It's still January . . .

If you have ever waited for THAT college acceptance letter, or that “we love your manuscript” letter, or “your test results came back negative” letter, you know what anticipation feels like. You understand those words that put hope in your planned future – the document that seals the deal. That seals your deal.

January can still be that for you. It is for me – every year. The beginning of things. Again. The whole month says “Use me to start fresh. Use me to regain perspective. Use me to establish action items for some priorities. Go ahead. I dare you.”

Earlier this month my husband and I sat down together and talked about goals. We talked about what we had for ourselves, and we discussed some that we saw for each other. Some of our individual goals matched. So we looked at our calendars and established time blocks for them. Our schedules need to be altered a little bit to fit it in, but we are going to do that. There are some dreams we both have, and we found blocks of time to set aside to work on them. In that we became accountable to the other.

God’s Word says, “I know the plans I have for you. They are to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah) Nobody can cover you like the Father. Nobody.

And if it helps you to draw in your spouse, a close friend, a pastor to help you -- Do it.

I’ve got my husband’s back on his planned future. He’s got mine. That feels real good.

It’s still January. Find your place and outline the plan. Put some action steps to it.

I dare you.

You gotta get away!

My husband and I recently returned from a road trip – created by us – to celebrate our last anniversary. You see, our anniversary is in December so once autumn begins, then the holidays are in full swing, anniversary, Christmas . . . celebrating takes a bit of a back seat. Instead, we plan something during the year after. It’s good for us.

But it’s not easy.

Any couple with any sort of jobs, family, children, church responsibilities . . . well you know -- It’s called LIFE – any couple with any of those items involving their time find it difficult to set aside time just for the two of them . . with each other. Only.

As you read this, how many of you are saying to yourselves, “Tell me about it. We don’t ever do anything that’s just the two of us.” Admitting the problem is the First Step.

The truth is, our responsibilities do take most of our energy, our time, and our imagination. But here’s where a time out is needed along with a good evaluation of your marriage. But more importantly, the future of it.

Scott and I have a good marriage – 27 plus years. And because it’s good, it’s easy to take for granted that anything “extra” is ever needed or required to keep it cutting edge. Until you make the time, plan a date, or regular dates, or especially a short get-away, you don’t realize how much you need it until you do it.

We spent a few days at the beach in South Texas – during the off season. Not very expensive, within driving distance of home . . . but it helped us. And it proved once again, that time being our most valuable resource, is most valuable spent with each other.

Take some time and talk to your spouse. Plan a date, a movie, a dinner, something away from the house. Just you two. Start somewhere. Plan it. Schedule it. Do it.

Your children need solid parents in a solid marriage. You need it too.

It's a Grand Re-Opening!!

OR: Where in the World is Debbie Sandiego?

Hopefully you don’t mind if I answer that question. I’ve been hiding I suppose – Hiding in my summer. Hiding in my son’s preparation for his first year at college and my daughter's senior year at college too. Hiding in some other projects. Hiding in our “empty nest.” But now it’s time to get up on some priorities, some discipline, some future thinking and visioning.

A Grand Re-Opening (of sorts)? I have always found those banners a little bit funny. What is a Grand Re-opening anyway? Another way of saying, “Let’s try this again and start again – only better.” Maybe it means smarter, or with more time to have counted the cost to get going again. Maybe it just means, I need to work harder to make it go.

In any case, that’s where I am. I took a summer off from my regular blog --- not with any real intentions to do so up front . . . but the cares of my life --- or rather the “caring of my life and those I love” became my priority. And you know, sometimes it’s okay to do that. The Bible calls it rest. And if that really is the reason for laying something down, or stepping aside from it for a season, then it can be rest.

It could also be called “avoidance or laziness or selfishness.” I call it rest. This time.

But today – a new day. I’m still resting, but it’s time to do a Grand Re-Opening. Of my blog, yes. Of a new incentive to push forward into some dreams I might have. Yes to that too.

How about you? What have you layed down that should be only for a season? Not forever?

Dust it off. Pick it up. Get moving.

Big Shoes to Fill

Today I break my non blog writing fast (not an intentional hibernation from my blog) . . . It’s just been a busy few weeks – or has it been months?

But today I write to say a few words about the best man I know: The Daddy of my children – the husband of my youth . . . who grew into the best father that I know.

From Day 1 – a little over 21 years ago, he stepped completely into the “Daddy shoes” and he has walked through every stage of these two beautiful kids’ lives . . . completely, fully engaged and with more love than I thought possible.

My kids are blessed beyond words to have this man as the head of our household, as the pray-er over our needs, and as the watcher of our home.

He’s talented. Extremely talented. Funny. Silly at the right times. And solid. Even tempered. Kind. Generous.

He has the love of a father. He has the love of our Heavenly Father. Big shoes to fill. And yet he does.

I am a blessed woman.