Save the Date!

If you've been following my blog over the past few years you know that I co-sponsor the Holt International DFW Picnic.  I've done it for the past 5 years now and love getting to meet all the families who have adopted and hearing their stories.  It's a fun event!

So, save the date....Saturday, June 1st from 12-3 pm!  It will be at Parr Park in Grapevine, TX.  If you live in the area, please make sure you register for the event here:  http://holtinternational.org/picnics/  

We'd love to see you and your family there!  It's for local (TX) adoptees (young to adults), as well as, prospective parents.  If you have questions about adoption or are waiting for your child to finally come home, we'd love to share our stories with you to help you along the way.  It's a lot of fun and there is a splash pad there so the little ones can stay cool.  Bring a picnic lunch for your family and enjoy meeting other families, as well.

The kids always have a good time meeting other adoptees, but I find the parents enjoy it, too, getting to compare stories and share experiences with one another.  It's a fun family outing, but it's a great way to connect with others in your communities.  So, take advantage of one of the picnics near you!

I hope to see you at our annual picnic for some food, fun and fellowship!  May blessings surround you this upcoming week!

Be Inspired!

What inspires you?  Yes, there are things that you see or read, mainly on social media platforms these days, that may inspire you for a moment or two, but what REALLY inspires you?  What inspires you to your core?  What inspires you to actually take action?  What inspires you to think of others before yourself?  What INSPIRES you?!

I think it's one of those questions that we don't really think about on a daily basis.  It's one of those things we take for granted throughout our lives.  Or it's just something we put on the back-burner...for another day...another time...another season.  But, as they say...what better time than right now?!  Right now is all we have.  Right?  We know it, but those things on our bucket list or cherished to-lists just get pushed further and further down the list day after day.  So again, what inspires you...to take action now?!  

This has definitely been true for me.  Things I've wanted to do, had on my to-list forever and still haven't done...thinking I have time or I can do it next year, ok maybe next year...and on and on.  So, I've come to the conclusion that I haven't been sufficiently or properly motivated or inspired to truly act on some of the things that I've always said I've wanted to do.  That being said, I did go skydiving!  Tandem of course, but it's something I wanted to do and the opportunity presented itself several years ago.  So, I took it!  It was awesome and I'm so glad I did it!  I would totally do it again, too!

So, there are some things I've done, but not nearly as many things as I've wanted.  What stops us?  Life?  Fear?  Self-doubt?  The list could go on and on.  So, I'm challenging myself this year to tackle some of those things on my list.  Do it!  Do it now!  Stop waiting!  Live life!  I want to help more...serve others more...so, I just volunteered at my church's prom dress mission where they give away prom dresses to those that need one.  I donated a dress several years ago, but this year I'll get to see the mission in action.  And, I'll get to see the difference it makes in these young girls' lives...the pure delight and happiness in their faces!  I can't wait!

So, whatever "it" is that you want to do, whatever personal "to-do" lists you want to tackle this year...DO IT!!  Just lift your heart up to the Lord and ask for courage, strength, or being able to look at "it" from a new perspective.  Find your inspiration...and take action!  Get inspired!  It will be contagious and who knows, you might just inspire someone else to take action!

Wishing you inspirational blessings to make a difference...to change the world one step at a time!!

Super Bowl Sunday

It's Super Bowl Sunday...an almost national holiday.  It definitely resembles a holiday with all the game-day snacks and food, parties, camaraderie, and time spent with friends and family.  And, even if you don't like football people watch because they love the commercials.  It's the Super Bowl of new, fresh, innovative commercials every year.  And yes, some people watch just for the half-time show (or at least they used to) before it became so controversial and political.  So, it's a day to gather together and sit around your TVs and collectively cheer...or boo.

We're just a few days into February and it seems like it's going to be a jam-packed month.  Next weekend is the Grammy's, the following week(end) is Valentine's Day, and the following weekend is the Oscars!  A lot of primetime viewing this month.  Are you in to award shows?  Do you watch just for the fashion?  Do you watch because you really care?  Or do you watch because nothing else is on and you want to participate in the upcoming week's cooler talk at the office?  

We're already one month down into the new year and "should" be hitting our stride in the new year.  Or so it should seem as if we should be, but if January blew up (new year's goals) already, don't be discouraged.  Each day is a new day...a new day to start over.  A new day to start again...and again...and yes, sometimes even again.  Just keep going!

So, if you're watching the Super Bowl tonight...enjoy!  Enjoy the food, the game, the commercials, the half-time show, and spending time with family and friends!  May the first full week of February bring sweet surprises and special blessings your way!!

Longest Month Ever...

Does January feel like the longest month ever?  For some reason, it feels like this month is just dragging on and on.  And, we still have 4 more days to go!  Maybe it's because we were so hopeful and excited to start off a new year with all of our goals and resolutions, and now after being focused and trying to stick to those goals it feels like it's been forever!  Last weekend was deemed the "quitter's" threshold where many people fall off the wagon and ditch their new year's resolutions.  So, maybe we just need to look up, take a breath and give ourselves a little slack.

This past week I saw someone post on Facebook that it felt like it was January 74th.  I'm starting to feel it, but I think I need to take my own advice and give myself a little slack.  We're human.  We're not going to be perfect.  Ever.  I think I try SO hard to stick to my healthy eating that I get tunnel vision...from the rest of life.  And then when I "fall off the wagon" and instantly beat myself up it doesn't do me any good.  It's just life.  No, I'm not perfect and I never will be so why am I so hard on myself?!  I think we all go through that in some way shape or form.  It doesn't have to be about eating healthy, it could be about work or school or sports or your kids.  We're all flawed, we're all human and we all are just trying to do the best we can.  So, one of my goals (I think every year because I need the reminder) is to be kinder to myself.  It's definitely not easy, but it's definitely necessary.  

I think this "reminder" to myself will be a life-long lesson that I'll have to work at every year...every day.  But, they always say the first step is acknowledging the problem, right?!  Ha.  Well, as I try to be kinder to myself I also have to try and appreciate my flaws.  I have to see them as human flaws and see how I can improve them, learn from them or simply just let them go.  Slowly, but surely....progress.  Right?!

So, as we finally end the longest month ever (haha) I hope you give yourself a little slack this week.  Remember, we're all just human and if we're doing the best we can, getting back up and trying again and again that's all we can do.  That's just life.  Wishing you blessings of determination and kindness this week!!

Cold Blast

As a very strong arctic blast moves across the U.S., strong winds, icy roads and mounds of snow are piling up.  We had the coldest morning here in Texas so far this winter with wind chills in the teens.  I always think, if it's this cold here think how much colder it is up north.  Yikes!  I'm not sure I could deal with those bitterly, bone-chilling temps and for now I'm glad I don't have to.  I got a dusting of snow yesterday morning and that's enough for most people around here, although the kiddos would enjoy about and inch of snow I'm sure!

We're still in the midst of starting a new year, even though there's only 1 more full week left in January.  Are you still committed to your new year's goals?  It's been a rocky road for me so far.  But, each new day is a new beginning...right?!  There's 12 days left in January to get it right...get back on track...or start anew.  So, here goes!  

Although, I've had a bit of a queasy stomach on and off this week, so that's been slowing me down and keeping me distracted from my goals.  I'm not sick, per se, no fever or anything just low energy and a disturbed stomach.  So, I took a break from my workouts this weekend to just let my body heal, recover and recharge a bit before I go back at it tomorrow.  Besides, I really didn't want to get out in this windy cold weather either!

However, sometimes a cold blast can wake us up from whatever plateau or fog we're in at the moment, and many times that's just what we need!  A shock to the system.  A re-purposed reboot.  A sharp bitter wind smacking us in the face to "wake up!"  Get on with life!  Get on with our goals!  Get on with living!

So, if you're enjoying the cold blast outside your front door, let it push you further toward achieving your new year's goals!  If your hunkered down avoiding the winter wonderland outside your front door, take the time to reflect on what you really want and how to get there this year.  Either way, stay safe and warm this week!  May blessings of dedication and commitment recharge you this week!

New Year, New You?

We hear that every year, right?  All the tips and tricks to make "this" your "new year, new you" for health, for relationships, for dieting, for not dieting, for living your best life.  Right?  Year after year it's the same old story.  Are you tired of it yet or do you like to hear about the new trends for the year?  Are you a "stay the course" kind of person or do you like to try the latest fads in whatever area of your life you're looking to focus on for the start of the new year.  As the year moves on, typically a week or two into Jan, that focus may shift or change...depending on how well that latest fad or trend is going.  

This weekend is when they say most people ditch their new year's resolution or at least "fall off the wagon" per se relating to most diets that were started on January 1st.  Yes, my first 12 days of the year haven't been as "clean" eating-wise as I'd like them to be, but I keep trying and I keep going.  No matter how many times you fall down, just get back up and keep trying.  Don't quit!

Your future happiness depends on your current actions...good or bad.  If you stay the course and stick to your goals you'll likely hit your target(s) and feel better about yourself for persevering.  If you steer off course or completely fall down and choose not to get back up then you'll stay exactly where you are or where you've been without moving forward in life.  You may move forward in time, but where you're at in your life's journey remains stagnant and not living your full potential.  The more or less you care about where you are in your life and where you want to be will determine your actions, your commitment and your ultimate happiness in life.

It's really up to you and what's most important to you...at this time...right now.  That cupcake or losing a pound off your hips this week.  You're in control.  You are steering your own ship.  So, take charge.  Be confident.  Be resilient.  Be strong.  Be YOU!!

Cheers to figuring it all out...and accomplishing our own goals...somehow, someway.  Wishing you blessings of new year's resolutions that include hope, intent, determination and satisfaction! 

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, Ya'll!!  I hope it's been a good one so far!  A lot of people and kiddos will be getting back into the swing of things this week...back to work and school tomorrow.  Are you ready?  

Are you ready to kick off this new year?  Are you ready for a fresh start?  Are you ready to make some new goals...or resurrect last year's goals that didn't quite get met?  Are you ready to change your outlook on life?  Are you ready to see things from a different perspective?  Are you ready to learn something new?  Are you ready to go outside your comfort zone?  Are you ready to excel?  Are you ready to fail?  Are you ready to be honest with yourself?  Are you ready?  Are you?

So many questions, goals and aspirations at the start of a new year?  How quickly do they fade away or how committed are you this time?  Is it really a new year, a new you?  Or does it simply feel like we keep answering the same questions year after year...with pretty much the same answers?  

How do we change?  How do we break out of the cycle?  How do actually achieve our goals set in the new year?  What's your will level?  What's your motivation?  Is it strong enough to survive the bumpy road it takes to succeed?  Is your motivations strong enough to push you through to success?  Are you making realistic goals?  Or are you just setting yourself up for failure...again?  Change comes from learning and growing, being honest with ourselves, and having the commitment to be consistent with our actions.  

Yes, I have the same goal as many of you at the start of the new year...to lose all those holiday sweet treats that stuck to my hips!  I could literally feel it this year.  All that sugar was killing me...maybe not literally at the moment, but I could definitely feel it.  All the weight I lost last year came back quickly over the holidays.  Drats!  So, back on that weight loss train again.  Happy, happy, joy, joy.  

But, I'm also trying to look at things from a different perspective, get out of my own way, listen more so that I can learn from and empathize more with others who think differently than I do.  And, most importantly...be kinder to myself.  Self-criticism is not a productive tool to have in your toolbox of life.  We all do it.  We all beat ourselves up over this or that, but it's definitely those smaller things that don't really matter in the whole scheme of things that we need to just let go.  Yes, just let it go!  Will it matter tomorrow, in a week, in a month or in a year?  If no, then let it roll off your back and move on to more important things.  Remember this when your standing in a long line (like at the DMV) and are getting frustrated and angry.  Does it really matter?!

Yes, it's a new year with a lot of questions to answer.  Are you ready?  Here we go!  Good luck!  May blessings of strong will, determination and confidence push you to achieving your goals in this new year!!