Our October Blessings!

There are only ten more days until Halloween. The kids' costumes have been picked out and ordered and we are looking forward to taking them out to get candy. I'm just hoping it won't be cold and/or rainy! It's been horrible weather for it the past few years! Irregardless, we'll still be going and making new family memories! This will be our first Halloween together!

Speaking of new things, there are a few other new things that are happening right now. It's been keeping me so preoccupied that I completely forgot to post this month's promotions (sorry about that!). Before I tell you what's going on with the fitness stuff, I'll just fill you in on the two big blessings that have been taking up my time.

The first one is the sale of my house (yes, finally!). It's very bittersweet. While we are very glad to finally get it sold (which will free up our budget, bless us with a profit, and take a load off of our minds) it's also sort of sad for me. As you might remember, I bought the house last year and my parents and I went to work on updating/improving the inside. The house not only reflects my personal taste, but it meant so much to me to be able to live close to my Dad and to have been able to get the house as a single mom. It was a milestone for me. I barely had any time to really savor it before God surprised me with Chris and things began moving me in a different direction (both literally and figuratively). The merging of our two lives meant trusting that God would provide for us as well as bring a new job opportunity my way. It's been a little unsettling to have to wait for the house to sell as well as a new job.

That's my other great news! :) It took three tries, but I finally ended up with the right job! It was almost like "The Three Bears" story in which the previous two jobs/interviews had a lot to offer, but only the third one was "just right" for me. God always knows best and I'm glad that He didn't allow me to have the jobs that I felt were right. He knew what the perfect fit would be for me (and when) and no matter how disappointed I felt in missing out on the first two, I knew that that only meant that God had something better. :) I am so thankful to God, and to The Salvation Army, for giving me the opportunity to work and serve the organization! It is an honor and a joy to be part of a team of people with big hearts and big faith! I am enjoying the learning process and looking forward to using my gifts and skills to help people!

Of course, one of my gifts is being able to connect with people, so I'm hoping that I will be able to enlist the help (as well as donations) from my big hearted family, friends, and readers of my blogs! ;) The organization can't exist without YOUR time and gifts. It is because of YOU that The Salvation Army can continue to have the means to feed, clothe, and give assistance to those that might otherwise not have basic needs. Please, prayerfully consider how you can get involved; whether it's through a donation of any amount or volunteering your time (we need individuals, families, groups, church congregations, etc. to start signing up for bell ringing! Click here to sign up to be a bell ringer!). These last few months of the year are busy for everyone. The holidays can be a hard time of year for various reasons. What better way to show your Christmas spirit and spread, peace, joy, and hope to others than by spending at least one hour of your time ringing that bell and encouraging people to donate their spare change for those in need?! C'mon, you can do it! One hour will bless you AND others. Get your spouse, kids, or church involved too! :) You'll be glad you did!

Ok, so I've been so busy talking about the Lord's business here that I nearly forgot about my own business. It pales in comparison, but since I need to finally clue you in, I'll throw it in here at the end lol. You've got a little over a week left to take advantage of the following deals: the new P90X challenge pack and the Ultimate Reset challenge pack. Additionally, they are offering up to 50% savings (yeah, I know, right?!) on Les Mills Pump and Les Mills Combat challenge packs, programs, and accessories! Now THAT'S a deal! I LOVED doing Les Mills Combat! I got three words for that: Fun. Fit. Fierce! It was enjoyable, got me results, and I felt super tough (how can you not when you're doing boxing and martial arts mooves?!). Get it while the getting is good! You won't regret it!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Thank you so much for reading! Also, a big thank you to all who have supported and prayed for my family and I. We couldn't have made it without you! We appreciate everyone's encouragement and prayers! Be infused! God bless you!

Family, Friends, and Faith

It's been quite a busy week! I feel like every day was jam packed with something! Sometimes, it just seems like a blur after you sit down to think about it!

I really don't have anything to say or share today. I almost forgot to post at alll even though Sundays are the days I usually like blogging the most. They are my more "personal" posts and a break to focus on spiritual wellness which is the most important aspect of one's overall wellness. I guess if there would be anything I would want to share, it's just that reminder to enjoy life and what's most important; as well as taking the time to rest. I finally feel a little more rested up after such an exhausting week (even though I just started Les Mills Combat TODAY lol) and I also felt rejuvenated after some unexpected family time with my parents and some extended family. It was wonderful to be able to do that today and to get a pleasant start to a new week!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you can take some time to relax as well as enjoy all the wonderful and most important things in life; family, friends, and faith. That was one thing my family always does so well when we get together; we laugh, share stories and memories, and talk about important things. Never underestimate the power of those simple things that mean so much! Be infused! God bless you!

Superhuman vs. Being a Super Human

Sometimes, you are reminded of the fact that you are human and can't do it all by yourself. Life has many demands on your time and resources and it's hard to handle. Tasks get put off and/or forgotten and before you know it, you're scrambling to catch-up and make-up for lost time.

Today, I was thinking about all the things that haven't gotten done; a few dishes in the sink, never-ending laundry, my shaggy headed son needing a haircut, and Friday and Saturday's blog posts that I totally forgot to compose (sorry about that!). Despite my best efforts to be superwoman/mom, I fall short. It just can't always be accomplished.

It's in moments like these where I have to just stop for a moment and reflect. If you're like me, I'm sure you can relate (especially other fellow moms out there). It's absolutely necessary to truly stop and shift your focus. For me, it was acknowledging what actually DID get done and remembering where the priorities were. As long as my time, attention, and resources went to what was most important, I can relax and remember that I did a LOT because I did what mattered most.

So, what DID I get done? Well, I made sure my kids got to school every day (unless it was canceled...then I had new arrangements to deal with). I made sure their homework was done, sibling dynamics were neutral, meals were given, clothes were laundered (though this never ends!), and bedtimes were observed. The job of a mother isn't a "paid" position in terms of currency, but it certainly pays off in other ways! So, that job is a BIG DEAL and MUST be done - always. I may not do it perfectly (see prior shaggy-headed comment) but I make sure the major parenting stuff is covered! ;) All that while having to make sure I work my other two jobs (the ones that DO pay the bills). I'm a Team Beachbody coach, but have not reached the point to where I can be like some of the other coaches that don't need a "day job" anymore. So, I keep on juggling both. ;)

Chris and I at the wedding reception;
the first time he has ever grinned ear to ear like that
for one of our pictures together! Priceless!

In the midst of all that, I still try to make sure I stay connected with family and friends. I also make sure that I'm continuing to be a good girlfriend to the wonderful man that always places me in the highest of priorities in his day-to-day life. This past weekend, he once again drove over an hour to be with me and insisted on taking me out to a nice dinner for our early Valentine's Day. Then, after my shift the following day, I finally got the chance to return the favor by experiencing the long drive to "his turf" lol. I was beyond honored to go with him to a wedding reception for a good friend of his as well as spend a lot of quality time laughing and visiting with his parents for the first time. Then, I drove all the way home in mildly treacherous winter weather; happily exhausted from such a long day.

After reflecting on all of that, I don't beat myself up as much over the "little" things that are still begging for my attention. After all, dishes, clothing, and the blogosphere will always be there (and be a continuous, regenerative, greedy vacuum that wants to consume my time). I could never feel too guilty about putting those things on the back burner, but I WOULD feel guilty if I made the truly important people/events/etc. wait! I may have come home to the sink and laundry hampers that mock me, but  you know what? Who cares! Who REALLY cares? Those things are nothing but "filler" in my life. The meat and potatoes, the things that matter most, are the very things that got the most of my being this week/weekend. Through it all, God was right there; carrying me through, listening to every prayer, and providing everything I needed (Casey even came home with a fresh haircut when I picked him up from his Dad's! So grateful for that little surprise blessing!).

Grace and peace to you, my friends! It is my hope that we all can remember to enjoy what matters most in life and never beat ourselves up for the little things that will never matter when our lives end. The legacy we leave, and the impact we have on this world/people, last a lot longer than a haircut, clean dishes/clothes, or a blog post. Though, this may be one of the blog posts that people will remember when I die...who knows lol! ;) Sharing this was definitely time well spent! The dishes and laundry can wait yet another day (especially since my wonderful Dad is going to fix the leaky sink tomorrow!). See, even the sink itself gave me permission to focus on the important stuff. It knows where it stands lol! Doing your best doesn't mean being superhuman, but a SUPER human! Yeah, there IS a difference! Be infused! God bless you!

Still Just As Blessed!

Today, we're having a family get together to celebrate my Grandpa's 89th birthday (as well as a ton of other November birthdays in my family). It got me to thinking even more about how much I love November, Thanksgiving, and how I greatly enjoy the opportunity to pause and reflect on my blessings. I LOVE being with my family and I can't wait to see them today! We've always been close and we've bonded all the more in the last couple years due to sadness, illness, and losses in our family.

Just thinking about all that I have to be grateful for made me want to look back through some of my older blog posts and remember what I wrote about in years past. I smile as I re-read the following blog post (shared below) from 2009. In an ever changing world, I hope that things like this don't change much. It's about Casey and his sweet and simple ways; complete with artwork lol. Casey still loves to draw (and in detail) and he still gets excited about the holidays.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope this brings a smile to your face like it did mine and that your lives will be filled with blessings, love, and laughter! Obviously, despite the things that HAVE changed in recent years, I am still just as blessed now as I ever was! I thank God for that! Be infused!! God bless you!!

***

For some reason, Casey is just crazy about holidays! Whenever he knows one is coming up, that's all he talks about! Maybe it's because they learn so much about it at school, and sing the songs, make the crafts, etc. I've heard tons of songs/chants about turkeys, pilgrims, Indians, etc. It's all so cute and it reminds you just how fun, exciting, and simple the whole essence of the holiday is (as well as our heritage). It's all too easy, as an adult, to forget the joy of a holiday (or any day/moment). It's nice to be reminded of the simple joys!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday because it's nearly untainted by the media and doesn't come with a bunch of hype (well, other than hearing about "after Thanksgiving" sales). It's a time where we are reminded to think and reflect on our blessings and truly be grateful. It's a humble and beautiful thing, and something that should be done every day.

With that being said, I don't have much else to say because there isn't much I can add to something as pure and humble as Thanksgiving. As I said, I was reminded of just how simple and wonderful everything can be when you are looking at it through the eyes of a child. That's why I wanted to share this very cute (and somewhat humorous) picture that Casey brought home from school. I hope it brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart as it did to mine (the part I thought was most funny is that he didn't forget to include a remote control! That's a boy for you, right? LOL!!). I asked Casey who the people were in the picture. The guy at the door is "Squanto", the one on the chair is a "pilgrim", and the one holding the remote is an "Indian". I think we will be able to make his Thanksgiving wish come true in regards to letting him watch his beloved dinosaurs on TV at Papaw and Mamaw's house, but I don't think that any real pilgrims or Indians will be in attendance around our table (although, I venture to say, I often feel as though my children act like wild Indians - and I don't mean that disrespectfully to any Native Americans who are reading). Although, the kids COULD wear the special hats that Casey made at school - one pilgrim hat and one Indian hat. That would make for a good picture! LOL

All the hand-print turkey projects, coloring pages, and other crafts have all brought a smile to my face. Though, the one thing that most blew me away was the beautiful cornucopia that he drew. At first, I thought it was a coloring page that he simply colored, but no.....HE DREW/COLORED it himself!! Personally, I marvel at his artistic ability and interest in drawing because I don't know that I could top him! Seriously, I don't think I could draw much better than him!! And, the best part is, everything he makes comes from that amazing pure heart of his! He's just so innocent and honest about what he's drawing!! And, once again, his depiction of Thanksgiving includes dinosaurs lol. He made sure to include many of them around the cornucopia. ;) I chuckle to think of a dinosaur sitting around the table at that very first Thanksgiving. Can you imagine trying to share a meal with a T-Rex (without BEING a meal?). Ha ha!

So, here's to hoping that your Thanksgiving is beautiful, bountiful, and humble!! Grace and peace to you as you reflect on all your many simple blessings!! And please know, I am SO GRATEFUL for all of you who are in my life!! God bless you all!!