So how's it going...

Another month over... just like that.

I'm actually not really a fan of Halloween and will be happy when its all over after tonight.  I anticipate getting many if any trick or treaters. I plan to just hunker down and enjoy our pizza, maybe a movie and/or my book. :)

October goals... I didn't write any here because- well it hasn't been going well as far as meeting goals...but these were jotted in my journal.

• hit steps- 9 out of 31 days according to my Garmin - so not so hot :(
• keep kitchen clean (I don't know why this is so hard for me)
• keep buffet clean (again clutter magnet! ugh!)
• create a peaceful haven - I'm bumping this one to next month as I will be doing the Making Your Home a Haven study.  I thought it was running in October but it starts Monday. 
• drink water
• RUN consistently- get back on track. Not perfect but better!  

October Miles: 42- I was hoping to squeeze in a couple more runs but came down with a cold that has me taking it easy for a few days.

October Books:

1. First Impressions by Sarah Price - print/library - Oct 6 - ★★★
2. Born Survivors by Wendy Holden - kindle/library - Oct 9 - 
3. A Life Without Water by Marci Bolden - eBook/hoopla - Oct 14 - ★★★★
4. Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans - print/own - Oct 16 -
5. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah  - audio/library - Oct 20 -
6. Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok - kindle/library - Oct 21 - ★★★
7. The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth - kindle/library - Oct 24 - ★★★★

If I pick a favorite for this month it is probably- A Life Without Water

2019 Goals....

• Choose JOY- if feel like overall I'm doing all right on this
• Exercise at least 4 days a week. yeah right! I have been so bad...and I can tell by the way I feel. 
• Hit 10000 steps each day- =|
• Bullet Journal - not so much- Well- usually I do a daily page (often at work), but I feel like I should do it at night and get myself organized for the next day and do a brain dump before bed :P
• Half Marathon PR - Syracuse Half in less than two weeks... I guess we'll see
• Drink more water - depends on the day
• Menu plan- including breakfast and snacks - complete fail. I have wasted so much food and $$ lately.
• Read 100 books- 81 books (one behind at the moment)
• Run 500 miles- I'm at less than 50% with only 2ish months to go <sigh> Almost 42 of those have been this month
• Pampered Chef- I am making progress here- I started going to local team meetings. I have been active for 3 consecutive months now! AND I earned this months incentive! Next month we are earning the NEW spring products! Can't wait!
  

It's not too late I guess to start again and end the year by creating some good habits.

I'm thinking about next year-- I have a couple words I am kicking around to focus on. Thrive is one. Steadfast is another. Adventure just popped into my head.

I had planned/dreamed to do a full marathon next year... I just don't know. I can't seem to get my act together enough to even really train for a half marathon so a full seems out of the question at this point.

I know in books I am not going to set such a high number- I want to focus on a couple longer reads that I have been wanting to do, a few more classics, a few old favorites that are calling out to me (like Harry Potter)... thinking more quality over quantity I guess. Not to say this year hasn't been quality reading too ;-)  I just don't want to worry about hitting a certain number and if it takes me weeks and weeks to finish a read- so be it.

I'm looking forward to November and Thanksgiving!

possible...

I'm fighting discouragement today.  I will not be defeated!

Last night at Mom's Connect we talked all about Living Loved.  My goal today.  Tonight I am going to my adopted Team's Recipe Night! I am tempted to bail. But I am going. I am going to be brave and smile and be the rock star pampered chef consultant I am in my head. 😂 I already volunteered to host next month.

Saturday was a beautiful day for running...

 5 miles with my sister-in-law and 5 miles by myself. This was at 9+ miles...

Around lunchtime Rhett and I had a little mini date to the local Amish store.

This time filled my heart to overflowing. Sometimes I still get so fearful and lonesome. But God is faithful and He has brought such hope and healing to our relationship. We bought some goodies, and sandwiches, chips and drinks and sat in the truck eating lunch together.

 My last minute thrown together Trunk for Trunk or Treat at our church.

Hannah and her friends were M&Ms

And just because... Chance <3 I love him so

Happy Monday! Here's hoping it is the start of a great week!

Leaves of Gold

I've been in s little bit of a funk this week. 😕  Vacillating between discouragement and elation. But then that's pretty much me, I guess.

Here's some good from the week.

Sunday I drove Mikayla back to Houghton, which made me sad but we had some great quality time on the drive and she was excited to show me her townhouse now that they are all settled in.  Thanksgiving is soon and I can't wait to have her home again!

This quote was from Jesus Calling this week-
       "Let My gold-tinged Love was over you and soak into the depths of your being." (Oct. 23, pg 310)

I just love this because it embodies fall so much for me- I love the way sunlight seems to turn everything to gold in the fall.  And now it reminds me of God's love too.  All my devo's this week have been pretty great....if only I cold stay at my table longer.  Morning feels so fleeting and then the day at work sooooooooo long.

I went for a pretty sweet run the other night.  It made me so happy.

I'm aiming for 10 miles tomorrow. The Syracuse Half is just TWO weeks away! I can not believe it!

I did this LIVE video in a party group this week. Pampered Chef makes me soooo happy!

This party needs a little help qualifying ;-) if anyone has an order to add.  I'm hoping to get it in this weekend...and if you are local to me- I'm offering FREE SHIPPING.  Text or Message me if you'd like to order!

There are 6!! Just SIX days left to get in on this awesome anniversary deal and help me start building my Team.  Seriously- I never seen a deal like this in 15 years with Pampered Chef... if you have ever thought about joining NOW is the time!  It doesn't have to be forever...try it for a month- do a couple parties, earn some cash and see what you think... ;-) Learn more here or just shoot me a message.

I mean who wouldn't want this box of awesome delivered right to your doorstep! For only $39...its a steal!

Think about it.....

I'm personally working to move from Hobby Consultant to Full-Time Consultant.

Disclaimer: I am a Pampered Chef Independent Consultant I do earn commission from anything pampered chef purchased through me =)

I have a dream...

 Yesterday was the anniversary of the FIRST ever Pampered Chef Party!

15 years ago (in March) I embarked on the adventure that changed my life as well.  Pampered Chef has brought me such JOY and so much more confidence.  PLUS a kitchen full of goodies!

My happy place 💖

 This morning I made a video sharing my Pampered Chef story on my Facebook page.

Check in out -->HERE<--

The story of MY very first Pampered Chef Party -->here<-- because yup I have been blogging all this time!

This month ONLY you can start your very own Pampered Chef Business for as little as $39

Until now Pampered Chef has been a hobby...But I think after 15 years it might be time to step it up a notch.  That one of the nice things about PC- it fits to you- your goals, your time, your life.  It can be as little or as much as you desire.

Goals! I have decided it's time to promote to director! I have started going to local meetings and it feels soooo good to be connected with Pampered Chef People again! I haven't gone to an in person meeting since I left Virginia 14 years ago.

My other goal is to stop living paycheck to paycheck.  I find this so discouraging and frustrating. 😩 I am sick and tired of it.  I want to be able to make my Jeep payment from my PC $$ and start a savings account as well.  I'm turning 40 next year- I think its time I have a savings account don't you 😉

So my goal is to add my first team member by the end of October.  Promote to Team Leader (two active members) before the end of the year. And promote to Director- (that's 5!  5 active team members) by National Conference! Which is July.

Who knows maybe someday I'll even be an elite and one of those hotshot National Executives... Dream Big 😉

today...

For Today {October 14, 2019}

Looking out my window 

This morning's sky

I am thinking I need a haircut

I am thankful for my husband, for our 21 years together, the "little" things he does for me- like making sure to change the oil in my Jeep <3

One of my favorite things

I am wearing new boots- gifted to me last night...

I am reading

Born Survivors by Wendy Holden

This book. Wow. It was a difficult read. Incredibly heart wrenching.  It is the story of three young women during the Holocaust. It's unfathomable to me how people can treat fellow human beings in such a manor.  There were times I wanted to just put it down and stop. The horror of it all. I carried on out of respect for those who suffered. Feeling like their story needs to be heard. Also with hope of redemption which was surely to come at the end.

I am listening

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

This book I am about 20% through- another tough one.  It interested me because my family spent 9 months in Sierra Leone when I was 7.  The story begins when the boy is twelve years old during the war there. Again it is horrific the pain and destruction humans inflict on one another.  It's awful to realize that these things really happened to these real people. It makes me wonder if any of the boys who used to play in our yard may have had similar experiences...

It may not have been wise to start these two books at the same time.

I'm looking for a lighter read next if anyone has any suggestions.

I am hoping someone else wants to have a Pampered Chef Party ;-)

I am learning to be proud of who I am. Who God created me to be.

In my kitchen Loving my ceramic egg cooker lately

In my garden I have this beautiful almost bushy mum from the previous owners. It makes me happy every time I see it.

We also got 6 tomatoes from my haphazard tomato plant that basically I paid no attention to all summer.  I bought it at Aldi in the spring time and basically set it in the back flower border....seriously I never even planted it.  It took root and flourished. I was also amazed at how much better these tomatoes were than ones purchased from the grocery store...it makes me want to have a legit garden next year ...

Board room I find reading about my enneagram type fascinating.

 

Pinned: Yup.

Shared Quote 

"The thing about healing, as opposed to curing, is that it is relational.  It takes time. It is inefficient, like the meandering river. Rarely does healing follow a straight or well-lit path." Searching for Sunday, Rachel Held Evans pp 208

A moment from my day 

 

Linked up today with Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

live loved and breathe

October is upon us. Three quarters of the year is in the rearview...I feel like the next 3 months  is a rapidly increasing slide into the holidays and the end of the year.  October also has some bad memories and associations for me.  I'm working hard to let go of the past and stay in the present...walking into the future God has for me.  One of redemption and healing... not hurt, fear and bitterness.

This morning my soul was craving rest and peace.  I was also grappling with Sunday's message on prayer in light of discouragement and what feels like so many unanswered prayers. Why God, why??

First off I read these words in Jesus Calling, "Rest in Me, My weary one, for this a form of worship." (Jesus Calling, October 1).

I'm also working through this book Songs of Hope, I got it way back at the beginning of summer and am just now starting it. But today I read Psalm 22. It talked about how God was holy. Always. He hears and cares for our prayers. 

Then in my email I had this-

Another little prayer answered- a few extra minutes with my husband as he had breakfast. I had been crying out to God about how lonely I was feeling.  Those extra minutes felt like a treasure.  Friday is our anniversary date celebrating our 21st (which is Sunday). 

"Live from a deep assurance that you are fully loved, and you won't find yourself begging for scraps of love.  Live loved." -from Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst.  This is our new study in Moms Connect.

So for October, my main goal is to take a breath and remember I am loved. Unequivocally.  To nourish my body and spirit. To work on making our home a haven of rest and peace.