Lent Accountability--

If it's on the internet it's forever, right? Capturing my intentions for my own personal accountability!

Screen capature from Failing Forward 
by John C Maxwell

Here we are another Ash Wednesday, the Palm Branches we waved as he entered Jerusalem on that fateful day have been burned so we can receive them as a cross smudged across our foreheads.  Today we begin the 40 day journey to Easter.  A time of denial and fasting for many which causes me to recall a Lenten study I participated in with the FUMC honorary "grandmas" back in the late 90's.  We dabbled with fasting from anything other than water from sunup to sundown each Friday for that particular Lent.  When we felt a hunger pang we were simply called to whisper a prayer of Thanksgiving for his long ago sacrifice. I was surprised by how energized I actually felt on Fridays.

This Lent, I won't be fasting on Fridays-weight loss surgery coupled with cardiomyopathy mean my body needs to be fueled for my health.  As I grew older I began to think of Lent as a time to take on new, positive habits in an effort to better my life.  I've been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks in preparation for today and this is where I've settled....thirty minutes.  Each day devoting 30 minutes to each of the following:

• Decluttering & organizing-I was on the road to success when I started a job.  My house shows it. By the end of Lent 30 minutes a day should have my downstairs completed and a good chunk of my sewing space completely user friendly!
• Quilting-I go far to many days without touching fabric.  If I ever want to accomplish my "big goal" of creating quilts as a business I must touch fabric every day.
• Cooking-I love to cook and find myself slipping into old habits when I'm tired from work. I would like to be intentional about meals out instead of it being an excuse for not planning better.
• Gratitude-notes, texts, calls to family and friends.  Who doesn't love to get a note in the mail, a sweet text or a phone call? It only takes moments but the sunshine I spread just might make a difference, who knows...
• Reading-in February, I lost myself to reading.  I'm a sucker for a good book and my friend Kathy introduced me to a series, Stillhouse Lake.  I read almost 2,000 pages in the month of February, SIX books.  I found myself staying up way too late and ignoring other things for my love of reading.  Not necessarily a bad thing unless it keeps you from doing what you need to do. (I will prioritize reading the book the leadership team at Health Fitness is reading and the one selected for book club in April.)