Saying Yes- or No...

This picture has been me lately- so when I went back and reread Holley's "assignment" for the week I just shook my head and chuckled- because obviously God is trying to get my attention.  So, here goes...

Anyway, Holley's challenge was to identify the one thing/things/person/people we can say "no" to in order to head toward fulfilling our dream.  My "thing" is silly in a way- it's TV.  When I get home after a long day I tend to plop down in my chair and turn on the tv and get lost in my work.  The thing is- the tv distracts me and I end up not getting done nearly what I need to.  So, my goal, is, throughout the work week, I will not turn on the tv (other than Biggest Loser on Mondays) until I have completed what needs to be done.  The work week is the biggest thing for me- because then I leave it all for the weekend which then leads to overwhelmed and having to say no to people (friends) for lunch and such because of unfinished work (obviously I already say no to people and since the only other thing taking up time is my full time job that I can't say no to that left this "thing").  This is huge for me- and would appreciate your prayers in this.

So, as I take this next step- I just pray that this will help with the time management of my job/classes/future steps toward my dream.

Steppin' Out

Last week's challenge from Holley was to "think back to another time when you took positive action in your life. What’s one thing that helped you move forward that you could apply again now and someone else could benefit from hearing too?"

When I thought of these I thought of a big time in my life in college- but the journey goes back to high school.  See, I was a basketball player in elementary, junior high and my first year of high school.  My junior year I was cut- I was lost, my identity had been taken away from me; I was hurt, I struggled but pushed through it all and in the process got involved in athletic training.  I began working with ISU student trainers, went to a high school workshop at IU, and began working with the student athletes my senior year.  That included traveling with them and I became friends with a lot of them.  In December of my senior year one of the guys on the basketball team was in a car accident that led to his death.  It hit our school and team hard (the game prior he had had one of his best games).  I buried myself in my schooling and my training, and quite honestly burnt myself out.  I had no idea what I wanted to do- but through conversation with my parents a week before graduation (yep, nothing like cutting it close), I ended up going to Johnson Bible College (now Johnson University).  I did two years on the media program (tv/radio) and by year two I was miserable- but again, I had no clue what I was going to do.  In talking with a friend one night I realized that my heart was in working with kids, in teaching.  The semester had already started and we were at the last day before you could transfer classes and not lose credit.  I did a lot of praying and crying and with fear- yet trust- I went to talk to the advisor.  EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING, fell into place- that's how I knew I was doing exactly what God wanted me to do.

So the application today- continue to pray, continue to trust, continue to work hard and if this is where God is taking me- the pieces will fall into place.  They won't necessarily be easy, it won't necessarily be the path that I would have chosen, BUT, it will be one that is blessed by Him.

This little quote is actually a stamp- I LOVE this stamp and want to purchase it at some point (but it's a bit pricey at this point for just the one stamp).  I think it's perfect for this journey I am on!  Loving this!  

And this song- inspired my title of my post for today!  This has become one of my favorite songs with some amazing lyrics that stretch me and give me the permission to dream!