Day #16 Saturday ~ Update on Blog~

OK so I have to admit this 365 day blog idea is a little more challenging that I thought! I am having to write down my notes daily as I am just not finding the time to blog a thought for the day. I don't seem to have any problems coming up with what to write about just the time to put them down. Life just seems to keep me rolling and there only seems to be a few rare moments in which I can get on the computer without interruptions!
But... I will continue not to give up so easily YET!

Day #15~ Word of the Day~

Pace

It's important that we don't set the pace so fast that we can't keep us with the spinning wheel because...

At some point we are going to CRASH!

Today I am readjusting my pace...

I think the wheel might be spinning a little fast!

I have to ask who do I think I am racing?

I can't remember anyone saying their was a prize for...

Burn out

Tired

Grouchy

and

Unappreciative

Who likes to feel like that anyways!

Pace

I am working on setting a successful

PACE!

Day #14 Thursday "Let's Keep It Real"

I have to admit sometimes I get tired of listening to people pretend that they have it all together and are so quick to judge those who don't. Seriously people "let's keep it real" here. We are suppose to struggle in life it's what I like to think of our "Beauty" marks on this windy road we call life. Our struggles make us appreciative, keep us humble, allow us to connect with others... Our struggles are what bring us to our knees allow God to become part of our lives if we so desire as we have faith, hope and believe their is a bigger, greater and more beautiful plan. We are suppose to struggle...
My concern however is how we react to those we see struggling;

We turn away...
Judge...
Ignore it...
Say nothing...
pretend it isn't happening...
Gossip...

So here it is friends... it's OK to struggle... it's God's Plan

so what do we do with our struggles???
Do we live in struggle or do we pray for God's help?
Do drown ourselves in our struggles or do we choose to look out and see what we have been blessed with?
Do we push away or ask for help?
Do we use our struggles for God's glory when we get through them?
Do we use our struggles to connect with other's to empathize and show compassion?
Do we even take the time care about others?

Friends... I struggle and I am thankful for my struggles as I believe that my struggles are what grow me into the person God desires me to be...
May I struggle forward and see the beautiful blessings that I have been provided with daily!
As woman may we be freed to think we have to have it all together and may we be more compassionate with one another, support, lift up and encourage those around us... "Let's Keep It Real" ladies!

Day #13 ~ Word of the Day~

Forgiveness

Why is it that I think holding onto something is going to make me or anyone else feel better. Today I focus on forgiveness as I am forgiven everyday day for my sins...

And Yet...

I at times I struggle to truly forgive others!

So today I focus on letting things go...

Day #12 Tuesday~Word for the Day~

Patience

Something I am working on this week!

Dear Lord may you be more patient with

me in my journey

than

I am with others at this time.

Please continue to mold me and shape me

into

being a more patient person!

This is my prayer for the day!

Day #11 Monday~ Word of The Day~

Love

At times it may be the hardest thing to do... love someone

and yet

It really is so simple!

Day 10~Sunday~TEAM

There is no I in the word TEAM was a common phrase that I heard growing up in the locker room and a phrase that I found myself using when I was coaching... and today I was brought back to that phrase but in a different arena... marriage.

This post is for my husband and man who I admire, appreciate, love, respect and am so thankful to have as my TEAM player in this journey of life. A marriage is full of lots of strengths and areas of improvement I like to call them but I truly believe that Brad and I make a great TEAM!

Brad thanks for always giving your best to this marriage, you are an inspiration to me in so many ways and I love that you love me so much! You are the best TEAM player... an example to all!

Day#9~Taking Risks

Today was an exciting day in the Born house hold ... HOCKEY! Brad and I both know nothing about hockey... we did all those other sports and snow let alone ice is something rare in Washington. We both can remember ice skating about 2-3 times a year at a big ice rink in Oregon. Growing up I would go to hockey games with my aunt and uncle once or twice a year to watch the Portland Winter Hawks hockey team but, I can't say I ever understood what was happening!

So long and short of it this is something new for my kiddos to try. Brendan and Lawson didn't bat an eye when it came time to getting on the ice... they just went  for it full gusto and flung themselves onto the ice. I was so proud of them... and not because they picked it up right away but, because they took a risk and tried something new. There were more reasons for them not to try than to try and yet they saw none of them!

I think that is the beauty of being a kid...so often they just try without hesitation. It's as we get older and more aware of the "reasons" we think hold us back from trying. But what if we were like our kids and we just went for things and let the "reasons" not to work themselves out rather than already deciding before we start.

Today my kids were an inspiration to me... they reminded me to be more willing to try new things or go for my dreams things I want to try. ~Thank you Brendan and Lawson for taking risks, trying new things... I am so proud of you!

Day #8 ~Friday~ My children are growing up...

This weekend I was a little sad in realizing my kids are getting big and there are some things I will never get back again. Where is the time going... am I getting the most out of the time... am I a good mom... do my kids feel loved... am I preparing them for the future... can I freeze time so we can just snuggle and play and keep life simple... please Lord don't let them grow up just yet.

I love my kids... they are my life and I am scared that they are getting big and I am growing old!!! Brendan is saying things like "how was your dinner date tonight" and Lawson is asking me "mom are your proud of me I did it all by myself" and Annika says "Mom I am not a baby"...

My dear sweet children may you know that I am madly in love with each and everyone of you.

Brendan you are my oldest... the wise one beyond your years that  has a heart of gold. I love how much you love those around you...you are my little lover!

Lawson you are precious, sweet, loving and your smile melts my heart. I can not keep up with your energy and passion that you have for everything... you amaze me!

Annika... you are a sparkle... a firecracker... and I love that you love me so much. May you love me this much when you are 16!

Day #7~Thursday~ Friends~

In each of my friends there is something

that only some other friend can fully bring out.

C.S. Lewis

I have begun to refer to my early running friends as my...

Shoe Lace Friends and this quote is for you!

I have been lucky enough to have a couple of ladies join me in my love for running in the early morning hours and I cherish every run! This morning was another one of those great runs where I just got to be with one of my favorite girl friends... we laugh, share advice, stop drink water, solve the worlds problems and then laugh some more. We are on our 2nd year doing this tradition and I am so proud of us for "sticking to it."

I love you ladies and I couldn't get up so early without you. Thanks for being you, the perfect you all the time you are my most dependable friends!

Post #6~Wednesday~eat the Cookie buy the Shoes

OK, so I began this book at the end of the summer called eat the cookie and buy the shoes... giving yourself permission to lighten up by Joyce Meyer and this I have decided to be the book that I dive into. I am not sure how long it will take me to get through it but, I will write about the book as I venture into it! I am excited about it as I think there are times in life when I need to lighten up... get over it... and move on! Sometimes I take myself way to seriously and though it seems to take me a long time to learn things the one thing I have begun to learn is that I can be heart healthy by eating right and running but, I need the other kind of healthy too... healthy in the mind and heart!

BALANCE is what I am shooting for this year!

Post #5~Tuesday~Ending your day right

I have strength for all things in Christ
Who empowers me ( I am ready for anything
and equal to anything through Him Who infuses
inner strength into me).
                                        PHILLIPPIANS 4:13

This was my verse for the day.

Post #4~Monday~That thing you do

Today I was reading and came upon this question...
What's the best group you've ever been in?
Wow... what a question. I have been in a lot of different "groups" and what exactly did they author of the question mean by group?
A couple of years ago I was going through a rather difficult time in my life and read this book called "You Matter More Than you Think" it's the same book I was talking about yesterday. Anyways, in the book it talks about how she started a group called the band of sisters. So I decided to do the same. I sat down and thought about people who had really inspired my in different ways, not all of these ladies were my "best" friends but, they were an inspiration to me. I asked them to bring their calendars, I have then a letter I had written and then shared my vision with them. We would each take a month and formulate a question that would not be revealed until that evening when we met and then we would all answer the question. This turned into be my favorite thing of the month as a group of strangers in some way began to bond over simple questions and sharing of the heart. I have a friend who often asks me when I am going to start that group again as I moved to Dhahran and have not started that again. Maybe it is time I do so, especially if it was my favorite group!

Entry #3~Sunday~ "The Road Less Traveled"

So I have decided to go back to one of my favorite books in the month of January and February~ You Matter More Than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrot. I don't think I will read the book cover to cover but go back to her questions and so more of a reflection, since I have read the book many times.

Question: "the road less traveled" by Robert Frost. What does that term mean to you? Honestly, I think that depending on the day I could answer that question in a variety of ways but, here's what it means to me today.  It is a lot easier to be selfish than giving and traveling the road of kindness well, it can be a lonely road at times. Today I was faced with another question... Do I give to receive or Do I give because I enjoy giving... at first I said to myself well I enjoy it, it's what I love but, then I had to dig a little deeper. If it seems like a lonely road maybe it's because I am expecting something back. It's a hard thing to give a piece of yourself to others and expect nothing in return but, I believe that is the road less traveled... to expect nothing in return, to love others unconditionally. Well, I am going to turn right or was it left??? and get on that road even though it may be lonely... to love unconditionally without asking for anything in return. Right now I am not sure how I will monitor that maybe I will post it on my mirror!

Entry #2~ Saturday ~ Too Much of A GOOD THING all at ONCE

OK so I had to write down my blog on paper this week as I was trying to get Annika to sleep in her own bed and that meant that I was going to bed at 7:30... and yes I fell asleep! :) So I am recording all of my entries today in hopes to try to get each one recorded on the actual day this week ! Oh... it is good to have goals!

Too much of a good thing all at once is what I experienced on Saturday. I seem to do this to myself every January... get my life all organized all at once. I jumped out of bed today full of excitement ready to get healthy. I started off the morning at 4:30 a.m. with deep stretching, soon to follow a date with cold crisp air at 4:45 a.m., out the door at 6:58 with an antioxidant smoothie in hand and a smile on my face... oh ya and I had taken 4 colon cleansing tablets to clean out the toxins in my body! I was going to feel GREAT TODAY. Well, I am sure you can read the writing on the wall and won't be surprised when I say everything was exiting my body that day.
By the evening I was not feeling well and was ready for bed in no time. Here is the point... I do this every year go gung ho all at once and never pace myself and then I burn out in a couple of days. So here it is my friends detox, get your life organized, eat right, exercise but pace yourself. Add something new each week and in a month you will be going great guns I am sure. So tomorrow is a new day and well I will readjust as I am not willing to give up so soon!

365 Day Journey of My Life

Day #1 of my recorded journey...

Run... Run... Run... it's what I really love and what I feel like I am doing all of the time. For most of my life I have enjoyed hitting the pavement, breathing in the fresh air, listening to that one song that makes your feet move a little faster, and chat with my shoe lace friends before the sunrise! The other kind of running ... well it's what all of us ladies do... run to get the groceries, pick up kids, make dinner, walk the dog, dr. appointments, gatherings, sporting events and the list goes on and on. Well, here's the question I had to ask myself... am I running to all the events with JOY... that's where the pink comes in. Yes, pink is my "JoyFUL" color. What's a "JoyFUL" color??? Well, for me it's the color that makes me smile, makes my heart happy and puts life back into perspective and reminds me of what life it all about (JESUS, OTHERS, YOU) So back to the question... am I doing what I'm doing with JOY at the center of my heart??? Honestly, I can't say that I am all of the time.
So here it is I have just bought new running clothes, organizing my life and ready to be joyful and run the journey of life rather than just getting through it! So I have decided to blog everyday... some days might be one word sentences, other days inspiring scriptiure I have read or quotes that steal my heart, and other days it might be saying today is rough but, I am going to do it 365 days!
Here's the challenge join me... connect to my blog and let's join together ladies and support eachother in this next 365 days! I know it's going to be an amazing journey, one worth recording and one worth LIVING with friends!