Lessons from the Sidelines

I can’t believe it’s almost the end of May and we’re still dealing with quarantine rules in Illinois. While hopeful news trickles out randomly, it’s challenging to keep the days straight. Regardless there are some great things to reflect on this month for May 2020 Share Four Somethings.

Something Loved

In May I loved getting out and enjoying the fresh air. I was able to use my new camera lens for the first time and took some nature photos. Even though the lens is for football games I need to start practicing some time! Fingers crossed I’ll be out of the field in a few months snapping pictures of my favorite team in orange and black.

Something Read

For work we’re reading Seth Godin’s book This is Marketing. I adore Seth’s perspective on marketing. It’s about serving your ideal buyer to the best of your ability rather than hustling or selling. Here’s an excerpt:

No matter what your product or service, this book will help you reframe how it’s presented to the world, in order to meaningfully connect with people who want it. Seth employs his signature blend of insight, observation, and memorable examples to teach you:

* How to build trust and permission with your target market.
* The art of positioning–deciding not only who it’s for, but who it’s not for.
* Why the best way to achieve your goals is to help others become who they want to be.
* Why the old approaches to advertising and branding no longer work.  
* The surprising role of tension in any decision to buy (or not).
* How marketing is at its core about the stories we tell ourselves about our social status.

You can do work that matters for people who care. This book shows you the way.

If you have a business or side hustle of any size this is a must read.

Something Treasured

We celebrated our son’s 15th birthday this month. It’s hard to believe it’s already been 15 years, that is until I stand next to him and he towers over me. While it wasn’t the birthday I’d hoped to celebrate with him, I’m thankful he’s healthy. It’s amazing to reflect on the past fifteen years and think about all the funny moments we’ve had together.

Something Ahead

Early in May I submitted my first manuscript for publication! I’m so excited to finally move forward with this project that I’ve worked on for over two years. If it wasn’t for my monthly Mastermind meetings as well as some amazing support from friends and family this dream would still be floating in abyss.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll reveal my book cover, announce my preorder giveaways (which are awesome), and share a lot more about this book that has been one of the most difficult things I’ve completed. Because of that, I’m so proud of the final product and I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on it!

What are you up to this month? I’m linking up with Heather Gerwing for another month of Share Four Somethings. Join us over on her blog!

Something Loved

I loved getting to spend our first Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning in our home as a family of four EVER! We’ve always traveled for Christmas, but this year we celebrated early with my side of the family and now that we live close enough to do a day trip with extended family we opted to spend the rest of the holiday at home. We started with Star Wars, made smores in our fireplace, and opened presents on Christmas morning under our tree.

Something Said

I’m so thankful for all the amazing women working together to put the Pursue Coaches’ Wives retreat together! We got together to make these promo videos. Here’s Liz explaining why she chose the name Pursue. I’m so awkward, but the video is great!

Bonus Something Said:

I have to include this podcast from Holy Post Podcast I have had an incredibly hard time being labeled as an Evangelical since 2016 and for the first time, I have the words to explain to people that I am an Evangelical and the people who they are thinking of, the ones they define as worshippers of the President and power rather than the God they say they follow, are actually Fundamentalists who have inaccurately titled themselves Evangelicals for the sake of mainstream media’s attention. By the way, if you thought the creator of VeggieTales was done educating you now that you are an adult, well…you are wrong! 🙂

Something Learned

This study on the illusory truth effect was very interesting. Here is a quote from the abstract:

Repetition increases the likelihood that a statement will be judged as true. This illusory truth effect is well established; however, it has been argued that repetition will not affect belief in unambiguous statements. When individuals are faced with obviously true or false statements, repetition should have no impact. We report a simulation study and a preregistered experiment that investigate this idea. Contrary to many intuitions, our results suggest that belief in all statements is increased by repetition. The observed illusory truth effect is largest for ambiguous items, but this can be explained by the psychometric properties of the task, rather than an underlying psychological mechanism that blocks the impact of repetition for implausible items. Our results indicate that the illusory truth effect is highly robust and occurs across all levels of plausibility. Therefore, even highly implausible statements will become more plausible with enough repetition.

How do people decide if a statement is true or false? Over three decades of research indicate that repeated statements are more likely to be judged true than novel statements

Something Read

I’m reading Aundi Kolber’s book Try Softer and I cannot stop highlighting parts! It is SO insightful regarding our interactions with God, in relationships with others, and how we internalize responses striving to please others. The best part is that Aundi doesn’t speak in theories, she offers chapters of tools from her training as a therapist and through everything points the reader back to God.

“Aundi Kolber believes that we don’t have to white-knuckle our way through life. In her debut book, Try Softer, she’ll show us how God specifically designed our bodies and minds to work together to process our stories and work through obstacles. Through the latest psychology, practical clinical exercises, and her own personal story, Aundi equips and empowers us to connect us to our truest self and truly live.”

I’m linking up with Heather Gerwing for another month of #sharefoursomethings. Head over to Heather’s blog to see what others are saying.

Something Loved

This month I loved that Ordell took the time to surprise me with an overnight getaway. He planned the whole thing and it was a true surprise. The time away was great, but what I loved the most were all the intentional details he built into our time away just for me like finding a gluten-free bakery. It’s been forever since I’ve walked into a restaurant and I haven’t had to read every label.

Something Said

Our church just wrapped up a series on serving our city. It’s been an excellent series and yet again an awesome reminder that we are in an amazing community. Both teachers and entrepreneurs were a focus during the series.

Something Learned

This month I learned it’s a good idea to back up your website when a server transfer is taking place. I lost 12 blog posts and my redesign update when my hosting provider upgraded to a new server. I’m pretty bummed because I’ll be spending the weekend rewriting December’s posts rather than editing which is where I really need to spend my time. 🙁

Something Read

Burnout is a real thing whether it’s pastors, parachurch leaders or coaches. This article is worth reading if you are feeling like you might need to purge a few things to avoid burnout in ministry.

I’m linking up with Heather Gerwing for another week of Share Four Somethings!

I can hardly believe September is almost over. We have hardly begun to experience fall weather here in Central, IL which I’m not upset about. If we can get through the football season without pulling out our winter gear I always consider that a success.

Reflecting on this month while it seems like it’s flown by, we’ve packed a ton into the weeks as we often do in September trying to find new routines with the start of the school year.

Something Loved

One thing I loved this month was reinstating Slow Saturdays. This isn’t anything official on our calendar but it is an intentional choice on my part. I don’t make plans to run errands and I don’t commit to do anything ahead of time. I work hard to make sure work deadlines are met during the week so that I can relax or focus on something of my choice rather than other people’s expectations and needs.

It’s also a day I rarely cook dinner. We either grill or eat leftovers so the day is one where I hand off all my normal responsibilities. Slow Saturday benefits often include long walks, time at the Farmer’s Market, and a breakfast or coffee date. This month I was able to have a spontaneous breakfast with a coach’s wife friend who was in town for a game. This sweet friend was someone I spent a week each summer with for many years and was thrilled to chat with for a few hours and catch up.

Something Said

My friend Anne Rulo wrote a reflection post about the last year of her writing and speaking journey. In her post A Year of Saying Yes Anne said ” many of the yeses we are called to don’t require huge life change. They require heart change.” She then goes on to outline some key lessons she has learned that we need to help us say yes.

This was one of them: 

“To say yes we need a healthy relationship with vulnerability. We rarely feel completely “ready” to step into something new. In fact, I suspect God intends it this way. If He calls us to something He will equip us along the way. However, there is not a single shred of Biblical evidence that He ever equipped anyone fully at the beginning. (You know, except Jesus.) He very often sends His people out feeling vulnerable so He can be their strength.”

Something Learned

I can still try a new recipe and now that my kids are older they will at least try it rather than cry and refuse to eat.

I did a simple twist on stuffed peppers using Bush’s Beans Black Bean Fiesta and 1/2 a pound of chorizo. I didn’t drain the can of beans but after browning the chorizo added it to the meat and warmed it while slicing the peppers.

I’d intended to add rice, but the mixture was hearty enough on its own and I only had 3 peppers on hand so instead, we had 6 half peppers of meat and southwest beans topped with shredded cheese and then I served the rice on the side and topped the peppers with guacamole just before eating them.

We will have that meal again for sure. And the best part is, I know it is one that can be prepped ahead of time as well.

Something Read

Have you heard of the book Just Mercy? I hadn’t until my boss sent me this YouTube link and asked if Ordell and were aware the movie is coming out in December. He just finished the book recently. This is on my “Something to Read” list 😉

Here’s the official trailer for the moving starring Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan: