525,600 Minutes

525,600 Minutes, 525, 600 moments so dear - How do you measure, measure a year?

So, I've been meaning to write this post for a few weeks now.  But a very inconveniently timed kidney stone messed it all up.  Follow that up with a frantic move, a job a week later, and then putting my house together much quicker than I had planned, and here we go...I'm a month late doing this post!

So here goes...

A year ago we picked up and went off on an adventure to a far off land...Fayetteville, Arkansas.  We knew no one there and had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but we just knew that we had to go.  God had spoken, He had provided, and we were answering that call.  I can honestly say it was one of the hardest and best years of my life.  I learned and grew and changed in ways I never could have imagined.

I came back to Alabama a changed person.  I didn't see it in the day to day.  I just did what I had to do.  But then, looking back over the year, I can see the changes in me, and hopefully, see that I impacted those around me.

How do you measure a year?

Do I measure it in the growth I saw in the precious girls I had the privilege to mentor?

Do I measure it in the weight I lost and strength I gained?  Learning to take care of and appreciate my body?

Do I measure it in the growth I had at the church we were blessed to find our first Sunday there?

Do I measure it in how I saw my sweet children blossom and learn to love Chi Alpha?

Do I measure it in what I learned at the end of discussions and conversations had with an amazing Campus Director and friend?

Do I measure it in the dear friends I made and the experiences we had together?  Oh, how I miss them all!

I am so grateful for the time we had there, for lifelong friends made, for spiritual and emotional growth, and so much more.

I miss you all, and will never forget or regret my time there.

I miss driving by the Razorback Stadium on my way to Wal-Mart to get groceries.

I miss playing music with some of the best people I've ever met.

I miss all our crazy conversations and playing Frisbee golf and laughing hysterically.

I miss Kosmos, and Feltner Bros.

I miss coming home to a houseful of students.

I miss one-on-ones, and lunches, and friends who will drop everything to pray for you and support you.

I miss the walking/biking trails.

I miss running and taking the girls to play at Wilson Park.

I miss my fellow Whovians.

I miss my workout/accountability partner.

I miss W.O.W. fitness.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you.  I love you all!

(sappy post over)

GPS

Independence Day was last week.  Our holiday destination of choice was a lovely get-together with our Chi Alpha family.  I was really looking forward to it, knowing that in just a few short weeks we make yet another transition in the journey God has us on.  Time to move on to different things.  Time to begin to plow and plant the fields the Lord has laid before us.  It's daunting at times to think about.  I have no idea what's going to happen, how the road is going to turn, how the bills will be paid, how we're gonna make it to the end result.  It's been a constant source of anxiety for me.  (shocker, I know!)

As we were driving to our friend's house last Thursday for the festivities, my kids were in the back seat and they were very curious about where we were going.  They were ready to get there and party! Swim in the creek?  Yes!  Eat food?  Yes!  Fireworks?  Yes (well, until the little one heard them and was terrified).  All the way there I heard, "Do you know how to get there?"  "Are we at the house yet?"  Over and over little questions came over the headrests until finally I hear, "Mommy, are you sure you know how to get to the house?"  I had had enough by this point.  So I turn around and say, "Yes, sweetie, we know how to get there.  I have the directions.  Can you just trust me to get you where you're going?"

Immediately, I hear in my spirit...Yeah, can't you just trust Me to get you where you're going?

How's that for a swift kick in the pants?  When am I going to learn that lesson once and for all?  What's not to trust about the most trustworthy of all?  How can I doubt the provision of the One whose very Name means provider?

So maybe I should sit quietly in the back seat, trusting God that He knows where we are going and the right way to get there.  Even when it doesn't make sense to me.  Even when I feel like we've been traveling a little bit too long and I'm impatient and slightly uncomfortable.  Maybe I'll even take a nap!

Crawling my way back to life

I used to be organized.  Once, long ago, I had a plan for everything, a place for everything and had it all figured out in my mind.  Things have gotten a lot more complicated since then.  Two kids, more bills, multiple calendars, work, school, ministry...I can't keep up with it all.  I think it started just over four years ago when I released I hadn't balanced my checkbook in 18 months.  Even though I managed to catch it up, a little part of me gave up at that moment.  Even more things started slipping. And now I find myself  constantly behind and constantly frustrated.  I don't like living this way.  Part of the reason is that most days I have very little energy. This is probably due to a poor diet.  Thankfully, in the last few months I have revolutionized my activity level.  By I still feel tired, behind, and somewhat out of control.  I was told this weekend by a friend that I was the most balanced person she knows.  If I am, it's only by the grace of God.  Some days it's hard to even get out of bed, much less do anything worthwhile!

So here I am, two weeks late...not making resolutions, but goals to get myself on track.  I've learned to cut myself a lot of slack in many areas and I'm glad.  Perfection is my enemy.

So here are my goals for the coming months.  I won't say the year, because some of these might not turn out to be realistic.  Or I may find I need to complete a different goal in order to move on to another goal.  It's a work in progress.

1.  Continue exercising- add at least one more day per week
2. Transition my family from processed to real foods as much as possible-use a menu
3. Consciously make an effort to practice kindness and friendship to my children
4. Carve out time each with my husband
5.  Set and maintain a schedule.  Not to fill my day, but to bring order to what I have to do.  Use a daily system to keep me on track.
6.  Make a home organizational binder
7. Devote 20 minutes a week to simplifying life and possessions.
8.  Make a plan to get out of debt (again) and stick to it.
9.  Most importantly, make the time to fuel my Spirit through daily interaction and relationship with Jesus.

I am hoping that once I accomplish some of these, that I can plan some other projects without overloading myself.  I can't be the person I need to be if I am all over the place.

Now my goals are out there for the world to see.  I believe I can make these changes...I'm sure revisions will be in the making!