New Goals: Getting Sweaty!

I remember when my goal was to be able to run a mile without stopping. It almost seemed impossible.  Actually, I didn't think about this goal until this morning when I completed 1.99 miles in 23 minutes and 47 secounds.  I finished those almost 2 miles and then did 20 minutes of boxing.  I sweat more than I ever have in my life.  My hair was wet, my socks and shoes were wet. My glasses stayed steamed up during the whole workout because my body was so steamy hot- it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E.....

Who knew this girly girl liked getting so sweaty?!  :)

GOALS

Point being that I'm on a new season with new health/fitness goals:
1. Run 2 miles (without stopping) -my ultimate dream is to run a 30 minute 5K.  I'm getting close!! 
2. Boxing- I want to learn more about boxing.  The girls I work-out with go to a gym in Alma, MI and do boxing there with an instructor. I would love to go with them but most nights/times it falls on a day that doesn't work for me.  So I'm learning what I can from them.  Its a different kind of thrill that I get from boxing. Makes you feel strong and tough at the same time. And the cardio from it is KILLER
3. I want to do more with weights- I was weightlifting with Julia this past summer and it amazed me what my body could do.  It made me want to see how strong I was and if I could do a strong "woman" competition. I don't want to get big-just STRONGER. :)

DREAMS
I continue to dream not only in my health but with my work/job.  A few weeks ago I mentioned about our Department needing to cut jobs in our office- 3 to be exact.  In the history of the State, it is RARE if never, that they cut positions. They shift people around or come up with the funds to make sure no position cuts are necessary.  The ideas our office presented with volunatry lay offs and some others were all tabled.  The only idea that was "not" shut down, was the idea of a job share position. Meaning- 2 ladies, working part-time on one caseload. One worker carrying the insurance and the other not having Insurance.  They said that this idea was not out of the question and that they would relook at it and all the "what ifs".  Its a long shot.  But my ultimate dream would be to work part time with the state and focus on my music.  I'd either like to go back to school, open up a music studio or just work part-time and be even more involved with the music and leadership at my church.  Really, I can't pin point it except to say, I want my dreams to line-up with my giftings and what God has for me to do with them.  I can have all these dreams and wishes, but it ultimately needs to be in His plan for my life. And I know God wants good things for me and wants me to have the desires of my heart.....

I think the whole dreams comes to mind because I just finished one amazing weekend at Grace Adventures.  The worship times were intense. God spoke to me on several occasions with words for the women during the worship.  And my workshop on "Life Changing Worship" taught me something about myself: my strength is in speaking through worship and music. I don't necessarily like teaching for a whole lesson. I would have preferred to teach from the piano instead of standing and speaking....I almost feel naked without the piano.

I am amazed how I keep growing and learning more about myself, my heart, my dreams, my gifitings....I actually love being in this phase of life where everything is a learning and growing phase. Makes me feel fresh and new- like a seed that has broken the ground and is breaking forth with new green leaves and stems, just starting to show its buds and waiting to see what blossoms.

Romans 8:26-28 MSG
"God's spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless signs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves....and keeps us present before God. That's why we can bo so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

P.S.  Yesterday I had two amazing God appointments with people at work- meaning, God used me in their lives and it was amazing. I was just being me, sharing my heart, being real, listening to what they were saying and somehow it translated into those people thanking me.  One person actually told me that I was the only person in her life and in her line of work that ever talked to her about spiritual things, and it was good.  I am thankful to be apart of God's plan in showing God's love in a tangible way while I'm on this earth-JUST A REMINDER THAT GOD CAN USE ME WHERE EVER I AM even if I'm not doing my dream job.

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Ok here are 3 pics from my trip to Mears, MI September 20-22nd for my friend's wedding. I love my girls so much.  So much of what I do in my life is for them and I pray that they see that and know that they are the jewels of my life.