PURSEonality

I apologize in advance to my male readers :)

Some women are obsessed with designer purses.  Although I appreciate beautiful bags, I only carry purses that could hold the equivalent of a toddler.  I always carry much more than I need (much to the chagrin of my back), but the worst part is the organization of said luggage.

My friend, Kathi Lipp, challenged me and my readers to clean out our purses.  Please read below and show off your PURSEonality.  Have fun and let me know if you win!

National Clean Out Your Purse Day May 15th Posted: 24 Apr 2012 11:36 AM PDT In honor of my new book, THE GET YOURSELF ORGANIZED PROJECT, I want to help you get your life together, and I want to start with your handbag… I’ve always known the truth: the bigger your purse, the smaller your butt looks. But with a large purse come the ability to fill it to the tippy top with a back breaking amount of “stuff”. I knew I had issues when I casually mentioned to Roger, “I wish they had purses with wheels on them.” His reply, “They do. They’re called suitcases – and you have a problem.” I would love for you to have the feeling that wherever you go, you are not weighed down by “stuff”. Here’s my super-speedy way of cleaning out my bag. I simply take my purse and dump it out into a plastic grocery bag. I sort the dump into Put Away, Put Back, and (in this case) Throw Away. Put Away Anything I want to keep that doesn’t belong in my purse gets put away. This is also when I go through receipts I’ve carefully placed in my wallet (or, more likely, the ones I’ve quickly thrown into my purse…) and random notes or other pieces of paper. If you’re away from home while you’re sorting, just put these items into another bag to put away when you get home. And when you get home, put them away in the right spot. Put Back If it belongs in your purse, go ahead and put it back into your purse. Throw Away Anything that’s left over in your plastic grocery bag (food wrappers, cash receipts you don’t care about, and so on,) is now garbage that gets recycled or thrown away. The beauty of the grocery-bag organizing system is that you can do it anywhere, anytime. Just grab a grocery bag and start sorting while you’re waiting for your kids to get out of band practice or while you’re on the phone with your mom. Clean it Up Give your purse a good shake and get out any stray bits, crumbs etc. I’ve even used a hand held vacuum to really get the bag clean. Label It and Put It Away Assign a spot for everything that belongs in your purse, bag, or backpack. I use three zippered pouches. Everything goes into one of those three pouches or into your wallet (or in rare cases, onto your key chain). The fewer items you place in your purse, the easier it is to know what’s in there. Wallet. I recommend you keep in your wallet only cash, receipts, checkbook, and credit, debit, and gift cards. Pouch 1: Makeup bag Lipstick and gloss Eyeliner Powder Sunscreen stick Blush and brush Eyeglass cleaner wipes Hand sanitizer Pouch 2: Emergency kit Fashion tape $20 Needle and thread Nail glue Advil Couple of adhesive bandages Pouch 3: Change Other Things to Keep in Your Bag Sunglasses case Cell phone Keys Keep It Up If I sort through the items in my purse once a week, it really is easy to stay on top of it. It takes only a couple of minutes to keep it up. Do you have to do it exactly like this? No. I just want you to have a clean purse that is functional and doesn’t give you a hernia. So tell me here in the comments that you cleaned out your purse by May 18th (and I’d love to hear what the strangest thing you found in there was!), and here is what you could win:  One winner will receive this beautiful Vera Bradley tote on the left filled with Kathi’s entire collection of books And FIVE winners will receive my FAVORITE tote ever: The “My Husband is a Hottie” bad filled with all of my books! National Clean Out Your Purse Day May 15th

Crickets...

I decided to start blogging to practice my writing and hopefully, bless some people in the process. I have fooled myself into thinking that I might even gain a large following. I clearly need to watch less "Julie and Julia"... If the blog software can be trusted, no one has viewed my last few blogs. I have even failed to get my husband to register as a subscriber. It is a good thing that it doesn't matter to me...YEAH RIGHT! I do care what people think. I do notice when people "like" my Facebook post, give me compliments, and ask my opinion on things. It is a trap, however. Proverbs 29:25 reminds me that "the fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be safe." I need to keep my eyes on Jesus, the only ONE who should matter. As I pursue "Joy to Go", I need to keep my priorities straight even if no one is watching...or reading. God's blessings on your week. Amberly

Mrs. Clean?

I hate to clean.  I love the feeling of BEING in a clean space, but the process is less than inspiring to me.  I love walking into my room when it welcomes me with something other than yesterday's socks on the floor.

We had a garage sale this weekend.  It was not only to raise funds, but also to purge our garage a bit and add some organization to it.  I love when the pathway around the stuff in the garage is clear and I can actually FIND the things for which I venture into the garage.

The next few weeks, my plan is to add some organization to other parts of my life as well.   I have lost my Kindle and am determined to locate it, but as I do, I keep finding other areas that need my attention.

The first stage includes switching winter and summer clothes.

The second stage includes selling some stuff on Craigslist.

The third stage is to clean out my purse and car.  On May 15, my plan is to join some friends of mine and do "National Clean Purse Day".   Any of my readers who join me will be entered to win a $50 Barnes and Noble Gift Card.   In addition, all blog readers who do the “National Clean Purse Day” project, and go to Kathi Lipp's blog to post about it by May 15, will be entered to win a Vera Bradley tote filled with Kathi’s books, and 5 more blog followers will be entered to win a “My Husband is a Hottie” tote filled with all five of Kathi’s books. 


Winning would be fun, but it will give you more to clean...sorry. :)


Wanna join me in organizing?


Amberly

Thanks A LOT

On Sunday, a group of friends and I packed about 50 lunches and headed downtown to find homeless people.

We stopped at the first place and, sadly, found ourselves disappointed that we ran out of people before we ran out of lunches (the irony was not lost on us!).  People seemed genuinely thankful, though.

We stopped at various parks, with limited success.

We finally drove down streets and stopped people to ask if they needed a lunch.  When we had only a few lunches left, I saw a man sitting on the curb with his head between his knees.  I stopped and asked if he needed a lunch.  He seemed really pleased.  When I turned back around from the car with his lunch, there were four more people who had heard my question.  I did not see them before.  I only had one bag left, so I grabbed it.  My friend Megin grabbed some water and carrots and followed me.

One of the men grew belligerent.  He discovered that I did not have enough lunches for him.  He said, "You got me all excited and then you don't have anything (although he took water). I want to cry.  God bless you FOR NOTHING."   He even refused the offer of a package of carrots.

We left deflated.  We left disappointed.  And frankly, I was a little mad.

I was frustrated by the audacity of that man.  He brought us NOTHING.  He deserved NOTHING.  He got a bottle of water.  He threw a tantrum and refused that which we had to offer, albeit small.

I have done the same thing with God.  I have thrown a "tantrum" when I do not get that which I think I "deserve" or should get.  I bring NOTHING to the table, yet have the audacity to turn up my nose to the things God graciously offers.  He provides everything and lovingly shares that which I need.

Ouch.

If I am to have Joy to Go, I best be thankful for everything I am given and even the things I am not...

Beggars can't be choosers.  But by God's grace, they can come to the Banquet in Glory anyway.

Amberly

Joy Party

I love parties.

Recently, we were invited to a gala/ birthday party/ benefit in Hollywood.  It was hosted by a friend from high school and he is in the entertainment business.  His guests included: Tony award winners, Emmy award winning actors, performers, producers, directors, Hugh Hefnerites, recording artists, and two dorky Bakersfield yahoos.

It was so fun to dress up.  It was so fun to stand next to my very handsome husband in his tux.  It was great to celebrate my high school friend, see others from my past, and rub shoulders with the elite.  However, I have NEVER been so thankful to take off shoes in all my born days!

Hanging around stars does not make me a celebrity.  Wearing fancy clothes does not make me a Tony award winner.  Wearing beautiful, albeit crippling, shoes does not give me a Hollywood address.

Such connections are moot, but sharing company with the joyful CAN, however, increase one's joy.

Are you feeling empty?  Deflated?  Even a little sad?

I highly recommend group therapy.  Not necessarily the kind with a professional facilitator (although that may help), but instead, surrounding oneself with a support system. Not people who will allow you to wallow in self-pity by bashing others or gossiping, but instead, find others who have joy grounded in Christ and ask for some help.

If we are going to take "Joy to Go", we need to seek the face of God and ask for support from others.  It may not be easy or comfortable, but it will be well worth the journey.

And fortunately, it does not have to include uncomfortable shoes.

Walk on,

Amberly

Epic Blog Fail

I am a bad, bad blogger...

Please forgive the egregious black hole of entries over the past two weeks.  I finished my half marathon and then went right into the final week of production of "Sound of Music" at Bakersfield Christian High School.

At the other end, I am, well, exhausted.  But in a good way.

I watched my daughter shine, my husband's vision for a great high school production come to fruition,  and my son eat his way through yet another growth spurt.

I also had 1000 papers to grade.  I had a student at the University at which I teach submit a paper that was high in unoriginality.  When I questioned the student about it, this person admitted to "just wanting to get done". Have you ever felt that way?  Have you ever just wanted to rush through the "stuff" of life so life could truly begin?

I do not want to live life that way.  I want to have "joy to go" through my day, through my heart, through my relationships, but when it gets busy, it also becomes more hard to stay true to that sentiment.

How can I remind myself to relish every moment?

Any ideas?

Amberly

It's All About the BLING

Well, I successfully completed my first half marathon on Saturday. I walked 13.1 miles through hills, past three Starbucks, with people attempting to break world records, around photographers, and alongside six Elvi (that is the plural of Elvis), and all under 3 and a half hours. I kept apologizing to my walking partner, Debbie when I lost the desire to jog about an hour in. My body is not used to running downhill; my shins, back, and feet were already beginning to tire. She kept reminding me that the goal was just to finish. And finish we did. We crossed the finish line. Our names were announced over the loudspeaker and we received our HUGE rewards. They were rap-star sized star medals that might need to be filed as deadly weapons in certain circles. It was fatigue intermingled with elation. My family, who wrote encouraging notes for me to read while on the 13.1 miles, greeted me at the door with squeals and cheers. But when they saw the medal, they gasped. It was fun to put it on and relive the moment of receiving it over again. I admit it. I am shallow. I love rewards. I loved sticker charts as a kid. I love pay bonuses for a job well done. I love thank you notes and hugs. I love celebration dinners (too much, thus the need to start training for a half marathon!). I thought it so perfect that the next day was Easter. What a perfect juxtaposition! Jesus "ran" the ultimate race on our behalf. His only rewards were to fulfill the will of God and reconcile un unholy people to a holy God. But that was enough for Him. No bling. No medal. No awards ceremony. I want to be more like Jesus. I want to be motivated not by the temporary reward but instead by the desire to do the will of God which is eternal. "Therefore, since we have been surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race set our before us and let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God." - Hebrews 12:1 and 2 Happy running! Amberly