Week 4

It occurred to me today that I have forgotten to update on my progress. As you can see by the ticker to the right, it's a whopping 3lbs! But 3 is 3, right?

Well, here is how the past 3 weeks went...

Week 1:
This week was spent packing and getting ready for a road trip! I have to say I chose a poor time to start this new life. You see, we were going to GA to see my mom's family. My sweet grandfather was having a birthday. Not just any birthday but celebration of 90 years of history!! WOW, my grandpa turned 90 this year!! I still can't believe it! Let's just say week 1 wasn't my best foot forward...

Week 2:
This week went a lot better. Even though I did not join the gym as I said I would. I did start eating better. I told myself that I wanted to wait on my mom to start working out in a gym. It didn't seem like she would ever be ready. She wanted a partner and I was ready to be that person for her. We were a team. But it never happened...

Week 3:
This week I decided that taking my lunch would be my challenge. I picked up some low sodium healthy lunchable things and I was ready to go. This week the toddlers I worked with were extra hyper and I blame the cloudy-rainy days! There were several times this week that I took time out for our normal schedule and taught them a little yoga. They LOVED it! Not only was it a very miniscule workout for me but I was teaching them that it is ok to take a mental time out and stretch. On Friday they were, yet again, CRAZY! So, my co-worker/friend, Mandy and I exercised with them. This time it was slightly more strenuous. We did crunches, leg lifts, bicycle crunches, push-ups, Mandy did jumping jacks, and a little more yoga. They again LOVED it!Mandy and I got very tickled watching these 2yr old's how to do this routine!

No membership yet. Mom is still not ready...

Oh, did I forget to mention I got staph!? That's right, a really nasty case of staph! So, that has been a lot of fun.  

Week 4:
That brings us to this week. After getting several comments from friends at Church, I decided to talk to my mom about all of this. I told her that I had been waiting on her and that it was ok that she wasn't ready. Mom suffers from arthritis. She is in pain a great deal of the day and gets exhausted easily. Which is why I wasn't pressing anything. Well, mom is still not ready to make that commitment yet. That is ok, it just put me behind schedule. No worries, I am signing up this week. However, it will not be with the gym I originally wanted to go to. Due to my commute everyday and the hours of that gym it would be very hard for me to work it into my schedule. I am decided to go with Anytime Fitness here in Searcy. This will be better for me and I can work out in different cities (if needed).  I am excited about this start! I do not have a work out plan in writing but I am starting off slow anyway: biking, walking (bc i don't run...at least not yet), elliptical, squats, abs, and you guessed it...yoga!

I like doing yoga bc I feel calmer. With my job come a lot of stress and frustration and excitement and joy. My emotions are all over the place most days. I am hoping that if I can feel centered that my nerves and life style will reflect that.

Now for my goals for Week 4:
1) Warning! possible TMI...find a awesome sports bra!!
2) To be more sore than I have ever been! (who wishes for that..yikes!)
3) To pack my lunch everyday.


Here goes nothing!

Always!

ps i just got 14 days FREE trial for Anytime Fitness!!

My New Life!

Well it's a new year and my life still seems to be on a see-saw. I have no idea what God wants in my life and I have no idea what I want to do. But I am living everyday with a purpose. This year is going to be a year of active change. And part of my new years resolution to myself is that these changes will be made as public as possible. One thing I am going to try is being more vocal about what I need/want. I can't be bitter about life if life doesn't even know what I want. That's not fair to me or to life. (life = anything/anyone you can think of: work, ppl, friends, God, family) So here is goes entry 1 of my new year/new changes/new LIFE!

Goals for 2012:
1) read (bible, hp, help, kisses from katie)
2) lose weight
3) learn to forgive
4) learn to love like Christ
5) find me in this lost life of mine
6) try new things
7) have an awesome birthday (i know. i know. lame.)
8) pray first, act second, speak third (usually I do those things in reverse order)
9) do what I say
10) volunteer

You may be thinking "wow, aren't those everybody's goals." I would then say to you "probably." But these are things that most people say and don't do. Like I previously said, I will actively being working on these goals. I have plan for almost everything on my list. I am tomorrow taking my mom and we are signing up for a gym membership at Contours Express Women's gym. I plan on working out as much as I can. And with the help of people at the gym and my supportive family I am hoping to lose as much weight as I can.

In my head I don't look like the world sees me. I look like a petite 25 year old. Every time I pass a mirror I am reminded of the truth. Every time I go with my girlfriends shopping I am reminded that I am not this girl I see myself as. In the year of 2012 I am changing that. I am determined to become the girl I see. The girl that isn't afraid to do things. A daring, passionate for life, happy, healthy, adventurous girl! I can and will be that girl. I plan on shocking myself and others! As of a couple minutes ago, I roped my friend Erica into hiking pinnacle mountain with me. I want to do this periodically over the next year to watch the difference in my body. I am so completely excited about this journey I am about to go on. I am going to be keeping a weight loss tracker so I can be honest with myself and others. I will be posting it on here hopefully every week or at least every other week. Starting with today!! Prayers/encouragement/support is not ONLY welcomed but needed. I am not doing this for others; I am doing it for myself! And, also, to glorify God!

This will be hard and at times no fun at all. I am prepared. In those times prayers will be need more than ever! Here we go! I can do this! I can!!

Ok this next part is revealing AND embarrassing...please, in all seriousness, DO NOT JUDGE!

Starting Stats (Jan 8, 2012):
Height:5'3"
weight: 254 lbs
bra: 42g
waist: 41 inches
hips: 53 inches
thighs: 30 inches
arms: 15 inches
jean size: 22
shirt size: xlg-2xl

Ideal Stats:
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 135 lbs
Bra: I will take anything smaller!! :D

As you can see that means I need to lose a significant amount of weight! I can...I will...Just watch me!!! Wish me luck!!


always!!

Answered Prayers and Big Changes!

I know it has been a while. My apologies. I haven't been posting not due to lack of information or not having things to say. Let's face it, I could talk about anything to almost anyone. I wanted my next post to be an information post. To inform everyone about my next steps for my future.

So let's go back a little bit and fill in the gaps. 4 weeks ago I told everyone that I would be moving back to Searcy, that I needed a job, and asked for prayers about my Africa trip. I am happy to say that I am now in Searcy, I have a job (more on that later), and I am still asking for prayers!

My family went to Nashville last weekend and graciously helped me pack and load up all of my stuff. I took about 6 hours total to pack, load, and clean the apartment. That may seem like a long time BUT I didnt have ANYTHING packed. Considering that, we had a baby in the apartment, my family didn't get in until midnight, I think we did pretty good. We met up with my good friend Danielle and her family for lunch at our favorite restaurant. We took my family and her parents to a little place we like to call Knock-Out Wings. The BEST ghetto restaurant ever!!! The Rope-a-dope Biscuits were perfect...as always. After our fabulous lunch we headed back to Searcy. Since being home I have gone through ALL my clothes and I am getting rid of a lot of them. I have spent a lot of time with one best friends, Brian. I have played with my sweet Hunter and had a fabulous afternoon with Mckenna. I had a hilarious evening getting together with my old youth group!!! And I am excited about going to PLEASANT VALLEY on Sunday to see the worlds GREATEST teens!!!! All in All it's been a good first week home.

As for my job. I want to thank everyone for their prayers. Boy were they answered. I actually was offered 2 different jobs. I had to weigh the pro's and con's to see which would be a better fit for me right now. As I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, the kind of job I wanted, or even how many jobs I wanted 2 feel into my lap. 1 was the perfect teaching job. I was asked to be a teacher at the preschool that I attended when I was young. The other job is a traveling job. It will take me over the USA to work with chain stores. SURPRISE! I took the second of the jobs. I am very excited to be taking a break from preschool and searching out something that I may really enjoy. I have never done anything other that working with children and I can't wait to see where God takes me. This will be a great way to knock off more states on my race to get to every state before I die!! :) Luckily, I won't be at this job alone. My best friend Erica Wade will be doing it as well. Hopefully we will get placed together and will be able to travel together. This will be a great way for me to raise money, see the states, and experience traveling alone. God gave me two jobs. And I chose the one that will allow me to glorify Him in different states round the country! I am so bless!

As for Africa donations have started coming in and I am so excited!!!! Still working on getting letters written and everything set up to take the rest of the donations but God has provided a way so far and I can NOT wait to see what happens next!!

Always!

When One Door Closes...

This morning it was decided when I would be returning back to Searcy after spending 14mnths away. It's official I will be moving home July 31st. That gives be just a few short weeks to enjoy this beautiful city that God graciously allowed me to live in. I have loved my time away from Searcy. But it's time for me to go home, love on my niece, and work in the town I LOVED growing up in. God may be leading me to close the door on my time in Nashville, but He is opening the door to a world of possibility.

For all of you who are wondering what I will be doing in Searcy...I am wondering that too! I am searching for some pre-k teaching jobs. If anyone knows of any PLEASE let me know! I have a few options but I am needing more.

As for my trip to Africa in 2013...still can't believe it...I am going to do lots of fundraiser type things. Babies for Babies (babysitting deal), garage sales, letters, and so much more. If you have any kinds of ideas for me please give them. I appreciate all the help I can get! Please keep me in your prayers as well for this new adventure. God is going to lead me to do some amazing things and I want to live a life that shows His power. I am so excited to let go and follow.

Lead me. Teach me. Show me the way I should be.

Always!

God ALWAYS knows BEST!

I know! I have disappeared for awhile. Sorry about that. Shortly, after my last post I had a small breakdown. And by small I mean life changing. :/ I talked to my parents for awhile about school, my goals, my passions, and my future. While talking and listening to them and working through the tears I made a decision not to continue the path to school. What I thought was going smoothly was only a disguised bumpy road. :( In making this decision I was faced with an even harder decision. What do I do now?

This took me about a week of prayer, meditation, long talks with friends, and research to figure out exactly what I want to do. While talking with my friend Amy is when it really became clear what I wanted to do. All Amy did was ask me a simple question. And my life changed. If money wasn't a factor, what would you do right now? It took me about 5 seconds to respond. My heart stopped and I knew. I would be working in an orphanage somewhere. Plain. Simple. Complete.

About 1.5 years ago I had found a Christian Non-Profit org called Empower-a-Child. They work with orphans, schools, and more in Uganda, Africa. They share with kids the message and work with them in areas of mental and (more importantly) spiritual education. I went through the application process and I was chosen/accepted to be apart of the mission support team. Dec of '09 put a dent in my trip planning. I got sick and was having tests done and it ended with me having to have surgery. With all of that happening I had to put my trip of pause. To be honest, after all of that, I lost myself a bit and got swept up in life. As you know I have been trying to figure out what I am going to do in this coming August.

WELL....drum roll please...I AM GOING TO BE GOING TO UGANDA in 2013....for 1 YEAR!!! ahhh...are you kidding me? really? me? I am going to serve the children of Uganda and serve the Lord my Savior in the truest form of worship! I could NOT be more excited! I talked to EAC and I am on board to go. In the next 1.5 years I am going to working in Searcy (when I find a job) and raising money. It's going to be a lot of money but it will be so worth it. I am ready to be changed, to grow, to learn and to serve.

This blog is going to be a little bit of this and little of that but mainly is going to be about my journey on the narrow path. I am going to be keeping everyone updated on the adventure of a life time. I am so extremely blessed to have the opportunity to be in this position. God ALWAYS knows BEST!


Always!

Starting School

First, I would like you to know that I typed out this post and then it deleted it.

Second, I am not happy about it. :(

As you know my one of my plans for my 25th year of life is to get a 2nd degree. This is turning out to be a more difficult road than I planned. It was suppose to be pretty simple. Maybe a hiccup here or there. Not a speed mountain (if you live in Searcy you know what I mean by speed mountain)! I did everything I was suppose to.

1. Filled out my readmit form!
2. Talked with Registrars!
3. Filled out FASFA

This is where it gets sticky. The 3 things mentioned above were the starting of the speed mountain. Almost to the top. I can see the peak!

Next task find and advisor so that I can sign up for the ONE class I need of the summer. I emailed my prospective advisor about 2 weeks ago. NEVER heard from her. In the email I explained my situation. Everything that I thought she might need to know in order to help me out. Well since I hadn't heard from her I sent her another email this past monday. And what do you know I heard back rather quickly. I left out all the information for the first email, assuming she had gotten it and already read it. I was wrong. I confused that poor lady. I then had to write her this HUGE email explaining everything I told her in the first email and then some! It took a very long time. So now I am hoping that she gets it figured out in her mind and lets me sign up for this class that starts..uh..MONDAY! I am staying pretty calm about this whole thing. But I am starting to get nervous. I don't want to start off my journey already being behind. It just doesn't look good or feel good for that matter.

Please Pray everything gets figured out very very soon! I still need to sign up for the class. And get the books for it. eek!! Not looking in my favor at the moment! I have hope and I know that God's plan is the best plan!

Always!

Plans are coming together!

Wow, what a weekend!

Friday: I worked all day and then I sorta helped a friend of mine move into her new mold free beautiful home! I really didn't do much just kind of kept her company while she worked!

Saturday: I slept in a bit and then I immediately got up and cleaned out my car!!! Go me! It was much needed and I feel better now that I don't look like I am living out of my car. I give it a week maybe two before it looks like that again! By the time I got finished with that I had time to get in the shower and get ready for my mom, sister and niece to get there. When they arrived they instantly said "what is all that noise?" Silly mom and sister. Didn't you know this is the year of cicadas! They were in disbelief that there were that many and that they were that loud! They thought it was their cd that they were listening to in the car! hahaha That evening, after Lucy had some good tummy time and stretch, Dani came over and we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner! YUM!!! I got pancakes! I love love love their pancakes! After dinner we just came home to relax a bit before mom crashed! They were only passing through on their way to Grandma's house!

Sunday: We all got up and went to Church. I am pretty sure I have NEVER seen my mom wear jeans to Sunday morning services. I was in shock that she would do that. After church we grabbed a hot-n-ready pizza and went home. They had to get on the road. They still had about 8hrs to go before reaching G-ma's house. After they left I changed and headed over to Dani's to "help" her move some more. Again, I didn't do much. Most of the stuff she has left is decorating and I can't really help with that part. When deciding what to eat that night I was really really wanting a rope-a-dope biscuit! DELICIOUS! So Dani and I were going to head to Knock-Out Wings. When we get there, much to our dismay, they were CLOSED!! Really? Closed! Ugg! I was so disappointed that I was not going to get one of the most amazing biscuits! :( So what did we do? Well, what any 25 and 26 year would do. We ordered pizza! hahaha But it was the same kind of pizza we got for my birthday! Jet's Pizza: chicken parmesan and a regular cheese! YUM YUM YUM! It was so very yummy in my tummy! After dinner I went home to bed, knowing I would get to sleep in again!! :) (best feeling ever)

Monday: Happy Memorial Day everyone! I spent most of the day watching an NCIS marathon! Then I decided that I wanted a pedicure. I researched some places and found a really good deal on a mani and a pedi! WOOT go me! I, like always, made everyone in the salon laugh bc my feet are so ticklish that I squirm and giggle the whole time! But I didn't care. My toes look awesome! My fingers on the other hand didn't turn out so well. He was very rough with my fingers and it hurt more than it felt relaxing. :( Oh well! I have purple toes and purple fingers! I guess that is what I get for going to a cheap place. I still can't find a place I life better than Tip Top Nails in Searcy, AR! If you are from Searcy or in the Searcy area looking for a great place to get you nails done go to Tip Top. It is right beside Bath and Body Works! It's worth every penny! After getting semi pampered I joined Erica and Avery at a cookout with her family! I had a blast! I made me miss memorial day with my family at the lake. Grilling, laughing, swimming, boating (sometimes), games! I miss my family so much! I can't wait to see them in 2.5 weeks! After I left there I just came home to relax and enjoy the quiet. I finished my awesome 3 day weekend by filling out my FASFA. Gross! I am glad it's done and now I just need to get an advisor so that I can get signed up for the classes I need.

Not much more to say about my amazing and relaxing weekend!

Always!