All the Married Ladies

It's that month.  You know the one where everyone on your Facebook and Twitter feeds are sharing their "30 Days of Thanksgiving". November.  The one month out of the year where nearly everyone can find something for which to be thankful.  As a matter of fact, I've been counting some blessings myself.

This morning was difficult to see thankful things.  Boys sick, not sleeping well and mom just not wanting to rise early.  So I spent some time in God's Word, the holy scriptures.  Reflecting on His promises.  And then on to breakfast. Words ringing in my head, echoing of conversations past and desiring to be truly thankful.  As I break open the eggs, my thoughts seem to focus on the things for which I've been less thankful.  He walks into the room preceded by our youngest child and I see thanks in a whole new light.



After nearly 9 years of marriage, how often have I expressed my specific thanks to and for my husband? This morning was less about me and more about us, as I chose to let go of my way and accept his help - help not asked for or offered, just given.  And I wondered, how often have I counted my blessings?  Blessings, gifts. Why am I thankful for him at all?  If I say I'm thankful for him, for our marriage, then my reasons are not all general but more specific.

• I'm thankful for his help with breakfast.


• I'm thankful for his not allowing the boys to speak to me in an improper tone.


• I'm thankful for the way he holds me close.


• I'm thankful for his spontaneous, fun personality.

And the list goes on and on and on.  What about you?  Are you thankful for your spouse? If so, in what ways?  Do you see the good in them and encourage them?  Can you find at least one thing to be thankful, truly thankful for in them daily?  I dare you.  I dare you to let go of selfishness, pride, bad advice, putting children ahead of your spouse and see the things, the gifts, given to you by your spouse.  Write them down, name them one by one.  One day, the children will grow up and move out, there will be changes in jobs and in the end it will just be the two of you.  Will you choose joy in your marriage - I dare you!

 

 

21 Day Challenge

Nearly nine years ago, I married the most incredible man I'd ever met.  He's fun, outgoing, smart, spontaneous...practically every thing I had on my future husband wish list.  Though our differences are numerous, there are several things we have in common - some good, some not so good.

One area, that I believe is safe to say, we have both struggled with is self-discipline in the area of healthy living.  This includes but is not limited to:

• Healthy food choices


• Regular exercise


• Teaching our boys the importance of maintaining good physical health

Just about a month ago, it was decided that we'd make some changes in the right direction.  We began by trying to incorporate more whole foods into our diet.  I think it's safe to say that we've done okay in that area.  Though our children are reluctant, they are slowly coming around.  However, I'm struggling still with the exercise portion of living healthy.  This was not something that was taught as a necessity to myself or my husband growing up.  So making time for it has been quite a challenge.  Not to mention we live in a rural community and have 3 boys under the age of 5.

I was so excited when I read on Erin's blog Home with the Boys about Crystal's, from Money Saving Mom, new ebook 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life. And I was even more excited to learn about the challenge that will begin tomorrow, November 1st!  One of the challenges in the book is to pick a mega project to work toward completing during the 21 day challenge.  And boy did I come up with a list of projects I could work on! Here are just a few of my mega project list for future months.

• Homeschool Curriculum - since it looks like that's the route we'll be taking, I need to start working on what next fall will look like for us.


• Make a Quilt - something I've been wanting to do for a while.


• Declutter my house - something I could put off indefinitely but really needs has to be done!


• Prayer book for my boys - a book for scriptures my boys can look at and we can pray together.

But my choice is obvious. Exercise will be my focus the next 21 days.  I'm not going to jump in and try to over do it - which I'm really good at.  However, I want to invite a family lifestyle that embraces exercise.  We, meaning I, will start small and work toward my goal progressively.  Since my college days, I've gained a good bit of weight and a lot of remorse over it.  I'm watching my children embrace an unhealthy lifestyle that I've promoted through my inaction. So here are a few of my goals for the beginning:

• Exercise for at least 15 minutes a day.


• Utilize my resources - walking track at the local park, Couch to 5K phone app, exercise videos, exercise games for the game systems, etc.


• Actually use the My Fitness Pal app on my smart phone to track my daily food and exercise goals (& put a badge on my blog - for accountability)

So, have a mega project you've been thinking about  putting off for a while? Buy the book here. And then join the challenge! Looking forward to beginning a new, healthy lifestyle over the next 21 days.  Will you join me?

 

 

Getting passed me

I like fall, football Saturdays and the changing leaves. I like mornings, sunrises and birds singing. I like sunsets, starry nights and the sound of crickets.

I enjoy napping on the porch swing under a beautifully hand-stitched blanket. I enjoy the sound of my boys laughing together. I enjoy a comfy pair of jeans, a t-shirt and some flip-flops.

I'd rather listen to music with the windows open while cleaning than watch television any day! I'd rather be in a place where the pace is slow and the only traffic sounds heard are the rare car passing by or the train whistle in the distance.

I want my boys to see Christ in me. I want to live life focused on the eternal rather than the temporal. I want my legacy to be more than valueless things and more of investing in the value of others.

I'm learning that getting passed me, the things I fear, dislike and dread, is more than an emotional moment. It's a personal commitment to the one who made me and the only one who can change me. I'm learning that Christ in me is the only way passed me.

Marriage, Family, Ministry - My role, God's Design : Day 1

To say I'm not ever up for a challenge would be less than the truth. As a matter of fact, I like a good challenge...as long as I don't lose. Don't believe me? Ask my husband about the game of Risk! But that's a story for another time. After spinning my thinking wheels for several days, I hesitantly accepted the challenge of blogging on the same topic everyday for 31 days or the entire month of October. Crazy, I know, but a challenge worth facing (in my opinion).

Marriage, family and ministry are all topics most anyone can talk about vaguely as well as in-depth. Everyone has their own opinions, thoughts and convictions as to how each of these should work. Myself included. I'd even venture so far as to say that each of these is a challenge for me. In the process of "growing up" I formed my own perceptions based on the influence others opinions had made on me in regards to these three areas.

My challenge...that I chose to accept...is to spend time in the Word of God and let Him reveal to me, my roles as wife, mother and partner in ministry as He designed them. As I open His Word daily, I pray the Holy Spirit will convict, challenge and change me for His glory.

So, let the journey begin!

31 Days

Oh how I dislike a challenge. Mainly because I'm no good at failing. But I guess I can't have trial without error. So here it goes!

I enjoy reading, well most of the time. My husband, some months ago, came across a blog he thought I might enjoy. http://www.gracecoversme.com/. Christine has a knack, or maybe just a gift, for being used by the Holy Spirit to speak directly to me. She has challenged her readers for the next 31 days.

So here's my challenge, for the month of October...the next 31 days...I will be blogging on a specific topic related to my walk with the Lord. So come back everyday for the next 31 days and see what the Lord is teaching me or try it for yourself!

Naomi