What am I grateful for today?

Today I am so thankful for many things in my life. And as I have shared before, gratitude is directly linked to happiness. And who doesn't want to be happy? So I thought I would share some of the things that I am grateful for in my life currently.

I am grateful for a husband who works so I can stay home with the kids.

I am grateful for kids who are growing like weeds and developing strong, kind hearts and minds of their own.

I am grateful for technology that keeps me in touch with family that is far away.

I am grateful for coffee and healthy foods that nourish my body.

I am grateful for a quiet house where I can think and write.

I am grateful for exercise because it keeps my body healthy, my mind sharp, and my energy high.

I am grateful for nature and how I can look at it and notice the beauty of the world in which we live.

I am grateful for a nice home, a warm bed, clean water, and plenty of food. I know there are so many in the world who do not have these things.

I am grateful for holiday weekends where my family can relax and spend more time together.

I am grateful for surprise vacations that the kids STILL don't know about.

I am grateful for friends who will encourage and listen to you endlessly talk about... nothing :)

I am grateful for a car that takes us where we need to go and can haul loads of stuff or loads of friends.

But most of all, I am grateful that God has blessed me with all these things and more. For a life such as mine is not deserving but He loves me anyway. For that, I can never be grateful enough.

The Question You Should Ask Yourself

I'm always striving to be better. Do better. Live better. Be a better mom. Be a better runner. And on and on and on. So what list of top 10 strategies should I be doing? Well, it turns out that it could be simpler than that. What if you could change your life for the better by only asking yourself ONE question? (caveat: You will have to ask this question more than once.)

I've been reading this book recently: Getting Back to Happy. It's written by these wonderful bloggers, Marc and Angel. You can find them at http://www.marcandangel.com/.  I'm only a few pages in and the way that I think about this concept (be better) is changing. They advise a few small morning (before noon) changes to make in your routine, like: washing your breakfast dishes, exercise 15 minutes, and meditation. Then they ask a series of questions about what you currently do in your morning routine. And the first question is "Is this bringing me closer to or further from where I want to be?"

My question is even simpler. Is this good for me? What do I mean by "good"? I mean, is this action, thought, thing going to make me healthier, wiser, better, etc.? Is it pushing me toward my goals or keeping me from them? Is it inherently good for ME?

Now, the answers to this question may be different for everyone. And some of them may be the exact same. It's important to ask the question, listen to the answer, and then decide where to go from there.

Some examples could be:
Eating donuts for breakfast - Is this good for me?
Sleeping late - Is this good for me?
Watching TV - Is this good for me?
Scrolling Facebook - Is this good for me?
Spending time with friends - Is this good for me?

You can ask this question about virtually anything in your life. The point is to ask the question. Listen for the honest answer. And then decide what to do. Ask the right questions. Then act. The change comes in both the asking and then the doing. Both are important. Both are life changing.

Hit the Reset Button

I love mornings. Not early mornings. But slow, sit at the table with my coffee, watching the birds morning. Mornings signal a new day. New means you can start fresh. You can put aside the old of yesterday. You can forgive the mistakes of yesterday. You can start again.

It's like hitting the reset button. Each day you have a new beginning, new opportunities, and a new 24 hours with which you can plan your adventures. 

We have to stop thinking about another day being a continuation of the day before. It doesn't have to be. Each day we wake up, we are given a new day. You can do anything with this day. What will you do?

Yesterday I ate too much junk food.

Today I will eat carrots.

Yesterday I was grumpy with my kids.

Today I will play games with them.

Yesterday I watched a lot of TV.

Today I will go outside and take a walk.

Yesterday I worried about a project.

Today I will do my best and leave work at work.

Yesterday I wasted time all day.

Today I will use my time intentionally.

Yesterday I dreamt about my passions.

Today I will do something I'm passionate about.

What will you do with your reset button? Which part of your life needs to be reset, restarted, refreshed? You can do it. Go ahead. Hit that reset button!

Don't Blink

Here in the South, we go "back to school" before Labor Day. Presently, we only have about 3 1/2 weeks left before my kids have to return to school. This reality had me thinking about how little time we have remaining and how fast time flies. My kids are growing up quickly and I don't want to miss it or waste time with them. In other words, don't blink. Or I could miss it. Their childhood. Their growing up. Spending precious time with them.

A realization then dawned on me. Time passes quickly for everyone. Not just parents. Not just children. There's a lesson here. 

Time slows for no man. Time stops for no one. It keeps moving. It keeps going. You can't buy more time. You can't borrow more. Everyone is allotted the same amount each day. 24 hours each day. 7 days each week. And so on.

What is important is what you do with your time. Work, family, hobbies, rest, fun. Each of these require time. How much time depends on the person. But everyone has the same total amount. Each day every person has a decision to make about how they spend the time they have.

This post is not about giving you advice on making family more important than work. Or rest more important than hobbies. My belief is that each person has to make their own decisions about what takes priority with their time.

So think about it. How do you spend your time? What's important to you? Are you wasting your time in any areas? How do you feel about that? What would do with your life if you had more time? (Hint: The only way to get more time is to let go of other things. Because remember everyone has the same 24 hours each day.)

I often hear that no one gets to the end of their life and wishes they had spent more time on things that didn't really matter to them. Time to get serious about what you want to spend your time on.

Gratitude = Happiness

Everybody wants to be happy. Some people believe they are happy. Some people would say they are chasing happy. Some would say they are not happy at all. Happiness can appear elusive. It means different things to different people. What may make one person happy would not work for another person.

There is good news! One strategy works well for everyone who puts their full focus on it. (What you focus on is what you get. So focus on what you want!)  Gratitude.

So simple. But maybe not so easy. Think of those hard days when you can't think of things to be grateful for. And even if you do, they don't seem as important as those things that are going wrong in your life at the moment.

However, if you focus and you stick with it, gratitude does indeed equal more happiness. Being able to see the positive in your life increases happiness. Being able to focus on the good in life increases happiness. Being able to do this despite having a bad day combats depression and anxiety AND increases happiness. (and resilience)

I had a difficult day yesterday. One of my children was sick unexpectedly and my day became filled with running out for medicine, doing laundry, cleaning carpets, and making sure no one else got sick. It was not a day of ease and at the time, I would have said there was no reason to be grateful.

But here I am, the day after, writing a post about Gratitude. I am grateful for medicines, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, friends who help, restaurants who deliver, and the physical capability and energy to do all that was necessary to take care of my child and family. This morning I found gratitude in sleeping in, kids playing, birds chirping, hot coffee, and a quiet moment.

Gratitude is like a short cut to happiness. When you are focused on all that is good in your life, you feel the joy in life. When you focus on the positive, it becomes more difficult to live in the negative. There will always be bad days. But we can't forget the good. That is when we lose that elusive happiness. We get stuck in the bad, the difficult, the negative. But learning to focus on what you are grateful for in your life can pull you out of that. It can show you the joy, the happy, the good in your life. Focus on that. Focus on your joy. Gratitude = happiness.

My Kids are Teaching Me

As a parent, one of your jobs is to teach your children. You want them to learn as much as possible, grow into responsible adults, and have strong values they can stand up for. But a funny thing happens as you raise your kids, they begin to open your eyes to new things and teach you things that you may not have realized you have been missing.

In an attempt to get my kids out into nature more this summer, they are working toward Junior Ranger park badges. To earn a badge, they must complete a number of nature related activities. The kids are "mildly" interested. LOL

Yesterday, I took them to a local park to complete one of the activities. "Make observations of wildlife." Our park has a lake and I thought this would be the perfect place to observe wildlife. The kids immediately pick a spot on a pier to sit and look at the lake.

Their observations included:
Saw a green dragonfly
Heard crickets chirping
Saw birds flying

Then I pulled out crackers. I had intended to feed the ducks at the lake. However, a huge summer camp was in full swing and the ducks were nowhere to be found. I assume they were hiding from the running, screaming children.

I broke a cracker and threw pieces into the water. I thought maybe a bird would swoop down. Nope. Then my son began eating the crackers. And then...

FISH! Fish come up from the bottom of the lake and grab the floating crackers like they are worms! I didn't know fish would eat crackers?! The kids are excited now and both breaking and throwing pieces of crackers. The brim or crappie fish are swarming us now. So cute.

Eventually we move on and leave the park. I told the kids "You taught me something new today. Fish like crackers!"  But more than that, the kids showed me how just observing nature can be new, exciting, and fascinating.

I had forgotten what it was like to be a child and become entranced at watching a bird soaring high in the sky. Or a dragonfly's beautiful metallic color. Or a squirrel searching for nuts. Or a robin pecking the ground to grab a worm.

Nature can be mesmerizing. And this summer, I hope that we spend more time in it.

Look UP

This post will be a little different. Because I usually don't talk a lot about my faith. Today I had my own epiphany (which I have had several times in my life; life lessons tend to repeat) and wanted to share.

It is very easy to get consumed in daily life, in hard times, in struggles. You start to look at yourself and the people in your life and your circumstances. You start to compare. You start to analyze things. Things could be better. You begin to feel less than. 

During these times, we forget to be grateful. We shift our focus. To all the things gone wrong. To all the "bad". To things we wish were different, better, more. And when we shift our focus, we lose sight of all the good. WHAT YOU FOCUS ON IS WHAT YOU GET. 

With everything wrong in our lives at the forefront of our minds, all that is right, all that is good somehow just gets pushed out of our minds. It disappears. At least from our minds. And now we are consumed by all the things we wish were different.

Where is your focus? WHAT YOU FOCUS ON IS WHAT YOU GET. SO.....FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT.

For me, this is where my faith steps in. It calls to me. LOOK UP. When I have been looking "down" or around at all my circumstances, God invites me to look up. At Him. Only then do I remember all the GOOD in my life. Every good thing comes from the Father. 

And I have a lot of GOOD in my life. I have a lot to be grateful for. I am so blessed. Beyond what I deserve. And then my focus shifts again. Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good, excellent, worthy, dwell on these things (Phil 4:8). 

Where is your focus? Are you looking down? Around?  Or are you looking up? 

Simplify Your Look

I have been on this journey to simplify my life for about 2 years now. I started in one room of my house and it quickly spread to my closet, my kitchen, and every other part of the house I could de-clutter and minimize stuff. 

Last year, I decided to simplify my face products. I wanted to minimize what I actually use and also use more natural products. 

My first step was to get rid of any products that were old and there were a lot. So lots of make up and cosmetics went into the trash!

Then I assessed what was left. I hated using harsh cleaners on my face with no positive results. My skin still broke out and was dry or oily all the time. I searched for a way to use natural (or few ingredients) products and ended up making 2 products of my own.

The first is a natural cleanser/moisturizer for my face/neck. It's part sugar and tea tree oil with a coconut oil base. It works well to clean my face, moisturizes it, and it doesn't make it oily (I know. Believe it!).

The second is a tinted moisturizer. This is made from Ponds face cream and a little foundation (my shade) mixed in just for some color. Most days, I only wear this on my face. Gone are the days are full face make-up every day. (I save other make-up for going out or special occasions.)

So what make-up did I keep? The list is small: loose powder, eye shadow (2 colors), eye liner (I rarely use this),  and lipstick. 

Just this week, I simplified my HAIR. I love long hair. However, it takes forever to blow dry and once it gets so long, it wraps around me and just weighs on my head. So I went to the salon recently. And now, my hair is short crop style. Nothing fancy. But best of all, easy to wash, dry, and style. Why, oh why, didn't I think of this before? 

How could you simplify your cosmetics routine? What make-up do you own that you never use? Take some time to go through your cosmetic drawer. 

Life is Not Insta-Perfect

As a mom of children ages 8 and 10, they are living in the world of YouTube. YouTube videos of families where they are on perpetual vacations and gamers who always win the battle and never make a mistake. My kids watch all these videos and believe. Oh they believe. These people have perfect lives!

I talk to them about how no one is perfect. I say things like "Practice does NOT make perfect. Practice makes better. We strive for better because no one is perfect." And when it comes to themselves, I think they understand this. But then they watch these videos of other people's lives and it gets mixed up. What are they to think?

This morning I spoke with both of them about videos they have watched recently. How videos are edited. How people "take out" mistakes or the "bad" parts and you only see the "good stuff".

My son understands a little better that gamers edit their videos but pointed out one of his favorite gamers will leave some "fails" in his videos. Yes, he does. But not a lot. Probably edits out 50 fails for every 1 that he leaves in a video.

My daughter gets mad at me. Because this family is FUN! (the little family she watches on YouTube) They go on adventures every day! They have parties all the time! It is REAL Mom! she tells me.

This new Insta, Facebook, YouTube world - where you can edit your life down to the best parts only - worries me. It reminds me of how women's bodies are photo shopped in magazines to unrealistic beauty standards (that no real woman can actually achieve, INCLUDING the model who was actually IN the photo!). 

Be real people. Because no one is perfect. Everyone struggles. Everyone has bed head in the morning and smelly breath before they brush their teeth. Everyone gets mad and acts out and regrets it. Everyone has bad days, bad moods, and bad hair sometimes. No one's life is a constant celebration. Because boring things still happen daily - dishes to be washed, laundry to be done, grass to be mowed.

So in this life of "edited content", I hope that my kids will learn that those videos and those posts and those pics are "not real" or at the very least, not showing the full picture of someone's life. That they don't need to strive to be like those "perfect" people. That they should strive to be REAL.

Be The Change

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Ghandi


I was having my morning coffee, sitting on my deck, and listening to the birds sing this morning. I was thinking of how I wish some things in life were different, better, easier (ha ha), etc. And then this quote popped into my mind. I thought on it for quite a while. And then I grabbed my journal and jotted some thoughts down.

If you want something in your life to change, there is only one person that you can change. And that person is YOU. Not your parents. Not your family. Not your boyfriend. Not your spouse. Not your kids. Just YOU. So BE THE CHANGE.

In my world, I will...

Be more patient.
Be more kind.
Do less.
Relax more.
Be happy.
Be calm.
Be active.
Be healthy.
Spend more time in nature.
Learn more.
Experience more.
Buy less stuff.
Smile more.
Laugh more.
Hug more.
Read more.
Go outside more.
Plan less.
Ditch the screen.
Be more present.


These are things I wish for myself, but also for my kids, my friends, my family, and others around me. But I know. That I can only change myself. So I choose to BE THE CHANGE.

The Summer of...

This summer I only ask one thing: that I enjoy my summer with my kids. Often we rush to fill in the time and spaces and do as much as we can so we don't "miss out" on the fun stuff. Sometimes the most fun stuff is the "in between" times.

This summer is the  Summer of Letting Go. I am letting go of a clean house, routine, perfect behavior, schedules of activities, and plans. I am a planner by heart. So this is difficult. A friend called me the other day. From SCOTLAND! She asked for an immediate favor. Meaning I needed to leave my house on a moment's notice and go complete a task that she couldn't since she was out of the country. Of course I said! Gathered up the kids, jumped in the car, and went and completed said task. That led to my children seeing the pool and asking if they could run home and change into swim suits and go for a swim. My planner mindset screamed "NO! This is not the plan! I have things to do!" But out of my mouth came "Sure!" And off we went. An impromptu swim session in the middle of the day.

This summer is also the Summer of Fun. I want to have as much fun with my kids as possible. I only have 8 more summers with my son and 10 more with my daughter. We are counting down people. They are growing up fast. I want to slow down and breathe in the joy of kids in the summer. No school. No homework. No stress. No getting up early and plenty of going to bed late. My kids want to swim, explore, read books (that no one told them they HAVE to...LOL), play games, binge watch their favorite shows, eat lots of pizza and Popsicles, ride bikes, go camping, and snuggle with me on the couch watching a movie. My daughter is sneaking a book at night when she can't fall asleep and reading by nightlight. My son is drawing pictures in his bed and reading Harry Potter. Fun, fun, fun.

This is also the Summer of Strength. This is a more personal one. I tend to do a lot of yoga and running and very little strength training. So I have deemed this summer to be the perfect time to work on building up my strength. I am doing bodyweight exercises that need no equipment and adding in yoga to stretch out sore tight muscles. By August, I will be a strong woman!

I am so lucky to be able to stay home with my kids during the summer. I get to spend so much time with them. I love to talk to them, laugh with them, and play with them. I get to hear their thoughts on life and what interests them. I get to hear my daughter sing and make up her own songs. I get to listen to them read. I'm with them when they learn something new and accomplish a new feat. (This could also be the summer of flips in the pool...) This time is precious and I pray that I will not waste it on dishes, clean floors, and forced routines.

Yay summertime!

Life Can Change in a Moment - What Matters Most?

Life has a way of changing quickly. It doesn't give you notice. No heads up. No way to prepare. Just boom. There it is. Life is different than it was yesterday.

When that happens, you begin to question your life. How you live. What you do. What's important. Where's your priority?

Recently, I had a health scare. I have a loaded family history of many illnesses as it is. Add in my younger stupid self that smoked cigarettes. It's a recipe for bad news. Eventually.

Enter a recent health test result. More tests needed says doctor. Then a biopsy or two. Now the wait. Will it be your worst nightmare? Or will it be nothing? Is your life about to change forever?

During my wait, I began to think about my life. Am I living my priorities? Doing what is really important? Focused on my values? Or am I wasting my life on stupid things?

In all my contemplation, I found the answer to those questions is YES. Yes, I am living my priorities and focusing on what's important. AND I am wasting my time (my life) on some stupid things also.

My priorities are my family, raising my kids, God, running a household, my health, and my friends. These are the things that matter most to me. These are my focus. My goals. My values. My everything.

But I also fall victim to the "stupid things" - the time wasters - the unimportant. Like TV, Facebook, random Googling or web surfing. Then I realized there were other "stupid things." Doing dishes when my daughter wants to play with me. Being anxious over a clean house before I have friends over. Worrying about getting the chores done all the time. ANYTHING that takes priority over my family, my kids, God, my friends.

People are more important to me than anything else. I'm not here on this Earth to keep a clean house. I'm here to be a part of this life with these people and make a difference their lives and have them make a difference in my life. Such is my focus, my value, my priority.

What is yours? If you knew your life was about to change forever, what would be your priority? Think about it now. Figure it out now. Don't want until it changes. Because it can happen in a moment.

Summer Slow Down

Summer begins in this house in the next couple of weeks. I know it is still May. Technically, the first day of summer is June 21, correct? Not so here. The first day of summer is the last day of school for my kids. They can't wait! And honestly, neither can I.

I plan for summer each year. Last year I hit upon a plan that gave the kids and I the best of both worlds. Lots of fun and lots of activity and also lots of downtime.

I developed "Days of the Week" for our summer schedule. Don't worry. They are very flexible.

Excursion Day
Green Day
Culinary Day
STEAM Day
H2O Day

Just 5 days. Because hey....downtime.

Excursion day includes trips to museums, play places, camping, movies, bowling, and even playdates.

Green Day includes trips to parks, picnics, playgrounds, nature hikes, building bird houses, star gazing and any nature exploration.

Culinary Day includes learning to cook and bake. My kids have baked pizza, cookies, cakes, and candy.

STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math 
This day includes painting, fort building, puzzles, STEM kits, and science experiments (oh gosh slime!).

H2O Day includes anything water. Swimming in a pool or at the lake, water balloons, or a sprinkler.

My kids choose the days mostly. Sometimes I choose H2O days based on weather (we don't swim in a thunderstorm) and excursion days when there is a special event I know they would love. And they choose a "day" each weekday. Weekends are open for more downtime or family trips.

This system seems to be the best way to get in experiences and fun without being constantly on the go and wearing everyone out. I still have plenty of time to get things done at home. And the kids can sleep in, play video games, and lay around in their PJs a lot.

When I mentioned to my kids that summer was upcoming and what kinds of things were they interested in doing, they both emphatically asked for our "summer days" schedule again.

So here's to summer! Slowing down but still having fun.

Runnin for My Life

I love running. I hate running. Sometimes I feel both of these things. In the SAME run. But I still run.

In 2012, when my baby girl was almost 2 years old, I started running. I came to this decision to lose the baby weight (first reason....) and because running only really required a pair of good running shoes (second reason....).  

So I started C25k - translation: COUCH TO 5K.  Let me preface: I had never been a runner. AND I had said consistently: I would "never" be a runner. (see previous Never Say Never post...). C25K is an awesome program to begin running. In fact, if you haven't tried it at least once, you should. You never know. You may LOVE running (see first line...)!

Fast forward a few years.....I have now been a runner for about 6 years. While there have been breaks and lulls, I keep coming back to running. Running gives me so much. 

Running is

Meditative

Prayer-filled

Time with God

Time alone

Time for self

Time with friends

A clear mind

A place to think

Stress relief

Joy giving

Fresh air

Open space

Exploring nature

Problem solving

Mood boosting

Inspiring

Calming

Rejuvenating

Freedom

I could go on. And on. The list is almost endless. Running is like a little miracle pill that takes away the woes of the day. Remember that old Calgon commercial? Running really does "take me away". 

I have plenty of friends who say they would only run if someone was chasing them (you know with a knife or something...) but for me, running gives me so much that when I don't run for a few days, I miss it. My body, my mind, and my spirit misses it. 

If you are in the market for a new exercise to try, I vote running. See what it has in store for you!

Progress, Not Perfection

I am a perfectionist at heart. That means that whatever I do - I strive for it to the best that I can do. Sounds good, right? Wrong. The problem is that I can ALWAYS do better - or more. If I'm cleaning the kitchen, I wash dishes, wipes counters, sweep floors, clean the stove top, and done. But there are windows that could be washed, cabinets that could be wiped, and a pantry that could be organized. And this is how my brain works. All the time. About everything. Yeah.

For my children, I have different standards than myself. I tell them constantly "practice does not make perfect". "Practice makes better." We strive to do better, but we are not perfect. "Progress, not perfection" I say to them. Maybe it's time I take my own advice.

As people, we often spend a lot of time looking around at others. Judging their lives, comparing our lives to their lives, and sometimes wishing we had what other people have. Compare. Compare. Compare. Comparing leads to discontent. And that is a 'treadmill' you don't want to get on.

Instead, I challenge myself and each of you to stop looking around you. Focus on your progress. Not perfection. But progress. Better today than I was yesterday. I will compete against myself. Myself of yesterday, last week, last month, and last year.

As a runner, you hear the saying "they are not your competition - you are". PR stands for personal record. When you PR in a race (or a run), it's not about beating someone else. It's about beating your last time or last record. It's about progress.

I think this is how it should be for all of life. Focus on yourself. Not others. No comparing. No looking around. Work each day to make progress for yourself. Be a better version of yourself today. Be stronger. Be more courageous. Be more generous. Be faster. Be smarter. Be wiser. Be kinder. Be healthier. Be more loving.

Progress, not perfection. This is the goal.

You are Enough

Hey Friend! I see you there. Trying to juggle everything on your to do list. Trying to take care of all those loved ones in your life. Sometimes neglecting yourself. Sometimes squeaking in some me time. It seems you are always behind. You can't catch up. If you just had a day... or a week... you could catch up and stay "on top of things". But it never seems to happen for you.

I just have a brief message for you. Stop. Breathe. Just be still for a moment. Now. There.

You Are Enough.

Do you believe that? That even if you don't get those to-do things completed, you are enough? Even if you don't make everyone in your world happy, you are enough? Even if you mess up... even if you feel like a failure... that you are enough?

You are not your accomplishments. You are not your job title. Who you are is not dependent on how other people see you. If your house is spotless. If your children are well-behaved. If your car is brand new. If your calendar is full or void of social activities.

That is not you. You are who you are inside. Without any "things" or anyone else's "label". And that is enough. You are enough.

Step out of the box you may have placed yourself in. Don't judge yourself. Don't label yourself. Don't listen to everyone else's voice (and not your own). Just be.

Be who you are. Be still and listen to your own heart. You are enough.

Sanctuary

We just returned from the kids' spring break from school. Each year we take the week and visit my sister and family in another state. Each year, the kids love and enjoy this break and neither want to leave when it's time to go home. The kids love their aunt and uncle and cousins. But there are more reasons why we all love it there.

Let's start with space. My sister lives on 28 acres of land. Lots of wide open space, trees, ponds, horses, and plenty of room to run around. We have flown kites high into the sky there. We have fished in the pond. We have hiked. We have played tag and hide and seek. And we have watched hummingbirds feed off one of many feeders in my sister's yard.

Also, outside there is a porch swing. My kids and I adore this swing. We sit on it each day we are there and swing and talk and laugh and look at the beautiful country. Sometimes the hummingbirds will come for a visit. Or the cat. Or even the horses!

One of my kids' favorite things about my sister's house is that we all sleep in the same room. They feel more relaxed and comfortable because of this. There are no nightmares or fears of the dark because we are all in the same room. Everyone sleeps better and longer most nights because of this.

The house itself is ranch style, which means there are no stairs. No stairs! Everyone is on the same level and never far from each other. My kids love running laps in the house and sliding down my sister's long wood floor hallway.

Time seems slower there. More abundant. It seems to stretch like a lazy cat in the middle of a nap. Days seem longer there. Unlike at home. Where our schedule seems to keep us so busy that we always feel rushed and scattered. There, we feel like we have all the time in the world. Unrushed. No hurry. Just breathe  - kind of time.

The greatest part of our spring break is being with family. The kids play with cousins and aunts and uncles. They hear stories about family and my childhood growing up. They see mom with her siblings and begin to understand how important family is. They see a lot of love and laughter in a short week. And it affects them. Probably more than they realize.

In short, I would say my sister's house is a like a sanctuary to me. It reminds me a lot of my childhood home.  Somewhere that always feel safe, happy, relaxing, and somewhere that you always want to return to, as often as you can.

(Thanks, sis, for a great week!)

Sometimes Simplicity lies in Acceptance

What are you struggling with in your life right now? Think about it for a few minutes. Sometimes our biggest challenges are just that because we fight against them. We want to change them. We want to control things. Sometimes things that are out of our control. Sometimes things that are better left unchanged. But we struggle because of our expectations.

In life, I have found that it is better to live without expectations. This is pretty difficult in itself. I have had plenty of expectations in my life. I expected to go to college, get a great job, live in a fantastic place, and have a great good of friends. 

But life doesn't always give you what you expect. And sometimes it gives you more. And while I believe you are in charge of your own destiny, there will always be things in life that you cannot control. So what do you do when your expectations don't match up with your reality?

The first thing people often do is try to change that. They try to make their expectations happen.

If things don't change and expectations don't match up, then most people complain about their life. How hard it is. How much they wish for this or that. How they want more.

I am striving for the last thing people often try in this situation. Acceptance of the failure to meet expectations. 

That may seem a little self-defeatist to you. However, I believe a simplicity lies in accepting where you are right now in your life. This is not "settling." But accepting. Accepting that life today is probably not what I expected but "it is what it is" and I want to find the simplicity and beauty and joy in it regardless. 

Bottom line: Don't miss out on the joy of your present life, hoping for expectations in your mind that may or may not ever come to fruition. Look around you, accept where you are right now, and notice the joy of your life!

Never Say Never

I have been known to say "I would NEVER do that!" quite frequently in my younger years. Sometimes getting older makes you wiser. Now I realize that when you say "I would never..." , then you probably will, at some point.

I could regale you with all the times I have used the statement "I would never" while discussing parenthood. And yes, that was before I was actually a parent. Those statements are numerous and I think I broke the record on all of them. But that's not the point of this post.

Never is one of the words that keep you in a box. You won't explore new avenues or new activities or new ways of thinking if you tell yourself that you "would never do that". And people say things like this to themselves and the people in their lives every day. I know I did.

"I will never be a runner." I said this FOR YEARS. Guess what? 6 years ago, I started running. I began running to lose weight after baby #2. But I've kept running because I fell in love with it. It's the easiest exercise for me. All I need are a good pair of running shoes. Lace them up and I can run my neighborhood, the local park, a nature trail, or even a 5k race. It's a stress relief, a quiet time, time to think, time to pray, time to clear my head, time with friends, time alone. It's awesome. And I said I would never be a runner.....ha!

"I will never be a vegetarian." This one still astounds me. A few years ago, I was searching for ways to be more healthy. Of course I watched several documentaries on healthy eating. Out of this search, I became a vegetarian for over a year. Yes, I eat meat now, but I am more careful in my selection (organic, grass-fed, free range, farm raised). I learned more that year about how many vegetables I really love. Now I believe that most of my plate should be vegetables and fruits.

"I will never be able to meditate." Ok. I'll be honest. I didn't get this meditation thing for a long long time. I thought it was all about chanting and having a blank mind, no thoughts. In the last year or so, I have tried meditation off and on. And I'm still not great at it. My mind does not have an easy time slowing down. The benefits of meditating (having that quiet time with just yourself) are evident when I take the time to do it.

"I will never be a writer." I have written essays for school and college. I have even written a thesis for my Master's degree. But those were required of me. I never thought I would write because I had something to say. I never thought I would write anything that would be of interest to anyone else. The latter may still be true...  But I have found an outlet in writing. Writing this blog makes me happy. Writing a book is challenging. But it gives such excitement. Just in the writing. It's becoming a passion of mine.

What are your "I would never's"? Even if you don't say them out loud to others in your life, you may say them quietly to yourself. Don't put yourself in a box. Don't limit your abilities with your thoughts. What could you create and accomplish if you didn't hold yourself back with your "never"?

Come on Spring!

Somehow we had spring over the kids' winter break holiday but winter has come back to haunt us. Ugh!  I am so ready for warmer temps for so many reasons.

I want to run outside without bundling up so much that it feels harder to actually run.

I want to hike more in nature with friends and with my kids.

I want to take the kids to the park and play.

I want to sit on my back deck without freezing.

I want to lay in the hammock and watch the clouds go by.

I want to watch my kids play in our backyard.

I want to take walks with my daughter and watch the birds.

I want grow something and watch it bloom.

I want to get more Vitamin D in my diet.

I want to wear flip flops and sun dresses.

Come on Spring!

Time In Nature Challenge

Winter is waning. Spring is coming. This is the time. The perfect time to get outside. Spend time in nature.

I love being in nature but sadly I don't do this enough. I allow life to get in the way. Chores, scheduled activities, obligations, and on and on. I tell myself things like "if I had more time" or "that would be lovely if I only I didn't have so much that needed to be done". But the truth is more simple. I must make the time for things that are important to me.

So I'm beginning a new challenge. Every day I will spend time in nature. No time limit. I only want to establish the routine of getting out there. Even if it is just 1 minute. That is better than NO minute. Right?

Getting out into nature can be as simple as going out in my backyard, going for a walk around the neighborhood, or going to a local park. Today I went hiking on a mountain trail with a friend. It was awesome. Quiet and peaceful. And honestly, I didn't want that time to end.

Nature is a soothing balm to my soul. It quiets my mind. It fills my lungs with healing breath. Most of all, it lifts my heart and I feel happier when I spend time in nature.

So, will take the challenge with me? Get out in nature everyday! Pay attention while you are there. Look around. Listen for birds and animals. Smell the flowers blooming. Feel the wind on your face. You will thank me, I promise.

How Minimalist Could I Live?

As I have said before, I dream of living in a tiny house. With that dream comes the idea that I would have to purge and get rid of a lot. And that makes me wonder....What things would I keep?

An obvious one would be clothes. I have paired down my closet so much but if I needed to, I could get rid of still more. I would hold onto my running clothes, jeans, shorts, and tshirts. For shoes, I would keep running shoes, a pair of flats, and flip flops. Throw in my swim suit and undergarments and we're done!

Now let's think bigger! Furniture. I have a reading chair I would keep, a bed of some sort, table, and chairs. Honestly, I don't think I 'need' much. Appliances. Fridge, stove, oven, small grill, blender, and a coffee pot. Definitely a coffee pot. Technology. I would keep my small tablet/laptop and my cellphone. But I don't know that I would even care about a TV or DVD player. I can stream movies on my laptop, and I don't watch much TV anymore.

Outdoor wise equipment. I love our hammock but I would minimize that to a bag hammock. Also I love my bike but I'm not sure it's a must-have. I like to run more than I like to bike.

When I look around my house and think about what I actually need, I realize that I need so little. I crave the freedom of owning less and having less to take care and less to clean and less to maintain.

What would you keep? What is a need for you? What is a must-have? How minimalist could you live?

Camping, Camping, Camping

My family just recently purchased a small tow behind camper trailer. It was a big addition to our "things" and with it, come other purchases. You must have certain "things" to maintain the "thing". This, in itself, is the major downside to owning this trailer. BUT...... There are so many UPsides!

1. The most exciting part for me is that it is TINY! Finally, I have a tiny house! It is 17 feet long and can sleep our whole family. But in general, there isn't much space. Less space means less stuff. Less space means less time cleaning. For anyone who knows me, they know that I would LOVE to live in a tiny house. Here's my chance! At least on weekends :)
2. Another exciting part is the ability to TRAVEL. No expensive hotel rooms needed when you have your own pull-behind house. We could go anywhere! I also have a dream of visiting every continental state in the US. This could be the way.....
3. For my kids, the most exciting part is the very act of CAMPING! They love going to new parks, just relaxing for the weekend, throwing the football, making smores over an open fire, and sleeping under the stars.
4. Speaking of sleeping under the stars, being in NATURE is an amazing benefit to this trailer. I want to expose my kids to nature as much as possible. This is difficult when you live in suburbia with technology. Kids don't want to unplug to go outside much. My daughter, however, loves going outside, riding her bike, looking at the birds, and finding new rocks. She loves to hike when we go camping. With this new camper, I'm hoping to develop a lifelong love of nature for both my kids.
5. FAMILY TIME will definitely occur in this camper. In such a small space, we will be spending much more time together. No sneaking off to their rooms or building a fort to be alone or separate from the family. Even when you live in the same house, you can still "get away." But not in this camper! 
6. I love being ACTIVE! I can't wait to go visit new parks and DO stuff. I want to go hiking, fishing, canoeing, climbing, star gazing, rock hunting, bird watching, and on and on. And I can't wait to go with my family. Fun, fun, fun!

There are many other awesome parts of owning this camper trailer I could mention, but I believe these are my TOP reasons. We are busy working on learning about how to tow and use our camper and making plans for our first camping trip. I will post again after that trip. My hope is to go camping at least once a month during spring, summer, and fall. Here comes our great adventure!

Morning Routines are Good for Everyone!

I dream of mornings where I can sleep until I wake (no alarm), stretch in bed, get out and put on my slippers, wander downstairs, have a cup of coffee, and take in a nice quiet view of the woods behind my home.

This is not my reality. In fact, I don't know anyone who has this kind of life. My life is busy with children and getting up early and trying to get everyone ready and off to school. This means waking up to alarm, no stretching, and no quiet time with coffee in hand.

However, I have crafted 2 morning routines for my kids and myself in the last few years. And I would say that they are both life-saving and life-giving routines. My kids (and I do also) thrive on routine. Knowing what to do when and knowing what to expect each morning calms the chaos and keeps them on track.

Morning Routine for School Days (KIDS):

My kids know this is what we do every morning.....

1. Mom wakes me up with a Good Morning song.
2. Get dressed
3. Use bathroom
4. Downstairs for breakfast
5. Gather school snack & water bottle
6. Put on shoes
7. Brush hair
8. Back upstairs to brush teeth
9. Jackets & backpacks
10. Out the door!

*A key to this routine is we get up an hour before we need to leave. Yes, it is early and we could do this with less time if we hurried but with more time, we don't rush and the morning is more relaxed.
**Backpacks are usually readied with homework, signed forms, etc. the night before.

Does this always go smoothly and with ease in the morning? Nope. My son can do this routine with his eyes closed and in very little time. My daughter, on the other hand, likes to take her time. So she may play while she gets dressed. Then she may tell me a long story while she eats breakfast. She is my youngest so I give her lots of reminders to help her along in the morning.

My morning routine begins after the kids are off to school. I am fortunate enough to stay home so I have time after they leave. However, if I worked, I would try (really hard) to get up earlier in the mornings to have my routine. It is not long and helps start my day with a calm, happy heart.

Mom's Morning Routine :

1. Healthy breakfast eaten sitting down at my kitchen table
2. Prayer & bible study time
3. Check email / read blogs
4. Write
5. Exercise (yoga, run, strength train)

If I get all of these things accomplished early in my morning, I am in a better mood, calmer, more joyful, more peaceful, and also more energized. On those days where my morning routine is complete (meaning I don't skip a part because of some appointment or obligation), I find I am able to accomplish many more tasks or chores that day. It is an amazing feeling!

So what are your routines? Do you have a morning routine for your kids, but not yourself? Do you have a "plan" but it never actually happens? I would encourage to work toward putting some of that into action. Just start with one thing, like a healthy breakfast. Do that one thing until you feel you can add another. Build up. Just do it!

Sugar = Evil

I know. I know. That is a harsh post heading. But I have found again and again that it is true.

Straight away, I want to clarify. I am NOT talking about fruits or natural sugar found in whole foods. Honey is natural and healthy, although you still may not want to overdo it either.

What I am talking about is: added sugar. When we process foods for sale at the grocery store, we add sugar to ALMOST EVERYTHING!  <-- This is the Truth. Go to your local grocery, pick up any food that is processed (including some meats like ham), and look at the ingredients. Sugar in some form will always be found.

This will be a short post. As I am not going to list the millions of foods that include sugar. You can look here for yourself:   https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/56-different-names-for-sugar

What I will tell you is that when you cut out sugar - all added sugar - from your diet, your body will get healthier and if you need to lose weight, you will. Your body will process insulin better, your blood sugars will stabilize, and your metabolism will gain momentum.

This process does not happen overnight. (unfortunately) Your body will need to detox first. How long does that take? Depends on the body. My advice is to take 30 days and eat NO added sugar (this will also take out most grains.....) and see how your body responds.

I just recently finished a Whole30 in the month of January. I cut out dairy, grains, sugar, alcohol, and soy. I did eat legumes and some popcorn (love love love popcorn), but only occasionally (once a week OR less). My results were phenomenal! I lost weight. I lost inches. But I gained so much more!

I have more energy now. My clothes fit so much better. I feel lighter. I don't have cravings. Did you hear that? I don't have cravings!

My biggest lesson learned from this experience is that Sugar is my nemesis. For me this means I need to keep added sugar and most grains out of my regular diet. Will I have a piece of cake again? Yes. But I need to make that a special treat and not an everyday occurrence.

I challenge you today. Take a look at what you eat. If you have ingredient lists, read them. Find that sugar as I know you will. It can be sneaky and listed in words like dextrose, sucrose, maltodextrin, etc. If you don't know a word, google it!

Eliminate Sugar and your body will thank you!

Find Joy in Every Moment

Life can be one distraction after another, especially in this season of young children in my house. There is always something to clean, something to do, and a kid who needs or wants something. And when you are busy, it can be hard to remember to stop and take in the little things that bring you joy. Yesterday was my birthday and while it wasn't a huge party, there was a lot of joy.

My son waking me at 6:10AM singing me Happy Birthday and then snuggling in my bed.
My daughter soon following with her own sweet voice and making me a sandwich in bed.

Friends getting up extra early on a Saturday morning to take me for a birthday breakfast.

My sister with a phonecall to sing me Happy Birthday.

Tons of text messages and FB posts of birthday wishes.

A "you're more like a daughter than a daughter-in-law" card from my in-laws.

Flowers and a sweet card (read to me by my 7 year old) from my husband.

Video games with my sons.

Cookie making with my daughter.

A family movie and snuggling on the couch.

Dinner from my favorite Thai restaurant.

A handmade birthday hat to wear at dinner.

A "grand" singing of Happy Birthday by a dear friend. My heart smiles.


The older you get, the less you need the big blowout party. But there is still Joy in the small, sweet moments with family and friends. And I won't stop looking for mine.

How to Live Minimally Where You Are

I dream of living in a tiny house. Downsizing sounds amazing. Even better would be the ability to own a home outright. I have read all the blogs, looked at tiny house schematics, and created my own tiny house vision. But alas, for now, it is all just a dream.....

I live with my husband and two children in a large home (large is a relative term I suppose, but it is large to me) in the suburbs. I love the area we live in. We are surrounded by friends, our church, and a great community. There is a variety of restaurants and activities to do within a short drive. I love my kids' school and the house is our only debt.

Over the past 3 years, I have been on a journey. A journey to minimize my life. To rid myself of things that don't serve me. To find out the things that do. I cannot put a number on the things I have gotten rid of but there is plenty still here. But the things that remain are things that either add value to my life or to my family's life.

Recently, I have been thinking and thinking of how I can live "tiny" but stay exactly where I am. I think in some respects, I am doing it right now. The main areas of my life that have been affected are my closet, my living spaces, cleaning, available time, and my personal life.

I began my journey attempting to create a reading room, a place of retreat for me. When that began, I would have never guessed that I would desire to downsize and live tiny. I just wanted a space clear of clutter where I could read in peace and quiet. (ha ha  I have 2 children. There is no such thing.)

So the journey began in one room of our house. In that room, I got rid of a couch, a huge bookshelf, a desk, a chair, all of my books (save a literal handful), and more. I went through papers we saved from financial institutions, etc.  I purged and shredded happily. Everything we need is online anyway. Tax returns were the only papers that were saved, untouched.

After that room, I became inspired and began reading blogs on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living. I stumbled across bemorewithless.com and Courtney Carver's capsule wardrobe challenge. Immediately, I wanted to do that. I culled my clothes down to very few but well loved pieces. And my closet is now open and light with no excess.

I think I may gotten really excited at this point and possibly a little obnoxious to some friends of mine. Sorry. I moved on from there to EVERY ROOM OF THE HOUSE. I began to purge and get rid of things with abandon. But while there are 4 people in this house, I mainly kept the purging to my own stuff or household stuff. I did purge some clothes and baby toys that my kids had grown out of but in large part, my goal was to do this for myself.

My husband finally took notice to my closet purge and did his own! But my kids still cling to their toys and stuff like it's life or death. Occasionally, I will ask them about certain toys or stuffies and whether we should donate them to a child who may not have toys. But I don't force it. I want to be an example for them. That less is more in life.

Beginning this New Year, my friends and I have been doing the 30 day minimalism game - https://www.theminimalists.com/game/ . It is Day 23 and I honestly have no more things to rid myself of. Since I've been on this journey for a little while longer than my friends, there is not much left to get rid of! Which makes me smile.

This journey has purged my closet and house of a ton of clutter and stuff, which makes cleaning so much easier and living spaces open and inviting. However, the greatest effect may be on my time and my personal life. I have more time to do other things now and I am working toward developing my passions. For now, I will focus on that until life opens the door for my tiny house dream to come true.

Word!

So I have read recently (and in years past) about other bloggers choosing a Word of the Year for their life. I always thought this was a ridiculous and interesting notion. How could a person choose just ONE word that would define their life for the entire year? It seemed absurd to me.

However, at the beginning of this year, I was reading one of my favorite blogs (www.handsfreemama.com) and she uses mantras like "only love today." Maybe she was onto something?

If you ask my friends what I want more than anything else, it is PEACE. Of course, I was looking for peace in my house, my life, and my circumstances.And life doesn't work that way. Life is chaos. Life is unstructured, unpredictable, and unruly. Which can make it feel exciting and adventurous at times. And stressful and grueling at others.

So what am I truly searching for? The answer I discovered right before the beginning of this new year is PEACE. Not peace on the outside though. Peace on the inside. Peace in my soul. Peace in my heart. Peace in my actions and reactions.

After a bit more thought, I chose a word of the year for myself. A word I want to focus on and intentionally make plans to obtain. That word is CALM.

I intend to chase after CALM in my life this year. Not in my surroundings. But within myself. To breathe when I feel chaos inside. To stop for a moment instead of immediately reacting to the outside world. To let go of my own preconceived notions of what peace is or what it should be. To just be. In the midst of my day, chaotic or not, to just be and have my heart and my mind be at peace.

At this point, it sounds unattainable. Impossible. But why should my insides match my outsides? Do I have to own chaos within myself if my environment is chaotic? Or can I remain calm? Can I have that peace that has eluded me for so long? And if I really believe that peace only comes when my circumstances are calm, peaceful, quiet; doesn't that make for a dismal existence?

So I will continue to search, chase, focus on, and run down this word CALM. I will repeat it in my mind when the world around me is in complete disorder. I will say out loud when my home is loud and kids are fighting. I will reach for it. I will obtain it.

To Yoga or Not to Yoga

One of my NY goals was to begin practicing yoga again. Last week, I registered and paid a group of classes and went to my first group yoga class in 10 years. Just writing that number makes me feel old. And it makes me wonder "what took me so long?" My previous experience with yoga was so amazing that I can't believe I ever stopped. But a big move, life changes, and having kids can change your priorities in huge ways.

Practicing yoga has so many health benefits. Physical, emotional, and mental health benefits. After just one practice, I noticed these 6 benefits:

1. The biggest benefit I noticed was SELF CARE. This occurred for me in just attending the class. Scheduling the time out of my day, making the appointment, and showing up for class. Like many moms, I spend 99% of my day thinking about and taking care of everyone else. I began putting myself last when I was pregnant with my first child. And recently, I have been attempting to regain some time and mental space for myself. 
2. ADULT TIME flowed out of the first benefit. Other than my husband and a couple of friends, I spend most of my days with my kids. Adult conversation is sometimes lacking in my life. And I will admit that a lot of days even the conversation with my husband and friends is about kids. It was wonderful to go to a new place and meet new people. The women in the class were so welcoming and no one asked me about my kids. 
3. BREATH - One of the most important parts of practicing yoga is finding your breath, slowing it down, and syncing it with your movements. For me, the benefit is even more basic. I finally had the space and permission to stop and take a breath. A real breath. Not the shallow ones I take when I'm rushing around trying to do everything all at the same time. In yoga, the instructor actually encourages you to breathe deeply, feel the air as you bring it in to your body, feel it fill up your lungs, lift your diaphragm, and then gently exhale, feeling it leave your body, hopefully taking with it some of the constant negativity in this world.
4. Closely related to breath is one of my favorite benefits: MEDITATION. I have tried meditation before and honestly, I am terrible at it. I can never sit still long enough or quiet my mind. Thoughts of all I "should" be doing race through my mind. But with yoga, I am so focused on my breath and the movements that my mind becomes calm and quieter. By the end of practice, I leave wishing there was more time to "just be."
5. One of the biggest physical benefits for me is more FLEXIBILITY. I'm a runner and my hips stay pretty tight so yoga is a great way of balancing me out. I need to gain back that flexibility and limber those muscles to prevent injury. 
6. One benefit that always surprises me when I practice yoga is STRENGTH TRAINING. You use so many more muscles than you would think. I spent a good deal of time during practice trying to balance myself into a pose, with shaking muscles. The day after practice I awoke sore and feeling muscles that I never feel when I run. Yoga is a great combination of relaxation and strength training that you may not find in other workouts.

I probably could keep going because I love yoga so much. There are other benefits that I remember from practicing years ago: better balance and coordination, better posture, and so on. I cannot wait to experience these again. 

If you have never tried yoga, I would encourage you to try a class or two. I promise you that will experience more benefits to your health than you ever imagined! 

Namaste

Just Do It!

Nike has it right. If you really want to do something, thinking about it, planning for it, talking to people about it, or even researching it will never ever get you closer to actually DOING IT. You have to choose a moment and JUST DO IT!

So here I am. Just doing it. What's IT? Writing.

I started this year with a promise to myself to write more. Blog. Journal. Write a book. Just WRITE more.

So I think everyday about things I want to write about. I read blogs online from other people writing about what they love. Sometimes when I'm running, I will think of topics and even full paragraphs about what I want to write. And then I get home...and I don't write anything.

This morning I sit, sleepy-eyed, groggy, not fully awake yet and I want to write. But nothing comes to mind. Except "just do it." Just sit down, pull up a blank page, and put words on it.

I often joke with a friend: "What is the answer to - Should I run today?" My friend says "It's always YES."  That makes me think. What is the answer to the question - Should I write today? Or should I work on that project today? Or should start working toward my passion today? Maybe the answer to all those questions should be a resounding YES!

Yes, you should begin to take a little time out of your schedule to make room for those things that you love, that you've always wanted to do, that you say there is not enough time for, that you talk yourself out of, and on and on. There will always be a million reasons why you shouldn't do something. But maybe if you keep telling yourself - Yes! Just Do It! , then it will sink in. Enough for you to finally begin to do the thing you've always wanted to do.

What is the thing that you have always wanted to do? What is the thing that you think might be crazy? Or silly? Or a waste of time, but you love it anyway? Just do it. Say YES to yourself. Give yourself permission to take an hour from your weekly schedule of all the "must do's" and "have to's" and do that thing you love. That thing that makes you smile. That thing that brings you joy. Go ahead.

Just do it.

Cell Phones....Do we need one?

My son who is 9 tells me "cell phones are useless". Somehow this is his version of reverse psychology because he really wants a phone.  I think it is hilarious. Some of his friends have cell phones. Some of them do not. His father and I have been discussing when to get him a phone, mostly at this point, so he can text a best friend who just moved away :(

This week, I dropped my cell phone and the screen shattered. Now, if this were the only problem, I would get the screen replaced and move on. However, my phone already has issues: no audio when video recording, power button ceased functioning so I must use accessibility button, and a battery that my husband replaced himself.

Phone shopping here I come! UGH  Walking into our local cellular phone store for me is akin to trying on jeans after I've been swimming. Dreadful! Cell phone stores, car dealerships, and lending companies. These businesses always feel like I'm in a shark tank. Pushy. Aggressive. Forcing me to purchase something I don't really want for more money than I actually wanted to spend.

Yesterday, I went to "look". Gratefully, I said this to the manager when I walked in and he allowed me to look around unencumbered and without a sales rep! Relief! I didn't quite decide what phone I would purchase because

1. There are too many choices
2. They all have great features
3. Most phone have HUGE screens now
4. 95% are ridiculously expensive

As a minimalist, I am struggling with this decision. I believe I have come to a decision. In this world of technology, I must have a cell phone. I have small children and my cell phone serves as my home phone. It's point of contact for teachers, school, emergencies, doctors, house services, friends, and family.

As much as I desire to step away from the "smart" tech world, it is easier to keep the same technology that I am already familiar with. What is that saying? Better to stick with the devil you know. Fortunately, they have recently released a new phone that is more affordable in price.

It will be exciting to start over with a new phone. I will have a clean slate (in a way) to add to. I plan to be much more intentional about what apps I add and how much I use this phone. My desire is to return to a state me using my phone as a tool, and not my phone consuming so much of my time that it becomes more like addiction.

Release Netflix and other streaming apps. Release Word games. Release miscellaneous apps that I never use. Clean slate. And now let's begin.

Let's Talk Passion

I never thought about this word much... Passion. It reminded me of love stories and soap operas. But recently I've been searching for my passion. In life. Something that stirs me to action. Something that puts a fire in my soul. What's your passion?

I don't believe that you have just ONE. I think you have many. It's probably best to only focus on one or two at a time. I have several passions. So many things that I would love to pursue. To chase down, until I knew all there was to know. To learn all about it. To act upon it. To create something from it.

Here's a brief glimpse (and I don't think these are all):

• God
• Encouraging women in God
• Prayer
• Dinosaurs
• Minimalism
• Organizing/Purging
• Helping Others
• Astronomy
• Archaeology 
• Running
• Whole Foods Eating
• Writing
• Music
• Singing

I could keep going. On and on, they would spill out. Sometimes like a broken faucet that won't stop flowing. What to do with all these passions? I give them occasional notice, but for the most part, they just stay in my heart and my mind, quiet.

In the New Year, I promised to give time to a few of them. Writing. I'm still thinking on what this will look like. Will I write that book? Will I journal? Will I blog? All this that I have to say. Who will even listen? Maybe no one. Maybe that's not the point. To write. Just to write it down. That could be enough. Just enough. To feed this passion. 

How will you feed one of your passions this year? A New Year is ripe with possibilities and openness and the feeling that anything can happen. And it can. What will you do?

New Year New Me?

I think the title should be more like New Year, Better Me? or New Year, Still a Work in Progress Me?  (ha)

One of my goals for 2018 is to write MORE. Striving for three times per week. Either on this blog or in a journal. So here's my first of many posts!

My New Year 2018 Goals:

I made a list of my priorities and developed goals for each. So they are specific and very important to me.

• God 
• I want to spend more time with God - reading, praying, worshiping. 
• I really want to focus on fruits of the spirit. Specifically, I would love more joy, peace, patience, self-control in my life.

• Health
• Run 30 miles each month (2017 goal met!)
• Speed work 1 x week
• Yoga 1 x week
• Strength training 1 x week
• More nature; get outside more

• Family
• Spend more time with family (and friends)
• Experiences over Stuff

• Passions
• Write 3 x week (blog, journal, book)
• Pursue training to be a life coach
• Simplify more

Any questions? You can leave comment and I'll reply :)  

Now Go write your goals! Here's to a fantastic 2018!!!