Tea and Sweatpants...

A few people who know me very well have been asking about my job and how it's going so here is an honest update about how I'm doing! First of all, it's a challenge! Not the job its self but the rest of my life with a job that demands so much less of me. For the first time in a long time I am living nearly stress free (with the exception of a moment here an there). I feel as if I can actually make other people (children included) a priority over the things in my life that used to include several tasks and to do lists. For some reason I actually believed that stress, craziness, being overwhelmed and busy determined if I was serving God. I have learned now that it's how I spend each moment of every day not how much I do in each moment. It sounds so simple but I don't think I actually believed it until now, until life just suddenly slowed down. I have the freedom to do the following these days (things I couldn't do before)...
1. Spend time with my husband- I get to see him in his daily routine serving God here in our hood.
2. Exercise- I get to take care of my body without worry of missing something or wasting time
3. Cook- I love reading cook books and magazines about cooking and trying new foods. This in turn allows me to love on my neighbors with extras!
4. Blog- I didn't have time before to reflect on life and to really let moments sink in.
5. Study Scripture- I have been reading the Bible like I did when I was a new believer
6. Sleep-I get nearly a full 7 every night.
7. Volunteer- I get to spend time tutoring and mentoring. Using the gifts God gave me.
8. Greeting- I get to make friends in this new place. I have time to schedule lunch with people or go with a friend to get my nails done...all without sacrificing my marrage or job
9. Love-I have the opportunity to love more often and more purposfully


These are the few that came to mind right away. I am sure I will think of more later that I wished I had added. There are definately days when I waste this time or wonder exaclty how I'm supposed to use it but over all, I feel so blessed. I am so glad that I don't have to take a step back and slow down with life when I am retired but I can do that now. It's teaching me self worth and trust in Christ.

Thanks for wondering...

It seems like when I really want to make sure I follow through with something I should put it on my blog. From what I heard a few people I know a love actually read this! So...it is official. My mom and a few friends who have run marathons have inspired me...not to run but to do 3 events. I am going to train to participate in a triathlon! Running, biking, and swimming. I love biking and swimming it's the running part that is going to kick me in the rear. I have almost a year to train and many things in life could happen between now and then. In the mean time, I'm training!

Marathon Momma- We were in Long Beach last weekend becasue of my mom. She did it! A 50th birthday party and a full blown marathon in one weekend. She is a hero to me and I am so proud of her. What she accomplished is such a living example of living up to the challenges in life.

Full weeks of plans-God is blessing us with busy weeks that include new people at bible study, new friendships, and new challenges. It is all so exciting and an answer to prayer.

Portland Hope Meadows- Tomorrow we will be attending a fund raising banquet as honorary guests for a non profit that will be moving in across the street. I will have to blog about this more this weekend and tell y'all about this amazing organization that already exists and will soon be a big part of our lives.

God- He is mostly teaching me Patience and Understanding...two very hard things to learn and that I pray for daily. As I struggle with God's timing in my human mind I find that His timing is actaully perfect and my human mind needs to get the heck out of the way. I am praying that my heart will lead with patience and understanding and my mind will take a back seat to it.

According to a child of mine who was telling a story:
"Onetime when I was little I wanted to get my hair cut like a mohawk but I didn't really know what it was or what it looked like. So I asked them to shave it right down the middle and I looked like the president!"

Thought it was funny that he thinks Bush has an inverted mohawk.