Morning Grace

I'm a rule-following kind of girl. Its a great trait to have...sometimes. Sometimes it can really get in the way, though. When it comes to my morning quiet time, it can be downright dangerous.
As a college student and into my early married years in my 20's, it was easy for me to get up early and spend an hour ir more with God every morning. Then we had kids, and everything changed. Suddenly I was a 22 year old stay at home mom who considered taking a shower a major accomplishment. Days went by without me ever even opening my Bible. My prayer time dwindled to, "Lord, how am I going to get this done?"

I'm a voracious reader, so as my kids got older, I started reading again - along with my Bible, I read books on marriage, parenting, and being a Godly woman. I learned a lot from those books - mainly that I was failing. One book said I should spend an hour or more a day in Bible study. Another told me it should be easy to pray for an hour a day. Still others told me I should tithe my time - spend 10% of my time with God and never miss a day. I beat myself up a lot during those early years of marriage and motherhood. I knew there was no way I could live up to what those books suggested. I was breaking all the rules.

Then, a few years ago, I discovered something amazing - grace. Its my morning grace - grace for my times with God. My goal is to get up early every morning and spend time with God. Most days it happens, but if not, there's grace. Some days its long, other days its just a short devotional. One day I might spend more time in Bible study, another day might be focused more on prayer, and still another might focus on journaling or scripture memory. Whatever I'm doing, there's grace.

I believe that God delights in our efforts and our successes to spend time with Him, but I also believe that He's ready to wrap His arms around us and carry us when we're frazzled, frustrated, and struggling to keep up. He made us, He knows us, and He understands our ups and downs. My morning quiet time is again something I look forward to. In fact, its one of my favorite times of the day.

Beginning May 14th, I'm going to do something a little different with my quiet times, and I'm so excited about it!  I've pulled together a group of friends from throughout my life to form a Good Morning Girls group on Facebook.  Together, we're going to study Proverbs 31, pray, and support each other.  We stretch halfway across the country, from Texas to North Carolina, but each day, we'll connect on Facebook.  I can't wait to see what God is going to!
Do you want to have consistent time with God every day? Sign up for Hello Mornings or Good Morning Girls!  These amazing websites have encouraged me so much.  If you're struggling with your quiet times with God, check these out and discover your own morning grace.

When Priorities Get Pushed Aside

Something dawned on me the other day.  I haven't been blogging lately.  I'm a month behind on my "read through the Bible in a year" plan.  I don't remember the last time I worked out.  These were all supposed to be priorities for me - what happened?

I was reading an article on blogging last week, and one point from it really hit home.  If you're going to blog (or do anything else for that matter) you have to make it a priority.  Duh, Amanda.  Sounds simple, but I needed that kick in the pants to bring me back around.  The reason I haven't blogged, read my Bible, or worked out lately isn't a matter of not having time, although things have been insane lately - it's a matter or priorities.  I haven't had my priorities in the right order.

Yes, college is insane right now, and I'm a basket case over it.  Yes, I've been sick.  Yes, I'm a new puppy mom who has been busy with our new baby.  Yes, life is crazy.  But somehow I can find time to catch up on my favorite TV show or play Angry Birds on my phone (I'm a little addicted obsessed hooked on that game...).  Yet I'm pushing some of the most important things in my life aside for these trivial things.

My priorities are being re-alinged this week.  You will see me blogging at least twice a week now.  I will work hard, reading extra until I am caught up on my Bible reading.  As soon as I get over this repiratory virus I'm fighting, I will drag my out-of-shape behind back to the gym and start working out again.  I will sit down every Sunday afternoon and plan my week - I will make things happen instead of letting things happen as they may.  I will make a fresh start and get things moving in the right direction again and fulfill my "one word" goal for this year - FINISH.

No News?

I listen almost entirely to Christian rock music now, but way back, many years ago (like 15+ years ago), I listened to country music a lot, and there was a song that I loved called "No News."  Part of the song goes like this (and no, my memory's not that good - I had to Google the lyrics):

She missed her bus, missed her plane, surely this can be explained,

Lost her car at the mall, got locked in a bathroom stall,

Playing guitar with the band, on the road with Pearl Jam...

Um, yeah...I can't use any of those excuses for my absence from my blog.  Mine is simply called dental hygiene school.  My life revolves around school right now.  I never knew there was so much to getting your teeth cleaned!  Next time you're at the dentist, hug your hygienist.  Seriously, they worked so hard to get where they are.  Tell them thank you.

On the bright side, there are only 6 weeks and 2 days of this semester left.  Not that I'm counting or anything.  Just 44 days until I have time to read, blog, work out, run, spend time with my family, cook, and generally have a life again.  I can't wait!

There are other things going on, too, that are keeping me busy.  There are some job situations (with me) that I can't get specific about, but I would appreciate your prayers.  I'm really needing some direction.  On the bright side, my home business is growing steadily.  I set up my first booth at a large event this weekend, and it went really well.  I'm praying that in time my income from that will become steady enough to let me reduce my work hours.  This opportunity has definitely been an answer to prayers for us.  (It's a great company that's still pretty small - if you're looking for your own home business with a great ground floor opportunity, I'd love to share more about Miche with you, or you can check out my website.)

Despite the stress and pressure I've been under lately, though, I'm excited.  There are some situations where I'm just not sure what's going to happen, but I'm doing my best to simply trust that God is going to work things out.  I'm trying to keep my focus on the new opportunities and new chances for growth that are coming my way.  I'll definitely be sharing more about them here - watch for details on the new adventures coming soon!



When God Stretches You



I love being comfortable.  As soon as I come home from school and work, the first thing I do is change clothes.  I grab my favorite jeans, a long-sleeve t-shirt (even in summer - we keep our house cool, and I'm cold-natured), and my fuzzy socks.  I like routine.  I like to know what's going to happen next.  I don't want to shake things up.  Sometimes, though, God needs to stretch me and move me into something new.  He's stretching me right now, and I've got to say, it's not easy.

If you saw my post last week, you know that we lost our beloved 13 year old Yorkie on Monday - we had to put her to sleep due to her failing health.  It was a hard week, a week of grief for our family, but by Thursday, I was starting to do pretty well.  Then Friday came, and my boss called me to her office, where I learned that I'm facing a huge challenge at work - either take a significant pay cut, or find another job.  After more than four years at my current job, which I truly love, I left the office reeling.  My husband and I are talking, thinking, and praying about what to do and where to go next.  I'm a planner - but this was definitely not in my plans.

I know that God has a purpose in all of this.  I know He has a reason.  I know He has it under control.  I'll admit, I wish I could see the next step.  I wish I could see where this is all leading.  Tomorrow I'll start back to school as spring break ends, and I'll head into another grueling eight weeks to finish out this semester.  I'll also be pulling paperwork together to apply for a huge scholarship being offered by the company I'm an independent sales rep for, Miche.  I will definitely be trying to make a decision about my job situation and where to go from here.  I was already stressed - now it feels like even more has been put on my shoulders.  I'm not sure how this is all going to work out or even how I'm going to balance it all.  I can only trust God to work it out for me.

I'm also asking for your prayers.  I need God's wisdom and guidance.  I also need His strength and comfort when this all feels like too much.  Keep my family in your prayers as well - this adds a lot of stress for them as well.

Nothing Ever Stays the Same...

We're grieving this week.  Today my husband will take our 13 year old teacup Yorkie to our vet and have her put to sleep.  We'll say our final goodbyes to our old friend.  She was my husband's dog for a year and a half before we got married.  She's been with us through four houses (five counting the one my husband lived in before we got married), one apartment, one church gym, five cities, two states, two kids, two hurricane evacuations, and one actual hurricane.  She had enough adventures in her life to write a book on.  (It would be a really great book too...)  We've also made the decision that for now, it's not the time for us to have another pet.  For me, this will mark the first time in 23 years that I have not had a dog.

Mitsy in her younger, healthier days (summer 2010 - age 11)

Life is all about change.  Children grow, families move, jobs change, people - and pets - come and go.  I'm not good with change.  Even good change brings stress.  A sad change like the one we're going through brings a lot of grief and adjustment. 

I will mourn for Mitsy, the only pet our boys have ever known, but I'm also mourning the end of an era for us - we've been married 11 1/2 years, and the babies that our dog saw us bring home are growing up.  Right now we're marking the end of Mitsy's life.  Soon we'll mark the end of homeschooling, as our boys will (hopefully) begin private school in the fall of 2013, just over a year away.  Then we'll mark their graduations, the boys going to college and moving out...it all goes by too quickly. 

Nothing ever stays the same...so now it's time to mourn, but it's also time to lift my head and embrace the next season that this life brings.  Nothing ever stays the same...but God brings new blessings, new opportunities, and new seasons of life.  If you would, say a prayer for my family this week as we adjust to this new season. 

The Me I'd Almost Forgotten

I spent Saturday morning with a tall, dark and handsome guy.  He's the kind of guy I dreamed about as a kid.  He's kind of a rebel.  He has an attitude sometimes.  We spent part of the morning arguing (he can be incredibly stubborn), but the rest of the day was awesome.  Spending time with him was a great way to destress.  I felt so much better when I left him (although I wish I could see him more) and headed home to my family.  I even have pictures...

Me and Scout, my favorite horse at the riding therapy program I volunteer with

I love horses.  I've been in love with them since I was a little girl and first realized what a horse was.  I started riding when I was 12, got my own horse when I was 14, and sold her when I was 21, after I married my husband.  Many of my best childhood memories are from those years with my horse, Dutchess.  I miss horseback riding (although I still go whenever I get a chance, its rare now), grooming, feeding, even the smell of horses.  (Horse people - you'll understand.  Everyone else - I know you think I'm crazy, but it's okay, it's normal to horse lovers.)

Saturday morning was incredible!  I love volunteering with my friend Katie at her riding therapy program.  It gives me a chance to be me - the real me, deep down, who almost got pushed aside when I grew up, got married, had kids, and started working.  Sometimes life comes along, and it pushes us away from our passions and dreams.  But I don't want to forget my passion.  I want to hang on to that dream.  One day, when I'm done with school and my kids get older and life settles down a little, I want to have horses again.  I want to live that part of my dreams again.

People know me as a lot of different things - wife, mom, Curves manager, student, future dental hygienist, Miche rep, and more.  But for a few hours Saturday, I was me.  Amanda, just Amanda, the horse-crazy kid who grew to still find some of her greatest joy with horses.  I left the barn at noon, dirty, tired, and delirously happy - dirty boots and all.  What a way to spend a weekend.

Staying Focused

     Feed your body often.  Eat five small meals a day.  Make sure you have healthy snacks between meals.  As a fitness coach and gym manager, I’ve taught these ideas for years.  It makes sense – you want to keep your blood sugar level and keep your body feeling its best all day.  One huge meal one time a day isn’t enough to keep you satisfied all day long.  But when it comes to our time with God, that’s exactly what many of us expect to do...

...you can check out the rest of my post at Must Love God today!