Embracing Minimalism!

Oh yeah, I am loving my life now!!  Actually, I love life so who am I fooling, but I am loving my life even more since I have embraced minimalism!  Now one might ask, why minimalism?  My response, why not minimalism. 

It wasn't something I went out searching for.  It wasn't even something I had ever considered before.  It wasn't until I joined a group of ladies at work to go through a book review on the "Happiness Project" that I stumbled head long into minimalism.  Each month for one year we had been discussing "happiness" and what was our happiness project.  A lot of individuals were finding out how to keep and maintain happiness in there lives, but I wasn't finding much.

Oh, losing weight was a great endeavor and still is.  And cleaning certain parts of my house was making me somewhat happy until other members of the household would clutter things back up again.  And downsizing my office was excellent, but still frustrating because someone, other than myself, loves to eat at my desk in the evening after I am gone.  I had even purchased several books - Miss Minimalist by Francine Joy and Simplify by Joshua Becker - but I had purchased so many books lately that reading wasn't at the top of my list.  Well, not that reading - besides I had about 4 or 5 other books I was reading all at the same time.

I don't know when I cracked open Miss Minimalist and Simplify, but boy am I ever glad I did!  And, I don't think there is any turning back now! :-)  As I am loving ever aspect of it. 

Recently, my husband had suggested that we buy a pool table.  I was all for it, but one question kept coming up was where were we going to put it.  My husband jokingly said lets put it in the living room and in the family room.  It was somewhere from that moment to the time that the pool table was purchased that started my brain working on what was I going to give up.  After much consideration I suggested that we put the pool table in the living room.  I don't know if he was initially for that idea because the living room was supposed to be my room and everything that was put in it was furnished by my husband for me.  And as for myself, I didn't want to hurt his feelings if I said let's get rid of everything in there.  But, after deliberating for almost a week I decided that that was exactly what I wanted to do.

Well, one thing led to another, and I had started reading those two books and at some point I was getting all excited about minimalism.  Well, the furniture got moved out and the pool table got moved in and minimalism was well on its way to getting established.  Once I got the "pool" area squared away I started working on our kitchen.

Soon all my kitchen counters got cleaned up, and a lot of "stuff" got moved out and I am pleased to announce that for 2 weeks now my kitchen and "pool" area both look immaculate.  No clutter on the counter tops, dishes taken care of immediately so there is nothing stacking up in the sink or on the counters.  I can say that if guests were to arrive right now at my house I wouldn't have a problem with it.  There would be no embarrassing moment, no 15 minute frenzy cleaning to straighten up.  Why, because minimalism works for me.

Next, I moved on to my walk-in closet.  Did a first pass, then a 2nd pass, on the 3rd pass I also got my husband to finally go through his stuff as well.  NOW that was exciting because it really didn't take much to get him to take care of it.  And the closet is looking great!

The point is, minimalism works for me.  It's helped me to re-evaluate everything that I own, my life, and the things that matter most to me.  Those "things" that matter most, were not things at all, but my family.  Now, life is about creating moments and worrying less about "things".   Thanks minimalism!!

PS - since then, I was on a work trip to NYC and had a great opportunity to see to see Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus!  What an inspiration they both are - who knew!!

OneWord365 - Open

Wow or Whoa, where did the time go!  Sadly, looking at my blog site and other's I must be the lamest blogger in the world ... nah, just the busiest and that is why I don't have many posts out there. :-)  (Please just indulge me for the moment since I don't get many visitors to my site either.)

2013 was a great year for my OneWord - Obedience. In my "obedience" this past year God opened a lot of doors for me.  For instance, I've always loved teaching Sunday School but had only done it for little, little kids ... this past year I had the opportunity to teach again but this time it was for adults.  I can honestly say I was not ready for it.  And sometimes it still terrifies me still because I want to make sure that I am teaching the way the Lord would have me to teach and I've never taught adults.  So if you're reading this please pray for me as I need alot of direction!

So, what you do when those doors are opened is a whole other chapter ... and that's what has brought me to my new word this year.

My new OneWord365 is Open - open God's Word, open to receive His teaching, open my ears to His calling, open my heart to receive His direction in my life, open to all the possibilities that God has to offer, open to new adventures, open ...  The winds of change are upon me and what I do with it from here will make all the difference in the world, not only for me but for others as well.

Lord, I am your child - open up my heart and soul to your calling Lord.  Teach me your ways, give me the strength to be open to all possibilities this year!  Open my eyes to see what you see Lord so I don't judge and I am better able to discern what is really happening in the individual lives that I affect.  Open my heart so that I can be focused on the road ahead and willing to help out where needed and to make a difference.  Open doors that have never been opened before and stretch my mind, body, and soul.  Am I scared - you better believe it, but I am your servant Lord and I am ready to grow.  Keep me open minded Lord, keep me open to receive your calling, keep me focused on the goal ahead.  And thank you Lord for your mercy and grace, in your holy name, Amen.

What's your OneWord?  Feel free to share!


http://oneword365.com/

Obedience

Saw this really cool site on Facebook the other day!  And I got goose bumps and all excited about it ... it's called One Word 365.  Of course just seeing those three words "One Word 365" aroused my curiosity.  Why, because I'm like a little kid, I'm all about Why, What, How, When, Where, What For, but mostly Why. 

So, I clicked on the site and I see the words, "One Word Can Change Everything".  What a cool concept!!  The more I read the more I wanted to participate and find my one word, my one focus for the year.  The first word that popped immediately into my head was listen (or hearken).  Why, because my husband always tells me that I don't listen to him.  But like I tell him, if you'd get my attention and talk to my face and not at my back you'd have my undivided attention and I'd hear you.

So, here is a bit of trivia for you ... In the King James bible - how many times will you find the word listen?  Go to Bible Gateway and check it out using the keyword search, and King James version.  How many? ONE, that's it, no more.  But you'll find hearken (listen) all over the bible. 

Sorry, I digressed a bit here.  But now I need to know why ... why is listen only showing up one time in the King James bible?  So now I have to do some research!!!  BECAUSE, I want to know why and what.  What does listen (hearken) mean?  So I google search *hebrew word for listen* and I find "The Glorious Gospel" blog and find this cool article on Hearing is Obeying.

It's amazing when God talks, because when you "listen" and "hear" His voice you "obey"!  And I felt God telling me that my word shouldn't be to listen, but to obey.  Because the more precise translation of listen and/or hear is to obey.

God doesn't want us to listen/hear, what he wants us to do is obey.  And when I obey, I am being obediant to His Word, to His purpose he has for my life.  And in my "obedience" I hear His voice calling out to me.  My "One Word 365" this year is Obedience! 

Job 33:33  If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

The Thief in the Shadow

Do you realize there is a thief in our shadows?  It's the one who wants to drain you of everything that is good and pure and right. 

Thieves come like a shadow in the night to steal ...

1. They zap your energy and fill you with doubt.
2. They steal your confidence and leave you full of questions.
3. They don't respect you and you end up not respecting yourself.

They don't care for you and soon doubt creeps in.  You question whether your good enough.  You question if your the right person to lead the project, soon you start to believe the lies and soon you find yourself sinking down into the mire, the muck and the mud.

HEY, HEY YOU, SNAP OUT OF IT!! 

This ain't no dog and pony show ... you have got to wake up!! 

Don't you realize - Christ died on the cross for you.  He died so that you would live!  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."  If you were to die today, would you be with Christ today?  Don't let the thief steal you away in the night.  Live daily in God's promises and put your hope in Him!!

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you -Matthew 5:44

Easier said then done!  I am not an advocate of divorce and I believe strongly that you should make your marriage work no matter what.  Love the one you're with even when they are unlovable and try to work things out. 

I have gone through a divorce and I'll never do it again.  It wasn't ugly when we were together, but it has been ugly since and we've been divorced almost 8 years now.  You try to go about your business and as we mature and grow up you'd like to think that that is happening with "others" as well.  Image my surprise when my son came home tonight and was telling me about a conversation my ex and ex-in-law was having about me.  One has to wonder why they would have anything to say at all since you don't even speak to each other unless it is absolutely necessary.  I feel bad that my son has to deal with that.

I thank God that he can give me the strength to deal with the continuing hurt.  I wish that "they" would just go about their own business and leave me alone and leave me out of their conversations.  I love my children with all my heart and I am thankful that is the best thing that came out of my divorce.

I love my new husband and I thank God everyday that I have someone who loves me unconditionally.  We don't always see eye to eye, but we respect the fact that there are things we may never agree with and that's okay.  It's awesome knowing that your spouse loves you, that he is honest with you, will hold doors open for you, will lend an ear (even when he is busy at work), and you know that no matter what he loves you for who you are and for how you are.

Thank you Lord for my husband, Alan R. Cook, Jr.  And I will continue to pray for those who persecute me!!

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!!

May the good Lord see and bless us,
On our anniversary day.
May He always be our companion,
And guide us on our way.

May our bonds of marriage strengthen,
Holding strong amidst all fears.
And may our friendship stay untarnished,
Through the wearing of the years.

TODAY - is the National Day of Prayer

Pray, for such a time is this!!

1 Chronicles 16:8 - Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalms 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

James 5:16 - The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Take the time today to pray for your National Leaders, President & First Lady, the succession to the Presidency, the cabinet members, members of congress, all branches of the Armed Forces, the US Supreme Court, Federal and Appellate Courts.  Your local elected officials.

Selah/Avalon Concert

I had the awesome pleasure of taking my 14 year old to the Selah/Avalon concert in Elmira, NY, on Friday, October 30th! Before I left work that day I was excited to find out that Todd and Angie Smith are expecting! (Todd sings for Selah) My daughter and I will be praying for them in this new adventure!! We pray that God's grace and mercy will be on this pregnancy and that His will be done!

My daughter was truly moved by the concert! It's the best mother/daughter time we've had together and how awesome to be sharing it at a Christian concert!! She was truly inspired by Selah's piano player and has decided that she wants to learn how to play the piano. She already plays the flute and I can see her learning to play the piano like it was nothing.

I will be continuing to pray for Stellan and his family! God is in control no matter what!

Stellan in Surgery Today!

Please continue to pray for Stellan; he went into surgery today at around 8:30 am. Pray for the doctors, pray for their assistants, pray that the Lord's will be done, pray for Jennifer and Prince Charming, pray for the family! I believe that the Lord has a wonderful plan for Stellan's life - already he has touched the lives of 7 million plus and counting!

Orange is today's colors for Stellan!!

And thank you Lord for hearing our prayers!! We love you Stellan!!

Pray for Stellan

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Lord, we do not know your will for Stellan, still we pray. We lift up Stellan and his family to you. Lord, send your Holy Spirit to intervene on his behalf. Embrace him, love him like only you can, wrap your hands around his heart and heal his pain. Lord we understand your mercy and unfailing love. We know you give and we know you take away, and still we pray. Hear our prayers Lord. There a many praying and where two or more are gathered in your name, you are there. We humbly pray in your blessed name, Amen.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 8He will be like a tree planted by the water that send out its roots by the stream.

Luke 6:45

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

What does that mean??

Simply put your tongue and what you say with your mouth is what is in your heart, like a window to your soul. That's a scary concept. Think about the things you say in a given day. Do you speak ill of an individual because of their cleanliness? Do you laugh along with another co-worker at the expense of another? Your actions speak louder then your words and your words condemn you!

I liked the story of the lady that was driving down the road and came to a yellow light; she was angry at the driver in front of her for not speeding through the light so she could be on her way to work. In a rage, she hollared profanities out the window, flipping off the driver in front of her.

A police officer who had been witnessing this event came up to the car and asked the lady to show him her drivers license and registeration. Outraged, she gave the officer alot of grief to the point that he arrested her.

The day past and later that evening the officer came to the cell of the angry women. Humbly he apologized for the mistake he had made. Seeing that the woman did not understand, the officer proceeded to tell the lady that he thought she had stolen the car she had been driving.

Stolen? How could he think that she stolen it??

He proceeded to explain that he had noticed her Christian symbols on the back of her vehicle and concluded the vehicle must be stolen because why would the Christian driver be using that kind of language and flipping others off . . .

Point made? Be wise, search your heart, may what comes out of your mouth represent what's in your heart. We all slip up, I know I do, but the Lord is watching. Be who the Lord intended you to be.

Jeremiah 29:11

Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Need Hope? Visit http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Angie Smith is the reason I wanted to start my own blogspot. Bring the tissues because she is going to make you laugh and she is going to make you cry. She is an inspiration to all women, but in my case she is an inspiration to me as one mother to another mother.

I enjoy reading Angie's blogspot because she is a very spiritual woman and everything she is is in Christ. She is the kind of Christian we would all want to aspire to be.