Saturday, January 28, 2012
My Simple Prayer
Okay, I'll admit, I stole it from Pinterest...but this is it. This is my prayer, my goal, my dream, the lifeblood of motherhood. This is what I desire above all else from being a mother, and what I want my kids to remember most about me (along with my absolute, whole-hearted love for them). This is it...
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
When Following God's Will Leaves You Weary
As you read this, I may be in class for four hours of lectures, starting with an 8:00 a.m. pathology class. Maybe class is over and I'm at work, doing paperwork and training new members at the fitness center I manage. I might be in clinic, seeing patients (and hoping I look like I halfway know what I'm doing). Or maybe my really long day is over and I'm at home, trying to play catch-up with a never ending pile of laundry or studying for school. Wherever I am, I can promise you I'm already tired.
Sometimes following God's will leaves you weary. I love studying to be a dental hygienist, and I'm amazingly blessed to have this opportunity. I covered the decision in prayer before I ever enrolled for my first class. I prayed for months for God's direction. I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where God wants me. Honestly, though, I'm glad I didn't know what I was getting myself into, because I would never have applied if I did. People told me that this program was like the nursing program. I laughed and said there was no way it's that hard. For the record...yeah, I was wrong.
I loved my Christmas break. I got enough sleep every night. My house stayed cleaner. My laundry was caught up. I read several great mysteries, just for fun. I got projects done that had been on my to-do list forever. I spent time with my husband and kids. I was happy and much less stressed.
But as soon as school started - the struggles did too. It's a constant struggle. I struggle with housekeeping (and usually lose). I struggle to find time to work out and to run. I don't see my family enough. I cry a lot. I work on way too little sleep (I average 4 to 6 hours a night). I have a shorter temper. Dental hygiene school is, without a doubt, the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's putting stress on me and everyone around me. I am making it through this only with God's strength and grace. Every. Single. Day.
I know that following your dreams and following God's will aren't always easy. If this was an easy road, everyone would take it. I'm trusting in the fact that God knows His plans for me and my family, and they're good plans. He's called me to walk this road, and I know He'll give me the strength to finish it.
Sometimes following God's will leaves you weary. I love studying to be a dental hygienist, and I'm amazingly blessed to have this opportunity. I covered the decision in prayer before I ever enrolled for my first class. I prayed for months for God's direction. I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where God wants me. Honestly, though, I'm glad I didn't know what I was getting myself into, because I would never have applied if I did. People told me that this program was like the nursing program. I laughed and said there was no way it's that hard. For the record...yeah, I was wrong.
I loved my Christmas break. I got enough sleep every night. My house stayed cleaner. My laundry was caught up. I read several great mysteries, just for fun. I got projects done that had been on my to-do list forever. I spent time with my husband and kids. I was happy and much less stressed.
But as soon as school started - the struggles did too. It's a constant struggle. I struggle with housekeeping (and usually lose). I struggle to find time to work out and to run. I don't see my family enough. I cry a lot. I work on way too little sleep (I average 4 to 6 hours a night). I have a shorter temper. Dental hygiene school is, without a doubt, the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's putting stress on me and everyone around me. I am making it through this only with God's strength and grace. Every. Single. Day.
I know that following your dreams and following God's will aren't always easy. If this was an easy road, everyone would take it. I'm trusting in the fact that God knows His plans for me and my family, and they're good plans. He's called me to walk this road, and I know He'll give me the strength to finish it.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Count Me Accountable!
<center><a href="http://mustlovegod.net/ " target="_blank"><img alt="Must Love God" src="http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i433/thealleluiajourney/125version.jpg%22/%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/center>
I started the new year, like so many others, determined to refocus on my health. After losing 12 pounds over about a three month time span, I put it all in reverse and gained back 5 pounds during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now I'm ready to get back on track. I love Claire's simple way of breaking things down at Peak 313...
...and I'm so thankful for the accountability link-up at Must Love God! Knowing that I have support and accountability from friends gives me a huge boost!
Eat Clean: My main goal right now is just to get my calories and portion sizes back under control. I did better last week, but I need to do much, much more. Being back in school actually helps me control my eating habits. It forces me to plan ahead, pack my lunch, and make better choices. This weekend, I stocked my fridge and freezer with yogurt, Lean Cuisine meals, salad mixes, and bottled water (and a six pack of Diet Dr. Pepper). I'm ready for a much better week this week.
Move More: I got a couple of workouts in last week, but I have to do a lot better. I was exhausted from school and felt bad a couple of days, but this week should be better. My goal is to get off the ellipitcal and back to running, to run three times this week, and to start doing five minutes of PraiseMoves a few mornings.
Refresh Daily: Out of everything, this is the one I'm strongest in right now. My husband and I are keeping each other accountable in our reading - we're using the M'Cheyne plan to read through the Old Testament once and the New Testaments and Psalms twice this year. This week, I plan to start structured nightly quiet time with my boys, too - something we've been lacking.
I started the new year, like so many others, determined to refocus on my health. After losing 12 pounds over about a three month time span, I put it all in reverse and gained back 5 pounds during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now I'm ready to get back on track. I love Claire's simple way of breaking things down at Peak 313...
1. Eat Clean 2. Move More 3. Refresh Daily
Eat Clean: My main goal right now is just to get my calories and portion sizes back under control. I did better last week, but I need to do much, much more. Being back in school actually helps me control my eating habits. It forces me to plan ahead, pack my lunch, and make better choices. This weekend, I stocked my fridge and freezer with yogurt, Lean Cuisine meals, salad mixes, and bottled water (and a six pack of Diet Dr. Pepper). I'm ready for a much better week this week.
Move More: I got a couple of workouts in last week, but I have to do a lot better. I was exhausted from school and felt bad a couple of days, but this week should be better. My goal is to get off the ellipitcal and back to running, to run three times this week, and to start doing five minutes of PraiseMoves a few mornings.
Refresh Daily: Out of everything, this is the one I'm strongest in right now. My husband and I are keeping each other accountable in our reading - we're using the M'Cheyne plan to read through the Old Testament once and the New Testaments and Psalms twice this year. This week, I plan to start structured nightly quiet time with my boys, too - something we've been lacking.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Quick Post (During a Long Week)
The first week of class is always crazy. This one is a little crazier because clinicals began this week, too. Seeing patients definitely adds a new layer of stress to things! I thought I wasn't going to see patients because I had sterilization duty today, but guess who got to do an emergency xray? (It was pretty cool!) I'll see my first full-fledged, "real" patients Monday morning.
My blogging had to take a back seat this week as I deal with getting into my new routine, but watch for more this weekend, including my first post at Must Love God, coming up Saturday. I'm excited! And if you don't mind, say an extra prayer for me and my family this week - I'm missing Christmas break already! Seriously, there's always an adjustment period for all us, and it's always tough.
My blogging had to take a back seat this week as I deal with getting into my new routine, but watch for more this weekend, including my first post at Must Love God, coming up Saturday. I'm excited! And if you don't mind, say an extra prayer for me and my family this week - I'm missing Christmas break already! Seriously, there's always an adjustment period for all us, and it's always tough.
Friday, January 13, 2012
3 in 30 - Week 1 Update
I'll admit, its been a so-so week. Some goals went great, others...well, not so great.
1. Eat healthier food. Ummmm...yeah...not great results here. I did read some articles on clean eating - that counts for something, right? I also restarted My Fitness Pal. I'm tracking my calories...including all 200 to 500 extra calories a day...but I'm tracking them. Even the McDonald's carmel frappes...
2. Follow my chore plan
Can I just leave this one blank? Yeah, it's that bad.
3. Be a more intentional mom. I did make progress here. When my kids are telling me something, I'm trying to remind myself to stop whatever I'm doing, look them in the eye, and really listen. I'm trying to be a more fun mom, too...Sunday afternoon we went for a bike ride, and Wednesday we went to the library. We've been having fun. Since this is the last week of my Christmas break from college, I want to enjoy every second I can with my boys. Once my classes start back, it's going to get crazy around our house.
1. Eat healthier food. Ummmm...yeah...not great results here. I did read some articles on clean eating - that counts for something, right? I also restarted My Fitness Pal. I'm tracking my calories...including all 200 to 500 extra calories a day...but I'm tracking them. Even the McDonald's carmel frappes...
2. Follow my chore plan
Can I just leave this one blank? Yeah, it's that bad.
3. Be a more intentional mom. I did make progress here. When my kids are telling me something, I'm trying to remind myself to stop whatever I'm doing, look them in the eye, and really listen. I'm trying to be a more fun mom, too...Sunday afternoon we went for a bike ride, and Wednesday we went to the library. We've been having fun. Since this is the last week of my Christmas break from college, I want to enjoy every second I can with my boys. Once my classes start back, it's going to get crazy around our house.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Giveaway: Heroes & Villains of the Bible
I'm so excited - today I have a great giveaway perfect for boy moms! Thanks to Tommy Nelson, we had the chance to review Heroes and Villains of the Bible. Any book that gets my boys excited about reading God's Word is a winner for me, and my boys love this book!
Each story contains Bible text (from the International Children's Bible), followed by a short life application section. My nine year old loved reading the Bible text on his own. We both loved the amazing artwork, too.
I love the fact that Heroes and Villains of the Bible makes the Bible so readable for kids. It breaks Scriptures down into short chapters, so its definitely less intimidating than picking up the entire Bible. I also love the fact that its sent my nine year old to his Bible more - he finds someone he wants to learn more about and he goes to his Bible to dig deeper.
This book is a perfect read-alone book for 8 to 12 year olds. Its also a great read-aloud for younger kids or for family devotional time. Thanks to the great people at Tommy Nelson, you can win a copy for your family!
To enter, just leave a comment here telling me which Bible hero your kids would like to read about the most. Be sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you win.
For extra entries, follow Tommy Nelson on their blog, Facebook, or Twitter (one entry for each). Entries will close Friday, January 13. The winner will be chosen Saturday.
You can also find out more by checking out "Heroes and Villains of the Bible" on Amazon or you can check it out here.
I love the fact that Heroes and Villains of the Bible makes the Bible so readable for kids. It breaks Scriptures down into short chapters, so its definitely less intimidating than picking up the entire Bible. I also love the fact that its sent my nine year old to his Bible more - he finds someone he wants to learn more about and he goes to his Bible to dig deeper.
This book is a perfect read-alone book for 8 to 12 year olds. Its also a great read-aloud for younger kids or for family devotional time. Thanks to the great people at Tommy Nelson, you can win a copy for your family!
To enter, just leave a comment here telling me which Bible hero your kids would like to read about the most. Be sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you win.
For extra entries, follow Tommy Nelson on their blog, Facebook, or Twitter (one entry for each). Entries will close Friday, January 13. The winner will be chosen Saturday.
You can also find out more by checking out "Heroes and Villains of the Bible" on Amazon or you can check it out here.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
January 3 in 30
I got up extra early this morning to do some reading, planning, and thinking. I want to link up with "3 in 30" each month this year. I have so much I want to accomplish - I need to break it down to three goals per month so I won't get overwhelmed. So, what are my 3 in 30 goals for January going to be?
<a href="http://3in30.ashleypichea.com" ><img title="3in30 I'm In!!" src="http://3in30.ashleypichea.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/3in30-Im-In-150x150.png" alt="3in30 I'm In!!" width="125" height="125" /></a>
1. Eat healthier food.
This has to be a priority. Before the holidays hit, I was doing great and was only 6 pounds away from my goal weight. Now I'm 10 pounds away. I feel awful, and I know it's because of all the junk and processed foods I've been eating. I'm going to start using My Fitness Pal again, cut back on my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper's in favor of more water, and get back to my 1,600 calorie diet until I hit my goal weight.
2. Follow my chore plan.
In just a few days, the spring semester of college will start. According to everyone I've talked to, including my teachers, this will be the hardest semester of the dental hygiene program. With school and work, I'll put in 14 hour days on 3 days each week. I'll be working 25-30 hours a week, on campus 20 hours a week, seeing patients, and keeping up with all my work from 4 classes, 1 lab, and a major research paper. It will not take long for things to dissolve into chaos at our house. I've come up with a detailed plan of what needs to be done each day. I hope it will not only keep me on track, but that it will help guide my husband and kids so they can help out, too (which they're great about doing, by the way).
3. Be a more intentional mom.
So much of the time, even when I'm home, I'm not really "with" my kids - I'm cleaning, working, cooking, studying, being a busy wife/mom/student/etc. If I don't make time to really focus on my kids, time is going to slip away before I realize it. It's already moving much too quickly and my boys are growing up way too fast.
<a href="http://3in30.ashleypichea.com" ><img title="3in30 I'm In!!" src="http://3in30.ashleypichea.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/3in30-Im-In-150x150.png" alt="3in30 I'm In!!" width="125" height="125" /></a>
1. Eat healthier food.
This has to be a priority. Before the holidays hit, I was doing great and was only 6 pounds away from my goal weight. Now I'm 10 pounds away. I feel awful, and I know it's because of all the junk and processed foods I've been eating. I'm going to start using My Fitness Pal again, cut back on my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper's in favor of more water, and get back to my 1,600 calorie diet until I hit my goal weight.
2. Follow my chore plan.
In just a few days, the spring semester of college will start. According to everyone I've talked to, including my teachers, this will be the hardest semester of the dental hygiene program. With school and work, I'll put in 14 hour days on 3 days each week. I'll be working 25-30 hours a week, on campus 20 hours a week, seeing patients, and keeping up with all my work from 4 classes, 1 lab, and a major research paper. It will not take long for things to dissolve into chaos at our house. I've come up with a detailed plan of what needs to be done each day. I hope it will not only keep me on track, but that it will help guide my husband and kids so they can help out, too (which they're great about doing, by the way).
3. Be a more intentional mom.
So much of the time, even when I'm home, I'm not really "with" my kids - I'm cleaning, working, cooking, studying, being a busy wife/mom/student/etc. If I don't make time to really focus on my kids, time is going to slip away before I realize it. It's already moving much too quickly and my boys are growing up way too fast.
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