Happy Ash Wednesday!

This past weekend I was able to spend some time back in Northern California with family and friends, so grateful to get away for a little bit back to the “Real” California lifestyleJ The stress has piled on so far this week, hence this post a day late, but despite the stress I am enjoying what I am doing.

Saturday night out with my sister!

I am doing things a little different this week as it is Ash Wednesday and I would like to reflect on some changes I plan to make for the next 40 days, hoping that you can hold me to these commitments!  I will make a change in the three areas of my reflection... personal, professional and spiritual.

On A Jet Plane…

When flying home this past week I sat next to a friendly young man and found appreciation for those that are not afraid to spark a conversation with a random person.  It is so many times in life that we just worry about getting from here to there and do not take time to appreciate the travel or process in-between.  I was lucky enough to have the same seatmate on my flight home and made a good friend.

Personally I want to branch out and get uncomfortable for a change.  I want to take some risks, safe and harmless risks of course, but be open to change and be bold! I am also going to ban myself from drinking soda, eating sweets, and make it to the gym at least 5 times a week, with two classes (Yoga/Turbo Kick).

"To get the most success out of life have no agenda other than to give whatever you can in the present moment. A smile, a laugh, a quarter, a helping hand, an introduction or just your listening ear is more powerful than you can imagine.” #TDL

Buckle Down…

Work has been a little overwhelming lately and in order to make it this next month with the Big West Basketball Tournament I am really going to need to crack down and get to work!  The fact that I am a little overwhelmed and stressed, but still manage to enjoy what I do really makes me believe this is where I am suppose to be right now!

I want to start planning ahead and getting things done more in advance so I am not so stressed during crunch time.  This may mean working at least an hour a day on the weekends or at night, but in the end it will pay off both mentally and physically!

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." #TDL

Make Time To Take Time…

Being back in Stockton this past weekend I was lucky enough to spend some special time with one of my bestest friends Kimberli.  I ventured back to the church where her and I bonded so much, Vinewood, and had a great Sunday with her and her family.  Despite no one recognizing me, I mean really, it has only been like 2 years… I haven’t changed that much, it was great to talk with those that I hadn’t seen in awhile.

We always say we will spend more time in prayer and meditation with God, but never really MAKE the time to do it. Yep, I am going to be your typical individual and vow to spend some quiet time with God once a day.  I know the amount of time doesn’t matter, as long as I am reflecting on His existence in my life and thanking him for all He has done, only then will I grow closer to him.  To help me focus on this, I will keep a journal of the passage I read that day and post it once a week with the thoughts and reflection that came about during my meditation.

We must remember that growing spiritually means facing our darkness, our shadow and confronting parts of ourselves that we'd rather leave alone. #TDL

I hope that you have decided to make a change in your life too, not just for 40 days, but for good!  The 40 days is a great start, but let’s continue this throughout the whole year!

Late...But Still Here

Once again, fail! I know I am a little late with this post, but man has it been a crazy weekend and start to the week. But it is times like these that I cannot help but continue to be grateful for the work that I do have and the experience I am getting, either to move up where I am, or take it to another place. Personally I have just been spent, haven’t done a lot of me time, but such is life!

Little time to breath…

I am starting my “love yourself” seminar this week so I am ecstatic about that! I also just got finished with my first city league softball game. Went 1-3 with a single, and played second base. Didn’t do too bad, but was sad to see I still have no confidence when I throw except when it is under pressure… oh Mike Carpenter how I despise you! But all-in-all it was great to get out and meet some new people and enjoy being back in the game!

Workouts are still going well, there is a turbo kick class I attend two times a week and it is kicking my @$$! The class is jammed packed and we do straight kicks and different punch moves the whole hour, I am literally dripping sweat when I leave and still being new at it, I only do about 60% of the moves! If you know me a little bit you know I am not blessed with much rhythm, so it is taking me a little longer to get use to the steps and combinations of jabs and kicks, but ill get it, I am determined! I am also doing Yoga once a week to stretch out my tense body from all this cardio, A LOT harder than I ever thought, but feels so rewarding!

This past weekend was the best as I got to take some time off from the craziness of work and spend it with my favorite sister and brother! Britt and Robert came down to go to Disneyland and my parents bought me a pass for Valentines Day to join them! It was great to see them and share some time with them! Plus I was super excited to give Britt her early birthday present… Kelly Clarkson here we come in April!

Work… work… WORK

Work has been constant the last five days… when I say constant I mean NIGHT & DAY! Softball has arrived so this weekend I had 38 softball games, on top of the already in progress basketball games, so 49 over the weekend! FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY night I spent a good couple hours a night posting for each sport… mind you this is once all the individual schools posted their stats and recaps… so between the hours of 10-12 pm. UGH! Then hit the grind on Monday to come to work with our email server down! Schools asking for stats and WAY behind on my release and POW! All that being said the Monday and Tuesday releases got out on time and all was done right! I am still enjoying the work, just with sports overlapping may be the death of me, definitely going to be a little crazy for the next 4 weeks!

I Don’t Know…

Church was great again @ RockHarbor Orange for my third week. It was one of those services you walk away from and really have to think about what you just heard. We finished up the review of the Old Testament with Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. We first learned Be Intentional, we were placed where we are in this point and time for a reason, don’t waste it away but be in that place and make something of it! (Haggai 1:5) Second, Be Dependable, whether in work or your personal life, God puts things around you to be a witness, do your work diligently and honestly. (Malachi 3:14-18) And lastly, Be Distinct. We know we cannot do this on our own and it is only by God’s grace that we are where we are today. But we must set ourselves apart from the ordinary and really stand out as followers. The speaker opened up with a question and ended with the same one, as of now I still don’t know if I can answer it, I know what my answer should be but honestly what is it really… WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? What motivates you to get up everyday and do it day in and day out…

Instead of looking for what I could get, I started to look for what I could give. Instead of looking for how other people weren't helping me, I just decided to help other people. Add value and value will be added unto you. Not once, not twice, but all the time. #TDL

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

This past week I reached my one-month anniversary in Southern California! It has been a crazy month with many ups and downs, but my how it has flown by! While I have adjusted to this new way of living, I still have tons of life ahead of me, and many wonders of what the future holds. But no need to worry about that now, time to focus on the now!

Personal, Professional & Spiritual

Lookin’ to Love ME!

I have been focusing a lot this past week on myself, and being content with who I am and what I represent. Eever since I was a young girl I have always wanted a family of my own, I have recently battled with what I have always wanted and what God wants for my life. Right now, of course I could not see myself married or with kids, but with the profession I have chosen, it makes it even harder to work towards that lifestyle. But right now… in this time of my life… it's me time. Time for me to find comfort and confidence in who I have become and where I am in life. I am taking a four-week seminar online and am very excited. It is about loving yourself, which then evolves into building relationship outside yourself and knowing when the right person comes along, that they might be a good match for you. It all starts from within, and I am thrilled to find peace from within to reflect in my outward appearance and actions.

Hold on Tight…

My first month at the Big West Conference has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride! One of those rides where it goes REALLY fast and you just hold tight hoping you don’t lose your mind in the 30 seconds the ride lasts. But I have survived and now having taken over women’s basketball for a couple weeks, I am situated just in time to throw something new into the mix… SOFTBALL! This Thursday most spring sports start, not including track and field, which will come in March. The first release has been sent out and next week will be my first experiences with two releases and POW’s as well as continuing to prepare for the conference tournament.

Today marks 30-days till the BIG TOURNAMENT at Honda Center, where we host men and women’s basketball conference play. It is the true test, as after the tournament the Deputy Commissioner wants to sit down and talk about my future goals and how I have adapted to the office! So my plan is to take these next 30-days to completely surround myself in work and do my best to show my potential, and hope that when it is all said and done, I enjoy it!

Confess… & Repent…

Week two at Bachelor #4, RockHarbor Orange was a success. I feel comfortable in the church and enjoy every aspect of the worship. This week we continued the series and traveled to the book of Ezekiel. There are so many struggles that different individuals, and even Christians have in their lives and never is it easy to walk through them alone. Accountability is key and that is something that each person needs when they are looking to get past an obsession or sin that should not be in their life. But before all that we must confess our sin to the Lord and give it to him. This can be hard but is not the last step. We can confess all we want, but without repentance we will continue to fall into the same sin. We must confess, know its wrong, but also repent, do something about it. GOD GIVES LIFE THROUGH REPENTANCE!

“Some of the things I REALLY wanted to happen in my life and I prayed and prayed to happen, just didn't happen. Sometimes the greatest acts of Grace are unanswered prayers. If you are so attached to a certain outcome that it gives you pain, anxiety and worry - that is a sign that your thoughts are not aligned with the will of God in your life.”

Weekly Pause...

As everyone knows, I am a counselor at heart. During this week I have been able to talk with many friends and family about the ups and downs of current life situations. There are somany different experiences that we all are going through,myself included, and I truly believe it’s the little things that help us through what seemto be impossible situations at the time. Besides confiding in someone you trust andreally letting yourself be true and honest about how you feel, these are some great inspirations I have come across this week to motivate me in every area of life!

• “The key is not to give so that you get. But to give, so that you give. Live in the giving and be detached from what comes back.” #TDL

• “You can’t move PAST something until you walk right up to it and move THROUGH it.” #TheSW

• "Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."

 Stephen Covey , best-selling author

• "You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." Maya Angelou, icon & poet

• “The goal is to surrender it ALL! To let it ALL GO and detach from the outcome and step into the unknown, knowing that you are guided,you are safe. And that even in the middle of the craziness that goes down sometimes, it's all a divine soup that is creating the perfectoutcome for you right now, even if you can't see that in this moment.” #TDL

Happy Friday and remember no matter what life may deal you right now, it’s only permanent if you allow it to be, find the strength to move forward and see what amazing is waiting around the corner!