Sunday Inspiration: Control

 

Thankful Thursday - January 28, 2021

 

I Am Thankful For:

Beautiful winter mornings

A cup of afternoon tea

A great start to the year for the Etsy shop

Tuesday morning Bible study

God's abundance

When the Vet says "he should be fine"

Dogs playing with a squeaky toy

Books

A fresh beginning

Puppies eating sweet potatoes

The Man of the House massaging my shoulders when I have a headache

Sunshine

Love

Family

Mushroom-Swiss Burgers

Saturdays

Buying birthday gifts

Nine years of being a grandmother

The Neti pot

Sunday Inspiration: What We Need To Be

 

Thankful Thursday - January 21, 2020

 

I Am Thankful For:

Big fat snowflakes

Healthy snacks

Warm puppy snuggles

Starting a new Bible study

Leftover chili for lunch

Fresh air

Mornings

Late starts

Virtual field trips

Warm January days

Silly text messages

Another week without catching Covid-19 

Progress on goals

A clean nightstand

Snow flurries

Valentine Decor

Homemade hot wings

A pre-game walk

Planners

I Don't Have To Have It All Together

If we thought 2021 would be a quieter, calmer, more "normal" year - it is not proving that theory so far.  So,  how are you doing?  No.  How are you really doing?  

Me?  I like to think that I'm ok.  But... if I'm being honest - I'm not sure.  Many days I feel as if I am barely holding it together. 

As Covid-19 numbers skyrocketed in my state, so did my stress level.  I am still mostly isolated.  I limit trips out to a bare minimum.  And when I do venture out, I don't really enjoy it because I'm stressed out by all the people not wearing masks.  And usually, I just want to get my errand done and get home.

I worry about my family all the time.  My immediate family members are all employed by essential businesses and one or two of them are subjected to the general public daily.  Both of my parents are in their 70's and have their own health issues to deal with which would complicate things if they contracted coronavirus.

Schools continue to be remote learning.  While I'm comfortable helping facilitate the grand kid's virtual learning, I do worry about the long term effects all of this will have on his education.  On the bright side, I have learned a few new things myself while listening in on his lessons! Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

I'm worried about our country.  After the violent attack of domestic terrorism that took place 2 weeks ago in the Capitol, things just seem scarier than ever.  I wonder if things will ever calm down.  If we can ever begin to heal and become the United States.  

When life gets stressful, I find it helpful to look to Scripture for strength, peace, and encouragement.  I don't have all the answers.  And I don't have to have it all together.  I just have to remember that God is still in control.  Nothing surprises Him.  And He promises to work all things for good.  Yes...  ALL things.  Even the chaotic and stressful things we see going on around us now.  

I can find my peace in those promises.  If you need a little encouragement today - here are a few of my favorite verses:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  - Romans 8:28

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.     I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  - Isaiah 41:10

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  - Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday Inspiration: Life's Challenges

 

Thankful Thursday - January 14, 2020

 

I Am Thankful For:

Morning naps for a grumpy little boy

A clean dresser

Gumbo for lunch

Oatmeal with berries

New crochet stitches

A yummy new salad

Hanging out with the grandkid

Taking a break from social media

Turning off the news

Coffee and a muffin

Snow

Drawers purges and organized

Comfort food

The Man of the House getting up to take the dogs out

... and starting the Coffee

Eating takeout in the car in a parking lot

Sunday morning

Fun cupcakes

A play-off win for the Browns

Words Matter

The words we say make a difference.  They can express love or anger.  Build someone up - or break them down.  They can encourage someone - or shatter dreams and expectations. 

Whether positive or negative, when we hear the same words over and over - they can begin to take root.  We start to believe them and even beginning to act as if they are true. Whether they really are or not.

That's why it is so important to think about how we speak to others.  And how we talk to ourselves.  It is not only the words we hear around us that can affect us, but also the internal voice in our head.  Maybe even more.  

You can help to counter that negative self-talk that might be taking place inside our heads with positive daily affirmations, especially ones that are based on Scripture.  Research shows that we can "rewire" our brains by repeating thoughts or actions that develop new connections in the brain which makes it easier to have those thoughts in the future.  Science also states that faith can help improve our mental health by giving us something to believe in, a structure for coping with stressful life circumstances, and giving us a sense of belonging, as well as teaching us forgiveness, compassion, and kindness.

To help you get started, here are a few of my favorite affirmations along with the supporting Scripture passages.

• I Am Loved By and Loving Toward Others  -  "We love each other because he loved us first." 1 John 4:19" 
• I Am Valuable - "Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4
• I Have More Than I Need to Prosper - "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:8
• My Future Looks Bright and Hopeful  - "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope"  Jeremiah 29:11
• I Have A Purpose To Fulfill -  "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10
• I Am Healthy in Body, Mind, and Spirit - "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit"  3 John 1:2
• I Am Filled With A Spirit of Power and Love - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
• I Can Live Without Worry - "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6

Try to create a few of your own and share in the comments!

Sunday Inspiration: Painful

 

Thankful Thursday: The first one of 2021

 

I Am Thankful For:

Getting out of the house for a little while

1 crockpot = 1 meal + a week of lunches

Trying new things

A morning to myself

Low WW point treats

A new modem

Setting up a new planner

The grandkid showing off his Christmas presents

Kisses from the Man of the House

The bird chirping outside my window

A new year

Kisses at midnight

Sleep

Beans and cornbread

Orders for the new year

Puppy bath time

Handyman Man of the House

Puppies playing with squeaky toys

Christmas decorations put away

Cleveland Browns are in the playoffs

My One Word for 2021

Instead of making New Year resolutions, some people choose One Word for the year.  Sometimes the word seems to pick you.  Such was the case with my word for 2021.

I love it when my word for the next year comes to me early - usually in the late fall sometime. That's what happened this year.  Around the end of October or the beginning of November, my One Word for 2021 first became known to me.  

The word that presented itself was "Challenge"

My initial reaction?  "Oh - NO, thank you." After the year that 2020 turned out to be, the last thing I wanted was more challenges in my life!  I mean, c'mon! Give a gal a break already! Amiright?  How about "calm"?  Or "peace"?

The word kept coming up.  Everywhere I turned there seemed to be a new sign pointing me in that direction. I wasn't going to be easily convinced though.  I thought about it.  A lot.  I prayed about it.  A LOT.  I kept asking God over and over to give me another word for 2020.  An easier word. Any. Other. Word.  

But as week after week passed and we moved closer to the end of the year, Challenge persisted in its campaign to become the One Word for 2021.  It weighed on my mind.  It began to create a hazy image of what a year of Challenge might look like. Surprisingly, it wasn't necessarily bad.

So...  I surrendered to the word.  And that's how "Challenge" became my One Word for 2021.  

2021 will be a year for me to challenge myself.  A challenge to let go of all the baggage from 2020 and move forward to whatever the future holds for me. To try new things.  To stretch outside the cozy little comfort zone that all the uncertainty of the past year inspired me to create for myself.  It will be a year for challenging myself to create new routines and habits and let go of ones that I have outgrown. To try new things.  To have new experiences.  A year for growth and renewal.

Do you set resolutions or select a word or phrase to guide you through the year?  Tell me about it in the comments!

Sunday Inspiration: What You Do

 

Currently... January 2021!

Be honest - how many of you released a huge sigh of relief at the stroke of midnight last night?  (or when you woke up this morning, if you're like me and staying up to ring in the new year isn't really your thing).  

Even though we know things aren't going to magically change and suddenly improve just because the calendar turned over, it's nice to be able to say good-bye to 2020  and look forward to a new year!  I mean, every new year seems fresh and full of promise.  But maybe... just, maybe (definitely)... this year more so than usual. 

So, here's to you 2021!  Please be gentle with us.

Working On:  The usual "new year" stuff.  Trying to get reorganized.  Set goals for the year.  Get back on track on some things that went awry over the past year.  You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Reading:  My current read is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.  Because I adore historical fiction, especially about the Tudors, and I've been putting off reading this one for a while.  

My non-fiction book is I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown. I have never read any of her works, but many people seem to like her so I thought I would give it a go.

The grandkid and I are nearing the end of Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary.  Ramona was another big favorite of mine growing up.  (Really, any and all of Beverly Cleary's characters were favorites for me)  Next up we have Ramona Quimby, Age 8.  Then I think we'll be reading Half Magic by Edward Eager.

This month I also plan to read A Moveable Feast by Hemmingway.  It's on my list of books to read this year.  I have avoided anything by Ernest ever since The Old Man and the Sea bored me to tears back in high school, and after all this time I'm finally willing to give him another chance. 

Celebrating:  There's not really much going on this month.  I'm celebrating having made it through the holidays - and through all of 2020 - in one piece.  I'm going to celebrate my accomplishments this month - no matter how small they may be. 

Loving:  I'm getting some extra time with the grandkid!  His school is going back to all remote learning for at least the first two weeks of January. (a quarantine of sorts following the holiday break) which means I get an extra day with him each week! 

Wanting/Needing:  A better way to store Christmas decor that protects it from moisture. We store the plastic bins (which I thought were good enough) under the stairs, where it can get damp and musty.  I had to buy new stockings this year because ours were mildewy and stinky when I took them out of storage.  Our Christmas tree is scheduled to be replaced also because it was musty smelling when I first took it out - although that doesn't surprise me because it has just been stored in the original cardboard box that it came in.  So, if anyone has any tips or tricks - let me know ASAP!

Dreaming About:  Summer vacation.  I know it's a little early still, but we have a vacation to Disney World planned for this year.  And this time the Female Offspring, the Son in Law, and the Grandkid are all supposed to come!  Fingers crossed that Covid vaccines are flowing to the general population by then and we don't have to wear masks in the Florida heat.  We didn't get much of a vacation last year thanks to the pandemic and I really really need this trip!

Goals for January: 

• Create (and stick to) a relaxing bedtime routine
• Deep clean and organize the bedroom
• Read "A Moveable Feast"
  
• Track all food in the WW app and stay within my points
• Created 3 new hats, 3 washcloth sets, and 5 cotton bath puffs for my Etsy shop

How is your January 2021 looking?