Reflecting on 2024: Growth, Gratitude, and God’s Plan

In this uplifting New Year’s episode, Mariana reflects on the incredible highlights from 2024, both personally and professionally. From earning awards and mentorship opportunities to celebrating milestones with family and deepening her faith, this year has been a testament to perseverance and trust in God’s plan. Mariana also shares exciting updates about the Cafecito y Amigas community, the launch of a new Bible study group, and plans for 2025, including the SHE’s Bold Women’s Conference. She delves into overcoming “stinkin’ thinkin’,” setting meaningful goals, and grounding your plans in faith. Start your year inspired and ready to embrace all God has in store for you! 

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Chapters

• 0:00 Reflecting on Growth and Blessings
• 11:41 Personal Milestones in 2024
• 25:35 Cultivating Gratitude and Community
• 32:02 Inspiring Transformation Through Prayer

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Happy New Year, amiga. I am excited. Wow, it's January 4th actually by the time you hear this podcast, and so we're going to be already four days into the new year. But listen, I just want to say welcome back to everyone to the Mommy on a Mission podcast. If you're new, today and this is your first time listening I'm Mariana, your host, and today we're just going to bring in the new year with gratitude, with reflection and renewed focus on the amazing journey ahead. It's been an incredible year, amiga, both for the business and for my family, and I just cannot wait to share it with you. So grab your cup of cafecito, settle in and let's dive in this Saturday morning.

Speaker 1: 0:58

Welcome to the Mommy on a Mission podcast. I'm Mariana, your host and the number one bestselling author of Mommy on a Mission a guide towards healing, self-discovery and walking in confidence. As a dedicated life coach, wife, mom yaya and, most importantly, daughter of the king, I am passionate about empowering multifaceted women, just like you. In each episode, we dive deep into transformative topics that help you reignite your passion and purpose. My unique approach is designed to help you overcome the fear of external expectations and create the space and time you need for both increased job satisfaction and personal growth. Join me on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment, as we explore practical strategies, inspiring stories and actionable insights. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of life and emerge stronger, more confident and truly aligned with our deepest desires. Welcome to the Mom in a Mission podcast, your go-to resource for living a more purposeful and fulfilling life. So grab your Tazza cafe y vamos a platicar.

Speaker 1: 2:14

Well, I wanted to start by reflecting on some of the amazing moments that Mommy on a Mission has experienced this year. It's been a year of tremendous growth, of blessings and of resilience. So, for those of you who have been following me, as you can tell if you didn't already notice I have been on a few hiatuses this year, or past year, rather. There was just so much going on, and trying to manage all of the things was getting hard, so I had to sacrifice something in order for me to be able to complete some of the projects that I had, and so, for me, the one that I could sacrifice for a little while was the podcast, and so, in, as you can tell, in October I only had like three episodes for season six. But one of the things that I'm changing up, also even with the podcast is that I'm going to make the seasons a lot longer, lot longer. So season seven is going to consist of 25 episodes and then season eight will have 25 episodes, which will give me a little bit of a break. So that way we have 50 episodes for the year to finish it out, and that's just so that we can really be in those seasons together, not rushing seasons. But you know what, sometimes some seasons are a lot shorter than others and some are a lot longer than others. And let me tell you, last year there were a lot of small seasons but it all consisted of one big one and that was a season of growth. So, as I was mentioning, we had that, we had so much blessing. So I'll kind of rewind back to the beginning of last year. And so, for mommy on a mess sorry y'all, I need, I need the rest of my cafe seat to hold on.

Speaker 1: 4:25

So for the beginning of the year, I was um involved in some behind the scenes projects, uh, to launch out the fourth annual book publishing Academy summit, which was actually an in-person event hosted by Janine Hernandez, the founder of the Book Publishing Academy, and she invited me to emcee the event, and so of course, I didn't want to say no because I had volunteered to be an intern with the Book Publishing Academy and so many things and opportunities just came out of all of that. When I decided to intern with her two years ago, I did not imagine all of the doors that were going to be opening up for us or for me, rather, or for the business itself From launching the book well, writing the book first of all, and then launching the book and then just be part of some behind the scene things to get invited to MC In April. When I did attend, I flew all the way to Phoenix, arizona and I was awarded the 2024 Self-Help Award through the Book Publishing Academy. So for me, that was such one, an unforgettable experience. And two, something that I never saw myself doing was emceeing an event. Now I have hosted my own events and I have spoken at my own events, but to be someone who's opening up for such wonderful people and just introducing some awesome speakers I got to meet actresses, singers I mean it's just been an amazing ride.

Speaker 1: 6:17

I was also invited to serve on the voting committee for the Book Publishing Academy Scholarship, and this scholarship went to four incredible young ladies from Perth, amboy, new Jersey, and I later had the privilege of mentoring one of these young women, Estacey, and she is the brilliant author of her first Spanish book, exulances Y'all. This book is amazing and it came from the writings of a 14 year old. I mean, this girl is on her path, y'all. Let me just say this, and just to be a part of that, that was an opportunity that I, as I look back, I wish I would have had a mentor like. Not, as I look back, I wish I would have had a mentor I'm not just saying like me, but a mentor that would have represented that we can dream, and we can dream big at such a young age, and that there's going to be people that are behind you to encourage you. And so I always say be the person you wish you would have had growing up. And that's exactly what I did and it was such a beautiful experience and I can't wait to do it all over again, because that is something that I would like to continue to do.

Speaker 1: 7:38

Another highlight was participating in the Mortar Galveston Entrepreneurship Program. In the Mortar Galveston Entrepreneurship Program and this is a 15-week course challenged me to build a business synopsis and pitch it in front of judges and I'm proud to say that I won the Entrepreneur Light Award, receiving a $500 check to help grow Mommy on a Mission. I also was able to complete and receive a biblical certification through the Life Breakthrough Academy, a deeply rewarding accomplishment. So, yes, I am a life coach, but I wanted to have meaning behind life coaching. Sorry, y'all hear my dogs Somebody's probably at the door but I wanted to have meaning behind Mommy on a Mission, because Mommy on a Mission is not just about coaching. It's a movement, a movement that is from my heart as a survivor of domestic violence, as someone who has survived it, who's overcome it and who's continuing to go forward. And this is a movement that is not only life coaching but it incorporates biblical principles. So we're going to incorporate faith into the business because we need God.

Speaker 1: 9:00

If you're on here and you're listening and you're saying no, mariana, I'm not someone that believes. You know that believes. Right now, or the church hurt me or I get it. Trust me, I get it. I've been there myself. But let me tell you something for me, god has been the foundation to a lot of the things that have happened in my life and I can truly say that for me. God has really pulled me through and I can say that I have seen some miracles. And so, to wrap up the year, I flew to New Jersey to attend the book launch of the four young self-published authors, meeting my mentee Estacey in person, got to take pictures with her, and that was just the highlight of my year. And so, while in New Jersey, I was also a guest on an exciting upcoming project. So stay tuned because I'll tell you all about that as it is completed and it launches out.

Speaker 1: 9:59

So, just when I thought I wanted to quit because during the year I think it was in the summer I wanted to quit I was like I had been talking to my coach, my podcast coach, my mentor, micaela, my amiga, because she became my amiga throughout this whole process, and so did Janine Hernandez of the Book Publishing Academy. Both of them have been integral in my growth with the business and with the podcast. But I wanted to quit. I really really did. I thought for a moment you know what? I don't know if this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't know if this is the right time, I don't know. I don't see anything happening for me or whatever.

Speaker 1: 10:42

And that was a little bit selfish, because I was looking for rapid growth, and the thing about it is is that God calls us to sometimes be still as we're growing because he's doing things in the background. He's doing some things in the background. We're doing the groundwork here, right, but God's doing some things in the background and we just don't see it. And so, of course, you know, typical Latina, I'm impatient, I want things now, right. How many of us are like that, like we want to see instant results, because we do live in an instant world. We've got our cell phones at our hands, we have the press of a button, I mean, and everything is just rapid. And there's just some things that we have to be reminded of that we cannot rush, we cannot rush the process, and so God reminded me that he has mommy on a mission under his control. His blessings kept pouring in and y'all. I'm just so grateful, I'm so grateful. Now, that was on the business side.

Speaker 1: 11:41

Now let me talk to you a little bit on the personal side. So, on the personal level, for myself and my family, in February I turned the big five O and my husband threw a surprise birthday party for me to celebrate my 50th birthday, and I was surrounded by my friends, my family, and it was just a truly, truly special moment for me because that's a milestone for a lot of us that are, you know, half a century old, and so we're in our señora eras, and you know, and who would have thought that, you know, I would have been able to see 50. And 50 to me represents a lot y'all, because so much has happened in the 50 years of my life that I can truly, truly celebrate. And I've seen some wonderful milestones come out of it. Some hardships, wonderful milestones come out of it, some hardships, but some great wins at the same time. And then in March, we got to celebrate our youngest daughter's quinceanera, so she turned 15, which for some of us we all know that that's a beautiful event that honored her journey into young womanhood. And again, family and friends came down to support her, to celebrate with her. And then in November, we celebrated my husband's 40th birthday Again, another milestone that reminds me of how precious our family is to us, or how precious my family is to us, you know, or how precious my family is to me. So there have been some great, great, great celebrations within our family this year of 2024. And yes, if you caught that, I'm 50. My husband is 40. Yes, I am older than my husband, but you would never know. You would never know. And then this year my grandson, my boo, started school, which was a bittersweet moment that I'll cherish forever.

Speaker 1: 13:46

And perhaps the most rewarding family highlight was finding our new church home. Yes, for many, many years we have been attending a church and it was just so hard to get plugged in. And you know we have been on the hunt for a church home. And when we finally found one and how I knew that it was the one it was when my husband started attending and then our children started attending that my family said hey, mom, are we going to church on Sunday? Or hey, mom, can I start going to the youth group on Wednesday? And for my family to come to me and say, are we going to continue to do this? I was like we found it. We found our church home. And so, after all of these years we've been married 16 years we finally found our church home in this season of our life.

Speaker 1: 14:45

And let me tell you, seeing my family excited about attending church and growing in faith has been a true blessing. My 15 year old daughter received the Lord and was baptized, and now my husband and my youngest son will be baptized this year. So in about three weeks they'll be baptized. And so God's hands are truly at work in our lives in this season. So when I tell y'all there was some seasons of growth and of blessings, y'all I don't even know. I don't even know what to say Praise God. That's all I can say is gracias a Dios, right. So and then we also experienced some growth because we started a new, what's called Cafecito y Amigas community.

Speaker 1: 15:41

So let me tell you a little bit of story about Cafecito y Amigas. So my mentor Micaela, who's in Dallas, she was my like I said, she was my mentor for my podcast, she was my coach and she has what's called Cafecito Hangouts, but in person she'll have what's called Cafecito y amigas and the story was brought out because that's how she remembers her childhood with her grandmother. She identified cafecito y amigas with her grandmother talking with her amigas, her friends, or just with the family in general, sharing stories over a cup of coffee, and that is for a true Hispanic. You will see that that is like the what do you call it? The landmark of our families is that when we can gather around drinking a cup of coffee, eating some pan dulce and just talking and sharing stories and laughters and tears, that represents a lot for the Hispanic community. And so she adopted that name, or she presented that concept of Cafecito y Amigas.

Speaker 1: 16:47

Well, I loved it so much because I could truly, truly identify with that, and so I asked for permission. So many of you would probably say, well, why'd you have to ask for permission? Because I wanted to respect her, because this was her baby, this was her idea, and it came from a very special place in her heart. But I know that for me, like I said, I could identify with it, but I didn't want to disrespect her. And so I went to her and I said, listen, I really like this concept and I really would like to adopt it also and bring it here. So we collaborated on the idea of having a chapter. You know some chapters and so she's got the Dallas Fort Worth Cafecito y Amigas community chapter and I have the Galveston, houston, cafecito y Amigas chapter, and so now we have two Cafecito y Amigas, and then every now and then we're going to come together to do some virtual hangouts together, bring both communities together and just see where it goes. But, as of right now, we do have Cafecito y Amigas in our Facebook group, where like-minded women come together to collaborate not to compete, because we're here to build each other up and create meaningful collections.

Speaker 1: 18:06

And so on January 1st, we officially launched out Amiga Are you Ready to Read your Bible? And this is our weekly Bible study group. This year we're going to dive deep into God's word using Tara Lee Cobble's the Bible recap plan Y'all. That's an amazing book, because I really learned a lot about the word of God through that book, and so this group is already off to a fantastic start. So if you're interested, check out the events tab in the Cafecito y Amigas group. You know you'll have to first join in, so I'm going to have the link in the show notes, so if you want to be part of Cafecito y Amigas group, you can join in that way.

Speaker 1: 18:49

We also started the monthly Cafecito y Amigas meetups in person since October, and so our last event together was on December 28th, and it was 16 women. So we started out with three, and then the following month it was three, and then last month, in December, we had 16 women come together to create prayer boards and that time spent together was so uplifting, so fun just seeing everybody just laughing and creating their prayer boards I just said you know what? Okay, god, I see what you're doing here, I see what you're doing. And so this month of January we're planning another Cafe Cita Y Amigas night and we're going to do karaoke night, because the place that we have been meeting up at is called Ugly Mugs. Now, they're not paying me to sponsor them or endorse them, but I had to give them a shout out because Ugly Mugs Steam Cafe here in Dickinson, texas, is such a wonderful place. They are a faith-based coffee house and they have a setup very similar. So if you're a Friends sitcom fan, they have the couch, they have the tables and they have all kinds of things you know for people to just sing. They hold Bible studies there, and so we were able to host our prayer board party there and it was so much fun. So if you are in the Galveston County area and you want to join us, then I encourage you to reach out to us on the Mommy, on a Mission's Cafecito y Amigas Facebook group page and then in the events tab you're going to see the upcoming events. So you know. Come join us. We'd love to have you. Also, if you haven't already subscribed to our newsletter, then stay updated on events and opportunities. I'll also include this link in the show notes as well.

Speaker 1: 20:43

And then don't forget to save the date for May 2nd. We are going to be hosting the she's Bold Women's Conference. This is my very first conference that I am going to be hosting. We're going to have a night of fellowship. We're going to have dinner. We're going to have a night of fellowship. We're going to have dinner. We're going to have three amazing speakers. We're going to have an awesome worship leader just leading us up with worship music and getting us prepped up and prepared to receive the word that God is going to drop onto us, because we are in a season of boldness, amiga. We are in a season of boldness and we need to hone in on that boldness. So I really do encourage you to save the date for May 2nd. There's a lot of information on there Again. Subscribe to receive those newsletters and you're going to get all of that.

Speaker 1: 21:41

Woo y'all. That was a lot of information that I just unloaded on you all. A lot of great things happening, things that did happen and things that are going to continue to happen, and y'all, I'm just like, ah, I'm just enjoying it. I'm just enjoying it. Now let's talk about something I think many of us struggle with, and that's stinking thinking. Now, how many of you have heard of stinking thinking? You know that negative mindset that creeps in when things get tough.

Speaker 1: 22:17

Well, this year there were moments when I wanted to give up. I mentioned that earlier, right, running a business, working full time and being invested in family and faith, y'all that's not easy. It's not easy. And some of you are probably moms, or some of you are probably just women who are just doing a lot right, and so we know that we can burn the candle on both ends of the stick, right, and it becomes overwhelming. And I saw that season, and not just in myself, but I saw that season with my friends who are also working full-time jobs, running and operating their businesses, and that are involved in so many things right. And just, you know, to add on more to the plate, I've been invited to be a board member for the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, galveston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and I'm also part of the Hispanic Business Network of Galveston County, and so I was invited to do that.

Speaker 1: 23:20

So just when you think that, oh, okay, no other projects, boom, I got more projects, but at least these are not as overwhelming as when I was doing the two classes at one time. Okay, but we do get that mentality of stinking thinking and when it becomes too much and thinking, and when it becomes too much, we just want to give up. So instead of giving up, I had to understand that I was operating from self, I was operating with my own energy, and the truth is is that we can't do anything or any of this without God and each other. We need community, we need help, and there's no shame in asking for help. There's no shame in saying I can't do everything, and there's no shame in saying no, I can't. You can say no to projects, you can say no to certain things, and that was one of the biggest things that I had to learn was how to become a little bit more vocal in saying no or in saying you know what? I can't answer your question right now, or I can't give you an answer of yes or no right now. I need time to think about it, but I also need time to discuss it, not only with my husband, but I need to discuss this with God and I need to see if this is what God needs me to be doing at this time. So how do we overcome stinking thinking? Well, here are a few tips to do that.

Speaker 1: 24:52

One recognize the lies. Often negative thoughts are rooted in fear or self-doubt. Take a moment to identify and challenge those lies. So sometimes, when we're presented with something, we will doubt whether we can do them or not, or we doubt whether we have the time or not. Or you know we'll. We'll convince, we'll try to convince ourselves of of of a thought right. And the thing is is that we've got to challenge those and again taking it to God through prayer, we've got to reframe our thoughts, replace the I can't do this with. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me and y'all.

Speaker 1: 25:35

That's my favorite verse out of Philippians 4.13. That was my life verse for many, many years and it continues to be a part of my life verses, because I've adopted others, but that one will always remain being the main one, because I know that I can't do this alone, but I can do this through Christ, who gives me strength, practice gratitude. I've been doing something every day now where I will reflect on the blessings in my life and write them down. Gratitude shifts your focus from what's wrong to what's right. When I start focusing on the good things, then I can see how God is interweaving everything together. So, even though we're going through some struggles, we don't always get to see how God is just connecting everything together because we're so focused on that negative thing. But if we can just pause long enough to view the good things that have come out of it, then you're going to see where those areas of negativity started to seep in. You'll see how God was weaving all of that together to produce something so beautiful.

Speaker 1: 26:56

And so take some time out of your day and if you don't want to write it down, then don't but take some time out of your day to say you know what, lord, thank you. Thank you that I have a job to go to. Thank you, lord, that my bills are paid. Thank you, god, for the food that is on my table. Thank you, god, that I am clothed, that I have clothes to put on. Thank you, god for the car. You know, maybe it's not the best car, but you know what? Right now it's getting me to A and from A to B, and I'm just so thankful and grateful that I still have this vehicle here and I know that you're going to provide, but right now this is what I have and this is what I'm going to use. But I am so thankful for what you have given me. When we start giving God the praise and we start being grateful for what we do have and not focus so much on the things that we think we need sometimes, then you're going to see a shift. You'll start seeing some shifts right. Seek support, surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you and lean on your community, family and faith.

Speaker 1: 28:03

One of the things that I just reflected on was you know and I mentioned this to Janine when we were in New Jersey and I mentioned it even on a post on Instagram and I said you know, who would have thought that two years ago, when I became an intern to the Book Publishing Academy, that I would be involved in so many things, I mean like so many doors open when I launched my business? You know it was launching my business, listening to podcasts, doing some research that I stumbled across Micaela, who then became my coach, who then introduced me, who, I learned, wrote a book, became an author. I went to her book launch. She connected me with Janine, the founder of the Book Publishing Academy, and then it just started going from there and just doors and doors and doors and doors started opening two years ago.

Speaker 1: 28:57

And look where I'm at today in all, and I'm looking at my awards, I'm looking at my certificates, I'm looking at all of the things that are tangible, because sometimes we want to see tangible things to represent or show that we've actually done something. Because sometimes, when we don't have it in our hands to see or feel, then sometimes we ask ourselves did I really do anything? But as I'm sitting here talking to you right now, I'm looking at the things that are showing me how much I was able to do and it's y'all. I can't tell y'all enough. We need community, we need the right community. We can't be mujeres who are putting each other down. We can't be mujeres and I'm speaking to myself as well, y'all, because you know I'm still an imperfect child of God and I'm still learning this because there are times I'm not going to lie to you that you know I will entertain certain things, gossip for one and I need to stop that.

Speaker 1: 29:57

I'm just being honest with you because it can be, because it's been part of my DNA for so many years, that that is one thing that God has been really, really convicting my heart of. And you know and but, and it's not so much and it's not about spreading rumors or lies or anything like that. So it's nothing like that or or talking about, you know, people's businesses or anything like that, and I don't mean businesses in a business, I mean their personal business or anything like that. But I'm just saying that, just entertaining gossip, whether it's somebody, a coworker, a friend, whatever and gossip, you know, I fall into that trap of entertaining it and I really really need to stop. And another thing that I have been convicted of as well is, you know, for many, many years I didn't curse. My kids did not hear me curse, and now that I've gotten older, it's like I don't know I just started and it's like where the heck did this come from? And God has really been convicting my heart of that as well. So I mean, I'm being transparent here and I'm being honest because I'm trying to be as authentic as I can be with you, because we're all imperfect people we all are and we're all going through struggles and we're all seeing where God's hand is working through us and in us. And so let me just say that we need community, and we need the right type of community to support us, to encourage us, because we need those people in our lives.

Speaker 1: 31:27

And then another tip is pray and surrender. Take your burdens to God. Prayer changes our perspective and invites his peace into our lives. This past year, I will tell you, god has afforded me so many opportunities to pray, and every chance that I have I will pray publicly, Y'all. Okay, I've got to tell you this really quick story. As you can see, this episode is one full of all this information that I just needed to share and want to share. But let me tell y'all something about prayer.

Speaker 1: 32:02

So my 11-year-old son went to school and his assistant principal called me. Now let me back up a little bit, because at the beginning of the year, I don't know what my son was going through. I don't know if it was just because he started middle school and he was just, you know, puffing up at the chest. I don't know. You know, he must've been smelling him. So I don't know. But all I know is that my son did not go into sixth grade the way he normally does. You know this positive kid, whatever, and he just started hanging around a few classmates that were a little bit rough around the edges and I guess, like I said, you know, my son is going to be entering his team soon, so I guess he's just trying to find his little identity. And so he was hanging out with some kids that you know I don't like to say bad kids, but you know that do get into trouble. And he was led into that. And the principal had called me and he told me that you know no-transcript, instead of going against them, okay, and so I said you know what? Thank you for calling me, we're going to have a sit down with him, we're going to talk to him and we're going to see what's going on. And that's what we did.

Speaker 1: 33:42

All right, now let's fast forward, because by this point, where we've already been attending church, my husband's been going, my daughter's gotten baptized and my son has really been plugged in and his demeanor has really changed to more of who he used to be his old self and really learning a lot through the church, so much so that after the Thanksgiving break, he was having a bad day that day and I think they were in the hallway and his teacher was. They were doing some assignments. The assistant principal was there. And the teacher tells him hey, the assistant principal is watching y'all and this is what he wants, you know, he wants y'all to learn, he wants y'all to do things. And my son says I don't care what he thinks. And he immediately felt very convicted by saying that. That. So much so that later on that day he went to the assistant principal and said and his name is Mr Mike he says, mr Mike, can I talk to you for a second? And he says, yeah, man, what's going on? He goes, and so he tells him what happened and the assistant principal was like you know what, you know what, don't worry about it, because we all have bad days and you know you're a kid and we're going to mess up. He goes in, but I, I'm thankful and grateful that you, you felt that you needed to come and apologize to me. But yeah, I forgive you, man, that's all right. And then, as as he thinking the conversation was over, he starts to walk out the door and my sense is wait, I'm not finished. And then he goes. Oh, oh, I'm sorry, my bad, he goes. Mr Mike, can I pray with you. And he said, yeah, man. So then my son started praying with his assistant principal and oh my God, I'm getting teary eyed just talking about this story, talking about this story, no-transcript and he closed out the prayer and his assistant principal was like man, he goes. Thank you so much for that.

Speaker 1: 36:02

Later on, before school, let out that day, the assistant principal saw my son again. He says you know what, xavier, I'm sorry, yeah, that's my son's name he goes. I just want to say thank you, he goes. You just don't understand he goes. I came want to say thank you. You just don't understand he goes.

Speaker 1: 36:19

I was, I came back having a bad week already from school and stuff, and his assistant principal shared it on Facebook actually, and said that you know, he was into a meeting. He didn't like what was going on in the meeting. He took it very personally and so he was having a bad day and so he was having a bad day. But when my son went over there and he prayed for him, he reconfirmed to this man that he needed God back in his life and that he needed to continue to go with prayer, and he said that because of my son, and then that my son told him well, you know what, we need to do this more often. And his sister-in-law says, yeah, he says you know cause. Then he called me up to tell me what happened and he says you know, I don't know what y'all, he goes. I know what y'all did. He goes. I know what y'all are doing because I just the type of people that I've talked to y'all. From time to time he goes, but keep doing what y'all are doing.

Speaker 1: 37:12

He goes because his boldness and his courage, because not only did he pray for his assistant principal that day, he has been praying with his assistant principal every day since that day. Y'all can't tell me God isn't real. I mean, you cannot tell me that God does not touch children. You cannot tell me that God doesn't make transformation. God needs to be in the center of our lives, no matter where it is, no matter who it is. Because this right here tells me that if a child can have that courage and that boldness to openly pray, then why can't we? Because he didn't care who saw him, he didn't care who was around him. My son decided that he was going to pray for his assistant principal because that's what God called him to do, and he told his assistant principal he goes. You know, my dream and my desire is to be a baseball player. He goes. But if later on in life, god decides that he wants to make me a pastor, well then, so be it. Y'all, sometimes I just want to run around my room shouting praises to the Lord, because I can't, I can't. It's just so much, goodness, right now, that I just feel like God, I'm seeing your hand in all of this. All right, now shifting off into something else. Shifting off into something else Now that we are in 2025, and as we prepare to enter 2025, these are some of the things that I'm adopting, that I'm doing this is my approach to reflect on the goal setting of this year, and that's just reflecting and looking back at the past year, which is what we've talked about, what worked, what didn't, and then use those insights to guide your goals, your future goals.

Speaker 1: 39:02

And then, of course, many of us have heard of the SMART goals making your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. But I'm gonna add two more letters to that, and that's gonna be ER so smarter goals, and that E is to examine. Er so smarter goals, and that E is to examine, and the R is going to be to revamp, because when we're setting goals, sometimes the way we plan it isn't always the way that it's going to come out, and so sometimes we have to evaluate. I'm sorry, we have to evaluate. I'm sorry we have to evaluate our plan and then revisit it. Okay, we have to examine it and revisit it and make some changes so we have to be able to adjust, readjust our plan not the goal, but the plan to achieve our goal.

Speaker 1: 39:55

Pray over your goals, commit your plans to the Lord. Proverbs 16, three says commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. And I wholeheartedly believe that, because one time I was in a project and I said Lord, I don't know how I'm going to do this. I'm going to commit this to you and you're going to make it right. And boom, he answered my prayer and we came out doing so good with that project that I had for work. Write down your goals, keep your goals visible to remind yourself of what you're working towards. Which is why this year, last year, the year before I'm sorry we did a vision board. This year we did prayer boards, because we're going to commit everything that we're going to do to the Lord, because we want him to be able to establish our plans right and then take action. Break your goals into small, manageable steps and start working on them daily. A lot of information that I just poured out to you all.

Speaker 1: 40:50

But as we wrap up this episode because I know it's probably a little lengthy one, but I think it was so valuable I don't know, you tell me but as we wrap up this episode, here are a few final reminders. Stay rooted in faith, trust that God's timing is perfect. Celebrate the small wins, because every step forward is progress, and then give yourself grace. You don't have to figure it all out, just take it one day at a time. So there you have it, amiga. That has been the highlight of 2024. And that is what's going to open up the doors for 2025. I want to thank you all so much for joining me today as we reflected on those blessings and as we look ahead and remember, no matter how challenging life gets, god has a plan for you and your mission. Keep pressing forward, stay faithful and trust in his timing. And here is to a near you Again, I still need my cafecito. Here's to a new year filled with hope, growth and purpose.

Speaker 1: 42:02

And until next Saturday, this is Mariana with Mommy on a Mission. Stay blessed and keep shining. Thank you for tuning in to the Mommy on a Mission podcast. If you found today's episode inspiring, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with your amigas. And, before you go, if you're looking to dive deeper into healing, self-discovery and walking in confidence, be sure to grab a copy of my book Mommy on a Mission a guide towards healing, self-discovery and walking in confidence, available now on Amazon. Stay connected with me on social media. Follow us on Instagram at Mommy on a Mission Podcast, and on Facebook at Mommy on a Mission. If you're considering working with a coach but aren't sure if you're ready, send me a DM and I will send you a free gift to help you get started on your journey. Until next Saturday, keep shining and remember the power is within you. Adios, amigas.