The Iron Diva: 40 Days of Gratitude: Day 20: The Simple Woman's Daybook

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today: Monday, December 11, 2017

Outside my window… This week promises to be warmer than last week. It's clear and cool in Lakewood today.

I am thinking…

I've been pondering this off and on, but this morning's devotional during staff prayer time brought it to the forefront of my mind once again. So, what's wrong with happiness? Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that life does not consist of selfishly chasing after what just makes us happy. Real life is about chasing after what makes God happy, and in turn, we experience supreme happiness. What I'm talking about is people who absolutely faint at the sound of the word happy and act as if happiness is a sin against God. "Oh, no, no," they say, "I'm not worried about happiness, only the joy of the Lord." O...K. Normally this is said in an ultra-pious voice by someone looking like they were baptized in pickle juice. Where did this disconnect between joy and happiness occur? Did you know that happiness and joy are synonymous (I checked the dictionary)? It's been said that happiness is circumstantial while joy is an attitude of the heart and a fruit of the Spirit. I don't see how you can have one without the other. The Bible says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). and "...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45). So how can someone say he has joy in his heart, but it never shows up on his face or in his actions?
I wonder about why a shirt that looks great when I'm standing in the mirror looks a hot mess one I sit down? Grrr... I think I'm going to start buying men's button down shirts for myself at the thrift store; buying women's button downs is NOT working. I'm either doing the Picard maneuver all day, or buttons are popping open, thus making me very paranoid. Double grr....
I'm thinking about buying a clothing rack to dry my hanging clothes on instead of putting them in the dryer. My one annoyance with my apartment complex is that the dryers only give a 45 minute cycle. You know, I'd be willing to pay an extra quarter for 15 more minutes so I could have thoroughly dry clothes instead of partially damp garments that I have to hang up to finish drying anyway. I could use the money I'd save to make sure my towels were completely dry.
I'm still thinking about what I'm going to do (or not do) for Christmas.
I'm thinking about a service project that all of us can get involved in on my sister blog. More details to come.

I am thankful…

I'm thankful to be the proud owner of both a microwave oven and a vacuum cleaner. No more half burnt, half cold "reheated" leftovers, and unkempt carpet. Hey, I've been in my apartment for a month; it was driving me nuts not to be able to vacuum.
I'm thankful for the fun weekend. I attended some holiday celebrations and put some Christmas cheer in my humble abode.
I'm thankful for upcoming new year with its new fun challenges.
Grateful for the chicken biscuit from Chick-Fil-A my co-worker brought me after she heard about the McDonald's debacle:

From the Workshop… I finished up my Christmas card project for this year.

I know it's ~~a little~~ really late, but if you're interested in purchasing a set of any of these cards, or a variety pack of the five different designs (the Grinch card and poinsettia card were shared earlier) of half-page folded cards with envelopes, e-mail me at auntiesworkshop @outlook.com. You may not get them in time for this holiday season, but you'll be ready for next year.

I am reading…

The Ultimate Weight Solution by Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
The Miraculous Journey by Marty A. Bullis

I am learning…

Goal strategies for making the next year successful.
I learned where the nearest movie theater was and watched my first new movie in the theater in over four years. I saw The Man Who Invented Christmas. It's based on the book about how Charles Dickens crafted the story of A Christmas Carol. I really enjoyed the movie and plan to read the book at some point.
I've learned that you really don't know how necessary ordinary things are until you don't have them. Yes, I'm talking about a Crock Pot. Hey, if you've been reading my A-Z challenge, I've already admitted that I'm not the greatest cook in the world. Cut me some slack.

Favorite quote(s) of the week...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you don't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - H. Jackson Brown Jr., qtd. by Michael Hyatt.

I am looking forward to…

Setting and meeting my goals in the coming year.
Attempting to finish all the books I've started this year.
Finding more ways to serve the community.
This:

And now for something totally different…

Five Minute Friday word of the week: Only.

If you will indulge me please, I feel it necessary to go on another mini rant. I want to talk about lazy for a minute. I know that the Christmas holidays are just around the corner, and for retail, they've been going on since Easter. However, with so much time to prepare, you would think retail would do a better job.

You would think.

I went into Wal-Mart (why is it always Wal-Mart?) Friday to purchase a Christmas tree and some decorations. I was hunting for a simple tree, a pack or two of clear lights, and some pretty-pretties for the tree. Stores are usually very good about displaying the trees on the floor so that the customer can make the best choice for their space and budget. Now, remember, Wal-Mart, like most large retailers, put out Christmas items early (too early in my opinion). So, the department managers and associates have PLENTY of time to put out a decent display. I don't know if Ray-Ray went out for a smoke break at the dispensary and ended up in the McDonald's for the rest of the day or what, but this has got to be the laziest tree display I've ever seen.