Life's a Beach!
So this week we've been basking in the sun, frolicking in the beach and totally letting loose on Sanibel Island. It's been wonderful!
One very important fact about me...I love the beach! It's my happy place! I was born on an island and I will always be an island girl at heart. Being on the beach feeds my spirit in such an unexplainable way. I feel so connected to my Heavenly Father and also to my inner self. When I'm on the beach, I'm at peace.
If you're an overly anxious person, seriously, there's no place better to be than at the beach. You get to relax and move at a much slower pace. You get to enjoy the beauty of God's creation. You get to recharge and re-focus your mind. Relaxation is not an easy concept for most busy Moms. We tend to put the needs of others before our own. Trust me, I get it. With 4 kids and an extremely busy husband, I sometimes feel like I'm chasing life. I'm in fast forward mode and things won't slow down. If you you know me personally I may seem calm most of the times but you wouldn't believe the storm that's raging inside my mind. I'm a worrier...I overthink every situation and drives myself crazy with my thoughts. In my most recent years, I've been working at ways to self calm. Although I would be calmer if I spent every day at the beach, this is just not possible in my life right now. I've found that reading, soaking in my tub with some Epsom salt, listening to personal development and exercising are great ways to alleviate anxiety. The truth is life on a beach is not always calm and you have to be willing to weather the storm if you want bright and sunny days.

Do One Thing Better!

So today's message at church was about influence. What if you could go back to the past and change 1 thing? Would you want more time? Work more? Go on more vacations? Spend  more time with loved ones? Do something your future self would be happy about?
The truth is, we cannot return to the past. No matter how hard it is for us to accept this, returning to the past is not the answer. We need to focus on what we can do NOW.
As a Mom, I'm constantly doing so many different things. The truth is sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled into too many different things. It's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like what we do as a Mom doesn't even matter. But the truth is, we are influencing our children. We are making a difference in their lives. What kind of difference will you make? How will you influence their lives?
Just think, if you could do 1 thing better that would make an impact on your kids' lives, what would it be? How about for your own life? What is 1 thing you could do better? Find out what that is and focus your energy on that. The goal is to be you, just become a better version of you.

You matter

Sometimes no matter how much we try, we tend to forget número uno! You matter. As simply as that. I have to remind myself of this constantly. As a busy Mom, it's quite easy to get lost in taking care of everyone else. Sometimes, it even seems like I'm asking too much to just sit and eat a meal quietly, with no interruption. Our kids can be so demanding. They take so much of us and it's important for Moms to have "me" time.

Recently, I've started fitting in 30 minutes of daily exercise as my " me" time. This is not always easily accomplished though. Especially now, during the summer months, it's quite challenging with having 4 kids at home. Ultimately, I end up with 3-4 days of fitting in my exercise and I feel good about that. In fact, I just tweaked a muscle and I'm feeling like the universe is against me...lol
You have to just try your best and forget the rest. Sometimes, we give up too easily because we don't believe there is a difference being made. Most of the time, we just don't feel like we are worth the time and effort. These are all just lies we believe. We matter. You matter.  Seriously! Go do something nice for yourself today!

Wow! It's been a minute...but I'm finally back to blogging! I've missed it so. Writing is a great love of mine. I will be updating my blog and sharing lots of information about how I've transformed in the last year or so. I'm on a journey to become a better version of myself. On this journey, I'm learning to be healthier, I'm getting fit and I'm balancing life with my husband and our 4 kids. Eek! Life is so exciting right now and I can't wait to see what's in store for us...The Todd Suad! Come follow me on this great big adventure... My Superlife!!!

Today is special

because it is my husband's birthday.

There are so many words to describe how I feel about my husband. But, I will simply write it as this: He is my soulmate. Webster's Dictionary offers this description:1 : a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament2 : a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs .

I believe that God designed us for each other. So, today I am reminded of just how wonderful it is to know God and to serve Him. I am thankful that He loves me soo much that He would take the time to create someone so perfect for me.

To Greg: my love, I am honored to be your wife and to share yet another birthday with you. I pray that this will be your best birthday yet but only a fraction of what God has in store for you. And, wherever that journey takes you, I hope that God's love will sustain us so that we will be together to share that journey. My prayer is that you will have many many more birthdays to come and that God will richly bless you in all that you do. Celebrate this day that God has given you!

Give and Take

There are two kinds of people in this world: the givers and the takers.
I've heard this said often enough now that I'm not sure where I first heard it.
What's important about this statement is that it only provides you with two options--either or. The givers of the world could easily identify themselves as such.
They are constantly giving; even when they get tired of it they will continue to give.

The takers have a harder time with this because they can't truly accept that they are really just users.
They take, take and take some more.
They are like the grave-- they are never satisfied.
They are very inconsiderate and selfish because they are only out for numero uno.
They have no problem asking because they like to take.
They readily accept any offer but they always want more.
They are never around when it's time for them to give.
And if they do give, beware: there will be some kind of condition.

To the takers: no-one can stand being around a taker for too long. Eventually you will be found out for what you truly are.
To the givers: Don't let people walk all over you, use you and take advantage of you. Know when to say no. You are precious child of God; He loves you and want you to give to others but trust me, He wouldn't want you to go crazy with giving too much of yourself to people who are just using you. Enough is enough!

Because I Have To...

I cannot tell how many times I feel like I am doing something because I have to. Sometimes that thought alone makes it overwhelming. But, then I think of Jesus and I wonder how He must have felt on that cross. Did He think, "I'm only doing this because I have to?"

As much as I am saddened when I think of Jesus on the cross, it also motivates and encourages me. It motivates me to work harder and never give up because I would never want Jesus dying on the cross for me to be in vain. It encourages me because I know that Jesus has been at the lowest of low and He came through it. It reminds me that "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.

From time to time, we all struggle with things. That's the way the journey of life is. Nobody ever wants to do things that they have to do. We all want to do things that we want to do. Life is never that easy. And that is why we must always remember to lean on Jesus. I am thankful that I know Him and I trust Him. I am leaning on his everlasting arm. Can you say the same?