Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Create an acrostic using the word LOVE. If you're unsure what an acrostic is clickhere. 

L - lifetime

O - overcoming

V - valuable

E - everlasting

2. Does love really conquer all? Why or why not?
Yes, as exemplified in Jesus' work on the cross. Because of His great love for us he conquered sin and death through his death and resurrection. 

3. Tell us about a time recently, where you really put your heart into something.
Everything I'm passionate about...teaching piano/organ, practicing organ, relationships, scrapbooking. 

4. What's your favorite fictional love story?
My own. 

5. Do you generally wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your cards close to the vest?

I wear my heart on my sleeve, but not intentionally. Anger, frustration, everything comes out in tears. I'm working very hard to learn to keep my cards close to the vest. I'm tired of putting myself "out there" for all to step on. 

6. What food says love to you? Why?
Anything my mom used to make...stuffed meatloaf, oatmeal pie, oatmeal cake. When I've had a bad day, these are the comfort foods I gravitate toward. 

7. When were you last 'tickled pink' over something? Explain.
Sunday. I purchased a new sofa on Friday and it wasn't until I took a nap on it on Sunday afternoon that the buyers remorse finally left me. It's sooooo comfy and it makes my home look so much nicer and company ready and it's sooooooooooo comfy! :)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Thanks to Joyce for helping me learn how to add the link at the top of this entry...It was working all along, I just didn't realize it. :)

Tarnished

I have to admit, my crown got a bit tarnished this past week. It all started when I wasn't feeling well...not sick, just not up to par if you know what I mean, and it spiraled from there. A good share of it was an apparent lack of time as well. It's tough to stay on track when there are so many demands vying for my time and it's all good, necessary stuff that just needs to get done somehow. I found myself discouraged which happens easily and then, just when I needed it, encouragement came through some articles that found me online. The first from Ann Voskamp again...
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us

.”

Yeah, yeah, I’m a slow learner in a life going by fast — Every day, every moment, you only have one decision to make: what will you do with time.

It’s strange: You can want nothing more than time, and use nothing worst than time.

You can watch life.  Or actually play life. And only one way wins.

God gives us everything we need for space — but we will have to make space.

God gives us all the ingredients for time — but we will have to make time.

God gives us everything we need to live — but we will have to make a life.

No one just gets space. 

No one just gets time.

God gives you the raw materials — but you will have to make your life.

She tells quite an interesting story woven between the parts that I just quoted and I encourage you to read her entire entry...it's quite amazing. Thanks Ann, I needed that. I will find a way to make time.

The next bit of encouragement came from Christy Wright in an article called Take the First Step which was posted on Dave Ramsey's site.

"Sometimes, I just don’t feel like following through.

Maybe it’s raining or my back hurts or I’m tired. I can come up with 1,000 excuses on any given day, but the bottom line is this: I just don’t want to.

I want the end result, of course—a clean house, a bigger savings account and a slimmer body. But some days, I just don’t feel like doing the work required to get there.

So recently I’ve tried something new that helps me follow through on my plans even when I don’t feel like it.

I just take the first step.

Instead of thinking “I have to clean the entire house today,” I tell myself, “I’ll just put the laundry away.”

Or instead of feeling overwhelmed about getting up for going to the gym, I convince myself, “I’ll just put on my workout clothes.”

And you know what? It works.

Ten times out of ten, I follow through with the rest of the steps to reach my goal."

It does work. I find if I just start slowly with whatever project I'm dreading or putting off, pretty soon I'm realizing it wasn't as bad as I made it out to be and in some cases even enjoyable. I hope to see some more success and a shinier crown this next week. 

The Invisible Woman....Totally amazing and inspiring! Please ladies watch this!

Posted by Cindy Morrow-Ayers on Tuesday, December 15, 2009

One more thing has been holding me back, and this one affects my spirit more than anything else. I posted a video yesterday to my Facebook page, the link is above and I encourage all women to watch it.  I felt it was very timely for me and I think many of you will relate to it and maybe be encouraged by it, it's not very long. Anyway, I have long since gotten over the need to be recognized for all my hard work, being a wife and mother is thankless work (not to mention being a church organist) and I'm ok with that now. Along the same lines but slightly different is being made to feel I'm always wrong and also that my problems and/or struggles are not nearly as bad as those of the person I'm talking to. If I say something like "I'm so tired", they counter with why they are more tired than me, because they have so much more to do and their lives are so much harder. If I mention a problem I'm having I get advice which is fine, but when I've already tried said advice or I know from experience that it won't work, I am made to feel I'm always wrong or that I don't know what I'm talking about. On the upside, I'm learning not complain about anything, but I also feel like I have no one to confide in. I can't share anything about my life without being made to feel I'm wrong, it's all my fault, or it's really not worth mentioning. So as you can see....I need to work past this because when discouragement sets in, my crown gets tarnished and my calling gets forgotten. Anything worth doing takes hard work, focus and determination and my calling takes all of that. I am a wife, mother, piano teacher and organist and all those things require many hours of just showing up and doing the work. Hopefully, the results will come...one day. 

So I'm finding the time...often carving it out of the worst possible time of day for me, but I'm showing up, I'm doing the work, I'm putting in the effort and praying that God will help to bring the increase. 

Hodgepodge

My first Hodgepodge in a long while. Playing along from http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/.

1.  Speaking of skating...when did you last 'skate on thin ice', 'skate over the details', 'encounter a cheapskate', or just plain skate?

I used to love to roller skate - the last time was probably just before entering high school. I tried ice-skating once we moved to the frozen north but I was never very good. The last time I was on ice skates was many years ago. I fell and hit my head quite hard and never wanted to try again.

2. What would you say is the biggest problem of people your age?

Going to the Dr. for every little ache and pain and relying too much on Drs. to make us feel better instead of making lifestyle changes.

3. What's your favorite accessory? Is it something you wear every day, often, or only on special occasions? Jewelry!

I’m a jewelryholic! I inherited my mom’s vintage jewelry...that’s where I get it from, that I just love but I also have many pieces I have purchased myself or have been given as gifts. I love simple clothes that I can accessorize with a pretty necklace.

4. January 20th is National Cheese Lover's Day. Are you a lover of cheese? What's your favorite dish made with cheese? Last thing you ate that contained some kind of cheese?

We love cheese in our family. I have too many favorite foods with cheese to list but a few would be pizza, lasagna, I even make my mother’s stuffed meatloaf which is topped with cheese. Just last night we had white chicken chili with monterey jack and pepper jack cheeses.

5. What's something guaranteed to make you roll your eyes?

When people get on Facebook and share absolutely everything that came across their page that day whether it is applicable to them or not.

6. Your favorite book series?

I don’t have a favorite series.

7. Why did you choose your profession?

Because my life was so radically changed and blessed by my piano teachers and because I truly felt that is how the Lord was leading in my life.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have been a part of Hodgepodge a long time ago and hope I can be a part of it again. I can’t promise I’ll be here every week, but I’ll do my best. Also, I don't know how to turn the Hodgepodge photo to a link - maybe someone can tutor me. So, we'll see if this works. Thanks for stopping by.

Grazioso...With Grace

 “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” Psalm 118:8

Today I had to ask myself, how do I respond when someone shares something personal with me? Whether it be a complaint, a need, a health issue or even good news - how do I respond? Lately I've noticed those around me responding by trying to either outdo the one who made the comment by relating a similar but much more dramatic and important event in their own life thus making the other persons comment seem trivial, or they respond by telling the person they are wrong or know nothing about what they're saying. Quite honestly, I couldn't answer my own question. I'm not quite sure how I respond, but I hope, hope, hope it's with much more grace than I have seen recently. Why don't people rejoice with others without trying to outshine them or even worse make them feel badly for feeling good? This queen is realizing that it's often difficult to be gracious no matter which side of this situation she finds herself. I truly hope I can be gracious the next time I'm left to feel as though my life events are not important enough or that I don't know what I'm talking about. I also hope the next time someone shares something with me that I will be extra careful not to turn it around and make it about me. 

Above photo credit to queenisms.com. 

Sometimes the queen has to learn when to be quiet.

I turned on some music today and spent the entire day in the kitchen. Music makes everything better. I made white chicken chili for supper, used up some leftover pork roast by making scrapple and made an oatmeal cake. Tomorrow morning I need to put together a chicken noodle soup and also practice, teach 3 lessons, and work on my other projects. No rest for this weary queen. 

It's possible anyone and maybe everyone thinks this whole queen thing is silly and perhaps it is, but I find it fun and helpful and even encouraging and it is my hope you will enjoy it too. 

Royal Progress

That is one of my new favorite sayings! I find it very encouraging lately. 

Queens and other members of royalty usually are quite privileged and often powerful but with such also comes great responsibility. I'm finding it difficult to manage my responsibilities to the Lord, others and myself. I know that taking care of myself, my body, mind and spirit is something the Lord desires for me and yet He also desires my service to Him and to my family. As we all know it's quite a balancing act and certainly nothing new. Yet, I continue to strive for balance in these areas. I know in which areas I am most out of balance and I haven't yet successfully tipped the scales but I'm making progress.

In an effort to increase my exercise, I went snowshoeing yesterday with my daughter and Gibbs. It was a beautiful jaunt through the north woods and despite the fact I  haven't been on snowshoes in several years and have not exercised much to speak of lately, I enjoyed myself very much. The fresh air was much needed and I'm hoping I can add this activity to my routine once or twice a week weather permitting. 

Friday is grocery day but despite the weather, I was enjoying being out of the house so I stopped in Shop-Ko for a few minutes before heading into the grocery store. We are on a tight budget right now and trying to increase our savings for emergencies. I have resisted buying myself anything but I really needed a pick-me-up...even if all I did was look, besides, there was a big banner on the outside of the store that read CLEARANCE so how could I not? ;) I found these three tops, all on the clearance racks and for a total of just $10. The striped one on top is almost like a poncho. It definitely needs something underneath because the arm holes are so large. I wore it Friday afternoon with my gray sweater, but in warmer weather I can easily put a tank or cami underneath. I really like it and I even got a compliment from my daughter, so that means for only $4.00 I must have made a good choice. The orange tee is workout wear with wicking properties, which will come in handy for workouts or just for everyday wear during the summer...also $4.00. The pink tank cost me all of $1.99 and it was such a pretty color. It will be nice alone this summer, but today I planned to wear it to church with a lace cami underneath and a gray cardigan over the top. Church was canceled this morning due to the over foot of snow we received so I will plan to wear it next week. All three make practical and very nice additions to the royal wardrobe! 

So until next time, I will press on...please join me. 

Straighten That Crown!

I hate to admit it, even to myself, but I am one of the world's worst procrastinators. I know what I should do and I find any excuse not to do it. I have really been convicted about this lately...new year, new goals and all that...and I believe God has been telling me it's time to "press on toward the goal". 
Philippians 3:12- 14:
 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Today I read this verse: John 12:25 "Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed, But if ti dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it; while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life ." Today, whether correctly or incorrectly, I interpreted that verse in a way I never have before. Through that verse God was telling me if I keep filling my time with wasteful things my life with 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. 

Ann Voskamp puts it this way -"hard things keep calling you because you're meant to answer to higher and better things". 

I like that! There is a reason why I feel guilty for ignoring those calls - I am called to higher things. I am after all, the daughter of The King. 

It's too easy for me to get off track - to get distracted throughout my days, weeks and months of goal setting. 

Ann also mentions the "pain of discipline vs. the pain of disappointment". Which pain would I rather endure? I've endured much disappointment ...mostly in myself, so I think it's time for discipline. 

Endurance not indulgence. 

Hebrews 10:32 says, "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised". My favorite quote from her is: "Understood this way, each thing we don’t feel like doing, great or small, becomes an invitation from God to follow in the faithful footsteps of his Son, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2)."

I have been blessed a number of times from Ann Voskamps writings and I hope you'll take the time to read the two links I have posted below...it's worth your time, trust me. 

From A Holy Experience: 

How To Destroy Procrastination pt.1

How To Destroy Procrastination pt.2

ATC"s

Yes it's time to create ATC's again. I actually did this month's set all in one evening and that is probably obvious when looking at the quality of my work...not to mention, I'm still sick. This month's theme is Space and as always we can interpret that however we want. These are my contributions - our trade is on Saturday. 

Crowned

New Year. Notice I didn't say "happy". Not that I'm unhappy, but it does put a damper on things when you spend the first days of the new year sick. Hubby came down with it first and shared. I missed church on Sunday and I'm hoping that daughter2 doesn't get sick as well.

I no longer make resolutions for the new year, but I do set goals for myself and being sick has forced me to make a late start on my goals for this year. In reality it's just a continuation of what I've been trying to accomplish for several years. So if you know me at all...same ole, same ole. 

I believe we all need people in our lives to come along side and encourage us and sometimes in that encouragement they actually make us feel like we are very special...dare I say like royalty. I've had someone like that in my life and it has changed the way I view and treat myself. 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. This year I hope to turn that around a bit. I still have my family to care for along with the cooking, cleaning, and laundry, 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. It is my hope that in the coming year this blog will be a bit of a different read than it has in the past. I'm not going to give it all away at once but I hope you will catch on to the new theme, understand my journey, enjoy the changes and be encouraged. 

I love this meme...it reminds me to dust myself off, head up, shoulders back and walk tall - like a queen. As soon as I regain my strength, this queen will begin her reign.

"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 darkness into His marvelous light;"

Happy New Year!

New Year’s Day seems to be a fitting day to once again make an attempt at reviving my blog.

By this time in my life I’ve seen the start of a good many new years. I’ve never been much for making a big deal of them though. Growing up, my mother and I almost always spent New Year’s Eve together. My brother was put to bed early and she and I would stay up until midnight watching movies and eating popcorn. I remember one year was a bit more exciting than the others. Shortly before midnight we heard sirens and when my mom looked out the window, she saw a man run into our yard and try to hide in a corner of the house in the back yard. Fortunately the police were hot on his trail, found him, handcuffed him, and took him away. It did however give us a scare for a few minutes.

One New Year’s Eve we spent apart. Instead of spending it with my mom I went up into the mountains with my church youth group for an all night sledding party. One of the boys there liked my best friend and tried all night to get her to go down the hill with him but she refused. In a desperate attempt, he tried making her jealous by asking me to go down with him and I consented. There was something about him I liked but I hadn’t put my finger on it just yet. Going down the hill with him was loads of fun and he was kind - making sure I was safe and not frightened. It was a fairly steep hill and quite fast plus it was dark - the snow on the hill lit only by the moon.

A couple of years after that, my then boyfriend broke up with me on New Year’s Eve...not the boy from the previous paragraph. My best friend and I planned a game night after our church's candlelight service. We bought snacks and put up decorations and he made everyone miserable until he insisted on driving me home early at which point he broke up with me.

From then on it’s been back to all night movie celebrations. New Year’s Day is usually spent putting away Christmas decorations and cleaning house. Today was no exception except add take care of sick hubby to that.

And so another New Year’s celebration is over and another year has begun. Wishing all my friends a happy new year, one filled with health, contentment and God’s blessings.

Brief Catch Up

It's getting late and I'm quite tired so I will give you a quick and not so interesting update and hope to post at least once a week from now on...we'll see. It's been a crazy couple of weeks! Son and wife dropped of their dogs for us to care for over the weekend of the 11th while they went to Chicago for a wedding. While they were gone their dogs attacked my Sookie and one of them bit her leg which is now infected. I have spent over $300.00 visiting the vet (3 visits so far - at least on more on Wednesday). It has been very stressful and I had pretty much shut down emotionally for a few days as I was on overload.

This past weekend Daughter and Hubby came up to stay with us while they attended a wedding in town. It was good to see them. They left this morning and the house is way to quiet tonight since Hubby is out with the Pastor and some other mountain bikers on the trails.

Today I had a great time at the organ with Mentor. We got into a wonderful discussion on articulation in Bach. I'm working on a Bach prelude and Fugue to play for a church prelude as soon as I can get it ready.

In between all this I have been scrapbooking like crazy. I have created several pages I plan to scan and share with you all in an upcoming entry. It and my music are what is keeping me somewhat sane these days. Tomorrow is cleaning day. I must get this house back in order.

Back To Routine

I'm sitting here this morning dawdling over my coffee...because I can. I cleaned house yesterday and I have to say, it felt good to be able to do that. After being laid up for a week with bursitis in my shoulder (and yes, Carol, it did keep me from my music for a while, but I'm back at it now), I am thankful to have been able to scrub the bathtub without pain and I actually enjoyed doing the dishes last night...it's strange how God can give us a new perspective through trials. So...my house is clean this morning and it does feel SO good!

I could and probably should go practice this afternoon, but I really feel a strong desire to stay home and just be...if that makes any scence to you. I need a day to just enjoy my home and enjoy summer. I'm going to "putter". I have plants to water, bird feeders to re-fill, some laundry to do, some computer work to tend to and this afternoon I'd like very much to plan out some scrapbook pages and get my supplies ready for our next "Craft Day" which is coming up on the 11th of this month. I'm once again focusing on my family heritage album. I'd love to finish it this summer. 

I'm also looking forward to tonight which is the Pine Mountain Music Festival Organ Concert. I get to go and listen to someone else play the organ that I have my lessons on. Mentor told me on Monday that his program looks to be very good and much of the music he has chosen to play is music that Mentor and I play so it will be interesting to hear someone else's interpretations. I'm excited! I always love a good organ concert. I've asked Hubby to go with me and he worked hard so he could join me. 

Speaking of the concert...I have to giggle...I think Hubby got jealous! When I told Hubby I was planning on going to the organ concert and asked him if he could join me, somehow he got it in his head that I was going with Mentor! I mentioned that I was grateful that Mentor had mentioned it, because if he hadn't I would have missed it since I was thinking it was scheduled for later in July, but Mentor and I have never gone to a concert together without Hubby being with us. We both attend and sometimes wind up seating near each other, but we never go together! I have to say I think that is why Hubby made such an effort to go, because he didn't want us going alone/together LOL. 

I have to hand it to Hubby though, all these years of Mentor and I working together and he's always trusted us. I think there were times he may have felt a tinge of jealousy, and maybe even felt left out which is why in recent years he finally started attending these events with me. "They" say "you can never just be friends with the opposite sex". I'm here to tell you I disagree with that statement. Mentor and I have been working together for over 20 years now and we have never been anything more than teacher/coach and student. Our relationship has at times crossed over into a brother/sister relationship, but never, ever anything beyond that. We both realize though that we have to be careful, just because of how we may appear to others. We've always been careful to make sure that even our "alone" time together was in a public place. I remember when we first started working together, a dear friend of mine had me over to tea and proceeded to tell me how wrong I was for doing what I was doing and she said "you're going to ruin your marriage". It upset me to hear her speak this way, but I did understood her fear. A few years later, after observing Mentor and I together, she apologized and said she was wrong and can see we are close, but not in that way. I honestly don't know what got hold of Hubby this week, but I have to giggle a bit. 

This is the second year we have blooms on my Mother-in-laws "Black Prince" rose bush that we transplanted from her home. Aren't they pretty? 

And also the pansies that Daughter #2 gave me for Mother's Day ~ 

A Bump In My Road

It seems it's been about a month since I posted last. Sometimes when life throws in some bumps and curves, my creativity takes a back seat and I find it difficult to put into words what is on my heart. I can't say my creativity is flowing freely just yet, but it's time to try and shake the dust off and get back to a healthy routine. I say it all the time, but I do miss blogging regularly...most of all I miss all my friends here.  

The first week of June we finally had to say good-bye to our dear fur buddy, Gilmore. He let us know without a doubt that it was time. We originally acquired him for daughter #1 and upon getting word that we put him down, she wrote this on Facebook: 

"I remember the first day we brought him home. It was my turn to pick a family pet, so we went to the humane society to adopt a rescue. Being the indecisive teen that I was, I fell for 2 dogs - one of them being Gilmore. We chose to take him home on a trial run and I remember being in absolute hysterics the rest of the day - torn between him and the other dog I'd left at the shelter. Gilmore saw my tears and buried his head in my lap as if to say, "please choose me." He then sneezed so hard he hit his nose on the ground which only prompted a succession of sneezes that sent me into a fit of giggles. I knew then he was goofy and silly and belonged with us.

I'll never forget the time he ran away from home one early morning after being sprayed by a skunk and I spent the day searching for him on my huffy bike. I remember getting ready to give up after hours of searching in the cold when I finally saw him in the backyard of our friend's house across town. I screamed his name and he started to run away again, probably thinking that I was mad at him. I fell off my bike and sank into the ground, calling his name again hoping he would see I wasn't angry. It worked and he ran into my arms crying and whimpering from exhaustion and relief. It was a long, slow walk home, but I'd never been happier in my life.

He was goofy, sweet, loyal and a true friend. I'll never forget the unconditional love he showed me. My only hope is he enjoyed the short life he had with us and that we showed him so much love he forgot about his previous owners' abuse and felt just how much we loved him. The last time I saw him I knew he was in pain even though he tried to hide it and act like a puppy. I looked into his sweet brown eyes and told him it was okay. It was okay if he had to leave - it was okay and I'd be okay. I knew it was likely the last time I'd see him.

Today my dad took Gilmore to the vet to put an end to his pain. Its always hard to say goodbye, but I'm so comforted to know he's out of pain. I'll miss you so much, sweet Gilmore. I'm so happy I got to love you."

I miss him, but at the same time I'm enjoying less to have to clean up after and I'm enjoying a bit more freedom. We were so locked in to his schedule. I would like to go without another dog for a while....maybe a long while because I'd like to be able to pick up and go and do things we haven't been able to do. It always feels like everyone else gets to go on short trips and I was always the one to stay home and look after the dogs. Hubby on the other hand is already missing having a dog around the house and Sookie just isn't enough to satisfy him. 

About a month ago I was asked by our choir director to help accompany the choir as they perform an arrangement of And Can It Be which calls for both piano and organ accompaniment. I have never done anything like this on the organ and so I practiced my little fingers off in preparation. I also got a shot of energy and I was enjoying the weather and all and spent time working in the yard. I raked the entire yard -front, back and side - by myself, planted some flower seeds, weeded the flower beds, potted some flowers, oh and I added weight lifting to my work-out. Guess what?!? One evening I began feeling pain in my shoulder, so I rubbed it and when I went to bed that night I was in terrible pain. I woke the next morning and it was worse, but I just kept thinking I strained a muscle and I'd be better but it got worse. Finally the following morning I made a Drs. appt. because I could no longer lift it even the tiniest bit. I couldn't hold a coffee cup in my hand, much less get dressed by myself. Come to find out it's bursitis and I was given two cortisone shots and put on some heavy duty pain pills and told to sit for two days and do nothing but ice the shoulder. So I did...I iced and slept for two days and finally the afternoon of the third day which was the Sunday I was supposed to play with the choir, I was beginning to get some movement back. Tuesday I was doing well but I kept an appt. I made for my chiropractor to work on it some and I'm glad I did. I'm back to "normal" with the exception that I'm finding it doesn't take much to start feeling a twinge again, and so I have to really watch how much I do. I have been off my exercising now for over a week and I can feel the difference. I have lost all headway that I had made and I'm very frustrated. I hope to begin again this week, but I'm not sure exactly what to do since weight lifting is out for now. 

I guess this is enough of an update for now. I think even typing seems to have an effect on this shoulder. I have more to tell you but I'll spread my news out over several posts. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!