gettin' going

Hey you all! Happy happy happy New Year! How are things new for you? What has stayed the same? We trust God for each day and 2021 is no different. Praise God for the gift of each day no matter the difficulties because we know He is with us in the ditches.

We have not talked in a little while! December was full of birthdays. J turned five in the eleventh, R turned three four days later, we celebrated Jesus’s birthday, the hubby’s birthday was the twenty-ninth, and my family friend and “brother” had a birthday on the thirtieth. Of course New Year celebrating and taking down the Christmas decorations. I also finished writing preteen Lifegroup curriculum, so that was fun and crazy too. The quietest place in our house is not at my desk where I am currently but in the master closet. It sounds unpleasant, but it has two tiny square windows at the end of a long rectangle space with a door, so I actually enjoy it. I wrote curriculum here - this is where the inspiration happens!

How was December for you? Did you have time off from work or school? Did you have the opportunity to see family? My husband ended up having to work New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so we (I) took down the decorations on New Year’s Eve and that evening had pajama time early and ate snacky stuff. I was under a blanket in my pajamas and glasses by 7:00 p.m. and that was the best idea I could think of to celebrate a new year!

I want to start off the year with a fun blog. I soooooo miss the gym, my gym instructors, and getting out, childcare, and a sweet hour all to myself…It seems like so long ago, and I suppose it was! I took six weeks off last January when Baby Boy was born, came back for two weeks in March, then everything closed. I totally thought I would be back by summer, then back by fall, and here we are! I am still getting up at the crack of dawn, trying to jam a workout in that is close to the classes I took at the gym, before little people get up. I also want to stay motivated for the rest of the day. I don’t know about you but trying to stay mentally healthy is quite a…challenge.

So…I was Charis way before I was Mommy. I love music and I love to dance. Five years of cheerleading, including four in college, leaves a lasting effect, even after graduation. I wish I could still cheer today! Coaching has been super fun, and although I am not currently coaching, I love all that stuff! My workouts to YouTube videos I find are working for now, and I have had a chance to discover some new music and listen to some old music that really help motivate me for the day while reminding me of my old cheer and dance self! The following list includes songs that I am loving lately:

Dum Dum - Tedashii

Ignition - Toby Mac

Lay Up - Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed

Speed that Light - Andy Mineo

Here We Go - KB

GameFace - KJ52

Church Clap - KB

Forsaken - Group 1 Crew

Dangerous - Group 1 Crew

Shake ‘Em Up - KJ52

Warrior - Hannah Kerr

Here I Am - Jeremy Camp

My cats love to come in first thing in the morning and I almost trip on them as I’m lifting the weights and watching the tv screen. I sometimes give them some catnip so they can stay busy and chill for a sec. They act like they have not had food in days! It is nice to be able to pet them when I am stretching on the floor or just have some company in the room during the dark quiet of the morning as I watch the sun come up.

What songs pump you up? Some days I have to fake it till I make it, meaning I am not feeling the day BUT I can listen to some songs, suck it up, and make a go of it! The beats are great but the best part is the encouragement from the lyrics that glorify God that help stay hopeful and grateful throughout the day.

In counseling, I always talk about how sometimes we must do what we have to do and our feelings can catch up later. I have to apply this to myself as well. I may not be feeling like folding the five baskets of laundry piled up, but I can make myself get it done, and make it as much fun as possible. God gives us what we need for the day. I am praying for you as you walk through your day. Put your AirPods in and make it count!

As we get going in this new year, I have new looks coming for this blog, new stuff for encouragement, and a fun place to go in this little internet community. God bless your day and know you are loved by God and prayed for by me. Hugs!

Love,

Charis