there is a difference between kindness and lovingkindness? I guess I never really put any thought into until today after listening to J Vernon Mcgee.

Loving kindness = kindness with a little extra special topping.

J Vernon Mcgee had an example of a little girl's definition. The little girl said ''Kindness is when my mom makes me a peanut butter sandwich but lovingkindness is my mom adding my most favorite jam to my peanut butter sandwich.''

Pretty cool! Amazing that this word is created by the Loving God. He loves us so much that He had to have something extra special to add to kindness for His beloved children.

blogsphere {n} ...

I love the blogsphere. It is an more intimate setting between writer and reader, talker and listener. It is about everyday life and it is about depth at the same time. You can visit anytime because the welcome mat is always out. There is no need to watch the clock and leave before you get thrown out. You can be quiet as church mouse nibbling on cheese and I suppose you could be loud too without disturbing the peace too much. I favor the smaller quieter places of the world. I like depth and really knowing someone dreams and passions. I want no social ranking games. I don't want it to be too loud but just right. I can throw a laugh that echos on the walls but just smiling down to the depth of my toes feels sooooo goood and the blogshere is just the place for me to 'socialize'.

I have a blog I read because she writes so well. I don't care for her world as she made it but I do keep coming back because I want to be encourage to write well. Another blog I read is because of her location and she is a single girl coping with no men. She will soon be crossed off my readership because she is getting a bit to negative and too worldly for my stomach. She was teaching art and now she is teaching first grade, I think. Now for my favorite blogs to read - I love reading this french cook's blog. I can't enjoy the food the way she does because of my food allergies, but I just love how she writes!!!! She has a cookbook! But in her blog her foods are characters and you just feel so much apart of her world. She travels too and has parties to meet her readership! She has been to Perth, Australia and of course New York - job thing. She traveled to the US for a vacation but of course she blogged about the foods she encountered. Pretty cool. Another favorite blog of mine is from a place I would love to visit, Brisbane, Australia. She just moved from Melbourne with her hubby. She started a cafe and is expecting her first baby. She blogs about her life, her cafe, her craft projects, and about her family. She includes small photos and she is pretty good with it too. It is a wonderful peek into someone's life. From her I have learned that while Martha Stewart might be big here in the US, but it is Donna Hay downunder. I have noticed Ikea is big and so is the Oriental touch in their fabrics and crafts. These are a few blogs I enjoy. I see that I navigate those that inspire me in my own life.

I think if someone was to describe my blog it would be that is about enjoying the little things of my life, it about letting go the past and pressing towards what lies ahead, it about learning and growing, it about certain soap boxes like anger, melancholy, abandonment etc, it about my life with God, it is about words and my love how songs and hymns impact my thoughts, it about my passions like writing, painting, pups, creativity etc, ... I do get heated at times and light hearted at other times. Of course I want my blog to be enjoyed but that is part of my need to be liked. It is quite possible to turn people off with what I write. I have to be ok with that just as long as I feel that there is balance of depth and joy here.

Blogsphere is a great place to inhale and exhale...

Noel {n}

= birth.

As a young girl I remember this word intriguing me. It was night time and I was in the backseat of the family car watching the Christmas nights. This word was painted white on a dark wood plate hanging by a porch light. I still see it as it is engraved deeply in my mind. I thought the word interesting yet didn't understand it. It is not a native word of the English language. It seemed French and I don't like French because they make strange sounds from letters that seem crazy to me.

(Another young memory was when Dad was giving his name and address. Our last name usually has an the letter L in it, but our family line is the only one that does not have the L. So he states his first name with two N's and his last name with no L. The lady repeats it back 'So you live on Noel street?')

Not to long ago I have come to know a man named Noel. To my surprise it is not pronouced like the Christmas Noel but like 'No' with a light L touch. He didn't seem to have a good understanding of his name. That happens if peers make fun of your name or if family use it with distain. I was frustrated by that so I set out to figure out this name for myself. To the name book I went. It means 'Birthday of the Lord'. Ok, he sould be proud of the name! Later, I found another name book (see, I am addicted to name books because I lovvvvvve words and I look up my favorite names). This name book suggested a more modern take on Noel. It was perfect! Noel = precious gift! I took this and wrote a very long letter to encourage him.

Today Noel takes on a new meaning. It is not from the French. I can't remember for sure what country, but Noel = birth. I like that especially when everything is ending. An Ending means a new beginning is there for you to begin. New birth.....

But most of all Noel is about the BIRTH of the MOST PRECIOUS GIFT ever! Have you received the BIRTH of the MOST PRECIOUS GIFT ever? Seek and He will find you. Unwrap the GIFT and HE WILL TRANSFORM YOU AND YOUR LIFE!

mellifluous {adj}

' sweet sounding, honeyed, mellow, soft. liquid, silvery, soothing, rich, smooth, euphonious, harmonious, tuneful, musical '

There is a blogger who has a way with words but she uses words I never heard of and I am always doing the dictionary thing to find out what it means. I am not sure how this one is pronounced and am afraid to try it on my own tongue for fear I won't like the sound of it or that it won't do it justice. If it passes my ear test, this word just might become a pet word of mine. I certainly want my life to model it. I definately dislike strongly its antonym cacophonous which means noisy, loud, ear splitting, raucous, discordant, jarring, grating, inharmonious, unmelodious, unmusical, and tuneless.

worry {v}

= 'I don't believe God is BIG enough to handle my problems!'

depression {n}

We cease loving ourselves if no one loves us.
~madame de stael

Be honest... how true it this?

Hmmm, question...
What if you cease loving yourself when others do love you and continuously 'try' to love you?

This life is all about teamwork but most go about living unto themselves and doing it their own way and being in the spotlight. So why should it shock and miff me when others cease to love themselves because they refuse to allow love in. I am afraid this is the definition of full blown depression.

freedom {n}

He is man that has major tatoos on his arm and wears black. He has red splotches in his black hair reminding you of flames. He has metal in his ears and has a rocker feel to him. His looks don't bother me but when his mouth goes off, you cringe. He seeks out your weakness and exploits it to get inside your head and throw you off your game. He claims to be an atheist yet he seems to know the Bible forwards and backwards. If he sences your weakness is your faith, watch out because he slices you to the bone and there you lay flayed with no structure to hold your ground. I sat there in horror as I watched him skin his victim. I in the safety of my covers began to talk back. How would I deal with such mental gymnastics? Could I hold my temper? Could I be quiet and soft but with a way about me that kept him safe yet put him back a few paces? Could I be a light that was soft and tempered like a candle? Could I be the salt that flavored the pot? If you can get around his verbage, you can see soft moments in him. Sometimes he goes to his victim and asks if he can talk. I think he smart and has feelings. I think he can really get a person. Pretty sure there is a wall of some sort holding back the truth of who he is. I have yet to see someone respond in a gentle but firm way to expose him in a safe place. Instead he gets curse words and religious verbage slung at him; he goes off smugly because he just proved another 'fanatic' is the same as him and no better. He's right again...

If only in the heat of tirade, you could stop the film and see what he brings to the table and work with that. Don't change him but be free to fill the cracks with love. Don't react! If he gets a response from you that is soft, smart, asking, just maybe he would be speechless and actually see the Jesus instead of hearing religious-words-without-deed thrown at him...

A believer has to be very deciplined with their speech and their love. The only way to have decipline is to keep your eye in the Word and actually do what God has requested of us. Our speech meaning the choice of our words and the tone we put behind it needs to embrace honor. How else is our very being going to reflect God's Glory? Nooooooo, we get defensive and abrasive, devouring others as well as ourselves...

Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Galatians 5:13-16

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25

Through out the NT there are many references to freedom. It hit me last night and again this morning. What is freedom? Will it change how I conduct my life?

free from what?
* Free from anger!
* Free from old ways
* Free from sin
* Free from death
* Free from desires
* Free from fear
* Free from rejection

What really got me was that I wrote down that I am free from anger. The surprise for me is that when someone comes at me with their loud voices and their accusations, I am free from that. I do not need to react. I do not need to have a whole body melt down. I do not need to start kicking myself or fight back. I do need to cut with my tongue. So what am I free to do?

free to what?
* Free to love
* Free to be kind
* Free to be impartial
* Free to learn without rejection
* Free to try without fear
* Free to become my purpose

I am free to refuel in God's Word when I feel the pressure of anger. I can love the angry person by being tenacious in my kindness realizing what they are bringing to the table. I can defuse them by knowing I am free and giving them back their dignity and a bit of control. I don't need their approval or disapproval. Ultimate Control is in God's Hands. My control is being soft.

Again having the picture of the table for me is very helpful. I know there could be underhanded things going on under the table, but all I have to work with is what they bring to the table and my own God-Given Bounty...

Free from the chains of anger and free to actively lavish love...

Joy {n}

A mood goes away by kicking!!!!
~oswald chambers

What is JOY?
* It is trusting God and doing good.
In a plain word - OBEDIENCE! Just do it!

* It is dwelling in the Lord and feeding on His Faithfulness.
Verbally express your gratitude and declare His Attributes.
How big is your God?

* It is delighting in the Lord.
Be aware and claim God's Victories in your life.

By following these simple steps, you will find God takes care of your heart. JOY WIPES OUT THE SAD TEARS. Death comes to melancholy and depression. You will begin to FEEL YOUR FAITH.

It does not stop. You will have flare ups. You must do this every moment.

My Joy Journey started in 2003 and it continues. My name is 'from the dark valley blooms Joyful one'.

"Trust the Lord & do good. Dwell in the Lord & feed on His Faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord & He will take care of your heart." Ps 37:3-4

faith {v}

I have been thinking about faith. What does faith mean? How do I live by faith? How would I explain it if asked?

Simply, faith is to obey. No excuses. Just plainly active obedience! Almost no thought involved because you know how your thoughts can go bad when you just think. Only recalling God's Word. Absolutely no discussions in the face of one who does not believe in the faith you do. You have to obey. See that by your obedience to God, doubters then can see the Glory of God and not you. Are you picturing it?

Right now that is how I see faith. Just a small thing right now. A mustard seed. But what a might plant is grows to be...

Party crackers (n.)

I love watching Bob Ross the painter on Saturday mornings. I love his calming and soft voice as he shows you how to paint the landscapes. I eat this up because I have always craved being able to paint a landscape. He is so one with nature that he has a few endearing words and phrases for the things he paints. One is for the fall trees bearing their reds, oranges, and yellows. He calls them fire crackers. Love it!!!

So this morning when I was looking at my trees bursting forth with their bright green leaves and others blooming in white flowers, I decided to name the spring trees as party crackers! They are such a delight for the eyes. Even if they cause the allergies to flare…

Good thing you weren’t in my jeep this morning! You would have thought I was a bit off my rocker as I was exclaiming ‘oOOooo, look another party cracker!’