It has been a whole week since I last posted - only two posts in and I petered out already. I tell you what - I am an awesome starter... Although I do have to say that I did give myself a little grace. I'm not the Pioneer Woman - I don't have to post every day to keep my readership up. I don't even have a readership.
I have high expectations for my life, with absolutely no idea how to turn them into results.
Even as I write this, I am realizing that my priorities are out of whack. Most of my dreams are about living in a beautiful home. I fixate on it and day dream about what my house will someday look like,what furniture will I put where and what color to paint the living room. Maybe the seventeen years I spent living in a mud-house in the New Mexican desert did more damage to me than I realized. After a life of never living normally, maybe I just want that too much now that there might be a chance. Even so, I still haven't done anything to make my house any prettier.
In the end, I want to be defined by the relationships I have - with my husband, child, family and friends - not just the way I arranged furniture. Do I succeed at that either? Not really, not enough to please my expectations.
But Donna Otta says I can have both and more. By organizing and preparing.
Excerpt from chapter 2 of Get More Done In Less Time:
"If the God of the universe could have chosen 11 of the most unlikely men to carry out a task that changed the world (referring to Jesus' disciples),I am convinced that the same God has given me the right husband, the right house, the right child, and the very best situation for who I am and who He wants me to be."
Ok, wow. How can I argue with that? God doesn't make mistakes - ever. He placed me right where I am for a reason. He even had a reason for putting me in the New Mexican desert.
"If I am content with my space and place, I can move forward to organize the things about me."
So tomorrow's assignment: Be content. I can work on being master of my universe soon, right now I just need enjoy where I am. And maybe stop focusing on the house stuff so much.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Chapter 1 and Donna Otto - The Real Deal
Chapter 1: The Common Start, The Uncommon Finish
uugghh, just the title feels like a punch to the gut...
I can start really well - I am an excellent starter. A half trained dog, unfinished drywall, piles of papers still on my floor from when I was "cleaning" my desk a week ago... Yes I am a starter for sure.
I don't want to talk about finishing - I think I'm allergic to finishing, my dog ate all my finishing abilities.
That is why I have assigned myself this book. I have read it several times before and loved it each time. I have started a day planner more than once. Nothing sticks for long - I think its because of the fore mentioned flibbertygibbetness. And that is why I am blogging about it - even if no one reads this, this is how I am keeping myself accountable.
Lets see how this goes shall we? Come along for the ride, imaginary blog fan. I would challenge you to join me in implementing the tools of this book, but I know you are already a well oiled, organized machine. So just enjoy my travels to the healthy lifestyle land Donna Otto tells me I can have.
Donna Otto - The Real Deal
It was a balmy spring in 2005 and my sister in law and I were in Chattanooga. We attended a week long conference led by Kay Arthur, Donna Otto, and Emilie Barnes. On their own, all three of those women are powerful influences and mentors; but together - I can't even describe how motivating and encouraging they were. The topic of the week - Youniquely Woman: Becoming Who God Designed You To Be. The week was chock full of challenges and scriptural emphasis on exactly what it means to be a woman - and how empowering it really is to embrace womanly things. Donna Otto, specifically, was a charming speaker and gave amazing real world advice.
I left that week so fired up to really embrace being a keeper of my home. After traveling into the wee hours of the morning, we returned safely home and I went to bed. The very next day, lightning struck our apartment and we lost our home and most everything we owned. So much for being a keeper of my home, right?
Well, several weeks later as we were trying to get back to normal - I received a package from Donna Otto. My sweet sister in law had called the organizers of the event and asked for copies of the materials for me and told them why I needed them. Word traveled and Donna Otto took it upon herself to assemble me a personal package of gifts - all of her books, a feather duster (I know it sounds random but it actually has relevance) and sweet little gifts to encourage me. Needless to say, I was encouraged. I had never even spoken to this woman - she didn't know me from Adam. And yet she took the time to demonstrate the great love and mercy of our Savior to me, a stranger.
It touched me deeply and I have had a soft spot for her ever since.
Fast forward three years and I find out that she is speaking at a woman's event for my church. I immediately sign up thinking that maybe I will be able to corner her for a second to tell her how she impacted me in such a rough time. Imagine my glee when I hear that I get to have dinner with her and my in laws. Of course, she was amazing at the event and a hoot at dinner. At the end of the evening, she pulls me aside and tells me that when she heard about my fire she wrote my name on a tile in her kitchen and that she prayed for me every time she passed it - all this time. I was floored. She invited me to stay in contact with her (a privileged I am ashamed to say I have rarely taken advantage of).
Long story short, she is the real deal and a super star in my eyes.
So, Miss Otto, I want to learn from you and this time I want it to stick.
uugghh, just the title feels like a punch to the gut...
I can start really well - I am an excellent starter. A half trained dog, unfinished drywall, piles of papers still on my floor from when I was "cleaning" my desk a week ago... Yes I am a starter for sure.
I don't want to talk about finishing - I think I'm allergic to finishing, my dog ate all my finishing abilities.
That is why I have assigned myself this book. I have read it several times before and loved it each time. I have started a day planner more than once. Nothing sticks for long - I think its because of the fore mentioned flibbertygibbetness. And that is why I am blogging about it - even if no one reads this, this is how I am keeping myself accountable.
Lets see how this goes shall we? Come along for the ride, imaginary blog fan. I would challenge you to join me in implementing the tools of this book, but I know you are already a well oiled, organized machine. So just enjoy my travels to the healthy lifestyle land Donna Otto tells me I can have.
Donna Otto - The Real Deal
It was a balmy spring in 2005 and my sister in law and I were in Chattanooga. We attended a week long conference led by Kay Arthur, Donna Otto, and Emilie Barnes. On their own, all three of those women are powerful influences and mentors; but together - I can't even describe how motivating and encouraging they were. The topic of the week - Youniquely Woman: Becoming Who God Designed You To Be. The week was chock full of challenges and scriptural emphasis on exactly what it means to be a woman - and how empowering it really is to embrace womanly things. Donna Otto, specifically, was a charming speaker and gave amazing real world advice.
I left that week so fired up to really embrace being a keeper of my home. After traveling into the wee hours of the morning, we returned safely home and I went to bed. The very next day, lightning struck our apartment and we lost our home and most everything we owned. So much for being a keeper of my home, right?
Well, several weeks later as we were trying to get back to normal - I received a package from Donna Otto. My sweet sister in law had called the organizers of the event and asked for copies of the materials for me and told them why I needed them. Word traveled and Donna Otto took it upon herself to assemble me a personal package of gifts - all of her books, a feather duster (I know it sounds random but it actually has relevance) and sweet little gifts to encourage me. Needless to say, I was encouraged. I had never even spoken to this woman - she didn't know me from Adam. And yet she took the time to demonstrate the great love and mercy of our Savior to me, a stranger.
It touched me deeply and I have had a soft spot for her ever since.
Fast forward three years and I find out that she is speaking at a woman's event for my church. I immediately sign up thinking that maybe I will be able to corner her for a second to tell her how she impacted me in such a rough time. Imagine my glee when I hear that I get to have dinner with her and my in laws. Of course, she was amazing at the event and a hoot at dinner. At the end of the evening, she pulls me aside and tells me that when she heard about my fire she wrote my name on a tile in her kitchen and that she prayed for me every time she passed it - all this time. I was floored. She invited me to stay in contact with her (a privileged I am ashamed to say I have rarely taken advantage of).
Long story short, she is the real deal and a super star in my eyes.
So, Miss Otto, I want to learn from you and this time I want it to stick.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Flibbertygibbet
Hi, my name is Abby and I am a flibbertygibbet.
What is a flibbertygibbet you say? Clearly you have not seen Joe Vs the Volcano. Although there is not much in that movie that relates to this post or frankly this blog - it is a gem of a flick. There is something about the combination of a young(pre Forest Gump)Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan in all her cuteness, brain clouds, volcanoes and high quality luggage that makes me giggle every time I see it. Go out and rent it now - you won't regret it. Or maybe you will, but that just shows that you have no sense of humor...
Where was I? Oh yes, flibbertygibbeting. I have such good intentions. I want to be organized and intentional and to live my life with a firm purpose. But the truth is that I flit from one thing to another finally ending the day in a grump because nothing is finished.
I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being grouchy. I'm tired of always wanting more than I have but never managing well what is already mine.
So today I am considering my ways. I confess my sloppy housekeeping, my squandering precious time in front of the tv, and my fly by the seat of my pants attitude toward everything in life. I want to start over and focus on what is truly important to me - My God, my husband, my son, my home, my family, and my friendships.
It is such a huge task, so daunting, to change the way I operate on a daily basis. And to be honest, I can't do it alone. If I could, would I be where I am? So for the next couple of weeks, I will be calling on the help of a woman who I highly esteem. Someone who is the antonym of flibbertygibbet. A larger than life Persian-Italian dynamo...
Can you guess who? Just guess...
That's right folks, I will be putting myself under the mercy of Donna Otto. Specifically, I will be baby stepping my way through her book - Get More Done In Less Time. And lucky you, you are along for the ride.
I have only met Donna Otto twice and both times she was perfectly lovely. In fact, it is a sweet story of how we met and what this woman means to me. But that is a story for tomorrow.
Right now it just feels good to have a plan.
Good night, good morning and goodbye to the flibbertygibbets.
Abby
What is a flibbertygibbet you say? Clearly you have not seen Joe Vs the Volcano. Although there is not much in that movie that relates to this post or frankly this blog - it is a gem of a flick. There is something about the combination of a young(pre Forest Gump)Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan in all her cuteness, brain clouds, volcanoes and high quality luggage that makes me giggle every time I see it. Go out and rent it now - you won't regret it. Or maybe you will, but that just shows that you have no sense of humor...
Where was I? Oh yes, flibbertygibbeting. I have such good intentions. I want to be organized and intentional and to live my life with a firm purpose. But the truth is that I flit from one thing to another finally ending the day in a grump because nothing is finished.
I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being grouchy. I'm tired of always wanting more than I have but never managing well what is already mine.
So today I am considering my ways. I confess my sloppy housekeeping, my squandering precious time in front of the tv, and my fly by the seat of my pants attitude toward everything in life. I want to start over and focus on what is truly important to me - My God, my husband, my son, my home, my family, and my friendships.
It is such a huge task, so daunting, to change the way I operate on a daily basis. And to be honest, I can't do it alone. If I could, would I be where I am? So for the next couple of weeks, I will be calling on the help of a woman who I highly esteem. Someone who is the antonym of flibbertygibbet. A larger than life Persian-Italian dynamo...
Can you guess who? Just guess...
That's right folks, I will be putting myself under the mercy of Donna Otto. Specifically, I will be baby stepping my way through her book - Get More Done In Less Time. And lucky you, you are along for the ride.
I have only met Donna Otto twice and both times she was perfectly lovely. In fact, it is a sweet story of how we met and what this woman means to me. But that is a story for tomorrow.
Right now it just feels good to have a plan.
Good night, good morning and goodbye to the flibbertygibbets.
Abby
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