• Song: “He is With You” by Mandisa

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne9dMur2IVQ

    It is comforting to know that we are not alone.  There is a season for everything and no matter which season we are currently in He is with us.

    A Time to Laugh

    A Time to Cry

    A Time for War

    A Time for Peace

  • A Wild Ride

    We took several "taxi" rides during our vacation but the one from the airport to the port was the craziest!

    The neat part about some of the services at the airport is that their fees are regulated, however, that does not always mean it will be a smooth ride! Since we had a larger group we took two van taxi’s to the boat.  Jake, Josh, Dad and I went in the first one and the remaining five took the second one.  Our taxi was a dented mini van with smoke bellowing out the back.  Unfortunately, there were no working seat belts in the van and at times we felt like we were in a roll cage at an amusement park as we whipped through the streets of downtown San Juan to avoid the traffic on the main highways.  We were tracking our movements on google maps, which was pretty funny to watch as we took a zigzag path through the city before arriving at the port.  Even though it was a rough ride we arrived at the port in record time.  We saw all kinds of interesting sights as we zoomed through the town.

    We arrived at the port more than fifteen minutes before the our the party.  We were beginning to grow concerned about them since they only left moments behind us.  It was only then that we realized that our group was the ones that had all the walkie talkies and cell phones that were still on.  The rest of the group had already turned theirs off.  Within a few more minutes and what seemed like many mini vans later everyone arrived safely at the port.  We were able to check onto the Serenade of the Seas and start exploring!

    A hint for those who have never traveled outside of the United States.  Bring plenty of $1 dollar bills.  You tip for almost everything you do.  Even with a wild taxi ride you are expected to tip (some people would pay big bucks to go on a ride like that at an amusement park)!  Tipping $1 to $4 each time adds up quickly when you are doing it every day and sometimes multiple times a day.   Also, you have to pay for things you get for free in the US, for example, on a tour we stopped at a restaurant and in order to use their restroom you had to buy a drink (a can of Coke was $4.50), purchase a souvenir,  or  pay $1 per person.

    A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Go with a good attitude and looking for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Fun in Flight

    AirTran Flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico

    On Saturday morning we flew out of Altanta to San Juan, Puerto Rico on AirTran.  It was wonderful having direct flights!  Flying is a little more intense than it use to be especially with all the extra fees to pick your seat, luggage, etc… plus the additional security procedures you go through prior to arriving at the terminal.  We both arrived safe and early for our flight.  We met up with my brother Lee and his wife Becky who were coming from Baltimore, thankfully their flight ended up being ahead of schedule so everyone made it.

    Overall the check in and flight was smooth and enjoyable.  Since it was almost a 4 hour flight we found ways to occupy our time.  Jake and I played our first rounds of SORRY! Revenge Card Game which is a card version of “Sorry” the board game.  It was a quick game and fun.  The following are ways that help us make the time on the airplane “fly”:

    • Sleep – it is a great time to catch a few winks of rest while in flight.
    • Play a Game – usually we stick to card games like “SORRY Revenge”, “Five Crowns”, “Quiddler”, or other card games if we are playing with 2 or more people.  There are plenty of games to play if you are the only one wanting to participate as well such as “Sudoku,” “Mad Libs,” crossword puzzle and more.
    • Read or Listen to a Book – catch up on a book you’ve been wanting to read. If you forgot to bring a headset usually the flight attendant can get you a set.
    • Listen to Music – it is a relaxing way to pass the time in the air plus it tunes out crying children or snoring adults.  If you didn’t bring an MP3 player or something to listen to many of the airplanes have built in channels on the armrest and you can listen to while traveling.
    • Watch a Show or Movie – we watched a short show on Jake’s phone (both of us brought headphones but many airplanes will give you one for free).  That 40 minutes was fun and went by quickly for us.
    • Leisurely Eat your Snack – you are in no rush so take your time savoring the pretzels, cookies or snack and sipping on your beverage.  If you want more ask, they are more than happy to serve you. We have even made a game out of the snacks….for example count how many pretzels are in each bag, you would be amazed at the difference between bags!
    • Write Your Blog Posts – on the way out I wrote a list of blog topic ideas that I wanted to write about and on the way back I started writing out a couple of the articles I wanted to post soon.  It gives you a head start on the topics you are wanting to discuss especially after being gone for a week, the schedule tends to be packed already.
    • Update Your Journal or Pictures – if you write in a journal update regarding the adventures you are having.  If you are not into journals but have a lot of pictures you took during your time away go through the pictures (I have been known to take some strange pictures) during the flight and delete the ones you know you will never print and do not want.
    • Work on a Craft – many crafts are small and can be done in a relatively short amount of time.  Have you tried drawing, cross stitching, or other small crafts that you can do while flying.
    • Write Notes – write your postcards that you were unable to finish or thank you notes to those who made the trip enjoyable.  Everyone loves receiving a hand written note of “thanks” or appreciation!  Thankfully I had all my postcards done by this time, however, I had plenty of thank you notes to write!  Write the notes, address them (if you know the addresses) and when you get home all you have to do is put a stamp on them and stick them in the mail!
    • Read a Magazine – airlines always have a couple to look at and there are many months I don’t have the time to enjoy reading through one of our magazines so flying gives me a good excuse to read a magazine I enjoy from cover to cover if I want!

    For those who struggle with the pressure when descending the best item I have ever purchased for airplane trips is ear planes.  I had one really bad flight and was in so much pain with all the pressure that I never leave home without my ear planes if I am flying.  They really do make the trip so much more pleasant for everyone on your flight!  You can purchase them at most pharmacies.

    We enjoy time in the air because it gives us an extra opportunity to relax and do some fun activities we normally don’t have time to do at home.  So next time you fly sit back, relax, and enjoy those extra few moments of leisure.  Who knows when you’ll be able to read several chapters of a book or play a game with your spouse.  Our time in flight always goes by quickly, hope yours does too.

    We arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico early that afternoon and found a Wendy’s across from the airport where we grabbed a bite for lunch and waited for the rest of our crew to arrive.  A couple hours later Dad, Mom, Josh, Jeremy and Amber arrived.  Thankfully all the luggage arrived with everyone.  The next step was finding a taxi to get us to our boat!

    A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Go with a good attitude and looking for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Take a Nap

    As a kid I resisted taking naps.  It was about the worst thing my parents could ask me to do.  I did everything I could think of to get out of napping or to convince my parents I had slept even though I hadn’t.  I am pretty sure they realized it but napping did not appeal to me at all!

    Now as an adult, when I cannot take naps on a regular basis, it sounds awesome!  Isn’t that ironic…. During the busy Holiday Season we get so worn out with the celebrations that people tend to get sick.  Now that the schedule is getting back to “normal” try resting a little more.   Take a cat nap when you can even if it is only once or twice a week.  If you still have kids at home that nap take advantage of that quiet time when they are resting.  A 20 minute power nap can give you the extra boost you need to get through the day.  On certain days when we know the family will be up late we try to have the girls rest for at least 30 minutes (like on Sundays and Wednesdays).

    I have a nap on my schedule in the near future.  Do you? You have my permission to take a nap today!

  • Investing in Quality Moments

    Quality MomentsWhen life gets busy it can become even more difficult to find quality time with those who are important in our lives. It may feel like there’s not an extra moment to spare in your day between the busyness of your personal and professional schedule.  Running a business and keeping up with the family takes a tremendous amount of energy.   Even if an allotted time is placed on the schedule we may be too distracted by phone calls, projects and everything else that needs your attention to really focus on that person.  It doesn’t have to be a large chunk of time but it does need to be valuable for all parties involved.

    Do you spend quality time with your spouse, kids, friends, clients, partners, and family members on a regular basis?  How do you make sure the time you spend with the different people in your life is valuable?

    • Clients – when is the last time you took a customer out to lunch and listened.  Their feedback is valuable to your business and they know better than anyone else what your business is doing that makes them excited about working with you as well as areas where you can improve.  Follow up with a thank you note and implement the changes immediately.  Creating a community of loyal customers takes time to gain their trust and maintain the relationship.
    • Spouse – go on a date night with your spouse.  Talk about your relationship, dreams, and memories you have together.  Hold hands, laugh, and enjoy each other like you did when you first met.  Listen to what your spouse is saying.  Take an interest in their hobbies and share the excitement.
    • Friends – go out to coffee with a friend and catch up.  Find out what is going on in their lives.  Sometimes all they need is a hug and someone to listen.  It is nice to have some time set aside to share the good memories, however, we all go through tough times as well.  Having  friends that are loyal in the good times and bad is a tremendous blessing.  Consider it a joy to come alongside a friend throughout their journey to listen, laugh, cry, share, and have fun.
    • Children – go on a date with one child at a time.  Have a blast together.  Let them speak freely, be creative, and create memories.  Pick a place that is meaningful to them or let them choose between a couple options.  It doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun.  Go to a picnic in the park, swimming, or out to eat at their favorite restaurant.  Take time everyday to read a book, play a game, color, or just share about your day with your kids.  Treasure the moments and memories your create together.

    We all have the same amount of time as the next person.  The difference is how we choose to use that time.  Take advantage of those quality moments and invest in the lives around you.    Make it a priority to have quality time for those in your personal and professional life.  One of the great advantages to having quality time outside of the house or office is you are more likely to focus on the other person.  At home or work you have a lot of distractions that are important, however,  they are not the priority at that time.

    Give us an example of the types of activities you do while enjoying quality time with  your clients, spouse, kids, and friends?  Who do you spend quality time with on a regular basis and why?

  • A Balanced Life

    Kreativität Life can be a juggling act when trying to balance your schedule with work, family, friends, appointments, social activities and everything that squeezes into a day.  The days fill up and schedules will overlap but we can still use our time effectively.  Here are some quick ways to help organize your schedule so you have the joy of accomplishment without the extra stress:

    • Color Coded Calendar – our family has a color coded calendar on the wall so everyone can see the activities for the day.  We know what each family member is doing at a quick glance.  Even our young children get excited to see a special family event with their color on the calendar.  You can have a color coded calendar just for you with one color for business appointments, another color for social time, a color for doctor visits, etc….
    • Clean Out Your Inbox – some days it feels like I can spend the entire day writing and responding to emails.  Try scheduling an hour first thing in the morning when you get into work and an hour at the end of the day to focus on sending and responding to emails.  Handle your work emails during those times and respond to personal emails in the evenings and on weekends.  Focus completely on emails during that time, put your phone on silence or close your office door if you need to.  Avoid interruptions so you can get it done.  If you think you’ll go too long set a timer and when it buzzes, stop.
    • Time to Talk – schedule phone time each day for returning calls, initiating calls, scheduling appointments, and completing projects.  It is important to follow up with business connections as well as family and friends.  Keep your personal calls during work hours to a minimum and utilize that time to schedule business appointments and work related calls.  Call family and friends in the evenings or weekends to make sure you have enough time to catch up with them.
    • Plan your Dinner – plan your week of meals prior to going to the grocery store.  Lay out the recipe  and any items you can prior to leaving for work that morning so when you get home it is ready to be put together.  If you have a crockpot they are fabulous for people working that want to come home to a meal.  Put the main course in before work and when you come home add a side of veggies and fruit then your dinner is ready.  Pack the leftovers for lunch at work.
    • Double Duty Meals – you can easily accomplish multiple tasks when you work through an occasional breakfast and lunch.  Have lunch with your business partner and brainstorm about the business.  Meet a friend for lunch to catch up and let the kids run out their energy while you talk.  Take lunch at your desk so you can get through an extra project.  You have to eat so mix up your meals and pick a couple days when you will meet someone during a mealtime.  If on a budget or tight schedule grab coffee together.
    • Project Creativity – time needs to be set aside daily to complete projects both personally and professionally.  Determine what needs to be accomplished that day and make sure you have time allocated to get it done including projects that you are doing with your clients.  Same goes for the personal side of life somehow the laundry doesn’t get done on its own and the house cleaned unless you take the time to do it.  Take into consideration the amount of energy and concentration you will need for the project and make sure it fits into your day at an ideal time.
    • Quick Sweep – clean off your desk, organize your office, file papers, and other office work items 15 minutes a day (set a timer if you need to).  By dedicating even a brief time to this on a daily basis you will be able to maintain a cleaner more organized office space. I have been known to let it pile up over several days and then it can take hours to dig myself back out.  Make it brief and daily so that it is more effective and organized.

    It is important that your time is utilized efficiently.  You will have  interruptions, however, doing your best to schedule time to complete specific tasks throughout the day will allow you to be more productive and focused.  Every one of us has the same 24 hours in a day and we must make choices on how to use the time given to us.  What are some activities you do that help keep your day balanced?

  • “Flip the Coin”

    “Heads” orFlip the Coin “Tails”?!  Then….pause….with a moment of excitement before finding out if you are the winner of the toss.  We do not like to admit it, but there are  times when the coin lands in what appears to be our disadvantage.  Unfortunately, our first thoughts in these situations are not always encouraging or positive.

    A few weeks ago on a clear sunny day my husband was in a car accident.  The person that hit his car failed to stop in a timely manner.  My first reaction was of concern for him quickly followed by thoughts of  “we do not have time for this extra inconvenience right now.”   After several days I began trying to figure out ways to “Flip the Coin” and look at the positive side of the situation.

    • Thankfulness – Although the car is totaled my husband is still with us.  The car is much easier to replace!
    • Together Time – More time in the car together for communicating during the busy days.
    • Creativeness – You can creatively coordinate and balance an entire family’s schedule even when you only have one vehicle.
    • Appreciation – For Jake because he is a great Husband, Daddy, Friend and contributes to the family in so many ways.  Also, an appreciation for family and friends who encourage during the challenges of life.

    Find ways to “Flip the Coin” and make even the difficult circumstances a positive experience.  It will not always be easy to change your mindset but by being proactive and taking the time to think of ways to see the good will benefit you both personally and professionally.  We will still face obstacles along the path of life and situations out of our control so let’s remember to encourage one another especially during the tough times.  Do you have an example of how you were able to “Flip the Coin”?