Tom and I are going on a date tonight! I cannot wait. We're going to try out Napoli's in Enid, maybe visit a couple of thrift stores if we have time, go by Hasting's, and mainly just enjoy each other's company. I'm excited! One of my biggest regrets from when the kids were younger is that we didn't go on more dates. Of course, finances were (and are, LOL) always an issue, but we should have made it more of a priority. Oh well, no sense dwelling on the past. The thing is, I always thought when the kids got older, we'd go out more, but that hasn't been the case. So now we're trying to make it a priority to get out alone and spend time together.
Another busy weekend is in the works. We hope to go to our great-niece's soccer game tomorrow, celebrating our friend's graduation from NOC, grocery shopping, and I have some projects around the house I'm working on. All that to say that I probably will not get a chance to post again until Monday. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
2 Years and 105 Days & What we Offer Others
This last weekend, I attended a Conscious Discipline training class.Conscious Discipline was developed by Dr. Becky Bailey. I've been to Conscious Discipline trainings before (even got to see Dr. Bailey live in Tulsa many years ago) but I always learn something new or remember something that I've forgotten. We got to watch some DVD footage of Dr. Bailey and I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by her: "What you offer to others, you give to yourself". Have you ever noticed how when you are feeling mean or judgmental of others, you don't feel very good about yourself? Or when you're feeling impatient with someone else, it's often because you're feeling impatient with yourself. Dr. Bailey encourages you to attribute positive intent to other people's actions. Someone cuts you off in traffic? Perhaps they have a sick child or other emergency. Someone is rude or hateful to you? Perhaps they have some kind of personal crisis going on. Believe it or not, this kind of attitude can be really freeing. It helps set one free from taking on other people's emotions. You can feel empathetic for them without taking on their stress. Of course, it's easier said than done and it feels kind of weird at first, but it really does help. What does this have to do with my journey towards being debt free? Well, it's all about the attitude. When I'm feeling good about myself, then I have hope and feel like I can make it, even in the tough times. When I'm feeling down, well, then I feel hopeless and like there's no point. So, next time you're pointing a finger at someone else, remember the old saying "he who points his finger at another has 3 more pointing back at himself". Have a great day everyone!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
2 Years and 104 Days & God Made Us
Today both my devotional and my Love Dare were talking about God's love for us. Sometimes I tend to forget that God made me just the way I am. In the book 48 Days to the Work You Love, Dan Miller says "At judgment, God isn't likely to ask you why you weren't more like Mother Teresa, he's likely to ask you why you were not more like yourself". God made you the way you are. If you are not using the gifts that He gave you, then you should be looking for a way to use those gifts. We all have them. My gifts tend to be in the areas of organizing and leading. Where do your gifts lay? I love this passage from the Bible:
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? I Corinthians 12: 17-19
In other words, God made us all different for a reason. If we were all the same, we wouldn't need each other. I need Tom's patience because I don't always have a lot. Tom needs my voice because he sometimes has a hard time standing up for himself. I am not saying that we should not try to improve ourselves, but I am saying that we should find a way to use the gifts that God gave us. Quit focusing on what we CANNOT do and focus on what we can.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? I Corinthians 12: 17-19
In other words, God made us all different for a reason. If we were all the same, we wouldn't need each other. I need Tom's patience because I don't always have a lot. Tom needs my voice because he sometimes has a hard time standing up for himself. I am not saying that we should not try to improve ourselves, but I am saying that we should find a way to use the gifts that God gave us. Quit focusing on what we CANNOT do and focus on what we can.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
2 Years and 103 Days & goals and more
First of all, Tom is back at work today. The doctor released him to go back on light duty. Please pray that he does okay and does not overdo it. Secondly, I have two interviews tonight (one drop-in, one full-time) and would appreciate prayers for wisdom and discernment and for God's will to be made clear to me.
Today I want to talk about some of the goals I've set in other areas of my life. We've talked about financial, career, physical, and personal goals so far. The other areas are family, social, and spiritual. In the area of family life, I have committed to going out on at least one date alone with Tom each month. I would also like us to try to take at least 2 overnight trips alone each year. Even if we just go to a hotel with a jacuzzi and spend the night, just getting away alone is good for the relationship. Secondly, as my children are growing up, I want to make sure that I spend time with them when possible. Looking back, it seems just yesterday that Serenity was a little girl starting her first day of kindergarten and now she's graduating from college! That also goes to extended family, too. Making time to spend with them is important too. In the area of spiritual growth, I have made a commitment to myself to get up earlier each morning to make sure that I have time to do my daily devotional and pray to start the day. In the social area of my life, Tom and I have a great Christian couple that we've been hanging out with the last 3 months. It is the first time in our marriage that we've really had another couple to hang out with and it has been a lot of fun. We play games together, fix meals for each other, go out to eat together, and support each other. I thank God each day for bringing our new BFF's into our life!
Today I want to talk about some of the goals I've set in other areas of my life. We've talked about financial, career, physical, and personal goals so far. The other areas are family, social, and spiritual. In the area of family life, I have committed to going out on at least one date alone with Tom each month. I would also like us to try to take at least 2 overnight trips alone each year. Even if we just go to a hotel with a jacuzzi and spend the night, just getting away alone is good for the relationship. Secondly, as my children are growing up, I want to make sure that I spend time with them when possible. Looking back, it seems just yesterday that Serenity was a little girl starting her first day of kindergarten and now she's graduating from college! That also goes to extended family, too. Making time to spend with them is important too. In the area of spiritual growth, I have made a commitment to myself to get up earlier each morning to make sure that I have time to do my daily devotional and pray to start the day. In the social area of my life, Tom and I have a great Christian couple that we've been hanging out with the last 3 months. It is the first time in our marriage that we've really had another couple to hang out with and it has been a lot of fun. We play games together, fix meals for each other, go out to eat together, and support each other. I thank God each day for bringing our new BFF's into our life!
Monday, April 26, 2010
2 Years and Days 100, 101, & 102 and my personal goals
Continuing the discussion of the goals that I have set for myself, today we'll talk about my personal development goals.
First of all, I am back on the Flylady bandwagon. LOL. Seriously, I am trying to follow her missions each day and make some progress on keeping my house clean. Last week's focus was in the bedroom. Tom & I did some decluttering and cleaning. It's not perfect, but it looks much better. When the bedroom comes around again next month, we can work in there some more. This week's focus in the living room. Since the living room is seen by everyone who comes to my house, it usually doesn't look too bad, but it does need some detail cleaning done to it.
Eventually, I want to go for my Master's degree. So I will start researching choices, financial aid and scholarship options over the next few months. Even if I don't ever actually do it, I'll at least have looked into it and studied the options.
First of all, I am back on the Flylady bandwagon. LOL. Seriously, I am trying to follow her missions each day and make some progress on keeping my house clean. Last week's focus was in the bedroom. Tom & I did some decluttering and cleaning. It's not perfect, but it looks much better. When the bedroom comes around again next month, we can work in there some more. This week's focus in the living room. Since the living room is seen by everyone who comes to my house, it usually doesn't look too bad, but it does need some detail cleaning done to it.
Eventually, I want to go for my Master's degree. So I will start researching choices, financial aid and scholarship options over the next few months. Even if I don't ever actually do it, I'll at least have looked into it and studied the options.
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