Thursday, June 7, 2012

Goals and blessings and stuff.

I've been thinking lately about some of the things I want to do in the near/immediate future.
  • Become a Spinning instructor
  • Train for a half marathon (starting with a 15K on the 4th of July)
  • Be awesome at martial arts with Joe
  • Get back into jewelry-making
  • Cook more healthy meals
  • Stick to my daily Bible reading plan
  • Keep my house clean and tidy

And I'm trying to map out my schedule to plan for all of these things to get accomplished, but I might not be able to do it all at once. (If you're someone I know in real life, you might notice that personal training is not on that list. I've put that pursuit on hold for a couple of reasons which I'll probably write more about in a future post.) But there's still a lot I am really excited to do in the coming months, and it's hard knowing how to attack it all without burning out.

My first priority is my marriage, and that's something I have to remind myself often because I do tend to get caught up in all of my other pursuits. Joe always tells me that one of his favorite things about me is how I can hone in on something and just go at it with all my energy and excitement -- but it's also a frustration we've encountered because there are other areas of my life and our relationship where I'm not always so passionate. (Keeping my house clean and tidy is high up on that list.) I think I sometimes feel so comfortable and secure in "us" that I forget it still takes work and effort to keep our marriage strong and healthy.

All this to say, there aren't enough hours in the day and I'm seeking the Lord's guidance for how I can approach my goals effectively. I'm asking for focus and patience. And sometimes, in the words of my former college pastor Chris Brown (not the rapper), I'm asking God for a bigger plate. (You know how people say, "There's too much on my plate"? Chris would say, "Then ask for a bigger plate!") Because I DO really want to start teaching cycling classes in the next couple of months. I DO really want to develop myself as a runner and see if I can actually pull off 13.1 miles. I DO really want to be able to kick anyone's butt alongside my husband in martial arts. I DO...well, you get the idea. Just look at the list again. It's all good stuff that I feel passionate about and want to achieve.

I remember not too long ago when I felt like I didn't have much passion for anything. And now suddenly I find myself chasing new and exciting things left and right. (I didn't even mention hiking, shooting, learning Linux, decorating my house, fostering strong female friendships, or any number of other things that are also on my radar.)

But I am so incredibly blessed to have such an array of opportunities available to me. I have a super supportive husband who is my partner, my best friend and my favorite person in the universe. And every day that I remember to ask God to be near me and help me to maximize my time, things run a lot more smoothly than the many days when I try to handle it all on my own. I guess it comes down to that: starting every action and activity in prayer. I mean, I didn't get Psalm 119:133 tattooed on my ankle for nothing, right? It's supposed to remind me to ask God to "Direct my footsteps according to [his] word." And I've witnessed the power of seeking the Lord's direction in life's big and small decisions, both in my own life and in my friends' lives. (I'm thinking of you, Caitlin!)

Ultimately I want everything I do to glorify God. It's when I get selfish that things start to go on the fritz and feel haphazard and unpleasant. I mean, when I look at the big picture, it's a miracle I'm able to even CONSIDER training for a half marathon. My dad reminded me last weekend about how amazing it is that I only have asthma, rather than being deaf, blind, mentally handicapped or dead. I was born with an awful virus that was pretty much screwing up my whole body, and all of those afflictions I just listed were legitimate possibilities when I was an infant. But at my 18-month checkup, the doctors declared me "inexplicably" (aka miraculously) healthy and free of that virus. So, uh, YEAH. I'm pretty grateful to be alive, you guys. I think the least I can do is spend my life praising the one who let me live.

Wow, this post went all over the place. Clearly I am out of practice. I promise the next post will possibly be slightly more organized or focused or something.

7 comments:

  1. I love all of your goals! And you SO can accomplish them! I mean, in the short time I've known you, you've already accomplished so much. I can't wait to watch you accomplish more! So glad that I met you through Community Group, you're such a blessing in my life.

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    1. You are too sweet! I'm super happy to know you, too! Let's hang out more. Seriously.

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  2. Hey Lovely! I cannot tell you how much I miss you and our Tuesday night girls group!! I love this new blog and new direction. I have been so blessed to share life with you, and I can't wait to see how God meets you as you pursue these goals! I can't wait to read more posts!

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    1. Hey Caitlin! I miss you too, and our group just isn't the same without you. I'm loving seeing all your fun instagram pics though! :)

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  3. I'll be honest-- I didn't even notice the slight change from "personal training" to "spinning instructor", and wouldn't have until you mentioned it. I guess to me, it's all the same-- leading others in a fitness endeavor :-) But I'd definitely love to hear more about the differences and the switch when you write more about it! :-)

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    1. Well, the original plan was to do both personal training and spinning classes. :-P

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  4. I love the direction of this new blog!! I've missed you and your writing!

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