@bethvogt The holiday season is fast-approaching. Thanksgiving? A mere 22 days away. Christmas? Only 48 days. New Year’s Eve? Counting down 54 days. We all have our do’s and don’ts when it comes to celebrating the holidays – or not celebrating the holidays because, let’s be honest, some people aren’t thankful for all the fa-la-la-la-la. I’ve never hated the …
When Words are Powerful Enough to Change Our Perspective
@bethvogt It’s that time of year again, friends. What time of year? The time when I ask, “Are you a resolution kind of person or a One Word kind of person?” I’m wrapping up my 14th year choosing One Word for the year and I haven’t missed New Year’s resolutions. At all. Writing up a list? Don’t miss it. …
Redefining Balance So We Stop Thinking We’re Doing Life Wrong
I have a certain morning routine. I typed that sentence and immediately – immediately – thought of the many ways my “certain” morning routine is interrupted on any given day. I walked away from this blog post and made myself a cup of tea. Came back, started typing again, all the while laughing out loud so that my husband …
When Do We Stop Worrying About What People Think of Us?
@bethvogt This is one of my “thinking out loud” moments and you – yes, all of you – get to listen in. It’s 4:10 a.m. when I’m writing this as I try to figure out something. Sometimes I do that by putting words on paper. This time, I decided to let my scribblings become a blog post. Last Wednesday I …
Choosing to Open Our Hearts to Encouragement
@bethvogt Some stories are worth retelling. This is one of those stories. It’s a true story, one I love to share with others because what happened 21 years ago changed me and influences me to this day. Let me tell you why I love hummingbirds. *** After eight years living in Niceville, FL (yes, Niceville), my roots ran deep into …
Grandmotherly Advice as You Start College — A Conversation with My Daughter and Her Mimaw
Guest Post by Christa Vogt Last weekend, my husband and I visited his 100-year-old mother. Our youngest daughter, Christa, came along to visit her “Mimaw,” since she leaves for college this week. When we arrived at the skilled nursing facility where Rob’s mom has been staying for the past two months (too long of a story for this blog post), …
Choosing to Make Room for Grace
@bethvogt I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office yesterday. My youngest daughter had an appointment – not me. Once we get all of her “Oh, wait! We need to do this before you go to college” appointments checked off the list, I’ll worry about my stuff. Anyway, back to sitting in the waiting room. There …
Fighting Against Family Favorites
Choosing to Love Our Children for Who They Are @bethvogt Let’s talk about favorite things. The Kid starring Bruce Willis is one of my all-time favorite movies. Crème brûlée is my favorite dessert. Green is my favorite color. Not neon green or lime green or olive green, but a rich forest green. L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite authors. …
How Do We Navigate Between Winning and Losing?
How Do You Use Awards to Define Yourself? @bethvogt The first award I ever won was for an elementary school spelling bee. I remember standing in a line with my classmates against the chalkboard. Waiting my turn as the teacher called out different words. Silently spelling my classmates words. Concentrating, letter by letter, as I spelled the word I was …
The Fallacy of Doing Our Best
KLowering the Bar to Achieve More by @bethvogt Success, my friends, isn’t always about giving our best effort. Sometimes success is doing a little bit less. Can I get an “amen!”? Over the years, my family has learned to ask, “What’s the wise choice?” And sometimes the best, wisest choice is to stop trying so hard. There are times when …