Life is good

Hello world!

Haven't said much lately, haven't had much time. This is not, I repeat, is not a bad thing. I'm sure I talk way too much as it is anyway. My last post was 99% complete about three weeks ago if that says anything.

Let me briefly update you on my life sitch (maybe not 'briefly'):

Work - Is awesome. I still love my job. It's crazy, busy, I work a ton of hours, have about a million and one things to do, work mostly from my phone (which is A-ok by me), have developed some pretty awesome friendships and continue to learn new things daily. From the intricacies of new business, the quirks of coworkers, the struggle between learning to say "no" and delegate to just wanting to get things done. I have  been pulled in a million directions - which sounds absolutely dreadful to  most - but I have never felt more comfortable with my work. I am pretty dang lucky to have the job I have. I know God has a reason for placing me here. I know there is a lot more to be learned. There are some pretty amazing people at my office who are going to get me where I need to be whether I know what is happening or not! I have become especially close with one person. I care about her so much and I know she looks out for me as well. She is God's light when everything else is dark. She is my Ms. D in SA. Let's just say this is definitely the opportunity of a lifetime.

Personal - so there's this guy.... but not just ANY guy this time. Yes, WORLD, he is perfect. He is everything I could ask for and more. He is my sunshine. He makes me happy when skies are grey. He is my answered prayer. He is the antithesis of my prayer - to be honest. Before him, I had given it all to God. I had said, no more guys - I just need a daggum J-O-B. I got my JOB, went to CC to celebrate my friend's graduation and one last woorah before starting my new job, got a FB message from this incredibly handsome guy I knew in college my first year, decided I shouldn't see him because my priority was my friend's graduation - oh yea and I left my stupid purse in the auditorium so my friend and I were a bit preoccupied the night he messaged me (in search for my bag, which we found - thank GOD)... and the rest is (or will be) history. Let me tell you something, the Lord works in mysterious ways. I have never, ever been so thankful for someone in all my life. He is an encouragement to me like none other. He respects me, loves me (yes people, we love each other in the purest, most appreciative and truest way), uplifts me, and has become my best friend. I feel like I've known him for years (which technically I have) but it's been a beautiful experience. Hello, who comes to SA from CC on a MONDAY night just to take you to dinner - for sushi,  of all things!???? I LOVE that he loves sushi. I love that he speaks my love language (gifts). I love that he loves the Lord. I love that we are ridiculously compassionate, supportive, encouraging and respectful of one another. I love that he has so much going for him but still puts me first. I love that he loves R&B and we can exchange lyrics when a song reminds one of the other. I love that others see it - see that this time it is different. I love that he takes charge of our relationship, makes firm decisions and sticks with them, and never forgets to do what he says he will do. I love that he isn't afraid to talk about the 'hard' stuff. I love that this time it's real. He will be around for as long as God allows  him to be - just FYI!

Random: BFF is coming to town soon and CANNOT WAIT to see her - ecstatic to say the least. Also, this could TOTALLY make breaking news but C and I totally just jumped her car. Yes, people, with jumper cables and all. Pretty sure I thought we might die for half a sec....or two or three... but we made it!!!! We did so well. So happy I was able to help her out and share in such a monumental occasion.... in the parking lot.... of a gas station.... in a rental car.... in heels... etc. But we survived and she is home safe. On another note, I definitely miss PD. She is in DC, doing her thing, being a BA, and making a name for herself. I cannot wait to see her at Christmas (maybe Thanksgiving!!!). I am trying very hard to make it up to DC to see her. She is incredible. Love all my friends and family.  - My niece is still incredible. Dad's business is going perfectly...super busy, lots of work. So proud. Bother in law started a new job too, at USAA, he is doing really well. Sister, as always, is being perfect. Making sure those little mini's are being groomed into perfect, intelligent little people and citizens of the world. So thankful, proud, and happy for my family.

Just crazy how nothing was happening two months ago and now everything I could ask for is happening. It's a struggle but definitely practicing the whole - taking it a day at a time thing. Thankful for everything and everyone (near and far) in my life.

Figuring "It" Out....

Growing up is hard

Life flies by

People change

Friends come and go

Family drifts apart

...and to be quite blunt, your world can really suck at times....

More often than not, it might appear, things seem to be the opposite of what you want or hope or expect or anything even close.

What I want to focus on is making yourself happy. I'm sure I've said this before. I'm sure many of you have said this to ME when I was a youngen' hahaha I am OLD - did you forget????

I've talked to a handful of people in the past week about doing what is right for them and in accordance with the will of God. Forget the money, forget the title, forget your responsibility compared to your coworkers', forget about what others think, forget what you think you know, forget trying to force the inevitable.

Embrace your situation. Be steadfast in prayer, faithful in your beliefs, and thankful for life. Even if you think it's crummy. Look for the open door God is putting in front of you and walk through it. Discover and pray about making your strengths and gifts apparent. Seek out a mentor, someone you trust, who is of Godly character, and ask for guidance in doing the will of God.

So, for real, no joke, you don't "feel" things just because. There is a reason you are excited about something. There is a point to every positive emotion. Listen to them. You have a purpose. Don't give up and don't feel defeated. You're going to be just fine in the hands of God - I know because He has proven that to me, time and time again, even though I should have trusted Him from the very start.

You are a creature like no other. You will figure it out. We are all trying to figure "it" out- take heart, friend, you're not alone (even if you're only 19 or well on your way to 99).

Love you!

Does the silence ever stop?

Does the silence ever stop?

Someone woke me up, via text message, with the above question - at 10:30 - and I was already asleep (HA! Lame). However, my first thought was more on the smart mouth side, "yea, I was asleep and it was nice and quiet before you decided to inquire about said 'silence'." And I rolled over and went back to sleep, without responding.

I admit, I should have said SOMETHING to my friend last night, but I didn't have the words. This morning I saw it again, half forgetting I even read it initially. I thought. I showered and thought, got dressed and thought, took out my dogs and didn't think about anything other than "Guy, hurry up and make a poo!", and then on the way to work it hit me.... No, I didn't wreck my car again (I just got it back!). I finally knew what to tell this person.

Does the silence ever stop? ... I simply said, "Yes, when you talk to God." Man, am I a genius or WHAT?

Kidding.

But really, I've been there. When you feel like you're sitting in the pit of hell (I can't imagine that's a quiet place but you get the idea), nothing you planned for your life has seemed to work out, and you're alone with just your thoughts. It's a sad, silent and somber place to be.

Lately though I've had the opposite problem, my mind NEVER shuts up. It's absolutely horrible.

But even still the solution to quiet your mind and rest your heart is to talk to God. I've found. We hope, and dream, and push, and strive for our lives to be in a particular place or with a particular person or working at a particular job - but the truth is, God's plan is divine. It is better than anything we could ever imagine.

 

I love this.

 

And of course, this could not be more true....

 

 

(Got to love pinterest!!!)

 

Silence & Nothing. God. Restlessness & Noise. God. Everything & Chaos. God. (Like how I did that???)

We HAVE to take things a day at a time. We can so easily overwhelm ourselves, bring worry and fear and reluctance into our daily routine, and allow Satan to get the better of us. That isn't God's will. We must be positive. We must KNOW his plans are for us to prosper and have hope. He doesn't say we should trust in Him if we feel like it or that we can believe in His will if we want to. He says to KNOW and he doesn't say it in passing, He DECLARES it. That's major.

 

 



So yes, the silence will stop. Life will go on. You will be upheld by His righteous right hand. Have faith, friends.

Love you!

The time has come!

Well folks, the time has come, I am finally employed. I feel like a teacher, maybe not quite so much “trepidation” involved in returning to the workforce but I was off for what felt like an eternity! It was pretty BA, no lie.

I started two weeks ago and have been loving it ever since. It was definitely an adjustment, getting back into the swing of things, but I am really looking forward to the opportunity I have been given. So, of course the job is awesome or I wouldn’t have taken it, but let me take you through my journey and a few life lessons I encountered from May through August.

1.       Conquering all – fear of the unknown: I am a very planned, calculated, premeditated (most of the time), type A person. Those types of people, I’m sure you know a few, don’t up and leave a job without anything lined up. But I am here to tell you, your heart and your gut and most importantly - the Lord - all know what they are talking about when you feel the urge to do something drastic. I had no plan. I had faux faith. I was prideful. None of those are great qualities but I’m trying to be honest here. I was of the “fake it till you make it” frame of mind. I told myself I trusted in the Lord but FOR REAL, who the heck was I kidding??? Not Him, that’s for sure. I had an inkling He could help me out; that He knew what was up. I had the tiniest mustard seed size faith you could imagine. A mustard seed it was, nonetheless. I finally threw caution to the wind, if you will, and learned over a 4 month time span, to trust in the Lord. In all things. Not just a new job. He provided all the right things, at all the right times, in all the right ways, with all the right people.

2.       Who I am: You think you know until you realize you have no idea, who you truly are. I struggled through and proudly overcame numerous things while I was off work. It wasn’t overnight, that’s for sure.  I busied myself working out, being with friends and family, volunteering, going to networking events, helping with the UIW Alumni Board, playing with my dogs, applying for jobs, interviewing, going to the beach, going to Hawaii, etc. But in and by all those activities I was able to learn so much about myself. Meeting new people, talking about myself on dates or in interviews or meeting new people on vacation, forced me to figure out what in the world I was all about. I came to the conclusion that I have a purpose. I learned that I am intelligent and shouldn’t settle. I realized that I am beautiful inside and out. I discovered how to protect my heart and hold onto my true worth. I recognized that getting my CPA won’t kill me and I know I can do it.

3.       Day by day, by day, by day…. : Have you ever really read “The Lord’s Prayer”? Taken it piece by piece and figured out what it really was saying? Did you know that the prayer was written to teach us how to pray? Learned that in church, thank you very much! But a line that really spoke to me is “give us this day, our daily bread”. Way back in the old days, like in the 70’s, KIDDING, more like in Jesus time and I’m sure even now, most people received a daily rate of pay. That “payment” was used to obtain food and shelter and other basic necessities for families. While I was off, I really had to remind myself to slow down, take it a day at a time, trust God’s plan for my life, and let go. All I had to do was take it a day at a time. The Lord was going to provide for me. I couldn’t push things to happen. I prayed for peace and patience and thankfully it was given to me.

So friends, I challenge you to do a few of the following as we start a new week:

-          Put yourself outside your comfort zone, meet new people, and attend an event that you might not go to normally because it’s not “cool” or you don’t have anyone to go with.

-          Spend time with you. You and God. You will be surprised how many times you end up on your knees, praying for or thanking Him for one thing or another. Working through your issues and getting back to knowing who you are.

-          Focus on each day as it is given to you. You aren’t promised tomorrow. Don’t get caught up in the stuff of this life. None of it is going with you when you are called home.

-          Spend time with those who matter most.

-          Earnestly seek His will and your prayers will be answered at the most perfect moment – PROMISE

Have a great one, love you all!!!

Think about what you're thinking about

An excerpt from Joyce Meyer's devotional "Battlefield of the Mind"

"...Whatever we focus on, we become...Wherever we put our energies or our attention, those things will develop...

If we focus only on the negative things in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversations, becomes negative. We soon lose our joy and live miserable lives--and it all started with our own thinking."

Joyce and I both challenge you to think about what you're thinking about.

I think... A lot! More than any sane human should. Maybe I'm insane. There I go again! It's a vicious cycle. One that can definitely lead to depression, discouragement, and a myriad of other downward spiraling, cause and effect situations. When we think negatively we are fueling a fire of unwelcome emotions.

I did this the other day. I sat in my bed and thought until 5 am. It wasn't constructive. Thankfully I have amazing family and friends to pull me out of such dumpy places.

One friend reminded me, ever so simply and sweetly, that we are fearfully and wonderfully LOVED. Also, that we are human beings, not human doings. So no matter how badly we think we suck, God loves us immensely! We can go to Him for anything. He is our Father. Literally!

I go to my dad for everything!!!! Good, bad, and ugly! Car accidents being the most recent. But also to share in good times and thankfulness for life in general. We shouldn't think negatively about ourselves or situations we may be in. Bad things happen, we sin, we mess up, stuff doesn't quite pan out the way we had hoped, but a Father's love is insurmountable and all encompassing. There is a reason, too, a method to the madness, if you will. Sometimes we will understand and sometimes we won't. But positive thinking, faith in our Father, and thankfulness for life's blessings are so critical.

A few more words to leave you with from Joyce...

"We should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with or we can see the good and meditate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that, it makes our own lives happier and more peaceful."

Happy thinking, friends!