Simple Woman's Daybook - November 2, 2015

Linking up with

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today, I am linking up with Peggy and the Simple Woman's Daybook for a new month - November!

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Shared by positivelypresent.com

FOR TODAY

November 2, 2015

Outside My Window:  The weather is gorgeous!  It is around 79-80, a slight breeze; and if you look closely, you can see the leaves really are changing around here!  Just take a look at this one from our balcony:

Photo by BJ London

I am Hearing:  News, news, news!  Nothing "new" in the news; nothing "good" in the news!  {And nothing "new" in what I am hearing this morning!}

I am Thinking About:  The things I need to get done before my retreat that starts on Friday...yes, sorry!  I am talking about "retreats" again!!

I am Thankful for:  The rest I was able to get last week; and that I am feeling so much better because I listened to my body and took the time to rest...as in, nap when I needed to do so!  And, I am thankful for family and for the opportunity to celebrate a major birthday over the weekend...

Celebrating my grandson's

16th birthday

I am Praying for:  The decisions we - the Pastor Search Committee - must make in brining someone to our church as an Interim Minister; and our continued search for a permanent minister.

I am Wearing:  A "Betty Boop" night shirt, pink with darker pink flowers; a pair of gray pants; and my crocs...always the crocs!

I am Creating:  A gorgeous dress for one of my Prima dolls...can't wait to see it come together!  Photos later...

I am Going:  Only a couple of loads of laundry; one almost done!  Unload and load dishwasher.  But, mostly doing some writing:  a post for a Guest Post due later in November; and a couple of cards and letters.

I am Wondering:  What projects I want to work on at the...you know...the "retreat"?!

I am Reading:  Sorry, all you "literary geniuses"; but I am giving up on "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte!  I am still browsing through "When Your Loved One Has Dementia - A Simple guide for Caregivers" written by several authors; and started reading "Beautiful Lies" by Lisa Unger last night while hubby was watching football.

I am Excited for:  FUN FUN FUN!!  Dare I say it?  "Retreat"!

I am Learning:  To listen to my "body" when I am beginning to get sick, and resting!  I spent about 3 days last week at home...resting, as in napping when I needed to nap!  And doing very little around the apartment...because of that, I am feeling so much better; and ready to face a new week!

In My Kitchen:  Dishes to be done; dishwasher to unload and load...and leftovers for dinner!

I am Pondering:  Two sermons I listened to this morning, given by one of the candidates for an Interim Minister at our church...

A Fave Scripture Thought:  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  (Deuteronomy 31:8 - NIV)

A Quote:  From Jim Brickman, author of the book "Soothe", speaking of life's annoyances...

"I've decided that you must separate life's little annoyances from bigger, more important injustices - and most of what happens falls into the "life's little annoyances" category.

"When I'm met with a 'crises', I lead myself through this exercise:

"Inhale.

This isn't a life-changing event, but a pain.

This is just temporary.

You're not going to die.

Remember that life is a series of annoyances.

All I can do is control what I can control.

I'm never going to change anyone else's behavior.

And I will focus on the positive.

And I will do that right now.

Exhale.  Slowly."

This exercise works!  Just take a couple of moments to try it, especially when you are looking a crises in the eye!

Thank you, Jim Brickman, for your "soothing" words!

Found on Pinterest

Shared by autumnhollows.tumblr.com

Since it really doesn't LOOK like autumn in Florida yet...much...love this image I found!


And another week with the Simple Woman's Daybook is completed!  Join us again next week!

Day 31 - 2015 - ALMOST

Today's word is:  Almost

Found on Pinterest

Shared by etsy.com

Had this word come up a few days ago, I would have said,

"We are almost there; almost at the end of this 31-day challenge!"

As it is, we are at the end of this challenge!

We made it!  We are there!  We are where we wanted to be...finishing with a BANG...

Yet, so many have struggled to get through all 31 days, as I have!  It hasn't been an easy road...

Life is not an easy road for many of us!  Life gets in the way of other things such as our writing...

And, that is OK!  Even if it takes more than the 31 days and we complete our series, we have won!

And, if we don't finish?!  That is OK, too!!  We do what we can; and God will bless that which we have completed...even if we feel it is "in-complete"!

Congratulations to all...wherever you have "ended" this challenge!  You should be proud of what you did!

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Shared by lifehack.org

And, now that we are there...

Found on Pinterest

Shared by elkayem.tumblr.com

What next??

Let us know your plans for the next month or two in the comments!  I will...think about it!  Not sure what I will do at this point!

Perhaps...possibly...maybe...just enjoy the holidays!

This is Day 31- the very last day of "31 Days of Free Writes"!  I have persevered and finished this month-long challenge, linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  To read all of my "Free Write" posts in this series, click here.

Day 30 - 2015 - BACON {FMF}

This is Day 30 of "31 Days of Free Writes", linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  Check out all of my "Free Write" posts in this series here.


Today's word is #1 of the Top Five from the Reader's Choice words; and, what a FUN word {I think!} ...

BACON

That's right!!  Bacon...

When I saw this word on Kate's post...I laughed!  Literally laughed!  I do think it is a FUN word to "almost" end our month.

So, whatever do I write about BACON?!

Well, I do love to eat bacon; a good BLT or grilled cheese with bacon, or even a bacon cheeseburger or...just crispy fried bacon with breakfast any time of the day!

We've been writing so hard these past 29 days; it's great to have such a fun word to easily write about - or is it easy to write about?

I felt so silly when I read the word Bacon, I have decided to use the words from the FMF "free writes" and share this bit of "whatever"...maybe a bit of whimsy or comical relief ?!

So, here goes!  Hope you enjoy:

Perhaps it isn't that easy to write about this word Bacon?  I thought I'd have a hard time with Green.  I tried to Capture my Calling while writing this series.  I made sure to Embrace my Family and the Home we share; and to remember the Possible Love of Purple!

I Trust(ed) I was Ready to Rest before the Storm came along and Crashed the Wave(s) into the Sea.  I so wanted this series to be fun; and tried to have more Patience before I tried to Fly away...

I had to Laugh at myself many times, wondering if it was really Worth all the Silence and Hope I had Whisper(ed), thinking about the Temporary Honor it would bring to me.

But, tonight as I finish writing today's post, I realize the Value of what I can Offer to you, my readers...

With great Joy, I now present to you, on this Almost last day of our 31 day journey...

BACON!!!

And I pray you will always...

Found on Pinterest

Shared by stokeglory.blogspot.com

What a wonderful way to end (or almost end) a challenge!!

Can't wait for the next challenge!!!  What about you?

Day 29 - 2015 - SEA

Today's word is:  Sea

Found on Pinterest

Shared by theultralinx.com

And, I'm sharing a poem today...

"Walking by the Sea"

Walking barefoot

by the sea;

Running, jumping,

splashing free.

Squishy toes

beneath the sand;

Waves roll quickly to the land.

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Look!

How far away they go...

Waters to the shore

may flow.

Back and forth;

in and out.

Crashing waves

seem to shout:

"Here I am, Lord,
send me now!
This I pray
my solemn vow!

Use my gifts
to share the word;
Where no one else
Your Word has heard."

Waves may flow
back and forth;
Shouting praises
of your worth.

Thank you, God,
for showing me,
all the glories
of the Sea.

This is Day 29 of "31 Days of Free Writes", linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  Check out all of my "Free Write" posts in this series here.  For more information on the "Write31Days" challenge, click here.

PATIENCE

Today is Tuesday; and I am joining my friend, Karen Beth, for Tuesday @ Ten.

This link-up, writing from a prompted word or phrase, is one of my fave...be sure to check out the others' posts, and link your own!



Today's word is:  PATIENCE

A word that I have written about over and over and over...

Something I have prayed for over and over and over again!

Actually, I am a pretty patient person,

Most of the time!

The times that I have a worse time with patience are with my husband...

A subject I have written about quite a lot on my blog; and one that I really am not an expert at.  Don't ask me how to be patient with someone who has no idea how his behavior affects someone else, especially me...his wife and caregiver!  I have a hard time with that.

Patience?  The definition of "patient" as an adjective is:

"(a) a person who can wait for a long time/who remains calm/who doesn't lose his temper; (b) careful/painstaking."

Actually reading this definition reminds me of my father.  For years, his hobby was building small airplanes from kits.  

My Father a few years

prior to having a stroke

After having a stroke, my father continued to work on his model airplanes with such patience...

...With the use of mostly one hand since the other one was crippled and in a brace!

I was amazed at his skill at holding the airplane with his crippled hand so he could paint or glue it together!

Now, I will say this - There were times when my father became very impatient; when my two brothers and I were growing up, he was a quiet, patient man...but had a few out-bursts when we were "out of control"!

But, later, when building these model airplanes, especially after his stroke, he would get very impatient with himself and his inabilities to do things as he had once done...not often; but sometimes.

More often he was a very patient man!

I pray for that kind of patience!  I pray almost every day for it...

Found on Pinterest

Shared by kingofkings7.wordpress.com

Thank you, God, for the example of this wonderful, loving earthly father.  My I learn the patience he had - before and after becoming ill.  And, may I be more patient with the one who I become the most impatient with...

Day 28 - 2015 - HOPE

A few weeks ago, I expressed what {I feel} everyone else may have been feeling while trying to get through this 31-day challenge writing every single day!

I said, "I sure hope I will be able to get all of these posts done before the 31st!"

Of course, I took what I thought would be the "easy way out" in using the Five Minute Friday "free writes".

It didn't work!  Some days the words were hard to get my mind around; some days I just had so much other things going on, I wasn't sure if I'd finish at all...

Yet...

Found on Pinterest

Shared by teentimes.com

And while at times it may have felt "hopeless", I knew that if I just stopped and took a deep breath, and settled into the task at hand...

The words would come; and I would write until I had it all done!  

And now, the end is in sight!

This image with "10 1-Minute Tips for Finding Hope" points out some very quick and simple ways we can remember there is hope!

You can also go to the Bible...there are so many verses that bring hope in many situations.

Check out these verses found on this brightly "hopeful" image:

I

Found on Pinterest

Shared by southernhospitalityblog.com

Here are a couple more verses that didn't make the list of those above, but also speak of hope:

Found on Pinterest

Shared by becauseofgrace.com

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Shared by babble.com

Found on Pinterest

Shared by wisewifesoaps.com

No matter what life brings my way, I know my hope lies in my Father who reigns in Heaven; and I look to Him to show me the way out of my hopelessness.

Listen to Aaron Shust sing "My Hope is in You"...

"The Lord delights in those who fear Him; who put their hope in His unfailing love."  (Psalm 147:11)

Let Him be your source of hope!

This is Day 28 of "31 Days of Free Writes", linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  Check out all of my "Free Write" posts in this series here.  For more information on the "Write31Days" challenge, click here.

Day 27 - 2015 - PERHAPS

Just a few more days left for the "write31days" challenge...and yes, I am going to miss writing every day.  But, of course, I will not quit writing...

Perhaps... I will find another month-long challenge!

And, with that being said {written}, today's word is:  Perhaps!

The "Webster's Student Dictionary" I keep near my computer defines "Perhaps" as...

Simply:  "possibly or maybe"...

Actually, I like that word...

PERHAPS!

I use it a lot in my writing...leading the reader to reflect on what I have written and to share "possibilities" for where their reflections may lead.

Even the Bible uses the word; and gives us an example of how the written word can lead us to reflect on other things:

Found on Pinterest

Shared by lizmarieblog.com

So, reading this scripture can lead us to think and to reflect...

God has created me for something; perhaps...possibly...maybe...

It is what He has been leading me to all along!

Or...

I need to be diligent in what I am doing now because this is what His plans are for me!

Wow!!  See where this word can lead us?

I'm not sure which version of the Bible this verse was taken from; and it may not use the word Perhaps in every version; but here it is found on this image, and fits perfectly in what I have been saying!

I love this quote I also found on pinterest, a possibility of where we may find our strength:

 

And another great quote from Alex Tan:

Found on Pinterest

Shared by thesecretlaw.tv

Not to forget good ole Charlie Brown with the possibility of the stars in the sky:

Found on Pinterest

Shared by myhoneysplace.com

And, one of my favorites from an old children's Christmas classic:

Found on Pinterest

Shared by beautifulbydesign.com

Perhaps...you have your own uses for this word!  Share them with me in the comments!

This is Day 27 of "31 Days of Free Writes", linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  Check out all of my "Free Write" posts in this series here.  For more information on the "Write31Days" challenge, click here.