Change of plans...

"Life isn't about the destination, it's about enjoying the journey." - And thank goodness for that. How many times have I set out to reach one destination and ened up somewhere totally different? Or the journey takes a whole different route than planned. If life was just about the destination I would be a complete failure. And while this does sometimes feel true... I look back on the little journeys I have taken that make up my life and I can't help but smile. The people I have met, the adventures I have had, the lessons I have learned, they all make up the person I am today.

We make plans and God laughs.

The first profession I can remember wanting as a kid was to be an ice skater...ha ha, He must have gotten a big laugh out of that one. It's important to plan and be prepared because as they say, "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail" but, you have to be ready to roll with the punches. Life is going to happen and it's going to be messy and difficult but it will also be beautiful and rewarding.

When I first started out on this "Health" journey I knew that if it was truly going to work it had to be a life change forever. Meaning there was no finish line. There would be highs and lows but, either way I had to keep going. It wasn't about reaching a number and then stopping. Of course I had a number... "the" number (the goal weight)... but thank goodness it is not the end all because I'm still not there. If this was all just about the number... then everything so far would feel like a total fail because I'm still not there. Honestly, I really thought I would be. It's been a little over a year and half and I truly thought I would be there by now... but I'm not. I'm not at that number but I am having the journey of a lifetime. The last year and half has been EPIC. I am doing things I always wanted to do but never gave myself the chance. I have met people that have changed me... I am different, I am better, because of them. And the lessons I have learned and am learning... oh the lessons.

So, change of plans... I'm not going to be an ice skater when I grow up. And I don't weigh 160... yet. And I may never cross everything off my bucket list. But I promise you this, I sure am going to try. And I will fail, and fail hard but, I'm also going to keep on, press in, and live my life to the very fullest.


Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

Veggie Tales

Boccoli, celery, gotta be... Veggie Tales! Remember those guys? I'm not talking about these Jesus loving Veggies today but rather my revolutionized relationship with the veggies that you actually eat.

Take a look at my shopping cart these days and you would have no idea that I used to despise veggies. When I was a kid I hated vegetables so much that I came up with some pretty creative ways to "clean my plate." My parents tried so hard to get me to eat my veggies; using the classic, "no dessert unless you eat those" or "you cannot leave the table until you eat those." Here's the deal, I was a really good kid... like goody-two-shoes good but, I was also a little sneaky. I was able to get away with a lot of stuff under the veil of being the good kid. My sneaky, evasive behavior was unexpected.

There was no way I was going to choke down those veggies and of course I didn't want to sit at the kitchen table all night so I found ways to get rid of them.
1. Chew a little and then act like I was wiping my face when really I was spitting it out in my napkin to be thrown away later.
2. There was some kind of large decorative clay pot near the kitchen table that had a small opening at the top and opened up to a big base. When no one was watching I would empty my veggies in there. (and then one day my mom did some spring cleaning and found the rotted stuff that I am sure was several year old... yeah, def got spanked for that)
3. Sometimes I would toss a few on other people's plates but I could only do a little at a time and found this to not be my best option.
4. My most successful tactic was to stuff my veggies in my pockets... or my underwear... (DON'T JUDGE!)... and then go to the restroom and flush 'em away! Success.

I think at some point my parents realized that there just wasn't much else they could do and I filled my own plate and ate what I could. I would eat green beans and some select others and I didn't have to dispose of my unwanted veggies anymore.

Peas were always my least favorite Veggie and here I am having them for lunch... when pigs fly.

Now, I can honestly say I really do like veggies. Crazy! I still shock myself sometimes with this new taste pallet. I don't put dressing on my salads, I snack on cauliflower, I ate PEAS! Who is this girl? She's out of her mind but I think I'll keep her around. Makes meals so much more interesting when there's more on the plate than just meat and potatoes.

tasty tacos filled with veggies

I told you... I snack on Cauliflower... obsessed!

A tasty Stir Fry

Lettuce Wrap

When you make a tasty salad there is no need for dressing.

Useless

Take a flashlight and try and use it in the middle of the sunniest day outside. It doesn't matter how strong or powerful that flashlight is because it is useless out in the sun. A flashlight requires darkness to be of any use. In fact the darker it is the brighter the light will appear.

As christians we can find ourselves in very dark places and wonder, "Why in the world had God put me here?" We may feel abandoned and alone and wonder how we got so lost, when really we are right where we need to be. If we are to share the light of God with the world, what good are we surrounded by each other? We are useless. But in the darkness He can shine.

I know that God has great plans for my life but that doesn't mean that these great things rest in the distant future. Instead, they reside as an opportunity in every interaction I have with someone. A positive attitude and joyful heart go a long way (beyond what we may every truly know) in impacting the lives of others around us. I choose JOY. Life may not be going exactly how I want it to and there may be a laundry list of things gone wrong but I have to let go and let God. Philippines 4:6 says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." So, I will live a life of thanksgiving. And I will allow His light to shine through me in the darkest places.

Since moving back home I have really missed having a good support group of fellow believers around me. I miss "doing life" with the friends that became family. But you know what, God didn't put me on this earth to be comfortable. I am thankful that he has placed me in some darker places so that His light in me might actually be of use. A lot of times I think we feel it takes completing some huge task to make a remarkable difference in the world when really small is so the new big. There is great power in obeying God in the small.

Be obedient in the small, daily details. Each day look for opportunities to shine God's light. Do not shy away from darkness for that is where He can use you the most. Don't be useless.