Monday Morning Ramblings

I didn't have anything new to share as far as books in my mailbox, so I figured I would ramble a bit this morning.

Here is how my week went as far as meeting my goals from Task it Tuesday:

• Daily Bible reading - Done
• Log food in Lose it! daily - Done
• Maintain planner daily - Done
• Meeting Tuesday - Done
• Start real estate bootcamp Tuesday - Not done
• Meeting Wednesday - Done
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan - Done
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness - Not done
• Edit next two chapters of project - Working on
• Copy edits for Dust of Lies - Working on
• Exercise Saturday and Sunday - Not done
• Bylaws meeting Friday - Done
• Take health assessment for insurance - Done
• Clean the bonus room - Probably next week
• Organize spice and herb shelf in pantry - Done

I made decent progress this week, but I am bummed at still having a bonus room filled with clutter. My hope is to turn that into the exercise area, but I can't use that as an excuse not to exercise. I'm happy I am keeping up with tracking my calories, reading my Bible, and maintaining my meal plan and mindfulness journal. The real test will be if I can do those things once we hit the spring market.

Working on editing today. Then I need to finalize the extra material for A Christmas Kindness. 

I'm still looking for a new church. Honestly, I haven't gone out of my way to attend services every week. My heart is broken realizing this will no longer be family time. The girls have no interest and the hubby barely any interest. They want the old church back, which doesn't exist anymore. Still, I need to move forward and find what I need.

That's it for today's ramblings. I hope you all have a blessed week.

Mailbox Monday - Jun 3

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

It's that wonderful time of year again--end of school. This year it came about a month earlier than usual. Both girls are done with school until August. With the Lil' Diva graduating from high school--thank God for little blessings--it was a hectic week of senior events and a medical procedure that I foolishly jammed between them.

Prom night

Lil' Diva and Yia-Yia

Lil' Diva, Lil' Princess & the Boy

Our Graduate

I truly can't believe she graduated already. It seems like she just started Kindergarten.

The other thing that happened this weekend is that we decided there was nothing left at our old church to save. I'm sad, but strangely at peace with the whole thing. God has a plan. I'm sure it will be revealed at some point.

On the mailbox front, the only new offering is this book that I needed to review.

What was in your mailbox? 

Brokenhearted

(stock photo I used for VBS one year)

This was one of the hardest weekends in a long time. After weeks of going back and forth, and a great deal of prayer, I left my church. Out of respect for people there, I won't go into great detail, but it became obvious over the last few months that it was time to find a new place to worship.

My heart is broken. We got married in that church. Our daughters grew up there. We've made so many good friends in the twenty years we worshiped there. I never thought this day would come. I've served on the Church Council for over a decade and held different leadership roles. I simply can't believe I won't be walking through those doors next weekend.

As brokenhearted as I am, it was the right decision. We must all be true to ourselves. We must stand up for what we believe. We must pray for God's direction and listen to what He says, even when it's hard.

Please pray for me, my friends. Please also pray for the church I left behind, that they will continue to seek God's will for their little church.

Mailbox Monday - Jan 27

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Well, last week went by fast. I planned to blog here a couple more times, but never fit it in. Work was busy with appointments, meetings, and taping a real estate segment for WWLP's Mass Appeal.

This weekend we had a great potluck supper at church. I didn't even need to eat dinner on Sunday night because I was still full from lunch.

While my physical mailbox was empty this week, I did treat myself to two Kindle freebies. I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't resist. The second one made me think of Murder, She Wrote meets The Love Boat, and I had to grab it.

What was in your mailbox? Anything I should be adding to my wish list? 

Blessings from My Church Family

We knew heading to church this morning would bring with it sadness. In addition to our regular service, we were holding a potluck to celebrate the five years of dedication and direction our interim pastor and his wife have provided. A new pastor is starting next weekend.

It's been our privilege and honor to call Duncan and Gwen our friends. Duncan married us 18 years ago in the same church we still attend. There have been numerous events, meetings, and moments of fellowship along the way. In our times of struggle, Duncan and Gwen could always be counted on to lend an ear, pray, and guide.

As is typical of these selfless people, I arrived to service and was handed a gift--this book. Everyone in the church received a copy. We were encouraged to read it together, to read it with our spouses, and to read it as the church transitions to a new leader.

It was also a day for me to be humbled. At the end of service, Gwen went around the room to each person and shared thoughts about him/her. By the time she got to me, I already had tears in my eyes. Tears are swimming as I type now. Of all the things someone could say about me, I certainly didn't expect this to be how anyone could see me. Not me the impatient mom; not me the short-tempered wife; not me the negative self-talker. How could anyone see me as...the good Christian?

Have you ever looked up "how to be a good Christian?" When you Google it you get 1,550,000,000 results. If the few articles I read are accurate guidelines, I fail miserably.

But isn't that part of being a Christian? We seek to do God's will--we fail. We promise not to lose our temper again--we fail. We ask for God's help--we still fail. The Bible is filled with people who failed from time to time.  Aren't we reminded in Paul's Letter to the Romans "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)?

I'm not perfect. I could never hope to be. My friend's words have encouraged me to try harder to be the Christian I want to be.

Broken Hearts

While on vacation, we received news that a member of our church family suffered a stroke. Dianne, a wife and mother of three children, was called home to her Creator yesterday. Our hearts are broken over the sudden loss of our dear friend. I hope you'll join us in praying for her family as they cope with this unexpected loss.

Wordless Wednesday