Trading Chaos Later for Memories Now

I have spent the weekend catching up on everything under the sun. Bills, grocery shopping, laundry, work to-do list, decorating some areas of the house and of course extra play time with Ethan. Don't know what it is about the past few months but I have let things get out of control. Maybe it is being a parent. Maybe it has something to do with working at four different places and not knowing my schedule until the day of. Or maybe it was my short but complete obsession with the first three seasons of The Vampire Diaries. (Can't wait for the season premiere this fall, by the way!) I guess all there is to say right now is...everything turned out okay. Maybe I should take a lesson from the last few months and give in a little on my need for everything in my life to be neat and tidy.

When I think back over the past few months I got to spend some wonderful time with my family in exchange for this slight chaos I created. I spent a week in Texas with my family. We planned another rendezvous for July so Elizabeth can come spend a week with me this summer. Nathan and I have had two successful dates including dinner/lunch and movies. I took Ethan for a spontaneous afternoon in the park, just the two of us. Nathan, Ethan and I spent an entire Saturday in Branson, enjoying each other's company with no real plans or need to go anywhere in particular. The birds in my yard are happy with the abundance of bird food/water that usually falls by the wayside because I have "something else to do." Overall, I would say the past few months were pretty successful.

Maybe the next few months will be a repeat and I will have another weekend of playing catch up. Somehow, I think I would be okay with that. :)

Positive Impact

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his GOOD LIFE, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:13-16

Tonight was an amazing Bible study, to say the least. It was as if every word spoken was aimed directly at me. I have been going to a women's Bible study for four weeks now. I have made it every Wednesday night so far.  I try to do the weekly homework, which has proven to be hard with a crazy, hectic schedule and a one year-old wanting my attention. (Still working on Goal #2 for this year...going to take me a little longer to accomplish than I thought.) Each week of this study has enlightened me a little more to the life of James...but this week was different. Tonight I was enlightened to a few pieces of my own life. I started to write a long piece about everything we went over but decided it would be more beneficial to bullet point what hit home for me...

• There are dangers to living a life that has even has a hint of envy, jealousy or selfish ambition.
• God desires for us to live a life full of mercy and good deeds toward those in need.
• The words "those in need" do not just mean people who are financially poor.
• If we have envy, jealousy or selfish ambition weighing us down, our mercy and good deeds will be stifled.
• Even if you feel like your envy, jealousy or selfish ambition is warranted or justified...if you feel like your envy is small....if you feel like your selfish ambition is healthy for a woman in your situation....if you feel like these things aren't a big deal...They are a BIG deal to God!
• I need to be willing to yield: focus on the here and now. As a whole, we should slow this fast paced life that we lead and take a step back to let others through the narrow passages we create in our lives.

Take action: Take your ear buds out, put your Kindle down, pull your nose out of your computer (I see the irony in that last statement) - take a look at life that is happening around you and find ways that you can positively impact people daily. I am really speaking to myself here.

Impact your family.

Impact those you work with.

Impact people wherever you go.

Change the outlook of someone's day and maybe even your own 

with a positive deed or word of encouragement.

Start now.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

John 15:16-17 (Jesus speaking)

And of course, we must end on a sweet picture of Ethan.

In his favorite spot...the swing.

Building good habits

Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it.

~Horace Mann

This week I am counting Goal #1 as accomplished. Sunday I put my name on a list to join a women's bible study on Wednesday nights beginning on February 1st. I am very excited to meet some women in the church we are attending and to learn more about the book of James. I have completed Beth Moore studies before and even been to a live taping in Houston, Texas so I know that it will be full of inspiration for a life lived more focused on God. YAY!

So, on to setting Goal #2. As the quote above states, habits are not formed with one simple thread but with many threads woven over days and days to make a strong cable. I have been pondering this second goal for some time but I think I have always made this one a little more difficult than it has to be. I always heard that there was this magical number of days that you needed to do something to make it a habit. Well, apparently that is not true if you look into the research. In fact, they -the researchers- say that it is possible that some people are 'habit-resistant". LOL! That really cracks me up for some reason - probably because I feel like that describes me.

Anywho...Goal #2 is to begin reading my Bible daily.

~30 days in a row to meet the goal~ 

In a Sunday school class I attended recently, the teacher asked what we need to do to be more in tune with God's plan for our lives...the simple answer is to be in tune to His word and spend time in conversation with Him. On Sunday mornings, I am always amazed at how the preacher can spout out Bible verses in the middle of a sermon...not just the location but the entire verse, word-for-word. His son, who preaches sometimes in his absence, can do it too! AMAZING! I would love to have this skill for situations that I come across in daily life. In fact, there have been several times lately that I thought, "Oh, I wish I had a verse to share with this person to encourage them." Hopefully being more in tune to God will allow me to share with others so that they feel uplifted.

In other news, my little baby boy turned one year old last week! He enjoyed cake, presents, balloons, party hats and lots of fun time with family. Along with turning one he has learned to walk, is saying a few more words and is interacting with us in such a fun way. He is adorable and sweet. He is also testing his limits and setting some limits of his own. I am sure he will be an independent little guy...
although I am not sure where he might get that from. Ha! 

I took him to get his first haircut on Monday. Although I am not 100% happy with the cut they gave him, he does look cute. He looks so much older. I just cannot believe a year has already gone by. From what I hear, the years just go by more quickly as you go on. I am looking forward to the Spring (although January sort of feels like Spring so far) when we can get out in the backyard or go to the park and really play hard! He is going to have such a blast this year!!

I am so thankful for my sweet little family.

Changes

This post starts the beginning of a wonderful time - a new year - a mystery of things that are possible.

Nathan and I have made commitments to change many things this year and I am very excited. The first thing changing is my work schedule. I am hoping that sometime in February I will be going PRN (as needed) at the hospital, while I also work PRN for a couple of other companies. This restructuring of my schedule will allow me more time at home with my family!! :) With this change also come changes in Nathan's schedule. Less on-call weekends = more weekends home with us! We are very excited to slow down the pace of our lives at work so that we can gear up our lives at home a little more!

Another big change coming up soon...we will have a 1 year old in 2 weeks!!!! I would say that I can't believe it but each day that I look at him he looks more and more like a little man. He has the sweetest soul - the most precious laugh - and gives the best wet kisses. His newest achievements include saying the words "ball" and "door", taking up to 5 independent steps, and eating anything you put in front of him. :) On another note, I think a little bit of my stubborn side is coming out in him recently. This, I am sure, will only get worse as time goes on. Ha! I can't wait to let him dig into some cake and celebrate the day our hearts all melted at the sight of his face.

Instead of making resolutions this year, I am going to make single goals. As I reach each goal, I will make a new one. Haven't ever tried to do things this way so we will see how it goes.

Goal 1 - Find a Bible study. As our work and home lives start to transition, I am praying that God will lead us to a place of service for Him. I am not sure where to begin this search but something will come along. :)

Well, I guess that is about it for now. I am sure there will be other major changes in our lives as we make these changes. The journey of life is full of unexpected twists and turns.