Changed

Changed the light bulbs,

changed the room;

changed the seasonings,

changed the taste;

changed the routine,

changed the day;

changed the translation,

changed my comprehension;

changed my attitude,

changed my emotions;

changed my diet,

changed my health.

Overcoming Negativity

 This meme was well-timed.  

Not only was I spending some time with a negative person or two,

I found myself becoming increasingly one myself.

(It IS my tendency.)

And so, while in conversation with a friend about this,

I had the idea to wear a rubber band around my wrist

and snap myself each time I caught myself

thinking a negative thought--

or having spoken one.

(You can see that I selected a pony-tail band...)

Already, it has helped!

I recommend it!

Behavior Modification

Changes that seem small and unimportant at first 

will compound into remarkable results

if you’re willing to stick with them for years.

So read a twitter post from James Clear (whomever he may be). 

Funny it should appear today just as I am into DayThree of

an important behavior modification!

Not sure how many "years" I have left as I near age 70.

However, I DO know that I need to quit crossing my legs!

After a knee replacement and hip replacement,

it is well past time.

A couple of veins popping on the side of one leg near my knee

reminded me that I REALLY need to institute a "small change".

I sit awkwardly in church pews and other chairs

and it just feels good - or necessary somehow - to cross my legs.

Sunday, I stacked two hymnbooks and put my two feet flat on them 

throughout the church service.

It helped the awkward feeling.

AND...

I've called a silverware box into service at our kitchen table

where I sit for meals and playing games in the evening.

Old habits really ARE hard to break,

but I'm determined to establish this NEW one.

Small Changes

Last Sunday evening, around 9 pm, I was inspired.  "If I move the desk in my music room just 90 degrees then I can sit comfortably without bumping into the bookshelf."

Just a small change, but consequently other things had to be arranged as well...Monday I was pretty tired, but as I finished my day and gazed at the new music/work space, I was happy.  Small changes can be good for the soul.

That from Mary in Ouaga, an ethnomusicologist working in Burkina Faso.  And I can attest to that observation!  Small changes CAN be good for the soul. Small changes like:

• reading the Bible in another translation
• moving a pillow from one chair to another
• straightening a picture frame or mirror gone awry
• parting one's hair in a different place
• writing a handwritten note instead of a text message
• sitting in a different pew for a change
• trying a new (or old, forgotten) recipe

These are a few small changes I can point to in my own routine lately.  They were not made for the express purpose of affecting my soul, but I CAN attest to that positive outcome among others. By the way, I also can identify with Mary in her observation that often, even with small changes, other things have to be "arranged" as well...

What small changes have YOU made recently?

What small changes do you plan to incorporate into your life?

In Every Change...

This afternoon I thumbed through our hymn book to select songs 

for the ♪Singspiration♪ I'll be leading at church this evening.

I sang through the verses of Be Still, My Soul

and jotted down the page number for reference tonight.

These words stood out to me:

 Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 There's no denying the changes that surround me--

at home, in my family, in our church, in our country.

How reassuring to know that "in every change, He faithful will remain".

Speaking of changes....

My husband is changing the old door that had been propped up in our shed.

He has removed the inside panel,

sanded down the exterior for a good painting,

and purchased a mirror to place in the opening.

I'm expecting a "joyful end" to this project and have a place in mind for it already!

Minutes after posting this, I changed my mind.
No paint.  Dark stain instead.
(It will match a few dark wood pieces housed in the same room.)

A Change of Scenery

 A change of scenery -

 whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional -

is usually refreshing, stimulating, encouraging.

 So it was for me.  For us.

Though our time was brief and limited by our mending bodies,

we are blessed by what was

and hopeful for what is to come.

Life--NOT Godliness

Found a few weeks ago at My Favorite Thrift Store.

WHO knew? (I suppose ALL of you youngsters!) I just learned this very morning that it is no longer considered proper to leave two spaces following end-sentence-punctuation. One space is now all that's necessary. I have been practicing the two space rule from the time I learned typing in a high school typing class.  It has been reinforced by countless term paper writings and various contract writing assignments I've had throughout the years.

This is going to be a VERY difficult habit to break. It's FAR worse than writing "2012" instead of "2011" the first few weeks of the new year.

For anyone who doubts as I did, you can google it and find out the rationale. I'm just sorry I didn't learn about this sooner. Imagine all the spaces I could have saved...

I'm classifying this as a matter of life. NOT godliness!

What ELSE have I missed? 

Your help will be much appreciated.

I Took the Time...

...to experiment.  I uploaded a photo of one of my favorite flowers from our garden and used it for my blog background - choosing to "tile it".  I spent quite a bit of time exploring all the possibilities available in the "advanced" field of the template customizer in Blogger.  This is the result.  It's a little busy, but now that I know what can be done, I look forward to frequent changes!.

Today I also took the time to pick up some free peaches a friend offered me.  I don't have a lot of freezer space, so I sliced some for our lunch and froze enough to make peach smoothies for our evening snack tonight.

I took the time to pray for a few specific situations that arose--especially for friends facing difficult circumstances and choices.

The day has passed pleasantly for me.  Our weather is near perfect.  I'm enjoying the solitude of the early evening waiting for my husband to return from a meeting.  I'm glad I've HAD time to TAKE the time...

Living With Change

For various reasons, grass wasn't growing well here.  Yesterday I decided a change was in order and transplanted the fern and hosta to fill in the space.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.  ~Victor Frankl

We changed the look of the shed by adding these shutters!

You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation:  If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish.  ~Author Unknown

I bought this dollhouse for about a dollar and a half in a thrift store in Chicago while visiting my daughter earlier this week.  My husband is graciously changing its appearance via a paint job!

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.  ~Francis Bacon

These changes were deliberate and self-initiated.  Others?  Not so much!  My husband's salary has changed.  Both of our mothers are experiencing challenging health changes.  We will be on-the-road the next four days visiting them and "hearing" doctors with them.   It is reassuring that though everything around us is changing (and some of it very, very fast), there  is ONE who NEVER changes!  

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, 

I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)