9/29/2016 2 Comments Proposal StoryI'm engaged!!! I still can't believe those words can come out of my mouth. It's been two weeks since Blake proposed and we are still on a high from the fact that we are going to be husband & wife. God is GOOD. It's really cool to look back at our story and recognize the times when God clearly paved a way for us to be together. For those who don't know, Blake and I met over Instagram. He lived in Houston, TX and I lived in San Jose, CA. The fact that Blake just happened to stumble across my fitness Instagram is still no coincidence to me. God knew the man I had been praying for and the woman that Blake had been praying for over many years. Turns out, I was kept in the dark for quite awhile. Everyone knew about the proposal for a couple months before Blake actually popped the question. And I mean everyone or it least is felt that way. I am impressed (and a little scared) that everybody did such a good job hiding it from me! In September 2016, Blake, myself, and many of our friends vacationed in Lake Tahoe, CA. This is easily one of mine and Blake's favorite places on earth. (You should go ASAP.) Weeks before the trip, Blake mentioned that he wanted to take nice photos on the beach with his professional camera. As an early Christmas gift, he was going to have a photo printed on a large canvas for my apartment. I was all for the idea! One of Blake's best friends and his girlfriend said they wanted to get in on the fun, too. So, the day we made it to Tahoe (finally), Blake, myself, and our two friends scouted out a pretty beach that would make for the perfect sunset background. Blake started by taking photos of Carlo and Kacie. Blake told Kacie to turn her back to Carlo, while he ran up behind her, tickled her, hugged her, and ultimately captured a ridiculously adorable photo. Since Blake has photography experience, I didn't think anything of it. It seemed like a pretty legit idea to me! When it was our turn for photos, Blake told me that we were going to stage the same photo. So, I turned around and waited anxiously for him grab me from behind and tickle me. I swear I was twitching as I anticipated him coming up behind me. Several seconds passed.. I was about one second away from turning around to see what was taking so long when I heard, "hey, can you turn around?" I turned and there he was on one knee. I swear my heart stopped beating for a few seconds. I was in complete shock. It's one thing to imagine that special moment, but when it actually happens, nothing prepares you for the feelings that flow through your body. Blake told me when we first started dating that he made a promise to himself years ago. He wanted to wait until the day he proposed to his future wife to say "I love you" for the first time. While I wasn't sure I could wait until (or if) that day came, I respected his wishes and his intentions behind it. So, as he was kneeled down in front of me, he continued to say, "there is something I have been wanting to tell you for a long time.. I love you! Will you spend the rest of your life with me?" Again, my heart froze and those words meant more than I could have imagined. After the proposal, he gave me a two-page, handwritten letter. We sat on the beach and read it together. I'm telling you, those moments and memories still feel so surreal. I will treasure them for the rest of my life! I spent a lot of time praying for God to bring the right man into my life, a man of God with a sense of humor, a caring and loving spirit, and someone who would pursue Him with his whole heart, as well as pursue me. I can confidently tell you that God is faithful and good. He will always come through for you, even if it isn't according to your timeline. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," Jeremiah 29:11.
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8/26/2016 1 Comment Selfishness: A Thing of the PastPhilippians 2:4 tells us, "let each of you look not to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Selflessness has been weighing heavy on my heart lately. It is SO easy to get caught up in our own lives, challenges, troubles, triumphs, and desires. And what a dangerous cycle to get stuck in. Why? Because God calls us to be selfless and put others before ourselves. We are called to love above all. One of the easiest ways to obey this command is by expressing selflessness in our own lives. The greatest example of selflessness is Jesus Christ, himself. He made the biggest sacrifice in order to save us. Giving His life so that we could be in relationship with the Father is the most selfless act of all. Shouldn't we be more inclined to follow His lead? Unfortunately, almost everything in today's society tells us otherwise. We're practically instructed to be selfish. Climbing the corporate ladder no matter what it takes, striving for immediate, short-term happiness (& ignoring the concept of delayed gratification), prioritizing money above everything else, leaving manners and chivalry as a thing of the past, degrading and disrespecting those around you.. Sound all too familiar? I want to challenge us to change the way we function as a society and make selfishness a thing of the past. Yeah, I know, that's a tall order to fill. But, I'm confident that one person has the power to drastically change the life of another. And if being selfless is what prompts that change, then by all means, let it be so! Let's follow in our Savior's footsteps and lead by example. To put it simply, selflessness above all. I can just picture the joy God feels when we act selfless towards others. A huge smile on His face as He gives you a pat on the back and tells you how pleased He is. It is an incredible feeling to be selfless. As we adapt to new ways of thinking and actions of selflessness, I can promise that our hearts will feel full and joyful. I know this from first hand experience and hope that you can experience it, too. 5/23/2016 4 Comments Ever-ChangingI'd like to think that I’ve learned a lot in my 23 years of life. But if there is one thing I’ve learned for sure, it’s that change is inevitable. It is guaranteed that circumstances will change, feelings will change, and seasons in life will change- There’s no way to avoid it. The good news is.. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I’ve come to accept change and realize that it will happen, whether I’m ready for it or not. I think many of us like to live in the future (or maybe the past). It’s hard to live in the present, especially in today’s society. The business of today’s world makes it nearly impossible to slow down and smell the roses. I will be the first to admit that I am always looking to the next thing. I like to rush through the work week, with the weekend in mind (as if it’ll get me to the weekend faster). And I am really good at wishing for my next season in life, instead of enjoying the one I am in now. For example, as an (independent) little girl, I always wished I was old enough to wear make up, drive myself to school, and hang out with friends without chaperones. As a high schooler, I could not wait to graduate and move on to post-high school life. And most recently, being born and raised in California, I could not wait to move out of state and experience life somewhere else. It’s so easy for me to wish away the present, while I put most of my focus on the future. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with planning or having dreams for your future. The thing is, this instinctive habit causes us to miss out on our current season, and what fun is that?! God wants us to enjoy our current season and focus on the present. Each season will come, but maybe not in our timing. Here are a few things that came to mind when I thought about writing this post.. Life is busy. Crazy busy. No matter how you spend your days, I bet only a handful of you disagree. It's so hard to get a minute to yourself, much less a minute (or several) to devote to Jesus.
But, in a society that is always on-the-go and running the rat race, it's even more important to devote time every day to shutting out the world and spending time with Jesus. I know this can be hard and I have struggled with it personally. I've realized that convenience is key- whether it's working out, eating healthy, reading your Bible, or anything really- if it's convenient, you're more likely to do it. For that reason, I begin my mornings with Jesus, before any distractions take me away for the day. Recently, I've discovered 3 ways to get more Jesus in my life- and more importantly, I've stuck with it. 4/27/2016 4 Comments Let's Talk HormonesOh the joys of hormones...
Well we all have them and I'm sure the majority of us know a little bit about them from our 6th grade health class. However, I am willing to bet that most of us don't realize their importance and the role they play in our overall health. 4/12/2016 0 Comments The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Sometimes life just gets the better of us. It feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders and we can't get out from underneath. Well, I am here to tell you that, yes, sometimes life is hard and nothing seems to go right. But, lucky for us, there is so much more to life than never ending bills, a frustrating job, struggling relationships/friendships, or whatever you may be facing at the moment. And there's more good news! If there is one thing I've learned in my 23 years, it's that everything changes and nothing stays the same. So, if you're on the struggle bus right now, as many of us are in one way or another, this is your reminder that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
3/2/2016 0 Comments Unplugging from RealityAlright guys, I know it's been awhile. But, I am back!
Lately, I've felt the strong desire to start writing/blogging again. It may not be as frequent as I'd like (work, workouts, traveling, and life are to blame), but I am determined to make it a somewhat regular thing. Along with blogging, I will be posting more healthy recipes and workouts. And on that note ... I am now taking on new clients for macro plans and training programs! In the meantime, take a peek at some of my current recipes and workouts! 2/8/2015 1 Comment "I can do it myself"12/28/2014 0 Comments Wasted TimeWhile on break from work and school, I have been able to spend quality time with family and friends. It has been such a great week and I am so thankful for the extra time I’ve had to make memories and grow relationships. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, full of friends, family, and most importantly, Jesus!
With the New Year sneaking up on us (as it does every year), I figured there’s no better time to set a new goal for myself. I’ve decided my goal/New Years resolution is to write a weekly blog post. After attending church on Sunday mornings, I will set aside some time to write about that morning’s sermon. My hope is to use these posts as a way to think about and reflect on the topic discussed during the service. While I know some topics will be easier for me to relate to and share about than others, I willingly except the challenge. Honestly, I’m looking forward to it! I think overcoming challenges plays an important role in shaping who we are. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been nudging myself to step out of my comfort zone, which is something I am definitely not good at. Sharing my thoughts and feelings about my faith and journey with Christ is a big step for me. With that being said, I encourage anyone reading this post to take a leap and do something out of your comfort zone. And yes, I’m talking to those of you who, like myself, are hesitant to take that first step.
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