Looking Forward To

Welcome back!

I tend to live life, “looking forward to”.  This may be a bad trait to have in that when I don’t have something to “look forward to” I feel a bit let down.  However, lately I haven’t had that problem because I’ve had a lot to “look forward to”. This weekend that was my baby boy’s first birthday party, which was celebrated in more ways than one.  Not only did we have our closest family members over to sing him “Happy Birthday” and eat cupcakes, but my husband and I have also spend the last 48 hrs. prepping our house for the event.

If I’m honest, we actually started before that, because I started my “home improvement” projects LAST weekend, when I painted our kitchen, laundry room, the kid’s bathroom and hallway.  This weekend, starting Thursday night and Friday we tiled the back splash in our kitchen.  I wanted it all to be done by the party.  So, I looked forward to it.

It took two very late (staying up past midnight) nights for us, but we finished and today we celebrated, our success in our projects and our little  man’s birthday.  I am proud of both!  And of the festivities themselves as I tried to emulate my online friend Amy of Mom Advice’s birthday bash for her little boy a couple of week’s ago.  Her post on her blog had me inspired to be able to frugally throw a great party.

I am so proud of each detail, from the cupcakes, to the lemonade, from the hot potato salad to the little sandwiches.  Everything was yummy and my man tore into his cupcake and enjoyed every bite. Happy 1st Birthday Brady Cade, we love you, and we have much more “to look forward to” in life because of you!

It’s Either ALL, or Nothing

Don’t ask me why, because I’m not quite sure honestly, but for me I’m either ALL or nothing.  It is like my air conditioner, which has been broken in a way for 2 plus years in my family van.  It either blows full speed or not at all,  it is all high and no low.  That’s me most of the time.  I’m either working full steam ahead on a project or I’m barely working.

I love new projects, they energize me and I seem to plow ahead, but then there are those times that even the new projects aren’t enough for me and I just tend to dabble here and there.  I”ve always been this way.  I tend to get “lost in the details”.  You ask me to clean the kitchen, I end up organizing the shelves.  You ask me to clean off the desk I end up organizing the drawer.  It infuriates my own self sometimes.
I OVER plan.  I OVER think things.  I obsess.  And honestly I don’t know how to stop.  I am looking for balance in my life and I can’t seem to find it.  Suggestions?

Photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Too Many Projects?

Can you have too many projects?  It is something I should probably think about have thought about BEFORE I started what has become my many projects these days.  I thrive on “projects” ask my friends and family who would say, “you wouldn’t be Alyssa without a project”.  Projects truly do keep me going.  Every morning I pray for my projects and I pray for God’s guidance so that I can focus on what he would have me to focus on, and that he’d help me to prioritize.  It works.

So, are you curious about what the many projects I currently have going on are?  Well, here’s a run down.  My current projects include:

FaithLeaps.com - Developing the materials for the membership site which will officially launch on Thursday of this week.  Find details about that over at my ministry blog.

Vacation Bible School -  I am the director of the VBS at my church this year. I know summer is months away but I like to get started early, back when this was part of my job as Youth & Children’s director I always started in January.  So far I have chosen a curriculum, met w/ my co-director and made a list of possible workers, I’ve also confirmed positions with a few workers already.  VBS is set for June 15-19.

Taking Seminary classes online. – This is another project, and will be ongoing for the rest of this year.  This is the hardest thing for me to make time for because it requires me to focus and not get interrupted which is difficult w/ three small children.

Planning my 10 Year HS Reunion. – This is my newest project and one I am excited about.  10 years has flown by, I loved HS, I had great friendships and I am ready to “reconnect” with those I haven’t seen in a long time.  Even just catching up via Facebook and a couple phone calls has been fun!  The reunion is set for Sat. June 27.

In addition to these “projects” I have 5 clients that I write for weekly.  I have a good schedule worked out for them though so I get all “client work” done Monday – Wednesday.

What about you are you a “project” person? Do you think you can have too many projects?  I’d love to know your thoughts.

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