Never once did I picture my life to be what it has indeed ended up being. Everything to who I am, where I live, who has passed on from their time on earth, to my current lifestage...if you would have asked me 10 years ago I'm sure the picture I would have painted for myself would look nothing like what it has ended up being. This is a good thing and a bad thing.
The past 4 months of my life have been nothing but BIG CHANGES! Change of job...change of physical appearance and health...change in my heart...change in where the Lord is calling me to serve...Change, Change, Change. Again, this is a good thing and bad thing.
As I reflect, which I tend to do A LOT, I think about who I want to become versus who I am. I look at the sin in my life and LONG for it to not be there. I desperately want to be rid of all the evil and junk that is in me...that directs my actions and words...i want it GONE...OUTTA HERE...C U LATER ALLIGATOR! BUT I don't want to miss out on the process of Him ridding me of the wickedness in me. I don't want to miss out on who He is and what I will gain from being in the process. As I think about such things I look at the CHANGES that have been happening and I know that they are a part of this process. I know that I am on an incredible journey and I know that the end result will be for His glory!
I just ended my last day working for the Ranch. I NEVER thought that day would come. It did...it's bittersweet. BUT I can't help but be excited for this next chapter in my life. I get excited at the thought of possibly living in another country, loving the Lord and loving people. I get goosebumps at the thought of how much I will change and how much I will learn about Him through this process. I cry in joy at the anticipation of leaving a lasting impact on people's hearts for Him for eternity!
I just reread this and realized that this blog is BEYOND random...but I'm gonna leave it as is...It's what I am thinking and feeling at the moment. Enjoy! (If it makes sense! ha!)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
God is in the details
So I'm driving down I68 last Saturday evening, after a FANTASTIC visit with some ol' college gal pals that I hadn't see in years. Like most of my roadtrips, I am jammin' to some tunes in my ghetto cruiser thinking about life, the Lord, u know...typical things u think about when on a mini road trip. At some point in my trip I talk to my friend Liz on the phone and she preceeds to tell me that she is indeed pregnant! I think I screamed several times out of my excitement for her and Nate. I give that lil detail because I am EXTREMELY happy for them and to say that because I was focused on our convo, i was not focused on where I was on my trip home.
Somewhere in MD, I notice that ghetto crusier is actin' up...her engine keeps revvvvvin' like she's not in gear, but she is definitely in 5th gear, she starts smellin' HOTT, and she decided she is gonna decrease in speed. She gets to the point where she doesn't seem to be actin' like she is gonna be able to keep drivin', so I pull of the side of the road to try to figure out what to do. TWO problems: 1) I don't know where I am, mainly because i was too busy screaming in excitement because of the baby news I had received and 2) I don't have cell phone reception where I pulled off the road. Yepppp...bad combination!
So after leavin' my car in neutral for a few minutes, I decide to try to get back on the road because I need to figure out where I am, and I also need to have phone reception. So I put my car in 1st gear, press on the gas and yes folks, i go BACKWARDS! ummmm, clearly that is not the direction I need to be going. I think this is when I may have had a tear in my eye, but also I couldn't help but laugh. Just like ghetto cruiser! She never seems to do what a normal car is supposed to do. So, I try again, and I continue to go backwards. The humor is steadily decreasing at this point. I then think to myself, I'm just gonna GUN it in hopes that I will get going forward enough that I can maybe coast up the mountain I was on. (Do u sense my sarcasm??) I gunnned it, ended up making forward progress, go about 25-30 mph at maximum speed and end up going about another mile on the road. THEN the my speedometer goes very quickly to 0, so I am helpless yet again and pull off the side of the road. As I am on the side of the road for a second time, I look up and see a roadsign 100 feet in front of me telling me that the next exit is 2 miles ahead. YESSSSSSSSS! I know where I am. I then check my phone....I HAVE RECEPTION!!! Are you beginning to see how He is in the details????
After several attempts at trying to get ghetto cruiser in another forward motion, but went backwards yet again, i decide that I need to start trying to call someone. I call about 6 people that I think can help, and NO ONE answers the phone. I finally get ahold of my pastor who is now attempting to get me help, as well as one of my college friends that I met up with. THEN about 5 minutes after I had gotten stranded, a cop pulled a car over for speeding right across the median about 500 feet in front of me! R U KIDDING ME?!?!?!?! I'm still freaking out because I have NO IDEA what to do, it's dark, I'm stranded atleast 50 miles away from home, but I was NEVER alone because of the cop. Yet, another God in the details thing!
After my pastor's work and my friends work to get the cop informed of my situation, he finishes up with the other car and then swings on over to where me and ghetto cruiser are just chillin'. He graciousy offered to call a tow truck for me and to stay with me until the tow truck comes...seee, never alone! I then call my AAA # to see what kind of coverage I have (Need to thank Ken Hildebran...my pops...for persuading me to pay the $ to have a AAA membership...thanks DAD!!!) My coverage is the one where u can get towed up to 100 miles without getting charged....R U KIDDING ME! Soooo, that means, my car can get towed all the way back to Morgantown and I don't have to pay a dime!
Hold on folks...it keeps getting better!
Soo, the tow truck guy, Robert was his name, shows up. Ghetto Crusier and I part ways. She on the bed of the truck, me chillin' in the front with Robert. Robert at this point doesn't seem too excited to be taking me and my car 55 miles to wv, but I still try to make small talk. Robert is not excited about that either! At some point Steve, my boss, calls and I must have said something that triggered Roberts attention because as soon as I got off the phone he turns to me and says "Are u a Chrisitian?" I respond "I sure am". Through our conversation, I find out that he had been looking for way to get back to Morgantown, because his wife almost died and was in a hospital there. He had to work all day and wanted to be with her but couldn't so when he got the call that someone needed a ride there he knew it was his chance to be with his wife. Again, R U KIDDING ME??????
I ended up asking him if there was anything i could do for him or his wife...if they needed anything...etc etc. He then asked if I could get his wife a book and I asked what her name was and what room she was in. So I got all that info and knew that I was supposed to do that for her and him. We had a good conversation the rest of the way back to Morgantown...he dropped me and my car off and went on his merry way.
I get home and start immediately worrying about my car...how am I gonna get from here to there without one. How am I gonna pay for it. I knew that I had NO $ except for one check that I hadn't given yet, but I had already written it out. It was my tithe check to the church. I tried to jusitfy why I should keep it because then I would atleast have that amount of money in my account to get me through the next week or so. I couldn't sleep because I kept debating about what to do with that $. Sunday morning rolls around...the offering basket is being passed...I start crying because I know that I am supposed to put my check in the offering basket, but I know if I do I have $6.45 in my account. Maybe this would be a good time to mention that in 6 days I am jobless...incomeless...carless...etc. So, can u understand why I didn't want to put that check in the offering????? I knew what I needed to do, so I did it. I put the check in the offering. I think more tears came.
I am leaving the church after the message. (the pastor had mentioned my situation during the message so people kinda knew what was going on) A person in the church offered to let me use their car while mine was getting fixed. R U KIDDING ME??? THEN another person in the church hands me a check to help with the car expense. (I'm realizing how VERY LONG this blog is getting so I am leaving out some details and mini God moments along the way...but believe me there is soooo much more I could type!)
I call the car place on Monday morning to get an estimate. It is gonna cost $300 more than what I had to fix it. Again, do I need to mention the fact that I didn't have the $ to fix it, I will be jobless in 6 days, and I am completely and utterly helpless. The next day, another person from the church calls me to get an update on my situation...later that evening I had the additional money to pay for my car to get repaired and some $ for groceries. WHAT????
I can't begin to tell you just what has been going on in my heart the past few days...it's been a rollercoaster of emotions...I have other decisions in my life occuring at the same time that I think He is using this to speak into and that's SCARY....but I know that I know that I know without a doubt that He is my provider. That He is beyond faithful. That He uses people to bring His plan to fruition. He loves me enough to get my car down the road an extra mile so that I can get help. He loves Robert the tow truck driver so much that He would use my "bad situation" to get him to be able to be with his wife. He loves me enough to have my entire car taken care of when I only had $6.45. His prescence has been BEYOND REAL to me the past few days...How incredible is that!?!?!?!?!?!
And the best part is...I can't boast, no one else can boast, because all the honor, praise, and glory are HIS! No one could have orchestrated all of those details to happen the way that they did! Can I get an AMEN?????? (that is if u made it through this rather lengthy blog!)
Somewhere in MD, I notice that ghetto crusier is actin' up...her engine keeps revvvvvin' like she's not in gear, but she is definitely in 5th gear, she starts smellin' HOTT, and she decided she is gonna decrease in speed. She gets to the point where she doesn't seem to be actin' like she is gonna be able to keep drivin', so I pull of the side of the road to try to figure out what to do. TWO problems: 1) I don't know where I am, mainly because i was too busy screaming in excitement because of the baby news I had received and 2) I don't have cell phone reception where I pulled off the road. Yepppp...bad combination!
So after leavin' my car in neutral for a few minutes, I decide to try to get back on the road because I need to figure out where I am, and I also need to have phone reception. So I put my car in 1st gear, press on the gas and yes folks, i go BACKWARDS! ummmm, clearly that is not the direction I need to be going. I think this is when I may have had a tear in my eye, but also I couldn't help but laugh. Just like ghetto cruiser! She never seems to do what a normal car is supposed to do. So, I try again, and I continue to go backwards. The humor is steadily decreasing at this point. I then think to myself, I'm just gonna GUN it in hopes that I will get going forward enough that I can maybe coast up the mountain I was on. (Do u sense my sarcasm??) I gunnned it, ended up making forward progress, go about 25-30 mph at maximum speed and end up going about another mile on the road. THEN the my speedometer goes very quickly to 0, so I am helpless yet again and pull off the side of the road. As I am on the side of the road for a second time, I look up and see a roadsign 100 feet in front of me telling me that the next exit is 2 miles ahead. YESSSSSSSSS! I know where I am. I then check my phone....I HAVE RECEPTION!!! Are you beginning to see how He is in the details????
After several attempts at trying to get ghetto cruiser in another forward motion, but went backwards yet again, i decide that I need to start trying to call someone. I call about 6 people that I think can help, and NO ONE answers the phone. I finally get ahold of my pastor who is now attempting to get me help, as well as one of my college friends that I met up with. THEN about 5 minutes after I had gotten stranded, a cop pulled a car over for speeding right across the median about 500 feet in front of me! R U KIDDING ME?!?!?!?! I'm still freaking out because I have NO IDEA what to do, it's dark, I'm stranded atleast 50 miles away from home, but I was NEVER alone because of the cop. Yet, another God in the details thing!
After my pastor's work and my friends work to get the cop informed of my situation, he finishes up with the other car and then swings on over to where me and ghetto cruiser are just chillin'. He graciousy offered to call a tow truck for me and to stay with me until the tow truck comes...seee, never alone! I then call my AAA # to see what kind of coverage I have (Need to thank Ken Hildebran...my pops...for persuading me to pay the $ to have a AAA membership...thanks DAD!!!) My coverage is the one where u can get towed up to 100 miles without getting charged....R U KIDDING ME! Soooo, that means, my car can get towed all the way back to Morgantown and I don't have to pay a dime!
Hold on folks...it keeps getting better!
Soo, the tow truck guy, Robert was his name, shows up. Ghetto Crusier and I part ways. She on the bed of the truck, me chillin' in the front with Robert. Robert at this point doesn't seem too excited to be taking me and my car 55 miles to wv, but I still try to make small talk. Robert is not excited about that either! At some point Steve, my boss, calls and I must have said something that triggered Roberts attention because as soon as I got off the phone he turns to me and says "Are u a Chrisitian?" I respond "I sure am". Through our conversation, I find out that he had been looking for way to get back to Morgantown, because his wife almost died and was in a hospital there. He had to work all day and wanted to be with her but couldn't so when he got the call that someone needed a ride there he knew it was his chance to be with his wife. Again, R U KIDDING ME??????
I ended up asking him if there was anything i could do for him or his wife...if they needed anything...etc etc. He then asked if I could get his wife a book and I asked what her name was and what room she was in. So I got all that info and knew that I was supposed to do that for her and him. We had a good conversation the rest of the way back to Morgantown...he dropped me and my car off and went on his merry way.
I get home and start immediately worrying about my car...how am I gonna get from here to there without one. How am I gonna pay for it. I knew that I had NO $ except for one check that I hadn't given yet, but I had already written it out. It was my tithe check to the church. I tried to jusitfy why I should keep it because then I would atleast have that amount of money in my account to get me through the next week or so. I couldn't sleep because I kept debating about what to do with that $. Sunday morning rolls around...the offering basket is being passed...I start crying because I know that I am supposed to put my check in the offering basket, but I know if I do I have $6.45 in my account. Maybe this would be a good time to mention that in 6 days I am jobless...incomeless...carless...etc. So, can u understand why I didn't want to put that check in the offering????? I knew what I needed to do, so I did it. I put the check in the offering. I think more tears came.
I am leaving the church after the message. (the pastor had mentioned my situation during the message so people kinda knew what was going on) A person in the church offered to let me use their car while mine was getting fixed. R U KIDDING ME??? THEN another person in the church hands me a check to help with the car expense. (I'm realizing how VERY LONG this blog is getting so I am leaving out some details and mini God moments along the way...but believe me there is soooo much more I could type!)
I call the car place on Monday morning to get an estimate. It is gonna cost $300 more than what I had to fix it. Again, do I need to mention the fact that I didn't have the $ to fix it, I will be jobless in 6 days, and I am completely and utterly helpless. The next day, another person from the church calls me to get an update on my situation...later that evening I had the additional money to pay for my car to get repaired and some $ for groceries. WHAT????
I can't begin to tell you just what has been going on in my heart the past few days...it's been a rollercoaster of emotions...I have other decisions in my life occuring at the same time that I think He is using this to speak into and that's SCARY....but I know that I know that I know without a doubt that He is my provider. That He is beyond faithful. That He uses people to bring His plan to fruition. He loves me enough to get my car down the road an extra mile so that I can get help. He loves Robert the tow truck driver so much that He would use my "bad situation" to get him to be able to be with his wife. He loves me enough to have my entire car taken care of when I only had $6.45. His prescence has been BEYOND REAL to me the past few days...How incredible is that!?!?!?!?!?!
And the best part is...I can't boast, no one else can boast, because all the honor, praise, and glory are HIS! No one could have orchestrated all of those details to happen the way that they did! Can I get an AMEN?????? (that is if u made it through this rather lengthy blog!)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Job Search 2009
Well, it's been a few days since the job search officially began. It started off GREAT considering that I haven't had to do a resume since 1999. And that resume was designed specifically to apply for teaching positions. Ummm, yeah, so needless to say I had to get movin' on my resume and get movin FAST! Thanks to the handy dandy work of my big sis, my resume was completed last week and I have been able to get it out to 23 different job postings. Pray that the Lord would allow me to discover the job He has specifically for me!
It's funny...normally if I don't know what is going on in my life I totally, completely FREAK OUT! However, this time I haven't. I have had a weird peace inside of me since this whole process began about a month ago. It's as if the Lord has been preparing my heart for months for this to be happening...He's good like that! Sooo, even though it seems ridiculous that I will find a job that meets my needs and specific "requirements", I just know that I know that I know, that He is not surprised that I am looking, and He has the PERFECT job. I just need to do what He is calling me to do until He allows me to discover it. Scary? Heck yeah! Exciting? Abosolutely! Seemingly impossible? Not when HE is in complete control!!!!
I'm excited to begin this new journey He has for me. I am thrilled at the idea of going overseas! I am anxiously awaiting for all that this journey has for me! I am astounded at His desire and love for me! Thankful that I have a Father who has a plan for my life and as I step out in faith, He will lead and direct me where He desires me!
It's funny...normally if I don't know what is going on in my life I totally, completely FREAK OUT! However, this time I haven't. I have had a weird peace inside of me since this whole process began about a month ago. It's as if the Lord has been preparing my heart for months for this to be happening...He's good like that! Sooo, even though it seems ridiculous that I will find a job that meets my needs and specific "requirements", I just know that I know that I know, that He is not surprised that I am looking, and He has the PERFECT job. I just need to do what He is calling me to do until He allows me to discover it. Scary? Heck yeah! Exciting? Abosolutely! Seemingly impossible? Not when HE is in complete control!!!!
I'm excited to begin this new journey He has for me. I am thrilled at the idea of going overseas! I am anxiously awaiting for all that this journey has for me! I am astounded at His desire and love for me! Thankful that I have a Father who has a plan for my life and as I step out in faith, He will lead and direct me where He desires me!
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Chan Chan Change
WHOA NELLY! The past 2 weeks have been CRAZY! Here are some snipits:
1. I am leaving my position with Chestnut Mountain Ranch to pursue overseas missions. I am applying to do an internship next summer with G.O. Ministries in the Dominican Republic. If I get accepted I will then spend 3 months with the hope of seeing whether or not the Lord is calling me to fulltime missions there. WHAT?!?!?! yeah....crazy, but ridiculously exciting!
It's a tug on my heart that I have been avoiding for sometime and it's about time I take a leap of faith to really see what the Lord has in store. I am confident that He is leading me somewhere, I'm just not quite sure where.
2. Had a rough week (this past week) food wise, but am back on track. I realized after a few days of making poor decisions with food that those daily decisions affect a lot more than my weight. They affect the direction that the Lord is leading me in my life. The main reason I have begun to allow the Lord to change this area of my life is so I can go where He is leading me. Right now, I believe that is the DR, but I can't do ministry unhindered there at my current weight. I had the HUGE realization that every decision I make regarding food has an affect. I have kept picturing the many faces of the people I saw, met, and connected with in the DR. I wanna be healthy enough to see those face in 11 months. Soooo, yes, I am back on track. Back on track indeed!
3. Had a visit with the Teodoro family - man oh man do I love them dearly! Wished that they lived closer, but I'll take an hour lunch with them over nothing!
Me with Jacob & Sam Teodoro
4. I have been in physical therapy for my knees, so I haven't been able to exercise. I'm hoping that will change very soon, because my 5k is a little over a month away! YIKES!!! I hope that the next time I blog, I will have had many a dates with my running shoes and the track!
5. I think that's it for now. :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A lil Motivation
It's funny to think back a few months ago at an event that has changed my life in a drastic way. And what I am about to tell u may seem silly, but it is really the reason that things in my life have been changing.
picture it: I am in the Dominican on a mission trip. We are at the construction site of the feeding center we went over to build and we were told that there were some baptisms happening and that we were gonna go to witness them. Pretty cool huh! BUT WAIT...how are we gonna get there u ask. Good Question. Normally we went on a mini-bus type thing because of the size of group we had. It was like any normal vehicle u and i have been in. One problem. The mini-bus thingy isn't going to pick us up to take us to the site of the baptism because it is already at our destination. Sooooo...that means that we all have to hop on a water truck to get to the baptisms. Doesn't sound bad does it? Well not to a personal of normal weight and mobility. Which by the way did not describe me at that particular time in my life.
So as I am eyeing up the water truck that we were going to have to "hop" on, my heart sank. I subtly tried to figure out how in the world I would get my big fat caboose on this thing. After several minutes of debating this in my head I came to the realization that I would be staying overnight at the construction site cuz there was NO WAY I was gonna physically be able to get on this thing. And I was not about to ask for help either. (Toooooo embarassing!) THEN, I hear murmors of them putting the kiddos in the front of the truck. That's it, i thought...i'll hang with the kids. (there was a step on that part of the truck, so not difficult to get into. It was then that I heard angels singing.....ok maybe not, but that was opportunity to not look like a complete cow of a woman. Sooooo like the servant I am, ha!, I graciously offer to be with the kids in the front. That was the moment I realized that I have a serious problem....
I don't know how to explain it, but it was such a hindering feeling those few minutes I internally debated about how I was going to hoist myself onto the water truck. It was that moment that I will never forget. That was the moment when I realized on a whole new level just how much my health and my weight keep me from living. I have said this before, but I feel like I am trapped in a shell of a person that isn't really me. Because of my weight I hesitate to try new things, I am constantly wondering if I will fit here or there, or if someone will notice this constant debate I have in all social situations, wondering if my size will somehow affect me in anyway. THIS my friends is NOT living.
I also came to the conclusion that my weight can keep me from doing things the Lord is calling me to do. (side note: I almost didn't go to the Dominican because I was ashamed of my weight and I knew that it would negatively affect me on that trip) Instead of the Lord controlling this part of my life, this part of my life has controlled me for too many years. It's not just about how I look, it's about the type of life I have because of my weight...it is not a life I would wish on anyone!
Because of that moment in the DR, because of the Lord gripping my heart with His truth, and because I don't want to live the type of life I have been living this area of my life has changed dramatically! Praise the Lord! I have now lost 30.5 pounds and am THRILLED! I have also been changed in my heart and mind, and that is stinking awesome because that means the physical change is just a result of the heart and mind changes! That means it will stick this time....it's not about getting to a smaller size (although that is FUN!), it's not about being viewed as pretty, it's about glorifying the Lord with my body that belongs to Him. It's about being available to live the life He desires for me.
One more thing: I decided as a way to keep motivated and excited about this journey, I would "reward" myself for every 10 pounds I lose. Soooo, here is a pic of my first 2 rewards.
The necklace charm has my initial on it and the ring says "Nothing is impossible". This necklace is a constant reminder of the journey I am on...With Him, I can do anything and everything. Nothing is impossible! I'll be sure to post a pic of my next "reward" :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
the perfect storm, AGAIN. ~ 27.5, WHAT??
the perfect storm
nov. 24, 2004 was the beginning of 3 very hard years in the life of amanda. what began with the loss of a mother, turned into a time in my life where loss was a popular theme. It also began a faith journey like none other for me. I began to ask the Lord tough questions that I have yet to find answers to. let's say that my perfect storm was not enjoyable and i never wanted to repeat it or have anything like that happen again....well, apparently we don't always get what we want. (duh amanda)
about a month ago, all the pieces were in place for the perfect storm to return and park itself right over me with no end in sight. I can't explain it...i don't understand it...i hate it...i am wondering why it's back...
in the midst of this storm i find myself in, i am holding on by a thread to the truths that the Lord soooo lovingly gave me in the midst of the initial storm. i fear that as i struggle to hold on, that my strength will fail me. guess it's a GREAT thing that His strength is what matters. it's His strength that will keep me in the fight. it's His strength that will get me out of this storm as a changed woman. so in the meantime, i am holding on for dear life praying that the storm will end but trusting that He has BIG things for me to learn and grow in.
nov. 24, 2004 was the beginning of 3 very hard years in the life of amanda. what began with the loss of a mother, turned into a time in my life where loss was a popular theme. It also began a faith journey like none other for me. I began to ask the Lord tough questions that I have yet to find answers to. let's say that my perfect storm was not enjoyable and i never wanted to repeat it or have anything like that happen again....well, apparently we don't always get what we want. (duh amanda)
about a month ago, all the pieces were in place for the perfect storm to return and park itself right over me with no end in sight. I can't explain it...i don't understand it...i hate it...i am wondering why it's back...
in the midst of this storm i find myself in, i am holding on by a thread to the truths that the Lord soooo lovingly gave me in the midst of the initial storm. i fear that as i struggle to hold on, that my strength will fail me. guess it's a GREAT thing that His strength is what matters. it's His strength that will keep me in the fight. it's His strength that will get me out of this storm as a changed woman. so in the meantime, i am holding on for dear life praying that the storm will end but trusting that He has BIG things for me to learn and grow in.
27.5 pounds gone, WHAT??????
For reasons that can only come from the Lord I am getting smaller and smaller as the weeks go on. It's crazy!! I have been shocked...
at the results of my hard work. BUT I know that it's not me who is getting through each day making the right desisions for my body. Someway, somehow He has gripped my heart and has begun this change inside of me that is being reflected on the outside. I can't even begin to explain it. BUT I LOVE IT! Lately I have been tempted to pick up that tasty treat to bandage wounds, but before I can even go beyond the thought of eating, the WORD comes flooding into my brain and my heart and it allows me to see that that tasty treat is just that. it's just food, not a bandaid.
at the results of my hard work. BUT I know that it's not me who is getting through each day making the right desisions for my body. Someway, somehow He has gripped my heart and has begun this change inside of me that is being reflected on the outside. I can't even begin to explain it. BUT I LOVE IT! Lately I have been tempted to pick up that tasty treat to bandage wounds, but before I can even go beyond the thought of eating, the WORD comes flooding into my brain and my heart and it allows me to see that that tasty treat is just that. it's just food, not a bandaid. Wednesday, June 10, 2009
1/2 Marathon...22...James...Ranch
whew...lots and lots going on lately. Where shall I start? I guess at the 1/2 marathon. and NO WAY am I talking about myself, just so ya know! Last weekend I got to be at the finish line while my friend Jeanette completed her first 1/2 marathon! It was soooooo exciting! Here is a pic of her crossing the finish line like a CHAMP:
I am sooooooooo PROUD of her. She set a goal to do something she had never done before and she did it! I was literally crying as she crossed the finish line. What a cool thing to be a part of in her life!!!!! YAY Jeanette! Can't wait until the next one you run in! ;) Below is us after she ran...doesn't she look stunning. Wish I looked like that after running...i'm a hott mess, but she is gorgeous as ever!
I am happy to report that as of June 8th I have lost a total of 22 pounds. I was just thrilled when I stepped on the scale that Monday. I had run harder and more the previous week than I have done before and it paid off!!! I know that I have a TON more to lose, but I am just sooooo excited to be headed in the right direction! I can't even begin to tell you all that I have been learning during this short 8 week process, about myself and the Lord. I've said it before and I'll say it again, without Him it would be IMPOSSIBLE for me to lose weight. It is His strength in me that has gotten me to where I am right now. I look forward to the long journey I will be on and I am super excited to continue learning more about Him as He transforms me physically, emotionally, and spiritually!!!!
James - I'm really pumped about a Bible Study that I am in. We are doing an Inductive Study on the book of James. I LOVE LOVE LOVE detaily things and that is exactly what this study is ALL about! Not only is the Word alive and exciting, but this Bible Study is also a great way for me to connect with other women! I'm loving it and look forward to the challenge!!!
BUSY BUSY BUSY - Things are movin' and shakin' at the Ranch (where I work). We have 2 HUGE events coming up next week, so it's a stressful, hectic, yet exciting time for us. Be prayin that God will get all the glory in the details of next Thurs and Fri. That His name will be made known more than any of our special guests names, or even the Ranch's name. It's because of Him that the Ranch will have any impact on this community, state, and the lives of the people involved.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I Gotsta Brag
Here are some of the latest pics of my nephew Asher!
This is my ABSOLUTE favorite. He is soooooo stinkin cute, I can hardly stand it!
I think this MUST be the reaction he has EVERYTIME his mommy and daddy mention his Aunt Amanda. I mean, who doesn't have that reaction when I am mentioned?!?! HAHAHA!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
YIPPEE!!
Oh yeah...and guess who has lost 17 pounds? yeppppppp....ME (with the Lord's help of course! Couldn't do it without Him!!)
"New Building" - yeah right!
ok...sooooooo I have been going to Crossroads Church now for a lil over a year. I have found fellowship there, have had my heart increased for missions there, and have found solid biblical teaching there. It has been such a blessing to be a small part of that church family, but recently it has been hard. The church just purchased a moved into a new church building. The previous church that was in that building was New Beginnings Community Church!?!?!? DOES THAT NAME RING A BELL?????? *sigh*
For those of you that don't understand what I am talking about here is the brief edited version of a very long story: I found out about that church during the first year I lived in Morgantown. Attended it after 7 months of going to another church and ended up staying at New Beginnings for 3 1/2 years. Also for 2 of those years I was on staff at the church. During that time there were 4 MAJOR things that I went through: Dating Lance, Losing my mother, and then eventually breaking up with Lance, and also eventually leaving the church under not so positive circumstances, but definitely God-directed (which left me churchless, fellowshipless, and jobless). Of course there are loads and loads of other things I could type regarding those 3 1/2 years but I did tell you that i was giving you the brief edited version, so I'll leave it at that.
So needless to say, this past Sunday was a celebration for everyone else in the Crossroads Church family, but not really for me, when we had our first service in the new building. For me it was a constant reminder of those past 3 1/2 years and all the loss and hurt that I experienced. I have been wondering why the Lord has allowed me to have this going on in my life...I don't think it's a coincidence that I am where I am...I just would rather to never step foot in a building that stirs in me what that church building stirs in me. I would rather not be reminded of the most painful 3 1/2 years of my life. I would rather not be reminded of the constant loss I experienced and the deep deep wounds that loss has left on me.
So yay for Crossroads Church! Glad that the Lord is moving in ways that are soooo clear and evident...but really bummed that I can't quite enjoy it the way that I believe I should. I'm praying that I will be transformed even more during this season of reminders and that one day I can truly rejoice about it as well.
For those of you that don't understand what I am talking about here is the brief edited version of a very long story: I found out about that church during the first year I lived in Morgantown. Attended it after 7 months of going to another church and ended up staying at New Beginnings for 3 1/2 years. Also for 2 of those years I was on staff at the church. During that time there were 4 MAJOR things that I went through: Dating Lance, Losing my mother, and then eventually breaking up with Lance, and also eventually leaving the church under not so positive circumstances, but definitely God-directed (which left me churchless, fellowshipless, and jobless). Of course there are loads and loads of other things I could type regarding those 3 1/2 years but I did tell you that i was giving you the brief edited version, so I'll leave it at that.
So needless to say, this past Sunday was a celebration for everyone else in the Crossroads Church family, but not really for me, when we had our first service in the new building. For me it was a constant reminder of those past 3 1/2 years and all the loss and hurt that I experienced. I have been wondering why the Lord has allowed me to have this going on in my life...I don't think it's a coincidence that I am where I am...I just would rather to never step foot in a building that stirs in me what that church building stirs in me. I would rather not be reminded of the most painful 3 1/2 years of my life. I would rather not be reminded of the constant loss I experienced and the deep deep wounds that loss has left on me.
So yay for Crossroads Church! Glad that the Lord is moving in ways that are soooo clear and evident...but really bummed that I can't quite enjoy it the way that I believe I should. I'm praying that I will be transformed even more during this season of reminders and that one day I can truly rejoice about it as well.
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