A Little Resurrection of the Blog and Soul

Hello, world!  6 years later and I am back to say hey.

Sometimes you run off for a while in search of bigger, better things only to come back to the good old faithful blog many years later.

The only thing that has visibly changed in all these years is that I'm now a mom to two wonderful little ladies. I still live in the same house, have the same job, and go to the same church. The biggest changes in my life have happened beneath the surface, in my heart and mind, through situations and experiences that have torn me down and built me back up.

Life is weird like that; we can interact with people all the time and still not have a clue about the war going on inside of them. It's comforting but also unsettling. When you're the one facing an inner battle you can choose to just let safe and helpful people in to walk along side you, but you can also be completely oblivious to someone else's silent struggle.

If you can identify with that, just know that it's okay. Not everyone needs to know what you're going through. (It's okay to disappear for a while and you don't have to explain why.) You may have to let go of and grieve the loss of your dreams. But let the death of your old dreams be the fertilizer that will cultivate the growth of new, better dreams.

The hard times won't last forever and someday you'll be able to look back and see the abundant harvest of character and wisdom that you gained through it. And not be mad about it.

Life is both complicated and wonderful and the only thing that makes sense sometimes is to say that we weren't meant to understand all the whys and what ifs of life. Sometimes it just is what it is but for sure everything we face is meant to draw us closer to God and make us more useful for His kingdom and His purpose.

Tips for Getting Things Done

I'm as good of a procrastinator as the next person, but I also hate the feeling of putting things off for too long. And of course nothing feels better than checking something off your list that's been on there for a long time. I often, if only for a brief moment, feel pretty confident I could conquer the world after such times. :D

I work full time, most of which is from my home office. It's both a luxury and not at the same time. Because sometimes it's easier to do housework than paperwork and vice versa, and distractions are often plentiful. I've found that making separate lists for work and home has really helped me in prioritizing what to do and when. And it's a lot easier to focus on what I'm doing when I'm not trying to remember everything else I have to do in the back of my head.

So if you're thinking of things you need to do while reading this, stop right now and write them down. 

Here are my favorite list-keeping tips:

1. Set a goal/deadline. It's easier to get things done if you give yourself a deadline. Even if it's one you just make up for no reason it will help motivate you to get things done. Or aim for a certain number of tasks a day. Whatever motivates you most.

2. Check things off as you go.  This helps me keep momentum. If I finish one thing I'm more likely to do another, and maybe even another. Sometimes finishing one small task and checking it off your list is all the confidence you need to tackle something more difficult.

3. Reward yourself.  (The main reason I like to finish my to-do list in the first place. :D) I usually reward myself with some quiet time reading a new book or sipping a latte while I catch up on my favorite blogs. Or go on a walk. Whatever you like to do, make yourself finish some tasks before you indulge.

So, go and be productive! :)

What I Learned in 2016

Every year I seem to follow a certain pattern in my blogging habits: I start strong in the beginning, writing and sharing regularly, and then my inspiration dwindles as the year goes on. I might make some goals to remedy that in 2017, but either way, thanks for putting up with my sporadic behavior here. :)

As I reflect on the past year I thought it would be fun to share some of what I've learned this year...

To notice and appreciate the beauty around me.


To find joy and contentment in normal, everyday life.

To open my own small shop and gain different business experience.

To garden, nurture, and harvest, even long after I'm weary of it. :D

To budget, spend, and save our resources purposefully.

To write lists and goals to keep my priorities in focus.
To develop my photography skills and create my own style.

And lastly, to realize how big the world is and how small I am in the grand scheme of it.
But yet how large of an influence I can have on my surroundings. 


It's been an incredible year and I can't wait to see what the next one holds. Blessings to you all as you reflect on the past year and look forward to a new one!

Cheers,

The Choice To Be Content

I've travelled to enough different places in the world to know there are far more exciting and beautiful places to live than where we call home right now. But the beauty of home is that, no matter the scenery and level of activity, it's where we belong. And we can choose to see the world around us as dated and boring or unique and beautiful in its own way.

I like to dream about what it would be like to live in a big, bustling city or even in our quiet little hometown. Those places seem to have natural appeal and glamor without trying. But lately I've been thinking about where we live right now and the beauty and charm that I enjoy every day as I walk through our little neighborhood. 

I will never be completely satisfied with where I am and life will never be completely perfect unless I consciously CHOOSE to be content. I can look at what's wrong with the things around me or I can focus on what's right. I can dream my days away about where I think I would love to live or I can enjoy each day living right where I am and make it my dream. 

The difference is in what I choose to focus on. 

What about you, how do you strive for contentment in your life?

Stop the Fade

Sometimes I sit and look back on my life and all the things that have changed. When I was little I couldn't wait to grow up and do the things I wanted and become the person I hoped to be. Now when I look back I wonder how it happened so fast... (And I'm not even old yet).

And while all this growing up and changing happened, I had some of the best years of my life so far and some of the worst. I've learned to accept that some relationships turned out exactly opposite of what I hoped, that I will never get to live out some of my dreams, and that other situations turned out far better than I ever dreamed.

As I compare life now with the way things were back then, I often ponder about what caused the changes in me and the people around me. Some of the changes are good, some disappointing, and others aren't significant one way or the other. But I realize that it wasn't just one certain thing that caused the changes in our lives.

It was a slow fade.

Our lives are made up of the many situations we face and our response to them. We can choose to become bitter and angry at the hand we've been dealt in life or choose to be grateful for the good cards we do have. We may not deliberately choose a destination that we find ourselves at, but we got there by making small changes along the way. 

It's a slow fade,
When you give yourself away;
It's a slow fade,
When black and white are turned to gray.

And thoughts invade, choices are made
A price will be paid
When you give yourself away,
People never crumble in a day;

It's a slow fade.

How to stop the fade.

Purpose, each day, to be mindful of the people and truths you want to hold onto in life, and create habits that will keep them there. Pray and read your Bible everyday and highlight scriptures that encourage you. Keep in touch with the people who are important to you. Send them a note or make time to get together and let them know you care.

Sometimes you need to let go of things and people who have fulfilled their purpose in your life. But some things shouldn't change and some people are meant to be in your life forever. Hold onto them.

Embrace the life you've been given and learn from the situations you face.

How Living in a Rural Community Has Made Me More Creative

When I was 2 years old my parents moved our family from Central Pennsylvania to Northern Minnesota. Like just-across-the-river-from-Canada Northern Minnesota. And if you know anything about the area, it's fairly rural and removed from "the rest of the world." Think 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive to the nearest mall.
While this area is all that I ever remember calling home (and I really do love it here!), I have occasional longings of leaving it to experience life in a place with more economic prosperity and options. I mean, how could you not wish to live in an area that has a coffee shop a couple minutes in every direction? I may never know what that's like.

But one thing that I have learned from living in a rural community, that I think I would've missed out on otherwise, is to be creative even in the simple things. I can't go on a quick run to Target and sip on my favorite Starbucks latte as I do my shopping. Because of this I've learned to plan ahead and make myself a to-go cup at home instead. I have fun learning how to create my own lattes just the way I like them, and it's also a lot less expensive.

So, we don't have Target, but we also don't even have Walmart. Remember Big Kmart? Yep, that's what we have. That and 3 dollar stores... *face palm*  Trying to decorate a house requires a lot more forethought and creativity when your options are limited. I scan the local thrift stores for items I can repurpose or else try to make something myself. And when I do get to go shopping out of town at all my favorite stores, I feel (and probably look) like a kid at Christmas.

But ultimately, I say all this to remind each of us that life is what we make of it. I know there are unhappy people in the most prosperous of places and there are happy people living in far worse places than I described above. It's a daily choice for each of us to be happy where we are, whether in life or geographically, and find the good that is around us. And most importantly, I'm here and you're there for a reason.

What about you, how does where you live positively affect you?

New Year

I love the fresh motivation that a new year brings, full of wonder and anticipation about what this new year will hold and what might be accomplished and experienced. And this year I've been inspired to choose a word to specifically focus my thoughts and efforts on, and that is VISION.

If I were to name one word that I hung on to last year it would be INTENTION, and I feel like vision is an extension of that. --I had to think of the common phrase we hear "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" and I realized that if that's all I'm doing with my life, it's meaningless.-- So this year I want to focus on planning ahead and establishing a vision for my life, seeking God about where he wants me to invest my energy, and then preparing myself for whatever that is.

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained;

But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].

Proverbs 29:18

And with that in mind I also want to emphasize that every new day can hold this same meaning for us. We don't have to wait for a new year to start over and do better. We can endeavor to do this every day, reevaluate where we're headed and what we're doing.

So here's to a new year. And may you be challenged, stretched, and encouraged along the way!

What about you, do you have a specific word or focus for the next year? 

I'd love to hear your  thoughts!

Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Show me how to see what Your mercy sees.

Help me now to do the impossible
Help me now to give what You gave to me.

Matthew West