My mustard seed goal . . .

Reading The "Do What You Can" Plan, 21 Days to Makeing Any area of Your Life Better by Holley Gerth and decided to use my blog to keep track of my twenty-one-day journey. The book is all about setting goals -- realistic goals. "God can handle the big. when you start out, it's okay for your part to simply be the small." Wow! Twenty-one-days because that is how long it takes to make a new habit. "Decide on the minimum you'd like to accomplish in a particular area of your life . . . Then divide that by about half." We sometimes have huge goals that fall by the wayside because they are so lavish and complicated. We forget that, in order to accomplish the grand goals, we need to break the goal down into smaller steps otherwise we get overwhelmed and the lofty goals fall by the wayside. We get bogged down in the here and now details so much that we can't even see the small spark of the original goal. So, on to my mustard seed goal -- because faith the size of a mustard seed isn't about the size of the faith but "the One we are placing it in that matters." My last years goal was to survive and thrive and lose weight for the SNAP! moment. I managed it but for all the wrong reasons. And my emotional health is telling the tale this year. SO! New goals, new steps, new direction. My lavish, complicated, grand goal is to get back the lowest weight and size I obtained last year. My first mustard seed goal is to eat a healthy breakfast and only snack on healthy food. And by healthy I am NOT concentrating on low carbs or low fat or low calories. I mean, healthy. Whole wheat bagel and cream cheese has been my choice for this week. Snacking on baked green beans and dried friut/nuts and fruits. Simple, easy goals that I should be able to instill in my life for 21 days which will make it a habit. Thought for this day: Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything. OR “Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” FRANK OUTLAW Late President of the Bi-Lo Stores OR Mr. Wiseman then cautioned his young friends as to the habits they contracted in early life:—”Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” You sow an act, you reap a habit (acts repeated constitute habits); you sow a habit, you reap a character; you sow a character, you reap a destiny." OR The thought manifests as the word, The word manifests as the deed, The deed develops into habit, And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its way with care, And let it spring from love Born out of concern for all beings. These are all variations of the same theme but all expressed eloquently. And I think I need more strawberries!!

Wow!! I have been absent for literally years!! Hehe! A lot has changed -- some good and some bad. Same job (have advanced WAY past the training part of the job), got a separated from the ex and lost a parent (within a two day span), then kicked the ex to curb legally and got on with my life -- discovered I had a knack for being a high school football fan (you meet the most unique people there), high school rodeo is vastly interesting (and propane heaters are invaluable), calves ARE financially worth the freezing fingers and toes you get feeding cubes, heaters in cab tractors are the best invention since sliced bread (what analogy did they use before someone invented the bread slicing machine?), the term personal trainer is code for the devil (but he was worth every curse word I uttered and all of the sore muscles I earned), tattoos are not that painful, family is not always kin to you, there are people out there who are not selfish and who appreciate you for who you are. Oh, and all that was within the last year. It's been a lulu and I'm excited to see how the rest of my life unfolds . . .

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 22, 2010 (yes I am running a day behind!). . .

Outside my window . . . cold but is supposed to be gorgeous later in the day

I am thinking . . . I love my job, I love my job, I love my job -- but man I sure do HATE being in Houston all week and dealing with training!!

I am thankful for . . . a job that pays well and has excellent benefits, I know I am whining about the training but the job itself will be good it's just being stuck in Houston all week for 5 1/2 weeks (yep, until April 7)

I am wearing . . . black slacks, maroon shell with cute colored squares around the neckline, black cover up

I am going . . . to training for 8 hours and then have to go out somewhere to eat, ugh!

I am reading . . . Bible and The Bliss Factor by Penny McCall

On my mind . . . who would have thought the words "I am tired of eating out" would ever have come out of my mouth?!?!?!?!?

Noticing that . . . all the whining in the worls will not get me out of here any sooner and that people who live in big cities all the time HAVE to be a little nuts!! Whew!!

Pondering these words . . . There are alternatives to becoming healthy (other than eat less, exercise more). Laugh more often. Munch on almonds. Take up yoga. Eat more dark chocolate. Go out for Indian food. Floss and brush regularly. Go to the mall. Get enough sleep. Medidate regularly. Try it. -- Anita Renfroe

From the kitchen . . . nothing -- eating out all the darn time while I am stuck in Houston

Around the house . . . things are blooming and I am not there to enjoy them!! The daffodils have already bloomed and gone, the white irises are going strong, and the pear tree has bloomed all the way and is gorgeous!! I mowed the yard for the first time last Sunday and it was glorious!! I LOVE spring!

One of my favorite things . . . home in all its disarray and clutter and things that need to be fixed!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 23, 2010 (yes I am running a day behind!). . .

Outside my window . . . sleet, snow, rain, and COLD

I am thinking . . . why do I feel the need to decorate and nest everywhere?!?!

I am thankful for . . . food I don't have to go out in the weather to get

I am wearing . . . black slacks, brown sweater, green jacket, HOSE, brown flats, and amazing brown/green beads which I absolutely LOVE and don't get to wear nearly enough (but I will be wearing them a lot more with the new job where I have to look prefessional!!)

I am going . . . to help Will make and bag sausage this afternoon after I get home

I am reading . . . Bible and Now and Then by Robert Parker (a Spenser noverl!)

On my mind . . . I actually like dressing nice everyday and having to put on makeup and fix my hair. I know it's only been a week and a half but it makes me feel more profesional and smarter. I think that sounds weird but oh well!

Noticing that . . . bad weather seems to bring out the crazy in people who are driving. What's up with that?

Pondering these words . . . There are alternatives to becoming healthy (other than eat less, exercise more). Laugh more often. Munch on almonds. Take up yoga. Eat more dark chocolate. Go out for Indian food. Floss and brush regularly. Go to the mall. Get enough sleep. Medidate regularly. Try it. -- Anita Renfroe

From the kitchen . . . sausage and sausage and sausage! Probably with eggs and toast (if I go to the store and get bread after work!!)

Around the house . . . down to 2 puppies (Thank GOD!!!) and they are staying unless they fail to prove themselves on a hog!

One of my favorite things . . . homemade blackberry jelly

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 8, 2010 . . .

Outside my window . . . gorgeous—sunny and warmer and amazing!

I am thinking . . . why do I have so much stinking stuff at work?!?! Why do I feel the need to 'nest' everywhere?!?!?

I am thankful for . . . a new job!

I am wearing . . . denim dress, black shoes

I am going . . . to have to start cleaning more . . . ugh!

I am reading . . . Bible and The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles

On my mind . . . what was I thinking when I applied for a job I have to dress up for?!?!? 

Noticing that . . . people tend to say the appropriate thing instead of what they really want to say

Pondering these words . . . Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes unto us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. —Inscription on John Wayne's tombstone

And I wonder, have I learned anything? When did tomorrow become something else to worry about? 

From the kitchen . . . made buttermilk pies over the weekend, OMG they were good!

Around the house . . . I gotta start shoveling the stuff out the door!!

One of my favorite things . . . fried chicken

From my picture journal . . . 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 25, 2010 . . .

Outside my window . . . gorgeous!

I am thinking . . . it was great to see Lace and Trent last week

I am thankful for . . . my Daddy

I am wearing . . . brown t, blue jeans, tennies

I am remembering . . . all the you-know-what we used to pull back "in the day"

I am going . . . to make more jelly, ugh!

I am reading . . . Bible and The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy

I am hoping . . . that I do well on my interview on Wednesday, I really want this job (I NEED it too)

On my mind . . . what to wear to a job interview since it's been almost 9 years since my last one 

Noticing that . . . while I do like the church I have been going to, I really loved the song service at another church we visited to hear Lance preach

Pondering these words . . . 

From the kitchen . . . 40, count them, 40 pints of plum jelly on Saturday and that much more juice in the fridge just waiting for me to make jelly in small batches this week. Whew!

Around the house . . . new curtains in the living room, the thick kind that keep out light and temp.—they are freaking awesome!! We should have invested in these years ago!

One of my favorite things . . . true southern sweet tea, nothing better!

From my picture journal . . . from the archives of my youth

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 18, 2010 . . .

Outside my window . . . sunny and WARM!! Woo Hoo!!

I am thinking . . . I have tons of stuff to do when I get off work—Lance and Trent are coming for supper

I am thankful for . . . I got to go hear Lance preach his first sermon on Sunday 

I am wearing . . . denim dress, black shoes

I am going . . . to lunch with my dad

I am reading . . . Bible and Allegheny Hopes by Janice A. Thompson

I am hoping . . . that supper turns out well

On my mind . . . Why can't I let go of things/emotions/relationships and give them to God without taking them back?

Noticing that . . . what some people perceive as unfriendly is just shy  

Pondering these words . . . "O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

From the kitchen . . . Chicken fried deer steak, squash from my garden cooked in the microwave with a little butter, purple hull peas from my garden, corn (from HEB!!), biscuits (homemade hopefully!!), and gravy

Around the house . . . puppies have got to go!!

One of my favorite things . . . Sensual Amber Body Lotion

From my picture journal . . . What do you think—sunrise or sunset?