It has been awhile since I’ve posted but I’ve been in a whirlwind of “TO DO” lists that always follows after attending the Haven Conference. Aside from me speaking (which I’ll get to in a minute) I attended a couple of classes and learned a ton! However that lead to 2 pages of things to do, to update old posts and start new adventures, which I will also get to.
First let me tell you about how my class went. I don’t think I’ve ever been so terrified to do anything in my life. In my book, talking to a class of my peers is right up there with jumping off a cliff into the unknown.
The first morning I was sick to my stomach and all I could do was pray. I went to my classroom before my class, sat there and prayed that God would show up and help me get through it all. And He did.
God showed up and people actually showed up to my class! They asked questions, and they seemed to really enjoy the class. Of course it was helpful, on the first day, to have friendly faces of blogging friends sitting in the front row. It helped put courage in me, and helped me get through it, but something else happened while I was teaching.
I actually started to enjoy it.
Remember my post from earlier this summer when I talked about the “what ifs”, “what if I’m terrible, what if I fail, but then there’s also the question of what if I’m good at it, what if I enjoy it?”
Well that’s what happened. I chose to silence the fear and allowed myself to trust the Lord that He knew what He was doing when He gave me this opportunity. Because of that I didn’t just enjoy it but I had fun doing it and I saw something new in myself.
This is on the second day, while we were waiting for everyone to come in.
Because I chose to not partner with fear people showed up, they learned, they gave good feedback and one lady, on the last day, told me I was “radiant”, she said I was “radiating while teaching”.
I felt empowered.
Not empowered with pride and the thought that “I’m awesome” but the kind that makes me want to trust the Lord with more areas of my life because when I do I’m filled with courage, I learn things about myself and I’m free to enjoy more of life.
Who knows if I’ll ever teach a class, or speak in front of a crowd again, but what I do know is that I conquered a huge fear of mine and I would definitely do it again.
Another thing I learned, while attending Haven, is that people are actually interested in what I know.
I know that might seem obvious since people have been reading my blog for years but for me I saw it in a new light. What I was teaching were things that I care about, how I organize, what I think is important to teach your kids, etc., and people wanted to know more, they actually thought of me as an “expert”. A couple friends referenced me with that term and I laughed because I’ve never thought of myself as an “expert” of anything. But hearing that and feeling that from my peers opened up something else inside of me.
For years my mother-in-law has told me I should write a book about the stuff on my blog and I’ve always thought that was a silly idea. However I attended Abby Lawson’s class at Haven, and felt peace when she said “You don’t have to be an expert to write a book, if people read your blog, they already want to know what you know.”
And just like that, something else was unlocked in me and for the first time I felt like maybe it’s finally time for me to write a book.
So that’s my next adventure, writing an eBook. It’s funny because once I felt the freedom that I could maybe write an eBook, I didn’t get just one idea, I got 3!
Who knows how long that will take me (probably years) but I think it will be fun (and crazy), and isn’t that what new adventures are all about?
Now it’s just deciding where to start, and that’s where you come in.
I would love to hear from you, what would you love to learn about first –
- How to stay organized when you’re trying to do it all
- A guide to help you, as parents, teach your kids to be clean and organized
- My favorite cleaning tips and hacks
- My favorite organizing tips and hacks (that’s one I just thought of so I guess now I have 4 book ideas) 🙂
Tell me your thoughts, I’d love to hear them! I also want to say thank you for following my blog and for sticking with me for all these years because I would never be where I am today without you! (heart)
YES!!! I think sometimes others see our future before we do so when God peals back the curtain we are absolutely and completely affirmed in His calling. Oh, Anna, you have so much in you. I think of Luke 12 where it says “Make yourself purses that don’t wear out and no one can steal.” God showed me years ago that I was to make MYSELF a purse and put my valuable lessons and experiences inside me. Then when I encounter those He allows to cross my path, I open myself up, take out the valuable and give it to another. The beauty is we NEVER run out of those valuables even though we give them away.
Oh dear sweet Anna, you have taken those valuables placed them inside you and you are on His road to give as He leads. I am VERY proud of you.
One last thing…
I think it is going to be more than an ebook. You will start there, but it will indeed become a coffeetable book! :O)
I have a GREAT perspective you could, perhaps, devote a chapter on!
I’m not sure how to sum it up in one sentence. However, I can give you a glimpse of my current living situation. As well as, my current mind set ?!
I’ve been battling breast cancer the last 5 years! I’m HAPPY to say, I’m STILL here!?? I’ve been saddled with the Multiple Sclerosis (2003), Chronic Regional Pain Syndome (1991), Fibromyalgia (1993), amongst many other “ailments” my Doctors choose to label me with on ANY given day. I lost my Mother 2 years ago to breast cancer. So, needless to say, I have had my fair share of issues to deal with (don’t we ALL have a story about our personal journeys)?! For the last 10 years, I have been WAY too EMBARRASED to have ANY friends or guests over to the house! THIS has to change! ENOUGH of my sob stories, and on to the reason I’m writing this!
As a result of my medical issues, my house has suffered GREATLY! I am a single mother of one EXTRAORDINARY son (21yrs)! He lives in another state. I am here alone in 2,000 sq. ft. of CHAOS! Over the years, my house has become (basically) a storage facility! Early on in my diagnosis, I was productive & creative! I was a Seamstress & an Interior Designer (I have the stacks & piles of fabric and such to prove it ?)! In my spare time I LOVED making American Girl (18″ doll) clothes and accessories to donate to The Battered Women’s Shelter for the children to enjoy! I REALLY miss doing this!
Unfortunately, I feel as if I’m being buried ALIVE!
Recently, I have come to the realization that I MUST START choosing to LIVE, instead of waiting to die!!!! Ok, first order of business, “Change My Mindset” ✅. NOW . . . WHERE & HOW do I start to tackle this DISASTER! I would ultimately LOVE to start creating again! Start sewing, designing, teaching, & giving AGAIN! For a VERY long time, I wouldn’t allow myself to do anything creative UNTIL I got this place in order! Well . . . THAT didn’t work (CLEARLY)! Now, I’m thinking that I should get my “Craftroom” / Studio organized, functional, and presentable FIRST! ? Thinking, it will give me tons of INCENTIVE! I am SUPER EXCITED about the thought of an AMAZING space! I’m even excited about the actual process it will take to get there! . . .
but, sadly, that’s where it ends! This is where I NEED YOUR HELP! I’m PACKED to the ceilings, not much space to turn around in, let alone anywhere to turn to! So, THIS is the reason I have taken up your valuable time, just to read this WORDY mess I’m calling an S.O.S. Email!
HOW & WHERE the heck do I START?! I feel completely LOST!
I’m EXCITED to change this from a HOUSE to . . . My HOME! One, that I am PROUD to invite friends & family into again! All I want to do is share my God given talents with those that need it the most! THIS is what I want to do!!!
I do NOT want to waste the rest of my time just trying to figure this out! What? On my headstone will read: Here lays Kristina, she died TRYING to organize her house, in hopes of being able to create and “give back” again!???? NO! I WON’T settle for that!
Anna, as you can see, I REALLY need your help! I KNOW this is OVERWHELMING (just to read)! I’m willing to devote EVERY waking moment (that I’m physically able to get out of bed) to this effort! I DO NOT want to die, and leave all this MESS for my Son to deal with! I want him to be PROUD of his Mother!
I KNOW you can’t fix this for me (nor do I expect you to)! I just NEED some sort of direction!?! Steps to take in order to see this through!
Thank YOU for taking the time to read this letter!
Kristina Reynolds Haney
480-200-7925
7317 E Kiva Ave
Mesa, AZ 85209
[email protected]
?????
Hi Kristina.
Thank you for commenting. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been through so much, but inspired to hear about your goals!
I’d suggest working through this section of my site: https://askannamoseley.com/category/organizing/series/. Perhaps you could tackle a room or type of belonging (e.g. paper, clothes) at a time?
I hope that helps!