Do not rush

Wow! A lot has happened since I last blogged. Most importantly I have gained quitethechange of heart. Since I moved home from graduate school I have just been in a hurry to do everything just rushing through seasons and not enjoying the moment. I prayed and prayed for contentment in my heart. I prayed and prayed that I would enjoy the seasons that I'm in. The verse that comes to mind is - "I don't say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." (Philippians 4:11 HCSB) And God allowed circumstances to happen that have allowed me to SLOW DOWN and enjoy the moments. I have learned that I am exactly where God wants me to be, as are you. EVERYTHING happens for a reason and all we can do is thank God. In my drive time I thank God for the good and the bad because He sees things that I do not. I am taking in the time that I have and being more purposeful in my day to day activities. I want to look back later on at this time/season in my life and be able to see the fruit of the seeds that I have sewn. I want to be purposeful in what I put in my body, my quiet times, my prayer times, my friendships. God is removing things and people from my life that aren't beneficial and for that I am thankful.I am equally thankful for the new people, opportunities, and contentment that is filling my heart. I do not want to rush through the seasons in my life as they are all beneficial to the end product.

September 30, 2012

September 30, 2012 - that is how long I have until my 101 in 1001 days list should be complete. I went back and looked at the list and I have accomplished quite a bit. Here is an updated list ..

1. Read the Bible cover to cover

I am working on this right now. A devotional that is going through the Bible in 90 days.

2. Live in Texas again

3. Milk a cow

I need to search a little bit harder for this one

4. Go to the Oprah show/see Oprah

5. Visit at least 10 of the 50 states (preferably with Erin :))

I may have met this - Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Illinois

6. Buy a meal for a stranger behind me in a drive thru

7. Take at least 5 angels from the angel tree

I won't make this because Christmas has come and gone! 

8. Become involved in Children's/Young Adult Church Ministry

9. Lose 50 lbs

Still working on this. Slow and steady wins the race, rigt?

10. Register and finish a 5K

11. Run a 1/2 marathon

Meh - I am kind of out of my running phase. 

12. Take a picture a day for a month

In April I will take a picture a day, or at least try. 

13. Find a job I thoroughly enjoy

14. Apply to med school {eek}

15. Take the MCAT again

16. Take Physics II

17. Learn to sew (with clean lines)

One day I'll buy a new sewing machine. 

18. Foster (put on hold)

19. Graduate with a Master's Degree

20. Go to top of Statue of Liberty/visit the State of Liberty

21. Susan G Komen 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer

Will not be doing this - too many obstacles in the way.

22. Watch Erin graduate from nursing school at Tech (She watched me graduate)

23. Sing in the church choir/praise and worship team

24. Get a new lens for my camera

Until I use my camera more frequently again I will not be making this large purchase.

25. Go through my closet and make a give away pile

26. Be on time to work

27. Buy a stranger a meal

28. Go back to Lubbock and visit the Hughes and the Jacksons

29. Do a devotional

30. Buy 10 crosses for my cross collection

I never started this! 

31. Meet a blogger friend

32. Make Erin's dog Sissy a blanket

Yeah - prob not going to happen haha. 

33. Go to a Texas Tech Football game

34. Go to a farm

When I find a cow I will find a farm.

35. Go to Six Flags

My cousin who just moved to the US from Africa has never been and just asked to go last week!

36. Bless someone without them knowing its from me

37. Work out 24 of the 30/31 days of a month

So far so good for March. 

38. Buy new sheets

39. Grocery shop according to a list and not deviate

40. Take a multi-vitamin every day

41. Play tennis

I need to find someone to play with.

42. Be truly happy with my body

Working on this. 

43. Watch one movie a week at the movie theatre for a month

We went this weekend and saw Good Deeds, we have two more movies we want to see so maybe March will be the month. 

44. Eat the recommended value of fruits and vegetables for a day

45. Cook 5 new recipes in a month

46. Find a church small group

47. Take some pictures for a family

48. Go without ice cream for a year

49. Bake cupcakes from Martha Stewart's book and deliver to the daycare

The problem with this is that I can't find my cookbook :/

50. Visit a Senior Citizen Center

I still don't like old people

51. Have a picnic

Hopefully soon.

52. Go to the Dallas Zoo

This spring

53. Volunteer with an organization

54. Make my bed every day for a week

55. Actually do my reading for school

56. Take my winter coats to the dry cleaners

I havent use them in so long. This probably won't happen either 

57. Get a pedicure

58. Keep a check register (i do online banking now - so no use)

59. Make a better quilt

When I but that sewing machine!! 

60. Remake Jennifer pillow cases but nicer

Same as above!!

61. Buy a sewing/embroidery machine

Still waiting on that sewing machine

62. Get my car detailed

63. Replace the back window handle on my car from when someone busted the windows

64. Buy a new clicker for my car

65. Pick eggs from a chicken coop

66. Eat the eggs picked from the chicken coop

67. Buy some new jeans

68. Buy a new swim suit

69. Leave a large tip at a restaurant

70. Muddy Buddies

71. Go to a friends wedding

72. Be in a wedding

73. Be below 200 lbs

In due time!

74. Be below 190 lbs

Maybe in due time!

75. Be below 180 lbs

Maybe Maybe in due time! 

76. Do morning work outs for a week

77. Have morning quiet time with God

78. Pray before my meals

79. Go camping in a tent (with Erin)

Erin and I need to work on these next three things! 

80. Go hiking (with Erin)

81. Go white water rafting (with Erin)

82. Go without my cell phone for a day

83. Pay it forward

84. Workout with Tanna

85. Go to the beach with my brothers and sister

86. Help my sister redo her room

I guess I'll just help her do her room for college since shes moving out! 

87. Go to one of my brothers football games

88. Help make my sister a mum or garder

89. Tithe over and above

90. Make all of the Christmas presents I give out

Not going to happen! 

91. Paint pottery

Still looking for a place in Dallas. 

92. Buy gerber daisies to put in a vase

Oooh next time I go to the store.

93. Memorize new Bible verses

94. Not complain as much

95. Plant a flower garden

As soon as we know winter really isnt coming.

96. Plant a vegetable garden

97. Plant a fruit tree/plant

98. Find a new hobby

99. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

100. Pack up apartment in New York

101. Love unconditionally

In God's timing!! :)

I cannot believe how much I have done in about 2 years. It is truly amazing to be able to go back and look at this list and see all the wonderful things I have accomplished!! I am excited to finish the rest of these things.

2012!!!!

Twelve Things I hope to accomplish this year .. 1. Pray and listen more 2. Get accepted into some type of graduate program 3. Lose 30 lbs 4. Complain less 5. Take more pictures 6. Live by Phillipians 4:11-13 7. Be more mindful of the power of the tongue 8. Be more purposeful in relationships 9. Send more paper mail - especially birthday cards 10. Let others know ow special they are 11. Dress up more often 12. Work out as more of a lifestyle Happy New Year!! I pray that In 2012 you are content where you are and understand you are there for a reason! :)

Temporary Hiatus

I am on a temporary blogging hiatus while I study for the MCAT, fill out applications and do all stuff med school related. See y'all in a few! :)

Pray for me while you're at it!

Oprah was Amazing

So I am back from Chicago and my trip was amazing! I love going to the Oprah show and since my friend's aunt worked for Oprah we didnt have to wait in line. We were able to go right up to the offices and sit in the lobby until it was time to be seated. We go to meet one of the co producers, had reserved seats in the audience and had an overall good time.

I forgot that it was cold in Chicago, so I didnt dress appropriately. I have lots of pictures to share, but haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. Shania Twain was the guest and she spoke about her life. We won a trip to TN for the Country Music Awards Festival so that should be fun. The studio was freezing, Shania's people kept putting hair spray during commercial breaks, and the lady behind me fell asleep and was snoring! Haha!

I was able to go up in Sears Tower and sit in the skydeck boxes. They are clear plexi glass type boxes that go out on top of the city. It was kind of scary. We walked all around the city. Went to Millenium Park, The Field Museum, walked Michigan Avenue for shopping, tried some Chicago pizza, road the train, and shopped in the Oprah store. Ooh and I also got to pet Oprah's dog Sadie since she roams the halls.

Overall it was a great trip. Oh and I ended up wearing a purple shirt that is kind of mesh with a purple tank top underneath and a flower bow in my hair. It was cold.

What to Wear to the Oprah Show!!

In a couple of days I will be going to the Oprah show and I just don't know what to wear. I had an outfit sewn for me earlier this year that I havent worn that I thought about wearing .. but other than that I am at a loss.

I also cannot believe this is happening because I put it on my 101 in 1001 list a long time ago and never believed it would come true. I settled for going to the Live Your Best Life Weekend Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4. And added to my list see Oprah as well so I would be able to cross off either one. Any this week I will be able to have truly crossed it off!! Yay!!

I guess I'll go shopping tonight!! :)

Zoo 5K

So .. I Kristi just registered for my first 5K!! Woo hoo!! I have been putting it off for weeks because I was sooo nervous and afraid I couldn't do it. But its done and paid for now! So Saturday is the day! And did I mention its at the zoo!! :)

This weekend was pretty amazing! I love meeting new family and I feel like that's what I did all weekend. I met a cousin I never knew I had. I re-met cousins I had met while I lived in NY and didn't even realize it. My family is filled with very smart and good looking individuals!! haha