Trying to see around the curve is dangerous.

November 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

When you're driving your eyes are constantly checking all around you. You look out the front window alternating short distances ahead and way off on the horizon. However, if you are traveling on a curvy road, the ability to see long distances is blocked. The curves are stopping you from seeing too far ahead. In those driving moments the best thing you can do is keep an eye on your speed and keep a watchful eye on the road because things are changing quickly. Because trying to see around the curve is dangerous.

 

The same is true in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the cold hard truth!

You will make mistakes.

People will disappoint you.

Plans will fail and let you down.

Things will break or get lost.

We have a whole lot less control than we think.

 

Trying to see around the curve reflects fear.

 

I experience this at the beginning of each school year, as I prepare my home school plans. I fall into the trap of thinking T-H-I-S year, this year, my plans are gonna work. I fall into the delusion that I can look back over the past failures and somehow that will help me to see ahead. How does that make sense? How does the past help me to see around curves of the road ahead of me? They don't.

 

I so desperately want to avoid failure that I attempt to see ahead, around the curve in the road.

 

For some reason we are all trying to see ahead of where we are. We want to plan things out. Estimate our time of exit. Pull out before it all goes south. We don't want to lose, fail, or make a mistake in any way. But the truth is, the only guarantee worth focusing on, is trusting God. When we trust God, he calms our fears of failure and reassures of His care for us. He builds confidence in our steps and our path and we can release the need to know "Now!" and trust that we will know at the right time. He reminds us of all that He has already done for us, and in us, and He is not done with us yet.  He still has so much more he wants to do.

 

So yes, our journey is not always clear. Yes, there are curves in the road that prevent us from seeing around the bend, but it's always been that way by design. Now we get the chance to grow our faith, our trust in God. We get to walk securely, not because we have all the answers, but because we have trust in a God who does.

 

If He believes in you enough to bring it to you, trust Him enough to bring you through it. {tweet}

Do you trust that today?

 

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to God, Connect to Purpose, Home Manager Tips, Uncategorized

What’s for dinner? Should Not Bring A Grown Woman to Tears

November 4, 2012 by 4 Comments

True confession, I am an over-thinker! 

I can over-think at least one situation every single day.  I will often question myself after I make a decision. Was it the right decision? Should I have done more research? What about (fill in the blank)?

When you over-think, even the smallest tasks can seem overwhelming.  Second-guessing will destroy your confidence in an instant.  Don’t become that person standing in the grocery aisle staring like a deer in headlights at the toilet paper trying to decide if 2-ply or 3-ply is best. Just buy the toilet paper already!

Over-thinking will riddle you with self-doubt!

There are times when I allow myself to be overwhelmed with the many decisions I have to make in a single day.  My eyes glaze over and the simplest of choices can seem too hard to make.  After all, “what’s for dinner?” should not bring a grown woman to tears.  But it has.

  • Take some time to clear your head.  
  • Determine to make a decision.  
  • Commit to finish and make things happen.   

It may not be your best work, but sometimes done is better than perfect.  Remember this: Having cold cereal for dinner won’t ruin your children.

Your family is counting on you.  What they need from you will never happen if you are constantly second guessing your decisions. If you are not confident, your children can sense that in your words and actions and they won’t want to trust you.

When the “what ifs” come knockin’, remind yourself that this is not about you!  This is about your family!  This is about how you can best serve them!  You are THE expert in their eyes! Scary thought huh?

Focus on what’s really important, loving and serving your family.  You are going to make mistakes, you can’t avoid it.  So, trust God and make a move.

Are you an over-thinker?  Does it help or hinder you?

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to Purpose, Home Manager Tips

Are you raising the next Olympic athlete?

October 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

There's an unspoken question among parents when we watch Olympic athletes or successful professional athletes such as Gabby Douglas or the Williams’ sisters. 

Could my child be next?

How are we to know?  Could we be depriving our child of "their" opportunity?  If so which opportunity- soccer, basketball, football, or is it piano, violin, or maybe it’s art, music or dance.  We are blessed with the curse of opportunity.  So many wonderful opportunities.  How do we choose?

In our attempt to expose our children to many opportunities, we can over-expose them to choices and create confusion.

Here are some guidelines to consider the next time you think about signing up for any classes.

  • What are your goals for your family?

There is a saying” If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”.  Each family needs goals, a sense of purpose, a bigger mission to point towards.  Goals help us to make decisions about what is best for our family in all areas- physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially.

  • Can you afford the time commitment?

Not just the class each week, but the travel time, prep time, and at-home practice time.  The time involved with activities is greater than just the scheduled class or practice time.  There’s also practice time at home.  Not to mention travel time to and from games or performances.

  • What are the most important things your child needs right now?

Assess the needs of your child.  Take into consideration their age, attention span, and their current interests.  If your child is more interested in playing outside with friends than attending his next class, he may be telling you he doesn't need a structured lesson right now- he needs to run and get dirty.

  • Is this “opportunity” about your child, or your own self-interest?
  • Can you afford the financial commitment?
  • Is the coach, teacher, or instructor a person of character and integrity?
  • Is the benefit greater than the missed opportunities?

Missed opportunities = all of the other things that come up that you can’t do because of this activity.  For example, relatives come to visit, but they are only here a couple of days and you have practice schedules to maintain. Or you really want to spend this gorgeous afternoon at the park, but it's time to go to class.

If you have the next amazing athlete or musician, it’s a gift from God to enjoy, not a burden to endure.  If you find yourself burdened with commitments, hoping  your child won’t miss their “thing”, ask yourself if maybe the real thing they are missing is the space to discover their unique gift from God.

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to Purpose, Connect to Your Kids

Win a FREE book!

September 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I have a free copy of Shari Braendel's Book - "Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad" to give away!

This book has been referred to as "the go-to style guide for every woman."

"Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad covers everything from determining your body type and what clothes flatter which body, hair, makeup, finding the perfect pair of jeans, accessories, even which style of eye glasses flatter each face shape. This book is wonderfully practical and is written in an easy manner with common sense fashion advice all women can follow." - C. Kendall

How to Win:

  1. "Like" my A Powerful Moment Facebook page (1 entry)
  2. "Follow" me on Twitter (1 entry)
  3. Comment on at least 1 blog post (1 entry per comment)
  4. Share about my website via email, Facebook, or Twitter (each worth 1 entry)

For email, just email me and let me know you did it!

 

Entry deadline is this Friday, September the 28th!

Completed

The winner will be announced in next Monday's newsletter!

If you really want to take it to the next level,

sign up for her 5 week course. 

It starts on Tuesday October the 2nd- that's just one week away!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Clothing Swap- Save the date!

September 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE!!!!! 

New location!!!

Bethany Lutheran Church

3701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749

Thursday, October 18th from 1-3pm for the 7th Annual Clothing Swap.

This is an open gathering.

We would love to have you join us!

 

Start gathering your items and prepare to bring them to the swap.

The following items are welcomed:

clothing for the whole family, games, toys, baby items, books, etc.

 

All unclaimed items are donated to charity.

 

If your children are in need of some clothing, or if you are in need of more space in your

overflowing closets and drawers, this is a great opportunity.

 

 

Here's what to expect:

Gather up all of your family's outgrown-BUT-still-useful clothing, coats,

jackets, toys, books/curriculum, etc., and bring it all to 3701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749

 

 

Our goal this year is to make the "shopping" as easy as possible. Instead of making 1 big pile, we will have the following options:

 

GIRLS SIZES

0-24mos.,

2T-5T,

6 & 7,

8 & 9,

10 TO JUNIOR

WOMENS

BOYS SIZES

0-24,

2T-5T,

6 -12

MEN

MISCELLANEOUS

SHOES

Please PRESORT the items you will be bringing so that they can be put in the correct pile.
May God bless you in your giving and receiving.

Each mom is then free to collect any items that will be of use to her family.

We ask that there is a continued spirit of giving and sharing as we have experienced in the past.

This not the place for greed, hoarding,snatching or any other unfriendly conduct.

 

If your goal is to come and take the best items to resell, we kindly ask you to rethink your motives.

When you come to this event and see the community coming together with open hearts and open hands, giving to

meet the needs of one another, it should move you to want to do the same, not take advantage.

 

There are NO limits, there is NO cost.

We freely give and we freely receive at this event!!!

 

Once all the moms are done "shopping" @ around 3pm, we gather the leftovers to donate them to charity.

Each year most moms leave with arm loads and we still have piles to donate.

So bring plenty of bags to take home your goodies.

 

You are welcome to attend the swap even if you don't have items to contribute to the swap.

This is an opportunity to bless others as well as be blessed, so come.

The church is located in South Austin:

3701 West Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749

Hope to see you on Thursday October 18th @ 1pm!

Be sure to bring a friend!!

In the past we have had anywhere from 40-60 or more families participate and it's growing every year.

 

Note: Stay tuned to this page for any updates, or subscribe to my newsletter and don't miss a beat!

Please forward this message and spread the word.

If you have any further questions, I would be happy to answer them. Otherwise, I'll see you at the swap!!

SUSAN

PS- Any and all volunteers are needed and appreciated the day of the event !

Thanks in advance.

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to Others, Connect to Purpose

The Root of All Conflict

September 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Does this sound familiar?

Shaunti Feldhahn, a bestselling author, wrote a book entitled “For Women Only”.  In her book she discusses the stereotypical argument when a couple is lost.  The wife suggests the husband ask for directions.  Immediately he gets defensive.  The wife tries harder to help him by pointing out all of the people and places he could stop and get directions. 

He only fumes more with each “suggestion”.  She can’t understand why he’s not asking somebody, anybody for help, and he just wants her to trust him while he figures it out.  Interestingly the wife doesn’t think this is a matter of trust, it’s a matter of being lost.  Round and round they  go, until hopefully they find their destination.

So, what’s really going on?

Shaunti reveals that men believe that when their wife “suggests” they ask for help, what their wives are really saying is, “you can’t do this, but he can, or she can, or anybody can, but you.  So, just ask them, because you are just not capable”.  Whereas women don’t internalize this at all. 

Typically women problem solve out loud.  We think, share, and process information out loud.  So to stop and ask directions is a part of the problem solving process and is in no way a reflection on our intelligence or ability in any way.

In this example, the couple argued over directions, but the real conflict was a deeper issue.  And that is true for all conflict.  Arguments all have fruit, but it’s not settled until we deal with the root.  So if you are experiencing conflict with anyone - your husband, child, neighbor, friend, the only way to settle the issue is to deal with the root and resist the distracting fruit.

Get to the heart of the matter.  Determine to uncover the hidden fear that is working behind the scenes.

Stop!  Look! And Listen!

Do you remember being told that in elementary school?  It was a reminder taught to all children as a caution when crossing railroad tracks.  To prevent accidents they encouraged everyone to stop before crossing, look both ways, and listen for a train.

Who knew that this would also help us deal with conflict in the home.  There are 3 fundamental needs we all share and when they are violated in some way, it is like a train wreck.  It’s better to prevent the accident in the first place, than to have to clean up the aftermath of an unfortunate collision.

 

3 Basic Needs we all share:

  1. We need to know that we are loved and accepted without strings
  2. We need to know that we are valuable, important and capable
  3. We need to know that we are not alone to face life

It's a powerful moment when we deal with the root of conflict.

What about you? Do you find yourself dealing with the fruit instead of the root of conflict?

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to Others, Connect to Purpose, Connect to Your Kids, Home Manager Tips

Did you hear about the BIG announcement?

September 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The event was a roaring success!

We almost maxed out the room!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone !!

 

While here in Austin Shari and I launched a brand new online experience!  Watch this video!


Isn't that exciting! 

So for all of my subscribers who were unable to attend, we missed you.  However, you did not totally miss out!  You can still be a part of the online course.

According to Zondervan, Shari is considered to be America's premiere expert on fashion and personal image consulting.

For 5 weeks Shari will go into great detail teaching you step-by-step how to look your best.

Learn about what colors look best on you?

How to :

Save time and money when shopping.

Plan your wardrobe.

If you have a limited budget, how do you pull together a great looking wardrobe?

And sooooo much more!

My role is to be your resident homegirl! 

I will be there each week to greet you, make sure you have all of your handouts for class, while I also share on issues of inner beauty and faith.

 

I hope that you will join us!

Invest in yourself without having to leave the comfort of your own home.  Doesn't get any better or easier than that, right?!

Go to http://www.fashionmeetsfaithonline.com to read more.

In the video I said "email me for the savings code", scratch that.

Here it is: Special savings code for Austin is: FMFA

Using that code you will save you an additional $50 !!!!

You can use this code until  Tuesday, September the 25th, then the special pricing goes away.  My friends here in Austin are the only ones who know about the course for now.  Shari will be announcing it to her email list in a few days and seats are going to go fast!  She has over 13,000 women on her list.  So if you know it's time to invest in yourself and kick it up a notch, don't delay!

Go to Fashionmeetsfaithonline.com and sign up right away!

If you have any questions or need any help, just let me know.

SUSAN

Filed Under: Blog, Connect to Purpose, Home Manager Tips
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