Category Archives: encouragement

Great things take great effort

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Yesterday was our 19th wedding anniversary.  Can I get a whoop, whoop?!?!?  It was also the last day of school….oh, GLORY HALLELUJAH, BRING ON SUMMER!!!  Anyhoo, I decided to re-post a piece from my prior blog (now private).  It is still very much applicable, almost 2 years later.  

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011

I’ve been reflecting on marriage a lot lately.  It seems there are marriages falling apart all around me.  I shouldn’t be surprised, really….what with roughly 50% of marriages ending in divorce, however, it makes me sad everytime I hear it.

 

I was talking to my hubby about it, because, quite honestly I was just feeling so down about it and the fact that, as a friend, I truly wasn’t encouraging any of my friends (who are currently separated and heading in the D direction)  to stay in their marriages.  I suppose it would seem easy for me to stand up and say “Seriously???  come on.  If I can do it, so can you.”  The reality is that every situation is different.  And that’s why I don’t say that.  People might say it to me, but I can’t say it to them.  We are all different people.  In our situation, we’ve been fortunate enough to receive the graces of forgiveness, humility and courage to start over.  We learned to communicate….and continue to practice, because we both still can’t quite get it “just right”….the bottom line is that we were both willing to work on the things that needed to change.  To recognize that it’s a lifelong process.  Much like faith.  Our walk is one that needs daily tending, pruning, communication and open-ness.  Marriage is the perfect opportunity to practice our Faith-walk.

 

These current separations and divorces among friends have reminded me that we all struggle.  Behind closed doors with our family we become ridiculously unfair, unkind, impatient and rude.  It’s easy to do and we rarely hear about it because it’s not shared until it’s all laid bare, naked and ugly for all the world to see.  Why don’t we share more often?  Are we that proud?  Stubborn?  Self-righteous?  Blaming the other?

 

Marriage is hard.  Communication and compromise are hard.  It’s a full on marathon.  Requiring endurance, focus and determination. If we don’t approach each task in love, our marriages will not survive.  And then what legacy do we leave to our children?  In this “Year of Marriage”, let us encourage one another in our marriages.  Encourage and honestly guide those engaged couples.  Newlyweds.  Friends.  Family.  That we can receive strength and guidance from those who are long married.  Let us re-prioritize our marriages and continually renew the love that got us here in the first place!

Carry on friends.  Anything worth having is worth fighting for.  Marriage takes effort.  It takes TWO.  And it’s worth it.

Blessings!

Every day in May…mostly in May…whatever.

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Before I get sidetracked…..Mental Awareness Month….click HERE and “plant a seed” and my friend’s company is donating up to $10,000 toward Children’s mental health network.  Let’s do SOMETHING!!!!  Ok, stepping off soapbox!

Why do I force upon myself these ridiculous little goals that make me no money, cost me time and force me to sit down and put together some coherent thoughts???  Oh, I actually enjoy writing, sometimes have something to say worth reading about or laughing about and it gets me in a good habit because writing is actually my happy place.  That and a piece of cheesecake…..

So, I missed yesterday but I was in a super crappy mood (sorry, but if the shoe fits…), couldn’t put my finger on WHY I was in such a foul mood and went to bed at 8:30.  I woke up refreshed and in a much better mood.  Still not fully sure of what happened but my guess is that sometimes when things are going REALLY, REALLY good I feel like it’s just too good to be true and prepare for the bottom to fall out.  A lie from the king of lies, I know and I don’t always get sucked in quite so deeply and yet this time I did.  A good night’s sleep +  prayer before sleep=refreshed.  I’ll take it.

Today was our final weigh in and measurements for our contest and Saturday is the award ceremony.  I am “officially” down 6 pounds and 7 inches in 5 weeks.  A great jump-start to my summer!  Thursday we do assessments on exercises to see how much strength we’ve gained, etc….just a real encouraging way to end up the contest.  I’ll keep you posted!!

Alrighty, my cat is being the neighborhood bully so I need to drag his furry self in the house so I don’t have to hear cat fights all night.  Sigh.  The problems with taking in a stray cat is you just can’t really get the “outside” desire out of him.  It’s all good, he knows where the good food and comfy sleeping spots are!

Until tomorrow….probably!

Mother’s Day Wrap-up

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Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, and all moms out there.  We’re having a nice day here so far….I woke up with a headache/migraine-starter, 50% chance of rain expected for the afternoon BUUUUUUUUT……I have Excedrin on board, with coffee, Hubby is making breakfast, our youngest couldn’t wait to give me her present (which promptly made me cry) and she promised to smile this year for our picture.  Here’s hoping for the best!

Today though, I realize that it hasn’t always been such a super day for me and it isn’t such a super day for everyone else.  In fact, today can be a painful reminder for many women.  Today I’ll remember my cousins who buried their mom a few weeks ago and other friends whose moms have passed away over the years.  I’ll remember friends who are estranged from their mothers and struggle and doubt their own motherhood and parenting (which, BTW is phenomenal!!) .  I’ll remember friends who’ve never had a chance to be a mother due to infertility.   I’ll remember friends who have lost children.  I’ll remember friends who  care for special needs children.  I’ll remember friends who are single mothers.  I’ll remember friends who are struggling with prodigal children.  I’ll remember friends  who might be let down by the commercialism and in-your-face-ness of the perfect Mother’s Day.

This morning and this day I cried a few times, tears of joy and love, from a heart filled with gratitude toward my husband who is setting a beautiful example for our children through our marriage and his parenting, for children who test me, teach me, love me, forgive me, make me laugh and make each day better just by being part of our family.

 

Blast from the past!

Blast from the past!

Me, my Mom and my sister

Me, my Mom and my sister

Last year. Just keepin' it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Last year. Just keepin’ it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Mom's photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

Mom’s photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

And so the kid photo is a little blurry…Hubby is no fan of the iPhone camera and gave me full permission (demanded) I get my real camera fixed….beautiful necklace of which you can design your own HERE, the Publix cake and sweet girl’s card/letter to me.  And just think, my birthday is only 4 days away and we can do this AGAIN!!!!

Beach workout Saturday

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Saturday morning, bright and early!!  Enjoying a few quiet minutes until I wake up the big boy–he’s getting some volunteer hours in at the Church Thrift Shop before a day filled with skateboarding with his buddies.  Hubs is off to his Saturday morning meeting and Adoration and all the kiddos are still snug like a bug in their beds.  I will be off to my last workout class for the contest.  This morning it’s at the beach!!!  Don’t hate!

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A little update on the contest and such.  First of all, the 6 week contest was actually a 4 1/2 week contest when it comes right down to it….buuuuuuuuut……at last count I was down 6 pounds.  I didn’t weigh in last weekend and I’ll hold off today since we have our official last weigh-in on Tuesday.  HOWEVER…..on a measurement scale, I am definitely down.  Clothes are feeling better and I’m creeping seriously close to the next size down…from a 10/12 to a 10.  Not to mention, I’m seeing a little more muscle definition and having more energy.  Win-win!

The 3 key things that have brought me the biggest results have also been my biggest struggles this past week:

  1. Planning and prepping meals.  I work full-time out of the home  pre-cooking on the weekend is huge.  I enjoy cooking, however, sometimes I really don’t want to be in the kitchen for a couple of hours on my precious free time on the weekend.  The truth is, without that prep and planning, it’s challenging to stay on task and not get tempted throughout the week.
  2. Writing down what I’m eating.  I’ve been using the app “My Fitness Pal” and it works great.  Only downside?  We have a pretty strict no cell phone use at work which they’ve suddenly decided to enforce and so logging has become more of a challenge.  I guess I need to just jot it down throughout the day and log in later.
  3. Planning exercise.  It’s May.  I may have mentioned that the other day…..crazy, crazy, craziest month of the year. All the more important to plan it and DO IT.  For me, that will mean getting my rump out of bed in the a.m. because aside from these classes at night, it just doesn’t happen once I get home from work.

And so, with the contest almost over and a good jumpstart for me….I’m ready to keep on keepin’ on because it is bathing suit season, people and there is no hiding from it.

I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished this past month and look forward to seeing my overall results.  Our contest’s presentation to the winner is the next weekend so I’ll keep you posted on the final results for everyone!

Have a great weekend!!

Could YOU befriend Paul?

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My sweet friend sent me a small booklet to read a little bit ago and for a gagillion reasons I’ve not been able to get into it.  Until this morning.  You see, I had a wedding to go to last night in St. Augustine for two former co-workers (just seriously the sweetest couple) and this morning I awoke before my friends did and had 2 HOURS OF TOTAL QUIET.  Unheard of, people.  Unheard.  Of.  Just me and my coffee and after working on my 1000 Gifts book I dove into the booklet:  Uniformity with God’s Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.    

I can see why I couldn’t get into it initially.  God wanted my full and undivided attention.  Focused.  Small bits.  It is powerful.  I’ll share with you my insight this morning…all 2 pages in.

Some back story:  in talking about Saul, who persecuted Christians for their faith.  Not only persecuted, but hunted down and killed Christians, routinely.  Until…….God got his attention with a little episode of blindness.  Enlightening Saul and converting him to Paul.  (God often likes to change your name when He drafts you to His team).

Paul asks God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

The Lord calls him a vessel of election and apostle to the Gentiles:  “This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles.”  Acts 9:15

So, Paul, previously Saul, is a huge player in the Bible and on Team God.  He’s a huge instrument of God in spreading the Word, instructing Christians in how to live and love according to God’s will.  And….Paul has a past.  A really bad past.  Yet, God USES him.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Amongst the very people he previously persecuted.

Think about it.  We ALL know a modern-day Paul.  People who have failed us, who have fallen, who have a past.  Shoot, realistically we ALL have our Saul-seasons.  With God’s grace we can ALL enjoy our Paul-seasons as well.  The best thing is, God can and does use Paul.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Among the very people they have wronged.  However, how many of us fail to see the Paul and only see the Saul?  How many of us fail to see the blessings and instructions of the Paul because we can’t move beyond the Saul?

God forgives.  God moves on.  Beyond the “Sauls”.  God uses ALL things.  May we be more like God and focused on the “Pauls” in the world,  God’s new creations and let us let go of  the “Sauls”.