Something old,something new...

 If you wait long enough, what's old will become new again.  Really. 

Remember the 60's? It was all bell bottom pants and daisies.  Walk into the new Altar'd State shops, or other trendy boutique, and you're sure to find those same things presented in a fresh, new way.  Different colors, maybe an embellishment or two.  I personally love all things retro spruced up to become new again.  Bowls, glasses, costume jewelry, and vases are just a few of my favorite things.  Eighties hair-dos not so much!

Most of us do the same thing by reinventing ourselves multiples times throughout our lives.  I've had long hair, short hair, colored hair, and now gray hair (still colored!).    But it has been said, we usually stick to no more than 3 styles during our lives.  How funny.  If you have a square face, chances are you're not going to wake up one day with a round one!  However, the makeup companies keep coming up with the next best thing, the fountain of youth, and we buy it hook, line and sinker.  It's genetics people.     As kids learn early on, you get what ya get, and ya don't pitch a fit!   Like our hair-dos, life can be very cyclical, and I personally am just coming back full circle for another round. 

I'm still working on my bucket list, but some things are on hold.  Life demands our attention, and I'm no different than you.  Right now, I'm going through a transition from stay-at-home to full-time staffer.  Talk about a gargantuan shift in my equilibrium.  Every time I think things will settle, I put another brick in the wall and start a new course. 

My children are growing up, and our family is changing.  Gone are the baby dolls and Thomas the Tank Engine toys.  They have now been replaced with college books, and softball bats and formal gowns.  We run from one activity to the next, but time just keeps on moving.  How ironic that our clocks are round! 

Change can be unnerving and stressful, but I am embracing this transition in my life.  I have multiple opportunities, and I find that I am once again re-inventing myself.  It's fun and challenging, but far from stable.  Still, I get up early every morning and start again.  Every day is getting easier, and I am happy for something to do.  Surely I'm not alone in this. 

Have you made a change or two?

Remember if nothing changed, there would be no butterflies. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I love the classic story,  "Wizard of Oz". The only direction given to Dorothy in her effort to find her way home was to "follow the yellow-brick road.".

Could life be more simple?  Is there only one direction to travel on the "yellow brick road"?  In the last year, I have discovered the yellow-brick road for me is not straight as an arrow, but is winding with cliffs and deep ditches at every turn.  I have tumbled off a few cliffs, and roughed up my knees in the ditches, but alas, I am still on the journey!

My recent pursuit of those things I am most passionate about has been exhausting.  I've stopped a couple of times along the way and adjusted my course settings.  

What do I really want from life? Fulfillment and freedom are two things I keep coming back to on my journey.  I recently added a third item, perhaps the most important of all.  Faith.  

Many of the things I have accomplished in my life have been at the expense of a lot of money and time.  Precious time and wasted money.  True grit and determination have fueled my drive, but I have discovered they will only get me so far.  I have finally come to  understand that I must exercise faith that God can and will provide opportunities and pathways where I can truly live in a place of fulfillment and freedom. 

So, with a renewed spring in my step and a genuine desire to put feet to my faith, I am stepping back on the yellow-brick road.  I just can't wait to see what is just around the bend.....

  

All Things New

Well, I hope you are well!  I have been busy...too busy.  But, I am looking forward to a beautiful fall!  I'm going to try to keep up with this blog now that I am home full time.  I am finally able to do some of the things on my "basket list" and come up with some new ideas! 

Right now I am focusing on my home.  Since I homeschool both of my children, I am home for most of the day.  After living in the same house for 15+ years, it's time to update.  I'm starting with the floor!  This week I'm going to learn how to put down ceramic tile.  I'll show pics when I'm finished!

Living the Dream

I know.  It's been a while.  After 14 years of being a stay at home mom, I've gone back to work!  I have always wanted to lead worship.  In fact, I almost gave up on that dream.  But, lo and behold, God opened a door and I walked through it in August.  I've been running ever since!

Dreams are hard to let go of, don't you think?  But, sometimes we change, and the dreams don't fit.  So, we let them go, grieve, and move on.  When a dream becomes a reality, it can be scary.  What if it doesn't meet our expectations.  What then?

  

Ten Impossible Things Before Breakfast!

So, go ahead.  You can tell me.  Do you have any New Year's resolutions?  I must confess, I do.  I have been preparing myself for the past several months for this moment...January 1st.  You know, the day when we all wipe the slate "clean" and start anew.  I love this feeling.  I am so ready! 

As I mentioned in my last post, I was lucky to receive a wonderful ipad for Christmas!  My wonderful husband, bought it for me and I cried!  It's the little things (note I didn't say inexpensive!) that make me happy!  Anyway, I am feverishly trying to chart everything in my life from homeschool planning, working out, worship planning and housecleaning!  Like my blog title says, "ten impossible things," huh?

One of the most recent magazine self-help articles I read said that if you want to make a change then make yourself accountable.  So, here I am.  I'm putting it in writing for the world to see.  I will make some changes this year and stay on track.  I've added a couple of apps to my ipad including Cozi Central and Home Routines.  They are so cool!  I can organize everything, and one of the apps even gives me GOLDEN STARS for achieving results!  What else could I ask for? 

Many say resolutions never last.  That may be true, but I am a big proponent of starting somewhere.  I may not achieve EVERYTHING on my list, but I will accomplish something!  I tend to think some don't challenge themselves with resolutions because they don't want to have to face defeat.  The statement, "no pain, no gain" is really true.  Even if I have to admit I didn't accomplish everything I'm setting out to do, I'm making an effort.  What about you? 

I am also still focusing on my "Basket List".  Painting within the next month is going to happen.  My bedroom desperately needs it!  I also got my sewing machine out the other day.  My daughter received one from Santa, so I figured I could get in on the act too.  Who knows, I may even stitch a curtain or two!

Enough about me.  What are your "Ten impossible things"?  Come on, I know you have something you'd like to try this year.  I want to challenge you to write it down, post it somewhere you can see it, and jump in!  You'd be surprised who will cheer you on. 







Sparkle, Sparkle!

I love the holidays!  I can't believe December came and went and the new year has arrived!  I hope your Christmas was everything you hoped for!  I know I'm sentimental, but I really do wish for health, wealth (had to put it in! ) and joy for all of you! 

After much effort, I finally put up my Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve!  I put the lights on three times, and finally accepted they were not going to be my best work.  Time simply ran out. 

By the way, I really did try to take some to enjoy the sights and smells (and eats--too much!) of the season.  After a disappointing season last year, I really made an effort to spend quality time with my family and friends.  I really enjoyed it all. 

Did you get or give any special gifts?  I did!  My favorite was an ipad!  I am really enjoying it, and I have enjoyed looking at my blog on it!  Yes, I do know the real reason for the season, but I do enjoy all the other traditions (like Santa!) as well. 

With the new year here, I'm trying to get organized and focus on another brand new opportunity to grow spiritually, diminish physically (lol!) and be more frugal financially!  So with champagne (or sparkling cider!) in hand, here's to a wonderful, fruitful year!

Back On Track

You'd think I'd learn; especially, after the first couple of times of messing up.  But, alas, it didn't happen.  I allowed myself to get so busy AGAIN I got off track!  Have you ever been there?  I have more times than I care to recount.  That's why I'm so glad I've got my "basket list" in writing.  From time to time I can come back and re-visit, refresh, and re-focus on what's important. 

So what's important?  Well, I know one thing's for sure....family is the most important.  I'm writing this post more for me; we all need reminders and you may not remember to remind me!    I am notoriously passionate about everything, but miserably inconsistent at maintaining passion for anything for an extended length of time.  Is that why we have the cliche "Women are flighty"?  

Amid all the many projects I'm involved in and the craziness in between, I finally had a moment of clarity.  "What Am I Doing?" Is all this activity worth my time and effort?  I am like that steamboat in my last post.  I just keeping pushing more water until I can't handle anymore and find I am totally exhausted from it all.   The wheels won't rotate one more time. Not a pretty picture, but you get the "impression" of the scene! 

Well, back to the story.  I got off track.  So here I am coming back.  Back to where it all started.  Back to a simpler existence, back to myself.  No outside interference and distraction. I'm back at the station and ready to start again.  Can I stay the course this time?  Someone once said, God allows us to be tested.  He will allow us to continue to re-take the tests if we fail.  Well, I've been here before and failed miserably.  This time I want to pass the test and stay on track.  While I've gotten to some of the items on my list (remember the basket?), I've reallocated too much time to things that don't really make a difference.  So, if painting my bedroom (you know it's on my list) is important, it's high time I get it right. 

By the way, I am hardly an artist in the painting, sketching, molding sense of the word. Indeed, I have never been blessed with that gift. In fact, in my mind it's too much work and I am a perfectionist. Talk about a frustrating effort. I would never be happy. But, I can play beautiful music and it is in times of joy and desperation when I play my best.  Notes on paper. Simply phrases that evoke emotion. I don't have to talk, I just play. That, I enjoy and that I need.   See you at the next stop!