Got Purpose?

As part of Dave Ramsey's book, EntreLeadership (which we are reading per one of our New Year's goals 'Read one non-fiction book each month'), Ben and I have been thinking about and have now put down on paper our personal mission statements.  A mission statement says who you are, what's important to you, and what you want to accomplish in life. 

Naomi’s Mission Statement

 My mission is to be a competent and joyful helpmeet to Ben and an adventurous and fun mother to our children.
It is my desire to minister to wives and mothers to encourage them in their high calling, which will require, among other things, modeling a strong marriage myself.My passion is for children, especially orphans, and I want to help people see children as a blessing, standing up for the unborn and the unwanted.I want to use my teaching ability to teach and train our children, and possibly more children, both educationally and to mold their character.  To be a light in their life to see potential for the world-changers they can become.While in the workforce I will take initiative at my job, work with integrity and with unparalleled enthusiasm.  I want to be known for an attitude of cheerfully serving:  bosses I work under, teammates I work with, and customers I work for.  No matter what position I hold, I work as unto the Lord.I will seek out responsibility and live my life as an example to others, knowing that ‘we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.’ James 3:1 ESV
I will use my talent for writing to reflect on what God has done in my life and to uplift the reader, challenging them to not waste their life.
In all I do, the things listed above and anything else I may undertake, I want to live my life to the fullest as an expression of praise to God.

You can read Ben's here.  (Isn't his great?!  I'm so proud of him!)

It's a really great exercise to think through your skills and abilities, personality, values, dreams and passions as well as qualities you admire in and traits you have gained from significant people in your life.  Put it all together and wrap it up in what/who you want to live for, and you have... PURPOSE.

What's yours?


If anyone reading this already has a personal mission statement or decides to write one, I would really enjoy hearing it!  Send a link to it or include it in a comment below!

Fading Memories...

...like the sunset over the sea.  

The other day (Jan. 7) was the first day I missed the ship, like REALLY miss the ship and ship life in it's entirety.  We spent an amazing night at Jacob's (and roommates) apartment in Brookings.  It was just a bunch of us college-age friends, living/eating/talking about God/having fun together, and it felt a little like the community life onboard Logos Hope.  

How much fun it used to be to grab my sleeping bag and walk to the other side of E section to cabin 266 for a "sleepover" in Elise's cabin!  Crazy times with her, Linda, Allie, Maddy and Emily Geffert, their "5th cabinmate" as we called her!  Going off the ship with friends, ministry days, performing in events, work, security watches, sailing, teaching Sunday school and little kid's Storytime, meals in the dining room with 400 people...  You lived with your friends, ate all your meals with friends, worked with friends, ministered with them - it was our home - and we made the people around us be family.  It was an incredible and amazing time, living our life wrapped up in this unique ministry and lifestyle serving God!

Time helps ebb the hard memories and the painful ones like the tide going out to sea, leaving me with balmy sunshine, friends and laughter, and gently rolling waves.

Though at the time, it wasn't all smooth sailing.  From my journal:

August 28, 2010

"Then I went out onto the decks to our spot behind the container with an empty chair beside me and cried. I felt like I couldn't scream or yell loud enough to get the pain out... I think deep inside I miss Ben.  Also so many of my friends are leaving.  And the upcoming changes too... we can't go back.  The time we had together was just a brief breath, and then it was gone."