First Book Signing

I am excited to be hosting my first book signing near my home town.  If you’re in the area, I would love to see you!

Advertisement

Noah

I am excited to announce that Noah has been completed and is now available on Amazon.  It is second book in the See Jesus series.

Love

Every child needs to know they are loved unconditionally. We have the awesome responsibility and privilege of exemplifying to our children the love that Father God has for us. He loves us no matter what. He is the Father who stands by us thru thick and thin. How do you show that you love your child. If you’re having a struggle or it doesn’t seem like your child is responding to your love, consider this… Have you ever heard of the Five love languages? You may be giving constant words of affirmation to your child (which is good) BUT if your child’s love language is gifts, then their little love tank is not being effectively filled. Or maybe you give your child lots of snuggles during the day, but their love language is acts of service.  I’ve found parenting to be a little easier once I learned these keys to how my children functioned.  For more information, check out the book The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman.

The Story Behind the Story

     The first series of books I am releasing I actually started working on over 15 years ago when we found out that my nephew and niece were deaf.  When they were young, I created the books using just my home computer and printer.  It was my way of helping to create an avenue to help teach them Bible stories.  I am excited to return to this writing project and make it available to other children.

One week…

  The countdown has begun!  One week from today my book will be available on Amazon.  This is a 2015 goal that carried over into 2016.  I was a little frustrated at the end of 2015 that I hadn’t accomplished that goal; but because of making that original goal, the groundwork was laid and momentum carried me into 2016 to see it through to the end.  I encourage you that even when you don’t reach “original” goal dates to continue on and see that goal to the end.  Sometimes adjustments need to be made if we’re not making the progress that we had hoped, but the only way the goal doesn’t get accomplished is if we quit.  As February draws to a close, maybe some of those goals you had on January 1st have faded into the background of “every day life”.  Reassess, recommit, and make the next 10 months of 2016 count!

2016

The House is quiet.  I mean REALLY, REALLY quiet.  Over the past couple weeks, all my children came home, we all went to Ulysses to have Christmas with David’s family, we all went to Fair Haven to have Christmas with my family, we celebrated New Year’s Eve watching the movie War Room, we celebrated New Year’s Day home together, and we celebrated Daniel’s 21st birthday.  Now my two oldest have returned to college, David is back at work, Andrew is back in school and that leaves me with the two youngest quietly doing their schoolwork.  Did I mention it is really quiet!

I’ve been working on my goals/resolutions for the year 2016.  I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t have them all ready to go on January 1st (perfectionist side of me kicking in) BUT I am realizing more than ever that if I truly want to accomplish these resolutions I need to put some thought and time into the plan.  First of all, do I really want to do them!?!  Resolution comes from the word “resolve”.  Am I firmly resolved, that no matter what, I want to give my best shot at accomplishing these goals?  Honestly, I’ve scratched some “goals” off my list because they were just what I consider “good ideas”.  Other things I crossed off my list because they were things I felt others wanted me to do (people-pleasing).

My list is smaller and might not seem quite as grandiose (I’m a dreamer), BUT it is more focused.  As I look at each remaining item, I can clearly answer the question of why I want to accomplish that goal.  I’m excited about each one and have a detailed plan of what I need to do each day to reach the end goal.

How about you? Do you have goals you are firmly resolved to accomplish and a detailed plan to actually accomplish them?  If you need some help, there is a video series that I have been listening to each day that helps walk you thru the process.  They are 90 second videos called Ninety With Nate and you can get them in your email by subscribing for free at nateridgeway.com/90withNate

The ADVENTURE begins…

I’m sure you’ve heard that Life is a Journey!  When I think of a journey, I think of a long, slow process.  I think of coping with what comes along the path and moving through it as best I can.  Those challenges that come along can leave one with a negative feeling.  If we’re not careful, we can end up viewing life as a journey across the desert with little watering holes scattered sparingly.

The good news is that if you change your language, you can change your life!  It’s all in how you choose to view it.  A journey isn’t bad or wrong; it’s just that for me, I’ve made a decision to change the glasses I’m seeing my life through.  Life is a Journey ADVENTURE!  I am now on an Adventure!   When you’re on an Adventure, obstacles add to the thrill of it and become an exciting part of the story of your life.  It brings a Tigger outlook as opposed to the Eeyore thought-process.  When you make choices of which path to choose, there’s an excitement that accompanies it.  With the Adventure mindset, you look forward to the risks involved.

This blog is a part of my new Adventure, taking the risk of others reading what I write.  I invite you to be a part of the Adventure of my Life and allow me to be part of yours.