Giving up......Should you or should you not

     Have you ever thought that question...Should I give up? I know a lot of people probably have at least once in their life time. I know I have asked that question myself on countless occasions. There have also been people who have even said, "I give up, I am done!" That could mean many things right? Like I give up, I am done with living life so I am going to attempt suicide and end my own life, or I give up, I am done working for this job or this boss so I am going quit or I give up, I am done with having to go school its too hard and it is not right for me so I am going to drop out.

    Those are just some of the example of when people have said that they give up. I know that there have been time, since starting my new job at Tyson, that I have thought about giving up and quitting, but I have had to stop and think, "Do I really want to give up and quit this job?" "If I do give up and quit is it really going to be the right decision to make?" And I ultimately talk myself out of quitting. There have even been time that I have said I give up, I am done living my life. I will admit that I had thought about committing suicide just before my sixteenth birthday. Up to that point, I had been through so much and I had so many voices floating around in my head and personally attacking me, that I didn't know what to do. I had no one to talk to at the time, the voices that were in my head kept taking over the one true voice inside my head that personally for me, that I knew I had to do something and the one thing that came to mind was suicide. So that was the only thing that my own personal voice would think about while I was being attacked by the other voices that were in my head. I had truly given up, but hadn't acted on them (thank goodness now). I was lucky enough I had one person who helped me get out of those thoughts.

     I guess that yeah in a way when I was sixteen that I had given up, but I hadn't really truly given up. As I look back now I can say that yeah I didn't completely give up just because I knew, in the back of my mind that something better would come along and that I would be happier than I was back then. I know at least one person-and I won't say who, but they know who they are-that has wanted to give up on life, but I take it that without, not only the help of those who love them, but with the help of thinking of that one reason why they held on so long and the thought of who they may or may not leave behind if they had given up was what stopped them from giving up.

    Things may get hard, but don't give up because of it. There is always another way around those hard things and those hard times. Just remember that you are not alone in those hardest times in your life and that there is almost always someone right there behind you ready to catch you and to help you and help you get past those hard times and hard things in your life. For anyone who is going through things and want to give up, I beg you PLEASE don't give up, yes it may seem hard and may seem like the only option, but it is not the only option. Don't be afraid to ask someone you love or someone you trust to help you, there is ALWAYS someone out there that is willing to help no matter what things you want to give up on.

Much Love to all my friends and family who are always behind me 100%. Thank you all for believing me and helping make sure I don't give up on something that I shouldn't give up on.

Life

I have decided to share some of my poems with you all. So over time I will share all of my poems. I hope you enjoy them. Much love always.

Life

Life-

Is too short to waste.

We all should live life

As if we’ll never

Die.

Life-

Is too short to waste.

So we should

Live a life of

Purpose.

We should say-

“I don’t need easy;

I just need possible.” (Bethany Hamilton)

When things get

Tough.

Life-

Is too short to waste.

So make everyday

Count as your

Last.

Life-

Is too short to waste.

So don’t waste it.

Welcome 2016

 

     Well hello New Year! We meet again! Another year has come and gone and now it is time to start another year. How fast or slow will this year go this time? I honestly hope that 216 doesn't go by to fast or to slow, that it goes somewhere in the middle of the two. So that it doesn't feel like the year drags on, but also so that speed right on by like 2015 did.

    As the begun, I couldn't help but think of the things have changed for me in this past year, but I also started to dream about what the future will hold for me. I was going through so photos of this year and it got  me to thinking that yeah so much has changed for me, but I am surely ready to see how the rest of me is going to continue to change. I know that since I started TOPS two years ago and started working on my weight that that is one thing that in not going to change but it is going to change. Its not going to change that I am going to continue to work on losing with, but I know for a fact that my weight will change for the better. I have such a great support system not only with my family, but with the amazing TOPS group I had back in Colorado. TOPS #CO 620, Aurora, you guys are amazing and have surely inspired me to continue my weight loss journey. Tom Tigert, Judy Maurer, Marilyn Ryan, Carole Kidwell, Leeda Manz, Bev Haley, and Donna Wallis; you all are truly an inspiration to me since you all have met your weight loss goals and are continuing and starting (Donna Wallis) to maintain your weight. I am looking forward to making KOPS statues within the TOPS organization and you and the chapter will be the first to know about it.

Well I hope you all had a great first day of 2016. May God bless you and your loved ones this year. I love you all. And miss all of my friends in Colorado.

 

Goodbye 2015

   Wow how time flies. Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that we were ringing in the 2015 New Year and now we are about to say goodbye to it? It certainly does for me. It doesn't seem to amaze me how fast time flies. I know a lot has go on for all of us this past year, we all have had our ups and downs. I know that when it seems like when we go to close one door and turn around to start walking toward the next door to open it, that it is already right there opened for us. Sometimes that is a good thing, but the other times makes us wonder, 'what the hell just happened and how did it happen so quickly.'
    Like for me I know that the end of January I was packing my stuff and moving it to a new home with a friend. And I had pretty had gotten all my stuff unpacked and placed where I wanted it and was getting comfortable and the next thing I know I had to pack my stuff up again and find a new place to live. Yeah when I had to pack my stuff up and find a new place to live that that was the moment that the Lord had said that I want you to move out of state. I will admit that I moved to Arkansas a little sooner than I thought I was going to, but like I said in the moment of having to move once again I know it was the Lords way of saying you are moving on my terms and not yours, which is fine by me. I let the Lord take me where he sees fit and where he can use me the most.
  With all that has changed for me this year, I can say that I am looking forward to what the 2016 will bring me. I hope you all have a very safe New Years Eve tonight. Love you all.

 

Merry Christmas

    Merry Christmas Everyone. I hope you all had a blessed day today. I know I did. After finally moving into an actual house with my parents instead of being in two different apartments, it was surely a great day. And I am glad to be under one roof with both of my parents and celebrating the holidays with them.
   I know that this time of year is always a bit stressful for everyone in some way. There is always the stress of everyday work life, the decorating of the house (inside and out), making sure that the tree is up and decorated, taking the kids to see Santa, Shopping for the gifts and the ingredients for Christmas dinner, and last but not least making the Christmas dinner. There is a lot of preparation for this time of year. Let's just not forget the real reason for this time of year, the birth of our Lord and Savior. John 3:16, "For God so love the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
   Again Merry Christmas. Hope you all enjoyed the day. Love you all.

Advent Season

     Can you believe that we are twelve days away from Christmas? Twelve days away from the most glorious das of the year. Twelve days from when God sent his one and only Son. Twelve days from when the start of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace become true. I know a lot of you know that we are in the advent season and know about the advent wreath and each candle that is associated with it. Let me give those who may not be familiar with the advent wreath a little bit of an overview of it.

Advent Wreath

    The advent wreath is made up with the five candles and the evergreen wreath. The circle reminds us of God himself, his eternity and endless mercy. The green of the evergreen speaks of Hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, renewal, and eternal life. The candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son.

Candle of Hope.

    The first candle of the which is called the Prophecy Candle/ Candle of Hope. The hope candle is represented by a purple colored candle. It is in remembrance of the prophets who foretold the birth of Christ. It also represents the hope in anticipation of the coming Messiah. "And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.' May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:12-13.

Candle of Peace

     The second candle of which is called the Bethlehem Candle/ Candle of peace. The peace candle is represented by second purple colored candle. The Bethlehem candle is symbolizes Christ's manger. It shows that the promise that a Savior would be born in Bethlehem was in fact kept. "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaisas the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:4-6.

Candle of Joy

     The third candle of which is called the Shepard Candle/ Candle of Joy. The joy candle is represented by the pink/rose colored candle. When the Lord was born the angles had sang a message of Joy for his birth. We light this candle to show that with he who was born in Bethlehem has brought a great deal of Joy to spread across the land. "and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel f the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of he heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest.' When the angels left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and  see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2"7-15.

Candle of Love

   The fourth candle of which is called the Angel Candle/Candle of Love. The love candle is represented by the last purple colored candle. When the angels came before the shepherds who were watching over their flocks by night they came with good news. "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" Luke 2:10-11. Due to the abundance of love God has sent his one and only son. John 3:16-17, "For God so love the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Christ Candle

    The fifth and final candle is called the Christ Candle. The Christ candle is represented by the white candle for its purity due to Christ being the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. This candle is t o remind us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God who was sent to wash away our sins. Jesus' born to die for us so that we can be reborn again. "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.
    Just remember this Christmas Season the one who was sent to wash away our sins and give us the chance to be born again. I hope you all have a very blessed Christmas this year and remember that you are loved dearly.

Christmas Season

     The Christmas season is upon us. We all know that the moment that Thanksgiving dinner is done and Black Friday sales begin then all hell breaks loose. Left and right you see people out shopping for gifts for their loved ones and you see the Christmas lights being hung with care. I love this time of year, not for the presents that are neatly wrapped with love and care under the Christmas tree, or the decorating of the house to make it more festive, but the being with those who love and truly matter to me the most. Yes the presents are great and viewing the decorations are sometimes spectacular, but what is the true meaning of Christmas?

       Christmas' true meaning is not that of selfishness, but that of love. It says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." We all gather together to share love, laughter, joy and many other feeling this time of year brings, but we also gather to remember that we are set from sin and that the price of our sin has been paid in full by our Lord and savior. This marvelous act of love that God has displayed to us is the true reason we take time each December to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    Like I said before, I love this time of year. Yeah, I haven't seen the first snow fall like others have, but you know what I don't need snow to enjoy the holiday season. I don't need to have a Christmas tree or decorate the house or bake cookies and pies and all the other festive goodies that always seem to come around this time of year. But I do know one thing I do need this time of year and all year long for that matter, that is to have those who love me and care for me either in my heart or right by my side. I couldn't see spending this time of year without those who truly mean the most to me.

     May you all have a Very Merry Christmas and I hope you all are safe where ever you are spending this time of year. May the Lord bless your heart and your family with Love, Hope, Peace, Joy, and lots of Laughter this Christmas Season. I love you all and have a safe Christmas.