2012

So I know that I talked about my goals already for this year, but things have changed since then. Yes, I am still "dedicated" but now there is a little more definition to said determination. I've been reading this book called PUSH and it's been amazing so far. It's written by this lady named Chalene Johnson and she is the trainer for the workout program called TurboFire that I am currently a part of. While it's a fitness book, it's so much more than that. She's getting to the root of making goals and finding ways to achieve that in every area of your life. One of the biggest things that she does is motivate you to write 10 "get-your-butt-in-gear" goals. These goals are supposed to be difficult, but achievable. These goals are meant to motivate you to discipline yourself in order to get them done. I'm really looking forward to mine.

They are as follows:

1. Pay off $5,000 of student loans after my highest one is paid off (which will end up being the equivalent of approximately $7,000 total this year)
2. Pay off my credit card (CHECK!!!!)
3. Put $2,000 into savings
4. Get to 23% body fat by working out at least 5 times per week and eating veggies with at least one meal every day.
5. Run a half-marathon with my dad, but be able to run a 10K (6.1 miles) by my birthday in May
6. Visit Rome (I want this one sooooo bad)
7. Memorize the book of James
8. Take 8 grad classes (including the 3 I'm taking right now)
9. Complete an Insanity and TurboFire program
10. Mentor at least once a week.

Pretty crazy, huh? But I'm actually really excited about it. The financial goals are going to take a LOT of discipline, but I definitely think that they're manageable. Most of that will have to come in America and I have to make decisions every day in order to get those goals accomplished. It'll have to be decision such as buying a cheap car and not such a nice one, not getting a smart phone, etc. If I accomplish these goals, I have to say that I'll probably feel like Wonder Woman.

Does she just look like she could kick butt????

Internet Fast

So, this past week, my friend Justin and I challenged each other to a week with no internet. We both realized about a week and a half ago just how much time we spend...rather, waste... on the internet. We lose productivity and time just seems to slip away from us. So, from last Friday until today after school we were banned from the internet. The only exception for me was for school work and we had a two hour grace period on Sunday in order to Skype with family, etc.

Surprisingly, it was fantastic and much easier than I thought it would be. I realized just how productive I could be without spending all the time on the internet. Like I mentioned before, it was a literal waste of time. I wasn't even being productive on the internet, I was just browsing and exploring. I got so much done, too! I did more homework and got it completed in a more timely manner. I got to cook so many amazing meals and made a lot more baked goods than I normally do (which my friends really appreciate...) and I was able to spend more time with people. Now, I don't mean that I had hours and hours on end to deal with, but I had about an extra hour or so everyday to play with. Unfortunately, most of it was spent on school work. But because I got that done throughout the week, I have more time for this weekend!

I'm getting rid of a lot of sites that I read. I just realized that they don't do anything for me, so there's no point in being a part of them. It's quite exciting really. I actually have a lot to blog about this weekend, so I'm sure there will be many 1 or 2 more posts this weekend alone. Get excited!

The Fago Family

For those of you who don't know the Fago family, let me tell you... they are awesome. Both Dale and Melissa were active leaders when I was in the youth group at my home church. Both of them, Melissa especially, were always asking how I was doing and how I was growing. They were both great examples and a lot of fun to be with!

Melissa and Dale were supposed blessed with three children; Corey, Tyler and Halle. Tyler was born with cerebral palsy and has never been able to walk or speak before. He was the sweetest kid with the sweetest smile ever, though. I had the privilege of babysitting Tyler a time or two and it was always a joy. They also have two other children that were always there to help Tyler and to make him laugh. Unfortunately, Tyler became sick and he was unable to recover. The doctors wanted to put in a chest tube, but they decided they'd rather bring Tyler home to spend his last days with his family and surrounded with love.

Tyler is now in Heaven, walking, running, talking, laughing, and singing like he has never been able to do before. I can't imagine the pain of having to bury a child, but I know the Fago family is comforted by the fact that their son now has a perfect body and is rejoicing with our God.

Praying for you guys! (This is the picture Melissa has for her Facebook profile picture, I'm sorry if you can't view it)

New...Everything

First of all, let me just say that I'm sorry that I have not posted earlier. I am safe and sound in Hungary again and hit the ground running! I had even started a blog post and just had to save it as a draft because I didn't have the time to finish it. Sorry!

It's a new year, new resolutions, new challenges ahead. There is new everywhere. It's hard not to get swept up into it. This year, though I've decided to keep my resolutions to a minimum to make sure that they stay manageable. I kind of summed up my entire thing into one word: dedication. I need to dedicate myself to everything: spiritually, mentally, and physically.

I've been working out at least 5 days a week and I love the feeling. I'm trying to get my eating habits under control as well. I just figured that I need to stop making excuses and if I want to establish a lifestyle that I will follow for years to come, now is the time to do it.

I've been doing a Bible study with my friend Joanna and it's about having positive self-talk and it's amazing. This lady really brings to light all the stuff that is in what she calls our "thought closet" and how we need to transform those thoughts with a more positive and biblical outlook.

God has been convicting me about a few things that I really need to work on this year and I'm actually really excited about them! I need to listen more, both to God and to others. I love listening to people, but for the past few months, I've been incredibly self-focused and have ignore that passion for too long. God also convicted me about praying for others more. I don't want to be one of those people that says "oh, I'll be praying for you" and I never do. I want to pray for others. I want others to be uplifted, encouraged, and see God working in their lives. Plus, one can never have too much prayer in his or her life, right?

So, lots to work on, but I'm excited about it. There is going to be a lot of experimenting happening to see what works and what doesn't. God has refreshed my spirit after being home for Christmas and I'm looking forward to taking on new challenges for a new year!

Home

I've made it home, safe and sound! One of the greatest things I've heard in a really long time was the first thing over the PA system in Dulles airport, "Dear US citizens, welcome home to the United States of America". It was so great and refreshing to hear, especially after my super long and painful airplane ride.

But I'm currently at my dad's house and loving the freedom. I've finished my school assignments and all of my school stuff, so my brain is shutting down for the next two weeks. I got to decorate everything for Christmas today and it's brought so much happiness for me. Nothing gets me excited more than a winterwonderland of christmas decorations. (And it's pretty gorgeous, if I do say so myself).

I'm looking forward to all of my time in America: relaxing, spending time with family and friends, and the occasional bad-for-me snack (I'm trying to be good with my diet). If I get to see you, I'm excited.. if I can't, then it'll happen in the summer, I hope!

Merry Christmas!! (if I don't get to write again before then)

Desire and Patience

God has been teaching me a lot about desire lately, but mostly about the patience that comes with those desires. There are so many things that I want out of life, so many things that I want to know that I just haven't figured out yet. Yet, God still tells me to be patient and wait. I was in a particular state of craziness yesterday about all these desires. They all hit at once and I kept asking God, "When will I know X?" or "When will I figure out Y?" It was frustrating. BUT, God was faithful like always. Literally at the half way mark of my run, my ipod died. Coincidence? I think not. I used that time that I had running home to lay it all out on the table for God and just say "God, I have no idea- you do this".

The best part about this run (and I love when God does this in general) is that He really slapped me in the face with some Scripture. I had been reading and attempting to memorize four verses on waiting and patience over the past week or so and God finally just hit me with them and was like, "You've been reading and reading these...now here...embrace them." It was the encouragement I need. Not to say that I'm not still struggling with relinquishing control and I'm still a rather impatient person, but I'm working hard at keeping these Scriptures close to mind.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry" -Psalm 40:1
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him!" -Isaiah 30:18
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope" -Psalm 130:5
"Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" -Psalm 27:14 (My favorite out of all of them)


ALSO- I go home for Christmas in FOUR days!!!!

Less Drug Induced This Time...

So Thanksgiving was last week and I wanted to recap for you, but with less over the counter medication blazing through my veins. Thanksgiving was awesome. I got to spend it with a bunch of Americans who brought a traditional American dish. They went all out too and even used stuff they brought from the States. We even got to stream the Macy's Day Parade and the football game. It was quite the epic and delicious day, I must say.

2 WEEKS UNTIL I'M HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

I can't convey how excited I am. It's going to be busy and crazy and I'll probably be tired as all get out, but I am so so so so so excited to see family and friends and just be refreshed from time in American... as short as that time is. I hope that I get to talk and see everyone while I'm home. If not, please forgive me ahead of time.

Mostly, this post is just for me to tell you guys how good God is. I've been going through a REALLY rough time the past few months, but I have to say that I have never grown so much spiritually in my entire life. God has been there through every single step of the way and I am so thankful. Even those days when the last thing I want to be is thankful for the trials in my life. But, I've also been learning what it means to be joyful. Sure, I've been happy for the majority of my life, but I'm really exploring and discovering what it means to have the joy of Christ in my heart even on the crappiest days. Knowing that no matter what is thrown at me, I have the God of all creation on my side and defending me, loving me, and protecting me through it all. It actually brings tears to my eyes thinking about.

Our God is so big and so good and I think that I forget that most of the time. Sure, when people ask me about God I can say, "He's awesome" or "He's the best ever" but I never really sit to reflect on the depth of that. God really IS awesome and he really IS the best ever. Yet, I take it for granted so much. It's no wonder that I'm going through such times. God has been patiently waiting for me to make these discoveries for the past 23 years and I never really grasped the depth of it. Only now, in the most difficult times of my life, are my eyes really open to my amazing, loving, everlasting God. God is teaching me what it means to love, to be loved, to be broken, and a new definition of grace. He's done this by completely wiping away everything I thought I knew and teaching me from scratch. It's hard, yes, but this is something that I believe every Christian should pray for in their life. I've never been so intimate with God and I wouldn't change it for the world... literally.