Happy New Year!!

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....may I have a heart of gratefulness and contentment no matter what!

I lay down all expectations of others.

I'll strive, with the Lords help, to take care of the "temple" the Lord has blessed me with and not "down" myself for my "imperfections". I pray for healing from the inside out.

My newest VA article....

Are Your Arms Tired? Learn To Outsource in 2009
December 29, 2008 by Stephanie

It’s almost 2009, what are your business plans? If 2008 left you with tired arms from juggling all of your own business tasks, then you may want to start 2009 outsourcing. Not only will outsourcing help you lessen the stress of managing all of your own business related tasks, it can even make it seem like your getting more hours in your day. Some other outsourcing perks may include helping you get organized and see faster results than you would if you were to continue to handle all of your business tasks yourself.

If you want your business to be more successful in 2009 then perhaps you need to outsource to a virtual assistant. Even if you don’t know what tasks to outsource, contact a VA (virtual assistant) and he/she will be able to help you decide what to outsource.

Here’s a list of popular tasks to get you started on your “Outsourcing 2009 Success Plan” :

1. Content Writing such as press releases, articles, blog posting, and newsletter writing

2. Article and Press Release Submissions

3. Search Engine Optimization to website

4. Seek Podcast Interviews

5. Submit blog and/or podcast to various directories

This is only a small list of tasks that can be outsourced. By writing a business plan, even a rough draft, you will be well on your way to having a more successful 2009.

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Stephanie Fish, owner of Buckeye V.A. has a current full-time opening, as well as, by-the-hour services. Contact me at buckeyeva@gmail.com for a free 30 minute consultation.

Finding joy in darkness

Well, I've been in this dry desert place for several weeks and I'm very thirsty! Spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally,financially....thirsty.

Life seems to be a constant ebb and flow....up and down...bright and dim. What is a mom to do when you feel...dry, down,bummed?
I'm sure every mommy goes through a season of the "blues". My "blues" start at around the 3rd week of November and don't lift until early spring...and I never had the "blues" before Hannah's death. I wonder if this is something that I will always endure while being on this earth?

Well, while I'm going through the "blues" I listen to uplifting praise songs, read my Bible, pray, and really just ask the Lord to lift me out of this place so that I can see His face again.

I often wished I could have another baby, not that a new baby would replace Hannah but he/she would take the empty space and fill it again. I know of some other women that went on to have another baby after the loss of a child. They seem (atleast on the outside) to be joyful again. In fact, I've never met a women in my shoes...you know, who's last child passed away at an early age and never had another child. Maybe one day I can meet a women like me and she can help me see what I'm not seeing!

It's just I didn't get the chance to gracefully let go of Hannah moment by moment, its just that death makes you feel like your loved one was stolen....snatched right out of your arms leaving your empty armed and broken hearted. Almost like running 95 mph into a brick wall...face first!

People think that you should just be "over it" in a year or 2 and be back into life full force. Life isn't a fairy tale....is it? Am I looking through black tinted glasses? Is my head buried in the grave?

I don't know...my arms seem...empty? My lap seems....cold? My heart fills...incomplete? My hands feel....less useful?

I know I sound very ungrateful to some people...but I'm not. I've been very blessed with my other 4 children. Perhaps one day I can... wake up day after day seeing Gods perspective on every happening in life.

Until next time! Squeeze your booger tight tonight and thank the Lord for such a blessing!!


PS: What gets me through my "blues" is knowing and believing that the Lord is in control, wrote Hannah's story, wasn't surprised when she went Home, and isn't surprised by "dark colored glasses".

2009 Goals and Plans

I am no longer a "resolution" gal! Nope, not me! I'm now a "goals and plans" gal. So for 2009 I'm taking measurable steps towards my goals/plan:

1. Make a weekly menu
2. Make sure I only buy what we are going to eat that week
3. Make sure my children and I exercise 5 days a week..even if all we do dance like silly people infront of the tv
4. Bake our junk instead of buying it...this way I can inconspicuously place fruit and veggies into our goodies
5. No more drive-thru's(not even for coffee)*on a side note: if family and/or friends want to take us then its ok ;)

Merry Christmas!

One Size Fits All Christmas Gift

I bet there are millions or even billions of people that don't know what the "one size fits all" Christmas gift is? I'll give you some hints:
1. It's Free
2. It can be for any gender
3. It can be for any age
4. It fits ever person perfectly
5. Once you recieve it, you can give it to someone else
6. It doesn't fade
7. It doesn't shrink
8. It doesn't go out of style
9. It's been around more than 2,000 years
10. It isn't an "it" but a WHO
Can you guess?
http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp

Curlers,Chocolate and Tears

What a day! It started off very nicely, then over a period of minutes..it started to unfold. Let's see, first our dryer stopped working, as in it won't start, then the doctor called and told my hubby that he has high cholestral, then I was able to pay some bills and realized that we have more month than money.

I took my children to place a snowman on my daughter, Hannah Grace's, grave...then I spent the next few hours crying on and off...while praising the Lord for my children that are alive, and for making a place in Heaven with Him for our little girl.

While I was crying and praising, I helped my 12 yr old DD make chocolate Buckeye Candy for her friends and teachers :)Then we sat down together so I could curl her hair and we started talking about Caylee A. and how could her mother do such a thing..then we both started crying. This opened up the door for me to talk to her about what the Bible says about sin, and how sin hurts many people not just the sinner.

So, all in all, it turned out to be a blessed day anyways!
Remember, life live by moments and not minutes!