Be My Everything

God in my living
There in my breathing

God in my waking

God in my sleeping

God in my resting

There in my working

God in my thinking

God in my speaking

Be my everything

God in my hoping

There in my dreaming

God in my watching

God in my waiting

God in my laughing

There in my weeping

God in my hurting

God in my healing

Christ in me

Christ in me the hope of glory

You are everything

Christ in me the hope of glory

Be my everything

You are everything

Jesus, Everything

Tim Hughes - "Everything"

All it takes is faith, trust and a little bit of Pixie dust

 Sunday January 29th was the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon. Almost 12,000 runners, my Mom and I included in that number! This was the first time in a race that I could really tell there was SO many participants!! I have done 3 other ones and 2 of them I believe had more participants but this one was just so crowded the WHOLE way.

 So my Mom totally wins in this race, we may have finished at the same time but she was the one that got me through it. After about mile 4 I started to get pretty tired and I was wondering how I was going to keep up with my mom who was feeling pretty good (I could tell because she was passing a lot of people)  The plan was to run the first 5 miles and then go to a run/walk combo so I was REALLY looking forward to mile 5... but then we get to mile for and my mom says "well lets just see how we feel at mile 5" meaning "I feel good right now so I think we can go further" and I was thinking ummm well ya right.  So mile 5 comes along and I say uh I have to do the run/walk thing because I couldn't take it any longer and as we start moving into this I keep going slower and slower and basically I would slow down and get behind my mom for 3 minutes and then use the last 2 minutes to catch up with her so I could walk. This lasted until mile 7 and then I decided I was going to do 3 and 1 because I couldn't keep running for 5 minutes straight. So I move to that and my mom kind of does it but she kept up her pace and I just tried to keep up until mile 9 and then we got the cliff shot and man that TOTALLY energized me... for about a minute.   Mentally though I was feeling more confident as we neared the last 3 miles I was getting excited about finishing but my legs were cramping a little bit so I decided I was going to really take it easy miles 10 and 11 so my last mile would feel okay. It worked out and when my mom started getting tired I was feeling motivated so we encouraged each other at different times and ended up finished in 3:02 which was pretty good I think. Especially since I had to stop to go pee in the middle and we had to run around the people walking the WHOLE time... not just in the beginning. It was madness!!!  

So thats how the race went :)  First time I actually had a running partner that we stayed with each other and that was good.  Its such a good memory and I am so glad I could share it with my mom. She was seriously the reason why I finished in time because I think I would have started walking at mile 5...  I know that she inspires the rest of the family too because she has worked so hard and come so far and I did hear her mention possible doing a race for her 60th birthday! Thats incredible!  Also, I need to remind her that for the first 5 miles possibly more... she was singing the Disney songs... So I think I might have held her back a bit. Next one I won't though.

Plans for the next race... the Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Florida, November 6-9.  I am thinking in the summer that I want to run in 2 10K's to help with training more consistently so if anyone has ideas for races let me know!

Just got our race bibs at the health expo

Mile 8... I think Mom was yelling that we were getting tired.
I had been tired since mile 4... 

Finally done!! What a feeling :) 

January

Three weeks into January and lets see what resolutions have continued... I can't even remember them so probably none. I will continue to work on them though I am sure.

  Last week I started in Disney's Emerging Leader Program, which for those of you who don't know it is basically a management training program. I am working in Outdoor Vending in Disneyland. It is not a HUGE change but it is kind of a big one, I am doing three weeks of "costume" training which means I will learn pretty much every position that I will be managing. So far it has been pretty great besides being super sick the first week (last week). I survived and I am pretty sure I didn't get anyone else sick.  I learned how to blow up those $12 balloons we sell. I also got to sell some which is not really that easy. You would think holding 20 balloons isn't so bad but then they bring you 30 more and then you have 50 and you feel like you will be pulled away. I have also learned where most of the bathrooms are in Disneyland and if you thought I knew them before you are crazy :)
  I have learned that I don't really like the turkey legs that everyone else LOVES. I just don't get the craze but thats okay.    Eating at the Blue Bayou for the first time was great, we ate there for lunch last week and we had an amazing server who has been with Disney for 38 years... ALL of them at the Blue Bayou.  Everyone that I have met has been so welcoming and helpful. I still have lots of training left and actually I am technically training the whole time in this program.

Even in these first two weeks I have learned so much and realized that I have SO much to learn and I am very thankful that I get to work where they placed me.

One thing that everyone asks... "tell me about yourself, what do you like to do?" and this question for some reason is so difficult for me. So this year I am going to find a hobby.  I need to work on my 30 second commercial or whatever they call it.

Besides all the changes at work I have a few other things going on as well.

Sunday the 29th I will be running with my mom at Disney's Tinker Bell Half Marathon. Its going to be interesting and I really hope I can keep up with her since my training has been non existent the past month. (I've been sick)    Hopefully towards the end of the year I will be able to participate in Disney's Wine and Dine Half Marathon which is in Florida. Its in November so if anyone wants run with me or just go hang out please let me know!!!   It's during the food and wine festival in Epcot so even more of a reason to go!

I am also doing Weight Watchers... I have done it before but I gave up before but this time I am going to stick to it until I reach my goal weight. I would like to lose 30 lbs and then see how I feel then and what is a good weight for me. Once I reach my goal weight I am going to quit 24 hour fitness and start going to LA Boxing. I LOVE LA Boxing but I can't afford it so once I hit "lifetime" or my goal weight with WW I won't have to pay anymore so I will be able to do LA Boxing. So if you ever see me eating or drinking too much just remind me that its not worth it :-)

I am so excited for this year and I hope that I will be challenged both professionally and personally. I am going to try and update this thing as I progress through EL (emerging leaders) and also I guess as I go through WW.

Keep me in your prayers y'all  :-)

GMA L. J.

This year has been so exciting for me, I was able to be on the opening team of a new restaurant at Disney, got to spend 2 weeks with my family on vacation, moved to a new apartment, and so much more.  I keep thinking I can't get any busier but then something else comes up and most of these things have been good things not all but most. I am so thankful for what God is doing in my life and even though I know I have SO much to work on I have seen His work in  my life and in others so clearly this year that I feel very blessed. This all being said I cannot stop thinking about my Grandma who passed away almost two years ago now, I wish she was hear so I could share these things with her, I know she would be so happy to hear all the things that are going on with me and with my sisters and family. I am glad that she is not in pain anymore and is with her Heavenly Father celebrating. When I think of her I think of strength, she was in pain for most of her life but I think that she held a lot of that in and she had great faith and a strong prayer life. I know I did not appreciate the things she shared all the time but I appreciate that she was there and always listened when I called or came over to see her. She always loved hearing about what was going on in my life, she would always have treats for us when we came home or went over to say hello. Most of the people I grew up with knew her from seeing her at my swim meets or water polo games, she always wanted to go even if it meant being in the sun all day and being uncomfortable.  I am not sure why all these things are on my mind right now but it could be that I would love to pick up the phone and call her and share with her all thats going on and I would also love to visit and watch The Jolson Story with her. Either way she is on my mind right now and I miss and love her and the memories of her.

I want a dog

   My goal is to get a dog for Christmas. I want a Pit Bull.  Another goal is to run another half marathon this year and by next year run a full. Maybe throw in a triathlon somewhere if I can get a bike.  

 I started at a new location like a month ago about or so and we just opened last week, I really love it and I am so glad to be doing something different. It is challenging for me and I am learning so much. One negative is that its taking up all my time and I know I am neglecting some relationships and for that I apologize.  I have a lot to work on but I am getting there (I think a dog would help... maybe not but I still want one)

  

C.S. Lewis

"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in."

Something Witty...

I tried out a one liner for my new job and this is the feedback I got --"Amy, that was terrible."

So I will think of something else or I will just use the pre-designed spiels that probably won't come very naturally to me, or I will stay away from the bar (not gonna happen)

In 2 days we will be having our soft open for the new restaurant and bar that I will be working in and I am excited/scared/anxious/excited. I love the new challenge and I LOVE being back in food and beverage, I learned so much working at the Front Desk but now I am on to a new challenge. Go me!

Rain Rain go away....

Actually I really like this rainy type of weather, its much better than the over 100 degree weather we had for a few days last week. I know who am I to complain when we have perfect weather almost all year long but man it was HOT.   


Today I am trying not to feel discouraged... its been a full month since I started this get healthy kick and I haven't lost a single pound!!  I am wondering what the heck I am doing wrong. I am going to the gym more than I have all year and I stopped eating fast food and drinking soda. My mom told me to start keeping a food journal and I might just have to do that and see if I really am eating so much more than I was before. Its just really kind of frustrating. 


Another speed bump that I've hit is my poor foot. For whatever reason it is killing me when I walk/run/jog whatever. I have no clue what caused this to start happening but I am praying it gets better FAST! In the mean time I am trying to do the elliptical machine even though I really don't like it. Maybe I am still being affected by the fast from a few weeks ago. I don't know I just figured I would feel healthier and all I feel is my body kind of falling apart.  Its okay though I will not be discouraged... I will fight the good fight and I will finish the race, I WILL keep the faith. UGH if it were just that easy. 


 Tonight I am starting a 10 week course at my church called Living for God (or something like that) I am pretty excited about it. I am hoping that it will challenge me and open my eyes to things or force me to look at things I am ignoring. I just hope that God works in my heart and that I learn from this class. Tomorrow I will be hopefully joining a Life Group if all goes well, I missed last week because I went and saw Peter Pan and that was good but I am ready to meet my life group and start growing in the community. 


I need to go to sleep now.... well like 40 minutes ago but thats okay. I will try to keep my head up and not worry about the scale and worry about my heart. Cheesy I know but sometimes its good to be.




Mark 11:22-23
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him."

Food for thought

I am not exactly sure what "food for thought" is actually supposed to mean but thats the only thing I could think of for the title of this post.

This past week was "Seek Week" at Rock Harbor, the church I attend, and as part of that they suggested doing a fast. I have never fasted before, mainly because I have never had the discipline to do so. I would start and say "ok I am going to fast...." and then when I got hungry I would make an excuse as to why I had to eat. So this week I decided to take the plunge and actually fast. So for 4 days I was on nothing but water. I wasn't really prepared for the side affects of not eating, I was tired and my thoughts were constantly on what I was going to eat when I was done. I was tempted SO many times to give up because of how tired and yucky I was feeling but thankfully with some encouragement and a whole lot of help from God I made it through the 4 days. Now I don't think that I was really prepared for this fast and I wish that I had taken more time out of my day to spend with God but I mainly slept =)   I think though that it wasn't a complete failure, nothing ever is when God is involved. It did open my eyes to a few things that I am in need of work and I am hoping that I will continue to grow in Him and seek his guidance (it took me about 5 minutes to remember how to spell that... oops).

Its been about a year or so since I have been really excited/happy with where I am and where I am going. I thought that this last week was the perfect time to revitalize my relationship with God because I didn't want the giving up food to be about weight loss, I decided to also give up exercising which would probably not have been possible anyways considering I barely made it to work each night and I also know that not eating is not productive when trying to lose weight so this was not about weight loss which in the past has been an incentive for me to fast and that is probably why I've never been able to do it in the past.  Ok and by the way when you don't eat your breath smells so I chewed Big Red gum but now I think my tongue is messed up. Does that happen to anyone else when they chew cinnamon gum?   Oh and do you want to know how I ended my fast? Well I had a banana and granola bar around 5AM at work because that was my last break time and thats when I decided I was done but then AFTER work I went to breakfast with a coworker and we went to Pancake House and for some reason I had been looking forward to Chocolate Chip Pancakes the WHOLE week... besides all the other food I craved which was every type of food imaginable but it wasn't on their online menu but it WAS on there menu when we got there. HOORAY! So I had corned beef hash and eggs and they came with pancakes and I upgraded to chocolate chip pancakes... Probably not the smartest way to end a fast and I think right now 8 hours later I can't tell if my stomach hurts from the big breakfast or I need to eat again. So I am just drinking water and will hopefully be going for a run this evening to celebrate.

Umm I don't  think I put much about what I learned but just trust me that I learned things and it was a good thing. I think if I ever get called to do another one it will be a juice and water fast so that my energy level doesn't drop so much. But anyways I am so excited about what God has in store for me I can't sleep either that or it was the 4 cups of coffee at breakfast that are keeping me awake I am thinking its my excitement though.

I think I am done posting for today, I will someday realize I need to structure my posts but for now they will be helter skelter and only somewhat make sense.


God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis 


Check out this song...


Beautiful Beautiful by Francesca Battistille

First Time

Well this is my first entry into the blog world. Its taken awhile but I am finally going to do this for me more so than for others. I want to start writing about what's going on in my life but mainly I am wanting to write about my fitness progress. I don't think I want to share my specific goals but lets just say I want to start living a healthier lifestyle. Who doesn't these days??

So my first step was last week I decided to stop eating fast food (as much as possible) and no more sodas. The no fast food has been easier than I thought so far its been 2 weeks which is so good for me because I am not one for cooking but I am learning (I should be a better cook considering I've taken 2 professional cooking classes but oh well) I think that it will be challenging for the first few months but eventually I am hoping it will be a habit that sticks.

Last week was also my first time back at the gym seriously since the Triathlon my family and I completed (minus Dad... next one I am sure we will all be participating) which was in May I think. I have been trying weight training 3 days a week and running 3 days a week as well. If I don't get all the days in I am trying not to beat myself up because then I will just stop going all together. I am praying that these baby steps will get me going on this journey we call life, ha ha super cheesy.

So a few other things going on in my life... First as I continue my work experience at Disney. I have moved to work Graveyard, this was my choice and I have a few reasons for doing so. First, I wanted a set schedule that basically gives me weekends off. Second, I am trying to save money so working graveyards makes it hard to have a life so I am basically forcing myself to not be able to do anything. Another reason is it gives me the opportunity to hopefully join a Bible study/take classes at church. So far its going well and working out the way I want. I hope that my attitude will stay positive and that I can continue to grow and develop as a leader so that I can continue my career. I love the hospitality industry and I am glad that I get to do what I have always wanted to. Although I am looking for a new job somewhere that I will be able to progress a little bit faster than I am able at Disney. So far my job search hasn't led me anywhere but I will continue until I find where God wants me. Till then I am trying to have a better attitude at work and to make the best of the position I am in now.

Okay so I think this will now end my first blog entry. If it seems random and all over the place thats probably because that is how I think. You can ask the people I work with (they have pointed it out to me many times). I know I am not a talented writer and probably not very entertaining to read but thats okay maybe in time I will improve and learn to write focused and amusing posts.

"And once you live a good story, you get a taste for a kind of meaning in life, and you can't go back to being normal; you can't go back to meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable thread of wasted time."
— Donald Miller (A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life)