Be still for a while and praise God

Thought I would try something different today...

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY!  I HOPE YOU DECIDE TO STAY A WHILE. And if not, be sure to stop in often, because I am making major changes daily!

Happy New Year

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.             2 Corinthians 5:17

It's time for reflection, resolutions and repurpose.

Wow the year is almost over and I am thinking of all of the New Year's resolutions I can break.   There is something about the start of a new year that inspires us to become reflective.  The problem is it is short lived.

Out with the old. In with the repurposed!

But regardless of my personal disdain for resolutions, there are a few things I must get in order in 2012...stay tuned I'll post them soon.  In the meantime, maybe you could share some of yours with me...

Hot Cocoa Deer! on Twitpic

The boys are co-hosting their Jack and Jill activity this weekend. They wanted to make these to go inside of the bags the kids will get as part of their Downtown Dallas Holiday Scavenger Hunt. This started out as a great idea....and ended up somewhat of a mess! But nevertheless, we did enjoy ourselves.

Hot Cocoa Deer! on Twitpic

Everywhere you go in the D-FW area there is construction. The inconvenience of a detour has caused me to think about how life is very much about changes, delays and improvements. The Brainy Quote defines Construction as
The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense.

Here are a few things I have realized lately about life and construction.

• Construction like life is unpredictable.
• You never know where a detour is going to take you but your final destination should not change.
• Everyone is not supposed to use the same route.
• Construction (like life changes) is not always convenient but should provide you with a better outcome.
• Construction should be well planned after some thought and consideration.
• It is hard to communicate to someone else about how to navigate construction delays. Just as it is hard to tell someone else how to navigate through their life changes.
• Sometimes major construction occurs all at the same time. (Job loss, divorce, weight gain/loss.)
• Just when you think it’s complete, there is more construction to come.
• Construction requires us to drive with caution. Life often requires living cautiously.
• Construction never seems to be complete. We should always seek to improve our lives.
• You are expected to check your route in advance for delays. No one is obligated to tell you when the road ahead may be closed.
• Everyone does not always agree with the timing of construction.

It is at any given point in our lives that we may find ourselves under major construction. There may be some things going on in our life that cause us to proceed with caution; forcing us to heed the warnings of the detour signs. At the end of construction, there should be notable improvements. Our life should be wider, our roads should be smoother, and our journey should be ours. When there are no roadblocks in sight, that doesn’t mean there may not be delays ahead. It just means that we have what we need to navigate the turns, the yields, the merges and the stops. I’ve noticed that just like construction, everyone around you should notice the changes. Everyone should see the improvements you have made. There are things that happen on the roads that require needed improvements. Rain, heat or snow may leave roads damaged and daily living may require repairs in your life. The construction around the Metroplex makes me wonder, what changes or improvements are needed in my life. Which roads should I repair, and which lanes should I widen? And, if I start to think that all is well, I stop and think about the parts of town or roads that have not been under construction---people tend to avoid those areas. Who wants to drive their new car on an old raggedy road?

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Happy Sign Blue Birthday Card

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View the entire collection of cards.

How do you get to be the second car in the carpool line?

We are second in the carpool line!

Over the last month or so, there have been some major changes in our household.  For the most part, they have been positive and even spectacular on some levels.  Most notably my job status has changed,  Although I am still employed, it looks a lot different for our household.  I can now drop off and pick up children.  The highlight of my day has gone from a slew of nonproductive meetings with people I don't like to seeing if I can be first through  fifth in the carpool line.  Which is where I now sit, an hour early mind you while I type this post. My child can now look me in the face in the morning and say, "Mommy, I think I want you to pick me up from school today. Try to be first in line." Incredibly, I smile and say, "first"?  He replies, "Okay maybe fifth."

For some one who has always worked full time and overtime this is a whole different lifestyle for me.  Honestly, it is one I feel that I have stepped into excitedly with only a tad bit of uncertainty.  I am excited that I can enjoy, slowing down long enough to play with my kids after school and not have to worry about the hustle of getting home, getting dinner prepared, kids fed, and bathe and bedded only so that I can continue the day's work while sitting in the bed. I am excited to think that dinner does not have to be full speed ahead, but well thought out and prepared with love.  I am no longer over exhausted, over worked or overlooked.  I can smile at my husband, wait patiently as he talks about his day, repeat for the thousandth time what I just said and fold the clothes after they have been washed.

There is at least one room in my house that remains tidy, our bed is made daily, I  now stop moving long enough to pick things up off the floor and even put them where they belong.  I am amazed at how I ever had time to work.  I love this new life and realize that I will have to make some sacrifices if it is to continue, but three weeks into it, I would say, I am ready to do what I have to do. Even if that means cutting in front of some over achiever mom trying to be first through fifth in the car pool line ahead of me. Not on my watch!