Dreams: Let's speak them into existence!

When my sister was still here, but fighting cancer, we had a lot of talks about our dreams. I was at a crossroads about whether I even wanted to remain teaching or not.

She suggested a book, that someone else had suggested to her called Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff.

So I bought it. It's REALLY good. One of the things in the book talks about thinking about the phrase "I'm a ____, but I want to be a ____". What you are versus what your dream is.

I figured when I read the book, I needed to figure out my dream.

Another thing he talks about in the book is that you have to really reflect on what makes you happy, what makes your dream what you are passionate about.

So, I thought of all the things that make me happy: my sister, kids, animals, the camp on "It Takes Two", the camp we went to when we were kids, the camp my sister and I helped work one summer at Victory Junction Gang Camp.

And my dream started to form.

A camp.

My dream is to have a camp. A camp where kids can come and grow, where they can do things they normally wouldn't do, where they can learn about and how to do things they may not normally be interested in, where they tune out the social media world and focus on the present.

But why stop there! I want to include a barn and mini farm, a place where we can rescue animals that need love and let kids learn how to care for them and learn what responsibility is.

But why stop there! Camp is all about learning about yourself, but also team building. So why stop with kids. I want my camp to be open to adults as well. Companies, groups, and friends can come learn about themselves, but also team build.

My idea is that camp is open to kids all throughout the year when school is out of session (summer break, fall break, spring break). Adults and companies could book between those sessions. I can have special weeks like Victory Junction Gang Camp does for kids and families with illnesses.

This is my DREAM!

I'm speaking it out loud because I believe so much that prayer and talking about a dream will help it come true!

Just look at my son! I wanted to be a mom and I followed that dream until it came true!

This past weekend I told my niece and nephew about my dream. It was the first time I really talked about it since my sister died. The excitement they had about it got me excited about it again.

And then I realized when looking in my son's eyes, and seeing the excitement my Littles had about my dream, that I need to quit talking about it and start working on it.

One way I hope to get started on it is to write a book or two and make money from them to fund it.

So, coming sometime in the future....

Camp Crazy Strong

Strong and Steadfast

I LOVE everything about 2018! I chose the word ADVENTURE for my focus in 2018 and it definitely was filled with adventure. When I look at my list of adventures that I wanted to have in 2018, I did accomplish several: I lost weight and decluttered my house, but the biggest and BEST adventure was becoming a MOMMY!

I loved my adventure so much and the idea of adventure, that I plan to continue to seeking adventure in 2019. I'll post soon about my adventures if you want to join.

My primary reason for tonight's post is about my word(s) for 2019. Since 2009, I've chosen words, either to focus on throughout the year, or in reflection of my year that I feel best represented that year. You can see those here and here. It's neat to look back and see how much each word or phrase truly represented that year or helped me focus on something I wanted to work on.

Reflecting on 2018 and looking forward to 2019, I really wanted to choose a word or words that would help me keep my momentum of happiness, joy, and peace that I have found in 2018. I also just started to listen to my own heart through my prayers and listen to what God was laying on my heart.

I had a few words in mind, but when walking through Hobby Lobby and thinking about those words, God reached up and nudged me to choose my first word: STRONG

When I thought about using STRONG as my word, I thought about all of the aspects that this can apply to in my life. Since having my sweet boy, I know I have changed my thinking about a lot of things. I am the single parent by choice. I'm raising a son that I want to grow up to be a good man. When I think of STRONG, I think of being strong in the 4 Fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness.

Number 1 priority is to grow my faith, so that I can help cultivate my little man's faith. I have to be the example to him and help him grow in Christ.

Another priority is to grow those strong relationships with Family and Friends. I'm close to so many people and I want to make sure I keep that up. Plus, my family and friends are my village for my "son"shine. He needs to see me strengthening those relationships, praying for them, and living the word for them.

Now that I have my little buddy, I am more motivated than ever to get healthy. Notice, I didn't say skinny or fit necessarily, but healthy and STRONG. I want to be able to play sports with my kid and run and play with him. I want to be able to do those things without being totally out of breath or worn out after 5 minutes. Me getting healthy and STRONG, is as much for him as it is for me.

I'm not just stuck on the 4 Fs to be STRONG, but I know if I begin with these 4 areas to focus on being Strong, it will snowball and continue in other aspects.

Now, you may be wondering why my post is titled Strong and Steadfast. As I really started looking at and figuring out my word for the year, God laid on my heart that I've been here and tried this before; I've said I would grow my faith by reading and studying the Bible more, that I would spend more time with friends and family, that I would work out and get fit...

So knowing my heart, God told me I need to be STEADFAST in my endeavors this year.

Of course, I wanted to know more about this word, so naturally I looked up the definitions to make sure I understand it:

resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

Synonyms: loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, steady, true, constant, solid, trusty

So, yep! 2019 I will be STRONG and STEADFAST in all that I do. It's no longer just about me, it's about my baby boy too.