Today’s Mission: Get Work Life Back In Order!

With everything going on and all my busyness of being away from my office, I had let my office go “a little”…well maybe a lot (especially if you ask my co-workers)! I guess I should truly confess that yes it was a huge mess! LOL. Today I went in for the majority of my Saturday, which upon moving to UK Cooperative Extension I promised myself never to do this, but I needed to get caught up on a little reporting, filing, and putting up from programs and events. I am nowhere near done with everything on my major to do list for my end of the year extension reporting and my plan of work writing for 2013-2014, but I feel that I have made a huge dent in laying the groundwork for the next time I enter my office!

At least now, when you enter my office your eyes are not going in 101 directions with everything I had piled in my tiny office.  It had gotten to the point something had to change or I would need to start working out of my car or someone else’s office at work! Or…someone would need to send in a search party after me. I said a little prayer when I started and asked my Facebook friends to do the same so that I could get my work life back in order. I am pleased with the results thus far. I will feel confident on Monday that everything will be OK if I come back and work a few more hours tomorrow or if I come in early on Monday morning. It is so much easier to get things accomplished without distractions like emails, phone calls, and visits! I love my job, especially the people, but I can get more accomplished without the little distractions of life.  

After my major to do list is complete (sometime in June...LOL), I hope to make a dent and purge some things out of my office that I have been holding on to so that I can start July off right. I also hope to possibly move offices and totally reorganize my filing system. If anyone has a solution to my file hoarding and office disorganization, I would love to have your help when I find the time to do this! Volunteers are welcome, but I have to be a part of the process!


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5 Things I Was Reminded of This Week

This Savage Girl has had another busy week, but in the mist of the busyness I was reminded of a few things about life. Christians (like me) should take time to reflect and allow oneself to be taught a few life lessons by those people we come in contact with on a daily basis. Learning is lifelong but one has to be willing and accepting of new ideas and teachings throughout the lifespan whether it is in a formal or informal setting. I believe that you're never too old to learn something new! Whenever you stop learning then you become stagnant and that's when dysfunction, complacency, and acceptance of how things have become begins to occur. We need keep our eyes and ears open to life's situations and be accepting of the lessons whenever we encounter them.

 Here are the top five things I was reminded of this week:

1. People are always watching you whether you realize it or not! Set your best foot forward and be a living example to them. You might be motivating them or encouraging them by your actions and not even realize it! Or you might be someone’s biggest stumbling block. Choose your actions and words carefully because there are eyes and ears everywhere!
2. Show appreciation and encourage others. If you like what someone has done then tell them about it! Don’t forget to tell someone they are doing a good job if you appreciate what they are doing. Be honest! Sometimes it is nice to know you are appreciated and your efforts are being noticed! Show people a little love and appreciation by helping them realize they really are helping make a difference no matter how minuscule or ginormous the project or task at hand is. All it takes is a kind word of thanks whether verbally, a simple written message, or a small gift as a token of appreciation to show you are encouraged or appreciate someone.
3. Don’t let anxiety over come you. Practice patience and self control and try not to be anxious. Sometimes this is easier said than done! Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Then in Matthew 7:7-8 we are told to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Basically we are told here to ask God via prayer. We need to remember to not give up, but to ask Him and He will help us seek and find an answer! If we have our priorities in line then our focus should be first on God and everything else will fall into place.

 
4. Text messages and emails are impersonal but face-to-face interactions and or personal phone calls can make the difference in someone’s day. Try it! To go a step further…a hug, a visit, a hand shake, or a kind word of encouragement also works wonderfully. This is a way of life that everyone should try again sometime if you haven’t in a while due to our fast-paced world that we live in. I strive to do more of this daily, but I understand that I cannot do it all, so I am taking it a few baby steps at a time.
5. Things do not always go as planned. Go with the flow of life whenever something goes wrong with your plan. Expect it. Understand that it is part of life. Continue on with life and handle it the best that you can.

 

Maybe these reflections will help you refocus this weekend and help you remember those things that you might have forgotten in the past few weeks and months like I have. Keep your focus on the things that really matter in life and revisit them often so you can keep your life priorities in line. Life is a choice, how you live it is your option, and only you will be accountable for your actions to God.    

Blessings & Thanksgiving After a BUSY Week

I survived this week! YAY! You might be asking, “Why in the world is this chick celebrating a ‘week’ and being able to survive it?” Well it has been busy for the Savage Girl lately and I had my doubts on getting through it! It seemed like everything I came in touch with this week ended on a positive note so I thought I should express my blessings and thankfulness. FYI, even if it had not of ended so positively, I should still be thankful because I have life! Here are just some of the things I have managed to accomplish in this workweek:

1. Monroe Monday Radio program with Randy & Jon
• Side note…It was pointed out to me that I promoted my new healthy lifestyle Weight the Reality Series program and then invited people to the Derby Breakfast. YES, I know this is an oxymoron “Let’s get healthy on Tuesday and then eat a huge breakfast on Saturday”…LOL, but it was what was happening this week so please forgive me if you tuned in on the radio and heard my ramblings.  Eating is all about portion control and is how I have lost 50 pounds!   
2. Attend and preside over a few committee meetings
3. Presented Weight the Reality Series—Week 1 to 35 participants
4. My monthly reports
5. Attended a quarterly early childhood council meeting
6. New business ribbon cutting with the chamber of commerce…attending this allowed me time to squeeze in a little consignment shopping and I got a few great deals
7. Prepared to present a small very part at a statewide FCS in-service
8. Substitute taught the teen girls class on Wednesday night
9. Help host a community Spring Fling
10. Help coordinate a large event, the Derby Breakfast, which the Extension Homemakers in my county host each year.
11. Somewhere in the middle of ALL that above…I still managed to work out three times!
12. I also got to attend my monthly book club meeting.
13. In addition, I participated in an impromptu girl’s night with friends.  

Tompkinsville Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at New 2 You.

It's my new favorite store in T-ville! 

A few of the hard working committee members of the Spring Fling event. IOU guys! Thanks!

 



Don't ask me why put I never made a photo of the entire committee today! Stupid me...I'm a bad agent :( Here are two of the club members hard at work serving and making sure the food was replenished.  We had many other helpers, but the blog couldn't hold all the photos! This event would not have been possible without the Sunshine & Old Rocky Hill club members! Thank you!   

 

What is Derby Day without a Derby Dress & Derby Hat?!?

FYI this was one of my new finds at New 2 You this week!  



I could not have done all this without a great support system. I am thankful first to God for giving me the strength, the patience, and the willpower to conquer this week! Second, I am thankful for my awesome co-workers…mainly my administrative assistant since she was my lifesaver this week on multiple occasions! I even managed to squeeze in a little birthday surprise for her on Thursday in the midst of a very busy day. She got many phone calls thanks to one little hidden post! This Savage Girl didn’t want her to be all alone on her birthday…Third, I am thankful for the great committees I worked with this week. We can do awesome things and coordinate huge events when we collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and be willing to try new things! Fourth, I am thankful for my family. They are always there whenever I need them whether it is a phone call, email, text, or visit. They always seem to have the exact supplies, encouragement, or advice I need at any given moment. AND somehow my dad always knows when my yard needs mowing! Lastly, I am thankful for my Christian family. After a long day, somehow Christian brothers and sisters know how to uplift you when you need it most.

I am truly blessed! Glory be to God for all these blessings! Without Him none of these blessings and accomplishments would have been possible this week or any other week. Sometimes we just need to take a moment and reflect as I just have done above for God’s blessings. He helps channel and flow blessings into our lives daily via our family, parents, brothers and sisters, friends, mentors, community leaders, fellow Christians, and many others. Take time to praise and thank Him in prayer. I know sometimes I get in a rush, but it truly is a better day if I squeeze this in there around all the mayhem going on.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Proverbs 28:20 says, a “Faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

We each probably should look at our individual lives and take note of what motives us. We should also note what situations we put ourselves in by the choices we make. If our priorities are wacky then maybe we should consider making a few changes. Sometimes it is our life priorities that might cause us to make a wrong choice or bad decision, which ultimately causing us to sin. God has a plan for us each and we all take different paths to achieve the end result. My goal is to get to heaven, so I am going to continue praising God, thanking Him, and asking for His forgiveness when I fall short of His Glory. What is your goal?      

Handmade Gifts & Birthdays

Birthdays are celebrated in my family usually in some form or fashion. I love giving something that is handmade, unusual, and/or unique. Sometimes if I am unable to make the gift myself I will turn to someone who is crafty and purchase a handmade or handcrafted item. There is something about a handmade gift that is special...I think that it is the time, the effort, and extra thought. There are times when handmade gift are not called for...it all depends on the person...I have learned this first hand. I made my dad a UT Deco Mesh Wreath for Father's Day and he did not like it...he thought I was playing a joke on him, so he left the wreath at my house! I had to deliver the gift and place it on the front door. Everyone else loved my creation, but he don't appreciate it because he doesn't see the point to decorating the front door. Oh well...this was a lesson learned for me! But for my granny a handmade gift "Deco Mesh Wreath" was exactly what I wanted to do for her since I knew she would love it!

Here are the directions on how to make a Deco Mesh Wreath yourself...these aren't technical terms, but they should help you figure out how to make the wreath at home if you have never made one before.

Deco Mesh Wreath

Supplies:

• Work wreath with branches
• Deco Mesh (assorted colors and sizes of ribbon width)
• Embellishment(s)

Directions:

1. Unroll about 3 feet of your art deco mesh. 
2. Scrunch up the end of the mesh into a small bundle in your hand and place it against the top of wreath. Use the branches on the work wreath to secure the bundle by twisting to secure it in place.
3. Grab and scrunch another section of mesh and place this bundle against your wreath about and use the second set of branches to secure the next bunch of mesh.
4. Scrunch, bundle and tie mesh to the wreath until you have worked all the way around the wreath. Keep using the work wreath branches to secure to deco mesh in place.
5. It is best to start on the outside of the wreath and work your way to the inside. If you see some bare places, go around the wreath again, adding bundles between your first layer of bundles.
6. Cut the mesh from the roll very close to your last tied bundle.
7. Fluff up the puffy sections of mesh between the bundles to give your wreath a full look.
8. Embellish as desired.

 

 

Back to why I made the wreath...This weekend my Granny Trixie celebrated her 81st birthday. Some call her Tippy, mostly the great grandkids, but to me she will always be my Granny Trixie. We had a small celebration of life for her on the farm at my parents’ house. A total of 18 were in attendance out of a possible 24 people. A few cousins and their families were unable to make the journey because of distance, but we were blessed by all those in attendance. I hope everyone can make it next year for her 82nd birthday. She was super excited to see everyone and her expressions were priceless.

Here is a photo of Granny Trixie and I & the gift I made for her for her birthday. I love my Granny and I am very thankful for her! I am the youngest of 7 grandchildren and I will always be her baby girl even though she now has 5 great grandchildren. She calls me Lara Jane, even though my name is Lara Christen. My middle name is after her...Edith Christeen. She has been there through some of the rough moments in my life and some of the greatest times of joy. If I ever need advice and council that is sound, honest, and very truthful I can always count on Granny Trixie. Sometimes she gives the advice and council without even being asked. I guess that is a grandmother's instinct. I might get a little history and fluff with in the mix too, but that's OK. A lot of characteristics from my granny make up the "Savage Girl" in addition to many traits and characteristics from others.

I applaud granny for her patience on all those Saturday mornings I visited her on the Savage farm in Vernon. She helped my mama begin my culinary training in the kitchen when she would let me "help" make biscuits and wash dishes when I was big enough to standup in a chair.   

Tonight at church I was reminded that older generations are to help train-up our younger generations and share their wisdom and expertise to help teach others. I have always been accepting of advice and teachings from others especially my elders. This lesson made me think of my granny since she is the matriarch of the family. To me my granny has always been a good example in training-up those that are younger. She is an example of Titus 2 in teaching the younger generations in the family concerning what is good, to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, to be kind, to be a keeper of the home, and not to show evil toward God's word. She taught everyone in the family in some form or fashion, but that doesn't mean that everyone always listened to what she had to say every time. I'm not perfect, my family members at not perfect, and neither is my granny, but then again no one is! Everyone makes mistakes along the way, and she has always been woman enough to own up to her mistakes and I believe she passed that down to everyone else too. She is loving, accepting, and forgiving of others faults and mistakes even when we might have displeased her with one of our decisions. I believe these are gifts of godly women that everyone should implement.

I am going to leave you with one question...just answer it to yourself for you will be the one who has to give an account for your life, not me..."What are you doing in your life to help teach others like is outlined for us in Titus 2?".

Breaks

Sometimes a girl needs a few breaks! Recently I got the opportunity to take a break to head South for a few days out of the great state of Kentucky. Don't get me wrong I love my home on the Tennessee and Kentucky border, but sometimes a break from normal routines and life is a great thing to help rejuvenate oneself and get oneself kick started "back" in the right direction.

Breaks give this Savage Girl (& maybe you too)...

Breathing room. (It was a long ride South, so I had lots of time to think, so watch out Monroe County I have a few ideas!)

Rest and relaxation. I went to bed early and slept in every day!

Endless hours of doing whatever you want. Like reading, sleeping, shell hunting, long walks on the beach, bike riding, etc. And yes I did all of these while in Florida!  My biggest accomplishment was getting The Chance by Karen Kingsbury read for my next book club meeting.

My travel partner in crime...Mr. Electric Man! He loved his room at the beach. For those of you who are meeting him for the first time...Mr. Electric Man is my extension power cord control man for all my chargers that keep me connected 24/7. He goes wherever I go.  

Awesomely good food, fun, fellowship & family time.

My aunt and I spent Sunday morning searching for the church building only to finally locate it just in time for worship services ;) There is nothing like driving around the block only to be a few blocks off and when you ask for directions people either don't speak English or send you to the wrong church. This was one time my blackberry came in handy to locate the correct address.

After worship I got to meet the newest member of the Craighead family...baby Shaw...the son of my cousin Sara Shaw and her husband Brandon. I think he is a keeper! I didn't get enough of the little man, so I had to visit them on Tuesday night before I headed back North. If you are headed South and need somewhere to stay give Brandon a yell...his information is located on this website. He recently started a new business in Santa Rosa Beach, FL (very near Destin, FL). He might have the perfect place for you to stay on your next vacation. Tell him a Savage Girl sent ya!

I tried to get a picture of his cute little feet...but Baby Shaw had another plan and didn't think all the picture taking was very fun, but Mila did! Check her out below!

 

 

Kickback & let time stand still ...at least until it is time to go home and go back to reality.

Even Dakota, my aunt's dog, got into this!

Some sun, vitamin D & beautiful picture perfect sunsets. Enjoy them while they last!

I enjoyed my "breaks" over the past few days. I was welcomed back to Kentucky in style last night! It was 74 degrees, warm and sunny in Florida when I left at 8:30 a.m. but I was welcomed home to 47 degrees in Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. Needless to say somewhere between Florida and Kentucky I changed from shorts to pants and from short sleeves to long sleeves. But I would not have it any other way. I'm blessed and thankful for everything I've been given. Now why don't you take a little break and then when you return maybe together we can conquer the world!