Here I am, the beginning of February. Ashley who is not at all bossy has asked for an update on my New Year’s resolutions. So proud of that girl!
#1 Not allowing dust to get on my bible. Here is the truth. I have opened it several times while in church and I am diligent in taking notes on scripture, even referring to my notes however, I have not spent as much time in the word as I should. I bought two new daily devotions while at the women leadership conference last month and I have not opened them. Can I have 1/3 of a golden star?
#2 Being still. Okay being real here, I have done very well the past few days on this resolution because I was forced to. After all the running around we have been doing I haven’t had the time to be still until I got knocked down. I caught the stomach flu. Three days in bed gave me time to be still and meditate. So I don’t think this really counts? Well kind of…
#3 Motivate, encourage, and inspire others. I am doing great in this resolution. Golden star for me!!! This has been the easiest one because of all the opportunities Sergio and I have had lately in sharing our story. In opening up our lives to others it has created a connection, making people want to share their story with me. God has set up divine appointment for him to use me to encourage others. I have learned that I will never run out of people that need motivation, prayers, encouragement or my shoulder.
So as you can read I have some work to do. I pray that my next update shows some improvement in keeping the dust off my bible and in being still. Oh and God by the way, I do not need the flu again. How are you keeping up with your resolutions? As I Tread through.
Ashley
I don’t think I have been bossy lately, in fact I think I have been the opposite. However, I assume the bossiness would need to be judged by others. In truthfulness not being bossy is hard. Given that Norah has the flu (and she gave it to me) I cut her some slack but she still managed to write this week. That lady is great!
We are still working hard to write our book! So many people ask me when is it going to be done, and I do not have the answer for that. I am often provided with publishing advice, but in reality it is not ready to be read by other eyes then our own. I am sorry if that is a disappointment, but once it is ready I imagine that you will not be disappointed at all that you had to wait so long. I still have a secret writing project that I hope to tell you more about soon.
Saving money. What a bummer. I have not saved any money, but I also have not spent any money on anything other then what I need. Minus lattes. They are kind of expensive but hard to give up. I cannot give them up but I have cut back on them significantly. Why is saving money so hard? I’m still going to try but I might have set myself up for failure because I am in the process of planning two big trips this year which I know will take all my money. I have never had a shopping problem (some may disagree) but I definitely have a traveling problem, but in my eyes is not a problem to have at all! I’d gladly take any money saving advice you have for me!
Sergio
It’s been difficult living up to my new year’s resolutions, I didn’t think that it would be such a challenge to better myself. But it’s been exactly that, a challenge. Time and everyday life seem to pull in the opposite direction of my goals.
My first resolution reading: This is something that I would like to enjoy. I need a way of escaping the everyday thoughts and paths, a getaway of my everyday habits. I have tried to read in a quiet room but it seems to be more of a chore than a pleasure. It could be the books I’ve selected for myself. I am willing to take suggestions on a few good book selections. Please HELP me!
My second weight loss: I have started to change some habits. I have made sure that I eat breakfast every morning so I have gas in the tank to get through the day (this is what my wife says to me every morning.) I make it a point to come home for lunch so I’m not enticed to put anything in my mouth because its quick. I have to say that I do feel a lot better throughout the day. My next step is to get into some rhythm with a workout or some kind of exercise. I have a membership to the gym now I just need to put down the remote and pull out the card. For me to achieve my goal of losing 50 pounds in a year I need to lose 4.166 pounds per month and 1.04 pounds per week. So it’s time to hit the gym. Any workout ideas or exercise ideas would be welcomed.
My third Prayer: I have to say that I have made the best progress here with my growth in faith. I have spent time in the word reading the bible and I have shared what the Lord has put in my heart with others. Whether it be me getting up in front of a crowd and sharing my testimony, or speaking up at work and asking everyone in the building to pray. The best part so far this year has come from my daughter, Gese, wanting to be baptized. She has shared with me why she wants to be baptized and in a few weeks she will be baptized in the same church that me, Norah, and Ashley were baptized in. This will be a day of celebration. Out of all of my resolutions the one I made to pray 4 times a day has been the easiest. I find myself taking to god all the time, anywhere, and anytime. Maybe I need to tell him to kick me in the butt on my other two resolutions.
I have to remember that my improvements begin with ME and that I am a work in progress!
Today I encourage you to just start somewhere on your self-improvement and Keep Rolling On
I did not get this whole football thing. Really why would I want to waste my time watching a bunch of men run, jump, kick, hit, and fight after an odd shaped ball? I had several perfectly good books that I would rather read. Sergio had given up on me being his football buddy. I am certain it was due to his frustration in having to explain over and over again the difference between a first down and a touch down. He didn’t want to explain why a penalty was given and why a play was challenged. I was not a very fast learner. For several games I would “try” to get in the zone but I would lose interest within minutes and would grab a book or do a house chores instead. I did learn very quickly that it does not make your your husband happy when you vacuum the room he is watching his beloved Broncos in. Dusting the TV does not make him happy either. The only way to recover the fumble is with chips and salsa. I have also learned not to start any conversations with my football fanatic unless I want the “look” because the conversation will be one sided. I have learned the art of asking a very quick question when a commercial is on and I mean quick because if the answer takes too much time and the game has commenced I get no answer until the next commercial. Well maybe!
Times have changed and I cannot believe that he has turned me into this crazy Broncos fan that truly bleeds Orange and Blue. I have even had a fantasy football team but for some odd reason when the Puerto Rican Players beat Rolling Thunder I didn’t get invited into the league again. With all the trash talking going on I should of known I was out when someone (will not mention any names but he goes by rolling thunder) had to eat his own words. I cried last year when my favorite team came out on the field for the Super Bowl. No not when they lost. Yes I was disappointed but I was proud that they had made it that far. I talk to them through the TV as if they can here me. Just trying to help them out. Oh no I am turning in to that crazy football person? What is happening to me?
The truth is football is Sergio’s only hobby and it can take up time. Time happens to be my love language and I did not want to be the kind of wife that nagged because the attention is not on her. I made the decision to learn about football so that I could enjoy the time with Sergio. Now my love has shifted to loving the men in orange and blue. It is Sergio’s fault for putting these men in my life. As time passed I learned the plays and I learned to be the best football buddy a guy could ever ask for. One year for our anniversary I surprised Sergio with tickets to a game. This was my first live football game. I teared up when my guys came on the field. I cheered so loud that I lost my voice. That year we beat the Patriots and I left the stadium with pride. The time I spent with my husband was priceless. Watching him enjoy himself in this environment left my heart filled. He thanked me over and over for this anniversary gift. He explained to me how much it meant to him that I came into his world. I think he was on a mile high!
Game days are special days. The snacks are planned in advance, chores are done in advance. A mass text to the family to invite them to come over and watch the game. Sunday football is the best because I put on my one of many team shirts to get ready for church. I get ready to worship God and I smile at my church family in the Broncos gear. Once services are over it is time to celebrate in Broncos country with the best fan ever……… my husband.
We continue to be Denver Broncos fans no matter what the outcome of the games are!
Sergio and Norh are are so excited that God as blessed them with the opportunity to share a part of their story at the A Caring Pregnancy Resource Center’s Annual Banquet. They could not think of a better way to start off the new year than being a part of the celebration of life. This fundraising banquet will help counsel and support crisis pregnancies. Please mark your cander and plan to attend. Visits the center’s website at http://neco-cpc.org to find out more.
For the past few months I have been reading The Happiness Project. The author Gretchen Rubin went on a quest to become happier by making resolutions for each month of the year. She wrote a book to document herself following through with her resolutions. She inspired me to start my own resolutions for the New Year and I wanted to document it with Norah and Sergio.
My first resolution is to stop pushing people to do what I want. I have a very bad habit of convincing people my way is the right way especially when it comes to my parents. They call me Cobra Commander because I constantly boss them around and push them to do things that I think will better The Wheels of Grace, they don’t always agree with me immediately.
My typical Ashley thought would be to force them into reading The Happiness Project, but with my new resolution I will not even tell them about the book or why I decided to document our resolutions because
1. They have a list of books I asked them to read months, maybe even years ago and they have not read one of my recommended books.
2. I cannot force people to do what I want.
Here is a list of their resolutions that has no part to do with me at all. I did not edit their resolutions; I did not make suggestions or try to get them to change their resolutions, because I cannot force people to do what I want. See it isn’t even the New Year and I’m already making personal improvements.
Norah
Do not allow dust to get on my bible. Take time to get into God’s Word to learn and grow.
Turn off all the noise in my life weekly. Practice being still and knowing that he is God. Unplug my mind and all of my electronic devices. Meditate!
Help motivate, encourage, and inspire anyone who is in need by listening, praying, supporting, and if crying is required, pass the tissues.
Start to read. Commit to reading at least 1 book every two months = reading 6 books by next year. This will help me to exercise my mind to keep it sharp.
Lose weight. I want to lose 50 pounds by exercising and eating well. I want to participate in a physical event, like a marathon. I want to achieve this so I can show myself that with a plan and a little bit of focus my goal is attainable. I would like to share with others that a strong body comes with a strong mind.
Grow in my faith. I want to pray more every day. I want to make it a point to pray 4 times a day at the least. I want to memorize bible verses to get me through the days.
Unbossy. Stop convincing people to do what I want.
Money. I have a bad habit of spending my money instead of saving. I am often plagued by consumerism and my biggest goal is to put my money towards my student loan debt instead of the usual make-up, clothes, books, and other random items I usually spend it on.
Writing. We are all working hard to finish writing our book. I hope that 2015 is our year. I also have a secret writing project I am currently working on. Details to come soon.
We (or maybe just I) want to follow up with our resolutions and accomplish our personal goals. At the end of January there will be a new post on how we are keeping our resolutions.
We would love to hear your New Years Resolutions. We can try and help you keep them; comment telling us what your resolutions are and we’ll keep in touch with you. If you hold us accountable we’ll do the same for you.
In November Sergio asked me what kind of gift I would like for Christmas. I quickly responded that I did not want any gifts this year. I had already decided in my heart that I truly did not need a thing and after looking around at all the treasures my home held it was confirmation my needs and wants have been met. After the puzzled look came off of Sergio’s face I continued to tell him my plan. I honestly had put a lot of thought into what I “wanted” this year.
I got down to his level placed my nose against his nose, this is how I get his attention, and begged him to honor my wishes. I explained to him that I have everything I need and I would feel so much better if I would stat to give all the extra things in our home and pass them on to someone that needed them. I knew of families that have very little and here I sat with extra and some. He agreed with my idea.
Once I had the opportunity to actually give some of the items away it made me realize how I started out with hand me downs and how much I appreciated them. Now I remember them given to me in love. This is something that I want to encourage others to consider doing. Look around at all that you have been blessed with. Do you have some things in your home that you no longer use. Do you have things that you are hanging on to that you could do without. Think about your neighbor that may not even have a Christmas tree or a nice dress to wear on Christmas day. It is a win win situation. Blesses the giver and the receiver.
This Christmas take the time to look at how blesses you are. Take time to reflect on how God has taken care of all your needs.
For my family and friends that want to give me something for Christmas here is my list.
Time
Love
Respect
Kindness
Understanding
Hugs
Kisses
Laughter
Compassion
Patience
Grace
Or if you’re feeling ambitions a gift I would enjoy is for you to come over and clean my house, daily, or weekly, I’d even settle for monthly. Or just once will always be appreciated.
As I tread though.
What are some gifts you’ll be giving this Christmas?
Recently I felt myself in a free-fall and had no idea how to slow it down, let alone stop it. I was over whelmed at work and I felt the demand it has on my every day life. I was overwhelmed with taking care of my family while trying to balance work.
I wasn’t eating right or sleeping right. This didn’t just start happening, it had been growing for months and I kept saying to myself “What is wrong with you? Get it together, handle it, you’re a big boy.” But my pep talks didn’t help and things continued to get worse.
I needed to step back and ask what do I do next? Give up and throw my hands in the air?
After many hours of soul searching and praying for an answer the light turned on. The reason things got so out of control was I had forgotten that I had to have
Balance
Balance was missing and I felt like a one sided coin. The coin of life needs to get balance from each side; on one side you need achievement which is where you find success, fulfillment, production, and capability, on the other side of the coin you need enjoyment where you find happiness, pleasure, relaxation, satisfaction, thrill and where you find the WOW in life.
You cant have one with out the other. Trying to live on one side of the coin is why some successful people are unhappy and overwhelmed. They may find themselves feeling like I felt; in a free-fall. I needed to find balance before I started to damage myself with every day that passed. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed for a long period of time and not like what you see in the mirror. The opposite of achievement and enjoyment will be realized after time and you will start to suffer from depression, sadness, pain, misery on one side of your coin and on the other you will find defeat, failure, idleness and loss.
Once I came to see that balance was missing in my life I set out to fix it by making sure to I was focusing on the 4 areas of my life that needed balance.
Family, Work, Self and Spirit.
I now know that I need to contribute to each one of these area on a daily basis by focusing on achievement and enjoyment. It doesn’t mean that I have to spend equal amounts of time on each, just that each are visited daily. So that I don’t become one sided.
If someone were to ask me “What is your purpose in life?”
I’d say, “I want to achieve something today and I want to enjoy something today.”
If I do both of those things, I’m going to have a pretty good day. And if I do both of these things every day, for the rest of my life, I’m going to have a good life.
I think this is true for all of us. Life will deliver the value and balance we desire.
Simple concepts. And once you focus on them as key components of your day, they are not that hard to implement. So, make it happen, for yourself, your family and all the important individuals you care about…every day for the rest of your life.
