So far this month I've shared a couple projects I worked on last year and a couple I'm puttering on now. In addition to these smaller projects, I'm working on a couple quilts too. If you are a quilter and sew, could you take a moment to leave a comment below to answer this question...DO YOU WORK ON ONE PROJECT AT A TIME OR MULTIPLE ONES?

I ask because sometimes I think I should be focusing on one thing at a time but when working on a bigger project, like this John Deere quilt for instance, I like to do a smaller project. The smaller project in between allows my brain and eyes to focus on different color schemes, see a project from start to finish in a weekend, and in the case of the tissue holders, allows me to bless more people, more often.

Then I think of an author friend, Dave Fessenden's advice while attending a writers' conference a few years ago. I'm obviously a distracted artist, lol, as I am always working on a variety of writing projects at the same time. For goodness sake, while I'm looking up different sewing projects, I'm also writing different blogs and brainstorming new book and speaking engagement ideas. BUT, is all this pin-ball-machine-thinking truly a negative?

It might be, within a few minutes I forgot to share Dave's advice with you. He challenged me to write out the word MULTITASKING or was it a statement with the word multitasking in it? I can't remember which, but either way, you write it on a piece of paper. (BTW, this is a scattered thinkers way of justifying not finishing one project at a time, lol) Then he suggested I write out the same word/phrase, one letter at a time going down the paper. I think, my memory is failing me.

If Dave reads this, maybe he will comment and share this since my brain is struggling to remember. Either way, this is the point. When you simply write it out, it goes quick. If you write it one letter at a time, up and down the page, it takes a lot longer. The lesson to learn, focus on one thing, right? OR, is it okay to when sewing and quilting, to have a couple projects going on at a time?

Last week I shared my BMI and primary fitness goal...to be healthier! Weight loss is important, especiallywhen you are looking at the need to lose 60 - 100 pounds. 

My first mini-goal is to fit comfortably into a size 14 pants and dress with the ultimate goal of a size 12/14. Once the size 12 is comfortable then I'll re-evaluate if I continue toning and losing to fit into a size 10/12. 

For now, let me share the apps I'm using to achieve my current goal:
1) Fitbit App: click here to learn more
My favorite aspect of this app is the ever changing emoticon changes. My least (and favorite one) is when it sticks its tongue out at me because I haven't moved enough. I get up and move, sometimes using the restroom as an excuse if I'm in a meeting. Another goody is being able to view my "active" minutes. I lack in "active" minutes throuhout the day. I might acheive 10,000 steps but my activity is still in need of improvement. Another thing I like is when I check the app and the circles go around and make confetti to celebrate when I achieve a goal.

2) My Fitness Pal App: Click here to learn more
This app allows me to document my calorie intake, exercise, and daily water. It also tracks how many days in a row I log in and exercise. I can even set reminders if I fail to log in. 

3) Map My Walk App: Click here to learn more
This app logs my walking routes and workouts. I set mine so the routes are private, for security reasons but if you want to share your route with friends, you can. In addition to Map My Walk, there are similar apps to track your run or bicycle ride. 

These apps are all free and do have the option to upgrade to monitor more information but the information I gain through the FREE versions is enough for me. 

If you don't follow me on Facebook then you might not know about the #DailyWhiteBoard message I share (almost daily, lol). Some ask how I choose the verse or quote of the day, it's different each day. 

• Ways a verse or quote is selected:​​​

*share a verse related to a thought weighing on heart
*share a verse that I woke up thinking about 
*share the verse-of-the-day from my Bible app
*share the verse from one of the devotionals I like to use

God's direction this past Friday as I woke up...thinking of the friends and family who have told me, "God couldn't love me because..." Or "the church would fall in" when I've invited them to church. I thought this myself in the past or I went to church on Saturday evenings because it was what I was "supposed" to do with no expectations, unless you count the church not falling in.

Guess what, the church never fell in and when I opened my mind and heart to hear the message the priest, pastor, or speaker shared...I ALWAYS learned something and left with something I could apply to my life. BUT when my eyes, ears, heart, and mind aren't open to hear, then it's impossible to experience or accept God's love.

A lesson I learned as an adult, the church is actually the people, not the building. I probably heard this countless times as a child but I missed it. Keeping this in mind, if you are reading this and feel like the person who believes God can't love you or accept you, please let me encourage you. God loves YOU! I pray you take this step of faith today.

The first and often more difficult step is to talk to God. You've been told to "pray" since you were a little boy or girl. To walk into a church was hard to do after my sister's kidnapping  because I didn't want people talking to me but this ended up being the easiest step I made. The most challenging was to pray and talk to God, to share my heart's thoughts, thankfulness, and requests.  When you step out and talk to God, you've made the most difficult step and you can do this right where you are, right now. What are you waiting for?

When you are ready to attend church, whether it be a mass, service, worship service, Bible Study, or whatever outreach might be an invitation in...go with an open heart and mind. The one inviting you, your friend or family, is still standing so...God loves you enough to send this person to share His love and invite you to a place of acceptance and love.  It's scary and a bold step, yet it's worth facing your fears. God's is where you are, don't worry about walking through the church doors today...start with a conversation and prayer.

One of the first things I realized last year when I started to sew again and added quilting to one of my sewing projects is this...there are a lot of useful scraps. Yes, there is also a lot of "waste" but rather than focus on this, let's think about ways to use the "left overs". My friend, author and seamstress, Terri Groh, makes good use of her scraps so I searched for  Pinterest  for various ways I could do the same, and bless others in the process. 

In life, there are people and things we could view as waste but in truth, they are the left overs and scraps remaining. Think about it, after a conflict or poor choice, there are bits and pieces that can either be savored or forgotten. Our scraps of previous sewing projects are just the same. We need to sift through the pile and keep the positives and let go of the hurts.  The best part of this process is we can remember what we've experienced, or made in the case of fabric while developing into something new and better. 

When we learn from the past and choose to focus on the good pieces, there is something new to be developed or created...in life it might be a friendship, fogriveness, or peace. In sewing, and in this case...it's a travel tissue holder. A special thanks to http://hellocreativefamily.com/ for having their pattern available on Pinterest, this is the one I plan use to transform my scraps into something new and beneficial.

Okay, here you go! It's been one week since the first #OSJFitnessFriday blog posted and I have to share. No. Admit. Yes, admit, what happened on Saturday. So after sharing my obesity score and BMI with all of you, the alarm went off on Saturday morning and I hit the snooze.

I'll work out later, I said to myself. Once awake, instead of putting on my gym clothes, I put on jeans and a nice sweatshirt, not even a bump-around-the-house shirt, for the day's adventures. So you know going to the gym wasn't on the agenda anymore.  Our morning plans changed so we didn't need to scoot right out the door and we didn't have a schedule to keep, this was good. 

I asked my daughter, "Do you want to go to the gym with me?" Her response was less than energetic or willing but she sighed out a "If you want me to." Then I got cranky and displaced MY LAZINESS, MY LACK OF MOTIVATION, AND MY LACK OF DETERMINATION on to her and bit her head off. BAD MOM! I apologized and said, yes, I really want to go but if you don't want to then I'll go by myself. She responded to my negativity but softened with the apology and acknowledgment of guilt. 

Guess, what? WE WENT TO THE GYM! Thank goodness, what kind of blogger, woman, mother, friend, or encourager would I be if the very next day after encouraging you I sat on the couch eating an Oreo and drinking soda from Burger King? (Neither company gets anything from my sharing their product pictures with me (pretending) to binge eat or for using their name here. The only thing they provide are extra calories, high sugar intakes, and a case of the drags from eating less-than-healthy food options).

After getting home from the gym and grocery shopping, I finalized my goals and printed out the document I created to monitor my progress and hold me accountable. I plan to tack my goals and charts on the bathroom door for my family (and any visitors) to see. Yes, anyone who visits our home and uses the restroom or walks past the door to go to our kitchen has full access to my 2017 goals. This MOTIVATES me to stay the course and focused. 

Last year Mag's college roomy came home and checked out my goals and said, "Are these your goals?" I nodded and said, "Yes." She looked at them again and then back to me and said (my paraphrase, bad memory, sorry), "You're not doing so good. You might want to do better next week!" All I could do was laugh and thank her, she held me accountable!! I did much better the next week because I thought, "What if Mag's roommate comes home with her again?" So, an eighteen year old I met for the first time kindly reminded me of my goals, shouldn't we do this with our loved ones too? Gentle and loving observations, not nagging.

With a thankful heart you can see opportunities to be thankful each and every day, in all circumstances. This is a challenge when you first begin YET when you start with a thankful mindset and outlook, the ability to find things to be thankful for only gets easier.

Let me share a few of the things I am thankful for this week:

• A husband willing to work overtime so I can have a reliable and beautiful car to drive
• A daughter applying all she's learned in her short eighteen years and blossoming into an amazing young woman and member of her college community
• A father who loves unconditionally and around the clock, modeling the love of Jesus without realizing it. Time with my parents, and family are always blessings I count, everyday and sometimes throughout the day
• For aunts and uncles that love me and look out for me - relationships I cherish
• For God placing a friend's name on my heart and when I send a quick text to let her know I said a little prayer. We never know when this little prayer and acknowledgement of a prayer can encourage another person. Later my friend responded with, "I needed that verse and prayer at that moment. God is good."
• For the roof over our head, food in the house, heat and running water - these are blessings not everyone can count - remember to be thankful for ALL you have, regardless of how little it might feel, there is always someone in a worse condition than me, or you
• For the ability to use my gifts to bless others
• For sleeping through the night without nightmares
• For all of you, when you take time to read the blog and let God work in your heart, this encourages me and inspires me to keep writing. Thank YOU!

Last week I shared about goals and leaked a shocking truth to some, I am dabbling in fiction! There, I said it, I'm attempting a fictional story. Don't get me wrong, I still prefer nonfiction yet as I attempt to share from the depths of my heart lately, the words don't flow to the paper as easily. The good news, as I get my focus back and LOOK UP and SEEK HIS FACE, the inspiration to write and share is renewed within me.  A connection between faith and using the gifts God's given me? I think so! 

​Yes, I used an explanation point. Yikes, the editors reading this are hoping I don't add another one because you should only have a couple of these "exciting marks" in an entire novel, so one has to be the limit in a blog. I digress. So what is the point of this week's TOP's Tuesday, to let you know I'm writing and appreciate all your prayers and encouragement. I'm thankful for your notes, messages, and encouraging words when we meet at a book signing or speaking event. God's is using people like you to draw me closer to Him and back into writing. I know there are more books within me - if they are nonfiction or fiction, only God knows at this time. The one thing I know, I'm hope, plan, and pray to do my part.

For the month of December I made my dad a placemat with a Christmas tree on it, so he'd have a tree in the house. It was a little reminder for him each morning as he enjoyed his coffee of how much we love him. Something simple yet a gift that could keep on giving.

With the Christmas decorations tucked away now, it's time for a new placemat. I thought about what to make for him this time. My hope was to have something that could last him through the rest of the winter yet be encouraging and uplifting. I looked at blue materials and thought about doing a snowy scene but with Lake Ontario practically in his backyard, he doesn't need anymore snow reminders. 

My husband and I joined the gym this past Fall after finding we had more "time" with our daughter being at college. I've focused on the cardio, typically the tread mill up until this week. With the help of my daughter, I'm learning how to use some of the machines to build more strength and muscle.

Do you belong to a gym, workout at home, or a combination of the two? What works the best for you?

Do you track your daily steps? A friend gifted me the "Fit Bit Zip" last June and this inspired me to focus on achieving the daily 10,000 step goal. I noticed I started to sleep better at night when I reached this goal, especially when I completed this walking outside. 

My goal isn't to wear a size 2 but instead to be healthier so I can live longer and hopefully live to be 100 or so. I know the risks associated with obesity and the various health risks triggered by carrying the extra weight.  If I want to work until I retire and help raise my grandchildren like my parents did with our daughter, I need to be healthier.

According to the BMI and suggested target weight for my age and height, I need to lose between sixty-three and one-hundred four pounds! Yikes! Personally, this seems like too much weight and fear I'd look sick. My first mini goal is to fit into a size 14 comfortably, with wearing a size 12/14 as the ultimate goal. 

I don't know how much weight this is but in order to reach this goal, I know it's time to start weight training alongside with my hour of cardio. I have the "Black Card" at Planet Fitness so I can always bring a friend with me. To have an accountability partner helps keep me focused and on task. What helps to keep you on task?

In order to keep the blog real and honest, I'm sharing my weight and BMI with you. My husband, daughter, and a few friends are my accountability parnters BUT to post this on my blog, OUCH! This motivates me not to roll over when the alarm goes off at 4:15 again. Please don't judge my numbers, one day and one workout at a time...I'm striving for health.

If you haven't checked your weight with a BMI chart, will you take a moment to check? If your number startles you, will you let this motivate you to be healthier? I hope so.

As a child when the rain started, the anticipation of jumping in the puddles was created. Like most things in life, the transition into adulthood has us view the rain as an interuption with potential plans (or watering the garden so we don't have to, woot woot!). 

When is the last time you jumped in a puddle and splashed a friend?

Today's writing prompt: Write about a memory of puddle jumping or a write a tid bit about taking advantage of this fun activity as an adult? Who do you bring with you to jump in the puddle? How much laughter is there? Does this become a new habit?

By this time in the new year I usually have at least a half dozen goals written down that I'm committed to. A couple spiritual goals, a few writing and speaking goals, and a few health and wellness goals. This year there isn't a list of goals or a notion of where to begin. I still have my WIGS chart posted on the bathroom door. What is a WIG? Thank you for asking, a WIG is a "Wildly Important Goal".

I started strong in August and as the warmer weather lessoned, so did my motivation to monitor and track my goals. Thankfully, this desire returned around Thanksgiving and I'm slowly getting my groove back. I'll tweek my exercise goals for this year for a more effiecient way to track towards success. 

In addition to my goals, I like to choose a theme verse and word for the year. This is something I started a few years ago after my friend and author, Elaine W. Miller shared with me. My goal is to have these selected by February 1st, I don't like to rush the Word and The Word God has for me each year. Good things come to those who wait, especially when you wait on the Lord. Do you pick a word and Bible verse at the beginning of the year? If you do, how does this help you throughout the year? If you haven't done this before, will you try this year and see how God works in your life through His Word?

I have other book ideas within me, even a fictional story but instead of sharing (or teasing as my Mom called it) at this moment, I'm holding off until I'm ready to commit 110% to the writing process and the time required to be successful. I do plan on keeping my creative juices in motion through sewing, crocheting, quilting, and writing. As I do this, I'll share snip-its on Saturdays when I have pics and stories to share. I'm calling it "Sew-Sensational Saturday" on the blog. 

So do I have a list of goals? No, but I do have a plan and motivation to do so. THIS IS MY FIRST GOAL...TO SET MY GOALS! A peculiar goal don't you think. Is your first goal the same as mine or do you have your list started already?

As I enjoy staying inside on this cold and snowy, "snow day" of a Sunday I am reminded of a similar day many years ago. When our daughter was a peanut, a little older than this pic, church was cancelled due to weather. Our pastor encouraged us to have a worship service in our own homes with our family. This was a neat idea and we put it into motion, as did many of our families that week.

Mags picked out a couple verses she was learning and even gave a "message" to Ed and I. It is a precious memory. With Mags home on break and Ed having the day off, we could relive this memory BUT Ed and Mags are still snoozing when I wrote this blog. How times change. 

How do you spend a "Snow Day Sunday"? I made dough for italian bread and cinnamon rolls as I watched the snow continue to fall this morning. The italian bread doesn't use eggs so I'm hoping its yummy so I can bake it for a couple friends that have egg allergies. I decided to make the cinnamon rolls as per tradition. When Mags was in school, I made these to start our jammy day. Since she is home from college on break AND it's a "snow day" for church, we are going to enjoy warm deliciousness.  Do you have any snow day traditions?

My inner sewing muse was ignited as I thought and prayed about what to gift my cousin and his bride earlier this year. As we moved Mags into the college and I found more time on my hand than I'm used  to, I tried to remember what I did over eighteen years ago for fun. It is a bizarre happening, we slowly transition from an independent person, to a couple, to parents, and then back to a couple with new independence. Can I hear an "Amen"?

I enjoy giving gifts that reflect my heart and encourage the person receiving it. This desire reminded me of my love to sew. My friend Ret taught me many moons ago. She was so patient and still is a resource when stuck. Thank goodness. I decided for my first sewing project that wasn't repairing a rip or shortening a dress would be a quilt.

Yep, "go big or go home" is the saying, right? Initially I planned to make a lap quilt but as we searched for the perfect fabric marriage, something bigger to snuggle under came to mind. They are newlyweds after all. It took too many hours to track and multiple trips to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics for "one more thing". As I folded and wrapped, I realized something, sewing is another way to put my creative muse and juices to use. 

Words have been a struggle for the past year but to sew and blend, marry, and reinvent fabrics allows me the freedom to creative without the pressure of someone asking, "what is next?" or dwelling on the "who"s that aren't alive to be my first readers. To write has been a passion since I was a little girl and to sew became a relaxer after Heidi's disappearance.  

God created me to use my gifts of writing, speaking, and creating to encourage, inspire, and help others. As I walk on the tread mill listening to my praise and worship playlists, ideas of things to write or make flood my mind.  My hope is to follow my heart and honor God by using all the gifts he's given me in a more efficient and balanced manner. Whether I'm sewing, writing, or preparing for a speaking engagement...let it be His will, not mine.

I'm going to attempt a new blog on Thursdays, "A Thankful Thursday", throughout the year. In theory it would be nice to post every week yet rather than set myself up for failure, I'm hoping to post this at least a couple times a month. I'm going to set it up as a new catergory, see the tool bar, so we can find them easier down the road.

Things I'm thankful for thus far in 2017:

1. For a God who loves, forgives, and accepts me as I am
2. Breath in my lungs
3. A healthy bod 
4. A loving and fun family
5. A career I love and value
6. A roof over my head
7. Fuel in the fuel tank so we have heat
8. Running water
9. Food in the cupboards
10. Good health and dental insurance so we don't have to opt not to be treated when illness or accidents to happen
11. I'm very thankful for EACH OF YOU reading this blog, you encourage me

A family tradition I remember fondly was spending New Year's Eve at my Gram and Aunt Nancy's house every year. This allowed all the parents to go out or have people over without worrying about a baby-sitter. Gram and Aunt Nancy loved having us, but as I think about it, my aunt's enjoyment might not have been as great since she was the once cleaning the confetti and messes for the next week or longer. (You know how confetti can be, lol)

We started a new tradition a few years ago by inviting a few people over to play games and watch Dick Clark's New Year's on television. This is a relaxing and safe way to say good-bye to one year while welcoming the new in. It gives us a chance to share goals, resolutions, and much laughter. Ending and beginning with much to be thankful for.

eThe first TOP's Tuesday of the year starts with a book promo, go figure. TOP's Tuesday started as a weekly blog to share upcoming speaking engagements, publication updates, and other writing/speaking related happenings. It was my Mom's favorite blog of the week because it's also where I'd tease about new writings. I don't have anything to tease with this time but I do want to share a book I released last year. 

I enjoy making lists, setting goals, and striving to reach them. I am not always successful yet I always have a plan and do my best. This book is one way I help to keep myself on course and moving forward to reach a goal or two. A few people piloted this book for me last year, like a Beta Reader but they weren't just reading, they were goal setting. At least two responded to let me know how Goal Setting for a Renewed You: Because You Deserve It helped them break down their goals and aspirations in a detailed way. They might not have done all the steps or all the sections but the way in which I broke it down, they were able to zone in on a goal they needed to set and the path to follow in order to reach it.

If you'd like to read a couple reviews online, click here. If you are one of the people who purchased Goal Setting for a Renewed You: Because You Deserve it, this year or were one of my pilot readers...will you leave a review on Amazon.com? Did you know that every review on Amazon increases the chances of Amazon sharing an author's book? Thank you in advance if you take time to review this book, or any book, by your favorite authors. It's a gift that keeps giving and helps others decide if they too should purchase a book.

It's only January 2nd and instead of starting this unexpected day off wiht joy and relaxation like I planned, I was jarred out of bed and into someone else's drama. Why do I let myself do this? Am I the only one with good intentions to have a fun and relaxing day but allow the negativity, crankiness, or stress of another interfere with this? I don't think so.

Instead of blogging about goal setting or putting a plan in place for your success, I've decided to focus on choices. We CHOOSE to set goals. We CHOOSE to let others affect our mood and joy. We CHOOSE how to react. Can YOU RELATE? 

Rather than share some great goal setting websites or share how it's possible to bounce out of bed and through the day without anyone sucking your joy, I'm just going to say this...

DO YOUR BEST! This is my goal. Hey, I just set my first goal of 2017. Go figure.
I'm going to start small (yet this goal is HUGE to accomplish, right?)!

My first goal of 2017...
I WILL NOT LET OTHER PEOPLE STEAL MY JOY AND EFFECT  MY MOOD. 
EMOTIONS ARE FLIGHTY...I CHOOSE TO BE STABLE, NOT FLIGHTY!

On the surface this seems like a simple goal but for me, I too easliy let the words and actions of others get to me. Rather than letting it go, I could lose an hour, day, or days dwelling on things out of my control. Have you heard of a "circle of control" or "circle of influence"? This concepts mean we focus on what we can change and let the other stuff go. 

In life, especially with new technologies and social media, there will always be someone saying or doing something to upset us, right? For 2017, let's choose to "Let it Go". I think the creators of Frozen created more than a movie, they developed a life lesson for us all. Will you let it go this year? If you don't struggle with carrying the burdens or negativity with others, will you share how you are able to do this? I know it will help me and I'm sure someone else reading this will appreicate it also.