The Hurry of the Holidays

Christmas is less than a week away so the craziness that comes with the holidays is in full swing. Christmas shopping, family functions, and massive panic about what is left on the very long to do list have begun and I don't see any end in sight until 2011.

However, dear readers, don't let me (or anyone else) fool you for a second in to believing that any of this chaos is unwelcomed; it is very much the opposite. These are the things people thrive on during the holidays. Buying gifts to give to those we cherish, making time in our busy schedule to enjoy the company of friends and visiting with family we may not get to see very often are crucial components to the holiday atmosphere.

So the big question is... can we find peace while remaining in our created chaos of Christmas? I say yes! The answer to the question lies in our motivation. Stop for a minute and ask yourself why are you doing all the shopping, cleaning, baking, planning, wrapping, etc? Is it to show the rest of the world how clean your home can be, that your sugar cookies are the best or that you really can spend the most money on the biggest gifts? Or is your goal more simple; to share the holidays with the ones you love, making them feel special and create memories that will outlast the latest toy or tech gadget?

For me, I know I want the second. Christmas isn't a production so the rest of the world can see how great your are. It is a time to reflect upon the birth of our Savior, see all that He has given us and then bless others like Christ first blessed us. During this crazy holiday time, my prayer isn't that the chaos stops but that you focus your chaos on what really matters. When this happens, peace will be found and everything will just fall in to place.

What a Crazy Week!

WOW!!! This week has been insane.
1- My student teacher is done which means I am now responsible for teaching all day instead of the measly two hours I had become accustomed too.
2- Clipped is still going on which means I am responsible to play judge and jury over unfair moves, who is in and out and listen to all the complaints along the way. A fun game for the kids, but stressful for the staff.
3- This week was our annual food drive which consumed my lunch all week since I needed to help out in the food drive headquarters. It may not sound that bad but when you are teaching all day, that little 30 minute break to socialize with other adults is so valuable!
4- Our Children's Christmas Choir is coming soon which means I have a lot to do to assist with the production of the event. (Candles, bells, those sorts of things).

Like I said, it's been a crazy week.

Thanks be to God that it is Friday, and tomorrow (after administering the ACT) Kevin and I will be able to calm down and relax for a while...at least until I have to start doing grades for next week! Good thing I love my job! :)

Two days of pain

In an effort to become more healthy, and fit in to my dress pants for work, I have been attempting to make better food choices and get more active. On Tuesday, I attended my first Zumba class with a friend. It was a complete blast. We danced, sweated, and laughed a ton! It was awesome!

Then yesterday, even with stiff legs from my night of Zumba, I went to our first staff wellness bootcamp session. Boy, that was a difficult hour. There were some activities that I couldn't do (especially when I was using the 8lb weights) but I tried it all. The group of us that were there were all bound in sisterhood by a desire to lose some of our "jiggly parts" and become more healthy. We laughed so hard our stomachs weren't just tired from the killer planks.

So two days of working out leaves me here; physically sore but mentally happy. I know they say when you work out you have more energy, less mood swings and better sleep. Could all those things be true? Could excercise really help me on the inside as well as the out? I don't really know the answer to those questions because I usually quit any workout regimine I start.  Maybe this time my resolve will be better... Let's hope!

Stressful Cleaning

This weekend, we are having people over to our home on Friday to celebrate with my student teacher because she is about to graduate. While I am highly excited about the upcoming evening and the fun we all will have, I have been killing myself with a million small details and stressed about making sure our home looks perfect. But why? In all seriousness does it matter if my house is spottless? Will my friends not have as much fun if there are a few "spots"? 

My Reasons to Blog

This online blog is really just a way for me to talk about the things that are going on in my life. Whether they be happy, sad or somewhere in between I will be using this forum to share my thoughts on life, love, and the daily pressures of being a young woman in the 21st century.

Most of these pressures directly tie to an internal desire for perfection. This notion is something that I have dealt with my whole life and believe to be common amongst most women today. Whether it be in comparing body types, houses, careers, husbands, or children; women can often be their own worst nightmare. I know that this is true in my own life.

So through this blog I hope to write about my own journey, to embrace who I am and encourage others to do the same. I know at times the process may become uncomfortable as I really stretch who I am and seek out who God has created me.