These are my reflections of what’s happening currently with my body, mind, and soul. I like taking these monthly breaks to evaluate what’s happening in my life. It helps me see where I’ve focused my efforts, what areas I’m excelling at, and what areas need improvement.
BODY
I’m 40!
Yes indeed, I hit the big 4-OH and I feel great! Seriously. I wasn’t anxious about turning 40 and I actually feel strangely wise and significant. Does that make any sense?!
Lazy.
Yes. I’m going to admit, I have been lazy lately. No exercise bike, no aerobic exercise, and very poor eating habits. It must be the winter hibernation thing….
I’m still doing yoga but as I write this I know I have to step it up in the exercise department. Time to put the TIP JAR front and centre and commit to working out… DAILY.
MIND
Blogging
My mind has also been thinking about this space lately. 2014 was a fabulous year of growth for The Deliberate Mom. It also took a lot of time, patience, and really hard work to make that growth happen.
Quite frankly, I don’t know if I have the gumption to work on this space like I did in 2014. So I’ve evaluated things and made plans for 2015. I don’t want to be anxious or rush things but then there’s a part of me that just wishes this blog could grow a little faster. If you’re a blogger, I’m sure you can identify with the tug of war of emotions that go with building your blog.
Speaking of blogging, if you haven’t entered the giveaway for a free downloadable 2015 blogger planner from Mama Miss Designs, then you really need to get to it! This planner is amazing and will seriously help you plan for the coming year. You can enter the giveaway by visiting my giveaway post HERE.
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As a reminder, from now until December 25, 2014, I will be donating $0.75 for every newsletter subscriber I gain. I will split $0.75 between three of my favourite charities; Alzheimer’s Canada ($0.25), The Mustard Seed ($0.25), The Edmonton Food Bank ($0.25).
That’s right I’m donating $0.75 for every newsletter subscriber I gain between now and December 25, 2014. I will do this up to a maximum of a $150 total donation. I would love to give that full amount so help me reach that goal and subscribe/tell others to subscribe.
SOUL
My soul is soaring lately. I recently shared my Love Notes from God and I delighted in sharing this intimate part of my spiritual journey with you. I continue to seek my love notes and I am thankful for every one I receive.
Bible study
Remember how last month I told you I was doing study by Kay Arthur, entitled Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days? I have loved this study! It actually motivated me to start writing the scriptures. So every day, I have practiced my calligraphy (trust me, I’m terrible at it) and I’m writing out the book of Proverbs.
I do about 6-10 sentences a day. This process has really helped me slow down and meditate on the scriptures.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Christmas
I can hardly believe that Christmas is in a couple of days!
My mind is on Christmas lately. We are ready. I’m hoping I can get some more baking done before the big day but if I don’t, that’s okay because we’ll have more than enough treats when visiting family throughout the holiday season.
Loss
Christmas, although a joyful time for some, can be a heartbreaking time for others.
I lost two people in 2014, my friend and colleague, Dave who tragically and suddenly died at the young age of 27 and my beloved paternal grandmother who died after a long battle with strokes and dementia. This year I’m particularly sensitive to those who may be going through trying times.
Illness, struggles, and death can make the holiday season particularly painful.
My encouragement to you is to be loving, to be caring, and to be gentle with one another.
Illness, death, loss... #Christmas can be a sad time for people. Be gentle with one another. Click To TweetReach out to those who are suffering or in need. Open your heart, your homes, and your lives to people who may be struggling at this time of year. Your kindness could be life changing for someone else.
Christmas wishes and plans
I will be spending the next few days preparing my heart and mind for the season.
However, after Christmas I will be doing a blog pause.
What’s a blog pause you ask? Well I got the wonderful idea from Robin over at Robin Kramer Writes. I will be publishing a series of posts which highlight a few of my favourite writings from 2014. I have four blog pause days planned for the end of December… so be on the lookout for them.
I will be back to posting new and fresh content in 2015. So, until then Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed holiday season.
I’m looking forward to catching up with you in the New Year.
Blessings and love.
SHARE WITH OTHERS
Totally taking time off myself. Like the blog pause idea, but truly just want some real time off, so as much as I have done that in the past on my own blog this year think that I will stick with my plan of just not posting for a few days. R shall see though. But I want to take this time to wish you and your family a very, Merry Christmas!!
I’m looking forward to the break. I’m ready to rest, relax, and spend some focused time with family.
Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family as well Janine!
xoxo
Beautiful Christmas card. I’m looking forward to seeing what you have for your blog in 2015. I’m So sorry for your losses this year. It sure does make the Christmas season incredibly hard. :(
Thank you! I am so thankful we “met” in blogging land Caroline. You are such a dear friend. I look forward to 2015 — and seeing where it leads both of us.
Merry Christmas my friend.
xoxo
You are soooo not lazy, and you don’t look a day over 32! I am with you on the blog pause…we all love blogging, but at what expense to other important areas of our lives?!
Merry Christmas! I can’t wait to read your fav posts later on this month!
Oh yes, I’ve been lazy. Lately I’ve considered a workout to be running the laundry down to the washing machine! LOL
I’m looking forward to the blog pause… and it will give me some time to visit other blogs and work on some back-end stuff.
Merry Christmas Kristen!
My mind is consumed with Christmas too! and of course, I miss those we lost in 2014. My grandmother, for one, at age 100! I would have loved to have seen her turn 101 in November and celebrate Christmas with us in December.
I’m looking forward to blogging into 2015!
I’m excited about Christmas and the new year. I look forward to it!
Merry Christmas my friend!
Aw, love your Christmas card Jennifer. You have the sweetest family.
I’m going to take some time this week and next as well, just doing a few posts.
Have a Merry Christmas my dear!
xoxo
This was one of my favourite Christmas cards. The back has several photos too. We try to do a picture card for everyone since we rarely get around to visiting all of the family.
Merry Christmas my friend!
xoxo
What a great year!! Love the blog pause idea. And 40 looks WONDERFUL on you! You look so young and fun :) Wish I could hang out with you! :-p
I’m looking forward to the blog pause… and having more time with family.
I totally don’t feel 40 — that’s what matters right?!
Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful update, Jennifer! I love your Christmas card/photo there at the end too. I definitely understand that tug of war you refer to regarding blogging. It is a wonderful venture and also a time consuming one. You are forty and fabulous, my friend! Merry Christmas!
I’m glad you enjoyed my update Sanz!
I need to try to let go of my expectations of blogging and just enjoy it as much as possible.
I feel 40 and fabulous! Thank you!
Merry Christmas to you as well.
xoxo
Happy birthday! <3 I love the idea of a workout tip jar!
I don't know if I'll have the time to commit myself to blogging as much next year either, so I've decided to just take it a day at a time and not stress about it. This is supposed to be my outlet, so if it's causing my stress, I'm doing something wrong! :P
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! :]
Thank you!
I love my workout tip jar — I just have to contribute to it more often *wink*
You’re right, blogging should not be causing so much stress. I know I have to “let go of it” a little bit more.
Merry Christmas to you as well.
When it comes to blogging, I only post once a week because life gets hectic and the last thing I want is to wind up HATING blogging because I am just stressed that I am not going to post “in time”. The thing about blogging is, you’re your own boss so you make the rules!!! You can do whatever you want ;)
Posting once a week would definitely cut down on the “stress” of it, that’s for sure. You’re right about being your own boss… good point. I think I’ve been a tough boss last year. This year, I hope to lighten things a bit more.
Thanks for stopping by GiGi!
It is good to evaluate and take stock of our activities. I am glad I met you this year. Hope your kids are recovered? Regarding growth of the blog, relax keep all in God’s hands. O.K?
Do have a splendid Christmas.
God Bless.
I’m “The Deliberate Mom” because I reflect – all, the, time. LOL
I’m glad we met as well. You’re right about handing my blog over to God. I need to do that daily… otherwise I get overwhelmed and carried away.
Merry Christmas!
Lovely post about a lovely person!
Good for you on taking a blog pause. I am doing that too! I think we need time to just be and not always be doing :)
Wishing you and yours a wonderful and joyous Holiday season!
Awww, thanks Jen.
I’m looking forward to the blog pause. We all need time to rest and recharge every once in a while.
Merry Christmas my friend!
My mind is always running a mile a minute. My body, not so much, LOL. I do have plans that include working on myself, body, mind and soul in the new year! Enjoy your blog pause! Merry Christmas to you and your family! See you next year!
So I have a confession to make Echo… I never get excited about new years. I usually say BAH HUMBUG to resolutions but this year I am full of excitement and hopes and dreams and plans! It’s crazy!
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
Hope you have a very merry Christmas!
We had a lovely Christmas. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well.
I totally get what you mean about feeling wiser. When I was younger, I used to hear people say they would never want to go back to their younger days. I couldn’t understand why then, but I certainly do now. LOVE how you are writing Scripture in calligraphy. Brilliant! Enjoy your blogging break and Christmas with your family. Blessings to you and yours.
I love feeling wiser… it’s great!
I’m really enjoy writing scripture in Calligraphy; it’s helping me process what I read. It takes me a few days to write out one Chapter but I read the whole chapter, then do a bit of calligraphy. I repeat this daily until I’ve written the entire chapter (which means I’ve read the whole chapter 4-5 times before I’m “done”. Then I write out a 1-2 page interpretation of the scripture. I’ve dedicated a complete journal to the proverbs but I think I’ll do the Psalms when I’m done Proverbs.
We had a wonderful Christmas — still celebrating today. I hope you had a lovely Christmas as well.
What a wonderful idea! I love it!
Thanks so much for sharing.
I hope your girls are all better.
Jennifer, I have to say that your calligraphy looks quite snappy to me! Very nice!
I’m eager to read your blog pause posts, too. (You remembered that I do this!)
Wishing you a terrific Christmas, my friend. Blessings and warmth and health and much love to you and yours.
LOL – I’m glad you like my calligraphy. The appearance is deceiving though because you don’t have the calligraphy instruction manual up right beside it. I imagine by the time I get through writing the Book of Proverbs it will improve greatly.
You INSPIRED me to do the blog pause — it was a brilliant idea. I also tagged/mentioned you in every blog pause post.
We had a lovely Christmas Robin. We celebrate with the inlaws today… so the festivities are still going on. I hope you had a beautiful Christmas as well.
Wishing you and your family many blessings.
xoxo
I have been THE WORST at commenting on my favorite blogs the last couple of weeks. I was feeling the same emotions as you regarding the blog, I was actually feeling somewhat stressed as to how I wanted to go into 2015 that it was all I could muster to even get the last remaining posts out for 2014. Anyway, I’m really looking forward to seeing where you take your blog this year. You inspire me not only blog wise but mama wise! Also, I REALLY loved reading that you were not anxious to turn 40. It’s reassuring to hear other women make comments like that because I feel like society EXPECTS us to freak out every year we age. So thank you for that! I hope you had a happy birthday! See you in the New Year my friend!
Jessica, prior to my blog pause I was so overwhelmed with thoughts about the future of my blog. I have been working so HARD on it– my efforts are reflected in my social media growth but not in my actual pageviews (I think Google hates me). Anyway, I’m excited about the new year and my blog pause allowed me to put things in perspective and to really plan for the new year.
You’re right about society expecting us to freak out when we age. I had so many people cluck their tongues and sympathetically ask how I feel turning 40. I loved grinning ear to ear and declaring that it’s awesome.
Happy New Year Jessica!
xoxo
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! You really do look great at 40, and I’m hoping that when my time comes I can feel similarly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
It was a lovely Christmas and a peaceful New Year! I’m looking forward to 2015… 2014 was rough.
Thanks for the compliment. I totally don’t “feel” 40… that’s what matters right?!
Happy New Year Charlee!
xoxo
I I love these posts so much. Your not just 40, you’re top 40!! I’m definitely an embrace and never ever feel bad about it. Everyday is a gift! I’m happy to be alive, period. Happy birthday!!!
Lol at eating bad and all that. I definitely added a new set of healthy “habits” to my resolution list. I put it in quotes because they’re not habits yet lol
Awww, thanks Rebecca – I’ll take top 40! Thanks for the birthday wishes.
I’m eating better now that it’s the New Year. Christmas tempts me with far too many delectable treats – that’s for sure.
Forty and FABULOUS!! One more year & I’m right behind you :) Makes sense that our birthdays are right near each other – mine’s 12/30. So glad to have connected with you in blog-land!!! xx
Thank you… I’m feeling FABULOUS! How cool that we’re so close in age. Too bad we didn’t live closer… I’m certain we would be hanging out discussing all things pretty, blogging, and homeschooling *wink*.
I’m delighted we connected in bloggy-land as well!
Happy New Year!