MHR Inspiration #13

Well, it's Thursday again, and it has been a GREAT week, oh my word! I have so much to tell you all, and so much to say! Has anyone been watching American Idol? I loved the wild card show tonite!!! Sooooooooo glad that a certain Puerto Rican will NOT be joining us in the top twelve, can I get an amen?

Yesterday I got my hair chopped off, and I LOVE IT!!!! I'll be posting pics later, promise :) - I also promise that I will not always be a terrible blogger!!! I will get back on the horse at some point in our lives, lol! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found this week's article by accident, but it's one that I am going to print out and keep in my Bible! It's that wonderful!

Marriage Martyr
by Renata Waldrop
I don't know about the rest of you, but this one really spoke to me this week! I hope it's helpful for you, too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prompt/Theme for Friday, March 6, 2009

One of the searches I used when looking for articles this week was "What makes a happy marriage?" For your MHR post this week, answer this question. This is going to vary for every couple, and it's going to be the same for every couple in lot of ways. So, if you can, please share with us what makes your marriage happy marriage - specifically, and any "universal" secrets that you have learned along the way! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Challenge:

Let's be honest, there are parts of all of our marriages that are not as great as they could be. Our challenge for this week is to take ownership of what we contribute to the negative aspects of our relationships. Nothing we do can ever force our spouses to change - nothing - change can only happen by the grace of God, and in his timing. The only aspect that I have the power to change is the way that I respond to my husband, and the choices I make in regard to my responsibilities as a wife. :)

Thanks for reading everybody, have a fantastic evening!

MHR Inspiration #11

Hello and happy Thursday everyone!!! Where do these weeks go? I cannot believe that it is already Thursday again! I promise that my blog will not always be a simply Thursday/Friday MHR event! I will at some point begin my regularly scheduled programming and visiting around at everyone else's blogs, too! Sorry that I've been such a slacker lately!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoy researching and finding different articles and challenges for us every week, but if any of you have found a great resource that I've missed, please shoot me an e-mail to let me know! (katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com) I love finding new sites and blogs and ministries that focus on our marriages.

Speaking of Focus on Marriage, has anyone registered, or is anyone thinking about attending one of thes simulcasts? It looks SOOOOOOOOO great! The date is Saturday, February 28th, so there's still more than a week to find a location near you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This week I started out with more than a dozen articles that I really liked, and I was able to narrow it down to three. They are all phenomenal, so if you have time, please check them out, or bookmark them to read later! :)

Loaded Question
by Eva Marie Everson

How to Have a Happy Husband
by Lindsey Meier

Respect Your Husband (Even If You Don't Think He "Deserves" It)
by Nancy C. Anderson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prompt/Theme for Friday, February 20, 2009

Share your favorite "married moment" from the past couple of weeks. Anything that was special, made you smile, or made you feel all "warm and fuzzy" :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHALLENGES
1. Ask your hubby the "loaded question" from the first article, and dilligently follow through on his request.

2. Implement the "VIP" system from the third article in the way you relate to your spouse.

3. Pick one piece of advice from the "How to Have a Happy Husband" article to focus on improving in yourself.

Thanks for reading everybody! Hope you have a phenomenal day, can't wait to read all about your rocking hubbies tomorrow!!!

A new version of New Year's resolutions . . .

I had seen the 101 in 1001 challenge on a couple of other blogs, but I found Maci the week before Christmas, and decided to give it a go for myself:

101 Things in 1001 days - brought to you by Day Zero

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.


I had planned on posting this on January 1st, but I am too excited to wait, so I am starting today!


Below is my list, in the order that it came out of my head. I am starting a separate page to document this part of my journey (don't worry, I will continue your regularly scheduled programming here at the great adventure, lol!), and there I have the items listed by category.

My 101 Things . . .

. . . Starting December 29, 2008 - Ending September 26, 2011

1. Finish my novel and submit it to a publisher.
2. Get a new job.
3. Win NaNoWriMo.
4. Complete an adoption homestudy.
5. Travel internationally at least three different times.
6. Construct a workable housekeeping plan and stick to it for 3 consecutive weeks.
7. Walk the dog 3 times/week for 3 consecutive weeks.
8. Drink 3 glasses of water/day for 21 days straight
9. Send each family member a birthday card.
10. Call Mom & Dad once every week.
11. Call Kindra once a week.
12. Call Kelli once a week.
13. Put on a MHR retreat.
14. Give Austin a massage at least 3x/week.
15. Take a salsa dancing class.
16. Send the Hoyts 5 care packages
17. Open an Etsy store and make at least 50 sales.
18. Create a master bill-paying schedule/notebook.
19. Learn the requirements for homeschooling in Iowa and take any necessary classes/certifications.
20. Write thank you notes for every gift we receive.
21. Plant flowers in the front yard.
22. Plant a vegetable garden in the back yard.
23. Plant an herb garden in the kitchen (the kind in the little pots.)
24. Read at least 20 of the titles on the AP English reading list
25. Read at least 10 of the titles on Classic & Contemporary Literature list that are NOT on the AP list.
26. Read every book on A Christian Woman's Reading List
27. Read every book on the Books for Christian Parenting list
28. Read every book on The Best Christian Marriage Books list
29. Find a prayer partner.
30. Get up at 5:16 on the nose for 21 consecutive days.
31. Memorize the book of Romans
32. Memorize the book of Hebrews
33. Memorize the book of Proverbs
34. Read through the entire Bible at least twice.
35. Learn to drive a stick shift.
36. Go to Washington, D.C.
37. Organize my office, and keep it in an orderly fashion.
38. Create our wedding scrapbook
39. Finish our vacation scrapbook(s)
40. Find a home church
41. Join a couples' small group
42. Send Christmas or New Year's cards every year
43. Go on a cruise
44. Have a girls' weekend with my mom & sisters & Aunt Geri
45. Have a serious spa day
46. Donate blood.
47. Volunteer for at least 20 hours.
48. Be on a party committee for a work event.
49. Take a photography class.
50. Get an old-time photo taken with Hoss.
51. Participate in a 5K or 10K for a charity.
52. Make sure the kitchen is clean before I go to bed for 21 days straight
53. Take a sign language class.
54. Take a Spanish class
55. Do project 365
56. Finish a crocheting project.
57. Crochet a baby blanket.
58. Do my hair differently every day for 21 days.
59. Get a professional makeup consultation.
60. Go to New York City with Austin
61. Practice French at least once a week
62. Compile all of the recipes that I use or would like to use often, and copy them into my recipe book.
63. Take an dance/pilates class
64. Exercise 3x/week for 1 month
65. Develop a workable pantry system.
66. Make an extra freezer meal at least once a month
67. Write an "If something happens to me" letter
68. De-clutter every room and have a huge garage sale.
69. Build an emergency fund of 3 months' income
70. Go to the dentist.
71. Make a stuffed animal.
72. Document (at least) one happy moment every day.
73. Invite the neighbors over for supper.
74. Go on one date/month - just the two of us
75. Read at least 25 non-fiction books
76. Read at least 30 books from my Shelfari "I plan to read" shelf.
77. Meet at least 5 blog friends face to face.
78. Appear on a talk show (Oprah, Phil, Bonnie Hunt) to talk about MHR
79. Sing at church at least 5 times
80. Plan a trip/outing with just Kelli & us
81. Plan a trip/outing with just Kindra & us
82. Have 3 scrapbooking/crafting parties with Thelma & Ashley
83. Write an article for a Christian publication about MHR
84. Develop a speech or series of speeches about MHR
85. Get re-certified in First Aid/CPR
86. Go climbing in the Garden of the Gods
87. Go horseback riding with Austin
88. Spend a weekend in Chicago.
89. Visit Tom & Ashley at least 5 times
90. Take at least 1 big motorcycle trip with Austin.
91. Have a meal with each set of grandparents - just the 4 or 3 of us, at least once per family.
92. Practice piano at least 3x/week
93. Go to a Women of Faith conference with both of my moms.
94. See Beth Moore speak in person.
95. Go to a show at the Civic Center.
96. {Private} :)
97. Share my faith.
98. Start a family night - one night each week w/ no TV, but do something else together!
99. Volunteer at Samaritan Inn at least 10 times.
100. Do 20 random acts of kindness.
101. Go to a marriage conference with Austin.

Thanks for reading! Wish me luck! :)