Football Widow

Football Widow

Content by Mauricio Benson

My husband just doesn’t get it – he doesn’t really understand that I need more support from him. When he gets home from work he immediately gets online and starts playing those video games and on the weekends he’s all about his Cable Sunday Ticket. We’ve got three kids and I work forty hours a week, too, so sometimes I feel like he doesn’t really understand how much pressure I’m under. I just wish he would help me out with chores and do more to make home a welcoming place for me – he’s gotten to where he doesn’t even ask me how my day was anymore! I know this is the classic story of husband and wife I just really thought things would be different for us since we both came from such untraditional families. We were best friends in college and now it feels like we’re becoming less like husband and wife and more like roommates which is the last thing I wanted to happen to us! I know some of y’all out there can relate…

Just a few more weeks till #b90days starts here

It's just a few more weeks until the start of my Bible in 90 Day Challenge. Don't know what I'm talking about? Check it out here. I am so excited to lead this journey for others. I can't wait to start, but I know that with everything that is going on in my life the next week or so, it is much easier for me and for anyone who wants to share this journey with me to start then. If you are interested in joining, please comment on the blog, or tweet me, and fill out the contact info so that I can get you added to the email list and to the FB group. 

I know that the Bible in 90 days challenge is just that a challenge. But if you really want to have a life changing experience with God's Word, then it is SOOOOOOOOOO worth it. Just some quick tips that I found helpful my first time reading:

1. Make sure that you either can set aside a block of time (45 mins to an hour or more depending on how you read) or take your Bible with you wherever you go so that you can read if you are busy. I found that the YouVersion App was a lifesaver when I'd have to put D to bed and he didn't want to go to sleep right away. 
2. Have a journal or notebook or some paper handy in case you want to remember something for later. I used Comp books and took notes of things that I wanted to come back to. Remember this is not a study but a reading, you are reading through the Bible, so if you don't understand something or want to know more, make a note and come back to it.
3. Have a highlighter or pencil or pen handy (along with your notebook). I highlighted so many passages the last time that I sort of want to use another Bible to see if I found the same things as interesting the first time around.
4. Don't get too frustrated if you get behind. It can happen. There are two grace periods in this challenge so if you get behind it will be ok. At one point during my reading I was almost 2 weeks behind (thanks to being ill and then a hurricane), but I caught up. Read a little more when you can, and remember to take your Bible with you (or an app on your phone) and just read when you can.
5. Also remember that even if you might not finish in the 90 days, it still should be a goal for you to finish no matter how long it takes. It will be something that you can be so proud of. 

Ok that's all I've got for now, I know I'll think up more. I'm just so excited about this, I know that reading the Bible has made a powerful impact on my life and I'm sure it can on yours.

SP Healthy Reflections

Valuing time before it is too late

Often our days are busied with worry, stress, complaining, work, and a general wasting of time. Once we finally realize the value of our time, often for many of us it is too late. While your life might seem like a long time in the midst of it, truly it is a blink of an eye. Today, make more time to be present in your life. Even small moments--enjoying a cup of tea, calling a friend, reading a favorite book--should be enjoyed. Restructure your day so that you can get all of your work done, but allow for extra time to be spent on personal matters. Stop procrastinating!

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness...never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

- Lord Chesterfield 

Challenges, Challenges and more challenges

Well I always start out the new year with great plans and hopes and motivation. Then, something happens. I'm not sure why or what, but something seems to jump into my way. And I'm sure that this year is not going to be short of some type of diversion (deployment being the biggest one). But I'm hoping that I can excel past all the traps and succeed in my goals and plans for this year.

3 in 30 Challenge- Yep I'm trying this one again but since so many of the goals are the same in these challenges it should make it easier (right???). Anyway with this one, you pick 3 goals to focus on for 30 days and make them habits instead of goals. Seems like a great idea. Check it out here.

31 Days to Pray for Your Spouse- I've been wanting to pray more and better so I thought that this would be an awesome challenge, since I'm sure I'll be praying for him alot when he's gone. It started Jan 1, but it might not be too late to get started.


Hello Mornings- I've seen this as a hashtag all over Twitter and thought "Wow, what a cool concept." Now I've looked into it more and think it's an amazing concept. It involves getting up early, taking time for yourself; spending time with God; planning your day and working out. I'm hoping that I will do well in this one, I have a hard time getting up in the mornings, but I know that I'm going to need me time with deployment.

Bible in 90 Days- This is a challenge that I'm really excited about. Mainly because I'm going to lead a group through this. I finally completed the challenge last summer/fall, finishing in 85 days despite all the things that were thrown at me. I hope that I can help others to complete such an amazing task. I will be starting on Feb 6, but there are plenty of groups that are staring now if you are ready to go. Check them out at Mom's Toolbox.

Jumpstart January with SparkPeople. - I love SparkPeople, I think it's one of the greatest things out there to help people lose weight. And I do the bootcamp or whatever they call it every January to get back on track. This year is no exception. SparkPeople is Free too, so check them out.

As you can see, I am pretty busy for a minute. All of this, plus taking care of a 2 year old and myself, my church groups, NWCA, FRG, etc. I also signed up to be a 31 consultant, and I'm hoping that I can excel at that as a business too. So if you are interested in purchasing any Thirty One Gifts, let me know, I'll be more than happy to add you to my FB group so you can get updates on deals and specials and stuff. I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year. I'm planning on trying, even if my better half is spending a good deal of the year away from us.

Blog Dare prompt Jan 1

Well it's a new year, I can't believe it's another year. As also I've got tons of goals in mind, but that is, always my plan. Well for the Blog Dare writing prompt is about My Social Media Goals for 2012. Wow, well I'm not totally sure what I want to do, but that doesn't mean I've not thought about some things I want to do.

I want to participate in the Blog Dare daily prompts, when I have something to say about the prompt. It can be hard to spend some time on the computer, but it's just a small part of my overall plan for the year.

I am going to be more active on Twitter. I have a smartphone (that sometimes is smarter than me lol) and I have Twitter on there, I should be able to tweet. So that is my goal.

I have signed up for several challenges this year, such as the Hello Mornings, 3 in 30 and Bible in 90 days (which I am going to lead a group). So I've got to keep up with those goals and be supportive of my friends and followers and such.

Well I am not sure what else I'm going to plan on, but these are a few that I plan.