Weekly Challenge #4 - Stop Complaining and Shine like the Stars.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." Philippians 2:14-16a
This is a topic that I would love to share with specific people in my life that seem to find a reason to complain about everything. BUT, this is not about correcting others, it is about setting some goals in my life so that I am not spinning my wheels and will be what God has intended me to be in order to reach others for him and share a little love and wisdom along the way. Wow, that was a long sentence. Anyway, Paul tells us here to stop complaining and SHINE like stars. Stars a beautiful and blemish free. We too are to be blameless and pure, even in our speech. God doesn't request us to quit complaining, it is a command. Complaining is sin. OUCH!!!
When I complain, I am basically telling God, "I could have done it better." I am trying to come to a place where I no longer complain about my circumstances, but to bring my requests to God prayerfully and joyfully. If it is in my power to change something, then I'll I change it. If it is not in my power to change, how is complaining really going to help??? Complaining is a lot like worry: We tend to waste a lot of time doing it, but it makes absolutely no difference in the outcomes of our circumstances. Basically, both are pointless.
So my challenge this week is to hold my tongue when I am tempted to complain, and to pray immediately about those circumstances. I am also challenging myself to continue to find something positive in every circumstance and person each day. If God says that all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28), why can't I just take him at His word? Besides, who wouldn't want to shine like a star?!

It's Not Always Sunny in the Gillis Household!

Most all pictures I have of Rowe are of him smiling because he loves the camera. The quickest way to make him happy when he is not so happy is to pull out the camera. I don't know where he gets it from.
Well, he had four new friends join Whitey and Whitey Jr. this week. Four teeth decided to pop through at the same time. I was glad to get some pics of him not smiling in order to show you that he is not always as cheesey as he looks. He really is a happy baby now, but not when his teefs are comin' through.
The top one is my favorite. Enjoy!



However, we did catch a few smiles this week. Some are teary eyed, but smiles nonetheless.

Weekly Challenge #3: To Procrastinate or Not to Procrastinate??? I'll decide tomorrow.

Well, this week has presented many "weekly challenge" opportunities, but I am only going to add one this week. This week's challenge is to stop procrastinating. Sometimes, I think I just procrastinate on making a decision to procrastinate. Don't get me wrong, I plan ahead better than anyone else I know, but not in the little things. Honestly, I already have what costume Rowe and Missy will wear for Halloween picked out, and as creepy as it may be, I have my funeral planned too. However, the little things add up on my "blessed to do" list, and there is no better feeling than throwing a list away once it is completed. (Erika, you know exactly what I mean!) So, I am going to compile my list at school, the one in my purse, and the one at home together and start getting things marked off. God tells us to make the most of everyday, and that is what I plan to do. I challenge myself and you loyal readers (who rarely leave comments) to add some fun to your "to do lists." Schedule alone time with your spouse. Schedule a silly game or cook together night with your child. We should write these planned moments on our calendars where our family can see them. This holds us accountable, and it is a way to start teaching our children early to always make time for the people in their lives. I want Rowe to see silly and important scheduled events and fun on our refrigerator calendar as he grows up, in order for him to see our time with each other and with him is a priority.
Also before I even begin to complete a to do list, I will pray that God helps me to prioritize, not sweat the small stuff, and to glorify Him throughout this day He has given to me. I will also ask myself the following questions at the end of each day, "Was I a more productive person today than the day before?" and "Was my "blessed to do list" all about me or about furthering the Lord's kingdom?"
So to give you a glimpse of today's "blessed to do list," I'll list a few things:

1. go to the bank
2. clean floors
   
3. clean bedroom
   
4. register for online Blackboard training at school
   
5. email Becca
   
6. order Halloween costumes for Rowe and Missy (I said I knew what they would be, I didn't say I had ordered them yet.)
   
7. give Missy her flea medicine
   
8. leave Lee a sweet note on his bathroom mirror
   
9. read Rowe his Bible story and work on teaching him his animals (never too early to start!)
   
10. Send Justin Caldwell a birthday email from Lee, Rowe, and I

Weekly Challenge

I believe if we have no goals in life than we are just spinning our wheels. There has to be something to work towards. Sometimes, just identifying our life goals is an accomplishment. There are small steps I know that I can take to attain these goals. One of my goals is to be a better person than I was the day before. I want to become a better Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, teacher and financial planner.
I have decided to set weekly challenges for my life to become this better person I want to be, and I'll take you along with me via our blog. Last week my challenge was to claim the freedoms only God can give of peace of mind and freedom from worry. This morning I was reflecting on this past week and if I truly did unload all my worries onto God. Well, I know I did in one specific area of my life. I am a bit, and more so these days, OCD when it comes to my house being clean and organized. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I left school on my planning period just to clean my kitchen because I couldn't focus on anything else. Well, not so this week. I cleaned when I had time, and didn't focus on it the rest of the day. Instead, I focused on the blessing of even owning a house and the fun I had when I wasn't cleaning and was playing in the floor with Rowe and Lee. There are other areas of my life that I am still having to remind myself to stop obsessing and worrying, and I will continue to give these to God.
This week I will work on what I say. I have never been a gossiper or cared to hear it, nor do I use dirty language, but I am snappy and rude at times with those who love me most. I know that if my friends could follow me around all day, they would not want to be my friend anymore. Not that I ever talk about them, but I don't always use the nicest tone of voice. So I am working to choose all my words for a purpose, not just to fill silence.

Not So Casual Words

Many times, we open our mouths and speak, with little to no thought to what we are about to say. We let words fly, good and bad, with no caution. I call these words, casual words, but as a teacher, no words are casual. We think our students are not listening, but they are. Throughout the confusion of the day, we forget that although we have hundreds of students, they only have a handful of teachers. They remember what we say much better than we remember what they say.
We think our friends don't really care how we sound or our tone of voice, but they do. I consider myself a good listener. I rarely forget anything that anyone tells me, although I do forget to do things without my "Blessed To Do" list. I call it a "Blessed To Do" List, because even when I don't always feel like completing it, I am blessed to have the health and ability to complete those tasks.
As I continue daily to claim all the freedoms God has given me, I think I need to carefully scrutinize the words I am about to use on a daily basis. I want to make sure I choose the best ones for my family, friends, and students. I have talked so much since school has started that I have been hoarse for the past month.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Ephesians 4:29. It says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." My challenge this week is to no longer use casual words, but chosen ones that will lift you up and benefit those who listen.

On a Roll

I just had to post a few pics of Rowe showing off his rolls. Wouldn't it be great if rolls were always cute!

Happy Eight Months Little Dude!

Rowe turned eight months old a week ago, and this has been the best month yet. Each month keeps getting better and better. I am in no hurry for him to grow up any faster though. He is speaking a new language now. He is using syllables such as dadada and bababa, and even mamama. Mamama means "more" not mama, we are pretty sure. He "sings" when music is own and loves the sound of his own voice. He screeches when we whistle and loves to growl like his lion. The growling just started this week. Today a new bottom tooth is peeking through and the point of a top tooth has broken the gums. He has been a little ill this past week with the teething.

I weighed him last night and he was a whopping 25 pounds, but he is really long too, not just fat. I love all that surface area to kiss. He eats four five ounce bottles a day and sometimes only three plus a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a #2 veggie and a #2 fruit for lunch, and a #2 dinner and a #2 veggie for supper. His favorite is eating his puffs while I am getting his meal ready.

He loves staying at Nana's and Pop's, but cried for the first time when I dropped him off one day last week because he was not feeling well. He reached his little arms for me and looked at me with huge crocodile tears streaming down his round cheeks. Mine started flowing once I got out the door.

He was sleeping in his crib every night, but our air conditioner leaked into his closet and room, so he has been sleeping in his pack n play in our room the last couple of weeks. We could have put him back into his room a week ago, but we love having him in our room with us. He sleeps all night and hates to be woken up in the mornings. He thinks just about everything is funny, and smiles with his mouth wide open. His favorite toy now is his Tigger. Thanks Nana. Thanks Brayden for introducing Tigger and Rowe.