2014....WOW....We made it!!

Thank God for making it through another year.

Who doesn' t love the new year?!! So many possibilities. So much potential. The years are flying by. I will be 37 this year....OMG. I'm not gonna hyperventilate. I'm just going to relax and enjoy my life. God gave it to me and my life and times are in His hands, so I'm not gonna fret.

In other news....

I found out that the laptop that I bought on Black Friday from the pawn shop was probably stolen. OMG!! I can't have stolen goods in my possession. Even though I had no idea. I mean, I was told that a lot of the stuff at the pawn shop was probably stolen, but I know that not everything there is stolen because I've pawned some stuff before. I hope it wasn't stolen. One of the reasons I bought it was because it had Microsoft Office already loaded. But, when I got it home it would not save anything. It kept resetting. So I have a friend who knows a guy who works on computers. She said he could fix it. He said that there was Lo Jack security software on it that keeps it resetting. He had a heck of a time getting it off. Then he told me that it was probably stolen. OMG.

I'm an agent who works with the federal government. I can't be involved in foolishness. I don't want the police to show up at my door saying I have stolen property. Oh boy.....

In other news....

My stalker called my mom. LOL.

Ok...rewind.

I don't have a stalker, but he sounded like one when he called my mom.

Apparently, my cell phone was found on the city bus and the bus called musicbox because that was the last person who text the phone. Musicbox called me, but I was in the shower. He went to pick the phone up and he came by and rang the doorbell, but I didn't hear because I was in the shower. So, he called my mom. LOL. He told my mom that he was trying to get ahold of me and that he was outside my apartment and that my car was outside, but I wasn't answering the door. LOL.  Yes, he sounded like a stalker. So my mom called me to ask me if I knew this guy. I reassured her that I did.

Too funny!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Bald Eagle Sightings

I drove for about 10 hours today for work but it was all worth it because in Grafton, IL I got to see not one, not two, but 3 bald eagles. And it was amazing.

Apparently, Grafton, IL is the wintering destination for bald eagles from Dec 1 - Mar 1 and people come from all over the world to see them and we got to see them today. Of course we didn't get a chance to stop and enjoy because we were working, but it was still amazing. We learned about the bald eagles in October when we went to Grafton. We learning that they build nest that are so huge they can weigh up to a ton. And we learned that the eagles mate for life and their wingspan can be up to 7 feet long.

We didn't know that we would see a sighting when we were down there, but we saw all the people on the side of the Great River Road with cameras, binoculars, and telescopes. We looked up and there was one perched on the top of the tree. It was cool. We drove a little further and we saw two flying. They were beautiful!!

I'm so glad we went.

After that we rode on a ferry across the Illinois river--IN THE CAR. WAAAAYYYYY COOOOLLLLL!!!

I kept seeing the signs that said "Free Ferry" and then it said 30,000 ton limit. And the only thing I could thinking of was how many people have to get on a ferry for it to transport 30,000 tons. The GPS then told us to turn left and get on the ferry.

WHAT???

We can't get on the ferry. We will have to leave the car and we can't do that....is what I was thinking. Then one of my partners told us that we drive on the ferry. Ooooohhhhhhh!!

We got in line and drove the car right up on the ferry behind 4 other cars and they ferried us across.  We got out the car and took pics and videos. I'm the one recording and the other person is my partner.

 

The Last Supper & Healthcare

I've signed up for health care. Yay, me!!

With the new health care laws, I'm able to get more affordable health care. I'm not sure the quality, but I'm paying $230 a month for the bronze package through health alliance and my coverage starts January 1. I think I heard in the news that preventative care is covered 100% which is mostly what I would use it for. I know that with the cheapest coverage my deductible would be high, so I'm gonna save up some money for the deductible just in case I need it. I'm supposed to be signing up for dental care also, but I haven't yet. I think the dental coverage is about $20 a month.

In other news.....

I am starting my strict budget in a few days. No eating out unless it is absolutely necessary. No buying meaningless, impulsive things....I'm sticking to my budget because I've got a $50K student loan to take care of and a $500 a month tuition bill to take care of.

So, I had my last supper today at a restaurant in Peoria. It was called Famous City, a really nice bistro with famous food from different cities. For example, Dallas Brisket (even though I didn't know Dallas was famous for brisket). I was looking for fish tacos, but apparently they are out of season. So, the Dallas Brisket is what I had and it was really good. Nice and tender. The BBQ sauces were even famous--Kansas City Sweet and Tangy, St. Louis Style, Louisiana Hot and Spicy, etc....

My waiter was really great. Every time I put my glass down he was refilling it. He had a nice spirit about him also. I ordered a huge hunk of red velvet cake to go (only because my computer died and I couldn't work anymore).

But, because I will be on a financial and health diet....I won't be dining out any time soon. I'm glad though. It is time for me to move forward in my life and getting out of debt is one way!!

OH....MY..... GOD

I had a $3500 bad debt hanging over my head and today I just PAID it OFF. My balance is zero.  Actually, I didn't pay the full amount, but thanks to Dave Ramsey, I went in and asked for a settlement. That was two weeks ago. I have $2K in my pocket and I asked the woman if it could be settled for $1K. She said she wasn't sure and she also said that they don't purchase the debts (not sure if she was lying to me or not). I left. The next morning she called me back, but I didn't get the message. So, today I went in again and told her that I had $1500 on me and that I would like to know if the account could be settled. She agreed and now my balance is ZERO!!

THANK GOD!!!

Now I have a $10 debt that I need to find out who to pay for it.

The only other debt I have is my student loan!!!

So far this year, since August, I've paid off $2800 in bad debt.

I'm going to chunk away at my student loan on next year. My goal is to pay as close to $25,000 as I could.

I'm so happy and thankful to God!!!

MY DEBT IS BEING DEMOLISHED!!!

Now I can pay for health insurance!!

Yes, He Did It!!

I decided a while ago to go through a divorce. I know it's silly cause I'm not married, but I was so tied up in old relationships and I wanted to be free. I prayed and fasted and God did it.

How do I know?

Well, Mister and I spent two days together recently and there was NOTHING...NOTHING emotional, NOTHING physical, NO chemistry AT ALL between us. It was like we were never together at all. We were cordial and we had fun, but there was NO, us feelings.

I saw Coach at the gym and I didn't feel a thing.

God, did that for me. My soul has been untied from all of those bad bad relationships and I'm so ready to start anew.

This year is rapidly coming to a close and I'm so ready for the new year!!

Thank God for NEW BEGINNINGS and NEW SEASONS!!

Finish This Year Strong

It is VERY important how I finish this year!!

I was discouraged on yesterday and I almost allowed my emotions to overtake me, but I was really discouraged.

Back story....

In September I was encouraged and prophesied to. I was told that I needed to stand on the word of God as it relates to grant writing for the organization. I wasn't told what scripture, but I was told to use the word of God. So, I prayed to God and asked what scripture did I need to use and one Tuesday night it dropped in my spirit--Nehemiah. So I went to the scripture and read Nehemiah.

What I found was that Nehemiah was distressed because the city of his people was destroyed. He was distressed and he prayed and fasted for his people and his city. The king saw his sorrow and asked him what was wrong. He prayed and told that kind that he wanted to go home to rebuild the city. The king asked him what he needed. He said he needed a letter to go get everything he needed in addition to what he needed for his own home. The king granted to him everything he needed to rebuild the city.

So, I thanked God for the word and I began praying for the grants that we write and I even wrote a letter to the representative hoping that this would create a dialog. However, the letter sat and sat and I never sent it. Then I heard that the representative had granted funding to another organization for programming. This caused me to become sad because I knew I needed to mail this letter. So, I got the letter together and when I went to mail it, I spilled water all over it. This was already signed by the CEO who was now in Florida. So, I needed to rewrite the letter and have her sign it again. But, she's in Florida. So I copied her signature, but there was no ink. When I finally got the letter recreated, I got stuck in the snow and the post office closed.

I was sad.

Had I missed God in my slothfulness? Why did I wait so long?

I was greatly distressed and discouraged.

But, today I got a word from the Lord through our Apostle.

"FINISH THIS YEAR STRONG" and turn your frustration into finishing. He encouraged us that it seems like the word that was prophesied to me (to us) was not gonna happen, but we are to take our frustrations and finish what we are supposed to do.

Thank God for the word and the encouragement.

I WILL FINISH THIS YEAR STRONG!!!

It seems I've gotten my strength back. I've gotten my joy back!!!  Thank God!!!!

40 Hours a Week and Food Poisoning

For the next two pay periods I have got to work 40 hours week. I want to start the new year with a really decent check. But I've already took a day off on Tuesday and I'm still in the bed now because I had a case of food poisoning that kept me in the bathroom all night throwing up.

At first I didn't know what it was. I mean its rare that I'm sick. So why was I throwing up? Then I remembered what I had for dinner--left over beef brisket , broccoli, yogurt, and a fiber one bar. I think the broccoli did me in. Its bad when you are so cheap that instead of throwing away bad food you try to salvage it. That's what I did with the broccoli. It had bad parts and I tried to cut it off but I think I ended up cooking it. I should have thrown it out. My stomach would have thanked me. But I've learn my lesson. Vomiting liquid and having the dry heaves is the pits. I thought my insides were gonna come out. This morning I went through the fridge and cabinets and threw out everything that was expired. Man I hate throwing away food but I never wanna be sick like that again.

This Reminds Me....

....to ALWAYS be friendly with people because you never know who you may meet.

I sent my brother information about a job close to where he lives. I helped him with his cover letter and resume and we emailed it to the contact person. My brother then went to work at Target and around 4:30pm a man gets into his check out lane to purchase some items. The man looked at my brother's name tag and told him his named sounded familiar. My brother told him that he wasn't sure if he knew him. The man then remembered my brother's name from the email. My brother confirmed that he did send him the email about the job. The man then told him that he was the boss and that he would forward his email to the supervisor so that they could give him a call.

My brother was so excited he called me as soon as he got on break.

Who would have known that the man he had just emailed a few hours ago would walk into the store. What are the odds? As a matter of fact, I didn't even know that man was in that particular area. We thought he was in another city.

I told my brother that this is why you have to ALWAYS be nice to people!!

I Just Hate It

I just found out that another organization has gotten money to run programs.

I am in distress.

I was supposed to send a Thank You letter to our representative for the funding for our summer camp. We wrote the grant and not only did we get it, she made sure that we got double. And I was wanting to form a relationship with her because our organization needs funding for next year. However, because of my laziness, the letter has been sitting on my desk for a month and I just found out that the other organization got funding.

This is why I NEED to be led by the spirit.

Had I been led by the spirit that letter would have been mailed.

Lord, what do I do now?

I'm not gonna be ruled by my emotions. I'm gonna do what I was supposed to do....

I JUST HATE IT WHEN I DON'T STAY FOCUSED!!!!!

GOD WILL STILL GET THE GLORY!!!

Year End Review

2013 will soon close. At the beginning of the year, I was in a good place. I was employed, had adequate roof over my head, food, clothes, etc. I went to see Mister and all hell broke loose. From February until May I was fervently praying for him and his situation--couldn't hardly sleep....I begin to sink emotionally because the toil of my financial status was causing great distress. God heard my prayers and answered me. In May 2013, my salary increased three-fold. God is GREAT!! I'm learning to do well in my job. The summer was good with the summer camp and my job. The beginning of the fall brought a new season spiritually and a renewed sense of purpose, however, with that renewed purpose, the enemy was right there to try to discourage me. However, I've been holding onto my faith. Now, we are in a new season and I'm lagging a little behind. But, God is still GREAT and He will get the glory out of my life.

I've created a new budget for myself for next year. My goal is to work on being discipline and also work on being a disciple for Jesus.

This is my 2014 debt. I'm using the envelop system...


 

Tithes	$560.00
Debt Retirement	$300.00
Insurance        Car--90      Health--250  Accident--30	$370.00
Food	$100.00
Gas	$100.00
Phone Service Cell--55       Home--25               Internet--55	$135.00
Student Loan	$300.00
Misc           YMCA--50           Hulu--10             Other--100	$160.00
Tuition/School UIS --365,     RCC--100	$450.00

 

No, No, No, No, No

I am supposed to be moving FORWARD, not backwards in my life. But for some reason (yes, I know the reason) I am not. My weight is going up, my spending is becoming erratic, my spirituality is becoming dim.....I should be getting brighter and lighter. What is wrong with me...

I know!!

My body is trying to rule me. My emotions are trying to rule me and I'm tired of it. I feel miserable and unhappy because of it. I've got to get this train back on the tracks. I've got to steer this boat back around. It's trying to run wild and I REFUSE to allow it. I've fought too hard for HAPPINESS!!  And GOD has been way too good to me!!!

It's the end of the year and it's very important how I close out this season. And I want to do it on a spiritual note, not a fleshy note. Because next year is going to be an absolutely wonderful year. So, I have to prepare myself, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

I'm going to put in the work to become disciplined!!!

Officially a College Student

I have enrolled in two classes for the spring. One class is online (UGH) microeconomics class. The class is at the community college and they are charging me $465. UGH. The other class is called Nonprofit Sector and Society at the university. Tuition is about $2000. OMG!!! I REALLY better get something out of this class. I'm going on an payment plan to pay for both. My first $365 payment goes through on December 28. Merry Christmas to me!!

The Spirit Causes Life

One of the things that I've been thinking about lately is the spirit realm. We are all spirit. When God created Adam, he didn't come alive until God "breathe" the breath if life into him. The "Breath" is the spirit. We are all made in God's image and God is spirit so we are spirit. We just live in a body and one day this body will die (if God doesn't come back first). Since we are spirit we have to know how to operate. We can allow our soul (emotions), body (cravings and appetites), rule us or we can allow our spirit (the breath of God, that comes from God) rule us. When we allow our soul (emotions) to rule, it can cause us great turmoil. When can allow our body (cravings and appetites) to rule us and that can be detrimental. A simple example is obesity. Many people overeat because of emotional reasons, and many people overeat because of food just taste good and we allow our body to tell us to eat. Overeating can be detrimental to our health. If we listen to the spirit of God, it will tell us to "slow down...don't eat so much....stop eating..." But, that requires discipline. Discipline to hear the spirit of God and discipline to be obedient to what God is telling us.

When we accept Christ, we have to yield to His spirit because from His spirit comes life.

I didn't fully understand that until I went to the laundromat today.

Anyone can quote scriptures, but only God's spirit can change us. God's spirit ruling in us can move mountains.

When I was at the laundromat, there was a woman--a grandmother--there doing a lot of laundry. She had a few teenage grandchildren there with her. She kept saying, "excuse me" when ever she walked by. When I was drying my clothes, she was using the dryers next to me and I because to think about witnessing to her, but I didn't know what to say. So, she said something about her grandchildren not helping her like she needed them to. I simply laughed at her comment. She then made another comment about loving her grandchildren. She went on to talk and I didn't know what to say, so I just listened. But, I was wondering how to witness to her. She then told me that her son was killed in August. Tears started to fall as she told me the hurt. I just listened and then I asked how she was doing spiritually. She told me that she never went to church, but she prays. I felt her pain and I didn't want to cry and eventually I told her that I lost my daughter. It kind of shocked her. We chatted some more and I said a quick prayer for her mind and before I left her I got her number so that I could come visit. She then told me that she felt better. She was saying that she felt something about me...she said she didn't know why she was talking to me, but she felt like she could share. She said that she doesn't just talk about her son...but there was some reason she wanted to talk to me.

That was the spirit of God AND I LOVE WHEN MY SPIRIT is CLEAN AND OPEN TO BE USED BY GOD!!!

It wasn't me. I barely said anything. I simply told her that God healed my heart. There were a few scriptures coming to mind, but it wasn't the time to quote....I just witnessed to her that God healed my heart.

It wasn't scripture...it was the SPIRIT of GOD and I WANT THAT SPIRIT OF RULE ME ALL THE TIME.

But I have to discipline my flesh. I have to stay clean in the word of God. I have to guard my heart so that nothing ungodly gets in.

God, You can use me. I WANT to DO YOUR WILL!!  I WANT YOUR WILL TO BECOME MY WILL!!