Encouraging Deep Roots

This is the first time I think I've ever had a clear idea of what needs to happen in order for me to move forward with a plan for the new year. In the past, I've come up with some goals and have worked on them, but kind of worked them into whatever else was going on in my life.  This year, I knew that I needed to let go of some things, make a change in my environment and focus, in order to move forward. My word for the year is "connect" and as I stay connected to the Lord I find it difficult to hear what He has when I have so much clutter in my life. I don't just mean physical clutter, but clutter in my mind as I try to juggle so many different things. I started out last week by working on letting go of my sewing business. For whatever reason, that has always been a hard thing for me to do. So many times throughout the years I have decided to let it go and then I turn around and pick it right back up again. This time I felt the familiar pangs of loss, but I knew t...

I'm having a difficult time focusing on things this week and have been struggling with a headache the past few days, as well as being distracted with waiting for something. I thought I should go back to my old standby of making a list. I've always tried to plan out my work and then work my plan so I'm not looking back at the end of a week and not seeing anything accomplished or having what I'm experiencing this week and having a hard time getting started. So I'm putting things down on paper (or blog, in this case) so I can have something for which to aim. I find if I don't aim at anything I generally will hit that every time. So having some goals for each week is helpful. Here are the major things I would like to get done this week:  Write up a quarterly report for our district executive committee  Follow-up on something with the hotel where we are having a spring conference   Sew a custom order for two clients  Deep clean...

It's been quite a few weeks since I've written any sort of to-do list and I'm feeling the need to get back on task. I've gotten ma ny things accomplished, but in order to keep focused I find it's easier to keep to a list. It keeps me moving forward with my goals, as opposed to just doing "busy" work. I'm also continuing to devote a set amount of time to each task and when the time is up, set it aside and move on to the next item. My tendency is to get so involved in something that I spend hours doing it to the detriment of all else. Here is the plan for this week. Week of 10/22-10/28/18 Spiritual/Personal Development ✔ Continue Bible reading and prayer - 5 out of 7 days (on an aside note, I have 10 more chapters to read and then I'll have read through the entire Bible this year) ✔ Order next book for my consecration reading Husband/Marriage/Family ✔ Date night ✔ Fill out FASFA for Emily Ministry ✔ In-Service training all day tod...

From March through September I'm going flat out planning one event after another. Then all of the sudden at the end of September it comes to a screeching halt. That's not a bad thing, but for a few days I'm not sure what to do with myself.  Today has been noticeably quiet like that and it probably has more to do with the fact it has been raining most of the day. I read a couple of chapters in a required reading book for my consecration. I did lunch dishes and a load of laundry. I cleaned both bathrooms. And that's it. I don't really feel like sewing or doing much of anything.  So I thought perhaps if I come on here and type up a to-do list, I might actually accomplish more than a couple of things. Spiritual/Personal Development 1. Bible reading 5 out of 7 days - 6 days done 2. Reading for consecration - I just started Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds 3. Work on consecration questions Family/Marriage 1. Date out with Dan - went out to breakfast...

It's been a busy, busy week and I'm weary tonight, but it's a good kind of tired. It's the kind of tiredness that comes from working hard and being productive. I finished 99% of my to-do list for the week which makes me very happy. This past weekend has been spent hosting our missionary this year. Carlos is from Peru, but he and his wife are missionaries to Paraguay and it has been a joy getting to know him. We were the first stop on his 9 week mission tour and we've enjoyed him immensely.  It was neat to see things through his eyes. He was amazed at our grapes and after I picked what I could reach tonight, he and Nathan went out and got the ones I couldn't reach. He was thrilled with what he got and wanted me to take his picture with Nathan and the grapes. I guess I know what I'll be doing again this week! lol I decided to jump on here tonight and type up my to-do list for the week. It's going to be busy because I ha...

It's been an extremely busy week and I'm tired out today. When I look back over last week, I'm amazed that I got so much done, especially with losing 1/2 a day in taking Emily back to school and an unexpected, out of town meeting on Wednesday which took the whole day. I have more of the same for the coming week. We have a houseguest next weekend and I've been busy trying to get things into shape and ready for a missionary who will be staying with us for our church's missions conference.  I've also been trying to get myself into shape so every day has been a time of getting out of the house and walking. I like those times because it helps to clear my head and think about different things going on in my life.  One of the things I did this weekend which was not on my to-do list was to paint Emily's room. Before we moved here, Emily picked out the paint and the church painted for us. When we arrived, I was surprised t...

Happy Labor Day! It seems fitting that on Labor Day I'm typing out my to-do list for the week. I had a lot on my list last week and amazingly, I got all but one item finished on it. I love when I can keep plugging away and get it done. Emily was home for the weekend and Dan and I are taking her back to college after lunch so there won't be a whole lot happening today. However, I have another week of needing to get things done and typing out the list here does help. It's going to be so very hot and humid again this week so I'm probably going to be moving slower. To-do for Week of 9/3-9/9/18: Spiritual/Personal Development 1. Bible Reading & Prayer - At least 5 out of 7 days - 6 done 2. Work on theology questions for Consecration 3. Work on project for Consecration Marriage & Family 1. Date Went out to dinner on the way home from dropping Emily off 2. Take Emily back to school Health 1 . Exercise 5 out of 7 days. I did great last week and a f...