spot check

According to the Free dictionary, a spot check is "an inspection or investigation that is carried out at random or limited to a few instances."

Its officially the second half of 2013. Seems unbelievable right? This year has flew by. More amazing, I've been pregnant since like last November. Am I the only person to whom this seems crazy? ;)) I should insert that I've got mad respect for womanhood now. This pregnancy thing is not for the weak or lame. I can't imagine being pregnant 50 years ago and having multiple pregnancies without pregnancy pillows, elevators, orthopedic shoes, back support thingies...you get the point.

Anyhoo, I digressed. This post literally began a week ago on the 1st/July as it dawned on me "wowsers, only another 6 months left of 2013". I couldn't help but think about what I had accomplished that was planned and even some other achievements that were unplanned. I also began to think about my goals for the next 6 months...in light of the lessons I've learned this year.

What have I achieved (major):

• successful dissertation proposal
• received clearance to begin collecting data (a secondary process AFTER successfully pitching the idea via a proposal meeting)
• moved into a new house
• maintained my sanity while juggling internship and a part-time job and life 
• remaining healthy throughout pregnancy
• launch the counselling and development ministry at my local church 
• applied for extension on study permit in Canada
• cleaned up the vision for Mercy House/Homes of Hope

What I did NOT do (that was planned):

• collect data for dissertation
• get Homes of Hope established as a legal organization

What I'm looking forward to in next 6 months:

• safe and uneventful labor and delivery
• adjustment to parenthood
• collect data for dissertation (November & December)
• secure an internship for January 2014
• maybe return to work? yea..the jury is still out on whether I will take the benefit of study leave from full time work and maternity leave from school and just enjoy my daughter for the full semester (August-December) or whether I'll return to the part time job about November. However, this will be the ONLY job I'll commit to during this time. No more two-job scenarios moving forward. It really is just too much...at least until I get dissertation fully in swing and that is progressing.

So while I conquered a lot in 6 months, there is still a lot to conquer.... point #2 on the goals for the next 6 months is definitely more than a 6 month goal. :) Although, I am looking forward to some big dreams as it relates to settling into a routine with a newborn. I'm scouring books and praying now...

So what are your goals/plans for the next 6 months? Are you continuing to work on those from earlier in the year? Are you starting over? Reassessing? Its never too late until you are dead. lets get planning...actually lets get working!!!!

Grace peace and love,
Gia

what does 2013 look like for you?

At church on Tuesday night, well...at that point  it was maybe Wednesday morning...my Pastor had everyone close their eyes and visualize what 2013 looked like for them.  At first I just stood there with eyes closed...until I realized the weight of this opportunity. Then, with my eyes closed - I opened my eyes and saw what I would want 2013 to look like.

It was less than 2 minutes but it was AH-MAZING.

It has jump-started my 2013 plan. I'm late this year due to many uncertainties with school but in that moment I was able to see around the roadblocks and see the end goals. I may not have a clear timeline or even fully developed my plan/strategy as yet but I've got definite end points that I can look forward to and for that, I toast to 2013!!!

What does 2013 look like for you? In 3 minutes or less, dream about what you would like to see happen this year, how you look, what you are doing, where you are going...YES! once you have that picture, open your eyes, begin writing and ensure that you can create a strategy, i.e. how you gonna achieve that goal/end point for each one.

Grace peace and love,
Gia

Juggling life

There is so much going on but yet it seems that nothing is happening. Have you ever had that feeling? It is the staple feeling of the over-multi-tasker. Clearly that is not a word/term/phrase but we know that these people exist.


I know that things are progressing but oh, isn't there something so liberating, so affirming in the check mark. You know what I mean, whether it is a mental, electronic or a hand-written list...there is nothing like saying "check"!

So what am I working on?

• Trying to get It's Girl Time business license (more about this soon)
• Finishing some transcription analysis (research for school)
• Attempting to complete an outline for my dissertation (woohoo- final project for PhD)
• Early stages of planning a party (1st official client for Girl Time)
• Finding a house to lease in Nassau*
• Finding an apartment to rent in Canada*

*While these last two are not at the forefront of my activities, these are major decisions that I am in the midst of negotiating/pursuing, even from a distance. Side note: I feel horrible that I'm here in Nassau and needing to find a new apt in Canada, which is most urgent, since I'm homeless after August 31. The worse is that I won't even be back in Canada before this time. This means I'm trusting someone else to not only secure the place but move all my stuff. Talk about nerve wracking huh? As a testimony of my own growth, I am not at all freaked out. God has blessed me with an awesome roomate so is taking the lead with this stuff and although I honestly really have no control over what happens between now and September 4th when I arrive in Canada, I trust that all is well. [sorry about that very long side note].

Going back to the list, I should add that I've got another paper that needs my attention for a first complete draft (no deadline but it is hanging over my head like a dark cloud), and I would love to finish, or at least read another couple chapters from the Michael Hyatt book that I shared from a couple weeks ago.

wooh! Writing all that out was a task...who knew all that was going on?!?!

 I'm happy, that in the midst of juggling those balls [+ hubby time, me time, family time, church time, God time (in no particular order)], I'm still not overwhelmed.  When it gets overwhelming, I usually have to stop, drop and prioritize. That is, simply pick the most important or the one with the closest deadline and work on that first. However, it's never quite that easy. I seriously lothe that feeling of overwhelmed. I guess because I'm a multi-tasker by nature, when I get overwhelmed...I get OVERWHELMED. It's dramatic. It's a big deal. It is a time waster...you know, trying to get all the emotions calmed and thoughts sorted out. :sigh:

So in an effort to not get overwhelmed, I've decided to minimize my activities today to two things:

The first of which is finishing the transcriptions, which are due tomorrow and then finishing the proposal for the first Girl Time client. There are still some holes and this need to be provided to the parent by Thursday at the latest.

I don't always get it right (or remember) but I try to consciously invite the Holy Spirit into the activities of my day for that is where true purpose comes in. I don't want to miss divine appointments...you know those opportunities where in the midst of the regular, I can be used...for a word of encouragement, message of hope, opportunity to share, praying for someone....whatever and however.  I'm looking forward to a productive and purpose-filled day for myself today!

What's on your agenda for today? Are you a mult-tasker like I am, or are you a step-by-step, do one thing at a time organizer? Whichever category you fall in, I declare that today is a productive and purpose-filled day. 

Grace peace and love,

Gia