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Community, Learning lessons

10 Things I learned in May

In April I joined in Emily Freeman‘s monthly link-up called “What I’ve learned this month” and found it helped me to tune in and be more present in life. Now that’s the kind of person I want to be =) … so here goes! What I learned in May:

1. I read Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk and learned there is more to boxing than I’d given the sport credit AND how to analyze ads and posts on Facebook in terms of what’s a hit or a miss. Great visuals! This was a fun book to read (unexpectedly so).

2. Bonsai trees refer to a way of forming or shaping a tree, not to a type of tree. Almost any tree can be a bonsai tree if you trim the roots and branches. This is an oak tree!

Bonsai (Small)

3. Husky puppies have needle sharp teeth, in part to help with jaws that aren’t very strong yet. Wouldn’t want to be bit by one of them!

4. I learned this tidbit at the writer’s conference I attended:

  • Roughly 40,000 books were published from 1890 to 1990 (worldwide)
  • 40,000 were published from 1990 to 2000
  • In 2011? 2,200,000 … I know! And by doing some research on the internet the two leading countries? The U.S. and China (not surprising given the populations of both)

5. You can watch live streaming of nature at Explore.org — they have quite a few options to pick from! In’t this great for those who can’t get out and about? Not the same as BEING in nature, but better than nothing.

6. I like digging up small to medium-small sized trees. As in, do you have a tree that needs dug up? Oh the joy when you hear the root crack. Maybe I could get into pulling teeth too :)?

7. When you die, your “true stuff” will be seen as people have to go through your physical stuff, what will it be? Thankfully in our case we knew Dad was generous by nature,  but as we go through more of his paperwork and other things, we are seeing it went even further than we realized and permeated almost everything he touched. You can still learn from a person even after they die.

8. I’d imagine many of you have heard of Lectio Divina, or “praying with scripture,”  but had you heard of Visio Divina? I hadn’t until this month. It’s Latin for divine seeing or “praying with art.” Here is a short explanation and piece of art.

9. Thanks to a frustrating situation my sister had traveling, we learned there is a difference between a confirmed ticket and a booked ticket. Yes, you may get confirmation emails and you can be told there are no problems, but if you’re only confirmed … let’s just say I’m glad God doesn’t make picky distinctions about being confirmed or booked — basically by grace and faith alone! Amen!

10. Finally, if you’re going to be in Denver between now and mid-November visit the Botanic Gardens! On Saturday we were there while the next exhibit was being set-up and got to talk to a few of the guys who work for the artist (he’s based in Seattle).

glass exhibit

We asked about hail damage since it’s outside and made of glass. They said not many individual pieces have been damaged around the U.S. due to hail.

art

 

glass

Come! It’s a great exhibit

May 2014b 101

even if you’re too cool to look at your aunt :)

May 2014b 129

Overall, May you get two thumbs up! How about you? What’s something you learned in May?

Linking up with Velvet Ashes and “Top 10”

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16 Comments June 3, 2014

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About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. Laura Connell says

    June 3, 2014 at 8:22 am

    Wow, you learned some really cool stuff in May. The stats on the book publishing was jaw-dropping to me.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:49 am

      I know!!

      Reply
  2. ~Karrilee~ says

    June 3, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Love your list! I am visiting from Chatting at the Sky and this is by far my favorite link up! So fun to see what everyone has learned! (And now I am off to read the link for Visio Divina!)

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:50 am

      It’s so fun to see the variety of things people learn, isn’t it?! I’m going to pop over and visit you :)

      Reply
  3. Michelle says

    June 3, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    I love reading what others have learned throughout the month! So interesting that any tree can be a Bonsai tree.

    Reply
  4. Mark Allman says

    June 4, 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Amy,
    I am going to have to start a book of things I learned so I can remember. It’s always exciting when I learn something new and to be able to share it is too. Too often I learn something and move on. It’s hard to remember when one learns something….it’s like its always been there. It’d also be nice to look back over a year and remember what you learned that year.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:58 am

      Agreed, Mark! I think this is, in large part, why I’ve started this monthly routine … it’s so easy to forget all of the things I AM learning. About 13 years ago I started recording all of the books I read because I found I was reading too fast without enough reflection. While I could still benefit from more reflection, as you said, I am SO thankful for the record I now have.

      Reply
  5. Lisa says

    June 5, 2014 at 7:59 am

    Fun list! I LOVE huskies, can relate to learning about someone even after they pass, and am so blessed by your comments on confirmed vs. booked! By grace and faith alone, indeed! Terrific. Blessings…

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:58 am

      Thanks Lisa! I”m going to pop over and read your list too :)

      Reply
  6. Dolly@Soulstops says

    June 5, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Amy,
    What a great list….the exhibit looks beautiful…I’m always amazed at what people can do with glass…and now you have me wondering if our tickets are booked? or confirmed? Thank you :)

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:59 am

      Dolly, it really is a spectacular exhibit! I just hope lots and lots can see it :)

      Reply
  7. Amber @ Beautiful Rubbish says

    June 5, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    This was certainly an enjoyable read, but I especially loved the Visio Divina and am curious now to go read about it…
    I also did NOT know about the “booked” vs. “confirmed” tickets and, wow, I’m glad right with you that God doesn’t pull stunts like that with us! And that artist based in Seattle looks to be Chihuly? I still haven’t been to the exhibit yet, though I live here in Seattle, but I’ve seen his art throughout the city and it’s stunning. Thanks for this guided walk through bits of your month of May :-) I’m visiting from Unforced Rhythms.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoAmy says

      June 6, 2014 at 7:01 am

      Hi Amber, it IS Chihuly! Really stunning, isn’t it :)! And I’m now a fan. And I’m glad you found the Visio Divina interesting too :)!

      Reply
  8. Anisha says

    June 5, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    What an interesting list! Love the glass exhibit photos, wish I was visiting Denver!

    Reply
  9. Rachel Haltiwanger says

    June 5, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    That bonsai oak is so cool! Now I want to learn how to do that :)

    Reply
  10. Avatar photoAmy says

    June 6, 2014 at 7:02 am

    At least you can look at their website and review these photos :) … SO NOT THE SAME, though and I wish you could visit too!

    Reply

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