Month: January 2018

Posted in Travel

Do you know where you’re going?

Posted on by jenniferrsalveson

Apparently Not!

About 2 weeks ago I left for my first business trip of 2018! However, I threw myself for a loop.

Normally, it’s everyone else who is interrupting your schedule or challenging you or throwing you off balance. But not this time. This time, I did it to myself.

Self punishment. Unplanned, no less.

First interference: I left on a Tuesday. Typically 95% of my travel starts on Monday.

Second, self-inflicted interference: I planned my first flight departure for 10am.  Normally, I am a “let’s get there and get started” kind of girl who leaves at 7am but AA (American Airlines) changed some of their flight paths for New Bern, so I opted for Delta.  Some of you are probably wondering why this is an interruption. “Come on, you get to sleep in, leave later, less stressful work day, blah blah blah.” However…for this creature of habit…I started the day fine but it threw my routine of “sneaking off while everyone is asleep” to “let’s say goodbyes on the actual day mom leaves instead of the night before” (which always makes it harder). Plus, I was naive and didn’t factor in driving through 8am rush hour traffic.

Third interference: As I traveled along the interstate, instead of heading towards the airport, well I decided to go a completely different direction. (Those of you in the Knoxville area will likely laugh out loud at my lack of direction…or lack of paying attention). I literally sat in traffic for 15 minutes to get off at 640 W and headed to West Knox!

From all of this…I have 3 pieces of advice:

1. Don’t mess with your normal travel schedule or routines! Just don’t.

2. Don’t pray and drive.

I was in some pretty deep prayer thought and before I could catch myself, I was taking the wrong exit ramp.

3. *Maybe…No, it IS the most important: Don’t drive (anywhere) without first having caffeine. (I didn’t have a Coke until I got to the airport. Big mistake!)

C’est la vie

Posted in New Year

So what’s the plan?

Posted on by jenniferrsalveson

Ever hear or say that?

Me too!

So I thought I’d share mine (which includes plans for HERE!)

*in no particular order:

  • Devotional Time. This year I got serious and said I need to pour into myself everyday, not just certain days a week, which was previously based on emailed devotionals (and how they run their posts) or “when I feel like it.” So I bought this devotional by Christine Caine and I’m loving it!
  • Fitness. And not this kind: But “working out” fitness. So far I’ve started slow. Its all about starting and forming the habit anyway, right?!? So for now I’m walking on the treadmill each morning. 12 days straight-that’s a record! #dontjudgeme
  • Keeping “Get to” in my mind. If you missed my previous post, see here for insight into “Get to“
  • Blog- write once a week! I know. I know. That’s a tall task considering last year I didn’t even hit 1/month! Anyway…this is my 2nd post of the year…so I’m hitting my BP2018 (all you business folks will get that!)
  • #reneeeverday2018 challenge. My own challenge to post a picture on Instagram everyday, which will be “raw-n-real” insight to my world, keeping up with life in general, and sometimes link into blog posts here. So hop over and follow me there: jenniferrbusby

And that about wraps it up!

What are your plans?

Posted in New Year

Best Year Yet

Posted on by jenniferrsalveson

2018.

Two thousand and eighteen.

MMXVIII

Dos mil dieciocho.

Many ways to say it or write it. But what will we do with/in it?

I always love a new year! Something about a fresh start re-energizes me. Plus, come on, it follows my Favorite Holiday–CHRISTMAS!

I used to always make resolutions.

I can actually remember fulfilling 1! Maybe…

Then one year a Pastor challenged his staff to complete a goals evaluation sheet! Ya’ll know that was right up my alley! I love excel sheets, and tables and forms…so I loved a questionnaire that made me reflect and think.

Then another year, I simply jumped onboard with our entire church and focused on the same verse that full year, while reading the Bible through-as a church! That was cool!

But for the last 3 (this being our 3rd) Years, alongside my hubby, we have been selecting a “word” for the year to keep us engaged.

I’ve had words like:

Focus

Intentional

And to be honest, last year during my year of “intention”, I was about 6 months in, and had literally lost sight of my word. Clearly no intention happening at that point.

So this year, I approached everything about “my word” differently.

I started a doodle page to brainstorm any and all ideas:

Once I decided my word (short phrase) , I also decided I needed a daily reminder of it. Someway I see it each day. I didn’t want to just put it in my car or on the bathroom mirror, I literally felt compelled to carry it with me…visually.

So I began thinking how to do this…

If you know me, you know I LOVE jewelry. Not the fancy, diamonds, $$ stuff…I love the flashy, costume, cheap stuff! So, I asked for it to be put on a bracelet!

Oh the agony my husband faced trying to get this poor Etsy lady, who likely only gets “Name” requests for bracelets, to understand in about 5 emails, going back-and-forth, that this was a specialized gift with a phrase. …It’s not just one word. No, Not a name. Yes, both words need capitalized. No, they don’t all run together, you need to put a space between them. Yes, I want 3 identical bracelets-name wise, but in different colors because my wife is a fashionista (or at this point he wrote “spoiled”).

**He did so good! I love them (the others are a black one and a red one)!

And finally…as a surprise, he put it in our stairwell. Now, in our home, this is a stairwell down to our basement/garage…not like the “main” stairwell. (All of your perfectionists can sigh a breathe of relief-ha!) However, I leave for work through this stairwell each and every day and it’s another great way to remember my hope and goal for 2018.

And now that you’ve heard all about the selection and reminder process, let me tell you why “Get To” is my 2018 focus. I didn’t just hear this phrase for the first time in 2017; I think I’ve heard it for at least the last 4-6! And it’s no elaborate phrase (as you can see…my girlfriends even like to tell me the bracelet looks like a jacked up version of “ghetto”). It’s not cutting edge or “swag” to be trendy this year. But it’s perfect for me. It reminds me to be thankful…

I “get to” wake up early and spend time with Jesus (even if it’s just starting with 10 minutes!-I love sleep–a lot!)

I “get to” workout, because my arms and legs and body are physically able.

I “get to” eat healthier because I am smart enough to make better choices for myself.

I “get to” go to work each day, because I’m blessed with a job I love! (For some of you it may just be saying “I’m blessed with a job…no love in there” and that’s good too).

I “get to”…well I think you get the point.

And in life, we often approach things as I “have to”. I have to go to work. I have to go grocery shopping. I have to plan this birthday party, or I have to go to this birthday party. I have to clean the house. I have to do (do I dare say it…I will! It’s a new year, we’re trying to be positive here folks) laundry.

Instead…In 2018, I want to go from a place of “have to” to I “get to”.

So here’s to 2018…I “get to” keep drinking Coke (I wouldn’t give that up! The whole Blog would be ruined!)