My Life's Work

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.”

— Colossians 3:23

This blog is where I write for me, but you, of course, are welcome to read it.🙃

I’ve been thinking about work for about a year. Specifically a life’s work. I bought four books the last time I was in Barnes & Noble all on the theme of finding and doing your life’s work. I’ve been reading through them slowly and not exactly methodically.

Right now I’m in Tim Keller’s book, Every Good Endeavor. If I’ve understood him correctly he’s saying that the greatest way we reflect God’s glory is in the way we do the work we do. Do we do it to serve others, not ourselves? That’s the measuring stick. Motive is everything.

If you know me, you know that I’m in my early 70”s. So why a preoccupation with work. Aren’t I retired? Well, no! I don’t believe Christians retire. I think we serve God until we go to be with Him. So I’m still actively, seriously invested in figuring out how best to serve God on the daily.

Currently that means working hard on creating an online course called Simple Christian Parenting. My family and friends have been listening to me yammer on about this for over 9 years. It all began with a ministry trip to lots of village churches in Ghana. They all grew out of a ministry, a Bible Training Centre we began there in 2020. Now thousands of men and women have been trained and many pastor churches all over 14 West African nations.

That’s the backstory to what I’m doing now. It began with a young woman named Doris, a mother of four who asked me, with tears streaming down her face, if I thought there was still hope for her two sons 9 and 5, or had she already lost them? Two nights later the grandmother of twins asked me the same question at a conference clear across Ghana from where Doris lived. And truthfully, women all over the world where I have taught ask the same heartbreaking question.

My motive in this work is to serve God by equipping believing parents to guide their children into a genuine relationship with God. To help them do what they have only a small window of opportunity to do. Help a child make a real connection with the true and living God.

A connection I wish I had had at a young age. God was faithful and when I was 17 He sent the Avon Lady to come and tell me Jesus loved me and gave Himself for my sins. Not exactly as dramatic as Paul’s Damascus Road experience, but it resulted in my salvation. Hallelujah🙌

Creating this course has me revisiting my own search for God as a child. That’s what I mean about God being faithful. I had prayed a prayer in the woods one day. All alone I asked God if He was there. I was about 7. So within 10 years He sent a messenger with a bunch of little white tubes of lipstick and the glorious Gospel to tell me of His love for me.

Now that I have actually created, i.e., written, recorded and made slides for one lesson in this course, I wonder why it has taken 9 years to get to this work. True, things are easier now. The tech has been streamlined. I can make the slides from some cool slide presentation templates I bought. And inside Canva I can edit those slides and record myself presenting the teaching. Five to eight years ago the process would have required about four platforms, a camera and mic set up and then a bunch of editing.

So all my excuses for procrastination have dissolved. Gone up in a puff of progress and new easy yet powerful tools. I’ve got a Mentor who told me to write up an SOP. Yeah, she had to explain that little acronym and help me sketch out the process steps. But now I’m on a roll.

“Well begun is half done.”

— Aristotle

Aristotle was right. ✨Each morning I wake up energized to get back into creating the lessons. I’m remembering things I thought of years ago to add, but never bothered to make notes on. Dare I think that God is helping me? Would that be too self-important. I mean, does He care about my ‘Good Endeavor’? Yes, He does. I know that because I know He cares about me. I’m not just a servant of God. I’m a beloved child. That’s what I want for children everywhere. To have the same loving relationship with Him that I enjoy.

As I Was Saying Five Years Ago

I try to finish things, but sometimes it takes years. In this case five of them.🙂 This post brings me full circle ~ all the way back to my first blog post here on Squarespace.

My first blog post here on Squarespace.

Picking up on a closing thought from my first blog post here which was April 2, 2018 . . . about ideas for the dead space known as our Formal Dining Room. And not to swerve hard off-topic, but do you remember when Prince changed his name and became The Artist formerly known as Prince? Well our Dining Room had much the same experience, but in the end got a more suave and sophisticated name, it’s now The Wine Lounge.

Yes, we’re Christians and we enjoy wine.🙃

Currently we are wrapping up a year long remodel of some exterior and interior spaces.
As Dickens put it,

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

And now it’s almost finished.

In all of our naivete we had planned a real wine cellar room with a huge refrigerated and lighted area that was set off by these cool arched metal and glass doors. Then reality hit and we were shell shocked by the cost and hit delete on those grandiose plans. But, the idea of a cozy little space to swivel in some pubby-clubby leather chairs while chatting with friends and sipping wine sounded doable. So we did it.

Charlotte, our cocker spaniel, loves to watch the street traffic so that she can bark wildly when any other canine passes by while enjoying a morning walk. My daughters coerced me into the deep green wall paint and now I’m so glad they did. The brick floor exudes a kind of Napa feel and I have a walnut French buffet deux corps that holds all the charcuterie trays and glassware. When we hosted about 70 people for a 1920’s Party celebrating our granddaughter’s birthday we found that all evening small groups would end up in those pubby-clubby leather chairs and chat while refilling their plates and seeing who the latest arrivals were.

So that’s the rest of the story on the closing ideas in my first blog post from 5 years ago. There’s a link to that post just below.
Finally, closure!

. . .tomorrow’s another day,

Kelly

My First Blog Post

To Everything There Is a Season

Today got away from me. I started strong and made some great progress and then hit a wall. Like mile 18 for marathon runners. It’s like somebody pulled the plug and I’m out of energy. I can’t focus enough to work on one of several online courses I’m currently taking.

I can barely write this whiney post!

But I’m trudging on to see if I can learn something about how to keep going when I don’t feel like it. Why? Well, my other blog is a blog for younger Christian women. And unlike me, most don’t have the freedom to just stop when they feel like it. They still have to help kids with schoolwork, or they need to make dinner or get on a ZOOM call for work. So I’m thinking back to my younger days when I was where they are. How’d I do it? How’d I keep moving when I felt like dropping onto the sofa?

I had a great example in my own Mom. I think that image floated into view and generated some motivation to just get through dinner and get them in their pjs. I had really short term goals and that made them seem more achievable. And I knew how to pivot. If I was planning on a roast beef or some other labor intense menu for dinner, I could instead make a quick switch to eggs and bacon or french toast. It’s Brenner, Breakfast for Dinner :) The kids never noticed. Hit the Big Red Easy button!

Remember there was no Instagram and nobody took photos of food. We’d have been shocked that anybody cared what we ate for dinner. It was a blissful private, non-performance zone and therefore judgment free.

And now I’ve discovered that old feeling I’d forgotten about. Renewed energy generated by simple momentum, the forward plodding of activity that somehow miraculously generates a second-wind. Ahhh, the wonder of endorphins.

So now that I’m revived I’ll return to just one short project and then call a wrap on this day.

Here’s the recap:

Look for inspiration to be motivated
Focus on just the next thing
Pivot when necessary
Easy makes things easier
Remember your Physics, a body in motion tends to stay in motion

tomorrow’s another day . . .

Kelly

Great Sweaters & Blogging

It’s turned cold and so of course I’ve resurrected this ancient neglected blog.

Makes perfect sense. Like wearing big bulky warm sweaters and drinking hot tea in the afternoon. These things are provoked by the cold. Also, I’ve been working like crazy to learn how to create some digital products. Things like PDFs and a short Ebook and those challenging things have reminded me that I enjoy writing for writings sake. That’s the very definition of a personal blog.

If you knew me well you’d know I have a love ~ hate relationship with post-it notes. I love how easy they are to grab and use. I hate how easy they are to grab and use. A section of wall in my office is always covered with a rainbow of post-its. Notes to self, short abandoned To-Do Lists and quotes. Absolutely random quotes that I can’t pass up in the moment, have no use for over weeks and months on end, yet can’t part with.

My life has a superb cast but I can’t figure out the plot.
Ashley Brilliant

I mean that’s too great to just read and walk on by. It lives on a neon pink post-it that’s starting to curl. I tried starting a document on my Mac called Quotes and keeping my gems there, but I really like seeing them and being reminded of them.

Recently Gary and I watched a Reese Witherspoon movie called How Do You Know. In it Reese is an athlete who gets cut from her team. Her bathroom mirror is plastered with affirmations and mindset quotes that have kept her motivated and pumped. During that toothbrushing scene I realized that many of my post-it quotes do the same for me.

On that note I’ll close with the one that just fell off as I walked by. It’s from a blogger turned podcaster that I really enjoy. Maybe you’ll see why. It’s blogging/podcasting wisdom calls out to me in blue ink from a putty colored square:

. . .relentlessly helpful and mercifully short.

Emily P. Freeman

. . . tomorrow’s another day

Kelly

The Things We Do Instead ~ Musings on Procrastination

We all do it.

Especially on Saturday afternoons.
No, not nap, although that sounds good too. I’m talking about procrastinating. By Saturday afternoon most of us have used up our reserves of have-to discipline. All week we’ve commuted, worked, done car-pool to soccer practice and tried to get the kids to bed on time, or ourselves if the kids are grown and gone.
We’re done!

Today I came into my office with great intentions. Stacks were gonna find their way into file folders or the trash bin. Books were gonna go back on the shelves. Calls would be made. And a plan for next week would be, well, planned.

I did make a few calls, but then I remembered I had to update a website I maintain for our Bible Training Centre in Ghana West Africa.

That’s where things went off the rails. I did the upgrade and got a new Gravity form key. You don’t care what that is, but then I fell down the blogging Rabbit Hole. And no-one is here to throw me a rope :)

It started when I saw the little postage stamp sized photo from a trip to Italy at the top of my computer screen and started daydreaming ~ a sure sign that I’m in full Procrastination mode. Memories enveloped me of that warm sunny morning sitting opposite the Pantheon at that little cafe table and drinking cappuccino. There was a film crew there that morning. Capturing the light and a beautiful woman in a white gown with feathers in her hair. Someone was touching up her makeup.

I watched as they photographed her walking along the old stone steps. And then she scooped up her skirt, came down the steps and walked off into the morning light. By then my cappuccino was almost gone and the Pantheon was about to open.

Lately I’ve been meditating on Living an Examined Life.

I’m sure it’s a worthwhile exercise, but right now a cappuccino has captured my imagination so I’m gonna go dig through the cabinets in my pretentiously named Butler’s Pantry and see if I can find my froth machine.

. . .tomorrow’s another day,

Kelly

ps,
Just in case you’re confused ~ I wrote this Saturday and didn’t post it until Wednesday at 10:06 PM because, well, I procrastinate!

Summer School ~ What I Learned This Summer

1.  Anything seems funnier or truer when printed on a mug.

In a small move toward Minimalism I've begun taking pictures instead of making purchases. I call these MUG SHOTS. 

2.  They don't call it The Ritz for nothin'.

 

The linens are downy white and silky soft. The chocolates are dark and melt into velvety sweetness. The room service is sublime and the Coffee Maker is Italian. We spent two nights here and left thoroughly pampered and rested.

3.  The Greatest Generation earned that honorable name by rising to the challenges that faced the world then and by bravery and sacrifice secured the freedoms we enjoy now.

Several years ago on a trip to France we visited Normandy where Allied troops came ashore to drive out the German invaders and secure a lasting peace in Europe and Great Britain. My father served in the Pacific, a world away from the beaches of Normandy, but the enemy was the same ~ tyranny.

I wish every school in America could send its students to see the Word War II Museum in New Orleans. Tom Hanks narrates a wonderful short film that highlights the crucial events and battles of the war. Very moving and inspirational.

4.  Give Yourself A Visual Feast

Is there a spot in your home that bothers you?  Maybe it doesn't reflect your taste or current style. Hey, we all grow and our taste can change pretty dramatically over the years. 

I pass this spot in my home about 20 times a day. It's a Guest Bedroom at the end of the hall and next-door to my office. I had an old Tiger Eye maple dresser, a thrift store find, in there, but no matter what I did, it smelled of old powdery perfume or sachet. I washed it with white vinegar and let it sit in the sun for a week. Nope, still smelled. I used a clear coat of shellac hoping to seal in the smell. But still it gave off that 'Granny' odor. No offense to Grannys, I'm one myself, but that smell had to go!!!

One day I was dumping emails and one from Pottery Barn popped open. This beautiful Thalia dresser was there and it was love at first sight. I decided to add a lamp I've loved for a long time. It fits perfectly and the tea stained crackle finish is beautiful day and night. A houseplant, some small books and a quirky little bowl on legs all found their way there and seem to be getting along well together.

Each time I walk by I like what I see and how it makes me feel. It's a little corner filled with shapes and colors and natural light that resonate with me. It's not a big thing like a remodel, or even a whole room. Just a small spot that used to trigger a frown and now makes me smile.

5.  Emily's Podcast is a God-send!!! 

I'm probably the last to the party---again, but Emily's podcast, The Next Right Thing is so uplifting, inspiring, comforting. . . I love it. But, I was struggling to hear it as I unloaded dishes or prepped veggies for dinner. Then I saw an ad for Apple's Home Pod. I visited Best Buy to hear it and immediately ordered one.

I love asking Siri to play an episode and listening as Emily's warm wisdom floats across my kitchen and right into my heart.
And that voice! Who knew? My favorite episode so far is #32 Stop Collecting Gurus.

Wow, have you been scanning my Inbox? Reading my mind? Whatever it is, you have helped me Emily. I'm following your advice. I am confidant in the vision, the call God has made clear, but I was trying to listen to too many other voices telling me how to carry it out.

So I'm slowing down and taking it one step at a time. There's an order, a flow to the process from idea to reality. I'm praying for the daily provision of inspiration and practical help that I need for each step.

Thank you Emily.

6.  Have You Tried Essential Oils? 

I'm probably the last woman on Instagram and Pinterest to try Essential Oils. Better late than never. I'm hooked on a blend called Boost for the morning and a mixture of Eucalyptus, Lavender and Bergamot for bedtime. Do they really work or is it a placebo effect? Who cares? I feel invigorated in the morning and soothed in the evening. I love the Periodic Table look of the box labels. Better living through chemistry!

7. It's OK to Keep growing and changing.

Several years ago I bought a white hydrangea at the grocery store. After the blooms faded I trimmed it and stuck it in the yard. This year I noticed that the blooms have developed a cool variegated white and green pattern. Who knows why, but I think it reflects some difference in the plant's environment. 

That happens with us too. Stresses, illness, being transplanted, the physical and spiritual care and feeding we experience will be reflected in us visibly and in unseen ways. Some of it is out of our control, but it's important to pay attention to the things in our power to control and especially improve. 
 

Give yourself the gift of a healthy environment ~ at least as far as it's in your power. Offer yourself rest, exercise, time with family and friends and time to tend to your soul. Keep the inner fire burning bright and hold tightly to faith and truth. Ask and receive in faith, knowing that God loves you and delights to meet your needs.

. . .tomorrow's another day,

Kelly

A Year in the Life . . .of Moi

So I was cruising through my Photos, all 37, 654 of them and realized I'd had a great year. I try to practice gratitude and enjoy the moments, big and small, that show up in my life coloring the days with joy.

But sometimes I forget.

I've had a rotator cuff thing going on for almost 3 months and the pain and sleeplessness chafed at the edges of my usually optimistic self. I became a crank. The silver lining is that my empathy for those with any kind of chronic pain has grown and I learned to use my pain as a prompt to pray for others enduring something I'd never really experienced before.

I'm celebrating the small triumphs like finally finding the right light and conditions to get a houseplant to bloom. It's not as easy as you might think.

We renovated our backyard this Spring and I've fallen in love again with juniper, the old garden staple of western landscaping. My years of coddling ground covers like baby's tears or Isotoma are over. Give me a bulletproof plant that can hold its own against crabgrass, heat and drought and I'm happy.

I have five Iceberg rose bushes that outdid themselves this Spring. They all burst into bloom at the same time and I had a billowy carpet of dazzling white blossoms under the kitchen window. Here in the Sacramento Valley roses bloom about 9 months of the year. More than worth the effort of a little pruning and fertilizer.

I was tired of all the green in our landscape, but didn't want the pruning that seemed to be part of flowering shrubs. To my delight I discovered a new plant and have high hopes for all the hype the Nursery tag touted. It's Coprosma Pacific Sunset and it grows 3' X 3' and has shiny pink and chocolate leaves.

Another group of our grandkids are morphing from kids to adults. We took four of them to Universal Studios and had a blast riding rides and enjoying the shows. They're all Harry Potter fans so we spent lots of time in that part of the park. We drank Butterbeer and ate roasted meat while gazing up at Hogwarts Castle. 

In the Fall Gary and I took a Mississippi River cruise. We've never really traveled in that part of the country so it was a good way to see a cross-section of the old South. Highlights were The Rock & Soul Museum in Memphis, Oak Alley Plantation, and Vicksburg. We came home and watched Ken Burns' Civil War and felt we had a better understanding of that part of America's history.

And Chicken and waffles is a revelation :)

We also snuck away to Mendocino for a few days alone. It's quaint and quirky and a great getaway whatever the weather. 

. . .tomorrow's another day,

Kelly

Quiet Inspiration

I woke up to the soft sounds a quiet rain and the gentle notes of a wind chime. 

How do you find refreshment and renewal?

Did you know that green is literally easy on your eyes? I'm sure God took that into consideration when He made our world.

I'm celebrating green today and hoping you feel its calming influence as you finish out this week.  

If you're seeking creative ideas, go out walking.
Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.
Raymond Inmon

 

Wishing us all a restful refreshing weekend.

. . .tommorow's another day,

Kelly

Wallpaper is Like Giving Your House a Perm

I said I was thinking of ways to liven up our Dining Room. I didn't tell you I was considering wallpaper.

Wallpaper is to Interior Decorating what getting a perm is to hair styles.  It's a commitment you might regret almost immediately.  But in the Spring of 2017 wallpaper made a big comeback.

Now that they've figured out how to make it without the lingering toxic vinyl smell I think it could solve my decorating dilemma.

We opted for a Great Room concept in our current home because we never, or very rarely, used the Living Room in the previous one. But, we did include a separate Dining Room in our plans. Now I want to recapture that space and make it more inviting and useful for the way we live everyday. 

It takes a lot of art or mirrors to make an impression in the Dining Room.

And there's all that brown wood furniture. Blech!!!
You see where this line of thought is going, right? I've tried faux finishes and I'm over them.
I feel destined to wallpaper.

And that Hall Closet I mentioned. The one with all the random stuff. Yeah, I found a huge lilac Ivanka Trump handbag with it's own phone charger abandoned in there :) 
I'm thinking of wallpapering that closet too. 

. . .tomorrow's another day,

Kelly