A New Start!

I know, I know.  I said I'd be more regular with updates...but it hasn't happened.  Sorry!  Anyways, today marks the day that I'm starting to be "more healthy"!  I wanted to officially document it, because then I'll have proof of my goal.  I haven't been eating too healthy lately, and I feel much better when I do, so I'm determined to get back on track with a healthy lifestyle!  I was inspired by the Skinny Taste recipe blog (of which Kathryn has mentioned before!).  She has some delicious looking recipes...and they're all healthy!  I've also got a cruise coming up (talk about motivation!).  My parents are taking me on my "belated" celebratory Master's graduation cruise at the end of December...so for New Year's I'll be partying it up with Disney Cruise and my parents!  And I'm seriously excited about that!  Disney does things up right...I know it's gonna be amazing!  Anyways, Holiday season is probably the worst time to decide to start being healthy again, but I NEED to do it!  No better time than the present!  So, here it goes!  I'll let you know how things go.

Birthday Wish List

I was inspired by reading Kathryn's post over at Barefoot Daydreams.  My birthday is coming up on the 10th of next month (woo-hoo!) and I'm also in a conundrum trying to decide what I want for my birthday.  Here is my list...and opinions are welcomed!:

A Keurig.  I am addicted to love my morning cup of coffee.  I currently have the 'ole pot coffee maker, but living by yourself doesn't require too big of a pot of coffee each morning.  I typically only have 1 full cup...and my mornings are pretty crunched for time (I'm NOT an early morning person...).  So, this would seem like the perfect solution for a single gal.  But do I want what's practical??


 
A Kindle.  My parents both have one and love it.  I know a lot of other people that do too.  I haven't really had the chance to sit down and read this year and most of my free time is spent vegging on the couch watching tv.  I could probably make better use of my time by reading.  I used to read a lot, and I enjoy reading...but I just don't anymore.  I'll have more time with my new job, and this also seems like an excellently practical gift.



Then there's THIS watch.  To quote Kathryn, "I'm in lurv".  But it would be the main gift.  And it's DEFINITELY not practical.  Ok, it's semi-practical.  I don't have a nice watch to wear when I'm not at work (work watch consists of Target $12 stopwatch...it's nursing-home proof...and will now be kid-proof).  So I really DO need ("need" is used lightly) a nice watch...

Buuut, then there's a nice camera.  I've got a decent compact digital camera currently that is now 4 years old.  It takes pretty good pictures most of the time, but some shots are horrible.  I can't take pictures at night, no matter what.  They never turn out and are always grainy and/or completely dark if I do.  It doesn't have much zoom power either.  I'd like to tinker with a nice camera and see if I discover a new talent (maybe??).  But what is the best "nice" camera, but not too expensive (considering I'm just an amateur and don't need a professional grade camera).  The Nikon Coolpix L120 looks pretty good, my cousin (who takes pretty professional grade photos) uses the Nikon D3000 (but that's like, Christmas gift price-range).  But hers looks like it takes better quality photos...but do I need that high quality photos really?  So many decisions!  Any suggestions from you nice camera owner readers out there??  This may just be the direction I'm leaning for my gift...

Anyways, that about covers my 26th Birthday Wish List.  Advice is welcome!

Remember Me??!!

OOOkkk, I know it's been MONTHS since I've posted...and I'm sorry about that!  It's truly been a crazy whirlwind of nearly 3 months.  I'll try to summarize:

• I told my bosses, after having the info pried out of me, that I didn't want to stay at my current job for the next year
• I was told by the head-honcho boss that I would, as a result, be "let go" at the beginning of June...which gave me 2 months to find a new job
• I took a week off in April to job-search...relentlessly searching!  To no avail.
• I found out about a center/school in Greenville (from a friend from church) which is strictly a preschool for medically challenged special needs children, called Meyer Center for Special Children.  My heart jumped when I looked into them.
• My friend knew one of the Speech Therapist's at the center through church and I was able to tour the center with her, meet the Rehab Director, and drop off my resume...though their therapists had been there for YEARS and they weren't hiring.
• Work got even worse.  They kept running all over me, taking advantage of me, and we (my Dad and I) had to get lawyers involved.
• As a result, they offered me my job back...if I would commit to being in the schools again next year.  Not thrilled about it...but I didn't have another job lined up, so I agreed.
• Work was MISERABLE.
• God taught me how to be joyful in my misery and to be content with my situation.  For a month and a half I lived by the quote from Joel Osteen (which was on a Post-It on my bathroom mirror to remind me daily): "Be joyful today...whether or not I feel like it."  That attitude change did wonders.  God is good...even in the hard times.
• Flash forward to the end of June: I get an email from the Rehab Director at Meyer Center telling me that one of their Speech Therapist's was actually moving to Arizona and they were, as a result, now hiring a Speech Therapist, and she was wondering if I wanted to interview.  Ummm...YES!
• I was able to arrange to leave work early on a Friday (which was also a blessing from God), and go interview.  I knew I wasn't one of the strongest contenders, as I have so little experience, but I tried to convey to her that what I lack in experience I make up for in enthusiasm for what their center does.  I left the interview a little baffled...as most of the time was spent with them talking trying to, seemingly, "sell" the center to ME.  I barely got a chance to "make my case"!  
• I spent that weekend in Moultrie, GA visiting my brother and his family.  I get a call Monday morning from the Rehab Director.........offering me a position!  And I also discovered they were hiring TWO Speech Therapists.  For a place like the Meyer Center...that's pretty unheard of, as their therapists stick around for YEARS usually.
• I took the position!  Amazed at how God orchestrated it all.  God knew that's where my heart desired to work, and though I thought it wasn't even a possibility, HE knew it would be and I just needed to wait for HIM to show me that.  What an amazing gift from God!
• I found out they had another PT (physical therapist) position available and I told one of my PT friends at my current job about it...she interviewed too and got the job too!
• I went to China to work with medically fragile children at a foster home, providing Speech Therapy to them.
• I returned to my old job and put in my 2 week notice...only to be told by the head boss to not return (but she let my PT friend stay...such a double standard).
• I'm now on a lovely little 2 week R&R "vacation"...awaiting to start my new job NEXT WEEK!
• August 8 I start at the Meyer Center and I'm SO excited for the opportunity for growth and learning that lies ahead!

Soo, I will have MUCH better hours: 8-4 every day 5 days a week with school holidays off and 13 days of personal vacation time on top of it!  No more being tugged in 5 different directions, never having time to finish what needs to be done, working until 9 pm and not getting paid any overtime (or getting paid for a full day even most of the time), and no more working weekends!  As a result, I may actually keep my blog updated more regularly this year!  (I know, all 3 of my readers are thrilled...)  Anyways, that's where I am right now...and I'm glad I can finally share that info!

Stay tuned, I'm copying Kathryn's idea and will be posting my own Birthday wishlist soon!

Through the Trials...God is Good.

I'm currently sitting on my couch as the cable guy installs my landline phone and cable box, and thought I should give an update on life.  This month has been a month of ups and downs, tears and fears, and growing with the Lord.  I told y'all about my latest "epiphany" to make changes in my life.  And well, changes have been made....on a timeline I didn't exactly plan on.  To cover my tooshie, I still can't state any exact specifics of what's going on.  But, in the midst of trials I never imagined and challenges I would never wish upon anyone, I'm learning to fully trust God with the REALLY BIG decisions and problems.  I know that He is faithful and His greatest desire is for me to not be miserable...but to be happy and joyful.  Because, as a Daddy...He wants to see His children happy...and I'm not.  He's teaching me patience as well.  Patience in knowing that He will work things out, but that His timeline isn't mine, and the next right choice will come along when He is ready for it too.  It helps that I have such Godly, wonderful parents to help guide me and support me through this situation...whatever the outcome may be.  I've also learned some lessons on what happiness and success is...in God's eyes.  But that's a lesson for another day.  For now, I've accepted the outcome to my current situation, and am trying to be proactive and improve the situation.  But patience, trust, and faith in God are HARD lessons to learn...but oh my oh my, how my God is teaching them to me!  And if the end result is that I'm on a deeper level with God at the end of this than I have been in years...I will not count that as loss, but as gain!

Deep Thoughts...from the Tub

Awkward title...I know.  But, honestly, I always seem to do my best thinking while in the bathtub.  Taking a "bath" is rare for me...I'm a shower girl.  But, every once in awhile I'll either get in the mood for a bath...or have such an awful day I need to relax in a bath.  Today was a mixture of the two.  A "I feel like taking a bath today...because I need to prepare for the stressful week I know is ahead of me" kind of day.  My job is STRESS.FULL. (with 2 L's!)  I don't want to get into any specifics...but, basically...it's a REALLY tough job, and an even tougher FIRST job.  I mean, what I do primarily is NOT what I was told I'd be doing when I took the job in the first place...so, it's disappointing on top of it all.  Anyways, all that to say, I had a "revelation" in the tub today.  I sat down, breathed in my Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint aromatherapy bath salts (aaaahhhh....), and thought: "If you want to change the situation, YOU have to initiate the change!"  So, I did.  I'm gonna be vague on all the specifics, and I'm sorry about that, but I don't know what's next at the moment.  But it was a thought that I know was from God.  He told me, you initiate the change, and I'll help you the rest of the way.  So, after months of turmoil, I suddenly feel hopeful again.  Hopeful that there's a bright side to it all.  I can begin to see that God is, and has been, looking out for me...something I've had trouble seeing while in "the storm."  And I now have more confidence to seek the change that I want and need......all because I decided to take a bath.

Taking a New Step

I have been incredibly unhappy with my health/weight lately.  I'm a stress eater.  The more stress I encounter, the more I eat, and the less I care about WHAT I eat...healthy or not.  My job has caused me to encounter more stress than I ever imagined, and as a result, I've gained...a "few" pounds since starting my job.  I've discovered that being unhappy with my weight is affecting my overall happiness with myself in general.  I've dieted before and typically have eaten healthy in the past few years, but it seems as much as I try to eat all healthy meals now, getting off work so late on most days and cooking for one, it's just easier most nights to pick up some Chick-fil-A than cook a meal...so I do.  On top of it, I hate working out.  I've never belonged to a gym, and even when I had access to one through my apartments and at college, I rarely EVER went to them.  But, I have to do something about my health.  I'm worried that I'm gonna kill myself, and I need to exercise in some form.  If not to get healthy, but to just let off some stress and steam at the end of the day.  Well, I have a YMCA directly across the street from my apartment...and by "directly" I mean I could walk there in 1 minute.  Even though I have a small gym at my apartment, I won't ever go.  So, I checked out the Y today.  It was NICE.  And I figure, maybe if I'm paying for a gym, maybe I'll have more "motivation" to go use it.  A few xxx dollars later, I am now a member of a gym.  I honestly don't know who I am!  Me?  Joining a GYM?  Nuts.  But, I feel at a loss.  I need to get in shape and get healthy, and I hope this is going to work.  I mean, I will see it every single day whenever I go outside of my apartment...talk about a reminder!  So, that's that...and I'm actually kind of excited about it.  Here's to getting fit and healthy.  Wish me luck!

What happens when I get off work "early"....

...I cook dinner!  Amazing!  Today I finished up before 5:00 (crazy!) so I decided that dinner was going to consist of something NOT fast food for a change!  On the menu?  Bourbon Salmon (ala Publix!) with a pineapple salad.  I mean, I could've made the marinade for the fish myself...but Publix had the salmon on sale, and I'd heard it was good, so I decided to at least be partly lazy  domestic.  

Oh, and talk about being domestic...guess what else I managed to do tonight??  Bake!  And not for myself either (HA!).  I actually baked Valentine Funfetti cookies for my kiddos at the school tomorrow!  We're doing a fun Valentine's Day activity (go me for doing some planning!) and I decided to make them cookies and popcorn (still tentative!) to eat while doing it.  I mean, it may slightly be a bribe to get my kids to like me better...but I also LOVE (no pun intended) Valentine's Day (and NOT for the romance factor!) so I enjoy doing activities for it.  I guess it's because my Momma always made Valentine's Day special for us as kids growing up.  It didn't matter that there was no "romance" involved in it...it was always celebrated every year and I felt loved by my Momma and Daddy.  Momma always had our spot at the kitchen table set with Valentine's surprises when we walked in for breakfast...and if I'm home around Valentine's Day to this day, she still does.  Holidays were always special in our household, and Valentine's Day...among many others...holds a special place in my heart (again...no pun intended...really)...filled with many wonderful memories.  Thank you Momma for instilling such wonderful, happy, special memories...I love you!

Under Construction...

Please pardon the mess...and the million changes to my blog every 2 seconds.  My site is under construction...I got bored with my background again!

Sooo....It's been AWHILE

"It's been awhile"...now that's an understatement if I've ever heard one!  5 months!  Seriously??  Have I really not blogged for 5 months?!  Wow.  Let's determine why:


1. I typically work L.A.T.E. and when I get home from work all I want to do is sit on the couch, eat some dinner, catch up on facebook (lame!...I know), and veg with some TV.
2. The effort of "thinking" of something to blog about seemed...well, like a lot of effort....so I just didn't blog...and then I kinda got out of the habit!
3. ....ummm...I think #1 and #2 covered it all.


So, upon conclusion, I need to be more dedicated to my blogging! (For all you...uhh 3??? readers out there).


What does my Saturday involve today?  Well, considering I wake up uncharacteristically early the rest of the week (4:30 AM people!), and I didn't leave work until 8:00 PM last night, I SLEPT. IN.!  YES!  11:15...I was surprised I could that long!  Last weekend, "sleeping in" consisted of 9:30...after waking up at 7 am and 8 am in a panic thinking I was late for work!  haha.  On the list for today?  Ohhh, a little of this a little of that...or not if I so please!  Need to do a little cleaning, but considering it's a gloomy day outside, and my girls are preoccupied today (one has her beaux in town, the other went to Atlanta for the day), I think I may just stay at home.  And that's QUITE alright with me : )


So, blog world...sorry about the dreadful "delay" in blog posts!  I shall TRY my hardest to be more "updated"!