Advocare

Today was my first day of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and here are my thoughts: 

1. Watermelon Spark- good

2. Fiber drink- horrible, glad my Adviser warned me and told me to mix it with some of my spark. 

3. Strawberry meal replacement shake- delicious! 

4. Lots of pills to remember to take.

5. Spark works. 

6. Drinking enough water can be hard. 

What I really like about Advocare is that it encourages eating right. It's not one of those eat junk & lose weight things. 

This weekend I'm going to work on some meal planning. Any ideas will be great.

2014 is gonna be my year

It's time for change. What better time than New Years, right? I'm tired of talking about losing weight and getting in shape. I'm tired of the excuses that are always there. I am starting a new journey today, the road to a new healthier, thinner me.

I'm going to use this blog to lay it all out there, post my progress, my setbacks, my frustrations, my triumphs. I'll be posting good healthy recipes that I find, tips & tricks for fitting exercise it, and I'm going to try my best for a monthly progress report. I want readers that will hold me accountable, encourage me & offer advice. 

I have decided to try the Advocare 24 day challenge.  I am somewhat skeptical of any weight loss pills or whatever.  But this seems a little different to me.  But I am not relying on this for my weight kids, merely as an aid.  So hopefully It will be the jump start I need. 

So here's the starting point: 

Weight: 234.0

:(

It's not painfully obvious that we are not only no longer friends but we were never really friends in the first place. You could have at least pretended to be excited to bump into me when I haven't seen or spoken to you in years. But then again, you've probably forgotten all about me and had no clue who I was. I spent so much time holding on, hoping you'd be the guy I was friends with (well, thought I was friends with). But now I truly see, you are someone completely different than who I thought you were &; it's way past time for me to purge myself of you, and get over it & move on. I've known that our friendship has been over, it still kinda stung.

White crayon

I haven't been here in a while...there's not much to say.  Still no boyfriend or even any prospects.  This pretty much sums me up

So on to other things...work is great, not perfect but overall, I couldn't ask for a better job.  My patient load is picking up & I'm getting busy, which is awesome! 

A couple of weeks ago, I bought my first home...a 2BR/2BA trailer that I moved right next door to my parents. So maybe it isn't perfect or my dream home, but it works.  It's just what I need right now.  It's finally coming together and the power should be on tomorrow...which means move in can happen soon! 

On the other hand, my truck quit on me last week...no idea what's wrong with it. Luckily I have my Daddy's truck to drive til we figure it out...

So many things going on, it'd be easy to lose faith right about now. But I know that my God is still here & still in control so my faith keeps going...honestly my faith is what keeps me going. I'd be lost without it. 

Life as I know it

Since I've last been on here, I've spent 2 1/2 months in the New Orleans area, staying with my boss, I came back home to train some more with my other boss, and now in 1 1/2 weeks I will FINALLY be out on my own!  This job sure has been an adventure, that's for sure.  I do enjoy getting up to go to work everyday, though.  I really can't complain about my job.  It's not perfect, but what job is?

It always seems like I'm so super focused on my career.  But I am ready to switch my focus to my social/love life.  But, seriously, how do you do that when you don't have many close friends and the ones you do have are married?  And my best friend's idea of hanging out is me going over to her house, eating supper with her, her husband, & her little girl, and watching tv.  I love spending time with them, but I'm tired of just sitting around, doing nothing all the time.  And what's even harder is that I'm not the type to go to bars or anything, so I don't know what I want to go out & do, I just know I want to get out of the house.  I need to get out, meet people.  But how do you do that?  I mean, I'm not going to meet my future husband by sitting around my house or my friend's house.  I'm just stuck in a rut--I'm not going to go out by myself to meet people, but I don't have anyone to go out anywhere with me, everyone I'm around has their own family & significant others. Any ideas on how to get out of this rut??

Log 1; Saturn Vue 0

Life has gotten crazy, and I haven't had much time to post on here.

 I'm pretty sure crazy stuff only happens to me.  Friday I was driving on a 4 lane divided highway and in front of me a log truck had turned except one of the logs was sticking way out away from the truck and still in the lane I was driving straight in, and there was a car in the lane beside me.  So I made the choice to hit the log instead of the car.  And here's the result..
.
 

 


Yes, that is part of the log, wedged all up underneath my hood.  I am not sure how bad all the damage is yet.  Hopefully the adjuster from the insurance company will let me know something soon.  Good news is that I wasn't hurt at all, and I have a rental car.

Where I am

In 2010 when I started Nurse Practitioner school, I imagined in October of 2012, I'd be settled into an amazing NP job in family practice, or ideally in pediatrics, in the Jackson area.  Even in August, September, October 2011, this was the goal I was working toward.  As my job search continued & job opportunities were looking slim, I decided that I was supposed to move back home & work in that area.

  So, I started seeing myself working in Meridian or the surrounding area, still in family practice with hopes of pediatrics.  The job search continued...with flashes of promising ideas here & there that always fell through.  By this point I was so confused.  Maybe what I had planned all along had been completely wrong, maybe I'm supposed to be somewhere else in the state of MS or maybe a different state entirely.

So, grudgingly, I began searching for jobs all over MS and even in other southwestern states.  Finally at the end of August 2012 I had a VERY promising option back towards the Jackson, MS area in PEDIATRICS....and then kind of out of the blue it, too, fell through.  I was very heartbroken & discouraged.

 And then one day, shortly after that I was looking on craigslist (of all places), under their job page for Meridian where I found an ad for a NP with an interest in dermatology.  Not that I was particularly interested in dermatology, but I wanted to explore ALL my options.  I sent my resume in & I got an interview with the doctor & she basically gave me the job right there.  As I'm starting to learn more about dermatology, the more I'm interested.

 So now in October 2012, I am just starting my first NP job in the Meridian area, in dermatology.  And now I can see, that even though I'm nowhere near where I thought I'd be...I'm exactly where God had planned for me!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL??

I am a HUGE football fan.  Not the biggest one out there, but I'm up there.  So why not write about football?  I spend my Sunday afternoons glued to the TV typically watching one of my many teams.  Sometimes Saturdays too, depending what games are on.  I'm not going to analyze teams or games or anything, don't worry.

I guess my love for football started when I was 10.  My older sister was in the high school band so we went to the games every week to watch her & as I was sitting there with my daddy, who was really into the games, I began to watch with him and ask him questions about the game.  By the time she graduated, I was in high school & in the band.  I was one of the only Color Guard girls who sat and intensely watched the games.  In high school, I started watching more & more college football & NFL.  Now, I'm completely addicted!

On Saturdays, if the MSU (Mississippi State University) game is televised I do what I can to arrange to be home so I can watch it.  And Sundays after I get home from church, I turn on the games and pretty much settle in for a complete evening of football; watching the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, & the Denver Broncos. Sometimes I watch the New York Jets...but I'm really waiting for them to start Tebow before I watch!

Working!

Yesterday was the first day I actually did any training for my new job.  It was only for a few hours, but I am so thankful it was because I was still so overwhelmed by it all!  There is so much to learn, but I'm really excited about some of the things I'll be able to do once I'm all trained.  Right now, it still hasn't really sank in that I'm really & truly employed again. That I'm actually going to be getting a paycheck at the end of this month.  SO EXCITING!   I've been waiting for this for so long, I truly appreciate being employed & I hope that this has taught me to never take that for granted!  Short post, I know.

Creativity

I have always been the kind of person that would much rather buy a gift for a baby shower or wedding shower that shows a lot of thought.  Like something I made or a gift basket that is personalized for that person.   And when money is tight, those kinds of gifts aren't just fun, they become even more practical because typically you can get away with doing them for much less than buying a gift.  

So today, I thought I'd share a couple of things that I've made for myself or for others.  

Scrabble tile coasters.  I made these for my sister who just got married a couple of weeks ago.  Her last name is now Webb, so I worked that into each one. 

Change jar I made for my sister for Christmas.

Jewelry holder I made for myself out of a block of wood.  

This sign was at the door of the church when my sister got married.  

T-shirts I made for my sister and her new hubby!  

In Him, I have hope

I was doing my Bible study this morning in 1 Peter, and one passage really stuck out to me.  It was 1 Peter 3:15-17, which says, "But in your hearts revere Jesus Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

As Christians, we are called to always be ready to share Christ with others; to share what He has done in our lives. To tell others why we always have hope in Him. But, we shouldn't do this in judgment or condemnation. By that I mean the "turn or burn" theory of bringing salvation to others.  All that does is attempt to "scare" people into believing in God.  A true relationship with God doesn't involve fear.  It revolves around love.  His love for us; our love for others. For that reason, we should share His love with love. 

In today's world, Christians are stereotyped as judgmental & hypocritical. These two things should never truly describe a follower of Christ, because after all; He was neither. And isn't our goal to be Christlike?  He never threatened people with Hell to get them to believe in Him; He loved them, plain and simple. 

Wait

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

The past year has been extremely difficult for me.  All this time, this verse played a big part in my life.  God has provided for me, now, in an amazing way; in a way I never thought possible.  Last October, I was finished with school & planning on taking my certification for FNP.  I never foresaw a year-long search for a job.  I never imagined I'd be working in dermatology; a field not many nurse practitioners (around here) get the privilege of working in.  

During the past year, I got discouraged...A LOT.  It began to feel like finding a job was hopeless. Things would come up that would seem to be promising, and then like that it would fall through.  Even when this job came up, I was afraid to get my hopes up.  

God used Psalm 27:14 to speak to me numerous times during this past year.  I am stubborn and it took a while for me to get what he was saying.  It takes the most strength to wait for Him to do His will.  I wasn't being strong when I was anxious about money or about a job falling through, or not getting a phone call that I was hoping for.  When I was trying to do it for myself, I was at my weakest.   When I reached the bottom of what I could do, He was there to carry me to the wonderful plan He had for me all along.  Not that I'm saying that I've arrived now & I don't need Him anymore.  I need Him now more than EVER! He is the only reason I'm where I am.  

Praise God.  If you are going through a difficult time, remember, He's still there, waiting...sometimes we have to wait for Him.  His timing is always better than ours.  

AT LAST

So, I've joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge for the month of October.  I hope I can keep up with it! It's actually kind of perfect because I'm starting a new chapter in my life.  One that I've been waiting for for a LONG time.  I started my new job today!  My first job as a Nurse Practitioner.  The bad part is that I have to do my training 4 hours from home.  Really not fun for a home body like me.  The doctor was nice enough to open her home to me during the few months I am going to be training, though...but in some ways that made the anxiety worse.  Until I actually got there, that is.  Now, I'm totally relaxed about my housing arrangement, now I can start stressing about the important stuff...learning all this DERMATOLOGY!

Now, about my first day.

Shortened version:
Sprained ankle. Paperwork. Bad News. Driving all the way home.

Extended version:
I think I am the only person who can sprain their ankle on the first day of their new job, before they even leave for work by simply walking down some stairs.  Yep, just walking down the stairs & I came down on my ankle and twisted it, leaving me with a self-diagnosed grade 1 sprain.  It's not too terrible, I'm still able to walk on it.  What a way to start the day!

But then I spend the day doing all sorts of fun paperwork, getting everything lined up.  Applying for my nursing license in Louisiana since I'm going to be training down there, signing my contract, applying for malpractice insurance, etc.  There is SO much that goes into it.  And then I find out, I can't actually start training until I get my license.  So now I'm in limbo.  Good news is though that I get to come back home, but I've got to start studying!  :)

I'm excited about this blog challenge, getting to explore my first month of this new part of my life through blogging...hope it interests y'all!

It's my birthday...

So it's officially my birthday...I'm not really in the birthday mood tho. This year just doesn't seem like there's anything special about it. For the first year I'm actually feeling like I'm getting old...the ripe old age of 27, old, right? Ha.
I wish I was gonna go celebrate or that it was just going to be special in some way...

BUT I did get a job...FINALLY!! I'm so excited and super freaked out & nervous! It's in a specialty and I have to go 4 hours from home starting on Monday to train for about 6 months... But I think I'm really gonna like it, just gotta get past the nerves

Day 23: Favorite Movies and TV Shows.

I don't think there's time for all my favorites...

But here's a few...

Starting with Movie faves

TV SHOWS

 

Day 22: What do you want your future to be like?

Working as a Nurse Practitioner (preferably in a Pediatric clinic).

Married to the love of my life (yet to be named).

Kids (my ideal number is 4 total, would love to have twins).

That sums it up...

Day 21: Something you’re proud of.

I'm proud of graduating with my Master's Degree in Nursing and becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Day 20: Something you wonder “What if…?” about.

What if...I told A I like him?
What if...L & I had dated?
What if...Kayla didn't die 7 years ago?
What if...my grandparents didn't die when I was so young?

Day 19: Things you want to say to an ex.

Not exactly an ex since I don't have one of those.  But there's a couple of things I'd like to say to an apparently ex-friend of mine.

1. I don't know why you just decided to stop talking to me, but we were good friends, what happened?
2. You can be more than what you are right now...
3. And if that's all you are destined to be & act then you definitely aren't the person I thought I knew.  That guy was pretty awesome.
4. I want to be friends again.

That's pretty much it...

Day 18: Something you miss

Destin, FL