The Helper

I am "the helper." This word has been on my heart for about 8 months.  When it first came to mind, I had no idea I will begin studying the Enneagram and find out that my type was literally known as "the helper," or that I would be reading 100 Days to Brave, by Annie F. Downs and exploring my calling; but when I think of what I do and what I want to do, I have trouble finding a more accurate word to describe myself. So now that I am committed to this role (calling as some may see it) how do I live it out?

I play a ton of roles on a daily basis: wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, counselor, educator, Christian (actually, place that word in front of each of the rest!)...each provides me an opportunity to be a helper and I love that! I love that I am a helper to my husband as he leads our family and provides for us. I love that I help my children navigate young adulthood. I get to go to work and help and encourage students as they journey through their lives and plan for their future.  I get to help my parents who set the example of being helpers for my brother and I. I get to help where help is needed. Is this always an easy task? NOPE! Is it a role that gets me tons of praise? Absolutely not, and I am working on being okay with that. When I choose to be a helper, I am not doing it for the praise or because it is the easiest thing for me to do. I am doing it because I truly believe it is what God has called me to do where I am, with what I have.

Here's the coolest thing about being a helper: I have a HELPER with me daily. God has sent His Spirit to be with me, to guide me and help me help others.  When I became a counselor, I thought that it was comforting to remember that Jesus was all about helping people. The old hymn Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus is To Me  even names Him a counselor:

Wonderful, wonderful 

Jesus is to me

Counselor, Prince of Peace

Mighty God is He

Saving me, keeping me

From my sin and shame

Wonderful is My Redeemer 

Praise His Name!*

Now full disclosure, I looked up the words this morning to make sure I got them just right and found I have been singing this song around the house and getting it a little bit wrong! I was actually singing "Helping Me, Keeping Me" instead of "Saving Me"! I will pray forgiveness, but I really think helping me fits too (although the saving part is more important). 

So today, on the first day of the 2nd week of school, I prepare my heart and mind (and body with a big ole' cup of coffee) to go out and be a helper. It is not the most glamorous of jobs, but it is an important one that I take on gladly and thankfully. 

Before I go...Check out this cool coffee cup that I got from a site call "Enneagram and Coffee"! Thanks to my sweet daughter for telling me about them! It sits on my desk at work as a reminder of my calling.

*Lyrics found at https://gospelchoruses.wordpress.com

July/August Books

Ending the summer with a couple of Beach Reads (actually get to read them on the beach this year!). "The Summer of Chasing Dreams" is one I found on a Google list that just sounded good to me. "Party Girl" is by Rachel Hollis, the author of last month's book that I loved. After reading of the how this novel came about, I just had to read it. I love my non-fiction books that help me be a better me, but I also believe in the power of losing yourself in a fun, easy read.  It feels great to escape for a time into another world.

My non-fiction picks are "Love Does" by Bob Goff and a devotional book called "100 Days of Brave".  Goff's book is one I have had recommended on several years ago and just haven't gotten around to reading. To be honest, it was just a time in life when I was not prioritizing working on myself. I was deep in raising kids, earning a Master's and being a good wife. I believed I had little time for "reading for pleasure." I came across this title again recently and mentioned it to my daughter, she was adamant that I had to read it. She said everyone on her college campus was obsessed with Bob Goff. Not that I am trying to keep up with the college kids, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! I chose the devotional book because I like to be armed with a good one when school starts back. This one follows along some of the things I learned in "Girl, Wash Your Face" and it has journal prompts!!!

Putting It Into Practice

What a wonderful summer I have had!  I won't call it done yet because even though I am back to work, the kids are still out. So, for another week I will keep the summer in my heart and carry on with a more relaxed pace. However, something has become increasingly clear to me in the last week and a half: Now is the time to see what I am really made of. I have to take all the knowledge I have gained about myself, my dreams and goals and loving others and put it into practice. YIKES!!!!

It is so easy to make plans for how I will react to certain situations as I sit in my beloved worn in recliner with my coffee next to me. It is totally different when I am at work with people who don't know or care that I have been reading all of these great books trying to better myself. When I feel annoyed, or unappreciated, or forgotten...that is when the true test comes. Can I really live this life I want for myself?

I bought a coffee mug (coffee if my favorite!) a couple years ago that has a simple statement on it: Live the Story You Want To Tell. That statement has stayed with me. I use this favorite cup weekly and I even made the statement my tag line at the bottom of my work email. You know that little saying you see after people's name, that thing. I don't know if anyone else has paid attention to it, but I like knowing that I am sharing this great truth with the world. We can't just say we are going to be good people, we have to live it! Isn't that what Jesus has called us to do?

So as I go to work and the grocery store today I will live the story I want to tell. A story of a helper who happily rejoices in living a Holy, healthy, healing, hopeful, happy, hospitable,  hard-working, honest, honourable, hygge(y) way of life. I won't kid myself. It will be tough some days, but I will keep faith in the God who created me to be me and I will Live the Story I Want to Tell.

Catching Up on the Books

I promise this post will not be as long as the last! Just wanted to mention my latest reading material! In April, May, June I read 3 books and started my current one about 2 weeks ago. I have done Facebook live book talks on most of them and plan to do another later this week. Here are the books!

Fasting, Smoothie Bowls and Summer

So clearly I have a ways to go before becoming a serious blogger! I had no idea I haf not posted in 4 months. But life does sometimes get in the way of the best intentions. As I continue on this journey of intentional living, healing and self-realization I am learning to keep my commitments to myself so I hope to do better with my posting here.

Fasting...Intermittent Fasting, that is, has been a game changer for me. After my back issues started to ease I knew I had to get rid of some weight (or a lot of weight if I am being honest) to take pressure off my joints. I tried my go-to clean eating, but it just wasn't cutting it this time. I LOVE bread and I LOVE sweets (refined sugar and all) so the thought that I would give them up for good...not gonna happen. Somewhere along the way, my hubby mentioned that someone from work was doing intermittent fasting and only ate between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. While I applauded the dedication of anyone who could go that long without food, I dismissed it as a possibility because I was not about to skip my beloved Arbonne smoothie for breakfast. Fastforward to mid-March when we returned from Spring break and I saw myself in the pictures. Oh Mama! Bad, bad, bad. I decided right then and there that as soon as I had dinner that night, I was starting IF.  I started with gusto and only ate from 11 or 12 until dinner for a week and then emailed a friend to tell her of my endeavor (she is super great at encouragement so I knew she wouldn't tell me I had lost my mind). The next day I got a response and, low and behold, she was doing IF too! She told me about an awesome book called "Delay Don't Deny" that had helped her on her journey. I immediately added to my reading list and haven't looked back. Most days I do a 20:4 fast (Fasting 20 hours and eating what I want I a 4 hour window). Today my friend and I are doing a full day fast together. It is tough here in hour 23, but I am not breaking my commitment to my friend or myself. I feel great doing IF, I am losing some weight (marathon style, not a sprint) and my body is trimmer and leaner than in a long time!

Because I have chosen the IF way of life, I now make sure I eat the things I enjoy. This doesn't mean Diary Queen burgers and blizzards for every meal (but I won't deny that I enjoy them on occasion). It means that I choose foods that taste great and are made with the best ingredients. Enter smoothie bowls. I am way late on joining the group of folks that swear by these amazing concoctions, but I am in love! As I said earlier, I was hesitant to try IF because I did not want to give up my smoothies. Smoothie Bowls provide me a healthy way to open my eating window with plenty of protein and vitamins from fresh fruits and veggies. I am enjoying playing around with the recipes and have a little work to do before becoming a smoothie bowl "artist" but here are a couple of pics. The top is a mixed berry with chocolate, coconut, berries and granola on top and the bottom is peanut butter and banana!

Oh, how I love summer! As an educator, summer is a time for me to rest, relax and reset. Time to explore new interests or re-visit hobbies I've put to the side (painting!). Time to really focus on becoming my best self.  This summer I have made and am making (I officially have 2 weeks of summer break remaining) changes that I plan to keeping for the rest of my days. 

Sunday Afternoon Pie

This post is a week (and one day) late due to our house being overtaken by a general case of "yuck". Last week, while shopping at a big box store, my husband and I came to a table of baked goods. We had just eaten, so there was no reason for us to be so tempted by the sugary, carb-loaded goodness before us...but we were. I maintained all the will-power I had when we looked at the chocolate bundt cake and brownies and then he saw it --the biggest pecan pie I had ever seen. He wanted so badly to buy it, but I said "No! If you want pecan pie I will make you one!"

You see, pecans have a special place in my heart (if a nut is allowed such a place). I have memories of picking up pecans with my Granny at my grandparents house on the family farm when I was a child. We always had pecans in the freezer. I don't ever remember my mom buying any at the grocery store. When I got married, I got my own freezer bag of cracked pecans. When Blake and I were first married, as he left for work one summer day he made a comment about me making him a pie. I don't remember exactly what he said, but I did it. I made him a homemade pecan pie and he was so surprised! He loved it and a love of baking was born.

Over the years I have made pies for Thanksgiving or just here and there throughout the year when we needed some special dessert to hit the spot. Always completely homemade, crust and all. I am a messy baker and my pies aren't always pretty, but they usually taste pretty good and are a labor of love.

So on a cold Sunday afternoon, I sat in front of the television and watched a Hallmark movie while I shelled pecans for my pie. I have to say, it might be the prettiest one I have made in a while. Pie and coffee with my boys...just perfect. A bit of hygge -- a cozy moment surrounded by people and things that I love.

Books 2 and 3

The Book Share Experiment has gotten off to a great start! I still get super nervous and hyper-critical about my Live Posts, but everyone is so kind with their comments! So far, two books have been finished and sent to the next reader. I can't wait to get word that they have been passed along! My dream is one day seeing one of the books and reading the messages written inside the covers by each of the readers. Just to see that journey sounds amazing.

Below are pictures of Books 2 and 3.  My first two books of the year were non-fiction, so I decided to go with a fiction read for Book 3.  When I announced it on Facebook, I received mixed reviews so I am excited to see what I think.