A Look at My Wardrobe

When I was visiting Julene in Indonesia, I noticed an interesting little collage of pictures taped to her closet door. She told me that it was a guide on what to pack for a weekend trip and she added that it really works well.
I’ve been thinking that it might be good to revisit that little chart and see how it lines up with my attempts of trying to pack smart.
However, before posting about packing, I think we need to look at our closets and see if it’s even possible to make it so easy! I will tell you what I have discovered more recently and how that helps me shop more wisely. It may take a few years to build up this kind of a wardrobe, but it’s worth being patient and getting at it one season at a time.
The basic idea is not to buy anything unless it goes with a number of things you already have and like! Pick a few basic colors that you like to work with. What works well is to pick some neutral colored pants and skirts, eventually getting to where you have a cluster of colors that go together. When you buy a top it has to fit into one or two of the clusters and match with every bottom in that cluster. I made some piles to give you the general idea.


If you feel that your closet is just one big mish mash of stuff – there’s lots there, but it's hard to put things together – it’s a good idea to begin by sorting according to color or coordinating colors and only items that you actually wear. Take out anything you haven’t worn for a year or two and pack it up for a consignment store or charity. (don’t let it sit around and be clutter)

De-cluttering your closet will make you feel much better! You look at it and know that you can wear whatever is in there, instead of feeling like you don't know where to begin.

Once you know what you have (or don’t have) you can make a list of items you need to complete a color scheme. If you have a pair of black pants (a good basic) and a grey skirt, for example, then see how many tops and sweaters you have that go with those two items, throw in a pair of jeans, and you’ll find that with about 9 pieces of clothing you can come up with at least 18 outfits.
Now, when you go shopping, you know exactly what you’re looking for and you won’t be buying something just because ‘it’s cute and goes with jeans’. (well, every once in a while a girl’s just got to, but as a rule, try not to) Then when you get home, check to see how many things your item of clothing goes with…the more the better, because it enlarges your choices. Take note of different combinations, have a “try on” day, and it will help you know that you really have more than you thought. This could be a fun thing to do with a friend whom you trust to give you some honest feedback and ideas.
Don’t we all like to get something new for every season – hey, I think “back to school shopping” is the best invention and I still fall for it. But I’m learning that it’s a good idea to get into this cycle, if you will, at the end of every season when the sales are on. Right now is a good time to round up your next fall/winter wardrobe. And to keep you from ending up where you started . . . once your closet feels ‘comfortable’ and you do go and buy something new, make sure you also get rid of something old.
Now we’re ready to look at that packing chart.

Leaving on a Jet Plane Soon

I am getting giddy with excitement about a trip that is finally in the works! I began by going on line, but the calendar was not co-operating, there was a lot of reading and guess-work going on, so I decided to call the a travel agency in Vancouver that caters to people traveling to Asia. It so happened that the same agent who arranged the trip for us in 2007, answered the phone and he remembered me! Maybe he remembered me because I have such a difficult time understanding him and I ask the same questions over and over. It’s funny, you get a bit of an idea of what it’s like being a foreigner, just talking to him.

I have to say that I do have a lot of empathy for people having to learn a second language as adults. I have done some part time ESL teaching to Korean moms who are here to have their kids get an English education and I don’t think that I could make the sacrifices that they do, the humbling of oneself to try to understand a different way of life, shopping, getting around, schooling, etc.
I say this partly so that you know that I am not posting this to make fun of a travel agent who is making himself vulnerable, but again, to say that I don’t think I could be so brave.
Here he is, having to talk to people on the phone, emailing and making arrangements, all with a very strong accent and limited English writing experience. I know he understands everything very well but, the problem is, I don’t.

The good thing is that this travel agent is good at what he does and so friendly and eager to please, one really can’t go wrong…
But, to show you just some of the fun I’ve had with this, here’s a copy of one piece of correspondence from last time. He writes just like he talks, and he talks pretty fast, so put on your best listening ear.

HELL ANNELIESE.

I GOT 1 GOOD NEW AND 1 NOT VERY GOOD NEW TODAY..
hopefully u may understand what i try to explian you.

the good new is... The fare cad 1488 for your itneary have been extend untill 30jun. i think the fare a little bit more then before but still be ok
i think..
however.. the eve airways prom this fare but use for the lower class
then before the one i got for you.

the one i get for you during that period of sale is L CLS. now this fare
they change to Z Cls. ( the same as deluxe ecom but the clas is much
lower the L cls).
that is mean... class is not applied for this fare..

the seat is still the same but the cls is different.. which mean.. still not good on your day of travelling
what i do is as below.

On Saturday I got another email with the same friendly greeting!

Run, Baby, Run

One day when I was in the mall I passed one of those kiosks that sell those Tshirts that you'd rather not read what they say. One that caught my eye said, "I feel a sin coming on!" Now, I guess this was supposed to be funny, or some odd kind of flirting, but I was struck by the fact that the word "sin" was used. In an age when people do not want to use that word, it seems to be okay to use it in a mock fashion.
So what does one do about it? I mean - If one takes the comment seriously, it can be very honest! At what point do we stop, call it what it is and get out?

When my granddaughter was just over a year old, she loved opening my kitchen cupboards and taking - no - chucking things out. I let her open any cupboard except for the one under the sink, with the trash, dish soaps etc.


I reminded her, "No, Natalie, not that one." I could tell she knew... but she still liked to open the door and have a look. She'd repeatedly close it and then open it, just to make sure the trash hadn't moved. I couldn't understand.

Or do I? Even though she was very cute about it, it reminded me of our human nature. Do we treat sin in the same way? Do we open the door? Even when we know? Or do we, when we feel a sin coming, run . . . as Joseph did.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of him . . . And though she spoke to him day after day, he refused (her) or to even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and non of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak ... but he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:6-12

Winter Faith

I am mulling over some of what I heard at church yesterday and some of what I read this morning and trying to reconcile it all with present circumstances in the lives of loved ones. I have (again) come to the realization that I’m not able to reconcile anything since I’m not God. His ways don’t always make sense…

Max Lucado in his book Come Thirsty quotes a Rabbi Kushner in his disturbing conclusion of Job, saying that he was “forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful, or a powerful God who is not totally good.” It would be so easy to come to that conclusion when we are in the midst of something that we know only God can fix, but He doesn’t.

In order to point us to God's ultimate sovereignty, Lucado goes on to remind us of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers and how God used it for good in the end, Lazarus whom Jesus allowed to face death in order that the Son of God may be glorified and even our Lord Jesus who prayed in Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” God did not spare his Son. And if He did not spare His Son, should we not be able to also trust Him to give us what is best in all things? (Mathew 7:11)

We want things to be for our own benefit, while God desires His glory. Not an easy pill to swallow. . . but once we do and trust Him to take us through the fire, we will learn things we never do when everything goes well.

I love the title of a book that Max Lucado refers to: Grace Grows Best in Winter by Margaret Clarkson. She wrote:
The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God . . . . all evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. God is the Lord of human history and the personal history of every member of his redeemed family.”

In the same way that we know the snow will melt and spring will come, I want to believe that one day we will see and understand all that God has allowed, or not allowed, in order to grow us and glorify His Name. May our baby steps of faith allow us to experience some of God’s glory here on earth as well.

Funny Snowman

He began to look up like he was checking to see if more snow was coming. The real Papa said, "He's a proud snowman, that papa snowman!"As the day wore on, I realized that's not really true, he's just willing to bend over backwards for you, just like the real Papa.

My Song

I have often wondered and in some way asked God why He didn’t bless me with a beautiful singing voice. If I could have chosen my gift - that’s the one! Or would it be? To be honest, there are times that I have come to see why I have not been blessed with something that I, with my vain aspirations, would not have handled correctly. Yet, even knowing that, I still keep wishing that I could sing to my heart’s content and have it sound beautiful.
I was driving home one day, just recently, listening to a song that ended up changing my perspective and (hopefully) giving me a new direction.

Life of Worship

As I live each new day
I want my life to say
How I love you, my Lord
And long to praise your name.
I want my life to be
Just like I sing this song
Bringing glory to Your Name,
Powerful and Strong.
May my life be my worship
My life be my song.
May I praise you, my Savior
All the day long.
From the sun in its rising
To the night when it falls
May my life be my worship
My life be my song.
jon bauer copyright 2003,2004

I’m thankful for artists who have been inspired to write and sing truth that speaks to my heart.

If my LIFE can be a song, I don’t want to miss a note or a beat. May I be ever more aware of the music that is being written, using the gift He has chosen to give me. This is what I wish to be reminded of throughout this coming year.