How Would You Like Your Eggs?

My thoughts lately are like eggs, scrambled some days; over easy others; fried sometimes!  There has been a lot going on in my mind these past couple of weeks, as I find the days going by too quickly and I can't get everything done that I want to, and yet too slowly as we anticipate Doug's last day of work and his being home. In general, I am not an overthinker; I don't analyze a situation to its death before making a decision and then second-guess myself and look back over all the "could haves". But when making a decision as huge as the one to have Doug leave his job, you can bet that my mind has gone over all the possibilties! However, I feel settled about our decision, and at peace that it was the right one for our family. And if there was any doubt, it disappeared immediately when Doug's mom called a few days ago and asked, "You guys have any plans the weekend of July 13th?" and I was able to say "NO!! Doug ISN'T working!!" It was very freeing! Just like that, we were able to plan a little camping trip in Lincoln City that weekend, which also happens to be Joel's 3rd birthday weekend, and we get to see some of Doug's out-of-town family that aren't able to be together very often. After 16 years of working weekends, Doug felt so awesome being able to just throw some plans together like that and not having to miss out on family time because of working.

 

I love that knowing there will be more evenings and weekends available to him, more time in general, Doug has already reached out socially and has delved into learning as much as he can about AdvoCare so he can share it with others. We met another couple that we've recently re-connected with for dinner one evening last week; he had a meeting this week with one of his AdvoCare mentors who is quickly becoming a good friend; we went to Salem to visit with my lifelong girlfriend and her little family, and it was so nice watching our kids play together, seeing Doug chatting with her husband and being able to make plans for another weekend get-together without having to "check Doug's schedule"! And we purchased a ticket for Doug to attend AdvoCare's Success School this August, in Texas at Cowboy Stadium! He is going to come home from that weekend a changed man, in all good ways! I'm so excited for him. Excited for us! Excited for our family!

 

This week will be a scrambled one for sure, Doug is working opening shift (5am) with only 1 day off all week, and we have a few other things on the calendar, but we're going to get though it one day at a time, and each day that we go to sleep puts us one day closer to realizing a dream...having Doug NOT have that crazy retail work schedule any longer!!

 

We believe in dreaming, and in working towards making those dreams a reality. We took hold of a dream and turned it into a reality, and it isn't going to be easy; but life isn't supposed to be easy, and sometimes the things that are the healthiest for our minds and bodies are actually the most difficult. It's much easier to swing by the drive-thru to grab a meal, or to buy all pre-made packaged foods at the grocery store, or to sit on the couch and watch TV rather than take a walk or work out; I know this because I took that easy way for a long time, making excuses as to why it was okay, making excuses as to why Doug had to tough it out in his job because how could we possibly make ends meet otherwise, and what about health insurance, and this-that-and-ten thousand other things?! But at the end of each day, taking the easy approach did not make me healthy, happy, or content. I'm still struggling with this, as it's so much easier to just eat whatever I want and not exercise, and use the excuse of my digestive woes to justify it. It's much easier to not budget, to not plan what I'm spending on groceries, to just buy now and figure it out later. It's easier for me to work part-time, making my hours work within our family's schedule. Easy, easy, easy...but NOT healthy and NOT teaching my kids the value of working towards a goal, of making a dream a reality, of appreciating that meal in a restaurant because it's a treat instead of a weekly normal.

 

Easy is done for this girl, it's out the window, I'm taking the difficult road...God is calling me to get out of my comfort zone, to put clean and healthy foods into my body, to work consistent hours for the sanity of my co-workers and my family, to dust off the walking shoes and use them often, and most importantly...to promote positivity in a negative, pessimistic world; to be a beacon of hope and light for others; to utilize the talents He has given me in the best ways to touch as many lives as possible.

 

I do believe I'll take my eggs hard-boiled today, after all that takes the most time and patience to prepare.

 

 

 



Moving Forward in Faith

We are embracing change in a big way in our family, and are doing so with faith and peace that God has provided us direction and will continue to guide us down the path He wishes to see us on.

 

Doug put in his notice at work today, his last day as Produce Manager at the Tualatin Haggen store will be Friday, July 5th.  After 16 years working in Produce with Haggen, he will be taking some time to be with his children, to focus on building our AdvoCare business, and to support me working additional hours with Five Star.  After 16 years working in Produce with Haggen, he is physically and mentally worn out, and is going to take some time to rest his body and rest his mind. 

 

We feel very confident in this change; it's huge, and it was not an easy decision to come to, but after many months of praying, talking, and planning, we knew it was time to take the leap of faith, time to put our family first, time to stretch ourselves and pull out of our comfort zone, time to move forward.

 

We are excited with the journey we are on, excited to see what God has in store for our family, and thankful for all the support we have found along the way to making this change.

 

"Be still, and know that I am God"

When we realize that we are truly incapable of controlling life, we can surrender our will to God’s will. It may be a matter of finally saying we trust Him. This will open the door so that we may experience the fullness of all God wants and has for us. After all, He is our Creator and has a perfect plan for us when we let Him orchestrate it.



Embracing Change

Change:  To make different; to give a different position, course or direction; to replace with another.

 

It can be subtle, it can be noticeable, it can be by choice, it can be forced upon you, it can happen without you even realizing it, you can make it happen.  Whatever the method, it is inevitable. It will occur. Often, and in many facets of your life.

 

Change.

 

Embrace it. Encourage it. Appreciate it.

 

It's not easy to do this; the important things in life are not supposed to be. God didn't give us faith to make things easy, He gave us faith so that when things are difficult we have the strength to get through them. 

 

Change.

 

Do not fear it.  Do not resent it.  Do not disrepect it.

 

There is a place for change in all of us, and a need for it.  As much as we would like to make those around us change, we cannot.  We can only change ourselves, and how we allow another person or a situation to affect us.

 

Change.

 

Choose it.  Be the change you wish to see in others. Hope for it.

 

We are embracing change this week, we are choosing change to better ourselves and our family.  We are challenging ourselves to improve our quality of life. It won't be easy, but we will face it together and will power through the difficulties. We trust, in God and His plans for our family, in each other, and in change.

 

 

 

 

 



Reality Check - You Matter

I am often called upon by family and friends when they are dealing with an emotional situation. Not because I am sympathetic, but because I am down-to-earth. I often hear, "Ellen, I'm calling you because I know you'll tell it like it is, you're so realistic, and you really know how to cut the emotions out of it. I need that right now." And it's really true; I can take pretty much any situation and look at it from a non-emotional point of view. I get that emotion plays an important role in our decisions and how we handle situations, but sometimes it's nice to see a different persepective; to remove the emotions from it, see both perspectives, and determine what makes the most sense, logically and factually. It's also nice to be reminded that your thoughts have a valid place. That YOU MATTER. 

 

It is because of my balanced, even-keeled approach to life that many people value my opinion, respect my advice, and listen to my views.  I'm not saying this to toot my own horn, I'm actually writing down things I have been told about myself, repeatedly, over the last several years. I also write this down because I have a passion to help others around me learn how to feel balanced and have this even-keeled approach to life; to learn how to separate the emotions that we feel towards a situation from the facts of the situation itself; and most importantly, to realize that your thoughts and views are valid, that you are valid, that you have importance in this journey of life. I am saddened by how many people I cross paths with who don't think they have value, worth, importance in the world. I'm telling you, every single one of you has a place and a purpose. ["For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11] You were created by God, in His image, for His purpose. And YOU MATTER. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise, and do not let your own fears hold you back from discovering what you can do, what you were meant to do, what God wants to see you doing. Do not go through life waiting for things to change, for others to change, for something "to give".  Do what you can for yourself, because YOU MATTER.

I kept telling myself "something has to give, I can't be on this cycle or in this rut forever" until I realized that what needed to "give" was ME!! I am in control of the changes that need to be made to get off the cycle of unhealthiness or out of the rut of no energy. God has provided the people and the tools that I need, but only I can choose to use them. And I am choosing to use them because I MATTER.

I often let situations with people get worse then they need to be as I wait for that person to change, and I slowly become bitter and resentful.  I tell myself "well, if he would just see it my way!!". Chances are, though, he's thinking the same thing! If I wait around for somebody else to change, it will never happen; I must instead change how I allow them to affect me. God has provided me with communication tools, but only I can choose to use them positively and effectively. And I will choose to use them because I MATTER.

We all were created for good; God wants to see us be healthy, be happy, love others, help others. He understands that we need to make our own choices; this is the very reason his son Jesus died on the cross, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do". We won't always do the right thing; we will sometimes even knowingly do the wrong thing, just because. Because we're lazy, or tired of the injustices we feel we cannot change, or feel somehow entitled, or have become apathetic. Excuses, we live in a world filled with them; the government has excuses for the state of our economy; celebrities have excuses for their ridiculous behavior; wealthy have excuses for their lavish spending; poor have excuses for not working; the list goes on, unending. But you have the power to end the excuses for yourself. You can choose not to do the wrong thing "just because". You can be a voice against the injustices and for positive societal change. YOU MATTER.

You cannot force anyone around you to change, but you can be the change you wish to see in others. Be the influence that causes those around you to want to change. Empower yourself so you can empower those who are on the path of life with you. YOU MATTER.