STAND FIRM

Stand firm. It's not about what's next this season. New doors, new experiences, new people and a new self may come, but I am not seeking new and I am not seeking more. I'm keeping two feet firmly planted on the ground and standing firm - ready, waiting, and prepared. The ground may be hard, but I'm digging deep with dirt covered boots, grit between my finger tips and my hair blowing in the wind. 

This season is mastering what has already been given. I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a business owner and an artist with other roles occasionally thrown in. That's plenty. More is not what my soul needs or seeks. It's just learning how to grow taller from what has already been planted.

Patient, steadfast, strong, reliable - these are adjectives that I want people to say when they describe me, but often I am described as go-getter, strategic, goal-oriented. Those latter adjectives have one thing in common - they are always moving forward. But, I am tired of moving right now, and God knows it. So, for now, I am called to stay firmly planted, and to become a master will be more of a challenge for me than anything I have ever done.

These past couple of days I have been contemplating the commonly quoted passage of Ecclesiastes 3:

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

The past three years have been a season of being uprooted, mourning, throwing away, and tearing down. But now I'm being ushered into a season of planting, building back up, gathering, searching, keeping and mending. What season are you in right now? Do any of these phrases speak to you? I'd love to hear, and I would love to hear your word or phrase for the year too. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

Health & Fitness Goals for 2015

This post is sponsored by Mountainside Fitness.

I know I might be jumping the gun by talking about my New Year's resolutions before Christmas has even happened, but I'm a planner. I just can't help myself. Not to mention, I'm kind of anxious to kiss 2014 good-bye and start fresh. There are many things to be thankful for this year, but emotionally, 2014 has been a hard one for me. So, here are 5 things I'm looking forward to doing in the next year to help my body.

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1| Drink 3 glasses of water a day, every day. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but I hardly drink any liquids that aren't coffee. I'm dehydrated and I live in the desert. This can't be good for my skin or my body, so I'd like to change that by starting with an attainable and manageable goal of 3 tall glasses of water a day.

2| Run a 5K with my husband. Running a 5K is one of my husband's goals, and so I've made it one of mine as well. I'd love to accomplish such a big goal together.

3| Try TRX classes. I've been really interested in TRX training, and I would love to try out a class. I think it's going to be my new favorite workout style.

4| Try a spin class. I haven't tried a spin classes either. I'm intimidated by them, actually, but it's time to get over that fear.

5| Start using anti-aging products morning and night. All I do for my skin right now is wash it with soap and apply SPF in the morning. I'm starting to notice some deep wrinkles, and it's time to do something about it now.

Photos by Sarah Gray Portraits