The Disney film, Finding Nimo, has some sayings that have stuck with me after having watched it all those years ago. I am a lot like Dorie, optimistic; friendly; and I love people (although I guess Dorie loved sea creatures). Do you remember that part of the movie where she keeps saying, “Just keep swimming!” ?

Well, right now I am feeling like I am not swimming all that well.  In fact, I feel like I am barely doggy paddling. Are you feeling like this at all? STOP! Don’t do another thing until you take some “life saving” steps.

Stay Calm I heard this is the first thing you should do when you feel like you are drowning. I haven’t found it to be productive to be rushing around since I discover that after I have done that I am no further along than if I just took a few minutes to stop and quiet myself.

Pray Have you taken the time to say, “Help God!” You’d probably say more, but it’s okay if that is all you can do at the moment. You’d be surprised what a few minutes of prayer can do to your attitude and outlook.

Make a List of all the things you have to do. When I have a dark cloud or a line of them sometimes, I find it is easier for me to dispel that overwhelmed feeling by writing down all I need to accomplish. Write ALL of them down first, in no particular order, just whatever comes to mind. Now, go back and put the ones items that need to be done now at the top of the list and move down until you have all of them in order of due date. If you are better at this than me you can do that as you write them down the first time-saving you extra time. Are there some things you can consolidate or put off for another time? For instance, I wanted to drop off books that I was no longer using to a co-op I was a part of and was trying to think of a way I was going to do that. A friend found out and volunteered to take them for me instead. At first I was thinking that I had to do that since they were my books,but then I realized how ridiculous that was and why not have her do that for me? It freed up my time to get something else accomplished.

Check off as you go! This gives me a great sense of accomplishment and helps keep me on track. I must admit though, I have been known to add to my to-do list after the fact and then cross it off. 🙂

Make time for yourself  There, I said it. Do something just for yourself! Take time to get recharged. It will greatly increase your energy and willingness to get those items checked off your list. I find myself resenting everything I have to do and everyone I serve when I don’t take some time out for myself. I think it is worth the investment for some “me time”. Set the timer for 30 minutes if you are really pressed to get things done. Better still, why not go all out and call a friend to go get a coffee with you?

Guess what? I gotta run! I am off to complete a task that is on my to-do list. Enjoy your day and just keep swimming.

It’s quiet in my house some nights.Too quiet in fact. A couple of weeks ago I was upstairs in our back bedroom grading assignments, writing lesson plans, and printing off papers on our printer downstairs when I heard a noise that sounded like the gears turning for our garage door. In order for that to be true then someone had to be entering our kitchen. I knew that it must be a burglar because Dale wasn’t home and Ian was at work. I crept into the hallway and the first thing that came to my mind was, “Tonight is the night I am going to die.” I was actually quite calm about it and asked the Lord to forgive me of all my sins and to comfort my family. (I kid you not!) The next thing that went through my mind was,”I wonder what they are going to take?”

Then, another thought that came to me (finally!) was calling the police and texting Dale. I also thought about locking myself in the bedroom or hiding in the closet so the burglars wouldn’t find me. I listened a little more and didn’t hear footsteps or any other noises so I just stood quietly allowing my heart rate and breathing to calm down a bit. I listened again, still no noise. My heart rate is still dropping and hope is rising as I think that maybe the noise I heard wasn’t the garage door, but something else.

I decided to slowly but steadily creep, oh so softly, down the stairs to see if there were any intruders. Much to my relief there wasn’t anyone in the house and when I looked around the room my gaze fell upon the “burglar”. It was the wireless printer that I had sent copies of my lessons to just a few minutes earlier! I sat down and laughed until I cried as I thought about how crazy I was.

Fast forward to tonight. Another quiet evening by myself. I made a pumpkin cheesecake and had set the timer on my ipad since I couldn’t find my regular timer. It probably was taken in the “break in”. 🙂 Since it was the first time I was using the timer app I wasn’t quite sure if the alarm would  sound so I went up to the kitchen to check on the cake as it was getting to smell pretty yummy in the house. While I was testing it to see if it was done, I hear this sound and about jump out of my skin as it sounds  like elephants trumpeting. Elephants?! What?! Talk about being scared! Then I realized it must be my ipad trumpeting the alarm to check my cheesecake. Sure enough, that’s what it was! It looks like my ipad timer works and I think I will change the alarm to something more traditional sounding.

Well, I just had to chuckle at my imagination running away with what I thought was occurring here at my house. I was just pondering how I could think such wild thoughts when the Lord reminded me of all the other crazy, fearful thoughts I have about things I have no control over. I have spent a lot of time allowing my thoughts to go toward, “What if?” or  wondering if I said something stupid or hurtful and feeling awful about what I might have done. “Fear not” is the command we have been given by the Lord. So, I am going to continue to put my trust in Him and not be afraid. Take my advice: don’t use noisy electronic devices while you are alone. They may cause unnecessary “alarm”.