End of 2017

The year is finally coming to an end. It's been a crazy year that has been filled with many ups and downs. With another year starting tomorrow, many of us have a hope that our lives will magically change. We hope that some miraculous  thing will occur as soon as the clock strikes midnight.

In reality, the only thing changing is the month, the day, and the last digit of the year. The calendar will go from December 31, 2017 to January 1, 2018. We have a whole year to make changes but without the will power, drive, and determination nothing is going to change. When December 31, 2018 come along we will striving for the same goals, with maybe a few more pounds on our body, and we will be lying to ourselves again that this year will be filled of "greatness.' 

Instead of making the same resolutions, why not make realistic goals that are both attainable and realistic. For example  instead of saying I am going to be healthier (which has no way of tracking) make it more attainable. The goal could be drinking half my body of water each day and workout x amount of times each week. Start small- by the end of the year those small steps will be huge. 

If you want a bigger savings account, instead of buying that $3 Dunkin Donuts coffee or $2 soda on your lunch break- make it at home and put the money you saved in your savings account. 

As you can see, I want you all to be successful this year and decided I would post a blog on making attainable goals. Tomorrow I will post my personal goals. Please keep me accountable and if you need an accountability partner I would gladly help you. 

May you all be blessed with a wonderful 2018. 

Courageous

"Life isn't easy." "Life isn't fair."
Aren't those the things we tell our kids when they are whining and complaining about something they feel was unwarranted to them? Why is it that as adults we forget that.

Life isn't easy. Health issues, financial issues, marital issues, parenting issues, work issues .. none of them are easy. We all face one or more of these every day of our lives. But it's what we do in response to them that is what is important.

Casting Crowns has a song called "Courageous" that has been pushing me all day. I may have even listened to it in the hardest portion of my run. Whatever we are struggling with today allow the Lord to help you by asking for it. He will give you peace beyond understanding.

Here is some of the lyrics to the Casting Crowns song. I hope they encourage you and push you as much as they have helped me.

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

Choices Today, Impact Tomorrow

I've been quiet again. 

I haven't had much to say lately. 

I have started countless posts but never finished them or if I did I didn't want to post them. 

Today though I've decided to post about completing tasks that will benefit you even if in the moment you don't want to. 

Today life seemed to be playing to the song Monster by Skillet. (If you are familiar with the song you know it's not one you want as a theme song). I was a monster. I was hideous today from the moment I woke up and I couldn't get out of this horrible funk. Even when my loving husband pointed it out to me, I would apologize and just kept on going down the road I was going on.

Dont get me wrong, we got a lot of things done today. All five kids are still alive and most of my to-do list was done. But everything was frustrating me especially when it took me two hours to get Greyson to fall asleep.  As I noticed that he was finally starting to fall asleep, I started listing off everything I still needed to do in my head (dinner dishes, sweep kitchen, clean living room, fit test, yada yada yada.) Then I got really angry. I wasn't going to do any of it. 

I was going to leave the dishes in the sink. 

I wasn't going to clean any more rooms.

I definitely wasn't going to do a fit test. 

I was going to get a bowl of ice cream and I was going to get into bed. 

None of that happened. I put my hair up in a tight pony tail, washed those dishes, cleaned the rooms, got my fit test done, and I still haven't had any ice cream. (I probably won't.)

 

I now feel accomplished. But not by my own strength but by the Lord's. The entire time I did those tasks I prayed. It was like I was on autopilot the entire time and when auto pilot finally turned off, everything was done.

 When I get up in the morning by his grace I won't be a monster. I will feel like a new woman who knows that the Lord will get me through and I will be proud of the tasks I got done today. I won't see piles of dishes that need to be washed and the pile of stuff from Jacob attempting to empty the vacuum into the trash can that landed on my running shoes. I will see five happy children who want to be greeted with love and a warm breakfast.  The choices I made tonight will get through another day.