Hodgepodge 343

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?
No I'm not. I would have to guess 60%. What's keeping me here? Probably trying to do too much and overextending myself or expecting to get too much done in a day.

2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.
Hubby does our taxes and those for the business. I know he hasn't done them yet. We don't get to take summer holidays...so no on that one. I won't think about spring cleaning until it's warm enough to open the doors and windows for fresh air. I also don't start until I'm finished teaching in June. One task before spring is to lose 5 lbs.

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?
Pasties.

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.
I guess I would have to say leap to conclusions because of all the unrest recently in our church body. There has been lots of leaping to incorrect conclusions about what myself and some others want or believe. It's hard to get people to really hear you when they have preconceived ideas in their heads.

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.
Crafting for a Cause was fun and I will be posting about that hopefully in the next day or two. It was fun to get flowers from my Valentine. FIVE? Sorry...it's late and I can only come up with those two. :(

6. Insert your own random thought here.
Like I said above....it's late, it's been a long, difficult week and it's only Wednesday! Good night friends.

Hodgepodge Volume 342

1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?
 I used to love to go to my local scrapbook store or just shopping in general  for inspiration but since we have so few places to shop locally anymore, I notice I spend a lot of time surfing Pinterest.

2. What's under your bed?
This for me is a 2 part question. My husband built our bed before we married and he created a narrow storage space underneath where I store our extra blankets and sheets. Under the bed itself is probably some dust and dog fur.

3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?
I would celebrate National Chili Day. I like chili and had I known this a little earlier I would have waited to prepare my chicken chili recipe...we're having that tomorrow night.

4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?
I'm snowed under with snow! I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where it starts to snow at the end of October and doesn't stop until around the 15th of April. I'm also snowed under with a very long list of projects I need to accomplish. I feel as though I'll never make head way.

5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?
1) Practicing the music of J.S. Bach on the organ...something about it just centers me and gets my head right.
2) Doing Tai Chi and/or yoga
3) Anytime I spend doing something just for me.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
No random thoughts for today except it's getting late and it's time to get off the computer. 
Until tomorrow....

Two Years!

                         Time flies so very quickly,

It's been two years since I wrote my featured post  ( you can find it here ). I think if you take the time to read it and the attached articles you will understand more where I'm going with this Two years since I felt God leading me to live my life with intention, take charge of my procrastination and generally get my life in order.

                                                            I stumbled upon these ladies. I instantly        felt drawn to the whole idea of being "Queen of my own life". 

You will see them featured on my blog from time to time. I find them inspirational. As a woman of faith I have to balance that idea with Scripture and be careful to read and understand that thought through an eyeglass of faith. Isn't living the Christian life one of discipline at times?

One of you who read my blog recently reminded me that being gracious is not the same as being a doormat and I agree and appreciate the reminder. Sometimes as a queen I have to stand up for what is right, for what I believe and also as queen I have to keep my own "castle" in order.



                                                              Are we not children of
                                                                     The King? 
                                     Are we not a royal priesthood?

So began a year of living life to the fullest...more in touch with the Holy Spirit of God than I had ever been and then 2017 came and I fell apart. I did fine for a while, then a few things out of my control fell apart in my life. I had family struggles and issues at church and as the stress mounted, everything I had planned to get in order fell further apart.

                  But now I'm choosing not to dwell on the misfortunes and                                               mistakes of last year. 
                                     it is time once again to reign over my life, 
                          
2017 is over and I honestly don't know where it went but I'm glad it's done.




So I'm starting again...but where? I think the most important thing at this point is to get healthy again. I'm starting a new health journey which involves a new diet and hopefully a new exercise program. One step at a time...first the diet. I will be juicing my breakfast which will consist of:

                                                    apple, cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, lemon and ginger

Lunch will be a smoothie made with:
apple, blueberry, almond butter, flax, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, coconut milk and spinach

Before breakfast and lunch I will drink Slim and I will eat a regular but healthy supper as well as drinking half my body weight in ounces of water. Sundays are my free day...not to go nuts and eat whatever I want, but I will have regular healthy food all day.

I hope to do this for 6 weeks and at that time I will assess how it's going, how I'm feeling and whether to continue or make some changes.
                                                                                                               

 In addition to getting my health in check I will be working on getting my home organized and most importantly trusting God to show me how to live a majestic and gracious life in my church...balancing the ministry I'm called to do in what I see as a conspiracy against use of the organ. I simply do not understand why it has to be either/or...why can't they see the organ can be relevant in the contemporary church?

Today in church Pastor began a series in Daniel.
He talked about how Daniel and his friends were taken from their homes, given new names that didn't match their faith and Daniel allowed it all...he compromised up until the point he decided he wouldn't eat the kings food and defile himself.
                                                                                               Pastor then gave us the "wisdom test" ----- Even if I'm right , am I irritated, frustrated, angry? Am I trying to just win the battle or show them Jesus?

I still haven't figured out where he was going with that thought and I'm ashamed to say I got stuck there and didn't hear much else he said. He made me feel like if I'm irritated, frustrated or angry I should step back and compromise. I don't know that I agree with that completely.
                                                                                                   Of course if there is conflict of opinions there is going to be irritation, frustration and anger on both sides.

And what about "righteous anger"?
                                            Jesus clearing out the temple...He was angry but rightfully so! All things to think about and I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have them. Tonight we'll talk about the sermon at small group so maybe I'll get some answers there.



So there you have it...hopefully next post I'll have some progress to share.

A Romantic Hodgepodge

1. When's the last time you had a heart to heart talk with someone? A change of heart? Experienced figurative 'heart failure?'
Last heart to heart was probably with my son the last time we were together. He and I slipped away to the grocery store just the two of us. It was our only time alone together that weekend.

2. Champagne, chocolates, flowers...what's your Valentine pleasure? Any special plans for the day?
Oh I would love some champagne, but not this year. I enjoy the red roses my husband buys me every year, sometimes I wish we could do something a bit more special and unexpected. He usually has to work on these nights so dinner together is out.

3. Are you a hopeless romantic or do you fall more in the category of practical and pragmatic? What's a gesture you find romantic?
I'm pretty much a hopeless romantic. After being married 36 years and having no extra money to spend frivolously, we have become quite practical. I have recently been thinking how it seems much of the romance is gone and then today I had to send him an email...something for church, nothing personal, and he responds back with "thank you, Valentine". Aw, that's just what I needed!

4. Do you ask a lot of questions in life or are you pretty content with what you already know?
I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't ask a lot of questions but at the same time I wouldn't say I'm content with what I already know. I guess I either don't know what to ask or don't take the time or opportunity to ask.

5. Your favorite power ballad?

It's been so long I had to pull up a website to refresh my memory. It wasn't on the "power ballad" list, but I love Elvis singing I Can't Help Falling In Love With You.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Even though there was no dinner out, there were moments of sweet romance and between my husband and my daughters boyfriend we have a hint of spring on our kitchen table. I don't encourage my husband to buy flowers, but I must admit they do cheer me up in the dead of winter. It's been a pretty good day.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 340

1. February can be a little bit tricky given the weather and the winter and the whatnot. I read a list (here) of things you can do to make your February brighter which included-start planning your next trip, take more baths, make your own chocolate covered strawberries, and exercise in preparation for swimsuit season. Anything on the list you might try? Which suggestion on the list appeals to you most? Tell us something not on the list that helps make your February brighter. 

Nothing really appeals to me. I no longer like to travel,  I don't care much for baths especially since getting in and out of the tub is such a struggle, I like chocolate covered strawberries but making my own is too much work. Exercise is probably the one thing and I've been trying to get back to that for months so I'm not sure if I'll actually make a go of it, but I'll try. 

2. Tell us about something you've seen or done recently that you'd say was 'super'? 

I've recently made some new greeting cards that if I do say so myself turned out 'super'.

3. Best thing you ate in a 'bowl' last week?

Salad from the deli at our local grocery store. We go in and create our own salads from all the fresh ingredients that have. To have all that variety at home, things would spoil before we used them up so we enjoy going there often.

4. Something you're 'cheering' for right now?

Nothing particular comes to mind.

5. The Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 9th in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being all in and 1 being no interest whatsoever) how interested are you in the games? Which event do you most want to see (you'll find a list here).

When we had cable I would enjoy watching the skating events. I don't get to watch anymore.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Looking forward to visiting your blogs.