This home improvement mess has really played with my ambition and energy! The process as been extremely slow. Terry is a hard worker, I am not saying that he is not. He works 10to 16 hours a day. He simply does not have time to do a lot at home. He does have Sundays off and every other Monday. With a time table like that it will take a long time to get anything done. I know it sounds like I have been whining a lot on this blog. That is not my intention. I want you to see that anything is possible.
Because of Terry's schedule we take these home improvements in bite-size pieces. We usually don't have more than a day and a half at a time to work. He is very hands on so I do what I can, but he has the muscles and energy to do the heavy work. Over the 17 years we have lived in our home, we have accomplished a lot but it has all been in these bite sized pieces.
Writing a book is much like doing home improvement at my house. Start planning, thinking, and writing. I can't sit and write a whole book in a day. I wouldn't want to. I enjoy the process of watching the story unfold. I do watch the story in my mind as I write it. The characters are very real to me. I see their faces and personalities when I write them. Honestly, it is very fun. Some days it is hard to get to the computer and write but I am always glad that I do. It may be a paragraph or a time line that I work on. I may jot notes on a pad about an event I want the character to go through, but the process has to keep moving so that the momentum is not lost.
Yesterday I was wallowing in self-pity about my mess at the house. I had gotten so frustrated that I didn't even make my bed or picked up my room. That is one place that has not been affected by the remodel. Then I looked at my car. I had moved a big plant from my sister's house to my house and dumped a lot of soil and leaves in my front seat. I missed my weekly car washing...everything was a mess. Of course the car is not part of the remodel. I decided that I was tired of letting the mess overtake every part of my life so I got out my vacuum and cleaned out the car. Then I got the water hose and hand washed the car and made it shine. I loaded the dishwasher and picked up the clutter in the few rooms that are not affected by the remodel. I feel so much better.
I learned that I must do what I can do...whether it is about writing a book, preparing a speech, marketing my books, contacting friends, cleaning my stuff, or working on my house. That is all I am responsible for. One day my house will be back to normal. I am looking forward to it, but I will enjoy my life no matter what.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
And The Work Goes On!
I wanted to add to the old post because when people look up this on the internet, it only shows one of the posts about the hardwood floor.
OUR FLOOR IS DONE!!!!
Terry put 7 coats of floor finish on the hardwood floor. He was sure that he could make it perfect, but perfection was not to be. It is still so pretty. With the furniture and everything back in the rooms, the imperfections don't show up so much.
Terry now is thinking about doing the floors in our main floor bedrooms. (one at a time) My recommendation is not to attempt too much unless you are taking vacation time to get it done. The process can drive you crazy!!!
The epic of refinishing the hardwood floor continued...yesterday. Is there anyone else who has taken as long as we have? Terry only gets every Sunday off and every other Monday off. Boy oh boy...we live 120 miles from the large lumber yards. Our local lumber yard does not carry rental equipment. The rental shop here has old and damaged stuff as far as floor sanders go sooooo... We went to a town 60 miles away to rent from a mid-sized lumber yard. We got the sander and found that the horror stories we have heard were exaggerated.
Terry decided that we would start with 60 grit paper instead of the roughest stuff. Our floor is in good condition so we didn't need the roughest. The floors look good. The next step is staining and then varnishing.
One tip I think is worth knowing: Do rent the edge sander or get rough grit for an oscillating sander if you have one. It takes at least 40 grit to cut through the residue on the edges. Don't let the largeness of the job intimidate you. If we can do it, you can too. I will let you know how the staining and varnishing go...stay tuned...this may take some time. Hopefully all will be back to normal by Thanksgiving. That is my hope!!! and Terry's semi-promise.
OUR FLOOR IS DONE!!!!
Terry put 7 coats of floor finish on the hardwood floor. He was sure that he could make it perfect, but perfection was not to be. It is still so pretty. With the furniture and everything back in the rooms, the imperfections don't show up so much.
Terry now is thinking about doing the floors in our main floor bedrooms. (one at a time) My recommendation is not to attempt too much unless you are taking vacation time to get it done. The process can drive you crazy!!!
The epic of refinishing the hardwood floor continued...yesterday. Is there anyone else who has taken as long as we have? Terry only gets every Sunday off and every other Monday off. Boy oh boy...we live 120 miles from the large lumber yards. Our local lumber yard does not carry rental equipment. The rental shop here has old and damaged stuff as far as floor sanders go sooooo... We went to a town 60 miles away to rent from a mid-sized lumber yard. We got the sander and found that the horror stories we have heard were exaggerated.
Terry decided that we would start with 60 grit paper instead of the roughest stuff. Our floor is in good condition so we didn't need the roughest. The floors look good. The next step is staining and then varnishing.
One tip I think is worth knowing: Do rent the edge sander or get rough grit for an oscillating sander if you have one. It takes at least 40 grit to cut through the residue on the edges. Don't let the largeness of the job intimidate you. If we can do it, you can too. I will let you know how the staining and varnishing go...stay tuned...this may take some time. Hopefully all will be back to normal by Thanksgiving. That is my hope!!! and Terry's semi-promise.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Rough Draft of Third Book Completed!
Monday I decided to drink some coffee and do a little writing on my day off. We are limited to the finished basement until we get the hardwood floors finished on our main floor. It may take a little time....That's another story...Anyway, being in the basement with no natural light, I began writing and got lost in the story. I emerged periodically to eat and drink and all that but I returned to the basement. Before I knew it I heard footsteps overhead. Terry was home and I asked him why he was at home so early. He said that it was 7 p.m.! Wow! I had written all day!The great thing about it was that I finished the rough draft of "Luke's Legacy". I am very proud of the story and I think readers of "Nan's Journey" and "Elk's Resolve" will be moved by this story about the "little brother and sister". I am entering it into a contest and hoping to place. Pray for me!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Hunger for God
God is up to something inside of me and I am so happy about it! For the past two weeks I have felt the Presence of God in my life stronger than ever before. It began with an insatiable hunger for more that so so christianity. I wanted to feel the way I did as a child when I first gave my life to Jesus.
I went to the big women's conference where the logistics limited the amount of prayer offered and I was dissapointed. The next day a young woman in my church was seeking God at the altar. Several women were kneeling in prayer with her. I stayed back in my seat. I don't really know why, but maybe it was laziness... who knows? One of the women in prayer looked up and motioned for me to join them. I am so glad I did.
Upon approaching the girl, I felt her hunger for God and it was infectious. I wanted more as I even prayed that God would answer her prayer. It reminded me of a group of mid-wives bringing forth a baby in birth.
The Power of God came in the midst of us all and I swear that it felt like my blood was burning. A wave of electricity flowed through all the women in prayer and especially the seeker. She had her answer. The Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way among us.
Since that night Jesus has been even more real to me than ever. I know that some people will think that all of this is emotionalism...if it is I don't care. I am an emotional person. I cry and laugh and get depressed and love with all my heart. Doesn't it stand to reason that God deals with me in an emotional way. I haven't had this much joy in my soul in a long time. My circumstances are exactly the same, but the Presence of God is still so close. I am so glad that He is available to anyone who asks and hungers for Him. The "table" is spread....eat up!
I went to the big women's conference where the logistics limited the amount of prayer offered and I was dissapointed. The next day a young woman in my church was seeking God at the altar. Several women were kneeling in prayer with her. I stayed back in my seat. I don't really know why, but maybe it was laziness... who knows? One of the women in prayer looked up and motioned for me to join them. I am so glad I did.
Upon approaching the girl, I felt her hunger for God and it was infectious. I wanted more as I even prayed that God would answer her prayer. It reminded me of a group of mid-wives bringing forth a baby in birth.
The Power of God came in the midst of us all and I swear that it felt like my blood was burning. A wave of electricity flowed through all the women in prayer and especially the seeker. She had her answer. The Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way among us.
Since that night Jesus has been even more real to me than ever. I know that some people will think that all of this is emotionalism...if it is I don't care. I am an emotional person. I cry and laugh and get depressed and love with all my heart. Doesn't it stand to reason that God deals with me in an emotional way. I haven't had this much joy in my soul in a long time. My circumstances are exactly the same, but the Presence of God is still so close. I am so glad that He is available to anyone who asks and hungers for Him. The "table" is spread....eat up!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mega Churches-Micro Churches
Last weekend a friend and I went to a mega church in Oklahoma City, OK for a women's conference featuring Lisa Bevere. It was great to worship with the thousands of women within the large walls of the church. The Presence of the Lord was there and many people were touched. Lisa had pertinent messages that spoke to my heart in particular.
One statement she made really ministered to me where I am now. She said that the Body of Christ needs the daughters who ask questions and the mothers who find the answers although they are the busiest ones but also the grandmothers who have the time to nurture and do works of ministry. At this point in my life I am 52 years old. I am a grandmother who also is available to my children to answer questions they throw at me. I try very hard not to offer unsolicited advice... I am in two of the generations although I lean more to the grandmother one. I am not intimidated by my age. I still have a lot to offer. The Lord has placed a desire on my heart to write good books until I die.
Many wonderful things happened at the mega women's conference. The women were moved to come to the front for prayer. There were so many who responded that the prayer team was told to just touch each one of the ladies so that they could move back to their chairs and give room for the others. The logistics of the day demanded that sort of response, but my heart broke for the women who needed more care.
On the way home my friend and I discussed the tragedy of the women who needed more... more time at an altar with sisters engaged in urgent prayer until something broke in the spiritual realm. My soul was grieved. The next day was Sunday. I guess you could say that I attend a "micro" church. There were less than 70 people present. We had a special speaker for morning and evening services. The call for prayer came at a few minutes until noon. People responded and stayed at the altars until 1 p.m. The people were in need of breakthroughs in their lives and there was time and room at the altars to stay until the needs were met.
Sunday evening was especially poignant. Many came to the altar and stayed but I want to focus on two young women in particular. The evangelist asked one of my friends, a 82 year old retired minister lady, to come and pray with one of the women. It was a beautiful picture of the grandmother nurturing the mother. Others were praying with the other young woman who had been seeking a special touch from God for weeks. She had an insatiable hunger that was not met. I joined in the prayer for her as well as my 82 year old friend and the young woman she had "prayed through" with. When the second girl broke through to victory a shout of praise erupted from every one's lips. We hugged and cried and rejoiced. I loved the intimacy of praying together with my sisters.
There is a Scripture that says "do not despise small things". I think sometimes we get frustrated with our small churches. Of course we want them to grow and reach more people and not to become a small exclusive club, but we can attempt to keep the small church care and concern for one another no matter how large we grow. I wonder what would have happened at the mega church if the women who had desperate needs knelt down and the leaders asked everyone to lay hands on them and pray until they had a breakthrough. I think the rejoicing would ring out in every one's heart.
One statement she made really ministered to me where I am now. She said that the Body of Christ needs the daughters who ask questions and the mothers who find the answers although they are the busiest ones but also the grandmothers who have the time to nurture and do works of ministry. At this point in my life I am 52 years old. I am a grandmother who also is available to my children to answer questions they throw at me. I try very hard not to offer unsolicited advice... I am in two of the generations although I lean more to the grandmother one. I am not intimidated by my age. I still have a lot to offer. The Lord has placed a desire on my heart to write good books until I die.
Many wonderful things happened at the mega women's conference. The women were moved to come to the front for prayer. There were so many who responded that the prayer team was told to just touch each one of the ladies so that they could move back to their chairs and give room for the others. The logistics of the day demanded that sort of response, but my heart broke for the women who needed more care.
On the way home my friend and I discussed the tragedy of the women who needed more... more time at an altar with sisters engaged in urgent prayer until something broke in the spiritual realm. My soul was grieved. The next day was Sunday. I guess you could say that I attend a "micro" church. There were less than 70 people present. We had a special speaker for morning and evening services. The call for prayer came at a few minutes until noon. People responded and stayed at the altars until 1 p.m. The people were in need of breakthroughs in their lives and there was time and room at the altars to stay until the needs were met.
Sunday evening was especially poignant. Many came to the altar and stayed but I want to focus on two young women in particular. The evangelist asked one of my friends, a 82 year old retired minister lady, to come and pray with one of the women. It was a beautiful picture of the grandmother nurturing the mother. Others were praying with the other young woman who had been seeking a special touch from God for weeks. She had an insatiable hunger that was not met. I joined in the prayer for her as well as my 82 year old friend and the young woman she had "prayed through" with. When the second girl broke through to victory a shout of praise erupted from every one's lips. We hugged and cried and rejoiced. I loved the intimacy of praying together with my sisters.
There is a Scripture that says "do not despise small things". I think sometimes we get frustrated with our small churches. Of course we want them to grow and reach more people and not to become a small exclusive club, but we can attempt to keep the small church care and concern for one another no matter how large we grow. I wonder what would have happened at the mega church if the women who had desperate needs knelt down and the leaders asked everyone to lay hands on them and pray until they had a breakthrough. I think the rejoicing would ring out in every one's heart.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Gifts of Love
On Saturday I received a package in the mail. It was a lovely hand-made gift from a friend of mine who lives in Pekin, Illinois. She told me she was sending something special...but I had no idea! It was a beautiful picture frame made of plastic canvas done in cream, green, and rose. It fits the decor of my house perfectly. She did a wonderful job and I am so proud of it.
I cannot display it until my hardwood floors are done. I don't want to risk getting it dirty. It is too precious.
I "met" this friend through a Internet group of church secretaries. We have a lot in common and I treasure her friendship. I have another friend I "met" on the Internet. She is also an author. She is a sweet lady who is also a great writer. Her pen name is Anne Kimberly. Her book title is "Deep Well of Decision". It is a fantasy that is intriguing and you can purchase it on amazon.com. There are others I "met" on shelfari...an interesting woman from Spain and another from Australia on a blog tour.
The gift I received was wonderful, but the best gift is friendship. I am blessed!
I cannot display it until my hardwood floors are done. I don't want to risk getting it dirty. It is too precious.
I "met" this friend through a Internet group of church secretaries. We have a lot in common and I treasure her friendship. I have another friend I "met" on the Internet. She is also an author. She is a sweet lady who is also a great writer. Her pen name is Anne Kimberly. Her book title is "Deep Well of Decision". It is a fantasy that is intriguing and you can purchase it on amazon.com. There are others I "met" on shelfari...an interesting woman from Spain and another from Australia on a blog tour.
The gift I received was wonderful, but the best gift is friendship. I am blessed!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Rainy Days
I remember the 70's song, "Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down." We sang it in my high school choir. It is funny how perceptions change from teen years to middle age...I kinda like rainy days...not so much Mondays, but rainy days are some of the most restful days there are. I especially love rainy days when it is my day off. Curling up on the couch reading a book while the raindrops patter on the glass....mmmmm....yummy. Some of my best naps have taken place on those damp days.
Fall is here and the rain is falling softly. I love it! Outdoor activities are stifled, but sometimes it is good to take time to ease up a bit and enjoy being at home. Last month I bought an antique clock that has to be wound up every seven days. The tick is mesmerizing and restful. It sounds like home.
What other sounds remind me of home? There is always the Sunday after church football game on television. Terry loves that. The sound of the dishwasher draining or otherwise doing its job is always welcome. Telephone calls from my sons and their families. I love to hear the sounds of their dear voices.
Blake Shelton's song "Home" is so beautiful. I urge you to listen to it if you haven't heard it yet. The musicality of it is mystical and the lyrics are touching. I love it. Give it a quick listen when you have time.
Let me urge you to try to enjoy the rainy days when they come and take the time to give yourself the treat of a great memory, a good conversation, or a postponed read from a good book. Happy rainy day!
Fall is here and the rain is falling softly. I love it! Outdoor activities are stifled, but sometimes it is good to take time to ease up a bit and enjoy being at home. Last month I bought an antique clock that has to be wound up every seven days. The tick is mesmerizing and restful. It sounds like home.
What other sounds remind me of home? There is always the Sunday after church football game on television. Terry loves that. The sound of the dishwasher draining or otherwise doing its job is always welcome. Telephone calls from my sons and their families. I love to hear the sounds of their dear voices.
Blake Shelton's song "Home" is so beautiful. I urge you to listen to it if you haven't heard it yet. The musicality of it is mystical and the lyrics are touching. I love it. Give it a quick listen when you have time.
Let me urge you to try to enjoy the rainy days when they come and take the time to give yourself the treat of a great memory, a good conversation, or a postponed read from a good book. Happy rainy day!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
GPS
After spending the weekend in New Mexico I think I do need to get a navigation system for my car. Not that finding the destination towns was so difficult. It is just that after arriving some of the locations of various venues and locations are a challenge to find.
A nephew-in-law gave up completely after trying to give me directions to his house from another relative's house. Since it was late and dark to boot, I didn't argue the fact. (Does anyone else find it harder to find things after dark...even with good street lights???)
My brother-in-law from Oregon told Terry and I that he uses a GPS when he goes hunting so that he can detect the closest trail to his car when he gets his game. Since he tramps through the woods hither and yon, it is not always fastest to return by retracing his steps...interesting.
I think I want to get one that works for people when they are walking or riding a bike as well as when I am in the car. I saw one on QVC...should have gotten it!!! Oh well, I'll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day!
A nephew-in-law gave up completely after trying to give me directions to his house from another relative's house. Since it was late and dark to boot, I didn't argue the fact. (Does anyone else find it harder to find things after dark...even with good street lights???)
My brother-in-law from Oregon told Terry and I that he uses a GPS when he goes hunting so that he can detect the closest trail to his car when he gets his game. Since he tramps through the woods hither and yon, it is not always fastest to return by retracing his steps...interesting.
I think I want to get one that works for people when they are walking or riding a bike as well as when I am in the car. I saw one on QVC...should have gotten it!!! Oh well, I'll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day!
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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.”
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Westminster CO
Great book signing in Colorado!
Mardel Bookstore in Littleton, CO
Booksigning - Elaine