A New Beginning

Let's figure out some things we know for sure.

• It's impossible to start over while remaining in the same environment
  
• The new environment must be Positive, not Negative
• We must move forward with Hope for the Future
• We need to set Goals for that future 

Now, before we move forward, I am not suggesting you remove yourself from your home, your marriage, your life, or your career - actually I am not suggesting you remove yourself from your physical environment at all - I am suggesting you remove your mindset from the environement it is currently in. 

From a mindset environment of negativity, hopelessness and goallessness to a mindset environment actively seeking God's desire for your every thought and action, a God-centered mindset. The one place, that I know, we can get this mindest is our Savior, Jesus Christ. God can give you the most positive outlook on life, He can give you hope and help you set your life goals. 

Let's talk about getting out of our current mindset environment. To make change we need to refocus. To escape our current mindest we need to know and believe our Savior. How do we do that?

• Reading Scripture 
• Memorizing Scripture
• Praying Daily
• Spending Time with Godly Friends - not isolating yourself

Creating a Poisitve environment 

• Do things that make you happy
• What are your gifts and talents? Dsicover them and Use them
• Be who God created you to be - be yourself

Hope for the Future 

• According to Jeremiah 29:11-13 God can give you hope for the future, ask Him.

Goal Setting

• Find out where you and God are together in the future
• Be specific in your goals 
• Make them achievable and realistic
• Don't get distracted or discouraged 
• Goals can change
•  Have mini goals that get you to achieve your overall goal

These are a lot of things to do - it's overwhelming. All of these things don't have to be done in one day - it takes time to make change. I am going to start today to with reding my Bible, memorizing a short scripture, praying in my prayer journal and praying for some godly friends to spend real time with. You can pray about all the other things on the "to do" list. It helps and God steps in and gives you what you need to accomplish His will and His desires for your life.

As we move along this month, I will tackle each bullet on the journey of my "New Beginning" - keep blogging to learn more.... The next BLOG entry will tackle Creating a Positive Environment.

Looking for His ultimate Grace, Mercy and Strength to encourage us both,

Sandra 

NEW BEGINNINGS 2009!

God has been so good to me today! I have the first two months of topics for the website.

January ~ New Beginnings
February ~ Love

I'm so excited!

For January's New Beginnings, my life will be revolving around my health and my weight loss that is needed to improve my health along with exercise. Weight Watchers is the method I have chosen. I had a wonderful friend recommend it to me. She has lost 30 pounds. After doing some investigating it is the program that I feel fits into my lifestyle right now, along with making a life change of eating - not just dieting....

I'm ready - I am constantly praying that I would be so energized to do it and stick with it.

One additional thing I will be adding to Weight Watchers - is prayer! I have decided that for this to work, I need God's help. He will do it - I know He will give me the strength and encouragement I need.

Join us in the CHAT ROOM in January when we kick off the NEW BEGINNINGS CHAT ROOM. We will all have different issues, but we will get answers and support from God and one another!

In Jesus Name,
Sandra

Another Mile Stone Accomplished Today

Last week Sarah and I served in Courtney's Kindergarten class every morning for two hours. Courtney's school has six kindergarten classes and all six classes hosted a holiday of a different country. Anyway, Courtney walked to class a few days by herself while Sarah and I checked in at the front office. I still carried her backpack. Then in the afternoons she said she wanted to carry her backpack while we walked to the car.

When we first started kindergarten she could not walk the full length to the classroom from the parking lot without falling down, let alone carry her backpack on her back.

Friday came and she said, "Mom, I want you to drop me off at the drop off place Monday morning. I can carry my backpack and I walked this week without you and Sarah." I was excited that she had made this plan - without telling me she had worked this out in her mind all week long. I was also scared, the "what if's" started popping in my mind.

I told her that was exciting and that I was so proud of her and yes - she could walk to class. We dropped her off this morning and she was wabbling a little - but had her head held high and walked like a pro.....

I haven't stop thinking of it since!

My Horse Rider

Well, today I am so very proud of my Courtney. She is our middle daughter, she has Cerebral Palsy and a local newspaper here in Florida did a story on the academy she goes to and she was one of the students they wrote about! She is so cute! I love her to pieces. Check out the article, photos and the video on the Ledger website by clicking Courtney's picture....

If that doesn't work, here is the link
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1569844333?bclid=1425858110&bctid=4816064001

Of course, I would love to hear your feedback! The article was also in the Lakeland Ledger Newspaper this past Sunday!

Here is the website of the Riding Academy as well! http://www.tianvica.org/

Love sharing our life with you guys!
Sandra

I Love You!

November 12, 2008


Dear Sweet Girls,

Another week already gone by. Our family has had a virus all week. Kind of like a cold but much worse. My husband and middle daughter are non-germ people {germ-a-phoebes}. If someone in the house is sick, they avoid us like we have the plague. I am a hugger and kisser so, when I'm sick I want to be hugged and kissed. My other two daughters who are hugger and kissers too are the ones that were sick with me this week. My husband and middle daughter are not sick at all.

Funny how we are all different in the way we view things. I feel neglected and they feel like they are being wise avoiding sickness. Which statement is true? Well, it depends on which one of us you ask. Here are two basic truths about our little plight this week. (1) When you are sick you want to be cared for and loved (my love language happens to be physical touch). (2) If you get close to someone who is sick, chances are you will get sick.

I would recommend reading The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It’s an excellent book. I will share the love languages with you today and give you a slight overview; but, the book is excellent and goes into great detail. The way you receive love is generally the way you show love. So if someone speaks a different love language then it’s like you are speaking a foreign language to them. The goal is to speak the language that makes the other person feel loved. Now, when practicality is involved, be sensible. Knowing I didn’t get hugs and kisses – was quite practical and I reasoned with myself and understood. Be sensible. Don’t focus on what you get. Focus on what you can give.

Here are the five love languages:

~ Words of Affirmation This is when you say how nice your spouse looks, or how great the dinner tasted. These words will also build your mate's self image and confidence.

~ Quality Time Some spouses believe that being together, doing things together and focusing in on one another is the best way to show love. If this is your partner's love language, turn off the TV now and then and give one another some undivided attention.

~ Gifts It is universal in human cultures to give gifts. They don't have to be expensive to send a powerful message of love. Spouses who forget a birthday or anniversary or who never give gifts to someone who truly enjoys gift giving will find themselves with a spouse who feels neglected and unloved.

~ Acts of Service Discovering how you can best do something for your spouse will require time and creativity. These acts of service like vacuuming, hanging a bird feeder, planting a garden, etc., need to be done with joy in order to be perceived as a gift of love.

~ Physical Touch Sometimes just stroking your spouse's back, holding hands, or a peck on the check will fulfill this need for love.


Check out Gary Chapman's website http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/

What's This

My husband is so funny. I have been sick and so have two of my daughters. I managed to make a pot of chili and after he ate his dinner, in the bottom of the bowl was something he didn't recognize.

I'm in the bed with my head covered, moaning and groaning to feel better and he walks in and says, "What are finger nails doing in the chili?"

I just started laughing and thinking - did I put finger nails in the chili? He brought it over to me and showed me and it was two little shavings from a wooden spoon I had used to stir the chili. I told him I thought the finger nails would add some good flavor. Yuck!

So, now of course we are having a great time saying - Does this have finger nails in it? Better check your lunch mom makes.... I am laughing just typing this. If you knew my husband you would giggle too!

Too Funny!

Being MAD at GOD

What a daring title. Being MAD at God. I was just that last night. After my husband and I discussed our finances we came to the conclusion that I should be looking more eagerly for a job. We do need the extra income. Couldn't everyone right now?

Normally, I would just work my anger out on my own and then take things to God after I wrestled with myself until I came to my senses. Not this time, I took my mad, angry self straight to God. I just started a new journal - so, the first page was my wonderful prayer of Being MAD at GOD.

I started out the prayer - with my flippant attitude about the situation I was in. After every sentence I would say, "I am so mad at you.". Then I decided that I would look up the names of God and then go back to Him after that and remind Him of His promises, because He surely wasn't keeping up His end of the deal.

I looked up the following names:
Jehovah Jireh ~ Provider
Jehovah Ezer ~ Helper
Jehovah Rapha ~ Healer
Elohim ~ My Creator
El Roi ~ God who sees

After all that, my heart starting seeing the truth.

Then I wrote the following:

My heart beats harder than ever before, my anger swells inside me. I see no relief from my sorrows. I mourn for what is not, what is no longer and what will not be. Tears swell up in my eyes and run down my face. The sorrow is more than I can stand. I stop. I invite my Creator,my Provider, my Healer in and get down on my knees and surrender all. I give over my anger, my sorrow, my fear, my mourning, my tears. I trust in the Creator, the one who made me. I trust He will turn my sorrows into joy, my tears into laughter. My anger into understanding, my madness into being today's lessons. My mourning into rejoicing.

You alone are God, my Creator. I am sorry that I had the lapse of unbelief. Who am I to question what the future holds? Who am I to question who you are and what rights you have?

As I started looking up scripture to plead my case against what God has allowed to happen, I found God has all rights and all love. I am here to worship and glorify Him. I am filled with the one who loves me!

Thanks for letting me share ~
Sandra