1st, 2nd, and the rest...

As I sit here reflecting over 2015 as 2016 comes quickly, I am reminded of what one of my professors at Lamar Univ said on a live video conference this past spring.  He replied to a question from another student who asked what advice he could give to have a successful, long career like him.  He was a local Superintendent in a small district, also serving as a part time professor for my program.  His response was to remember to balance life and to remember your priorities, keeping God (or your faith) first, family second, and country next.  Such a simple response.  God, Family, Country, but something I surely needed at that point in time.  See, last school year, and in particular, that spring (Spring 2015) was the most stressful time I think I had lived through, and hearing his response in April was just what I needed at that time.  And it's something that has stuck with me since then and something I've made the choice to live by.  Faith first, family second, and let the rest live after those two things.  See, I've made several posts this summer and into fall about living balanced and making choices, and I'm so glad I've lived by this for six plus months now.

During this Christmas break, I've had the joy and pleasure of spending time with family, attending church together with my brother and sister, something not often done as we all attend different churches, and the blessing of just doing nothing.  I know what a huge blessing this is and I know that not everyone gets to do this.  I also know where I was at this time last year, in this same season, and I've posted about it already, so I won't take any of this for granted.

So as I reflect over this year, I can say with certainty that I hope you find the time, make the choices, and decide to live by this same style, to make your faith first, your family next, and let all the rest just blend into the background of life.  Take control over your life, don't let it control you.

Productively Distracted

Since Thanksgiving, in our home, there's been tons of music, and less of TV and football, as much of a fan as we are.  On one such occasion, after fighting over the Chromecast on the big screen, I ended up winning this particular night, and discovered this sermon called, "Death by Distraction".  I strongly encourage you to watch, or even listen as you commute.

Something he said in there really struck me as I sit, think, reflect, pray, and commute weekly and daily.  The phrase that resonated with me is "productively distracted".  As he went on to explain, we can be distracted from our true calling, our true mission by doing other productive things.  Things that are important, necessary, but seem to consume our day, our thoughts, our time.

So, of course, I started thinking of things that take me from my own calling, which is that of my family and kids, and the kids at my school.  I left the classroom five years ago, having been asked by my Principal at that time, to take on a leadership role.  I accepted thinking I could help many more students by helping teachers, and for a while I did that.  After some time, the stress and roadblocks finally won out, and I decided it was time for a change.  But during those years, I was challenged to get my Master's degree, and as part of that program to take on my weakness of technology, which ultimately became my passion and drives me even now.  I also realized during those years, how I became productively distracted by doing things that are necessary but didn't have a lasting, eternal impact like leading and guiding and investing in my own family, own kids, and even my own students.  So, with that information, what is one to do?  For me, it took realizing what's truly important, making choices to prove that importance, and learning to say no.  So, I hope you take time this season to reflect as a year comes to a close here quickly, and evaluate what's truly important in your life, and then take steps to prove that importance.

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It's a Great Day to be Alive!

No matter how much I prepare myself, it always seems to catch to me in time, finances, cooking, etc each December.  In light of all the craziness of this world, I know it's not much to complain about after all.  In fact, I have often told others that any day above ground is a good one.  And that there are others who would love to have my bad day.  So, even though the kids are going off the rails, in need of a recall button for email that day, the gas tank is empty on a cold night, I'm up to my elbows in apple peels knowing I promised to make homemade applesauce, and the people I've been asking for an invoice waited five months and sprung it on me now before Christmas, I can still be grateful and appreciative for much.  For my husband's health now for nearly a year with only three doctor visits during 2015 after fifteen days in the hospital this time last year.  For my added work done with college.  For my three beauties (my daughters) who are my right hand with chores and tasks with happy hearts.  For a car that works.  For a warm home and soft bed each night.  For large, happy, blessed families (there's twenty three on my side of the family and sixteen on my husband's side).  For food on the table each day.  For my God that loves me.  And for so much more.  

I have this saying hanging on my cabinet at school that says this:

During this crazy, but meaningful season, I hope you have some moments, where you can just sit, relax, take a breath, and just simply be with those you love most.  Lately, my husband has turned off the TV in our home in favor of good music and tonight this one came on.  It is indeed a great day to be alive, so I hope you, like me, take moments to savor the time we do have with others.

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