ReLENTless Healing and Growth

   Well friends, tomorrow is the start of Lent! I have chosen to give up sugar, and to be intentionally prayerful everyday. 

    Why did I choose these things? Well, I love sugar. I think I have something sweet after every meal or at least once a day! I love chocolate. A lot. I've been trying and trying to eat more healthy but as soon as the thought of something chocolatey sweet comes to mind I have a really hard time saying "No". Since the last time I blogged I have been better about doing something active everyday. : ) (Yay!) However, I am not going to see my abs ever again if I can't let sugar go. As you may know "Abs are made in the kitchen." That means ultra clean eating, and it's true. I was in the best shape of my life when I was a vegetarian, and was cheering and playing lacrosse. So, I need to amp up the workouts, and really work hard at eating clean! 

      I choose the be intentionally prayerful because I find myself going about my day just talking to God when things pop in my head. There is nothing wrong with that, but I have been feeling convicted about not laying myself before the Lord in desperate prayer. There is so much I have been seeking the Lords guidance about, but don't feel confident in His answers. (That's another thing for me to tackle another time! Hearing the Lord, being confident in it, and responding.) So, I aim to sit before the Lord daily on my knees because he asks us to.  

Matthew 6:6 NIV
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

     I so strongly believe in the power of prayer, and I have seen the Lord protect, save, and bless those who pray to him intentionally and faithfully. I want to grow in the Lord, and one way to get to know Him more is to talk to Him and place your faith in Him fully. So that's my 40 day mission that I hope to turn into a habit. What's yours?

 

Off to A Slow Start

Hello There!
      I can not believe its already February. While I'm loving the weather in Georgia, it is reminding me that we will be poolside before we know it! I'm no where near where I want my body to be. My struggle with working out is having the time and energy to do it. Its really hard to stay motivated because I like instant results. However, the body I would like to have is not something that is going to happen over night! So, after taking a week on and off and on and off its back on! Instead if sticking to a specific program I'm just going to make a point to do SOMETHING every day! Except Sunday ; )
    I also began to count calories. As much crap as I eat I'm still not eating enough calories a day! Can you believe that? I'm so full when I eat the calories I should. Maybe once I'm working out I'll be more hungry because I'll be burning the calories I eat!
       Aside from that I still have to remind myself to be consistent. Going to work, school, keeping up the house, trying to work in the gym and be on top of my studies is like-WHOA. Where is the balance? because I can't find it right now. As much as I don't want to do it, I need to just push through no matter how exhausted I am because eventually I'll get used to the schedule.
      In the midst of finding that balance I have a man in my life that I adore, and that relationship has got to flourish too. This year I have taken a lot off of my plate in order to focus on relationships and myself, but I still don't feel like there is enough time! It's time to amp up my energy and push through. I have to create better habits. I have been able to see my friends that live an hour away very consistently so far this year, and I LOVE that because I love them : ).
      So, here is to seeing progress and pressing on. Keeping the Lord as my center, and continuing to grow in Him through all of this.

Resolution

    At the end of last year I read in my FCA devotional a new way to make a resolution. Usually, we make a list of goals. This list has never really worked for me. I find myself making goals that state where I want to be at the end of the year. As I have gotten to know myself I've found that I'm a short term goal person. I think it's because I have a better sense of accomplishment.
   In my FCA devotional it was suggested to choose one word that you would like to focus on through out the year. For example, "respect" if you know you have trouble respecting others, and you would like to improve on that. So, in any situation you think of the word you chose and apply it. Ever since I read that I was seriously considering what my word or words would be. I reflected on last year, which wasn't my best one, and asked myself "How can I improve?" What I lack most in my life is consistency, and I'm really talented at procrastinating!
     After a lot of consideration I chose to focus on the word Productivity. As I began the new year I thought of the word often, and ways to not procrastinate any longer. As I was going through all of this I realized a better word to focus on that would apply to every aspect of my life-work, school, exercise, eating, church, relationships- is Consistency. I have successfully changed my single word resolution to Consistency. 
      Now, we are only in week two of the new year, but so far it's going GREAT. I have reminded myself to take this year day by day, and to live in the present. What wasn't done today will fall at the top of my list of things to do tomorrow, and I don't want that because tomorrow always has an extensive list of it's own! I also am aware not to over book my calendar. I have to get used to saying "No" to people. As much as I can't stand to do that, and want to be apart of everything-I just can't. Between work and school there isn't much time for other things. That's just the way it has to be for now. To make my life easier, and to get better grades, school has to come first. (Which is really hard for me, so that blows!!!) I'm too social to not have a life.
    I have decided my social life will consist of time with family and the few girl friends that I do have. My family lives SO close, and I never see them. I have really young siblings, and I need to be present in their lives. I've always prayed for brothers and sisters, and now I have them! The past few years have shown me who really cares about me, so I have chosen to invest in them fully. Quality not Quantity.
     Last weekend I watched church from home. There aren't many non denominational churches that I know of out here in Woodstock. So, I haven't found a "Home" out here. I think my spiritual life is going to be up to me this year. I'm going to have to be sure to take the time to have a conversation with God everyday, and either watch church or attempt to find one that isn't 45 mins away. I just LOVE Buckhead and all it has to offer though.
   Anywho, that is my resolution, and I'm super excited about it! Let me know what yours are!!!

This is The Year!

        After last year I'm encouraged that this year is going to be awesome! I've moved into a new place and it actually feels like home. Which was something I was really praying for this year to bring. I was reminded, yet again, how important friendship is. Even though none of my friends live close by I am going to make a conscious effort to invest in the people that are truly friends to me.
    
      We visited Montana last week, and I was so inspired to finish my four year degree in order to move to Colorado to start/finish my masters. It was so beautiful and I would love to live in a place like that for two to three years! It's nothing like Atlanta. The landscape there is just breath taking.

     I haven't forgotten to mention my family and the amazing man in  my life. I am close to my family, but not as close as I would like to be. So, this year is the year to really focus on the relationships that are important to me, and building them up to be unbreakable. Mountain Man impresses me more and more every day. I see him taking leaps and bounds in his life, and it just makes me thrilled to be apart of it! His year has already started off with a bang, and I can't wait to see where it takes him!

   Snowmobiling in Montana!

So, here's to the New Year! I wish you all the best, and pray this year changes the rest of your life!