Made To Crave - You're Invited!

I am on the brink of starting another Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study. I am sad to say that I have not yet finished one. But I am hoping this is the one that sets me on a straight way. It is such a perfect boost into the New Year. The book that we will be going through is called Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst. I am very excited about it.

Every year, I seem to tell myself that I want to lose weight. And it is an ongoing battle every single year. At the end of last summer, I joined Weight Watchers and lost 15 pounds. All of it by controlling what I ate. I didn't do any exercise. I was really proud of myself. Then I fell off the wagon and stopped going. I have also gained some of the weight back.

On Tuesday, I joined a gym. My mom is also a member, so I do have her encouragement to actually go. We went to a Zumba class last night…my first experience with it. I am also being a little more mindful about what I am eating too.

There is shame with being overweight. It could be 20, 50, 100 pounds…anything. Clothes don't fit right and maybe uncomfortable. Causing you to be uncomfortable in the experience. You wonder if people are watching you eat thinking "how can that person sit there and eat all that food." It isn't fun.

It is more than being uncomfortable in your own skin. It is also about health. I am putting myself at risk because of laziness and poor eating habits. My family is full of heart disease. I should want to do everything in my ability to stay away from that same fate.

Weight goes much deeper than just physical appearance and even health issues. It is a spiritual battle. How can I honor God with my body if I am unhappy, ashamed, unable? I can't. I am choosing myself over God. So more than just losing any weight, I am hoping to regain my relationship with the Lord and learn how He is the only thing that can truly satisfy. Not food, not people, not things. For me, it isn't a matter of not understanding it, it is a matter of it not being in my heart, not fully trusting God to fulfill me and turning to food instead.

Whether it is food or something else, we often times turn towards other things to satisfy us when we were created to crave God. I encourage you to join! This will be a great study because God is going to do GREAT things!

Christmas in Wisconsin

My family was finally able to celebrate Christmas together. We knew we were going to celebrate in January, but it seemed so far removed from December 25. Unfortunately, I didn't take too many pictures. However, I do have some of my beautiful niece. I just love her so much!

It was nice to have a relaxing weekend to spend together. Our celebration of Christmas really only consisted of opening presents. The rest of the time was spent enjoying the time together. It wasn't rushed and we didn't feel overly extended. We missed the busyness of the holidays by getting together in January.

My mom's birthday was Saturday, so it was an extra special weekend. My sister-in-law let it slip to the restaurant hostess that it was my mom's birthday. So she was surprised with singing by the wait staff and an apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream. The ice cream was so good!

It is always had to leave, but I am very fortunate to have a family that enjoys spending time together. It isn't a frustrating experience and I leave wishing we lived closer together. Being far away is hard, but it makes the time together that much sweeter.

The holidays are now officially over for me, so I feel like life can return to normal. So, to honor that, I am joining a gym tonight and that story is definitely to be continued!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Libby acts like she can't stand Luna. But every once in a while I catch her contradicting herself.

More snow! About 10 more inches of snow fell on top of the 10 inches that were already on the ground. It is quite the Winter Wonderland.

I love snow. I think it is really pretty especially when the sun shines on it and it is all sparkly. Although it was still gray in this picture.

In addition to all the snow, we experienced bone-chilling cold that froze much of the country. The weather kept people inside for days. Roads, businesses and schools were shut down to keep people from going outside.

Christmas may be over, but I think we had North Pole weather!

This chair is at Hobby Lobby. And I LOVE it! It would go perfectly in the office of my new house that I have yet to find. I am definitely thinking ahead!

The Pain Of Moving

As I have mentioned before, I am in the process of moving back to Ohio. I still have my apartment in Pennsylvania for a few more months, so there wasn't a need to pack everything up right away.

I was back on Saturday because I had to return my cable and internet equipment. I was a little annoyed about the trip because I was supposed to return my when I left before Christmas, but I couldn't disconnect the cords because they were screwed on too tight. So I came back with a little tool to help me with the task.

I drove the 4 hours over there, cleaned up a little bit so it would be presentable to any prospective renters, returned the equipment and drove the 4 hours home. I went to Comcast on a Saturday, so traffic was much lighter than it would have been the Friday before Christmas. I realized that because of construction and detours, there would have been no way for me to return the equipment when I would have wanted. I think that would have made going back much more frustrating.

When I was in my apartment, I did get the sickening feeling have having to pack all that stuff up. Stuff….way too much stuff. Hopefully, I will have a little time and can go back on a few weekends. My landlords listed my apartment, but of course there isn't a guarantee that anyone will be interested. Even though it is a nice little place in Pittsburgh.

I am always so worried about my own schedule and getting things done when I think they need to be done. If I would instead rely on God's timing, I would realize that He has a perfect plan. He knows if I will have to move my stuff before March or if I won't. He knows when I will find my new house and that it will be the right one for me. And God is not looking at my timetable.

My whole job situation has turned out to be an incredible blessing that I would have never dreamed about. But God knew what would be happening in my life and all that I would be able to do because of it. And it was in His timing.

Snapshots Into My Life

Here is what I am seeing through my lens.

Some after Christmas shopping! Cannot wait to decorate this pastel tree next year. I just have to buy the tree.

My old high school hosts a basketball tournament during the Christmas break. Going back there brought back a lot of memories. Especially since the cheerleaders are still doing the same cheers I did in high school.

Luna has found a new spot at my mom's house. She will also just sit here because she has two different windows to look out at her surroundings.

My brother texted his good friend, Chris, and told him to tackle my mom when he saw her. After I sent him this picture he said that Chris should take her out at the knees. My brother is so sweet.

The first major snow of the season. What a mess! But it makes me appreciate working from home.

In With The New

The new year is officially on upon us. I love the feeling of the new year. There is something about the freshness of it. The anticipation of what the new year has in store.

2014 has a lot of new things in store for me. January 1 started my new role in my company. I am house hunting, so I will hopefully have a new home in 2014. So big changes are in store. It is an exciting time.

I am not one for resolutions. My relationship with the Lord should be my primary focus when most of the time it isn't. I always want to lose weight no matter what time of the year it is. I always want to get control of my finances, too. Just like most people, I never follow through. However, this year I am praying that those things change.

I am going to work on reading through the Bible in one year. To be honest, it is sad that I have never done that before. When I was little, my church had a poster with the names of people who committed to reading through their Bible. I can still see the dot stickers marking off the months of people staying committed. Some made it through the year and some didn't. But that would definitely help with accountability.

As the year begins, I pray that you begin not with trying to control what the year may hold, but allowing God to control and following his will.

Out with the Old

It is the last day of 2013. All the Christmas decorations have been put away and life will slowly return back to its normal routine.

Personally, I like the new year. Some don't like January, but I really do. I like the feeling of renewal. Houses get back in order after being decorated for the holidays. The cookies and candy make they way out. And as with my usually uncommitted resolution, there is a desire to get in better health so in come the healthy food and gym memberships. 

But before looking ahead to the new year, the last day of the old year is a good time for reflection. Each year holds the good and the bad and 2013 was no different.

My biggest life changing event was becoming an aunt. I found out last January that our family would be growing by 2 feet. I can't even begin to describe how much I love my niece, Brynley. I am excited to watch her grow. I pray that as she grows older, she will learn to love Jesus and understand how precious she is in His sight.

It was a year of an unexpected and significant job change. My company's acquisition was such a blessing for me, but the majority of my coworkers will be looking for new jobs during the first several months of 2014. It is definitely bittersweet.

With my job change came the decision to move back to Ohio. I have been blessed with the ability to work solely from home so it doesn't matter where I am located. While my heart had been set on moving at the end of my lease in August, the landlords have graciously let me out early. I am currently house hunting, which is something I never thought I would ever do.

I am looking forward to 2014, but am thankful for all the Lord has blessed me with in 2013.

Happy New Year!!