Early September 2014

I know, I’ve been quiet for a while.  Sorry.

Don’t get too upset with me, I spend most of my time studying.  Yep, that’s right, back in school full-time, officially now!  So far, I like it.  I would say ‘love it’, but that would make me a crazy person 🙂  So far, so good anyway.  Had to write a paper last week, which I’m sure I could have done better on.  Don’t have the grade yet, should by Monday.

Besides all the studying, work has been stressing.  My day-to-day stuff is OK, just got a co-worker I’m not getting along with and there’s a big project going on that I’m involved in.  Involved in… well, actually it’s a new computer system that will completely revolutionize what I do.  Exciting, for the most part.  Just a huge undertaking.

Hung out with that FreeStyle STL group I talked about last month.  They (we?) get together on the first Friday of the month.  It’s kinda an organic Christ movement with diverse people from different churches that want to share Jesus’ love with the city.  Last month we worshiped together, this month we prayed for the city, and next month… God will work that out 🙂

Don’t know if you noticed, but I finally signed up with Instagram and connected it to my site.  Look on the right, down a little bit.  Come check me out!  I’m still learning though.

But learning seems to define my life.

Kinda on the learning subject… I’m almost finished with the Bible in 90 Days plan.  Looking more like Bible in 104 days plan for me, but it works.  I’ve really enjoyed reading through the Scriptures these past 3 months!  I think I might do it again after I finish this round.

Oh, almost forgot.  Started a 5k this morning.  I’ve heard it said that it’s better to not finish than to not start.  I got a cramp in my leg and knee and had to ride the paddy wagon back to the finish line.  Oh well, next one is Oct 12, hopefully I’ll finish that one 🙂

Talk to you all soon, I promise 😉

End of June 2014 #school #Advocare

I’m supposed to be working on my Eng 102 10-page (!) research paper.  But I needed a writing break.  Yeah, I know, it doesn’t make sense, just play along 😉

So, I’m failing Eng 102 😦  I’m getting a 100% in Oral Comm 101 though 🙂  So, lesson there:  I can speak English at a college level, I just can’t write it at a college level.  grrr. 

I’m not against the idea of dropping Eng 102 with a ‘W”.  I figure it’s better than an ‘F’.  I’ll see how I do on this research paper and go from there.  See, here’s the thing, I didn’t realize my writing wasn’t at a Comp 2 level.  We turned in 2 essays before receiving any feedback from the teacher.  Now I’m about 1/2 way through the class and not sure how much I can improve my grade with what we have left.  So, I’m considering dropping the class and starting over at a later date.  Not giving up really, just taking another go at it at a later time.  I took Comp 1 a long time ago, maybe I need to dig those books and notes out and refresh my brain. I might even consider taking the class ‘live’ instead of online, maybe that would help.  Maybe then we’d get more, faster, feedback too.

Anyway, I’m on day 20 of the 24-day Advocare challenge.  Weight is down and my clothes are a tiny bit looser 🙂  I’ll post the numbers after the challenge is over on Tuesday.  So, where do I go from here?  I’m going to stay on some of the products to continue the weight loss.  Glad I signed up as a distributor so I can get the discount 🙂  I’ll also keep eating clean.  I gave up dairy products for the challenge, I’ll probably add them back in my diet – in moderation.  I might get a pizza on day 25 though, just a slice or 2, that’s one of things I’ve been craving like crazy!

Haven’t had time to work on any art, too busy with school.  I need to make time for it though.

I have made some time for leisurely reading.  I’ll have a book review out today or tomorrow (you know, when I need another writing ‘break’!)

I got caught up on the 90-Day Bible reading plan!  I’m now reading about David.  Can’t believe I’ve made it this far, I might actually make it all the way through!  Just in time to start at Liberty on my BS in Religion, where I can read it all again.

I’d better get back to writing and researching… blah! 😉

What else is going on? #art #english #school #ms #B90

So much else has been going on besides the Advocare 24-day challenge (which is going really well!  I have SO much more energy, it’s scary!)  

Anyway, I  thought I should take a moment and update y’all on other stuff 🙂

Art – I attended an art conference this past weekend that was very inspiring.  We discussed how art is prophetic and how you can use the arts to reach people for Christ.  The arts have been kinda taboo in churches, so it’s freeing to attend an event that affirms the giftings God has put in us.  It inspired me to go out and buy a new medium – pastels.  Hadn’t worked with them before but so far I like them.  They’re a lot like colored pencil, which I enjoy too.  God put into my imagination a couple of pieces I hope to work on soon, in acrylic and pastels.  Should be fun.

English – so I’m taking Eng 102 this semester and it is harder than I remember.  It’s online and writing intensive.  I like writing this blog and stuff, but I don’t have to worry about strict grammar and grades and all that with this platform.  I don’t have to give you all a thesis statement and a closing paragraph, but maybe I do that unintentionally anyway… hmm.

School – start at LUO on Aug 18th!  So excited!  Received all my books, wow!  There’s a lot!  A few for each class, and I’m taking 4.  Well, actually 5 classes, but one is a single credit – online literacy class.  So 4 ‘real’ classes that are 3 credit hours each.  (Free time?  Ha!  I used to think I had too much!  Now I won’t have any!)  The community college Oral Comm class is going well so far.  The teacher is pretty cool and the work hasn’t been too hard yet.  We have a persuasive speech due in a couple of weeks, which I’m a little nervous about, but not really.  Public speaking isn’t too scary to me, I’ve done a lot of it in church and on missions.

MS – I hate summer.  I don’t have any real symptoms or anything, just get a little more worn out if I’m hot for too long.   The weight loss and eating healthy are helping  a lot though.

B90 or Bible in 90 days – doing OK so far.  I’m about 3 days behind, but considering everything that’s going on, I think that’s pretty good!  Will finish Numbers today (yes, I totally made it through Leviticus!)  That means a lot of the ‘hard’ stuff is done, just got Deuteronomy to go, then not so much Law anymore, just stories.  They are a lot of more interesting to read.

So for my closing statement 😉  Things are crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

PS – the depression isn’t a problem right now 🙂  Big PRAISE GOD for that!

Beginning of June 2014

Hard to believe it’s June already, but don’t we say something like that every month?  Time does seem to be flying by.

BIG NEWS!!!  My brother got engaged!!  He’s been with the girl for 15 years!  So happy for them.  Not sure when the wedding will be though, but I am in it.  I’ll be on my brother’s side, she has a brother who will be on her side.  Switching things up a little 🙂  Can’t wait!

I start classes at the community college this week!  Doing Eng 102 (online) and Oral Comm (on campus) this summer.  Then on Aug 18th, I start with Liberty (online).  If I stick to my plan, I should graduate either Spring or Summer 2016.  It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m sure I can handle it all!  This Fall I’m taking Philosophy, Old Testament Survey, Evangelism and Physical Science, along with an online literacy course.  Whoa!

I started a challenge yesterday, I’m going to attempt to read through the Bible in 90 days.  I’ve tried to in the past and didn’t make it very far.  This time I’m doing it as part of a challenge our pastor put out there yesterday.  So I have people doing it with me. 

Can’t talk about it too much yet, but I might know where I’m going for a mission trip in 2015.  Possibly to a Muslim nation!  I don’t have a lot of details just yet, but I’ll keep y’all posted!

Next Monday I’ll start another challenge too!  I’m doing the Advocare 24-Day Challenge.  I’ll keep y’all posted on my progress.  Some friends of mine sell it and have had great results, so I figure I’ll give it a try.  More on that later, I’m still trying to figure it all out myself!

Just wanted to put a quick update out there.  Obviously things are about to get crazy busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂