Category: daily life

Letting Go Of Plan A

Letting Go Of Plan A

Posted on by Mary
Plan

PLAN. That is what I do. That is what God has created me tone good at. I own a few planners. I keep a detailed planner for our family’s everyday adventures. Even in 2020 when the world was planning NOTHING I still kept a planner and turned it into a journal of sorts, to remember what we cam through together as a family.

Planning is a good thing BUT we cannot let our plans control us. We Must be FLEXIBLE! Hubby made some statements about that in his sermon this past Sunday! There is a part two of this blog post coming soon so I don’t want to get to ahead of myself.

The Back Story- The Root of Plan A

For a few years now I have been holding onto this Printable from Life Action Ministries (You can find the printable by clicking the Link above) called Put Off Put On. Each Day has a habit / attitude or action that is unbiblical that you put off and a Biblical one you put on. And for a number of years I have thought that when I did the study that I would s make it into a blog post series. It really was set up perfectly for that.

Putting Plan A into Action

Well fast forward to December of 2020- I found myself in a state of confinement to a couch and small spare bedroom in our house. I could barely move I was in so much pain but it gave me a lot of time to think and pray. As I did that plans began to form for the year 2021. and Put Off Put On found itself top on the priority list! It even made it’s way into the blog planner for each week and on January 1st it became apart of my morning devotional time. I finished the first week and I sat down to write the blog post- nothing- not one single thing.

All the while my other parts of my study and reading were fitting together and I was making some neat connections there just wasn’t words for my plan. I said ok Lord I’m going to keep going and just study and read these verses and contemplate the contrasting actions and virtues.

Two Days Left- I let go of plan A a Month ago.

So here I am, two days left in what I thought was going to be a need series of blog and posts and I am writing about how I have had to let go of my plan to make it so. By Wednesday I will have completed 55 days of Putting off and Putting On. I have grown through them but no words to share with you but these.

Plan

I make lots of “great” plans but rarely do they turn out the way I think they should. I could just throw up my hands and say I quit. I will NEVER do or try tat again. There are many times I could have quit blogging because things didn’t go as I have planned. But we are commanded to persevere- to not give up so easily.

Some of the greatest moments in my life came as a Plan B- I had a mentor in college who so wisely taught me to invite God into my plan A, Give it to Him and be Ready for Plan B- God’s Plan. When I am flexible with my plans God forms them into his and amazing things happen.

Plan B Christmas

Every year for Christmas I try to make it as fun and creative as possible because as a full time ministry family the holidays aren’t “normal” (And I can hear all of my sweet friends chanting “Normal just a setting on the dryer”) Well this Christmas I knew I had the greatest gift ever- Quarantined Life! so I planned all these cool things. I actually made the advent calendar that has been sitting in my closet for YEARS and painted it and filled it with all these amazing family activities. And then I woke up on December 8th and was rushed off to the ER for what would be 4 hospital visits in 3 weeks.

I cried all the way to the hospital on a couple of this trips feeling like I had ruined Christmas for the whole family. This was a different sort of Plan B than some silly set of blog posts not being written This affected our entire family. And Hubby and the kids were scared- I massacred because nasty words were being thrown around at the hospital like “tumors” and “cancer”. I can tell you right now as of this moment there aren’t any tumors and there never was any cancer- but things didn’t “look” right and some nurses spoke out of turn. My kids had to see me the sickest and I the most pain I had ever been in ….Including 4 births and a gall bladder issue. THAT was NOT my Plan A!

Hindsight into God’s Plan

God’s plan B had been put into full swing- And I had t sit back and let hubby do most of it and he did awesome. I was so proud of him. And my friends- the ones who really knew me and really cared spoke words of truth into my life and my heart. They were superficial words. They weren’t pat answers- they could do that because they knew me and my heart. Through God’s plan B they had an opportunity to minister to my heart.

And our kids-wow! Our kids are so ministry minded to begin with my their acts of service to me was beyond what 10 to 15 years olds should do and yet they were amazing and we watched them grow so much through all of this.

Getting Mixed up

I think sometimes we get confused about the difference between perseverance and stubbornness is . Perseverance is being faithful even when things don’t go our way and being stubborn is doing our own way even if God is saying no, not yet- or just plain no.

He doesn’t want us to like that little boy with his trucks or that little girl with her dolls who don’t get their own way….we’ve seen it play out many times on TV or in our backyards….they are my______ and if we don’t do it my way I’m gonna pack up my_________ and go home. He wants us to trust him that HIS ways are better than our ways. He wants us o be a part of his amazing plan not just have hime be a part of our mediochre plans.

I want to challenge you just Like Ma Parker did for me to take God all of your plans and ask him to make them his plans and to help you to be aware and flexible for the changes he WILL make! Being willing to surrender your plans allows for great opportunity!

I will promise you that Plan B is always a bigger blessing thanPlan A- it may take a while to see it but with faith and trust God works miracles!

What about you…..What has been a Plan A that God has turned into an Amazing Plan B?

Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series.

Happy Homemaker Monday- 2-15-2021

Posted on by Mary

Good morning everyone (evening by the time you read this!) and a happy Monday. Last week was such a SLOW week for me. Apparently I have been fighting an infection that really didn’t hold many symptoms for me. I just kept getting more and more tired. All of this led for more tests and doctor’s teemed calls and now I’m over half done with my third round of antibiotics in way too short of a time span. I feel way less sluggish today so hopefully that’s a good sign

Let’s get into this weeks post!

♥The Weather♥♥ .      
♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Much better today not nearly as tired

 ♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

Eggs and bacon and cheesecake I didn’t eat last night 

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
  • My Bible
  • the powerful Purpose of Introverts
  • I’d Rather Be laughing
  • The Silver Chair
  • A Light in the Attic
  • Lisettes List
♥♥On my tv♥♥

nothing

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥ 

Monday – Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Tuesday – Tacos Wednesday Meatball subs- Thursday– Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Friday- Leftovers Saturday -Vegetable Beef Soup
Sunday – Venison Potatoes and carrots in the crockpot

♥♥From the camera♥♥
♥♥Something I want to share♥♥

Love people No matter what!

 ♥♥Devotional, inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse♥♥ 

I finished In His Image by Jen Wilkin this morning. Fabulous book It really has challenged me over the last couple of weeks and I highly recommend this book

For More Happy Homemaker Monday posts , check out Diary of a stay at Home Mom

Happy Homemaker Monday 2-8-2021

Posted on by Mary
Happy

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you have had an amazing week.

♥♥The Weather♥♥

COLD- tomorrow might count as a heat wave at a whopping 29 degrees. Don’t worry as you will see the temps start heading south again by the end of the week  .

Monday – 21
Tuesday – 27
Wednesday – 22
Thursday – 22
Friday – 19
Saturday –  18
Sunday – 17

And we won’t even discuss night time temps BRRRR.
♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Exhausted. And a tad discouraged finding it hard to get motivated

♥♥On my mind♥♥ 

   Learning- Sometimes the learning process exhausting. Being a responsible learner means you have to apply what you are learning. Sometimes when you are learning a lot all at once can make you feel like you aren’t applying what you learn responsibly. Do you follow?

 ♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥

Cold pizza. It was a rushed morning . And I just grabbed what was in the fridge   

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥ 

  • My Bible Friendship on Purpose reading plan
  • In His Image
  • I’d Rather be Laughing
  • The Silver Chair
  • The Powerful Purpose of Introverts
  • S. H. A. P.E.
  • Lisette’s List
 ♥♥On my tv♥♥

Nothing

 ♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

 Monday – Venison Soup
Tuesday – Tacos
Wednesday – Chef Salads
Thursday -Stuffed meatballs with Mushroom Soup
Friday – Leftovers
Sunday  Baked Ziti

♥♥From the camera♥♥ 

Happy
♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

 General cleaning

♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥

Nothing


♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥

Read and write

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥

This year I have taken on bullet journaling for both my blog and reading. It gives me exactly what need because I choose what gets added and what doesn’t.

♥♥Devotional, inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse♥♥ 

Today I was reading in James 5 an answer to prayer happened. I always think its amazing how when You ask God to give you wisdom and insight in growing in your faith . This was no different I have been on a journey of becoming a better pray-er and this chapter had some great insight for me!

For more Happy Homemaker Monday posts check out Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Hindsight is “2020”

Posted on by Mary
2020

I know I know, you are saying “MARY! Why on earth do you want to go back to 2020…DO YOU REMEMBER DECEMBER!?!” The Answer is Yes I do remember 2020….Yes I do remember December 2020- but the problem is the question. I DO want to December 2020. I DON’T want to RELIVE. December!

Remembering is what Keeps us from Repeating

We all know the phrase “history repeats itself”. And it is so true. History teaches us so many things and when we don’t remember it’s obvious we forget and when we forget….and when we forget history repeats itself. weened to learn from our mistakes….and others mistakes. I am going to address this in the next couple of weeks in a blog post about the importance of those who have gone before us.

In some Christian circles today we tend to forget those courageous believers who have fought some amazing battles for the faith and we tend to put stock in those still walking out their faith today. this was a realization for me in 2020 as some major “influencers of the faith” fell off their proverbial pedestals and shocked us all. the problem is this:

  • they never belonged there in the first place
  • they haven’t finished the race yet!!!

I have been let down by a fair share of humans….HUMAN Christians to be exact. I am sure I have let people down too. BECAUSE I ASSURE you I AM HUMAN (my kids might disagree- at least I didn’t claim to be a normal human). I am not perfect and nor do I claim to be and yet I know that people put me on a higher plain because I am a pastor’s wife. I make mistakes. I blow it. I need Grace Mercy and Love just as much as anyone else on the face of this planet.

This is why modeling our lives after people who have finished the race well, those who have gone before use and fought the good fight make excellent role models. (But more on this in a few weeks)

What I learned in 2020
  • I have learned to set my sights on Jesus. There are lots of people in this world who will try to tell you what you are thinking feeling and what your motives are. The reality is I am not accountable to them.
  • I have learned to ask hard questions of my friends and husband, especially when accused of something. Sometimes our emotions get the better of us and we can’t see through them to the truth. Now this only works if you have friends who won’t pull any punches with you.
  • I have learned to speak up! For others that is.
  • I have learned how to rely on my husband in some new ways and to be honest about the state of my body in needing rest.
  • I have learned to ask for help.
  • I have learned to say “I need to go to the ER”.
  • I have learned to let people go.
  • I have learned to trust God with the smallest of details in a moment by moment situation when I am not sure if I can last a second longer in some of the worst pain in my life.
  • I have learned to let goals go. (and with that some self made ideals)
  • I have learned to say yes to God in new ways and no to people in others.
  • I have learned to love in new ways and pray in new ways.
  • I learned how many tiles were in an ER cubicle at the hospital ( I was on morphine- I know it was over 300 little squares but can remember exactly).
  • I learned how to use a bullet journal.
  • I learned how to have fun while in pain.
  • I learned how to put into practice the re-counting of WHAT I KNOW. (blog post coming next week)

And the list goes on and on. now you might say Mary how on earth can remember how many tiles on the ER room ceiling help you in the future- well it will help me to remember to bring a book with me the next time or to grab my phone from my purse so I can read from their.

In short 2020 taught me to Have Joy in the hardships (HA I told you I needed joy for a second year- now I know Why!). 2020 taut me how tobe intentional IN. Every. Single. THING. And now I am taking what I learned in 2020 and putting it into practice. That’s why this month is going to be focused on {intentional}LOVE. Because I can now loo back at 2020 and see the lessons I have learned it’s now my job to apply them.

In September of 2020 I really started paying attention to the thereof being Intentional and making very intentional choices and I kicked off that journey with a post called Intentionally Social: 3 Reasons to Keep Social Media. And since I wrote that post I have made an active choice to change the way I have been using social media. I always tried to use it the way I am now but it was haphazard . Now I am actively asking myself everyday- specifically my devotions and reading- WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER FROM THIS……and I post it. If it helps or ministers to someone else great but I am choosing to intentionally use Facebook memories to REMEMBER!

So how about you what have you been learning in 2020? what has God been teaching you?

(Remember this is a positive place and we need to keep it kind and uplifting and if it doesn’t fit in the parameters of 1 Thessalonians 5:11 it will be deleted!)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

February Monthly Goals- 2021

Posted on by Mary
February

Happy February everyone. I am so happy to hit the ground running this month because honestly January was spent playing catch up after some health issues in December but I am back better that ever and I am sooooo ready..

Here’s a couple of Changes:

While in the hospital in December I decided it was time to take blogging and the reading challenge I participate in each year to a new level. After watching some Youtube videos I decided that a bullet journal was the way to go. And actually the last day I left the hospital hubby and I stopped at a craft store and purchased one. I kew Was about to have some excessive spare time on my hands and so I began figuring it out.

February
Bullet Journal

The next change is a whole new way to schedule my blog content and I started my mapping out the free time I had. I think sometimes we buy into a lie that we don’t have free time (I know I did) especially with homeschooling 4 kids and a busy ministry and so on.

February
A glimpse at my weekly schedule

And then the next thing I did was look at my LONG list of blog topics and pick a to-blog list. Another big lie I told myself is that I had no content (HA!) a quick scan of my computer graphics folder and my notebook showed otherwise.

February

I know some of these won’t get written this month but they are the ones that are “on deck” or next.

Goals for February
  • write in journal every other day- this isn’t blogging or tied to my devotions this is just a journal with writing prompts. It is solely used as practice in filling up the lines. I use it to practice descriptive language
  • write at least 12 blog posts (this was the same as last month- I am close I wrote 9)
  • Work on blogging schedule.
  • Work on a Phone usage schedule- this is more difficult due to the ministry perspective but it’s coming together.
  • Complete 5 books
    • In His Image
    • Voyage of the Dawn Treader
    • I’d Rather Be Laughing
    • The Powerful Purpose of Introverts
    • S.H.A.P.E.
  • Begin (again) my Philippians Study- I started it last year and became frustrated with the study method I was using so I let it go and I decided to just go back to my Bible study method I worked on and have created a hybrid version of a couple different methods. I guess I can go back to the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
February
  • Finish any two notebooks (I finished a sketchbook earlier this week and I am in line to finish a journal by the end of the month)
  • Craft closet- also needs some help after the holidays
  • and our bathroom needs some deep cleaning after some remodeling (It’s not finished just deeds some cleaning up
  • Re-implement my morning exercise routine as the medical stuff cancelled ALL of that!

And that’s it in a nutshell. I am excited because last month I was still in recover mode and I still made big progress so hopefully the month of February will follow.

How about you what are your goals for the month of February and what do you use to help you meet your goals.