Make a Splash

The summer is coming. In fact, this afternoon is the first truly humid day that I can recall in a long, long time. 

With that being said, it's swimsuit season, and I'm excited! 

For the first time in my whole adult life that I can recall I am excited about wearing a bathing suit. 

Not that I have a 'beach ready' body. Cause I don't. 

I think I may like it so much because I bought it on  a whim. I'd not been planning on buying a swimsuit (although I needed one), so I didn't dread it for days on end. I just thought, "Well, since I'm shopping by myself, I'll just see what's over here." 

What I found is a two piece suit that covers everything quite nicely and is reminiscent of those beautiful women from the 40's and 50's. It's got these shorts that are a little longer and have these sweet ties at the bottom. It's got a razor back tank that doesn't just meet the top of the shorts...It actually goes past the top. It's flattering. I feel covered and cute, and best of all my husband loves it. 

And I'm excited to put it on. 

Now....You may be saying, "Yeah, I'm not excited about putting on a bathing suit," or "I don't own one," or "I'm not putting one on this summer."

That. Is. The. Wrong. Attitude.

Mommas, your kids want you to play with them. In the water. Not just watching them from the sidelines. 

You are the sun of their solar system, and for you to sit on the sidelines while they splash and have fun is acceptable on occasion. But that should be the exception, not the rule. 

I have the most beautiful woman in the world as my mother, and I can only recall half a dozen times when she swam with me. My grandparents had a pool that was an oasis, a pleasure to look forward to come the hot summer months. It was surrounded by a six foot tall fence, so I never understood......Why didn't she get in? 

Sometimes I got answers about her hair getting wet. Other times, I got mumbles about how she looked in a suit. 

I never quite understood that last one. My mom is stunning. 

My only regret about what I wish she'd done more was play, especially taking a dip in the pool with us. 

So, this is my challenge to moms...Get past how you look (or don't look) in a bathing suit. Likely, you'll always be unhappy with some feature. 

What you won't always have is this summer with your kids again. 

New Beginnings: Tackling New Year's Resolutions Whenever

It's been a long time. Two years. Two years? Two years! 

I don't make New Year's resolutions. I make goals. (Who am I kidding? It's semantics, they're resolutions.) 

One was to pick up writing again. 

I started off the year on a hot streak. I submitted two articles within days of the new year. 

And then, life happened. 

Isn't that always the way? "I'm going to start Monday" or "The year's almost over, I'll start January 1" or "School's winding down/ gearing up"...."I'll start then." 

I could wait I guess for a 'better time' to start my New Year "Goals." But April 21 is as good a time as any. 

So, here we are. Two years and a month since the last post when I said, "I'm going to start back writing this blog." 

Only, this time, it's different. 

It's different this time because I've learned a valuable lesson and the absolute necessity in having accountability.

But first of all, I've learned when I try to do things in my own power, I fail miserably and berate myself for ever trying. So, I've learned that if I want to do anything in life, it has to be God-focused, not me-focused. (You'd think I'd learn this by now and it would stick. I'm so thankful that God is long-suffering. Can I get an amen?)

Second, I've learned that now is the perfect time. Now is the perfect time to drink more water after downing two sodas. Now is the perfect time to go for a walk or YouTube a workout video and get moving. Now is the perfect time to call a friend I haven't talked to in six months/years/decades......

Third, not only can I not achieve any goal without God, I also need the accountability of others. So, I've learned to surround myself with folks who won't give me a by when I've been slack or when I want to be slack. They don't accept excuses. They breathe grace over me when I do and lovingly help me get back on track. 

So that's the difference this time- what I do is God-focused and for His glory, now is the perfect time to work on a dream, and He didn't make us to do life alone, He gave us people to love, support, encourage, and sharpen us along the way. 

I, like countless others, have claimed Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

I know it. 

Now I'm going to do it. April 21, 2015, is as good a time as any.