Pages

Sunday, September 25, 2016

"Thanks for Noticing"

Many of us look forward to growing up. But when we get there, we wish we were kids again with not a care in the world.  My life is not where I imagined it would be at my nearly 32 years of age.  I can paint a woe is me, "thanks for noticin'" Eeyore picture or I can paint a positive enthusiastic Tigger "that is with a T-I-double guh- ER" picture of my life right now.  It is all dependent upon my perspective and attitude.  Many days I feel like Eeyore rather than Tigger.  I feel like I am merely walking through life and existing rather than living life with purpose and impact.  It is time for me to take responsibility.  I am to be held accountable for my choices.  According to the wise Noah Webster, I am responsible-accountable to God to use the talents that He gave me.
I was able to use my talent of teaching today.  I am not sure I completely honored God due to lack of preparation.  I volunteered to substitute for a Sunday School class, but I failed to prepare till the very last minute.  I also got a tap on the shoulder this morning saying I had Children's Church.  Again, no preparation.  I thank God for the talent He gives me to teach even on the fly, but I know that God wants my best.  My best is to be prepared and passionate about what He wants me to teach.  I need to have a Tigger mindset that just oozes with confidence and enthusiasm in my own special way.  Also, whatever I don't like about my life, I have the ability to change.  It is time to make those positive choices that will get me closer to where I want to be.  I need to choose to be prompt, prepared, and passionate in anything I do.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
~1 Corinthians 10:31

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Never a Dull Moment

I work at a childcare center with an awesome harvest of three year old kiddos that God has so graciously blessed me with.  Yesterday was a day where some precious memories were made.  It started with one of my kiddos in line to wash her hands.  She said, "Watch this!" and she proceeded to cross her eyes.  We both laughed and she said, "My brother taught me that."

Snack time is always an exciting part of the day, and yesterday we had yogurt and animal crackers.  After a bit, I had several requests for more animals crackers, but there were not enough crackers to go around.  I announced to the class that there weren't enough and to eat what they were given.  All of a sudden, I hear this painful cry from one of my kiddos.  I asked, "What is wrong?" He looked up at me and said, "You made me sad."  I grabbed my mouth and walked away so I wouldn't laugh in front of him.  He wanted more animal crackers, and I squashed his dreams.

Later on, I caught another child who had already eaten her snack at another table with a snack in front of her. I didn't see her actually eating her friend's snack, but the opened yogurt and half eaten animal cracker on top indicated otherwise.  I asked her, "Did you eat this snack?" She answered back with no.  I asked again, when another friend spoke up and said, "Her nose is getting longer."

These are the moments when my job doesn't feel like a job.  I get to do life with amazing kiddos and look at life through their perspective.  It is a refreshing glimpse of the simplicity of life.  They make me smile, laugh, and enjoy my time with them.  There is never a dull moment, and I never know what a day will bring.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Which Voice?

I have been involved with a 12 week Team Beauty challenge for the last month.  I have enjoyed it so far.  It has kept me really accountable to my meal plan and exercise.  I am down six pounds so far and have a little over 6 pounds left before it's time to party!  

BUT today I messed up.  It started off good.  I had a great day with a shake for  breakfast and lunch.  I gave into temptation at a ladies fellowship at church tonight.  I tried to steer clear of the desserts, but I gave into a peanut butter "crack" brownie (Rice Krispy crack).  I also kept nibbling on an organic but not necessarily healthy pumpkin cobbler crumble of sorts.  I also had a few too many meatballs.  I posted my food to the accountability group, but I omitted a few details.  As I was driving home, my tummy started to feel the effects of my choices. Yes, they were my choices.  No one forced me to eat anything.  I chose to and I chose to go back.  Then it began, the thoughts.  The guilt.  The beating myself up for making the choices that I made.  But this time, I chose not to listen.  I told Satan to get out.  I prayed to God for forgiveness, and I let go of the guilt.  I nipped the thought in the bud before it had a chance to fester and eat away at me.  I decided right there that I would exercise when I got home.  I did put a video on and got a good ten minutes of exercise in.
This may not sound like a big deal, but for me this was a major victory.  I am learning to practice taking captive my thoughts and not allowing them to dictate my feelings and attitudes.  It is a work in progress, but I know that I will continue to grow.  No one is ever going to steal my joy.  I am in charge of what I think, and I choose to think on the things that are lovely, pure, and noble.  God's got a plan for you and I, we just need to make sure we listen to His voice and not the voice of the Enemy.

Watch. Wait. Listen. Learn.