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Plan the Diary

Hey my friends is it too late to say Happy New Year?! I guess it's a bit late..but it's still January! It's taken me a while to feel ready for a new year, but I think I'm there now - particularly excited to start to think plan and prepare for Real 2011! There's exciting news coming about our guest speaker; also about the theme I feel God's given me for us all. More soon!
In the meantime, please save the date! Friday evening 1st July and all day Saturday 2nd July. Get it in your plans, calendars, blackberries, whatever - but make it a "non negotiable". You need to be there - it's for you!

So Simon and I had "the talk" the other evening...not that talk...but the "Dates for 2011" talk. Mmmm... let's just say it finished far better than it started! Seems like I had thought it was more of an "event" than my significant other did - for him it was a task that needed to be done - can anyone relate?
Let me backtrack - we have a large white board..we write up all the days and months...and put in dates of preaching / conferences / holidays / trips away / meetings - all the commitments we already have for the year ahead. We put in the monthly prayer meetings / the special church dates and conferences. We talk about places we'd like to visit; conferences we'd like to go to; and Retreat days-away. We also (and this was the fun bit) plan for family breaks and two weekends a year where Simon and I go away together. No kids, no dog. It's fun, but not too fancy - often c/o Tesco vouchers or some other special offer, or the generosity of friends. Highly recommended!
Reality for us is, if we don't plan it now, it won't happen because our year will fill up with great and good things. So in prioritising these dates by putting them in first, the other great things have to fit around them.
Do it your way..plan your things, but why not have"the talk" (with your partner, family, friend or yourself) and get planning and prioritising.  Prioritise your time - so you do have time for the important things. Time for challenges and opportunities to grow in our faith. Time for people, for rest and relaxation.

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