Boots on the Ground Life: Recent Episodes
Boots on the Ground Life
Life doesn't come with an instruction manual. It challenges us everyday to lace up our boots and get busy. Whether it's homeschooling, life prepping or growing as a family, you've got to show up and be on top of your game, every single day! It can be a battle some days. We have to fight against laziness and selfishness, greed and discontent. We struggle not only against the things we can see but those powers that are not of flesh and bone. We have to be willing to pick up our shield and sword every day to meet the challenges it will offer, because it will offer them. Learn with me as we grow together, encourage each other and find a community of others who are walking this road side by side. A boots on the ground life means hands-on living - one day, one project at a time. It means helping others where you can and being present and intentional about your life. Are you ready? Let's learn how to live a full life and get ready to go...lace up, soldier, the battle is on! You've got this!
The idea of home is one which many in the nineteenth century referred to as a place needing to be free of doubt, turmoil, conflict and despair. I wonder how many of us are able to be in or come into a home that exemplifies a place that offers a refuge from those things! Am I doing well to cultivate a place where my family can rest, recharge and be filled with all the good things like joy, contentment and encouragement so they can then go out and face the world when they step across the threshold? I want to! That's what we talk about today on the podcast! I hope you find something of value in it!
Good morning, world! I hope you have been having a much cooler and enjoyable summer than we have here! Texas has been HOT, lots of plants and trees have died and we've been extremely busy, but God is faithful and we are blessed! Today we talk about embracing the season of life you're in, the times that you are thinking of in the future and using our talents and gifts to the good of those. Not only our earthly homes, but our eternal homes need our attention and the best way to give that is by being diligent to focus on what we can change and how to learn new perspectives. May this walk/talk give you something to ponder as you go about your day and week!
Goodness, y'all! 100 episodes and a year of podcasts seems small and huge at the same time. I'm blessed to have you along for the journey and pray that God has used my words and especially His words to comfort you on your path. His word is our lamp and our light and to step outside of or walk without it will only bring despair. I appreciate each and every one of you who have listened, encouraged me by your listening and letting me know that I wasn't shouting into a deep, dark hole! :-) If you do enjoy the podcast, I'd appreciate a review and any responses you'd like to share, I love to receive email at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com! Have a great day. Go get 'em!!
I came across a quote recently that postulated the idea of our homes as our hobby. A place of beauty to be learned, grown, and perfected over time not in dimensions but in depth of character and soul. It struck me as a timely warning with all of the other stuff I've been doing to get our home into a better order, a home organized for the way we live and the people that live within it. Just like with a hobby, you are never done. You enjoy working on it and savoring the tasks of perfecting it. Do you view your home that way? As a military kiddo and all the other moves on top of it, home was a transitory idea. To have a place become more than just a resting spot or a way station wasn't really a concept for me, but life and the teachings it presents were summarized well in this quote by Arnold Bennett. May you begin to find your home a good hobby to pursue. May you realize the mission field you have within the walls you live in, the people who reside therein and the ability you have to enjoy the process of perfecting this home one small or large detail at a time. It'll never be completed and that's okay! Enjoy the journey.
The opposite of being a contentious woman is one who has a quiet and gentle spirit. I don't think I've pursued that well over the years. I was made to think those things were not good, that I was a wallflower if I did those things. I was encouraged that getting out there and getting things done, and the attainment of accomplishment was the goal. I've been looking around the last few years and realize that the things I've pursued and even been encouraged in, might not be the best for me. The way of Christ is counter-cultural. It doesn't go along easily with what we are told make a "good woman". Right now, we don't even what to get down to basics on knowing what a woman is, so "good" has to go out the window with it! As I've been doing more studying, learning and figuring out what it truly looks like to be a woman after God's heart I'm finding it isn't what I bought into for all those years. It's not what they're peddling now for young women. That's what we talk about today. Join me!
Wow, y'all! It's been almost 2 months since I got a podcast out. Time is an interesting study in our use of it. That's what I've been trying to understand...what is the best use of my time, who should it be spent on and how? These questions are good, but sometimes they can paralyze us to work on the what we can, the thing that is right in front of us. I'm guilty of this sometimes...always planning the future and not being content with the day. So, welcome back, I hope you've been doing well! Thanks for listening!
What does it mean to be rather than do? In my effort to do less, I'm trying to dive into what that actually means for day to day living. The biggest thing I've come to see is that I want to soak up all the individual moments in my day. I want to feel the grip of my child holding my hand, to take in the smell of my coffee in the morning, the tang of the apple as I bite into it. These are the things that keep us focused on what is in front of us, being able to cherish the people that we have in our lives and laying foundations for long term growth together. Community is built through time and shared time. There is a matter of quantity and quality in all of our endeavors. Join with me as we talk about this idea today!
Do we really ever get it all done? I know I never do especially when I put so many things on my to do list. It doesn't matter how organized or color coded it is, I fill my time up with busy plans and yet don't seem to feel accomplished with what I've done. The idea I came across was about doing less to do more. What a concept! It's one I'm going to implement in my life and that's what we talk about today! Maybe it'll help you too!
I'd love to hear from y'all about topics or ideas you'd like to cover. I'm open for suggestions and helps to make it a better community for us all! Send me at note at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com if you have any input!
Thanks for being a part of the BOTGL family!!
What do studying business and external structures have to do with the family? A lot actually! When we look at any group of people, we find it has its own culture - the way they do things, how the parties interact and so many other facets. What we don't always understand, is how or what is changing our culture, until it hits us full in the face. When someone or something comes into our group that begins to change our structure, we become aware of issues that can have detrimental effects to our well-being as a company etc. The question becomes, can we learn to prevent the issues rather than having to play Monday morning quarterback? We can, if we learn from those who have gone before. Your family is a culture. What you stand for, what you allow or don't, the way that you speak with each other, how you handle conflict and more. If we aren't good gatekeepers of our families, we will begin to see fruit we don't love. We can learn from the business world how to put boundaries in place to prevent shifts both big and small to your culture especially without being able to think through and process the ramifications. Do you know what your family culture is? Do you know how to keep it sacred while still growing and learning? These are things we talk about today! Join us.
It is a failing of humanity to believe in our complete and utter originality from those that have gone before. We don't recognize how little is new under the sun! I am totally included in this failure. I think when we are young we believe and those thoughts are encouraged, that we can be like no one else and everything we touch, if we do it correctly mind you, will be groundbreaking and earth shattering. It only takes a bit of growing up to realize that for most of us, we won't have anything original to add to the populace except in the way that we handle the things life throws at us and the way we love those around us. Our value is not determined by being the only one of something, but in finding our dependence on those who have gone before and laying a track of stability for those that come after. Have you ever struggled with wondering if you're an original? If so, join the club and maybe learn from my mistakes a few things to sidestep on your life's journey!
Life is made up of the small choices we make every day. We have the opportunity to decide what we put our attention to and then toward. If you have a goal for your life or what you'd like to see out of your life, planning and choosing what you expend your energy on can be a bit easier. You take each choice that comes up and ask if it will advance you in the direction you want to go or make you fall back away from your destination. It can be an easy choice many times, but often we don't realize that we have chosen something good rather than something better in our day to day lives. The things that will be redeeming of your time will be different at the stages of your life. What works at one time will need to be re-evaluated as your position changes. This is good, right and necessary! It's something I'm still trying to learn to do better. Maybe my lessons will help you make better choices!
The Proverbs talk about two kinds of women. The valiant woman and the contentious woman. It talks about our ability to drive those we love, especially our husbands, up to a corner of the rooftop with our words and about the ways we can either build up or tear down our homes. Being caustic and picking at things comes more naturally to us as women. What is it you want from the things you say? James talks about us needing to process our thoughts and our words in our heart before they are ever spoken from our mouths. Are you good about doing that? What are some ways we can have the life we want, the marriages we want by learning to do that? Those are the things we talk about today on BOTGL! May you find a bit of hope and help in there for your relationships! If you'd like to send me a note, I'd love to hear from you...
carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com is where you can reach me!
The choices we make are a reflection of what is going on inside of us. When we want to teach our children about character growth, the only way to know if they are passing is to understand that real life is the final exam of our character. How do you react when cut off in traffic? What about when someone abuses you in some way? Are you modeling and learning the characteristics you want to require of your children? I've often been pulled up short by realizing my own short comings mid rant or in the quiet of the evening when I've reflected on how well I did or did not do that day. It is the same for us with our children. We can teach, we can even model well, but their own tests will be the decisions they make in the heat of battle, in the quiet moments when no one is watching. Our lives are our scorecard. How are you doing?
Where do you fall in line of siblings? I'm the baby of the family, but also a kind of secondary firstborn. It has made for an interesting connection for me of trying to figure out how and if I matter when it comes to my voice being heard. I'm trying to be better about helping our youngest learn and live within the space that is good for his time and his years rather than make him keep up with his older siblings and introducing things not quite meant for him. I missed a lot of my childhood always surrounded by people a good bit older than me and it has caused some ripple effects I didn't understand until later. If you're the baby of your family or your some other sibling, maybe there's something helpful for you in today's talk!
The ideas of hearth and home are varied and depend upon the culture you are in, but what is at the core of this place? What does it mean to live your life for your family, for building up of and pouring into this space? After almost 23 years of marriage, I finally getting a better grasp on what that means. I've been able to figure out what it is not, which is sometimes the best way to figure out what it is! Join me today as we talk about being godly homes, how to do it well and what we can learn from those in our past!
Courage is a word that gets tossed around, but what is true courage? Is it standing up for something knowing the probable outcome or is risk a necessary part of the package? I came across a good breakdown of four points that direct us to what courage is. Join with me today to hear about it!
Are you a good cheerleader? Are you one all the time even when it is for something you desire to be noticed for? I haven't always been. It is a good time for us to reflect on and learn from our responses. It gives us a way to find areas that need a little excavating or a little more input. There is a great benefit in helping both our spouses and our children by cheer-leading them on, but it comes at a cost sometimes. There is an even greater risk and investment when it comes to relationships outside of family. You might get burned or you might find a common goal, but being selfless requires a good sense of self! How do we learn when to cheer others on, when to help them see maybe this particular endeavor isn't right for them and also process the feelings others success can ignite within us? That's what we talk about today!
You aren't good at everything! What a shock, huh? It doesn't sound like such a big deal when we say it out loud like that but often how we think of ourselves when times get us down is that we aren't good at anything. It's just not the case! We are all gonna be really bad at some stuff and at other things we're gonna ROCK! Taking the time and the means to find those things is harder for some of us. We seem to be waiting for permission to explore and maybe not be what others want us to be. Here's your permission! Go on and try that thing, go back to school, look for a new job. Maybe it's homeschooling your children or putting your art out there for others to see, but whatever it is, DO IT! You've got nothing to loose and plenty to gain and if it doesn't work out like you hoped, maybe it's a good lesson in learning one more thing you aren't your best in on your way to finding your great thing!
If you're unhappy with yourself, changing the location and/or sometimes the people around you isn't going to bring you the change you desire, if you don't simultaneously or instead of, deal with the inside. We have to look within us at what is happening, our responses to it, the gifts and talents that we have been given and move on from there. We don't want to bemoan things we can't change, but change the things we can. It is no one else's responsibility but your own. We can choose to live life in a blame game and not doing the hard work required to have, do, be or arrive at the things we want or we can take ownership and find out what makes us unique and a blessing to the world. We must do the work to get the pay off! It's the lesson of the parable of the talents. Use what has been given to you well and you will be rewarded, bury and hide it and your life will be less than it could have been and most likely not what you'd have wanted. It's up to you!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
Doing only the things you enjoy or are good at seems to be the thing now a days, but training ourselves and our children to do the tasks and the jobs that are necessary, but maybe not as enjoyable, is an important goal. Whether your right hand or your left hand is dominant, the idea applies. If you only used your position of strength to do things, you would miss out on a lot of life. The things that we aren't as good at offer us a chance to grow to become better, to learn to adapt and overcome. We need the partnership of good and easier things along with the sometimes yuck and harder to understand how our lives have to work. So, do what you enjoy, but then also remind yourself there is the junk that has to be done. It won't go away! Join me today on our talk as we discuss how this looks!
Do you find yourself comparing the life you have to one on the screen or in a book? I've found myself doing it through the years and we talk about that today on the podcast. How to live our lives well amidst the stories around us. Whether they are false or just what we perceive in the marriages and relationships around us, the only way to have good relationships is to make them, build them, do the hard work. Unfortunately and fortunately, there is no fairy godmother coming to your rescue. The life you have is the one you make, the one you forge through all kinds of ups and downs, You can't bake a cake or make a meal without putting in the work, our lives are the same. I've often found that I become discontent after reading stories that neatly tie up all the loose ends, but its in the discontent and the hard times that we grow and change the most.
I'm not sure exactly where this phrase originated, but it became a common theme of the WWII era. I had recently come across it and we discuss the wisdom of it in the podcast today. Prepping and planning are all good things, but sometimes we just need to use what we have and get the job, task, or life done. It's a great way to look at your home, your life, what you provide for your children all at the same time and ask yourself before you buy that new thing that will "fix it all", maybe step back and re-evaluate.
Do you know what a godly wife is? It has been a long journey for me to figure that out and it's one I am still traveling. I haven't done it well most of the time, I've bought into the lies our 21st century cultures tell us is the way it is supposed to be. I thought I was doing it well many times, or at least I was doing it better than others. My bar wasn't set as high as it needed to be. I'm trying to raise it and to challenge myself and those around me to grasp this wonderful gift we have to be wives of valor, to be the strength of the home and the refuge for our husbands. It starts with two things for me and those are what we discuss today!
Do you ever have moments where you're brought up short thinking about the roads you've taken in life and the ones you passed by? I was reminded of this today in a great way and thought we'd have a conversation about it. Unanswered prayers or life's curve balls can teach us so much if we'll only listen and watch for the unfolding. If you'd like to contact me, I'd love to hear from you at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com. If you like the podcast, I'd appreciate your review on iTunes or wherever you listen!
Starting with the end in mind is a great way to approach all kinds of things. Whether it be our goals for health, wealth or happiness, we can paint a picture in our minds to help us figure out the best steps to take to get there. Sometimes it's even good to put it down on paper! Today we talk about how to deal with the fact of our death in light of our life now, here and to find ways to make the most of it as we go. May you find something valuable in today's talk!
One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to be consistent and careful in training and retraining our children. It is also a part of every relationship, to keep communicating and growing together in how we respond to each other during times of crisis or growth. We can't grow weary in doing good. We can't move ahead without facing the challenges. It is impossible for both our children and ourselves to know how to do something different if we don't train and retrain them as us as we go through life's path. It is a hard thing to do though! We want to think it's a case of saying it one time and then those in our lives "getting it" and doing it right the next time, but for most of us that isn't the case!
Learning all we can from those around us can only provide more and better knowledge for dealing with our current situation. It doesn't mean we take everything we read and learn to heart but learn to have discernment about what is good and what is valuable from those in the past. We want to harness the best and forget the rest! It takes growing and changing to be able to see the multifaceted lives of all of us. We can't ignore what was wrong but we can still learn from many who did what the culture thought was right at the time. This is what we talk about today!
We have all been created as individual masterpieces. The framework we have been given is unique in its makeup. We have the ability to learn ourselves well, but unfortunately we don't get an instruction manual when we are born. If you're a parent, you know how true that is of your children. They are all their own special sauce and helping them grow and change into the people they are meant to be is a big and taxing part of parenthood. Trying to do that simultaneously while figuring out your own stuff adds layers upon layers of things to sort through. Finding that way that we alone can interact with the world well and then also figuring out how that fits into the cultural expectations and experience around us takes a lot of effort and time. How can we do that well?
Relationships have the ability to give us a ladder when we need one. Love is a gift that must grow and change through our lives and taking advantage of the times when one is weak and the other strong can set you up for long term success. Do you let those who love you in? Do you allow them to see your dark places, the spots where you don't feel so confident or loved, worthy or good? I'm not always good about that and it's something I'm trying to come to terms with and rectify, but it's a long process. The talents that we've each been given are to be used and hiding them away isn't the right response even amidst fear. Hope you find something useful in this discussion today!
The knowledge of those who have gone before us can be useful. When it comes to health, wealth and happiness, we can gain a lot by looking at what our forefathers and mothers went through. There is some timeless wisdom to be gained from their endeavors including things like health remedies, ways to plan for hard times, the survival of those hard times and the ability to gain perspective. What is your hope in right now? Is it in your worldly wealth, your preps or your ideas of comfortable times of the past? The world is shaking it up right now and will continue to do so. It is incumbent upon us to be wise to what might happen, how we can prepare and yet mostly to know we are not alone! We can do this but it might look like a different life than the one you planned! That's what we talk about today on the podcast! Hope you find something useful in it!
New Years and ideas of what will come for us during the coming year can cause us to feel overwhelmed and out of sorts. Times during vacation can feel wasted and not utilized well when we focus on too many things. Setting our framework of our lives and then putting the pieces in works much better than trying to put all the pieces in a pile and build our life around it! This is what I'm trying to be better about doing and encouraging my children to plan their yearly activities and maybe goals to line up with the framework they want their life to hold. May you do well figuring this out for your life and your family too and maybe some of the info we talk about here will help as well!
What are these terms and how do they apply to our lives especially as parents? Are we only concerned about doing better for our children relative to others? What about the idea that whatever we throw at our children, they can handle because we're teaching them resiliency? Is there a place for truth in the whole scope of our worldview? Or is it just your truth? These are the things we discuss today on the podcast!
Learning to be comfortable with who you are is a process and an ongoing adjustment. It requires us to be intentional about what we do and how we proceed. It's about being slow and steady and not sprinting toward a finish line that keeps moving. As you begin to think about your next year, maybe some of these thoughts will help! May you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and be able to bask in their love and care for you this season!
We often want to push open doors that aren't meant to be opened yet. We long for better days, different days, more of this or less of that. We often miss what is in front of us in the pursuit of the next thing. My encouragement to you and to myself is to trust that what is is what is meant to be. It doesn't mean don't dream, plan and prepare, but it does mean not stepping out into something that you or those around you aren't ready for...yet or maybe ever. It's been a hard fought lesson and I'm still learning it, but I'm grateful that I am learning it. May this bit of wisdom be helpful to you as well!
In our relationships as humans we need to have a leader, we need someone to "be in charge". The animal world is no different! We see the fingerprints of God in the world around us and in our own homes if we will take the time to look outside of ourselves and to the plan for people to be in communion together, partaking and sharing the ups and the downs of life. There is a reason for order, for structure and the lack of it causes chaos and a devolving of our individual worlds and the world in general. Too much kicking against the boundaries of good hierarchy are what is abounding right now in our world. We all want it to be about me, me, me.
History offers so much for us to draw on. We can see how things have been done over and over again with much the same outcome. When looking to our futures, we can let that inform us of our potential pitfalls and discomforts, so that we can grow in our learning from those that have gone before. A quick podcast today talking about how to move along through our lives and the place that we are in our learning.
Christmas is coming and with it comes the desire to give. Or maybe it's the guilt that causes us to overbuy and live with the consequences for years! I've been on both sides of that equation...feeling like we had the ability to buy things for people and so we must need to and times when it all felt like too much stuff that wasn't really of the best use. It's a struggle as a parent, to be choosy of what enters our homes and the time we devote to the care and maintenance of it. My encouragement to you is to not guilt buy things for your family, but work on experiences and those few necessary or wanted things. I'm still trying to help myself be good about this and not feel like my children will "miss out" if we don't buy enough things! May you have peace in your shopping and may the days of Christmas be about more than the presents under your tree!
Have you ever been in the hospital or had family there? If so, you know the importance of having someone to aid you in getting the care you or they need. What about when looking out for your children? What about for yourself? I didn't learn to practice self care as I was growing up very well, I put it off for other days and times. It's taken me awhile to learn how to advocate for my family, for myself especially with regard to health, but it can apply to all manners of care. Do you struggle with this? I think it happens more with women than men, but we're equal opportunity losers in not acknowledging our needs for care. That's what we talk about today!
Do you ever wonder if you're doing it all right? Good! The questioning is what keeps us honest. I've found some valuable information through the years on understanding how to do the best I can as a parent and one of the things that rings true time and time again is to be the thermostat of your home rather than the thermometer. It is about setting the temperature, the tenor of your home rather than reacting to things in your home. There are some great ways you can do this. We talk about some of them on today's podcast! If you have anything to add, please send an email to me at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Having a heart for your home and loving the people therein is a process of pursuing. We talk through what that means on a day to day basis and how to handle that with family that isn't in your immediate circle. The power we have to affect things for good or ill is a responsibility we have to consider seriously. Join with me as we discuss this topic.
Weariness. Sometimes it goes bone deep. It settles in and can make doing the things for yourself, your family, your neighbor a harder task. How do we re-frame our mindset to accomplish what needs doing without becoming a victim or dealing with resentment? That's what we talk about on the podcast today. Ways to find the joy of serving rather than thinking of chores as something to be over and done, we can approach our to do lists with a joy and even a gratefulness. What a good way to approach the holidays and maybe we can help each other and our families accomplish this better!
Time is fleeting and yet we can waste so much of it wanting something other than that which we have. Though this is Thanksgiving week, this is a lesson that I've had to learn and re-learn countless times. I've found myself wishing that "if only" and "it'll be better when" too many times to keep track. I'm trying to be better about it these days. Whether you want to call it mindfulness or intentional living, the idea is mostly the same. Take the day that has been handed to you and live it well, live it fully! Join with me as we discuss how to do this well for ourselves and our families!
Do you see the people you live next to, work with or pass in the lanes at the store? I've found that many people only need someone to listen to them, to be a beacon of hope in the midst of our individual craziness, to make us feel valuable. This time of year can be harder for people. With all the hoopla of family get-togethers, parties and interactions along with the supposed peace on earth and goodwill toward men, we forget that many are suffering all around us! If we will only stop, listen and be available to those around us, we might be able to be the best of the holidays for them. My reminder to myself is to be more gracious right now. To smile where I can, to lend an ear as well as a hand to those around me. Maybe it's something you want to do too?
God designed women with a special ability to hold things together. We as moms and women are what can hold our families together. We have been granted a "superpower" to bind us together. Today we talk about how we can look to our homes as more than just a house. The efforts we can take to make our houses into homes by finding the ways and means to create a soft place to land for our spouses and our children and a place of hospitality for guests. Our homes can be places of peace if we will utilize our positions well. Many of these things can be done before you have children, and it behooves us as women to understand the special role we've been giving in establishing the heritage of our families.
You are going to disappoint people in your life! It's a fact. The decision is whom do you want to please and who do you want to keep at the forefront of your responsibility etc.? We all have to choose and starting with an idea of the hierarchy of our relationships can help us put decisions into perspective. Whenever you say "yes" to one thing, you are saying "no" to others. These are all wise and good things but choosing wisely can sometimes be hard. That's what we talk about today on our walk!
Figuring out how to prioritize the lessons we learn can be hard, but I've found wisdom in the Bible's teaching that character matters more than knowledge. Without the character or the virtue, no amount of learning will produce good results. That's what we discuss today on the podcast. As parents it is even more important for us to help our children understand their foundation before we begin to pile more bits of knowledge on top.
Time is something that we don't have an infinite amount of. It is a good reminder to stop sometimes and see where we've been and where we're going and how we are using our time. It's a shorter talk today, but I think something I often return to and try to understand whether I'm using my days, my hours, my minutes and my life to pursue lasting things or fleeting things. It can be challenging to remember and take the time for evaluation, but it can bring so much good!
Comparison is the thief of joy. Today we talk about running our own race and not getting distracted about all the others with us on the path. We have to find our own way through, over and around the obstacles that we face. Others can help us some, but it is up to us to take the steps every day, to keep our eyes on the prize and not get worried about what someone else has or does. I was remembering my marathon experience and it was a good lesson for me to look back on. No one else can walk or run your race. It's up to you! Let's encourage one another to do it well!
Who we are isn't only who we were, but a combination of all our experiences. How do we handle walking back into places or situations that defined us in our former years? Do we revert to the emotions, statutes and expectations of those days or can we see who we are now, the strides we've made and the love we have now and operate within those? It is a hard situation to find yourself in. The past can and so often does define us, but it doesn't have to. We have been told that we are loved, that we are enough, that we are seen because of Christ. We don't have to live in the past. What grace! That's what we talk about today on our walk.
As people we are the sum of our experiences and our emotions. It behooves us to learn ourselves well before we bring others into the picture, but even more so as we begin to look forward to marriage and children. Our children and our spouses will be individuals, unique in their own ways. How do we manage that when we don't quite understand them or love the things they love? Some of the best rules I have followed are not to compare them to each other or to anyone else and also to love the kid or spouse you have been given, not the one you wanted. It can bring peace to the journey and joy to our hearts if we learn to love all of those around us with this lens! Here's to always learning and figuring out things in a better way! It is a process!
Loneliness is a force to be reckoned with. We all suffer from it, but many are suffering in even greater depths now. In this time of so much "connection" we aren't connected. Today we talk about how to become comfortable with yourself. To understand that you are the one person that will always be with you! We can benefit from having a good internal monologue and confidence. Though we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother in Christ, we still need to be able to be alone. Alone with our selves and alone with God. This is where we can focus our attention so that when the potential spouse, the potential friend comes along, we are able to see clearly how or if we would be an asset to each other. If you have any questions or comments, send a note to me at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com!
The Bible talks about the wise woman, the godly woman being one full of valor. The Hebrew word for this type of valor is a distinct one only used in other places to signify mighty men preparing for battle or going off to war. It is a word that is meant to instill a sense of awe into us as women, to warrant a response that causes us to rise to the challenge. It isn't about being a perfect woman or attaining "great" successes, but about knowing who we are in Christ and fighting alongside our husbands to protect and defend that which God has given to us. It is an idea that we aren't to sit idly by and wait for someone to care for us, but to be diligent and forceful, full of excellence in our leadership and willing to do the hard stuff! It's a call to be a wonderfully dangerous woman, not as the world would have you believe, but one who is dangerous to the wiles and the ways of the evil one that would destroy our families and take down our marriages. Join with me today as we discuss this concept!
In kinda part 2 of our conversation on dangerous men, we talk about how to create and help mold and make these men. How do we as parents, friends, educators find ways to engage the intellect and the brawn of our male generation? I believe it has to start with some foundation. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. If you don't know what true wisdom is, you won't know when you are being led astray. Whether it is the Christian principles or some other foundational ideology, it must start there. You have to believe in good and evil, right and wrong, this and that before you can begin to understand anything deeper. That's what we talk about today! Join the conversation or if you want, send a note to me at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com to connect individually!
What does it mean to be a dangerous man? Is it a bad thing? In the Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy asks a question that brings this idea to life. Can something be good but not safe? That is what Aslan is. He is the epitome of goodness, but he isn't safe. It's what Jesus was. He was good, but you couldn't get too close to Him without being exposed. He was able to see through all the pretenses of our facades. How do we encourage our husbands, those men around us and the ones we are raising to be dangerous men? How to be people who know how to do things, but more importantly when and where the right time is to do them. I don't want to be counting on harmless men to defend me or my family nor do I want that for the generations to come. These are the kind of things we talk about today on our walk.
Technology of all kinds has caused changes to our world since the beginning of time. Whether it was the finding of fire, the printing of the book or the little computers we carry around in our pockets, there is a need to evaluate and posture ourselves with regard to them. We have to understand how to utilize these technological advances to good ends. Join with me today as we talk about the changes over the last few decades and how to choose the people who are most closely surrounding us, over the things which would pull us away. Let us find the ways to say to the more lasting things, the beautiful words, "I choose you."
Loneliness and community are two words that bring various images to our minds. We often think of loneliness being about separation or a solo status, but oftentimes we can be lonely in a group or crowd. Community seems to have a warm feel to it, one full of knowing and being known, but how common is it? How do we find a place or sense of community with whom we can grow, learn and share? It's been a conundrum for many others through the centuries as it is for me presently. I also am starting to recognize that my job here on earth isn't for my benefit even in this regard. My mission, my role might be to be like Jesus in His love of the lonely, the forsaken, the forgotten. It might look more like giving than receiving and maybe my heart can be molded to live in the truth that it can truly be better to give than to receive! Though it's not the most comfortable or worldly-wise position, it's what the early Church and our faith demand of us. These are the things we discuss today on the podcast!
Do you ever have those days that just don't feel good? Today we talk about what wonderfully complex bodies we have! How our laughter and our tears can mix, how our sadness can bring a smile and how we can try to find joy, the gratefulness, amidst trying times? CS Lewis differentiates joy from other words we often associate with it by concluding that it "must be sharply distinguished both from happiness and from pleasure". It is a peace we can have in Christ not because of anything we do, but because of what He has done on our behalf. Another commentator I found refered to this word joy as "rejoicefullness". What a fun concept to contemplate. It's not the be happy, don't worry mentality, but a rejoicing we can do because we know who has already won the battle. Join with me to talk about this important topic!
The word overwhelm is one that shows up a lot lately. We are all trying to do too much, be too many things, wear too many hats. How do we combat that? As the holiday season approaches, it's a good time to take stock of what we want out of life and decide what is moving us closer to or further away from those things we want to focus on. We can't bring our A game to everything perpetually, so something must give. Today we talk about that idea and what you're willing to settle giving your B, C or D self to in the pursuit of the life you want! Hope you enjoy!
Body issues are just one of the ways we put idols in front of us and our God. In the struggle to be wanted, loved, valued and noticed, we chase after many of the wrong things. In our times, there is such a distain for the things we were created to be. In our hubris we believe we need to be something other than we are and be our own creators and shapers of our identity. But does that honor the one we have been made by? Are we fooling ourselves to believe that what we spend our attention on isn't an idol we worship? Join me today to talk through this topic. If you'd like to contact me, you can reach me at carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Marriage. The lifelong committment of a man and woman to love each other til death do you part! That's what it's supposed to be, but often not what it is. Today is our 22nd wedding anniversary, so I thought I'd take the time to remember and reflect on things I wish I'd known, things I've learned and the idea of staying together no matter what! On my walk I met a neighbor who has just celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary and we share a conversation about that. I cut out big portions as you wouldn't have been able to hear it, but it was a wonderful reminder that even in this day, there are still those who are slogging away at it all, one day and one year at a time!!
What is a friend? Is it someone who gets you all the time in every way? Is it the starry eyed idea we have of shared memories, stolen moments and secrets or is there a difference as we age? I've struggled with friendships over the years. I've considered myself a good friend, but have struggled to find them in others. I don't care for surface conversations much. There is a place for them, but within a friendship I want more. What about when you go through great things or hard things? Do you have people that will celebrate with you, or stand by you and walk with you through the harder things? There is one who sticks closer than a brother and He will always be faithful. He is our saving grace in so many areas, but this area of friendship can be particularly special to find. Join the conversation today! I'd love to hear from you if you have any input. My email is Carolyn@bootsonthegroundlife.com!
Today's conversation talks about how we celebrate the big days of our lives for ourselves and for our children. Learning comes with age and it's been a process to really understand how sharing experiences rather than buying things increases our connectiveness and enjoyment of memory. I walk you through a lot of my processes for where I was and where I'm at now with regard to birthdays, Christmas and any other celebration time. Helping our children feel special is great, but helping them feel special not because of getting "stuff" is even better! Hope you find something useful in today's talk!
Little girls dream of motherhood and family but often this idea gets squashed and devalued by those around them. In our world it doesn't seem to be enough to want to be a wife and mother. People scoff at the idea of "not being all you can be" by not pursuing more than wifedom and motherhood, but is that a good thing? The Bible speaks of how the Israelites traded the glory of what they had for the corruptible things of this world, from the golden calf, to their desire for an earthly king all the way to our current state of affairs. How do we as women reclaim the glory we've been given and encourage our men to embrace theirs without feeling the desire for what the other has? That's the topic of today's conversation!
What is home? The word conjures up various mental images for us based on our own perspectives. For me my home wasn't necessarily a place as that changed frequently, but it was the people. Some people have lived their whole lives in one place and that might be home for them, but when we meet each other, in the street, at church or at work, we all come at life from whatever our background offered. For some that was stability and consistency, for many however, it is not. How do we find common ground to communicate and how does that influence the home that we have for our own families now? These are all things we discuss today!
Today we continue a conversation on establishing new habits but from a slightly different perspective. Sometimes we need to be hard and fast about the new habit or skill that we are trying to take on, but other times we need to learn that doing so can kill the joy and desire of attaining that goal. How to know the difference and apply different metrics to each task is a learned behavior and something we have to work at to achieve. Join me to talk through this concept of delightful improvements.
This is more of an episode for parenting. It can relate to your daily schedule but also how you view your life. It is the way that I began structuring our days from newborn on, more rhythm and less scheduled by the clock. It has helped our mindset as individuals and as a family be able to focus more on learning new things, having grace for the day and not feeling like a failure for "missing" certain benchmarks. Hopefully there's something helpful in here for you!
Today we spend a bit of time talking about the relationship of food and family as we begin to prepare for the holidays ahead. We can reap benefits from time spent together around the table and with the addition of food, but many times looking forward to these days and holidays can bring a sense of dread and unease. Join me as we talk about this today and some ways we can move ahead of it within our families.
Habits. Good and bad define our days. They are the foundation of what we do, how we live and the way we get things done. If you've ever struggled to implement a positive habit or break a bad one, I'm sure you've hit some snags along the way. Today we talk about how to set good patterns for ourselves so we can succeed and ways to minimize our failure rate! Thanks for joining me for today's walk!
In a bit of a twist on the woman conversation from before, we talk about learning to say "no". It is a powerful word, but one we often don't say when we need or want to. I see it especially for us as women, but I know many men struggle with it as well. Boundaries and decisions made quickly listening to that still, small voice can reap benefits, but often we override the urgings in our desire to please or pacify others. Join me today as we talk about this topic and how to listen to our inner voice well.
This culture has lots of questions about womanhood and manhood. We have some confusion about what makes each sex unique and how to live within the context of them. Today I tackle this a bit. I think it's only a part one conversation because there is so much more to say. I see many young women fighting hard to figure it all out and it saddens me. We need good people to stand up and give voice to the beauty of both sexes and this is my attempt, my first attempt, to bring some light to the subject. Join with me to learn more about this topic today!
The value of taking time to enjoy life is a learned behavior just as pushing hard all the time is. Whether you were raised to think about time as something to be wasted, something to be used up quickly or something to savor, we all have to come to grips with our own innate limitations and desires. I like to go hard or go home most of the time, but I get worn out. I'm learning how to take things a bit slower, to enjoy the journey and not race to the finish line. Life is a marathon right? Sprinting only carries you so far! Join me today as we talk over what this looks like and how to help our families and our children thrive by applying slow living principles and enjoying a puzzle along the way.
How many things do we rush to do because "others" are doing it? What about the benchmarks we're given for our children? Do we push a kiddo who just isn't ready into doing something just because other kids their age are doing it? What about us as adults? Do we take the time to really evaluate ourselves and where we are now to know what the next step should be? Life and achieving new things is like the best of the roller coaster ride. You feel the build up before the top and the excitement is infectious. So buckle up and pull the safety bar down and enjoy the ride!
The power of what we behold both from outside ourselves and internally can change our perspective on our life. How to watch what is put before our eyes well and what do we surround ourselves with on a day to day basis can literally change our outlook on life. What do you find yourself wasting mental and physical energy on? Is it worthwhile? Those are some of the things we talk about today on this more meandering of conversations! Have a great day, y'all!
Anxiety leads to depression so the Proverbs tell us. It also tells us that wise words are health to the bones. Finding ways to combat anxiety and loneliness are even harder when you are a stay at home parent. The accolades or acknowledgements of a work life are harder to come by and can lead to discouragment and separation. Today we talk about how to find that for ourselves, how our spouses can encourage and challenge us and how we can do that well for our children. It is a hard lesson that I keep having to re-learn and we discuss how our perceptions of greener grass aren't always true.
How do we find confidence in our ability or skill without getting distracted by competition? Are there ways we can encourage ourselves and our children to pursue great things or abilities without having to be "better" than someone else? These are ideas and concepts we discuss today on our walk. Understanding what confidence and leadership are help us to define our focus and strengthen our children to face the things life will throw at them!
Do you find yourself postponing working on a project or avoiding doing a task? Sometimes we tell ourselves we're "just being lazy", but is that really all it is? Today we explore why we might not want to do something. Is our mind telling us that the thing we are being "lazy" about just isn't something we need to be doing right now? What about for our children? When they delay and defer a subject, it can be time for us to re-evaluate how we're approaching it and/or maybe the timing or necessity of it. Join with me today as we look at this topic!
Does being great in one thing make you great in everything? Do we need to acknowledge a person who's wise in one area as being wise in all areas? That's what we discuss today on our walk. We also stray into personality and understanding strengths and weaknesses of those we are around. If we take the time to learn those around us, we can more aptly help them learn, grow with them and learn from them. A true understanding of each other and being able to learn to debate could return if we could understand that life isn't all or nothing!
Have you ever been somewhere or heard someone speaking and you didn't want it to end? We talk today about how it is that men can draw us in with their words or actions and whether that power makes them great men. What distinguishes those who speak to us as either a great man or a charlatan? We discuss that and the beauty of salt in the context of your home and life. I learned a new thing about it and thought I'd share it with y'all! Enjoy the day and thanks for joining me on the walk with Boots on the Ground Life!
What does it mean to be a good steward of our lives and our things? Is it only about money and preservation of those things that it can buy? How do we learn to focus on the things that matter and share those findings with our children and those others we come into contact with? We have a meandering conversation today, but hopefully something will be of use for you! Sorry again about the mic. I'm trying to figure one out that is really clear and doesn't catch all my movements while walking. We'll get there!
The cool word and idea of resiliency is what we talk about today. How to do it for ourselves and how to encourage our children in it! The old adage of "it's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up" proves itself useful! Join with me today to talk about this idea and how to foster it in ourselves and those we love and are around!
What do we appreciate and acknowledge within ourselves and our children? Is it looks, their scores, their grades or is it the more intangible but lasting things? What we value and promote in our children and ourselves is what will produce more of the same. Self-love isn't really the goal but finding a love of things that are pure, true and righteous will help pave the way for a life full of conquering rather than being conquered. Join me today as we talk through this subject!
Personal responsibility is something we all need to work at. It doesn't come easy on some days and times in our lives. It is an essential part of living a life of integrity however, and we need to hold ourselves and those around us to this standard. We talk about the word vow and how that used to be the way people viewed the giving of their word. It wasn't a "if I can" mentality but an "I will", sometimes even to the point of their fortunes or their lives. Do we foster this confidence in our lives by how we respond to others? Are we teaching our children how to live this kind of life?
Do you enjoy your own company? Do you take time throughout the day to just be, to relax and savor the moments? Our minds are wonderful. They can catalog hundreds of thousands of files of information. They can help us sort through things well and talk through what might need fixing. Unfortunately, I see a dirth of people using this capability but filling their eyes and ears with stuff continually and never allowing the time for reflection that makes us grow. Naptime ends in many homes in the toddler years, but I kept ours going. Naps became fewer, but the time for quiet and rest has reaped benefits for my children and for myself. If you aren't comfortable with yourself and being alone, I challenge you to begin taking 5-10 mins each day to just rest and let your mind wander. It might surprise you to learn how very special you are!
How do we think and speak about the hard things of life? Do we live in denial, do we hope that it won't happen to us, do we really think we can live forever? Would you want to? Join me today as we talk about what it means to face our ends, to know that our time will one day be over. What do want to have to show for it, what hope do you have and are you leaving the legacy of faith and trust that you want? These are all things we need to process on a more regular basis not only for ourselves but for those around us and closest to us especially our children.
Y'all it's raining!! Yay! Shorter walk today but we talk about finding the joy in all life's circumstances and making the memories that will last a lifetime. It's not about expensive trips or glitter and gold but about those everyday occurences that can establish your family and your attitude. We talk about making up silly songs, walks in the rain and a few other things. Join me today on this meandering walk through the rain!
Today we tackle the idea of failure and what that actually means. I don't think it means the same thing for every life or for every family. It helps if you know your non-negotiables before you start weighing or evaluating what others might call a failure, but in this day and time when success and failure are defined for us as a certain rote path or number, we have to find our own ways. We focus a bit on homeschooling today as it's a timely topic for this season. Join with me as we discuss what it means to be successful and who's opinion you should pay attention to!
The paychecks of life don't always come in monetary forms. Hugs and kisses are some of the best tokens of achievement I could ever ask for! Join me today to talk about this and also how to be wise in how we view others lives and the input we can have into other's lives or should allow them to have into ours. A wise man once said that it is better to be silent than to be found a fool. Join me today on our walk as we discuss these things and more!
Boys have it rough right now. It is hard to know whom to believe when looking at what a man is and how it is defined in our day. As a mom of 2 boys (and 1 girl), I have a special place in my heart for them! Today we talk through how we as moms and dads can help our sons grow up to be whole men. Men who know how to feel, how to lead, how to love and most importantly how to follow their Savior. As a mom, I have been called to step up to this task with a whole heart in a way that is different from a father. I have a role and we explore that on today's walk. Join with me as we tackle this subject head on!
Living the simple life doesn't mean less thought. It does mean assigning something to each day, making a plan, being accountable for your life. Commitment to get something done each day is a good way to start. What do you have the power to change and grow is the concept we cover in today's episode. Join me as we talk through this idea and learn how to focus our time more wisely on the simple things yet the ones who will outlast us all.
Are you an amateur? I didn't know what the etymology of that word was til yesterday and it was an enlightening moment. It changes the dynamic of how I look at things. I thought we'd talk about that today on our walk! The root of the word is love in Latin. Doing something for the love of it is amateurish, but is that a bad thing? Join me today as we discuss how this looks in our lives as parents, learners and people within a community!
It's so easy to complain, to wait for just the right circumstances or events to get our life going, but sometimes those possibilities don't show up. How do we face our lives with the right attitude and gumption to live our lives well? I think it comes down to deciding whether we are gonnna waste time proclaiming our woes or producing something with what we have available right now. Join me today as we talk through this and what it means for each of us and in how we can encourage our children along life's paths!
Today's conversation takes us through discussing how to live unselfishly and how to train our children in the skill of thinking of others first and finding their place in the bigger picture. Whether you're a Boomer, a Millenial or a Gen Xer like me, we all have had our struggles in understanding what it means to give of ourselves and how to live life well for others. It is a high task we have to raise our children up to understand that they are but vapor in this life. Our eternal hope is secure because of our trust in Jesus, but our day to day walk here on earth can cause us to come face to face with some of our less lovely facets. It's facing this reality that is at the heart of a Boots on the Ground Life!
What does it mean to be proficient and how does that relate to contentment? Those are topics we cover today in our conversation. Learning how to be happy with what we do have, while learning and growing more both in mind and body is a hard concept to put in practice each day. I'm trying to remind myself when I think I "need" something that I probably don't and I have what I need already to at least get started. Join me today to talk through these ideas and more!
Success, justice versus mercy, happiness and how to pursue it plus how to honor those in places of leadership over us are all topics covered today in our walk. Join with me to learn more about these thoughts and how to balance them with what the Word says! What does it mean to live this Boots on the Ground Life?
As parents and people in all types of relationships, we oftentimes fail to know our own story; the one given to us at birth, the one and only one we can really effect change in. It falls to us to learn our own lines, our own steps and not worry so much about what others are doing. Join me today as we talk about this concept and how to match up our ideas against the Bible's wisdom!
Getting started can be the hardest part of any task. It's what stops us sometimes from moving on. Today we talk about getting started and understanding that new things can bring obstacles and opportunities that need to be accounted for. Join us today to learn more about tackling what is in front of you right now in your life! Lace up your boots and let's go!
Do you live your life waiting for someday? It is a common occurence for most of us! We struggle with what we think we lack and all our hopes and dreams of what the future will hold for us. Join me today to talk through this idea and how we can help ourselves and our families live now, this day, this season well. I'm still working on getting a good mic set up for our walks so bare with me and the little bits of feedback this time! Grrr...
Learning is life. It is what we were created to do. There is no graduation from it and no end date for it. Teaching ourselves and our children to learn and to enjoy the learning process is the greatest gift we can give to them. If you can learn, you can do anything! Join me as we talk more about this topic today!
PS - Sorry about the mic again, but we had to roll with it! I'm getting it fixed, I promise! :-)
It's easy to believe we're giving more than we are whether in our relationships, our exercise or in our work. Join with me today as we talk about this topic and how to maybe manage those ideas we have of giving 100% with a balanced life that requires honesty regarding your abilities.
We all have non-negotiables. We sometimes don't realize what they are until push comes to shove or we ignore them until we finally break. Today on our walk, we discuss what some non-negotiables are for our family and some ideas we talk over with the children about their futures. I hope this is helpful to you in thinking of ways to make your life easier by knowing yourself better! Come walk with me and learn something new!
Hey y'all! Join me as we walk my neighborhood and have a friendly chat! I look forward to many walks together as we lace up our boots and press on!