Day 7 - Who has made your life worth living for?

Day 7: Who has made your life worth living for?
I find this question extremely difficult to answer as there is no ONE person that has made my life worth living FOR. I'd have to say that numero uno that comes to mind is my (and I hope yours too!) personal Savior, Jesus Christ . Who better to live your life for than the one who sacrificed his so that you COULD have a life TO live? Though my mother is gone from this earth, I know she is still watching me from above, and because of that, I strive to do my best in everything. I live a life that I hope would make her proud! Aside from that, I believe the rest falls in to the good ol' poem of A Reason, A Season, or a Lifetime

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you
will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things
you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional
foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown


I've had so many people come in to my life for a reason, season, and thankfully even some lifetime ones. THESE (all of them!) are the people that have made, and continue to make, my life worth living for. The fact of the matter is, if any of these people were NOT there, would I stop living? No. BUT, it very well could change the WAY I live and how hard I push myself and strive to be the best I can be. To each and every one of these people, I THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY LIFE THAT MUCH BETTER! <3 

 

 

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 7: Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 8: Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12: Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18: Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

XOXO

IHEARTmySPCA, and other randomness

Soooo, I was working on my room today and how mad at myself was I when I realized that I should have taken some BEFORE photos. Like, Hello, right?! I took down my "travel" wall which consisted of some pretty awesome things ive accumulated over the years and places I've traveled. I'm sure I have a photo of it SOMEWHERE however not handy for me to have "before" and "after" shots. Oh well, guess I will just have the afters once I get to that point!

Yesterday was a pretty awesome day if I say so myself. Got some more stuff marked off my animal "to do" list! Now ALL 6 of my "babies" are up to date on their shots again. Taking proper care of pets can be quite expensive. I also bought this totally awesome tank top @ the SPCA. LOVE it because it's Pink & Yellow (two colors I am almost positive I will be using in my wedding!)

After getting some stuff marked off the good ol' TO DO list, I went to a really fun Unpland Improv @ SEU. I went with a good friend and my fiance and we had a blast laughing, and winning some free candy! You can never go wrong with free candy! Mhm! Afterwards, Ryan & I continued on out for a date night. BD's Mongolian Grill (Oh My Delish!!) SO GOOD! One of our regular date spots. :) A friend of mine from college was our server so we definitely got the hook up. Came home and watched a movie later, which meant I watched a movie and Ryan fell asleep. LOL.

Today hasn't been that eventful. Gym with a friend this morning, went and visited one of my elderly friends <3 from work today! She hasn't been able to return to work at the center after a surgery, so it was really nice getting to see her! Worked on my room for a bit, watched the latest episode of Oprah & Gayle's Yosemite Trip  (if you have never watched Oprah & her best friend Gayle go on trips together, I highly recommend it, I laugh so hard EVERY TIME!! They remind me so much of me and some of my best friends.) and now it's time to get ready for LIGHT THE NIGHT.

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend. Enjoy the time off (if you get it) and if not, make the best of what you do get!

Day 6: Something I hope I never have to do? I think the answers are pretty common for this one. I know the most common answer I have seen  is the hope to never have to bury a child. I don't have any children yet(one day!), so I couldn't even imagine that bond. I can relate from the other end though, with the premature loss of my mother, she passed when I was only a senior in high school. I think the loss of a parent, child, or any loved on for that matter, makes no difference at the time. The pain is always there, 1, 5, 10, even 50 years later. I'd like to say I hope to never have to bury my spouse, but now wouldn't that make me selfish because it'd mean he'd have to bury ME if I am not burying him? The fact of the matter is, we are all going to die(Life is a maybe, death is for sure. Sin is the cause, Christ is the cure!). It's inevitable. I think death is most peoples biggest fear. So I won't say I hope that I never have to deal with death, because I know that is just not possible, but I can say I hope I never have to make that live or death decision. I'd hope I'd never have to make that decision to save one person or the other, or to pull the plug on someone's life. I can't even imagine what emotions go through the minds of those that have had to experience that. <3 I think it's hard for me to think of some things I'd hope to never have to do, because I've already been faced with quite a few of them. I can say that you have to take the good with the bad, and just appreciate the experiences you are given as they make you stronger. Each day is a blessing from above. On a lighter note, I also hope I never have to spend time in jail/prison!

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.
XOXO

A Day At The Lake

 

1. Lake H

2. One of my friends posing with a flower :)

3. Friend + I, Shadow fun

4. Fiance finishing up a 9 mile run! (I walked, one time, so 3miles)

Day 5  - So many things I hope to do in my life! *continue to grow in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. *be an amazing wife and mommy. * more traveling. * see a waterfall. *work in a field I am passionate about (IE, charity work with animals). * publish a book. * live life to the fullest!

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.

*** MORE TO COME LATER IF I HAVE TIME! Just wanted to make sure I published my blog before the days in :)

XOXO

Fall "Spring" Cleaning

What is the equivalent of spring cleaning? Whatever it is, I am in the process of doing so!

I want to rearrange my room with some nifty little (or not so little) storage organizers such as these:

I plan to have a yard sale next weekend to get rid of some clutter and make a little bit of extra $$$ while I am at it!

I hope to go shopping this weekend and buy some of the things I need for the "redecorating" of my room! Pics will follow as I finish the projects. :) Hopefully it will turn out nice! I wish I was more of the creative, artsy type, but hey, I do what I can.

Anyways, I just thought I'd drop a quick line of update and now I am off too lunch with my fiance and some of his coworkers/friends. We are going to Moes. WELCOME TO MOES! 

** Update to come later with my day 4 of 30 days of truth as Im in a time crunch right now ** 

** Update: 2:52pm**

Lunch was DELISH! I love their queso!

After dropping the crew back off at work, I drove by the good ol' Publix Birthday Cake. I guess this is a symbol that the 1st Publix was born here? :)

 Before I made it home, I swung by a good friend of mines house to pick up some magazines she had been saving up for me to give to my cousin. We both save any and all magazines we come across and give them to my cousin as she spends 3 days a week for 3 hours each day, in Dialysis for Kidney disease. Needless the say, these magazines go a long way with helping pass time. Here's a pick of the magazines I am taking today.

Sorry for the sporadic blog today! That's how most of my days are, sporadic! LOL. I'll leave you with day 4 of the

I will admit, I am a very forgiving person. I don't hold grudges. Day 4 is "something you have to forgive someone for". I had to think long and hard about this. Truthfully, I can forgive easy, but I have an extremely hard time FORGETTING. It is one of life's greatest arts to know what to forget and what to remember. People become collectors of the wrongs that were done against them, and this can drive the love completely from their souls and make them a bitter person. You should not nurture your anger. Christ taught the great lesson (one that I still struggle with daily) of forgetting AND forgiving. If you keep records of all the wrongs committed against you, you may miss some of the rights. Some awesome quotes from the Bible on forgiveness:

When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25 NIV

Do not say "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. Proverbs 20:22 ESV

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37 KJV

With this being said, I can honestly say I have forgiven all that have hurt me or done wrong by me (and I have been hurt) I will also honestly say that I am still working hard on forgetting. The people that have hurt me in the past have profusely apologized time and time again. It means a lot to me that they care enough about me to admit their wrongs, work to fix them, and remind me of their apologies. I have a friend of mine that still apologizes to this day for stuff that happened YEARS ago. I keep reminding them that *I* have forgiven them, and that if they have the need to continually apologize to me, then maybe it's them, themselves, that need to forgive themselves?

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
XOXO

November Elections? DONE!

Aahh... I can breathe a sigh of RELIEF. For all of my friends and family that have felt ignored over the past couple of months, I will be seeing you soon! You see, during "crunch time" aka political season, my days tend to consist of: eat, sleep, getting ready for, on way to, or AT work(aka lots of overtime). (I work at a call center that conducts Political Research among other surveys). Anyways, yesterday, November 2nd, 2010 was election day, SO, this means: Life will slow down a bit, at least through the holidays and I can finally get caught up on the things that I have been "pushing off" since July! YAY! I am SO excited for some relaxation time.

Note: I say this now, but I'm sure soon I will be wishing I had MORE hours. Regardless, I can say I am blessed to have a job right now when so many don't and I continue to pray for the unemployment rate to go down. <3

 Day 3: I think one of the things that saddens me the most about the death of my mother is looking back at the way I treated her when she WAS alive. As a child, I was a spoiled rotten brat and I know that I said very hurtful things to her. I didn't show the respect that I should have. When I see kids direspecting their parents or arguing, I remind them that life is short, treat others how you want to be treated and don't waste time arguing about the small stuff. This is something that I constantly think about. I KNOW (without a doubt that) I was her pride and joy, her proudest accomplishment, one of the things that she felt she did right by in her life, and I just hope that I didn't shatter her when I said the mean disrespectful things that I used to say. I think if I have anything that I still need to forgive myself for, that would be it.

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.

XOXO

It's all in the wrist

If you know me, you know that 90% of the time I am wearing "cause" bracelets. There is one that I wear 100% of the time. Currently I am wearing four wristbands.

The 1st one, the colorful one, I bought from my local Family Christian Store. It represents the Gospel by colors. Marbeled is for seperation caused by sin. "For all have sinned: all fall short of God's glorious standards" (Romands 3:23 NLT). Red is for the blood Jesus shed on the cross. "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NLT). Blue is for faith. "We become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ." (Galatians 2:16 NLT). White tells us we are now clean and forgiven.  "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean: wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7 NLT). Green reminds us of growth in God's love. "Grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18 NLT). Yellow stands for the promise of eternal life. "I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:2-3 NLT).

The 2nd one is an all white one. I received this one from one of the churches I attend. They were doing a special 1 Million Men: Porn Free in which they were having men ages 10 and up (yes, 10 is the average age a young boy first views pornography!) take the Porn Free Commitment. They are hoping to get this message out and about throughout churches everywhere and get 1 million men to take the commitment. The white wristband says "1 Million Women praying for 1 Million Men".
The Pink one is actually a fairly new bracelet. This was handed out at a recent Buccaneers game. It's a pink bracelet to symbolize breast cancer awareness. I wear this to honor those that have fought the brave battle of breast cancer. It's also a reminder to me to get regular breast exams as I've had problems with cysts in the past and I constantly have to get them checked to ensure that that is all that they are. I actually have an appointment early this morning. (in a couple of hours!)

The last one is my most meaningful one as I've worn it since 2007. It is Orange and symbolizes Leukemia. I received this bracelet in 2007 as a friend of mine ordered them in honor of our good friend that was diagnosed with APL Leukemia in April of 2007. Since then Praise God, my friend has went in to remission. Me and the friend that ordered these wristbands still wear ours to this day in honor of our brave friend! The orange band says: Hope, Strength, Courage and Faith, all of which my friend exhibits. We even had her name engraved on the inside. I also have another good friend that has fought the brave battle and beat Leukemia (again, Praise God, he is good!) We are looking to order new bracelets since our Orange has faded to yellow over the years. This time, I will have both of my good friends names engraved on the inside. <3

And that my friends, is the story that my right wrist tells.

Blog to be continued later in the day as I still need to work on Day 2 of the 30 day Truth Challenge. I'll work on that once I get some sleep in :)

****UPDATE @ 11:15AM****

Doctors appointment went well. I'm told they strongly believe it's still just clusters of cysts that come and go along with really dense tissue. I will have another ultrasound though.

Day 2: It's so hard for people to compliment themselves. I did a project at work once where we had to list 30 strengths of ourselves and we all had issues doing it. I'm not exactly sure why it is so hard, but it is. We have to remember though, we should be our own biggest fans. If you don't love yourself, how can you expect others to? I can say that I love my smile. I get compliments on my straight teeth quite often. Little do they know it cost quite a bit of money! I am so thankful to my Dad for providing me with the braces that I so desperately needed. When I was in middle school he had to sell in to some of his stock at a former employer to get the money for my braces. I wore them for about 2 years, maybe a little longer. When my braces were 1st removed, I HATED my teeth. I was SO used to seeing braces covering them that my teeth now looked HUGE to me, like horses teeth. Haha. I've since come to embrace and actually love my smile now :) Even my little "birth mark/ bruise" that is on one of my two front teeth. I also love the fact that I am so passionate about charity work, specifically animals. I love this because I get my love of animals from my mother. I know she is looking down on me and loving the fact that her love of animals is being carried on! The pic below shows two of the things I love about myself, all in one photo! My smile, along with a volunteer shirt for my local SPCA.

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.

XOXO

Happy November! :)

Is it really fall time? Hard to tell in Florida. I wish our seasons were more distinguishing. Oh well, the least I can do is dress "fall-sy".

I can't believe it is NOVEMBER 1st. It seems like the years keep moving faster, and faster. Since it's the 1st of the month, and there are 30 days this month, I decided today would be a perfect day to join in on the "30 Days of Truth" that I saw on Courtney Kirkland's blog. I don't think my answers will be the most interesting, but they will be mine.

Day 1: Hate is such a strong word. I can truthfully say I don't hate anything about myself. Sure, there are things that I dislike about myself, but nothing that I absolutely hate. I was made this way for a reason, instead of wasting time and emotions on hating myself, I am going to embrace myself and live the life I was brought here to live.

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 7: Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 8: Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12: Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18: Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

In other news, ran by JCP (JC Penney's) today. That store can get me in so much trouble. They always have the most amazing sales. Today I racked up on some shirts that ranged from $3-$10. HELLO! The shirt below was like $10! I <3 it. Its a button up long sleeve black shirt with a pink and purple floral print. My receipt said I saved $93 today. One of the many reasons to shop JCP!

Happy November Everyone! Embrace it :) <3

XOXO