READY8 “Being healthy is just letting life GROW through your garbage.” ~ Carl A. Hammerschlaq
AIM8 “Wow! This is garbage!” That is my family’s favorite quote these days. It’s from the movie Despicable Me and we use it when things aren’t they way we like them or simply to be silly about something we don’t agree with. It’s been a fun phrase to adapt and helps us keep a light-hearted attitude about life when it’s less than perfect.
When we take a step back and look at our lives, we are being fed garbage all day long. There are trashy shows on TV, internet sites and smart phone apps that waste our time, not to mention the stress and pressures we’re surrounded by that just pile up like mountains of landfill in our souls. Ahhhh, sometimes even though we see the trash piling up, we can’t seem to find a bag big enough to hold it all.
Needless to say, I came across an inspiring message forwarded from a friend awhile back and thought it was quite appropriate for today’s thoughts.
The Law of the Garbage Truck
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and
missed the other car just by inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy ~ I mean he was really friendly.
So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run all around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointments. As the garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, resentments, anger, and frustration; so...........
Love the people who treat you right, Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it.
Truer words couldn’t have been spoken. Have a garbage-free day!
FIRE!8 Happily wave at someone while you’re driving today, especially if he cuts you off or if she takes your parking space! It will make you smile and the other person will either wave back or it will make him wonder what you’re up to!
Be Excellent!
Lori
March 22, 2011
March 15, 2011
A Dose of Perspective
READY8 “Wisdom has the power to enrich our lives. It can change our hearts, our perspective, and our attitude toward things, toward life and toward others.” ~ Sasha Azevedo
AIM8 We are surrounded by so many changes in our world. Every day there is a new opportunity to gain perspective about life. Lately, I’ve heard people commenting and complaining about the price of gasoline. I must admit, I don’t like paying that much at the pump either! However, I received an email from a friend last week that puts our gas prices in perspective. Check it out…
Think a gallon of gas is expensive? All these examples do NOT imply that gasoline is cheap, but take a look at these comparisons:
Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ….. $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ..... $10.17 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .........$84.48 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ....... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ….. $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 …. $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ........ $25.42 per gallon
And this is the REAL KICKER...
Evian water 9 oz $1.49…...$21.19 per gallon! $21.19 for WATER and the buyers don't even know the source! (By the way, Evian spelled backwards is Naive. Coincidence? I think not!)
Ever wonder why printers are so cheap? So they can have you hooked for the ink purchases. Someone calculated the cost of the ink at...(you won't believe it...but it is true...) $5,200 per gallon!!
So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, Whiteout, Pepto Bismol, Nyquil or, heaven forbid, printer ink!
FIRE!8 Make your negative perspective positive this week! Instead of complaining about something, look for the positive instead. For example, be thankful you have a car to drive and a job that pays well enough for you to afford food, a home, clothes AND gasoline. Just look around you and you’ll realize life isn’t so bad after all.
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 We are surrounded by so many changes in our world. Every day there is a new opportunity to gain perspective about life. Lately, I’ve heard people commenting and complaining about the price of gasoline. I must admit, I don’t like paying that much at the pump either! However, I received an email from a friend last week that puts our gas prices in perspective. Check it out…
Think a gallon of gas is expensive? All these examples do NOT imply that gasoline is cheap, but take a look at these comparisons:
Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ….. $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ..... $10.17 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .........$84.48 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ....... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 ….. $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 …. $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ........ $25.42 per gallon
And this is the REAL KICKER...
Evian water 9 oz $1.49…...$21.19 per gallon! $21.19 for WATER and the buyers don't even know the source! (By the way, Evian spelled backwards is Naive. Coincidence? I think not!)
Ever wonder why printers are so cheap? So they can have you hooked for the ink purchases. Someone calculated the cost of the ink at...(you won't believe it...but it is true...) $5,200 per gallon!!
So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, Whiteout, Pepto Bismol, Nyquil or, heaven forbid, printer ink!
FIRE!8 Make your negative perspective positive this week! Instead of complaining about something, look for the positive instead. For example, be thankful you have a car to drive and a job that pays well enough for you to afford food, a home, clothes AND gasoline. Just look around you and you’ll realize life isn’t so bad after all.
Be Excellent!
Lori
March 8, 2011
Fat Tuesday Every Day?
READY8 “My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.” ~ Errol Flynn
AIM8 Today is Fat Tuesday, the momentous day when people indulge because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the Lenten season when Catholics, and other religious folks practice fasting and the act of confession and typically give up something in respect for the forty days prior to Easter.
Most people look forward to Fat Tuesday as a day of partying, feasting and merriment in excess of their normal routines. However, if you take a hard look at our culture, it would seem that we were celebrating Fat Tuesday every day of the year. Most Americans overeat, drink a little too much and definitely spend beyond their means. Some forget that what we do today has consequences on our tomorrows. We give in to all our heart’s desires simply because we can. The availability of credit cards, loans and paycheck advances make it all too easy to give in and lack self-control and discipline with our spending habits.
I am the first one to say I am guilty of being undisciplined in various areas of my life. However, as we complain and get irritated about the rising gas prices, cost of groceries and additional expenses in our lives, we should honestly be thankful for the opportunity to re-evaluate. What? I know, you probably think I’m crazy for even saying that! Friends, it’s really time for everyone to stop living as if every day is Fat Tuesday. Living every day in excess only leaves us waking up each morning with a horrible reality hangover plagued with debts, poor decisions and eventual destruction. Right now, with the economical changes, we are being forced to wake up and rethink our financial disciplines and lifestyle choices. Let’s make a pact to start tomorrow by exercising self-restraint, responsible spending and mature actions and choices. None of us need to go through life feeling eternally punished because of all of our frivolous Fat Tuesday choices. We can enjoy a life of freedom and joy when we are no longer slaves to our debt, exhausted from stress and poor eating or too much partying.
All things in moderation, right? Why be fat and miserable any longer? Let’s be free together!
FIRE!8 Let’s commit together, for the next 40 days to make ONE financial change in our lives. Maybe you will agree to give up your gourmet coffee, your fast food cheeseburger or the automatic car wash. In return, put that money in a jar, a box or an envelope for each time you would have spent it. At the end of the 40 days, rejoice and celebrate your extra savings and then pay off a bill or do something fun for yourself or your family!
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 Today is Fat Tuesday, the momentous day when people indulge because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the Lenten season when Catholics, and other religious folks practice fasting and the act of confession and typically give up something in respect for the forty days prior to Easter.
Most people look forward to Fat Tuesday as a day of partying, feasting and merriment in excess of their normal routines. However, if you take a hard look at our culture, it would seem that we were celebrating Fat Tuesday every day of the year. Most Americans overeat, drink a little too much and definitely spend beyond their means. Some forget that what we do today has consequences on our tomorrows. We give in to all our heart’s desires simply because we can. The availability of credit cards, loans and paycheck advances make it all too easy to give in and lack self-control and discipline with our spending habits.
I am the first one to say I am guilty of being undisciplined in various areas of my life. However, as we complain and get irritated about the rising gas prices, cost of groceries and additional expenses in our lives, we should honestly be thankful for the opportunity to re-evaluate. What? I know, you probably think I’m crazy for even saying that! Friends, it’s really time for everyone to stop living as if every day is Fat Tuesday. Living every day in excess only leaves us waking up each morning with a horrible reality hangover plagued with debts, poor decisions and eventual destruction. Right now, with the economical changes, we are being forced to wake up and rethink our financial disciplines and lifestyle choices. Let’s make a pact to start tomorrow by exercising self-restraint, responsible spending and mature actions and choices. None of us need to go through life feeling eternally punished because of all of our frivolous Fat Tuesday choices. We can enjoy a life of freedom and joy when we are no longer slaves to our debt, exhausted from stress and poor eating or too much partying.
All things in moderation, right? Why be fat and miserable any longer? Let’s be free together!
FIRE!8 Let’s commit together, for the next 40 days to make ONE financial change in our lives. Maybe you will agree to give up your gourmet coffee, your fast food cheeseburger or the automatic car wash. In return, put that money in a jar, a box or an envelope for each time you would have spent it. At the end of the 40 days, rejoice and celebrate your extra savings and then pay off a bill or do something fun for yourself or your family!
Be Excellent!
Lori
March 1, 2011
Days Like This
READY8 “Mama said there’ll be days like this. ‘There’ll be days like this,’ my mama said.” ~ The Shirelles
AIM8 Mama said there’ll be days like this, for sure! A few weeks ago, I saw a lady eating a fudgesicle in her mini-van while still in the parking lot of the grocery store. You know it’s been one of those days when you have to break into the frozen chocolate before you even turn the car on! It was probably a good decision on her part, so no one at home would get hurt. What do you do when you’re having one of those days your mama told you about?
While we may not be responsible for the situation that put us in a bad mood or stressed us out, we ARE responsible for our actions and reactions to those circumstances. Surely you’ve encountered someone who has acted out of line regardless of whether he was wronged or not. Ideally, even if we are wounded emotionally, mentally or physically, our integrity is being observed in the way we handle ourselves when the going gets tough. When at all possible, take a deep breath, assess the situation and find the best solution to deal with it. Sometimes the best solution is to walk away and come back if necessary. And if it’s really tough…eat a fudgesicle first, and then try again.
FIRE!8 Make a promise with yourself that the next time you’re in the middle of a difficult situation that you will react with calm kindness instead of angry disrespect. You will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome on both sides of the coin. (And no fudgesicles necessary!)
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 Mama said there’ll be days like this, for sure! A few weeks ago, I saw a lady eating a fudgesicle in her mini-van while still in the parking lot of the grocery store. You know it’s been one of those days when you have to break into the frozen chocolate before you even turn the car on! It was probably a good decision on her part, so no one at home would get hurt. What do you do when you’re having one of those days your mama told you about?
While we may not be responsible for the situation that put us in a bad mood or stressed us out, we ARE responsible for our actions and reactions to those circumstances. Surely you’ve encountered someone who has acted out of line regardless of whether he was wronged or not. Ideally, even if we are wounded emotionally, mentally or physically, our integrity is being observed in the way we handle ourselves when the going gets tough. When at all possible, take a deep breath, assess the situation and find the best solution to deal with it. Sometimes the best solution is to walk away and come back if necessary. And if it’s really tough…eat a fudgesicle first, and then try again.
FIRE!8 Make a promise with yourself that the next time you’re in the middle of a difficult situation that you will react with calm kindness instead of angry disrespect. You will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome on both sides of the coin. (And no fudgesicles necessary!)
Be Excellent!
Lori
February 23, 2011
Just Go With The Flow
READY8 “I've just sort of gone with the flow and I ended up here. Crazy. I'm not going to start planning anything, my life is way better than anybody could have planned it.” ~ Rachael Ray
AIM8 So I’m a day and a half late with my message because Mother Nature threw me a curve ball on Monday. My children had President’s Day off from school and so we decided to drive about two hours north to visit my mother who had surgery last week. We arrived just after lunch and it began snowing as we walked into the house. I kept watching the snow out of the window and fidgeting because it was getting heavier and wasn’t letting up. We didn’t anticipate snow when we decided to visit, nor did the weatherman tell me that I would need to be concerned about the driving conditions. Well, the snow didn’t stop for the next nine hours and my parents ended up getting around ten inches of snow! Needless to say, driving home was out of the question. Our normal two hour drive would not only be treacherous, but would certainly take double or triple the amount of time to arrive home. So the kids and I decided to be safe and stay the night; we would wait out the snow storm until morning. Thankfully, my children had a teacher in-service day scheduled for Tuesday so getting home for school wasn’t a pressing issue.
Once the decision to stay was official, we proceeded to take a deep breath, relax and make the most of our visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Our curve ball allowed us to embrace some quality time with our family. We enjoyed a home-cooked lasagna dinner together at the dinner table. We watched an action-packed movie together. We played a hilarious family game. We just enjoyed spending time in each other’s presence. Yes, we didn’t have our toothbrushes or pajamas; however, I am thankful to have resourceful parents who shared all their amenities, their clothes, their food and even their medicine for my kids.
When life doesn’t go as planned, what do you do? Do you embrace the moment and go with the flow or do you whine and complain about your change in plans? We may not always understand why things happen, but we can choose to make the most of a crazy situation. You will most often find that when you look back on those circumstances, if you go with the flow, you’ll recall those situations with a smile and not with regrets.
By the way, we made it home safely. We didn’t have any road condition issues on Tuesday and we all felt fully loved by our family.
FIRE!8 Embrace the moment! Whatever happens today, pause, take a deep breath and just let yourself go with the flow. You’ll be less stressed and perhaps, you may even have a positive experience to smile about!
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 So I’m a day and a half late with my message because Mother Nature threw me a curve ball on Monday. My children had President’s Day off from school and so we decided to drive about two hours north to visit my mother who had surgery last week. We arrived just after lunch and it began snowing as we walked into the house. I kept watching the snow out of the window and fidgeting because it was getting heavier and wasn’t letting up. We didn’t anticipate snow when we decided to visit, nor did the weatherman tell me that I would need to be concerned about the driving conditions. Well, the snow didn’t stop for the next nine hours and my parents ended up getting around ten inches of snow! Needless to say, driving home was out of the question. Our normal two hour drive would not only be treacherous, but would certainly take double or triple the amount of time to arrive home. So the kids and I decided to be safe and stay the night; we would wait out the snow storm until morning. Thankfully, my children had a teacher in-service day scheduled for Tuesday so getting home for school wasn’t a pressing issue.
Once the decision to stay was official, we proceeded to take a deep breath, relax and make the most of our visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Our curve ball allowed us to embrace some quality time with our family. We enjoyed a home-cooked lasagna dinner together at the dinner table. We watched an action-packed movie together. We played a hilarious family game. We just enjoyed spending time in each other’s presence. Yes, we didn’t have our toothbrushes or pajamas; however, I am thankful to have resourceful parents who shared all their amenities, their clothes, their food and even their medicine for my kids.
When life doesn’t go as planned, what do you do? Do you embrace the moment and go with the flow or do you whine and complain about your change in plans? We may not always understand why things happen, but we can choose to make the most of a crazy situation. You will most often find that when you look back on those circumstances, if you go with the flow, you’ll recall those situations with a smile and not with regrets.
By the way, we made it home safely. We didn’t have any road condition issues on Tuesday and we all felt fully loved by our family.
FIRE!8 Embrace the moment! Whatever happens today, pause, take a deep breath and just let yourself go with the flow. You’ll be less stressed and perhaps, you may even have a positive experience to smile about!
Be Excellent!
Lori
February 15, 2011
You Better Work!
READY8 “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” ~ Mignon McLaughlin
AIM8 I have a confession to make. I am a hopeless romantic! I swoon over a good love story and just knew, without a doubt, that my fairy tale marriage was going to come true and I’d always have the happily-ever-after I always dreamed about. Shamelessly, this hopeless romantic got married on Valentine’s Day and can truthfully say that I am living in the middle of my happily-ever-after story right now and am looking forward to what the next page in my novel looks like. But my fairy tale story didn’t come without its evil villains and triumphs over troubles. I guess that’s why marriage is really a four letter word: W-O-R-K!
Wake up, friends! Yes, I said that marriage requires work! The studies on the divorce rate in America say that approximately 40% to 50% of all marriages end in divorce. This statistic means that out of every two marriages, one will not survive. Staggering reality isn’t it? Most of us have either been divorced, know someone who is divorced or have been affected by the divorce of friends or family. While divorce is a sad reality of life, God is a God of healing and restoration and only He can make a wrong situation right again. I am living proof of the God-given rewards for my faithfulness after a failed first marriage. Fortunately, I can honestly say, I learned a lot from that experience and am now reaping the benefits of a successful second marriage.
There is, however, HOPE for our hurting world!! Start today and make time to evaluate the current status of your relationship. Are you feeling loved? Do you praise and admire your loved one? Have you discussed your purpose or life-long dreams together? Is your relationship a safe place where you feel comforted and secure? If you answered no to any of those questions, it’s time for an intervention. Perhaps you and your spouse need to have a date night or a weekend away to reconnect and rediscover what made you fall in love with each other in the first place. If you feel you’re in a situation where things seem too far gone, throw away your selfish pride and ask for help. Getting a neutral party or professional involved can assist you both with weeding through the emotions and identifying the areas that need attention. You promised to have and to hold, for better and for worse, and you OWE it to yourselves to roll up your sleeves and W-O-R-K to make sure you give your marriage the priority it deserves. You are worth it. Your spouse is worth it. Besides, your happily-ever-after depends on it!
FIRE!8 Place random post-it notes in your spouse’s wallet or purse, in his car or on her make-up case that say “I love you.” Send a text or email in the middle of the day saying that you are thinking about him or her. Both of those simple challenges are guaranteed to start the sparks flying that will ignite your love flame again.
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 I have a confession to make. I am a hopeless romantic! I swoon over a good love story and just knew, without a doubt, that my fairy tale marriage was going to come true and I’d always have the happily-ever-after I always dreamed about. Shamelessly, this hopeless romantic got married on Valentine’s Day and can truthfully say that I am living in the middle of my happily-ever-after story right now and am looking forward to what the next page in my novel looks like. But my fairy tale story didn’t come without its evil villains and triumphs over troubles. I guess that’s why marriage is really a four letter word: W-O-R-K!
Wake up, friends! Yes, I said that marriage requires work! The studies on the divorce rate in America say that approximately 40% to 50% of all marriages end in divorce. This statistic means that out of every two marriages, one will not survive. Staggering reality isn’t it? Most of us have either been divorced, know someone who is divorced or have been affected by the divorce of friends or family. While divorce is a sad reality of life, God is a God of healing and restoration and only He can make a wrong situation right again. I am living proof of the God-given rewards for my faithfulness after a failed first marriage. Fortunately, I can honestly say, I learned a lot from that experience and am now reaping the benefits of a successful second marriage.
There is, however, HOPE for our hurting world!! Start today and make time to evaluate the current status of your relationship. Are you feeling loved? Do you praise and admire your loved one? Have you discussed your purpose or life-long dreams together? Is your relationship a safe place where you feel comforted and secure? If you answered no to any of those questions, it’s time for an intervention. Perhaps you and your spouse need to have a date night or a weekend away to reconnect and rediscover what made you fall in love with each other in the first place. If you feel you’re in a situation where things seem too far gone, throw away your selfish pride and ask for help. Getting a neutral party or professional involved can assist you both with weeding through the emotions and identifying the areas that need attention. You promised to have and to hold, for better and for worse, and you OWE it to yourselves to roll up your sleeves and W-O-R-K to make sure you give your marriage the priority it deserves. You are worth it. Your spouse is worth it. Besides, your happily-ever-after depends on it!
FIRE!8 Place random post-it notes in your spouse’s wallet or purse, in his car or on her make-up case that say “I love you.” Send a text or email in the middle of the day saying that you are thinking about him or her. Both of those simple challenges are guaranteed to start the sparks flying that will ignite your love flame again.
Be Excellent!
Lori
February 9, 2011
Catch The Little Foxes
READY8 “Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!” ~ Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT
AIM8 Love is so blissful…when the planets are aligned and life is balanced and normal! However, in this day and age, what’s normal and when is life completely balanced? Our marriages are attacked daily by the “little foxes” that seek to steal the joy and energy from our relationships. Foxes actually ruin vineyards by sneaking in under the cover of darkness, digging holes to expose the roots, biting and gnawing on the branches and eating the ripe grapes from the vines. Stress, excessive work, busy schedules, children, family, friends and other obligations sneak into our lives and ruin our precious time together. If we want to have successful, loving and thriving marriages, we have to recognize the “little foxes” in our lives that are seeking to ruin our vineyards of love.
Take a few moments to think about how much time you and your spouse are actually spending together. Do you take time to be together every day? (Watching TV together doesn’t count!) Do you take time to talk about your day? Do you have an activity or a hobby you participate in together? Do you eat dinner together? Perhaps you’re like two ships passing in the night on the way from one child’s event to another or from one job to another. Regardless of your circumstances, I’m sure you can pinpoint at least ONE little fox that is stealing your energy and preventing you from having a marvelous marriage. Do not fret, friends, there is hope! Even if you realized that you have LOTS of little foxes invading your relationship, you too can take control of those pesky varmints!
Start today by choosing to simplify your commitments. Freeing up your personal appointment books will allow you to schedule time to spend with your spouse. Be sure to limit your child’s extra-curricular activities too. They are KIDS after all and have their whole lives to be busy. Let them enjoy a low-key lifestyle. This will free up more time to spend with your spouse. Punch out when it’s quitting time at work. Guess what? That same work will be on your desk for you to address tomorrow.
Are you starting to see a pattern building? Your spouse needs you and you need your spouse. Be desperate about wanting to connect with him. Be intentional about making time to be with her. God intended marriage to last forever and if you WANT to make it work and make it last, you’ll start today to kick the “foxes” out of your vineyard. ‘Til death do you part? May your words and actions be the missions of your heart, dear lovers.
FIRE!8 Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to demonstrate your love to your spouse. Plan a date night this weekend and then get serious about ridding your marriage of the foxes. Even if you only concentrate on one fox now, you will reap the rewards of the additional time spent with your forever love. (And oh, the benefits that will follow!!)
Be Excellent!
Lori
AIM8 Love is so blissful…when the planets are aligned and life is balanced and normal! However, in this day and age, what’s normal and when is life completely balanced? Our marriages are attacked daily by the “little foxes” that seek to steal the joy and energy from our relationships. Foxes actually ruin vineyards by sneaking in under the cover of darkness, digging holes to expose the roots, biting and gnawing on the branches and eating the ripe grapes from the vines. Stress, excessive work, busy schedules, children, family, friends and other obligations sneak into our lives and ruin our precious time together. If we want to have successful, loving and thriving marriages, we have to recognize the “little foxes” in our lives that are seeking to ruin our vineyards of love.
Take a few moments to think about how much time you and your spouse are actually spending together. Do you take time to be together every day? (Watching TV together doesn’t count!) Do you take time to talk about your day? Do you have an activity or a hobby you participate in together? Do you eat dinner together? Perhaps you’re like two ships passing in the night on the way from one child’s event to another or from one job to another. Regardless of your circumstances, I’m sure you can pinpoint at least ONE little fox that is stealing your energy and preventing you from having a marvelous marriage. Do not fret, friends, there is hope! Even if you realized that you have LOTS of little foxes invading your relationship, you too can take control of those pesky varmints!
Start today by choosing to simplify your commitments. Freeing up your personal appointment books will allow you to schedule time to spend with your spouse. Be sure to limit your child’s extra-curricular activities too. They are KIDS after all and have their whole lives to be busy. Let them enjoy a low-key lifestyle. This will free up more time to spend with your spouse. Punch out when it’s quitting time at work. Guess what? That same work will be on your desk for you to address tomorrow.
Are you starting to see a pattern building? Your spouse needs you and you need your spouse. Be desperate about wanting to connect with him. Be intentional about making time to be with her. God intended marriage to last forever and if you WANT to make it work and make it last, you’ll start today to kick the “foxes” out of your vineyard. ‘Til death do you part? May your words and actions be the missions of your heart, dear lovers.
FIRE!8 Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to demonstrate your love to your spouse. Plan a date night this weekend and then get serious about ridding your marriage of the foxes. Even if you only concentrate on one fox now, you will reap the rewards of the additional time spent with your forever love. (And oh, the benefits that will follow!!)
Be Excellent!
Lori
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