As I was talking with Katie yesterday, I came to the realization that after today, I won't have Sunny again for two weeks (with the exception of a quick overnight this weekend). Two weeks. Now I have absolutely no excuse for not getting to some of my unfinished projects. That's exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
After Sunny leaves today I plan to sit down and make a list of the projects I think I can tackle in the next two weeks. Then I plan to place asterisks next to the items that I can realistically hope to accomplish.
There. Now I've announced it to the world. I have projects to finish and the time to finish them in. I hope accountability on this scale will work for me. That I'll have progress to report along the way...
Showing posts with label hobbies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hobbies. Show all posts
5.25.2011
12.27.2010
A Look Back...
This week, besides taking down my Christmas decorations, I will be looking back at 2010 and evaluating it. I will also be looking forward to 2011 and planning for it. Today I’m looking back:
This year it was clear that God was working on several areas of my life with me. Primarily, generosity, gratitude, and trust. As so often happens, these were the areas I was feeling prompted to work on myself!
Gratitude: I have been so grateful this year for God’s provision, for His ever-presence, for His interest in the smallest details of my life. I do not have the words to explain to you my gratitude for how God has provided for us since late 2007 when the housing market began its collapse. And if that weren’t enough, He has provided for us this year by Dan’s appraisal business increasing more than we could have imagined! It’s not back to the old levels, but it’s way ahead of 2007, 2008, 2009 levels.
Generosity: The day the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, my thoughts immediately went to an orphanage that I had seen on TLC’s show “Adoption Stories”. There were several episodes involving this orphanage and I remembered the director’s name, Dixie. I also remembered her flaming red hair! I could not remember the name of the orphanage. I googled on what I thought it was and found it. Thank God none of the children had been injured, and although they were all very shaken, there was no major damage to their buildings. I felt this overwhelming desire to help, but was a novice at organizing a charity drive. I decided to just do it, and we collected eight boxes of general donations to send to Haiti. Then, this past summer, two friends and I joined together for a Flip-Flop drive for the orphanage to celebrate our birthdays. Our goal was 162 pairs of flip-flops and we collected well over 300 pairs. Wow! What a great experience that was! This past week I went to Family Support Resources to wrap Christmas gifts for kids living in the 20 group homes managed by FSR. I came away with a great idea for a charity drive for their kids… look for details later this week.
Trust: I read a book this summer that revolutionized my prayer life, and my trust in God. The book suggested that instead of praying and asking for the resources we need for our daily life, we should be thanking God in advance for supplying those resources. In His time. From sources He chooses. Our job is to trust that He will provide and to wisely use what He does provide. Wow, that really spoke to me and beginning that day I changed my prayers. I no longer ask God to send us appraisal orders. I thank Him for the orders we’ve received, for the orders we will receive, and I pray for wisdom in using those fees the way He intends us to use them. This has made a huge difference in my attitude.
This year has been exciting in a variety of ways. Dan has taught me more about the administrative side of appraisals so I can be a partner of sorts in DEK Appraisals. He plans to teach me more next year, which I’m looking forward to. I like to be a contributor to the success of his business.
I spent time with friends this year, read lots of books, enjoyed time with my kids and granddaughter. I didn’t cross-stitch as much I wanted to, but there’s always next year.
In 2010, I really felt the difference of being out from under some of the stress-load of the previous three years. I felt it emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. It was wonderful! It’s funny how you don’t realize the weight of the stress until it starts to lift. You actually feel lighter.
All in all, 2010 was a fantastic year. Now, I can turn my thoughts toward 2011…
This year it was clear that God was working on several areas of my life with me. Primarily, generosity, gratitude, and trust. As so often happens, these were the areas I was feeling prompted to work on myself!
Gratitude: I have been so grateful this year for God’s provision, for His ever-presence, for His interest in the smallest details of my life. I do not have the words to explain to you my gratitude for how God has provided for us since late 2007 when the housing market began its collapse. And if that weren’t enough, He has provided for us this year by Dan’s appraisal business increasing more than we could have imagined! It’s not back to the old levels, but it’s way ahead of 2007, 2008, 2009 levels.
Generosity: The day the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, my thoughts immediately went to an orphanage that I had seen on TLC’s show “Adoption Stories”. There were several episodes involving this orphanage and I remembered the director’s name, Dixie. I also remembered her flaming red hair! I could not remember the name of the orphanage. I googled on what I thought it was and found it. Thank God none of the children had been injured, and although they were all very shaken, there was no major damage to their buildings. I felt this overwhelming desire to help, but was a novice at organizing a charity drive. I decided to just do it, and we collected eight boxes of general donations to send to Haiti. Then, this past summer, two friends and I joined together for a Flip-Flop drive for the orphanage to celebrate our birthdays. Our goal was 162 pairs of flip-flops and we collected well over 300 pairs. Wow! What a great experience that was! This past week I went to Family Support Resources to wrap Christmas gifts for kids living in the 20 group homes managed by FSR. I came away with a great idea for a charity drive for their kids… look for details later this week.
Trust: I read a book this summer that revolutionized my prayer life, and my trust in God. The book suggested that instead of praying and asking for the resources we need for our daily life, we should be thanking God in advance for supplying those resources. In His time. From sources He chooses. Our job is to trust that He will provide and to wisely use what He does provide. Wow, that really spoke to me and beginning that day I changed my prayers. I no longer ask God to send us appraisal orders. I thank Him for the orders we’ve received, for the orders we will receive, and I pray for wisdom in using those fees the way He intends us to use them. This has made a huge difference in my attitude.
This year has been exciting in a variety of ways. Dan has taught me more about the administrative side of appraisals so I can be a partner of sorts in DEK Appraisals. He plans to teach me more next year, which I’m looking forward to. I like to be a contributor to the success of his business.
I spent time with friends this year, read lots of books, enjoyed time with my kids and granddaughter. I didn’t cross-stitch as much I wanted to, but there’s always next year.
In 2010, I really felt the difference of being out from under some of the stress-load of the previous three years. I felt it emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. It was wonderful! It’s funny how you don’t realize the weight of the stress until it starts to lift. You actually feel lighter.
All in all, 2010 was a fantastic year. Now, I can turn my thoughts toward 2011…
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