Trying Again to get it Together

The funny thing is my email inbox looks a lot like it did a few years back. How many times do we start these projects and then things like life happens and we get sidetracked?
But I'm going to work on organizing and such again and see how far I get.


The best way to get started on the path to sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others...
Austin Kleon (from Show Your Work)

Email Inbox Organization--Three Steps

This is a follow up to my previous post e-hoarding

I’m nervous today. I cleaned out my email over the past week. I worry because I might have deleted something I needed.  But it had to be done. My inbox looked worse than my dining room table.

What I started with:                        
1500 unread emails. Almost 5000 kept emails. 22 folders. Chaos.
I Googled organizing email and found I’m not alone in being overwhelmed by digital stuff. I found over a million sites about this. I picked a few—referenced at the bottom. Most of mine has come from friends’ ideas.

My Three Part System
Part One: Clean It Out
If you don’t do this first you’ll be trying to organize things you don’t even need or want. I don’t know how long you should keep something, but I’m sure it’s not ten years on the internet. Even the IRS isn’t that strict.
I’m down to about 150 kept emails. It still sounds like a lot. There were some emails I’ve reread and referenced so I kept those. Most are from ongoing projects that will be deleted once the project is finished. The time frame to allow to do this depends on how much time you have and how many emails. Like I said, mine took a week.
Part Two: Make a System
I thought about the subjects of things I do and made folders to correspond. Then the move from inbox to the folders began.  I ended up with 6 folders and one with 4 subfolders—9 folders total. It works because of the various emails I have to save.
Voila! Empty inbox and emails where I can find them.
Part Three: Maintenance and Modification
I hate checking email. I also read that if you check it too much you get more back. Most sites said twice, maybe three times a day. So, I’m starting with twice.

Of course this system may need tweaking, so I’ll modify as I go.  But now it’s doable.
Your system and checking will look different, of course. You may have to check more often due to work. Or less often if you're lucky.

What I Have Now
Empty inbox. About 150 saved mails. 6 folders and 4 subfolders. Organized Mail.
Of course I still have the concern over deleting things. But I like my organized email, so I’ll just have to get over the other.
My system is simple, but I don’t do a whole lot of work with email. It’s more for contact and connection. So, if you’d like more in-depth and information on all the other things available check out:
Organizing Your Email Inbox
13 Tips to Organizing Your Inbox 
Revive Your Inbox  --this one is the most in-depth, and has a program to help you. But, the irony is, they email it to you every day for 21 days.
You can always Google search it as well.

How about you? Do you get frustrated with too many emails? Any organizing tips or strategies that worked for you?

e-Hoarding

apparently after 999 they

they stop counting

In the middle of all my research I've found a new type of hoarding.
Digital Hoarding, aka e-hoarding.
It's when your inbox, folders, pictures, or whatever digital media you can think of becomes as cluttered as the junk drawer in your kitchen, or worse.
I hate email because you get so much junk mail. Spam filters aren't perfect, no matter how good they are. And, all the social media? Good grief, it's giving me a headache thinking about it.

So, what's the deal with digital hoarding? Why should people worry about it?
From what I've read:
1. storage costs--personal and private. Someone has to pay for all these Clouds.
2. stress--having to look at and deal with all the stuff.
3. carbon footprint--who knew, right?

Hoarding is often a sign of other problems: anxiety and OCD especially.
For me it's an out of sight out of mind. My physical surroundings are in my face. I can stress over it. My email, digital files and pictures, they all live on tiny flash drives and clouds. So, I only have to stress for as long as it takes to read and reply to what I need.

But after reading the carbon footprint thing, I'm going to have to rethink this strategy. It makes sense, though, because technology has to be powered. It takes energy for this. And, storage plans for individuals and companies are not free. It takes effort to keep all this information safe and accessible.
I've gotten the wild idea to clean out inboxes and photos before, but I got frustrated sorting through so much. No sooner had I gotten rid  of one email when ten would pop up.
I gave up
And it all built up again. The most I've had is close to 5,000 emails. Sounded like a lot to me until I read of people having numbers like 25,000 in emails, ten of thousands of pictures. Wow!
Right now my big things are texts, pictures, and emails. I'm bad about not deleting any old things.
Maybe I'll have to consult an e-hoarder specialist.

So, my plan, should I be able to accomplish this is:
1. Daily look at email.
2. Figure out folders.
3. Delete any pictures I don't need.
4. Spend ten minutes at day doing this.
5. Don't get discouraged.

As adults, we worry about kids, but we should really take a lesson from the American Academy of Pediatrics  --adults need limited time as well, for our own health and well-being. We have to get over this idea that we have to be connected 24/7. Some think they're doing okay. Some look okay.
But, try turning off their devices, let the server go down, let rain knock out the DISH.
Then see what happens.

Are you a digital hoarder? What strategies do you have to organize your email, ebooks, and other digital media?

For more on e-hoarding:
Digplanet
Wikipedia--also has some good links to other sites.

Change Lessons from Hoarders



finished my stone walkway

In my last post I mentioned two favorite organizing people. The first is Donna Smallin Kuper.

Who's the other person? Matt Paxton

Hoarders anyone? It was the freakiest, coolest show. Aired on A&E, it chronicled the attempt to help hoarders when they were against the wall due to whatever—landlords, city ordinances, health, whoever. And the weird thing is, they weren’t all crazy cat people—though many had a few hundred cats. They were just people. Most were people who had bad stuff happen to trigger the hoarding.

Matt (and others) cleaned out their houses but the crew also helped sort their lives as well. They cleaned but the hoarder had to make the decision to let things go. It was the only way to break the cycle. 

I like Matt because he’s real. He knows what needing help is all about. He’s a good cleaner, but he's also got his own interesting story of addiction. As he alludes to, all he’s done is trade one addiction for another, but at least this one doesn't get his kneecaps broken intentionally.

Another sad lesson from this is many of the people who hoard have others in their lives—family and friends who suspected but didn’t jump in. Oh, that’s not an indictment. It’s just a comment. I always wondered “how did they let it get that far?”

So, what’s this all about?

I find it ironic that Matt’s who I wanted to post about on Wednesday and now I find myself on Sunday evening still trying to get this posted. I'm so far behind!

It’s about perseverance and fortitude to make the changes you want. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve gotten into the rut.  You can do it!
Change means sacrifice and letting go. On the show some people just couldn’t do it.  But some were able to change their homes and their lives.

So, even though I’m late, I’m still going to hang in there.  I’m still posting this.

Lessons from Matt and Hoarders:

(don’t try to Google them—I’m making them up)

 1. Don't forget your friends and family--especially those who live alone.
 2. Be patient with yourself. Nobody's perfect and on time every time.
 3. We all need a little help from our friends sometimes.
 4. But sometimes we will be alone, no matter who we call.


cleaned out my truck--
does anybody know this pony?

5. In the end the decisions are ours alone.
 6. There are ordinances on the number of cats you can have.
 7. Nobody allows coyotes to be kept. (well, that was my discovery)

Lasting change takes time.
The two questions we have to ask ourselves:
1. Do I want to change?
2. What am I willing to let go of for it?

p.s.--my house is not a hoarder house, but Clean Sweep would have fun in it.

Action! Listening to the Voice(s)

In the first few posts I was thinking about why I want to clean. What's the point of home organization? I'm single. I should be out doing stuff. (I guess if I want friends over....)
I could expound on all the touchy-feely stuff until the cows come home but I still won't be where I want to be and I'll have cows in my yard.  Plus, I'm bored with that right now.
Action!
Here's my plan for actually organizing. I don't remember what words I used.
Home discovery. That's right.

the  jar is in  the center

Wow, don't I sound pretentious?
So, anyway--Action, yeah.

My Home Discovery Plan.
I gave my rooms spiffy names and wrote them on some paper. Then I put them in a jar.
Each day I'll pull a name out and work on that room for one hour. It doesn't have to be a full one hour at a time. It can be broken into intervals, especially since some days I don't have a whole hour time block, but lots of 5 or 10 minutes here and there.
Some people like to go room by room. I thought about that. But, I get bored easily. So I thought this way I can work with my self-proclaimed ADHD and not have to focus for long in one spot.
(I know it's not really ADHD, but it sounds as important as Home Discovery!)
My plan for this mission is to post on Sundays and Wednesdays. I won't give the boring low-down, but just update everyone on my progress.

If I can, I'll find a link to some other cool cleaning or organizing site or some touchy-feely kind of something.
Today's link will be brought to you by one of my two favorite organizing people: Donna Smallin Kuper at DeClutter Your Life . Check out her books and her blog. I love this month's unclutter tips, but going through the history is so worth it, too.

Recently I think Donna has taken up residence in my head. When I want to buy something she says "Do you really need that? Are you really going to use that?"  Sometimes I just say What Would Donna Do?
Yesterday apparently she would put back two writing magazines, three books on creativity and --irony--organizing, two Dr. Who comics, and a Sandman Graphic Novel. The last killed me because it was a special edition.
But Voice Donna said "Don't you have that one already? In fact, don't you have them all?"
I left Books-A-Million without so much as a coffee.
You're killing me, Donna! 


So, today's room was the Wild and Sunny Room. (Aka--the dining room) I was surprised that I found enough things to do that it took me a whole 57 minutes to finish straightening it. This worries me since that's my smallest space! Had to go through lots of papers on the table, but there's more than one place in my house that's got lots of papers. EEEK!




If you're reading this, any thoughts on organizing for those who don't have much time and nobody to delegate to? Any favorite decluttering sites?

First Podcast

Scary, but here's the sound of my voice. This is to kick off my posts on what I call my pilgrimage to creativity, starting with my home.
(Now doesn't that sound esoteric?)


Download this episode (right click and save)

Single Household

Oh no! not another organization site!
Before you panic—it’s not the same. This is a site for truly single people. No kids, maybe not even a boyfriend/girlfriend.

Organizing tips--think about what you find—or better yet—search and then come back. What kind of advice do you get? Things like “enlist your family” “Teaching your kids”

I have a fish. I can’t foresee enlisting his help.

As you may have guessed—I’m single, no kids, only pet is a baby Beta.
One thing I do have? Stuff. Stuff that breaks, stuff that gets dirty, needs to be washed, repaired, replaced.
Another thing I have? To go to work. I’m a single income household.  

It’s aggravating because people act like if you live by yourself you have all this time to get things done. And if you don’t have kids and a spouse you don’t have a lot of things to clean.
 
Ha, ha, ha, ha…ok let me stop laughing before I answer this.

There’s this great scene in Disney’s Enchanted movie where Giselle sings and the city creatures come and help her clean. Now, I understand you really don’t want vermin in your house, but if the rats are mopping and the roaches are cleaning the toilet….

I’ve been looking for a plan, but everything involves creating all these family meals, enlisting help from spouse and kids, doing all these cool check lists. Those are all okay, but my fish can’t get out of his tank, I’m not too keen on inviting the neighbor’s dog for help. Who has time for checklists?
And yes, I could hire someone to do things, but, remember single income household.
I’ve been wanting to get things together-home, work, writing, life in general, but I realize that may be a hopeless task. But, if it can’t be together it can be at least in the same vicinity of each other.
So, that’s what this is going to be about—me putting things in the same vicinity of each other. I hope through my journey to:

1.     Come up with ideas others can use.

2.     Find others who have ideas.

3.     Be more accountable because I’m posting it all on the blog.

4.     Have a more organized home.

How will I do this? I said above not a big check list kind of girl, but probably need some kind of plan…more on that in the next post.

For now though…
A site on organizing I keep going back to: Declutter Your LIfe
Any thoughts? What is your organizing, cleaning, lack there of routine?

Coming Back

 
So I said I wasn't going to blog here any more, but now I'm back, at least for a while. I still have my other site: creatingwordlenik.com over at weebly, though, too. Those who've been here before will notice the new look. Those who haven't, well, welcome!

 

To start, I'm returning as a part of an online class I'm taking:



Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners

Robin Sellers is the instructor.

old houses in Lake Charles--
oh, the stories they could tell!

So far it's been fun. I think I'm jumping ahead, though, and posting before I'm supposed to.

Such an over achiever....

 

If you've never taken an online class, check out ed2go--there's a lot of good stuff.

If you've wanted to learn how to set up a hosted blog--and actually have fun doing it, take this class. I thought I knew some stuff, but I really just knew enough to be dangerous. I'm especially excited to learn about podcasting. I've never done that before.

 

More to come on what I'm posting here.....

Moving On Over!

I love, love, love this site.  But, as way leads on to way, I've found a new road to travel. So creating wordlenik (and ReCreation) has found a new home at my website, Writer, NP. New posts will be there instead of here.
Thanks to all who follow--come visit me!

Creating Wordlenik

Stumbling Upon the Healing Power of Music

Don't you agree sometimes the best things are those that you just happen upon?
I was researching something about Dr. Who for a friend and came upon Billie Piper's husband, Laurence Fox. 

Dr. who? I'm so easily distracted. 

I do not like Facebook.
I do not like it in a box--

www.timeout.com

But apparently I do like it with a Fox.  Because I did like Laurence Fox on Facebook .  Then I went to his website and downloaded music.  It's a really nice, melodic, soulful sound. It may not be everyone's cup of coffee--or maybe he drinks tea--but I liked it.

Then I got a migraine and I accidently played his songs instead of my usual.  It was amazing to listen to his voice. Up until now it's been drugs and Pink Floyd that can calm down the pain.  (Imitrex and Ibuprofen, mind you)
Mostly Water was the last song on my playlist--wow, halfway through I was already starting to come back around--minus the drugs.
That's amazing to me.

So, is this shameless free publicity for Fox?  I don't know.  I'll have to research more. Apparently he's in movies and TV shows as well that I need to look at.   He won't replace Pink Floyd on the playlist, but he'll be right next to The Wall.

It is about music, though, and the power it has.  It's one of those beautiful mysteries science can't touch.  I know, chemicals and all that.  But if that's the case, any relaxing music should work for my migraines, right?  Why did Laurence Fox work without the drugs when nothing else has?  Why his voice in particular?  Does it only work for me? 

Honestly, I don't even want science or medicine to explain it.
I just want to enjoy something magical that I stumbled upon.

I'd be wrong not to link to the man--Laurence Fox

Freedom to say...Part 3

Part 1  Part 2

Eventually everyone makes a decision on what they believe regarding a divine being.  This belief is a part of who we are and how we live.  So when people disagree on belief systems, they are disagreeing on something more than just coffee or movie preference.  
We say we believe in religious freedom, but it seems when someone tries to exercise their right other people become offended.  Then people want to start putting limitations on the freedom—“you can say that unless I don’t believe it” or  “You can say it in your church or synagogue but not in the grocery store or in your kids’ schools” Where is the freedom in that?  Does separation of church and state only apply to church and not the state? 
On the surface, The Merry Christmas bill sounds great.  Schools have to give every belief equal representation.  I agree with this.
What bothers me there’s a law about this.  That tells me the state thinks it can dictate my freedom to express my beliefs.
Give the government an inch…they’ll try to control everything.  By making a ruling on what can or can’t be displayed in public spaces, the government has made a comment on what belief system it thinks is right and has therefore just infringed on the rights of its citizens, of which I am one. 
How do we define public places?  Stores are privately owned, yet states make nondiscrimination rules.  The same thing for amusement parks or museums.  The list goes on and on.  Will it come to the point where movie houses can’t show movies that mention religion?  Libraries won’t be able to loan books that discuss Islam or Judaism or other religions? 
If you really think about it, there can be no true separation of church and state as long as government at any level thinks it can pass laws restricting religious expression.  Any time a ruling body chooses to make a law on a belief system—what you can say, what you can teach, etc…--it makes a comment on which system it thinks is correct. And, putting it under the heading science instead of religion doesn’t make it any less a belief that takes faith. Science is not indisputable.  So beliefs based on science rather than religion don’t get a free ride.
As I said in Part 2—making a law against it won’t stop people from doing it.  I know what I believe.  I’d go to jail or worse before I’d refute it.  That’s how much faith I have in it. I agree that there are people with equal faith in their beliefs.  I’m willing to accept that. 
These days the buzz word is tolerance. Mere tolerance won’t cut it. Tolerance doesn’t seek to care or understand.  Tolerance treats others like a little child—“oh, that’s so cute, but they’ll know better when they grow up.” Eventually we get tired of putting up with it and so want to confine the expression to places we can’t hear it.
True belief in religious freedom says everyone can express their views everywhere and I can exercise my freedom not to agree.  Acceptance is what we need.  Acceptance based on love that sees the individual for the amazing complicated person they are. 
It all comes down to individual response and individual responsibility.  If we want to have the freedoms we have to accept that others have freedom as well.  If we keep crying foul every time we disagree, we’re going to find our own rights have been regulated away. 

Freedom To Say...Part 2

Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.

Neal Boortz

Part 1

My first thought when I read about the "Merry Christmas Bill"  was who's going to stop me?  Even if  it's against the law, I can still say Merry Christmas.   There would be consequences for it, but could someone really stop me?   Lawyers use that trick all the come when they follow a statement by a hasty "withdrawn."
My second thought:  Censorship and Word Bullies.  (ok, those are two thoughts)
 We don't get to pick and choose when it comes to freedoms, especially of speech.  To have freedom risks that we are going to hear things we don't like. We either accept this or it borders on Censorship. 
It also means people are going to say hateful, stupid things.  That's their right.  Let them.  It makes them look as stupid as their words. 
The Freedom remains true even if the people act like morons. 
Stand Up to Word Bullies
Sticks and Stones--words hurt, but I'm the one who lets them control me.   
Most of the time it just makes me sad when people say mean things.  I'm know myself and my beliefs so am not threatened by what you say.  In fact, other views challenge me to exam my own ideas.  This is not a bad thing, but it does take confidence. 
The thing is, laws and governments don't make people get along;  some laws cause even more divisions.  Like Nietzsche said, interpretation is a function of power, not truth. Law can  impose consequences.  There will be people who believe their right is worth the price--including torture and death.
Even in America where we're so tolerant and free* there's divisions, anger, and even physical harm because of words. To stand up to these bullies isn't easy, especially when you're going against the majority. 
A part of Freedom of Speech is Freedom to Respond.  I can retaliate out of anger and hurt. Or I can respond out of Love and Respect. 
It takes individual responsibility to break the chain--just one person saying "No, that's not true."  or "No, I'm going to choose not to continue this." is what it takes.  Sure, you may just be planting a seed, but someone else waters it, etc....
Everyday I hear things that are hurtful--things said to me, things said to other people, things I've said.  At the end of the day, I'm responsible for me. I'm the one who controls me.  When other people or circumstances are in charge it's because I let them. 
My response is to not be the victim. I can't make people like me. I can't make people only say nice things.   I can't make them accept me.  And there may come a day when what I say or do lands me in prison--I hope not but anything's possible.
But I retain power over my heart, mind, thoughts.  These are places others can't get into unless I let them.

TBC Tues/Wed--Part 3

*note:  yes, I'm being sarcastic if you didn't get it. 

Freedom to Say....Part One

All things are subject to interpretation; whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.

Friedrich Nietzsche

After a long hiatus from blogging, I have returned. 
Why return now?  I wrote out all these cool reasons—having something to say, having a presence—
But the truth is, I have this guilty conscience regarding my derelict blog.  I’m surprised nobody has reported me yet to the blog housing commission for my grass being tall and the shudders falling down.  I haven't been a good blog-owner. 

It’s easy to be lazy, making excuses like I was working, writing, living.  I've got many things to say, but just haven't taken the time to write them. 
Then I came across this article online:  Merry Christmas Bill
I had to look around:  chicken snake, squirrel, American flag—yeah, still in Louisiana. 
I realized I better get on exercising my rights while speech is still free here. 
What better way than to start with talking about freedom? 
The ruling on the bill went in a direction I agree with, but what if it hadn’t?  Would we be arresting Kindergarteners?  Or would their parents be held responsible? 
One group tosses out freedom of speech.  One group says freedom of religion also means freedom from religion.  Both sides want to debate the points.
But the real question should be this:  do we really want the government making laws regarding this? 
To be so offended you have to include authorities is risky to your own rights.  It’s nice when the ruling power likes you.  But what if they decide they don’t?  I’m sure many religious people see this as a victory, but as for this Christian—It scares me that the legislature felt it could rule on an issue like this. 

I can say I truly believe in freedom when I allow that others will disagree with me and still be my friend. 

I was going to write more, but this seems to have put me in a mind to watch Fahrenheit 451. The cool thing is I'm watching it on VHS.  Remember those? 

TBC in Part 2 Tomorrow...

 

 
 

The Words of the Teacher...A Prompt Post

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: "Meaningless! Meaningless!" He threw the scroll into the fire.  "What's the use of anything I do or say?  Does any of it matter, really?"  His advisor winced.  How much wisdom was being lost to the flames?  And vellum was not cheap.
"But your majesty, surely being the king..."
"Is meaningless.  Tell me, would you be my advisor if it wasn't required of you? Would you care about me if I was a soldier or cook? Be honest."
The advisor didn't respond right away.   It was hard when his king was in these moods.  His question was personal and asked out of frustration.   He got like this when he came back from his harem.  The advisor could understand--being around that many women would be enough to send anyone over the edge.  Perhaps it should remain unanswered.
"Are you going to answer?  Do I have to make it a royal command?" 
"Didn't you yourself say there's more hope for a fool than a man who speaks in haste?"  Maybe that could buy him some time to think. 
The king was silent. The advisor, unsure.  Most days the king didn't want a yes man, but honest discussion.  Most days, though, he wasn't angry and morose.  He would have to trust that God had given him the right response. 
Then the king laughed.  "This is why I like you."  he clasped the advisor's shoulder.  "When I ask a stupid question you don't respond with a stupid answer."  
The advisor let out an inward sigh of relief.  It wasn't exactly how he meant it, but close. 
The advisor knew the truth was yes he would care.  He'd learned so much from his king, like in this situation, to be able to stop and think before giving an answer.  It was his king's character, not his position, that earned him respect and made the advisor bold in in his statement.  It was why the advisor didn't want to give him useless platitudes.
The advisor knew he'd be a fool not to follow him. 

**************

I was visiting other sites and saw many had posted about a new thing from WordPress.  It's called 365 Days of Writing Prompts:  a prompt to fire your imagination each and every day of the year. 
January 5 was "Call me Ishmael:  take the first sentence from your favorite book and make it the first sentence of your post."
My favorite book?  Ecclesiastes, in the Bible. This is kind of a flash fiction based on it, a sort of day in the life.  I love the whole Bible, too.  The advisor is using Proverbs 29:20.
My second favorite book first line:  A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories.  Brave New World. 
For 365 Days of Prompts go here:  Writing Prompts
I don't know if I'll post all the prompts, but maybe some more...

First Friday of 2014 Celebration

2013's last sunset in SW Louisiana

I'll be honest and say that I really wasn't in the mood to celebrate today.  It's been a weird two days, and not in a good way.  This week marks the one year anniversary of one of my patients being accidentally shot by his cousin.  His mother came to the clinic with another child yesterday and cried.  Yesterday a colleague's sister died while giving birth to her first baby.  Flu and RSV are running wild in Southwest Louisiana.  One patient lost a father to flu.  She's only 2 months old and sick herself.  
Not a very bright beginning to 2014. 
Tonight I was just going to visit blogs that I follow to see what folks around the globe were up to and well, a funny thing happened:  I found things to celebrate.  It reminded me of the cool things in life, even if they seem insignificant.  Life is tragedy yes, but it's also victories and celebrations.  We can choose to wallow in sadness or look for the joy even in pain. 
So I have two things I want to celebrate this week:
1. The privilege of being able to share in both the joys and sorrows of so many peoples' lives. 
2.  Bloggers.  It's so amazing how people who don't know each other personally can be such an encouragement.  Thanks to all who share! 

Happy New Year--2014

I’ve got my black-eye peas so I’m thinking 2014 is starting off well. 

Last night I stayed up until the New Year came.   It’s like Halloween crossing to All Saints Day.  You can imagine something magical happened.  And everything feels new and fresh, full of promise.   I know it’s psychological but I love to see one year end and another begin.   

I was disappointed at how many of my friends and family went to bed early this year.  It makes me realize how different things are now.  Used to I might actually be the first to go to sleep…no, I don’t think I’ve been the first to crash. 

I don’t have any resolutions this year.  I guess if I did it would be to continue to enjoy life and not be the first to crash.

Plans for this year…at least for now:

1.    Continue with Celebrate Fridays—it’s good to focus on the little victories.

2.    Blog at least on Fridays.

3.    Continue cleaning out my house—new approach is Live with Less. 

4.    Continue progress on novel—but not stress over it.  It’s my story.  It’ll get written when it gets finished.

(more plans as they come to mind…)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.  Prov. 3:5-6

2013 In Review

To Celebrate the Year 2013 I turn to Robert Frost
 

Into My Own

One of my wishes is that those dark trees,

So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,

Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,

But stretched away unto the edge of doom.

I should not be withheld but that some day

Into their vastness I should steal away,

Fearless of ever finding open land,

Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.

I do not see why I should e'er turn back,

Or those should not set forth upon my track

To overtake me, who should miss me here

And long to know if still I held them dear.

They would not find me changed from him they knew--

Only more sure of all I thought was true.

    
 
I'm Celebrating the End of 2013 knowing I am more sure of all I know to be true. 
It was a year of growth both in medicine and writing.  Spiritually, my faith was, and still is, being tested, and I'm growing closer to God and knowing the Holy Spirit is with me. 
 I feel ready to start 2014 as a continuation of that growth...
 

Christmas Eve Prayer from Louisiana

God,
I wanted to say something profound or share a poignant Christmas memory.  But with the growing hate towards each other in America we need more than fancy words in a sappy story.
We need You, God.
You don't just tolerate us.  You love us so much you sent your Son to die for us.
You aren't swayed by social pressures.  There are no double standards.  All humans have sinned and need salvation.  
You are The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  That doesn't change, no matter what we choose to believe.
You give Peace that goes beyond all understanding and defies world thinking. 
Thank You, God.  
Tomorrow, remind us to stop counting the number of presents and focus instead on the eternal gift of salvation through Jesus.  Until we know You, we won't know true love and compassion for others.
For by grace you are saved through faith..it is a gift of God, not of works....Ephesians 2:8-9

Celebrating Small Things

I'm managing to get this posted on Friday--a Celebration in itself!
Thanks to all the wonderful comments and encouragements. 
A few small accomplishments:
1.  My inbox on my computer is empty--folders created for the emails I need to save.  Who knew you could make a "filing cabinet "
2.  The guys at the recycle place were impressed to see me twice this week.  Old soap buckets make good recycle bins at my back door. 
3.  Hairapy.  I love going to get my hair cut and styled.  Lydia is The Best!
4.  I made a selfie I kind of like.  It must be the hair!  (usually mine is curly, though)

Merry Christmas to all.  Next week may we be celebrating time spent with family and friends. 
Jesus is the Reason we Celebrate this Season.