Archive for the ‘The Chatterbox’ Category

Posted on May 18, 2012 - by Kav

Keeping Faith Simple

I think we are all kindred spirits when it comes to having stress-filled lives that need to be simplified. It’s the nature of the beast otherwise known as the 21 century woman. I love all the ideas that have been shared thus far and feel a gentle nudge to share how I have simplified my spiritual life.

I know – that doesn’t sound right, does it? Simplify the most important aspect of Christian living? I feel the stress already building, the tension mounting, the blood pressure rising…but wait! Seriously – I’ve taken a real eye-opening journey over the last couple of years and I’ve found that simplifying my faith has actually grown it into something much more complex and deeper than I ever imagined it could be.

I don’t know how many times I have started in on one intensive devotional or other. You know the kind that requires you to answer a myriad of questions, assigns prayer challenges and makes you set goals and generally requires well…time for starters. Which I don’t have a lot of. So usually about a week into the program I find that my devotional time has whittled itself down to…zero. A lot of good that’s going to do me, eh?

Then I chanced upon Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. A gem of a book with a short devotional for every single day of the year. Who knew that two paragraphs and two scripture references a day could change a life? Written as if the words are directly from the Lord to you personally (and I’m betting that they are because Sarah Young definitely wrote this on inspiration), the impact is immediate and deep and not easily forgotten. One simple concept settles into my heart and burns there the entire day. It’s like those words were written just for me because I needed them NOW.

How did God know that today I needed to be reminded of His abundance? That His resources will never run out, even though mine do again and again? How did He know that today I needed to ponder the unlimited blessings he has in store for me?

As I let these simple concepts seep deep into my soul I can physically feel my faith being replenished. My initial investment? Two minutes first thing in the morning. But the crazy, wonderful thing about Jesus Calling is that what I read sticks with me for the full 24 hours no matter what else I am doing during the day. That’s the kind of simple that makes sense to me.

I also start my day with a Christian women’s talk show, Full Circle.  It airs at 5:30 a.m. and I try to have my breakfast ready so that I can eat and watch and subsequently be lifted up by these wonderful women and their inspiring guests. They’re fun and trendy and frank and honest and always leave me feeling like I’ve just had a sit down gabfest with some of my best girlfriends.  This is another simple way I find myself directed to scriptures and gospel messages that can make a difference in my life. You can check out any of their episodes online here: http://www2.crossroads.ca/fullcircle/

And then there’s Simply Amish – the toginet online radio show hosted by author Suzanne Woods Fisher. I’ve mentioned the program before in another blog but I think it’s worth mentioning again because it’s a wonderful (and simple) way to get inspired and motivated. You can check it out here: http://toginet.com/shows/amishwisdom

I guess the message I’m trying to convey is that, by thinking outside the box, I’ve found ways to marry my not-so-simple-life with some simple faith practises and come out blessed for it.

Posted on May 17, 2012 - by Regina

SIMPLIFY

Simplify.

S – Sing. Sing your heart out. When life gets complicated, just sing.

I – Ice Cream. Life always looks better when you’re holding an ice cream cone.

M – Magic. It’s everywhere. A flower blooming. The smile of a child.

P – PRAY. Need I say more?

L – Love. Love your neighbor. Love yourself.

I – Irony. Appreciate the irony which is everyday life.

F – Family. Remember why most of our UNsimple things happen – because of those folks that we love the most!

Y – Yellow. I just like the color yellow. It makes me happy.

So, in conclusion, when I have to stop and simplify, I have to let my mind travel to those places that keep me centered. God. My family. My friends. Music. Things that simply make me smile.

Try it. Especially the ice cream . . . . I’ll take a single scoop of double-fudge-toffee, please . . .

Posted on May 16, 2012 - by Brenda Anderson

A Simple Life

I frequently watch HGTV’s House Hunters International. It’s a terrific way to see the world on a budget. One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the prospective home buyers have one thing in common: they’re searching for a simpler life.

Personally, I think they could look in their own backyard. As much as I would love to travel around the world or live in exotic places, I’ve learned that enjoying a simple life is more about choice than location. While some people thrive on keeping overloaded schedules, nothing stresses me more.

Over time I’ve developed a handful of skills that help keep the stressors to a minimum.

Prioritize Who/What’s Important – My faith and family should always come first. When my schedule gets so crowded that there’s little room for either, then I know it’s time to cut back. When I start many things but finish few, then projects have to go. I’d rather take on a few projects and do them well rather than take on many and do them poorly. Think about what you would rather sacrifice: your faith and family or the project?

Keep A List – I begin every day with a To-Do list and prioritize the items on the list. (I’m even writing this blog off a list.) It’s a visual way to see not only what needs to be done, but what’s been accomplished. When I don’t make a list, even if I’ve been busy the entire day, I’ll feel like I’ve wasted my time.

Prepare by Pre-Planning – My oldest son graduates from high school one year from now. Already I’m planning his graduation party. Throughout the year I’ll purchase what I need for his party, and store it in a large Rubbermaid container. When his party day arrives, I’ll be ready. Also, I’m also spreading the cost over months so it’s much gentler on my checkbook.

Learn to Say NO – It’s hard to say No, especially when someone asks you to help with a project you know is worthwhile. But, if you can give only scraps of time to that project, who are you benefiting? If you’re stealing time away from your priorities, who are you benefiting? When asked to help with something, don’t give  a quick, un-thought-out yes. Pray about it. Look at your schedule–will this new project fit in so you can give your all? If the answer is No, then don’t be afraid to say No out loud. In the end you’ll be thankful, as will the person who asked you for help.

Take a Vacation – I just spent a week in Branson, Missouri with my daughter. We didn’t over-schedule the week, but rather chose a couple activities we wanted to do. We kept busy, but we also took much time to relax. On the way home, I even had breakfast with three other Inkspys! That couldn’t have happened if I’d over-scheduled. If traveling is out of the budget, become a tourist in your home area. I love discovering what Minnesota has to offer!

So, no, I won’t be moving overseas to find the simpler life. I’ve found it right here at home.

Posted on May 14, 2012 - by Kim

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Sister.

I know, I know. That’s not exactly how some of us learned this little acronym way back when we were tiny little writers in training. But whether we say sister or some other ‘s’ word, the theory behind it is still the same – Don’t make everything so complicated.

Question is, how? In this day of technology and the information technology where a mobile phone is outdate the minute the salesperson activates it in the store, how do we keep things simple? The answer – K.I.S.S.

1. Know when to step away. Recognize when you need to take a break from a project. Embrace it then do it. Trust me, it will be waiting for you when you get back.
2. Insulate yourself from the real world for a while. Find a nice quiet corner where you can’t see the television, are too far from the keyboard to access the internet and the radio gets horrible reception then get lost in a good book for a while.
3. Spend time with friends and family. Our creativity couldn’t survive without this kind of interaction. I can’t tell you how many fresh ideas have come out of talking and listening to co-workers over a bag lunch in the break room.
4. Seek solitude. Just like we crave company, we sometimes need a little isolation. We need to decompress. Relax. Recharge. We do ourselves and our projects – whether they are work related or writing related – no good if we are constantly in sensory overload mode.

So the next time life gets hectic and you get bogged down in the complicated, stop. Take a step back. Decompress for a minute. And give yourself a big K.I.S.S.

 

Posted on May 11, 2012 - by Dawn Ford

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

When I realized the next subject for our blog was about keeping it simple I had to chuckle. I’m the epitome of a pantster. I wait until the last minute for most everything in life. Anything that I’ve tried to get ahead of and planned out, the plans have gotten thwarted, it’s rained on my parade (case in point every Friend’s Day I’ve ever planned outside has been rained on), or it has altered in some way to make whatever plans I’ve made moot.

Hence the sardonic, maniacal cackling that resonated around me when I recalled this blog subject.

How does a leave-it-to-the-last-minute person make things simpler? Probably by learning not to sweat the small stuff.

I can just imagine the stink-eyes the computer screens are getting right about now.

Don’t sweat the small stuff, she says. Huh! Fat lot she knows.

Well, I kind of do. Last year held many challenges for me in handling crisis. My husband’s grandfather Leo, who we helped to take care of for years, passed away. The day we were to sign papers to purchase Leo’s farm we were told the Missouri River was going to exit its banks and flood the area with epic amounts of winter snow run-off and that property was smack dab in the thick of it. After putting off the purchase, we had to move several truck loads of stuff back and forth to be sure our storage, as well as several family members stuff was safe from the impending doom. When I had just had time to take a breath my brother suffered a massive heart attack and it was nothing short of a miracle when he survived and returned to us almost as whole as he was before. Then Mom died unexpectedly. To round it all off my oldest son moved back home.

Give me a moment to catch my breath here. Whew! It would have been a good investment for me to own stock in an antiperspirant company. And I have to tell you, I sweat a lot last year. But after it was all said and done I have realized one thing. All the little things that drive us crazy and make us sweat on a daily basis? It’s all small stuff. Life and death, yeah that’s pretty major. Everything else, not so much.

I forgot to wash Colton’s soccer uniform a couple of weeks ago. Since he’s on two teams and has one day free of soccer a week, it can be hard to keep up. However, there were grass stains on the white part of the sleeves and I knew it would be noticed. I took a little soap, scrubbed it under the faucet and threw it in the dryer. Thankfully the uniforms are made of fabric which is easy to clean. It wasn’t perfect, possibly a bit damp, but it was not noticeable. A couple of years ago that would have driven me crazy and put a damper on my day. I refused to let it get to me.

I do try to plan ahead as much as I can manage. Being organized is not a talent of mine. But I get by with just not sweating the small stuff. It makes life a whole lot simpler for me.

 

Posted on May 10, 2012 - by Shari Barr

Changing Me

Keeping things simple is pretty much my motto. I will admit, though, that it’s easier said than done at times.

The older I get the more I realize that many of my stresses are of my own creation and there’s only one person who can change that. So why don’t I? Maybe sometimes I forget who is really in control of my life, or maybe I subconsciously hold on to those concerns because I wouldn’t know what to do without them. Except for unexpected tragedies, I more or less have the same worries everyday, and if I suddenly stop worrying about those things I would feel so…lost. Sad but true. Many times I’m worrying about things I can’t control anyway. I know I should turn these situations over to God, but for some selfish reason, I don’t always do that.

If I could always remember to keep Christ at the center of everything I think, say, or do I would never have worries that keep me up at night. I wouldn’t worry about burning the candle at both ends because I would know when to say “no.” The dramas of life wouldn’t overwhelm me if I let God hold my hand every step of the way.

God is always ready to listen to my problems, and when I pour my heart out to Him, my troubles never seem as traumatic anymore. Though I can’t control the stresses that come my way, I can control how I respond to them. I’ve made a lot of progress in the worry department, but I’ve got a ways to go. Praying without ceasing provides the answer to all the stresses in my life—changing me.

Posted on May 8, 2012 - by Shannon Vannatter

Organization is the Key

But I failed organization 101, so don’t ask me. I spin circles, jump through hoops, and run my hampster wheel trying to get everything done. And I do for the most part, without forgetting too terribly much. Well except for the blog I guested on last week. I kind of forgot that even though it was on my trusty calendar. But the host e-mailed me, so I got a save.

I write everything on my calendar, but sometimes I forget to look at it. I even have two calendars–a life calendar which includes church stuff, baseball practices and games, guitar lessons, allergy shots, and political engagements. Then there’s the writing calendar–writing deadlines, speaking engagements, conferences, blog guests, and blog tours. They’re side by side, so I can coalate. But sometimes I zone out and don’t look at either calendar.

I used to be in a writers group with a very organized writer. Every time I’d say I forgot something, he’d pull out his pocket calendar. The problem with a pocket calendar–you have to write things on it and then you have to check it. Am I stressed as I spin, pivot, and bolt to get everything done? Yes. But the concept of getting truly organized stresses me even more.

Kind of like outlining a book before I write it stresses me. So I guess I’ll keep my crazy pace, flying by the seat of my pants through everything. It works for me.

Posted on May 6, 2012 - by Lorna Seilstad

Simple Living 101

Stress is a part of life. While some of our stress is inflicted upon us with deadlines or difficult situations, a great deal of our stress is self-induced. We choose to live on a 24-7 treadmill, stuffing our lives with activities, information, and things.

In the next two weeks, the Inkspirational Messagers will be sharing ways they’ve found to simplify their lives. Hopefully, these things will help you as well.

Personally, I feel almost like a hypocrite talking about this during this month. Between the release of The Ride of Her Life, a new book due at the end of the month, slide shows to get ready for the senior honors night, and my daughter’s graduation, my like feels like a whirlwind.
I work well under pressure, but I couldn’t live at this pace for long.  Also, I can only survive these more difficult times because we’ve discovered a few things that make our lives easier.

Limit information. A while ago, my husband and I were discussing the constant input of information has on us. He was listening to talk radio while he was driving, watching more news at home, and reading the newspaper. He realized the information overload was making him worry about things beyond his control and made him forget God is in control. He cut that time more than in half.

Whether its texting, Tweeting, Pinterest, Facebook, or National Public Radio, the constant influx of information is draining. I try to set limits on what time I give to all media.

Family dinner. We have always tried to have dinner together, but as the kids have grown it’s become more difficult. We still try to eat as a family several nights a week. We each talk about our day, discuss what is coming up next, and laugh together. While our dinners this month may come from a box more than I prefer, we’ll still spend time together, and that’s what is really important.

Synchronize our calendars. Everyone in my home is busy. Like many families, we are all going different directions and have different responsibilities. On Sunday nights, we often synchronize our calendars. My husband and both take out our calendars (otherwise known as our “external brains”) and go over the upcoming events. It really helps for both of us to be on the same page. We encourage the kids to share their important dates as well.

Rest. We really try to make Sunday a day of rest both physically and spiritually.  I need time every day to rejuvenate through prayer and Bible study. I also need some down time doing something I enjoy. For me, that’s often watching a favorite
television show like “Castle” or reading a book. Good stories feed my soul.

In the same vein, I know I am more productive and less stressed if I go to bed on time. The other day, Dr. Oz said that we should all aim for a 10 o’clock bedtime because it fits in line with our circadian rhythms. If we stay up past that, you can get a second wind, and it’s harder to get to sleep. Because I can often write well at night when everyone is asleep, I have to make myself go to bed on time. Sorry Dr. Oz, I’m usually proud of myself if I’m in bed by eleven.

Every time you leave a comment this week, your name will be entered for a chance to win a copy of The Ride of Her Life. It’s my way of reminding you to get off the rollercoaster the world says makes us good wives, mothers, workers, and friends and let God help us set our boundaries.

Posted on February 24, 2012 - by Kav

Doggone Good Movies

Simba B. DeMille here – your canine Hollywood reporter filling in for Kav. Poor thing’s fighting some nasty bug that I can’t herd away for her so she’s gone to bed. I thought she’d sleep right through the night but she keeps tossing and turning and moaning about this blog so I figured the only way to give her rest…and guarantee my beauty sleep…is to just go ahead and do it for her. So here I am – Arrroooooooo!

No offence to any of you two-leggers who have already posted, but I noticed a definite flaw in all of the blogs over the past two weeks.

No dogs.

Seriously – you think anyone wants to sit through a movie without a canine hero in the starring role? I think not! Consider these epic flicks and then tell me you don’t agree (if you dare…grrrrrrrr.)

Lady and the Tramp

Tail feathers and toenails but I LOVE that spaghetti scene. You know the one I’m talking about! It’s a classic. Just look at that picture. Doesn’t it set you to drooling? Hmmmmmhmmmmmm…I do love a good spaghetti dinner!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Take a look at that smile. Who could resist that furry face? There’s humour in those eyes and intelligence in those sharp pointy ears – puts me in mind of our ancestors. Nothing wrong with a little lupus lovin’ worshipping, you know what I mean? And this movie never ceases to choke me up. I mean how one dog can singularly change the lonely, desperate lives of an entire town – well, that’s masterful storytelling, isn’t it? I dare you to name a c-a-t with that kind of empathy!

Lassie Come Home

She’s my kissing cousin you know. Notice the family resemblance? (the dog, not the girl) Rippled ruff, long, lean nose and those ears with the cute floppy tips – scroll up and take a look at my picture again and you’ll see what I mean. And Lassie and I have the same high standard of loyalty. Kav’s always asking me, “Simba, if I fell down a well would you come and rescue me?” And I’m like “Woooooof! You betcha! Rescue is my middle name. Just show me that well and I’ll take it apart with my incisors. I’ll sharpen my toenails on it; I’ll grab it by the scruff of the neck and shake it into kingdom come. Arooooo….uh, what’s a well?”

Scooby-Doo

This one’s kind of scary, but you can always snuggle up with your human for moral support. And it’s howling funny as well! Arroooooo! In fact, I do a pretty mean Scooby Doo impression and I’ve noticed that when I Scooby Doo a squirrel the two leggers think it’s funny and I don’t get into trouble. See? Watching movies is educational too.

 

 

 

Simba is a Shetland Sheepdog entering his senior years. He enjoys lazy days snoozing on the sofa and catching the latest canine flicks with his human of choice. He loves a warm lap and a good massage and believes that the only good squirrel is a dead one.

Make Simba’s day (it can get boring home alone) and let him know your favourite canine movie.

 

 

Posted on February 23, 2012 - by Regina

NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS

On Monday, Kim wrote about a very important aspect of the movies, and that is the MUSIC. Today, I want to take it one step further, into what I consider one of my favorite genres of movies – the movie musical.

Yep, just lost some of you . . . .

But seriously, did you know that in the last 73 years, 19 movie musicals were nominated for “Best Picture, and 8 of them won in that category?

Movie musicals run the gamut of comedy and drama, modern and historical, animated and a mixture of animation and live-action.

Who can forget the sweeping fight scene in “West Side Story,” or Eliza Doolittles transformation in “My Fair Lady?” Or that “Beauty and the Beast” was the first fully-animated feature nominated for a Best Picture Oscar?

Then there were the classics that won Oscars for such things as the musical score (Oklahoma, 1955), acting, costumes (The King and I, 1956).

Probably the most popular movie musical of all time is “The Sound of Music,” which was nominated for a whopping TEN Oscars, and won FIVE (Directing, Film Editing, Music score, Best Picture, and Sound).

In my research, I did find an interesting tidbit on the movie musical. In the 1950s and 1960s, they were a staple of Hollywood, and garnered Best Picture nominations nearly every year. By the time the 1970s arrived, they were waning. 1971 saw the nomination of “Fiddler on the Roof,” and 1972, “Caberet,” and after that? Nothing until the 1991 nomination of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” and then not another until 2001’s “Moulin Rouge” and 2002’s “Chicago.” I’m not sure what this tells me about society in general and the musical – that’s a treatise for another time, I’m sure, but I thought it was quite interesting!

In the last few years, musicals have made somewhat of a comeback with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” Steven Sondheim’s “Sweeny Todd,” and others. These huge Broadway hits have helped to bring the musical back into the public eye. After all, put Johnny Depp in a show, and it’s bound to be a hit!

I have a personal affinity for the movie musical. When I was very young, “Oklahoma!” was shown on television on a regular basis, and as I got older, “The Sound of Music” took its place as a standard. I’ve since had the opportunity to not only watch many more musicals through their availability on DVD and Netflix, but have been able to see the productions on the stage, which is an experience that can’t compare to watching a movie. Oh, I’m not saying it’s better or worse – just completely different!

And now? This weekend I finish up a run playing in the orchestra pit for a local production of “Oklahoma,” in which my teenaged daughter is playing the part of the feisty “Aunt Eller,” and my older daughter is stage manager. Oh, by the way, my older daughter was “Sister Margaretta” in “The Sound of Music” last fall.

I guess you can say musicals, in any way, shape, or form, are in my blood . . . Popcorn, anyone?