Archives

Git ‘Er Done!

Nov27
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Git ‘er done! This would be another way to say Wisconsin comedian Charlie Beren’s “Keep ‘er movin’.” And it’s a struggle many days with ADHD and a life filled with juggling things. I look back at my younger self and wonder how I did all I managed to do! But working outside the home gave a needed structure to my days to work around and I managed. Even with chasing after three Hobbits for 23 years, I managed to get things done and then some.

Until Hashimoto’s Disease hit me hard. Then I struggled with giving myself grace to get through the day just keeping my Hobbits alive and fed. I’m in remission for that now though so what can be my excuse?

I work from home and my job is not a nine-to-five one. I’m an outside contractor so I can work when I want, if I want. But it is a business so there’s the necessary bookkeeping that goes with that and I did not inherit my certified public accountant numbers saavy from my father. Due to some past finanical abuse there can be stress in dealing with all that. I’m getting better. Then I married a very active, busy, retired man who has an LLC for our now joint property in Germantown, Wisconsin. That involves more bookkeepling and seperate taxes! I write, edit, pay the bills, and keep the house.

My kids are gone so how can I be busier than ever and struggle to get things done? I found a great hack. I make a list. I have a big list and a daily list I make in the morning. I challenge myself to do the things on the list and I break them down into doable goals. Laundry has subcatagories: wash, dry, fold, put away. Yes, it helps! It’s almost like a game.

It’s also been National Novel Writing Month and I felt compelled to do it this year. I wanted to work on two novellas. I managed to stay on track even when we traveled from Wisconsin to Texas! I even wrote on the plane south and twice in the car ride on the way back. Having a tangible goal and accountability helped. At the rate I’m going, I’ll win NaNoWriMo but the second novella I’m currently working on won’t be completed so I’ll need to push myself to get it done in December.

Another issue I have is that I often underestimate or overestimate the amount of time a task will take. Like the laundry. It’s such a big job! (that’s the thought). The folding part would trip me up. But honestly? It doesn’t take very long when there’s just two of us! And writing? I set a timer now and give myself and hour to write. Often I’ve met my goal within that time and I can move on to other things.

Here’s the catch. I can’t be super productive all the time. I do need rest. This past week with Thanksgiving, I actually spent Thanksgiving day cleaning out and reorganizing my freezer, clearing out and reorganizing a messy cupboard all so I could clean off my countertops and have a place for things to go. That needed to be done before I baked three kinds of cookies, made the turkey, the broccoli cheese casserole that is a tradition for us, and the must-have raspberry torte. Oh, I was beyond exhausted! Then on Friday before company came I needed to vacuum, sweep, wash the kitchen and dining room floor, clean bathroom sinks and vanities… after which I made bacon wrapped water chestnuts, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and baked the casserole and warmed up the turkey (it was really moist y’all!)

Saturday I had a hard time moving to do anything. I did get some writing in and a few other small tasks but pretty much sat my butt down in my favorite chair and snuggled my pooch. I’m fine with that. Sunday was church and while I did pick up some groceries it was pretty much popcorn and Christmas movies with a ribeye I split with my husband. Never fear, today that leftover turkey will be in a soup for dinner.

Having a list, and a plan makes it almost like a game. Every time I cross something off it encourages me to get to the next thing. If I miss something – by accident or intentionally, I put a ‘X’ through it. Sometimes that will go on my list the next day. If I do another task that wasn’t on the list? I add it to the list and cross it off! At the end of the day, even if it doesn’t feel like I got a lot done, I can look and see that yes, it was productive.

What tips and tricks do you have to git ‘er done or keep ‘er moving? Let me know!

Just for the fun, a little Wisconsin humor from Charlie Berens. Warning, he does get a little off color in some of his videos and there is a lot of drinking in Wisconsin, something I personally do not advocate. But if you want to hear an exaggerated midwest accent and learn a little more about some of eccentricities of our midwest culture–you might enjoy him.

Cooper Comments: Jingle all the Way (Book Review)

Nov24
Reading Time: 2 minutes

A Regency era Christmas is always fun to read and my mom is pretty decent about spinning a tale that takes place in another era and culture. This time she added the unusual element of a young woman who wants to breed horses more than find a husband, much to the dismay of her parents. In Jingle all the Way you’ll find out just how fun a tale author Susan M. Baganz can weave from that idea and of course thowing Christmas in as well!

Miss Seraphina Babington is made about horses, and most especially about her prize stallion. If the horse could win some races, she could garner enough attention to earn stud fees. Ah, the stuff that a young debutant in Regency England should not be concerned about. Her parents give her a deadline to find a husband on her own before forcing her to leave her beloved horse in the country to attend a season in London.

The Honorable Earnest Oxley has a horse that is a match to Sera’s but while he wouldn’t mind paying the fees so he can breed his mare, he’d rather own Sera’s stallion. But he has competition in that arena once the horse starts winning races. Can he woo the woman to gain the horse? As he gets to know the young lady he begins to wonder whether he’s really falling more for her than the horse she owns.

Christmas nears and tragedy occcurs forcing Seraphina to make an unconventional and scandelous decision. Will her reputations survive her choice? And whe her brother gets in trouble all her plans are at risk. Could Earnest be the key to resolve the issue? And what about love?

This is a delightful Christmas story that shows that life continues and challenges come but sometimes seeking God and watching Him work it out brings about the best Christmas gift. You’ll have to read this novella to see just what happens. I’ll give it five tennis balls because I’m a dog and that’s how I roll, and well, it is my mom’s book after all.

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The Ups and Downs of Gratitude

Nov20
Reading Time: 5 minutes

It’s the week of Thanksgiving and many of us are already planning for Christmas. I’ll admit, my tree is up because I really cherish the ambiance of the light, and although the new LED’s can be a bit bright – it’s is better than the dark. We even got out outside stuff up, and mostly connected because I live in Wisconsin and who knows when the snow might come and it’s much easier to do when you only need a sweatshirt on and not your winter coat.

I’ve made it a practice for some time now to start my day with time with God and in my journal that always begins with “I’m grateful for…” And usually it’s a short list and it more about people than things. It used to be just names because the journal I used to use only had a small spot for that, but now that I’m using a blank journal I’m free to write as much as possible. Still, I keep it short. But now if I mention my husband I might list some of the aspects of who he is that blessed me especially, perhaps even the day before. For instance: silliness, hugs, I enjoy spending time with him, listening, encouraging… You get the idea. Sure I might even thank God for material blessings of a warm and safe home, or even something as basic (and important) as sunshine and food to eat. The possiblities are endless.

Often times I will do a longer list of names in my journal with specific prayer requests for those people–but again it is because I am grateful for them. Sometimes names appear of people I haven’t spoken to or connected with in a while. That gives me perhaps a reason to put them on my notepad nearby to call, email, message, or arrange a coffee date. As I grow older I’m recognizing that people and time with them, is important.

And yes, I do thank God for tasks I’m able to accomplish! Sometimes I get in my own way (thank you depression and ADHD) of accomplishing my long list of things to do.

All this can be a great way to start the day and have a more positive attitude. You’d think anyway.

Depression can still take the joy out of that even as I fight to not dwell on perhaps uncomfortable emotions that simmer underneath the surface and need to be dealt with. I’m still growing in my ability to do that. To sit with the hurt, anger, frustration, sorrow… Sure sometimes those emotions need a converstation, but I’m learning to go to God with those first. Sometimes I feel a desperate need to be comforted but have no desire for a conversation. Depression is a nasty bugger that way.

So I fight for gratitude, and joy. Daily. Because the natural bent of my personality is to be critical and focus on the negative. Part of that makes me a good editor, and made me a good therapist and leader. My goal was to help people solve their problems, help them by identifying what the problem is.

Ah, but the healer can’t heal herself.

When I worked in the mental health field in Milwaukee, years ago, I did mostly case management of chronically mentally ill people. Take depression and add 100% with other issues and we helped these adults function in the real world. They were on disability and my goal was to help them stay out of the hospital. Most of the time I did fairly well with this goal. At times I did one on on counseling with individuals.

One gal, I’ll call Wendy (not her real name) was seeing me. She was the client of another Case Manager. We met weekly for counseling and I had her keeping a journal of things she could be grateful for. I thought we were making progress in our sessions.

Then one day she didn’t show up. I tried calling. No answer. I checked with her Case Manager who reached out. No answer. Then we got the news. She had jumped from the window of her high rise apartment building. Obviously, she didn’t survive. Why did this come to me today of all days? I don’t remember for sure when she did this it was sooo long ago now. But I do remember the punch to the gut. I felt like a failure. What none of us had realized was buried way back in her chart, long before any of us had met her, she had suicide attempts. Sure, both her Case Manager and I were checking to see if she had any suicial ideation or plan, but those with chronic mental illness know what telling the truth about that will mean. Hospitalization.

I was a glutton for punishment. I attended the funeral. I was stunned when the priest spoke about how they found her gratitude journal and read some of the things she had been grateful for.

The journal I had asked her to write in.

All of those things that should make life worth living–didn’t keep her from making that final fatal choice.

Why? Even today I ask why? Maybe because we focus so much on the outward things to be grateful for and not the inner things. My own therapist said to me, at our last appointment, “Susan, I don’t think you give yourself credit for the things you do well.”

Pause.

Digest.

She was right. I don’t. Do you? It sounds selfish to focus on the things we are doing well, or perhaps even the things God allows us to do well, or the way we see Him using us in His perfect plan to help others.

This hit me today as I was doing my own “I’m grateful for.” Yes, as we head into Thanksgiving, take time to thank God for all He has done for you. But also thank Him for how He is working in you, and using you. It’s OK to brag on God’s work in your life! He created you, designed you, loves you, and delights in you! It’s acceptable to spend time reveling in that truth.

The gal I had counseled wasn’t a believer in Jesus Christ that I was aware of and I couldn’t share the gospel with her in that setting although many of my clients understood from the way I treated them, just how much I loved and served the Lord. But could refocusing that journal just a little bit, to help her see how wonderfully created she was by a God who loved her, have made a difference? I’ll never know.

I’m grateful God keeps teaching me new things. I pray He never stops and look forward to an eternity of learning and growing to love Him better. Perhaps this will help you. What things do you need to give yourself credit for? How is God growing you and using you? Perhaps this Thanksgiving, along with Thankging Him for the people around your table, or the food, and a warm home… spend time thanking Him for His work in and through you. It might make a difference.

Cooper Comments: Finnian’s Rescue (Book Review)

Nov17
Reading Time: 2 minutes

My mom has a lot of stuff happening this month including her third stand-alone romantic suspense: Finnian’s Rescue. This one take place in Wisconsin in the Holy Land.

Finnian is has returned from being held in captivity for a long time. Much like Rip van Winkle he discovers that the world has moved on and some of the changes are harder than others. His father died and his fiance up and married someone else.

When he meets Piper he’s intrigued. She understands the challenges he faces better than anyone else and while some consider him a traitor, she calls him a hero.

Piper likes the cute soldier but doesn’t feel to secure and doubts a man like him could really like her. When both their lives are in danger who else would they cling to?

There are so may twists and turns in this book you have to keep reading it to find out just why Finnian and Piper are under attack and how they will resolve it.

As a dog, I’m disappointed again that there is no dog in this book but since mom gives me treats I’ll give her grace on this. It is a fascinating read and I highly recommend it and give it five tennis balls because they are my favorite.

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Are you SAD? (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

Nov13
Reading Time: < 1 minute

As I’ve gotten older, I totally get why some people head south for the winter. I live in Wisconsin and have all my life and have no desire to set up a second home and circle of friends, however, I understand the reason.

We need sunshine. I broke my arm in February and it’s now November and my Vitamin D3 levels are still way too low in spite of lots of time in the sun. I realize some people enjoy a cloudy rainy day, but prefer sunshine.

I can see the beauty in the gloominess. Sometimes an early morning fog makes everything almost feel–sacred. I can appreciate the beauty in the cloudiness but I don’t like to live there. And I do love watching the snow fall. If it’s not 25 degrees below zero I’m not even opposed to doing a little shoveling or running the plow.

But too many gloomy days do depress me and I’ve been using a lamp that gives me some sunlight vibes every morning. And I’ll probably have the Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving to add more light and joy to my home.

How about you? Do you struggle with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? What have you found that helps?

Cooper Comments: Operation: Skirmish (Book Review)

Nov10
Reading Time: 2 minutes

My mom, Susan M. Baganz and her dear friend DeeDee Lake have come out with book four of their Rules of Engagement military romance series called Operation: Skirmish.

Now this takes place mostly in Colorado, so where is the skirmish? This isn’t a military proceedural type of book but a romance featuring a military person as the main character and Eliza Torres, aka Tornado, is in for the fight of her life in many ways.

When she meets the handsome Kristos Sava, Eliza is living in a black hole of indecision about her future. Wounded overseas, she’s dealing with a physical disability and in denial about the post-traumatic stress that accompanies it. She’s not sure what she’ll do or where she’ll go when she’s medically discharged from the Army.

Then she spies Kristos and things begin to happen. Her roomate brings her to church, she’s being challenged to stop making excuses and take responsibity for her life. Eliza struggles to come to grips with God. She never needed Him before so why now? Then on top of all that, she decides to go on a mission trip with the church to Mexico.

Kristos is intrigued with Eliza but realizes she’s got issues and the biggest hurdle is her relationship with God. Besides, he’s not in a hurry to get a girlfriend. He has a stable filled with wonderful horses he adores and who adore him. But something about the pint sized soldier stirs him to pray for her. The more he gets to know her, especially on their misadventures in Mexico, the more he desires her.

Battles ensue on many levels and romance blooms. This is the fourth installment by Lake and Baganz and well worth reading.

I’m a dog so I have to say I’m disappointed that Eliza chose a parrot for her pet and not another dog to interact with Obadiah and Lola who have appeared more in other stories in the series. Maybe the authors will rectify that in future books. I hope there will be more anyway, they are wonderful stories. I’ll give this 5 tennis balls, because I’m a dog and they are my favorite.

Childhood Dreams

Nov6
Reading Time: 2 minutes

What did you want to be when you grew up? Many of us have dreams that were either unrealistic or abandoned.

When I was in high school I told my father I wanted to be a DJ. I loved music and while I adored singing I realized I didn’t have the chops to be a professional singer. So I figured if I could be the one who talked between the songs I’d be in heaven. My dad burst that bubble quickly. He told me that DJ’s don’t get paid much and work crappy hours. Apparently they used to have one as a neighbor. Later in talking with a DJ I discovered he actually used a different name on the air because people could be threatening to an on air personality. Wow. Hadn’t thought of that. Guess I dodged a bullet? Still I think I would have a good radio voice if I could kill the “ah” and “um” that pops up when I speak.

I still love music and age has tempered my dreams. God opened up a door for writing and I’m in a position where my husband loves that I’m working from home. While it would be nice to actually make more money with a 9-5 job, it satisfies my creativity and I am a homebody at heart. It does come with challenges like any job, because I do need to do things that are harder: sit down and focus to write, marketing, editing.

The best part is writing that first draft. There’s an exhileration in seeing the characters come to life. It’s easy to distract myself from the “work” part of that. I think sometimes it is because I don’t want to finish the story because then the harder stuff happens. Editing. Submitting. More editing. Criticism. Contract. Editing. Editing. Editing. Marketing. Marketing. Marketing.

It takes a lot of hours to produce a book which is why it can be years from completing a rough draft to seeing it in print form in your hand. When I read it again, I fall in love with the character and stories and am in awe of the God who called me to do such things. The gift of writing is from HIM, and not of my own design. I pray I’ll be a good steward until He tells me to stop. He’s also given me opportunities to teach about theology, leadership, and writing and I’ve discovered I love doing that even more than singing. Cool, huh?

How about you? What dreams did you have and have you found a way to perhaps live a better dream? If so, what is it?

Cooper Comments: Cactus for Christmas (Book Review)

Nov3
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Mom loved this sweet book and recently even went to Arizona but not a Christmas time. She said she missed the green grass and trees we have in Wisconsin. Much like Lucy who struggles to realize that Christmas can be wonderful–even if it doesn’t go according to the way it used to. Author Karen Malley covers a lot of ground in her new novella, Cactus for Christmas and it’s worth the time to cozy up to your own dog to read it like my mom did.

Lucy is a traditionalist. She likes things the way they always have been. Probably even more so since becoming a widow. Having the tree, the cookies, the decorations, family and the snow all make Christmas, well, Christmas! But when her own sister is in need she packs up her anxious dog and drives across the country to Phoenix Arizona to care for her.

They were not close, but at least she’s not too far from one of her daughters who is due to give birth. Life is upended between her sister’s handsome neighbor and a mischievous kitten who becomes the dog’s best friend.

She begins to learn that sometimes new can be great and people are more important than traditions, and maybe she’s not too old for a little romance. Will it be worth her staying around for? You’ll have to read it and see.

Of course, I love the fact that this book has a dog and it is cool that he is happier with a kitten. Not me. I like being the only dog, king of my castle. I will give this book five tennis balls because it was great, and not many stories today are about love later in life. Get this book. You’ll be glad you did!

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The Struggle for Silence

Oct30
Reading Time: 3 minutes

I’m spoiled in that with no kids in the home anymore, so my days can be very quiet. You can hear the keys as I type on my laptop and the windchimes on my porch. But it wasn’t always this way.

I’m one of those who needs space to think. Peace. Quiet. Solitude. I used to have to do this early in the morning before my kids arose. Sometimes one of them, usually my daughter, would soon rise to follow just because she wanted to be close to me. She’s an adult now and living elsewhere.

I’m OK with the quiet. Sometimes I do like noise, maybe music while I fold laundry or work in the kitchen preparing dinner, although sometimes I’ll have the news on then so I can get a feel for what’s happening in the world. Very rarely do I play music while I write and if I do, it’s more likely to be instrumental or classical.

But my day, if possible, starts with solitude. It may only be thirty minutes or an hour – depending on my mood and what I’m reading. I read the Bible, focus on who God says He is and journal my dreams, life, prayers, whatever strikes my fancy. I have a note pad nearby to write down things that pop into my head that I want to pay attention to at some point but am I afraid I’ll forget. Sometimes I read a short passage of a book. Right now I’m working v-e-r-y slowly through The Treasury of the Psalms (Vol 1) by Charles H. Spurgeon. So rich in content and I’m working to savor what I’m learning. Sometimes I’ll read other books too that help me to grow.

There are few variations on this depending on circumstances. If I do it later in the day, or in a different location, I’m fine with that.

Solitude allows time to process life. Feel the emotions I didn’t have time to really focus on in the moment. Dream. Pray.

The quiet is not a boring place but can be extremely full and exciting–it can also be calming to my spirit. I’ve been thinking more about this lately as it’s come up in the small group that meets in our home. I’ve been encouraging them to find time for silence. My husband, Ben, finds it when he drives and spends that time going through a long prayer list. He’s so faithful in this practice and that’s what he feels called to do. If he can’t pray during the drive he finds a chair to sit in while at his shop or at our garage space at home, to be quiet and pray. It’s not a quick space of time but it’s important to him in his walk with the Lord, just like my time in the morning is.

Where do you find solitude, the quiet in your life and what kind of difference does it make in your day? This is not on a list of “do it or die” kind of things. For me it is part of connection to God, being ready for whatever He has in store for me, and self-care. All rolled up into one. I even created a special space in my office, just for this time. Do you have a special time and place where you meet with Jesus? What does that look like?

Cooper Comments replaces Spatzle Speaks

Feb9
Reading Time: 2 minutes

It is hard to write that the author of a blog post has passed away but Spatzle at the glorious age of 13 had dementia which caused a lot of anxiety for him. He passed away peacefully in his mother’s arms at the end of December 2022.

It seems appropriate that this announcement would come out today, which would have been his 14th birthday. He was an awesome dog and missed.

His brother, Cooper, will be taking his place in writing book reviews on this blog. Cooper is doing well being an only dog and enjoys snuggling mom and reading books with her although sometimes he wants belly rubs or to chase after a ball or red dot. We’ll work on getting him an appropriate author photo but for now you can meet our new sweet contributor to this blog. Cooper is a 10-yr-old Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu mix and also a rescue dog, a goofy boy who is a perfect fit for our family.

Stay tuned!