as Jules is living Archives - Page 42 of 46

2011 in review

December 31, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here's an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,000 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Filed Under: The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, Year in Review

2012’s bringing big new delves

December 31, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Okay, for the month of January I am taking a hyades to work on asJulesisgoing.

Hoping to have a refreshed professional look ready for February! I'll be using January to get my home running in order, as well as learning to become more disciplined as a blogger, how to monetize on my site {msg if interested ;o)} and work on several series for this site that I have cramped up in my head. I also have a 1st birthday, 2nd birthday, doctors appointments, a Disciple Now, and I'm sure other things to fill my calendar.

In short. I'll be using January to prepare for 2012. I know most people start the year {January} ready to rock. I just can't seem to get it all together amidst the 3 months of holidays, unscheduled travel, and my scattered-ness {not a word}...how do people do it? Anyways. I pray it's a relaxing and productive month ;o)

Don't fret though. I have an AWEmazing guest blogger for the month! Matt Rothacher {the hubs!} of MattRothacher.com will be posting daily {more regular than me}!

INTRODUCING:

The Seeking God Challenge

Join us for a month of Seeking God. With just fifteen minutes a day "The Seek God Challenge" will challenge you to go deeper in your walk with Christ and hopefully establish a pattern of seeking Him that will last beyond this. This is a month long challenge and comes complete with Daily video Devotionals from Matt, as well as a passage of Bible reading with questions to think through concerning that passage, prayer guides and an challenge to put all this into practice. Start today and begin your pursuit of a holy God.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

It's simple, each day for 31 days you stop by here and click the Day # you're on, watch the video, read the Word, think about the text by answering the questions, pray concerning the passage and then do the simple challenge for the day.

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

***WE ARE DOING THE SEEKING GOD CHALLENGE THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2011 {not Oct '11}***

Have limited time? Want to begin a regular hang out with God? Interested in the Seek God Challenge? Need something to help kick off your quiet time in 2012? Comment with questions or comments.
IT BEGINS TOMORROW {January 1st, 2012}!!!!

Filed Under: Seek God Challenge, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The Ones about Post Series

Thank You!

November 24, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

God has blessed me so much in the past 9 months with the opportunity to vent, share, encourage, or just blog out into this space we call the Internet. I just wanted to say I'm thankful for You! Yep, YOU!!!

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for participating.

Thank you for praying.

Thank you for just clicking round and going on this journey with me!!!

How was your thanksgiving? Please share! I love hearing from your side of the net ;o)

Filed Under: The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}, The Ones about...Stuff Tagged With: blogging, participating, praying, reading, sharing, Thanksgiving, venting

LaWCoC Giveaway

November 17, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Yep, selfishly exploiting my readers so I can get more entries for a giveaway on another blog... ;o)

Adorn Those Lobes! #frumpstopumps Finale and Vintage Pearl Giveaway!

You should go enter and give me some competition! Cute earrings at stake!

Filed Under: Contests

Practical Peace

November 7, 2011 by Jules 4 Comments

How peaceful does this woman looks as she calmly gazes over her coupons or whatever she hold in that thing?

How about this lady? Don't we all wish we could be the lady at the super market with an adorable bun, fitted sweater, wearing HEELS as we pace about the aisles gazing at the goods around us!

Bahahahahaheheheheh

That is sooo not how my Monday grocery shopping trips go down.

I planned last night (as I do most weeks) to rise early, shower, get myself ready, feed and dress all 3 the children (With my amazing hubby's help), load my van by 8 (8:30 at the latest) to head out for a fun-filled morning of grocery shopping with my quant list.

7:30 my middle child is awake knocking on her door asking for daddy which wakes her younger brother

I jump in the shower
Matt takes the youngest 2 down stairs to feed them

8:15 I am blowing drying my hair only to be startled by my eldest staring at me in my bedroom
We go maker her bed, potty, brush hair and teeth, pick out clothes for everyone (tossing them down stairs)

8:30 Everyone is helping someone get clothes and shoes on

Matt and I load all 3 children into the van (children toting their diaper bags that had been tossed to them as jackets were being
layered on)

8:45 I pull in the bank to get cash out for the week...ATM doesn't work

8:50 TOTALLY stressed already I run by Sonic and get a Vanilla Dr Pepper {THANK YOU double Happy Hour!!!}
9:05 I pull back into the bank now that the drive through is open and get cash

9:25 I circle the Wal-Mart parking lot looking for a spot close enough to the door so maybe I can make it inside without any major
injury

9:30 I load all 3 of my children into 1 regular cart (meaning no really cool blue, double seater thingy)

9:32 I realize I left my list in the van and take my entire load back out to get it (so glad our parking spot wasn't too far from the
building)

9:35 Group potty break: Preschooler uses potty, Toddler gets a diaper change, Baby is awakened by all the noiseless of the store

9:45 We start our shopping adventure

I won't play-by-play the rest of the trip but lets just say there were missing shoes, 2 laundry baskets taking up the entire cart, an exhausted walking preschooler, a toddler past her a.m. nap fussy because she had to sit on top of the bottled water, 1 bottle made and drank, trading of the rider/walker (who ended up being held >1/2 the time), lot of "are those all your kids?" and "we saw YOU here last time" comments, forgotten items, back tracking, bad selections made, and one sweaty mamma at the check out handing over bananas the moment they were weighed.

My poor babes are always done by the time we get to the register. Usually before then. That's when it never fails something doesn't ring up right, the checker doesn't like my coupon, and I can't juggle breaking up a fight in the crowed cart and paying for my items fast enough.

There have been lots of rough trips to the store. As I stand at that register I breath deeply, focus on hierarchy of needs, and smile with consistent apologies if necessary to those waiting eagerly behind us.

To my surprise most people when you thank them for their patience respond with patience!

I had several encouraging women ask me, "Are you always this calm?" to which I always seem to respond, "If you could only see my insides... {churning}"

Why? Why do I respond that way? Yes, I want to be honest with people but I also want to be a witness in all I do. I am challenged to make this reoccurring situation one to seize!

My prayer is that I will be able to communicate this {Not in these exact words} next time: I am in charge of my actions

The Weymouth New Testament says in Acts 19:36 that "These facts, then, being unquestioned, it becomes you to maintain you...r self-control and not act recklessly."

and because God is in charge of my changing heart, I will rest in what the New Living Translation says

Zeph. 3:17, "For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

So next time you see me sweating like a sumo wrestler at the Wal-Mart check out line with 3 fussy babies, too many groceries for one cart, and a smile on my face, just know I'm attempting to practice practical calmness in hopes of resting in supernatural peace: practical peace!

~~~

What do your shopping trips look like?

Any helpful hints? {I've tried all kinds of things: different times, days, with the hubs, by myself, etc}

What reoccurring situation will you use to testify what God's doing in your life? How will you look different that the rest of the world when under stress?