Wins!

I posted on Facebook this morning, asking about wins so far this week.  Where, this week, are you winning so far?

I shared about how I've been a little off this week, but Monday, when I was fixing dinner, I felt joy and realized how happy cooking makes me.  I often feel too tired, or uninspired to cook and that leads me to unhealthy eating.  One of my life goals is to eat healthier so this just doesn't work for me, so Monday, even though I didn't feel like cooking, I made myself do it anyway and I made this beautiful meal.  It was really pretty easy too.  

This morning I got my day started early.  I was at the grocery store by 7:30! AM!  When I was putting away the groceries, I had a picture in my head of a beautiful rainbow of food for breakfast, so I fixed it! It was delicious and nutritious!  

These are two of my wins for this week so far. The cooking, the healthy food and the JOY I experienced with it all.  

One other win - I got to talk to a friend this morning for a long time.  We talked about life and God's calling and ministry and gratitude and generosity... we just talked and shared.  It was nice.

What wins have you experienced this week so far?

TIme - A Precious Commodity

Do you have a planner?  Do you plan out your days?  Do you set goals, make lists and then check things off?  That's never really been my thing but the last 8 or 9 days, I've made it my thing.  I've jotted down at least 3 goals for the day and then I've made a to-do list to help me achieve those goals and also just to win at living and I've got to tell you.  I. Am. Winning.   At this anyway.  

I've been getting things done in a timely manner.  I've been having TIME!  Time to do things that I just enjoy, time to do things for and with my family, time to take care of me and just time.   

Why have I never been able to do this before?  It's amazing.  I'm one of those people that thinks they are always running out of time, there never seems to be enough and yet, yesterday, I found myself with half the afternoon and all evening to do whatever I please!  That's even after I picked up the house a little!  I found time to play the piano, to watch my favorite show, to pick up a book that has been calling to me for several days.  I even found time for a soothing tea bath with candles lit!

I have my agenda set up for today and I get to do things for me and my family that I have been putting off because I didn't think I had the time!  Somehow in this new year, I've discovered time, unfortunately, it's time I have been wasting for years, but no more!  At least not for now.  Time is a precious commodity that I am going to choose to use wisely as best I can.

Gratitude
1. This planner  - Miracle Month challenge  It's what I've been using to keep me on track.
2. Time - the gift I've found that I'm cherishing.  I'm not perfect at it yet and I have lots more to learn but I am learning.
3. Mid-afternoon baths with candles flickering.  What a relaxing way to start my evening. 

Ps.  I'm trying to something new with the sound file of me speaking the post... we'll see how it goes.

Intention

This year, I'm trying to be more intentional in my life.  Whether it's in being more healthy, exercising,  sermon prepping, or even dressing, I'm trying to be more intentional about it.  

I'm one of those people that just wears the same earrings every day.  I tend to fall into whatever is easiest in everything and well, this really isn't a good way to live my life.  

So, I'm trying to put more intention in my life.  Some days, so far, I've succeeded and others... not so much.  It's a familiar rut or groove that I am finding hard to pull myself completely out of but I'm determined! 

No more mindlessly scrolling through social media.  What a time waster!  You think, "I'll just look for a minute" and then before you know it, you've been scrolling for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour!  Life is too short to mindlessly waste it like that.  I'd rather spend time being productive!  Spend time with my family, fully engaged, not just halfway.  

Life is to be lived and I want to be more intentional about living it.

New me? Nah, just the Real me

A couple of weeks ago, I was doing the children's sermon.  Now, we don't often have children, so I don't PLAN a message for them.  I think about it and have something in mind but I seldom get to actually do it.  Also, the age that comes down for children's sermons is not limited to any particular age.  They can be anywhere from 1 year old to 80!  We just have fun.  Anyway, this particular Sunday we had a brother and sister come forward.  The sister came with her much younger brother (he was maybe 8 and she was around 20) and I asked about resolutions and if they knew what it meant and the sister said, New Year, New Me!  It fit perfectly and we had a lovely talk that got me to thinking.

I don't so much want a NEW me as I just want to embrace the REAL me, the one that often gets hidden, the one that gets put aside by time wasters.  So this week, I've decided to really work on this.  To work on goals, daily goals and to just live. To live my best life and not get too distracted by the time wasters in my life.  I got a slow start to this week due to weather, but I'm on day 2 and I'm having a wonderful time.  

I'm up, I'm moving, I'm working, I'm enjoying, I'm spending time with my loved ones near and far (over the phone when necessary).  I've started using a good planner that helps me set goals for the day and also makes me make time for me, quiet time, reflection time, personal development, exercise, fun, and gratitude!  It's all already built into my day and it's been nice.  

Even now as I type, I'm doing something I am always putting off for a special time.  Lighting candles.  I don't know why but I seldom let myself light candles.  For some reason, I seem to have gotten the idea that candles are only for the evening time and only for special occasions!  HOGWASH!  So, for the last two days, I've found time and reasons to light candles.  No special occasions, just lighting them for me. I'm reason enough. And you know what?  It feels nice. 

I'm being productive while treating myself and it feels good.  One of my more long-term goals is to blog regularly.  I used to really love it and have let it go by the wayside.  I tell myself, I don't have time, I don't have anything to say, no one wants to read it anyway.  But I never did it for anyone else.  I always did it because it was fun and therapeutic for me.  So, here I am.  Blogging today, mostly for me but if someone out there in the blogosphere finds something helpful or encouraging here, well, that would just be a bonus! 


Gratitude
I'm grateful for this new attitude and I hope I can sustain it for a while so that it just becomes a way of life, every day.  I'm grateful for candles that make me feel special and add a little romance to my day.  And I'm grateful for this life I'm living with the ones I love.

I'm also thankful for my sweet daughter-in-love.  Today is her birthday and I hope she is taking time to feel special today and every day!!  Love you, DIL!





Have a wonderful day, my dear friends!

Reflections

Sitting here on the first day of 2018, I find myself full of reflection.  Though, I'm not really reflecting on the past, more reflecting on what is to come, what my dreams are for 2018, for my world.  I feel happy and hopeful.  I feel ready to conquer the world. I feel ready to do my part to heal a broken world.  Ready to love, and live, and grow, and laugh, and sing, and dance, and MORE!   I'm ready.  Ready to be me.  Look out world! I'm not hiding anymore. I'm ready for you.  2018 is my year and it's going to be a great one!