Living My One Life Well

Have you noticed we're halfway through the first month of this new year already?  As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not one to verbalize a lot of resolutions, but there has been a lot of "inner dialogue" going on in my head and heart about how I want to use my time more wisely.  As I just expressed to a friend a few days ago, "I somehow manage to accomplish what has to be done, but there are so many other good and beneficial things I want to do with my time."

Things like ...

Using this special place I created in one of my upstairs bedrooms to "Be Still and Know God."

Read these books ... not just hurry through them but really ingest their message

Grow more knowledgeable in the practice of photography.  This picture (and the one below) were taken with the new macro lens I received for Christmas.   This is an actual bloom on my very dormant hydrangea bush.  It must be very confused by our unseasonably warm weather.  I also saw a dogwood tree blooming today!

 Continue to learn and memorize songs on this treasured instrument.  I also want to explore how to incorporate technology into my piano students' education.  Music feeds my soul and my goal is to encourage a love for its benefits anyway I can.

 Redeem time by counting daily gifts as His grace over my life.

"I speak it to God:  I don't really need more time; I just want enough time.  Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done--yesterday ... In the beep and blink of the twenty-first century, with its "live in the moment" buzz phrase that none of the whirl-weary seem to know how to do, who actually knows how to take time and live with soul and body and God all in sync?  To have the time to grab the jacket off the hook and time to go out to all air and sky and green and time to wonder at all of them in all this light, this time refracting in prism.  I just want to do my one life well."  - Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts

Oh and there's this ... 

Exercise .... a must!!

And the list goes on and on ... complete unfinished crochet/cross-stich projects, go through my father's slide collection, better organize my own large collection of print and digital photos, de-clutter my house, etc., etc., etc.

In addition to these personal projects, I am always looking for opportunities to spend quality time with friends and mentor/encourage women to nurture their relationship with God.  I will always make time for those conversations.

I'm convinced that I would accomplish much more if I gave myself more time to get things done.  To do that I've decided to sign up for the Hello Mornings Challenge.  I'm not totally sure what I'm getting myself into, but mostly I believe it is designed to give someone like me the accountability and encouragement to get an earlier start on my day.  That means this "night owl" will have to stop staying up so late!!

These scriptures motivate me to want to do a better job at "living my one life well."

"Teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity ..." Ephesians 5:15,16"

I'll let you know how the challenge goes.  How do you get it all done??
                 

My Only Resolution - To Blog Again

I've never been big on resolutions and am somewhat uncomfortable calling my return to blogging a resolution yet it fits.  I am resolved to give up my inhibitions and jump in with both feet again.  I'm starting easy with this simple reflective exercise.  Thank you Simple Woman's Daybook for this tool.  Some of us need a little help now and then ...

For Today ... January 4, 2013

Outside my window it's a chilly North Florida evening.
I am thinking it's good to be inside by a nice warm fire with my hubby.

In the kitchen I'm about to mix up some Chili con Queso for the Cotton Bowl ... Boomer Sooner!  (Post game comment ... congrats on the great win Aggie fans!)

I am thankful I haven't caught the nasty flu bug going around.

I am wearing comfy clothes.

I am creating an afghan for my niece and her new husband.  I'm thinking the newlyweds will enjoy cuddling under this after a fun day on the slopes at Park City, Utah.

I am going to get right back to healthy eating after enjoying the "queso" tonight :)

I am wondering what 2013 will bring.  There is uncertainty on the horizon concerning my husband's health but am trusting in the Great Physician that all will be well.

I am reading "The End of Your Life Book Club" by Will Schwalbe.  Picked this very enjoyable read up at the coolest bookstore while visiting family in Nashville last week.  Mitch Album, author of Tuesdays with Morrie, says this about the book, "A wonderful book about wonderful books and mothers and sons and the enduring braid between them.  Like the printed volumes it celebrates, this story will stay with you long after the last page."  

I am hoping for many more winter nights to enjoy a cozy fire.  North Florida is the best place to be in the spring and fall seasons, but I also love chilly nights by the fireplace in January and February.

I am looking forward to celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this next summer.

I am learning how to play Michael W. Smith's song "Joy Follows Suffering" on the piano.  I got to hear him play it live last summer ... very inspiring.

I am pondering how I'm going to read all the books I want to read and wondering how this blogger friend does it!!

A favorite quote for today - Anne Lamott says the two best prayers are "Help me, Help me,  Help me" and "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."

One of my favorite things is when my kitty helps me write blog posts ...

This was fun!!  I'm back even if I only do this exercise every month.