The Test of Life

When I left college, I walked across that stage with my degree in hand thinking, I'll never have to study again.  Good bye piles of books, sleepless nights, and tests.  Hello freedom of adulthood...

It's been seven years since I graduated but here I am with my piles of books, experiencing sleepless nights [thanks kids], and daily taking the test of life.  Unlike sitting in a room with a pencil and paper, life's tests are more subtle.  In fact, I don't even know I'm taking them unless I'm paying attention.  Graduation isn't at stake, but the future of my life; my marriage, the kids, finances, career, and my own personal well being.  Life is full of tests and whether I choose to study for them is up to me.  

I'm not an expert in any of these areas, but thankfully there are many men and women who are.  They've come before me, and have graciously taken the time to share their knowledge in whatever test I'm facing. These book have become my classroom, the authors are my teachers preparing me for my future. I've learned how to use ultimate study guide for life taught by the best teacher I know. God's word has been the most relevant information for helping me with each test I face.  

I came into post college life knowing nothing about finances, but Dave Ramsey's Extreme Money Makeover was there to guide us.  Marriage is a test full of pop quizzes but Love and Respect taught me a lot.  Not only about us but myself.  I learned how to pray for him with The Power of a Praying Wife.  The most difficult class by far is parenting.  Loving Your Kids on Purpose is one I've kept coming back to.  And some have touched the wounds in my own heart, What a Difference a Daddy Makes. 

Life is full of tests and until graduation day, I'll pass some and fail some.  But until I reach that day, I will never stop learning.  Never stop growing. 

The Sport-It Fitness Ring

Pregnancy weight.  Enough said.  Like most women, I indulged in every treat and told myself I was eating for two.  I put on the pounds and like most women it did not just melt off.  After getting cleared, I worked hard to fit back into my old jeans and tone those muscles back into shape.  [After baby one, almost due with baby 2, and now].  One of the workouts on my regiment was Pilates.

I love Pilates and Yoga because it's low impact and doesn't leave me feeling like I'm about to die.  I am not the biggest fan of cardio.  Equipment can be pretty pricey so I was excited to find o there was an alternative that would enhance resistance for better results.  Say hello to the Sport-it Fitness ring.  

I love this ring because it's compact, lightweight, effective and a great way to maximize results with the resistance.  

At some point in my life I may end up like my mother in law who can find any opportunity for a "work out" because all I could think of when I was doing the chest squeeze was I could do this while I am watching TV or just hanging out with the kids.  Ha! 

The hundred is a norm for Pilates routine but the ring made it way more intense!  You press your legs against the edges of the rings and pump your arms.  You can also lift and lower your legs while in the ring to get a good workout to the lower abdomen. 

A more intense alternative to leg lifts is placing the ring in between  your ankles and slowly lowering your ankle.  A great way to tone the inner thighs.

The Sport-It Fitness ring is a great addition to any workout and to my little home gym.  It's a great way to add extra resistance and stabilize certain workout moves.  Adding resistance will help avoid plateaus and can make your workouts shorter without compromising on results.  You can get the Sport-It Fitness ring on Amazon HERE. 

I received a discount on this product for my review of it. 

Purpose in Every Season

Life is a series of seasons.... 

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death, 

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain,

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

I've experienced these seasons as I am sure you have.  I season of crazy insane college busy, a season to be a newlywed and enjoy one another, a season of chaotic newborn bliss, a season of goodbyes and hellos.  Life is a series of seasons and I've learned that no matter how difficult or enjoyable the season, embrace it and learn from it.  

I've recently come out of a very busy season of go go go.  I was working, writing, dreaming, doing, building.  I was making things happen and it seems almost as if it came to a halt in a day.   My heart wasn't in the hustle.  I know during that time God was doing something.  He was giving me confidence.  He showed me that I can.  I learned my purpose.  Our relationship grew.  I dreamed big dreams.  It was a time to learn, a time to grow.  I am so grateful for that time.  It was a time for growth.   

I'm currently putting some goals and projects to the side and am moving into being a home maker [and writer].  

For the last year, I've wanted to craft but just haven't felt motivated or inspired.  I kept praying and asking God to give me that feeling, the urge again.  That passion.  I need that to create and it took this little girl wanting a sewing machine this December to inspire me once again.  I unplugged in December and really dug deep, sought out what direction to go and I got my answer.  This year is my year to embrace being the stay at home... enjoy cooking, cleaning, crafting, and just gobble up all the time with the kids.  One of the dreams on my dream sheet is to have a beautiful home and I have been getting the urge to decorate [which hardly happens].  

In this time, God is showing me something.  He's showing me that the dreams that I have will come, but not in this time.  He's showing me to be patient.  The goodness of slow and steady.  He's showing me how to be faithful in the little things.  How to live with less. To honor my husband and have a renewed joy in serving that handsome stud.  He's shown me that my home is a blessing not a burden, I am the steward.  

Life is a series of seasons that allows opportunities for growth.  What season are you in right now?  What is God showing you in this time?  How are you growing?  If you're in a difficult time, whatever it is, ask God to bring you out of it.  Ask him to show you how you can move forward.  

Until next time. Toodles! 

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Less Busy More Fruitful

My new year isn't just about cleaning up the house, but also my attitude and temper.  Yup, I confess that I am short fused and when things don't go my way, I get in a funk.  Sometimes I have a hard time being grateful and seeing the good because I'm so busy complaining and having a bad attitude.  I know it's an issue that doesn't change over night and will take time and effort.  It's an issue that God has been helping me work though.  

Everyday, I've been writing little nuggets from my devotionals to reflect on from my study on Numbers and Battlefield of the Mind.  Last weeks simple statement really hit home for me.

"God didn't call us to be busy but fruitful." 

 I know you must be thinking, what does that have to do with having a better attitude?  

God showed me that "busy" fuels my crazy.  When I am "busy" doing everything, it usually means I am also not taking care of myself, I'm losing sleep because there aren't enough hours in the day,  I'm so stressed because there is so much too do.  I'm the type of person who can't stop moving and can't stop going.... busy, busy, busy.  Busy is my kryptonite. 

BUT God is not calling me to be busy, to take on everything and do everything.  He is calling me to be fruitful.  I want to focus my time doing things that help me to fulfill my purpose.  Focus on my priorities and to do them well.

1. Make time everyday to for Jesus.  Preferably the morning.

2.  Time to the hubby, the kiddos, family, friends. 

3. Keep the house clean. 

4. Write more.  Read more. Listen more [I'm a podcast junkie]

5. Take care of me: eat right and workout

6.  Craft and craft some more

  When I pile on tasks, projects, this and that I get so exhausted and so overwhelmed.  Lack of sleep equates to rudeness.  Stress brings on the complaining.  With every task or decision  I've consciously been asking myself is this task or project busy or is it fruitful. 

And I'll end on these two final little nuggets from the week:

"Let your home be your parish, your little brood, your congregation, your living room a sanctuary, and your knee a sacred altar."

"A miserable heart means a miserable life.  A cheerful heart fills the day with song."

Have a wonderful week everyone!  May you be less busy and more fruitful.