What If…

After the devastation of the Joplin tornado and all of the threatening weather last week, I can’t help but mention that I’ve had several moments when my MIND began to ponder the “what if’s”. What if I and/or my family doesn’t survive a tornado? Although the chance of us ever being in a tornado are extremely low (I’ve lived in KS nearly all my life and haven’t even seen one!), have you noticed life can cycle through these feelings of insecurity?  I may experience the HappiesT day ever and then wake up the next morning with subtle feelings of fear, worry or anxiousness.  How frustrating!

It is easy for our minds to drift to these thoughts, but as I get older I ‘m better at ConTrolliNg these feelings.  Yes, all of the “what if’s” are frightening, but I heard a priest once say, “Worrying about something won’t add any more time onto your life.”  So true!

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I figure the only option is to stay optimistic.  I try to live each day as if it were my last, but also try and live as if my family will live to be 100.  Who knows, we may be the lucky ones that have a LONG healthy LIFE and nothing to worry about!  I just know that PositiVe ThinKing sure helps me sleep better at night.  Don’t let the devil win this battle…God gives us a life that is too sweet to waste, so make the best of what you have now. 

Optimistically,

~Lara

Write Your Legacy

The year is 2111.  Your history has been written.  What does yours say?  What is your legacy?

I think, for me, this may be the single most important aspect of dealing with an All-Or-Nothing mindset – seeing the BiG PiCtUrE.  The best way I have found to do this is to “write my legacy.”  I literally have put down on paper what I want my legacy to look like.  Here are some of my random thoughts:

  • My kids don’t have to LoOk PeRfEcT.
  • I (and my life) don’t have to look perfect.
  • My house doesn’t have to look perfect.  (Definitely easier said than done!)
  • People take PriOriTy over things – (Including schedules, my plans, etc)
  • My purpose – loving God and others

I don’t nail this 100% of the time, but I’m doing my best to hit the mark as much as I can.  Hopefully I get closer every day. 

What’s your legacy?

Robynn~

Vision Board-The Challenge (Wk 9)

To assist in making your dreams a reality, you must have a clear vision of what you want.  An easy and InSpiRinG way to document your goals is by creating a vision board.  Your vision board can include pictures, words, quotes or anything that depicts what you want to accomplish.  Do you want to improve your confidence? Hang a picture of a confident woman that you admire.  Want to be your own boss?  Display the words “SELF-EMPLOYEED“.

I recently made a VISION board for our entire family.  I actually used a picture that was hanging on the wall, took out the glass, flipped the backing to the front, and covered it with fabric!  It only took about 30 minutes and didn’t cost a penny!  Since our board hangs in a high-traffic area, we are reminded of our goals several times a day.  This helps us stay FOCUSED and motivated.  If my daughter sees something she wants in a magazine, we hang it on the board.  If we want to take a vacation, we post pictures of where we want to go.  Vision boards can be really fun!  Be creative!  You’ll be amazed at the number of things you’ll AccomplisH, all because you see it every day!!

Happy Dreaming!

~Lara

It’s Up to YOU

Have you ever caught yourself responding to a question that sounded like this: “I can’t change.  I was born this way.  This is just the way I am.”? Often times we find ourselves stuck in a rut or unwilling to try something new because we are convinced we were born with limitations and are unable to change.  This is not true.  The power to take control of your thoughts and actions is Up TO one person… YOU!

I would consider myself to be a pretty OpTiMisTic person, but I admit I haven’t always been that way.  There was a time in my life when I struggled with depression and didn’t think very highly of myself.  Over time I came to believe if I wanted life to be better, ultimately the change was up to me.  What did I have to lose? Although results weren’t immediate, anything would be better than keeping with my current state of mind.

Even today, I have to remind myself I have the PoweR to ChangE.  Life always presents new challenges and it’s UP TO ME to determine how to respond to them.  I may start the day stubbing my toe, but I will be the one to determine if it will ruin the rest of my day.  Is there something in your life you want to change?  Do you feel like you are in a rut?  Just remember, the only thing holding you back is yourself!

~Lara

Meet Walter

LiFe LeSsOnS can come from many sources. 

Meet WaLtEr. 

This is our 11-year old ChOcOLatE lab.  When I got married he was part of the deal.  At first I wasn’t real thrilled with this bundle of energy.   He was not yet two-years old, a male (obviously), and came from a line of field champions.  Since that time I’ve come to love this dog.  In fact, I’ve never met another dog like Walter.  For one, he thinks he is human.  He acts like it too.  So much so, that when friends and family come over they just can’t help but laugh at him.  Whether it be helping himself to the crock-pot of chili on the counter and dumping it on the floor, opening a door, or escaping from several confinement scenarios, he always keeps us entertained.

You’ll hear more in the future from Walter, but for now he would like to leave you with his favorite quote.  It comes from WiNsToN ChUrChiLL:

“never, NeVeR, NEVER GiVe Up!”

Robynn~

The Grass Is Always Greener

Some of the best advice my parents gave me was this: If you ever want what someone else has, then be prepared to take all that comes with it!

It is easy to look at another person’s life and pick and choose what we would want for our own, but be sure to ReMinD yourself that no situation is PERFECT. Being a celebrity would mean wealth and fame but it also means being followed by paparazzi and never getting privacy. Being a successful business owner means having the freedom of being your own boss but it also means working around the clock. I’m not saying that these positions are bad, but it is easy to only want one part of that life without the other. Unfortunately picking and choosing isn’t ReaLitY.

When finding yourself discouraged that your life isn’t as good as the family down the street, be sure to look closely at everything that comes with it. Often times you’ll realize that switching lives with them may not be worth giving up all the bLeSSinGs you have after all!

~Lara

(Thanks Mom and Dad for helping me realize this VERY early in life. I wouldn’t change my life growing up as a farm kid for anything!)

“Confidence Boost” – The Challenge (Wk 8)

Many times when we start off towards a goal or dream, it is because we are unsatisfied with some area in our life.  It may be that we have failed miserably and are hoping to make a change.  Misery after all, can be a GrEaT mOtiVaTor.  If that is the case, then, how can we gain confidence if we don’t have many successes under our belt?

I have found the best way to RacK uP sUcCeSs is one small step at a time.  This is really important because success breeds success.  How do you do this?  By setting a goal that is just at the end of your fingertips.  Something small and attainable, but also something that is going to require you to do something that you haven’t already done.  Then, as you begin to experience success you can little by little set bigger goals.

Don’t overlook the PoWeR of achieving a small goal!  I originally would look down on setting small goals.  They didn’t seem challenging enough to me, so I never set any.  My goals were always BIG ones that had no guarantees and were much riskier.  They were also few and far between.  This was a huge mistake because I missed out on laying a foundation of successes.

If your goal is to get organized, don’t think that organization means spending an entire Saturday getting your messy space organized.  Your small step of success may be to spend 15 minutes a day on that project.  Each time you spend 15 minutes towards this goal, you have chalked up a success.  Do this for seven days and you have seven successes tallied up!  Maybe you are far from seeing that space organized, but you getting closer to your goal and are developing CoNfiDenCe because you are experiencing success.

This approach allows you to succeed every day.  What are the small steps you can take beginning today?

Enjoy Your Small Successes Today!

~Robynn

P.S.  Today’s post is an excerpt from a book I’m currently writing on my path to peace with food.  I’m writing this book in conjunction with our six-month challenge.  Thanks for the inspiration!

Hey Cow!!

S U M M E R  break officially (according to me) begins next weekend and many people are beginning to plan vacations and get-a ways.  If yours includes a road trip, here is a game you can play with your family to make the time go by faster!  My niece, a member of the BaKeR UniVerSitY softball team, told me about this game a couple of days ago and it made me laugh!  She and her teammates play it on their road trips.  The name of the game is “HeY CoW!!”  The object of this game is to yell out your window, “Hey Cow!!” every time you see a cow and see how many cows look at you.  Give yourself a point for each cow that looks your way.  Take turns and see who has tallied the most points by the end of the trip.  That person is the WiNnEr!

Have a favorite game you like to play when traveling?  Mind sharing? Comment below!!

Hello Summer!!

Robynn~