"Let's Really Show It"

Ahhh! So, the Christmas season is nearly over. With one more family gathering to tackle, little cleanup left to do, and still a bit of food in the fridge from the last party, I am ready to bring on this next New Year! Whoo!

There's been some major talk about me rediscovering my passion for bodybuilding in the last month especially, and, with the help of one person in particular, I am nearing full focus. I have yet to get to those studies this week though! Ask me again if I have been working on that!

As one who aims high in my goals for the future, I believe that absolutely anything is possible! I've been watching clips on Louise Rogers and focusing in on the road ahead of me. Is it paved in gold? Well, I can certainly tell you it gives me "something to talk about!" I'm just glad that the one I find myself closer to has more knowledge in the area than I do, so I am learning something new everyday in preparation for what is to come!

New workout planning is in the works. Love is in the air. My dedication and focus is being redefined. Now just to get my body defined muscularly! I have some building to do, weights to be lifted, and a diet to reexamine. May I gain the size, build, and consistent dedication I need in the upcoming months! This remains my "little mystery to figure out." Thank you for your loving support!

Happy holidays! - Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt

"We've Got The Dreamers Disease"

I think "you've got the music in you." I know I have the music in me, and I'm not about to give up! Keep on dancing! Whoo! And with three longs days left to tackle, let's be done with this holiday season already.

I think I'm in love with Kris Murrell. Why didn't someone tell me about her sooner? I have lived a sheltered life. Thank you to those who beat me out of it! You don't have a clue how much I appreciate it!

I have got to get out of this funk and get back on track! I have been dreaming about this for far too long and now I can smell it. Do you know the feeling of empowerment? Imagine it and soak as much of that into your reality. Let’s take this on! I have some serious training to do! On another note, I finally found a way to make this crappy peach mango protein that was donated to me taste decent. Well, as best it can. Ha.

My thoughts are far too sporadic, but let me try and recap where I’m at.

I’m fairly certain I’ve found the man of my dreams. He’s relit the flame that was dying out from inside of me. My fire is burning strong, and I think others can sense it. My training, though, currently takes a backseat to talking to him all night. Someone let him know I need to train after work!

Work is still my least favorite thing in the world, so why do I spend more time doing it than anything else? I need a trainer to kick my butt a few times, but I have one in particular in mind. And, I need to not be sick anymore; I’ve had enough. The beginning of the year always allows me to reset in terms of work slowing down freeing up more time to plan, workout, eat, and rest, all my favorite things to do!

I dread the holidays; they’re one of my least favorite things in this world. I’m not against traditions, but I think I want my own apart from the rest of the world. What do you think about that? I cannot stand what expectations are put upon us to give our families some kind of show during the holidays. I’m sorry, but I have better things to do with my time and money than decorate, cook, shop, and watch myself eat like a pig.

One of the things I need to learn with my training is how to eat more though. I know I don’t currently eat enough nor have I in the past. I have this intense fear of getting fat, but I know that as long as I continue to press on with my workouts I’ll be fine. There is not an ounce of me that wants to let go of this dream. Some may not believe what I have done to avoid the possibility of losing it. I have records of past eating and workouts that may need some serious review to help me back on track.

The night has fallen, I haven’t lost the light, and it’s time to rest up! I’ll be in touch. Happy holidays everyone.

Much love, - Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals

"Keep Your Eyes On The Prize"

I have had this big dream of competing in figure competitions and earning my pro card. The reality hit me tonight that most of those women have unnatural work done, something I never imagined me ever contemplating. It just has never been an option in my mind, except perhaps maybe after having a couple little people. Still, the dream remains. It's where I see my future.

I had a much different plan for this post having looked at so many figure pages before being disappointed with my previously mentioned realization. It remains that I have a goal to add ten pounds of lean muscle to this body. Christmas is almost here, which means training comes back into full swing. Work becomes slow, and Sara comes back to life!

I'm writing this far too early this morning, as I have yet to sleep. After a long night's conversation with my very dear friend in London, I sat here thinking about a lot of things. Most of my thoughts have revolved around taking big risks. Do I really see myself doing this? Am I really thinking about this? Do I really want to do this? YES!

Could I use some big changes in my life? Definitely. Would I like London to be part of that change? Yes. Will I train more, eat more, and sleep more to get there? Most definitely. Game on. 'Cause I have big dreams.

To body-building up my figure! Cheers.

Much love, - Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "Big Dreams" - Bow Wow

I really wanted to use DMX's "One More Road To Cross" song so I could use his lyrics "this is life/this is what I know/so to me this is life," but the song didn't have the right affect on me while listening to it again and again.

"Everything Will Be Okay"

Yesterday morning I was watching a member at the club using a jump rope. I nearly laughed as I watched this small human use the rope appearing as a young bird, new to the world, and just learning to use its wings. Small things that cause laughter within us are things we should remember and hold onto tightly. It is the little things in life that make the journey so enjoyable.

I find that despite having been very up and down in my recent levels of health, I haven’t allowed the sickness to destroy my spirit. I do not think I have felt completely well a week straight since I moved into the new place, but my smile still exists as strong as ever. Today I was on Dayquil and Benedryl simultaneously, and my coworker said she couldn’t tell I was sick but could say my eyes looked bigger than normal. Hearing her say that made me laugh. I had a very pleasant day at work despite being drugged up, and everyone else seemed to be in a good Christmas spirit.

Another thing today that made my day: The other day my “service engine soon” light came on and wouldn’t go off. I’m fairly certain it is one of my three sensors out again, but the service engine light didn’t stay on tonight. I had taken the dogs out for their run without concern that it might be something worse than a sensor that needs to be replaced. With the holiday right around the corner, I did not want to have to worry about something seriously wrong with my car. It would have been very bad timing. I just hope now that it doesn’t continue to light up and stay on. Knock on wood.

I haven’t been doing my Dave Ramsey notes, as I was previously. I will have to start again as I renew my budgeting goals with the arrival of the New Year. The final credit card will be paid off early this year. College loans will be going into repayment after I graduate, but I’ve already been making payments. I have a large supply of rice in the pantry to keep me going. I have separate goals for weight gain and health that I hope will not be diminished by my financial goals. But, a single trip out of the country could change everything!

Much love! – Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "Jump Rope" – Blue October

"Not Wrapping This In Ribbons"

It's Christmas time, and I'm quite the grinch. I have no desire to put up my own decorations, buy or wrap gifts, and even taking gifts is difficult. I use the excuse that people have forgotten the meaning of Christmas, but then I don't know if I believe it any more either. But, I'm still not about to lose my hard work trying to follow the ways of Dave Ramsey by falling into the commercial, retail traps.

For a long time I've claimed to be of Christian faith. I do not doubt there may be a God. I do not doubt that there may be more intelligent beings within the cosmos. I have been reading Erich Von Daniken's book "Chariots of the Gods?" and find it completely life transforming. My father revealed similar thoughts to what is said in this book. I myself have always had a hard time believing in Jesus as the one and only son of God, part of THE trinity. I've recently retired my cross pendant from being worn around my neck.

Does this come as no surprise? I think my pastor would be devastated if he read this; I just spoke to him today too. I think he would be wide-eyed and concerned about me. Would my father be surprised to read this? Probably, but perhaps he would be more excited. I find myself interested in ideas that perhaps would have stirred great conversations with the quiet man. Either way, I am doing all the reading and research I possibly can in this lifetime to understand as much as possible.

Remind me, though, to enjoy this life. Who knows if this may be my last?

Today's song: "No Surprise" - Daughtry

"So Sick and Tired..."

"Somebody turn the light on?" No, no no! Turn them off! Let me sleep! Just once! Can you tell where this is going? Ha.

I'm sick for perhaps the third time since I moved in just a few months ago. I wonder if this house or just my habits affect me enough to allow for sickness. I know my nutrition is still great. I know I'm not getting enough sleep or exercise though. So, I am about at the end of my rope. Thank goodness the holidays are almost over!

I must go study though, as finals are this week as well!

Much love, - Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "Candle" - The White Tie Affair

"The Final Countdown"

Who would have known that a Europe song would make my day? I had the most hilarious moment during my day when the song started to sound from the speakers. I graduate in May. "So, this is it," says Bill excited for me while standing at the stretching stations at the gym. Overhead "The Final Countdown" begins to play. HA... how did that song have amazing timing? :) I LAUGHED HARD!

I am in a final countdown, especially for the year of 2009! There are seventeen full days of this year left! I can hardly believe it, as so much has happened this year. Still, it seems like not much has changed! I am determined to make some BIG changes this next year. I will come up slowly with a running list. Let's see how much I can do. Here's to making progress!

Much love! - Nutmegpeach

Today's song: "The Final Countdown" - Europe

New Year Bringing New Changes

Watch for the changes to occur. The blood is burning in my veins. I have new motivation. I'm burnt out, but the fight is on! I'm exhausted at the moment, but I will update soon enough. Much love. -Nutmegpeach

I Need to Update!

This college semester has me weighed down. I moved again in the last two weeks. I am working a little bit less, but I am reading so much more. I am hopeful in building a relationship with a certain someone but am facing the challenge of my past on this possible future. I pray for inner peace. I am tired these days. I was so exhausted yesterday that when I went up to my room to study, I ended up literally passing out on my bed with my books open, computer on, lights on, and didnt wake up until my normal 4am weekday alarms went off. I know I am not alone. I know I have less than thirty weeks of college before graduation. I know when the right time comes that I will find someone who will love me for me despite my past, and we will still struggle and also find many joys together. I know that I should not worry or feel like I have heavy weights upon my shoulders. I just wish it was just a bit easier. I want my life to slow down in pace. I cannot take on one more thing right now. I need rest. I need relaxation. I need solid, normal, good REM sleep! I want to experience dreams again. I want to feel a bit more freedom. All soon enough, right? The days are coming. My days are coming.

Press For Truth

I want to write today just to write. I need to clear my mind.

The last year has been a sort of extreme personal renewal. As I come upon my last year of undergrad, I have been searching like a crazy person for God in my life, for hope, for anything that points to more life, and mostly researching all things that put fear in my life with the hope of understanding and conquering those fears. I have yet, though, to learn how to swim under water, one of those things that fears me but will come to an end one day; it has not been at the top of my mind in this past year.

I have been a huge follower of the happenings of Nine-Eleven. I am currently watching this video "911 Press For Truth" [http://media.abovetopsecret.com/media/48/911_Press_For_Truth_part_1/]. (If you watch no other one, watch part 5.) I'm not a huge fan of our government, or moreso the elite that seem to have a major hand in everything that happens. From pages I have read, I can assume that people, whether American government or not, fully were aware that something big was going to happen that morning nearly eight years ago. I dont know the full details, and I'm not sure I want to. If the government wants to hide something they will and they'll take out anyone who gets in their way.

The government makes me angry. The American government makes me angry. There are so many things that we are not told as American citizens. Big Pharma makes me angry. The diminishing nutrition in our States upsets me. The lack of attention to health and what keeps people healthy makes me angry. Do you know how the government is controlling the slow death of Americans through the lack of proper health by nutrition and health care?

My father is a brain cancer survivor, a hero to our family, a former NASA employee, an Air Force veteran, a supportive husband, and a father to three very blessed children. The family members often question what made dad so sick, what caused his cancer. My dad loved drinking tea and often put in a sweetener that contained aspartame, a chemical that had ignored studies that revealed lab mice had brain tumors after consuming food with aspartame over some period of time. I dont doubt that it had some sort of attributing factor, but I am not fully blaming the chemical either. I could find out in some years that it is something that is also genetic, but that is also something I am trying to prevent.

I am the best test subject I personally know. I have tried more things with myself than I care to remember. I continue to change my eating habits, extend my sleeping habits, find ways to decrease or balance my work hours, and continue to learn as much as I can as often as I can. My faith grows stronger every day, though I still question many things. Getting through the Old Testament has brought into my head many questions, and I continue to seek answers for both the days of the past and those of the future.

For the end of June, have you heard about the deaths of four celebrities, stories which have taken over the public airways? [http://www.postchronicle.com/news/entertainment/article_212240347.shtml] And with that, the reports of the dead are pulling the attention of America away from the fact that the energy/climate change bill is on its way up and has been [barely] passed by the house of representatives. [http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2454/show] It is another thing that most Americans are ignorant of, the fact that the media influences us so much. And, when I asked some older gentlement if he heard about the energy bill today at work, he responded with "that's good, right?" Not exactly. I urge you to continue to read and follow the next link.

There are places we can find information, though, that helps us to understand what is happening in our world [if we so desire to KNOW the TRUTH]. (If you desire to learn more, I am willing to help.) But, reading this yesterday made me smile: "In fact, the two biggest green house gas polluters is the oceans, and volcanoes. Do the Democrats plan to control the oceans and volcanoes too? Are you going to outlaw water vapor? Will there be a fine for a volcano daring to erupt?" [http://politicalpistachio.blogspot.com/2009/06/climate-bill-hr-2454-disaster-for.html] Have you seen the movie "The Inconvenient Truth?" It's garbage. Global warming is garbage. NEWSFLASH. Global warming is a natural occuring pattern over God only knows how long on this Earth. We are pawns and we will believe what we are told.

I won't deny that I think Amercans especially need to "do their part" in learning to be less wasteful, but global warming has become the next big hoax. We waste so many resources and how many of us really recycle as well as we could? How many of us actually know what can be recycled or even where to take it? How many of us are teaching our kids or the youth to be more kind to the environment? How many of us are being proactive to even conserve energy or water? I doubt that the energy bill as it currently stands will pass. It would be a terrible thing if it did, but I think some things are definitely in order to change. I think we need to become more like Boulder, CO or the state of Pennsylvania and others that are increasing the rate of recycling, making it a necessity, and setting goals towards reducing wasted resources.

Still, as a country the majority of us are force fed lies and told what to do, what to believe, and need to stand up for ourselves a bit more. Do you agree? I'd like to hear your opinions. If you have websites to share that may help advance my own knowledge please do so. I have a last site for this message that I encourage you to watch. It touched me to an extent that I don't know I can properly explain. I can simply say I am happy to be what I stand up and present myself as. Enjoy!

http://www.worldviewtube.com/video.php/videoid-4207/Brannon-Howse/Brannon-Howse

Day 6 Exodus 16-28

Day 6 Exodus 16-28

Exodus 18:15-16 “Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God's will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.’”

Exodus 19:3-6 “Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’”

- The Lord speaks with Moses telling him the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (See Exodus 20).

- Rules about both servants and injuries to both people and animals are announced as well as further rules regarding people and property.

Exodus 23:25-26 “Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”

Exodus 24:7-8 “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, ‘We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.’ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.’”

Exodus 24:12 “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.’”

- Moses receives instruction for the building and furnishing of the tabernacle.

- He also receives instruction on bringing Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, as well as details on the garments they are to wear.

Day 5 of 90 day Bible challenge!

Day 5 – Reading Exodus 1-15

- Egypt receives a new ruler generations after Joseph who does not know of Joseph.

- This new ruler works the Israelites hard and seeks to have their newborn boys killed.

Exodus 1:22 “Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.’”

- Pharaoh’s daughter found a child in the river bank, sought a Hebrew woman to nurse him (his own mother), and took him, Moses, as a son when he became older.

Exodus 2:10 “When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, ‘I drew him out of the water.’”

- Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. It became known to Pharaoh, and Moses fled.

- Moses helped water a flock at a distant well, stayed with the owner of the flock and received a wife.

Exodus 2:23-25 “During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”

-God speaks to Moses through a burning bush telling him to go to Egypt to bring out the Israelites.

Exodus 3:19-22 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. ‘And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.’”

- At Moses’ and Aaron’s arrival, Pharaoh increases the work the Israelites must complete, but God is still persistent with Moses telling him he will bring them out of Egypt.

Exodus 7:1-5 “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.’”

Exodus 8:22-23 “But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; … so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.”

- The Lord performed many harsh miraculous signs against the Egyptians.

Exodus 12:12-14 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD -a lasting ordinance.”

- After life was taken from the firstborns of the Egyptian households and their flocks, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites free from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 13:14-16 “In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’”

- The Egyptians went after the Israelites to the Red Sea, Moses raised his staff, the waters divided, and the Egyptians followed them on the dry land before the sea returned undivided. The Israelites made it through safely, but not one of the Egyptians survived because the waters came down upon them.

Day 4: Genesis 41-50

It is day four! The reading for today includes Genesis 41 to 50, which concludes our reading of Genesis! The reading covers Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, Jacob’s sons travel to Egypt for food, but Joseph sends them with food asking them to bring their youngest brother (the brothers did not recognize Joseph), the brothers return with Benjamin and feast with Joseph, Joseph tells them who he is, the family of Joseph move closer during the famine into Egypt at Goshen, Israel (Jacob) blesses the sons of Joseph and all of his own sons, and both Jacob and Joseph die.

Genesis 41:39-40 “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’”

Genesis 41:55-57 “When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you." When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.”

Genesis 42:33-34 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, 'This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.'”

Genesis 43:15-16 “So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, ‘Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.’”

Genesis 44:27-29 “Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.'”

Genesis 45:17-20 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Tell your brothers, “Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.” You are also directed to tell them, “Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.”’”

Genesis 46:2-6 “And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.’ Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.”

Genesis 47:20-24 “So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh's, and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. Joseph said to the people, ‘Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.’”

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Day 3 of 90 day Bible challenge!

It is now day three with reading from Genesis 29 to 40! [I do realize I am getting these out a bit late, but I will get all caught up and perhaps ahead this weekend!] This section of chapters covers quite a bit of the stories of Jacob and the beginning of Joseph. It begins with Jacob and his earning of his two wives Leah and Rachel, and it continues with the birth of his children. Rachel’s first child is Joseph, and her second is Benjamin. The story of Jacob goes on with a lot of traveling, his meeting with his brother Esau, and again more travels as he returns to Bethel. Soon after, the deaths of Rachel and Isaac occur. It then turns toward Joseph to tell about his dreams of ruling over his brothers, his brothers’ plan to kill him, but then they sell him as a slave, and Joseph ends up in Egypt.

Genesis 32:20 “And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us … later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.’"

Genesis 34:25,31 After Dinah was raped: “Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. … they replied, ‘Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?’”

Genesis 37:26-27 “Judah said to his brothers, ‘What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.’ His brothers agreed.”

Genesis 39:5 “From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.”

Genesis 39:20-23 “Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”

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Day 2 of 90 day Bible challenge!

It is day two with reading from Genesis 17 to 28! How is the reading going? Are you using BibleGateway.com to listen along as you read, just as I am? The reading for today covers the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the birth of Isaac, Abraham’s sacrifice on the mountain of the Lord, the death of Sarah, the finding of Rebekah as a wife for Isaac, the death of Abraham, and Jacob’s deceit against his brother Esau.

Genesis 17:16 “I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.”

Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Genesis 22:15-18 Abraham’s devotion and obedience to the Lord brings affirmed promise of many descendents.

Genesis 24:15 “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.”

Genesis 25:28 “Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

Genesis 25:31 “Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’”

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Beginning in the Pentateuch

Have you begun reading? The 90 day Bible challenge is in full swing. June 1st had an assignment of Genesis 1-16. It holds information on the creation of this world as being of God’s will, how man and woman were created in His image, their moral disobedience that resulted in the beginning of sin, how the consequences of sin are now among all peoples, and journeys into the lives of Noah through the flood and Abraham as he awaits a child.

Genesis 2:2-3 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Genesis 4:7 “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Genesis 6:3 “Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.’”

Genesis 9:8-16 The rainbow as a reminder of the covenant God has with Noah; He will never again destroy life on Earth by use of a flood.

Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Genesis 15:18 God’s promise of land to Abram for his descendants

For more updates, do not forget to add me on twitter or myspace!
www.myspace.com/sarazimmerman www.twitter.com/sarazimmerman

There is also an envelope icon at the bottom of each post that allows you to email the post out!

Let's stay on top of this reading! I'll be back tomorrow with more updates!

VISITORS PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!

Update: I realize there are some restrictions on the comment box, so I will ask you all to join me here: http://www.myspace.com/sarazimmerman. I ask that you write in the request message box "Faith, Family, & Fitness" so I can add you without hesitation. There you can comment without much restriction. Also, adding me there will allow easy access to view updates via bulletins or blog posts! So, add me today, and dont forget to put "Faith, Family, & Fitness" in the message box! Much love and thanks for all of the support, Sara

Another update: Just added myself to the twitter community: https://twitter.com/SaraZimmerman

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Traffic is starting to pick up! This is exciting. Our 90 day Bible reading challenge begins June 1st, and I will do my best to update frequently as our group here reads through the Bible. You can pick up your own reading guide here [Bookmark (.pdf)]:

http://www.biblein90days.com/index.php?option=com_product&task=viewProd&gid=2

and read along with us! Even if you are not able to commit to the 90 days, the updates will be here and can be read as you read along on your own pace.

As we read along please leave your comments on what you’ve read. This will help teach, bring up further discussion, and bring out important scriptures.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I am finally on track again with my diet, training, and work! My vacation is over, the training has been good, and I have been eating more disciplined than I have for some time now. That also means that new pictures and stats will have to be included in my updates on Bodyspace. I will notify you all when I have made those postings.

I am still unpacking at my new place. I have already lived here a month, but I’ve been so busy that I still have a closet full of boxes! Hopefully I can get everything organized before June, so I can read without the distraction!

I pray that you all are doing well. Prayer requests are also welcome as comments here, and my group will add them to the list! Also, if I have been missing any BIG NEWS since I don’t watch television, someone please update me by leaving me a message here on this post! I will talk to you all soon!

Many thanks,

Sara

Living the Good Life

Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:7-8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l42O1Bt4wSM

"We need to have Christ exaltation."

I finished reading this last week “In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do” by Charles Sheldon. It’s a great read that was written well before my time. If you would like to read it online or download a copy for yourself, it can be found here on Google Book Search:

http://books.google.com/books?id=cHVIAAAAMAAJ&dq=in+his+steps+charles+sheldon&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=rC4QSpbSKpK0NbqLvVI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPA1,M1

I highly recommend this book and suggest suggesting it to others! Why not when it can be done for free? It’s a challenging lifestyle the characters take on, asking in every situation “what would Jesus do?” I ask it myself in my life and know that I fail to measure up to my own beliefs of his standards. “The biggest room is the room for improvement!”

I am now reading John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life,” which I picked up from my local library network. It is full of scripture and holds profound messages, but it is also a bit more of a challenge to follow. I’m not yet half way through, so I am sure it will pick up for me soon.

(I am a big follower of John Piper, Paul Washer, and theMill on iTunes podcasts; I would recommend listening to them all! And, if you have suggestions for me, please leave me a message hear with book, sermon, etc. recommendations.)

I’d like to get some conversations going on here, but as you can see my following is yet not that intense. I am planning on beginning the 90 day Bible challenge, and forms for the challenge can be printed here. It is suggested by the website to begin in June, but I think I will start a bit early to get a step ahead (since I am bound to fall behind). Check it out and let me know if you want to join in! It is another adventure I hope to get my roommates in on [I’ve got at least one on board with me]!

http://www.biblein90days.com/index.php?option=com_product&task=viewProd&gid=2

In other news, I have begun to workout again. I shall be getting back to updating photos on my Bodyspace very soon: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Nutmegpeach/. It is an adventure I hope to get all of my housemates in on as well! Your body is a temple and therefore shall be kept in best health to be able to do the work of God! [Can I get an AMEN?]

The road may seem long, but it really is short! “No one gets out of this life alive,” at least not in the humanistic perception of it all. I have my hope in the Lord. “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). Don’t waste your life! Stay strong and never lose faith!

Much love,
Sara

Who Am I to Doubt?

I have taken the following from a friend's webpage. I'm tired of waiting and wondering, but I need to keep these points in mind. Let me know if you agree with them.

"Friendship/Courtship/Marriage
Solid, Spiritual Advice On Men

A more important question is – how do you catch the right one?
Simple: You take only the bus that's headed in the RIGHT DIRECTION.

First we must allow our Heavenly Father to do the picking. Second, the decision for a mate must be made on a spiritual and intellectual basis before it's made on an emotional one.

"What about love? Shouldn't that be the third?" you ask. No, and I'll tell you why. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9) The heart is willful and is driven by its own agenda. It does not consider things rationally and intelligently. It just loves to love. Therefore you have to point it in the right directions: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

Whenever you meet a man, you need to get clearance from God. Check out his attributes and then allow your heart to engage. Dating exists not for mating, but for collecting data. I believe that the biblical design would be friendship, courtship and then marriage. Friendship is two people walking together in agreement and accountability. Learning and growing together. Courtship follows the mutual agreement to commit to one another exclusively. It is the decisive turning toward the agreed upon goal of marriage. It is a period of laying a foundation and preparing for your life together after marriage. But dating? Well if you do date, use the time wisely to gather facts:

1. Check out the fabric. Is the person mate material? Does this man have an intimate relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Does he care what God thinks about his behavior? Is he accountable to God as well as another co-laborer in faith? Accountability is an important factor. It is imperative to maintaining a committed relationship. Is your potential spouse a member of the same family – the family of God? Scripture is clear on this: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14) You need to have common interests and values and agree on the essentials of living day to day. You need a similar spiritual walk. You have to eat the same spiritual diet. You have to enjoy a lot of similar things. You need to have like interests, like goals and like opinions on basic life issues. You have had like experiences in your background. Though there is some truth to the idiom that opposites attract, like-minded folks fare better together. Furthermore, does he want to get married? If you want to get married and your dreamboat isn't interested, don't waste your time. Remember, women fall in love and get married. Men decide to get married and then look for a wife. Note the difference in order. So if a guy says he's not looking for anything serious, take his words seriously. If he's not going in your direction, get off the bus and wait for the right one.

2. Does this man want you? Is he pursuing you? The man who is right for you will pursue you and God's hand in the relationship will be clear. No guessing, no fleeces and no dead ends. Scripture says: "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." (Prov 18:22) Note – Who finds whom? THE MAN FINDS THE WIFE! From the beginning of time, God has transported men and women across the world in order to put them together. At the RIGHT TIME, He will bring that man on the scene and he will find you. In God's perfect design, the man is the one who recognizes his mate. Adam had no problem recognizing that Eve was his missing rib. You do not need to strategically place yourself anywhere. You don't have to help a guy out because he's shy! Men will do whatever they have to do to get what they truly want. The man in your life should recognize you as the pearl of great price in his life and be willing to do whatever he must in order to gain your hand. If he is passive about gaining your affections, take it as a sign that he is not interested. Many a woman's mother has suggested that it is a good idea to marry a man who loves you more than you love him. As cold as that sounds, it actually might be scriptural if you stop to think about it:

"We love him because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) Until then, take the ultimate chill pill. You don't need a bunch of men in your life to make you feel good about yourself. You need only one man. The one God has selected to select you. Trust me, the right man at the wrong time can be just as awful as the wrong man at any time. So trust God's timing in this. He's the ultimate matchmaker. Relax, sit pretty and allow yourself to be found. Again – WAIT until the man voices his intentions. He should take the lead in establishing the relationship. You may have an inkling that he is the one, but God will use the man to set the tone of the relationship. Allow him the opportunity to woo you. This is your first act of submission. Jesus set the standard for all men to follow. They should love us first and they should lead the relationship.

3. The man in your life should not desire to move into your house, only into your heart. A man who prepares for your future has made his intentions clear. A man who is husband material has the means to take care of a wife. He is a responsible human being who understands he needs to have something to offer. In short, a man should have the means to be a suitable lover for you.

4. Check out his buddies. Everyone knows birds of the same feather flock together, yet most women fail to see the connection between a man and his friends. A man's pals tell you a lot about the person you haven't seen yet. They reveal things about the guy's character that might be hidden when he is on good behavior. Everyone knows how to put his best foot forward. Don't stay focused on the foot; check out the rest of the body!

5. Check out his relationship with his mother. How does he treat her? This is your preview of how he will treat you. There are lots of men who, because of a negative relationship with their mothers, really don't like women, yet say they do. Unresolved issues between mother and son continue between husband and wife.
6. Remember that a man's family reveals the cloth from which he is cut. Take note and decide whether you want your future with the man in your life to look like his present family situation.

7. Check out the patterns of his life. Do you see repeated cycles of drama in his personal kingdom? Broken relationships? Problems with making commitments? Including the job market? Mood swings? Is a problem always someone else's fault? Does he embrace responsibility or shirk it? Does he keep his promises? Is he a man of good reputation? Remember all garments look wonderful hanging in the store, but with wear, some begin to unravel. Give yourself time and space to check out the man in your life. Time will always reveal whether or not he is made of the right stuff.

8. Does this man have a vision for his life? Is he running with that vision? Remember, God decided Adam needed help once Adam got busy DOING his assignment. As we saw Adam, a man doesn't need help until he is busy doing what he was created and called to do. Is the man in your life guided by a sense of destiny and purpose, or does he just allow life to happen around him? A man who is not certain of his mission can be a most miserable person – and you will be miserable to if you know where you want to go in life. A man who has a vision is not intimidated by a woman whose vision statement is clear. He will be your best ally, cheerleader and assistant, because he wants you both to make it. A man who cannot be supportive of your achievements because he is floundering in a sea of uncertainty in his own life is not a healthy partner to have and to hold forever. Creating dependencies or feelings of obligation is not the way to get the best out of your man. Somewhere along the way, he will resent you and flee from the smothering burden of obligation he associates you with. You want a man who is firmly anchored in his identity in Christ. Remember, we are looking for a man who will be priest and leader of his home. His first instinct should be to want to cover you, redeem you and provide for you. Your job is to decide if this is the man God has ordained for you to compliment.

9. Complementary. Do your talents and gifts compliment his? Do his gifts compliment yours? What about your temperaments? Do you see the two of you as an effective team capable of bringing blessings to the lives of those around you? Do your futures mesh? Can you coordinate your gifts in an attractive and effective way? This is why knowing your purpose is so important. Make sure your hearts beat for mutual causes. When I go shopping, I always consider the fabric, the fit and what I already have in my closet. Will my next purchase be a complimentary addition to what I already have? If I find that I am going to have to buy shoes and matching accessories to go with a new outfit, I leave it right on the rack. This proposition is too expensive. If the man you meet makes you feel that you need to completely reinvent yourself, something is wrong. This is where I ask you to consider the relationship in terms of cost. Is the relationship expensive spiritually, emotionally or physically? Does your longing for a mate make you willing to forfeit who you are in the process? Or does he see you as the gift that you are? The man in your life should consider you a rare find, a priceless jewel – because of you he is getting ready to get blessed big time!!! Any relationship that causes you to feel unworthy, unlovely, unacceptable, undesirable or that you have to work for love is too expensive!!! God has called the man to cover, protect and provide not only materially for a woman, but also emotionally and spiritually as well. You should be richer in mind, body and spirit for your union with the man of your dreams. The man in your life should make rich deposits into your heart and spirit, not withdrawals.

10. Does he have a healthy love and acceptance of himself? Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and he has made peace with himself. Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and has made peace with himself. How he cares for himself is how he will care for you. A man's relationship with God is crucial here. His love for himself will only be as strong as his love for God. This is not something that you can impart. You cannot be his savior or teacher. This is out of spiritual order. In his rightful place as your personal priest, he should be leading you to a richer relationship with Christ. If he is causing you to compromise your faith and destabilize your walk, if he is leading you into sexual sin or causing you to be distracted from your commitment to Christ, the relationship is too expensive!!! Offending the Lover of your soul, who promises you eternal love, is too high a fare to pay for a ride that has a limited run. If you and your man can't soar in the Spirit, when the force of your love for another is tested by the pull or gravity of the world, your union will not be able to survive. So you decide. How much is your life worth? How much is your love worth? You will be able to accept only what you believe you deserve. God himself calculated the worth of your love and decided it was worth His life. He now pledges you His love for eternity. Yes, Jesus set the example for all others to follow when He paid a ransom for His bride. Should you expect less from a mortal man?

Throughout the Biblical age, men were willing to pay the cost for the hand that they desired. The truth of the matter is, everyone knows that anything worth having, costs. And no one gets a ride in this life for free."

To the one He is leading me towards: I still pray for you.

A Time for Prayer

Have you heard Danen Kane's song "I Want You to Believe?" It brings me to tears.
Listen yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UCzi8gdT3o

"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter would be another good song for the day. When life becomes sour, went everything bad begins to pile up, when the tears can no longer be kept in, when all I need is a hug all I want is to be alone ... alone with God.

Part of me feels I should have known from how the day started. Another part of me says it was unfair that it just seems to escalate as the day went on, until the climax left me in tears. I suppose its really a simple lesson to realize that certain parts of this life are more important and deserve more time than I certainly give. Take one step back and at least a dozen forward! At least the time I spent crying was enough to pay for a new stop watch. "FW": final warning.

On the bright side of everything, I seem to have a multitude of options so that I am not "homeless." Though, certainly no place will feel as home as this one here. Oh, the memories that I will be leaving behind in this place! Some things excite me more than others with the thought of me moving. I suppose the best part is a time for renewal. I need to focus on my priorities again, and not letting someone else get in the way of those. Sometimes I care too much and want to get too involved. I need to learn to step back from certain options.

I know what may be best for me. It seems to be the frequent answer and most possibly rewarding opportunity. I may just have to step down and take it. What is it going to hurt, really? At least I will feel safe and secure there. I shall perhaps be moving into the smallest house I have ever seen in my life. Hmm. Great things come in small packages? We will see. We will see.

When Life Brings You Lemons...

... as the old saying goes, apparently making lemonade is the answer. How about then making a lemonade stand, as in the old Charlie Brown cartoons?

Some days are tougher than others; this is one of mine. I am not quite sure where I will be living in another month. I am not quite sure what I will be doing next year for work. I am not sure if I will go into a master's program once I graduate with my BS degree. I am not sure whether I will work at a job that will be in the area of study that my BS degree is in, though I do use that information in my current position. I do not know how I will feel tomorrow, but I really hope it is nothing like I feel today.

A friend said to me this morning, "you look like you are worrying about something that's nothing." Like hitting a hammer on the head of a nail, he got me exactly. Time has me in a bind, and I will worry no longer. When life brings me lemons, I am giving them back.

Worrying for no reason. Lemons. Lemon cough drops have been my best friends today, so that is the only way I will continue to have my lemons.

Don't forget to Bookmark this page!

Keeping Up With Sara - Summary

Dealing With Debt... Paying off the College Education


Gaining Health Is Gaining Life!




Sara on Bodyspace...
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Nutmegpeach/

Also find me on Facebook and Myspace!

April 3, 2009 10:20pm

“We are all functioning at a small fraction of our capacity to live fully in its total meaning of loving, caring, creating and adventuring. Consequently, the actualizing of our potential can become the most exciting adventure of our lifetime.” - Herbert Otto

I am seated in perhaps the most expensive house I have ever found myself in that wasn’t a Parade of Homes home. I should be excited, amused, just loving this... and yet I’m not. I’m angry, tired, and grumpy as ever. The house is completely empty of people and silent, and yet this is not my house, my life, and doesn’t have me loving the fact that it is on a lake since it is so cold outside. Ben is with me, and still I am not my happy, calm self.

At my “small fraction” I am not at peace. I am frustrated with myself beyond what I know. I constantly have two lives fighting over my future as though one might be the angel side and the other the devil side. I don’t know what I am doing, and so I run from the one that will lead me into the spotlight. But then again, it is everything in moderation, right?

Balance training is what I am currently studying in my sport training class, and it’s completely relevant. Balance is something I don’t have a lot of in my life. Balance occurs by itself quite naturally. There are things I know I need to do, things I need to get done that are just not getting done on their own. I need to get to those things or I will not be satisfied, will not be happy.

I haven’t been enjoying myself lately. I need to be able to reward myself, and I just haven’t been. I need to take time away from work and studies to just be me away from any struggles, people, or worries. I don’t do that enough. I need to get out and run or spend some time in the gym. But then again, being at the gym makes me angry because I work there; I am constantly interrupted by people who recognize me from the morning staff. I need to get out of my head.

"When the night has come..."

"...And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me"

[Sara now has GOOGLE SEARCH!
Feel free to use the search above instead of pulling up
a new Google page (as I have been doing for so long)!]

Often I wonder to what great extent that we are all connected. I wonder what life would be like if we all lived in small communities where caring for others, cultivating the land, and living on minimums were a priority. I wonder how much better our lives would be to work together to live and learn and not be slaves to our governments, or at least not in the sense we are today.

I would love to live in a home where the electric company paid me every month. I would love to live in a place where fruits and vegetables could be planted and would flourish for fresh meals at home. I would love to live in a community where a child's morals, health, or life were not at risk by simply stepping outside.

I shouldnt worry, though. My faith is in the Lord.
I have research to do and prayers to be said!

"If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me"

Doing the Dave Ramsey No. 4

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV).”

Blessings. Blessings, blessings, blessings! Waiting with purpose brings blessings. I have seen so many recently including in my relationships with Holly and Char, getting contacted by Camille, being loved by the members of MVP, and having a family that stretches all throughout western Michigan. Praise God! It’s a really tough challenge to wait, to struggle while waiting, and to pray when all seems rough, but it is certainly worth it.

Sometimes we’re thrown big challenges and who can be sure just why we have to face what we must. I’m in the midst of having a lot of repairs done on my car. Spent over $600 this last week on repairs, and there is still so much to be done. [I’ll be testing myself again with frequent kidney bean soup again for the next month.] I am grateful for my two jobs, for having money saved for emergencies, and for the support of family and friends when my car is not the most reliable. Car repairs every year seem to be the biggest charge on the credit card, and it looks like this year I will be mostly prepared throughout the big repairs.

Most who know me well know how much I keep a constant eye on my finances. Having done some bookkeeping at work has had me in the habit for years now in keeping a budget in a spreadsheet. I must enter in values for every account at least once or twice a week. I have gotten better about saving money using coupon and seeking out great deals; I thank Sarah for helping me learn. (Check out her website here: http://sarahsdeals.blogspot.com/ ) I was hoping to have one more of my (now four including college loans [was seven]) negative accounts paid off this month, and before the car repairs I was getting close. I now plan on having two of the four paid off by August, and it will happen. I will continue to stay on track and make progress despite temporarily taking a step back.

I was struggling the last couple weeks, especially with prayer and trusting. I need to pray and trust and to keep a solid foundation with a relationship with God in my life. I struggled, and I believe God has been using certain people to get be back on track. Who knows where I am being led, but I am so excited for the paths I am facing towards. Pray and trust. Please continue to pray that God lead me in the direction He wants me to go.

With continued thanks,
Sara

Becoming "New and Improved!"

There is nothing like the feeling after a great workout, where the mind screams "that was awesome," where the heart and lungs scream "that feels so good," and where the eyes say "did I really just do all that?"

I ordered P90X, despite the fact that I already work at a gym and am becoming a personal trainer and already teach some group classes. I wanted a new challenge, a way for me to stay on track with one video a day and a meal guide. I've fallen off my own charts in a sense and just want back on the wagon. I've started the program at 130lbs and 20% body fat. My ultimate goal is 130lbs and 15% body fat. I'll give myself the 90 days. Today is day 2, and I still have a workout to complete. For more progress history visit my Bodyspace page, but do not forget to bookmark this one while youre still here. This page you are currently on will be my primary page for updates!

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/Nutmegpeach/

In other news:

I am getting some repairs done on the car this Saturday, which I am not too happy about. Still, I want the car to run for a few more years. But, I also know that I have a grand more of repairs to put into the car before the end of the year. Good thing I have been saving extra money along the way!

I have also been sticking to the budget this is layed out for the rest of the year, but I have a lot of work to continue to do, and I will have to cut back a bit so the cost of the car repairs will not hinder my progress.

Doing the Dave Ramsey No. 3

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Yes, I am almost there! Two accounts down, two to go, the second to last should be paid off in the next month, and the last should be near paid off (if not completely paid off) by April! I am ecstatic! Life is grand!

Working my two jobs and tackling full time college status has me about at the end of my ropes and burned out. Gratefully my boss gave me Monday morning off, and I am hoping to get some catch-up done around the house this weekend. I currently [still] have no social life, but I am willing to pay this price during the winter months. Once summer arrives this better be a little different of a story!

I missed church last weekend, so I am thoroughly looking forward to Sunday! I began attending at Plainfield Christian, and I like it so far. If I move out of Rockford in the near future, then I may still look for another place of worship. But, I need to find a place for me that I can commit my time to and have fellowship. I need that more than ever. I need to grow in my faith, and I need the help of others to keep me accountable in my readings of the Bible.

So, I am hoping to have paid off by April... my last two credit cards and most of my borrowed-money-from-mom loan, which is another $800 I borrowed for tuition last spring. Then all I will have is two accounts for student loans, one that is under $800 already. Rarr. It all seems like so much, but I am getting closer to my long-range goals! Goals are a great thing to have.

I do not want to get married with debt. Though I do not feel as though I have met THAT person yet, I figure it will still take me a couple years to get the college loans paid.

I am probably saying the same thing in this note as I have past notes, but I don't much care. This is what is important to me. I have work to do for the Lord, and I do not want the debt of this money-hungry world over my head. Who knows where I will be in one, two, and even more so five years, but I know I will continue to work hard to get out of debt! I know some of my relatives who are so deep in debt they will probably never come out of it. I see how it affects them. I do not want that for myself. What good is that for your character?

Today my boss's boss at the great ol' Meijer said thanks and way-to-go for all my recent guest compliments; it seems I am racking up quite the collection. I may not always mind the clock, but I know people and what customer service should be. If they want to do some real good, then they will have me give some lessons! Hah. I just do the work I need with a heart for Christ. When you treat others as if they were Christ himself, then the work comes easy with a gentle and giving spirit. It's that simple.

If you pray add me to your prayer list. Ask that God lead me in the direction He wants me to go.

Many thanks!
Sara