Challenge One - Question 27

"What the single most important thing that you could do to improve your commute this year?"

I love my commute. During my morning commute, I talk to my mom every morning of my life. She and I check in with one another and it is a wonderful way to start my day.

During my mornings I can laugh my butt off, cry like a baby or just spend a few minutes complaining or rejoicing over something that is happening in my life. In my approximate 30 minutes of a drive each morning I get some "mommy time" with my mom! I get the pep talk I might need or the wise advice on a number of situations.

The most precious part of this time is that I get to find out what is happening with her and my Daddy. I get to know they are okay and be a part of their life.

As for my commute in the morning, I could not think of anything better to do with my time!

For the afternoon, I try to take care of any calls I need to make, appointments to be made, or petty/routine issues that I need to do. It is the few minutes I can handle business during "work hours" of a normal business.

Of all the things I want to improve, I am actually pretty happy with my commute. Plus, if all else fails I turn the music up, open my sunroof and sing like a crazy women! It is just what the doctor would order on some days!

Challenge ONE - Question 26

"To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount of time this year?"

The CWF (Christian Women's Fellowship) at our church. I love the ladies of NBCC and am excited to be a part of a group of ladies who are always there for one another.

Beth, Quit Stepping On My Toes!!!

I am a big fan, wait no a big follower, of Beth Moore (Yes, I have been listening in church on Sunday Mornings). I feel like her Bible Stuides are written just for me at times. Like after a deep conversation, she just went home and wrote a few chapters to encourage me.

Well, last night I all of a sudden felt like she was stepping on my toes!

At first, I was thinking she might have overheard a conversation I had with Kaleb regarding a few topics that he and I have discussed in the last few weeks. I am now pretty sure that she read my diary; because she was just too close to stepping all over my toes! Okay - I admit, this is likely not the case either because I have already heard her talk about the same things before.

I guess in this season of my life, I really was impacted more by this study on David than I was the previous time that I did it. I think the depth of where her words hit me were in places where I needed to stop and think about a few things.

Even though Beth highlighted a few things that I really did not want to deal with, I do appreciate her. I will be thankful that God uses her in a such a global way and allows her to personally connect with myself and so many others.

I will not even hold last night against her; but really Beth, please quit stepping on my toes!

Challenge One - Question 25

"What is the one skill you want to learn or improve this year?"

I want to pick back up quilting. I learned several years ago and then just stopped. I really want to finish my kids t-shirt quilts this year.

Challenge One - Questions 24

"What is the most important trip that you want to take this year?"

I don't have a specific trip in mind that is the most important. Actually, I am looking forward to the several mini-trips that we have planned for our family. Some weekend trips and a few longer. Just excited to get away with my family and enjoy life.

Challenge One - Question 23

"In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?"

I want to grow in my maturity with regards to people.

I have a REALLY hard time with being "WARM". When it comes to people, I either like or do not like a person. I can't seem to find the middle ground of just letting them be.

Why?

I guess I just feel like I don't want to fake it. I either want to go 100% in a relationship or just forget the relationship (and person) all together. I don't want to waste any moment of my life getting to know someone or understanding them to see if the friendship (or basic relationship of any kind) can be turned into something. (Not very Christian, I know)

It is not fair of me and I am sure that I have missed the blessings of a relationship because of it many times. I also could have saved myself some disppointment by backing off from a friend that I chose to go 100% for at the wrong time.

So, I am hoping this year as I evaluate the relationships in my life I can have more maturity about the situations I have with people. I can understand that while someone (personal, family, business or even a checker at the grocery store) may not be a fixture in my life - they are a part of it. If just one minute, one hour, one week or forever - I want to learn to accept their existence and embrace the value that it brings.

Maggie Says....

Have you ever missed a turn while using your GPS and immediately heard the voice say "U-Turn at the next left" or maybe it automatically re-routes you to a whole new path because a quick turn around is not available? It is a comfortable feeling having the direction of someone telling you how to get there. To me, it is even more valuable to have "Maggie" (what we call our GPS) tell me if I can make a quick correction or if changing paths is what is the best.

I wish life had a "Maggie" to tell me directions. There are so many times when I just don't know where to go and even more times when I want to know if it is time to "re-direct" myself. I would love to save myself a few u-turns, miss a couple of road bumps and avoid the "delays" all together.

Just this morning, I asked God to give me direction about a few things. I want a clear path with regards to a couple decisions in my life.

It was within minutes that I received 2 e-mails, 1 skype conversation and 1 phone call that I felt was directing me along my path. In that 30 minutes I learned:

- I might be heading down a path that is leading to a dead end.
- There is a exit right ahead, if I decide to take the turn.
- There is rest stop, if I need it right ahead.
- A comforting voice telling me my "delays" are only that ....short delays.

I was comforted to know that even though I might not always hear a "Maggie" in the background of my daily ride, I do have a navigator that knows all. Thank you God.

Now, I am just hoping to find the volume button on my God navigation system so that I don't miss any turns!