Hold Onto the Promises

Let's see, I don't even know where to begin on this post. There is SO much I want to vomit out of my mouth.

Next Wednesday will mark 1 year since our world basically flipped upside down and began what in my opinion was a roller coaster of a year that I never want to endure again. We had just signed a year lease on a cute little house in my favorite suburb of Tulsa. I was in a job I LOVED with a boss and team that rocked. Within 24 hours of feeling like we were going to get settled for a little bit, Zeb was laid off. Perfect timing, I am telling you.

2 months and multiple job applications later, we were on our way to Lubbock for Zeb's new job. I had looked and looked for the 3 weeks between finding out we were moving and actually moving for another recruiting job. I loved what I was doing and wanted to keep doing that. Instead, God provided what to me seemed like a good medium. I was blessed to start a job the same day Zeb started in his role that combined my work history and Master's at OSU with where my heart was in recruiting. When things didn't exactly get off to a great start in my new role, I found myself frustrated and wondering how this could possibly be part of God's plan. There were two things I got really good at telling myself:

1. I don't work for human bosses, I work for my only boss in heaven.
2. Hold onto the promises.

I knew when God had led me to the recruiting job in Tulsa that this is what I had been called to do for life. Recruiting is my absolute favorite thing because it combines the soft stuff-people's dreams and hopes and ambitions-with the hard stuff-the technicalities of business and the economy. Helping people through what is one of the most stressful experiences (job searching) in their lives is tremendously rewarding and fulfilling for me and I love doing it. Therefore, I knew that while I hadn't gotten something right away in Lubbock and my current work situation, in terms of my team, was rocky I was not letting go of God's promises to me. I also was not going to allow the people I worked with to bring me down. I don't work for them, I work for Him.

Fast forward to the Fall and two great things had happened. One of my biggest pains in my job had exited and I found out we were expecting! Things were looking up. When I ran across the job posting for a coordinator role, in recruiting, at the hospital I kinda in the back of my head knew it probably wouldn't work. I mean the timing was off and it was just a coordinator, not exactly where I wanted to be, but it could be a good entry back to recruiting. I applied. Not with high expectations, but applied. What I didn't know at that time was that I would miscarry in 2 short weeks. I also didn't know that I would come to like my current job a little more. And I didn't know it would take the hospital 2 1/2 months to even begin interviews. God did. He knew all of it. He planned it perfectly.

That leads me to today. When I got the email 3 weeks ago to interview for a position I had forgotten I even applied for, I wondered what God was up to. From there I interviewed three different times for a coordinator role that I wasn't sure would be a great move for me. Yesterday, they offered me something bigger and better. They offered me exactly what my heart wanted 10 months ago and exactly what only God could orchestrate. They offered me a job as a recruiter because they felt my skills were above that of a coordinator and with my long term goals being recruiting they took a chance on me. They have blessed my socks off!

I feel so so lucky to have the opportunity to do exactly what I was made to do now in both my personal and professional life. Between recruiting and Advocare, I feel that I am helping people in some of the most important ways in their life. I get to be part of helping people achieve their dreams professionally, healthfully, and financially. I am also on my way to getting my group fitness certification to add one more component of this beautiful combination.

As my good friend Terrance would say, finding your passion will drive your purpose. Passion produces purpose. He is right. And life is too short to do anything less than what you were made to do. Go find it.

In Dying Need!

I love my husband. I really do. But I have got to shout something from the top of a mountain!

I AM IN DYING NEED OF SOME GIRL TIME!

I mean like down right chick flicks and wine, pedicures and gossip mags, cheers and tears. It has just been too long. TOO LONG!

Ok, I will stop yelling, but in all seriousness. As much as I have come to appreciate Lubbock more and more I just haven't gotten the same type of social interactions that I need. I have my run club and they are great, and our home group and they are great, but nothing like just cold hard girl time with women who get me and I get them. I need it. The phone just isn't cutting it anymore. HELP! Here are some faces that could definitely help in what I am now referring to as almost an emergency. (in no particular order) Or any other woman I love dearly for that matter!

Ok glad I got that out! Happy Hump Day friends!

2013:Joy

I have thought a lot over the last week on how I wanted to write this post. And sometimes that is just the problem. Thinking. It can be simpler. It doesn't have to be perfect and worded just right for it to stick or for people to get it.

Last year I chose relate as my word. I chose it for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I wanted to grow in relationships. I wanted to create new ones through new life experiences and hobbies. This year I have chosen joy. This word became more and more important to me as 2012 went on and I knew without a doubt it had to be my word for 2013.

"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: the faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning."-Lamentations 3:21-23

And that my friends is the reason to never lose your joy.

When your marriage feels rocky..."Great is his faithfulness"
When your husband is laid off..."Great is his faithfulness"
When a new town is hard..."Great is his faithfulness"
When friendships seem far..."Great is his faithfulness"
When you lose the baby inside that you have yearned for..."Great is his faithfulness"

When you believe that He is faithful through the good and the bad, your joy is never robbed. Sure a day may be hard. Yes, you might cry and yes it might hurt really bad, but the enemy has not stolen your most precious emotion...joy. Because you know that "his mercies never cease", in fact they start over with every waking day. It is something to celebrate.

My prayer for this year is to never lose my joy. No matter how bad things may get I pray for everlasting peace and joy. I pray that it is my joy that gives me hope and it is my joy that gives others hope. I pray that the light of my joy shines for others when their light is going dim. I pray that when I am angry about a situation and feel my joy fading that I would immediately seek Him for the sole purpose of not losing that joy. I pray for a foundation based on joy.

I can't help but think how much love and joy our world needs right now. Everyday it seems like we are waking to more hate, negativity, and opposition than what existed the day before. Now, more than ever, our world needs people that provide hope and positive encouragement. Your word may not be joy for 2013, but my prayer is that whatever you have declared brings more goodness to the people around you. Be a light for others. Love hard.

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."Romans 15:13

Casting Vision for 2013

Here we are at the end of the year again and I can hardly believe it. I remember days over the summer thinking this year would never end. I remember days in February and March thinking the weeks couldn't go any slower in anticipation of a job for Zeb. I most recently remember long days of being pregnant and then not being pregnant. This year has been one of extreme ups and downs. I have rode the roller coaster of my life this year, but here we are at the brink of 2013 and it feels like it flew by. Those memories are now ready to be tucked away and I will honestly say in hopes of a much better 2013.

Many, many people spend this time of year in reflection and looking to what their future holds. For me this time of year has become one of vision casting. It is not so much about what 2012 was or wasn't, but more so about what I hope 2013 will be. I heard a great message yesterday about vision casting and they defined vision. They said vision is the future you want to create. So, what is your vision for 2013?

There are 3 things that have become a part of my routine at the beginning of each year.

1. Fasting-My church instilled this in me and for the last 2 years I have spent 21 days in January fasting in some way. The first year I did a partial day fast from 6am-3pm consuming liquids only. Last year Zeb and I did the Daniel fast from 6am-3pm. If you aren't familiar with the Daniel fast it is basically becoming a vegan. You eat nothing but fruits, veggies, and water for the most part. You can have other stuff but it can't include dairy, preservatives, meat, etc. This was extremely difficult for us! This year I plan to fast sugar all day, everyday from Jan. 2nd to Jan. 22nd. I know that doesn't seem that difficult, but for me this is huge. I am a sugar fanatic. I crave it and I eat it all the time! That also means wine, which I consume regularly. However, fasting during this time is meant to be a time of worship. It is giving up the first part of your year so God will bless the rest. Much like you would give the first 10% of your income or the first part of your day. You give to God first and He will take care of the rest.

2. One Word-Some of you may remember my one word post last year, but this is something I enjoyed and plan to continue doing. Instead of selecting lots of different things to define your new year, you just select one word and allow it to create a foundation for your year. For 2013 I have chosen Joy. More to come on that selection later.

3. Goals-I prefer goals over resolutions. This year I was able to complete one of my biggest goals which was running a half marathon. It was a proud moment, but it didn't happen until November. I don't like resolutions because they tend to revolve around the beginning of the year. When you achieve them or you give up on them, you lose the vision for the rest of your year. I like to set goals in 4 different ways: personal, professional, relational, and goals with Zeb. I also try to keep the lists small and realistic. Some of my goals in each area this year include:
Personal-Obtaining certifications as another step in creating my part time fitness and wellness business
Professional-learn more than lead, work more than achieve
Relationally-have at least 3 girls weekends 
Goals with Zeb-Pay off $25,000 in debt

So there you have it. I hope by sharing my yearly habits around the new year I have inspired you to find a way to cast vision for your own 2013. These three things are what help me get focused, build a foundation, and create the future I want to have. What does it look like for you?

Please feel free to share your yearly habits. I would love to know how others prepare for the new year!

8 Days to Christmas!!

On the 8th day of Christmas Sasha gave to me...8 sets of tricep dips! 

If you aren't familiar with these they are simple. You can do them on a step so you are elevated off the ground. Straighten your legs out and lift your bottom up. Put your arms about 6 inches behind you with your hands facing toward you and just dip. If those get hard you can simply stay sitting on the ground with your hands on the same level and dip. I promise you will still feel it. #12days2XmasWellness

Happy Monday! Only 8 days to Christmas!!