Old T-Shirts: 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, September 11, 2019

Looking Out My Window... Lovely Football weather.  The days are still warm, but the evenings are nice and cool.

This isn't exactly outside my window, but I got to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens again with my small group.

All these wonderful colors will be great inspiration during the winter months.

 

I am Thinking...

...about what to do with my racing shirts.  If you've followed by blog over the years, you know that I ran 5k's on a consistent basis back home.  Of course, each race came with a t-shirt.  I have a whole box of race shirts that I don't want to get rid of, but to preserve the memory somehow.  I know there are t-shirt quilts, but I'm not confident enough in my sewing skills to cut up these shirts (if I mess up, I don't have a second shirt to try again with).  Also, it's expensive to get someone else to make the quilt (and rightfully so--that's a lot of work).  I hate for them to just sit in boxes under my bed.

...about the upcoming holidays and how I'm going to celebrate them.

...about the future of my artistic endeavors.  What do I do with art that everyone says is so wonderful, but will only receive it for free rather than pay for it?

...about home.

  

I am Thankful...

• For a church that balances outward ministry with inward ministry and they do their best to keep those who serve from being burned out.
• For a small group that likes deep spiritual conversations, rather than keeping everything on the surface.
• For friends back home who still care about me.

From the Workshop...

One of my co-workers is expecting a baby girl in October.
This crocheted blanket went to the new little princess last week.

I am Reading...

• Defining Moments:  The Harlem Renaissance by Kevin Hillstrom
• Faith Thinking:  The Dynamics of Christian Theology by Trevor Heart
• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Crowded Pews and Lonely People by Marion Leach Jacobsen

Books I have completed since my last Daybook:

• Humility by Andrew Murray
• The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray
• The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

"It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones." - C. S. Lewis, On the Reading of Old Books.

"God is always preparing you for what He has already prepared for you. The point of this journey is who you will become on the way, not just the destination where you will arrive." Christine Caine

"Some of y'all put vinegar on your greens.  I don't know who you are, but you can get delivered today."  - Pastor John Gray, Relentless Church.

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  Testimony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five Minute Friday: "Testimony"

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How appropriate that this prompt comes right in the midst of what I was reading and pondering today.  This year I'm reading through Christine Caine's devotional Unshakable.  One of the passages I read today talked about how our walk and talk should match.  While that's nothing new, it is something I've had on my mind lately.

No, I am not living a life of blatant hypocrisy, however, certain things just aren't matching up.  My life is not the glowing example it should be to the world, or other Christ followers.  How can I convince anyone of how loving our Father is when my relationship with Him has become so distant?  How can I talk about what a wonderful provider our God is when I'm still struggling on a shoestring budget?  How can I pray for the healing power of Christ to touch someone when I still have sicknesses and diseases that I should have been rid of years ago?

Two things.

One, Romans 3:4 (KJV) says, "...let God be true, but every man a liar..."  Whether my life perfectly lines up to the standard or not, God's Word is always true.  God is perfect, therefore His Word is perfect.  I am an imperfect work in progress.  I'm growing, so getting my life up to par takes time.

Two, Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."  The more I testify about what the Lord did for me in the past, the more my heart is open to Him providing what I need to overcome in the present and future.  The more I lean on the blood sacrifice of Christ (the Lamb), the more I can understand and receive what that sacrifice provides.

I've said it over and over again since coming to Colorado two years ago that God didn't bring me 1400 miles to fail.  I was doing just peachy at that in Alabama.  No, I believe that this is part of the growth process I needed.  Christ's light will shine through the testimony of what He's about to do.  I am asking God to make my life more "true to form," so that it doesn't look like a lie.  He's faithful and will do it.

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Losing Heart: 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, August 15, 2019

Looking Out My Window... Summer is not letting up.  I'm glad because it took so long to get here.  I'm not looking forward to the coming change of season.  Football season?  Yes.  The first scary snow of October?  No.

I am Thinking...

About concerts...well about evening events in general.  I've missed so many good concerts and outings because I don't know how to safely navigate the Denver metro area at night.   Since I've been here, I've missed seeing Craig Ferguson, Christine Caine, Chris Tomlin, Itzhak Perlman and the Denver Symphony Orchestra, an orchestral tribute to Prince, Weird Al Yankovic (twice!), and the one that hurts the most, Rhett and Link.

I've never been comfortable with nighttime driving, especially since Denver is still relatively unfamiliar to me.   but it would be so expensive to rent a hotel close to a venue so that I could avoid driving at night.  I've mentioned on previous blog posts how seedy public transportation is during the day (especially Sunday of all days).  Should I really risk this at night?  I feel the same with ride sharing apps and taxis.  A single woman out by herself at night?  No thank you.  Let's not even mention all the concert and outing pictures I see from the friends where I wasn't invited.

Why do I feel like and older version of my younger self watching the cool kids play?

  

I am Thankful...

• A co-worker bought me a subscription to Southern Living magazine for my birthday.  It's wonderful  because out of all the grocery store, Walmart, and bookstore magazine racks I've perused since moving to Colorado NONE of them have that magazine.  
• In July, I celebrated 11 years of recovery.
• I find it really cool that the local library allows adults to participate in the Summer Reading Program.  I even earned a library canvas bag for completing a reading goal.
• Another reason to be thankful for my local library?  They sell recent magazines in their bookstore for 25¢ each. 
• Two years ago today, I arrived in Colorado and started on this crazy adventure.  I thank God for all that He has done and continues to do in my life.

From the Workshop...

I've painted since 1999.  I developed my skills through local paint shops and paint-and-sip places, numerous books and YouTube videos.  To this day, I still watch Bob Ross videos in awe.  Though I'm a good learner, I wasn't sure if I could successfully teach someone else to paint.

Then enters my friend, Diana.

We'd planned to go together to a local paint-and-sip shop, but the only painting we both liked was either being taught on a day we couldn't go, or was painted on wood, which would frustrate a beginner.  So Diana, knowing I was toying with the idea of leaning to teach, decides that I'm just going to teach her to paint it on a canvas.

Well, as you can see from the photo, my first instructional attempt was a success.  So, let's see where this new skill takes me.

 

 

I am Reading... 

• Defining Moments:  The Harlem Renaissance by Kevin Hillstrom
• Faith Thinking:  The Dynamics of Christian Theology by Trevor Heart

Books I have completed since my last Daybook:

• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life  by Donald S. Whitney
• God Breathed by Josh McDowell
• Men, Women, and Worthiness  by Brene Brown
• So Long, Insecurity:  You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore. A glorious reread that I reviewed here.
• Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

"You know you need some time off when you crack an egg directly into the trashcan instead of the bowl you intended to scramble it in. #HaveMercy" - Auntie's Musings


Dear Best Foods:

1. Dukes makes better mayonnaise than you.
2. Your commercial is annoying.  This is the first I've heard of making a grilled cheese sandwich with mayo.  Most importantly, if Julie really is a mother of three and can't already make a grilled cheese sandwich, I question her parenting skills.  How about some REAL recipes. -

Love, Auntie.


"Universal truth: Do you know what a fitness instructor means by "One more time"? NOTHING!" - Auntie's Musings

My Mythical Summer... I'll have to admit that while this was a fun idea, I'm struggling, y'all.  Several of the badges I earned during My Mythical Year were sold out at Mythical.store, and were never restocked.  I've been informed that they're not planning on restocking them (which I find tacky).  So, any badges I earn in the next little bit won't have anything to show for it.  I wonder should I continue on with the project, or just drop it? 

Now For Something Total Different ...

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  World.