plans

Dot Journal

~ Deb ~ Leave a comment

Purple Dot Journal By Artist’s LoftTM – $5 from Michael’s
At this price point, it’s a great deal. I like the size too. My favorite pens are the Pilot G-2 gel inks. They do bleed through the pages ever so slightly. The hardcover is on the softer side of things, it has some give. I love that it has two ribbon bookmarks and that there’s a table of contents style to the first several pages.

*I don’t do affiliate links or for-reward reviews.

I originally was going to review several journals here, but I’m realizing that will take a really long time. I’ve been using this journal for my first bullet journal and I’m enjoying it. I think I’ll get a blue one next time.

Update: I posted my review on Michael’s website.

Focus on One

~ Deb ~ Leave a comment

A friend shared with me an article from this e-book*, and it really struck me.

Focusing on one task means that you simply choose one. Forget thirty. Forget ten. Choose one thing that you can do and do it…
One is a powerful number.

She goes on to describe a few scenes that could have come straight from my home. Scary and reassuring, actually.

One idea I never really fully considered though is in how I  choose the one thing I focus on doing next.

When you are able, choose the one thing that makes the biggest impact. I know you can’t always do this…

However, when you have the opportunity to start with that, do it.

Take housecleaning for example. The one task in house keeping that makes the biggest impact for me is picking up all the clutter in the main living spaces. Long time ago, I gave up on the picture-perfect (and even slightly attempted) organized play room. I have a bin in the living room to throw everything into that doesn’t belong in the living room. I take that to the kids room when it is full, dump it on the floor, and charge the kids with the task of putting their things away. It takes many days, and I often step in to help here and there. The point is that my main living spaces are not cluttered.

Even knowing this, I often choose to start the laundry or tackle the dishes first. Then, I look around exhausted and feel overwhelmed by all the clutter. For me, I need to start with the clutter.

The author, Jenny Herman, had a pretty cool blog which also had a nifty “The Power of One”** compilation. Fantastic stuff.

One final thought that keeps resonating with me is when Jenny Herman wrote:

Focusing on one does us no good if we are going it in our own strength. We need to look to God for our strength.

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I can do ONE thing through Christ who strengthens me.

And then…

I can do ONE MORE thing through Christ who strengthens me.

Just keep going.

One thing at a time.

* The e-book was linked, but that link is no longer available. I believe it was called “Well Planned Homeschool Avoiding Common Back to School Mistakes.”

** The blog post is no longer in existence, but she now has a book on Amazon for $3. I haven’t purchased it, and this is not an affiliate link.

Making Plans

~ Deb ~ Leave a comment

Guard your heart, avoid obstacles, plan ahead and stay the course!

Proverbs 4:23-27
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

I love these verses because they so clearly outline what we must do and not do as we live our lives. I also find it interesting and hugely significant that 3 things come before you plan your steps.

  1. Guard your heart
  2. Avoid obstacles (perverse & corrupt speech)
  3. Look ahead “fixing your eyes” on Jesus
  4. Now you can make those plans.

Once you are done, don’t get sidetracked! Stay the course, and always keep Philippians 4:13 tucked away in your heart.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. (NCV)