Small steps add up to big accomplishments, keep on keepin' on

2020 has been a big, hot mess. The world is upside down and it's been a stressful year. But, don't stop achieving your goals, dreaming your dreams and moving forward. 

Eight years ago I had a goal to get in shape and create an exercise routine. I wanted to get in a daily routine because I knew if I formed a habit I would have better success. At the time that seemed impossible because I had three boys at home and worked full time managing my business. Life was busy.

So, like a lot of people do I made a New Year's resolution to work out more. I tried Pure Barre and it was the hardest yet best work out I had ever done. My long time friends know my love for ballet and the many years I dedicated to the art. I never found anything I loved as much as ballet but when I discovered Pure Barre I finally found I work out I loved again.

I made time for me, made an appointment for myself every week day morning at 8:30 and I held firmly to that time. Once I realized the mental and physical benefits Pure Barre gave me I knew it was ok to be "selfish" to give myself time each day because it always made my days better and it was also better for those around me too. It changed my outlook and gave me much more energy. 

I started with class three days a week and eventually increased it to 4-5 days per week. After I hit my 100 class mark I decided I was going to keep going. I wanted to get to 1,000! So I did life and kept taking classes, it became a part of my daily life. And, life sure happened along the way. We walked though the illness and passing of two parents, moving a business, and 2 boys graduating high school and moving to college. But all of this was more manageable because I had my time at the barre. 

And, oh the ladies I have met along the way! They are the most fantastic ladies, all in different phases of life facing different challenges. God placed some amazing women in my life every morning, they have each taught me something new. The best advice I ever received was to find at least one friend 10 years younger than you ( they can keep your outlook updated ) and one friend 10 years older than you (they have perspective to share). I see those friends every morning in my class, how awesome is that?!

So, eight years later, I achieved my 1,000 class goal today. That equates to 830 hours of total body work outs and over 25 hours of holding a plank. To me it equates to a goal achieved, and a reminder that no matter how long it takes to get there, achieving goals is a great feeling. Never stop setting goals and always keep on keep'n on. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other and before you know it you will look up and you have crushed the goal! 

Was it easy to accomplish this? No, it took time, dedication and persistence. Some mornings I did not want to go, I was exhausted, over scheduled and sore. A lot of times I had clothes in my car to change into for work, I have to plan the night ahead to make sure I can finish my work each day. Often in the beginning (when the weather allowed) I took my dog with me because she was used to going with me to work so she would sit in my car and patiently wait for me to finish class and off we would go. Was it worth it? 100% yes!

How can you do it? I know you can, if I can, you can!

1. Find an exercise you love, don't stop until you find it. You will feel better, look better and communicate better

2. Make time for it, you deserve it 

3. Set a goal

4. Take small steps every day to achieve the goal 

5. While you are working on the goal don't forget to look around you, God will place people in your life along the way, He's amazing like that. 

6. Keep it simple and stick to the routine

"Stand firm, and you will win life." Luke 21:19

"But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”2 Chronicles 15:7

#luvlivebig

Grace and Peace,

Misty

The love of a daddy

The love of a daddy is never forgotten. I miss my dad every day, he's been with Jesus for over four years. Father's Day weekend the past four years has been hard, but this year it's a little easier. I think it's because I'm able to focus on all of the gifts he gave me and my boys. The fog has cleared a little, and I'm seeing all of the the great things he taught us. These things that are so woven in our lives, and I did not have the ability to see they were given to me from him until now. I've always said that grief is a nasty beast, we can not control it. But I have learned that we can live through it.

Thank you dad, for being you. He was a big influence in my life from the beginning. When I was little I remember his big laugh, he had a big presence in a room. He filled it with love the minute he walked in a room. Wow, look how young he was when I was born, a baby himself.

Thank you dad for teaching me to make the most of every day. He was loyal and and hard working and taught me to appreciate the little things along the way. Whenever he could, we would have fun as a family, at the beach or a water park and he was right in the middle playing along with all of us. When he passed away I started using the hashtag #luvlivebig because that is what he did, every day.

Thank you dad for teaching me my love of dance.  He loved to dance and was a fan of Kenny Rodgers, oh how I remember listening to The Gambler on the record player. I think Kenny was the sound track of my youth. He taught me the classic dances and always said that my ballet training would not be enough, I needed to know how to fox trot and waltz and he wanted to be the one to teach me. We would spin around in the den and I will always remember his smile and the laughter.

Thank you dad for giving me my love for the beach. He loved going to the beach every summer and he taught me that sunrises were magical and you could find the best sea treasures in the early morning hours. I would often join him on his early morning walks. He was a quiet soul much like me and we would walk for an hour without speaking along the water's edge picking up treasures along the way. From these walks, I learned that I needed quiet time every morning to best prepare for the day. I still wake up early most mornings while the  house is quiet and enjoy this time. Thank you dad for letting me walk along beside you on those beach mornings, they are some of my favorite memories. 

Thank you dad for your gift with words. He was creative and had a natural gift with words. I also love to write and I am so grateful for all the cards and letters he wrote me over the years. Reading his words mean so much and I love seeing his handwriting, 

Thank you dad for you love of Southern food and BBQ. My favorite was always his gravy and biscuits. He would roll out the home made biscuits with a M, S and T for all of his kids and his gravy was the very best. Breakfast will always be my favorite meal and the one I like to prepare most for my family. When I was out of college and working he still made me a home made breakfast platters to go every morning and when I was living on my own, some mornings I would walk out of my apartment to find a hot plate of gravy and biscuits on my door step with a note. He could BBQ like no other. Every time I smell backyard BBQ I think of him. 

Thank you dad for being the best Pops to my boys. You loved them all BIG and were their biggest fans. Whenever something happens in their lives I want to call you. Then I realize, you already know and I can see your big smile and can hear you telling them Way to go! Your love for them will never fade, it was just so big in life and will never end. 

Happy Father's Day in heaven Pops. Until I see you again I will continue to do my best to honor you each day and we will all keep on keepin' on just like you taught us. #luvlivebig

Grace and Peace, 

Misty 

Valentine's Day- Love one another

Valentine's Day is a few days away and it's a good time to tell the people in our lives how much we love them. I am grateful to share the day with my family but not everyone has a special person or people with whom they can enjoy the day.


This Valentine's will you consider taking a few minutes to make someone feel special, someone who might often be overlooked? We all have a story and we all have battles we fight every day. We never know what someone else is facing or how a kind word, smile or small gift might make a big impact.


A few years ago my neighbor lost her husband to a heart attack. We did not know them that well but we always said hello and waved when we saw them in their yard or on a walk. My heart broke for her when she suddenly lost her husband and found herself alone with two college aged sons.


The first year she was a widow my oldest son took her a bouquet of flowers with a note on Valentine's morning. It was a simple gesture and we just wanted her to know she was loved. God placed her on my heart that year and every year since one of my boys has taken her flowers on Valentine's morning.  I've never told anyone what we did and I have not spoken directly to her about it as we aren't looking for recognition. I'm writing about it now to give you an idea of what you could do for someone.


Do you know a widow, a single mom, the school crossing guard, the school lunch attendant, the cashier at Walgreens who always smiles when you check-out? Who is God placing on your heart today?


It does not have to be expensive or elaborate. A kind word and hug go a long way.


"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.


Grace and Peace,
Misty

A mama's heart knows...

A mama's heart is unique, it holds great wisdom, it's big and full of love for her children and it knows. It knows when her child needs her, it knows when her child is hurting, it knows when her child has something to celebrate and it also knows when she has to let her child fall down, learn and grow. Some call it intuition, or a gut feeling. I call it my mama's heart.

A mama's heart worries, it hurts, it silently cries for her children. It's unique by design. God gave children moms for very specific reasons and their hearts help them fulfill God's purpose. Luke wrote, “and his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:51

God tells us in Proverbs “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9 

My mama heart is hurting right now for other moms. Moms who have lost their children. My heart is broken in a million pieces for them. But yet there is still light among the broken pieces, because in Jesus there is always hope. 

I knew their children and my boys were friends with them. Precious Bailey Purkey was the lifeguard at our summer time pool and graduated high school with Bryce. Her brother Jake, is a good friend of my Drew's. Bailey traveled to Brazil for missions trips with Drew and was involved in youth group with both Bryce and Drew. God called her home at the young age of 21. A beautiful, kind, loving young lady now has a new home in heaven. I'll never understand why she had to suffer with cancer. But,God tells us this world is not our home. We are just passing through and Bailey touched many lives in this world. Maybe God knew it was time for her to fulfill her purpose with Him in heaven.  My mama's heart knows it is beautiful there. But, my heart still hurts for her family because I'm a mom and I can not even begin to imagine the sense of loss and heartbreak they are walking through. 

Clint McCollom was a good friend of my Drew's. Looking back. I realize God knew they needed each other and their paths crossed just two years ago when Drew met Clint his Junior year in high school. They had an instant connection and found solitude from the world at the skate park and driving in Clint's jeep with the top down. They were two young adults trying to figure it out, that age can be tough and they were walking alongside each other as friends. I'll never understand why he lost his life at age 19. Seems like it was just beginning, he was going down a great job path and was having success. From my understanding he had grown closer to Jesus in the days prior to his death. I never thought I would see my 18 year old son walking behind his 19 year old friends casket and help carry it to the hearse and speak at his friend's funeral. Maybe God knew it was a good time to call him home. I will never know why but I'm hanging on to the hope that Clint loved Jesus because I know his sweet family and friends will see him again. 

So, my "whys" will not be answered in this life. But God tells us over and over again in the bible that this world is not our home. 

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," Philippians 3:20

In John 16:33 Jesus says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” I am taking hope in the knowledge that He has overcome the world and all things work to the good for those who serve Him. 

I have been a new mom, a single mom, a working mom, a stay at home mom, a mom to three children in many of life phases, with the most recent college phase. I have not been a mom grieving the loss of my child. But my mama's heart knows they have a hole in their heart that will not be filled in this life and I will pray for them every day. I am devastated for them yet I see the light because the light is Jesus and in Him there is hope. 

#luvlivebig

Grace and Peace, 
Misty