Dec 13 – Action

December 13 – Action
When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

This next year I want to be more organized. Which I understand may be near impossible because my life is going to drastically change because of my new little one. But that is the reason for me wanting that. Not for control but for more time with her. I don't want to be so overwhelmed by life that I miss the moments.

I want to be that parent who enjoys it all and is not so overwhelmed and busy to appreciate my little one. I also want to enjoy my husband. I don't have plans to make all this happen. But I do believe in mind over matter. So lets see how well this works out.

December 12 – Body Integration

December 12 – Body Integration

This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

Hmmm.... This is a odd question. I am making up my own on this one. Last night, my little one made the craziest move my body had ever felt. My stomach seriously looked like a conehead. Do you remember the coneheads? It was the oddest yet the most amazing thing to witness. She needed room to stretch and she did. My body was no obstacle for her. I still can't get over that I have a life within me. That is an amazing feeling.

Dec. 11th~ Things

December 11 –11 Things
What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)

Hmm.....11 things....that seems like a lot. 1.)Procrastination. How to get rid of that? I am constantly working on organizing myself to help eliminate this issue. Hopefully, this will give me more time for my new little family 2.) My Neon. I need to get rid of my old car. It will clear my driveway and maybe add a few bucks in my pocket 3.) Lily. My brother in law's dog. She needs to go back home. Three dogs is too much with a new baby on the way 4.) My carpet. Hopefully this will help eliminate some of the strange odor in our guest room and allergies. 5.) Mortgage payment. For obvious reasons. More money into our savings. 6.) Extra weight. It would be nice to fit back into my clothes again after the baby. 7.) I don't need Stress. But reality check it comes with the territory.

Okay that is my list. I may continue to add but all that my little brain can do. Since I am still behind on the last few days.

Dec. 10th~ Wisdom

Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

The wisest thing I did this year? Hmmm. I think I became more open to the idea of needing people. Let me explain. The last few years I have cocooned myself into a select few people that I hang out with and was friends with. I relied heavily on this group. This last year I realized that is not me at all. I have never been so closed off before. I do not believe I was aware of this. Or that I was making a conscience choice to change it . I think it began with one small moment that open the flood gates. The great part about this it I have made some truly great friends this year. Friends that I can not imagine not being in my life.

It is quite strange for me to realize this. I believe God knows who He puts in your path for great reasons. And He placed these amazing people in my life because I needed to be reminded of how loved I truly am for being me. I was let down this year by my little "circle" but because I was surrounded by these new friends I realized that....1) Life is too short to hold grudges 2). That when you least expected it you are blessed with so much 3). And that friends are not those who have known you the longest but those you love you for who you are and who walk with you through the biggest changes in your life.

So, the wisdom I learned this year. Surround yourself with people that love you and be open to those who God has put in your path.

December 9 – Party Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)

Party? I had several baby showers. I mean a lot of showers. Each one was different and so much fun. The best part of it was not gifts but the excitement I felt when I walked in. My first one in my husband's hometown was full of women who were so extremely excited. I seriously was overwhelmed with all the love I was shown by them. They showered me with gifts, advice, food, hugs and kisses...all because of this little bundle I was expecting and they had yet to meet. It is hard to explain the feeling of being surrounded by people who are so excited for you and your little one. It is so surreal, the feeling of truly being loved.

Dec. 8th~ Beautifully Different

December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

I like this question but it is still very difficult to answer. It sounds a boastful. What makes me different? I am an optimistic pessimist. I think I get it from my mother. I always want to see the good in people and situations. Yet I feel it is important to feel what is going on at the moment and not sugar coat anything even when it is a little more painful than I would like. I think that I am loving...sometimes more than others think I should be. But love is so important. And I think with being loving I am accepting of others.

Now for the pessimistic part of myself. I can be very obsessive......well I would say passionate would be a better word to describe me. I can get on an issue and not let it go for a while. But I think that actually has to do with the loving part of me.

I love to laugh at the chaos of life. I call it like I see it (sometimes I buffer or filter). I love to make fun of the absolute silliness of people that they do not see in themselves. I poke fun at life and sometimes it makes the awful appear funny. I think laughter is a way to deal.

So passionate, loving and enjoying the crazy. That is me!!

REVERB 10

Okay, so my dear friend, Elizabeth has been faithfully committed to participating in Reverb 10. Which in turn has caused me to reflect on the prompts as well. So, I thought I would participate too. Let's see how it goes. I am going to do a synopsis of the last 7 days that I have missed. Here it goes.

December 1 – One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Whirlwind. That would be my word. I choose this word because it has gone by so fast and I can't believe it. So much happened, changed, and been revealed to me that I am not sure where time went.

For 2011, I would choose the word, bountiful. I want my year to be described as full. Full of love, family, challenges, blessings, time, positive energy. I realize that this might lead to chaos but even in the chaos I want to see beauty.

December 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

I stress myself out with time. I do not use time to its' best ability. I waste time when I shouldn't and I rush it when I should enjoy it. Can I change this? I think so. I think I can become better organized that the minor things in life don't become so overwhelming and take away time from me to enjoy writing again.

December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

I am not into retreats. I feel like I have been there, done that, got a t shirt kinda thing about retreats. Not that they do not have merit. I just feel that personally I am somewhere different. I attended a retreat in April of this year and had a moment that I have yet to figure out. The weekend was great. I meet so many wonderful women and had a good time. It was the last morning and we sat in a circle, holding hands with the people next to us. I believe there was either music or a prayer going on or possibly both. I was holding my friend Nancy's hand. I could not focus. I kept hearing a voice, my voice saying, "Touch is healing...tell her that healing beings with touch." I know it sounds weird. I didn't hear this booming voice, I heard my own telling me that my new friend needed to hear those words. No idea why but I needed to tell her. Forget what was going on, prayer or no prayer. When we finally let go....I told my friend those words. And she knew what they meant. It was powerful. That day I learned that my voice (God's voice) speaks to me all the time but I often times put it on mute. Anyways this moment was big for me because I needed to be reminded that "my inner voice" is valid and I needed to give it more credit and listen more to it.

December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)-

I don't know if I can take complete credit for this. I am expecting and wonder has definitely been a part of my life since May of this year when I learned we were pregnant. Hearing a heartbeat that is not your own but within you causes wonder beyond belief. I am constantly in awe (& wonder) of this little person inside of me. And the fact that my body has adjusted to this little person, making room for her, her movement to sound (particularly her daddy's voice), this is just to name a few.

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

I am still working on this. I think I am pretty good a letting go of things and people (which is scary) to begin with. I try not to hold on to too much.

December 6 – Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

The last thing I made was hair bows. I made several hair bows for my nieces. I would like to learn to make little dresses......which is weird because I don't like dresses but I would like to make my little one a dress. I would also like to make some aprons, curtains, scarves, just tons of crafty project that I would give as gifts. But I definitely need more time.

December 7 – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

I mentioned early that I had attended a retreat back in April. Well, that is where I found community. Interestingly enough! These wonderful and amazing women have been such a support for me throughout my pregnancy. I did not expect that at all. They have been excited when I was terrified. They have showered me with love when I have been at rock bottom. They have shown me that even though they only met me in April that love knows no time constraint. You can truly love someone and have only begun to get to know them. I felt the loss of some sense of friendship this year and these women have lifted me up. They have surrounded me with such amazing love. They showed me that I am loved by so many people and that is where my focus should be not on my expectations of others.
I would like to continue with this church community and possibly become more involved in various opportunities offered through this community.