The Journey to Intentional

jour·ney
noun\ˈjər-nē\: an act of traveling from one place to another

in·ten·tion·al
adjective \in-ˈtench-nəl\: done in a way that is planned or intended

Life is a journey and we journey into many new adventures along the way.  Each of these adventures build our portfolio of life. One day someone will stand at a pulpit and share with a group of mourners the consequences of our journey.  On May 24, 2014 my family and I listened as the journey of our beloved "Pappy" was shared with a room full of those she touched.  The difference between her journey and mine (and most everyone) was that her journey was intentional.  

She lived with intention and she loved with intention!

She was intentional in telling those around her she loved them.  She was intentional with her time.  She was intentional with her finances.  She was intentionally in The Word and most importantly, she intentionally told everyone she knows about Jesus.

About a week after Pappy passed away, I made the decision to live intentionally. I want to be intentional in EVERY decision I make. 

I want to live intentionally and I want to love intentionally!

I want to intentionally tell those around me that I love them.  I want to be intentional with my time.  I want to be intentional with my finances. I want to intentionally be in The Word and most importantly, I want to intentionally tell everyone I know about Jesus.   

I haven't been real good at the whole blog thing.  I love the idea of a blog, I love to read blogs and I think blogs are a great way to chronicle the journey of life. . .but, I am not so great at it. I have decided my first step to living intentionally is to begin to record it in a blog. This is my journey to living intentionally.  I hope you join me on the journey!  

This blog is in honor of Patricia "Pappy" Joan Welch Hedges 1929-2014

The Joys of being Mrs. Brian Tanner

Today I have been a little, well maybe more than a little grumpy. Running in a million directions with a million kids. . .you get the picture. When I got home Brian was standing in the drive way and could tell I wasn't in the best of moods. After the kids got out of the car, he got into the passenger seat, shut the door and asked if I was okay. I gave the typical "the kids are driving me crazy, I never get a break, I want my own apartment in the city, blah, blah, blah. . ." spill. After I was done, he busted out . . ."I'll stand by you" and I busted out laughing! He always knows how to make me laugh!

Seventeen years ago this Saturday, I became Mrs. Brian Tanner. . .the best decision I have ever made.  Thank you God for the blessings of marriage and thank you for a man that still has my heart! 

Top 10 things we learned in 2010. . .

~Handing the keys over to our 15 year old daughter for the first time was

scarier than pregnancy, labor and infancy all put together!!

~A time share tour is NOT a fun thing to do while on vacation with four kids!!

~It's OK to put our elbows on the table, talk with our mouths full and laugh until milk comes out of our noses. . .as long as we are at home!

~Kids never get too big for bedtime stories!

~We can NEVER hear a story too many times when it is coming from a

grandparent. . .we never know how long we will have them!

~Every year goes by a little faster, no matter how hard we try to slow down!

~EVERYONE deserves to be forgiven, we were!

~The importance of good friends!

and last but not least. . .

~Family is God's Greatest Blessing, cherish it!

Our family continues to grow both physically and spiritually.  As each year comes to an end, we look back at what we learned and forward to what the future holds.  We are looking forward to the day when things slow down a little, but until then, we will continue to enjoy each day to the fullest! 

We pray that you and your family are blessed this CHRISTmas season!

It is in Him, who makes the sun to shine, the rain to fall,

the flowers to bloom and our hearts to sing.

The Tanner Family