Planning is Key!

In my seven years as a classroom teacher, I knew that planning was key.  Very rarely (especially in the beginning) could I just come in on Monday morning without knowing what was ahead of me.  The same applies for things at home, which is why I've been spending the past few days planning ahead for 2015.

I've been planning in several areas (more detailed posts will follow for the next few days)
1. A daily routine that includes quiet time for myself and the boys, housework and preschool time
2. A menu and workout routine following the 21-Day Fix
3. Personal, marriage, family and financial goals for 2015

Pursuing Greatness

So it's been quite a while since I've blogged.  Okay, let's be honest, I only had two entries- ha!  But I've been busy.  Haven't we all?  Who knew when I blogged last that the remainder of 2014 would be filled with a new house, a new job, a broken leg, leaving that new job and again settling in as a stay-at-home-mommy!

2015 is going to be a year of Pursuing Greatness...

1. I will pursue greatness with God.  He is always good and always with me- I need to rely on and turn to Him more.  I will finish reading through the Bible and will start a daily devotional time with the boys.

2. I will pursue greatness in my marriage.  We've definitely had our fair share of ups and downs in our 5.5 years of marriage and I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

3. I will pursue greatness as a mom.  The boys are my world and I am dedicated to making their days awesome and raising them to have strong Christian hearts.  This includes taking on the role of teacher-mommy as we start our homeschool preschool in January.

4. I will pursue greatness with my health.  I've done the weight loss thing and won.  126 pounds gone, but I've started to slide back into old habits.  2015 will be a year of intentional workouts so I can become a faster runner and since you can't out-train a bad diet, it will be a year of MUCH cleaner eating.  I'm excited to try out new recipes and bring back the family dinner!

Pure Joy

The joy in the eyes of children is remarkable... No worries or stresses from the day. This smile is why I will stop rushing next year. I don't want to miss any of it! 

Stopping the Rush

Does this hit you between the eyes?  It did me as I began to think about the last couple years of my life.  

I rush my boys to preschool by 7am.

I rush through lessons and meetings.

I rush through lesson planning and grading. 

I rush to pick the boys up by 5.

I rush through workouts.

I rush through dinner.

I rush through bedtime.

I'm rushing through life and am realizing that in all the rushing, I'm not doing anything worthwhile.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm doing everything wrong, but I'm not being great at anything.  Let me break it down...  To be worthwhile in the classroom, I rush through my time at home.  And to be worthwhile at home, I rush through all the things needed to make my classroom run.  

God has called me to slow down and stop rushing.  He's called me to focus my time where it's important, which is at home, with my boys.  So that's why, at the end of this school year, I am leaving the classroom and staying home.