Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I'm loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
What I’m Thinking About
I woke up feeling pretty overwhelmed by today:
- My heart is heavy for one of my kids who is really struggling right now.
- I’m sad one of my best friends moves to CA this week.
- My head is spinning with details about this beginner blogging course we’re launching today.
- I’m trying to think through details for my 5-day trip with Kathrynne to DI Globals on Wednesday.
- I’m prepping my talks for keynoting a conference in Iowa next week.
- And it’s my kids’ first week of no school, so we’re starting a new schedule because of that.
I decided that the best way to start today would be to make a really good breakfast and sit down and spend time filling up my tank and praying over my week. Because I’m no good to anyone if I’m running on empty!
And once that was done, I committed to focus on doing the next thing and being present in that moment. I probably won’t get to everything on my list today… and that’s okay.
Monday, I’m not scared of you. With God’s help, I’m going to rock you!
What I’m Loving
I never, ever expected that I would love hats like I do. But in the past year, I’ve become such a fan of hats.
Want to know my biggest reason why I love hats? Because I can look put together with almost zero effort. I will pull my hair into a side ponytail, a side braid, or a low messy bun and then plop on the hat. And within a few minutes, my hair is done and people will compliment me all day long on how cute I look.
(Part me of feels like I should just wear hats all the time, since I get WAY more compliments on how cute I look when I spend almost zero time on my hair and wear a hat than on the days when I take the time to curl or straighten it!!)
With summer just around the corner and pool season almost here, I am guessing that hats are going to be one of my go-to accessories.
Which is why I’m thrilled to be launching a brand-new line of hats with Cents of Style that have some of my favorite phrases embroidered on them: Choose Joy, Choose Happy, Choose Kindness, and Choose Hope.
Through May 28, 2017, you can get these for just $15.95 + free shipping when you use coupon code MSMHATS at checkout. Just go here to order — and don’t forget to use the coupon code!
What I’m Reading & Watching
“How do you have an endless stream of post ideas?” A viewer asked this on my Periscope video on blogging.
It’s a question I get asked often. And one of my top strategies is to be an avid reader.
If you want to improve as a writer, if you want to constantly be challenging your mind, if you want to be a lifelong learner, if you want to stay inspired, make reading a priority.
Don’t just read business books!
Read biographies of successful people.
Read good stories.
Read life improvement books.
Read books that feed your overall health as a person and challenge you to constantly be growing.
I usually always have at least 2-5 books on my stack at all times and I try to make sure to get in at least 10-15 minutes if reading every single morning to start my day with good food for thought.
Right now, I'm reading: The Broken Way (a spiritually encouraging book), Hope Heals (a story-driven book), and DARE: The New Way to End Anxiety & Stop Panic Attacks.
This past week, I finished reading Power Through Prayer. I’d read it years ago and it was great to read it again and be reminded of the importance of prayer and how God uses prayer so powerfully.
{See my Reading Goals for 2017. Also, see the 41 books I've read so far in 2017 here.}
What I’m Laughing About
Jesse texted this to me this weekend. “Very hardy. Thrives on neglect.” Totally our kind of plants!! š
What I’m Learning
Yesterday, we had new friends over for dinner. It’s been a little while since we’ve had people we didn’t really know at all into our home and I found myself going back to that unhealthy place of wanting everything to be shiny clean.
I had made a list of cleaning chores we needed to accomplish and was sort of conducting the cleaning blitz like a drill sergeant. I was feeling a little stressed about getting everything done in time.
And then my daughter stopped me in my tracks with these words, “Mom, if we want them to get to know the real us, why are we working so hard to have everything perfect?” I could give reasons like, “Well, we want to be respectful of others and having a clean house shows respect.”
But the truth is: it was the unhealthy performer in me wanting to have everything just right but so I wouldn’t be embarrassed that I don’t have my act together.
I realize how often having a really clean house is a way I hide my imperfections. Like, if I can look like I have it altogether, maybe people won’t figure out what a hot mess I really am.
It’s silly, I know, but it’s true.
I decided to stop the cleaning madness right then and there and focus more on getting my heart ready to bless and welcome our new friends versus getting hung up on details that didn’t really matter.
When they got here, I was able to relax and just receive them with open arms — and even let them see parts of our home I didn’t get picked up (like our messy room and office!) without stressing about it.
True hospitality isn’t about throwing the perfect party; it’s about welcoming people into our real lives. It’s so much less stressful and a whole lot more fulfilling!
What I’m Feeling So Grateful For
Oh how I love these two girls! They bring so much fun and color and beauty and excitement and laughter into my life.
I love our deep conversations, our silly inside jokes, our shared love of so many things, and the fact that we are learning how to be really honest and authentic with one another in sharing our hearts and celebrating our differences.
Also, in the past two weeks, two different people have asked if my daughters and I were sisters!! I’m going to take that as a huge compliment and not feel incredibly emotional about the fact that my girls are growing up so much that people think we are close enough in age to be sisters!!
What I’m Pondering
My kids had their last day of school on Friday and I wrote a letter to them that I wanted to share here:
Dear Kathrynne, Kaitlynn, and Silas:
Tomorrow is your last day of school this year and I just want you to know how proud I am of each of you.
You trusted us to make a decision for you to go to a “real” school after having been homeschooled your whole life.
You were scared. You didn’t know if anyone was going to be your friend. You worried you might be the only new kid in your class.
But you showed up — and you kept showing up even on the days when you were nervous and uncertain.
You did things you never thought you could do. You learned new skills. You made new friends. You learned to get along with people who were different than you.
You stood up in front of 100+ people and gave speeches from memory. You worked so hard on your assignments and projects.
You pushed through when it was difficult. You were brave on those days when you felt lonely. You didn’t give up on those days when it felt overwhelming.
I just want you to know I am so proud of each of you. I’ve seen you grow and blossom each in your own way this past year… and my mama heart is so full and grateful for the opportunity to be on this journey with you.
I love each of you so much — and am so excited for the memories we get to make together this summer!
Love, Mom
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