Are you moving strong…or, still stuck?

Are you ready…or, are you a bit reluctant?

Busting at the seams to kick off your New Year…or, are you just sick at the thought of yet another year?

Reaching your resolutions…or…are they already a bust?

Are there things that you would really like to see changed by January 2013? TODAY is the day to make that commitment! If you sincerely want to see change, you have to begin today!

Sunday was a MILESTONE. Did you miss it? It is not too late! Pull away for a bit today. Set your resolutions. Set reachable resolutions.

1. Start with an honest evaluation!

Where are you?
Are you where you want to be?
What do you want?
What do you need?
What is it going to take to get where you want to be?
Are there things that you want to see changed?

Don’t get locked into the same old, same old repetive behaviours. Don’t get stuck in the same old rut. If we are not moving forward, reaching for resolutions, goals, and dreams, we are not living the life that Christ died to give us. Where are you now?

2. Set goals!

Today, set a goal! It is your NEXT STEP. You may not be able to get where you want to go TODAY…or this week…or this month…or even this year. However, don’t let that keep you stuck in a rut!

Today, look at where you want to go. Get a vision! Can you reach it? Do you believe that you can? Well, set goals, steps, to get there. Don’t think it is possible? Well, ask yourself–what IS possible? What do you think you CAN DO? Let’s set goals to get moving toward that! Don’t let yourself get stuck! Set goals that will make your proud!

Test your goals all along the way– is it….

• Small–Small enough to reach with ONE STEP? Baby steps?
• Clear–Can you see how to get there or is it still FUZZY? Make sure it is FOCUSED!
• Purposeful–We must have PURPOSE or otherwise we will fail, fade out, give in to excuses, get distracted, quit, go astray, procrastinate, get off track and misdirected, and GET STUCK!
• Actionable–A goal that you CAN and WILL dare to take action, massive action, to accomplish NOW. Not a wish. Something that you are READY TO DO.
• Specific–What, why, and by when? Describe it? Be specific about what you want, why you want it, when you want it done! BE SPECIFIC–the more specific the more likely you will be to reach it!
• Definable–It isn’t a goal unless you can define what you want. Otherwise, it is just a WISH.
• Definitive–Get an idea of when you can accomplish it! Set a deadline! No more maybe’s or someday’s. Let’s set a date! Let’s set a deadline of when you can do THIS!
• Reachable, doable, attainable–No more self-sabotage! Self-sabotage is when we set a goal that we KNOW is just impossible from where we are. We let ourselves down. Then, we get into a place where we don’t believe ourselves any more. Don’t self-sabotage! Set goals that are just out of reach and get moving toward them. You can attain it! You can do it! You can reach it!
• Realistic–No more pie in the sky goals! Slow down and get realistic! Otherwise, your goals and resolutions will frustrate you and discourage you. You will LOSE your motivation! Let’s set smaller, REAL goals.
• Measurable–Be EXACT and VERY SPECIFIC about what you want! You need to be able to measure it. Otherwise, you won’t know what is neeeded. Also, you will never know when you have got there!
• WRITTEN–Write it out! Write it out TODAY! “Goals not in writing are just wishes.” Brain dump! Get those goals out of your head and onto paper! Put them on your calendar. Plan it out–with LOTS OF MARGIN! Put them into your to-do’s each day. Focus on each task until done!

3. Get MOVING!

So many people never even try to reach for their resolutions, goals and dreams.

• They immediately discard them.
• They don’t slow down to truly SET THEM.
• They trip up and quit.
• They can’t seem to work them in.
• And, many never get going because they never take that first step.

I have been asking God to show me when I am not moving forward in an area, to help me know that first step, and to give me the power to get moving. That first step is the key! In fact, my preacher said this weekend that the hardest part of working out is “to tie your tennis shoes.” Why? It is that FIRST STEP!

My dear friend, what is that FIRST STEP?

I know it can be scary. I know it can be intimidating. But, today, ask God to show you those areas where you have not been moving forward–building a godly marriage, quiet times, ministering to the hearts of your children, getting out of debt, building a business of your own, getting fit and healthy, getting your home decluttered, etc. Ask Him to show you what He wants for you to do and to show you that first step so you can get up and get moving–He will! Ask him to empower you and give you everything you need as you step out. My sweet friend, HE WILL! Just get started with that first step! GET MOVING!

My dear friend, you have a NEW year ahead of you! It is time for a NEW BEGINNING! Dare to set your resolutions this year. Don’t let this year slip by. You CAN do it! Set those resolutions. Set goals to take you step-by-step toward your resolutions. Keep them before you. MOVE OUT! Celebrate your victories all along the way! You will reach your resolutions one step at a time–what is your step today?

Need more help? Don’t miss our retreat! Reach Your Resolutions with me! Learn more here!

On this trip, I was able to check off three, yes three, of my biggies on “My Bucket List.” It was a spectacular trip! And, it was more than just the trip or the place, God was speaking to my heart the whole way. In fact, He is still teaching me lessons from Italy and we have been home a week! Just today, He taught me another lesson as I opened my laptop! REALLY! Well, stick with me….

Before I left for Italy, I was on stress overload. I was hoping that Italy would be my “catch-up” time. Well, OBVIOUSLY I had never travelled abroad, much less to Italy. Ha! Italy was perfect for my stress overload. I was forced to getaway, refresh, renew, unplug, and make sweet memories. It was incredible. In fact, I am forever changed from my trip to Italy–more on that in a bit.

BUT! I got NOTHING done.

Nothing.

All of those outlines, the research, and preparation are still there in my iPad–untouched…COMPLETELY. I didn’t get to work on any of my editing, writing, and definitely not any of my websites and web projects that are long, long, long overdue. Oh, let’s open up that iPad and give you a complete glimpse inside–I didn’t even get to watch the long list of movies and TV shows or read any of the new books on my Kindle app that I downloaded for the long flight.

Nope! I was as unplugged as I guess I could handle without getting stressed out–there was a period of 48 hours that I had NO INTERNET, NO EMAIL, NO TEXTING that was beginning to test me and I am so glad it was the last 48 hours of the trip.

Unplugged.

Well, except for only a few emergency emails and updates on Facebook so my family would not worry (and so they could kind of “take the trip” with me through photographs). Just those things ate up my battery charge for the day and the internet time I was allotted.

This was SO good for me!

I needed this getaway. It was just perfect! I got the perfect amount of rest, the perfect amount of romance (Well, I could always stand more of that but this was VENICE so you can imagine that I am just a romance-addict if I wanted more!!!), the perfect amount of going, the perfect amount of socialization (and new awesome friends!), the perfect amount of planning, the perfect amount of exercise, and even the perfect amount of Italian food, even Gelato (REALLY–I lost 7.5lbs!!).

Of course, that life-changing lesson that I mentioned earlier is what was really perfect and right on time.

Go back to when that lesson began. Right before the trip, I was on stress overload. Not really because of my calendar, which has been a problem before but I am always watching out for this one. Not really because of my mind, which has a tendency to take things way too serious and get way too analytical for my own good. It was not even because I was not managing stress well. It was all of the STUFF hitting me.

I did well. Looking back, I am amazed that I am not sitting in the corner somewhere rocking myself. That month before the trip was one of my all-time most stressful months ever. If you look at the list of life-stressers, I had almost all of them going on in the course of one month. SCARY! But, the hardest part was not all of the change, letting go, keeping on moving forward, feeling mushy (ALL OF THE TIME), it was the little things that just kept on pushing me when I was needing to get a grip on my totally new normal!

Have the little things? Of course!

That is what I noticed just a few minutes ago when I turned on the computer for the day. Well, first let me go back to my lesson…

Again, before the trip, I think the stress could best be pictured as a hurricane. Growing up in South Mississippi, I KNOW hurricanes. The devastation can come from the hurricane as a whole, but normally it is the little things that bring the most devastation–the floods, the tornadoes, the hail, the winds. In fact, when you are smack-dab-in-the-middle of the hurricane, things can seem very peaceful.

This is where I was as my husband began Law School, my daughter got married and moved to South Dakota with her husband (GO AIR FORCE!), our house was hit by a storm (still have the tree on the house), and on and on (this does not touch the list of things going on that month). It was not any of the big things that were stressing me out. I am very accustomed to life and having to roll with the flow. What was wearing away at me was all of the “life clutter” that was wearing away at me. The little things. The little crisis situations. The melt-downs (not by me or those I would expect). The constant push and pull. The messes everywhere SEEMING to need me to fix them.

Feel my pain?

Felt this yourself?

They were the things that were stressing me out.

I could not clearly see what was really bothering me in the midst of the storm. I just gave it all to the Lord. I know that is always the best thing to do, but it was a bit different. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t know what else TO DO. I knew that He would take care of everything and give me a peace that He had given sooo many other times before. And, He did. Well, along with a big lesson that I am not going to forget very easily.

Ready for that lesson?

If I want to live the life of my dreams, I am going to have to get rid of the little distractions, annoyances, stresses that are stealing away time, energy, focus, and clarity.

Things went on without me. This means two things:

1. If I can cut out as much as possible, I will have more time, energy, focus, and clarity to truly step up to the call God has for me.

2. These little things are stealing away more than just my calling, they are stealing away MY LIFE.

God has already been asking me for MONTHS to evaluate all that I do in the light of whether it is really important, vital, eternal. He has been asking me whether my options were trash, trinkets, or treasures. I have been getting that lesson down deep into the “crooks and crannies” of my heart and mind. The problem was in how to clean up things so that I don’t have so many distractions and little stresses. THAT is the part of the lesson that I want to share with you.

IF we are going to be able to work with focus, clarity, and intention, we MUST get rid of these crazy stresses in our lives–the little things. Oh! We might think that we can handle them, but can we? Really?

Do we find ourselves always stressed out?

Do we always feel pushed, pulled, about to fall apart?

Do we wonder where our time is going ALL THE TIME?

Do we wonder why we are not getting around to those things to do that help us reach for our dreams?

Do we wonder why we cannot seem to live the life that we THOUGHT we could live?

The trip to Italy gave me a clarity that I have been needing for a while. I know that I cannot control the changes that come in my life. I know that seasons will come and seasons will go–I embrace that! I know that there are always going to be choices that have to be made. I am good with all of that. However, sometimes I find myself almost drowning with the life clutter and I cannot even see it for what it is. This was one of those times.

So for today, my action steps for today are:

1. Relax. Do first things first–MY FIRST THINGS! IF there is time, energy, and clarity of mind left over, THEN I will allow someone else’s FIRST THINGS into my day. If not, I will take time for ME–quiet time, time for a walk, time for a jog, time for the gym, time to bake, time to scrapbook, time for romance, or even time for a nap. Those are the things that fill me up again and give me MORE to give out tomorrow. They MUST come before crisis situations, shiny objects, melt-downs, and, definitely, BUSYNESS!

2. No more allowing the constant crisis situations to rule my schedule. (!!!!) Do you know that NOTHING absolutely HAD TO HAVE ME while I I was in Italy? NOTHING. I have got to remember what Harold says all of the time, “Someone else’s crisis does not mean that it is MY emergency.” If I want to be able to really get things done, I am going to have to keep my eyes on the mark and not get distracted so easily!

3. People DO NOT have to have ME. (Sobering huh?) Sometimes the very best thing for them is running into that wall. They NEED to come to that place that I have come sooo often–where only God will do. That is my greatest secret to success. THAT is what I really want to teach others with my websites, my blogs, my books, my teachings, and even my social networks. He IS the best teacher, the best mentor, the best comforter, the best shepherd. There will be times that He will use me. However, I can rest, relax, and pull away without fear that life on the planet will unravel without me. HELLO!

4. Yes. I CAN turn off the computer for more than one day–not answering emails as they come in! TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH–but the 48 hours of being blacked-out showed me that life does go on without me and I can always say I am sorry–however, I cannot get back what really matters if I miss it! No. I will not go out of business just because I go out of town or take a break. (My systems like my shopping cart, autoresponders, and WordPress are made for things like this!) I think that my biggest thing to do right now is to regularly UNPLUG. When I do, if there are things that blow up and go crazy, then THOSE are things that I need to troubleshoot so I can find systems or maybe even help/helpers that will fill that void regularly–who knows, maybe even daily. What WOULD it be like if I could simplify to such a level that I can really stick to only the things that really matter? Just HOW productive COULD I BE??? Hummm….

5. All of those offers on the internet (or mail) are not what I need TODAY or probably any time soon. And, enough is enough! I can unsubscribe from all of this extra email, miss a few webinars, and de-stress! I can also save up my money and invest it into what I really need NEXT. Noble thought, huh?

Yes. This trip had an incredible impact in my life. It is SO worth every penny we spent going away. It is SO worth the time we spent preparing to go. It taught me a life-lesson that is already impacting every area of my life–to UNPLUG.

Just UNPLUG!

I will be unplugging more and more so I can live the life of my dreams because TODAY IS THE DAY!

What are YOUR action steps today?

What will you do today so you can truly live the life of your dreams–TODAY????

–> Be sure to slow down and have a quiet time EACH DAY! Take time for God to fill YOUR cup each day. Let Him give you HIS peace, order, and best of all, schedule! Take time to hear HIS plans for your day. Throughout the day, listen to His gentle direction. Be sure that you are willing to let go of the things that God wants to prune away. Without this, all else is only a band-aid!

–> Invest in a Planner! I am the world’s worst at trying to do it all while trying desperately to remember those incredible details that are doomed to slip my brain! I decided to take a long, honest look at the things that were creating chaos. Most often, the biggest culprit was overcommitment or an underestimate of time involved with commitments. Writing down ALL commitments, along with an honest look at the time commitment involved (even going and coming OR planning the details around that commitment!), has made an indescribable impact on my life! Not to mention, another breeder of chaos in my life was constantly looking for information that needed to be in a dependable place like phone numbers, ordering information, etc. Keeping ONE binder with my information included eliminates the chaos, but it does even more! It gives my brain a rest!

–> Evaluate to find the BEST that God has designed for YOU to do! Sure, there are many “little things” that must be done to manage our homes, but if you are really struggling with balance, discipline yourself to write down everything that you are doing for a little while. Pray over the importance of each and every thing. Time is so very precious. God gives us everything that we need to do all that He has designed for us to do, but He will not anoint those things that will choke out His best for our lives. So, really pray through…think through…weigh out everything. Listen to God for HIS goals for you. Prune those things that are not in line with His goals for you. Get rid of any time wasters. Prioritize every activity, every day! Combine activities that can be done together to make the most of time. Delegate those things that others can do to help you be a good steward of your time. Then, make the most of your time doing the very best things that God has designed for you to do!

–> Write IT down! Yep! Give your brain a break! This may seem to compound your problem, but trust me this will help more than you know! It is NOT another thing to do! Rather, once things are written down, the work is done FOR you! For example, keeping a calendar of events in your planner will help to alleviate conflicts in your schedule. Blocking off plenty of time for each entry will help you to give yourself enough margin left over for LIFE! I may live less than five miles from downtown, but if there is an appointment there, I KNOW to give myself 30 minutes to get there! Also, I cannot tell you how much my lists from years ago are beginning to really help me! I have lists for school lessons, shopping, traveling, producing the magazines, speaking, etc. I may have to add to my generic list, but I cannot tell you how many times my lists have helped me to be sure that NOTHING was left out or forgotten. Plus, now the planning process is simplified. I just pull out my list, go over the list, add anything that is missing, and get busy! Several of my lists are typed into my computer, ready to print. Talk about EASY planning! Find ways that you can simplify what you are doing—writing it down will probably be one of your first steps too!

–> Keep your STUFF ready to use! Whether your planner or your purse or even your Bible/journal for church, get things together and in their special spot, ready to go. I have a tote that includes all of the things that I need for Church. I keep it together, ready to go. Our school books stay in a milk crate (one for each child), ready to use at the table or to grab for our trips with the business. Everything that we need is ready at all times. My planner stays at my chair, ready to grab to leave the house. So on. Decide on what you need for planning, church, homeschooling, or your business. Get everything together. Find its very best spot for it to be easy to use, but not in the way or forgotten. You will be surprised at how much stress this will alleviate!

–> Put limits on your day! For years, I battled the different aspects of my day that tend to become monsters! Funny thing, I have never seen my family life ever become one of those monsters. My sweetheart and my children are so much more patient than my nasty kitchen! Memories will always wait for schoolwork to be completed. Laughter will always let the business monster rant and rage! The best (but most difficult) lesson of my life to date was that if I wanted the legacy that God had planned for me, then I had to diligently guard the different aspects of life. I had to consciously purpose to make memories and build relationships with those I love much, much more than a clean house or thriving business or successful homeschool. A whole day can zoom by just on the internet with the business…or working through our lessons…or even re-organizing a closet. Plus, those things wear me down till I am completely zapped! Oh, and then, I am not the nicest person on earth! (ouch—confessions hurt!) While these things are precious and wonderful in their boundaries, I have to CONSTANTLY place limits to insure that we have a balanced life that makes the most of each day AND builds a legacy.

Need MORE Help?

Check out Cindy’s New Organized Mom Super Set! It is full of great ebooks and audios that will help take you by the hand and plan the best homeschool year ever! Plus! When you purchase your set you get MORE help with record-keeping, organization, and setting up your home to learn–you also get access to Cindy’s Organization 911 Seminar Set and her newest Seminar Set, Let’s Get Organized for the New School Year. <

Yep! Both! Complimentary! Grab your set here:

http://www.organization911.com/

This show is a continuation of the show by the same title from last month. In this power-packed show, Cindy will continue in our study through Proverbs 31 on the topic of Be a Blessing. She will dig into ways that we are a blessing to our husbands and families as we step up to the call to become a godly woman. Don’t miss this one! It is going to be a super study!

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This week Cindy will continue in our study through Proverbs 31. She will dig into ways that we are a blessing to our husbands and families as we step up to the call to become a godly woman. Don’t miss this one! It is going to be a super study!

SPECIAL NOTE: Part Two of this topic is separate from this audio. Don’t miss it!

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–>    Be sure to slow down and have a quiet time EACH DAY! Take time for God to fill YOUR cup each day. Let Him give you HIS peace, order, and best of all, schedule!  Take time to hear HIS plans for your day.  Throughout the day, listen to His gentle direction.  Be sure that you are willing to let go of the things that God wants to prune away. Without this, all else is only a band-aid!

–>    Invest in a Planner! I am the world’s worst at trying to do it all while trying desperately to remember those incredible details that are doomed to slip my brain! I decided to take a long, honest look at the things that were creating chaos. Most often, the biggest culprit was overcommitment or an underestimate of time involved with commitments. Writing down ALL commitments, along with an honest look at the time commitment involved (even going and coming OR planning the details around that commitment!), has made an indescribable impact on my life! Not to mention, another breeder of chaos in my life was constantly looking for information that needed to be in a dependable place like phone numbers, ordering information, etc. Keeping ONE binder with my information included eliminates the chaos, but it does even more! It gives my brain a rest!

–>    Evaluate to find the BEST that God has designed for YOU to do! Sure, there are many “little things” that must be done to manage our homes, but if you are really struggling with balance, discipline yourself to write down everything that you are doing for a little while.  Pray over the importance of each and every thing. Time is so very precious. God gives us everything that we need to do all that He has designed for us to do, but He will not anoint those things that will choke out His best for our lives. So, really pray through…think through…weigh out everything. Listen to God for HIS goals for you.  Prune those things that are not in line with His goals for you. Get rid of any time wasters. Prioritize every activity, every day! Combine activities that can be done together to make the most of time. Delegate those things that others can do to help you be a good steward of your time. Then, make the most of your time doing the very best things that God has designed for you to do!

–>    Write IT down! Yep! Give your brain a break!  This may seem to compound your problem, but trust me this will help more than you know! It is NOT another thing to do! Rather, once things are written down, the work is done FOR you! For example, keeping a calendar of events in your planner will help to alleviate conflicts in your schedule. Blocking off plenty of time for each entry will help you to give yourself enough margin left over for LIFE! I may live less than five miles from downtown, but if there is an appointment there, I KNOW to give myself 30 minutes to get there! Also, I cannot tell you how much my lists from years ago are beginning to really help me! I have lists for school lessons, shopping, traveling, producing the magazines, speaking, etc. I may have to add to my generic list, but I cannot tell you how many times my lists have helped me to be sure that NOTHING was left out or forgotten. Plus, now the planning process is simplified.  I just pull out my list, go over the list, add anything that is missing, and get busy! Several of my lists are typed into my computer, ready to print. Talk about EASY planning! Find ways that you can simplify what you are doing—writing it down will probably be one of your first steps too!

–>    Keep your STUFF ready to use! Whether your planner or your purse or even your Bible/journal for church, get things together and in their special spot, ready to go.  I have a tote that includes all of the things that I need for Church. I keep it together, ready to go. Our school books stay in a milk crate (one for each child), ready to use at the table or to grab for our trips with the business. Everything that we need is ready at all times. My planner stays at my chair, ready to grab to leave the house. So on. Decide on what you need for planning, church, homeschooling, or your business. Get everything together. Find its very best spot for it to be easy to use, but not in the way or forgotten.  You will be surprised at how much stress this will alleviate!

–>    Put limits on your day! For years, I battled the different aspects of my day that tend to become monsters! Funny thing, I have never seen my family life ever become one of those monsters. My sweetheart and my children are so much more patient than my nasty kitchen! Memories will always wait for schoolwork to be completed. Laughter will always let the business monster rant and rage! The best (but most difficult) lesson of my life to date was that if I wanted the legacy that God had planned for me, then I had to diligently guard the different aspects of life. I had to consciously purpose to make memories and build relationships with those I love much, much more than a clean house or thriving business or successful homeschool. A whole day can zoom by just on the internet with the business…or working through our lessons…or even re-organizing a closet. Plus, those things wear me down till I am completely zapped! Oh, and then, I am not the nicest person on earth! (ouch—confessions hurt!)  While these things are precious and wonderful in their boundaries, I have to CONSTANTLY place limits to insure that we have a balanced life that makes the most of each day AND builds a legacy.

Need MORE Help?

If you need more help, don’t miss any of Cindy Rushton’s LIVE workshops that she will be teaching on these topics. She is scheduled to speak for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011. She will be there ministering LIVE on these topics and MORE. How about the ULTIMATE mom-time? Yep! Check out our Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011! Cindy Rushton was the hostess of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, the very first online homeschool convention, for 4 years. This year, she has passed the torch to her dear friend, Felice Gerwitz. Of course, Cindy will be joining her as a featured speaker for Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011 AND as a special co-host for several sessions. Don’t miss what Felice is doing! She is recording Preview Chats right now for the 2011 Ultimate Homeschool Convention RIGHT NOW! Join her wonderful guests FREE as they count down to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo (May 2-6, 2010–BUT! NEVER ENDING because it is an ONLINE Convention!). Check out all of the details here: Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011.

How is your Saturday going? It is STUNNING here in North Alabama. Elisabeth and I got away for a breakfast out this morning. Matthew called to let me know that he had finished his 10K first place in his age division. And, Harold just called to let me know how well he did shooting with his buddies today. Now, I am covered up with napping puppies and snagging a few moments on the computer. I like it!

I just got a few emails with questions about our live workshop this coming Monday. I thought I would take a few moments to share them and my answer in case you have the same questions. Well, before I dig into those questions, let me first tell you the background on this seminar. This is one workshop that you will not want to miss.

This past year has been a pivotal point for me. I guess you can call it my “Business Mid-life Crisis.” This year my business has paralleled my personal life at moving into a new season. I have felt the tremors coming on for some time, but I really did not know what God wanted to be different so I just stayed on the path that I knew He wanted me on—which is exactly what we should do. (SMILE)

Through the years, I have balanced homeschooling, home business, marriage, mothering, ministry, and serving in my community. This year, I have honestly sat back and wondered how I did it all. Maybe it wasyouthful energy. Maybe it was insanity. Definitely it was the Holy Spirit filling the places that I could not fill on my own, pulling it all together, and making the impossible happen. This year, I hit a wall where my plans were just not happening, my to do’s were not getting done, and I was at a “T” in my life and I had to figure out which way to go if I wanted to reach for my goals and dreams. Ever been there?

Something absolutely crazy happened that I thought was the way to go. I went to a casting call for a TV show. I got the call back. I was sent home to make videos of my life, my family, my friends, etc. I filled out mounds of paperwork. And, I got right down to production. I spent weeks (actually months) getting everything ready so I could leave for 4-6-8 months for filming. Then, my email came back letting me know that I had gotten far, but they thought I could do this on my own. UGH! In other words, the turn I took at the “T” led to a dead-end. And, lots of confusion.

Since then, I have been doing exactly what this seminar will teach you. I have pulled back to:

1.    Dare to dream again! Up until now, God has blessed me so much in making my dreams a reality. He told me years ago to dare to dream BIGGER. I remember thinking, “But, God, you have already given me my biggest dreams. What should I dare to dream?” Oh! Asking that question has unleashed God to really work in me this year. Not only is He asking me to dream for bigger things, He is also asking me to dream for a bigger list of dreams and put them on my calendar TODAY. Well, this is one thing that we will look at Monday. And, not just MY DREAMS, but I am going to come alongside of you as you pull out those dusty dreams and get moving toward them AND as you dare to dream bigger dreams and as you dare to dream a bigger list of dreams. You are going to get started putting them down on paper AND on your calendar THIS YEAR! You will love this!

2.    Get a clear vision of my life purpose. I really thought I was here already. However, I have seen something in myself that has shown me that I put myself and my life purpose in a box. In doing so, I put my dreams and goals into a box of what *I* could make happen—that is sooo small compared to what God wants to do. We all know that when we only reach for what WE can do, we are going to fall short of all that God has planned for us. We limit ourselves. We limit our lives. God had different plans for me than this particular show, I seriously do not believe it is BIG ENOUGH. I really believe it would limit Him. He still has totally impossible-without-Him plans for me. If there is something in my heart that has a desire to go this direction, I have to ask myself, “How is God going to do it? Will I dare to go that direction?” I have found that my only limits are my own personal vision. Relate? Well, we are going to do some deep work on clarifying our vision in this workshop. You are going to love, love, love this! I even have a completely separate audio that will take this one even deeper. It will be included in the membership site. You are not going to want to miss this. It is life-changing! And, it is life-changing THIS YEAR!

3.    Set goals that get you set! Now, this is an area that I really do well. Well, once I have a vision. I have spent the past few months really looking at my dreams—all of them—and breaking them down into doable, measurable, and solid goals (action steps). Now, I am hitting them one-by-one as God says, “Hit it girl!”  If you struggle with this, then you are going to LOVE our time Monday. I will show you how to get everything ready to go and on your calendar for next year. What is your dream? We will set goals that get you set to reach for your dream! And, soak this in—THIS YEAR!

4.    Get Unstuck, Get Moving, and Get it DONE! Very rarely do I get to a place where I am stuck, paralyzed, and just cannot get moving again. In that place, I have more excuses and exceptions that I care to admit. Little obstacles, distractions, chaos, and interruptions derail me. That is the time that it seems that if I take one step, I get clobbered and stuck again. Again, this is rare for me, but it has happened every time that I have been at a crossroads in my life. I think that part of this is because of my perfectionism, but I also think that most of it is because this is my preferred method of procrastination. (Talk about true confessions—that one hits deep!) I don’t know what may have been holding you back from reaching for your dreams, but Monday, we are going to dig deep and help you to get unstuck, get moving, and get it done! This is the year to read for your dreams. Just ask yourself today (not December 31st) how you feel about THIS YEAR? Is it what you wanted for it to be? It is another year that disappoints and discourages you? It is another year that you have a big list of resolutions that are not met? Well, ENOUGH of that! Monday, I will show you how to get out of your own way, get over YOUR obstacles, and get moving toward your goals and dreams. You will never be the same again!

5.    Clean out, revamp, restructure. There are two main times of my life that God has brought me to a place of pruning. Funny, both have been with new seasons of my life. This year, He has pulled out the pruning shears with a vengeance. I am SO glad that I knew what He was doing this time and that I could trust Him as He cut away some of my favorite “branches” to my life. Hear the snips in your life? Are you scared to let God prune those things you have LOVED? Is it time for Him to get loose in your life? Well, if you are ready to get moving toward your goals and dreams, the answer must be, “Yes, Lord!” or it is not going to happen. This is the perfect time of year to clean out, revamp, and restructure. In the next few weeks, everyone will be pulled back and busy with STUFF. In that time, you can get your life on track for success! You can gear up for your best year ever. And, I will show you step-by-step.

6.    Invest in yourself! This is the hardest thing for me. Sweet friends, if there is an “Achilles heel” for me, this is it! In fact, I have been chewing on one video segment from my daughter all fall. She said that I was a success because it involves others, not myself. She continued in saying that I was a success at marriage because it was all about my husband. She said that I was a success as a mom because it was always about my children. She said that I was a success as a homeschooler because it was all about my children AND the families who I help to homeschool. She said that I was a success in business, not because my name was on the books or audio sets, but because it was always about those I reach and minister to. Then, she said the one thing that I really struggled with—that I was a failure at taking care of myself because it HAD to be all about me. UGH! Relate? Maybe you have been taught, just like me, that taking care of yourself is worldly, selfish, and ungodly. Well, that teaching is dangerous (and unbiblical—join me and see!)! It keeps us from stepping up to our call. Yes, we may accomplish some things, but we will set limits that hold us back from reaching our life purpose and living our dreams. We can do all of the other things perfectly, but miss this one and we will not live the life that God has called us to live. This has been a BIG lesson of 2010 for me. Don’t miss as I share on this Monday.

7.    Press toward the mark! This past year I accomplished one of my “impossible” dreams. Actually, I did it twice and plan to try one more time as I run into the new year. Yes, it was running. I ran my first 5K on New Year’s Eve. Actually it began 15 minutes before midnight and we ran out of the old year and into the new year. As I neared the finish line, tears came flooding down my face. I had dared to dream, found the race to train for, set daily goals to train up, pressed past my hindrances, obstacles and excuses, got moving, and then pressed toward the mark. It was step-by-step. I finished. I finished well. And, found myself not just meeting my dream once, but I am now setting higher dreams (on my calendar). There is nothing like it! I don’t know what your dream is, but they are all the same—it is the same process to reach for them. It doesn’t matter if they are little dreams that you can do today if you carve out time to go for it or if they are going to take a lot of work and a lot of investment on your behalf. It is the same process. And, it takes getting your eyes set on the mark and pressing toward that mark! Well, more on that Monday.

So, what is your dream? What do you want for your life next year? When all is said and done, what do you want to look back upon? Just when do you plan to get moving and make it happen? Need some help?

Join me Monday as we gear up to reach for our dreams together! This is not just another workshop, this one is going to “coach” you and cheer you on as you reach for success. Typically, these live group coaching sessions are $50+ per hour. This one is just $9.95 and includes replays of the audios AND a membership site that is being packed with even more help as you gear up for your new year. You will love it! Just check out the details at and join me at:

http://talk-a-latte.com/e-store/talk-a-latte-retreats

Now, to the questions:

1.    Cindy, normally, you set up your events for free when we join you live, but this one is not set up that way. Why?

Great question! Yes, most of the time, we do set up events with that option, but this is not a typical event. This is a an afternoon retreat where I will be coaching you through this topic. I had toyed with the format for this topic. I was just going to set it up for my business coaching clients, but it is way more far reaching. It is perfect for everyone. And, it really needed to be a longer study—normally those require registration for attendance. But, Harold and I prayed about it and felt that it would be perfect in this format. We will only have one “crash-course” live session. Everything else either has been recorded or will be recorded and added to the membership site. You will love the set-up. But, it is very different from our free workshops.

In this format, we will have an afternoon retreat on this topic. Then, I will also record and add other topics that are complimentary to the membership site. I am very pleased with this set. Of  course, you will see it advertised again later for $99.95 after everything is online. It is definitely a crazy price now. So, don’t miss this! You will want to hear this one over and over and over!

2.    Hi Cindy…I would like to order a ticket for your “dreams” retreat on Monday, however, I’ve been called in to work that day.  If I can take my lunch break at that time I’ll catch about 1/2 an hour of it…my question…will a dowload be available so I could listen to the rest later?

Thanks for your email. Yes. Not only does the price include admission if you can join us, but it also gives you access to the Membership Site where the download will be available along with a whole set of audios on topics that I cover even deeper.

Plus, if you have to miss the live recording, you can still access the unedited audio immediately after the session (I will include a link where you can download that). I will edit the audio and have it available as soon as possible (I HOPE to have it by Wednesday so everyone can download and listen while they prepare their meals or travel).  Hope you can join us!

3.    I just got your email about the new TAL seminar on Gearing Up to Reach For Your Dreams in 2011. I still have $10.00 in Mommy Homework credit. Would it be possible for me to use that to grab a ticket for the seminar. It sounds WONDERFUL and motivating! Thanks and just let me know.

Absolutely! Just email me with your request and I will add you to the list. If you need to know how much Mommy Homework Credit you have, here is the link to the current listing: http://talk-a-latte.com/ebooks/MommyHomeworkCredits.pdf

Ok, dearies. Go ahead and slot me on your calendar Monday. We will gear up to reach for your dreams together. I can’t wait to see you there AND to see what this year holds for you! Here is that link again:

http://talk-a-latte.com/e-store/talk-a-latte-retreats

Have a super weekend! See ya online Monday!

Love,
Cindy
http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com

As I looked at him for the first time I finally GOT that verse in Proverbs 17:6:

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” (Proverbs 17:6)

We can have everything in the world–all of the stuff, all of the accomplishments, all of the possessions–everything. Yet, when the music fades and all is stripped away, only a few things really matter.

I have lived a life that has been sooo blessed. God has blessed me with so many amazing blessings. I cannot think that the cost for those blessings has been a big sacrifice for me when God has even made that EASY! All He has required is that I obey Him and offer my life as a daily sacrifice, doing what HE asks. How hard is that? Especially, when I look at the abundant and lavish blessings that just chase me down.

Yes. I have been blessed in so many areas of my life:

1. Yes, I have had a wonderful marriage. This year we celebrate 25 years of marriage. Talk about an awesome blessing!

2. Yes, I have two amazing children here on earth and 7 in heaven. I could not be MORE blessed by their lives. Every moment of being a mom has been a treasure.

3. Yes, I have been blessed by success. I have written over 100 books, taught all around the country, ran a wonderful business (well, how hard is that when your business is all about connecting with wonderful FRIENDS???), and achieved almost everything I have ever set out to achieve.

We have been blessed in

…relationships
…provision
…success
…and anything we could ever want.

Yesterday, I saw the realization of my “crown.” One that I will carry all of the way into eternity. I am overcome by the beauty of legacy!

I know that I have taught for years about how vital it is for us to KNOW that we are building a HOME and that home is our legacy. I THOUGHT I had GOT IT through the years, but as I held my precious Joshua, my first GRANDchild, I realized it in a deeper level.

Everything is about our legacy! EVERYTHING! E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!

Our legacy is the only earthly treasure that we can carry with us into eternity. It is ETERNAL. Soak that in, dear friend!

Yes, we can go back into Scripture and see that every woman has a legacy. It is what summed up their lives. It is what passed down into the next generation and the next and the next and the next…all the way to us.

It is the ONE THING that was accomplished by their lives. Good or bad, every one of us passes on a legacy that goes on through generations that we may not see and into parts of their lives and all of the lives that they touch. It goes on into eternity–forever and forever.

I am sure that after I die, people will forget the words that I wrote. In fact, it cracks me up when people already forget the things that God gave me to write first–guess we all need to eat “humble-pie” from time to time.

I already know that when I look back over my life and all that I do and accomplish that the things that I DO have a tendency to look like a beach full of sand–each “to-do” as distinquishable as a grain of sand and all of the “to-do’s” piling up like a beach full of sand. Funny thing, I have a tendency to LOVE those things to do and pour myself into my precious “to-do’s” like a little child intent on building a sand-castle. I KNOW that all of those to-do’s can matter in life, but I also know that there is nothing like the waves rolling in and quickly washing away those “sand-castles.” Again, nothing is quite like seeing how everything is but a vapor. Everything just goes back into the everyday-ness of life.

But, my legacy lives on!

I don’t know if words are sufficient today. I hope that I am making sense to you guys. I LOVE MY LIFE. I am really picky about the things that I DO. I know that this life comes by only once. I don’t want to waste even ONE MOMENT doing something that is not going to count, much less something that is not right. I know that I will not even be RIGHT HERE again. I want to live each moment to the fullest and make my Abba Papa proud of me. I want to bring Him glory and honor. But, this is even MORE….

It is LEGACY!

We are here for so much more than we can ever imagine. OUR LIVES COUNT!

Soak that in…

Every choice that we make affects more than just ourselves or those that we see. There are multitudes coming behind us that NEED for us to be ALL THERE today, making every moment count.

As I look into the sweet face of our little Joshua, I can already see how important everything HAS been. As he looks at me, I feel the immense call rising up yet again–Cindy, BUILD YOUR LEGACY!

I am re-committed. Will you join me dear friends? Let’s build a legacy–a godly legacy!

Need more help? Want to dig deeper with Cindy? Don’t miss this month’s Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club set! This is the topic of Cindy’s set this month. Sign up for only $12.95 and get her full set on the following topics:

Mighty Woman! YOU are Building a Legacy!
Retreat!
A Wise Woman Builds a Legacy!
Stick to the MAIN Thing!
Choose the Best and Let Go of the Rest!
Helpmeet or Hurtmeet?
MOtherhood: Building a Legacy!
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home!
Would the Perfect Mother Please Step Forward????

Don’t miss this set! It is one of the best ever! Grab it today at:
http://www.talk-a-latte.com/MommyClub.html