A couple of weeks ago I announced my excitement to have been chosen to be an Ambassador for iBloom and invited you to join me on a journey to learning how to live a life you love.  Then, a few days ago, I told you all about the awesome New Year’s Party taking place tonight!  Don’t worry, it isn’t too late – RSVP now!

This week, I am diving in to the first chapter in iBloom’s book “iChoose2 Love my Life”. The book has 52 chapters, 1 for each week.  Ideally, I would have started this January 1st, but, well, you know.  ;-)

So, anyway, the first chapter asks you to (gulp!) take an honest look at how your life is going and where you are wanting it to go.  Tough to truly take a look and really face that, isn’t it?  My default mode is to just do the next thing that is obvious to me that needs to be done.  Make dinner, brush the little guys’ teeth, help someone with homework, work on a project for one of my bosses.  I tend to just stay so busy – until something falls apart and then I’m desperate to have changes made.  Then I turn into the crazy mom my kids have become way too familiar with.  You know, setting up new schedules and ‘solutions’ to make every change imaginable…TODAY.  Am I alone there? (please, humor me and tell me that I’m not alone)

Well, I guess now is as good of a time as any to just pull back the covers and really get honest.  It’ll be a pleasant change of pace to give this some thought without feeling like a mad woman.  While I have had this time prior to writing this post, I would really (genuinely) love for you to go through this journey with me.  I want to encourage you to take just a few (okay maybe 30) minutes and find a quite place to reflect, meditate and pray over the questions that will follow. Let me encourage you that today is a great time to make the choice to truly love your life and to be intentional with your time, talents, and treasures.  Doesn’t that sound great?

I’ve already shared that this year I intend to take steps in making improvments.  I am going to have a monthly focus of a habit that I need to put on or take off.  However, in addition to that, I am also going to go through this book with a bunch of other ladies that I have become (virtual) friends with…and you (?)!   As I go through the book I am going to be sharing my answers to the weekly questions, and I’ll be sharing any “aha!” moments that I have along the way.  I hope that my progress will be evident – possibly even in my writing (and in my consistency).  If you are joining me on this journey (and again, I would love it!), please let me know you are by leaving a comment on this and the future weekly posts.  I know that I would cherish the support, and I’d like to return that encouragement to you.  Come on, let’s celebrate our successes together!

The questions and answer from Chapter 1 are as follows:

My iChoose2 Love my Life journey begins: Jan 7, 2013

What is going well? I have a lot of great people in my life.  Both in person people as well as my ‘virtual’ friends that I have never met in person but have grown to know and to care for.  The tremendous amount of support I had while going through the final months of my mother’s life was overwhelming to me.  I have a truly wonderful husband that works incredibly hard to meet our needs – and never complains.  I have six of the best kids God ever created.  I love my job as a virtual executive assistant.  I really enjoy the work I do for each of my three clients.

What is not going well?  I am convicted of a number of changes that need to be made in our home.  The primary thing that jumps out at me when I ponder that question is that my kids do not have the proper respect for me.

What needs to change?  I need to improve in the area of discipline.  This spills over into just about every single area of my life – my relationship with the Lord, my family, health, work, and church.  You name it, my sorry state of self-discipline is my biggest hurdle.

One year from today when you complete this journey, what do you hope will be different?  I desire to really, really get into a good habit of spending time in God’s word.  I want the changes that I know would come from that change alone.  I want my kid’s to love and respect me.  I want a home environment where we all enjoy each other.

So, there it is.  That is me – out there and vulnerable.  I really want this to impact my life and the lives of others.  I hope this will do that.  Please share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

Here is to a great 2013!!