A Holiday Perspective & Abundantly More #WilcoWednesday

December 16, 2015 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!” Welcome today one of the most insightful, humorous writer-y friends I have ever met, Lindsey. 

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I’ve been struggling a lot with time crunches and stress this month, which is disappointing. This month was supposed to be set aside for calm. I had plans to shop for my loved ones slowly and with intention. I was going to sit at my kitchen table with tea and watch the rain. I was going to read short Christmas devotionals to my kids every night leading up to the 25th. I even took time off work to enjoy the season.

Has any of that happened?

Ha! Replace “slow” with “rushed.” Replace “tea” with “3rd cup of coffee.” Take out “read short devotionals” to “try to get a bath in once a week.” Did work leave me alone? Nope—last minute deadlines that my smooth-talkin’ boss talked me in to are piled on my desk. [Read more…]

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The Purple People Pleaser

November 30, 2015 by

I sure sang some weird songs growing up.

Well, I mean they didn’t SEEM weird at the time. But now as a grown-uppish kind of person, I have started to learn about the “background” info of some childhood tunes.

“London Bridge” is rumored to be about a viking siege, child prisoners or a colossal architectural disaster.

“Ring around the Rosie” is based on a song created about a plague. Yeah. The “ring” was a rash. The “posey” was something an afflicted person carried in their pocket to ward off the symptoms of the disease. And I bet you can figure out what “Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!” was referring to. #UmYikes

Can’t I just be five years old and naive again?

Recently, I was thinking about another song that we sang in elementary music class…  The One-Eyed, One-horned, Flying Purple People Eater.

Did I ever actually LISTEN to the lyrics? How am I not scarred for life?

Admittedly, this song was meant to be silly and light-hearted. But the insinuation of eating humans seems like something of a nightmare.

And for some reason, I realized with just a slight name-tweak of that “monster,” I get a result that scares me even now as an adult.

The Purple People PLEASER.  [Read more…]

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The Holiday Switch: From Stressed to Blessed (Army Wife Network)

November 23, 2015 by

I eyed the calendar suspiciously.

I blinked. That can’t be right. Didn’t we just do this like five minutes ago?!?

But as I looked again, I realized it to be true. The holidays are upon us.

Sure, that sounds a bit cliche, but seriously– it seems the older I get, the faster the pages of the calendar turn.

Don’t get me wrong– I am not stunt double for the Grinch that Stole Christmas. I like the holidays. I really do. The fun, the family time (when applicable– hey, it’s the army!) and the festivities make that little spot in my heart get all warm and fuzzy.

Holiday SwitchWhat I DON’T appreciate is the stress that seems to come with the holidays.

Because really, if I am wound up about the holiday season and stressed to the max, I fail to enjoy it. I spend more time worried about all the things instead of reveling in the blessing that comes with all the things.

So this year, I am going on strike regarding holiday stress. Starting NOW, I am making a holiday switch from stressed to blessed. And I wanted to share with you some of my proactive techniques and expectations I am setting in advance. 

  1. Sharing my expectations– then sticking to my guns. That’s right. Talk with your people and determine what you want to get out of this holiday season. My Beloved Soldier has had a very busy year… And my job has also kept me on my toes. Oh. And we chase a toddler too. And I trained for my first marathon. And, and, and…. So we have already set the expectation that this holiday will be low key because we need to recharge more than have the banister decorated with organic, hand-braided pine boughs.  My in-laws are coming for Christmas this year (don’t worry– I love them to death– they are awesome!) so we have already told them to bring comfy clothes and prepare to eat, sleep and be pseudo-hermit-like. We have never been so excited to be this boring.

Keep on reading about my switcheroo techniques over at Army Wife Network. 

Dear reader, which of these tips resonates with you the most? What would you add to the list? I always love to hear feedback. Chime in and leave a comment.

And may you have a beautiful holiday season as you make the switch from stressed to blessed!

So Blessed,

Initials Signature Blog

“May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” ~Psalm 115:15

Linking up today with Kelly,   Laura at Playdates with God,  Joan’s  Beauty in His Grip,  Jen over at Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood,  and Hazel via  Tell Me a Story. Be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday! 

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One Thousand Gifts Update #EverydayJesus

October 15, 2015 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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Four years ago on my birthday, my good friend and mentor Kelli gave me a book.

Based on the title of this post, you probably guessed which book it was: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I have ALWAYS been a list maker, and at my lowest of low point in life a couple of years before receiving this book, I had started a “Things that make me happy list.”

It had a few dozen items on it, but that was that.

Then I met Jesus. And got my mitts on this book.

And my “Official” One Thousand Gift list was born. [Read more…]

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A Kaleidoscope Perspective (Wives of Faith)

October 5, 2015 by

I don’t know what it is about the my current life season, but I feel like it is one big ol’ glob of nostalgia.

Maybe it is the peace of the changing seasons. Or how my toddler grows and changes (and challenges!) me more every day. Or perhaps because I am getting ready to bid my 20’s farewell.

I don’t know what it is, but honestly, I kind of enjoy it.

Any time I have a spare brain moment, God is pulling my mind back to some former seasons of my life. I don’t think of them with loss or regret, but rather recall with fondness.

Just the other day, as I was praying about this post, I remembered one of my favorite childhood pastimes: Peering through the kaleidoscope.  [Read more…]

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Not a Show Stopper

August 3, 2015 by

I am a recovering Chicken Little.

No, I don’t have issues with feather tendencies or a waning poultry aversion. But up until the last few months, I have been living quite a Chicken Little life.

Everything in my world was very dramatic. Not like “OMG-No-You-Didn’t” dramatic, but “Oh-plans-have-changed-the-sky-is-falling-we-are-all-gonna-die!” Something like that. [Read more…]

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The Unwanted Testimony #EverydayJesus

July 16, 2015 by

Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day! 

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On most occasions, I like surprises. Specifically the kind that involve one or more of the following: Inky pens, chocolate, journals, books, Jesus memorabilia or free childcare.

(For those of you who love giving gifts, please take note. #KiddingNotKidding.)

However, some surprises are less than well received on my end. Those “surprises” like army schedule changes, someone jumping out from behind a corner to scare me, cars that don’t start, or checking account balances that somehow are way lower than anticipated.

Also in that category are unwanted testimonies. [Read more…]

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Home is Where Jesus Calls You

June 10, 2015 by

Hi friends! I am taking a quick breather from creating new material on Wednesdays as I prep for an upcoming conference and lay some foundational leadership work with a one of my local organizations. I was digging through the archives and found this post worthy of a re-share. I pray you enjoy it! Thanks for the grace. 

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You’ve probably heard your share of “homey” quotes…

“Home is where the heart is.” “Home Sweet Home.” “Home is where you hang your hat.” “There’s no place like home” (Wizard of Oz, what, what!)

Ah, home. It conjures up all sorts of apple-pie-wafting, couch-snuggling, T.G.I.F sitcom watching (does anybody else remember the T.G.I.F television programming?) images of joy. [Read more…]

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Our Quiet Beauty

May 11, 2015 by

We live in a very loud world.

Now don’t get me wrong. I occasionally love blasting my favorite Christian radio station in my car with the windows rolled down on a bright sunny day. And I giggle when my daughter cuts loose a really loud happy squeal.

But sometimes quiet is a bit underrated. Especially in the beauty department.

Our world is all about the LOUD beauty. You know, the stick-thin-air-brushed models that pepper every dang magazine at the checkout stand. (Not judging, just saying.) Honestly, our culture is kind of superficial. It’s all about what size of pants we should wear, how to shed eleventy-billion pounds with no effort in 20 minutes, the name brand clothing and flashy make-up.

But what about our everyday, ordinary quiet beauty? The beauty that truly is more than skin deep. [Read more…]

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More Than Eeyore #WilcoWednesday

May 6, 2015 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience.  Joining us today is my dear, wonderful, beautiful and encouraging friend Kristen. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!” 
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My mother use to lovingly call me Eeyore, as in Winnie the Pooh’s gloomy detachable-tailed donkey friend. A cautious optimist from childhood, I can worry with the best of them over things yet not happened.

Perhaps the most devastating aspect I carried with me to adulthood was not the outwardly visible worrying, but the warped perspective about my importance to God. Not that God didn’t love me, but how much love I felt I deserved in relation to how important I felt others should be loved and cared for by Him because I’ll be honest, I was born to an upper middle class American Christian family. I’m not impoverished, parent-less, abandoned, truly on the battlefields of faith, my life is not daily threatened by the bible sitting on my nightstand. So I struggled with obedience to God’s plan because I failed to see how I really played a part in God’s plan. [Read more…]

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