New year ~ new activities

I got most of what I wanted to get accomplished done yesterday, but not for the week as a whole. Even so I feel good about the progress of my new daily/ weekly schedule. Like all new habits, getting comfortable in them takes time and practice. Note to self - remember I said time and practice. It is so easy to get discouraged when plans don't go as we planned. Many who make resolutions, goals or plans will give up at the first sign of resistance. A sure sign of defeat. Each morning breaks new with the opportunity to live the day out with fresh resolve and understanding, that an ultimate plan is in place that can trump our plans. In doing so we can better understand what is often perceived in our eyes as set backs. As instead heavenly detours back towards what our focus needs to be. Or a turn off the self chosen path onto a journey waiting to be experienced that we hadn't even considered. Both of which lead to living the intended purpose for the day, living an abundant life.

Besides making lists and setting up a schedule of sorts for basic home care, pursuit of personal interest and all the areas I would like to organize. I am trying to stay extremely flexible and more laid back in my approach to it all. Which gives me a daily challenge of not pushing ahead ~ full steam. Something I've been known to do from time to time. Though my family would probably say it's an "all the time" activity. Right now I am working towards trying to take care of myself while taking care of the necessary, not all that "appears" urgent. The enemy of my life would have me to think ALL is urgent and out of my control. The urgent is a lie, the out of my control the truth. Ultimately all is out of my control and sits squarely in the hands of the one who controls everything - The LORD. Only with HIS help can I even begin to "manage" what lies before me.

Managing my time to fulfill HIS purpose, answering the call on my life as HIS child, accomplishing what I should in the care of my family, exercising my gifts and talents to bless others and bring HIM glory in the process. When my days are viewed through HIS eyes, my "to-do" list becomes a "TA-DA" victory. And when I consider the hours given to live my life and weed out the wasteful. Now that is a successful day!

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us." Psalm 90:17

I picked out some fabric yesterday needed to begin an online quilting class that will run monthly for the year. WOW that is a commitment I've never done before, class that is. Quilting has always been an interest of mine. I've made a few items by hand, even sewing a few "cheat-um" quilts as I call them. Those are the ones that are already a printed not pieced panel sown together. But this class will be about cutting & piecing 20 different blocks with machine stitching. A new arena for me to be sure. I will try (try) to keep my progress blogged about for a couple of reasons. One being it will help me stay accountable to keep up with the classes and secondly it might just inspire you to join in on the challenge. If you would like to check out this FREE video class just click on this link Craftsy Block of the Month or the button on the side bar. Regardless of the outcome of my squares I am hoping to learn some techniques that have been a mystery to me. Never the less I am sure the degree of warmth the quilt will offer won't be affected by my stitching capabilities.

This must be the year of CHALLENGES for me. As I have taken on another one, The Joy Dare as a year long commitment. Actually I started the practice of counting gifts back in the Summer of last year. But have now joined in with others by making a pledge to be public about it. You can join in at A Holy Experience or click on the link button on my side bar to.

I've written about it recently at Recognizing my 1,000 Gifts. Having found the challenge just today I am trying to get caught up with posting this new JOY DARE counting. I will continue to add them to my Gratitude journal by listing both counts together. Each month I will bring new focus quests to look for besides the individual blessings that will come.

January's Counting of Gifts ~ (see calender for explanations *)

76/1 ~my curly hair- couldn't always say that*

77/2 ~ creative talent*

78/3 ~ ability to find pleasure in simple things*

79/4 ~ our farm*

80/5 ~ double kitchen windows to look out of*

81/6 ~ my husband's cooking*

82/7 ~ "Thank You Jesus" by a loved one*

83/8~ "Father we ask for your direction in our lives"*

84/9~ photo of my only granddaughter*

85/10~ Christmas portrait of our kids*

86/11~ husband's eyes*

87/12~ reading the herbal kitchen*

88/13~ knitting a scarf*

89/14~ seeing Daisy & Silas comfortable with each other's presence*

90/15~ Leah's photo by my chair - all smiles*

91/16~ fresh goat's milk in the fridge*

92/17~ Jesus*

Stepping forward into the new year with JOY,

Deborah