Task it Tuesday - Dec 7

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Hope you are having a nice December so far. Mine has been more hectic than planned, but that's okay. I love what I do. I have blocked off days around Christmas instead. Here is what is on my list for this week:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Meetings Wednesday, and Friday
• Webinars Tuesday and Thursday
• Market new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Read A Christmas Carol Murder
• Send out client holiday cards--DONE
• Send out family and friends holiday cards
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--moving to January 2021
• Look into getting a small dumpster--moving to January 2021
• Meet with clients Tuesday and Saturday
• Take Sunday off
• Decorate the rest of the house
• Bake something special
• Record video for Rick's Place

What would you like to accomplish this week?

Task it Tuesday - Nov 24

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Well, Thanksgiving week is here. The Christmas tree has been pulled out of the basement. I vainly am attempting to get the house in order despite a work schedule that seems to fill my days. I keep trying to take days off, but it's not happening. As of this morning, I've added four client meetings to my schedule. Here is what I need to accomplish this week

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Blog Wednesday
• Cleaning Wednesday
• Cooking Thursday 
• Review Around the World in More Than 80 Days on Friday
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness--since the book is now out, I'm a bit late on this one
• Mail out a copy of A Christmas Kindness 
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--moving to January 2021
• Look into getting a small dumpster--moving to January 2021
• Prepare for new listing 
• Put up Christmas decorations Saturday
• Take Sunday off

I am probably forgetting something, but let's see how it goes. What is one thing you want to get done this week?

Task it Tuesday - Nov 17

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I can't believe half of November is already done. Part of me is happy that 2020 is almost over. The other part of me says time is moving too fast. 

This will be a week of lots of computer time, since the NAR Conference went virtual this year. I will be sitting at my computer through tomorrow. Here is what else is on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking five days
• Showing Tuesday
• Blog Wednesday
• Reading Around the World in More Than 80 Days 
• Meetings Thursday and Friday
• Come up with marketing plan for the new edition of A Christmas Kindness
• Look into a new publisher for my GAP books--probably won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Look into getting a small dumpster--won't happen, but want to keep it on the list
• Prepare for new listing 
• Take Sunday off

That's it for me. What does your week look like?

Task it Tuesday - Oct 6

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

This is a busy week. I have several meetings and appointments. Here's what's on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Four meetings
• Appointments with new clients
• Continue fall cleaning 
• Look into getting a small dumpster 
• Continue reading Systemology
• WriteAngles virtual conference on Saturday

I hope you're having a nice week. What do you wish to accomplish?

Task it Tuesday - Sep 8

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. I hope you had a nice long weekend. I spent time in the garden, cut down a couple of trees that fell during the last storm, worked on a editing project, and showed houses.

Before we look at this week's to-do list, let's see how I did last week.

• Daily Bible reading--not as much as I should
• Five meetings--DONE
• Start reading Morning Star--a quarter of the way through
• Finish reading Out of No Way for a September 9 review--DONE
• Start fall cleaning on Saturday--not much progress, but started
• Change outdoor decorations Sunday--not done
• Look into getting a small dumpster--not done
• Follow up with architect on house design--husband is doing this
• Pray daily about a big decision--YES

So, how does that make this week look?

• Daily Bible reading
• Walking three days
• Three client meetings
• Stage a condo
• Post review for Out of No Way
• Continue fall cleaning
• Change decorations
• Keep reading Morning Star
• Finish next chapter in editing project
• Put donations on the front porch Saturday
• Clean the shed roof
• Look into getting a small dumpster

What is one task that is always part of your fall cleaning? For me, it's washing all the curtains. 

Task it Tuesday - Aug 18

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

I didn't feel like putting together a list this week. My head is pounding. My schedule is crazy. The ringing in my ears has gotten worse and is affecting my sleep. Still, it must be done. Focus is important to productivity.

Here is what last week's list looked like and the progress I made.

• Daily Bible reading--DONE
• Update planner 
• Six meetings--DONE
• Walk three days--DONE
• Prospect three days--Two days
• Read Five Minutes, Mr. Byner due for review this month--In progress
• Continue cleaning bonus room--Cleaned up another area
• Finish next chapter of The Sisterhood--DONE

So, last week ending being a good one. Hopefully, this week will be good as well. Focus is key. 

• Daily Bible reading--so far, so good
• Update planner--not feeling it, but we will see
• NAR Leadership Summit--Mon-Wed
• Four meetings 
• Read Five Minutes, Mr. Byner due for review this month--probably not until this weekend
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Review of Strong from the Heart by Jon Land--Friday at The Book Connection
• Start editing project

What does your to-do list look like this week?

Task it Tuesday - Aug 11

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

It is not only Tuesday. It is also the Lil' Diva's 19th birthday. How did this...

turn into this...

so quickly? I swear, we just brought her home.

That photo is from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which is where I wish I was right about now. Instead, I'll focus on my to-do list.

I made some progress on last week's list:

• Daily Bible reading--DONE
• Update planner--a week behind
• Two meetings--DONE
• Walk three days--DONE
• Complete Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review--DONE
• Continue cleaning bonus room--Nope
• Finish next chapter of The Sisterhood--about halfway there
• Send out seller's packets--partially done

This week my work schedule is fuller than it has been. The pandemic is giving me a chance to catch up on some outdoor work, since I'm not comfortable going out as much as I was before. I'm still working, but want to be respectful of everyone's concerns too.

Our weekly Bible study is helping me feel more connected than I have been. I am also prospecting more for business, than I was in the last few weeks. I just don't feel like going to the office since I'm really tired of the whole mask thing. It's necessary, I know, but if I can work mostly from home and not wear a mask, why would I go to the office?

Here is what this week's list looks like:

• Daily Bible reading
• Update planner (probably not)
• Six meetings
• Walk three days
• Prospect three days
• Read Five Minutes, Mr. Byner due for review this month
• Continue cleaning bonus room (not likely)
• Finish next chapter of The Sisterhood

Here's a little inspiration to help you and me with our to-do lists.

Task it Tuesday - July 28

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. Last week presented a challenge for me. I simply didn't feel like doing anything. I'm not sure why. Here is what I accomplished:

• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• Weed garden
• Update planner - DONE
• Three doctor's appointments - DONE
• WriteAngles meeting - DONE
• Walk three days - DONE
• Start Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review - Reading now
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Finish chapter 2 of The Sisterhood  - DONE

Overall, I had a great week. I just didn't feel motivated. 

This week, my real estate workload should be manageable, but I definitely need to prospect more. Here is what else I have on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Update planner
• Weed garden
• One meeting
• Visit with my sister from out of state
• Walk three days
• Complete Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Write next chapter of The Sisterhood

What does your to-do list look like? Did you accomplish all you wanted to last week? How do you celebrate when you check something off your to-do list?

Task it Tuesday - June 16

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. This will be my busiest week of the month. In addition to the Realtor Week of Advocacy in Massachusetts, I have numerous other appointments--personal and professional. It always gets hectic this time of year. I am going to do my best to take Saturday off. I haven't even thought about what to get my husband for Father's Day.

Here is my list for the week

1. Bible reading
2. Realtor Week of Advocacy (Mon - Wed)
3. Meal planning (done)
4. Editing more of The Sisterhood 
5. Blogging (scheduled)
6. Doctor appointments (Mon, Fri)
7. Clean bonus room (definitely not this week, but needs to stay on the list)
8. Get books together for vacation (done)
9. Start packing 

What does your list look like this week? 

Task it Tuesday - June 9

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. I have a busy day planned, but the rest of the week should be better. I am thinking I will never be a planner person. Last time I looked at it was mid-May. Such is the life of a panster. I don't outline before I write at all.

Here is my list for the week

1. Bible reading
2. Meetings Tuesday and Friday
3. Meal planning (done)
4. Editing more of The Sisterhood 
5. Clean bonus room (probably not this week, but needs to stay on the list)
6. Prospecting
7. Catch up on planner (maybe)
8. Take Saturday and Sunday off

What does your list look like this week? What is one thing you've been putting off that you want to accomplish this week?

Task it Tuesday - May 26

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

After a busy weekend, I'm looking forward to Thursday when I can concentrate on some editing of The Sisterhood. I finished taking photos of the crafts we needed to complete for additional material in A Christmas Kindness. I'm not sure if the publisher's plan is still to release it this fall. COVID-19 has changed so many things that I didn't want to ask. I'll find out once I send the photos.

Here is my list for the week

1. Bible reading
2. Meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
3. Cooking 
4. Editing The Sisterhood 
5. Clean bonus room (This really isn't happening this week, but I want to keep it on the list.)
6. Prospecting

Did you have a  nice weekend? What's on your list to accomplish this week? 

Task it Tuesday - May 19

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Lately I am goofing off more than accomplishing anything. Today is my day to get a few things done. I need to get the crafts photographed for one of my books so the publisher can proceed with it. I have a busy two days of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday will be an easier day.

Here is this week's list:

1. Bible reading
2. Meetings 
3. Continue closing out my father-in-law's affairs (almost done)
4. Cooking 
5. Re-organize The Sisterhood ( one of my works in progress) to figure out what to do with it
6. Clean bonus room
7. Crafts 

Did you create a to-do list this week? What does it look like?

Task it Tuesday - May 12

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

We are back to Tuesday. Last week was a productive one; I even organized my home office. My planner is updated, I am caught up on reviews needed right now and am working on the past due reviews, most of the craft supplies are in, and Friday's closing went off without a hitch.

Here is this week's list:

1. Bible reading
2. Meetings 
3. Book reviews (done)
4. Continue closing out my father-in-law's affairs (almost done)
5. Cooking 
6. Re-organize The Sisterhood ( one of my works in progress) to figure out what to do with it
7. Clean bonus room

What does your to-do list look like? What is the most pressing item on your list?

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #4

 

It has been a month of closed schools and businesses. Over the last week, grocery stores in the area have taken even greater precautions to keep consumers and employees safe, like one way arrows in all the aisles to control the flow of traffic.

My new normal is working mostly from home, Zoom for all work or volunteer group meetings, and the entire family home for who knows how long. For Easter, I tried to keep things as normal as possible. Easter egg hunt for the girls in the morning and turkey and ham for dinner. Even though we had a much smaller group than usual, we had a nice time.

More deaths from the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke hit the news (52 so far). Our hearts go out to all those affected. I am grateful that my father-in-law is holding his own so far.

My family is finally getting to see my neat freak side. I think I have washed the kitchen floor three times this week. It helps with my allergies, and now that the living areas have had a good cleaning, I want to keep them that way.

I've read a mix of fiction and non-fiction lately. Before I became a blogger, I had read only non-fiction for two years. I'm grateful blogging turned me back on to the great fiction out there. My main blog, The Book Connection, has been around for more than a decade. Some blogs have come and gone, but I'm thrilled that the loyal readers keep tuning in. More time to blog is a blessing of the current situation. I'm also using my extra time to reach out to folks to see how they are doing. We need to support each other.



When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2

Mailbox Monday - Mar 30

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, we are back to Monday again. How are you all doing? We are healthy and fine. A lot has been happening around here: some organizing, some cleaning, prepping the vegetable garden for the seeds I ordered, and the youngest is getting ready to head back to school (virtually) tomorrow. Here are a few photos from this week:

A bright orange bird visits our birdbath

How fun to wake up to this face in the morning

A colorful surprise in the mailbox garden

Speaking of mailboxes, mine held two gifts this week.

What did your mailbox hold? Did something special arrive?

Here's hoping you have a blessed week.

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Task it Tuesday - Feb 11

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Gosh, I feel like I can't stay on top of things lately. The flu really made life challenging the last couple of weeks. So, it is Wednesday, but still want to get this posted.

• Daily Bible reading
• Log food in Lose it! daily
• Maintain planner daily
• Continue real estate bootcamp 
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan - DONE
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness (probably not, but need to keep it on the list)
• Edit two chapters of a project
• Exercise Thursday and Sunday (Every day I am striving for 5,000 steps also, but am averaging around 2,500)
• Clean the bonus room
• Drink more water 

What does your to-do list look like this week? Are you staying on track with your 2020 goals?

Task it Tuesday - Jan 28

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

So, here we are at the end of January. How has your month been? Mine has been busy from a writing/editing perspective, but real estate has slowed down a bit. I have, however, been prospecting like crazy, so I have a listing appointment this week and a new listing coming up soon.

I am happy about the progress I made last week. Here is the new list.

• Daily Bible reading
• Log food in Lose it! daily
• Maintain planner daily
• Start real estate bootcamp Tuesday
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan - DONE
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness (Good thing: talked to publisher and I have a bit more time on this one. Challenging thing: I need more pages than I thought.)
• Edit next two chapters of project - working on 
• Copy edits for Dust of Lies - working on 
• Exercise Wednesday and Saturday (Every day I am striving for 5,000 steps also, but am averaging around 3,000)
• Closing Friday
• Clean the bonus room
• Drink more water - more of a goal than a task, but want to stay focused

What does your to-do list look like this week? What is the most important thing for you to accomplish this week?

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.

Task it Tuesday - Jan 14

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

As you saw from yesterday's post, last week ended up as a productive one. Part of that is because the home buying/selling season isn't in full swing yet, but also because I'm focused on being intentional and mindful in what I do this year. I made two important decisions over the last couple of weeks that have helped relieve some of my uncertainty. Now, I need to move forward with purpose.

Here is what is on my list this week:

• Daily Bible reading. 
• Log food in Lose it! daily.
• Maintain planner daily.
• Board meeting Tuesday.
• Start real estate bootcamp Tuesday.
• Branding workshop Wednesday.
• Board meeting Wednesday.
• Grocery shop Monday and meal plan. (DONE)
• Finish extra material for A Christmas Kindness.
• Edit next two chapters of project. 
• Exercise Thursday and Saturday. Every day I am striving for 5,000 steps.
• Bylaws meeting Friday.
• Take health assessment for insurance.
• Clean the bonus room.

What does your week look like? Do you create to-do lists? How do you reward yourself when you cross a line item off your to-do list?

Mailbox Monday - Nov 25

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.

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope all my USA friends are prepared for Thanksgiving. I made myself a promise to shop early so I can avoid the grocery store this week.

With the work schedule slowing down a bit I was able to clean the living areas, put up some fall decorations, get some reading done, and enjoy lunch out with our church family. Since the church split up, we don't see one another as much as we used to, and we knew once the holidays are upon us we might not be getting together. What a tremendous blessing to see each other and spend a few hours catching up.

I still haven't settled on a new church. Nothing has felt right yet. Part of that might be because the girls remain angry over what happened and refuse to attend a new church, so I go by myself or with my mother-in-law when she is here. I would love to attend as a family again. 

My physical mailbox was empty, but I grabbed this Kindle freebie on Sunday. It is the first in a series. I hope I get to read at least one seasonal book before December ends. 

I pray all of those celebrating Thanksgiving find it to be a day filled with happiness and blessings.