My Mythical Summer: 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:  Wednesday, July 3, 2019

 

Looking Out My Window ... Summer has finally settled in and it's been gorgeous.  The lack of humidity on the hotter days makes the heat much more tolerable.

I am Thinking...My thoughts are an incoherent muddle of poo.  June was not a great month for me and I can't pinpoint where it all went wrong.  Here's hoping for a better July.

  

I am Thankful...

• 

  Marvel (L)
  Richard (R)

  For encouraging words:  Someone who works on another floor in our building said to me "Create a good day for yourself."  Never had anyone say that before and I thought it was cool.  It also made me smile.
• For family:  This week, my brother, Marvel, my cousin, Richard, and their wives stopped by the office and we went out to lunch.  They've been on a cross-country road trip and made a stop in Denver.  I've not seen my brother in more than two years.  Richard and I haven't seen each other since I was twelve.
• I made it a week without eating any of the junk brought to our breakroom.  It's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
• I'm registered for my first semester at CCU.  First day of classes is August 26th.  Y'all pray now.

  

From the Workshop...

 

New from the workshop...Summer Card Collection.  For information, please click here.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen...

I've ruined yet another set of meals and discovered that I'm going to have to buy a more pricey can opener so I can quit risking having metal shards in my food or cutting the crap out of myself trying to pry open an improperly opened can.  So. Freakin'.  Frustrating.

I am Reading... 

• Defining Moments:  The Harlem Renaissance by Kevin Hillstrom
• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life  by Donald S. Whitney
• God Breathed (book and workbook) by Josh McDowell

Books I have completed since my last Daybook:

• Next Level Thinking by Joel Osteen.  My Goodreads comments are here.
• Hello, Beauty Full by Elisa Morgan.  Please see my review here.
• The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

When someone asks what the "Max A/C" means on an automobile's air conditioner, the standard Southern answer is, "Nothin'." - Auntie's Musings

"It would be great if it weren't terrible." - Link Neal, Good Mythical More, #1520

"For those who want to pimp slap their co-workers for putting a butt-load of cookies in the breakroom...we pray to the Lord." - Auntie's musings

"...being set free and walking in freedom are not at all the same thing. Jesus set you free, but you yourself must choose to walk in freedom, relying on His strength, His grace, and His Spirit." - Christine Caine, Unshakeable.  p. 173

"Whoever said, 'Less is more' obviously took Common Core math." - Auntie's musings.

My Mythical Year... I earned the last badge for my Mythical year here.

And that brings My Mythical Year to a close.  I've had such a wonderful time with earning these badges that I have made the executive decision to keep the fun going a little longer, so I introduce---My Mythical Summer.  This will have the same premise as My Mythical Year and will run from July 1 to September 30, 2019.  Yeah, I know the first day of autumn is September 23rd, but why stop in the middle of the month?

Although I still haven't been able to purchase all the badges I earned this year and I have been informed that Mythical isn't planning on restocking them (giving side eye), I'm going to earn more of them anyway!  So, there!  Besides, maybe enough people with request them and Mythical will restock them.  Here's to hoping.  C'mon, y'all!

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  World.

Thoughtful Guy: 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:  Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Note: 

I had to make the executive decision to no longer accept anonymous comments on the blog.  In the past several months, my blog has been spammed excessively with fake anonymous comments.  This needed to stop. 

Looking outside my window …   After having mid 70 degree weather for the past few days, it's snowing and we are now under a blizzard warning.

I am thinking... 

• ...about accountability.  In all the analysis and research on personality types I've read, I understand that I require outward accountability for ultimate success.  I absolutely loathe that about myself.  Almost seems unfair to be the type of person who needs community, but is frequently placed in isolating circumstances.  Although I don't like it, I'm making the conscious decision to embrace this part of my psyche by discovering and creating some outside accountability.  There are too many places where I feel stuck.  Having some help will be a big step towards getting unstuck.
• ... about leadership.  I was introduced to the concepts of leadership 19 years ago when I attended a leadership conference lead by John C. Maxwell.  He simply defined leadership as influence and implied that everyone should be a leader.  He also claimed that leadership wasn't about a position, but about having and impact on another person.  Since then, I've read books, watched videos, attended seminars, taken test after test, and had meetings with various leaders.  After all these years of study and working on it, I've come to determine that I'm NOT a leader.  I don't have to be the big cheese and have my name in lights; I just want to help others who are leaders reach their goals.  My gift isn't leadership; my personality doesn't even accommodate it.  I'm an ESFJ on the Myers-Briggs, an Obliger on Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies Model, a Golden Retriever on the animal personality scale, plus another plethora of personality labels (Type B, Melancholy, #2 on the Enneagram...blah, blah, blah).  My gift is the ministry of helps.  Yes, teaching is also one of my spiritual gifts, but even that is a part of helps.  Again, this is something I need to embrace about myself rather than reject it or see it as a lesser gift.  I'll continue to partake of leadership and personal development materials.  However, they will be filtered through the lens of helps--how I can be a better helper; not how to try to be something I'm not.
• ...about recovery.  I'm finishing up my eleventh year of recovery and I've discovered that I still have a way to go.  I thought I was done digging into my past, but as long as past pain still wreaks havoc with present reality, I still need recovery.  After all, recovery isn't needed if there's nothing to recover from.  I'm ready to be well and whole. 
• ... about meditation.  Now, don't worry, I'm not getting into the weird meditation that asks you to empty your mind and do the direct opposite of biblical meditation.  I'm talking about productive, Bible-based meditation.  I feel the need to learn and implement a consistent practice because I have way more anxiety than is healthy or necessary.  It's getting so bad that I'm starting to have physical affects from it.  The problem is, I have a very difficult time sitting still and quiet.  I've tried a guided Scripture meditation several times and failed miserably.  I even tried it while soaking in the tub and still couldn't settle.  I had no idea that there were viable meditative practices that involve movement.  After all, God just instructs us to meditate on His Word;  He didn't say we had to be still while we did it.  Two things I want to try are writing meditation and scriptural stretching/yoga meditation.  We'll see how it goes.

I am thankful...  

• ...for the gentleman who let me know one of my taillights was out.
• ...for the guy at Advanced Auto Parts who replaced the bulb for me when I couldn't figure out how to do it myself.  Sorry, YouTube can't fix everything.
• ... for new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
• ... for grocery store flowers.
• ... for my local library.
• ... for Pilot G2 Bold pens.

From the Workshop...

Wheels on the Bus Cuddle Quilt:  I never get tired of making these.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen:  I completed letter J in my A-Z challenge since the last Daybook.

I am reading...

• The Word in the Wilderness by Malcolm Guite
• Self Matters by Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
• Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith
• Jesus, the Open Door by Kenneth Hagin, Sr.

Books I've finished since my last Daybook: 

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.
• Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan.
• Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin.
• The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden.

Favorite quote(s) of the week:

Rhett - "...I recently upped the douche factor in my life..."

Link - "I didn't know you had any more margin."
Ear Biscuits, 03/17/19

"I've never seen my family tree, and I think this is because someone chopped it down and built a bar with it." - Jim Gaffigan, Dad is Fat, p. 227

"The glory of God is the human person fully alive." - Irenaeus, quoted in Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith, p. 19

"I believe in every trial, there is a gain God wants us to receive.  But that requires us to trust Him at levels we might not have before.  It requires us to open our hearts to new ways of looking at our circumstances.  It requires us to pass through the pain knowing an even stronger faith is on the other side." - Christine Caine, Unshakeable, p. 42.

“Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better.” - Flannery O'Connor, quoted by Gretchen Rubin, Outer Order, Inner Calm, p. 131.

I am looking forward to... 

• This weekend, I'm going to visit a friend in Grand Junction, Colorado.
• Being off for Good Friday and celebrating Easter.
• My upcoming summer stay-cation in May and celebrating my 47th birthday.

My Mythical Year: Part two of my "I Do Science" Mythical Merit Badge is here.

And Now For Something Totally Different:

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  I know I haven't posted a Five Minute Friday word in a while.  However, the prompts lately have taken my mind and keyboard to sad places that, quite frankly, I didn't want to go.  I want to focus more on the positive, rather than the prompt pointing out what I'm not or I don't have.  Maybe something better will pop up soon...or not.

Epic Rap Battle of Snobbishness: 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:  Thursday, March 14, 2019

Looking outside my window …   March has given way to lots of snow and strong winds that will slap you naked.  We had blizzard conditions yesterday, but the weekend is looking pretty nice.

I am thinking... 

About some people's mentality about jobs.  As a kid, I dealt with being shamed over my mom being a housekeeper.  I was never ashamed of it, and blamed the kids for just being stupid as usual.  Fast forward to the present and an adult tried to shame me by calling my job being "just an admin."  Apparently, this person has never been an admin, doesn't know what we really do, and may be someone who looks over the admin at their workplace.  No, I'm not going to be a secretary for the rest of my life, but geez, we all have to start somewhere.  I can't stand that kind of ostentation.

I am thankful...   

• ... for the coming spring.
• ... for finally making it to church this past weekend.  I've missed two Sundays in a row because of weather.
• ... for the sound of neighborhood kids and dogs that make me smile.  I hope to get to meet more of my neighbors when spring comes.
• ... for employers who have your safety in mind.  Because of the hazardous conditions yesterday, we weren't required to come to work, but we weren't penalized in pay or hours.

From the Workshop... Lately, it's been baby, baby, and more baby.

My friend, Amy, had her sweet Eleanor in December and this set is for her.

My coworker, Tammie, is in the process of adopting two twin toddler girls.  These two blankets are for these two sweeties.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen:  I completed two more letters in my A-Z Challenge.  Letter H is here; letter K is here.  I also revisited and updated letter L here.

I am reading...

• The Word in the Wilderness by Malcolm Guite
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
• Jesus:  The Open Door by Kenneth Hagin, Sr.



Books I've finished since my last Daybook:

• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  The review is here.
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  The review is here. 
• My Philosophy for Successful Living by Jim Rohn.  My Goodreads comments are here.
• Curious George by H. A. Rey
• If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg.  The review is here.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

To Rhett:  "Just turn your BS faucet off for a second." - Charles "Link" Neal III, Good Mythical More,  04/02/14

To Link:  "You're being stupid on purpose, right?" - Rhett McLaughlin,  Good Mythical More.  03/20/14

"Mercy makes transformation possible." - Pastor Robert Gelinas, Colorado Community Church.

God created you on purpose and for a purpose.  He's called you, positioned you, and equipped you.  There is a realm of influence--a group of people--that only you can inspire, encourage, and lead.  There's a plan only you can complete.  That's how valuable you are. -- Christine Caine, Unshakeable. p. 33

I've been trying to do better with my eating and my life's worse. - Rhett McLaughlin,  Good Mythical More 12/05/16

I was not valedictorian of my school.  I got honor roll for lunch. - Pastor John Gray

I am looking forward to... 

• I just found out that Rhett and Link are going to be in concert in the Denver area in June.  While my budget and limited night driving most likely will constrain me from attending, just knowing they're coming to my new town is great.  But man, I wish I could go.
• The Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival on March 23.  I was invited by a friend to attend.  I've always wanted to go to something like this.  It should be fun.
• My friends over at Beyond the Trope are conducting a "Podcasting for Beginners" class at one of our local libraries this weekend. 

My Mythical Year: I earned another Mythical Merit Badge since my last Daybook.  Read about it here.

And Now For Something Totally Different:

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  Where?



 

 

Hold My Pie and Watch This: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.

NATIONAL PIE DAY

National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI p Day.) National Pie Day was created simply to celebrate the pie. It is a day for all to bake or cook their favorite pies. Even more importantly, it is a day set aside for all to enjoy eating pies! The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

Okay, fess up. Tell us your top three favorite pies, please. Will you have some pie today?

No, I don't think I'll be having any pie today. My three favorite pies are:

• Sweet potato pie.
• Peanut butter pie.
• Chicken pot pie.

While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food? What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

I'm not a particularly picky eater. When I was growing up, our only menu choices were "take it" or "leave it," so there was no room for pickiness. It's hard to pick a worst food since I've eaten some very strange fare . Let's just say, there are foods I hope to never eat again. I am, however, learning to try new food.

Baking could be considered an art as could cooking. How do you define art?

Art is something done with skill, joy, and flair. Just as with its other forms, the palatability of art is in the eyes of the beholder and the partaker. I've seen some artfully presented food to which the taste didn't match up. I've also prepared some ugly food that was quite tasty.

Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

From Good Mythical Morning, episode 1278.1

Rhett: "Shall we sing first?"
Link: "Sure."
Rhett: Sings "Fiiirrrst!"

I've seen this episode multiple times, and I still chuckle at that part.

January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

My handwriting isn't calligraphy material, but it doesn't look like a doctor (or a chicken on caffeine) wrote it either. I learned cursive in either 2nd or 3rd grade. While handwriting didn't come easy to me, I enjoyed practicing with handwriting sheets. When I was first learning, I ask my parents for handwriting tablets when we were in the store.

Tell us something random about your week.

This 5 inches of snow was not the "dusting" the Denver meteorologists forecasted
for Friday, but it sure was pretty.

Monday, I celebrated MLK Day by watching and absorbing Dr. King's
"I Have A Dream" speech.  I plan to make this a yearly tradition.

One Word: Upgrade: The Simple Woman's Daybook [40 Days of Throwback Thanks] [My Mythical Year]

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 31, 2018

Outside my window …  

Colorado is closing out 2018 with several inches of snow. 

I am thinking... 
 

 

 

I saw this sign in a store and it gave me pause.  While I get what the sign was trying to say, the sentiment is not necessarily true.  Now, I'm all about gratitude. But you have to remember, I'm coming from the perspective of someone who came into town with absolutely nothing but a few clothes, some books and knick-knacks, a bass guitar, and a bicycle all crammed inside a dying '96 Honda Accord.  I was starting from scratch, so while being thankful is very important, gratitude will not make "enough" out of what is obviously not adequate. 

 

Periodically, I will chose a word that reflect the stage of life I'm in.  In 2014 it was "metamorphosis."  In 2016, "community" was my one word.  While both are still in progress, it's time for a new word.  My one word for this stage of my life is "upgrade."

 

The verb upgrade means "to raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components."  Granted, this isn't the kind of upgrade akin to a wife who was perfectly satisfied with a smaller diamond in her wedding ring but now pouts for an "upgrade."  No, there are still parts of my life that are substandard and in desperate need of upgrading. 

 

This will not be an exercise in ostentation or bad decisions.  Quite the contrary.  Much of these upgrades will be an increase in what I've already been doing.  This is going to take a lot of hard work, but it will be worth it.

 

I am thankful...

See my post here for more information on My Mythical Year. 

40 Days of Throwback Thanks

Day 38-40

• I'm thankful for the beautiful snowy weather and that I don't have to be out in it.
• I'm thankful that my weight loss journey is still on the upswing.  As many of you know, I made it into "one"derland earlier this year.  It's been a struggle, but I have managed to maintain that loss.  Hopefully 2019 will see me get to my goal weight.
• I'm thankful to have finished my reading goal of 40 books for the year.  The task was made difficult because I lost my reading mojo a few times over the year; I didn't finish any books in June or August, plus there were a couple of months where I only finished one book.  I was down to the wire, but I finished my 40th book tonight.  I'm going for another 40 in 2019.
• I'm most thankful for so much growth in my life.  Not simply increased health and mental stamina, but growth in my relationship with Christ.

My final throwback thanks for the year goes to Rhett and Link.  Their show and wonderful book got this whole throwback thanks started.  Yeah, I know that  #MyMythicalYear is only half over, but what an interesting six months it's been.  Their friendship, honesty, and willingness to do crazy, entertaining stunts has been an inspiration to me and has given me more enjoyment in my life.  Thanks, y'all. 

From the Workshop... Still working on unfinished projects, formulating edits to the website, and developing new projects for the year.  Remember, y'all are still invited to get involved in the "Auntie's Baby Shower in a Bag" project.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen:  I've finished another letter in my A-Z Challenge.  More on that to come in a separate post.

 

I am reading...

• Waiting for the Word by Malcolm Guite.

 

Books I've finished since my last Daybook:

• The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott.
• The Matchmakers by Janette Oke.  I commented on it here.
• Welcome to the Family by Kenneth Hagin Sr.  Please see my review here.
• The Greatest Thing in the World and Other Addresses by Henry Drummond.

And a couple for the DNF (did not finish) pile:

• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
• Cricket on the Hearth and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens.  I commented on it here.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 
 

"Salvation is not an 'it;' it's a 'Who.'"- Joseph Prince

"Sounds like a pig choking on pork." - Charles "Link" Neal.  Good Mythical Morning, episode 374.

"No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself, does more to un-Christianize society than evil temper. For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom of childhood, in short, for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power this influence stands alone." - Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World and Other Addresses, Location 171 in the Kindle edition.

"If you want to develop robust faith, then continually tell what the Lord is doing for you.  The more you talk about it, the more real He becomes to you.  The less you talk about it it, the less real He will be to you." - Kenneth Hagin Sr.  Welcome to the Family,  p. 101.

Weatherman: " The dusting of snow here in Denver is no big deal."
Me: " Are you crazy?! I'm almost out of milk!" #RockyMountainSouthernBelle - Auntie's Musings

I am looking forward to... 

• All that 2019 has to offer.
• Getting back to work on January 7th.
• Exploring the recreation centers and parks here in Lakewood.
• Formulating my goals for the year and discovering strategies for accomplishing them.

And Now For Something Totally Different:



  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby, It's Tepid Outside: The Simple Woman's Daybook [40 Days of Throwback Thanks] [My Mythical Year]

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, December 23, 2018

Outside my window …  

Though the days are now on the upswing in length, the weather is gearing up for snow.  I'm not sure if we'll get a white Christmas like last year, but there is frozen precipitation in the forecast this week.

I am thankful...

See my post here for more information on My Mythical Year.

40 Days of Throwback Thanks

Day 29-32

Today's throwback thanks goes to all of my Thunderbabies.  One of my favorite jobs was my decade-long stint teaching preschool and working in the Aftercare program at Jacksonville (AL) Christian Academy.  Some people thought that my having no children of my own was a sad thing.  However, it made me able to put more into these babies and enjoy it much more.  This season always brings to mind our annual class Christmas party.  Those parties were my opportunity to spoil the kids rotten.  We'd play, eat, and laugh all day.

My time at JCA reminds me of a passage of Scripture in Isaiah 54.  Verse one says, "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord."  God gave me so many children to love.  I thank my Thunderbabies for letting me love them and for loving me back.

From the Workshop...

I'm working on some unfinished projects and formulating some new ones for the upcoming year.  It's not too late to get involved in "Auntie's Baby Shower in a Bag" that benefits local pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen: 

Because of several holiday gatherings at work, I broke out a couple of my tried and true baking recipes.  They turned out well, but I'm still not sure if I'm being hypocritical by baking sweets for others when I really don't need them myself.  Oh well, it's over now.  I'm looking forward to new recipe experiments in the coming year.

I am reading... 

• Waiting for the Word by Malcolm Guite.
• Welcome to God's Family by Kenneth Hagin Sr. 
• Cricket on the Hearth and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens.

Books I've finished since my last Daybook:

• A Texas Sky by Lori Wick.
• City Girl by Lori Wick.
• Shepherd's Abiding by Jan Karon.
• The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

I am learning...

• ... I'm horrible at putting a duvet in the cover.  I'm used to comforters, so I'm new to the whole duvet thing.  It's like wrestling a toddler into a pair of dress shoes.  There must be some trick to it.  If anyone knows, can you share it with me?
• ...I don't hate window shopping.  For as long as I can remember, I've always claimed to hate window shopping.  Shopping without money seemed so stressful, counterproductive, and depressing to me.  Recently, I was shopping with a friend and figured out what the problem was.  It's not window shopping I don't like; it's hopeless window shopping.  Looking in stores and dreaming about making purchases and creating beauty in my life isn't a hopeless task like it was when I was younger...and poorer. 

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

"I just want to say this about Jesus to somebody this morning. There is no end to His goodness. No bottom to the well. You can't wear Him out. He's not running low. He's not in a bad mood because it's you again. 'For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.' Jn1:16" - Beth Moore via Twitter

On charcoal grilling: "I'm getting heat flashes just thinking about it. I'm like a woman going through menopause. That's how manly I am right now" ~ Charles "Link" Neal, Good Mythical Morning, episode 158.

"Laughter is like farting out of your mouth." - Charles "Link" Neal, 2013

 

From Auntie's Musings: 

Dear Denver Broncos,

If you want me to become a fan, there are three things you must do.

1. Play the game better than you fistfight with the Raiders (and everybody else).
2. Change your team colors; you look too much like Auburn University. #ick
3. Have at least as good a record as the University of Alabama. #RollTide A 6-8 win/loss record ain't gonna cut it....

Love, Auntie

I am looking forward to... 

• My Christmas Staycation.  I'm off for the next two weeks.  I hope to spend the time tying up loose ends and thoroughly enjoying myself.
•  Our Carols and Candlelight service on Christmas Eve.  I missed last year's due to weather.
• Setting goals for 2019. 
• Feeling better.  I've been sick for several days.  I thought it was just from the dry air (I've still not found an affordable humidifier), but it's turned into a full-fledged bad cold.

And Now For Something Totally Different: