I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Phillippians 4:12 NIV
If you get to the point of "following" this blog, I will bet you will see this TITLE on many of my Blogs!!! I think I fall into the temptation of discontent on MANY occasions!!!
I sometimes wonder if I have Adult ADHD? I can't seem to stay focused on anything long and I always seem to crave change, although I know if I could have change all of the time I probably wouldn't like it! It is easy to say I want to move to a different state and start over when I know that my husband isn't the type to do that. It is easy to dream and be safe at the same time!
I know that the real true answer to it is to be patient and rest on the Lord's word to be steadfast in prayer...I know all of those things...but, I seem to fall short on that and still seem to have too many moments at thinking my WANTS are important. No, they are not my NEEDS, so they are NOT important. I fall into the "it's not fair" and "selfish" category too many times!
I think too often I look at other people and think, how can they have such a cushy life...why does God grant them the lifestyle that is so much better than I have? I am slowly learning (never too late to teach an OLD DOG new tricks) that what you see on the outside is very rarely what it is like on the inside. I am truly learning this. It is just taking longer to teach myself not to fall into the old habit of envy.
I have caught myself from time to time thinking "I only have one life" just like 'Jane' over there and I have this life and she got that one! Oh, Lord....when I get past the poor me stage I imagine the LORD sitting up there looking down on me with his head in his hands and shaking his head back and forth thinking...she just isn't getting it! I give her all the material and she just doesn't retain it! Yah, Lord...it's ME, I know, it's NOT you!
I need to be content...I have a WARM and cozy house. It doesn't leak and it is warm and filled with the people that I LOVE! The outside needs siding...but, just like that marriage or lifestyle that seems so pretty on the outide....it's not what it seems. Take away that old siding and it is nice inside. Warm and pretty, comfortable and cozy. The type that you want to entertain in and everyone can just come in and snuggle up and chat for hours!
My Mother-In-Law has always said it is not the HOUSE that is a HOME it's what is inside (the love of family). I love my Mother-In-Law. We are blessed we got the HOME!
I have a marriage that is happy, maybe not alway so exciting...but, from my friends that have had exciting marriages...they usually didn't last...divorce reared it's ugly head. We got ROCK SOLID, neither one of us is going anywhere...we may wish from time to time...but, we chose this...we committed!
Yes, I need to be content...I am married, I have someone to come home to that knows me more than ANYONE on Earth, someone who doesn't judge me when I am my heaviest or my grumpiest! Someone who listens to me and I can have intelligent conversation with as well as stupid. Someone who shares in the fact that WE have three healthy boys, something that I can't share with one other person on Earth! We are able to cloth our family, feed our family, keep them warm...why wouldn't I be content???
All I NEED is the LORD and my FAMILY, that's contentment!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
becoming an Insurance Agent...
I decided that I really needed to have an occupation in addition to my Real Estate Career. I have thought about this for about 6 months (while working as an Assistant along with being a Licensed Realtor). As you have probably heard the Real Estate market is slow, I don't think that we have seen the problems that have been affecting other parts of the US, but it is slow in our area.
As a Realtor, a slow market doesn't only mean as slow or low paycheck. It means NO paycheck when houses aren't selling and you continue to have costs involved with your business. We have DUES that are paid to our local Board and the National Association of REALTORS dues as well as the Iowa Association of REALTORS. We have a yearly fee that we have to pay to have our SUPRA key to be able to access keys to unlock listings. We have large marketing fees to pay advertising for our listings and to find new buyers. Of course there is always the various costs involved in continuing to run your business and work with clients...vehicle fuel and upkeep...office equipment and supplies...it is never ending and very worrisome when you aren't seeing the benefits of all of the hours put into this career.
So, now you know why I need to think of another income. I have been in Real Estate for 5 years as of October of 2008. I knew that what ever I did I really want it to work with Real Estate. If I work a 8-5 hour job every day I am not going to be interested in going out at night to show property, I am going to want to be home with my kids. Although, that can still happen with these two careers, the likely-hood of some flexibility may be there.
I chose Insurance. It just seems like the logical fit with my Real Estate license. My goal is to be hired with a company that carries both (hopefully Lincoln Savings Bank-because of their affilitation with Century 21) and will understand my need to run to a showing during a work day. At this point the most important thing for me to do is to pass the test!
Retaining information and passing exams has always been hard for me, I am truly hoping that this will be one of those times that it isn't so difficult. I want to bad to contribute to the family finances right now.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
As a Realtor, a slow market doesn't only mean as slow or low paycheck. It means NO paycheck when houses aren't selling and you continue to have costs involved with your business. We have DUES that are paid to our local Board and the National Association of REALTORS dues as well as the Iowa Association of REALTORS. We have a yearly fee that we have to pay to have our SUPRA key to be able to access keys to unlock listings. We have large marketing fees to pay advertising for our listings and to find new buyers. Of course there is always the various costs involved in continuing to run your business and work with clients...vehicle fuel and upkeep...office equipment and supplies...it is never ending and very worrisome when you aren't seeing the benefits of all of the hours put into this career.
So, now you know why I need to think of another income. I have been in Real Estate for 5 years as of October of 2008. I knew that what ever I did I really want it to work with Real Estate. If I work a 8-5 hour job every day I am not going to be interested in going out at night to show property, I am going to want to be home with my kids. Although, that can still happen with these two careers, the likely-hood of some flexibility may be there.
I chose Insurance. It just seems like the logical fit with my Real Estate license. My goal is to be hired with a company that carries both (hopefully Lincoln Savings Bank-because of their affilitation with Century 21) and will understand my need to run to a showing during a work day. At this point the most important thing for me to do is to pass the test!
Retaining information and passing exams has always been hard for me, I am truly hoping that this will be one of those times that it isn't so difficult. I want to bad to contribute to the family finances right now.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A journey to....ME
Who am I? What am I? Where am I?
A journey to find out a little more about myself.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. Psalms 139:16 NIV
Who am I...I was told recently that I need to BRAND myself...I need to decide who I am and what it is that makes me stand out. Oh, dear...
I have been trying unsuccessfully for the last two weeks to try to find those answers out!
The beginning. I was raised in Central Iowa in a working class family of 4. My Mom and Dad raised my brother and myself up on a modest little acreage with a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home. My childhood was actually really pleasant. We didn't have a lot of money to go around, but, I would never have thought we didn't have enough.
MOM: My Mom stayed at home full-time until my brother and I were in High School. She was there every day when we got off the bus, she baked and cooked, cleaned and did laundry, she sewed, knitted and crocheted (and for anyone reading this who has a family you know that there are many more things on a daily chore list than that!). She kept everything in tip top shape while Dad worked. My Dad was a Truck Driver who was gone all day until mid evening. I don't know how Mom did it without Microwaves and such but, we would eat at supper time and she would always keep Dad's food warm and waiting for him when he got home. When I was in High School the only thing that I wanted to do was to graduate and become a stay-at-home Mom. How could I not? I had been raised watching complete devotion and an incredible work ethic from my Mom. I wanted to try to be half as good as that.
That is what I am a MOM, although I haven't been as successful in the devoted part (I have many moments of selfishness!) and I have always felt that this BRAND fits me and I like it!
WIFE: My husband and I have been married since 1990 and to tell you the truth I have always wanted to be a wife! I never had grand ideas of being a single career-woman! That sounded so lonely and cold to me. I met my husband when I was 17 years old and knew that I wanted to marry that man! We didn't marry until I was 20 but, I knew I would want to be married to him for the rest of my life. I enjoy being a wife...although, we have had our problems from time to time, we still try to make it work. This BRAND also fits me and I like it!
I know in the CAREER world these BRANDS will not help me, no one wants to think of you being a MOM and WIFE when you need to be taking care of their own needs! Although, in my eyes I would rather have a dedicated MOM and WIFE looking out for me. Think about it...who else would have as much: devotion, faithfulness, compassion, selflessness, trust, kindness and patience. Who else would look out for you more than a MOM and WIFE?
For some reason these BRANDS are not going to work for my career so I will keep searching on my journey....
ANGIE
A journey to find out a little more about myself.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. Psalms 139:16 NIV
Who am I...I was told recently that I need to BRAND myself...I need to decide who I am and what it is that makes me stand out. Oh, dear...
I have been trying unsuccessfully for the last two weeks to try to find those answers out!
The beginning. I was raised in Central Iowa in a working class family of 4. My Mom and Dad raised my brother and myself up on a modest little acreage with a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home. My childhood was actually really pleasant. We didn't have a lot of money to go around, but, I would never have thought we didn't have enough.
MOM: My Mom stayed at home full-time until my brother and I were in High School. She was there every day when we got off the bus, she baked and cooked, cleaned and did laundry, she sewed, knitted and crocheted (and for anyone reading this who has a family you know that there are many more things on a daily chore list than that!). She kept everything in tip top shape while Dad worked. My Dad was a Truck Driver who was gone all day until mid evening. I don't know how Mom did it without Microwaves and such but, we would eat at supper time and she would always keep Dad's food warm and waiting for him when he got home. When I was in High School the only thing that I wanted to do was to graduate and become a stay-at-home Mom. How could I not? I had been raised watching complete devotion and an incredible work ethic from my Mom. I wanted to try to be half as good as that.
That is what I am a MOM, although I haven't been as successful in the devoted part (I have many moments of selfishness!) and I have always felt that this BRAND fits me and I like it!
WIFE: My husband and I have been married since 1990 and to tell you the truth I have always wanted to be a wife! I never had grand ideas of being a single career-woman! That sounded so lonely and cold to me. I met my husband when I was 17 years old and knew that I wanted to marry that man! We didn't marry until I was 20 but, I knew I would want to be married to him for the rest of my life. I enjoy being a wife...although, we have had our problems from time to time, we still try to make it work. This BRAND also fits me and I like it!
I know in the CAREER world these BRANDS will not help me, no one wants to think of you being a MOM and WIFE when you need to be taking care of their own needs! Although, in my eyes I would rather have a dedicated MOM and WIFE looking out for me. Think about it...who else would have as much: devotion, faithfulness, compassion, selflessness, trust, kindness and patience. Who else would look out for you more than a MOM and WIFE?
For some reason these BRANDS are not going to work for my career so I will keep searching on my journey....
ANGIE
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