Things I've Done While Not Blogging

Lots has happened since last we met. It's no longer a steamy 110 outside. Leaves are changing colors. In the season their supposed to and everything. TV went back to normal (although, I have to admit, it may never be the same without LOST). My life is still boring, but stuff did happen. And yet, no blog posts from me. It would take too many posts to try to relive the last two months sans blogging. So I thought, rather than bore you all, I'd just list them. In no order of importance. Except maybe the first. I'm pretty proud of that one.

1. Successfully pulled off my first women's retreat
2. Started teaching the Beth Moore Esther Bible Study
3. Was beyond excited that 17 women would want to come to anything I teach
4. Became underwhelmed with the new crop of shows on tv this season.
5. With the exception of New Girl and Up All Night. Oh, and it's a given I would love Once Upon a Time. Hello, anything from anyone who had anything to do with LOST is gonna grab my attention. (But this: Michael Emerson= Benjamin Linus. And sorry, Person of Interest, I can't see him any other way.)
6. Lost 30.4 lbs (technically that's the tally since June 14th)
7. Stepped down from the worship team.
8. Cheered my Oklahoma State Cowboys to a 7-0 season thus far
9. Tried to quell my cheer at OU losing their first game :)
10. Spent a gazillion hours and gazillion gallons of paint on the youth room at church.
11. Decided gray is most definitely the best paint color choice ever.
12. Contemplated painting bedroom gray.
13. Decide it's more work than I want after painting youth room.
14. Downloaded new albums from Needtobreathe, Switchfoot, Sara Groves and Katie Herzig.
15. Decided this is the best autumn for music. Ever. Ever, ever, ever.
16. Began a mission iPad for christmas plan against the parents that rivals Ralphie's for his Red Rider BB Gun. Results TBD. At least I know I won't shoot my eye out.
17. Disciplined myself to hold off listening to christmas music as a whole until October 25th.
18. Questioned whether two months is enough for christmas music listening enjoyment.
19. Redacted my 25th of October christmas music start date.
20. Enjoyed the bliss of seeing David Crowder*Band live-- for the last time :(
21. Enjoyed the bliss of seeing Gungor live-- hopefully for the first of many times :)
22. Picked up Tammie Head's bible study, Duty or Delight. It is awesome. The kind of awesome that is life changing.
23. Dominated at Hanging With Friends. Shelved Words with Friends, for the time being.
24. Contemplated getting another pug. Perhaps next spring.
25. Visited Austin to see my sister. And her new condo. Both were fantastic.
26. Tried foie gras, duck, and rabbit for the first time ever. For the record, not a fan of the first, surprised by sort of liking the second, and still don't want to admit I may have eaten a relative of Thumper.
27. Discovered a new love for goat cheese. Which now supercedes my love for feta and blue cheese. I know you were wondering.
28. Pinned a few pins at pinterest. Just a few. Or 1400.
29. Thought about blogging, but then just slept in. Rinse. Repeat.
30. Got Just Dance 3 for the Wii. Channeled Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (I love...to dance *insert blissful sigh*).
31. Attempted only 1 thing I've seen on Pinterest. Hasselback Potatoes. Delish. Try them. (Also, discovered Food Gawker thanks to Pinterest.)
32. Got a little giddy over the arrival of autumn.
33. Thought maybe I should blog again. For reals this time.

As of Late: August 2011

Everybody knows I hate August, right? I've made no bones about this in the past. August is a month to just endure and get through, and I've come to accept this. The only thing that can get me out of my "let's skip August altogether" mantra is my very favorite meme, As of Late, hosted by the delightful Critty Joy. So beyond the fact that I can't stand this ugly, ugly month of summer heat, let's pick up with what else is going on with me as of late, shall we?

Lately I have been in a writing/blogging drought. As evidenced by the lack of posts this summer. I hope the love of writing returns soon. My prediction is somewhere around the time the 100+ degree temperatures leave for more than three days.

Lately I am in the throws of planning my first fall retreat at church. It is in a month and I am excited/terrified. Praying everything flows smoothly and the women of the church are blessed.

Lately I've been painfully reminded of how much it is impossible to control other people's lives. Crazy, I know. And don't ask me why it's taken 34 years to slowly figure this one out.

Lately I've immersed myself in Arrested Development for my nightly escape from the heat. Laughter is like October, I say. Cool and refreshing.

Lately I'm pleased at the results of attending Weight Watchers this summer. 27lbs down since June 7th!! And my mom has lost 22 lbs since June 14th!! This is the most successful I've been on WW since I first started in 2003.

Lately I've been asking God to rekindle a passion inside of me for Him and His word. The drought in my heart hasn't been limited just to writing this summer.

Lately I wish there were things in my heart and mind that would just be settled already. Have you ever felt that way?

Lately, my summer music love has been Mat Kearney. His new album Young Love is awesome.

So bloggy friends, what's new with you? Are you enduring the heat any better than I have? Any words of encouragement?

And go check out the rest of the As of Late's over at Critty Joy while your at it!

Things That Have Made This Unbearable Summer Bearable

I think I've decided that while bears like to hibernate in winter, I prefer to spend my time being all reclusive and chilled out in the dreadful heat of summer. I. Do. Not. Like. July. Or August, or any time that involves weeks on end with high temps hovering over the triple digit mark. I do not relish days that break records for heat. I do not like walking outside and feeling like I walked into an oven. I do not like breezes that feel like the angels left their hairdryers set on high. I want October in the worst way. But tomorrow it will still be July so I'm trying, desperately, to look on the bright side. This is the best I can do. Then I shall resume the hibernation process.

My hilarious, wonderful co-workers. I have so enjoyed my work this summer. Together we endured the hell that is a tent sale in triple digit heat.

Our community theater's production of Hairspray. Everyone was so talented. It was so much fun watching some friends dance and sing with beehive hairdos and retro outfits straight out of the sixties. Awesome.

Burlap to Cashmere's new release. It's like a sweet, mild breeze breaking through the monstrous heat and for a few minutes I feel like I'm sitting out on a patio in Santorini watching the sunset over the sea. And this makes me insanely, blissfully happy. Even if it's all in my head. Steven Delopoulos, I will love you forever. And ever.

A new movie to enjoy every weekend. This week it's Crazy, Stupid, Love and one super fab Ryan Gosling. Not to mention the popcorn and coke

Planning my church's women's retreat for September. I love when a good plan falls into place.

Icees and snowcones with my youth group on Wednesday nights.

Another new song from Needtobreathe...

NeedToBreathe - Drive All Night by MMMusic


This. Oh the truth in this post.

The wonder that is air conditioning.

Cool crisp salads, fresh summer fruits, yummy satisfying sandwiches and not having to cook in a hot kitchen.

Only 8 or so more weeks of this nasty heat (I hope). Fall is surely coming soon.

As of Late: July 2011

The heat makes me blue. Which means right about now, a trillion days into a 100+ degree heat wave, I'm beyond despair. It ain't pretty. So let's distract ourselves with a beloved meme, shall we?

Here's what's going on with me, As of Late....

Lately, like this summer heat, I've felt I'm in a season I just have to get through. Endure.Survive. That's about all I have the energy and strength to do.

Lately I'm thankful that even in this unbearably unpleasant season of my life, it's down time offers rest before the flurry of activity that is going to overtake my beloved autumn.

Lately I think this coming September might be the best month for new music in the history of ever.

Lately I'm meditating on how to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer only.

Lately I've found refuge in summer movies, popcorn and cool, air conditioned movie theaters.

Lately I'm wishing that Mary Poppin would visit my house. If only to teach me how to clean with a snap of my fingers.

Lately I've been pondering where I am with Grace, my word for 2011, with half the year already over.

So what is going on with you As of Late? And don't forget to check out Critty's blog for more As of Late updates from some bloggy friends I love most of all.

No Procrastinating Week: How I Did

So my no procrastinating week is over. Phew. Only I didn't completely succeed. I had such high hopes! I was ready to take on the world of the ever mounting to-do list! I was going to get the car cleaned out for the first time in five years! Only I did not. Here's how it went:

1. Clean out the trunk of my car. Didn't even get around to attempting it this weekend.

2. Start prep for the Beth Moore Esther study. Watch the intro video and complete week one's homework. I watched the first week but I didn't finish the homework for week one.
3. Catch up on all laundry.

4. Clean my bathroom. Does partially clean count? Nah, didn't think so.

5. Clean my desk off.

6. Make a list of books I haven't read yet from my bookshelves (it's part of my 101 things to read these). There are 56 (56!) books partially read or completely unread. I am freaking out about now.

7. Take the clothes I've bagged up for donation. Saturday. I forgot this was on the list! Honest! Nevermind I didn't check the list to see if I missed anything.

8. Stay up to date on my daily Bible reading.

9. Read at least 5 more chapters of Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life.

10. Write 3 Blog posts.

What I learned:

It's Better to Start Small. All these things on my to-do list are good things to take care of, things that have kind of been bearing down on me, but my procrastinating nature and my time schedule were not up for getting them all done in a seven day period. So that might make me procrastinating and lazy, but that's my best excuse. I had 21 things on my master list for the week (I accomplished 10)and I should have kept it to maybe 10 things (or even as few as 5-7, baby steps!). I need to remember Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a productive, efficient Kara.

I can tackle projects even when I don't want to and it won't kill me. Some of my late nights I was fighting with myself to read or tackle a project or do one more load of laundry (there seemed like countless loads of laundry), but I did it anyway. It would have been so much easier to just go to bed or play Angry Birds until my eye rolled back in my head (so I've heard. I have never done this as a means of procrastinating. Nope not me). I was most thankful for reading Outlive Your Life, because each chapter held a blessing in it every time.

Taking care of something now gives me more freedom later. As long as I've been writing, studying, leading anything at all, I've found myself at odds with the good old deadline. I see it looming in the not too far distance and I (mildly) panic so I find it calming to do something, anything, else to stave off the work. I plan a lot in my head, and give myself credit for doing actual work. I watch more tv than normal. I perfect my Just Dance 2 moves for Tik Tok. I'll even do other work that has nothing to do with the work I need to do. Then at the eleventh hour I go into a wild overdrive. I start begrudging the task at hand and why I thought I could handle something so large and how unfair it is that I have to do all. this. hard. work. when other people are content to play around on Pinterest. Not fair, I say! A lot of times the final result reveals this attitude, sometimes, mercifully, it does not. Either way I suffer through my fair share of frustration, anxiety and stress that could be eliminated entirely if I would just not procrastinate. Then I can indulge myself later in much Pinterest goodness and Just Dance 2 awesomeness.

I still love a good To-Do List, and now I know a well-constructed, realistic one is totally doable. Because today I'm sitting at a clean desk, with a closet full of clean clothes and I'm more prepared for next week's Sunday School and this fall's Bible Study than I was a week ago. I am not marking the no procrastinating week off my 101 things list though, not until I fully complete the task. I feel good that it will be marked off sometime soon. Just not too soon.

Things To Do on A Three Day Weekend, By Kara

• Sleep in, at least once, but maybe twice. Definitely Twice. But not three times. It just seems lazy.
• See Larry Crowne. In Theaters this weekend!
• Clean out the car. On Saturday. Mark off something on the to-do list to make up for sleeping in two days.
• Stay out of the heat!
• Finish doing the laundry.
• Dominate on Just Dance 2. Marvel in your mad dancing skills.
• Eat Watermelon. It's a 4th of July Law, of this I'm certain.
• Finish watching the movies you rented on Netflix.
• Start your re-watch LOST series project. Does that really qualify as a "project'?
• Debate whether or not you use the word "project" a bit too loosely.
• Kick it with family on the 4th.
• Practice your "Ooooh" and "Ahhhhh" in anticipation of fireworks shows.
• Hope Fireworks show doesn't get cancelled because of burn ban in your dry, hot, sad county.
• Eat something grilled and or barbequed. See 4th of July eating laws.
• Give thanks to God, because Praise Him, it's a THREE DAY WEEKEND!!

What are your plans? And don't tell me you have a four day weekend, I might get jealous!

Beth, The Voice, Needtobreathe: What are Three Things I'm Loving This Week?

Does anyone else get all back to school level excited when starting a new Beth Moore Bible Study? I'm not trying to elevate the Siesta Mama to heights unknown or anything, but I'm just curious if it's just me or a church wide phenomenon? Because I cannot contain the joy when a new study starts.

Technically, we don't kick off our bible study until September. But as a non-procrastinating teacher (ahem) I am prepping 9 weeks in advance. Last night I watched the introductory session of Esther and I am already so pumped to dig into this study. There is something about that big-haired Texas woman that makes me thrill to God's word and crave early mornings digging into it. She makes me want to be a better bible scholar/disciple/student/teacher.

In other news I am anticipating the finale of The Voice tonight. I am pulling for Dia, of course, but I will be happy if Javier wins too. His voice is amazing. And Vicci is pretty awesome too. I loved her performance of Dog Days are Over last week. It's also my night to hang out with Ina, so it's going to be a win-win no matter what the outcome.

And in final, late breaking (and by late breaking I mean a week late) news, Needtobreathe has a new single out on iTunes. It's called Slumber and it is fantastic. As it should be. It gives me endless joy to wake up to this song every morning (and then listen to it on repeat a couple dozen times). I can't wait until their new album releases. I need some new Needtobreathe!

One Thousand Gifts: {16-22}

This week I'm focusing on being productive rather than procrastinating, but another thing I still struggle with so much is my inclination toward complaining and negativity. I am pressing on with my list of One Thousand Gifts, these things I am thankful to God for, and here are the latest findings.

16. My church. Not the four walls, but the people. Their kindness, love and servant-like attitudes. I'm thankful that my church is the church God has called me at this point in my life. That the people love God's word, that the leaders have integrity, that opportunities abound to serve God in both small and big ways in this fellowship of believers.

17. Air Conditioning. It's summer in Oklahoma. Need I say more?

18. Finishing. The procrastinator in me may balk at all the stuff on my to-do list this week, but it feels oh so good to accomplish each one (in a timely manner).

19. Soft, cool sheets on my bed.

20. Reminders that I am loved, 100%. {Thanks for posting this, BT!}

21. Revelation of things that are truly in my heart. Even if the truth hurts, I am thankful for a God who sees my heart, loves me despite my faults, and helps me face the freeing truth.

22. A new day, full of mercies, untainted by any mistakes or sins yet, brimming with possibility and hope.

I'm Trying to Procrastinate on My No Procrastinating Week. Typical.

The three biggest faults about myself that I'm honest enough about to blog about are procrastinating, complaining and arguing needlessly. These things are so ingrained in me that I don't know if there is a day that goes by that I don't partake in one or all of them. They are also the things that cause me plenty of regret and sorrow. I hate the person these faults make me seem like. Because I know I'm more productive, less negative and less combative than this trio gives me credit for. As part of my 101 things challenge, I decided I would take a week abstaining from each respectively. And since it's the one I'd like to put off the longest, I decided I must tackle no procrastinating first. Of course.

For the week I've made a list of things that I need to take care of this week, things I've been procrastinating on for awhile. I've determined which days are best suited to tackle each thing and by virtue of said week I will do it on that day. Simple as that, right? Also, any projects my boss gives me, I will handle as soon as possible instead of relegating them to the back burner. I shall be a superstar on the job this week!

Here is a partial list:
1. Clean out the trunk of my car (here is my confession: I haven't emptied it since we moved almost 5 years ago!). I will do this Saturday. Also it will mean I can check something else off of my 101 list.
2. Start prep for the Beth Moore Esther study. Watch the intro video and complete week one's homework. I am starting Monday.
3. Catch up on all laundry. (By the sheer enormity of this task, it will be done over a couple of days, from Sunday through Saturday)
4. Clean my bathroom. This is actually the first thing on my list, so don't ask me why I have it at #4, but it's being tackled tonight, actually.
5. Clean my desk off. Ditto being done tonight.
6. Make a list of books I haven't read yet from my bookshelves (it's part of my 101 things to read these). It's a Wednesday to do.
7. Take the clothes I've bagged up for donation. Saturday.
8. Stay up to date on my daily Bible reading. This is a daily thing.
9. Read at least 5 more chapters of Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life. Plan to read one chapter a night from Monday through Friday. I have been asked to lead my Sunday School class through this study so I need to be prepping (we start the second Sunday in July so I don't want to wait until the last minute).
10. Write 3 Blog posts. Including this one, so that's one down- two to go! Tomorrow and Tuesday are on the list too, so perhaps I will have more than 3! Woohoo!

There are 10 other things on my list, some work related, some personal. There is a lot of reading to be done (or I'll never finish all that's on the list for my 101 things project!), and a lot of laundry and cleaning. I hope that this week will help me on a path to being more productive. I may even try a few more No Procrastinating weeks over the course of this project. I'll let you know how I do, and whether my procrastinating tendencies try to make a play for my week. Should be interesting either way.

1,000 Gifts: 8-15

Happy Monday, friends!

I had a great weekend. A girl I taught in pre-school, elementary and high school sunday school classes got married on Saturday. I had the pleasure of buying my dad's lunch on Father's Day. I got a nap on Sunday afternoon and spent an hour playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii with my mom. We are hilarious. There will be no video proving said hilarity, so just take my word for it. We are. Here is my list of things this weekend I am giving thanks for today.

8. Dancing with my mom. We are two very uncoordinated, uncool people, but we have a blast, so who cares what we look like?

9. Afternoon naps. I don't get them often, but when I do? Bliss!

10. Summer fruit. Watermelon, Peaches, Plums. One great thing about summer is all the yummy fruit!

11. The look on a bride's face as she's walking down the aisle to her groom. How she beams and everyone in attendance gets to take part in her joy.

12. Strong arms and legs that can do hard work like helping my dad lift heavy furniture or mow our lawn. And knowing I can be of use to my parents when they need me because I am able-bodied.

13. Soft chewy ice on hot summer days.

14. Frozen grapes. My new obsession. I don't know how I've made through any other summer without them.

15. The pictures of my parents and grandparents when they were young. I love seeing a bit of myself in them, seeing a bit of history before I was born, connecting their young faces to the stories I've heard them tell. Being a part of their legacy.