I think I’m talking to myself right now.  I tend to be a poor manager of my time – too much on my plate.  Anyway, here are a few tips I heard some time ago.   

          You may not have a large block of time, so use what time you do have.  “Use what ya’ got!”

         Don’t try to do five tiny things in a block of time.  Rather, do the one or two big things.  Then with the little snippets of time, fill in with the things that only take a few minutes.

         Inch by inch is a cinch.  Yard by yard is hard.

        Ten or fifteen minutes a day can be more profitable than waiting for the big chunks (hours) of time that never seem to come.

         Reconsider the things that don't benefit you and use that time for the things that do matter.

Well, that’s my two cents.  Now, go forth and be productive!

God ALWAYS gives me what I need when I need it and seldom before.

From the sea of useless chatter posing as words of comfort, came two things to which I had devoted no thought.

My sister-in-law, Melvina, shared with me how important it was for me to decompress.  I've been trying to do that ~ not knowing that was what I was doing.  In hindsight, I wish I had made arrangements to take a trip for about a week or so.  I needed to go alone, relax and get rid of the pressure.  For the past several months, I've been in one position:  "GO!"  I'm exhausted!  I've been able to slow down a bit, but mentally, I'm still in the "GO!" mode. 

I multitask waaaaaaay too much!!!!  I was working on 6 websites at the same time.  I finished 4 and planning to finish another in the next few days.  As for the 6th one - I might put that on the back burner for a minute or two.  Now I'm working on writing - 5 books are in my head.  So, I set up folders for all 5 of them and I drop notes and ideas into each folder.  That's insane, but it seems like that's how I function.  I seldom do one thing at a time, at least not on purpose.

Another friend, Erma impressed upon me the significance of having closure.  This explains why from the moment of my mom's passing until the burial, I was pretty much a basket case.  By the time we got to the repast, I was fine.  I haven't shed another tear.  I'm ok now.  I have closure, total peace, and no regrets.  I still can't remember my mom with much of a smile, but I'm getting there.  At least I'm not falling apart anymore.

I still don’t have a handle on that decompress idea, but at least I understand that it is necessary.  I may have to work on it a bit at a time and simply change the way I do things.

I've added a couple of things to the site (blog) under the Archives section.  Tell me what you think.  I generally don't like crossword puzzles, but this one I like.

It’s been a good day.  It’s been a great day!  I love productive days.  The electrician was here.  The plumber was here.  The washing machine repair folks were here, too.  More flowers came.  A basket came.  I sent out more “Thank You” notes.  I finished another website, made some flyers for a friend, made a few business calls, and researched and added more content to my site.  I also got a few more things organized around the house.

It’s been a productive day, but the best and smartest thing I did all day was when I had devotion this morning.  Time spent with God is always time well spent.  Regardless of all that did (or did not) happen this day.  My day started perfectly.  It started with God.

My mom passed into Glory a few days ago.  There’s an ache in my soul that is like none other.  This whole thing has taught me a number of things.  I’ll share that someday.  I guess she’s still teaching me from the grave.

We’ll bury her tomorrow.  The committal is the hardest part.  I’ll make it regardless of how I feel.

It was in total peace and with no regrets that my mother, Mrs. Della Greene Wheeler slipped away from this life.  She went home to be with the Lord at the age of 89 on Friday morning, April 1, 2011.

Indeed, she was an amazing woman.  Although she was not famous, didn’t have a lot of money, and rarely rubbed elbows with the elite, to me she was amazing.  She was a published author, but worked as a licensed practical nurse for over 30 years and on that income alone, she determined to provide for us in grand style.  She made certain we had everything we needed and pretty near all we wanted.  Whether or not she spoiled us is debatable.  However, there are some things she did for which I could never thank her enough and will be eternally grateful.

My mom taught us not to want everything we saw.  She taught us to desire those things that were of value.  She taught us respect for authority.  My mom modeled before us the worth of doing what’s right no matter what anyone else did or didn’t do.  From watching her, I learned to love God with every fiber of my being.

When I was a youth, I complained because she made me act like a lady, but, somehow she knew what I could become.  I griped because she wouldn’t let me hang out with just “anyone,” nevertheless, she held fast to what was best for me.  It seemed pointless to me, for all those years of singing lessons, however, God knew what we would need down the road.  For it was at her bedside on her final days and moments on earth that God allowed me to sing for hours to give back to her the sacrificial gift she had given me.  God allowed me the time to thank her for pointing the way to Christ and making me the woman I am today.

For those of you who had the privilege of knowing my mom, I’m sure you would agree that Della had a way of brightening the day of everyone she met.  She always had a song of praise to her Savior in her heart and on her lips.  Her sense of humor and cheerful outlook stayed with her until God called her home.  

I tried to prepare myself for these days.  In theory, I was on point, probably.  In reality, nothing could have spared me the pain of my mom leaving.  I have concluded there are no words or deeds that will comfort me.  I am fully aware that she is in a better place, I’ll see her again, God knows best, she loved me, and she knew I loved her – none of that changes the fact that she is no longer in my life right now.  This is something that only time wrapped in God’s grace can heal.  I know that one day I will remember my mom with a smile instead of these tears.

Thank you for your caring expressions of sympathy and thoughtful deeds. Your gracious spirit meant a lot to all of us.

Dell  and  the  Family  of  the  late  Della Wheeler