Healthy Tidbits

Today a little meme that I saw and thought would be something interesting to share. If you are struggling with depression - I would suggest you looking up Dr.Neil Nedley on youtube and see what programs are available. Just some helpful information for anyone dealing with depression. He also has a book called "Depression: The Way Out"

Like a Domino Effect...

Last week I spent a good amount of time working on organizing my pantry. My pantry is the size that you have room to maybe step inside of the pantry and shut the door- but usually my trash can sits there so it really isn't a walk in pantry. But it is so much more room than what I had before we moved here- so I love it!

First I took every thing out of the bottom of the pantry and cleaned up the floor and threw stuff away or found another spot for it. Then organized the stuff that I put back in nicely. Then I tackled the bottom shelf. I took everything off the shelf and I wiped down the shelf and then I looked through the stuff and looked at dates on stuff and put the things that need to be used up soon out front, things with a longer shelf life I put at the back of the row. Then I worked on the next two shelves. Everything looked so nice when I was done. I still have the top shelf to do but have put it off. I may do that next week.

What I found was that once I took care of the floor of the pantry and saw the nice difference it made it encouraged me to tackle the other shelves. I even was able to get my fish tank cleaned and my carpets cleaned. And to be perfectly honest - I had had "Clean Carpets" on my to do list for over a month- each week it got moved to the bottom of priority. So it felt great to finally get that done!

So if you have some jobs that you really need to get done but just keep putting them off. Maybe try to tackle a job that will make a difference in how it looks. Clean an area that you don't always pay attention to and maybe you too will find a burst of energy to get more jobs done. Sometimes we have to just tell ourselves - "You WILL get this job done today." Sometimes we have to make a deal with our selves - get this job done and then you can do something fun. It always makes it funner and easier to do the job when there is a reward on the other side.

Wondering what jobs I will get done this week?

The Beauty of Nature

I started reading this book recently so this is what I was studying while we were away. 

This book is called "Christ Object Lessons" It was published in the year 1900. I am sure I will reading this book for a while since it has 421 pages! 

Every year when I plant my seeds and my starter plants, I have some worries that they may not make it. Especially when stormy weather is forecasted. This morning during my devotional time I was given new spiritual insight into the connection between my seeds and started plants and my own life and I would like to share it with you. 

"As we contemplate the beauty of nature, as we study its lessons in the cultivation of the soil, in the growth of the trees, in all the wonders of earth and sea and sky, there will come to us a new perception of truth." COL125

After I read the above sentence, I paused for a moment. I thought of how God cares for even my plants and provides the sunshine, soil and rain every now and then. Then I remembered how when a storm is on its way - I worry about my little plants. And it dawned on my that just as He watches over my plants and takes care of them- through the sunny days and the stormy ones as well, He also does the same for me. And He does it for you as well! 

If you would like to check out the entire chapter that this quote came from ~ click HERE.

A Few Days Away

Sorry I have been missing in action lately. My husband and I went to a favorite state park to go camping for a couple of days. I love to hike when we go there. They have 4 great trails. And my goal on every trip is to hike every one of them! I was a bit disappointed on this trip because some of the trails were muddy. One of the trails I had to turn around and go back because I came to an area that we just too muddy to get through. And another trail I was not able to walk at all. The trails I did hike had sections that were quite muddy but thankfully there were either large rocks or some high ground I was able to use to get through. 

The first day I got a very good walk/hike in! But at 5:25am when I got up to go to the bathroom and then I was going to turn our thermostat down a bit- I forgot there was another step there and I tumbled to the ground landing on my knees pretty hard and then hands. That is the negative of the way they design the new 5th wheels. No carpet and the steps are high and oddly spaced. This is not the first time I have fallen. The first time we took the trailer out I fell - that time on another step- I hadn't remembered where the step was. That time i was banged myself up pretty bad but did not fall. This time I was very careful with the steps I am used to going down to get to the bathroom - but then I had to move the bathroom door and was going try to get the thermostat that is behind the door and just did not remember that last step and bam! It has taken a couple of days but I have a big bruise about 5 inches or more from knee down my leg. It is still sore and sensitive to touch. And the bruising gets darker each day. 

I didn't let busting my knees stop me from getting in another great hike. There are two parts to this trail and because of how late I got started - I was not able to get through both sections of it. I was worried I wasn't going to make it out of the woods by the time the sun went down as it was. 

During my hike the first day I was there - I saw 3 deer. One of them was off to the side of the hiking trail. She wasn't that far away and I tried really hard to get a good photo of here - but I just could get it. The other two deer had been drinking at the lake when I disturbed them and they went across the hiking trail into the woods. As I continued on the trail I could hear them off to the side but never got to see them again.

One of my favorite things about trips to this state park is my view for my morning quiet time!!

Shoe Care

I found something that has been a big help in helping me care for my shoes. And today I would like to share this information with you so you too can have some help.

It all started out when I had a pair of dark jeans or two that ended up getting a blue stain on my white tennis shoes. So while I was at the store I was looking for the white shoe polish but noticed this product and bought it instead.

I think this is a great product to have on hand. They are great to use to clean your tennis shoes as well as your dress up shoes.

No - I have not been asked to write about this, nor and I getting paid to recommend it. I just wanted to share about this product for others to know about them so that they too can clean up their shoes and make them look nicer and therefore last longer.

Healthy Tidbits

Today's for our Healthy Tidbits post, I would like to share a link to a cool website that will give you a lot of great health information. Heartwise Ministries has a great website with a lot of great information. There are podcasts and videos to watch. So today instead of med giving you some information I am giving you a link to for you to check out information that may be helpful to you. Enjoy! :0)

We Can Learn a Thing Or Two From the Birds

With rain and stormy weather looming around our area, I ventured out to try to get a walk in for the day. Thankfully I was able to get a 2 mile walk in before my radar showed me of a possible rain shower headed my direction. As I walked I noticed something very interesting,.a lesson I think we all need to learn. 

I saw several different kinds of birds. And I spent a good amount of time observing them. I noticed the special beauty of each one. I noticed that each seem to be very content. They were not bothered by not being a different kind of bird - even though the other birds were around them, They were not stressing about not being as big, or as small, or as pretty as the other. They were content with being themselves. It's like they realized that the Creator had made them and that they were special just the way they were. 

Now people might prefer one bird over the other, or think one kind of bird is more special then the other. But God loves all the birds. Each and every one is special to Him. 

You and I tend to get caught up in the envy trap or the not good enough trap, but we don't need to. God made us all special in our own unique ways. And He loves each and every one of us as well. We need to learn to be content just like the birds are at who we are. There may be areas of our lives that need to be changed and that is fine- God will guide and direct us to who He wants us to be and what changes He wants from us. In the mean while we need to learn to accept ourselves and realize that we may be different from those around us but we are all special! God loves every single one of us - we can be sure of that! :O)