Terry Ann’s tips for organizing and making the visual noise of an untidy place go silent and calm.

Terry Ann’s tips for organizing and making the visual noise of an untidy place go silent and calm.

·       Make your bed in the morning, maybe right as you climb out… it is a work surface for laundry, paperwork, purging other items and it is so worth it to have at least one thing done each day.

·       Set your morning alarm at a place in your room where you will have to get out of bed to turn it off.  You will be up on time.

·       Keep to a routine in the morning, if it be coffee, tea, exercise, prayer and study, makeup, shower or all, do it every morning. It is your time for self-care and to make a good start. 

·       Have a first aid kit and know how to use it.

·       Have extra water stored away for extended emergency.

·       Have an emergency plan for the household and a communication/meet up plan if all fails.

·       Get a diffuser, or another kind of air freshener, they are so clean smelling at least if nothing else it smells clean.

·       Make your daily task automatic.  Give yourself 15/20 minutes to the cleaning you must do. Dusting, dishwasher loading, laundry, toilet or trash take out.  This time might need to be adjusted if you have more than one person in your household, or you may need to split the chores between the two of you, each take care of something while the other is working on the other items.  Once your time is up leave it for the next day.  Revisit this if things get behind… too much leaving things for tomorrow can defeat the purpose, but too much being done all on one day will tire you out and keep you from being motivated tomorrow.

·        Have a box or basket you use as a drop area, things you will need to put away before the day is over, but just can’t get upstairs or to that part of the house just yet.  I like a handled basket because then I can carry it around and distribute the stuff where it goes.

·       Fold or hang clothes right out of the dryer they are less wrinkled that way, not so much ironing.

·       Clean your shoes regularly, you look so much more put together if those toes are shinny.

·       Make a “To Do” list each day, make it short and prioritize it.  If you have no motivation put the mundane on the list. Water the plants, get the mail are acceptable items, just realize that will not be every day and move up to, things like make a budget and write a will.

·       Use a calendar, planner, phone calendar or google calendar.  Set alerts that will get you to your appointments on time.  Looks like you care!

·       Have an email signature formatted for all your correspondence it keeps from you having to add that info to all your communications

·       Remember that when you shop you do not have to take home everything you like and have money for… The Store is a place to STORE an items until it fits into your life, when you have time and space to enjoy it.  In the meantime you get to store your money in your bank where it make interest!

·       Have a place, notebook or journal, to put your great ideas, make shopping list for those craft ideas and write down instructions for your inspirations.  Now these list are not to actually be used unless you have the time, money, space and motivation to do them immediately.  You can always get the items for it later when you have the money and time.  Don’t bring home supplies and items for a someday project.

·       Have an inbox that holds those things in the mail, you have to answer pay or otherwise file and do that at least once a week.  I like Mondays or Tuesdays because if there needs to be follow up by someone there will still be time in the week to work on it more.

·        Update your resume every 4 – 6 months.

·       Keep a small stock of stamps and envelopes.

·       Do the daunting sorting and purging with a timer on, 30 minutes, an hour, 2 hours, and then stop.  It will be there tomorrow.  Just do it again tomorrow until it is finished.

·       As you sort through items keep a box, bag or container in view, marked, sell, donate and keep.  Think through each item and only put it in one of these three places do not put it down where you found it.  Once decided do not change containers. 

·       The items you have decided to sell must be put up for sale somewhere or in a yard sale by the end of the month or they get re labeled as donate.  The purpose is to declutter not to make money, the goal to declutter will enrich your life so much more than mere money.

·       Donate those items as soon as you can, I take a bag to the car even if I am not planning on going by the charity, because I may end up doing that.  Never buy from a thrift without donating at least double what you buy.

·       Every item you keep must have a “home” within your home, someplace where it can be found when needed and organized with like items.  Put things away constantly put things back where you found them.  This is so basic and so important! Simple “your mother told you” wisdom that will help keep clutter at bay.

·       Don’t keep duplicates of the same items unless there is a really good, awesome, earth shattering reason for doing so. “Collections” are the gateway drug to hording.

·       Pinterest is a good place to keep interesting articles and ideas.  If it isn’t digital you can scan or phone camera photo it and make your own pin from that file.  Keep away from hording articles and magazines with stuff in them you will never find them later unless you organize them now.

·       Set up a file system and use it.  Important papers like wills, insurance, health, bank, work, resume, passport and other stuff like that is hard to find when the pressure is on to get it for an important event.

·       Work and rest and relaxation must be balanced, make sure to give your work all the time required, but not more than you are being compensated for.  Balance as the work, rest cycle works for you but be sure it actually works and you have enough time to take care of both!

·       Make a budget, such a stress reliever! Use a digital money tracker like “mint” or “every dollar” or good old pen and paper, find out where those pennies are being spent.  Now you can see how to proceed without worry and find out where the dollars actually go… this is super empowering and useful to keep from overspending and making sure you have the $$ for the things you need and want.  Use your money tracker often, at least weekly, to keep in touch with spending patterns.  I keep paper receipts on my desk and once a week I enter them into every dollar, this helps me see where I have splurged and where I have been wise, learn as you go and get better.  Save something every month, this will be one of the benefits of using a budget and it will look different for everyone.  Just do it!

·       Bring your lunch to work, it will always be healthier, quicker and less $$.

·       Learn how to make a salad and make all kinds of salads, they are so much better and healthier than that fast food and actually less $$.

·       Learn something new as often as you can do it, a class, a seminar, a study or an adventure will be so much more valuable than anything you can bring home to put on the shelf.

·       Go to a gym class, spin class or Zumba, if you try to do it on your own, there will be no social pressure to keep it up and a scheduled time is easier to work into the plan for clothing, budget and time management.

·       Most important of all… Look for joy and remember that experiences are 100% more lasting than any items you may own.  Besides, all we own actually own us… in time, cleaning, dusting, organizing, insuring, storing, protecting… and for what? …to impress someone or to look at every once and a while and feel some connection?  I feel some powerful connection by looking at the mountains, a lovely flower or a sunrise or set… and spending time with loved ones, serving in the community, going to church or a musical… so many better connections to people with all the memories and experiences inside my head rather than on the shelf. 

·       God Bless.

the real me....

The real me is a child of God.

Born…. And protected by God my entire life.

As a child my parents took me to church, chapel, vacation bible school, and they were involved in the church wherever we moved, serving and leading small groups and youth.  I had an excellent example! My dad had wanted to be a pastor, but God had a better plan for him.

One night as we left church late it was dark in the parking lot we ran to get to our car, my dad was away at work and it was just us girls, running in the dark.  “Whoooo” my mom said, as she rushed us to the auto, “we have to hurry we don’t want the boogie man to get us!”  “Oh my” I replied, “God will not let anything bad happen to us.”  My faith and the fact that a 5 year old would say it shocked my mom into calm. 

I grew and adjusted…. God continued to whisper into my ear… I listened. As a young child I was somewhat concerned that I would not confess my sin enough…so I prayed a lot.

At 14 I went to a Bible Camp in the mountains of Japan, there was an evangelistic speaker, Dr. Cook, who took us through the steps to salvation.  I had heard those before but for the first time I realized I didn’t have to continually ask to be forgiven.  I stood up and told my testimony to my group that I always knew God was for me and that I was saved but this was the way to find peace.

~~~ after 16 I had a heart break, a young girl with a broken heart is mad at everything, I turned away from God, and decided to do everything my way… It was a sad and confusing youth, the details that are not necessary to share…

One night at 19 years old, I was alone in my apartment, sad, worried, lonely, and self-evaluating….

I prayed for God to help me and told him I could not continue on my own because all my ideas had ended in more sadness and loneliness…  within a half hour, a couple of people knocked on my door and handed out a flyer for a new church that just opened up nearby… I knew this was the answer.  I attended and got baptized.

I continued to follow God and thought there were times of desert and times of full spiritual engagement… there was always God.

I have to say that in Christ is the way to peace… in Christ is the way to wisdom…. In Christ is the way to grow spiritual strength.

I think that there are times and seasons, for everything in your life… and there are spiritual gifts that sometimes show up when God needs you for them and then are not in your life for a while, or ever.  I have had many seasons and there are times I have had wisdom and times I do not… times I had discernment and times I don’t.  It goes on… and I know I am his.

When does adulthood start... when should it?

OK

I find these two facts interesting...
1- When I was a teen (mid 70's), young adults were expected to pay for their own college and those who did well and were motivated did just that... not for everyone, but the smart and dedicated. Now everyone is expected to go to college and parents are expected to pay for it.   Could this be one reason why are there so many adults acting like big kids... ?returning home to be taken care of after college and putting off joining the adult world till the early 30's.
2- When I was a teen, a young couple who wanted to get married were supported by both parents in that decision and usually a majority of the cost was paid by the parents.  This would support the couple by launching them into the adult world.  Now young adults put off getting married and when they do decide (later and later) they end up paying for everything themselves. They go into debt to have a "fantasy day".  Instead of striving to become responsible adults in their early 20's they "live together" and think that replaces the commitment and legal connection of a marriage.  
No wonder we have so many young adults who are acting like kids. 

IF

'if' by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Everyday Dressing ? ~~ Fashion Questions?

I got answers… they may not be much, in my humble opinion, however, here goes…!

Q;  I have difficulty deciding how to dress every day, should I wear my best stuff, or just save it for good?

A; Every day is a good day, today is good, you are good and you are worth wearing the best items you have in your closet.  My advice can best be explained by this…--->>> You should dress like you would, if you were to going to be meeting your lover today.  If you are married or in a steady relationship you ARE meeting your lover, if not then well, are we looking?  Then dress like he/she may walk right into your life that day.  The clothes in your closet are going out of style and aging just hanging in there.  Do not save things for best, as today is best, and as long as it will work for your schedule, you should consider today a “best” day.  As you pick out what to wear each morning, choose things that will be appropriate for your daily activities, but remember you may meet your lover and don’t you want to look your best for him/her? 

Jeans for Boomers ~ Fashion Question

Fashion Questions?

I got answers… they may not be much, in my humble opinion, however, here goes…!

    Q: I am not so skinny or young anymore but I still love to wear jeans.  What style of jeans are the best for us “older” jean wearing, young at hearts? 

    A: Jeans are for all ages! Jeans for an older body must fit correctly and have some stretch in them so that they are comfortable.  Anyone can find a pair that will work for them! you must try them on, walk around, sit down and stand up, wear your shoes with them. They must stay where they are supposed to, not grab you in the wrong place and be comfortable in all the positions you will be wearing them.  As for the style they should not fit to the waist but somewhere between 2 and 4 inches down from the natural waist, with a slight curve upward in the back. The color should be blue or dark blue to a black to look more like slacks, even perhaps with the crease down the front like a pair of slacks.  Whatever pair you choose do not pick a neon, pair.  If you must buy a colored or a white, pair make sure it is part of a complete outfit, which is also stylish.  Oh and as far as the "skinny jean" trend goes, be careful... only for those who are already skinny. There are several companies that make good choices for older jeans wearers.  Here are a couple of my favorate ones....

1. Not Your daughter’s Jeans, carried by Nordstrom's
2. Lucky Brand, has a few with lots of stretch.
3. 7 for all mankind, also has a few that are comfortable the price is quite high however, find these at the thrift to save some bucks.

Statement of Facts ~

     I am home on Whidbey, but already  bitten again, by the travel bug! I my Facebook entries have journaled a varied and busy visit to London, my Blog entries illuminate much of my classes and some of my thoughts about life and school. For some reason I feel the need to go back to London or to keep traveling somewhere. Soon I will get an apartment in Seattle this time with a view!  Perhaps I will at last finish school and that my new adventure will begin again a new phase… perhaps I will find romance, or a new charity that will grab my heart… I await God to show the way, knowing it is going to be good.

Being at Graduation ~ As a family member

It was fairly fustrating to be at the UW Graduation for something like 3,000 people. 

There was just no way to find where she was... so we texted, "Where are you?"  But because of so many people doing the same time, most of the texts didn't go through the first or second time... It went on for hours, but some time in the first hour I got this text photo, along with a general location description...

So here she is...

AND there she is somewhere over there....

So I replied with a general area where we were sitting and this photo...

It was raining just a tiny bit.

Later that evening I got a good photo of her hat.  It was a great day!

Love One Another !

This is actually a photo of me and my sister, in 1973!

I Love this commandment and work to follow this one like no other!

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
John 13:34
Jesus makes many statements in the Gospel of John, but this is the only commandment that he identifies as such, calling it "new." Perhaps if he emphasized it so specifically, we should cling to it with every ounce of our effort.

Yessssssssssss...sssssssss.......ssss.s.s..s..s..ss.s..s..

They did it!

Yes this is my mom !

Last month Costco connections magazine, she was so surprised! Nice.

Whatever ~ I love where I live.

I have heard and experienced myself the great many gray days here in the northwest! Some people come to visit and never see the beautiful mountains.... if they make an appearance...it is just a fleeting glance through the clouds. When I first moved here the trees, our neighborhood, and the rainy days kept me from seeing the mountain's for about the first 6 months. One day I turned the corner near our home and the sun had just popped out from behind the ever hovering clouds... Ta... DA ♪♫♫♪♪♪ ~ !!! I was then determined, from then till now, when I see those beautiful clouds lift, and I see the lofty heights of strength and beauty, covered in snow even in the summer, I will be glad. I will be filled with that view and really soak it into me. Thank you God! Then when my eyes fill up with the sight, it brings a kind of inspiring joy.

this is the morning & here is the JOY!

Today in my daily verse!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5
God doesn't hold grudges. His personality is not like ours; His ways are not like ours. Be free from your self-condemning chains. Be joyful this morning. Experience the grace and freedom that abound through Christ living in your heart!

Some thoughts I have had and have to keep re~learning.

Trials have no value or intrinsic meaning in the themselves... It is the way we respond to those trials that makes all the difference. J.E. Tada

My thoughts exactly..... as humans we tend to want to look only at our own hurts and either soak in the pain or lash out at others.

Both the the lamb (who soaks in pain) and the lion (who lashes out) feels the thorn prick each responds in an inappropriate way... for humans.

God wants us to "give him" the thorn and the pain and learn compassion for the experience or patience. Sometime the lesson is specific for us alone. We can either get bitter or better. Those around us will either suffer from our inappropriate responses or reap the added benefits from our learning our lesson. What a "better way" to learn how to, take care of another with pain, than have experienced it yourself.

Peace!

We never know where the danger will come from, our idea that we are any sort of control is only an illusion. Each day we live by Grace alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

God is doing something in you. If the going is tough, keep pressing forward. One way or other, the work He's doing is going to get done, so your cooperation and willingness to play ball will only add to your joy and the end result according to His perfect design. Embrace the journey!

Flood ~ My Soul !

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
Matthew 25:40

Your service toward those in need is your service unto God Himself. Don't endeavor to preach the Gospel; be the Gospel.




Nashville Flood Relief
If you're interested in helping with the relief efforts for the Nashville Flood, please visit here for more information on how you can be of service.

Trust in the Lord

A few weeks ago this Eagle landed in the trees in my yard....snap!

Today in my Daily verse, this email arrived.......

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

~~~~~~>> Psalm 56:10,11 <<~~~~~~

Evaluate where you put your trust and what you allow to evoke fear. Be reminded that God is trustworthy and it is in Him who you should invest your treasure of trust.

Living a victorious life requires each of us to evaluate, inspect, observe, examine and dissect our own life. Prayerfully looking for ways we are defeated, ways we are lost, ways we are cowed into not fully enjoying the blessings God brings our way. I will not be a victim and I will grab all the joy and blessing God gives! I will rise on wings like an eagles! Amen.

Christmas is made of this ~ Love

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10,11

For His sacrifice, let us be thankful. Let us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas as we endeavor to love as He loved and give as He gave.

How do you spell Perseverance?

This is how it is spelt, not with letters and words or even works, but with every breath we take and every cake we bake (to quote a famous song). He is watching us... breathe in the day and ask for help...It arrives just in time. I recall those Eagles that swooped down, at just the last moment, and rescued Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings), they walked through it all and were kept safe and allowed to see the beauty of the new and the rising of the new sun in glory because they slept, ate and lived the word perseverance.

...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.Isaiah 40:31 ~ ~ ~

In my opinion, one of the hardest things to do is wait. Be encouraged, though - God's timing is perfect so remember to trust Him and as you wait - take time to envision having renewed strength - running and not being weary - walking without feeling faint. The wait will be worth your while.

Scars of Life

A friend sent this one to me and I just had to post it here... touching and true.

SCARS OF LIFE Some years ago,
on a hot summer day
in South Florida ,
a little boy decided to go
for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into
the cool water,
he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water,
not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together.

In utter fear,
he ran toward the water,
yelling to his son as loudly
as he could. Hearing his voice,
the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn
to swim to his father.
It was too late.
Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. >From the dock,
the father grabbed his little boy by the arms
just as the alligator
snatched his legs.
That began an incredible
tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father,
but the father was much
too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams,
raced from his truck,
took aim and shot the alligator.Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital,
the little boy survived.
His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack
of the animal.

And, on his arms,
were deep scratches
where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort
to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter
who interviewed the boy
after the trauma,
asked if he would
show him his scars.
The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter,
'But look at my arms.
I have great scars
on my arms, too.
I have them because
my Dad wouldn't let go.' You and I can identify
with that little boy.
We have scars, too.
No, not from an alligator,
but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars
are unsightly and have
caused us deep regret.
But, some wounds,
my friend,
are because God has refused
to let go.
In the midst of your struggle, He's been there
holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that
God loves you.
You are a child of God.
He wants to protect you
and
provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life
is filled with peril -
and we forget
that the enemy is waiting
to attack.
That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have
the scars of His love
on your arms,
be very, very grateful.
He did not and will not ever let you go. Please pass this on
to those you love.
God has blessed you,
so that you
can be
a blessing to others.
You just never know
where
a person is in his/her life
and
what they are going through. Never judge another
person's scars,
because you don't know
how they got them.
Also,
it is so important that
we are not selfish,
to receive the blessings
of these messages,
without forwarding them
to someone else. Right now,
someone needs to know that God loves them,
and you love them, too -
enough to not let them go .

Always
Tell Your Family
And Friends
How Much
You Love Them!!!