Overcome

This week at church we started a new series. I looked at the title for the sermon and said to a friend..."this is hilarious". Hilarious because it was all too ironic how we had a conversation regarding this topic about 12 hours earlier. Here are the main points of the service:
How do we overcome Inadequacy?
Make the decision to do something!
View Yourself the way God does.
-Learn what God has to say about you.
-Limit the amount of stuff that causes you to compare.

It's amazing to me how easy it is to forget the way God sees me. How often I let other people's opinions overcome my strengths as a Christian, as a friend, as a daughter, and as a woman. It kind of makes me angry and sorrowful, that I don't love God enough. That I would disregard knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), and believe all of the biting comments, dirty looks, and awkward silences that have happened over the years. Don't get me wrong, I am not a very angry person...these things happen to everyone.
I guess what my pastor didn't mention, is that there is something else that needs to happen. Another way to overcome inadequacy. Forgiveness.
I need to forgive those who have hurt me. I need to forgive myself...for not loving myself enough to think that God could love me too. We are all taught that God loves us from the time we were little girls and boys. But how often were we shown otherwise by the actions of our Christian brothers and sisters. Some of the people who have made me feel the most inadequate in my life, have been other Christians and their exegetical snobbery (for those of you who don't know what exegetical means...look it up:))
The further I get into my MFT program at St. Mary's...the more I realize that I want to help empower people. I want to help people find the ambition to perservere, and transform themselves into someone who they are happy to be. Also the further I get into the program, the harder I find it to think about helping people overcome their obstacles without mentioning Christ. I guess this is an issue I will have confront the Big Guy with. "How do I help people...without mentioning you?"

Top 10 Things about Losing 90 lbs.

1. Collar bone actually sticks out. People don't realize how awesome this is.
2. Knee caps and wrist bones.
3. Non-plus sized clothing.
4. I have dimples. Who knew?
5. Jewelry fits
6. The increased difficulty of sitting still for a prolonged period of time (too much to do!).
7. I can resolve that the people who scoot their chairs in for me, are not implying that I am BIG, but are just being polite.
8. I can take the stairs without being out of breath.
9. I feel pretty...sometimes.
10. I can cross my legs...LIKE A GIRL!

I heart this song.

Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0p4I9a1nw&feature=related

The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty’s all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied

For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love

A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it’s filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life

April's good ideas.

Here are some things I am glad I did. I am not bragging. Because these may not be accomplishments worthy of any award/reward:
1. Going to get a Master's degree (this could become a bad idea when I graduate and have to pay back student loans)
2. Getting my hair cut short. It's so much more fluffy now.
3. Getting new glasses (still in tact after getting hit in the face with a volleyball)
4. Sharing the Mediterranean platter with Emily last night.
5. Starting a journal when I was in the 6th grade. Now I have over 35 journals.
6. Losing 80 pounds.
7. Going to Latin Hip Hop exercise class at the YMCA.
8. Start painting again.
9. Park the car a few blocks from school on this beautiful day.
10. Wear a hat when you don't feel like showering.

April's current list of bad ideas.

Here is my current list of things that I should do, or shouldn't have done:
1. Buy 3 mini bags of combos because they were 3 for $2.22 at the gas station.
2. Eaten over-cooked fish, with some risotto...which came back up about an hour later.
3. Chosen a hair cut that was too short to put in a pony tail. I miss pony tails.
4. Over-analyze a conversation with the cute married guy. Because he is..in fact.. the cute MARRIED guy.
5. Eaten 1/2 slice of chocolate cheesecake after lunch. (Okay, I do not regret this, because it was the best chocolate cheesecake I have ever had, and there were only mild hot flashes afterwards).
6. Scheduled two classes for Tuesdays. One in the morning..and one at night. With work in between :(
7. Used direct depost advance AGAIN this month. It's an endless cycle...to borrow money that you have to pay back with the next months check. But then next month you need to borrow more money to cover the money you borrowed the month before. I know several people with this problem.
8. Buy a computer with my student loan money...I have yet to do this..but I really think that I need one.
9. Eaten mini smores crackers by Honey Maid...I have a tummy ache.
10. I'm going to repeat the mini smores again...because my stomach is making weird noises, and I am feeling very sleepy.

Maybe sometime this week I will come up with a list of good ideas...we'll see how the week wraps up. I've already got a few in mind.

Fat Ballerina!

Create your own FACEinHOLE

This is what I want....is that too much to ask?

My Tacori Ring and Patrick Dempsey! Yeah, that's right!