Since leaving my last job earlier this month, I have set out on a new adventure that is akin to being in training for a marathon. Going from two paychecks to one has catapulted me to finding new ways to save money, whether it’s at the grocery store or in the utilities it takes to run our home. In my quest to discover tips and ideas, I am astounded at the number of web sites, articles, blogs, and Facebook pages that are able to feed my new venture until I go into brain overload. Hmmm…make a note how to organize those pages.

I have “Liked” numerous pages on Facebook, however, I have discovered that I am forgetting to go back and see what it was that intrigued me in the first place. Consequently, if you were to look at my Facebook profile, it would appear that I have accomplished a lot when in reality I haven’t. I’m still seeking the best method to be better organized when it comes to retrieving information.

I’ve always been a coupon user, especially at the grocery store, but I know there’s a lot more to save financially if I would pursue a discount offer for restaurants, major department stores, or for online shopping–a code. Hmmm….more information to store. Make a note of that.

I’ve networked with other women on how they save money. It’s amazing what some families do to accomplish their goals, especially when raising small children. But I’m past that stage. It’s just me and my hubby. I’m still trying to figure out how to cook for two without having leftovers in the fridge beyond a week. Even cutting a recipe in half isn’t the perfect answer. On a perfect day I take time to package, label and freeze leftovers, store them neatly in my freezer compartment and then forget I have them. Hmmm…make a note of how to correct that oversight.

With the wonderful addition of Pinterest to our world, I have discovered how to make my own hand soap, laundry detergent, household cleaners….the list is endless but remember I’m a newbie at this stuff. So, thus far, I’ve made the soaps but nothing else. I’m still using up what I had on hand in my pantry, so I guess I’m exercising frugality by not overbuying. Hmmm….make a note of that–a step of success!

In the energy department I’m planning my laundry based on the weather. If It’s a sunny day, my laundry will be on the line. If it’s raining, well let’s hope we have enough clean clothes until the next nice day. Hmmm…make a note to take inventory of necessary clothing.

I’m also trying not to turn on lights in the house until absolutely necessary.

As this week unfolds I am walking around with heaviness in my heart in reaction to the devastation that took place in Moore, Oklahoma due to the most horrific tornado those townspeople have experienced in the history of their weather conditions. Seeing the images on the news programs only tells part of their stories and further fuels my inability to fully comprehend their anguish and despair. In trying to emphasize and relate to their loss I am finding I am at a loss to dig into my own memories and pull something out to use as a measuring stick.

Whenever a great tragedy hits that makes the news it’s a quick reminder for me of how life is fragile, fleeting, and above all–precious. I am becoming aware that when horrible circumstances fall on someone I immediately look for the believers in the situation. Where are the people of faith? Is God sustaining them right now? Hebrews 12:2 says …”looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”….. I’m searching faces on the camera lens, and words being recorded. Is faith rising to the surface among the piles of debris and is it present in the question some are having to ask ‘is my loved one alive?’ Is hope outweighing the agony of defeat?

Several days ago I posted on my social media wall that I will never tire of waking in the morning to the songs of birds and the laughter of children as they walk to the school bus. Being able to enjoy these two simple pleasures of life is an indication of my safe and unsuspecting mornings but  my  serene early hours pale in comparison to the mornings the good people of Moore have endured since the destruction of their community. I wonder: Are there still trees for the birds to find a resting place to launch into song? Is the laughter of children on the way to school  now replaced by the drone of heavy equipment moving debris, sifting through rubble, and rescue workers breathing deeply each time a layer of a demolished wall is moved in anticipation of finding someone’s lost child? I

And yet, even though the unspeakable has happened, the loss of life and property, life has resumed for the families in Moore. In the reality of  each passing day, the immediate responses of compassion and countless helping hands will ebb and flow, much like the tides of the oceans. Days will melt into weeks giving way to passing months and the tragedy of Moore, Oklahoma will become but a fleeting memory in the hearts and minds of a watchful nation. Only those who lived through the destructive forces and the robber of precious human life will mark that moment in time in the caverns of their hearts and minds.

So, in an effort to join them in marking this eventful day, my prayer for all the affected families is that one morning they will be able to echo the words of King David in Psalm 144:9 “I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You…”

Have you ever found yourself doing something you never thought possible? or attainable? That is the realization that has settled upon me recently. Years ago I was diagnosed several allergies and asthma was among the list due to: rabbits, deer, horses, and dogs. The news came when I was 21 years old and I found my life altered, mainly in the category of avoiding huge shedding dogs or puppy dander. I also thought that having allergies would limit the amount of heavy cleaning or yard work I’d be able to do as part of life’s chores as a homeowner. Woven into the mix of limitations was the thought or attempts at exercise that caused exertion (isn’t that the idea?)…

Quite a few years have passed since my original diagnosis and with the help of good medicines and improved lifestyle I have found that my tolerance for dog dander has diminished greatly but more so I have become very successful in the exercise department of life! In October of 2011 I began working with a personal trainer for strength conditioning. I’ve pushed my body to limits on various leg presses, arm machines, and ab workouts that have made me cringe under the stress of the weight and yet I have walked out of the training facility feeling victorious. Before hiring my trainer, I had begun my own routine with early morning rotations of walking, riding a bike outside, and to my surprise—jogging, all the while expecting to be limited due to having asthma. Can you imagine the euphoria I felt when I found that I COULD run and breathe without complications? Don’t get me wrong, there are days I’ve had a bit of a struggle but they are far and few between the times as I jog along the roadside enjoying a leisurely pace, or traveling into town to run on the local park’s walking track. Imagine the pride I felt when my trainer once remarked to me ‘you are an athlete…you’re in better shape than some of my younger clients that work with me.’

I’m not out to be the “best”. Rather, I’m “in it” for me. In retrospect and true humility, many ‘tomorrows’ have come and gone. You know what I mean. We’ve all said at lease once “I will begin an exercise program tomorrow…” I like to believe that in 2011 my ‘tomorrow’ arrived and although there have been obstacles along the way, in 2012 I was able to maintain a course of exercise that consisted mostly of weight training. Last summer’s extreme heat and humidity conditions upset my schedule. Happily, 2013 is giving me some beautiful spring days to enjoy being outdoors in between sessions with my trainer.

Beyond the benefits of feeling more physically healthy, is the attitude of my mind. Whether I’m pushing myself during the challenge of a new weight or telling my legs to run a little bit further, it’s my mind that is experiencing a wonderful explosion of satisfaction and accomplishment. I’m winning the battle against the lies that come with living with allergies or the challenges of growing older.

Will you see me in a marathon? Realistically, that isn’t one of my goals. But, you will see me  in July participating in a 5K, a feat I would never have undertaken in recent years. Having good people in my life to encourage me has been key in a changed minset,  the kind of friends I can go to for advice and share ideas.

What is that one thing that has become your ‘tomorrow’? I identified mine, I’ve embraced it and now I’m ‘doing’ instead of merely ‘daydreaming’. Look for me to continue on my personal athletic journey. I will gladly look for you and try not to leave you in my dust as I continue my training program.

When I made the decision to begin writing a weekly blog (article) it was my full intention to do so every Tuesday. So far I’ve been able to keep that commitment with the exception of last week (April 30) when I was asked to fill in at the office where I’ve been employed for the past 10 years. I let working that day and other activities from last week get in the way of meeting my obligation. But, not to be discouraged or distracted, here I am, back behind my keyboard with the hopes of putting together something for you to read that is charming, uplifting, humorous, or encouraging. No matter what strikes your fancy concerning my written thoughts, I am fulfilling a purpose that is deep inside of my soul. I love words, I love to talk, listen, laugh, observe, and then relay all of these memories to you.

My initial post described how I was anticipating a ‘new beginning’ in life. While that is still very true a new dimension has been added. On May 2 I worked my last day at a job that I’ve had for 10 years. When I look back on those years, I realize that I didn’t pursue the position. I kind of ‘fell’ into it and then found myself clinging onto it even when I knew at different times my departure was becoming more and more evident. I don’t have regrets for having stayed those years. The work wasn’t difficult. The joy and laughter created by serving the general public far outweighed the routine of my duties. I won’t miss the hours of typing for processing email for articles or advertising, but I will miss the surge of garage sale ads in the spring, Mr. K selling his chickens every year, Randy and his hay/straw ads–he’s a man right out of a Beverly Hillbillies episode, celebrating with young parents announcing the birth of a child, or giving a much needed hug to a family who needed extra copies of a loved one’s obituary. I will also miss the antics of the local funeral home director who upon my answering the telephone would ask in hushed tones “World Headquarters?” and then assure me he felt safer because I was on duty.

I won’t miss trying to reason with the mom who doesn’t understand why her kid’s honor roll isn’t in the paper the week she expects it regardless of other worthy news or the homeowner who is upset week after week that their ‘free’ paper wasn’t delivered on time. No, I have arrived to a place where it’s someone else’s turn to be the peacemaker.

The decision to leave this position has been long overdue quite honestly and now that it has arrived I intend to fully embrace this ‘new chapter’ in my life. With a bit of certainty I know many exciting opportunities lie in waiting for me whether they spring forth from the lives of my children, the church family that is dear to my heart and spiritual purpose, or the needs of my husband and home.

For now, there has and continues to be spring yard work to tackle, rearranging my daily schedule, and making better use of my monthly calendar. There is a sweet fragrance in the air and it has the aroma of ‘new’, of ‘fresh’ and ‘exciting’….and ‘wonder’. This newfound position of being home is akin to being first married; there is an excitement inside of me as I ponder being back in my home full-time. I have a dear friend who coined the phrase ‘being in charge of my choices’. That’s a phrase that will definitely be a guideline for me as I open my calendar each day and enjoy the luxury of choosing what gets plugged into the various activities of my life. And while I may not always know what will fill the calendar, one thing will hopefully remain constant. Hopefully you will find me at this keyboard each Tuesday, pounding out that week’s collection of words, phrases, and sentences that give you another peek into my heart, spirit, and mind.