This past Thursday I went to Spearman, TX to the Hansford County Public Library. I took a friend with me and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The librarians were so kind and a lot of fun to get to know. I think one of the best things about book signings is meeting new people. If you haven't gone to this particular library, you are missing a treat. They have whimsical murials for the children and a very nice coffee bar for the adults with comfortable seating for all.
We enjoyed looking at the arts and crafts that were displayed and for sale. There were some very talented people represented in the work on those shelves. We laughed and visited until we realized that the time alloted for the book signing had come and gone.
Thank you, girls for the great time.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
... and so the quest continues...
For those of you who want to know the outcome of our painting the tub...It worked out fine except we should have bought one more kit of tub spray. We needed just a tad more to give it the brand new look we were after. It is very much an improvement even now. We are going to purchase another round of paint when we get back to Amarillo...someday, but the bathroom quest is still not completed.
Thank goodness we got the pot reinstalled. No more fast trips up the stairs, through the bedroom, and into the far reaches to the upstairs bathroom. Yea! Terry is going to install the new vanity, sink, and faucet we purchased along with the new tub hardware ...handles, spout and shower spray thingy. (technical term) He will also cut the door off and reinstall it so that we will again have some privacy in the bathroom. (Its a good thing we live in the country.)
The ceramic tile floor looks great if I do say so my self. I guess that the next project will be refinishing the hardwood floor. (Which will be nice because I have to watch to not get splinters now...) Boy howdy, this sounds like a lot of work!
Thank goodness we got the pot reinstalled. No more fast trips up the stairs, through the bedroom, and into the far reaches to the upstairs bathroom. Yea! Terry is going to install the new vanity, sink, and faucet we purchased along with the new tub hardware ...handles, spout and shower spray thingy. (technical term) He will also cut the door off and reinstall it so that we will again have some privacy in the bathroom. (Its a good thing we live in the country.)
The ceramic tile floor looks great if I do say so my self. I guess that the next project will be refinishing the hardwood floor. (Which will be nice because I have to watch to not get splinters now...) Boy howdy, this sounds like a lot of work!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Bathtub Painting
Money will motivate where nothing else does. Am I right? Yep, you know I am. Terry and I looked at new whirlpool bathtubs and really desired to purchase one, had the money from our tax refund, and the pickup with us to haul it, but...$800, well... I had other stuff I wanted too. We really needed a new tub because most of the enamel finish was worn off. I think someone had spilled a lot of acid or drain cleaner in it. We saw a package next to the new tubs that held paint to refinish tubs, showers, or anything of that nature. Having read about said paint, we decided to give it a go. $30 was not too much for an experiment in refinishing. Besides, Terry was not all that thrilled about removing the old cast iron tub with the help of his muscle-less wife.(me) He named off all the pros and cons of each. Being the "con-man" that he is, we opted for the paint. "That old tub couldn't get worse than it is now!" I agreed.
For those of you who have contemplated this venture...here is the scoop. There are a lot of steps to it. Not hard steps, necessarily, but a bunch of them. First, before you leave the store, read the list of things you need for the procedure. We thought that we could just clean the tub with comet and then spray paint it....No. You need rubber gloves, face mask, eye protection, a chemical that cleans the surface (it says on the box),a sponge, 0000 steel wool, and a lot of paper towels and some other stuff. (I'm too lazy to get the list and write it down right now.) The tub really does come clean and then it is ready to apply paint to. Tape off the area and put down a plastic drop cloth.
The next step (really the first step if you are organized and read the directions all the way through before you start. hahaha) Is to put the can marked "cold " in the frig for a couple of hours. (See, you could have it half-way through if you would do this step before cleaning the tub.) Then, after two hours, put the can marked "hot" in to 120 degree water for 10 minutes. The directions tell you how to combine the two cans into one....interesting, but Terry did it and I stayed in the next room because, to be truthful, I was a little afraid of the process.
Finally, it is time to spray the tub with a thin mist of the paint. Yea!
Then....wait....36 hours!!!!
Rub the surface with 0000 steel wool.
Spray the rest of the can of paint.
Wait 4 days to use!!!
Terry is sure going to get tired of taking baths upstairs! He is a shower man and this is about to kill him. (I am sure he will survive.)
Right now we are on the 36 hour wait. When I get home from work I will to the steel wool thing and when Terry gets home he will do the last spray paint. (I don't have the patience for spray paint and everything tends to run.) So far, everything is looking good. It really needs the second coat and even if it doesn't turn out perfect, it is a lot better, even now, than it was.
I'll let you know how the finished product is.
For those of you who have contemplated this venture...here is the scoop. There are a lot of steps to it. Not hard steps, necessarily, but a bunch of them. First, before you leave the store, read the list of things you need for the procedure. We thought that we could just clean the tub with comet and then spray paint it....No. You need rubber gloves, face mask, eye protection, a chemical that cleans the surface (it says on the box),a sponge, 0000 steel wool, and a lot of paper towels and some other stuff. (I'm too lazy to get the list and write it down right now.) The tub really does come clean and then it is ready to apply paint to. Tape off the area and put down a plastic drop cloth.
The next step (really the first step if you are organized and read the directions all the way through before you start. hahaha) Is to put the can marked "cold " in the frig for a couple of hours. (See, you could have it half-way through if you would do this step before cleaning the tub.) Then, after two hours, put the can marked "hot" in to 120 degree water for 10 minutes. The directions tell you how to combine the two cans into one....interesting, but Terry did it and I stayed in the next room because, to be truthful, I was a little afraid of the process.
Finally, it is time to spray the tub with a thin mist of the paint. Yea!
Then....wait....36 hours!!!!
Rub the surface with 0000 steel wool.
Spray the rest of the can of paint.
Wait 4 days to use!!!
Terry is sure going to get tired of taking baths upstairs! He is a shower man and this is about to kill him. (I am sure he will survive.)
Right now we are on the 36 hour wait. When I get home from work I will to the steel wool thing and when Terry gets home he will do the last spray paint. (I don't have the patience for spray paint and everything tends to run.) So far, everything is looking good. It really needs the second coat and even if it doesn't turn out perfect, it is a lot better, even now, than it was.
I'll let you know how the finished product is.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
I Did It! I Bought "Speaking For Dummies?"
My last post posed the question, "Is there such thing as 'speaking for dummies'?" My sweet dil answered that burning question. So....I ordered it this morning...just in case there are a few tidbits not addressed in the book I am reading on public speaking.
The way I see it, if there is a way I can improve in any area, I am game. Some things are unattainable, but becoming informed and studying pertinent subjects are something I can do. One of the basic things I have already learned is to stand evenly on both feet and to remember that when you are speaking to a crowd, project a little more volume even if you have a microphone. I'm ready to learn!
The way I see it, if there is a way I can improve in any area, I am game. Some things are unattainable, but becoming informed and studying pertinent subjects are something I can do. One of the basic things I have already learned is to stand evenly on both feet and to remember that when you are speaking to a crowd, project a little more volume even if you have a microphone. I'm ready to learn!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Public Speaking for Dummies?
Is there such a book as Public Speaking For Dummies? Having lead various women's ministry groups in my church over the years and being a member of the local Toastmasters here in town, I have had quite a bit of practice in public speaking. I found a book on my shelves that my oldest son's wife loaned me on public speaking. She studied it in her college classes and knew there was information between the covers that her dear mother-in-law needed to learn.
This morning I began reading it and really studying it. I have been taking notes on it. "What is the title of this book?", you may ask. It is The Fifth Edition of Speaking With a Purpose by Arthur Koch. It is a real gold mine of information. There is a lot of information in it that will create much study on my part..."Thank you, Aimee!"
I am hoping that with improving in this area I will become more confident and at ease in situations I find myself in. I have always had the theory that if I could talk to one person at a time in a room, I can save myself a lot of energy speaking to all of them at once...with a speech. Am I right?
This morning I began reading it and really studying it. I have been taking notes on it. "What is the title of this book?", you may ask. It is The Fifth Edition of Speaking With a Purpose by Arthur Koch. It is a real gold mine of information. There is a lot of information in it that will create much study on my part..."Thank you, Aimee!"
I am hoping that with improving in this area I will become more confident and at ease in situations I find myself in. I have always had the theory that if I could talk to one person at a time in a room, I can save myself a lot of energy speaking to all of them at once...with a speech. Am I right?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Books, Books Everywhere!
Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes. When the boys were tiny I did housework after they went to bed and then I curled up and read. I might read into the wee hours of the night. In those hectic years I needed the nourishment I got from those books.
When it comes to non-fiction books such as something Joyce Meyer, Rick Warren, or Charles Swindoll wrote, I have a notebook that I jot down my thoughts regarding my reading for that particular day. The ever present notebook was with me during Scripture reading too.
In fiction, I love a well-turned phrase. I make note of it and listen to see when the next time I hear it is. Everyday that the boys were small, either Terry or I read Dr. Seuss to them. I have to admit that I found a lot enjoyment in those treasures too.
One year I put a road map up in the laundry room. (The only map I had was Colorado) The assignment for the summer was for each of the boys to read for points. A preassigned number of points paid for a trip to the swimming pool, skating rink, or spending money. A point was given for each page read in their library books. As the boys read they charted their points (miles) on the Colorado map. They could travel anywhere in Colorado, taking any road they wished. I have to admit that I did learn a lot about where the different little towns are located with this exercise!
That summer I believe our youngest son read every Curious George book known to man! He was just beginning to be able to read a complete book and he stumbled a lot over the words so I had him sit on the bed while I lay down to listen.... well...er... nap. I don't think I ever heard the last half of any Curious George book that summer.
Terry read "Farmer Boy" from the Little House on the Prairie series to the boys each night at bedtime when they were too old for Dr. Seuss. I sat with my knitting and the boys lay on the floor or couches listening. He changed the names of the characters from Laura, Mary, and baby Carrie to Larry, Mary and baby Carrie. As he dozed off while reading, he changed up a lot of the plot. So sorry Laura Ingles Wilder. I think if any of the boys read that book as an adult, they wouldn't recognize it at all!
All I can say is ...Books are fun!
When it comes to non-fiction books such as something Joyce Meyer, Rick Warren, or Charles Swindoll wrote, I have a notebook that I jot down my thoughts regarding my reading for that particular day. The ever present notebook was with me during Scripture reading too.
In fiction, I love a well-turned phrase. I make note of it and listen to see when the next time I hear it is. Everyday that the boys were small, either Terry or I read Dr. Seuss to them. I have to admit that I found a lot enjoyment in those treasures too.
One year I put a road map up in the laundry room. (The only map I had was Colorado) The assignment for the summer was for each of the boys to read for points. A preassigned number of points paid for a trip to the swimming pool, skating rink, or spending money. A point was given for each page read in their library books. As the boys read they charted their points (miles) on the Colorado map. They could travel anywhere in Colorado, taking any road they wished. I have to admit that I did learn a lot about where the different little towns are located with this exercise!
That summer I believe our youngest son read every Curious George book known to man! He was just beginning to be able to read a complete book and he stumbled a lot over the words so I had him sit on the bed while I lay down to listen.... well...er... nap. I don't think I ever heard the last half of any Curious George book that summer.
Terry read "Farmer Boy" from the Little House on the Prairie series to the boys each night at bedtime when they were too old for Dr. Seuss. I sat with my knitting and the boys lay on the floor or couches listening. He changed the names of the characters from Laura, Mary, and baby Carrie to Larry, Mary and baby Carrie. As he dozed off while reading, he changed up a lot of the plot. So sorry Laura Ingles Wilder. I think if any of the boys read that book as an adult, they wouldn't recognize it at all!
All I can say is ...Books are fun!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Amarillo
This Saturday, March 8, 2008, I enjoyed the experience of a book signing in Amarillo. Terry took time off and Mikey helped us too. Cari and baby Maci were in Houston with her grandpa who is very sick. The people who stopped by my table were very sweet and encouraging and the staff of Barnes & Noble were very kind and courteous.
Some of my friends stopped by for a bit of encouragement. Thank you Rhonda Cornell Price, Debbie Stollings, Melissa & Amber Otto. You guys are too much! Terry remarked repeatedly about the sheer volume of books in the store. He plunged in and spent an enjoyable two hours getting caught up on the new releases. He also meandered around the store and handed out bookmarks to unsuspecting shoppers. He was a lot of help and encouragement. The next book signing will be at Spearman's Hansford County Library on March 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Some of my friends stopped by for a bit of encouragement. Thank you Rhonda Cornell Price, Debbie Stollings, Melissa & Amber Otto. You guys are too much! Terry remarked repeatedly about the sheer volume of books in the store. He plunged in and spent an enjoyable two hours getting caught up on the new releases. He also meandered around the store and handed out bookmarks to unsuspecting shoppers. He was a lot of help and encouragement. The next book signing will be at Spearman's Hansford County Library on March 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Inspiration
This morning I watched Life Today and heard the story of Jim Daly. I must read his book, Finding Home. It is about his life and how he has lived in every family dynamic imaginable, the family of mother, father, and children, single parent, foster parent, sibling as head of home, and much more. I was amazed that this man had a great sense of humor and that even though his situations in life were as hard as they come, he was full of joy.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Opening a BIG can of worms
Have you ever started on a very simple project only to see it go to extremes! That seems to be the norm around our house. Terry and I noticed a bump in our downstairs bathroom. After a few weeks the bump turned into a few small bumps with a larger bump. Then it started to look like the floor was a series of green waves. Terry decided that on this particular day off he would plunge in and check out the floor. He had an idea that the stick on tiles would come up in such a fashion that he could reuse them with a little glue. Right off, the plan was not to be. He then dug into the floor finding a subfloor of particle board that was very spongy and wet. After scooping up the whole floor he came upon some nice linoleum and a firm board floor. The floor was ugly... but firm. We then decided that we would like to put ceramic tile on the floor. Terry wanted to do a test of the floor under the carpet in the hallway. It was very nice hardwood floor. Sooooo Terry tore the carpet off the hallway....then the dining room, which involved unloading china cabinets. The floor will need to be sanded, stained, and varnished. We decided to take the carpet out of the living room too. It is completely necessary because it is about 30 years old and very threadbear. Terry even wants to take the carpet out of the bedrooms on the main floor. Boy, he must have a LOT of energy. I think he was very glad that he could save the money for a new floor. Soooo what started out to be a small bathroom floor redo, turned into a big project. That is how it is these days.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
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Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JOYCE MEYER is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, Look Great, Feel Great, and the entire Battlefield of the Mindfamily of books. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $16.99
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords; Lrg edition (November 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446509396
ISBN-13: 978-0446509398
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Introduction
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
Everyone has them: those days where nothing seems to get done, except maybe what you’ve added to your already lengthy to-do list. Are you tired most of the time? Are you spent? Do you find yourself wish- ing for a better day—a simpler day? Too many things compete for your limited resources of attention, energy, and time. You may be suffocat- ing and not even know it. If you feel like this, you’re not alone.
Most people today live complicated lives that leave them frustrated and confused, weary and worn out. But I have good news: your life does not have to be that way. You can choose a life of simplicity, fruitfulness, fulfillment, peace, and joy. I want to warn you, however, unless you are determined not to, you will do what everyone else does. You will get sucked up in the system and spend your life wishing things were different, never realizing you are, in fact, the only one who can change things. Unless we are resolute and remain undaunted in our quest for simplicity, we are destined for complication and frustration.
I recall a time when I was complaining to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. How could anyone be expected to do all I had in front of me? Then the realization hit me that I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me. You can spend your lives wishing things were different, but wishing won’t change anything. Smart decision making and decisive action is what changes things. If you picked up this book looking for change, are you willing to make a decision and follow it up with action?
I wasted many years hoping life would change and things would calm down until I finally realized life itself doesn’t change; in fact, it has the potential to get worse. I understood my only real option was to change my approach to life. I had to say no to another day of rushing around and feeling frustrated. I didn’t want the doctor giving me another pre- scription to mask another symptom of the real problem—stress.
In my search for simplicity, I have come to believe life can never be simple unless I learn to approach all things simply. It is my attitude toward each event in life that determines how easy or complex each situation will be. Perhaps life is complicated because people are compli- cated. Is it possible that life is not complicated, but rather, individuals complicate life in the way they approach it?
I discovered it wasn’t really life or circumstances or other people as much as it was me that needed to change. My problem wasn’t the problem—I was the problem! When you spend your life in frustration trying to change the world and everyone in it, you fail to realize it could be you just need to change your approach to life. It can be very easy for someone to live an entire lifetime and never entertain the notion that the way they do things is the real problem.
Have you ever attempted to have friends over for what you initially intended to be a simple afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun, but somehow, it turned into a complicated nightmare? I remember those days vividly. I’d be at church on Sunday and, without much forethought, invite three couples over for the following Sunday to a barbecue. My initial thought was hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, baked beans, potato chips, and iced tea. My motive was fellowship and fun, but by the time the guests arrived, I didn’t even want them there. Fun was not going to happen, at least not for me. Why? I turned my simple get- together into a nightmare of preparation, expensive food, and fourteen people instead of the original six. My complicated approach to life and my complicated thought process convinced me hot dogs and hamburg- ers weren’t nice enough so I bought steaks we could not afford. My potato chips turned into a huge bowl of homemade potato salad. The simple baked beans became four side dishes I labored over.
Insecure and wanting to impress everyone, I had to spend the week cleaning and getting everything in the house to the point where I thought it would be impressive. Of course, the lawn chairs were old, so I bought new ones. I got angry at Dave because I thought he wasn’t help- ing me enough, and by the time our friends arrived, I resented them, wished they hadn’t come, and had a miserable day of pretending to be the happy hostess when in reality I was frustrated and miserable.
I could not figure out why I wasn’t able to enjoy much of anything in life until God revealed to me I was killing my joy with complication. For years, I prayed God would change the people and circumstances around me when, in reality, He wanted to change me and my approach to life. He wanted me to simplify so, ultimately, He could be glorified.
Let me share with you 100 ways to approach living that can simplify your life and, in turn, release and increase your joy. I believe they will dramatically improve the quality of your everyday experience if you incorporate them into the way you do things. Jesus said He came so we might have and enjoy our life in abundance (see John 10:10). His prin- ciples are simple. Faith is simple! Trusting God is simple! A childlike approach to Him is simple! The plan of salvation is simple!
Jesus offers us a “new way of living,” and I believe it is a simple, yet powerful way that enables us to enjoy everyday life. Are you ready to simplify your life? Are you ready to say good-bye to the complexities you’ve allowed to take over? Let’s get started.
Do One Thing at a Time
The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything elseówe are the busiest people in the world.
ÓERIC HOFFER
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
—Hebrews 12:2
When we do things without truly focusing our minds on them, we immediately decrease our strength to do the work before us and do it well. By putting our hands to one thing and our mind to another, we divide the muscle behind our abilities and we make the task much more difficult. It’s like removing an egg yolk from the egg white—both can be used separately but the result isn’t as effective (or tasty) as it would be if we leave the egg whole. However, by directing all of our faculties to the one thing we are doing on a particular day, at that hour, at that moment, we find it much easier to do. The ability to concentrate and stay focused can only come from discipline.
The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are. They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity. God expects us to trust Him with tomorrow just as He instructed the Israelites to do when they crossed the barren wil- derness, pressing toward the Promised Land.
Practice living one day at a time; give yourself—your thoughts, your conversation, your energies, every part of you—to the day at hand.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Develop an ability to give yourself to what you are doing. You will sense an awareness enabling you to enjoy the current activity, instead of going through each day in a blur of activity and confusing thoughts which leave you drained and exhausted.
Do you fear you will not accomplish as much if you try to live this way? It’s true you may not do as much, but you will also enjoy what you do a whole lot more. One key to simplicity is realizing that quality is far superior to quantity.
The Blog Tour for "Nan's Journey" Begins July 23
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Littau is a life-long resident of Perryton, TX. She met husband, Terry at the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kansas in 1974. They married March 1, 1975 and reside on a small acreage near Perryton where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends. They raised three sons and now have three daughters-in-law and four grandchildren added to their family. They also enjoy visiting with their extended family located in Perryton, Clear Lake, Laverne, and Amarillo.
Author Elaine Littau is a busy woman who by profession is the church secretary for Harvest Time First Assembly of God Church in Perryton. Among other things she has led women’s groups and taught preschool, and was a mentor for the M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in her community. She has been active in Toastmasters and enjoys painting, crafts, and playing piano and organ. She was recently appointed to the Campus Education Improvement Committee for Wright Elementary in Perryton. She belongs to Christian Storytellers and Faith Writers writing groups.
“Nan’s Journey” was written over the course of several years. “A salvation message is at the core of the book.” Littau says. “If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I truly enjoy meeting new people.”
Littau is currently working on two other books that are continuations of “Nan’s Journey.” Book signings and speaking engagements are currently set up for venues in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Oregon.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 188 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (January 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602478325
ISBN-13: 978-1602478329
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Chapter One
It was late. The moon had risen and the night symphony was in full force. Crickets chirped at their rivals, the frogs, and dominated the night chorus. Only one sound in the forest was foreign—a whimper from under the ferns. At the base of the largest pine in the woods was a small form crying, moaning, and whimpering. Black hair, matted and dirty, hung in long ropes down the front of the tiny girl. She had been in this spot for hours. At least that is what it felt like to her. Stretching, she cried out in pain. The blood-covered welts burst open to bleed again. Her back was wet with blood, and her dress was torn and useless.
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
Why had she dared to speak to the woman that she was obliged to call mother in that way? She knew that talking was not allowed from children before chores were finished. The accusations being made by “Ma” were totally false and she could not let Elmer take the blame for something she herself had forgotten to do. She shut her eyes tight against the memory, but it intruded anyway.
She had just gotten up to take the water off the stove to make up dishwater for the supper dishes. Ma had stepped outside the room to turn down her bed and prepare for sleep. When she reappeared in the kitchen, she realized that the wood supply next to the stove was low. Elmer was standing next to the table gathering the plates for washing. “Elmer, where is the wood you were supposed to bring up to the house?” Before he could answer, a hand had slapped him across his face. Getting back onto his feet and standing as tall as a five year old can stand, he looked her in the eye and said, “Ma, I was sick today, ‘member?”
“So, Elmer, you’re going to play up that headache trick again. Nan, didn’t your good for nothing Mama teach you people how to work, or are you just lazy?”
“Our Mama was good! Don’t you say mean things about her!” Nan yelled as her heart raced at the assault against her real Mama’s character.
“What about it, Elmer, are you like your weakling Mama or what?” Elmer’s eyes became very large and filled with tears. He could barely remember his real Mama, but when he did, he remembered soft kisses and sweet singing and a beautiful face. “I’m sorry; I’ll get the wood now.”
“No, Elmer, don’t. I promised you I’d do it today when your head was hurting, but I forgot. I’ll get it after I do these dishes.”
“Listen here, Nan, I’m the boss around here and Elmer will do what I say, when I say, and you will respect me.”
Nan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look at me like that, little girl.”
Nan held her breath.
“Well, I guess you will be making a trip to the wood shed…with me!” Ma had grabbed her by the arm and jerked her along behind the shed. The strap was hanging there, waiting. Whippings were becoming more and more frequent. After Ma’s husband left, they had taken on a more cruel form. The last whipping was more like a beating. It took days for the marks to scab over and heal. Little Elmer had come in that night and brought some horse medicine from the barn and applied it to the oozing marks.
The next afternoon when the schoolteacher came over, Ma had already formulated a story. “Mrs. Dewey, we missed Nan and Elmer today at school. Are they sick?” Ma lied the first time in her life and said, “Well Miss Sergeant, since Mr. Dewey is going to be gone for another four weeks, I need more help around here to get things done. I’m holding the kids out until he gets back.” Week after week went by, and Mr. Dewey still hadn’t come home. Everyday Ma grew more and more angry. It became more and more impossible to please her. When she began hitting Elmer, it was too much. Nan had to do something— right or wrong; things couldn’t stay the way they were.
The coolness of the earth had settled into Nan’s bones. She stood silently for a minute and carefully crept up to the farmhouse. As she opened the door, she saw that Elmer was in the pallet at the foot of the stove next to her bedroll. Ma was asleep in her room. The door held open with a rock. Slowly she began peeling off the dress and the dried blood stuck to it. She reached for the old shirt she normally wore over her wounds and under her dress. She had washed it today. It had bloodstains on it, but it would keep her from ruining another dress. She retrieved the old work dress that she wore when chores were messier than usual; it was the only one left. She put it on swiftly and shook Elmer awake with her hand over his mouth. “Baby, we must leave. Do you understand? Stay quiet and I will get some stuff to take with us.”
She found large old handkerchief and began looking for food supplies. There was one sourdough biscuit and about a cup of cold brown beans. She located her tin cup and another rag. She would probably need that. Three matches were in the cup on the stove. She would just take two. Suddenly she heard a sound from Ma’s room. A scampering sound… just a rat. Ma turned over. Her breathing became deep and regular. For once Nan wished that Ma snored. She tied the handkerchief in a knot over the meager food supplies, grabbed their bedrolls, and slowly opened the door.
“Come on, Elmer. Can you carry this food? I’ll get your bedding. That’s a good boy. We must hurry!”
The cold air bit at their faces, but they walked bravely on.
“Elmer, we must go tonight so we can get as far away as we can before Ma wakes up and sees that we are gone.”
For the next half hour the pair walked in silence through the familiar woods past the graves on the hill. In one, a mother dearly loved, in another, an infant who had died the same day as his mother, and the third, a father that only Nan had memory of. Elmer was only two years old when Pa died in the logging accident. Nan snapped out of her reverie and urged Elmer on. Molasses, Pa’s good old workhorse, stood in the pasture. He skidded the logs Pa cut with his axe. His legs hadn’t healed quite right, but Mama hadn’t let Mr. Dewey kill him because he was all she had left of the husband of her youth. Molasses was a faithful friend to Nan and Elmer. He stood there and waited for them to mount him.
“Molasses, take us to…” Nan realized then that they had nowhere to go. Mrs. Dewey had said that they were ungrateful little imps who didn’t realize she and Mr. Dewey were taking care of them out of kindness, and they could easily be put into an orphanage. Nan didn’t know anything about orphanages except what Mrs. Dewey…uh, Ma had told her. “Molasses, just take us out of here.”
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