Daily PUSH Day 2: Goal Setting

Today's task was to set 10 challenging, but specific, goals for the next 12 months. Goals are to be written in the present tense as if they have already happened/are taking place. This is something that will be repeated weekly to see how the goals shift and morph. Here we go, in no particular order:

1. I will weigh 150 pounds and therefore be within Marine Corps BMI standards.
2. I regularly run at a sub 30:00 5K pace.
3. My home is organized and ready for surprise guests.
4. I am in a fulfilling romantic relationship.
5. My credit card debt is paid off.
6. I am consistent in my daily devotions and quiet time with God.
7. I have my ministerial license.
8. I am getting paid to do ministry.
9. I can do 3 pull ups.
10. I do not rely on my snooze button.

How about you? What are some of your goals for the 12 months months? I bet you are closer to them than you think!

30 Day Push: Day 1

Did ya miss me? I know that I have been remiss in my postings, but then I looked and saw that it has been almost two years! Where does the time go? I guess my lack of posting is evidence of my lack of life balance lately. Something that I really want to get under control. So I took action and picked up Push by Chalene Johnson. I have really enjoyed her personality and energy through PiYo workouts and since I have built up and reinforced some bad habits, I figured she was a good place to start. And since today is August 1, that is an even better time to start.

The task for Day 1 was create a list of priorities and then focus on the top three. Once those are set the real work begins: creating a Top Priority Clarity Statement. Here is mine:

My number-one priority is to live a life of balance in which my emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health is not only stable but growing; this will require intentionality in each of these areas as well as adequate boundaries to ensure that I do not become a victim of circumstance or set myself up for failure; reaching out to a form of support and accountability system and core friends will also be necessary and will also contribute to my emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being.

I am ready to be a better me! Who's with me?

Rule of Life

For my Foundations of Biblical Spirituality class we have read some really interesting books like The God Shaped Brain. But one of the most thought provoking assignments that will have far-reaching ripples in my life writing a Rule of Life for myself. I have read about this concept before, but never thought of really doing it myself until now. I wanted to share what I have come up with. It is a bit on the generic side, but I hope this will be something that I review at least annually and/or when there are major changes in my life. Do you have a Rule of Life? Is there something that you think is missing or should not be included?

Kristy's RULE OF LIFE
1. Be intentional with regards to the relationships in my life: God, family, friends. This means setting aside time each day/week/month/season to spend quality and quantity time. It also means making sure that my friends are good influences—spiritually and socially.
2. Be intentional about my physical health: avoid processed foods at least one day a week, exercise 3x a week, work to get my running time and pushup count to Navy standards and maintain or increase when standard is reached, work on reducing my caffeine intake by first switching to half-caff and teas, maintain vegetarian diet, and be in bed by midnight.
3. Be a cheerful giver with both my time and money: habitually tithes and offerings as well as charitable donations and volunteering.
4. Continue to make an effort to socialize and meet new people.
5. Be well read academically, Biblically, and socially. Read both for relaxation, self-study, and scholastics.
6. Take time to find at least one blessing each day: start writing them down for later reflection and reminders.
7. Give my best to school and work to ensure that I not only receive the benefits of an education and job, but also to help inspire those around me.

As part of Rule #6, my goal is to start posting my blessing on my poor neglected blog.

Miley Got Back

I get that people think Miley Cyrus is no longer the Disney role model she once was. What I don't understand is why everyone is all up in arms when Miley Cyrus--who is 20 years old--starts shaking her booty all over some guy. (Yes I saw the video. I was more disturbed by whatever it was she was doing with her tongue than her booty.) This style of dancing has been around for decades in the hip-hop culture. Is it okay for Sir-Mix-A-Lot to have had a whole song objectifying female butts, "Baby Got Back", 20 years ago that was all about booty-shaking just because of the color of the women in the video? How many of us out there smile and start singing along with him with nostalgia?



"I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your tough
'Cause you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
Oh baby, I wanna get with you
And take your picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But that butt you got makes me so horny
Ooh, Rump-o'-smooth-skin
You say you wanna get in my Benz?
Well, use me, use me
'Cause you ain't that average groupie
I've seen them dancin'
To hell with romancin'
She's sweat, wet,
Got it goin' like a turbo 'Vette
I'm tired of magazines
Sayin' flat butts are the thing
Take the average black man and ask him that
She gotta pack much back
So, fellas! (Yeah!) Fellas! (Yeah!)
Has your girlfriend got the butt? (Hell yeah!)
Tell 'em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)
Shake that healthy butt!
Baby got back!"

Let's Try This Again

I have been very bad about updating my blog and now that I am starting a new chapter in life, I figured I should re-start my blog. I have been here in Michigan for about 5 weeks now. Today marked the end of my first class at Seminary. I greatly enjoyed the class and look forward to my next two which start on Monday. I have also started working part-time, overnights, which gives me extra study time. Who doesn't want that?!

So far Daly and I are adapting well to our new home and surroundings. Here's hoping the next 3 years stay this smooth :)

The Faulty GPS route that lied to me...

Looking Back, Looking Forward

O'Malley & Daly

Today marks the one year anniversary of the day I had to put my beloved O’Malley to sleep and I have been reflecting on my life. So much has changed in the last 12-16 months that it feels like an eternity has passed. This last year (plus a few months) has been full of so many changes--highs, lows, stagnations, regressions, hurts, and happiness. I am currently weeks away from my 34th birthday. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be unemployed and living with my parents at this stage in my life I would have laughed in your face. This was not part of my life plan. By now I was supposed to be a successful business woman with a husband and kids (of both the fur and flesh variety). But here I sit trying to figure out what is next. Trying not to feel like a failure. Trying to find the motivation that I once had.

I’m on the cusp of finishing a degree that will launch me in an entirely different direction career-wise. This is both exciting and frightening. The lack of positive responses (and mostly, just lack of responses) in my quest for a summer practicum is extremely discouraging and has me questioning if this is the direction I am supposed to be heading. Or I am not committed enough—should I be spending time at an SDA university campus full time for my M.Div in chaplaincy? Should I join the military’s chaplaincy candidate program? But if I did, I worry about the responsibility I have as to my beautiful epileptic kitty Daly; will I not be able to give her the care she needs? She requires a lifetime (hers) commitment and I am willing to make the sacrifices financially and personally for that.


Where is the Easy Button?