Category: Victory

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Victory

Revive the roots

Hey just checking into see how your end of 2020 is going? Here in Australia along with other countries around the world, COVID is popping up again, and making life a little hectic and stressful. Like everyone touched by COVID, our Christmas plans are becoming more vauge as final decisions cannot be made yet. Life has it’s way of throwing curve balls at us, but at the end of the day its how we respond.

We get it that, we are sick of responding in a half hearted positive way as our energy is sapped with the trying part. We get it that so many changes to what we planned, what we dreamed of, what we are working towards – is draining. We are coming to the end of the year exhaused and wanting to nap.

During this time of uncertainty, take a moment to remember what you are thankful for. List them out. Even if it is one thing. Write it down. Remember it during this time.

Also, take time to rest, not just your body but your mind. Do something that allows you to rest – walk, sleep, exercise – whatever it is – rest.

Lastly, we want to encourage you at the end of the year – to revive your roots. The strength you have found during this year – needs to be acknowledged, the hard days you’ve got through, the unexpected fun days, the changes you’ve made to your family life, the changes to your role at work, the changes to your employment – all needs acknowledgment. These influences have contributed to foundational changes in your ability to deal with stress, change and flexibility due to cirumstances beyond your control – Hooray. See it for what it is. Your roots are going deeper, your capacity has enlarged and you’ve gained life experience that perhaps other generations will never know.

End this year, knowing you’ve grown, you’ve changed and your stronger for it.

We would love to know how your year has gone for you and what skills you have picked up along the way…

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Victory

why: victory

 you are just as important as any other factor in the family equation  

Justin and Alicia – Homes of Victory

Hello & Welcome.

Homes of Victory is a platform for families using leadership and management tools to create a family blueprint going forward. It is designed to support you and enable you to design the home life you want, while living with a victorious mindset in the middle of the craziest season of life: kids.

Even though at this time in history our whole world seems like it has upended, we decided to stick to our plans and launch homes of victory to bring hope and encouragement.

We started Homes of Victory out of our love for people and families. We wanted to create a space where we can encourage and provide a framework of not giving up, in a day and age where it is so easy to. We ourselves have experienced layers of stress in our family to the point where we literally didn’t know what to do. This was the grim reality for us at the time. However, we committed to working through the obstacles so that we would come out the other side better and stronger, rather than separately and in despair. We understand every situation is different and every person handles life’s challenges differently. What we also understand is, life is challenging like an obstacle course but we can learn from it and if we decide to be in it together, then lets be in it the best way possible.

Their is always a solution – we just need to find it.

Homes of Victory

Throughout this blog, we will post a series activities designed to do with the one you do life with, that combines to create a family blueprint. In doing so you will be designing and living the family life you want – through the thick and thin. Creating a family blueprint going forward.

Lastly, this is not a parenting blog, nor it is a blog about children, it’s about the parents in the family who often neglect their own relationships in favor of ensuring their kids are okay and life is ticking over. We’re here to say that you are just as important as any other factor in the family equation.

 

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Victory

Victory in the making

We thought a great way to end the year here at Homes of Victory is to revisit out top 5 posts. Each day this week we will be re-posting your fav posts.

They are in a nutshell:

  1. Why: Victory
  2. Manage and Lead
  3. About us: Justin & Alicia
  4. Moody Teenager
  5. Brave and Leadership trait: Patience tied in the number 5 spot.

Please enjoy these posts if you haven’t already.

x Homes of Victory

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Victory

Habit Kickers

It’s that time of year when we are winding down, getting a little bit reflective about the year it was. Can I just pause here and emphasis the words ‘ the year that was’. No one could have predicted what would occur globally in 2020, nor could we have predicted the type of year we as individuals and families would have.

One thing we do, to take control in a way of life – is to set goals. Goals help us focus, help us navigate the noise of life and find success. Here at Homes of Victory we have shared often about goal setting, how your family measures success and living in victory. This post flips that concept on its head, as we start to reflect on the year that was, and look at habits we may have formed, habits we have quietly agreed to – habit unlike goals that may not be the best for us.

I know this year, I have been guilty of dropping the discipline a little by drinking way too much tea, eating way too much chocolate and cheese, and watching way too much Netflix while ignoring every type of exercise ( pretty sure I’m now allergic to sweat) and the ever-growing number of baskets of washing that needs folding… It doesn’t seem like much, but my thinking behind it, is a little dangerous/ unhealthy/ alarming… for want of a better word. I keep saying to myself, it’s ok, if I need to stop because I can and I will. It’s okay, I will start to exercise when I want to – I rarely do – well not like I used to. These habits cannot be broken by one thought – I’ve realized as time has kept ticking, the days have kept passing, that breaking my Covid habits may not be as easy as I would like it to be. 

Habits are one of those things that can be positive or negative. Habits – happen little by little. When my kids were little and I was trying to get them to sleep all night in their own beds, I read that after three nights a habit was formed. Never worked with my kids by the way… Another theory floating around is it takes 21 days for it to become a solid habit and another 90 days to become part of normal life. Either way, there are somethings about habits – whether positive or negative that we need to remember at this time of year – especially as we take time to reflect on the year that was and the year ahead:

Habits need:

  • Commitment to be formed and broken.
  • Time to be formed and broken.
  • Discipline to be formed and broken.

What habits have you formed this year that are positive?

What negative habits have you formed this year?

Think about the actions you need to take to make negative habit more positive? 

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Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.

John C. Maxwell

Who are you influencing today? Will your influence lead to confidence and bravery?

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Victory

Brave Feet

At times we come across moments in our life where we need to make a decision that may seem daunting, that may seem overwhelming, but at the same time feels right. Sometimes we just need to take a step, to the point where we can’t turn back and the decision is set in motion. Then over time the decision seems less impossible, less daunting and more incredible and more satisfying as you discover it was the right decision.

In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.

Abraham Maslow

By taking that brave step into the unknown (think of Anna as she sings this song on frozen…apologies if that song is now in your head), we take ourselves out of our comfort zone and into a place of growth. Fear seems to tag along for the ride when we step out, when we take risks, when we are brave. It’s all part and parcel of becoming who we are. The choice to be brave takes us to places we never dreamed of, being brave takes us towards achievements we only dreamt of.

     Being brave doesn’t mean we have no fear – it means we refuse to be overcome by it.

 Steven Furtick

Having brave feet that set decisions in motion may look ordinary, may look like regular work boots, stilettos or sneakers. However your brave feet look, remember only you can take the step, determine its path and be responsible for your growth. Own the steps you are taking. Don’t belittle the ordinary looking feet, taking brave steps – mine are often bare feet with sand between my toes, breathing in the depth of decision, and exhaling brave.

Where will your step of bravery take you today? What exciting, challenging opportunity will you take, just by taking a deep breath and taking a brave step. It may take many brave steps to get to where you are going, but take them,one at a time. Take them fast or slow, but keep growing and keep being brave. You can do it.

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Victory

Vision writing

Often as a leader, we set the pace for the team we lead and the direction of it through a vision statement. In the workplace the vision guides the team throughout the year and points to required outcomes and project deliverable . Writing a vision for your team can be time consuming and thought provoking as it sets the team up for a win and encourages the writing of goals and actions.

Stepping out of the business world for a moment and into the world of family for a moment, I want to challenge you with this question: Have you ever written a vision statement for your marriage or family?

As 2020 is drawing to a close, we are leaving behind unprecedented times, while what is to come globally for 2021 is also unprecedented and unknown, take charge of what you have control of and make your future, the best it has ever been for you and your family.

As parents – as a couple – what impact do you feel writing a vision for your marriage / family would have in your home? Would it be beneficial and set the tone for the year ahead?

Homes of Victory is here to support you and your family when writing a family or marriage vision. The family blueprint is designed to walk you through the process of planning your vision, encourage you to dream big and align it with your family values and goals. To see all the  Family Blueprint posts – select the tag below or check out the family Blueprint tab at the top of the page.

It’s never too late to write the vision for your marriage

Lisa Bevere
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Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

Audrey Hepburn

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We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why. 

Stephen King
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Thank you

It’s been six months since we launched Homes of Victory. We have been blown away by your support and would like to humbly thank each of you. We truly appreciate the time you take to read and absorb what we have to share.

As we are all about families – supporting and enabling you to create the home life you want – we can’t wait to continue this journey with you. If you have any topic you would like us to cover please let us know. Likewise if you would like to be a guest blogger please contact us. We would love to hear from you.

Until then, share Homes of Victory with your mates and let’s encourage each other to live in victory.

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Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

John F. Kennedy

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The first place we must win the victory is in our own minds. If you don’t think you can be successful, then you never will be.

Joel Osteen
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Victory

What are you fighting for?

Do you want to learn how to fight for your marriage rather than just fight in it? Start attacking the problems that arise rather than attacking each other.

Lisa Bevere

Sometimes we get hung up on the who and what and forget about the why. We can admit, that we have been caught in the cycle of ‘ attacking’ each other rather than the problems in our marriage. We have been there… but once we made a decision to lay it all out on the table, look at the issue not the person, the real issues were laid bare and the work of problem solving began.

Only then, were we able to start attacking the problems and issues in our marriage rather than each other. The thing is, it took a conscious effort to change how we both thought, it took time and calm to lay it all out, it took steps of peace from both of us, to start working on the real issues at hand.

Don’t let the little things, build into big things, where it seems like it’s gone beyond the point of no return. If communication is a problem – work out a better way to communicate, if busy is a problem – work out a way to adjust the busy, if finances are a problem – work together on finding a solution –get professional help, be disciplined, cheer each other on – rather than tear each other apart. If we have learnt one thing, on the journey of marriage – and boy we’ve had ups and downs – is this:

There is always a solution, you just need to find it.

Homes of Victory

You may have the “I love you but don’t like you days” – you may have the I’m trying to keep loving you days, but if you both keep taking steps towards peace and resolution – you’ll take your marriage to a whole new level of wonderful. Fight for what is worth fighting for.

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Victory

Tacos

We’ve just been through a time, where Mr 8, decided to eat every meal in a taco. I had absentmindedly put some leftover taco shells in a container and left them in the pantry… he found them, 5 in total. He decided after we sat down to dinner each night, to go to the cupboard and get a taco. He had spaghetti in a taco, pulled pork in a taco, a sausage in a taco you get the idea.

Why am I writing about this? This was a week where I didn’t battle my son, I chose not to feel defeated but rather went with the flow. Each night as I rounded up the kids for dinner (read cats that keep wandering off) I would wait with anticipation for the “ Can I please go to the cupboard?” question. I happily obliged, actually I chose to.  I chose not to argue, I chose not to worry about it, I chose not to spend energy on it, I chose perspective.

I had flashbacks of my Mum getting really upset when my brother would cover his dinner in tomato sauce every night. She would always say, “that’s not how I made it to be eaten”. It would annoy her and upset her every single time. I agree with her, and know the effort that goes into making a meal that the whole family will eat and the heart of it is, you want the whole family to enjoy it.

The thing is, we can all enjoy the same thing differently and there are things in life that are not worth the energy involved in getting upset or annoyed about. I needed to and wanted to see his love for Taco’s through his eyes.

Do you have a taco like habit? One that no one else agrees is good or nice or could possibly make you happy?
Do you, your other half or kids have a taco like habit that you can’t stand?
This week instead of a battle, choose not to, choose to see it from their eyes. Save your energy and put the battles into perspective.

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Sometimes the most influential thing we can do is listen.

 Bob Burg