Monday Musings

Out in my yard today... sunny clear blue sky, no wind, and a warm 58 degrees. I found these in my front yard a few days ago.




I'm grateful for... good health, sunshine, and spring break!

One of my favorite things... fuzzy, furry socks- I don't like to wear shoes in the house and these keep my feet warm and cozy.

This week I'm reading... actually I just finished reading Austenland by Shannon Hale, a fun read for fans of Pride and Prejudice. It is my turn to pick the next book for our book club, so I am researching a few different options.

I'm looking forward to... celebrating St. Patrick's Day! This has always been a special day for me. Probably because my mom loved it so much and made it a big deal. Her birthday was March 18th, so it was a two day celebration. This year we are celebrating a little early with some dear friends. Of course there will be corned beef & cabbage with all the trimmings. How I love the wearin' of the green! Maybe I'll even spot a leprechaun...

Simple life tip for the week... consider putting a moratorium on shopping. For the next 30 days limit your purchases to groceries and basic essentials. This is a great way to evaluate your consumer habits, save time, and minimize clutter.

Are we almost done?

I spent the afternoon working in my yard yesterday. Several of the bushes and trees were in desperate need of pruning. It's not my favorite gardening activity, but it is necessary to maintain the health and productivity of the plants.

My husband, perched on a branch high up in the plum tree, was carefully looking for branches that needed to be removed. Occasionally he would ask for my opinion before making the necessary cuts. We talked about which branches had been more productive last year and what kind of harvest we might expect for this season. As we were working, I began to contemplate the pruning process that has been happening in my own life.

Prune- v. 1. To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. 2. To remove or cut out as superfluous. 3. To reduce. 4. To remove what is superfluous or undesirable.

Just when I think I can't possibly have anything more "cut out" of me, something else is removed. An attitude I've been justifying, a selfish desire, possessions I "need", unhealthy relationships... My heart cried out to God, "Are we almost done?" I'm beginning to feel like the vine in my front yard that has to be cut back almost to the roots each year.

However, that vine does grow at an amazing pace and has the most beautiful blooms... I guess I just have to be patient while the Vinedresser does His work. Watch out- if the pruning process is any indication of the growth and harvest to come, then I will be overflowing with abundance!

Better to be pruned to grow than cut up to burn. --John Trapp

Monday Musings

Out in my yard today... another mild day with a high temp. of 40 degrees.

I'm grateful for... a sweet husband who supports me and encourages me to be true to my heart, uninterrupted sleep, and strong-willed, highly opinionated children (in the most positive sense- when their hearts are grounded in truth, they will not be moved!).

One of my favorite things... coffee, coffee, and more coffee! My hubby fixes me a cup of java joy and brings it to me each morning. I know... I'm pampered :)

This week I'm reading...the power of simple prayer by Joyce Meyer. I love anything by Joyce! She is so practical and I can really relate to her. This book is better consumed in small portions. Lots to think about! I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society today. It was fascinating- a must-read for those who enjoy historical fiction.

I'm looking forward to...

Valentine's Day and lots of chocolate!!!!!

My sweetheart is a total chocoholic and I have a moderate to severe addiction, so there will be lots of this wonderful substance consumed throughout this week.

Simple life tip for the week... instead of purchasing several different cleaners, save space and try buying one all-purpose cleaner, preferably one that is environmentally friendly, whenever possible.

Simply Super

I like football, but my husband love, love, loves football! So, even though his beloved Dallas Cowboys didn't make it this year, we watched the Super Bowl yesterday. Not a huge fan of either team, I found myself cheering for the Saints because it was their first appearance at the Super Bowl and I think that New Orleans as a city deserves something to really celebrate this year. Kind of campy reasoning, but that's how I do football. Besides, there was endless analysis by the "experts" leading up to the game to provide me with all the information I might ever need to make an informed decision. It's ironic that I find such analysis tiresome as I have a tendency to over-analyze just about everything...

Anyway, as I was listening to the sportscasters calling the game, I began to wonder what it might be like if there were such people evaluating my performance in the big game of life. (Imagination- ya gotta love it!) Would they say that I was prepared, in great shape, mentally strong? That I was a play-maker, focused, good at making decisions under pressure? A team player with a great work ethic? How about a humanitarian like those players who were honored prior to the start of the game? Do I trust my coach when he calls plays that require me to take risks?

Or would they say that I was out of shape, lazy, and ill-prepared to meet the demands of the game? Selfish, chaotic, unpredictable, late, unwilling to follow instructions or receive correction?

My hearts desire is to do life well. Some days I'm at the top of my game, other days I fall incredibly short. I don't know how much time is left on the clock, so I've got to improve my conditioning, get focused, learn the playbook, and listen to my Coach.

Oh, and a really cute uniform is also important, right?

Monday Musings

Out in my yard today... A sunny day, the temperature is 42.6 degrees F (according to my Oregon scientific weather gauge.) Baxter, my darling Miniature Schnauzer, is "securing the perimeter" and patrolling for squirrels. It snowed yesterday, but most of it has melted away.

I'm grateful for... kind friends who loaned us a dryer when ours died last week, hugs from my family, and rocky road ice cream.

One of my favorite things... The new book my hubby gave me last week, Organize now! A week-by-week guide to simplify your space and your life. Very practical and fun to use!

This week I'm reading... The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows- our current book club pick. I just started it yesterday :)

I'm looking forward to... watching Ground Hog Day tomorrow (on Ground Hog Day, of course), one of my favorite movies.

Simple life tip for the week... make a list of your top ten priorities and then honor those priorities each day. Eliminate those things that take time away from your top ten.

Our Daily Bread

I have been a guest teacher in our local public school district for a few years now. (In case you're wondering, "guest teacher" is the more professional, politically correct name for a substitute teacher.) I have a lot of fun and I really like the flexibility it affords me. There have been some challenging moments, but I generally have had good experiences in the classroom. A couple of months ago I was asked to guest teach at a private Christian school in my neighborhood. I filled in for three weeks for a teacher who was recovering from surgery. The class was small, just 15 kids, and pretty well-behaved.

Every morning started with a Bible lesson. Quite a departure from the normal public school curriculum! The entire school also attends a weekly chapel service. It is here that our story begins. In keeping with the tradition of the school's denominational affiliation, everyone recites the Lord's prayer in unison during chapel. I memorized the Lord's prayer as a child, but I must admit that it isn't something I regularly recite or meditate on. I was a little nervous and pleasantly surprised that I remembered this passage as well as I did. I was also so amazed at how beautiful those children's voices sounded as they all prayed together.

The line of the prayer that really resonated with me was, "Give us this day our daily bread." I began to ponder those words and what they mean for my life. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow hasn't arrived, all I really need is my portion for today. I don't need to worry or fret about what may or may not happen. God is my provider. He will give me exactly what I need for this moment.

All too often I get in a hurry and start to think about what's to come rather than simply looking at what is happening right now. I get overwhelmed and the temptation to worry is huge! My imagination overtakes me and soon I've made a mountain out of a molehill. So, this week I am challenging myself to focus on thanking God for my "daily bread." He is always faithful and His portions are just the right size!

Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee. - Montaigne

2010 Hope Renewed

Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? Isaiah 43:19

A new year. A new decade. A fresh start. A blank page just waiting for this season of my life to be written on. I'm so thankful that 2010 has arrived.

Last year was a difficult year for me. A storm was brewing, but I failed to notice the weather change until the rains began to fall. As the flood waters began to rise, I clung to the Rock with all of my strength. But the waves increased in frequency and intensity; I lost my grip and slipped into the water.

At first I attempted to fight my way to the surface. If only I could catch my breath! Soon I grew weary and started to sink into the depths where there was no light, no warmth, no hope. "I'm drowning!" I realized. My strength gone, I was suspended in the darkness for what seemed like an eternity.

Suddenly, one particularly strong wave pushed me up to the surface for a brief moment. Just long enough for me to cry out for help. Almost in an instant a life boat appeared. The responders rescued me from the depths and helped me to breath easy once again. They took me to shelter where I could rest and recover while the storm passes. Thankfully, the dark clouds are drifting away and the flood waters are subsiding.

During this time of respite I've discovered a renewed sense of hope. I am growing healthier, stronger, and more energetic with each new day.

I'm so thankful for those responders, my friends who love me, pray for me, and support me. My favorite definition of a friend: A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words. I not only forgot the words, I almost forgot that there was even a song. I'm starting to hum the tune again...

2010 My year to hope, dream, and simply embrace life!!!

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible." - Christopher Reeve