Recent Pics

 

Randall Homecoming Parade 2011

 

Arden Road Boys Float

 

My two babies going to the dog park.

 

Braden at A.R.C.H. for Austin's birthday party.

October: Spirituality

My focus for October is late. I know.

I was planning to focus on marriage this month, but in order to focus on my marriage I felt like I needed to focus on my relationship with my Savior first. Arguably this should have been done in September, but here we are. I've been a bit spiritually lazy the last few months. Without the discipline of a regular bible study, my quiet time and prayer time have fallen by the wayside. This month I am going to get back on track. And I have help. This morning, despite my plans to sleep in, I was wide awake at seven o'clock with a urging in my mind to get up and do my quiet time. So I did it. Hopefully the Lord will help me get up every morning because sometimes that extra 15 minutes seems impossible. 

On that note, here is the plan (that I will need His help to stick to):

List prayer requests:
- Record requests, personal and from others
- Pray over list at least 1x per day
- Remember to note answers to prayer requests

 Read books on faith:
- Finish 'Blue Like Playdoh'
- Read 'Heaven is for Real' and 'Jesus Died for This'
- Start a study or devotional

 Do my quiet time:
- Get up 15 minutes earlier
- Start with the Psalms
- End with prayer

 Keep a gratitude journal:
- Record blessings
- I have A LOT to be thankful for
- Remember to thank Him daily

 At least I am off to a good, be it late, start. Wish me joy!

Ten Years Already

A blast from the too far away past!  This was us, almost two years ago. We were celebrating our "been together" anniversary of 10 years.  We went to Denver for a weekend in November to see a Black Crowes Concert. I cannot believe that was two years ago already.

Now, here we are, coming up on our 10 years of marriage anniversary. We haven't been away, just the two of us, since that trip to Denver. I am not sure if another trip alone is in the cards for us or not. I do know this.

I am very happy that 10 years later I can still say I married my best friend. I love this man with all my heart and soul. I think it gets better each year! 

Diet Schmiet

Just so the record is straight, I've given up on the diet thing. I am still trying to eat healthy and thanks to my Journey for Joy in Vitality, I am trying to exercise more. However, I've decided that I be can fit and beautiful without hitting a specific weight or size of jeans. 

My new goals will revolve around fitness and healthy habits. Not numbers and sizes. I would suggest this to anyone that has been beating themselves up over failing at dieting or their weight. Living a healthy and fit lifestyle doesn't mean a size 4 for everyone.

Furthermore, if I want to eat some Halloween candy this year or buy something at the cake walk that I will be helping with, I am not going to feel guilty about it. I'll just make sure I work out a little extra the next day! Ha!

September Wrap Up

I made it through September, with some success to report. I didn't do well to post anything along the way about my progress. Sorry. It was a crazy month!

I'm happy to report that for the most part I have been getting more sleep. I did well with going to bed earlier on the days Derik was either already in bed or not home. I just cannot seem to make myself go to bed when he's still up. That time with him is important and I'm sure I'll get to that next month. I've been getting up earlier too, which helps with the going to bed earlier because I'm so tired that I am asleep before my head hits the pillow.

The exercise part didn't go as well. I have been walking the dogs daily, sometimes twice. They are loving it way more than I am though. If they even see my tennis shoes they start going nuts. As for the Zumba, I forgot I loaned it out and haven't gotten back yet. And for the P90X, my friend that was going to loan it to us to try hasn't found it yet. I did go check out a new gym with my friend and loved the 30 minute express room. It was a bunch of machines set up with a timed rotation so you get a complete workout in a short amount of time. And the gym is cheap so I might just have to make a commitment there.

I have decided there is something to the saying "fake it til you make it'. I've been in a better mood and have probably been more pleasant to be around because I am making a concerted effort to be in a good mood. Now that doesn't mean I was successful on a daily basis. I've done my fair share of being grumpy and complaining, particularly in the last week. I've found a major contributor of my stress is my son not doing what I ask him to do when I ask him to do it without a million questions that turn into an argument. I need to remember to stop, don't engage in the argument, don't give him that power. Take a breath and stay calm. I learned in a parenting book I read last year that when you become emotional after letting your kids push your buttons, you are giving them control. I definitely need to keep working on this area, with a major focus on remaining calm and in control. (I feel the need to say that I am not flying off the handle and screaming or anything like that. I just need to stop engaging in the arguments. Nip the talking back in the bud and move on.)

I think I did a crappy job on my last area of focus: toss, restore, organize. I was off to a good start and then started working and doing PTA stuff. I cleared out the cabinets in my laundry room and started on my side of the closet, but that's as far as it went. Mostly because I couldn't decide what to do with all the stuff. Donate it or store it for a garage sale. We are storage challenged in this house so donating would be best, but the penny pincher in me knows that I could make a few hundred dollars in a garage sale if I am willing to do the work.

In her book, The Happiness Project, the author calls the monthly focus items her 'resolutions' instead of goals. She explains that typically goals are something you achieve and then you are done. Resolutions on the other hand are something you strive to keep continuously. I am hopeful that I will continue striving to keep my resolutions from September. Even as I take on a new focus for October. The previous sentence makes me feel just a little overwhelmed, but I am confident I can do it!

Wish me joy!