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Archive for the ‘Scripture’ Category

I thought that as a final post for 2009, I would invite you in to take a peek at what my own personal 2010 resolutions are. Typically, I wouldn’t do this to tell you the truth. I don’t know, call it a fear of failing if everyone knew what they were and I didn’t accomplish them. At any rate, it’s something private and special, and I want to share it with you (if you’re interested). I don’t have a whole list of 20 somethings that I want to do, but I really tried to reflect hard this time and focus on things that I’ve talked about on this site, or things that I often try to teach my kids, or even focus on one little thing that I heard at church. These are in no particular order. And if this is the end of the road for your reading, then may you have a wonderful and safe and blessed Happy New Year!

1.  I want to read and UNDERSTAND the bible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read passages and no sooner do I pick up that book, do I put down. Why? Because sometimes I don’t understand what it’s trying to tell me and i get frustrated. It’s like I hear it, but I can’t listen to it. Does that make sense? So I want to seek out the answers to what I don’t understand. I truly believe that the more I comprehend what the bible says, the more I am able to lead the life that I so desire to all the time instead of just when I’m in a bind. I like to think I’m a good person, but I want to be extraordinary in His eyes.

2. Teach my kids the rewards of volunteering. This is a quality in which I often seek out in people. I can’t tell how fulfilling it is for me personally to give my time to those less fortunate or even animal shelters for that matter. If you already volunteer, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Many times I hear people say that, “I don’t have the time”, or “I don’t know where to begin”, or even “I’m sure they have plenty of helpers”. Well, that may be true for special holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but what about the other 363 days? It’s in giving that we receive. Don’t think of it as receiving something materialistic either…that’s not the point. There are hundreds of different ways to give your time and it doesn’t mean that it has to be during the work week or become a part time job. You’ll see, try it; you may end up not getting enough of it!    

3. I want to learn French! Not because I LOVE the language and plan on residing in Paris with my little pink poodle! I used to want to learn Italian, but to be honest, it’s so similar to Spanish and I am able to grasp a lot of what is said (especially when I’m in the ladies room at Macaroni Grill :) The french language is spoken in 33 different countries! Did you know that French and English are the only languages spoken as a native language on 5 continents and the ONLY languages taught in every country in the world??? That being said, I think I could market myself or at a minimum, enjoy traveling abroad knowing that I speak 2 out of the three most common languages around. there won’t be any price gouging for me!! :) 4. Take 4 road trips this year. This is the first time I’ve ever lived in Cali. I know that there are big well known places all around as well as plenty of diamonds in the rough. I want to take the kids on four road trips and create scrapbooks out of it. Most of my friends are probably saying, “Ale…scrapbook….NOT!”, but yes…I really want to try it. but that’s besides the point! I’m not sure where I want to go yet, but with each trip, you can be sure that I will share the experience with you. I know that the kids will enjoy it, especially because we’d probably take our Border Collie, Skyler with us as well.  5.  Learn how to sew and start painting on canvas! I put these two together because they are both artsy, crafty, and can be so very original. I actually got so enthused this year about painting that I went out and purchased the easel, brushes, paints, canvas, and…….it’s still sitting in my closet. I also have a sewing machine that my mother gave me years ago and the best that I can do right now is sew a button when in need! My mom is a phenomenal seamstress without the use of a pattern too, and I have a girlfriend back in Hawaii that is an amazing knitter. I want to learn! So I’m going to make the time and take some sewing classes as well and use my creative juices for canvas. We’ll see what comes of it. Who knows, maybe if it’s decent enough, I can sell it for fundraising or charity!6.  Finally, I want to learn…..this is a hard one for me…..YOGA! There, I said it. If you know me personally, you know I DON’T DO YOGA. I’ve tried, and I don’t like it. But, as a good example for any fans out there, I want to try and embrace it, and squeeze it , and love it, and make it my own. This will probably be my toughest resolution, but at least I have the whole year to work at it right? I know that it’s good for the body and mind and spirit and all that other stuff, but more than anything, I want to do it because I think it will help me to grow in my world of being healthy. I understand that being physically fit and healthy (for me) is not all about fast pace running, swimming, biking, punching bags, or how many pull-ups and push-ups I can do. I need to stretch more  and learn to stay focused in a child’s pose without looking around the room with one eye open to see who looks more silly than me. So there you have it. I don’t know if my 6 resolutions will grow or not, but these are the main one’s I want to focus on. An important point to make though is this: I believe that family and friends are essential in our lives. For me, spending time with them is not a resolution because I already do that. Losing weight, quitting smoking, dumping the alcohol, and other popular one’s just happen to not apply to me. But that doesn’t mean that they may not to you.

Dig deep and focus on the things that you know resolving in your life, will in fact change it for the better, forever. Don’t just do it for this coming year. Do it and maintain it. Be the role model you want others to look up to.

Last but not least, I want to share with you a very well known prayer (Serenity prayer) that my father taught me and I carry with me always:

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

~Saint Francis of Assisi

Have a wonderful, safe, healthy and blessed Happy New Year!!!!

Women are powerful. It’s the truth. We are the doers, the organizers, the caretakers, the chauffeurs, the cooks, the confidants, the referees, and the list goes on and on. It seems like the world is on our shoulders, but…Do you realize what this means? It means that we have to maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit to function in our everyday lives! To be TRULY wealthy, we must get and stay healthy. This way, my friend, you can fully enjoy your life and embrace it the way it was meant to be embraced. Whole body health isn’t just a physical thing. Having a positive outlook on life can be such an amazing fix for both physical and emotional stress. Trust me when I say that when you feel great, you can feel the difference in every aspect of your life!

Sometimes it takes getting inspired but someone or something to  get moving. I know that for me, this is true. I just spent and amazing two days at a retreat for women. It was called the 2009 Women’s Renewal in Sacramento, CA. Although it was an estrogen filled weekend, I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend it (of course knowing that my kiddos were in good hands). I can only speak personally here, but I have wanted to live as a Godly woman for a long time, but I haven’t quite gotten to my fullest potential. Wouldn’t you know it, that as they gave away the gifts to everyone, which were daily devotional books by a number of different authors, I got the one that is called “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things”. Uuhhhhh, hello?

Soooooooo, now I’m wondering why I received this particular book, but I guess that’s just what I needed at the time, because it turns out to be a very inspiring book. I’d love to share one of my favorite passages in it with you:

Take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest. Don’t let Satan have another inch. The first piece of armor you’ve got to put back on is the breastplate of righteousness. That way, your injured heart will be protected by your doing what is right until you feel what is right.

Ephesians 6:13-14

This hit me like a ton of bricks. I used to be that girl. The one who obsessed over every calorie eaten, and every calorie burned. Sometimes, we take being “healthy” too far. I wasn’t doing what was right to my body, therefore, I was hurting Him. I was going about it all wrong. We become obsessed to get to a particular size jean, or we think that the scale should have a specific number that turns out to be unhealthy for us. Focusing so much on the physical distracts you from the really important things in life. You end up missing out on more than you think and it gets easier to put on a show for everyone to see, but on the inside, you’re drowning.

There is a special balance when you are healthy. And trust me, it’s not always what you see on the outside that determines good health. Be aware of your emotions and share with trusted friends what you are feeling and what your goals are. You need not have 50 close friends…actually, that’s virtually impossible if you ask me. 50 acquaintances or JUST friends, yes. But having 5 or less true, intimate friends in which you can count on for anything at any time of day or night bring about a peace that you will never want to give up.

It’s priceless.