Can You LENT Me a Hand?

I always forget about Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras until it is right up on me, like the day of. There is always cake and candy and colors everywhere, but what really gets me is the complete desire I get to have a drink! I don’t know what it is about Mardi Gras, but as soon as I realize what day it is, I want to start celebrating! I want to drink odd drinks out of oversized cups, wear colors that only match on that one particular day and eat flavored marshmallows, which may I add I will not even do on Easter with the peeps…..sick.

Forgetting Mardi Gras also brings with it the fact I have not thought about Lent. I was raised Episcopal and we always give something up for Lent. Now I know I have given up all the typical things like soft drinks, candy, fast food, etc. I remember one year mom really regretted ever teaching me the value of what you give up for Lent. She taught me it was to be something really hard to give up and every time you want to give in you need to pray about it. Well, one year I gave up meat and I think mom was doing more praying than I was. I was in high school so mom had to make all of our meals for 40 days (or however long it is) without meat. Actually, I think it was Dad who was the angry one. We never really talked about Lent after that.

Now that I am grown, I have noticed I may give something up for Lent but I end up picking it back up once Easter arrives. If I am going to make a change, I am going to make a change. I don’t want to change my lifestyle for the better for a temporary moment. If it’s a good change, why not let it stick? So, I started to give up things that would enhance my character. Last year I gave up complaining. I will say it was pretty hard and I didn’t do so hot. So, I decided to make that a life long goal and I am still working on that one. I am by no means claiming I am good at that goal, but it’s a goal.

So, this year I have decided to make another life change. It seems I am really in to life changes lately, so why not some more!!!? For Lent this year I am going to give up feeling sorry for myself, break down the limitations I have placed on myself and make the life I want and need a reality. Easier said than done, yes I know. But if I’m not going to do this, who will?

More

So this is why I haven't blogged in a while. Oh, and I got a job. :)

Here is a quick update on life. Within two weeks three beautiful babies were born, Cowdery Kent Merrill, IV, Elizabeth Jane Shaw and Avery Ann Williford. Everyone is healthy and happy and the mothers are stronger and more amazing than I think I have the capacity to become. I interviewed with Sutton & Associates here in Montgomery in the middle of all of these births and was hired within an hour!!! I am now the Program Manager for S&A, which is an incentive travel company with Alabama World Travel here in Montgomery. My life went from slow and boring to fast paced and each minute filled to the rim.

I have learned a lot about myself during these past three months and even just spending time with Avery. The places I have lived, the jobs I have done, the friends I have made, have all been more than fulfilling for me. I have loved each and every aspect of my life (and still do), even the ones that make me cry. I just can't seem to stop wanting more. I keep trying to tell myself to slow down and enjoy what is right here, but I get so excited about the next step or something completely new. It doesn't matter if it's wanting seconds at dinner, wanting to move to a new town, or anxiously awaiting Avery's toddler, adolescent and adult years. I just ache for more!!!

So, I am going to allow Avery and living in Montgomery to slow me down. My eyes are open to the things around me, they just need to focus a little more on these things.

Thank you for patiently awaiting a blog from me! I know it has been too long and I promise not to do that again.

Recession Reality

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I love clicking on Kat’s blog every day, because there is always a new bible verse. Some I read in the rush of the day and realize later on that I did not hear them, but some are just what I need to hear even if I do not know it. When I first read this I breezed through it like another mindless step in my daily routine, but something caught me and I re-read it. I just felt like I could breathe once I heard what it was saying. This verse from Romans is exactly how I have been feeling over the past few months.

Ever since being laid off and having my eyes opened to the hardships of our Recession, I have battled the difference between my dreams and what others define as reality. I have mentioned in previous blog postings that I have a variety of dreams as well as ever changing dreams. Every day I am faced with the challenge of either holding on to them or letting go. I have seen what life is like when you let go, and I do not want that, any of it.

Reading this verse helped me understand that you can still dream in an economy today. As a matter of fact, I believe if we all keep a firm grasp on our dreams, we may see some good prevail.

I have been very fortunate to have a supportive family. I know there are many other people who may not have the support or abilities I do, but on the other hand there are plenty of people who have many more opportunities and abilities than I do to help them obtain their wants and needs. I just cannot focus on what other people have, because then I lose sight on what I have - on what I can do for myself.

I may not be able to become everything I want to be when I grow up, but I sure am going to head that way. Focusing on my satisfaction and fulfillment in every day life is really what I am going for. The funny thing is…I am not really sure what that is. I guess I will find out.

Learn something new every day.
(Thank you for drilling that in my head, Mom. You are definitely on to something here.)