20 Things that I have learned about Life :)

"Life is a Journey, not a Destination!"

I was just brainstorming the other day & since my birthday is next week; I had fun looking back & jotting down a few things that I have learned about life & myself along the way.:) Wow-- I sure have grown! :)


I've learned that:

1. I believe that the Lord puts dreams in our hearts for a good reason. Give your dreams over to God & trust that he will work them out in his own timing and not our own! :)

2. In elementary school, I occasionally got into trouble for staring out the window and daydreaming. Today, I am still dreaming with childlike faith & I still dream big! Ive also learned that when a dream dies, then just dream another dream for another opportunity to come my way! :)

3. Share your dreams with those who understand and and can be supportive. Life is full of naysayers, so I try to not to let them discourage me & give up on the dreams that the Lord has put in my heart! :)

4. Attitude is everything-- choosing to be positive makes a big difference in rising above adversities! Ive heard it said that our ATTITUDE determines our ALTITUDE in life. :)

5. Dont sweat the small stuff and pick your battles carefully. Life is just too complicated as it is! :)

6. Forgive others quickly & turn offenses over to God. Holding unforgiveness in our hearts is like drinking poison ourselves and wishing the other person dead & a hazard to our health!
I'd rather focus on what someone has done FOR me, rather that TO me. :)

7. Having a child diagnosed with Autism isnt a death sentence-- It just means that the Lord trusted me & my husband enough to care for this very special child . I feel honored that we are entrusted with Noahs care.

8. Everyone is not going to like me and that is okay, cause I like who I am. I no longer let others opinions define me.

9. Standing up for what I believe in, even if it means losing a few friends along the way!

10. To Not take things so personally.... why carry the burden?

11. Sometimes when someone/something annoys me, it is like looking into a mirror image of a certain weakness inside of myself that needs my attention. This can be good thing, even though its painful sometimes... cause we all want to grow, right???

12. The word "FEAR" is just False Evidence Appearing Real!

13. Dont live in the past, cause I cant move forward if I am still looking backward!

14. Dont waste precious time worrying about what others think-- cause I wont always be able to please everyone.

15. If I dont like my circumstances and I cant change them, then I try to change the way that I think about it. Getting a fresh perspective & looking for the bright side of somthing surely works!

16. To not beat myself up over past mistakes and things that I cant change or have no control over. I'd rather focus on my milestones and not my mistakes.

17. Home is wherever we make it and it is so much more than my familys address whether it be a house or an apartment. Besides, its the memories that I cherish the most... :) I still have fond memories of when I was a single Mom living in an apartment with my 'tween boys before I met and married Joel.

18. To treat our grown children as equals and enjoy their friendship. I may or may not always like their choices, but I have to realize that I have to cut the apron strings sometime and give them the freedom to make their own choices/mistakes or how will they learn and grow?

19. I never let a day go by without telling my children/family/spouse how much I love them, cause tommorrow is never certain.

20. Its okay to indulge every now and then to get away from the kids.
Ive heard it said that "Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others," which is so very true& time away from my kids makes me a better Mom!

Top 10 Blessings

Here are the Top 10 blessings when you live in God's grace-
Romans chapter 8 :)

1. Peace (8:1) - no matter the circumstances, you can experience and live in God's peace

2. Life (8:6) - there is life and joy when you abide in God and trust his promises and principles

3. Wonderful relationship to God as our Father (8:15-16) - The Holy God of the Universe is our Father! Wow!!

4. Access to God's riches (8:17a) - what Christ has is yours, you are co-heir with Jesus Christ to all heaven's riches!

5. Privilege of suffering for Christ (8:17b-18) - might sound like a weird blessing, but many Christians can testify to a fantastic intimacy and a fantastic growth in their relationship with God during suffering for Christ!

6. Power of the Holy Spirit (8:26) - The Holy Spirit lives in you. He helps you, he guides you and he constantly intercedes for you!

7. Assurance that God loves us (8:28) - God loves you just the way you are!

8. Promise that we'll get all we need (8:31-32) - God, your Father, takes care of you and will give you all you need!

9. Victory over all evil (8:37) - God if for us! Who can be against us?

10.Assurance of remaining in God's love (8:38-39) - God will never let you go! He'll always love you!

Walking By Faith

I received this devotional in my email box today & thought it had a nice message :)


Walking By Faith
Robin Ware

Walking by faith is one of the shortest and yet most powerful sentences a believer can say. As a single woman over the age of 40 and small business owner, this is my life's testimony. The world wants you to believe that there is something wrong with a life like mine because I'm still single and childless.

They want you to believe that if you aren't keeping up with the Joneses and that you aren't living a fulfilled life. Pretty hilarious, huh? I know that I'm God's best and as I walk by faith, He is completing me as I joyfully tell my teasers that my life is more complete than theirs.

As you walk out your dreams, here are some great tips to ensure that walking by faith is an enjoyable experience:


1. Pray that God will reveal to you his desires for your life. It's a mature walk when you can honestly confess to God that you want his desires to be your desires and to break you until you're walking in harmony.


2. Become disciplined in your time with God. Be honest with yourself and admit you aren't studying enough and you aren't sure how to study. Consider a bible reading program that will direct you to read the Bible in a Year.

You have it in you to do this. 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches us to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".


3. Surround yourself with others that are walking by faith in this season. As a Girl Scout, I was taught to make new friends but keep the old; it's the same concept. It's time to grow in all areas of your life this year. Don't be afraid to cut sub-tractors, distractors, and whiners out of your life.


4. Celebrate others when their harvests arrive. It's a great sign that you are next!


5. Sow where you want to grow. Find a mentor and devote (sow) time to work with them. Work with a servant's heart. Be committed, dedicated and trustworthy.

As you walk by faith, you will strengthen your belief and grow in confidence in knowing that you can be all that God said you could be no matter where you began your journey. You will now understand that challenges are merely new opportunities for you to reach your greatness.

Finally, your life will truly be blessed. Everything that you touch will provide you with a blessed life and no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Get Organized in 2009

This year, say goodbye to clutter, once and for all and finally start to feel like there are enough hours in the day. Just make a New Year’s resolution to get organized—it’s much easier than you think! Follow these 7 steps and you can reclaim your space, your time, and your sanity in 2009.

First, rethink your space and how it affects your life. Take a look around your home or office—can you quickly find your grandma’s recipe for brownies, your favorite pair of winter boots, or your client contact lists? Or do you have to rummage through piles?

Evaluate how you use your time. Do you struggle to get things done, like errands, household chores, and other projects? Is it hard to decide what to do first and what can wait until tomorrow?

After you’ve decided what aspects of your daily routine could use a makeover, start thinking about how you can change them. An easy approach is to make lists. Jot down all the unorganized areas in your home and workplace, as well as daily tasks that are particularly time-consuming.

Once your list is complete, start adding possible solutions to each problem. Because it’s important that you have the right supplies to stay organized, these solutions can also work as a ‘grocery list’ of items that will help you. Here are two examples:

Problem: Overstuffed closet
Solution: Get closet organizers and hangers with extra racks for pants. Put old, rarely worn clothes into large trash bags and donate them to charity.

Problem: No time for exercise
Solution: Exercise first thing in the morning, before other must-do, last-minute tasks get in the way. If you can, do something else at the same time, like reviewing notes from yesterday’s office meeting.

Using your list, get the supplies you need. Look for items and furniture that are designed with compartments, such as drawers, folders, or cubbies that will allow you to easily put things away in the same place each day. Avoid anything that might just add more clutter to your space, like oversized, clunky desks.

Create daily to-do lists. Each night before bed, write out everything you want to accomplish the next day. Put the most important tasks at the top of the list, so they get finished right away. For even better results, write out an itinerary complete with time slots for each activity, and keep it with you throughout the day so you stay on schedule.

Make it a habit to stay organized. The hardest part about reorganizing your life is sticking with it. But the more often you put things away and manage your time well, the easier it will be to keep it up. Reinforce these same habits with your family—there’s strength in numbers!

New Year Goal: Clearing a Space for Change.

Happy New Year!

I know its taken me a couple weeks to post, but I have been busy putting away Holiday decorations and getting daily schedules back on track since my 7 year old son's Winter Break is over & we're back to the school morning routine for the past 2 weeks now. I got spoiled being able to sleep in past 7AM while on Winter Break... it took awhile to get back into routine & still slowly getting there! With the cold, Northwest Winter mornings, it is harder to get motivated in the morning! You can say that I am anxiously counting down the days until Spring! Only 9 weeks away! :)

One of the goals that I made for myself for this New Year is to simplify my life & focus on what really matters. To achieve this goal, I have been going through our house and bagging up household items that we no longer need & donating them to charity. So far, Ive donated 4 large trash bags full of items that we no longer use or don't really need. I even e-cycled our old tv that doesnt work along with 2 old computer moniters that have been taking up space in our garage. It really has been liberating!

Ive been doing this in baby steps since it is easy to get overwhelmed to tackle it all at once & made it a goal to get it all finished by early-late Spring! I found an article that reflects on my new goal. Enjoy!


Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.

12 Steps to A Prosperous New Year

I found this on Beingfrugal.net and wanted to share the great tips :)

As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to start looking ahead and planning for the new year. Some people make resolutions; others set goals. Regardless of your preference, making a plan for next year can help you achieve your financial goals. Here are a few rules to get you started.

1. Face the Facts

If you have no idea where you stand financially, now is the time to face the facts. Write down all your debt. Add it up. It might be scary, but as Dr. Phil says, “You can’t change what you won’t acknowledge.” Look at your debt vs. your income. You owe yourself some honesty. And once you know the facts, you can make a plan to change your situation.

2. Spend Less Than You Earn

Make a commitment right now to spend less than you earn. That is the only way to get yourself on sure financial footing. If you have a problem running up a balance on credit cards when you run out of money, stop using the cards. Cut them up or freeze them. Just make a commitment to spend less than you earn.

3. Pay Yourself First…or Second

With every paycheck you receive next year, take a little bit off the top for savings. If you’re a Christian and believe in tithing, as I do, pay yourself right after you tithe. But pay yourself before you pay your bills. It’s only through building a comfortable savings account that you can step away from living paycheck to paycheck.

4. Prioritize

Remember that you can have anything you want, but you can’t have everything you want. With savings and persistence, almost any goal is achievable. But if you’re trying to buy a house, take a trip to Italy, be a stay at home mom, and drive a BMW, things might not work out too well. Decide what is most important to you in life, and work on that.

5. Make a Spending Plan

You can’t make any changes without knowing what changes need to be made. If you don’t know where your money is going, you can’t make the changes necessary to improve your financial situation. A budget isn’t restricting. It’s just a plan for your money. If it’s not working for you, change it. But have a plan.

6. Educate Yourself

Wherever you are in your financial situation, learn about the next step. Do you have a great emergency fund, and find yourself ready to begin investing, but don’t know where to begin? Check out books from the library. Read blogs. Meet with a financial professional.

Do you need to cut back your budget? Do the same. We live in a day and age where information is easily available. Use it.

7. Stop Trying to Keep Up With the Jonses

Don’t you know that the Joneses are in debt and living on the edge? Learn to be content where you are. You can strive for more, but don’t live the lifestyle until you have the money to pay cash. You’ll sleep a lot better at night.

8. Give

Giving has a strange and wonderful effect on people. It takes our eyes off our own needs and places them squarely on the needs of others. When we realize that other people are struggling, too, our own situation seems less dire.

If you can’t give financially, volunteer your time. Read to kids in schools. Work in a soup kitchen. Visit the elderly in a retirement home. The possibilities are endless, and everyone has something to give.

9. Reduce Your Waste

Become a conscious consumer. Make sure that you really need the things you buy. Make sure you will use the things you buy. Recycle what you can. By becoming aware of how much you are wasting and trying to reduce it, you naturally start to spend less and use less. It’s better for the environment and your pocketbook.

10. Spend Time With Your Family

If you’re a parent, make sure you take time to spend with your children. Go to the park. Play a board game. Spend time doing free things together. Teach your children that they don’t need to buy everything on their wish list to be fulfilled. Remember that on your deathbed, all the stuff in the world won’t matter, compared to the relationships you had…or didn’t have…with those you love.

11. Give Yourself Permission to Fail

Nobody is perfect. So many resolutions fail each year, because people start out determined to follow their plan…and then they blow it. Go into the year knowing you will blow it in one fashion or another. Expect it. Deal with it. Pick yourself up and move on. Improving your financial situation is not about being perfect. It’s about continually moving in the right direction and learning from your mistakes along the way.

12. Find a Good Support System

If you’re trying not to spend money, don’t hang out every weekend with people who are spending like there’s no tomorrow. Find people who share your values and support each other. If you can’t find anyone in your life, look online. There are blogs like this one where frugal-minded people are constantly sharing ideas. Jump in and participate! There’s always room for more.

Whatever your goals are for next year, make a good plan. As Paidtwice said on the first day of this series, “failure to plan is planning to fail.” You can have a prosperous new year, but it’s not going to just fall into your lap. Figure out what you need to do. Then do it.

Christmas is in the Air

Happy December everyone! Its hard to believe that 2008 is coming to a close. I guess its true what they say about the older you get, the faster time passes.

We're enjoying everything that Christmas brings at our house. Our 7 year old just loves to watch the Holiday specials and we were happy to see the Polar Express a few times since we first saw it in the theatre back in 2004, when he was only 3 years old.. Wow!

I remember when my 19 year old son, Jeremy first read the book when he was in elementary school and it now has passed the tradition down to his younger brother.

I love to watch my son's child-like faith that believes in Santa. In fact, even at my age, I still do believe in Santa-- He lives on in every one of us who chooses to believe in the Spirit of giving! My husband laughs as I want to bless everyone at Christmas time and I always tell him "It is better to give than receive" as I think of someone else that I hadnt added to my Christmas list. Thankfully, making treats from our kitchen seems to fit our budget. After all, who doesnt like homemade sweets and treats?? LOL :)

Speaking of giving...Here is a little Holiday treat from our house to yours....

Merry Christmas everyone... and remember... they say that Seeing is Believing, but I do believe that "Believing IS Seeing".... its a little thing called Faith! :)

Enjoy!