Phil 4:8 Focus #7 -- Whatever is Right

This week brings me to the final Phil 4:8 Focus--Whatever is Right. Thanks for coming along with me. Maybe we can do something similar again next winter!
As I went through these each week, I chose what I considered to be the easiest first. It's not difficult at all to find things that are lovely, excellent or admirable . . . even in the middle of winter.
Up until a few days ago, I didn't know what I was going to write about for "Whatever is Right." I spent a few hours on the road by myself on Sunday, and I found a Fr. Mike Schmitz pod cast to help pass the time. The priest at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and a nationally-known writer and speaker, he can be found all over online. I usually listen to his 5-7 minute talks on Ascension Press, where he covers a number of topics on all things Catholic Christian. This past weekend, I found a homily to listen to and it really struck a chord with me, and especially when considering Whatever is Right. I really needed that reminder and encouragement.
If you have 25 minutes, Fr. Mike says it so much better than I could summarize . . . and if you don't, you can still join me in being more mindful I ways I am tempted to compromise in my day to day life.
Have a great week!

The Age of Compromise

"Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy, think about these things." 

Phil 4:8

Phil 4:8 Focus #6: Whatever is Praiseworthy and Noble

Week #6 & 7 will focus on two things . . . Whatever is Praiseworthy and Whatever is Noble.

I am excited to go to two Christian praise concerts this month. David and I saw Michael W. Smith in concert last Saturday night. We had both listened to him for several years, beginning in the 90's when his pop albums had a bunch of hits . . . "Place in this World," "Friends," just to name a couple. At the Joachim house in the 90's, if Garth wasn't playing, there was a good change Michael W. Smith was. :) It was a lot of fun--we heard our old favorites and some of his new songs as well. He just released two albums--a pop album and a praise album--in the past three weeks. Over the years, his praise and worship songs have been sung all over the world. He is 60 now, but (and maybe I am just getting old), I think he's aged very well. :)

I include quite a bit of Christian music in my queue. The main reason for this is that it helps keep my mind on the PRAISEWORTHY (the Lord) and the NOBLE (also, the Lord).

This week's focus (for me, and you, as always, if you wish to join me) will be to listen to a Christian singer or group that I haven't before. 

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good, His Love Endures Forever!

Phil 4:8 Focus #5 - Whatever is True

This week's focus is on Whatever is TRUE. The angle I would like to take with that is--
What is true RIGHT NOW?
This question is something I started asking myself regularly when we had to wait 6 months for Rachel's surgery in 2012. When I would get caught up in the details of that date and what recovery would look like or what the future would look like, I would often bring myself back with,
"What is true right now?"
I would be in the backyard with my kids, playing in the living room, feeding them lunch . . . normal everyday things. And it would bring me back to the day I was living in--not some day in the future that existed only in my imagination.  I may have had to ask myself the same question just a few minutes later, but it always reminded me of where I needed to be and the good in the present moment.
I have forgotten this strategy from time to time, and after quite a few months of anxiety last year, I was reminded of it after rereading "Unafraid," by Susie Davis. The first time I read it, I found it helpful. The second time through, I made it my own manual and wrote all over its pages. That's when it all really sunk in--and reminded me once again of what is TRUE. Not every moment is great, but even in the hardest moments, I still find that God has never failed to give me grace for that moment. Some days, it is easier to trust and believe this than others, but I always have to remember that what is TRUE doesn't change with what I may be feeling.

For this week, I am going to try (harder) to keep my focus on the TRUE here and now, appreciating the moments with my family and friends as we live them.

Science Fair

We have come to the Science Fair time of the school year. Both boys used the chickens in their research. 

Nathan was excited to earn an Honorable Mention for his project.

The result? His chickens like to lay eggs best in silence. :)

Phil 4:8 Focus #4 - Whatever is Pure

We all want things pure, right? Pure clean water, pure white snow, pure hearts . . . .

There are so many different ways we could think about Whatever is Pure this week (and you are certainly welcome to take a different approach), but I wanted to take a more practical approach to this one--adding purity to our homes through house cleaning.
I used to buy all sorts of cleaners for my home--window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, floor cleaners, all sorts of potentially harmful chemical cleaners. It has been awhile now--probably 10 years at least--that I left behind the chemical cleaners and started taking a more natural approach to housecleaning.
The first thing I started instead was using vinegar. Vinegar and water makes a great floor or counter cleaner. I still put cleaning vinegar in every rinse cycle of my laundry to deodorize and kill germs. Cleaning vinegar is slightly stronger and not meant to be consumed. I buy mine at my local Running's, because as my Dad says, "You can find everything at Runnings!"
At some point, I discovered Norwex and the ability to clean with microfiber and water only. It took me awhile to clean with JUST water, and sometimes (thanks to my discovery of essential oils,) I still use something else with my microfiber just to make things smell good--naturally.
I found this recipe for a natural cleaning spray and tweaked it a bit, as I do with most recipes. Its active germ-killing ingredient is not vinegar, but vodka! If you choose to mix your leftover vodka with some orange or cranberry juice after you are done cleaning, I will not judge!

Natural Cleaner

1/2 cup vodka
1 1/2 cups water
30 drops of essential oils of your choice (I like Lemon and Lavender, Thieves/OnGuard, Pine . . . whatever you prefer!)

Mix together and pour into a glass spray bottle. (Essential oils break down plastic.) This spray can also be used to freshen linens.

Phil 4:8 Focus # 4 -- Try this recipe in place of your normal counter or floor cleaner, or look for other ways to eliminate chemicals from your housecleaning routine to add PURITY to your home. :)