I was looking over Proverbs 31 earlier today, feeling lost and floundering. I've really disliked the MSDRPEPPER name, because much as I liked drinking DrPepper as a young adult, I always * knew * it was not a good choice of beverage. I grew up drinking water or fresh squeezed orange juice (we had a local supply of fresh oranges and other citrus fruits, when I was a child in 1960's vintage Florida.).

Some have noticed my sig line about taking nominations for a new name (which reminds me, I need to change, that too!). I'd kick over various ideas incorporating "water", and that felt limiting. So I just never thought anything felt particularly "right". Not saying this new name is right, since those who know me personally and the pigstye I live in, the cluttered mess, the Can't Have Anyone Over State of CHAOS (the FlyLady Sparkers know what's up with that!), and on and on, they will tell you I'm certainly FAR from being a Perfect Proverbs 31 woman. But sometimes we just need those bigger goals, something to work towards, and for some, maybe it's climbing Mt. Everest. And who knows?? maybe some day that will be something I want to do after I feel like I have a handle on other aspects of my life.

Also I was struggling with making other goals for myself and various things I'd think of just seemed so... Selfish... Shallow... and I didn't want that. Like, just losing weight so my fanny would look good for someone who had the misfortune of having to follow behind my behind? (hopefully not while lined up at the nearest All-You-Can-Eat-Trough-Style" restaurant.).

Reading through the Spark this morning in Chapter 2, I think something just clicked with me... about weight loss not being the ultimate goal, but really more as a mini-goal or almost like a tool to help you reach other goals in life (even though I know a goal of losing 120 pounds is big... or a goal of 200 or 300 pounds...we know who we are and what we want to achieve.) But I know I was guilty of thinking or maybe just putting that goal in a higher status than it needed to be - because the life goals are so much more than that (and I need to flesh that out more for myself in the immediate future.

The Spark Vision/Collage Team... I just saw that it existed yesterday or today, I forget, and there again, people making the comments about goals for what they wanted to be, to do, to become, in the process alongside or in addition or beyond weight loss. The weight loss becomes a tool to help achieve goals, perhaps? Not sure where I am on that thought. Will edit as needed...

The sermon this past Sabbath touched on choosing the right goals...

getting ready for bed (new goal to get to sleep before 11 pm.), so I have a lot of thoughts I won't be able to go into tonight. Will have to come back tomorrow to work in it some more...

The Spark FlyLady team - again with the goals... (more specifically about cleaning my clutter and I do also want to finish reading my book "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" by Peter Walsh (? I think his name is?)

this is totally a cluttered blog from a cluttered mind, and I'm so sorry I'm such a bad example of clarity of thought. Back to Proverbs 31 - some of the things this Respected Lady was praised for seemed right in line with many of Spark's suggested goals...

Will need to list some of them...

(NKJV just for clarity and I know there are other great translations of the Bible. I know there are other Spiritual Writings,, but if you want bible studies, maybe ask your Rabbi, Priest, Shaman, Iman, Minister, Goddess or whoever you look to for your spiritual advise. I mean no offense or disrespect - there area many people on SparkPeople with many different Holy Books they use and are free to use. Here, I'm just quoting Spiritual words that I am more familiar with, because they looked like good goals for me, and because i believe they will help clarify some of thr thoughts I had in answering the concerns and questions several have asked about why I changed my screen name...)

Proverbs 31:10-31
The Virtuous Wife
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

You know? Like shopping for clothes? She might have liked going to Kohl's, right? Trying to find good merchandise at a fair price.

Works with her hands? To me that could mean arts & crafts? Or just cleaning and cooking and all that needs to happen. So those seemed like reasonable goals.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

Shopping for food? And we do love our imported foods - pineapple doesn't grow in Kansas, Toto. Neither does St. Dalfour black cherry preserved, imported from France. Or Kansas wheat, exported all over the world. So I could relate to this. We want to feed our bodies and our families good quality foods and some of OT

15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

Hmmmm...

16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

See here? Sista pumps iron! Strength Training! I know I should be doing it but I just have not gotten my Strength Train Streak going! I need to!!

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

Yes, I need to show more charity and kindness to those less fortunate. I should not be holding back out because I am so tired, ashamed, lacking energy to be a positive light...


21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

This hits home but will need to ponder this more and I am running out of time for my curfew.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Her blogs are likely shorter and more succinct?

27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

How can my kid respect me if I don't respect me?

29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.


Some of this is a bit over my head, but things with were special points for me, things I felt like I could relate to, could improve upon. The rest I'm sure applies but I'm just not there yet. Maybe don't completely understand how they apply to me, or how to incorporate those. Maybe they are more distantly future goals that I'll be able to see clearer as I progress farther along in my journey from where I am here and now.

I'm fairly sure I forgot things and will edit more later.

Thanks for putting up with my cluttered writing!!