A New Start for the New Year

In 2006, I embark on a place where I have not been in over a decade. The thought of it scares me, yet I am excited on where this will take me. Although for some, it's a drastic life change.. for me, it's just a matter of juggling all that my life holds. I'm going back to college!

Not just any college though, I am taking classes through an online university to get my AA degre, which I never finished, and on to get a BA degree - all in the matter of a few years. With the excellerated course, I will get my AA degree in just over a year. Then, it'll take another year to get the BA.

As I said, this new venure is both scary and exciting. I think Troy's more excited about it then I am though. ;-) My first class (Business & Society) begins on Monday. I have one week to finish my first assignment, which as I look at the assignment, I think to myself, "What in the world have I gotten myself into!" I have to do a tons of research and a business plan for starting up a new business, I have to read 3 chapters in the textbook they sent me (and I'm not much of a reader, so that'll be the greatest challenge), Talk to 3 different types of businesses - a sole-proprietorship, a partnership and a corporation, then write a summary of my findings from them. For this fictitious business, I have to find start-up capital, a place to locate my business and find out about my competition... as well as formulating a website for the business.
As I said.. "WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO!!"

So, as I do this homework, I also have to work 8 hours a day, juggle my responsibilities with church, the house, spending time with my dear, Troy, and somewhere in that mix... eat & sleep. I have taken on extra responsibility at church - I auditioned and made the vocal team for this year, as well as continuing in the choir. I also have committed myself to a one-year bible study with some ladies in leadership, in which we have to read a book each month (again, a great challenge for me) and then, do a study on the book when we meet. I'm in charge of taking the pictures at our meetings, and my job is to do a photo album of our time together. I'm so behind.

So, I pray that the new year brings lots of joy and happiness! For me, I'm sure there won't be a dull moment! I'll keep you posted!
Blessings for the new year!

Things that make you say, 'Why'??

Why, Why, why

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw
a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the hou se as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness.

Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Hope you had a Blessed Christmas!

I pray that all of you had a wonderfully Blessed Christmas!

May God grant you much joy for the new year!
Oh the weather outside is funny,

instead of snow, the sun is shining

it's foggy & it's gettin' cold,

wish it would snow, wish it would snow, wish it would snow....

original poem by Sheryl Root. :-)

Early this morning, we had an incredibly strong storm that came through the area. Lots of wind, rain, thunder & an incredible lightning storm woke us up at 5:30 a.m. I laid in bed and watched it from our bedroom window. It went on for about 15 minutes. It was an awesome site to see.
Hope you had a great holiday! Great things will come in the new year!

Blessings,
Sheryl

My Elf Name

Your Elf Name Is...

Twinkles Snowballer

What's" Your Elf Name?

Oh what a small world

The strangest and neatest thing happened to me yesterday at church.

It was a choir Sunday, and I was there early. First service was going on and I had just gotten back from a Starbucks run after the choir sang in our 1st service. Troy and I were hanging out in the church cafe' with some others from the worship team. The group was talking about Christmas programs and our upcoming Christmas Eve services when this guy (Ben), who was a guest drummer for the morning, was talking about how Pepperdine has a great Christmas program. I thought, "Pepperdine, huh..." I remember my friend, Wendy, that attended Pepperdine raved about them. I mentioned that I was going to Christmas program that night at my old church and knew it would be a great time.

My friend, Tsenia, was performing with the choir there, invited us to go. She's singing?? I wouldn't miss it. I was reluctant to go back to my old stomping grounds, but... I did. I haven't been there since Troy and I got married so I was a bit nervous. My parents came along too, so it helped ease the nervousness.

So, I was telling everyone how there would be awesome acappella music there. As we were all talking, Ben mentioned he was going to a Christmas program also, at his church. When I mentioned the place I would be going was College Church of Christ (my old church), Ben was so shocked. He burst out with, "That's my home church!!" I was like, "Really??" As we talked more, I realized who he was and that I remembred when he was just a wee lad. When I worked in the church office, his mom was a teacher at the on-site Christian school and we would talk quite a bit. She's now the principal there. It's been over 10 years since I was there, so Ben has grown up a lot since then. We found out that we knew a lot of the same people and talked about who all was still there. Ben also commented how there were quite a bit of skilled musicians that attend there, many of which have their own band. Hmmm... a bit ironic I think... that a lot of musicians attend a no-instrument church. We were both trippin' out all day because of what a small world this is. I couldn't wait to go see the program now.

So we went to the program that night, and we saw Ben. I went to say hi to his mom. She didn't recognize me at first, but I think she did once I got closer and told her who I was. (I've changed a lot too since I last saw her - 10+ years older, a 'few' pounds heavier, and my hair is shorter & redder.)

We enjoyed the program and the choir was great! Their choir was right on and sounded so good. The blend was awesome. That's one thing I miss about acappella. I think our choir, allbeit good too, would not be able to handle singing acappella. They are too reliant on music as their guide.

I was a bit jealous though, because their choir is bigger than ours. It's all good though, because we're all praising the Lord!

Christmas 20 Questions

ristmas 20 Questions

Got this off of Malia's blog. Looked like fun.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate!! And if I can mix it with coffee... even better!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? wrapped! Part of the fun is unwrapping the presents.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Well, currently... we don't have any... But I live colored lights. it's perty!!!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Don't need to. Can always get a kiss from my hubby!!

5. When do you put your decorations up? If we do, it's when I can find a free day to do it in our busy holiday schedule. Most years we don't have much time due to our church Christmas production.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? STUFFING!!! And sorry, I must add the dessert because no holiday is complete without Pumpkin Pie!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Don't remember really. I do remember always having Christmas at my great-aunt & uncle's house and I was always so excited to hand out the presents to everyone.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth about Santa?? :-)
For me, I think Santa was just the spirit of Christmas. Jesus being the reason for Christmas has always been a part of my Christmas'.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. I was always so excited for the presents, I had to open one. Now, we celebrate Christmas Eve with part of Troy's family (the other side, we see on Christmas Day) so we still open up presents on both days.

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? No cookies for Santa. He needs to watch his fat intake. I eat the cookies and drink the milk for him!! :-)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it! With we could get more in CA. We're not likely to have a white Christmas in Fresno anytime soon. I need to go celebrate Christmas with my sister in New York! Then, I 'd have a white Christmas.

12. Can you ice skate? yes. it's been a long time though.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? no

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Ditto with Malia's answer!! Taking time to specifically remember Christ's birth and what an amazing gift that was for humankind. And being with family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin Pie with LOTS of whipped cream!!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I've been collecting one special Christmas ornament each year for our tree. Once we have children, I want to start the tradition of reading the Christmas story. And fromTroy's family, chili & cornbread is the official Root Christmas Eve meal! I plan on carrying on that tradition!

17. What tops your tree? If I had my tree up, an angel.

18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Giving. "It is more blessed to give, then to receive." That is soooo true!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? I have so many... hard to choose just one. Any Christmas carol that celebrates Jesus is a favorite.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? YUM!! Their especially good in hot chocolate or in coffee.

Great Inside from a Child's mind...

Thomas Kinkade and his daugher wa driving down the road and his daughter had some great insight, which inspired this paiting... Read on and be inspired.

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.
Suddenly, my daughter, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat.
"Dad, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.
"What are you thinking?" I asked.
"The rain," she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."
After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked..
"Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.Isn't it distressing to know that when you forward this message you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

In order to see the rainbow, you must first endure the rain!!!

Using your gifts

On Saturday night, I attended a friend's dance recital for her college dance class. I always knew she was an incredibly talented dancer, but it took watching her in person to see how naturally dance came to her. She was mesmorizing!
God gives us each talents and gifts to be used... and dance is Ellie's. She performed in many of the group pieces which were entertaining, and as her project, she choreographed her own dance. Instead of dancing to music though, she danced to a written poem, which she wrote. Not only is she a creative dancer, she's also a creative writer. Her poem was a look into her life and with every emotional word, she danced and moved to show that emotional.
As with any talent that is God-given or learned, it can be used for enjoying life, or it can be wasted. It can be used to enjoy life, it can be used to praise and worship God, who gave us that ability. God delights in His children who use the gifts He has given us.
Do you know what your gift or talent is? What is it that you are passionate about doing?
Ellie's passion is dancing... and she uses that gift to bring joy to God and to others.
With me? I love music, and I love to sing. God gave me the talent to sing, and I use it to His glory. That is my passion.

December 1

25 days til CHRISTmas!
Have you dont you're CHRISTmas shopping yet??
Do you have your CHRISTmas tree?
Have you put up your CHRISTmas lights?
Have you done your CHRSITmas shopping??

Don't forget the Reason for the Season!
Merry CHRISTmas!!