ME! Journaling

This week, I didn't do anything new....but I decided I would highlight something I do for ME on a fairly regular basis.  Pictured above is my journal and pen.  Since the beginning of this year, I have tried to write 3 times a week in this little book.  This book has soul resolution on its cover....so I'm reminded each time I sit down and open it up.  Sometimes, it just flows....I never know for sure what I will write about.  Sometimes I sit for a minute and see what pops up....sometimes I just free write.  On occasion, I have used journal prompts and tricks.  But I find, the most effective for me is just to start.

And take a look at my pen.  I love it. All by itself, it inspires me.  It was part of a Christmas gift from Hubs, and I am pretty sure the bow/ribbon wasn't meant to stay on there indefinitely but I love it that I have kept it on there.  It is so fun.  AND....how perfect is it that it writes so well!!!!

And to make the experience EVEN BETTER.....at least once a week (and sometimes several times a week), I head over to Starbucks....order me a nice cup of hot coffee (even if it is 105 degrees outside)....sit down and journal....then maybe even read a chapter or two from a book.  I love the atmosphere of Starbucks.  Usually, there is fun background music, but I believe the energy in the place is positive.  Hubs works part-time as a barista and has a blast.  I think this is fairly universal at Starbucks around the country, but I'm not sure that it is a guarantee.  However, I just feel the difference in the whole place.  I think the staff creates a positive atmosphere that bleeds over into the customers.  Lots of times, I will hear folks laughing and talking so happily!!!  So, the whole experience is very good "me time" for me!!!

Head over to Dolli-mama for other ME time ideas!

ME! Take a day off work!

Today's Me! Challenge was super easy.  I took a day off work for no particular reason.  It is spring break for my kids and I took a couple days off to go visit some family.  But yesterday, when I got in, I decided to ask for an additional day....JUST FOR ME!  My 101 Things List included me taking a day off and doing nothing.  I am not sure if I will really do "nothing"....I am, after all, blogging.  So....I'll have to decide if this will count as my "do nothing" day, but this is certainly a treat for me....not to go to work.....not to have any pressing responsibilities....and jump starting the weekend!  And it cost me nothing (except a vacation day)!

There are others blogging about what they are doing over at Dolli-mama's blog.  Head on over for some inspiration and ideas....do something this week JUST FOR YOU!!!

ME! Ahhhhhhhh......

FINALLY, I got a massage.  I don't know how long it has been and a girl could definitely get used to this!!!!  I wish I could afford to do this weekly!  Or even monthly.  Or maybe afford isn't the right word....I don't know!  Maybe I don't make it a priority in my budget.  Although these days, my budget is REALLY strapped!  But even when it wasn't, I didn't make it a priority!

Head on over to Dolli-Mama to catch up with the other girls who are taking care of themselves!

ME! New Placesetting

It is time, once again, for me to share what I did for me this week.  I am personally trying not to repeat....at least not yet.  So, starting on the weekend, I start rolling around ideas in my head.  This week was gonna be tough....until....I read a chapter from this book.  While this book is about losing weight....it is about more than that.  It's about changing your relationship with food....with yourself....with God!  So, the chapter said to buy a few things for yourself....starting with a napkin.  But then, to also get a place mat, a plate, a knife, a fork, a spoon, and a glass.  I don't yet have the candlesticks and music, like it suggested.  But, I did purchase these items.  I generally go for more muted and neutral colors, especially in something like this....but I went a little bold.  I also got a nice stemmed water glass.  Whenever I drink from these in restaurants, it feels different.

So, there you have it!  Please disregard the background of the photo.  I had a kitty who simply refused to budge when I wanted him out of the picture.  And this is our nice dining room table, which we seldom use for dining....we generally have our quiet time here.  My daughter called it our "prayer table" a couple years ago, and that stuck :)  So there are some sticky notes and books in the background.  But hey!  It is what it is!

Head over to Dolli-Mama to see what other folks are doing to take care of themselves....treat themselves!

Rest

Our world, at least here in the United States, at least in my circles....does not value rest.  We work ourselves so much and that STILL is not enough.  Sometimes it comes from pressure without....sometimes it comes from pressure within!  Makes no difference where it comes from, that concept is deadly!  I don't think anyone would disagree with me that being overstressed is unhealthy at best....  I know scientists are studying stress....which I saw a documentary on.  But, I venture to say that those of us who have experienced stress know intuitively that it's not good for us!

When Faith Barista announced that this week's focus was rest....I immediately responded with a question in my heart, like what is that?  I had a friend search me out and tell me that God had given them a bible verse for me.  You probably know the one....Matthew 11:28.  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Yeah, yeah....that's what I thought.  I know that verse.  I could finish it for them.  It didn't resonate with me.  Why is that?

Well....because while I know the verse.....I don't KNOW the verse.  I know weary!  I know burdened!  But I don't know rest.  I think I am missing a part of the verse....the "come to me" part.  See, the come to me part just about requires for us to unplug from the world....the world that is creating the weariness....the burdens....the stress.  And I just don't know how to do that.....or do I?

You know Jesus let us in on a little secret when he talked to the woman at the well (John 4).  He told her that he offered living water....and that drinking the water he offers, she will never thirst again.  This is a bit of an abstract thought, but it is such a beautiful one!  And I can't help but believe that when he offers us rest....that the rest will be different than any other kind of rest we've ever experienced.  I have experienced "rest" that wasn't restful....have you?  I am at a loss for a descriptive word I imagine the rest to be....refreshing doesn't cut it....tranquil?  maybe...but I really like how Jesus said he could offer LIVING water.  Can the rest be living, too?  How about breathing rest?

*DEEP HEAVY SIGH*  I want that rest....no matter what descriptor you put on it....I need something real, something lasting....and I believe....no I TRUST that what Jesus would give would be beyond words.  Rest...I'm gonna have to shut out the world that screams "do more....be more....it's not enough"!  I'm gonna have to shut myself up....for sometimes those screams are from me.  Yeah, I think I want what Jesus is offering!

March Goals

So, I came up with New Year's Resolutions.  I broke it down in January and February, which worked really well in January and although I started to lose momentum, it still worked alright in February.  So the system is working for me, so I will once again break it down for the month of March and hopefully push it back into a momentum building phenomenon!

• FAMILY
• Family Date
• Family Game Night
• Date #1
• Date #2
• Gotta plug dates in again, but this is a regular monthly set up!
• HOME LIFE
• Continue with the weekly Get Organized Wizard missions
• Project 333--try to use only those 33 clothing items, regroup them as they are losing their place, and possibly tweaking further
• Do 3 home maintenance things daily....probably the 3 I did last month....make bed, clean empty sink at night, and 10 minute tidying project
• HEALTH
• Kitchen Stewardship--build on what I've been doing....continue with the 3 Easy Changes (yogurt?  maybe....maybe not), add two of her other 10 foundational habits (to be decided which two later), and any of the Monday Missions that jump out and get me
• Lose 10 pounds
• Yoga.....continue with the class I started
• SELF
• Read 3 books this time
• Continue with the 52 Weeks of ME Challenge
• Journal 3 times a week EVERY week
• Have a Quiet Time 10 times this month
• PROJECTS
• Stash $100 in the Emergency Fund
• Explore MONEY/FINANCES
• Begin developing a rotating menu plan by coming up with 10 solid meals that the family loves are fairly simple and fit within our budget