God bless

                                 Happy Independence Day!

How are you spending the 4th of July holiday? I spent it trying to stay cool. It's been unusually warm for us up north...84* is too much for me. Fortunately Husband put in a small air conditioner so as long as I stay in the same room with it I can function. I did manage to wash and hang out 3 loads of laundry, do my usual cleaning and do several "puttsy" type jobs around the house....working on some of my smaller goals. It does feel good to get even little things accomplished. I'm trying to celebrate even small victories.

 One fun little project was this. I needed a basket to carry my bath items to and from the bathroom. We have a small bathroom with limited storage plus it seems when I leave my things in there, certain other family members use them. Since body wash and shampoo can be expensive, I'm being a little selfish. I looked high and low for a basket that would serve the purpose without being too big or too small and couldn't find anything. Finally at a friends garage sale I found this:

Not very attractive for a queens royal chambers so I found some antique gold spray paint and got busy! Since embracing my "royalty" I'm having fun with bling wherever I can and still be tasteful.
This is how my new basket or bucket turned out. From baseballs to...just cute! I'm very pleased with how it turned out. What do you think?

Of greater importance than my bath basket was yesterdays lunch date! 

If you have read my blog in the past you would know that what of the most important people in my life was my organ teacher/mentor. Approximately 2 years ago he retired from his position of organist at a local Catholic church and as my organ teacher. I have felt lost in many ways since he retired. I miss his encouragement, I miss the way he had of making me tap into my best self...he was the one who brought the royal out in me in the first place.  We have stayed in touch via text message and emails. He has been there for me through all the drama at church and has helped keep me from feeling defeated and kept me from losing my crown completely. 

Yesterday we were both finally able to make and keep a lunch date. I cannot tell you how wonderful that was! We started right in where we left off as far as our connection goes...we are close and that close connection remains. We talked mostly about his family history that he's been researching and about my church issues, but for a few moments we connected on something deeper and it is so good to know that it still exists when we need it. It's not something we talk about anymore...rarely did, but we know down deep that we are there for each other. 

He continues to help me hold my head up and my shoulders back so my crown doesn't slip...at least not too far.  God bless him. 

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.

What About This Crown Thing?

About a year ago I changed the name of my blog. The word Maestoso means majestically or with majesty - it's a musical term. Grazioso is also a musical term meaning with grace. The new theme of this blog is to serve as a reminder to me to live my life with majesty and grace. I am currently focused on making some important lifestyle changes. I'm learning to "reign as queen" by not allowing life to get in the way of accomplishing my goals and living in majesty and grace as a daughter of the King, subject to God's ultimate lead. I'm hoping as you read this entry the idea will begin to make some sense. Please also feel free to check out my featured post which may explain better. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not thinking of royalty as in spoiled. As wives and mothers we often put ourselves and our goals for life last on our to-do list. I am trying to turn that around a bit in my own life. I still have my family to care for along with the cooking, cleaning, laundry and teaching, but my health has been telling me it's past time for me to start putting myself first at least once in a while and to spend time enriching myself, physically, mentally and emotionally. I began this journey a year ago and though I have made progress, it is an ongoing process and you're welcome to to join me or at least encourage me and learn from my mistakes. It's all about being the best I can be because I am called into His Kingdom. 

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light".

To remind those of you who read this before and also to give any new readers a sense of where I'm going with this, I ask you to check out these past blog entries. 
Straighten That Crown
Crowned

Here are some thoughts from Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience that really helped me put this into perspective. 

How To Destroy Procrastination pt.1
How To Destroy Procrastination pt. 2

Please take the time to read these articles because it's worth your while if your trying to set goals or make changes in your life...I promise. Isn't the start of the new year the time everyone has goals bouncing around in their heads? Me too. 

Lately I have felt as though God has been telling me if I keep filling my time with wasteful things my life will be a waste, but if I fill my time with the things I am meant to do, then I will be laying up eternal treasure and furthering the Kingdom. 

I have a bucket list of sorts - though I haven't written it down as yet and I probably should sometime soon. I have divided it up into two categories. In the first category I'm making slow but steady progress but in the second category I'm failing miserably. I'm praying this will be my year. My list isn't the same as most people's in that I'm not wanting to sky dive or climb a mountain or be well traveled. My goals are much simpler, much more in line with my day to day life but when I accomplish one that's been on my list for a while I certainly feel like a weight has been lifted. 

Working to obtain my goals, being the best me I can be while enriching my intimate relationship with The Father is all what it means to "wear the crown". 

The completion of these Christmas stockings I finally made for my SIL, DIL and my granddaughter was one of the things on my to-do list. I'm so happy to cross these off and I'm very happy with how they turned out. 

Yes, that's one project off the list but there are so many more. It's so hard to stay motivated, but I find...crazy as it sounds...if I imagine getting up every morning and putting on my "crown" it helps me to take my responsibilities seriously. And it's not all about projects, it's also about building relationships, nurturing friendships and even my relationship with The King, my heavenly Father. Is my life reflecting Him and His love in everything I put my hand to each and every day? 

It's not easy. It's a one day at a time kind of thing and I don't always come to the end of my day with my crown sparkling. More often that not it's pretty beat up and sometimes it's been knocked completely off my head but I put it on the next morning and try again. 

So it seems I may have some new readers to my blog, I hope I haven't scared you off with my rantings about wearing a crown and being a queen. It may all sound a bit crazy just coming into it, but I hope as you stop by from time to time you will begin to understand my analogies. 

Speaking of new readers, I found out my blog has been in hiding in that people haven't been able to view it. I was told when I first joined blogger that everything was public so I've been a bit confused the past few days as to why my new friends can't read my older entries. Anyway, if you're new here, WELCOME and I hope you can at least read some of my more recent entries. If you've stopped by, please leave a comment, I'd like to get to know you and come visit you where you blog.