Why Am I Doing This? #write31days 10-31-16

I don't know how many times this month (October 2016) I have asked myself,

"WHY AM I DOING THIS!?!?!?!"

This has been my 5th year of participating in the #write31days challenge that was extended several years back by Myquillyn Smith of The Nesting Place. I decided to "free-write" the posts this month which is a good mental exercise for me. However, I began the month with the first 8 days on the high seas with limited internet connection, then 12 days of the month in Kentucky, and one day in Virginia. That left me with only 7 days in my "regular home". And, I must admit there've been a few days which turned out quite differently than what I'd hoped. Either way, I've enjoyed the challenge. 

Thanks Myquillin for the challenge. Love the byline on the Nesting Place's page:

"It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." 

And, wow... my writing is certainly NOT perfect... but, perhaps it can be beautiful to someone. What a great motto for each of us to embrace in so many areas of our lives. I lived many years when I strived for perfection and refused to see beauty elsewhere. Those years are over - with just a few bumps in the road from time to time. Life has become beautiful despite the messes, mistakes, challenges & losses.

So... why AM I doing this? This blogging... this Facebook page... this Pinterest page... this Twitter account... this Instagram account...???? Why am I doing it all?? 

An affirmation came this week in the form of a notification from the Facebook page I started and manage (which is affectionately called the stuckinindiana page). I get notice most of the time when someone has liked or shared a post that I shared initially. When I got notice of someone liking & sharing a picture (aka a stuckinindiana pairing) that I'd posted way back on December 9, 2015, I was reminded why I do this. The 2015 pairing liked and shared a few days ago was:

"If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman,
I shall feel that I have worked with God."
~ G. K. Chesterton  #quote

Each of us has the opportunity to put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman... and thus work with God. That is my hope & my dream... and why I am doing this.

This is MY LAST POST for the 2016 October #write31days challenge. And, over the month, I've come up with ideas for probably another 20-25 posts. Who knows when the next one will happen :)

5 Minute Free-For-All - Why Am I Doing This? #write31days 10-31-16

Here's the page for direct links to all 31 of the posts: 5 Minute Free-for-All 

I'll Show You Mine If...

I'll show you mine, if you'll show me yours. That statement comes with some not so great images. Perhaps I should have titled this post "I Told You So" or "Just Keepin' It Real" or "My House is Messier Than Your House" or "When Guests Come Over, I Hide Things in the Shower". Today's post is being written & photographed... and then I'm going to see what I can accomplish around the house besides reading & writing for #write31days :)

I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours...

The Clutter of Life

If you could see this full picture,
you would see that she's
covered with black beans
from below her chin to
the top of her fuzzy little head!

The house is partially decorated for fall with the summer things sitting alongside until they get put away. The floors are littered with cardboard books, dolls & stuffed animals. A Pack N Play sits in the great room & serves as a huge toy box. It can no longer HOLD our little climber! The kitchen sink is full - as is the counter beside it. The laundry room has 2 loads of clean clothes waiting on the top of the dryer to be folded. The dryer holds one more load which will come out when there's a place for it. There are NO LESS THAN 150 oil & acrylic paintings leaning against walls in practically EVERY room of the house. (That's another story there!) And, let's not even talk about the Christmas tree topper

PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER - Home Page for write31days2014

October of 2014 is my third October to participate in a daily writing challenge posed annually by the nesting place. Their slogan attracted me years ago. I read those words and knew I could pair up with this girl...

"It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."

I don't know about you... but, I love PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER... ways to use old clothing items with the latest trends; different ways to prepare meals; matching inspirational thoughts/quotes/scriptures/song lyrics with photos I've taken; doing a DIY project here & there; introducing people who have things in common (although I am not that big on match-making); making correlations between nature & life; and so much more!

The direct links to individual posts are being added daily right here: 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

     Taking Care of What the Good Lord Gave You  

Thursday, October 2, 2014

     Annoying Someone for Life 
Friday, October 3, 2014
     PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER - Atlantic Ocean Sunrise + A Broken Metatarsal 
Saturday, October 4, 2014
     The Smallest Gestures
Sunday, October 5, 2014
     A Chapter Closed Today - Paradise by the Sea     
Monday, October 6, 2014
     The Clutter of Life 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
     I'll Show You Mine If... 
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
     Autumn - A Time of Sowing
Thursday, October 9, 2014
     Making Memories - A Moment At A Time
Friday, October 10, 2014
     Love + A Big Piece of Chocolate Cake
Saturday, October 11, 2014
     No Mountains... No Ocean... Where's the beauty?
Sunday, October 12, 2014
     Moving Mountains
Monday, October 13, 2014
     Moving Mountains 
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
     Making Daily Deposits 
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
     A Living Legacy
Thursday, October 16, 2014
     The Value of FREE Things
Friday, October 17, 2014
     All You Need Is Love
Saturday, October 18, 2014
     Dealing With Sleepless Nights 
Sunday, October 19, 2014
     Honoring the Memory of My Sister
Monday, October 20, 2014
     A Kiss & A Goodbye
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
     Living Fully & Letting Go of Expectations
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
     Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
Thursday, October 23, 2014
     Struggling To Do It All
Friday, October 24, 2014
     Cancer + Coincidences + Peaceful Sleep
Saturday, October 25, 2014
     Rainy Day Recipes - Country Cemeteries
Sunday, October 26, 2014
     Dream On
Monday, October 27, 2014
     A Woman's Most Perfect Curve
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
     Seasons of Life - Stretching, Learning & Growing
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
     The Grass is Greener
Thursday, October 30, 2014
     How To Love The UnLIKEable
Friday, October 31, 2014

     The Best Way Out
The entire collection of posts can be seen by clicking on the "31 days of PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER" picture on the right sidebar of my blog.

HOPE, Oh, Those Imperfections 10-22-13

I'm anything but perfect - as many of my friends know. I want to be a reflection of Christ at all times.  But, face the facts, we all have times when we think, "Hmmm, maybe I should have handled that differently." When we fall, we need to get back up & immediately look to God.

There have been times when I let things that happened in the past have way too much control on what I do in the now. I've not cut those burdens loose. I've allowed them to pull me down - away from what I can be in Christ. I've accepted those weaknesses as "being just a part of me" and, frankly, settled for less than what God had for me. I've fallen down & refused to get back up.

Are there things in your life which you allow to "hang around your neck" zapping strength to accomplish tasks & goals. There's a great promise in God's Word for the times when we let imperfections affect our success. Each morning, when you wake up, claim the promise found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  

Christ is in the business of making us NEW. We ask for forgiveness & He lets OLD THINGS pass away. He gives us renewed strength daily. He lets us start over. He keeps us from stumbling. God's total acceptance of me & belief in me inspires me to be a better reflection of Him.

I encourage you to let the old pass away & start all over, believing that 

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."  Philippians 1:6     

Be encouraged! We all have imperfections. God is in the business of using us regardless of them. God is in the business of making us new daily when we are in communion with Him.

Linking October 2013 with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...