Three!

Three years old!  Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

And, as it turned out, today was a snow day. :)  

Me and G New Year's 2011

My best friend.  The love of my life.  My rock.

Goals 2011

Last summer I was trained as a facilitator for the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".  Very cool program.  Very guru-esque creator (Steven Covey)...

Because of that training, I surfed one day to the Franklin Covey website (his company) and did the personal mission statement section...it takes some focused time, but it's a good way to get an objective view of your personal philosophies and goals.

SO, here are some of mine:

• I am at my best when I have a deadline and I can turn everything else off to hyper-focus.

• I will try to prevent times when I'm micromanaging.

• I will find enjoyment in my personal life through travel, hiking, and experiencing new places.

• I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as writing, dreaming, and creating.

• I can do anything I set my mind to. I will learn Spanish, travel around the world, continue my education, and build a house.

• I will stop procrastinating and start working on:

• frivolous spending.
• abandonment of wasted time on facebook, email, internet, TV, etc...screens in general...
• quiet time with God.

• I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:

• grace
• unconditional love
• a spirit of life

• I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:

• exercise...cardio and weights
• daily quiet time
• literature, more education (National Board Certification)
• quality time with Garon and my children

December 2010

Merry Christmas!

This I Believe...

Every person on this planet is God's child with God's beauty planted inside, sometimes dormant, sometimes in bloom.  Our journeys back to Him are individual.  We all fall short of His glory, and only by His grace are we worthy in His sight.  So in these truths lies God's demand that we love one another, tolerate one another, forgive one another.  We, who are unworthy of forgiveness ourselves, only condemn our hearts to darkness when we carry judgment for others.

Likewise, our understandings and perceptions of life are absolutely subjective.  We cannot see what another sees, hear what another hears, feel what another feels.  Two people living through the same event in what could be considered the exact same circumstances will be shaped differently.  The traumatic and hurtful pieces of our lives are equally human.  They are all dark.  None are of God.  All are of fallen man.  But that's where God's grace will redeem.  When those dark pieces are given to our merciful, compassionate Father, He takes what was ugly and gives it back as something beautiful...those redeemed pieces become our understanding of God's love.  They become our testimonies that let us be the Body...His arms reaching, feet going, voices telling.

This I Believe.

FOCUS!

Not doing very well keeping up with my blog...Not much down-time to catch up with some quiet time.  Still working on national boards (due March 31st!).  I need to spend LOTS more time getting that process in full swing.  Time management for me is HARD!  AND, it seems that I'm getting worse rather than better...I've really almost convinced myself that I have adult-onset ADD.  Seriously--I can't focus.

Kiddos are great.  Tori is doing well in 3rd.  Adrion will start pre-school in January.  Tomorrow is Halloween--Tori as Cleopatra and Adrion as Mr. Incredible.  :)

Fun times!

Reading...

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink.  It's about twins who hold the key to the apocalypse.  Young adult read.  Also reading poetry of Edgar Allen Poe.  Beautiful prose.  Tormented soul.  I feel sorry for him.