Who am I? A wife for almost 40 years. A mom for over 36 years. A sister and a friend, of course. Each of these help describe me. But, even more, I have been a Christian since accepting Him as my Savior when I was 12 years old and, this truth defines each area of my life. I have enjoyed some mountain top experiences but have been through some very deep valleys as well. Valleys of incredible grief and even pits of depression. However, most of my days are ordinary, routine kind of days. But in every one of my days, God has been faithful. He has walked with me whatever the day. He strengthens, comforts, encourages and blesses me with life "most abundant."

A favorite life verse: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Why do I write? Though not quite as private as my dad, I am definitely my father's daughter. I find it difficult to share. And to let others in. But I do love to write. I love to put words into sentences and sentences in paragraphs that help express my thoughts. I hope my words help me share my heart. Share the life that God has given me and all that He has done for me and through me. I write with the hope of giving Him at least a bit of the glory He is due.

A verse to guide my writing: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

I Have Decided

Posted on By jennifer

Welcome to a new week…and, if the forecast is in any way correct, it promises to be a pretty one!  I hope you have some plans to be outside, at least for a bit of the week.  In just my last post, I wrote that the weather had changed and fall’s cooler temperatures had settled in.  Well, that didn’t last long.  Not that I am complaining.  As quick as we turned the heat on, it has been returned to “off” and the back door is open.  And I am in my happy place:)  We had a nice weekend, although a bit quiet.  Hubby was under the weather so we were not out and about as much as I would have enjoyed but I still managed to soak in sunshine, spend a long morning with my friend, practice my crochet during the slower evenings, and even to be a bit productive.  Our scripture assembly project, that I mentioned on Thursday, was a great start to the weekend.  We put together almost 29,000 Romans booklets.

Since I usually post on Mondays and Thursdays, most weeks I miss the chance to participate in Five Minute Friday – the free write exercise I enjoy that is based on a one-word prompt.  The prompt is not given out until after my posts are generally finished.  I need to plan better to try and include more Friday posts.  All that to say, I was thinking about the topic/prompt that was used last week –  Undecided.  However, the more I thought about it, my thoughts were much more on the “decided” versus the “undecided” things of life.  This is not a five-minute writing exercise, per se, but I thought I would include some of those thoughts here.

I have decided.  These are things that I have already considered and for which I have already made a choice or a decision.   For many of them, I have drawn a line in the sand.  That is such an interesting expression – to draw a line in the sand.  It generally implies a decision, a boundary or determination that has no compromise. One that is firm and unchanging.  Which usually is not anything drawn or built in sand.  To satisfy my curiousity about the origin of this phrase, I just looked at one or two possible ideas…both of which went back to battles or Spartan games where boundaries were drawn in the sand by each sides’ swords.  And to think that everyone would play so fair as to not step past the lines in the sand??  Can you imagine?  But I digress.

In no particular order of importance, here are a few things I have decided.  I will admit, some of these may have more wiggle room than others.  Some are in the sand and others are decisions that I just don’t really think about anymore:)  I have decided

* to follow Jesus.  Yes, the song came to mind as soon as I read the prompt and begin to think about this post.  That decision was 50 years ago.  Yes, fifty years this past July.  I cannot begin to imagine how my life would look today without the decision to accept Christ.

* who is getting my vote next month.  And I do not need to see one more ad to help me decide!!  Ugh.

* unsweet tea is so much better than sweet tea.  Even if you were raised on southern sweet tea (as in, super sweet tea!)

* which version of the Bible prefer.  I find it intereting that this decision can so often be a hot topic among Christians.  Why??

* to stop watching the news.  I know many disagree with this (and probably disagree with plenty of my decisions) but I am perfectly okay with it.  I sleep better.  My mornings begin better.  My anxiety is much better as well.  Whatever I have potentially missed, well I haven’t missed it.

* not to be on social media.  For me, again, the benefits far outweigh the possible advantages.

* eating meat is not for me.  I have not regretted this decision, at all, since making it over fifteen years ago.

* to “break up” with Amazon.  This one is definitely not “drawn in the sand” but we did cancel our Prime membership.  I won’t deny missing the ease of Amazon shopping and membership shipping but, with time, I think we will adjust.  And survive just fine.

* to eat at home this Thanksgiving.  This is a “we” decision but everyone seems to be onboard with the change.  We have eaten out on Thanksgiving for years.  Hopefully, mixing it a bit will make for a nice day.  That said, we will be getting ham and/or turkey from Honeybaked Ham.  I have not cooked a turkey in many, many years and do not expect that to change.  There are very few turkey eaters at our table to even make it worth my effort.

* coffee should be hot (not iced), chocolate should be dark (not white), and french fries dipped in mayo are, surprisingly, not bad at all!

* I will keep walking through the winter.  As long as I can possibly stand it.  (This one is the most open for reassessment…..)

* curly hair does have some advantages.  There are days that I miss my “old” hair but they are fewer and fewer, and I have decided to stop whining about the “new” hair.  That’s one decision everyone around here is happy about!

* to continue studying the Bible.  Consistently in the word and digging deeper to know my Heavenly Father even more.  This walk with Him is challenging, wonderful, encouraging, sustaining and most days I feel I have only scratched the surface.

* to take a quick roadtrip to North Carolina in November.  I’m taking a girlfriend with me.  I don’t think she has “roadtripped” before…and I plan to make this a weekend she will remember!

I kind of hope she doesn’t stick her feet out the window, though!  That’s all friends.  Here’s to a great week ahead.  I look forward to reading about your weekend!  I’m planning to post M/W/F this week.  Not for a Five Minute Friday but it will be time for this month’s Share Four Somethings later this week.  I hope you will visit again.

A Look at the Smalll Things

Comments (15)

  1. Hi Jennifer 🙂 I love your curly hair! I had a friend who wore her hair the same way basically her entire life. Then she had cancer, lost her hair and once it grew back, she was sporting a sassy short hairstyle that was amazing on her. You just never know how many looks we could pull off, if only we dared 🙂

    I agree with all of your decisions! (well, I’m still with Amazon and I still have social media). I’ve thought about getting rid of Prime, but we love the British crime shows 🙂

    I have a love/super hate relationship with social media, but I keep it for my family and friends that I don’t see otherwise.

    I haven’t watched the news in years and I absolutely know who will be getting my vote this year!

    I hope your week is amazing!

    1. Like your friend, Debbie, I was “forced” to do something new and different with my hair. No such a bad thing after all!! And, yes, we have decided British crime shows make the best tv watching:)

  3. Hello Jennifer. I enjoyed reading your post so much! I’m right there with you on so many things. I’m intrigued by the decision you made 15 years ago to stop eating meat. Was it hard in the beginning? We’ve always been a meat-eating family. A few years ago, I did start the anti-inflammatory diet which is plant based with no meat at all. I have to admit that I did feel better then. I just don’t know if I could do it all the time.

    Are you familiar with Karen over at https://lifeisgood-smile.blogspot.com/? The reason I ask is because she lives in Garrett County MD and her church also assembles the Romans books.

    I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend.

    1. Dianna, the funniest thing – when I decided to stop eating meat – was I found it hard to give up Chick Fil A!!? I probably would have stopped sooner but I loved a CFA sandwhich for lunch. Or anytime! And I did miss them (and other chicken dishes for awhile) but can honestly say that I do not miss them at all now. Did you find the anti-inflammatory diet too restrictive?? And, yes, I do “know” Karen at LifeisGood. Goodness but doesn’t she challenge you with all those steps every day!!:) So glad you stopped by today – thanks! Have a great week.

  4. I enjoyed this post and we agree on many of the same things! I have curly hair; I had long hair to my waist until about 5 years ago. Then one day I went in and had it cut short. To my surprise my hair became curly. I always had a subtle wave but it’s curly! I enjoy it but it does what it wants so I let it. It’s easy to just wash, air dry and fluff the curls and go!
    Have an awesome week!

    1. Hooray for curly hair, Debby! That whole wash, air dry and fluff is really working me actually!!:)

  5. While I can have an occasion cold coffee on a very hot day.. I agree, coffee is best hot. White chocolate is not chocolate and I will die on the hill.
    Yes please.. i just want there to be a president and not have to watch another political campaign for a long long time.
    How many versions of the Bible are there? I off off to google more about this.
    Enjoy your road trip. Might be too cold for feet out the window.

    1. Hena, how many versions of the Bible are there? Oh my…way more than you would imagine!!? And, yes, I’m hoping it will be too autumn-like for hanging our feet out the window – lol!! Glad you stopped by!

  6. I think your idea to stop watching the news is a wise one. at least until after November is over! The rest of the world is watching and waiting to see what will happen after all the votes are counted. I cannot imagine what it is like to be in America right now!
    I have never been an Amazon girl – I can’t think of anything I would need that I would have to have within 24 hours and I find that if you have a browse around, Amazon is rarely the cheapest place to buy! I also like to support smaller independent sellers.
    I have never tried iced coffee but I think I’ll stick with the hot version anyway 🙂

    1. I tried iced coffee once. No bueno! And you are right about Amazon – not the best option. I wish there were many more indepdendent sellers around here…but not so much. I still like to look for better options. Please don’t waste too much time on the silly American political news! Ugh. Hope you are having a good week, Deb!!

  7. Hi Jennifer. I really enjoyed reading your post today. I accepted Christ and chose to be baptized when I was five years old and it’s the best decision I ever made. My daughter, Charlotte, also accepted Christ at the same age. I mean, how do non-believers get through each day without him? I wouldn’t want to know. I’m happy to say that I voted yesterday! I’m not a fan of iced coffee – I love dark chocolate, but I have a strong dislike for mayo. I’m also not a fan of sweet tea. Thanksgiving will be different this year as we always went to my mom’s house for this holiday. I may cook at home for the three of us. It is my favorite holiday! I love your hair curly by the way!

  8. I am an unsweetened tea gal, too. But I add artificial sweetner!! And lemon. I never make tea at home so enjoy it when we go out.
    My mother-in-law is King James version of the Bible or nothing. But I like to use Biblegateway.com to read verses from a handful of different versions to help me better understand what is being said. I have found occasions where a version wasn’t saying exactly the same thing as the same verse in King James but I can live with that.
    Great job on making the decision to walk all winter. PC decided we needed to rejoin the gym so we have done that now. I hope we can make ourselves go on those cold winter days when we don’t want to leave the house. We need to get back to walking as soon as I am back to 2 feet, too.
    Yay for embracing your curls. I have known a number of gals whose hair texture changed after treatment for cancer. It would take some getting used to, I imagine, if you have always had straight hair and wake up to curls!! I had pretty fuzzy, wavy, big hair as a teen and young adult but with my second baby, my hair changed quite a bit. Now there just isn’t much hair there to worry with.

    1. Hooray for rejoining the gym. I hope you both enjoy it. I have considered going with my husband. He is very faithful to the gym – but it is sort of “his time” if that doesn’t sound silly. I think he enjoys seeing/talking with his friends there as much as he does any machines he might do!!

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