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What’s This About Christmas and Tiny Tim?

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Well, we’ve entered into this holiday season full swing!  In our home, the decorations were slowly put up to savor each activity — the gifts gathered with each special person in mind — the Christmas movies enjoyed as we take time to relax after a long day.

One of our favorite stories this time of year is A Christmas Carol.  Charles Dickens said it best as he reminded us what’s important at Christmas.

My heart’s desire is that we take time to remember why we celebrate this day — why it’s our favorite season!

  • First, it’s not all about the lights or the decorations or our favorite Christmas melodies (although they add so much to this time of year).
  • It’s not all about the cookie recipes our families pass down for generations.
  • It’s not the gifts piled under the tree (we often have 20+ family members celebrating with us — so the gifts are piled!)
  • It’s not even winter’s glistening frost lit by the sun casting long shadows across the yard.  It does make it feel, oh so, Christmas-y!

So what is it all about?

  • It’s ALL about the Son – God’s Son who cast His shadow across history and all of creation so many years ago in a manger!
  • It’s all about the Baby who made shepherds pause in wonder and angels sing praise and glory.
  • The Child who caused wise men to travel for years to seek this Messiah.
  • And as Tiny Tim said in our favorite Dicken’s story, that Baby-turned-Man “who made the blind to see and the lame to walk”!

‘And how did Tiny Tim behave?’, asked Mrs. Cratchit …….‘As good as gold.’ said Bob, ‘and better.  Somehow he gets thoughtful sitting by himself so much and thinks the strangest things you ever heard.  He told me coming home that he hoped the people saw him in the church because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.’                                                                                                                    A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Oh, this is my absolute favorite line in all of Charles Dicken’s novels!  May we truly see the Truth of declaring the Gospel in his simple words.

Blessings to you as you prepare for this beautiful season of remembering God’s Son!

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And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  Luke 2:18-20
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This Is Definitely What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown!

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Linus’s age-old adage rings as true now as it did 50 years ago!  We remember with much nostalgia when he recites Luke 2, then concludes with the refrain, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!”

Christmas is all about Jesus.  It’s about celebrating God’s greatest gift to us — Jesus — our salvation through nothing else but faith in God’s Son.  

Getting Sidetracked This Christmas?

It’s too easy to get sidetracked thinking it’s about decorations and gifts.  Now, we love a decorated house this time of year!  But it can get overwhelming.  And you know about those hundred gifts on your list.  “What?” you say.  “I don’t have a hundred gifts on my list!”  Umm, count again.  Include teachers, bosses, neighbors, friends, greeting cards with pictures, stocking stuffers, cookies for the neighbors….yep, you’re getting close to a hundred!  See what I mean about sidetracked?

Now don’t think I don’t understand.  I’m right here with you….like forgetting about our Jesse tree and instead, getting started on my shopping trips.  Reading the real Christmas story only because my daughters had a party for my ‘grandboys’!  ‘Tis true…but get this — when I read to those wondering eyes, when I saw the intent on their faces, I remembered again.  

This truly is the reason for the season.  It is our job, our duty, to make sure we’re not quiet about what we believe and in Whom we believe!

Won’t you join me in relishing in the tinsel and holly and glitter, but not forgetting that simple, cold manger so many years ago?  The sheer beauty of God’s gift of everlasting life, brought to us in the tiny frame of a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Keep Christ’s Love In Christmas

A bit of encouragement and some ideas to renew your sense of purpose this season:

– Our friend owns a thrift store in town, but it’s not just any thrift shop!  This one uses the store’s proceeds to feed the hungry in our community.  Check out your local ministries to discover how you can help the needy this year.  People are cold, hungry, lonely, sick.  What can we do to be Jesus’s hands of mercy to them?

– Tiny Tim is a name most people know.  Learn how to share God’s love from his simple pronouncement to those around him.

–  Here’s a great way to bless those in need this year!  It’s so easy to pass by those in need along the road.  What if we were prepared for those meetings by having a care bag of goodies to hand the homeless?   We will never have an excuse to look the other way.  (We have a homeless woman on the edge of town.  We pass her most days and wonder how she does it with the cold weather approaching.  Reading this post again has me excited to bring her a care package this week!)

– Some people ask the question, Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?  It’s easy to see that it’s gotten out of hand with Santa, “Happy Holidays,” and compulsory gift-giving.  Some proclaim Christmas is for pagans and just a copycat of idol worship.  My post declares why it’s a good thing to celebrate.  Choose for yourselves….but as for me and my house, we will celebrate the Lord!

– Visit a Fire or Police Station and bring goodies for these first responders!  With a son-in-law who has this difficult job, we see first-hand how much we take our safety for granted.  Give the gift of appreciation this year!

There are so many ways we can remember what Christmas is all about.  Let’s share our ideas — with friends and family — and here. Leave a comment with ways your family celebrates or shares God’s love this time of year!

Happy Holy Day & Merry Christ-mas one and all!

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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.     Luke 2:16-20
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Simple Steps To Gain Sanity Through Planning

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First Things First—Be Willing To Do the Work!

This post has the potential to bring order to your busy life.  You really can gain sanity through planning.  But you have to be prepared to do the work! 

Yikes, maybe that’s not the best start to a post with the word “Simple” in its title!  But, it’s true and I’m not going to fool you.  You and I need to be willing to get past the lazy troll who lives within us and do the tough stuff.  I’m sorry, but it’s just reality!  If you’re new to this topic, you can find my post on why you need a plan in the first place, here.  Now let’s get started!

We all know the chaos that reigns as we get busier and busier in life.  There is just so much to do and not enough time to do it!  But by following these steps, you will see clarity in getting things done — along with what’s really important to you and what’s just fluff on your to-do list.  We get so generic in what we put on our to-do lists that we miss what’s really necessary.  Read through this post, then read it again from your own life perspective in order to really see the picture from a 40,000-foot view of your life.

Remember, the steps are simple, it’s the work that’s hard—but oh, the reward is sweet!

The “How To’s” Of Developing Planning Habits

So here are the simple steps I promised you.  Remember—as we repeat these steps, they’ll get easier, plus we’ll be forming habits to increase our productivity.  And guess what?  You can start this process before you get your planner! 

  1.  Categorize
  2.  Brainstorm
  3.  Add Sub-Tasks
  4.  Ask Questions and Add Details
  5.  Set Due Dates

A lot of people recommend starting with a brainstorm session.  Personally, I find categorizing my areas of responsibility first helps me hone in on the most important areas of my life, rather than lumping them all into one pile.

#1 — Categorize

This is pretty simple.  Categorize your main areas of responsibility:

Home — Family — Work — Self — Finances — Relationships — etc.

#2  Brainstorm

(This section and the next Subtask section go hand-in-hand but the importance of doing both is often missed in most planning tutorials.)  KEY – this isn’t the place to start writing down your specific to-do’s!  Hang in there. 

Under each category heading, brainstorm all areas that need your attention — the ones that drive you crazy and/or are simply your responsibility.  Keep them basic (see example below).  List out any projects, rooms to keep up, events, etc.  **If you over-think and write down all your tasks and to-do’s, it makes it much more difficult when it comes time to decide which task is more important then another.  (Believe me, I’ve done this wrong for years and wondered why my big stuff never got done!)

A lightbulb went off for me when I listened to a webinar by Sue Hollowell, a project manager turned life-coach.  Under each category of responsibility, she recommends using Nouns to describe the things that need your attention.  Think of these as the place or the thing needing attention, not the actual activity or task.  This keeps you focused on the main goal, not getting sidetracked on the details before you have a plan!

Examples:  (remember—use nouns!)

Home:  Bathroom Remodel — Chores — Garden — Clutter — Garage —  etc.

Family:  Homeschool — Birthdays — Vacations — Clothing — etc. 

You can add a “Miscellaneous” heading under each category.  It’s good to have a place to keep track of your less important tasks without taking up prime space under your main categories.

#3  Add Subtasks

Now you’ll add specific tasks under each project and responsibility.  So, start with the project, then add the subtasks to get the job done.   Jeff Goins, author, explains it this way —

“Anytime a task on your to-do list has more than one item on it (requires multiple tasks to get it done), you will get bogged down.” 

Why?  Because that “one task” seems monumental to accomplish!  It’s not clear enough to let you know what it will take to get the job done.  You’ll keep passing over it due to lack of clarity on what should come first.   So you’ll avoid it!  Instead, avoid the overwhelm.  Detail out each responsibility and the job becomes clear!

Here’s another way to picture it.  What if you wrote down, “Sort through closets.”  You’ll think of this job as pretty time intensive.  It will seem overwhelming due to its sheer size.  If you’re like me, you’ll put it off because it’s so foggy in details.

Before you can really plan for a project, each task needs to be broken down into the sub-tasks required to accomplish it.  These are the things you place on your to-do list, NOT the bigger picture projects.  Those stay on the brainstorm list.

Specify each area of responsibility and all the details needed for you to gain the “order” you desire.  Examples:

  • Garage:  buy doormats, sort boxes, sweep, wipe off shelves…
  • Clutter:  put sweaters in totes, go through closets and give away anything that doesn’t fit, organize shoes, dust shelves…
  • Chores:  dust 1/month, vacuum 2x/week, wash windows 2/year…
  • Garden:  water weekly, buy fertilizer, fertilize every other week, weed 1/month, have Bruce get mulch and add 3″ to beds, plant roses…

Do you see how this highlights the time and tools and people needed for a job?  This makes planning so much easier!

#4  Ask Questions And Add Details

Now is the time to ask lots of questions.  The answers will add the necessary details to your list.  Instead of having a foggy idea, you’ll know exactly what it will take to reach your goal.  You may even discover that purchasing a simple tool or not knowing a step is all that’s holding you back!

  • Where do I start?  How much time do I plan for?  (Clean garage 3 hrs. on Saturday – all family needed)
  • In what order does each task need to be done?  List out each step.  (Sweep.  Pressure wash.  Throw out old tools/toys.  Straighten totes on shelves.)
  • When will you need a tool or a person to help?  (Buy new cleaning rags, doormats.  Bruce get pressure washer set up.)

#5  Set Due Dates

Set the desired end date for each goal, project, or activity.  Consider when you want or need to accomplish a goal and choose a due date.  Work around events already on your calendar.  Then work backward from that date on your calendar, portioning out your time and tasks right back to today!

#6  Next & Last Step —  Add Tasks To Your Planner Calendar!

Just do it!  Start adding tasks to those little boxes on your planner.  This seems like such a basic step yet it can feel so difficult to commit to.  We don’t want to put it on the “wrong” day.  We worry something else will come up or  we won’t have enough time to do it.  This century demands busy schedules.  We get mired in the chaos and forget to make a plan.  But we really need a strategy!  Again, just do it!

Begin adding tasks to your weekly schedule.  Choose to treat these tasks like actual appointments you make with yourself.  Act like you would at work — like you’re getting paid for your time and your projects.  Be the CEO of your life!  Once you do, you’ll see this process take a complicated list of tasks and responsibilities and bring order and sanity into your life!

Whew!  We covered a lot!  Read these steps again, picturing your life and responsibilities.  It will begin to make sense.  Then follow the steps in a few areas you want to work on.  But, most importantly —

Don’t Quit!* — You can do this!

*And I really mean don’t quit!  I had to remind myself of this the other day.  I had a plan — a really good one.  But my day was filled with unexpected events.  Think: dog gets hurt and may need a vet visit; son needs to make a last-minute birthday gift order; mother-in-law needs emergency doctor appointment.  You get the picture!

This is life.  Full of unexpected events.  It evolves and changes even though we have a plan. 

Please don’t let that stop you from gaining order.   Adjust as necessary.

And don’t let it stop you from reaching for your goals.  One day at a time!

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The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.  Proverbs 21:5
No pressure to purchase anything, but if you make a purchase through one of these links, you will help to support the work I do here at Living Above The Noise. Thanks!
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3 Steps To Stop The Chaos…Why You Need A Plan!

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Why You Need A Plan

Are You Guilty Of Creating Chaos?

Did you know you can create chaos through lack of planning?  Does a feeling of insanity ever come to mind?  Then this post is for you—the eternally busy person with lots of to-do’s in their day, lots of people in their life, and lots of ideas in their mind.  Somehow, some way, you need to make a plan.  You need to get all the details of life organized so you can live above all the noise!

What’s the reward?  Organization and order which bring calm, peace, and sanity.  

You will gain sanity through planning. 

Life’s busy for all of us, but the extent of that “busy” will depend on your season of life and your personality.  If you have lots of ideas, goals, dreams, and projects you know what I mean when I talk of chaos and stress.  And you need this post!  If you enjoy a more simple lifestyle, you may not have big goals and lots of projects.  For you, order comes more naturally.  This post will help you stay sane when the busier seasons of life come.

I’m not a person who organically finds order in my day—but I crave it as I juggle all my responsibilities.  Because I’m in the trenches like you, I’m seeking that balance between my always-saying-yes-to-great-opportunities personality and the reality that I need some structure and routine in my life!  It’s given me plenty of opportunities to learn about planning, goal setting, brainstorming, planners, and more.

How about you?  Do you want the peace of mind that comes from choosing to use your time well?  But where do you start?  Let me share some of what I’ve learned along the way!

Planning — Let’s Start With The “Why’s”

As you work through these steps and think hard about what it will take to accomplish your goals, you’ll discover activities or belongings that are just keeping you busy.  They aren’t really helping you.  You’ll see other things that stand out as really important.  Sifting the time-wasters out of your life will help you turn down the noise in your own corner of the world!

#1  —  First Things First – Why You Need A Plan

We all need a place to record our calendar items, the dates and times for events.  Don’t just hope you’ll remember.  Record them somewhere or you’ll forget one of them.  Don’t ask how I know! :o)

 When we know what’s next on our plate, it’s so much easier to enjoy the meal.  Right?!

My Living Well Planner just arrived!  I am so excited to have a new space to not only keep track of my events and to-do’s—but to plan and develop a system to reach my goals this year.  (You’ll see what’s on my goals list below!)

Why am I so excited to get my planner?  I love the motivation of starting fresh with a new perspective!  My tendency is to write a to-do list or a brainstorm list (like everyone tells you to).  Then, I get lazy.  I use the list to choose what I feel like doing—then I record what I did in my day.  Note the past tense verb!  No planning.  Just a list of to-do’s, then haphazard actions toward getting them done, and recording what I did in my planner.  All with the hope they were the best things to get done.  Argh.  But there is a better way!

Here’s a little side story of how habits can stop serving us.  My daughter-in-law happened to hear me talking about how this year I’m going to actually use my planner to plan, not just record what I did on a day.  She outright laughed!  She said, “You mean you write down what you did after you did it?!”  That’s when I realized I’d been operating on pre-cell-phone-era habits. Back when the only way to remember life’s events was to write them down.  With email, Instagram, and Facebook we don’t need to keep track anymore.  We have a constant record of times and dates of events!   

In what ways are you operating on old habits?  Remember, a planner isn’t just a glorified calendar.  It’s actually for planning all those activities ahead of time!  Novel idea, huh?!

If you’re new to organizing and using a planner, this post will help you see even more benefits of planning.  You can learn about all the different styles of planners here.  My recent post, Time to Get Organized, has lots of helpful links and ideas to get you started thinking about the bigger picture of your life.

Why You Need A Plan

#2  —  The Importance of Having Goals & Finding Accountability

Like the song from Sound of Music, “Let’s start at the very beginning.”  A really good place to start is with what you want to accomplish…this year, in the next five years, or beyond.  Your goal could be as simple as “clean out all my closets” or as complicated as “get my doctorate degree.”   Based on the amount of time needed to do it, work your way backward using a calendar to see when you need to get started in order to make it happen!  (The “How” steps in my next post will make this less overwhelming.  I promise!)

You’ll quickly discover you need a place to map out your course.  Plus, it’s easy to miss the important step of how to stay on track with those goals.   A planner is the perfect tool for self-accountability…

…but we often miss another driving factor—outside accountability.  Share your plans and goals with a like-minded friend, your spouse, or kids!  It will motivate you to stay on track.  The pressure of commitment helps you remember you were actually headed somewhere.  Plus, you’ll gain a new perspective.

Let that special “someone” in on your plan to get organized, reach for a dream, or hit the bullseye on a goal.  When you talk through your ideas, you’ll actually hear what you’re saying out loud, which helps hone your thoughts.  Plus, that person wants to help you stay on track especially if they have something you can help them accomplish.  Find your  “someone” and let them in on your dreams!

Here are my goals for 2018-2019:

  • Really use my planner to bring order out of the chaos of having too many things to do and not enough time to do them.
  • Gain order in my home after 16 months of moving in and remodeling.
  • Update and revise this blog — hone my message; reach more readers with encouragement and ideas, develop great tools to help them live above the noise.
  • Write a book!  This is one scary goal to share!  Over the years, friends encouraged me to write a book using my experiences and ideas.  My book is for parents—to help them realize their potential in teaching their kids to think, love learning, be responsible, along with discovering their child’s individual “why.”  I also love to encourage the entrepreneur in people, so we’ll see where I fit that in!
  • Develop discipline to stay on course with my responsibilities, goals, and my plan.

Okay, so are you ready to get accountable for your goals?  Share them!  Write them on your Facebook page or post in the comments below.  Accountability is good for us—it encourages us to know other people are hiking over the same rough terrain we are.   We root for them while they cheer us on!  Let’s get going on our goals together!

Why You Need A Plan

#3  —  The Importance of Having A Planner — And Using It!

You know the old adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  It’s a no-brainer.  The busier life gets the more we need to plan.  A plan keeps things from slipping through the cracks.  Remember, all the stuff accumulating on our list along with those last-minute fire drills keep us from working on our bigger goals.  We get sidetracked and forget what’s important!  Planning actually helps you weed out the unimportant and it quiets your to-do list!

So…the solution?  Get that planner!  Take it from an over-analyzer.  Just decide.  I’ve used lots of planners over the years, but I’ve never found the perfect one.  I’d procrastinate for months on end, trying to find the one planner suited just for me and my season.  I’ve tried to save money by designing my own.  But doing so much research always puts me behind.  I’m finally realizing something.  It doesn’t have to be perfect!  And I don’t have to do all the work!  Ahhh.  (You’ll find free ready-made planner templates at Canva or you can choose from a variety of pre-made planners.)

In the 2nd picture in this post, I’m using Ruth Soukup’s weekly and daily planning pages (you can find them in her planner and on her website.  I don’t have the routine down yet, but because PROGRESS is my word this year I’m committed to working on self-discipline and gaining order in my day!  Messing up isn’t going to stop me.  Don’t let it stop you, either!

Don’t forget this! 

When we think it should be easy, we set ourselves up for disappointment when the going gets tough. 

The solution?  Expect reshaping habits to be painful.  Don’t let the pain stop you from reaching for your goals. 

Remember, the reward is sweet!

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The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.  Proverbs 21:5
No pressure to purchase anything, but if you make a purchase through one of these links, you will help to support the work I do here at Living Above The Noise. Thanks!
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When you desire to bring order to your life….