Be better

I had the privilege today to take off and drive down to Rapid (5hr) to see my childhood, high school, college, and life friend before she and her family move to AZ. Before I left my little brother preached at his church the last sermon before he gets married and we had a pizza picnic in the park. My thoughts have circled round and round and round about God, family, marriage, parenthood... I think I need to just be better. Ever feel that way? Better relationship w god... Read my bible, speak life, love others. Better wife... Love more, be assertive, be forgiving, honor my husband in words and actions, listen. Better mom...listen, be present, be consistent, be supportive, slow to anger, kind and gentle. I want to fulfill all that God has planned. I need to be obedient and present. Forgive me.. Move me... Grow me...

Time and Opportunity Collide

My random life as always brings me into random situations of unknown expectations and opportunities. I believe I have posted that I am taking my masters to attain a Masters Degree in School Counseling. I have felt a shift in my first plan of school and am now considering the possibility of crisis counseling. Along the way I lost a wonderful friend who recently passed away at the age of 84, Willie. After the funeral a couple weeks, I spoke to a friend that is in the funeral business. He suggested maybe I should consider helping and serving people at funerals. Of course I was intrigued. So I sent an email, received a phone call, and showed up at a funeral and ended up helping. Driving a hearse even. Oh where the days can lead us... But this is an opportunity for me to be available and I hope be able to touch the lives of others.

Now I had the privilege of spending time with a couple of performing artists. I helped to set them up to do school assemblies and a couple concerts in the area. It was awesome!  I loved it. One performer opened up his heart and shared what God has done in his life and just rocked it. Blessed me and my students, and others. I loved setting up these events. Love it.

So here is my life currently... wife, mom, grad student, youth group leader, own a few cows, Rodan+Fields consultant, dabble in vinyl graphics, youth ministry team, and funeral worker. What am I doing? none of that really goes together! So what I am considering adding is... an event planner or booking agent.
Here is the thing. I LOVE LOVE LOVE planning events. I coordinated and put together a memorial motorcycle run and loved it. It proved to be fun, productive, and charitable. I love bringing people together for a purpose. So... what has God put in my heart? What is my dream?
My list of successful coordinated things/events....
-high school girls volleyball team (our school never had one)
-community kids program in the park (2001)
-my wedding (2003)
-community youth group in our town (2006)
-birthday parties/anniversaries
-Christmas in July
-Andy Dakken Memorial Bike Run (2012)
-college friend reunion (2013)
The list is small, but it contains things that have turned out good for people outside of myself.

Why all this sorting... Because a new friend of mine said "sometimes you following, achieving, and living your dream is needed by others to achieve or live out their dreams".. My goal, my dream is to love others and help them to achieve their dreams. I love planning events and being apart of things that benefit others. At the end of my life I want people to say Trista loved me, she loved people, she encouraged me, I'm thankful for her support in my life. I think I need to sit down and write out my goals and really take a look at what I am doing and maybe what I should be doing.

What is my dream? What is my goal? 

Going in all directions has got to be much less productive than choosing one direction. 

Starting something and it turns to something else...

I started a detox on January 2nd 2014. I was doing it to lose weight for my brother's wedding out of fear of being a fat bridesmaid! After 5 days I felt a breakthrough... I realized this was more then weight loss. I struggle w being impulsive and having a lack of self-control and discipline in my life. Day 5 I realize that I was in control of my urges and impulses with food and it felt great! I am now on day 9 and have added meat to my detox but have still omitted sugar, grains, and salt. I have found that w this little victory it is easier to have self-control and discipline in other areas as well. I have started reading to my kids every night and spending time in God's word as well as in prayer, while still having time to keep up with my studies. Sometimes we start things with a distorted reason, but it may clear up and turn into something bigger and better. 

God has a plan

I started graduate school in August this past fall and I was so scared! I was scared that I wasn't smart enough to succeed and that I would just be a failure. God has a plan. I have been working so hard to not be a failure! I just want to prove (I thought to others) but I think to myself that I can do this and do it well. God has been so gracious and is opening my heart and my mind. I have 12 grad credits completed w a 4.0. God has created us anew! I believe that God has called me to support others and this avenue of counseling is not by chance but the will of God for my life. I have read that verse a hundred times and today when I read it God spoke to my heart and said "why are you so surprised when you see your grades? This is my plan for your life and you are doing it to the best of your ability."

Be brave. Take steps in new directions and don't be surprised when things go better than you had hoped! He created us to do the good He has planned!