Work Life Balance

Yesterday I had the chance to go to an IAAP Education Seminar. For those of you who have no clue what IAAP means, me included....it is The International Association of Administrative Professionals, Lynchburg Chapter.
So since I am an Administrative Professional I was signed up to go. I mean I just thought I was a secretary....but they went all out to say Administrative...not Assistant...but Professional...I was like ugh ok what am I getting into.
So I went....there were vendors, there was a free lunch, there was awkward conversation with the people we didn't know at our table, there was too much down time and I was getting board...and then the speaker started to talk.
Oh.My you guys! It was amazing. Donna Tyson was the communicator...and guys...She was an amazing communicator...I mean right up there with Beth Moore. Now those of you who can't stand her...well that wasn't a good comparison...but I love Beth Moore. I think she is outstanding...so pick your favorite woman communicator & put this lady standing...ok fine...maybe a little below her. :)

I really want to share some of what I learned from it...I was laughing, crying, (no lie), and feverishly taking down notes the whole time.
I'm going to be paraphrasing what she said obviously because I'm not a communicator, but I'm going to try to convey all that I learned so hang with me. :)

The topic of the seminar was was: Work Life Balance.
Not a novel concept, but I kept an open mind.

She started off with this poem:
The Woman in the Glass
Author: Dale Wimbrow
When you get what you want as your struggle for self
And the world makes you queen for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that woman has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or husband
Who's judgement upon you must pass;
The person whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

She's the person to please, never mind all the rest,
For she's with you clear up to the end.
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the woman in the glass if your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life,
And get pats on your back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the woman in the glass.

Then she asked this question: Would you want to work with you? Would you be someone you would confide in at work? Would you be the person that you trusted someone with all your secrets....as women unfortunately we know that one cuts a little deep. And then the last one...would you want to live with and be married to you? .....crickets.....

Self Esteem...Who are we women? Who do WE say we are? Are we hardest on ourselves than anyone else? Why? Why do we do that to us? When you change what you say about yourself...you change who you are. (I believe this 100%....a friend, I won't mention who...cough...Angie Godsey...cough walked me through CR and that was the biggest lesson I learned...change that tape loop Janna. Change what you say about you Janna....) Amazing. Life changing.

We need to ask ourselves three questions:
1. Who do I "think" I am? (Do I know this answer?)
2. Who do other people "think" I am? (my perception on what they think about me.)
3. Who do people REALLY think I am? (Their REAL perception of me)

Knowledge without action is worthless. Change what you think about yourself.

Think about the movie the Wizard of Oz....wasn't everyone in that movie looking for something? If I only had a Heart....If I only had brain...If I could only get back home.....in the end what did they all end up finding.....they already HAD what they were searching for...they just couldn't' see it.
Be still.
When you are silent you can listen. Listen to that still soft voice.

Life operates in a wheel.
When our wheel is out of balance...what happens? Obviously our wheel doesn't roll right. So everything needs to be in balance so that we can function properly.
So lets talk about the wheel.

The Hub: Spiritual
Ask yourself: What do I believe? What do I believe about life, death, how this world was made etc etc, because the way your wheel is going to roll is through this filter of what you believe. It drastically changes how the other spokes work. We all have a void inside of us....there is something more. There is a bigger picture.

Spoke One: Career
If you hate your job - it means you don't care enough about yourself to quit. You spend the most time there...more than the time you spend with your families & friends. Love yourself enough to love what you do! You don't HAVE to be stuck in a job where you don't want to be there every day. You CAN love your job, I (this is me, Janna, talking) am proof of this. I spent 12 years in an industry that I thought I loved, but deep down had so much pent up stress and aggression because I just didn't like it. I was in such discord every day. I would cry Sunday nights because I knew Monday morning was coming. (Seriously I did). But now...I can honestly say: I LOVE MY JOB! It fills me, it brings me so much joy. I love serving the people I work for, I love doing paper work I love love being an admin. Love yourself enough to quit.

Spoke Two: Social
If you let Wife, Mother, Friend....etc...define you - Who are you when they are gone? Who are you? "If what you do is who you are -- then when you don't - you ain't" YOU have to CHOOSE to live for (God in my case) you. Be you! Be happy, chose to live a full life and make every day count!

Spoke Three: Physical
"Our bodies weep the tears our eyes refuse to shed." Dan Millman What a quote right? Ladies we have to stay in physical health. we have to! Lets not be proud of the fact that we can were a size "3"! The only person I am fooling wearing elastic is ME! Lets stay healthy. Get down on the ground play with your kids, grand kids, be active. LIVE life.

Spoke Four: Financial
Every decision you make, task you take on, goal you set....someone / something gets a little less of you. Think about that next hobby you take on...how much money will it cost? How much money will it take to make it happen? What will you have to give up to do it? Think about the bills you owe. Don't be so in debt that you can't make good giving choices.

Spoke Five: Emotional
“It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” ― Corrie ten Boom
How are we responding ladies? Do we respond from a filter of hurt? Do we respond from a filer of love & trusting God? The biggest freedom we have if the freedom to choose how we will respond to things. Respond well.

Then she finished up with talking about how we live our life in Chapters. Its not this long drawn out saga...its chapters. Some chapters are exciting, some are scary, some are just sad and filed with heart ache....and that is ok! Be ok with with the next chapter. Be BRAVE enough to turn the page! Learn from the last one, be holy, and move on to the next one.

It was such an inspirational session. She really was motivating & it made me want to go motivate others too! :) I guess thats how you know someone is a good communicator. They inspire, make you laugh, make you cry, bring you right along side them. It was a great great day in my little Administrative Professional life.
I hope you are inspired to & that you find the God stories in here, go apply, and inspire too. :)

Where I've been

Well wow! It has been a long time. This is why:


Jeremy had the idea that since we were going through a 90day physical working out we should incorporate a 90 Spiritual workout as well. So we did this:



That was the 1st time EVER in my life that I have read the entire Bible. I had read about 75-80% of it but it was that last 20% or so that I needed still. I am so proud. But proud in a, I want to Glorify HIM kind of way! There is NO way I could do this on my own. He placed me with a man who is pursuing hard after Christ & leads me well...and pushes me to be better....and he brings our best friends along too. I love that about him. What an amazing man I GET to be married to. Then not to mention the love story that is written all through out the word....it is truly indescribable. I have heard it said, and I have seen it in my life & and the works He has done in me....but now I can say I've read these truths! He gave me such an understanding for His word, one that I didn't think I would have so that's why I had never wanted to try to tackle this beast. But HE did it! The Lord did it for me, and gave me a clear picture of why we truly, all humanity, are in need of a Savior. And again...these are things I "knew", but now I have read it for real throughout his word. He is amazing. My small words are so inadequate compared to what I feel. Perhaps Paul's beautiful words say it best:

Philippians 3:7-11
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The best part about reading the Word...is that I know it won't be the last. It has given me a hunger for more & I want to read, and dissect, and become more & more like Him. I'm so in love. <3

So Rich A Crown

So....talked to my parents last night, they got word from the Neurologist that my Dad officially does have Parkinson's disease & they are moving forward with treatment. He obviously was just devastated but willing to keep fighting. I just tried to encourage him that this isn't a death sentence...there are a lot worse fates, he could have stage 4 cancer & only have 3 months to live, you know? So I'm just like its ok, this might be your new season, but handle it with grace, and on your knees before him & pray that you are able to point it back to God & his goodness through it.

So I'm asking that you guys would join me in praying for him...not necessarily for healing...although that would be amazing, but that whatever this new season is, that my Dad & my Mom both would be drawn to their knees before God & that he would become greater in their lives. That through this people would wonder how and why they are handling it with such grace & ease...and ultimately draw coworkers,neighbors whomever; and then ultimately that HIS will would be done healing, no healing whatever. Not things that we think would be best or not the outcome that we see fit, but that through this He would become greater & we would become less.

These words just brought me so much comfort on Sunday....so so true. He is bigger than this too.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Thanks for praying ♥

Sweet Praise

I read this, this morning. Its a song of praise that David wrote (2 Chronicles 16:7-36) & it was just my heart. I really felt like I could say these very words to him today. He is changing me, and making me look more like him, and I just want my lips to sing praises to Him. I pray you would be blessed as you read these words too.

7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the LORD in this manner:

8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
11 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

15 He remembers[c] his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”

19 When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they[d] wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

28 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his[e] holiness.
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”

Santa's Coming!

My friend Jami showed me this website & I thought it was super fun!
Its a message from Santa specially for Ella!! :)

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/gcXIQRDXLxJV0TPPdteYcMg?utm_campaign=share-video&utm_medium=share&utm_source=copy-paste

One Voice

This weekend has kind of been a weird mix of emotions weekend. I had this past Friday off, so it was so much fun to get to spend time with Ella we did really fun things, I had the chance to make a birthday cake for one of our best friends, had a great time with friends....and all the while I was just overcome with insecurity. The whole weekend. What is that? I am not normally a person who struggles with insecurity...I mean yes I have my days, what girl doesn't, but normally they are a fleeting thing that I can just walk past & leave it there. This weekend though, I could not shake it. Just everything...you name it from looks, to abilities, to parenting, to friendships, to anything & everything in between I was just riddled with insecurity. It was not fun. For me too when I have these times its not like it just goes away it takes a few days to undo itself, and remember truth & who I really am.

Which in all the Lords fashion, He was there for me, to encourage & shape me. I love that about Him. The chapter I read this morning was called: Christ, our identity. It talked about who we are in Christ & who he says we are. Talked about how Barnabas was an encourager, Timothy faithfully served & learns under an older servant of God, Stephen was a fearless witness. "Even Jacob in Genesis 32:28 understood his identity was no longer that of a deceiver but that of a prince, and from that moment on, his life changed until it matched what God said about him."
I love that line...his life changed UNTIL it MATCHED what God said about him. its on going not a one time thing...its living, its active, always moving & changing.
Even looking at Jesus, "Everyday he encountered people who publicly declared that he couldn't be the Messiah. He managed to ignore all those voices around Him & continue His journey toward the cross without being shaken. He listened to & BELIEVED only one voice-that of his Father. Each time people asked Him who He was, He confessed the identity His Father declared about Him."

This was so good for my heart to read. In these moments of weakness I need to learn to refuse to give in to the voices of my mind & emotions and whatever negative things I try to convince myself that I am. Instead, confessing, believing, and ACTING upon the identity that Jesus gave me in His word, and the calling he has on my life.

So how about you, what voices are you listening to? Who's voice will you believe?

Reeeeeally?!?

So what's better than getting paid for one of your works of art?
Ooo ooh I know!!
Losing that check!
: /
Not a fun way to end my weekend.