Valentine's Day is Not Just for Kids and Lovers

Since the 1840’s Valentine’s Day has been celebrated by lovers across the world. On this day, through heart shaped candies or sparkly items, couples go out of their way to declare their love for each other. I think we can all agree that Valentine’s Day has become this extremely over marketed phenomenon pressuring men across the world to make “the big gesture”. Of course it’s silly to think that all of one’s love MUST be expressed only one day out of the year, which certainly does not make for a healthy relationship. But whether expressed or not, the truth is at the end of the day every girl wants to feel important and not forgotten.

When was the last time you thought of your business like the love of your life? We are all human. We all want to feel loved, special and appreciated by another. May I submit to you that since your clients and co-workers are human, maybe they fall into the same category? When was the last time you “made the big gesture” to show how much you appreciate them? As silly of a holiday as Valentine’s Day is, I use it as a reminder to show the ones around me how much I truly appreciate them in my life.

Let me lead by example.

I work as a marketing specialist at a lead generation company called LeadRival. Side note: (queue shameless plug) If you’re an attorney needing quality leads you should look into online lead generation, I have linked the name for more info. Moving on, this is truly the best group of people I have ever worked with in my life. It is very much a team atmosphere where I feel freedom to be creative, ask questions and learn from others. We work together on projects and ideas regardless of what department you may be in; there is always room for opinions because we are all working towards the same goal. Each person I work with Kye, Mitch, Brandie, JD, Lindsey, Aaron, Brian, Tom and Sherry… they all attribute to any success I may have in my job and I truly appreciate what they bring to the table every day.

What do you Love about your business?

It’s time we shift our minds from what is for us to what we can give. Valentine’s Day does not have to be ONLY about lovers. Use this as an opportunity to tell the world what you love about your business, your clients and your employees or co-workers. Valentine’s Day cards are not just for kids, it can be your opportunity to “make the big gesture” and show your clients a little appreciation while also sharing what it is you love about your own business and team.

Get Creative:
The next time a silly holiday comes along, don't just brush it off.  Clients are people, and people crave connection. Make a video, send a card or simply pick up the phone and tell them yourself.  Use silly holidays as an opportunity to let your clients know you are not just a product or service but a person that really cares.

Body Boosters! 5 On-The-Go Fuel Sources to Keep Your Body In Pace with Your Schedule

In a fast paced world, being constantly on the go has become the norm in our society. While routines may be relatively similar from week to week, for those of us that have the tendency to over pack our schedules, it’s the little things that go out the window. I have what I call my “six day burn”- between work and school, crunch time is from Thursday to Tuesday. In this time I am constantly on the go, moving from project to project; from job to job having little time to sleep or eat. If I even remember to eat during the day, it’s easiest to run through a drive-through at a fast food restaurant. The problem is Junk kills the immune system. I have found that most people in the business world have an equivalent pattern. What usually happens is after weeks of piled on “burn” time, the lack of adequate fuel that comes in the form of food and sleep breaks down the immune system and drains the body of energy. If we are not careful, as our bodies hit their limit, the “burn” time results in “bed” time.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, here are a few easy “on the go” fuel replacements in order to boost your energy and immune system during the times when sleep is sacrificed:

An Apple a Day….

The myths are true folks! Despite the long-term benefits apples provide like bone strengthening and protection against various cancers, it also has an agent called “Quercetin” found in the apple skins which happens to contain more antioxidants and fiber than your own personal flesh. This not only services to build your immune system, but is also a low calorie way of building natural energy and regulating your digestive system.

Just a Spoonful of…Garlic?

Try to substitute your quick sugar intakes with foods that incorporate small doses of garlic. While sugar acts to break down your immune system, 1 teaspoon of garlic a day will increase antibacterial agents in your body to fight off small bugs such as the flu.

Green Tea with Lemon
Studies have shown that Green Tea not only helps your body physically, by rebuilding and restoring blood and skin cells, but it relaxes the senses and lowers stress levels. Helping calm and focus the mind. Add a lemon to cleanse toxins from your liver and blood.

Orange you Happy?

Oranges are high in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals and fights off infections. What most people don’t know is that many associate oranges with happiness and freedom. This lightens moods and stabilizes stress levels.

Yogurt Your Heart!

Aside from protection from heart disease, daily doses of yogurt help build the protein in your body called gamma interferon, which helps develop white blood cells. This increases your metabolism and allows your body to process more toxins in your body.

Along with healthy food alternatives, finding time in your day to exercise also increases your energy and builds the immune system. Adding a few of these supplements to your daily routine will not only save you money, but also help your body and mind keep up with your constant schedule.

Feel free to add to this list in the comment box-what are some other on the go healthy alternatives?

For more information or questions click here to find me on Facebook!

Time Tools! 3 Ways To Get More Out Of Your Day...

Life as a full time college student with three jobs, a lively and active group of friends and various outside responsibilities takes discipline and planning. But even with all the discipline in the world, things happen, plans are changed and I often find myself at the end of the day wishing I had just a few more hours. Life today is in constant movement for most people. Whether it is a business owner trying to manage daily activities, meetings, networking and still make it to his kids play or a mom responsible for all the details that make their house function properly, people are constantly looking for more time. The truth is, unless you find a magic genie we all have the same 24 hours in a day. So how is it some seem to pull more time out of those 24 hours than others?

Here are 3 quick and easy ways to free up more time for productivity:

Smallest In, First OutMost people that move minute to minute have a pretty detailed schedule, one that is full of small 10-15 minute tasks that very quickly take up a large chunk of the day. The problem is, most people focus on the bigger issues of the day and put off the smaller things until later. This causes the person to worry and think on the small things throughout the day, not giving their full focus to the most important things. At the beginning of each day, make a list of all the tasks that need to be accomplished and categorize them by time and importance. Anything that NEEDS to be done that day that is under 15 minutes, go ahead and knock it out first thing in the morning. Having the smallest tasks marked off your list first will free up time while also clearing your mind for the more important tasks of the day.

Schedule Self Meetings and Quitting TimesOne of the biggest time fills throughout the day is getting caught up doing something for longer than needed. Often people rewrite lists with the same tasks for weeks because they never have time to accomplish them. One of the greatest time management lessons I learned was from Dr. Steve Greene, who advised to literally schedule time in the day in order to accomplish specific tasks. Just like one would set an appointment with a client, set appointments with yourself in order to accomplish large projects and important tasks and weigh the importance of “showing up” to those self meetings as important as it would be to show up for a client meeting. This ensures a specific time in the day that those tasks will be done, allowing for more production. Setting a quitting time is equally important, putting in the forefront of your mind exactly how much time you have to work on a project before moving on will strengthen your focus during the allotted time you have given.

Balance Weaknesses with StrengthsTime management is a hard topic for most and is constantly being perfected in some form or another. People vary on weaknesses and strengths, but allowing one to balance out the other will ensure more productivity in the day. Take a week out of your month to keep track of what you are doing with your time. Write down what you did everyday and how long it took you to do; this will allow you to see your flaws and strengths. For example, I have found one of my greatest weaknesses is the tendency to procrastinate; yet I also tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to completion of tasks. Also, knowing I work my best late at night- I plan focus time on large projects to align with my best hours of focus to increase production and balance out my weaknesses.

Incorporating these three factors will help you gain control over your day and open up time not only get more done, but allow you to accomplish the things YOU want to accomplish.
There are several other ways one can squeeze more time out of their day and people are constantly looking for ways to perfect time management, what works best for you?

Beanie Babies Saved My Life! What I Learned About Risk Aversion and 3 Ways to a Balanced Life.

When I was younger I fell subject to the beanie baby craze. I had to have them all… especially the limited edition ones like the “Princess Diana Bear” with the "White Rose of England", Ooo that was a good one! The difference is I never wanted them because it was the “cool thing”. I wanted them because somehow, even at the age of 9 or 10 I saw the value in them. I knew that if I was paying a ridiculous amount of money for stupid stuffed animals, then so was everyone else...and if I held onto them long enough, eventually stores would run out and I could sell mine for more. I guess my brain has always been wired that way (surprised?).

The problem is, I held onto them too long. In fact, I never sold them. This was my first ever-entrepreneurial attempt that clearly ended badly. One thing I had to learn the hard way was that with a fad, they hit fast and end fast. By the time I got around to selling my beanie babies, nobody wanted them anymore. So here I am almost 15 years later and I still have like 200 beanie babies stuffed in a cabinet waiting for some love and attention. I keep them as a reminder… in business, yes. But mostly for life, if you wait too long to go for what you want, you often miss out on opportunity.

I started thinking about this today in the middle of my Financial Management class. As Mr. Wiley went on and on about how risk aversion changes the SML slope, my silly brain translated it to life. So here it goes…

Often in the stock market it’s all about perception. What is actually going on compared to how you see it can change how you respond. Is this not true with EVERYTHING in life!? Often the way we perceive things comes from our past experiences, fears, failures, and successes. When you’re younger it’s easier to take risks because you don’t see much to lose… with the beanie baby situation I think I was just being greedy. I wasn’t afraid I would lose out, I just thought the longer I wait, the more money they will be worth, but there’s always a top line before it starts to drop.

The older I got, the more my experiences taught me to fear risk…I learned to put up walls, avoid confrontation, and wait for a “sure thing”. Let’s bring it home, for example, true or false? It’s better to keep your mouth shut and not say what you really feel than risk losing a person, right? Maybe. Usually not, but it’s often what I think…what usually ends up happening is you lose them in a different way- they move on…and there you have it, opportunity lost. I’m not going to get too deep into that it’s just an obvious example I think many have struggled with at some point or another.

Risk aversion is the pessimistic version, but what about being overly optimistic? Is that even possible? I think so. In the stock market those are the people that take high risk with a low rate of return…in other words, they end up buying junk and lose money (hello beanie babies). But how can being overly optimistic be bad in life? To me it’s obvious, how about trusting everyone and everything? You end up getting punched in the face, so to speak, at every corner. You acquire leeches as friends and people walk all over you because you allow it. This used to be me at one point as well…what I had to learn is it’s not bad to love people and want to do everything you can for them, but you have to draw a line somewhere. There has to be a balance, as for most things in life. The beauty is finding that balance between releasing your fears enough to take the important risks and being smart enough to know where to draw the line before you’re taken advantage of. For this, I think may take a lifetime to fully understand…but here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that may help get you started in the right direction:

1.) Test Your Friends- I’m a social butterfly, but there are very few people I actually lean on for advice. They are the ones that have gone through the fire and come out on the other side. They aren’t afraid to tell me the truth and have proven themselves to be trusted. It’s good to test your friends, make sure they are there with your best interest in mind and not just for a good time…I like the “good timers” but they’re a dime a dozen. They don’t get to know my heart. OH! And always, always make sure the people you care about know it before it’s too late. This is something I had to learn the hard way.

2.) Find a Mentor- I have a few mentors that I go to for advice on different things. One is for business, one for spiritual things, and one for life in general. The good thing is they know me, but are disconnected from my daily life so there is less of a bias. They look at the situation with fact and logic, separated from emotion. This is one of my greatest assets in life.


3.) Believe in Yourself- It doesn’t matter if 100,000 people believe you can do something, if you don’t believe in yourself it will never happen. The truth is, if you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t have 100,000 people believing in you anyway. Bottom line, you are the passion behind your own successes.

So there you have it, funny how a 40 minute class about risk aversion in the stock market could translate to all this. It’s obvious I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, just thought I would share with the class. Anyone want to add to this list? Let me know your thoughts.

What The Bachelor has to Teach about Business and Life

So about a week ago I stepped outside of the norm and found myself watching the Bachelorette (I know don’t get me started). Shortly after the show was over there came, quoting my mother, “the best part…the whole reason for watching”. The first EVER sit down with the previous Bachelor Jake Pavelka and his former fiancée Vienna Girardi since their HORRID BREAKUP (gasp!!).

Personally, I don’t understand why anyone would want to subject themselves to an awkward scream fight between 2 people seemingly “in love” and actually call it entertainment but to teach their own, I guess. What I did realize throughout this experience, is that there is a few things we can learn from Jake and Vienna pertaining to the business world and how we conduct our lives on a daily basis.

You see, as the fighting drug on, what I noticed is Jake and Vienna had 3 very specific problems in their relationship that no doubt were the main cause that resulted in the break up. Ask yourself these questions and see if they fit into your relationships in the work place…

1.) How are your Communication skills?

Anyone blind, deaf and/or mute could tell that Jake and Vienna have serious communication problems. The constant “he said, she said” mess where they tried to justify their actions towards each other by expressing the other “never listened” while talking over each other’s sentences shows that neither one of them really heard the other person, let alone really tried to understand where they were coming from. Yet, in their own mind they are right, and the other is wrong. I feel like this happens a lot in the business world. Whether you are a manager not really trying to understand your employees or an employee hating on “the man”, the lack of communication often causes more work and stress than in necessary. I know it can be awkward to approach a co-worker or even a boss in a confrontational way, but biting the bullet can work out some misunderstandings and cause more peace in the work place then in the long run, it’s worth it. You just have to get past the fear and see the bigger picture. I think if Jake and Vienna had taken a second to see the bigger picture outside of the little fights about furniture arrangements and GPS systems and really tried to listen and understand where the other was coming from, they may have had a chance.

2.) Do you choose Honesty?

The biggest issue throughout Jake and Vienna’s brutal public therapy session is the fact that neither one of them trusted the other. Jake accused Vienna of cheating… Vienna accused Jake of being abusive…but if you really listened to their arguments, they were both dishonest at times throughout their short-lived relationship, which in return planted seeds of doubt in both their hearts. I know that the little white lie can be easy and is accepted as ok in most situations if you ask around, but one little white lie can lead to a bigger lie, and then a bigger one, to the point in which it is no longer okay. It’s better not to start at all. Honesty has been lost somewhere in the business world and people are searching for it. If you can be known as a trustworthy, honest person to your co-workers and boss then I guarantee success will follow. A little white lie may help you in the moment, but being a person of integrity and honesty will follow you everywhere you go and benefit you in every situation for the rest of your life. It seems like it’s not a big deal at the time, but if you watched, it’s not easy to see that it was the tiny insignificant little white lies in Jake and Vienna’s relationship that were the biggest issues in the end. If they had just been honest from the beginning, then it would have been easier in the end to give the other the benefit of the doubt.

3.) I know you’re looking, but do you really SEE the other?

If you take Jake and Vienna’s relationship and look at the whole picture, there is one thing that rings true; they never really took the time to really see the other as they really are. They both looked for what they could benefit in the relationship, not what they could give. So many times in the work place this is the biggest cause for unhappiness. Instead of going to work to see what you can gain, try looking around you at the people you work with and really try to see them for what they are, how they contribute, and how you can work together to really make a difference. If you go into work with that kind of attitude I guarantee your happiness level will elevate. Take it upon yourself to take ownership of your job and help others see their potential. Who knows? You just might make some lifelong friends in the process. If Jake and Vienna would have taken the time to really see each other and how they can work together in the relationship, rather than search for what they could gain I think we would have seen a very different reunion special.

So there you have it. Three ways Jake and Vienna have taught us to be successful in the work place and in life. Remember, these are life lessons; they don’t have to stop at work…but it’s definitely a good start.

What are your thoughts? Do you see how things could have worked out differently for them? Do you see any of these issues ringing true in your own relationships both personal and professional?

Back to the Basics...It Sure Has Been a While

It's been 3 years since I have revisited this blog. To be honest, I completely forgot I had it. It once serviced as a source of therapy for me at a very transitional time in my life and here it is three years later; I find myself needing such an outlet again but for very different reasons.

So much has changed in my life the past three years, and as I read over previous posts it became abundantly obvious that the person I am today holds just a glimmer of who I was then. The important things stayed... my strong personality traits, curiosity, sense of humor and hunger for life...they remain. But as I relive the stories of my past I can't help but notice the differences in my thinking, friends, and overall view on the world...although, I must use these experiences as part of the source of change. Some has come from life experience, some from new education and knowledge, and some just from the changes that come from living life. To be honest, the world has tainted me some, I have experienced heartbreak and confusion in ways I never would imagine possible...but what I have learned is most of the good in my life has come from walking through fire and seeing what life has to offer on the other side. I regret nothing. There are always things I will want to change on this journey but I love the person I was, I'm quite a fan of the person I am now... and I am looking forward to seeing who I will become.

In all my re-reading and self discovery, I noticed one thing that I feel will always remain constant.. 3 years ago I named this blog "Reinvented Dreams" because my life was changing so drastically. All the dreams I had once dreamt were gone and new ones had taken their place. I started writing because I was having a hard time letting those dreams go and allowing the new ones to arise and take flight in my heart. I sit here today realizing the same thing as I did back then, only with more understanding than I could have imagined. The hopes and dreams I had 3 years ago have been reinvented again. I see the evidence of them in the new dreams in my heart but I am also aware of the alterations. It's amazing how God puts things in your heart and then molds it with time to fit his plan. I didn't understand this process 3 years ago and felt abandoned and hurt by God for seemingly ripping all my hearts desires away. But as I look back, that isn't what he did at all... it didn't happen how I wanted it, but God has stayed true to his promises. The dreams he put in my heart are still there, but are constantly being reinvented into bigger and better things.

For all of these reasons, I have decided to begin writing again. Before it was 100% for me..this time I'm hoping to offer a little bit of knowledge, wisdom, or insight to the world. Let's be real, there are PLENTY of people on this planet that are far more equipped to be giving advice or wisdom than me but I tend to have a way of correlating life into situations so if someone can gain something from my ramblings then that would be ideal. Also, I am a sponge for knowledge. I love it and always look for more so I'm hoping this blog can service as an outlet for that as well. I would love to share my thoughts, but more importantly, I want to learn from others.

So here's a little bit of my back story... I am a Marketing student at Oral Roberts University and I love all that is business. I tend to look at the world through the eyes of a 1/3 therapist,1/3 closet evangelist, 1/3 business mogul. I'm that nerdy kid that gets all giddy at new business books and could talk for hours about marketing strategies, human behavior, theoretical issues, therefore, there is a good chance most of my ramblings will include one of the three...if not all. I have 3 jobs to help pay my way through school, one of which is a marketing internship that I LOOOVE . My life is extremely fast paced so I writing things down helps me decipher the world around me and put it into perspective. I don't know if this blog will help anyone or just service as another outlet for my crazy mind to process life.

But here it goes.

A Great Ending...Even Better Beginning...

The month of December is always my favorite. Despite the terrible cold (which really hasn't been that bad this year), December also brings my birthday and Christmas...two of my favorite holidays.

Being that this was my 21st birthday (the last birthday that's kind of a big deal until I turn 30), I decided to celebrate in a different way than usual. My best friend Natalie and I got up early and started off the day jumping out of a plane 10,000 ft off the ground. It was probably the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life! If anyone is considering skydiving, I recommend it to you all. Then we got all dressed up and met up with the other 1/3 of our trio, Jen, and went to a fancy restaurant and to the Nutcracker. I love the ballet. I think its the true definition of beauty. After that we went to the best restaurant ever and had desert. It was truly a night to remember.

Christmas is the best time of year in my book. It's the one time out of the year that my brother comes home and all the family is together. My family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) are all very close and see each other on a weekly if not daily basis, but we hardly ever have the time to all be together at the same time. I have attendancy to go a little overboard when it comes to present giving so I racked up a little debt this holiday season. It was all worth it to see the looks on people's faces though.

New Years came faster than I was expecting. I (last second of course) decided to drive to Kansas City, MO for the OneThing Conference at IHOP. It was truly amazing. We rang in the New Year giving praise to God and honestly, I can't think of a better way to start the year. I also got to spend some much needed time with some really great friends.

I have been so blessed this past year and I am so excited to see what is to come in 2007. I hope you all had a great holiday season to remember.

If you would like to see pictures of skydiving and Christmas click on the "missimae" link on the side.

Words Women Use

So in one of my classes we were talking about the differences between men and women. My teacher read a statement out loud and then chose one female and one male in the class to explain what they heard. It was hilarious! Both said something completely different. This, of course, proved my teacher's theory.

Later that day I got these phrases and definitions from a friend titled "Words Women Use". It fit perfectly with what we were talking about in class. I thought they were funny mainly because I agreed with most of them. This prompted me to make some of my own.

For the girls: enjoy.
For the guys: pay attention, you might learn something.


"FINE"
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.(sounds accurate)

"FIVE MINUTES"
If she is getting dressed this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.(TRUE... or be there in a minute)


"NOTHING"
This is the calm before the storm. This means "something" and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "Nothing" usually end in "Fine".(True)

"GO AHEAD"
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.(YES.....)

"LOUD SIGH"
This is not actually a word, but it is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing".(most of the time)


"THAT'S OKAY"
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.(sounds right, depends on the circumstance... so think first boys)


"THANKS"
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.(the truth)


"WHATEVER"
It's a woman's way of saying *!#@ YOU!(not really, my way of excusing an argument... just like "FINE")


"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" or "EXCUSE ME?" or "WHAT?"
No, she's not hard of hearing. She's just giving you a chance to recant the stupid thing that just came out of your mouth and to either escalate the conflict by saying it louder (remember, you'll lose) or to come up with a clever substitute that sounds pretty close to it (like instead of saying, "That's why I hate you," you would say, "That's why I dated you"). WARNING: If you try to use "Nothing" as a response, she won't accept it.(LOL- I agree)



Here are a few I tend to use.............................................


"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT"
If it's not your birthday or a special occasion, this usually means that I'm tired of arguing about it. However, if you decide to do what you want knowing that it will upset me, then you will have to deal with the consequences later. So it better be worth it!

"I DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT"
There is no hidden message here...when I say this I REALLY dont want to talk about it. Especially if we are out in public or a large goup around. Maybe I will talk about it later but right now is not the time.


"BE BACK IN A SECOND"
I fully entend on getting back in a second, but in all actuality, I really have no idea when I will be back. There is a good chance that I will stop and talk to anyone I might pass on the way to my destination or get destracted by something along the way.


"I DON'T CARE"
This is a tricky one because it all depends on the circumstances. Sometimes I really don't care...but other times I really do care I just don't want to start a fight or upset you. With this one, you should really focus on what comes next...if you get a "Do whatever you want" and or a "Fine/Whatever" then that means I really do care and you're in trouble. Otherwise, I honestly don't.


"SURE"
Okay, I don't really want to, but I would rather see you happy.


"BITING MY THUMB NAIL"
(not words, but most mistaken thing I do) I'm either thinking and trying to work out something that is bothering me, upset, or nervous. (its usually nervous or thinking) This does not mean I'm mad at you, 99% of the time it has nothing to do with you. If I'm upset its usually not the time or place to talk about it so I use this as a filler so I will keep my mouth shut.


"THE SMILE" (not words, but speaks volumes)
This could mean one of three things...
1.)The "friend smile" is used between me and my close girl friends. This is usually used as a confirmation that we both just heard/saw something that we will talk about later (usually had to do with a previous conversation)2.)The "akward smile" is used in akward situations, with passing strangers, or in times where there is really nothing else to do.
3.)The rest of the time there is the "happy smile"(this one is used most often) where I am thinking of what a great person you are and how blessed I am to have you in my life. No response is needed, just know I appreciate you.

Predictions for the Next 2 years...

So much is going on with the House and Senate and for the most part I have kept my opinions to myself. Now that we are coming to the end of this battle, (and the constant prodding for my opinion on this issue from a certain “political animal”) I will tell you my predictions for the next two years.

Honestly, I don’t think it is the Republican Party or the Democratic Party that are truly going to suffer over the next few years. More than anyone, I think it will be the American people. With the Democrats in the House and Senate with a Conservative Republican President, I believe we will see 2 years of constant fighting back and forth.

Let me break it down how I see this playing out…

The way it works is the Congress and sends a Bill to the president, who can either pass it or veto it. If the president doesn’t agree with the Bill and decides to veto it, then it will take a 2/3 vote of Congress to override that veto. Over all in history, this has only been done 3 times so the chances of this being able to happen are slim to none.

How does this fit into my prediction you ask?

Well, President Bush hasn’t been much for vetoing in the past. He has only vetoed one Bill during his presidency. But then again, why would he need to with his party in the House and Congress? It has been made very clear that the Democratic Party and President Bush do not agree on most things…so how is this supposed to work?

What I see happening is 2 years of them canceling each other out and a lot of Trump Cards being played. My fear is that they will be focusing more on who wins and less on what is best for the American people…hints why we are the true losers in this battle and the ones that will suffer the most. I see the next few years as a “purgatory” or a stand still in our country. I mean, honestly, how is anything going to get done if we can’t agree on anything??

The thing is, even if it is the American People that will suffer, we can hardly point fingers. I think it is partly our fault for putting so much emphasis on the presidential election and not enough on the House, Senate, and smaller elections. Honestly, how many of you even know who is representing us in the Congress or House? Anyone know the name of the current Speaker of the House? What about who is representing you in your state or city? Many don’t care and therefore, allowing the minority to elect those in office without really knowing what they stand for. So basically I guess we can say we did it to ourselves. Anyone want to take responsibility for that?? No I didn’t think so…we will probably blame someone else…that seems to be the pattern.

Like I said, this is just my opinion/prediction and a cynical one at that. I’m not normally a cynical person but at this point I just don’t see it any other way.

Well done America, it’s going to be a very interesting next 2 years.

Be Silent, Be Still

Have you ever started talking to someone and the more you talk the worse you dig yourself into a hole…but instead of just stopping you continue to talk, all the while thinking to yourself “WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU JUST STOP TALKING”?

I recently found myself in this exact situation…it was not my favorite position to be in. And now I am left with decisions to make that I really don’t want to make. How can you choose between 2 people that mean so much to you?? I don’t think it’s possible, especially for the phlegmatic me. It’s hard enough for me to decide what I want to wear in the mornings~ how am I going to conquer this feat?

Thanks to my uncontrollable urge to speak I have placed myself in an extremely awkward and difficult situation…


Verse of the day??


“If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.”

~Job 13:5

The Cost of being a Disciple

Let me first preface this by saying its pretty deep and digs down to the core of who you are as a Christian so if you arent ready for a little poking at the soul then you might want to skip it but I hope you dont this is good stuff.

We were reading in Sunday School the other day and came across a scripture that I havent given much thought in a long time

LUKE 14:25-35

The Cost of Being a Disciple
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
34"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

This is kind of heavy. So many times we are focused so much on saving souls and being the good Christian but do we fully understand what that means. Did you sit down and estimate the cost of what it is to be a follower of Christ before you jumped aboard?

I think that is why the church today has so little influence and respect with non-believers. We are known as hypocrites and for the most part, you cant tell us apart from the rest of the world. If we were fully aware of the cost that is involved and the importance placed upon it, there would be stronger believers and a stronger body of Christ.

What Jesus was saying to these people was you have to make Him your one and only priority holding nothing, not your family or even your own life, above Him. If you have anything else you hold more valuable, you will never make it.

Carrying your cross was a mark of shame back in the day. So not only is he asking you to disregard your family and life (as far as priorities go) but also to bear the mark of shame.
Its important to reach people and to save souls for Jesus but I think its equally important to make them aware of what they are getting themselves into before taking that leap.

Its not just a simple prayer.
Its a full commitment of reckless abandonment of self.

It's tough but so worth it!

Are you ready?

Have you estimated the cost?

I believe Paul said it the best:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
~Philippians 3:7-11


I am not saying that I have this figured out or that I'm even close to it. I will admit there are things that I have held back from God as most of us have. But I am willing to try. I understand God's grace...but I also understand his expectations.


Food for thought.

Life's in full swing again...

Today was my first day of school.
My mom got all excited like it was my first day of kindergarten or something.
I thought she was going to cry...Parentals are funny.
I had American Federal Government at 8:30 this morning.

I don’t recommend it.

The class seems easy enough but my teacher is an old guy that’s monotone and talks with his eyes shut. That was entertaining for the first 2 minutes but then just watching him made me want to go to sleep.

I found this picture on Veer.com...he looks JUST LIKE my Fed Gov teacher (except his eyes are open)..weird!

For the next 16 weeks I will be starting my day at around 6:45am (I have 8:30am classes everyday) and getting home from work around 11pm where I will then start any homework I may have.

Lets just say its going to be interesting.




In other news, well still pertaining to school, all of my little cousins are back in school today. I love them so much. Today is Maddelyn and Anna's first day of kindergarden...they are so cute!

Anna wears little uniforms that are blue, gray and white plaid...probably the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Maddelyn is so excited to ride the "Big wellow bus like the big kids and get homewawk". All of her brothers and sisters go to school so she is excited to finally be apart of that.

I will be crossing my fingers for Lydia who is starting college at OU in Norman today...she is really nervous...I'm sure I will hear all about it tonight.

Autumn is at TCC with me...too bad we don't have any classes together.

Cassie 8th, Rachel 2nd, Preston11th, Travers11th, Lauren 2nd...I hope you all have a great first day of school. Landon, Emma, and Halla still got a few years Thank GOd!

God lives at Teen Mania...

So I'm back in OK.
It was a long ride home...lots of Jack Johnson and Worship music to keep it interesting...and friends to keep me awake for the last stretch...thanks for that.

My trip to TX was amazing and crazy!

A few of the highlights: Car blew up...(they fixed it for free THANK GOD!) Sierra's car ran out of gas...2 hrs waiting to be rescued..then the battery died...snow cone shop...IHOP @ 2am...Bliss...real worship...new friendships...old friendships...WOG....Dinner Bell with the people I love most! lots of love, laughs, and memories for sure.

Being back in that atmosphere was truly a refresher for me. Not that I have "strayed into the wilderness" or anything, but being able to have deep conversations about the Lord with people that you love and trust...there's just something about it I just can't explain. There I felt safe. I felt loved. There I know that most everything people do is out of love for another. I miss being able to be challenged and challenge others. I miss growing in the Lord along side others just as eager as I am to know Him. I miss the incredible worship that alters in the presence of God. I miss being able to talk about the mystories of God without getting weird looks and people telling me to "calm down". I miss people being on the same level as me.

The experiences I have at Teen Mania are like no where else. I know I have joked a lot about it in the past but the presence of God is so strong at Teen Mania I'm starting to believe He lives there.

Probably most of all I miss the love and laughter I get from my friends. They are my family...my heart. A true friend to me is one that you can be away from for months and when you are united it's like you never left. So many of them I could just pick up where we left off. Of course, there were some long conversations about things that needed to be talked about face to face, but those I cherish as well.

I also didnt realize how much I have missed the Texas skies. They are truly amazing. I was able to see the sunrise on a few occasions and also the clear nights with thousands of shooting stars. Even in Oklahoma it's just not quite the same.

I went to a few of the sessions, and even though I had heard all of them before it was good to remember what it means to be apart of the LINE. I had a few character checks I need to take care of :) I miss listening to Dave Hasz talk about the Word and the importance of upholding the LINE. He is truly an amazing man. I'm reminded often.

Thank you Lord for continuing to show me how much you love me through the people in my life. I forgot how good it feels to make memories with such beautiful people.

Congrats to all the Teen Mania graduates...welcome to the LINE.

I have lots of pictures on my xanga...its the link on the side titled MISSIMAE.
You should check them out if you get a chance.

Time

Life seems to be moving in such a rapid pace its almost impossible to keep up. People would always tell me that growing up is hard but fast. "One minute you're a kid with no cares in the world and the next you're an adult and you never even see it coming".

When people would say this I would usually just smile and nod. I never really believed them. But over the past year it seems like my whole life and everything I have known for the past 20 years is changing. People are growing up, getting married, having babies, moving away...I'm having to make decisions that will affect my entire life (probably the most stressful thing ever!).

I don't know, sometimes I just feel like I'm trying to hold on to the way things are and the people I love and the tighter I hold on the farther and faster they slip away. I want to move on in my life, get older, grow up...but at the same time I know that when I move on, so do they. I want them to come with me. I hate that most of my closest friends in the world are only connected to me by phone calls. I want them to be here.

All you that are so much wiser than I, you are right. Time flies by so fast. I just want to make sure I don't miss it.

"Time is a monster that cannot be reasoned with" ~Joe Wentworth

I leave for Garden Valley, Texas in 3 days. I am soo excited to see all of the people that I have missed so much over the past 7 months. But at the same time I know it's going to be bitter sweet. This weekend could very well be the last time I see all these people, together all in one place at the same time again. My heart breaks when I think of that.

So I won't.

I'm starting to understand...

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting…for what?"

He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want---But, you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save…(for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for Thee.'
Yes, your dreams for you loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, 'WAIT."'

Physical Representations

I was watching this psychology show the other day dealing with communication. There was this couple that was on the brink of divorce because all they did was yell at each other. One of the things the psychologist did was make them write down issues they needed to discuss on a piece of paper and discuss each of them calmly until they came up with a solution. Then once it was resolved, they had to rip up the paper and never talk about it again.

I was thinking about how people so often need a physical representation to fully accept change. Like being baptized. That is a physical representation of your new life with Christ. Or the couple with the ripped up paper representing the end of that discussion. I, myself have needed a physical representation to let go of something or to accept a change in my life.

My question…

Why is it that people need a physical representation to get past their struggles or fully accept the change in their lives or situations??



I’m cutting my hair off…
I need a change.

Missing you

Things are going well here.
I have been missing a lot of people lately.
It's so hard not being able to see them everyday.

I didn't realize just how much I miss certain people until I started seeing them everywhere. I thought I heard Catie laugh in Starbucks a few days ago. I turned around and it definitly wasn't her. I thought I saw Lynnie in a car next to me at a red light until the lady turned around...not her again. And the weirdest one was there was a guy riding a bike down the sidewalk with a windmill hat on and I could have sworn it was Dave Hasz. Ridiculious huh? Could you even imagine him wearing a windmill hat?? haha

I thought I was going crazy (honestly maybe I am) but I think it's just me missing these people so much. It's weird, some (Mr. Hasz) I didn't even realize I missed that much. But it's pretty obvious I do. Even though it's been 7 months, I'm still having a hard time getting readjusted to life at home. Things aren't even close to being the same as when I left. It's like starting over completely but not really having anywhere to start.

I have things to do to fill my time... 2 jobs, Young Life, school...but its hard to find those kind of people to share it with. I have yet to find anyone at home that is remotely like my friends at the Honor Academy. I hate to put them in that category but its hard not to when everyone I meet is so different. I spend more time defending what I did at the Honor Academy, what I believe, how I act, etc. than anything else. I guess I'm just tired spiritually. And with no one here for me to talk to (really talk to), laugh with and just let my guards down and be myself with...it tends to drain me.

I need a friend that understands me completely. That I can hang out with and not feel uncomfortable. Someone that will keep me accountable and I can keep accountable. Just someone to laugh with. I want to be happy. I try really hard to be happy but it's so hard trying to do it alone. I will keep my trust in God and believe that He is leading me in the direction He wants me to go. At this point, that's all I can do.

I believe!

A few weeks ago I went to New York City with my friend Rachel. Being that I am from a small, po-dunk town in Oklahoma, this was quite an exciting adventure. I love city life! I would love to be right in the middle of the fast-pace lifestyle where there is constantly something going on at every corner, where people take taxies or walk everywhere they go. So fun!

Believe it or not, out of everything we saw and experienced, I would have to say one of my favorite things was the Rockefeller Center. I know, it sounds strange. Honestly, the only reason we went was because my mom said it would be a good experience. I wasn't convinced. The only thing I knew about John D. Rockefeller was that he was some Oil Tycoon that made lots and lots of money and eventually owned like, most of NYC.

But when we got there, to my suprise, I ended up being more impressed with the man thanI had origionally expected. Right in front of the huge building was a plaque inscripted with his beliefs:

I believe in the supreme with of the individual and in his right tolife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that every rightimplies a responsibility, every opportunity, an obligation; everypossession a duty.I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; thatgovernment is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that heworld owes no man a living but it owes every man an opportunity tomake a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and thateconomy is a prime request of a sound financial structure, whether ingovernment, business or personal affairs.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man's word should beas good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty ofmankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross(waste matter) of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the humansoul set free.

I believe in all-wise-and all-loving God, named by whatever name, andthat the individuals highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, andwidest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.”

After reading this, I thought to myself "self, this man is deeper than some cut throat business tycoon, he is obviously a christian." It was obvious to me. Nothing on this plaque is origional and anyone that has read the Bible knows that, but as I looked around at the other people reading the plaque I realized that not one person around me was of the christian faith. I struck up a conversation with the muslim man next to me. I asked him what he thought of the plaque and he said that they are very bold statements and someone in his country would be arrested for such statements. I asked him what he thought if his beliefs (particularly the "all-wise-and-loving-God" part) and he said that he believes he is a strong man and he believes in God, just not like Christians do. "Poor Chirsitans are decieved" he said. We talked a little and bounced off our beliefs and ideas and the reasoning behind them. In the end, nothing really happened (meaning I didn't pray with him and baptize him in the fountain or anything..haha) but I hope if anything I planted a seed. And without this plaque, I would have never had the opportunity. Like I said, I don't know much about John D. Rockefeller and his life, but I respect him because if anything, he left something behind that will plant seeds in the hearts of people around the world that come to see his amazing accomplishments. Reading that plaque inspired me to want to live like that and it gave me an awesome opportunity.

It's so hard to see what's right before my eyes

I have this problem...people tell me its pretty common but that isn't good enough for me. I don't want to be common. For about 7 months now, I have had the hardest time trusting God. I can't seem to trust him with anything! It's extrememly frustrating. I want to trust him but I catch myself pulling back like he can't be trusted or if I do then I will get hurt. Still time and time again, he continues to be faithful...even when I'm not.

I just recently visited a friend in North Carolina and we traveled up the East Coast. It was quite an adventure and something I will never forget. We didn't do a whole lot of planning, we just kind of left. So many times during our trip God showed up and provided for us in ways only he could do. The things that happened were at the most random times coming from the most random people but I found that by the end of the trip I had no problem trusting that no matter what happened, God would have our backs. It was exciting to have conversations like:
"where are we going to stay tonight?"
"I dont know"
(2 hours later)
"Hey this lady gave me a free hotel room for us to stay tonight"
"What?!?!"
It was so amazing I almost couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next! My whole point to this is that trusting God and seeing it happen right before my eyes was the most amazing and comforting thing I have ever experienced. So you would think that after something like that I would have no problem trusting him with the rest of my life. But I am learning that for some reason it comes and goes. I want to...but I can't let go.
That frustrates me beyond belief! He is right in front of me saying "I have what you are looking for, just trust me" and I run away scared everytime. I used to not be like this...and I don't really know how to get out of it. I want to be able to jump and not think about it. All I know is that somethings got to change.

Alone with my thoughts...not a bad place to be.

So I'm just learning about this whole blogging thing ( I know its sad) and I decided I needed something else to be used as a release of the inner workings of my being...besides, its a good time filler when I'm trying to kill time. I know that is terrible to actually try to kill time instead of using it to the fullest...but unfortunately with my current job, that is all I am left to do. I'm sure this one will be read by strangers if anyone. I don't mind so much about that. Besides, it will probably just end up being something I write on that no one looks at. I wouldnt mind so much about that either. So here we go...here's my first blog.

anyone reading...have fun.

Michelle