Salvation is Created: The Weekly Hodgepodge



Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

What's a word that describes your life? A word you wish described your life?

The word stagnant comes to mind to describe my present life.  I know, whaah, whaah.  But, try to understand.  When my life was stagnant before, there was no hope of it being any different.  Now, I see so many missed opportunities--places to go, people to meet, activities in which to participate.  Having no car for more than 3 months is a pain in the...well you get the idea.

The word I wish described my life?  Thriving.  Again, I wish I weren't the poster child for how not to live your life.

Back in my day _____________________?

• Music didn't sound like it was "written by an appliance" as Greg Proops would say.
• Parents said "no" to their children and meant it.  We didn't die from hearing it.
• I was the TV remote.
• Eating at the table as a family was part of everyday life...not a special occasion (unless it was Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter of course).
• Kids old enough to know better than to eat soap didn't eat soap.  Or, if they did, their parents didn't blame the soap company; they blamed their goofy son/daughter.

When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout?

A typical week does not include takeout (thank you, Dave Ramsey).  On the rare occasion I do opt for takeout, it's Mexican food from Chipotle although Asian food from Tokyo Joe's runs a close second.  Hey, they're within walking distance of work.

Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?

• They admit when they are wrong.
• They command respect rather than demand it.
• Even if they are in authority, they still treat others with equal respect.
• I respect those who are more talented and prosperous than I.  That is, if they aren't butts about it.
• If anyone has higher rank than I do, their rank is respected.  Best not disrespect someone who has the power to make major decisions about my life.

What's something your friends might see and say is 'so you'?

No, I'm not going to play the White and Nerdy video again...but I could.

You know, I really don't know how to answer that.  In my present environment, anything remotely Southern would be "me" I guess.

Help me out here, Mrs. Joyce...

Insert your own random thought here.

Thinking of home today.

This piece is called Salvation is Created

Happy Easter, Y'all

Book Trek 2018 - 07

Book:  Audacious. (Audio version)

Author:  Beth Moore

Info:  Copyright 2015.  Nashville:  B&H Books

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars):  ✮✮✮✮

Where Acquired:  Library check out.

What it's about:  "Do you love Me?"  Those words spoken by Jesus Christ to the Apostle Peter are also His "Jeopardy" question for us.  While the easy answer for the professing Christian is yes, the proof of practice is a little harder to find.  Moore approaches the relation of Christ's audacious love for us to our audacious love for Him.  According to Moore, audacious love is not about the showy, the loud, or a specific set of rules; it is about coming out of a dry spiritual place by allowing Jesus to be who and what quenches our thirst.

Favorite Quotes:

From Chapter 2
If it's Christians you don't like, I get it.  I don't like a few of the either.  But I'm asking that you not confuse them, or me, or any other flesh and blood with Jesus.  He is in a class all by himself.

From Chapter 6:  Her description of attending her own funeral was not only intriguing, but hilarious to boot.

A work of God cannot be mastered by man, no matter how gifted we are.  One day we'll think we've got the thing down.  The next day we'll wonder what on the ever-loving earth we were smoking.  The paradox is that it takes God to actually serve God.

From Chapter 7:
We're living like paupers in a bank vault.

What I liked

• Moore narrates her own audiobook.  It may seem like a moot point, but many authors who write and speak well do not read aloud very well.  This author does an excellent job of conveying the message of her book.
• While encouraging the reader to audacious faith and love, Moore doesn't take the experience and dumb it down to Sunday School sap, or rage it into blame and shame.  She doesn't tell us that we'll just float through life, nor does she intimate that the reader's walk with Christ has to look a certain way to be "right."
• She is the epitome of "This is what I wanted.  This is how I screwed it up.  This is how God fixed it...and me."  Her realness is much needed and appreciated.

What I didn't like

For me, there was nothing to dislike about this tome.

Takeaway

I've been a Christ follower for more than 30 years, but the walk hasn't been perfect.  Many Gospel-based books shame those who admit to this imperfection.  Truth be told, if anyone tells you their relationship with Jesus has been easy, they are either lying, are a novice, or they have made Jesus who they want Him to be, rather than who the Bible says He is.  Moore's allowing for imperfect progress on the road to audacious love and faith makes this book unique. 

I would like to make the print version of this book as a permanent part of my personal library.  I also desire to participate in a Bible study or book discussion group on this volume.  I feel that strongly about the message.

Five Minute Friday: "Routine"

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The frustration of not being able to establish routines is immense.  After being in my apartment since November, it still looks like I'm a broke college kid just scraping by.  Not being able to travel on my own schedule prevents me from establishing much needed routines.  There's places I need to go and purchases I need to make, but being at the mercy of someone else's schedule, or, Lord help, the weedwagon makes the task tedious at best, and impossible at worst.  Plus, makeshift, jury-rigged routines are getting old.

But this too shall pass...

I look forward to establishing:

• A varied but solid exercise routine.
• A cleaning schedule.
• Routinely serving at church.
• Having set days for certain things:  grocery shopping, visiting friends, etc.

You get the idea.

I'll get there somehow.

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There's No Place Like Home: The Weekly Hodgepodge



Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

On this first official day of spring tell us something (besides the weather) you're looking forward to in this season of the year.

If I mention having a car again, will you be mad?

Anyway...

We had a discussion at work Tuesday about community.  The other girls were rather critical, and sorry to say, a little sanctimonious, about getting off social media to spend more face-to-face time with others.  While I agree to a point, I did bring up the point that when a person's only available form of socialization outside of work is social media, they're doing the best they can.

They don't get it.  I'm not going to keep trying to explain it to them either.

So, I guess the thing I'm looking forward to most is having community outside of work. 

When it comes to spring cleaning would you rather wash windows or wash baseboards? Clean out closets or clean out the garage? Dust ceiling fans or dust bookcases? Wipe down the patio furniture outside or wipe down the light fixtures inside? Any of these tasks recently completed?

I would rather wash windows, clean out closets (I've never had a garage), and dust the ceiling fan.  No, I've not been in my apartment long enough for it to need spring cleaning.  It does, however, need a regular tidying up.

Your favorite thing to make/eat that calls for cream cheese? Sour cream? Whipped cream?

My favorite peanut butter pie recipe calls for cream cheese and whipped cream.  As far as sour cream goes, I have a couple of favorites:  Knorr Spinach dip (I leave out the water chestnuts) and a chicken casserole recipe given to me by my friend Bernice Rochester.

I read here a list of commonly mispronounced words. What is a word that gives you trouble when it comes to pronunciation?

My missteps with words are not usually due to pronunciation (unless I'm really tired, have eaten too much sugar, or just don't care); it's usually spelling.  I'm a very good speller, but some words, I misspell EVERY time I write them.  Here's a small sampling:

• Genius - "Geneous"
• Definitely - I spell it "definately" every. single. time.
• Gamut - I keep wanting to write "gambit."  That's because of someone else's misspeaks over the years.
• Braille - I keep forgetting it has two l's in it.
• Writer - I know, I know, shame on the writer for trying to put two t's in writer.

What's a song you love with the word 'rain' in the title or lyrics?

And, of course, this one...

Insert your own random thought here.

From Dillon Mason's
Facebook Page.  He's a
former student of mine.

First and foremost, many of you may not know, but my hometown, Jacksonville, Alabama ("JackVegas"), was hit by an F-3 tornado Monday night.  Though there were some injuries, thankfully no one was killed.  My family in town were not affected by the storms.  However, several friends have either sustained sizeable damage to or the destruction of their homes plus my alma mater, Jacksonville State, took a huge hit.  Please be in prayer for them, and if you would like, please donate to the assistance fund.  Several churches are assisting those affected, and the town, as usual, is banding together to help.  I've not been homesick the entire time I've been in Colorado.  Now, I wish I could go home for a few days.  I know all I'd do is drive up and down 204 and cry and I'd be of absolutely no use at all, but I wish I could anyway.

Next on the agenda.  I've had my fitness group Working on It up since December and the results are dismal.  Though it now has 15 members, the point of the group somehow is being missed.  I envisioned it to be a place where those whose fitness isn't cookiecutter perfect could come and encourage each other.  That's not happening.  Though I specifically discouraged "lurking"--reading, but not engaging in conversation--it's happening anyway, with everyone.  Maybe my fitness quest is going to have to go back to being a solo venture.  That's not the best way to do it, but what else can I do?  (There's that whole, needing of better community thing again) So, as of this Friday, I'm going to take the site down.

Now, for something good.  Want to see that latest projects from Auntie's Workshop?  Please remember that any project you see can be replicated or customized (within reason) for your color scheme.

"The Four Seasons."  A multi-canvas piece is a new venture for me.
I got the idea from my girl at Paintology 101.  It's done on four 8x10 canvases.

"Southern Comfort."  I took a couple of ideas from other paintings to come up with this one.  It is done on an 11x14 canvas, but can be done on a larger or smaller canvas.



The Ice of March: 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, March 19, 2018
 

Outside my window …   A beautiful morning after a thundersnow storm last night.

I am thinking... about new ideas for Auntie's Workshop.  I've been learning some new techniques and making some great new cards.  I'm just trying to figure out a better way to put them on the website than just "Here's a picture of what I made.  Buy it please!"

I am thankful...for creative ideas.

From the Workshop...

I am reading...

Audacious by Beth Moore
The Greatest Thing in the World and Other Addresses by Henry Drummond.

Books I’ve finished since my last Daybook

• I Thought it Was Just Me by Brene Brown.
• Born to Win by Zig Ziglar.
• The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis.

And one for the DNF pile:

You are A Badass by Jen Sincero.  I commented on it here.

I am learning... that a vehicle stands between me and having a life outside of work.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

"Kale is so good for you.  It's like a really bitter spinach with hair." - Jim Gaffigan

"In 1903, the Wright brothers invented the airplane.  That was because in 1902 they drove across the country with their families." - Bill Engval

"You're never too poor for good toilet paper; that's a law.  I would live off  Top Ramen noodles if I could use the fluffy stuff.  My wife goes to Sam's Club and buys that cheap paper.  It's so bad it's still got bark in it." - Steve McGrew

"I like being married.  I hated being single.  The worst is when you would ask someone out and they would shoot you down.  'Cause, really, what they're saying is 'You know what?  I don't even feel like eating a free meal around you.  You make me want to go on a diet.'" - Jim Gaffigan

"Many people today will quote 'pi r squared,' but I say 'pie r round' today." - Bill "Bubba" Bussey #NationalPiDay

"You know what?  You're only eating your feelings."
"Yes, but they're delicious."  - Jim Gaffigan

I am looking forward to...  ?

And Now For Something Totally Different:

Five Minute Friday word of the week:  Provide



For all of you James Spann Fans:  http://www.al.com/expo/erry-2018/03/01b01322e3/20_of_the_most_creative_james.html

 

 

 

 

 

Five Minute Friday: "Provide"

Genesis 22:14 (NIV) - So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."

I know I said I was done with part of my crusade, but this prompt brings it back out of me.  Plus, many of you have contacted me and said that I shouldn't quit.  If someone is being helped or encouraged, I will continue.  If not, I'll shut up.

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The names of God and His nature are one.  He is the Provider.  I think this is part of why I feel like I have to prove myself and show that God making me single wasn't a mistake or a punishment.  When I say "prove myself," I don't mean I'm trying to prove I'm better; just equal.  I have to show that God and I are just as good as Mommy Blogger X and her hubby.

It's freakin' hard!

You know what would help?

Stop saying stupid stuff like, "If you had a husband to provide, you'd never have to worry about money again."  No, that's a sugar daddy.

Stop supporting a woman's small business only if she's married and/or has children.  Yes, I'm giving side eye to you, Christy Wright.  Hey, I've always got art for sale.  Is it less valuable because I don't have to create around the patter of little feet?

Well...

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Shameless Plug: The Weekly Hodgepodge



Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Best place you've been lately?

Outside.  My morning walks to work have been refreshing.  Whether a sky splashed with dazzling color or a streak of billowy clouds, each morning has held its own pleasant beauty.

What's something you should say yes to today? Or this week? Or even this year?

I need to continue to say yes to health and healthy choices.  This winter has been a real struggle all around.  I believe that with the changing seasons, things are turning around.  No, I didn't go totally off the rails, but this seasonal battle with mental darkness gets harder every year.  I have no idea what I'm going to do about this next winter.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form? If so tell us how. In Western cultures the color green is typically associated with jealousy, nature, good luck, and growth. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'green'?

Not really, other than posting this every few years...

The word 'green' brings money to mind.  I'm in the midst of saving up for a car, so I guess that's why.

What's a product or service you love so much you'd happily be their spokesperson? Tell us what makes you such a fan.

Several:

• Oard's Auto and Truck Repair in Salina, KS.  I mention them here.
• Red Heart Yarn.
• Plaid acrylic paint.
• Uniball Signo 207 bold pens.

Actually, I'd do shameless plus for many, many places and products.

March 14th is Pi Day. How are your math skills? What's the last thing you did that required math of any kind? And most importantly do you like pie? What's your favorite kind? With ice cream, whipped cream, or please hold the cream?

My math skills are adequate.  Of course, budgeting requires me to use basic math skills.  Pie isn't my favorite dessert, but I like it OK.  Chicken pot pie is my favorite savory pie.  My mom's sweet potato pie is my favorite sweet pie.

Oh great, now I'm hungry.

Insert your own random thought here.

Well, I've got an update on my vehicle situation.  My boss referred me to a ministry here in Colorado called Good Neighbor Garage.  They assist single females in need of a reliable vehicle.  I've done the initial paperwork, so we'll see.  I've got to get something ASAP.  Bus life sucks.  I'm not going into any details, but I had a Steve Harvey moment on the bus Sunday.



The Green Hornet

Update on the Green Hornet:  We've had some nice warm days here in Lakewood, so I thought I'd finally get out the air pump and WD-40 and freshen up my bike and take a spin.  The good news is, my chain looked fine, but I won't really know until I ride.  However, to my dismay, both of my tires have holes.  I assume the snow and cold weather ruined them.  Well, after this car business is settled, I'll work on getting tires and tubes.  I'm ready to ride at every park I can find.

By the way, I'm kind of bummed no one took me up on the Read Across America thing. 

Five Minute Friday: "Tired"

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Today held the most "tired" of any since Colorado became my new home.  I got up still feeling tired after having been in bed off and on since around 4:00 yesterday afternoon.  Sleep is not what I need; it is rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) - “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Instead of my normal morning routine, I sat and had a heart to heart with Jesus...and myself.  I wrote here about some of my mental tiredness and frustration, but that doesn't cover the half of it.  Most of my fatigue stems from feeling stuck because I can't get it together.   I'm wearing myself out with all these emotions.  I talked to the Lord about it.  No, things weren't solved instantly, but I know He's looking out for me.

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This song was one of things that crossed my mind when I saw the prompt.  A gentleman at my home church used to sing this song.  I had no idea that Elvis sang it.  I'm not even a big fan of Elvis, but this was beautiful.

White and Nerdy [Thursday Thirteen]

First, my life's theme song for context....

The word nerd was coined in the 1950's but I'm not sure who was the first to use the term.  I suppose I've been a nerd from the word go.  However, nerdom has changed since I was a band nerd in high school.  Some references are universal while others change like the March winds.

One of my favorite new podcasts is Beyond the Trope.  As their introduction states, it's a podcast for nerds.  While I thoroughly enjoy the show, many of their references go right over my head.  So, maybe we need to determine whether I'm truly nerdy enough or not.

Here are thirteen observations about my nerdiness (or not).

Nerdy enough?	Not Nerdy enough?
Likes Star Trek from TOS to DS9.	Doesn't know what fan fiction is.
Understands obscure 80's references.	Doesn't know what "steampunk" means.
Avid reader.	Never read Harry Potter or Chronicles of Narnia. *
Star Wars original trilogy? Yes	The new movies?  Nope.
Likes comic book superheroes (Batman, Wonder Woman etc)	Doesn't know how to read comic books.
Can quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail.	Knows nothing about Lord of the Rings.
Adam West's Batman? Absolutely	Ben Affleck as Batman?  What the heck?
Seen every adaptation of  Whose Line is it Anyway?	What's Dr. Who?
YouTube	No TV
Has seen The Princess Bride more than 20 times.	Didn't care for Back to the Future.
Thinks Spock is awesome.	Thinks Sheldon Cooper is a butthole.
Wants a Pac-man machine.	War of Warcraft makes no sense.
Understands Microsoft products.	Baffled by Apple products.

So, you tell me, am I nerdy enough?

*Update:  I've read The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  I still don't get it.

The Same, but Not Equal: 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:  Tuesday, March 6, 2018
 

Outside my window …  A sunny day in the mid 40's.

I am thinking... about giving up the crusade.

Y'all, I'm tired.  Being created unequal in a church culture that will never let me be equal is exhausting.  I have very few things that I crusade for, but those few have left me tired and dejected, and no one has been helped (especially me).  I don't want to leave you with the impression that I am bitter about my circumstance; far from it.  However, the fact that either it is only happening to me, or those who've experienced the same issues do not acknowledge it, is very wounding to my soul.  I said that I would be happy being a square peg in a world of round holes, but that was a lie.

Yeah, I'm talking about the marriage thing, the mom thing, the color thing, the southern thing,  the "whatever" thing.

I'm tired of "things" and being defined by them. 

I'm fed up with acceptance being interpreted as "exceptance."



I'm bored with trying to change myself into someone equal to those around me.  Equality in this day and age is a farce.  It's not like the days of the suffrage movement or the civil rights movement.  Those were crusades that were desperately needed.  Those were injustices of epic proportions.  Whole chunks of society joined together to say "no more systematic inequality" and won.  An individual with individual problems cannot hope for the same results.  I can't obtain equality or earn it; the price is too expensive.  I either have it or I don't.

I need to be satisfied with inequality.  My inequality isn't something I chose; it chose me at conception.

You know, this blog is supposed to be about sharing my knowledge and experiences with others so that hopefully, someone can be helped and encouraged--even if it's seeing how not to do life.  I don't feel that I've done that, and I'm sorry.  I will work harder to change that.

So mommy bloggers, you win.  White shamers, you win.  Black shamers, you win.  Y'all can have it.  I'm going to do MY thing!

 

I am thankful...for the coming spring. 

From the Workshop...

I am reading...  

• I Thought it Was Just Me by Brene Brown.
• Word Made Art: Lent by Heather Caliri
• The Greatest Thing in the World and Other Addresses by Henry Drummond.

Books I’ve finished since my last Daybook

• Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt.  The review is here.

I am learning... see "thinking" above.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

"What I like to do is set a goal that's almost delusional and then dial it back a few clicks." - Michael Hyatt

I am looking forward to...  Easter.

And now for something totally different...

  





 

 

 



I took this in Sprouts the other day.  Want to tell me what's wrong with this picture?  :)



 

Book Trek 2018 - 06

Book:  Your Best Year Ever. (Audio version) 2022: Kindle version.

Author:  Michael Hyatt

Info:  Copyright 2018.  Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Books

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars):  ✮✮✮✮

Where Acquired:  Library check out.  2022: Purchased e-book from Amazon.

What it's about:  Using a five-step plan, Hyatt walks the reader through nontraditional goal setting.  He makes a guarantee that if the reader seriously and thoroughly completes the steps, he will have a much better success rate with goal completion than the standard New Year's resolution.  Using stories from history, client testimonies, and anecdotes from his own life, the author paints both an encouraging and accurate picture of goal completion.

Favorite Quotes:

From the Introduction: 
Dragging the worst of the past into the best of the future is another reason our goals fail.

From Chapter 3: 
Impossible is not a fact; it's an opinion. - Muhammad Ali

From Chapter 7:
If we're working against ourselves, we'll experience more heartburn than progress.

From Chapter 9:
What I like to do is set a goal that's almost delusional and then dial it back a few clicks.

A goal is not just about what you accomplish; it's about what you become.

From Chapter 10: 
People lose their way when they lose their why.

From Chapter 14:
Your goal might be sacred, but your strategy isn't.

What I liked

• I appreciate that Hyatt gives the option of revision, removing, and/or replacing a goal that isn't working.  He does not consider this a failure, but a chance to pivot to a more productive direction.  That's not typical of many goal setting techniques.
• His method of changing the familiar SMART goal technique into SMARTER goals is much more encouraging and engaging.
• I've heard the author's podcast, so the sound of his voice is familiar.  However, there is a difference between conducting a podcast and reading a book aloud.  He's a very good narrator who uses proper inflection and change of tone to keep the text interesting.

What I didn't like

• Some things seemed confusing and out of order.  For example, in chapter four, Hyatt gives steps to conducting what he calls an "after action review."  Then several chapters later, he is on a completely different subject, but chooses to go back to the after action review.  Granted, if I saw the print version of the book, it would probably make more sense.  2022:  The e-book helped it make more sense.
  
• No references for the historical research were given.  Again, they might be in the print version. 2022:  There is a Notes section.
  
• In his "10 interrelated domains of real life," he lists marital and parental (which are very important) but doesn't list any alternatives for those who are not married or a parent.  Does Hyatt consider those who don't fall into those categories a failure who isn't living a "real life"? 2022:  Even when you take the Life Score quiz, those areas show up as missing pieces of a pie.  If an area does not apply, it should be removed from the results so that the pie is complete.  Maybe it's just a mental thing, but I didn't appreciate that.
  
• In listing what he considers encouraging statistics, Hyatt lists the dropping annual number of hours worked as a positive.  How is that positive?  Doesn't that mean that less people have jobs, or more people are having their hours cut?  I'm not statistician, but that doesn't make sense to me.

Takeaway:

Last year, I read Zig Ziglar's book Over the Top, part of which deals with goal setting.  While it was a very good book from which I gleaned much insight, Michael Hyatt's approach to goal setting seems like it will work best for me.  He doesn't simply give some rah-rah, guru-like statements to encourage the reader to set up a page full of lofty goals, then wag a disappointing finger at the reader for not accomplishing all the goals by December 31st.  The author makes the reader take time to think through and process each goal, plus deal with any past mental blocks that may impede progress on current goals.

I plan to purchase a print copy of this book for my personal library.  In the years to come, I can go through the exercises again to set and accomplish my goals.

2022:  I purchased the book and worked slowly through the prescribed exercises. It took a lot longer to complete than I had anticipated, but the next time around will be easier and quicker.