Be Intentional 2023

This morning we finally got a break from the crazy storms that have been hanging around. We took advantage of this time and went for our walk this morning hoping to get it done before the next wave hits. Our walking paths were flooded, tree branches lay on the sidewalks and streets, and trash was blown all over the neighborhoods, so we had to take alternate routes. We were just so happy to be out and about that the inconvenience of alternate routes didn't really seem to bother us too much. We don't do being cooped up in the house very well.  As we were walking, I couldn't help but see how much the storms were a reflection of life. Sometimes life is messy, with lots of obstacles in the way, and a flood of emotions, and a need to take alternate routes. We get to choose how we react to these moments for the better or worse. I have my moments of letting the storms get to me. These moments bring with them a flood of emotions like anxiety, frustration, anger, fear, and depression...

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking." - Friedrich Nietzche One of my goals for the year is to get healthy and stay healthy. I'm not a big fan of taking medications so I always try the natural route first. For me this entails eating the right foods, taking time to rest, getting enough sleep, less stress, and consistent exercising.  Joint pain is one of the challenges that comes with my autoimmune disease. It's important that I keep moving to keep the joints loose, but I need to move in a way that won't damage the joints themselves. Although running has been a great exercise for me in the past, the inflammation it causes in my joints means it's not the best option for me anymore. Instead, I walk or hike. I'm good with this. I have always loved walking and hiking, even as a kid. I enjoy the pace and the opportunities it brings to slow down and see the people and things around me. The truth is I have never felt closer to God than when I am walki...

The other day, we were on our walk, and I turned to Jim and told him that I love him. His response was, "Even with a crack in my awesome?" I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, be it made me smile and laugh. We joked a little about his response and I assured him that yes, I still love him even with a crack in his awesome.  I've been thinking about this moment a lot. I'm really glad that my husband thinks he is awesome, because in so many ways he is. I'm also a little sad that all the things that have been going on in his life are making him doubt his awesomeness and his lovability. He doesn't like feeling less than himself, if that makes sense. In his mind he's Jim, a wise cracking, lovable, strong, creative guy, not this guy that has to slow down and ask for help sometimes. I totally understand what he's going through since I also have had to make changes in my own life that I wasn't really wanting to make. Thankfully, we have each o...

We've had a lot going on this year and at times it has felt like everything is falling apart, especially when it comes to our health. We keep hoping that it will all make sense and fall into place as we navigate our way through this. I'm sure there are lessons to learn from this journey, and with time I think we'll see them, but somedays it's just one more thing to deal with in this crazy world.  It started in January when my autoimmune disease came back full force out of remission due to a virus and has been an unpleasant companion throughout the rest of this year. Jim recently found out that he has some long Covid symptoms and a few autoimmune issues that have made life more challenging for him too. We are thankful that we know what is going on in our bodies so we can make changes to ease the effects, but we aren't used to being the hot mess couple.  Autoimmune diseases are challenging as they affect your life daily and sometimes make it hard to even get out of be...

  I saw this and thought it went perfectly with my ‘Be Intentional’ theme this year. This year I want to focus on creating a purposeful life. A life filled with meaningful moments, joy, laughter, growth, peace, gratitude, and so much more. Less worry, more fun. Not just existing but living a fulfilling life. To create this life, I will need to make some changes, create some habits, ask some questions, and be brave enough to step out of my comfort zone.  There will be lots of choices to make, some big (like where to live), and some small (like what to eat for breakfast), but all of them filled with potential. A simple way for me to evaluate my options is to ask myself, “Does this support the life I am trying to create?” If not, then adios! I want to get in the habit of questioning the worth of my decisions in creating a better life. I also want to make sure that my answers are in tune with God. I did a little research in the scriptures about asking questions and was struck by t...

 I can't say that I'm sad to see the year 2022 come to an end, it has been a difficult year in so many ways. The theme for the year was 'Keep Moving Forward', which I am grateful for because there have been some days when I needed to be reminded to keep moving forward. In a year filled with lots of loss and some big challenges 'keep moving forward' was a mantra I would repeat to myself many times.  The Lord definitely knew I would need these words in my life. In a year that has been sometimes so overwhelming that tears streamed freely, I kept moving forward and was often surprised by my strength to overcome. Learning to find the blessings in the journey has been a gift I am forever grateful for. In the search for a theme for the year 2023 I've been praying and searching for something that speaks to me. I'm not sure what lies ahead, but I know the Lord will help me through it. He always gives me a simple set of words that are filled with so much power in ...