Thursday, February 28, 2013

Joy Dare~ February 2013

8th~ a gift broken, fixed, thrifted~ Jeep; my heart; furnishings for my office suite
9th~ 3 surprise gifts- unexpected grace! quick kiss; loving smile; evening to catch up at home 
10th~ 3 times you heard laughter today~ Matt watching TV; Andrea's joy at success; Matt teasing me (again) 
11th~ 3 gifts in working~ seeing Caleigh; perspective; his voice and smile
12th~ 3 hard eucharisteos~ dealing with my own bad attitude and making it change; waiting and being submissive to him while still being a single mom (for now); not being open with everyone I used to share with
13th~ 3 gifts behind a door~ privacy; time alone with God; productivity
14th~ 3 ways you feel the love of God~ peaceful heart during turmoil; salvation; prayers answered
15th~ a gift in losing, finding, making something~ strength to emotionally walk away finding inner peace and making a way for greater blessings
16th~ 3 gifts in shadows~ an unexpected/ expected transition; friends coming through (again!); his words 
17th~ 3 gifts found giving/ serving~ dropping off 2 more hats @ church (quietly); watching how seasoned servers work; new friends I made at church today  :)
18th~ 3 gifts on paper~ initial draft of 'office' lay-out; account balance; 18 sets Avon brochures prepped!
19th~ 3 gifts that were 'Plan B's'~ new 'office' lay-out revision request that may make it more like an office and less like being stuck in a store room; bed from work going home (and realizing Matt is almost too tall for a twin bed!!!); oatmeal for lunch because my lettuce in my work fridge was frozen clear through 
20th~ a gift at breakfast, lunch, dinner~ knowing God's got my back ALL day; rich creamy tomato soup and good music from Shine.FM; PBJ before One Night with the most amazing son in the world! 
21st~ 3 gifts white~ paper presented to me by my grandson with a request to draw a dinosaur for him (every minute with him is a treasure);
22nd~ 3 gifts that changed today~ snow; deadlines not fulfilled; relationships
23rd~ a gift of tin, glass, wood~ a soda at work; window/ sunlight by my desk; pretty paneling at home
24th~ 3 gifts before 11am~ waking before the alarm to soft sunshine through my window; serving donuts at church; a good friend attending service at my church
25th~ a gift worn out, new, made-do~ favorite clothing; smile; reality 
26th~ 3 gifts seen as reflections~  our home life in Matt's smile; my walk in my relationships; the way he pulls me close and wraps his arms around me tight 
27th~ 3 ugly-beautiful gifts~ early light on good-byes; my crazy hair; washing dishes
28th~ 3 gifts from the past- that help you trust the future~ growing up in church; the million+ times He has been there for me; teaching received at TRC




Psalm 25 Challenge~ Day 9/ 30

Hello and welcome back!
I must say that this challenge has brought such peace to my life. As I focus, with prayer and fasting, on humbling and obediently following His will and plan and will for my life I am filled with such a calm as never before.
And with focus on Him versus my own selfish desires, I have seen a future that will be amazing!
This challenge has really been a huge blessing on my life!
Extreme growth, although sometimes painful, is oh, so vey good.

Changes


Sometimes life throws changes at you. Seems to me that I see most of the changes coming long before they hit and, sometimes, I even prepare ahead for them.
It's always better to see it coming and be ready when it comes.

Assess where you currently are and compare that with where life is sending you. then begin to make any necessary personal changes so that you survive the change!

Don't forget to decide how all the necessary elements of your life as it is (like your family) will fit into these changes.
Then put on a huge smile, tape a sunny flower on the wall and make the change feel more like a party!!!

Oh, don't forget to take time to bring the real you along and personalize the changes.
Change definitely does not have to be the end of the world.
It may just be a huge blessing in disguise!


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Mussman's on Sale!


Extra large eggs are $.98/ dozen at Joliet Fresh Market!


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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Working Late


It may be late, but I have a few more brochures to prep for this campaign!
Avon's Nutura Replenishing Cream is on sale for $3.99 (plus tax and handling). Think I may stock up on this one to deal with dry winter skin!!!
How about you?
www.youravon.com/karenjoyce


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Getting Toasty!


Good evening! Welcome to our toasty homestead! Glad you're here.
Notice my thermostat? The number on the right is where I have it set~ 55F. The number on the left is the the current temperature~ 60F!
Let's pop another log on the fire, sit back and warm our toes! Shall we make some coffee? Hope you brought your knitting!!!


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A Roaring Fire!


Well, I got it going properly (not my forte), so I was able to turn the heat down (I had cranked it up to 65F when we got home from church). Tonight we will be roasty-toasty without giving a dime to Nicor gas!!!
Life is good
and
we are truly blessed!


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Day 58/ 365


Warmth because a good friend brought me a bit of wood.
Friends are a true blessing!!!


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Day 58/ 365




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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Day 57/ 365




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Day 57/ 365





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Day 57/ 365




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Day 57/ 365




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French Bread and Pesto Sauce


Sometimes lunch is a surprise~ not at all what you expected.
Especially for me as I usually forget to pack a lunch!
This is yummy and healthy with the olive oil and garlic.
Vampires Beware!!!


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Day 57/ 365



Just keeps snowing..........!


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Day 57/ 365




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Day 57/ 365




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Day 57/ 365




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Day 57/ 365




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Tracking My Weight


Well, hello there! Welcome back. It's so nice to see you again!!
This morning I decided to weigh in. Matt and I have been dieting together for a couple years now and use graph paper to track our progress.  I started out at 230 lbs and dropped, a few months ago, to 182 lbs.
I was SO Excited!
That was lighter than when I got pregnant with Matt!!!
Then drama started and I allowed it to get to me (I need to remember who I am in Him and ignore them), quit hiking (it was So cold out!), and switched from green tea back to soda. Tragic results~ tragic!!!
I have to say that getting weight off after I turned 40 has been 10,000x harder than when I was young. There was a time I could hit those 'lady's days', eat nothing but salads that week and drop 10 pounds! Now, if I look at food I gain!! It's crazy.
But, once again, I'm back on track and dropping pounds. I would say I owe it to getting to bed before 11:00 pm and the four (4) cups of water I chugged last night.
I have heard you automatically gain a pound every six (6) months if you don't stay hydrated.
Putting hydration to the test!!!


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Morning?


Very tired and fighting a cold...


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Monday, February 25, 2013

Psalm 25 Challenge~ Day 6/30

Well, I must admit that I missed my reading yesterday... not excuses will be offered... there is not one I can make without feeling convicted in the typing of it!
But I can say that I have done my reading for today...
First, though, I read the May 1, 2012 reading from "The Upper Room". It was entitled, "Bullied" and I've felt drawn to read it for a few days, finally giving in to Him this morning. It references Psalm 35:22 "O Lord, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord." (NIV) As I read the verse and the text that followed I was comforted. And I am seriously considering Psalm 35 for my next challenge! Bullies seem to have taken over so many places and this would be a good strengthening exercise!!!
As I sat to read Psalm 25 this morning verses 7, and 20-22 are where He is touching me. I am always grateful He has forgiven who I was before I got saved! Also, I need His strength to go forward as He would have me live as I await His return.
I pray everyday that He will show me His will for my life, help me to be broken to His will and molded into the woman He wants me to be. Last night, in a dream, He showed me bits and pieces of what He has for me. Can't say that I can explain it. And, really, we're not supposed to share those visions as He shows them to those who need to see and are Biblically mature enough to handle it.
Suffice it to say~ the future looks AMAZING!!!

Day 56/ 365


Warming before the next snow!


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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Work, Work, Work :)


If you don't like what 'is', then you must work harder!
On that note Matt and I distributed 14 brochures, 12 to new customers, today.
If I want greater income, I have to grab it!
People are out there who want to buy Avon.
It is So cool to get new customers and to sign up new representatives who want to own their own Avon business and be their own boss!
Tonight as we watched 'National Treasure: Book/ Secret', I prepped 10 more packs of brochures to hand out tomorrow (as well as the recruitment flyers I made up previously).
So many need income/ so many want to purchase Avon!
www.youravon.com/karenjoyce
Let's sign you up today!


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