I have been exploring the Blog World and social media sites this summer. All I can say is, "WOW!" No, that's not all I can say but it is a good summary. There are all sorts of places to visit and people to meet. For the most part, this has been SO MUCH FUN. (I've seen some things I could live without... you take the good /dismiss the bad.) I had no idea what I was in for when I started blogging. I guess I didn't know what to expect. What would people think? I started so sheepishly and somewhat apprehensive about connecting with virtual strangers.
Since then, I've joined Google Friends, Twitter, Twitter Moms, and BlogFrog. I have met so many wonderful people. Through the Blogs and Communities I've read your stories: laughed, cried, admired, and learned so much. Some of you have even "followed" me in some way or another. I want to thank you for putting yourselves out there. Thank you for welcoming me when I did. I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know you. Thank you for sharing yourselves and your stories.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunshine Blog Award
Yippee! Big Fat Mama at http://www.cookingupfaith.com has given me the Sunshine Blog Award. Is that cool, or what? You really have no idea how much that means to me! Thank you so much!
Winners are asked to select 12 other recipients to pass on their awards. Selecting only twelve is TOUGH! Here are my selections- in no particular order:
http://www.redheadthoughts-tonya.blogspot.com
http://www.homemakerchronicles.com
http://www.twinkiemommie.blogspot.com
http://www.embracinghome.com
http://www.bobjenjack.blogspot.com
http://www.showmemama.blogspot.com
http://www.incourage.me
http://www.mamaondgo.blogspot.com
http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com
http://www.loveshinesforall.blogspot.com
http://www.faithbarista.com
http://www.bylittlehands.typepad.com
I encourage you to check out these amazing blogs. Thanks again to Big Fat Mama!
Winners may cut & paste then pass on to their twelve choices.
Winners are asked to select 12 other recipients to pass on their awards. Selecting only twelve is TOUGH! Here are my selections- in no particular order:
http://www.redheadthoughts-tonya.blogspot.com
http://www.homemakerchronicles.com
http://www.twinkiemommie.blogspot.com
http://www.embracinghome.com
http://www.bobjenjack.blogspot.com
http://www.showmemama.blogspot.com
http://www.incourage.me
http://www.mamaondgo.blogspot.com
http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com
http://www.loveshinesforall.blogspot.com
http://www.faithbarista.com
http://www.bylittlehands.typepad.com
I encourage you to check out these amazing blogs. Thanks again to Big Fat Mama!
Winners may cut & paste then pass on to their twelve choices.
Monday, June 14, 2010
To Love One Another
The inspiration for today's post comes from Big Fat Mama over at http://www.cookingupfaith.com/. For the past 21 days she has been focusing on and blogging about John 15. Her posts for days 20 and 21 just spoke to my heart in such a profound way that I found myself thinking about it throughout the day. After the birth of her fourth child she started experiencing anxiety and sought the Lord about how to deal with it. She writes:
Sometimes I get so caught up in my own head. I complicate things. Not only in my daily routine but also in my devotional time. Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? What if I'm missing something? What if while I'm doing this I should be doing that? It is hard to experience God's peace when we are constantly trying to measure up and wondering if we're falling short. So often I feel like it is never enough, like I'm never enough. I never identified that feeling as anxiety or controlling but IT IS. It is also self imposed condemnation. Sure, our motives are good: we are supposed to love and care for our families and their needs. That's okay. In the striving to do it well, I find that I cross over to perfection- as though somehow if its not all perfect it means that I love them less. I know...its crazy. At least I am sane enough to remind myself to lighten up. That nagging feeling persists, though - even if it is in the background.
Her posts reeled me in, so to speak. It is that simple: its about the love - that's all. Love - period. When I focus on the love of Christ the details of my life will fall into place. Thank you, Big Fat Mama for sharing your journey. Sound revelation of God's love - of the JOY of God's love - erases all doubt. God's love is enough. My living out that love is enough. His love makes me enough.
I encourage you to hop over to her site to read through her journey. I'm sure you will be blessed by it.
Then I was able to take a little drive with just myself and God. I drove and saw hills in front of me with the sun setting and I had this thought -What if I didn't try to control people?What if I didn't try to control every situation in my life?What if I didn't worry about if I was doing or being enough all the time?What if I let go of my grudges?What if all I did was love God and love others? What would that be like?It would be pretty nice. And if all I did at the end of the day was love God and love others I would have done enough.
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow! I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me." John 15: 9-14WOW! I've probably read those scriptures countless times. I know we are supposed to love God and love others. I know that our obedience to Christ is a reflection of His love. Its the JOY part that I've missed all this time. You cannot be joyful and anxious at the same time. Really, truly, deeply practicing this love results in obedience and JOY. Receiving HIS love is JOY. Showing HIS love is JOY.
If we really grasped how much God loves us we would have no fear, no guilt, no loneliness, no self-serving attitude. Our joy would overflow! When we stop trying to fulfill ourselves with the worldlythings, and let God, the only one who can genuinely love us, then we can start being productive and He can use us for his glory. Big Fat Mama
Sometimes I get so caught up in my own head. I complicate things. Not only in my daily routine but also in my devotional time. Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? What if I'm missing something? What if while I'm doing this I should be doing that? It is hard to experience God's peace when we are constantly trying to measure up and wondering if we're falling short. So often I feel like it is never enough, like I'm never enough. I never identified that feeling as anxiety or controlling but IT IS. It is also self imposed condemnation. Sure, our motives are good: we are supposed to love and care for our families and their needs. That's okay. In the striving to do it well, I find that I cross over to perfection- as though somehow if its not all perfect it means that I love them less. I know...its crazy. At least I am sane enough to remind myself to lighten up. That nagging feeling persists, though - even if it is in the background.
Her posts reeled me in, so to speak. It is that simple: its about the love - that's all. Love - period. When I focus on the love of Christ the details of my life will fall into place. Thank you, Big Fat Mama for sharing your journey. Sound revelation of God's love - of the JOY of God's love - erases all doubt. God's love is enough. My living out that love is enough. His love makes me enough.
I encourage you to hop over to her site to read through her journey. I'm sure you will be blessed by it.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Just For Me
I am so excited! I'm learning my way around Twitter. I've resurrected my blog - with some spiffy additions to spice things up! I joined some groups - wow- there is so much out there. I am having so much FUN. It feels good to (finally) be able to spend some time on my own pursuits.
We all know that we're supposed to take "me time," to be good to ourselves, to nurture our spirits and such. Knowing and practicing are two entirely different things I have found! I know I'm not alone in this. I read so much about finding balance. Lately, I've had trouble just finding "me." We get so caught up in being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a home-keeper, a cook, a daughter, a friend, a worker, a volunteer, etc. that we loose site of how important it is to be "me." We spend all our energy and our time (well spent, of course) on our families & we just run out for ourselves. It seems that there is ALWAYS something or someone demanding our attention. While that is true and we MUST take care of our families and our homes, we MUST take care of ourselves.
I'm not talking about healthy eating, exercise, prayer time. All that is VITAL to a healthy, happy and long life. This is different, though. I'm talking about FUN. Taking a few moments to enjoy something that is just for us - all to ourselves. Maybe for you it is a bubble bath (not a quickie shower but an indulgent, long soak). For some it may be a long awaited curl-up with a good book. Tonight, for me, it is computer time. Tomorrow it will be a McD frappe. I'm going to take at least 15-30mins EVERY day to do something just for me. My goal/mantra will be "I will not feel guilty and I will not get sidetracked. I will BE me- just me, for me." Thirty minutes is hardly selfish.
Ladies, we deserve it and we need it. I dare say it will reflect in a refreshed and improved attitude. Have you ever looked up one day and realized you had lost a part of yourself? Is it difficult for you to set aside time for yourself? If so let me challenge and encourage you to take some time HAVING FUN. Reconnect with hobbies/interests. I want to hear your goals. If you are already "balanced," I'd love to hear how you do it. Let me know how you take care of yourself. What does your "me time" involve?
We all know that we're supposed to take "me time," to be good to ourselves, to nurture our spirits and such. Knowing and practicing are two entirely different things I have found! I know I'm not alone in this. I read so much about finding balance. Lately, I've had trouble just finding "me." We get so caught up in being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a home-keeper, a cook, a daughter, a friend, a worker, a volunteer, etc. that we loose site of how important it is to be "me." We spend all our energy and our time (well spent, of course) on our families & we just run out for ourselves. It seems that there is ALWAYS something or someone demanding our attention. While that is true and we MUST take care of our families and our homes, we MUST take care of ourselves.
I'm not talking about healthy eating, exercise, prayer time. All that is VITAL to a healthy, happy and long life. This is different, though. I'm talking about FUN. Taking a few moments to enjoy something that is just for us - all to ourselves. Maybe for you it is a bubble bath (not a quickie shower but an indulgent, long soak). For some it may be a long awaited curl-up with a good book. Tonight, for me, it is computer time. Tomorrow it will be a McD frappe. I'm going to take at least 15-30mins EVERY day to do something just for me. My goal/mantra will be "I will not feel guilty and I will not get sidetracked. I will BE me- just me, for me." Thirty minutes is hardly selfish.
Ladies, we deserve it and we need it. I dare say it will reflect in a refreshed and improved attitude. Have you ever looked up one day and realized you had lost a part of yourself? Is it difficult for you to set aside time for yourself? If so let me challenge and encourage you to take some time HAVING FUN. Reconnect with hobbies/interests. I want to hear your goals. If you are already "balanced," I'd love to hear how you do it. Let me know how you take care of yourself. What does your "me time" involve?
Monday, May 31, 2010
Try Try Again
Finally, at the urging of many friends I have entered the world of Twitter. If I say its overwhelming does that make me look like an idiot? Don't even get me started on the whole Facebook thing. I'm all about keeping it simple and this looks like WORK. Friends say once I get the hang of it, it WILL get easier. Face it, I can't even keep up with my own blog! Now I'm twittering (ok that just doesn't even sound right)!
My family's world has been a little wild and upside down lately. We're (I'm) getting back on track now. Things I'm currently working on:
- Learning the whole Social Networking thing
- Better time management
- Adding exercise into my daily routine
- Potty training toddler boy
If you can relate to this or have suggestions, let me know!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Realistic Expectations
You know that I am all about keeping things simple. Too much stuff (mental or material) complicates life and leads to stress overload. We get irritable, we procrastinate, the downward spiral seems unending. Rather than New Year resolutions I am trying to evaluate what has and has not worked for me this past year. Updating this blog on a monthly basis is more realistic than weekly right now. God first, family second...then everything else. Liberating indeed.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Priorities
It seems like FOREVER since I have had the opportunity to sit at the computer. The feeling that there is never enough time prompts me to discuss it in this latest post. In the valiant effort to keep the house clean, get the laundry done, stock the groceries, pay the bills, etc., it is so easy to let the really important things slip. In our never ending to-do list, have we forgotten our Lord, our spouse, our children? Sure we spend time with them but are we really with them - engaged in them or just beside them? My two year old is growing at lightening speed. It hurts to know that his requests for "rock me, please" will be less and less as he matures. So I spend 30 extra minutes in the rocker with him, so the house is not perfect, so I get up a little earlier tomorrow to make up the slack...so what. These precious moments remind me to get my priorities straight. What is on the top of your to-do list? Bump it for extra prayer time with God, a picnic with your kids, a movie with your husband, coffee with your mum - the chores will wait.
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