Looking Back on 2012

I wrote a blog about my Top Ten Resolutions for 2012, and today I want to reflect on those resolutions as my 2012 chapter comes to a close.

Here is the short list version:
1. Read the Bible in a year.
2. Pray throughout the day.
3. Write in a P-journal - 4 days a week.
4. Maintain a healthy body.
5. Get to know my neighbors.
6. Continue to work on loving people in my everyday ordinary life.
7. Continue to pray for my friends in Zambia, Africa.
8. Volunteer more often at our church's food bank.
9. Quit biting my nails.
10. Grow my hair long enough to donate to Locks of Love.
  New Tradition: "Memory Jar" kept in the kitchen.


Here are the grades I've given myself:

1. F    Once I fall off this horse, I feel like I can't get back on.

2. D    I still struggle with praying throughout the day. Beginning of my day and end of my day, I got it. But there is SO much in between! I'm a work in progress on this one.

3. F    So this one lasted 2 months...but I still really like the concept.

4. A-  My husband and I joined a gym in February and decided to make some lifestyle changes in making exercise a priority, eating out less and eating healthier meals more often. We had blood tests done for our health insurance and our numbers came out awesome. To date, my husband has lost 45 pounds! I am SO proud of him. You can read about an experience I had at the gym HERE. Also, I ran my first 10k ever! It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed running it with a really good friend of mine. Why the minus? Because since Thanksgiving, I've been to the gym once. The holidays killed my routine...

5. D+  I know this one will take time, but I feel like I could have done a lot more. You can read about an opportunity I took HERE. Also, my husband and I did make Christmas goodies for some of ours neighbors, but when we had time to deliver them, no one was home. There's always 2013! Right???

6. D+  I'm probably being harsh on myself on this one, but it leaves a lot of room for improvement which I think I need. Lately, I feel like selfishness has crept back into my life big time...ugh.


7. C+  In 2011, I went on a mission trip to Zambia, and it impacted me in a way I never expected. You can read ALL about my trip HERE. I kept in touch with a couple of people through email and facebook. I do not message them as often as the beginning of the year, but I think about Zambia and the people often. And when I do think of them, I say a prayer for them. God Bless Zambia and the gracious passionate people I met.


8. F   We didn't volunteer. Not once. I'm sadden about that. However, we did volunteer work with our church for other occasions throughout the year, which I am happy about. If I change this resolution to do more volunteer work with my church, I'd give it a C.


9. C-  This one was hit or miss. I would quit, and then start up again about every month. I've been working really hard on this one lately, and I can honestly say that my nails are the longest they have ever been! Seriously, I don't know how to use them. For instance, I'm having trouble typing this blog right now because my nails are in the way. It's driving me crazy and making me tempted to bit them, but nail polish has been my friend lately.


10. A+  Almost 12 inches donated. Feel free to read about it HERE.


So I didn't completely keep my resolutions, but I'm happy that I made them. I think we should all have goals to strive for. An amazing man once told me, "If you don't have a target, you will hit it every time."


Cheers to a new year and new targets!
-Miche

P.S. 2013 resolution post to come soon...

The Neighborhood I Had Hoped For?!

This past week has been a whirl wind. Hurricane Isaac decided to completely change it's path and make it's debut to America by sitting on Louisiana for a couple of days. This was my first hurricane experience apart from my parents and in my own house. I'm very thankful to report that my house sustained no damage nor flooding. This was a great learning experience for my husband and I if we ever experience another hurricane and decide not to evacuate again.

I'd like to focus this blog on my neighbors. I've blogged about neighbors before Here. I'm sad to report that I hadn't really focused on getting to know my neighbors like I intended - see failed New Year's Resolutions Here. But....

As we began to board up our windows of our house - we decided to take no chances since there are plenty of trees around our neighborhood - we had a little chat with our neighbor about their experiences with hurricanes. It definitely calmed me down a bit of what to expect in our neighborhood. During the conversation, he had mentioned that they had a generator and wouldn't mind throwing an extension cord over the fence so we could plug in our refrigerator. Isn't that awesome?! How nice of them, since we had no generator or any way of saving our food if we were out of power for some time. Apparently, a neighbor at one time did a similar deed and they wanted to pay it forward. It was only a matter of time before we were out of power. After some time of no power and starting to worry about loosing some food, we decided to take up our neighbor's offer about borrowing some power. Once the weather died down a bit we exchanged some gas for some power. The funny thing is that after finally setting up our refrigerator not an hour later and we had received power again. In fact, we had to inform our neighbors that the generator was not needed anymore. Thank you, Rick, for this is the neighborhood I had hoped for...

After Isaac definitely out weighted it's welcome, it was time to start the clean up process. You know, rake up leaves that came from every tree in sight and clean up yards of tree branches and other debris. My husband and I have had very small conversations with our neighbor from our front doors in passing before, but this was the day when we were dirty, stinky, and sweaty when we finally introduced ourselves! How's that for first appearances?! We had a small convo and exchanged "if we can help at any time, let us know." Thank you Brittany, for this is the neighborhood I had hoped for....

As my husband and I began to take down our boards, a young man that lives next door didn't think twice to help my husband with the heavy wood. Thank you Nick, for this is the neighborhood I had hope for...

While my husband and I began dragging broken tree limbs from our back yard to our front, I noticed the same young man that helped us, help another neighbor. He was also dragging tree limbs to the front yard. Once we were finished with our yard, I thought, why not see if they need more help? I'm already dirty, stinky, and sweaty. We walked over and picked up rakes and didn't skip a beat. The owner of the house appeared with ice cold water and we introduced ourselves. She was a young woman who had surgery for skin cancer the day before Isaac made landfall and wasn't supposed to do any physical work. She had a huge tree in her back yard and the storm cause many limbs and leaves to cover her back yard. With five people helping, we had the back yard cleared in no time. We finished right before the sun went down and the mosquitoes could come out of their hiding. She was so thankful, and I was happy to discover that we had a lot in common. Thank you Debbie, for this is the neighborhood I had hoped for....

It may have taken a hurricane, but I was able to discover that this is the neighborhood I had hoped for, a community, helping each other out in times of need.

Peace, love, and community
-Miche

And for your viewing pleasure, this was part of Day 2 of hurricane Isaac at our house:

Locks of Love

I'm so excited to report that I've met one of my New Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, I haven't kept all of them, but I still have a little less than half a year to work on them. I'm really happy that I made this list, because it has helped me want to attain the goals that I set for myself in 2012.

The resolution I've completely met is donating my hair to Locks of Love. This is something that I've always wanted to do. What a simple way to give back to the world. It's quite funny that I'm using these phrases - always and simple because I'm not a huge fan of change. All my life I've had two haircuts: long with bangs and long layered with no bangs. My hair was of various lengths, but always past my shoulders. Having long hair is something that has always made me feel feminine, and I've always feared how I would look with short hair. So when I discovered that locks of love required a minimum of 10 in to be donated, I knew that this was going to be an extreme change for me.

I'm really happy that this was the year that I decided to donate my hair, because I feel that this year I have been more open to change and trying to be less controlling. What a great way to represent this change in my personal life by changing my outward appearance. Besides, if I don't like it, it's just hair right? It will eventually grow back....well, I faced my fear of short hair, and I love my new hair cut! Oh, and it doesn't hurt that it now takes me no time to wash and dry my hair, and it's a lot more pleasant to deal with in this record breaking summer heat.

Before....

During....

After!

Peace, love, and change,
-Miche

Up-rooting Weeds

Today, on a beautiful spring Sunday, my husband and I decided to attack our much neglected flower beds. If you know me then you know that I'm not a fan of yard work. It really is hard work, and I would much rather scrub a toilet than do yard work. (You can read about my experience raking leaves Here.) Today, we focused on the weeds.  As a new homeowner, I've learned today that you don't want to neglect your weeds for too long, since you may end up with unwanted trees in your yard. That's right, trees.

As my husband cut the grass in the front yard, I decided to walk around our back yard and pull up some of these mini plants that were growing sporadically in our yard. To my surprise, it was the beginnings of an oak tree. The tiny oak trees were about 4-5 inches tall and once I pulled out the tree it's roots were coming out of an acorn. Our backyard neighbors have an oak tree that not only shades our back yard but also drops it's acorns. I was shocked that we also found a few oak trees in our front flower bed growing amongst our bushes - these were hidden very well.

After yanking out unwanted weeds and trees for three hours, I'm very pleased at the look of our yards. Despite the back pain, it was well worth it. We even got a compliment from a neighbor on their way out. :) I'm happy that the plants that we want will now have the soil all to themselves! At least for now... Maybe our tomato and bell pepper plants might start to flower. *fingers crossed*

During this time, I couldn't help but reflect on my life. Wikipedia defines a weed as, "a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance...Generally, a weed is a plant in an undesired place." What "weeds" have I neglected in my life and let it start to take root? Bad attitude, negativity, gossip, selfishness, language, etc. Maybe it's time to start uprooting these characteristics so that I can make room for characteristics that are pleasant and desired.

Peace, Love, Weedless,
-Miche

imPOSSIBLE

A lesson I've learned the past couple of months...


God can make anything possible. The outcome may not always be as we had hoped.

He is God. He makes things possible. He is good, even when outcomes are not as we had hoped.

It's not always easy to accept, but something we must cling onto.



Peace, love, possibilities,
-Miche

Running with Encouragement

This week was the first time I've ever attended a marathon. No, I wasn't a participant, but after attending I'd like to put it on my bucket list. My reasons for attending were to support friends who decided to take on the challenge of 26.2 miles. That's the same distance I drive to work and almost back home. Mind blowing, but after this weekend I witnessed that it's possible.

Upon my arrival, I decided to stake out a spot on the 25th mile marker. As I watched the participants pass by, all of my stereotypes of a marathon runner were blown away. Observing at the 25th mile was interesting because I could see the exhaustion in the runners but at the same time feel their excitement as they realized that only 1 mile remained of their final destination - the finish line. The sparsely spectators of friends, family, and strangers cheered on the runners encouraging them not to give up that the finish line was right around the corner.

After some time, I went to the finish line to cheer on my friend. As I anxiously awaited for her arrival, I had a blast cheering on strangers as they approached the finish line. It was so neat to see the runners encouraged by the crowd's cheering. Some runners smiled or had an extra pep in their step. One man decided to sprint towards the finish line at one point. Yes, I believe site of the finish line can motivate you, but I also believe that the crowd also encouraged the participants. What a great experience to witness people achieve their goal!

I find my experience comparable to the Christian life. God has set in front of all of us a journey - some people its a half marathon and others it's the whole marathon - either way, we could all use  some encouragement along the way. The encouragement that you show to people can be in many forms. Compliment or thank the teenager that bagged your groceries for you at the grocery store. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. Be more positive in your work environment.

Are you showing encouragement in your daily life? If not, give it try! You never know when someone will return the favor. The feeling is great!

Peace, Love, and Encouragement,
-Miche

Prideful?...Who me?!?

Three weeks ago, my husband and I decided to join the gym. We were finally financially able to join a gym, and I'm so proud of my husband setting a goal to loose weight this year so that he can improve his health for the sake of our family. He is currently healthy, just overweight. So I agreed to support his decisions about switching to a more healthy lifestyle (yay for keeping up with a New Year's Resolution!). This is the first time that I've ever been to a gym. I had briefly attended the cardio room one semester in college, but never a real gym. The first week at the gym, I wasn't quite sure what to do. I ran cross country in high school, so I figured why not hit the treadmill. A little nervous, I hit the 5k button and entered in my weight. As the treadmill began on a low speed, I thought, I can handle this. In fact, I couldn't help but gaze look at what speed the person on the side of me was doing. I instantly thought to myself, if they are on THAT speed, then I can definitely go faster. Little did I know that the machine would make that decision quickly for me. After a 2 minute "warm up" the treadmill decided to more than double it's current speed. As I am now running at a decent pace, I immediately think, well I'm definitely going faster than my treadmill neighbor now. Haha! Then quickly my body reminds me that I hadn't run in quite a few many years and that I'm also no longer 16. After a short time, I decide to lower my speed for two reasons, 1 - so that I wouldn't fall off the treadmill (which I learned a week later that I can't talk and run at the same time, doh!) and 2 - I didn't want to quit.

I left the gym and couldn't believe myself. Was I really prideful? I don't think of myself as a prideful person. Did I really just compare myself to another person in the gym? I learned the next day, thanks to my extremely sore leg muscles, that I can't start off running if my muscles aren't even used to walking. I'm happy to report that after completing Week 3 at the gym, that I can now run most of the 5k - but I had to build myself up to that point. My goal is to completely run a 5k, without changing the treadmill speeds, by the end of the month. If I'm completely honest with myself, I'm also trying not to compare myself at all with my treadmill neighbors. I don't know how long they have been working out or anything about these people. Why am I comparing myself to them? This is seeming to be more difficult than I thought...

One funny thing, a few days a ago, I caught my treadmill neighbor looking at my speed and then decided to raise up her speed only to lower her speed back down after about 30 seconds. So I guess I'm not the only one with a gazing at other people's treadmills problem.

Where am I going with all of this? Well, as I was gazing at a neighbor's treadmill speed one day, God asked me, "Why are you comparing your relationship with Me with the relationship I have with others?" I immediately thought, "Hold up, God weren't you supposed to ask me why am I comparing my running speed with my treadmill neighbor's speed?!" Why are you bringing up our relationship? Then God reminded me,  you can't start off running when you aren't comfortable yet with walking. There are things I don't understand, and I want to be at speed 6 when really, I'm at a speed 3. Honestly, it's not even about being at speed 6. During my conservation with God, He brought to my mind a quote from a book I'm currently reading, "It's not about figuring out all of the mysteries of God, but embracing Him and cherishing Him - even when He doesn't make perfect sense to us," - Francis Chan. So if I can get past all these details that I probably won't understand and embrace God for who He is, then THAT is what can take my relationship with God to the next level. I'm pretty sure I'm still in training. How about you?

-Miche

Comfort in the Details

I have been managing the tutoring lab on campus for a few years now. Recently, the enrollment numbers on the West Bank campus have grown drastically which has caused the college to open up more classes so that students can have a full schedule. This is a great for the college, but on the West Bank we lack space. Having space on campus is like gold. So to help accommodate the growth of numbers and perusing a project that my boss and I have been working on - an electronic classroom - I offered the idea of turning the tutoring lab into a classroom. It's a big room with roughly about 30 computers, perfect size for a classroom. After a few days of my boss contemplating upon the idea, she accepted it and made according changes. Now, over 15 classes are being held in the tutoring room. It's great to see the program flourishing and a place for students to have class. But what did this mean for the tutoring program? Well, it had to move somewhere else on campus or it would be no more. So the tutoring lab did move, to a much smaller room. We moved from a classroom that held 30 computers comfortably to a classroom about 1/4 of the size and somehow squeezes in 15 computers. I am very grateful for the space and that there is a place for students to come and get help with their math classes for free. In fact we are open 54 hours a week - even on Saturdays. Some days we see as many as 60 students come in and out our lab (sometimes even more if it's close to a test day). I think the program is a success. But I have to say, making this transition from a large classroom to a small computer lab has been a bit stressful. I'm not crazy about the change either (even it being my idea!), but I understand why it had to happen. Not many people like change, and moving from a space that was comfortable to a place that is a little more crammed can be uncomfortable. This past year, as the manager, I've heard SO many complaints about this change. In my eyes, the students should be happy that there IS a tutoring lab provided for them for free, but some of the students don't see it that way. They complain that there are not enough computers, the computers are too close to one another, etc. Of course this makes sense to them because they don't see the BIG picture. They don't understand that because of this move MANY students are now having a chance to take the math classes they need to graduate. Without making this switch, the math department wouldn't have another classroom. For the persistent complainers, I've taken the time and explained to them why the move had to happen. Some of the complainers quit complaining because now the move makes sense to them, but others have chosen to continue to complain and not accept the move. Unfortunately these students can't get pass the smallness of our lab and now miss out on the great opportunity to get help in their math classes.

I wonder if God ever gets frustrated with us sometimes? He provides for us, and yet we still complain sometimes about what He provided for us. Look at the Israelites in the Old Testament - God provided food and led them, yet they still complained. They wanted a king, and God gave them a king, and they still complained. Look at your own life. What is God providing for you and  yet you still complain? Are you so focused on the little things, that you forget how it all makes sense in the big picture? Have you ever been so closed minded that you can't get passed the little details and have missed a great opportunity? Is your comfort found in the details?

-Miche

Funerals

Funerals. I get a nervous, sick feeling in my stomach just typing the word. No one enjoys having to go to a funeral. For the obvious reason, but I also think because we are faced with death. It becomes real to us. So as I sat at a funeral, I thought about the few funerals that I have attended in the past which consisted of a wide age span - young and old. This proves that we are not guaranteed tomorrow or this very second.  Life is short. Amazing how we take for granted the very breath that we breathe to keep us alive. Funerals remind us that death is one thing in life that is certain. However, we can also be certain about another thing, our destination after death: heaven or hell. Jesus is our only certainty from eternal death (hell), and if we trust in Christ then death can no longer become a fear. 

So may you rest in peace, Merle “Pappaw” McClain, for you were such a faithful father and grandfather to many. I’m so thankful to have had an adopted grandfather like you, even if it was for a short few years. Thank you for sharing God's love to your family and friends. I couldn't help but smile as I looked around your filled house with your entire family and think, without you, none of these people would be here on earth. Despite your passing, I felt like I have gotten closer to your family as we celebrated your life. I must say, the old photos and reminiscing did heal my pain and appreciate my own life...if only for a second during the gloomy filled day. I look forward in seeing you again, one day.

I have also gained a new respect for your town, Pappaw. I was in awe that as a line of cars followed your hearst, that EVERY car that we passed on the other side of the road STOPPED in honor of you and respect for your family and friends. I also appreciated how your community got together and fed all of your family and friends and is already taking care of your loving wife. Despite your tragedy, I think you have given me a small glimpse of heaven through a community supporting and loving one another. Thank you.

Life will continue to move on, sometimes quicker than we have hoped, but let us try not to forget to stop and appreciate the precious gift of a life.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." -Romans 8:1-2

-Miche