Birthdays. Reunions with friends I haven't seen in years. Christmas. New Years. Wrapping paper fights. Detroit Lions games. Family gatherings. Memorable conversations. Parties and all. So much has taken place in the past month and it has been a blast
This has been chaotic week for me. Between working a second job. Handling major work projects. Being in the midst of a huge fight out on my basketball courts. Dealing with possible transition. It has been crazy. I have been stretched.
Being stretched can feel uncomfortable. However, I understand that it is necessary at times in order for one to grow.
"People and rubber bands have one thing in common: they must be stretched to be effective." John Maxwell
Jon and Hayley Hauger at the Lions verses Steelers Game.
A sign that is hanging on my office door. Don't you love it!? :)
Drinking some coffee after a delicious dinner on vacation. The view was perfect!
Isolation tends to cause damage especially when one is dealing with hard times at work, a rocky relationship, or even submerged in a state of depression. So many of us tend to lock ourselves in our home shutting ourselves off to the world. Isolation does not help during those times.
There have been times when I have isolated myself from friends, acquaintances, and even those that have hurt me. I have put up defensive walls in order to protect myself. However, it wasn't the best for me.
Relationships are what we all need. People that can speak hope into our lives. People that can love. People that can listen. People that will believe in us especially when we do not believe in ourselves.
Relationships need to be one of our top priorities in life. We were not made to walk this life alone.
"No matter how much I win, if I win it alone, I lose. Love is the ball game." John Ortberg
Spring and summer time is always a demanding season for me. This week, I am working seven days straight in a row which totals to around 72 hours. It has definitely taken a big hit on my body.
Here are a few projects that I have been working on.
Last week, the doctor stated that I had pneumonia and I was not a happy camper. It hit me hard this past week. I had a high fever along with exhaustion and my lungs were in pain. I was isolated and a shut in for much too long. I had what you would call Cabin Fever.
Seeing that I am a woman on the go all the time, pneumonia did not sit well with me. I slept alot and laid around. I was lazy. It would take everything in me to move from the couch to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I spent a good number of days watching movies. Just about every day, I would text my friends informing them that I was bored. I wanted to see people. I wanted to interact with people. I was deprived and it was not fun!
May I never get cabin fever again!
Lately, the lead team that I work alongside with have been hit hard with change. It has been stressful and even scarey at times. However, we still bring laughter into the workplace. No matter what we continue to crack jokes and put smiles on each other's faces. No matter what we choose to be cheerful.
Everyday when we roll out of bed we have a choice to make. We can either walk in sadness and wear it all over our faces. Or we can choose to be cheerful and let it show.
"A cheerful disposition is good for your health." Proverbs 17:22
Smiles and laughter can go a long long way. It can bring healing to an individual or even to yourself. It can lighten the mood in the workplace. Give it a shot. Try it sometime!
Christmas music, cards, and decorations do not sit well with me. They actually annoy me. Around twelve years ago, my outlook on holidays changed drastically. Holidays just became an ordinary day for me while still embracing the "reason for the season".
Yes, I am scrooge!
This week, I broke down. I set up a Christmas tree that someone recently purchased for me. This was a big step for me. On top of that, I decked it out with lights and ornaments. You can even find Christmas presents sitting underneath the tree!
What has gotten into me?
Just over a year ago, my life was filled with meetings galore. I had something going on every evening. I look back and yes I am grateful for that season in my life. However, I am enjoying this new season.
I am in a season where I am not locked down. I am not obligated to do this or that. To an extent, it is up to me on what to do in my spare time. Here are a few pics of what I have been up to.
My nephew, neice, and I made chococates last weekend. I forgot that my two year old neice is allergic to milk and chocolate. Ops! ;)
Family wrestling time! Every family has this, right?
Bowling with my co-workers. Yeah, they told me that if they were to ever be on a league......I would be their last pick for the team. Not nice! ;)
Sleepovers with my oldest neice, Mattison!
Ilene Hochberg wrote a great book called "Who Stole My Cheese?!!" The book is about how four mice were faced with a major change in their life. Someone moved their cheese in the maze which ruffled their feathers. All four of them reacted differently. Some reacted in a healthy way while two of them were a bit slow to the adjustment.
The cheese can stand for anything. Work. A relationship. Wealth. Romance. Travel. Health. The maze is about life and how one gets to their cheese.
Someone just recently moved my cheese. I have been hit with another unexpected change in my life. At first, I opposed the change. I even tried to pretend that it wasn't taking place. Sadly, I wasn't reacting to the change in a healthy way.
After reading the book, I have realized that I need to embrace change. I need to be optimistic about it and support it. I know that my cheese will probably be moved plenty of times in life. It is just all about how I react to it!
So, how do you react when someone moves or even steals your cheese?
It has been a week since I have moved to the city that I love. I am living directly above this sweet friend of mine . Yes, it could be a bit dangerous and no it was not planned for me to live right above her. Crazy, isn't it?
I am still unpacking, organizing, and trying to figure out what should go where. Utter chaos but I am loving it!
Saturday was the day of the big move to my new place in Royal Oak. Thankfully, my two older brothers and my
cute handsome five year old nephew came to my rescue. We had plenty of laughs during the moving process. I am telling you. There is a never a dull moment when I am together with my brothers.
Here are a few hard lessons that I learned about moving.
Now, I am in the midst of unpacking and organizing. Ugh!
Having an aluminum baseball bat thrown into the face is not fun! Lots of pain! Lots of swelling! And lots of black and blue marks on the face!
Throughout the week, people gawked at me. Some would ask what happened while others were probably making assumptions on how it took place. A bar fight or my boyfriend hit me are just a few assumptions that people have made. I even had a kid ask, "What happened to your face?" Don't you just love how blunt kids are? My favorite response was "Did it hurt more when you got hit in the face by a kid or when you fell from heaven?" How sweet is that! That friend got brownie points!
Thankfully, I am healing up well. As of right now, I have a hemotobia which they are a bit concerned about. I have a collection of blood in my cheek/chin area which feels umcomfortable!
The doctor's and I have been bonding a great deal. I have my fourth doctor's appointment in a few days. I keep asking the doctor's to just make me beautiful. For some odd reason they are not taking me seriously.
Weekly Lows :(
1. A four year old bit me in the butt.
One of our sweet innocent campers decided to throw a tantrum so the staff brought him to me. He kicked me. He hit me. Then, he bit my butt. Not fun!
2. I am fighting a lovely sinus infection.
Weekly Highs :)
1. Demolition Derby in Imlay City
Yes, I went to one. It was hilarious seeing that it was a major culture shock for me. Everyone there starred at us as we arrived. For some odd reason, they could tell that we weren't locals. Hmmmm......
2. BBQ Bash
It was a great time. It was a chance to catch up with friends. We had a great discussion on impacting lives for Jesus. And to top the night off, I had the sweet opportunity of interrogating a friend's significant other.
My life is very uncomfortable right now. I humbly admit that over the past few months, I haven't been at ease about the fact that I have no sense of direction. No dreams. Notta! Nothing!
It has been dark, lonely, and scary at times even though I am constantly surrounded by people.
While I was on vacation, I went on a long walk and I dished it all out to God. I poured out my thoughts, feelings, and emotions when it comes to my future. I put it all at His feet with my hands up in the air. I gave up. I surrendered to even having a simple little dream to live for. It was a well needed talk with God.
Even though life beats me up at times, I can still say that God has been so good to me. Even though every demon in hell seems to be coming against me, God has been so good to me.
Everyday, I will continue to roll out of bed and make satan angry. I will continue to live for Jesus Christ and His mission to impact lives. I will continue to love life, embrace risks, and live for eternity.
Thank you God for being so good to me!
Over the past few hours, I was attached to the hip of a man who is an incredible leader. This man has a great deal of influence in Oakland County. I was asked to shadow him for a few hours. I followed him everywhere. I shook hands with all those he shook hands with. I drilled him with several questions. I picked his brain.
Shadowing this individual over the past few hours was quite an experience in which I enjoyed.
Tonight I sat back and thought about all of those who I would love to shadow. I thought about individuals that are alive and those that have passed. I would love to see these individuals in action. I would love to spend some Q & A time with them. I would love to just pick their brain and get to know them. I would love to see their passion and catch it.
In no particular order:
Mother Theresa, the Apostle Paul, Jesus, Shane Clainborne (a young man who risks his life every day for an eternal cause), Chauncey Billups, John Maxwell, Nehemiah, Rip Hamilton, George Mueller (a man who approached God with confidence), Howard Schultz (Starbucks leader)
Who would you want to shadow?
Detours. Road tragedies. A few yields. Traffic stops. Dense fog. That is exactly what I have faced over the past two years of my life. It has been one crazy journey.
I am looking at my life road map trying to figure out what direction I should be going in. Where should I go? What move should I make? What move should I not make? Decisions, decisions!
I am just searching for something beautiful in my life. I am searching for God's plan. God's will for my life.
I have figured out that the best thing to do would be to consult with God and to return to my ultimate life guide book which is the written Word of God.
This morning, I was reminded to let the Bible take over every fiber of my mind especially when it comes to decision making. You see, at times I am scared to death when it comes to my future. To be honest I have even gotten to the point where I have thrown up because I am afraid I will make the wrong decision. To combat that I will choose to trust God. I will continue to crack open the book and scrub my mind in it. The written Word of God will direct me. All I have to do is focus on Jesus and He will guide me one step at a time. How sweet is that?
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105
Since September 26, 2007 I have been homeless when it comes to church. This is something that is completely out of the box for me but I must say that I am at peace on where God has me. His presence has been so evident to me during this abnormal season in my life.
God has been increasing my desire for Him. God has been breathing life into me. God has been healing me and restoring me. God has been giving me a greater love for people outside of the four walls of the church. God has opened up many doors with developing and strengthening relationships with those who are not committed followers of Jesus Christ. It has been a season where He has done much work inside of me after a time in my life that has been brutal.
Yesterday, I sat down with two pastors that asked me about my state of transition when it comes to "church". I gently explained why I am in transition and one of the greatest lessons that I have learned during this season.
DON'T PROMOTE CHURCH! PROMOTE JESUS CHRIST!
In Acts 4, Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin with much boldness about Jesus Christ. They stated in verse 20, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." These men were out of their mind for Jesus Christ!
That is my prayer. I want to be so crazy about Jesus Christ where I cannot help speaking about Him and not just about a particular church.
It's simple! I want to just promote Jesus Christ! I want to see lives transformed by the power of God!
Over the past week, I received harassing phone calls and even text messages from people counting down till I hit the big 30! Thank you Jenniy and thank you Mark! You are too kind!
Today, I received constant harassment from my co-workers, my employees, and even the YMCA members for hitting the big 30. They decorated my office with tons of balloons, bouqets of flowers, gifts, and cards. It was unbelievable! They even decorated my office window with paint broadcasting to all the members that it's my birthday and I am 30!
Oh, when will the harassment end?
Tonight didn't go as planned. I was suppose to have dinner with my father, brother, sister in law, and the kids. As usual, my dad didn't show up and my sister-in-law rushed the neighbor into the hospital. Life doesn't always go the way we want it but it is how we react to it. So even though the early part of the evening didn't turn out as expected, I got all revved up over the fact that I am now 30. I am pumped now. I am thrilled about getting old! Woo woo!
I chose to love it. I chose to embrace it. I am thirty. Hear me roar!
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!'" Anonymous
Those that know me know that I am one that is not big into birthdays. I will spare you the details on why. Today, marks a new decade for me. I am now 30 years old! Yes, I hit the big 30 mark! I am getting old aren't I? So far, I have yet to see a grey hair on my head. I am going to try to keep it like that. :)
Even though I am aging I am looking forward to the fact that my life is forever with God. Above all my wants and desires, I pray that ten years from now, twenty years from now, and so on that I am a woman who is crazy about Jesus. I pray that I may daily be satisfied with a sweet relationship with the One who rescued me.
Today, I prayed these verses over my life.
"Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise. Fill us with your love every morning. Then we will sing and rejoice all our lives. We have seen years of trouble. Now give us as much joy as you gave us sorrow." Psalm 90:12, 14-15
As of 1:00 p.m. today, 415 participants have enrolled in my 4-5 year old soccer league. On top of that, I launched a new age group of three year olds. It was a big risk that I took but we ended up pulling in 63 three year olds. Unbelievable!
Yesterday and today, we had a ton of kids out on the fields which means a ton of parents and grandparents. People of all races. People from wealthy backgrounds and some not so wealthy. We even have well known individuals involved in the league. We have a sports news caster. We have a well known lawyer whose name is recognized throughout the country because of the big cases he tackled. We have professional athletes out there along with well known business owners. I love the diversity! I love the kids! I love the people!
Now, just if I could connect them all to Jesus Christ! Just imagine! Hmmmm...so many thoughts are going through my head right now.
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