She Reads Truth

Hey guys,

This week I started a bible study with a blog I recently discovered. I am just amazed and excited about the things I have been learning and reading this week! The bible study is on the book of Proverbs. Each day we read a chapter in Proverbs and there is a daily post that goes along with it. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion on the blog and fb page. Everyone is super welcoming and encouraging, so if you are like me and have been looking for a way to better discipline yourselves, you might want to check this out. We are currently on Day 5, but this plan is very flexible and easy to catch up.





<3 anna

New Year Thoughts

Hey everyone,

I'm finally ready for this post! I would like to begin by saying that I have some very creative and thoughtful blog friends. You guys have some amazing goals and thoughts for the new year. You really got me thinking about what I would like to do this year.

Before I share with you these goals and thoughts, I would like to talk about what usually happens when I have a resolution. My biggest issue: I get sold on the idea. I get so excited, I have the best of intentions! I dive right in. It is then, that I realize that I'm in over my head. I revert back to old tendencies and I feel like a big fat failure.

So I made a vow to myself that this year would be different. It took a horrible day, Tuesday, for me to realize...I was repeating past mistakes. I had dove in once again and was miserable! So the goal I was working toward got edited a bit and I'm much happier now.

So what are my goals for the new year? (In no particular order)

1. I want to find a church home and meet new people.

2. I want to feel better about myself and be healthy. (This was the goal I had to adjust. I'm proud to say I'm eating more veggies than I can remember ever eating, I've cut down on sugar, and bread has been removed from my diet.)

3. I want to read 50 books this year. Last year, my goal of 60 was too high. So I have set the bar a little lower this time.

4. Unplug. (When my husband is home, I don't want to be on the computer, phone, etc. unless he is doing his own thing.)

5. I want to be more dedicated to praying and reading God's word.

So those are my goals for the new year. I'm pretty excited about them, but remembering to keep my cool and don't dive in head first.

<3 Anna

21 Day Organizing Challenge: Days 1 and 2

Hey everyone,

I promised an update on my progress with the 21 day challenge and here it is. :) I've decided I'll update you guys every Thursday. So look for lemony fresh posts once a week. ;)

Day 1 Junk Drawer(s) Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I think junk drawers are everyone's private shame. I think every home has one and everyone wants to avoid peeking in that drawer, for fear of getting sucked into the chaos. I think this drawer is also created because even though most of us try to have a place for everything, we don't. I'm sure those of you who live in an apartment, duplex, or smaller home can especially relate. One of the main reasons I started this challenge besides the fact that I wanted to get organized, is that we have too much stuff and not enough space!

I started with my baker's rack, which has a drawer that has become very junky! This picture is embarrassing. (hides face)

Before:

It's hard to believe how bad it had gotten! I started out taking everything out of the drawer and sitting it in a basket. I then used some all-purpose cleaning spray (I dilute mine a little with water, and it lasts longer) and wiped the drawer out. Then I got to do the fun part, organizing! (At the beginning of the challenge, we were told to keep a trash can handy and a box for stuff to donate. I got to work sifting through all the junk, most of it went to the trash. It's crazy how we accumulate things!) I then took out my slim containers, I purchased from the Dollar tree and got to work organizing the things that were left. I'm happy to say this story does have a good ending, check out the after shot!

After:

Look at the difference! I am so proud! ;)

I also tackled the junk drawer in our kitchen. I forgot to get a before picture here. :/

As you can see, I also used the same system here, as well as style container. If you have bionic eyes, please excuse the messy floor---it's been raining here and our dog is great at tracking stuff in.

Day 2 Computer Desk(s) (just the top) Thursday, October 13, 2011

I wasn't particularly enthused about this one. Since we have a laptop and are never in there and the guest bedroom is currently a tornado, I really, really didn't want to go back there. I sucked it up and did it anyway! It was pretty humorous to see that John's Chic-fil-a calendar was still on August. I used the same system as above. The results are not as exciting, but I'm happy to have two cleaned and organized work stations. I hope that wherever we end up next, we will actually use our spare room!

Before:

As you can see it is rather dusty, but not too cluttered.

After:

Lemony fresh and neat!

Our second work station

Before:

It was a bit more cluttered than the computer desk and quite dusty!

After:

I was happy to make better use of the organizer in the lamp and to get rid of the dust bunnies! *sneeze*

So that is it for this week! Until next time!

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." – William Morris (British craftsman, designer and poet, 1834-1896)

<3 Anna

Starting Today...

Hey everyone,

You are probably curious about my blog title. Well I know that a lot of people start new things at the beginning of a week. I decided that it doesn't matter when you start, as long as you start and stick with it. Today I'm starting two very different projects.

Project #1 This exercise plan

For some of you, (those extremely gorgeous people *cough* I could name a few of you) this will seem like baby steps, but for me it should be a good---get me back into working out routine.(Remember my love/hate post) As the picture says this is a 60 day workout and increases what you have to do each day along with "rest days." I'm excited about starting and this along with walking Sophie will be a good build-up for me. I also plan to get back on my treadmill, once my guest room doesn't look like a tornado hit it. Which leads me to project 2. ;)

Project #2 This organizational plan

This challenge is so inspiring. I'm so glad I finally have everything I need to start. You don't really have to buy things for this challenge. I just did so, because I'm convinced that I want to do this right and was seriously lacking in storage containers! Today's challenge is cleaning out my junk drawer(s). I instantly know where to start! We are supposed to post pictures, I'm debating back and forth on this because everyone else's houses seem so much more organized than mine and because the challenge has technically ended. I'll probably take pictures of the before and decide later what to share. I'll definitely share an after shot. ;)

So those are my projects, please share with me what goals you are working towards. I would love to hear about them. :)

<3 Anna PS. I had a request from my last post for a pic of my rain boots. So here they are! ;)

Housekeeping Rant and Plans

Hey everyone,




I have been really frustrated with the clutter around the house. I've begun cleaning out our guest bedroom and hoping to get things together to sale/donate. I think our biggest issue is we have too much stuff and not enough space, hence the selling/donating idea.This plus our daily chores plus our lives and I had pretty much lost steam with my projects. That was until I found this gem of a blog post on Pinterest, A bowl full of lemons,http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/search/label/21%20day%20challenge What a cute blog name! :)

This challenge has inspired me to finish my projects and get organized, so I can really enjoy all the fun non-holiday/holiday stuff to come. :) I will be going to the store tomorrow to get some organizational supplies. So I will be ready when I begin the challenge. One of my sister's is visiting this week, so I won't begin the challenge until Friday (the earliest) Monday (the latest). I will be updating at least once a week with my progress. I hope you all will join me and if you wish to participate click on the blog link above. :) Until then I will enjoy the visit and try to keep the house in one piece. ;)

On another note, I want to wish my sisters, Brandi and Kayla, a very Happy Birthday today! Love you girls! :)

<3 Anna

Realizations

This month I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my life. It is always fascinating to have an epiphany, but it gets an added kick when you have several all at once. I was talking to John about that today and he suggested me writing them down. (They were becoming too overwhelming to process)

So I made a little list with short sentences summarizing my thoughts. These were some very private realizations, so I won't share them all here, but I will say that I can see God working in my life.

1. I'm incredibly hard on myself. This isn't really news to me, but I'll explain.

Yesterday, I called my grandmother to talk about visiting on Sunday. We also talked about what was going on with my great-grandparent's and life in general. (For those who don't know, most of my life I lived within walking distance of my grandparents) During this conversation, I heard my grandmother call herself stupid, crazy, and any other negative thing you can think of. Now I'm not suggesting that the reason I'm a negative person is because of my grandmother or family. What I am saying is that your environment does effect you. I have had my husband and friends tell me that I'm negative, that I'm too hard on myself, and that I'm my own worst enemy. I always knew this was true, but never admitted it. It took hearing my grandmother say those horrible things about herself for me to realize that I do the exact same thing and far too often. We both criticize ourselves when we make minor mistakes. We both criticize ourselves when we don't feel confident in what we are saying or we are not sure we are conveying it properly. It's a vicious cycle. I really want to work harder to break it. I don't want my children or my children's children dealing with this issue. I know that there will be bad days, but I believe there is power in positive thinking.

2. I'm growing up.

As each year passes, I find myself growing more and more intolerant to drama. I don't have the time or energy to deal with people starting drama, getting mad over the little things, people getting mad at me for not acting/doing what they want, issues of the past, etc. I love to make people happy and I love to help people, but I refuse to let people steal my joy. If the things that make others happy leave me feeling walked on...I'm sorry, you have got to go. I don't need that in my life. I can and will be a good friend to you, but I can only take being burnt for so long.

3. I need more discipline in my life.

If you could get inside my head, I think you would see one of those bouncy balls constantly bouncing all over the place. This would represent all of my crazy, (but I think good ideas) my problem is I don't know how to make the ball stop and actually get something done. I would love to learn how to focus all of my energy on each task as it comes. I would love to be able to become productive and do all of the things I enjoy.

4. I want to live more by the golden rule. (within reason and not to cross out #2)

I love helping people and I do my best to respect everyone that I come in contact with. Usually if I don't I have a good reason. The world has hardened me, so I have to work much harder than I used to on this one.

5. I want to not care what people think of me.

This is a BIG one! I don't know why I put so much stock in what others think, but I want to learn how to stop that. I want to have such confidence in me and see myself as God does. I think then and only then will I beat this one.

6. I really want to be intentional with everything.

This has been my goal for much of the year. I want to make stronger efforts to pursue the things I love in life. I want to have the peace of knowing that I'm doing the things I love and really living life.

So these are some of the things that I've realized and am working on. Do any of you struggle with these? Any suggestions? Comments?

<3 Anna

Blah!

Hey everyone!

I've been a horrible blogger this week. (One post! I can do better than that!) For once I have a good excuse for the madness. As I said earlier in the week, I've been putting off a lot of projects and getting behind on important tasks.

Today I cleaned my house like a mad person (not just because we have company coming, but because it needed it!) My goal is to start working on my maintanence and upkeep...so I don't have to go through these crazy cleaning sessions.

I have two major projects ahead of me:

Cleaning our bedroom

Cleaning the guest bedroom

Unfortunately, this won't be just a quick fluffing of pillows, I need to purge and maybe get someone to come say a prayer over each room...it's bad! The biggest problem is...we live in a two bedroom duplex and have too much stuff! I would like to start this project next week, I was going to wait until just before the move---to do the major stuff...but I've had it! I'm ready to do some extreme cleaning and organizing!

I would like to have time to do the things I enjoy and not feel guilty because there is still so much more that can be done. So wish me luck! I'll come up for air every now and then and let you know how it goes! ;)

Also I'm planning to get back to regularly scheduled posts starting Monday! :)

<3 Anna

One Foot in Front of the Other

There is so much on my mind right now. So much I want to do. This week has been an interesting one. I've found desires in my heart that I didn't even know were there. It's kind of made me more emotional than normal, but in a good way. It's nice to feel passionate about something. It's nice to cry tears of joy at a realization. I don't think it's time to make this public, but I do feel I need to file it away here.

I only hope that God can give me peace while I'm waiting. I want my heart to be open for this journey. I want to be a good and obedient servant for Him. I want whatever I do to glorify Him. I pray that God will continue to give me strength and passion for my day to day tasks. They say that whatever you do today can make a great impact on your future. I definitely want to be wherever God wants me to be. I look forward to seeing where that will take me.

Please remember me in your thoughts and prayers.

<3 Anna

Snow Daze

I never thought I would see the day that I would be happy to see snow melting away. We have had snow on the ground since late Sunday evening. This should be a record for Georgia, or at least in my eyes. I haven't seen this much snow here, in my life time.

It was fun at first, John got Monday off and delays for the next two days. We got plenty of pictures, check out my album on fb. I think many are experiencing cabin fever now. I'm happy to say, John and I are going out to get groceries tonight. I never thought in my life that I would be so happy to go grocery shopping..lol. It will be wonderful to get out of the house and we are trying a new grocery store, that should help us save money. I'm looking forward to seeing a difference.

Guess that's all for now. Please pray for me, my wisdom teeth are being a major pain today:/

***update*** Goals are going pretty well right now:)

Goals for 2011

Hey everyone,

It's the start of a new year, a time when many are thinking of new years resolutions. I've seen many posts on facebook and blogs talking about resolutions or goals people are setting this year.

I've decided to set goals for the new year. I want to see growth and progress and I want to have more endurance. I hope that when failure comes my way, which it inevitably will, I'll be more prepared to dust myself off and get up and start anew.

Here are my goals for the new year:

I want to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Spiritually- I want to spend more time this year praying, reading the Word, meditating on the Word, and in general growing a deeper relationship with God.

Mentally- This month I will start my new job of tutoring. This is one way I hope to achieve this goal. In order to do well at this job, I will have to be well versed in whatever subject matter my student needs help in. I also plan to read more on topics of interest fiction and especially non-fiction.

Physically- I want to live a healthier life style so I can be well and feel well. My mom is allowing me to use her tread mill and John recently got me Jillian Michael's 2010 work out for the wii. I can't wait to get my workout schedule hammered out. John and I also hope to have a healthier and happier puppy, so more walks with Sophie will be another benefit. :)

I want to read and write more.

My plan at the end of the year is to be able to say that I've read 50 books. I also hope to review many of these books. As far as writing goes, I plan to look for freelance work and continue writing for my blogs.

I want to worry less and enjoy each moment.

My plan is to make more time to reflect and have quiet time. More time to just be. I'm going to practice praying more and worrying less.

I want to spend more time with the people I love.


So what are your resolutions/goals for the new year? How do you hope to achieve these resolutions/goals?

<3 Anna