How To Build Community

Our country definitely needs to do more of these things. I need to do more of these things. How about you? How would life change if we all chose to be more community oriented?

Prayer's Power Unleashed

If we read this every day before praying, I believe our prayers would be different.

Contentment

Photo taken at Fripp Island, SC

Andrew Carnegie said, "Show me a contented man, and I'll show you a failure." Oh, how wrong he was! I've been feeling great contentment these past two weeks, and I am not even close to being a failure. Poor Mr. Carnegie must have been a driven man. I guess, too, that our standards are quite different. He must have gotten his from the world around him, while I get mine from The Bible. Here is what that great book has to say about contentment.

Hebrews 13:5-Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.

I Timothy 6:6-8-Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we wll be content with that.

Philippians 4:11-13-I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

Only Christ Jesus can give us the strength to be content no matter what our circumstances. I'll have to confess that I don't utilize His strength enough. I've often been discontent with my circumstances and lacking in trust in the only One who brings true peace and contentment. For now, at least, I'm feeling mighty content with life. I hope it lasts!

Simplifying the Wardrobe

Nine outfits. That's how many sets of clothes the average American woman owned in 1930. Today? Women buy 60 pieces of new clothing per year. [Time, 8/6/12 stats]

I don't buy even close to 60 pieces of used/new clothing in a year; maybe 20? I'm going to count this next year just to satisfy my curiosity.

This summer I greatly reduced the amount of clothing I own. Images 1 and 2 show my summer wardrobe. Everything is either white, off-white, blue, or black except my dresses which are red or fuchsia. I have lots of room to move the hangers around. I hate it when there are so many clothes hanging that you need to bodily shoulder the hangers aside just to add a new garment.


















The second image is of my church clothes. The list hanging shows all the potential outfits for every occasion. All I have to do is look at that list and pick an outfit. I like not having to think about what I'm going to wear. As long as I keep everything ironed, I'll always have an outfit.

The hanging shoes are the ones I wear on a daily basis; lots of flip-flops and sandals. The boxed ones on the floor are my heels and winter shoes.

The clothes behind the doors are the ones for cold weather. I have many more clothes for this season. I plan on weeding out and making a master list just like I did for my summer wardrobe. It'll be much harder to do, because I LOVE all the clothes I have, and last year I got rid of everything I didn't love. I guess this fall I'll need to go through them and ask the question, "Is this something that I NEED?" That'll make a difference, I'm sure.

Instagram Fever

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I've only been posting, at the most, once a week. I was thinking about this and wondering why, and it dawned on me; I've joined Instagram! It's my new obsession. Does anyone reading this post on Instagram? I'll tell you, it's addicting. It's like a mini-Facebook only way more fun.

You take a photo with your smartphone and then post it to the Instagram app. You may write a descriptive sentence if you'd like. People who are following you can see your photo, like it, or make a comment. It's just another way to connect with people in cyberspace. I'm only following a handful of people, because I don't want to be consumed with looking at everyone's new posts all day long. Mostly it's friends and friends of friends that I follow, although I am following a few unknown photographers just to see their beautiful photos. They inspire me.

What's your favorite social media on the internet? For now, mine is definitely Instagram.

First Day of School

I sent my baby off today for her first day ever of formal schooling after being homeschooled up to this point. She's in the ninth grade. It was quite a big deal for her to get everything in order just to walk out the door. It's been so long since I've helped a child do this that it was kind of stressful for me, too. But we made it! I hope she has a great experience. I know it'll be a time of great growth and learning, and I think she's up to it.

It'll probably take a few weeks to adjust to being home alone for most of the day. I've made out a tentative schedule but am open to where God's Spirit may lead. I'm looking forward to trying out new things. I've already signed up to help in the school library and with the hot lunch program. I'm going to go to a Friday morning women's prayer group. That'll be nice. It's been several years since I've been able to participate in a prayer group.

So changes are in the air as Fall draws near. I'm planning on savoring the last days of summer by working out in the garden, taking bike rides, listening to the cicadas, and feeling the hot sun on my face.

Book Related Stuff

This blog is so cool! It shows people reading in subways and the names of their books. I was surprised by the depth of their reading materials; lots of philosophy and other weighty matters.

Don't you just love this poster? Our children were always putting on plays and dressing up based on the characters in whatever they were reading at the time. We have the cutest videos of their antics! They did it all themselves. All I did was provide the books and costumes.

I'm finishing up an audio book today that I've really enjoyed, Mark Twain's A TRAMP ABROAD. He's a hoot. I love the story he tells about trying to use a glacier as a mode of conveyance. He figured out at their present rate of travel, they would arrive at their destination in the year 2046! So he decides that a glacier isn't a very efficient mode of transportation. I laughed my way all through the book.

I'm aiming to finish up QUEEN LUCIA by E.F. Benson by Saturday night. Here's another really funny book. I've already watched the Mapp and Lucia series from Netflix, so I have the characters in my head. Usually this isn't a good thing, but in this case it adds to my enjoyment of the book. Thanks, Angie! You always told me how good they were and you were right! I'm going to read them all.

Here's the link for the blog above: http://undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com/About