Aluminum Anniversary: 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:  Sunday, September 9 , 2018

Outside my window …   Fall is definitely in the air. 

I am thinking... 

• ...about modern Christian/worship music.  After being part of worship teams for more than thirty years, I can safely say that I'll be glad when it goes back to sounding like 80's music.  Yeah, I know I sound like an old fart, but hear me out.  In the 80's (and to a certain extent in the 90's), the majority of Christian/worship music was a celebration of who Jesus is and all that He has done and continues to do in our lives.  We worshipped and praised with reckless abandon.  Now, all the female singers I hear on the airwaves are trying to sound like Adele (depressive tone and all), with every song sounding like God is mad at everybody.  The world beats us down enough; we don't need to add to it.  Can we get back to celebrating?  Please?
• ...about friendships and how to become more successful at establishing them.
• ...about home.
• ...about whether I'm going to do the 31 days of 5 minute free writes challenge this year.  I looked at the list of prompts and nothing has inspired me yet.  Well, I have time.  If nothing strikes my fancy, I'm not going to pressure myself to come up with something.  I'll just bow out this year.

I am thankful...

• ...for every new day.  Lamentations 3:22-23 - It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
• ...for finally finding a suitable denim vest for my Mythical merit badges.  Thank you ARC Thrift Store on Colfax.

 

• ...for this



July marked my Aluminum anniversary of recovery.  I finally made it to CR to pick up my chip last weekend.  It's hard to fathom that it's been ten years.  It hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it.  Here's to ten more years of doing the next right thing.

From the Workshop... In my last daybook, I mentioned a new charity project opportunity.  Please click here for more information and to get involved.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen: 

I had a rough go at  Letter L in my A-Z challenge.
 

I am reading...

• Knowing God Intimately by Joyce Meyer.

And one for the DNF (did not finish) pile:

• Matthew Henry's Precise Commentary of the Bible by Matthew Henry.  Please see my comments here.

I am learning...

• Apparently, I've still not fully acclimated to Colorado's climate.  Unlike Alabama, Colorado doesn't have many bugs to deal with.  Yet every time I try to sit outside, I itch and swat like there's something on me.  It's all psychosomatic...and weird.  I'm homesick, but not for chiggers, ants, and six-foot mosquitoes.
• I'm learning that if I'm not happy with a piece of art I'm creating, I don't have to keep trying to make it work.  It's the same feeling as attempting to plow  through a book I don't like.  I gave myself permission to have a DNF (did not finish) pile for books I didn't care for.  No, I don't need to create a DNF pile of art, but I can repurpose it--I can paint over a painting I don't like or "frog" a crocheted or knitted piece and create something else out of the yarn.  A painting sat on my table for nearly 3 months because I didn't like it.  Last night, I finally painted over it.  That was more satisfying that letting it sit there unfinished.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

I was in the breakroom at work when a coworker noticed my Ear Biscuits mug (pictured here).  He asked me "What are you doing; drinking mayonnaise?"  I said to him, "No.  I'm Southern, but not quite THAT Southern."

"Unfortunately, I have an Oakland face with an L.A. booty." - Auntie's Musings

Dove Commercial:  "If your skin had a wash tag, what would it say?"
Auntie:  "Ashy: needs lots of lotion."

"In my family, you know, my Dad had a philosophy: 'When something's wrong with the car, you take it to the guy with the mullet.'" - Rhett McLaughlin, Good Morning Chia Lincoln episode 28.

"As Christians, we have a right to be spiritually excited.  We get excited about all kinds of other things, so why shouldn't we be excited about our relationship with God?" - Joyce Meyer, Knowing God Intimately p. 129

I am looking forward to... 

• Seeing our new church building.  I didn't go to the open house.  Good thing too; over 1000 people showed up for and we haven't built the extra parking yet.  It would have been a stressful nightmare if I'd attempted it. 
• While I'm not looking forward to the cold winter months, I am looking forward to the holidays.  I honestly don't know why, but I'm feeling hopeful.

And Now For Something Totally Different:

Five Minute Friday word of the week:  Rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Five Minute Friday: "Free" [Extended Mix]

Our Mistress of Ceremonies for the Five Minute Friday is Kate over at Heading Home.  Hope you link up with us and join the fun.

GO! 

 

STOP! 

 

That song was the first thing that came to mind when I read what the prompt was.  Kind of sums up my mood.  Now comes the "extended mix" part.

 

Tonight I received my seven year chip from Celebrate Recovery (CR).  Sigh.  Seven years of recovery and I'm still fat, addicted to food, and angry.  Seven years and I am still the worst example the program has ever seen.

 

What went wrong?

 

At first, CR was everything I needed.  Working through my past issues was necessary to my growth.  The freedom I experienced translated into a slimmer waistline...for a while.  Whenever I felt myself slipping back into old habits, I would seek counsel.  The answer was the same every time, "It works if you work it.  You just need to go back and work through the 12 steps again."  So, if there was one available, I'd sign up for a 12 step study, if not, I would ponder and answer the questions on my own.  I completed all four participant's guides at least six times...or was it seven.  I searched and dug and prayed and cried trying to get to the center of the maze of self-destructive behavior; each time thinking I'd found it.  I hadn't.

 

Earlier this year, I embarked yet another journey through the 12 steps.  I started on the first book.  The more questions I answered, the sicker I felt.  Oh God, not again.  The thought of digging up more dirt on myself and others made me feel like hurling.  I've already been back there more times that I can count.  I've rehashed every bad life experience that I could possibly think of.  I've opened up all the old wounds, felt the pain and depression again and again, forgiven and tried to put all that behind me, only to be told I need to uproot all that crap again in the name of "recovery."  Somebody tell me how this is helping again?  I shut off my word processing program.  That's it, I refuse to do this again.  All this is doing is forcing me to continue to live in a broken past that Jesus died to deliver me from.  All this is doing is triggering me to binge to punish myself for the bad things I did or for the bad things I allowed others to do to me. 

 

After seven years of this, none of my meals are based on present hunger, but on past pain.  Every bite is punishment or a pacifier.  Each laced with the phrase, "How dare you."  I don't know how to eat in the present.  I eat out of the mentality of a terrified nine year old, an angry teen, or a rejected adult. With each day, the pain grows deeper. The life that God designed for me--the life I see in my mind's eye--is still way out there somewhere out of my grasp.  I get to gaze upon what freedom looks like, but I do not get to experience it myself.  I'm still fighting, still working out, but it's only a matter of time.  I feel like a terminally ill patient who doesn't have to good sense to go on and die.

 

So, am I knocking the program?  How can I, when there are so many other people who have been set free.  After seven years of recovery, six (or seven) 12 step studies, 4 failed sponsors, 2 Summits, several one-day trainings, and countless hours of meetings, you would think that I would get it.  I haven't.  The program has not failed me, I have failed it. 

 

My time at the Journey training gave me a ray of hope.  As the miles between Tulsa and Weaver grew, the hope went with it.  I went back changed to a life that I cannot change alone.  But alone is what I am.  I have failed that program too.  How do I measure that failure?  I suppose when I'm told that I have a support system and when I share my heart, part of that support system tells me "So what?" then I have seriously failed.  My life is marked by "so what"-- you do not matter; you're feelings do not matter;  you are just not doing something enough.  Kind of like, "Get yourself together because we don't care."

 

I said I was done with this kind of life.  Apparently not. 

 

Freedom isn't free, but I've got to get some. 

 

All I can do is tell all the people at CR and Journey that I'm sorry.  I'm sorry for wasting your time and resources.  I'm sorry for being such a horrible example of you and to you.  I'm sorry for impinging on you lives and adding no value.  I'm sorry for failing you.  Until I can be a better representation I will keep silent and stay away.  Again, I'm sorry.

Five Minute Friday: "Favorite"

Our Mistress of Ceremonies for the Five Minute Friday is Kate over at Heading Home.  Hope you link up with us and join the fun.

 

 

GO! 

 

"...I always remember my favorite things."  I have so many "favorites" it isn't funny.  I think I have so many that it cheapens the word favorite.  On Twitter, everything is a favorite, whether it's just something that made me laugh, or a comment I simply agree with.

Are we allowed to admit to having real favorites?  As a teacher, I had favorite students.  It doesn't mean that I didn't like the other students; it just meant that some kids stood out more than others for various reasons.  Now, I never said that to any of the children and tried never to treat one better than the other.  Some kids just clicked with me more.

Parents are never allowed to say they have favorite children, but they do.  Ever read the story of Joseph in the Bible?  Yeah, that's favorite child taken way too far.

As one who was not the favorite...anyway, not going there...

I have so many favorites.  How can I write about any of them without producing exhaustive lists.  I can't.  And that would bore you to tears.

This is bogging down, I'd better share a song or something.

 

STOP! 

 

I looked over at other posts on this and they were so poetic and full of colorful imagery of favorite events, people, sights, sounds, smells.  Mine is reeking of taking a beautiful word and peeing all over it.

 

Though writing is very cathartic from me, the goal of my blog is also to add value to you, the reader.  Without value, y'all flee to the hills in search of something better.  In a sea full of Mommy Blogs, mine should stand out.  So, if you will indulge me, I will attempt this again...

 

 

GO! 

 

Calloused fingers slide easily across coarse metal strings.  The high energy sound of one of my favorite praise tunes, "Freedom" by Darrell Evans, bounces around the walls of First Baptist Church as the group of fellow strugglers from Celebrate Recovery clap, smile, and take in the words and music.

 

My Dean Flying V is light on my shoulders this night, my tiredness from a full day is faded, and my hands find new pathways to produce the sound I want.  One of my favorite local praise bands, Audience of One, called me in as a last minute replacement, but the atmosphere isn't last minute, rushed, or stressed.

 

The joy of playing music is one of my favorite things.  It draws out of me power, strength, and emotion that stays buried for a while.  It all has to go somewhere.  Slides, thumps, and quiet melodic riffs express my outrageous love for my Savior and for my fellow struggler.

 

STOP! 

 

Better?

Auntie's Full Shelf Challenge 03

Book: The Daniel Plan.

Author: Rick Warren, et al

Info: Copyright 2013 by Zondervan

Where acquired: Gift from a friend.

Why:  Several years ago when Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California (also home to the Celebrate Recovery Program) introduced the Daniel Plan, I gathered with a group to take the video course.  Unfortunately, the course left me a little high and dry.  It gave a lot of dos and don'ts, but not many how tos.  Once the course was over, not many stuck with it--OK no one I know of stuck with it and the leaders of the course didn't follow through.  When a friend of mine excitedly gave me the book, I thought Why not?  My hope was that the book had more meat to it than the video course and reveal the secrets of lasting change. 

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 hashtags):  # # # 1/2

What it's about:  Warren and company presents five keys to total fitness (faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends) and expounds on each one and how they work in concert.

Favorite Quotes: 

"What you do with your body sets the tone for everything else." - p. 17

"Health comes from recognizing and using God's power in your life and treating your body and mind with the care that He intended.  - p. 33

"When I run, I feel God's pleasure." - Eric Liddel - p. 42

"Being overweight or unhappy is as much a ' thinking disorder' as it is an eating or mental disorder." - p. 202

"Trying to change everything at once almost inevitably invites disappointment.  Don't try to change dozens of unhealthy habits at once.  Start with a few vital behaviors--the ones that will have the biggest immediate impact--and go from there."  - p. 252

What I Liked:

• A majority of the ideas are practical--there was no "one size fits all" approach.  As long as one sticks to the 5 basic essentials, methods of achieving the desired result can differ.  In other words, if you hate running and gag on broccoli, it doesn't ruin the entire program for you.  There are lots of choices.
• The examples of success weren't sensationalized and all the participants weren't cookie cutter examples. 
• Scriptural encouragement and examples were cited much more than in other supposed Christian based literature and programs I've dealt with.
• I liked that their use of the "aside box" contained useful information, rather than simply repeating what was already said in the main text.  HOWEVER...

What I didn’t like: 

• Whoever decided to put light grey/green lettering on top of a light lime green text box wasn't thinking about the reader.  Squint city.
• I never knew who was speaking.  Chapter one is listed as being written by Rick Warren.  The other chapters do not identify the author(s). This made some chapters bog down with awkward sentence structure.  In other words, having pronouns running around without knowing to whom they refer confuses the daylights out of the reader.  Hello, Sybil!
• Too much "voo-doo science."  Yes, we all need to eat cleaner and exercise more.  However, there were a few unnecessary pieces of tripe hype thrown in.  Things like implying that getting healthy prevents global warming (James Spann would be cussing right now), and trying to invoke shame by saying "humans are the only species who drink milk after weaning."  So?  We're the only species that can cook and put on pants too, but I'm not going to stop doing those things just because the rest of the species aren't doing it.  There's enough bad information out there without ruining an otherwise good book with more of it.

To sum up: 

The Daniel Plan is a great jumping off point for establishing healthy routines for spirit, soul, and body.  I've already been working on my health for a while, so this is not a new "diet" I'm trying.  This is another piece of arsenal in my recovery process.

I would recommend the book to anyone interested.  I would, however, caution the reader to take some of the information with a grain of salt (the "voo-doo science" I mentioned earlier).  I would also caution not to throw out the entire program because of something you can't or don't want to do.  Take it a piece at a time.

So, how is everyone's "Full Shelf Challenge" going?

WWF 01 [30 Day Photo Blog]

Today was full of more arranging and rearranging, plus laundry.  I've almost got my car back...but not quite.  So, I only have a couple of photos today.

Went to WWF (Wild Worship Friday) at Celebrate Recovery.  One of my favorite bands, Crimson Ground, brought the power down tonight.  This is group that created the "Sweet Home Alabama" version on the CR theme when I played with them for the first time.  Love these guys.  Sorry it's so blurry, but like me, these guys can't stand still when they play.

I think I've found the fancy dress for fulfilling numbers 10 and 11 in my 101 in 1001 challenge.  My sister, Ida, gave this and some other nice clothes.  Now, all I will need is a nice pair of shoes.

W is for Woolly Booger [A-Z Blog Challenge]

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W

Woolly Booger

 

This is Jimmy.  Jimmy (or as I say to people, my friend over there with the woolly booger beard) is a fellow struggler and Christ follower  He is also the Training Coach for my local Celebrate Recovery (CR).

Why is Jimmy a hero to me?  1) I've heard his testimony of struggle and triumph, and seen the evidence of God working in his life.  B) Jimmy has such a heart for CR.  He simply oozes recovery.  3) Jimmy encouraged my running.  Last year, He and I ran many of the same 5k races.  Well, not only is he taller than I am, Jimmy is also a much faster runner.  He would finish his race, run back to find me, and run with me to my finish--cheering me on the whole time since he pretty much could just walk to keep up with me.  That wasn't something I asked him to do; it was his way of encouraging me to keep going until I finished.

Is that not how recovery works?  A sponsor or accountability partner  who's further along in his recovery--comes along side someone who's not as advanced, pushing them to finish the course no matter how long it takes.  That's why I said Jimmy simply oozes recovery without even trying.

Thanks for being a hero, my woolly booger friend!




For more information on the A-Z Blog Challenge, go to:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

V is for Volunteering [A-Z Blog Challenge]

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V

Volunteering

 

"Make yourself useful."  Man, how many times have I heard that over the years?  I was always told that serving others was a help to them.  I've observed how much volunteering also helps me.

• It keeps me active.  While I am still job hunting, volunteering gives me a burst of activity that accomplishes something useful.  It's softens the blow of rejection from potential employers.
• Volunteering lets me use my strengths.  Most of my duties involve music, crafts, or office work.  Three things I'm good at.
• I meet new people through volunteering.  It's awesome that God has taken me from painfully shy to social butterfly.
• It gives me a purpose.  One of the worst feelings in the world is to be bombarded with the thought that my life serves no purpose.  My purpose is constantly challenged because I have no husband, children, or (as of right now) a job.  Apparently, society has dictated that those are the only three purposes in life for a female.  When ladies get together, those seem to be the only three things they seem to try to find commonality on.  Kind of frustrating.  When I get the chance to help someone, they don't reject the help because I'm not married or say, "I'm sorry, but we don't accept donations from the childless."  They don't care.  Let me rephrase that; MOST of the time, they don't care.  Sorry, but I have actually been rejected for service because of my marital status.  Tacky, I know, but in some circles, marital status is a direct correlation to one's ability to wash dishes.  O.o
• Volunteering is just plain FUN. 

Some of the places I'm able to make myself useful:

• Sav-A-Life
• Celebrate Recovery
• Calhoun County Community Band

Check them out.  They can always use more useful folks.





 

For more information on the A-Z Blog Challenge, go to:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

T is for Twelve Steps [A-Z Blog Challenge]

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T

Twelve Steps

 
The Twelve Steps of Recovery and their Biblical Comparisons
 

We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable. Romans 7:18 - I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Philippians 2:13 - For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Lamentations 3:40 - Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings. I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Luke 6:31 - Do to others as you would have them do to you.

We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Matthew 5:23-24 - Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. I Corinthians 10:12 - So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.

We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out. Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Galatians 6:1 - Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.





 

For more information on the A-Z Blog Challenge, go to:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

R is for Recovery is Life [A-Z Blog Challenge]

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Recovery is Life

 

The eight Celebrate Recovery Principles:

 

Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.
 

 "Happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor."

Matthew 5:3

 

Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him and that He has the power to help me recover.

"Happy are those how mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
 

"Happy are the meek."

Matthew 5:5

Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

 

"Happy are the pure in heart."

Matthew 5:8

Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

 

"Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires"

Matthew 5:6

Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me
and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others.

"Happy are the merciful." – Matthew 5:7

"Happy are the peacemakers" – Matthew 5:9

 

Reserve a time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.

 

Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words.

"Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."

Matthew 5:10

-------------------------------------------------

 



As much as these principles were designed specifically with addiction in mind, the Bible passages--spoken by Jesus Christ Himself--were not disseminated to a roomful of addicts in a recovery meeting.  They were preached to a hillside full of ordinary people who knew they needed them, and religious people who thought they were too good to need them.

These principles are not just for "those" people.  These principles should operate in lives of all of us who seek to know God.  Everybody hurts.  Everybody has "stuff" to deal with:

• Principle 1 lets us know that no matter how much human effort we put behind it, no true change comes without the divine intervention of the one true Higher Power.
• Principle 2 gives us more self esteem that any self-help book could ever draw out.  You matter to God Almighty, Creator of the universe.  This was the hardest principle for me to accept.  C'mon God, I'm just one of the billions of humans You made.  I'm just the runt of the litter.  I know, God, You made me special just like everyone else.  But no, God says things like "You are the apple of my eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10).  and "You are the temple of My Holy Spirit" (I Corinthians 6:19).
• Principle 3 eases our minds and lets us know we don't have to try to control everything.  God is a good God.  If we truly turn our lives over to the care of God, His ultimate good will shine through. (Romans 8:28)
• Principle 4 brings us friends, true friends, who are "Jesus with skin on."  These are not "yes men" who never keep us accountable.  Nor are they "no men" who constantly pee on our dreams and are jealous of our success.  They are that friends that "stick closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)
• Principle 5 reveals the power of the first four principles.  We are able to embrace change--even look forward to it.  We also understand that change is not instant, but gradual.  (II Corinthians 3:18)
• Principle 6 restores relationships and trains us on how to build a better, long lasting network of significant people. 
• Principle 7 improves our conscious contact with God.  We learn more about Him and His plan for each of us.  (Psalm 119:105, Jeremiah 29:11)
• Principle 8 gives us a chance to share what we've learned with others.  (II Timothy 4:2)

These principles are a way of life.



 

For more information on the A-Z Blog Challenge, go to:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

My Recovery Story: An Audio Blog

Tonight, I shared my story with the Jacksonville, Alabama Celebrate Recovery.  I would like to share with you: 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/29899706/CR%20Testimony%202014.mp3

It may take a few minutes to load, so please be patient.  I hope it blesses you. 

Love,

Auntie

Five Minute Friday: "Choose"

Thanks to Lisa-Jo Baker at Five Minute Friday for the prompts.

 

 

 

GO!

 

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV) - This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

 

Choosing life is sometimes difficult, though I know it is the best thing.  Some mornings I get up and ask myself how I can choose to continue on when my mind screams no!  Or worse yet, when my mind is rip raring to go, but my body screams no way!  Then, I go out to the store or wherever and I hear "Hey Auntie!" and one of my friends from Celebrate Recovery (CR) is flagging me down.  I remember that my daily choices don't just affect me, but those around me.

 

Celebrate Recovery principle 8 says "Yield myself to God to used to bring this good news to others, both by my example and by my words.  'Happy are those who persecuted because they do what God requires (Matthew 5:10).'"  My talking a good game about my choices isn't going to cut it.  I must make the choice to "do the next right thing" for myself, as well as for my fellow struggler.

 

I'm giving my testimony at CR the end of March and I'm so tempted to ask to move it back a couple of months because I'm not at the weight I want to be.  My thought is ...

 

TIMES UP (but I'm going to finish this!)

 

My thought is "hey, I've got a month to burn off x number of pounds."  No, no, no!  My testimony is not how I faked my way to recovery, but how I'm truly working the recovery principles by continuing to get up when I fall down.  The fact that I'm still fighting is testimony enough.  Choosing not to give up is the best choice I can make right now.  Like my friend Mikki says, "If you throw in the towel now, you'll only have more laundry to do."  She ain't lyin!

 

Blog Challenge Day 08: Oh, the Passion

Blog challenge is from Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine

 

Day 08: What are three passions you have?

I have a lot of things that I'm passionate about, but a lot of them are interconnected.  So it's very hard to give a simple answer to this question.  When have you known me to give a simple answer to anything?  :)

• I'm passionate about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There has been a lot of misinformation passed around about who Jesus was, and is--mainly because people like to give there opinions instead of just going to the Book and finding out the truth.  Christianity is not a religion to be shoved down anyone's throat; Christianity is a passionate love for Jesus Christ that is best lived out before it is ever spoken out.  Many of my passions stem from this one big passion. 
• Celebrate Recovery (CR) - I love CR because it is full of people who don't have time to be fake.  We admit our hurts, hangups, and habits and we're not afraid to say, "Hey, I'm not perfect."  There are no "church faces" at CR--or if there are, they don't last very long.  I have a passion to see people free and living out the life God intended for them. 

• Sav-A-Life - Every life is God-given and precious.  This ministry gives hope to women who have an uplanned/unwanted pregnancy.  They don't just give them a pamphlet and send them on their way.  They not only give moral support, they also provide counseling, prenatal classes, and baby items.  I have the privilege of stitching baby items for this ministry.   
• I have a passion for music.  I've talked about it before, so I won't go into a long dissertation about it, but I've been a musician for more than 25 years now.  I love playing in a worship setting, but would also like to branch out and do more.
•  I have a passion for arts and crafts.  I love to keep my hands busy creating beauty.

Naughty Bits: The Simple Woman's Daybook for Thursday, July 4, 2013

Outside my window …  rainy skies and cool breezes making my wind chimes sing.

I am thinking...  about California (yes, again). 

I am thankful... for living in a free country and for the sacrifice of my Savior who gave me the ultimate freedom.

In the kitchen...  Nothing.  I ate a late lunch at my sister Margie’s house.

I am wearing... a dark aqua summer dress.

I am creating... A crochet wreath, the crochet tank/cover up, and the baby blanket.

I am going... to bed soon.

I am wondering... about a photo that was posted by one of my Facebook friends this morning.  It’s supposed to be a joke for the 4^th of July.  It’s a rather large woman with American flags covering her naughty bits.  The poster's friends are chiming in about how sick it is, how they’re laughing about it, etc.  What I wonder is, are her friends sickened and at the same time humored because the woman is obviously naked or because she is large?  Hmm…I wonder if the woman were rail thin would the picture even be posted, and would so many people have so many snarky things to say about it?  I know, I know, but it’s bothering me.  The picture didn’t humor me, or sicken me; it actually made me sad for myself.  The woman in the photo is my size.  How much weight do I have to lose before others are not sickened or shamed by my form?  **sigh**

I am reading... Bicycling magazines.

I am hoping... that my share time at CR tomorrow night goes well. 

I am looking forward to... trying out my bicycle. 

I am learning… ??
 
Around the house... Plenty to do; not doing it until Saturday.

I am pondering...   on self sabotage and why I keep doing it.

A favorite quote for today... "I've had psychologists try and tell me I'm a narcissist, but it's difficult to hear them talking over the sound of me being awesome." - Craig Ferguson

One of my favorite things... pretty earrings.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Sharing at Celebrate Recovery tomorrow night.  Errands and housekeeping on Saturday.  Church and praise team practice Sunday.

A peek into my day...  This is how the National Anthem should be sung:

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 (http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/) . Thanks for stopping by. Y'all come back now, ya' hear. :)

I Ain't Never Been Nowhere! Part 1: 30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 8

Talk About a Great Place You Have Traveled to. [Blog Challenge:  Day 8]

Let’s be real.  Auntie hasn’t traveled much.  When I was a kid, summer vacation was a “staycation” before they invented a hip way to say "we're too broke to go anywhere."  I stayed at home, played, ate, went swimming, ate, rode bikes, ate, watched TV, listened to music, ate, read, and…ate.  As an adult, I went to Florida and California a couple of times, but none of these trips were relaxing vacations.  They were all in the context of work or study (conferences and such).

The best trip I ever went on was my first trip to Lake Forest, California.  Yes, it was for a conference—the Celebrate Recovery Summit--but it was still an awesome trip.  It was the first time I’d ever flown on a plane.  It was, of course, the first time I’d seen the Pacific Ocean.  We went down to Laguna Beach and put our feet in the ocean.  This trip made me want to come back to California to stay.  When I stepped out onto the sidewalk of the John Wayne Airport, I felt like I was home.  I thought the feeling would fade, but I felt the same way when I went back the next year.   If it’s God’s will, I will be back to southern California to work and live (in that order).

{I'm linking up with So, Funny Story http://ktslifeisfunny.blogspot.com for this 30 Day blog challenge.}