Queen Jen's Gems

 I love to-do lists! I use them at work and home 😊. As I balance different responsibilities, writing it down helps me to remember and helps me to be intentional. I'm also a visual learner, so seeing it really helps. At the beginning of my day, I can take a look at my list and see what I want to accomplish that day. Sometimes, I get too ambitious and write way TOO many things and other times, I write down a smaller list with 3-5 things. I'm working on writing down less. I've also learned that it's okay if everything doesn't get done on the list. The big question I ask myself now every day is, "Does it need to get done today?" If the answer is yes, then I do it. If it can wait, then it waits. Having plans are good, but I've learned plans can change! I can think of many occasions where I planned something, but it didn't go the way I planned or didn't happen it all. You can probably think of those times too! In deciding what plans to make, I'v...

 Who we surround ourselves with matters. Who we associate and connect with matters. Who we go to for advice and support matters. Take a minute and think about the people in your life who you can talk to about things, big and small. I hope you can think of at least one or more people. I know I can and that's a blessing 😊!! We all should have at least one or more people that we can share anything with, and we can count on them. When you have that, it's a good thing! I have learned more and more about the importance of my circle as a result of my life experiences. Has my circle changed over time? Absolutely yes! That's okay because growth and change constantly happen. Do I have people who have been rocking with me for a long time? Absolutely yes, and that's okay too! Being aware is important 😊. Just like being aware of our surroundings is important, so is being aware of our people and the energy they carry. Recently, I started teaching a new unit to my students where all...

 Walking is one of my favorite ways to exercise 💜! When we walk, we take steps forward. Footsteps can be heard by others and can leave footprints depending on the surface you're walking on. When you follow in someone's footsteps, it means you are imitating or doing something they did previously, like a job. Along with walking, I also love another "W" word: writing 😊!! In my blog writing, I love to encourage. I often encourage myself and my readers. Recently, my blog posts have reached a new level of opportunity to encourage a different audience and I thank God for it all!! It all started when one of my faithful blog readers suggested an idea to me in the summer. She said you should start putting a piece of your blog post in our local newspaper. I had thought about it briefly in the past, but it was only a passing thought. That's why our circle is important! I prayed on it and sat on it for a while. That same day, I reached out to another friend who used to work ...

 How will you use your time today? How we use our time matters. We need to be aware and use our time wisely. In our day, we should take time for ourselves and others. I know it doesn't seem like there are enough hours in a day to get everything done, but let's aside time for what's important 💖. In order to know how to use our time wisely, we need to notice what needs our attention around us. I asked a question about two weeks in a previous blog post titled, "What Do You Notice?" I encouraged us to pay attention and be aware of needs we have. If you haven't read that blog post, please go back and check that out 😊!! In our noticing, I want to encourage us to take time to care. When we care about someone or something, it means we feel concern or interest and we attach importance to it. This past week, I had the wonderful opportunity to go with Bible Club students and adults to visit local nursing home residents. It was a great time! For anyone that has followed...

 Have you ever been in a slump of some sort and knew you needed to get back on track? Maybe it's been a reading slump. Maybe it's needing to get back to budgeting and looking at wants versus needs. Maybe it's not getting enough rest and taking needed breaks when you should. Maybe it was the deep cleaning or decluttering that had been neglected in your physical spaces. Whatever your slump is, know we all have one. We all have at least one or more things that we can improve and get better with managing and being intentional about. Before we start looking at our improvements, let's take a moment and thank God for all that is going right in our lives and for everything He's given us 😊. Let's thank God for the progress and growth. Let's thank God for every moment we have to live. Every breath counts and matters. Life is a gift and we should cherish it 💝. We should be thankful for the people God has placed in our lives. We should thank God for bringing us this f...

 Just for a moment, stop what you are doing and take a listen. What do you hear? What do you see? Who do you see? What do you notice? Life can have us in such a rush that we forget to take time to stop and pay attention to who and what is around us. Sometimes, we forget to pay attention to our needs. It's important that we check in with ourselves and pay attention to what's going on in our body and mind. It's important that we notice our responses, attitudes, and actions. It's important that we notice what makes us happy and what drains us. It's important that we notice what helps us stay calm and what is centered around chaos. In this season especially, we need to pay attention to us 💗. Let's not just notice us, but let's notice who and what is around us. Our environment matters. Today, I come to encourage us to pay attention to details. It's about noticing the big and small. It's about being aware in our daily interactions and routines, as well as...

 Have you ever packed a suitcase or container so full that when you opened it the contents inside spilled out? You might have forgotten you put something inside it or you realize you forgot to pack something very important to you. A lot can fit in a box or container when we pack it a certain way! This season brings packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, which I absolutely love volunteering with💗. One of my good friends leads the local organization of Operation Christmas Child in which we pack shoeboxes to send to kids around the world filled with hygiene items, school supplies, shoes, clothes and toys. My friends is always encouraging us to pack the shoebox as full as we can😊. Now, there are shoeboxes of all different sizes. However, you would be surprised at how many items can fit in a shoebox!! When I'm packing shoeboxes, I'm mindful of what age I'm packing for and certain items to place in the shoebox. I'm always mindful to at least put something fun, som...