Ughh…I have been an awful blogger lately. So awful, that I haven’t written a new one in like 2 months. Pathetic I know! If it wasn’t for someone (ahemmm…nick) prodding me to do it, I probably wouldn’t just because I feel like so much time has past, where do I even begin?!?
Anyways, allow me to just hit the highlights…
After much thought and prayer, Nick took a youth pastoring position in Ohio. Yes, you did just read that correctly…OHIO (you know “round on the sides, high in the middle”). I have to admit, when he first told me that a church from Ohio had contacted him and wanted to set up an interview, I was completely against the idea. I began to pray that if that’s where God was leading Nick to go that He would change my heart. Well, He did. Nick never once persuaded me one way or the other; in fact he told me that if I didn’t have a peace about it then he wouldn’t even pursue the opportunity. I admire him for that; however, I couldn’t deny the overwhelming peace that God was filling my heart with. Those of you that know me, know that I was born and raised in the south. I am the epitome of a “southern” girl. I am very close to my family and the thought of being hundreds of miles away from them does not sit well with me, but like I said God did a 180 on my heart so to speak.
I knew that if God wanted Nick and eventually me up there, He would have to work out A LOT of details. If you didn’t know this before, I am here to testify, that God is a God of details. Nick and I prayed very specifically for certain details to work out, one in particular was the contract with my job. Originally, my contract was suppose to run through June 2009. We both felt strongly that June was too long for us to go with being that far apart and that if God wanted both of us up there He would work things out. I wrote a letter to my employer explaining the situation and on the same day they received the letter they called me and said they supported my decision 100%. When I got off the phone all I could do was cry and thank God for another answered prayer. A lot of things hinged on whether or not I would be excused early from my contract, and thank God I was! My last day as a wellness coach for ZQ will be December 19th.
One more important detail HAD to happen. It was something I had prayed for, long before I ever met Nick…which God answered on October 17th, 2008. I love surprises, but usually I figure them out fairly easy. However, Nick pulled the BEST surprise on me! It was the weekend before he moved up to Ohio. We were “meeting” some friends in downtown Greenville for coffee and dessert. Prior to this night, Nick had asked a friend of mine to find a guy and girl who would do a mock proposal. The guy doing the mock proposal asked me to take pictures while he was proposing. Half way through his proposal, he stopped, turned around, looked at me and said something’s not right. He took the camera from me and said that I should turn around. When I did Nick was down on one knee. I was in complete and utter shock! After I screamed like I had just been hit by a car, I said YES!!!!!!! Afterwards, I told Nick that he would have to repeat what he said because I was in so much shock I couldn’t remember. When I could finally see from my tears, I saw all my friends coming out from nowhere. Random people were stopping on the sidewalk to watch and look at the ring. It was amazing!! FYI…to all you guys out there, sorry, but this proposal will be a tough one to beat!
To make a long story short, on February 7th, 2009….I will marry my love and my friend. I couldn’t be happier! Then I will be whisked away to the wintry wonderland of Ohio and this girl that was born and raised in South Carolina will see more snow probably in one day than I have my entire 23 years of living down south. And I am more than excited!
Well, now that I have written a book and it can no longer be considered a blog, hopefully I will do a better job of updating this thing!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wonder
Every other Monday I leave school a little early and make the trek up to Travelers Rest from Spartanburg for a Zest Quest meeting. Let me just inform you that this is no small trek. It takes me a good hour and fifteen minutes there AND back. When I first found out that I would have to do all this traveling for a meeting, I wasn’t too happy.
However, today was a different story. I found myself secretly enjoying the drive, especially on my way back. I opened up the sun roof to let fresh air in and rolled down my window so I could feel the wind on my face. I turned off the music and just listened as I drove home. It was amazing to say the least. With the seasons changing and fall approaching fast on the heels of summer, the temperature was just right.
Just FYI, fall is my most favorite season, because not only does it feel amazing outside, but it signifies the coming of all my favorite holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ok, back to my sentimental mush…anyways, as I was driving home today and secretly enjoying the fact that I had to drive an hour and fifteen minutes to a meeting, I was caught up in wonder. I was caught up in the beauty of the mountains and the amazing back drop that it creates against the sky. I was caught up in the different smells and the lighting as it fell through the trees and into my car.
I realized that often times we become immune to the wonder of creation. We get caught up in our "To Do" lists and buried under our "piles" of stuff that we fail to look at life with eyes that seek awe and wonder.
“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.”
-Joshua Abraham Heschel
However, today was a different story. I found myself secretly enjoying the drive, especially on my way back. I opened up the sun roof to let fresh air in and rolled down my window so I could feel the wind on my face. I turned off the music and just listened as I drove home. It was amazing to say the least. With the seasons changing and fall approaching fast on the heels of summer, the temperature was just right.
Just FYI, fall is my most favorite season, because not only does it feel amazing outside, but it signifies the coming of all my favorite holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ok, back to my sentimental mush…anyways, as I was driving home today and secretly enjoying the fact that I had to drive an hour and fifteen minutes to a meeting, I was caught up in wonder. I was caught up in the beauty of the mountains and the amazing back drop that it creates against the sky. I was caught up in the different smells and the lighting as it fell through the trees and into my car.
I realized that often times we become immune to the wonder of creation. We get caught up in our "To Do" lists and buried under our "piles" of stuff that we fail to look at life with eyes that seek awe and wonder.
“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.”
-Joshua Abraham Heschel
Monday, September 15, 2008
Glory to Glory
The title of a Wellness Coach can be misleading.
Make sure you hear me out....
When I took the job as a Wellness Coach with Zest Quest little did I know that I was saying yes to what I had always said I would never do….TEACH!
Recently I have found myself eating words that I said long ago. My college roommates, Jessica and Allison, were both education majors. They would spend endless hours preparing for a lesson by cutting out pictures or my favorite, making a life-size Mrs. Gallon. I would always shake my head and say that I would never have to do anything like that for my major. Wellllll, I was wrong.
Over the past two months I have spent endless hours lesson planning, cutting things out, and learning strategies for classroom management. Every day, I teach kiddies the importance of eating healthy and getting physical activity on a daily basis. Some days, I tend to get overwhelmed with all the “teaching” stuff that I lose focus of my purpose as a wellness coach. My main goal is to give these kids hope, to instill in them a passion and enthusiasm for health and wellness, and most importantly to love on them.
I say all this to remind you of two things: 1) be careful of what you say you will never do, because it might come back to bite you in the butt and 2) be flexible! Sometimes God will take you down a path to a place you never envisioned yourself going, but it’s because He is preparing you for what lies ahead. Remember we are all being changed “from glory to glory.”
Make sure you hear me out....
When I took the job as a Wellness Coach with Zest Quest little did I know that I was saying yes to what I had always said I would never do….TEACH!
Recently I have found myself eating words that I said long ago. My college roommates, Jessica and Allison, were both education majors. They would spend endless hours preparing for a lesson by cutting out pictures or my favorite, making a life-size Mrs. Gallon. I would always shake my head and say that I would never have to do anything like that for my major. Wellllll, I was wrong.
Over the past two months I have spent endless hours lesson planning, cutting things out, and learning strategies for classroom management. Every day, I teach kiddies the importance of eating healthy and getting physical activity on a daily basis. Some days, I tend to get overwhelmed with all the “teaching” stuff that I lose focus of my purpose as a wellness coach. My main goal is to give these kids hope, to instill in them a passion and enthusiasm for health and wellness, and most importantly to love on them.
I say all this to remind you of two things: 1) be careful of what you say you will never do, because it might come back to bite you in the butt and 2) be flexible! Sometimes God will take you down a path to a place you never envisioned yourself going, but it’s because He is preparing you for what lies ahead. Remember we are all being changed “from glory to glory.”
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Ponder this...
Recently, I picked up Robert Elmer's book Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for today's reader. I have read this book before, but decided that it would be good to refresh my memory. This book is jam packed with great stuff!
The other day, I was reading it and came across something that really stood out to me. Something that made me ponder the motives of my heart, of which I am still pondering....
"We shouldn't get tired of doing little things for God, either, because God doesn't care about the size of the task--only the love behind it."
WOW.
Now, it's your turn to ponder....
The other day, I was reading it and came across something that really stood out to me. Something that made me ponder the motives of my heart, of which I am still pondering....
"We shouldn't get tired of doing little things for God, either, because God doesn't care about the size of the task--only the love behind it."
WOW.
Now, it's your turn to ponder....
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Growing Pains
I feel like most new bloggers always start their blog off with a disclaimer of some sorts, so here is mine. I am a “newbie” at this, please be nice to me.
Ok, now that’s out of the way, let’s move on….
Growing pains; and no, I am not referring to the popular TV show from the mid 80s, early 90s with Kirk Cameron. Nor the pains you experienced growing up that would make your legs ache so badly that your mom would assure you that you were not dying, it was just a sign that you were getting taller. The type of “growing pains” that I am referring to is the very necessary pains in life, but all too often the same pains that we try so hard to avoid, to escape. You see, lately, I feel like I have been experiencing growing pain after growing pain. I think a lot of it has to do with this age that I am at. The age where college is no longer able to provide you with a false sense of responsibility and freedom, but the age where you have a full time job, you are out on your own, away from mama and daddy, paying your own bills, making out your own grocery lists, and I could go on. It’s the age that everyone must go through. For some people it is welcomed, and for others it’s more like, “Ok, this is the next step in life, I know I have to take it, but do I really?”
Recently, I took a job that required me to relocate. At first, I was so excited to be getting out of the small town I am from, out from under my parents “roof,” and really “spreading my wings.” Little did I realize how much growing would take place and how somewhat painful it would be in the process. Over the last month, I have seen my self not just step out of my comfort zone, but really LEAP over it. Mind you, it has taken a multitude of prayers, tons of encouragement from amazing people in my life, and a few shed tears.
However, reflecting back over the past month, I can honestly say that these “growing pains” have really opened my eyes to see that I am capable of so much more than I ever thought possible.
So, now, instead of wondering where the “easy button” is or reaching for that Aleve to help take my “growing pains” away, I say bring it on! I am ready to see what else I am capable of that I never thought possible. I am ready to see what new things I can accomplish.
God has made Himself abundantly clear through this entire process, even from the very beginning when I first started looking for new jobs. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that where I am at in this season of my life is exactly where He wants me to be, growing pains and all.
“and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.”
Proverbs 31:25 (the Message)
Ok, now that’s out of the way, let’s move on….
Growing pains; and no, I am not referring to the popular TV show from the mid 80s, early 90s with Kirk Cameron. Nor the pains you experienced growing up that would make your legs ache so badly that your mom would assure you that you were not dying, it was just a sign that you were getting taller. The type of “growing pains” that I am referring to is the very necessary pains in life, but all too often the same pains that we try so hard to avoid, to escape. You see, lately, I feel like I have been experiencing growing pain after growing pain. I think a lot of it has to do with this age that I am at. The age where college is no longer able to provide you with a false sense of responsibility and freedom, but the age where you have a full time job, you are out on your own, away from mama and daddy, paying your own bills, making out your own grocery lists, and I could go on. It’s the age that everyone must go through. For some people it is welcomed, and for others it’s more like, “Ok, this is the next step in life, I know I have to take it, but do I really?”
Recently, I took a job that required me to relocate. At first, I was so excited to be getting out of the small town I am from, out from under my parents “roof,” and really “spreading my wings.” Little did I realize how much growing would take place and how somewhat painful it would be in the process. Over the last month, I have seen my self not just step out of my comfort zone, but really LEAP over it. Mind you, it has taken a multitude of prayers, tons of encouragement from amazing people in my life, and a few shed tears.
However, reflecting back over the past month, I can honestly say that these “growing pains” have really opened my eyes to see that I am capable of so much more than I ever thought possible.
So, now, instead of wondering where the “easy button” is or reaching for that Aleve to help take my “growing pains” away, I say bring it on! I am ready to see what else I am capable of that I never thought possible. I am ready to see what new things I can accomplish.
God has made Himself abundantly clear through this entire process, even from the very beginning when I first started looking for new jobs. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that where I am at in this season of my life is exactly where He wants me to be, growing pains and all.
“and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.”
Proverbs 31:25 (the Message)
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