ScratchPaperEssays: Climbing the Hill Once Again!

I know it has again been awhile since I have posted my weekly focus goals and I am a couple days late. I considered waiting until next Monday, but that hasn't worked for me the last few months so better late than never. Many of my missed weeks I starting a post but kept telling myself if I can barely keep up with life how can I justify taking the time to blog? Despite the fact I keep trying to resign myself to that idea I am continually reminded and redirected to try to get back into it again.

So what is my hold up? I hesitated to write this blog as I feel I have written it so many times already. The truth is this will likely not be my last time to write on the same topic. I likely will run out of titles for this blog. It is a little embarrassing to admit how over and over again how I continue to roll to the bottom of the hill and start back over. How can I be so bad at keeping up with life? Well I found comfort, encouragement, and courage to admit that I yet again am trying to get back on track by remembering the homilies of a 75 year old fill in priest this summer at church. Week after week he gave his homily on his struggles to live right. He discussed topics, material excess, being a better listener, and the balance of living life. Topics you hear a lot in church the difference was is he talked about how hard it is to accomplish living right and his lifelong struggles. It takes refocusing daily even for him. So I guess if a 75 year old priest still has trouble, I can too right?

So I am proud to admit that I am like a priest J(I wish it was in a better way) and once again going to give it a go and try to get better at life. Even though my free time is limited I have decided (or remembered again) that when I take the time to create my weekly goals I do better. Even though some of the things I struggle with are so small in the importance of life. The thing is they add up. Not keeping up on the little housekeeping tasks affects the quality of life we live. It takes away from our time as a family to do other things and be together. It clutters our minds and productivity. If it helps stay focused for even on more day than I am focused presently, it’s worth it!

One step at a time, one topic at a time, one goal at a time practice makes perfect.It was encouraging to read in the bible this summer:

Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians: 9:24-27

WOW! Even Paul uses sports as an analogy to life. How easy to relate. It takes focus to become the winner of the race. Being a good Christian person takes effort on a daily basis. Being good at living life in general takes daily effort. Your work or “training” is never done. Your effort has to be there, your drive, and your focus. I have been without focus for over a month now, and when it began I felt it was just easier that way. I didn’t have time to make my training plan, we were too busy. I wonder how many times I will repeat this cycle in my life. Infinite numbers I am sure. Life is ever changing and continually requires adjustments and refocus. Hopefully I will someday not take sooo long to get back on track.

So because it works for me, I am starting focus goals again. If can use this blog to keep me on track I will even though I have to admit my shortcomings in the process. Maybe someone else will relate and finds motivation in my struggles as I did from our guest priest. When I am 75 I may be writing this blog for my 300^th time, but plan to keep trying.

FOCUS Goals for week of Oct 1, 2013

New Goals, comments, and excuses are in purple below.

Goals for a Better Home

1. Personal Focus to better my relationship with God.

· Start and end each day with prayer. Read two chapters in the Bible. (I finished the book of Romans this summer that is a good one. All about how to live!)

· Run. Still trying!

· Daily Reading for email bible study I am participating in.

2. Remove distractions at key times.

· No computer 6:00-8:00am and 2:30-5:00pm (This computer continues to be a great distraction to me)

· Pick one morning and one afternoon for NO computer or TV for myself.

3. Add something to give more of me to my family.

· Bedtime story

· Plan on daily activity with the little one.

· Make eye contact and ask how the day was as each kid and my husband come home for the day.

Goals for a Better House

1. Daily Check Points: Work harder on my Daily Check Points.

2. Weekly: Try to follow my cleaning schedule and complete my perpetual roll over items on my “to do list”.