Do Hard Things in Portland?
I'm just popping in real quick to see if any of my blog friends are headed to the Portland Do Hard Things Conference! So, anybody? Leave a comment and let me know if you're going, and maybe we could keep our eyes peeled!
4 Ways to Limit Computer Time and Focus on Other Things
In this day and age, computers seem to be an absolute must. There is at least one computer per household, and in my experience people use them often throughout the day. There are so many great uses for a computer! Thousands, in fact! We make blogs, websites, papers, forms, certificates, graphs, stories, games, and so forth. We play games, we connect with people, we hunt for better ways to interact with the world.
Computers are really amazing, and absolutely fascinating, which is one of the reasons I think that we humans like them so much. How can one device hold all that information? How can it tell us that we have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, a new comment on one of our blogs, and that the fork control legislation has been accepted?
There is also the dark side of computer use. Of course the fault of this lies entirely with the human and our susceptibility to addictions. Unfortunately, I am one of those humans. Computers attract me. I love using them. I like to blog, read blogs, design blogs, play games (not so much anymore), upload pictures, and read stats.
Often, I will get sucked into computer use, and use it much longer than necessary, merely trying to find an excuse to stay on. Things have seriously suffered because of this. My chores and housework would sometimes be forgotten or delayed, I was always "too busy" to play a game with my brothers, and my reading skills and frequency practically went down the drain. There had been a time when I could have read a thick book in two days. Not anymore.
There is one other problem of the computer that unskilled users like me can face, and that is computer illness. I don't know how computer's get their viruses, or how to get rid of them, and that is really bad, considering how much I used mine. Really it's no wonder that it was suddenly stricken with diseases that it's three-year-old build couldn't handle.
My computer crashed. I've had issues with it for a while, and we have restored it to factory condition twice. This time, although I think I could, I haven't. My pictures are still on there this time and I don't want to delete them forever. Maybe someone will be able to rescue them for me someday.
Anyway, that was about two weeks ago and I want to tell you something. It's been amazing! I still get on the computer at least once a day because my Dad, Mom, and Sister are nice and sweet, but without my own computer, I have felt so free!
I know, "this is ridiculous" you say. "In fact, it's almost disgusting. You really were addicted!"
As sad as it sounds, I think I really must have been. However, that's not what I want to focus on anymore. I have enjoyed my time way more than I ever did when I had a computer that worked. I have been reading like crazy, and not just fluff books either! The thing is, I want it to stay this way. Even if I save up and get another computer in the future, I want to strengthen my self-control and limit myself so that I can focus on the things that are more important.
If you are struggling in this area as well, and don't have the blessing of a broken computer to help you out, then I thought I would share a couple of tips. They aren't anything new, but sometimes reading things a different way will make it click more than it ever did before. That's my hope anyway. These still apply to me in many, many ways!
Computers are really amazing, and absolutely fascinating, which is one of the reasons I think that we humans like them so much. How can one device hold all that information? How can it tell us that we have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, a new comment on one of our blogs, and that the fork control legislation has been accepted?
There is also the dark side of computer use. Of course the fault of this lies entirely with the human and our susceptibility to addictions. Unfortunately, I am one of those humans. Computers attract me. I love using them. I like to blog, read blogs, design blogs, play games (not so much anymore), upload pictures, and read stats.
Often, I will get sucked into computer use, and use it much longer than necessary, merely trying to find an excuse to stay on. Things have seriously suffered because of this. My chores and housework would sometimes be forgotten or delayed, I was always "too busy" to play a game with my brothers, and my reading skills and frequency practically went down the drain. There had been a time when I could have read a thick book in two days. Not anymore.
There is one other problem of the computer that unskilled users like me can face, and that is computer illness. I don't know how computer's get their viruses, or how to get rid of them, and that is really bad, considering how much I used mine. Really it's no wonder that it was suddenly stricken with diseases that it's three-year-old build couldn't handle.
My computer crashed. I've had issues with it for a while, and we have restored it to factory condition twice. This time, although I think I could, I haven't. My pictures are still on there this time and I don't want to delete them forever. Maybe someone will be able to rescue them for me someday.
Anyway, that was about two weeks ago and I want to tell you something. It's been amazing! I still get on the computer at least once a day because my Dad, Mom, and Sister are nice and sweet, but without my own computer, I have felt so free!
I know, "this is ridiculous" you say. "In fact, it's almost disgusting. You really were addicted!"
As sad as it sounds, I think I really must have been. However, that's not what I want to focus on anymore. I have enjoyed my time way more than I ever did when I had a computer that worked. I have been reading like crazy, and not just fluff books either! The thing is, I want it to stay this way. Even if I save up and get another computer in the future, I want to strengthen my self-control and limit myself so that I can focus on the things that are more important.
If you are struggling in this area as well, and don't have the blessing of a broken computer to help you out, then I thought I would share a couple of tips. They aren't anything new, but sometimes reading things a different way will make it click more than it ever did before. That's my hope anyway. These still apply to me in many, many ways!
- Start with God. Any attempt at anything will be way more successful with Him helping you along.
- Write a list of things that you want to do on the computer, and stick to that list. Rabbit trails are not forbidden, but they will drag you away from your original plan. If they are really important, add them to a new list for the next time!
- Set a time limit. Evaluate how much time your list will take, and set a limit based on that.
- Write a list of things to do instead of getting on the computer! In our household we could play a game, read books, go out and ride a bike, or weed a flowerbed, make cookies, fold laundry, knit, crochet, sew, crafts of any sort, write a letter...
As always there is a fine line between being completely controlling of your life and allowing for the need of flexibility. Self-control can become a dictator without good judgement to be an advisor.
Another thing to consider is that you might not always have to set a time limit. When people go on a diet their stomachs will seem to shrink, until they often say that it doesn't take as much to make them feel full anymore. It's the same with a computer diet. Eventually, spending less time on the computer may become a habit, and you won't need a timer to ring to let you know that you are done.
Let me tell you that the effort it takes is well worth it. If you cut back on time spent on the computer so much more can be done, and life will definitely be more wholesome and full!
Vacuuming, Lions, and Good News
I had just finished reading "Do Hard Things" and felt ready to change the world, even if it meant vacuuming the carpet first. Which it did. I hadn't done it in over a week, and it seemed like there was crumbs everywhere. Actually, I rather enjoy vacuuming the carpet anyway, so it wasn't the actual act that was hard, it is being faithful in doing my job on a regular basis that is difficult.
I cleaned out the filter, and was walking back to the vacuum when I saw my little brother playing with his legos. Nothing out of the ordinary there. He would play with his legos all day long if we let him, and although legos aren't bad, we don't want him to focus on just that one thing. So I grabbed a color book and some pencils and plopped him down at the table to begin his coloring adventures, and was about to happily go back to my vacuuming when Mommy spoke up.
"Since you guys are studying the ear right now in school, why don't you find him a picture of an ear to color?"
No big deal, right? Wrong. The problem was not with finding an ear to color, but rather with my attitude. Find a picture of the ear was way more work then I had originally intended to do for this whole coloring thing. My plan had been quick and simple, this plan was going to take time.
Immediately I started huffing my way to the bookshelf to look for the anatomy color book. I huffed as I flipped through to the ear, and I huffed when the printer had to do some preparation before I could use it. Finally, I was able to plop down a copy of the ear and go back to my vacuum.
The bad news is that the good intentions were in ruins. The unnecessary attitude seemed to make everything else fall flat.
The devil will seek anyway he can to bring us down. Even if it means using good intentions. Especially if it means using good intentions. If he can sneak in there and attack when we aren't looking for him, then his raid will be all the more successful.
1 Peter 5:8That's the bad news that sounds like it's straight out of a nightmare, right? Here's the good news:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour...
Romans 6:14Keep walking with the Lord, and seeking His counsel; be sober and vigilant. Especially when you think you're doing all right, and even in the little things of life.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Northanger Abbey Winner!
Well, it was a rather small turnout for the giveaway, but that made your chance of winning even better! Right?
Also, I'm sorry for being several days late on posting the winner. My laptop died last week, so I'm having to dodge in and use my Mum's whenever I get a chance. For future reference, posts will probably be sporadic at best, which includes the Capture Challenge.
Anyhoo, on to the winner! The blessed participant who gets to find this lovely book in the mail...
...is...
Jenoelle! Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly about this.
Thanks also to all of the other people who participated. I appreciated reading all of your answers about what you have learned this summer.
I would love to have more giveaways in the future, so be sure to stick around.
Book Review - Evidence Not Seen
Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler RoseMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
From childhood, Darlene had promised the Lord that she would go where ever he wanted her too, that she wanted to be a missionary. How the Lord used her, and where He took her is an incredible story of faith, miracles, and blessings amidst unbelievable hardships.
Evidence Not Seen is the story of Darlene Deibler, who lived, survived, and perhaps in an odd way, thrived in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. It details how she was captured, and many of the day to day occurrences that took place in a camp full of undernourished and overworked women separated from their husbands, brothers, and sons.
It is amazing to read of the many, many miracles which the Lord blessed Darlene with. She thought herself foolish to ask her Heavenly Father for one banana, and yet He gave her 92 bananas as a gift. The camp commander was a horrible, hateful man, and yet Darlene's hope for a bright, eternal future changed him, and he in turn was able to save her. Prayers for healing were answered, and so much more that can only be discovered by reading the book.
I was extremely impressed by this book. It was inspiring to me to be faithful in the little things, and "bloom where you're planted" for that is exactly what Darlene did. It was also an amazing reminder to me to serve others and not myself.
I would highly recommend this book to others!
View all my reviews
How I Created My First Mixed Media Image
I've always kind of enjoyed painting, although I've never had a speck of talent at it. I saw a picture on Tumblr however, that inspired me to pick it up again after a really long time of having not done it. It appeared to me that in the original there were two separate pieces, that were then photographed. At least that was how it appeared when I first saw it. Now that I look at it I realize that it might not be so, but I was still inspired. Also I realize that the original is not a mixed media, but I kind of took the idea and ran with it.
What I did was copy a picture out of a color book and use watercolors to paint it. Then I painted it the scene on a completely different piece of paper. Cutting out the girl and bunny was easy, but I did have some issues with figuring out how to make them stand in front of the background. What I finally decided to do (since we didn't have any clay or play-doh), was to make a thick flour and water dough. It worked fairly well and I was able to snap my shots, and upload them.
Finally, I used a few Pioneer Woman Actions to brighten the picture just so, and then of course added the text.
It was a fun, exciting, and inspirational project, although I do wish that I knew more about painting with watercolors, but overall I'm fairly pleased with the results. By the way, do any of you know anything about painting with watercolors? Got any tips?
Of course, painting it all on one page would work fine too, as shown in the original that I was inspired by, or perhaps you could get elaborate and have three separate layers, instead of just two like I did. The possibilities are hardly limited, so try it and see!
Have a blessed and peaceful Sunday, tomorrow!
{lately}
I have to admit I love the fill in the blanks kind of posts, and so here's a simple one inspired by Abbey via Danielle.
{reading} Evidence Not Seen, A woman's miraculous faith in the jungles of World War II
{listening} The family getting ready for a great day!
{drinking} Just water.
{eating} French toast, but no gummi bears, because we ate them all two days ago.
{anticipating} Spending the day with my Daddy!
{loving} Watching black & white movies with Georgie.
{looking} Not too far ahead, and enjoying the days that flying by right now.
{inspired by} The book I have been reading that I mentioned above. The story of Darlene Diebler Rose is inspiring in so many ways. The courage and faith that she and her friends had, and of course the many, MANY miracles that the Lord blessed them with. Truly incredible.
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