Dream Routine

Man, I want to be productive. Honest!

I want my handiwork to be seen throughout our rooms; beds made, clothes picked up, sparkling bathroom...etc. I want to keep things spic-n'-span just how my fiancé likes it, but in reality, I'm no Cinderella.

My day starts around 7:00 in the morning...after staying up till 12:00 AM the night before. I'm supposed to get up, wash up, and start on making Josh's lunch. Since I am addicted to late night mobile internet browsing, I've set a special alarm to go off at 7:10 called "Wake up and get it together." (Whatever "it" may be.) Being a serious slowpoke in the morning, I give myself 15 minutes before Josh wakes up because he has the ability to get cleaned up and dressed in 20 minutes or less; the amount of time it takes me to rub my eyes and wake up. In 15 minutes, I can wash my face, brush my teeth, and pat down my hair, but don't let that deceive you into thinking I'm ready to run out of the house. No sir.

Once I have his lunch ready and hanging on the door, I fix him a quick breakfast and feed it to him while he puts on his shoes. By this time, I am awake...at that instant, I feel very accomplished. It's one of the very few moments of my day where my timing must be spot on. Because once he has tied his shoes, he shoots right into the bathroom, then launches himself out of the house with time for quick peck on the lips as I walk him to the door. I lock it behind him thinking "He's fed. He has food for later. I helped make this happen. Wow! I'm good."

The rest of the day is spent watching Netflix, eating, working on the blog, checking out whatever sparks my curiosity, fighting to stay awake, take a nap, and washing loads of laundry that don't get folded. I feel so guilty when Josh comes home to a messy room with glasses everywhere. He's so patient and sweet; he simply takes them to the kitchen sink, and asks about my day...which makes me even more upset with myself. I feel like my whole had has went by, and I've been a bump on a log for the past 12 hours. Am I the only stay-at-home-dame guilty of this?

But I want to be productive. Honest!

I want to spend my days sewing, cleaning, cooking, baking, ironing, doing laundry, learning, writing, drawing, gardening, and whatever else perfect housewives do! I wanna be a Proverbs 31 woman (Oh boy, I went there.), because she is the perfect wife. She gets up early and works all day and night (Prov. 31:15-18). Her husband has nothing to worry about when it comes to his wife's reliability (Prov. 31:11-12). And she takes care of multiple tasks like preparing food, buying land, and making money! A woman like that gets her strength from The Almighty God. Her power comes from within her heart, because whatever the task at hand, she does it with love, and God is love.

It's funny, because I am realizing this as I'm writing. That a wife is able to run her daily routine because of the passion she has for making her husband happy...well of course if she has a passion for a clean house, that helps too I guess. Right now, I'm feeling that God would like me to ask Him for strength to carryout the day, because I really can't do anything without him. Like...right when I wake up before I set foot out of bed. I probably should start then, huh?

If, by any chance, you have similar feelings through out your day, I have one trick that kind of helps me to be productive in the day while Josh is at work. I create a to-do list, but not a real long one or else it becomes overwhelming. Just about 7-8 MAX duties to fulfill...and some duties are easy so I may feel accomplished as I check them off my list! I list things I realize need to be done from the day before or things that Josh may have mentioned like straightening out our bedrooms, clean the toilet, wash bedsheets, bake something sweet...etc. But the most important task I have on my list is "make special time for God," which is basically me trying to have a conversation with the Heavenly Father. I've learned the hard way that in order to maintain a healthy relationship, it requires communication. You can not expect to be peas and carrots with a friend that you only speak to when you are in need of something. Sad but true, and because this is true, I try to make time to talk to God at least once a day. To tell Him that I love Him, and why I love Him, and to thank Him for another day with those that I love. It may not seem like much, but this is all it takes to change the rest of my day. I become more pleasant and delightful, my spirit feels light, and my heart aches a bit as though I am in love. I'm happy because I feel God's delight in me as His daughter.

This is my invite to you: WHOEVER is reading this article. Leave a comment on your daily routine. What time do you start your day? What do you have to do in order to keep your boat afloat? What do you want to change, if anything? How do you like to spend your special time with God?

God Bless, friends, and stay passionate.

Deep Dame Drama: Disappointment

 

I haven't made much scholarly accomplishments. My one documented accomplishment, my diploma, has been in an envelope and stuffed into a night table's drawer for about 5 or 6 years. To be honest, I've kicked myself in the butt about it in the past, but not anymore.

I've learned that the only accomplishments that matter start with the goals we set for ourselves and not from what others set for us. (Doesn't that make a nice fortune cookie?) Now, keep in mind that all I have done, all I am able to do, and all I will do in this life is all because of God and the goals and passions that He's programed me with. Whatever I hold pride in, I owe to my Heavenly Father, period. I say this because I believe that everything that happens to me is within God's say-so. My suffering, my frustration, my lack of patience... God is not only giving me an opportunity to demonstrate His love, but also He's shaping me into the woman He knows I can be, and to be frank, I've got quite a bit more of molding to do.

 

The will of our God is more important than any other task a loved one could put upon you. This goal that God has for us is written deep within our hearts.  His will can not be found in the latest hip-hop-hit from MTV. His will is surely not in this month's issue of Vogue. In other words, His will is not the most popular thing to do. How swell does today's media make out Christianity to be? Is modesty in today's fashion? Have you seen any magazine cover lines saying "The fulfillment of abstinence, see page 32..."? Isn't it quite the opposite? Reverend Pat Fiordelise, from Virginia Christian Alliance, explains that "God's standard doesn't change just because American pop culture becomes more and more tolerant of sinful behaviors." 

 

So, what does this have to do with the "Disappointment" topic?

 

Simple

 

When God has written His mission for you in your heart, He gives you a burning desire for it. This desire that He gave to you may not always be understood by the people who are closest to us. They may call you crazy, a stiff, a wuss etc... They may say that they "know what's best for you". They may try to prevent us from "ruining" our lives, but in the end, our loved ones are looking out for us, so we must exercise our patience. 

    Following the dream that God has given to you will always be an uphill battle, but you are always destined for victory when doing the Lord's work in one way or another. Doing what's right is not always easy, and usually takes extra effort. And so, because we choose not to heed the guidance of our loved ones, the relationship we have with them tears a little at the seams. It is to be expected, but all the same, do not be discouraged. Do you believe that the same God that has created the universe and all living things cannot mend a broken relationship between you and a loved one? Who do you think taught Dr. Phil all he knows? 

 

Live the life that God has given to you. Fulfill the dreams and goals that are written in your heart before you begin to pester your children with dreams that are not meant for them, because then it would become a vicious cycle. Most importantly, do not be afraid of disappointing your loved ones when you answer your call from God, because He  will take care of you. You can't make everyone happy...but let's try not disappointing the master of all the universe, okay?

 

Fiordelise, Reverend Pat. Christian Is Not Cool. Virginia Christian Alliance, 2013. Web. December 3,  2014.