Heart Choices: 2013-08-04 -->

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Five Minute Friday: Lonely

5:50 AM
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Words)
It's Five Minute Friday when I link up with The Gypsy Mama.  We receive a one word prompt and get to write for five minutes flat.  Our one word for today is: LONELY.

GO

Writing is a solitary activity.  I sit quietly in front of my computer screen sharing from my heart.  I am surrounded by photos of people I cherish.  I try to keep my writing area neat but it tends to accumulate things for some reason.  :)

Writing on my blog isn't lonely for me.  I feel like I'm reaching out to friends.  And I get to meet many new friends through blogging.  When I finish writing a blog post and hit publish, I usually stop to visit other's blogs and leave a comment when I can.

But writing a book?

Now that's lonely!

I struggle with:

  • Sitting for much longer periods of time
  • Doubts about whether anyone would read it
  • Losing many chapters when my computer crashed
But I keep on writing and one day ...it will be complete.

STOP

Blessings and love,

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Wednesday's Hodgepodge

8:35 AM
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Words)
This is my first time participating in Wednesday's Hodgepodge.  However, I enjoy reading Lea's answers at Cici's Corner each week so I decided to join in today.  Here are my answers to the questions for this week.  

1. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week...what's one thing you could do this week to qualify as a participant?

Right now I'm literally in the middle of attempting to clean out my closet.  My desk and computer are located in a corner of the living room.  There's a closet that contains all of my supplies, photo albums, and everything else.  I have it emptied and am trying to get rid of what I don't need.  I always have a hard time with this though.  But I do want to be organized. Does that count?  

2. It's also National Peach Month...peach pie, peach cobbler, or please pour me a Bellini? What's your peach pleasure?

I love peach anything.  In fact, ripe peaches are my very favorite fruit.  I like peach pie and peach cobbler but I actually prefer peaches by themselves.  They are so delicious they don't need anything else.  

3. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do one thing every day that scares you."Agree or disagree...explain.

I agree.  However, I tend to love my comfort zone but I realize that is not where I need to stay.  In order for me to grow I need to leave my comfort zone.  Since I'm determined to be a life long learner, I must agree. :) 

4. What's your favorite household chore?  Yes, you have to choose one.

 Doing laundry if you can believe that.  I remember many years ago I used to roll my cart to the laundromat.  The man who worked here commented that he'd never seen anyone who enjoyed doing laundry as much as me.  But I think I love the smell of clean clothes.  I wish I could hang my laundry on a line outside as I love the scent of freshly cleaned sheets.

5. Fodor's recently listed (what they've dubbed) the ten most beautiful sunset spots in America. Click here to read more or see pretty pictures, but this is their list...Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara CA, Mount Haleakala in Maui HI, Old Fort Marcy in Santa Park Fe NM, Laguna Beach California, Hopi Point in Grand Canyon AZ, Four Seasons in Miami FL, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA, Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard MA, Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City UT, and Mallory Square in Key West Florida. 

I love Santa Monica!  Greg and I have spent many weeks here over the years.  I have such fond memories of my time here.  I loved watching the sunset from our beach front balcony.  I also enjoyed roller blading along the beach path.

6. What's your favorite or most used app?  If you don't use apps, how about your favorite or most visited website?

Facebook is where I spend much too much time on every day.  But it's my connection to family in other parts of the country and world.    

Kenzie trying to go up the slide
Kenzie trying on her mom's sunglasses
I get to see photos like these every day on Facebook. And you wonder why I love Facebook?  And of course, I need to check each morning to see who has a birthday.

7. We've recently passed the halfway mark for 2013...write a seven word sentence that sums up your year thus far.

I am determined to get in shape.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

The school year starts next week.  I'm excited to meet our new batch of three year old children but will miss our class from last year.  I get so attached to each one of them.  I hope many will stop by to say hello to Miss Debbie.  I love to see them grow.


I'm linking up with Joyce of From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday's Hodgepodge.

Blessings and love,


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Guest Posting at Becoming Titus 2 Women

6:49 AM
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Heather and her husband
Today I wrote a guest post for Heather of Becoming Titus 2 Women.  I was honored that she reached out and asked me to do this.  After all, as 'older women' we are to teach the younger women.  I don't think of myself as an older woman but in reality, I guess I am and that's OK.  :)  

I prayed about what to write.  I see younger women every day as I work with them and observe the moms of the children who come to our school.  They all seem to be so very busy.  I believe it is so important to start your day in prayer and reading God's Word.  But who has time?  So that's what I wrote about.

I encourage you to link over and add an encouraging comment for Heather and the women who read her blog Becoming Titus 2 Women.  

One more thing ...I read a Facebook post by one of the youth ministers at my church.  He was working on a sermon about the hope he has for college students and young adults.  He asked for input from those aged 18-35.  As I read the comments, I noticed several who wrote 'we need mentors'.  So we older women can be used by the Lord, even through our blogs.


Blessings and love,

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Count Your Many Blessings

5:25 AM
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I always look forward to Monday when I count my many blessings.  It causes me to focus on what's good and right instead of the negatives in life.  I love this printable and I included the link where you can download one for yourself.  You can print it out as a vertical or horizontal and then frame it.  It's a good reminder.

I had such fun this past week.  My friend Theresa loves to kayak.  She enjoys going down rapids in fun places. But since this was my first time, we decided to play it safe.  We rented a kayak for two at Tempe Town Lake. For one and a half hours we kayaked, getting lots of upper body exercise.  I loved it and can't wait to do it again.
We had to go early as the temperatures in Phoenix are hot this time of year.  Of course, we had to get a cold smoothie on Mill Avenue after we finished.

My niece (and godchild) Brittney is heading off to college soon.  I can't believe how quickly she's growing up.  I enjoyed spending an evening with her as we talked and talked.  A movie and The Cheesecake Factory were the perfect combination for a fun evening.

I am so thankful that I had this week off work to rest up, do some much needed organizing and cleaning and have some fun.

#885 Kayaking on the lake
#886 Enjoying the outdoors
#887 Spending time with Brittney
#888 A surprise encounter with my former BSF teaching leader Lori
#889 Not setting my alarm but waking up early anyway
#890 Organizing my clothes closet (finally)
#891 Discovering a ton of clothes that I love but were packed away
#892 Motivation to lose 10 pounds so I can fit into the clothes I love :)



I'm linking up with Ann of A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Mondays as I count my every day blessings.

Blessings and love,

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