Last fall, our oldest married. When two people commit their lives together, it is truly a reverent occasion. And it’s always so special to see a bride transformed on her wedding day into the most beautiful woman in the room! But weddings can also be full of tension, stress and unfilled expectations. Add in a blended family and the wedding can become a ticking time bomb. Here are some surprise lessons we learned, and how my husband and I went about surviving a blended family wedding. [Read more…]
4 Keys to Maneuvering Through Life Transitions
We just got back from a lovely vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Our cabin on the mountainside was beautiful and the view was breathtaking. It was so wonderful to slow down for a while and relax. And yet, at the same time I felt a little sad. Our youngest was with us, but College Boy did not join us on vacation. And as a woman and mom, I am making my way through another stage in life. Here are 4 keys to maneuvering through life transitions that have been very helpful. [Read more…]
Overcoming Trust Issues in Friendships
Though I remember the pain of a bad break-up, it is the betrayal or rejection of a friend that still seems to hold a sting. Why is that? Do we allow friends into a space in our hearts that we rarely permit others? I’m not certain. But I do know that it can take effort to risk being open to new friendships. But as healthy friendships are pivotal to a vibrant life, we want to learn how to safely move forward and be responsive to budding friendships. So here are 5 secrets to overcoming trust issues in friendships. [Read more…]
My Focus Word and Top Goals for 2018
As I have been encouraging you all to choose a focus word and to zero in on your big goals for 2018, I thought I would share some of mine. For some of you , this shorter post will come as a relief! Hehee. But if you were hoping for something a little more substantial to chew on don’t worry. I’m planning out lots of great future posts for The Reluctant Cowgirl. So here is my focus word and top goals for 2018. [Read more…]
The Secret to Achieving Your Big Goals
Being sick and tired of something is not usually a good thing. Unless you are talking about preparing to achieve a major goal. Unless we are so fed up with a habit we have or a pit we keep falling back into, we probably won’t do the hard work of changing. I have found, doing groups and watching my own habits that there is a secret to achieving your big goals. [Read more…]
Creating a Focus Word
I have always been stuck in the middle. I’m a middle child, and I tend to use phrases like “better safe than sorry” and “moderation in everything.” But I also do crazy things like decide to get a job 5 states away in Yellowstone Park during college or start a blog when I’m technically challenged. Creating goals and a plan is something I enjoy doing. But too much of a detailed plan makes me feel squirrelly. See? I’m stuck somewhere in the middle. That is why I love the concept of creating a focus word for the year. When you develop a focus word or phrase it allows you to have a target goal for yourself through which every decision in the new year is filtered. The bullseye remains consistent, but the plan on how to stay true to your overarching goal can be a little more fluid. Intrigued? [Read more…]
6 Survival Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
Snow, the smell of cookies baking and twinkling lights are all things that may remind us of the holidays. So does arguments, stress and busyness. For some the holiday season represents a positive time spent with family, cooking and shopping. While others struggle with anxiety at the thought of being around relatives, the expectations of trying to be happy and all the preparation required as the holidays draw near. Most people land somewhere in the middle. So how can we mentally and emotionally prepare ourselves this year? We want to enjoy and create some joyous holiday memories while still being realistic about our time and what is out of our control? Let’s lean into this question together to develop 6 survival tips to reduce holiday stress. [Read more…]
6 Ways to Break Free of Parenting from Guilt
If you look up mommy guilt on the internet there is a lot of information. Feeling guilty as a mom is common. We all want to feel like we are doing a good job and that we are accomplishing this all important job of parenting. For this post though I want to go beyond some of the surface areas to look at the deeper issues below. When we parent from a wounded place we set a pattern of parenting from guilt that hurts our authority as a parent and adversely affects our child in the long run. So let’s ditch the mom guilt and discover 5 ways to break free of parenting from guilt. [Read more…]
A Bride’s Guide to Marrying a Country Boy
Before I met my man I knew nothing about hunting. OK, I knew a few things. You know the Bugs Bunny episodes when Elmer Fudd “hunts” the rabbit? That was the extent of my knowledge. Hunters talk to themselves and wear black and red jackets! So I had a few things to learn. Since you, my lovely readers, have been digging deep the past few weeks, examining your priorities and looking for ways to strengthen your families, I thought we should have some fun on this post! So I’m sharing all my wisdom and experience here to create a bride’s guide to marrying a country boy! Feel free to share…just don’t judge me!! 🙂 [Read more…]
