While I have a moment

I figure since I have a moment now, I should go ahead and blog, it may be a while before I can blog again. My coming week is going to be jammed packed, and I need to get some work done before that week arrives.

My week ahead begins Friday (well Thursday night if you consider watching South Carolina's first game). Friday I am going home for FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!! YAY!!! It's finally game week! Friday to Monday I will be home since we have the day off on Monday for Labor Day. Not sure when I will be coming home Monday, but I'm hoping to get home sort of early so I can prepare for Charleston. Tuesday Morning I leave for Charleston (for a work sailing trip for Physician Advisory Board). We will be in Charleston until Saturday morning. Saturday morning I wake up and head to Columbia for the South Carolina vs Georgia game. I will finally be home on Sunday afternoon. Oh I am going to be EXHAUSTED, but I'm excited!

In other news, Jonathan and I went to this church service yesterday that was beyond weird. We usually go to NorthPoint Community Church and 100% normal church, but this week his mom's friends, friend was speaking at World Harvest Church in Roswell so we went. When we were pulling in I asked what denomination the church was, and was told it was non-denominational. Now thats a lie if I ever heard one, is complete lie a denomination cause this "church" would fall into that category.

The service started normal, where he talked about the story of Moses, etc. Then the strangeness happened. This man was crazy. Tim Storey was his name. He started calling people to the front who were hurting from one ailment or another and placed his hand on their heads and "cured them" causing them to faint (well some of them). Now I know the power of prayer can heal and do miracles, I know there have cancers have disappeared miraculously, etc. Are their extreme cases were people have been healed by prayer on the spot, yes, but this was not one of those cases. There was no prayer, there was no mention of scripture, or teaching, or mention of God, there was hand placement and fainting. I do not believe that one man can tour the world and heal people on the spot, whenever he feels like, as if he is Jesus.

Tim Storey is not Jesus, he is not a Godly man at all. I sat their in disbelief. Staring at him as if he were crazy. He kept looking at us as if we were wrong for doubting him, as if he could convince me that the things he was claiming were the truth. He received no claps from me, no hallelujah, no praise at all, he recieved a blank stare, stares of disbelief, and a very uncomfortable demeanor. If I was a rude person I would have walked right out of that place after telling him that all of this was bogus. I'm mad at myself for not standing up and refuting what he was telling.

While the service was weird and wrong and pretty much the opposition of what the Bible teaches, I did learn something. I am stronger in my faith than I ever thought before. This man's absolute abuse of the bible and the complete blasphemy was so appauling to Jonathan and I that we were both almost speachless when we left. This man preys on the weak and uses God holy name to do what he called "supernatural healing". I am saddened that people were looking to this man for guidance, that people were beliving what he was saying, that they were buying into the complete lies.

I guess I have been sheltered in the past. I've gone to churches that follow the bible and use the bible to teach and not to deceive. I've always been interested in learning about other religions mostly so I can even more strongly defend what I believe.

How are people so easily deceived? How do they not know the truth? Why do they put their faith in a man and not in God? I'm praying for the World Harvest Church, the congregation and for Tim Storey. Lord let them see the light and let them put trust in you.

Yes I know divine healing occurs, but not this way.

Sorry this is so long! I had a lot of time to think about this and a lot of stuff to say.

Budgeting problem

I have a problem. I find way to much joy budgeting and rebudgeting and then budgeting my money again. I'm not doing this because I'm overspending, I keep doing it to ensure that I am not missing something or overusing in places that I shouldn't.

I always start my month (or the month before) planning my month out. I immediately take out thing I know I have to pay (rent, car insurance, cell phone, credit card, furniture, savings)(health insurance and 401K are taken out of my check automatically so I dont even think about those). After all that I will budget my remaining money for monthly needs. These categories include (gas, food (restaurants), shopping, groceries, alcohol (shrinking to minimal at this point) and other). Each month each of these things change depending on what is coming up. Like next month my "other" budget will be high because of football season and buying tickets. Gas is also going to be higher since I will be going back and forth to Auburn more often.

I've found that most of my money goes to eating out at restaurants. I don't even think I go out that often, but at the end of the month I look at all that money and am a little shocked. I have to work on that. I need to cook more often for sure.

While I have a good system going, I catch myself being lax on my budget sometimes. I'll buy something or go out to eat and just claim I'll take it from another category. It's so frustrating to me that I catch myself saying, oh it's ok I can just not do _______ so that I can do ________ knowing I will probably do both. I want to be more strict on my budget. I want to make sure I'm not wasting money and I'm saving enough.

I have a savings plan that I am developing and I have some work to do to get exactly where I want. Hopefully by putting out there for others to know about, I'll be much more likely to keep on track. Hopefully.

Happy Monday All!

10 days until the South Carolina Gamecocks play!
12 days, 8 hours until AUBURN TIGER FOOTBALL!!!!

The power of positive thinking

I've been doing some soul searching over the past year and found I can be a bit of a negative Nancy, so over the past few months, I've been working on being a more positive person. I have been doing so well, but recently it's been really hard to see the good in situations. I've been surrounded by a lot of negative thinking and it is beginning to take its toll.

People are not nice. They are rude and hateful, spiteful and catty. Now yes, I know not everyone is, but a lot of people I've come across lately have been. How in the world can you get the mindset that you are better than someone else? I've seen this through action towards me, actions towards others, stories told by others, rude comments, mean words, everything. I do not get it. Why act like that? What benefit do you get?

While they are doing their best to bring people down, I'm working on being compassionate to people I don't have any interest in showing compassion to. I know that this is the right thing to do, but man is it hard. I have to keep telling myself getting mad is not worth it, being mean is not worth it, compassion is my only answer, so I will keep trying.

Work is overly stressful lately and a lot of people are unhappy about one thing or another. I catch myself getting mad alongside everyone else when I know there is nothing that I can do to change the situation. It's frustrating and everyone has valid reasons to get mad, and I definitely don't think they are wrong in any way. I cannot control their thoughts or their emotions, I can only control my own. I need to keep a positive mindset, I need to try and help them see other sides, I need to put the fire out and not continue to add to it.

I've got a lot of work to do and I am going to continue to struggle, but I need to see these "bumps in the road" as great learning experiences, chances to grow. I need to learn from these on my journey to be the person I know I am meant to be.

I may not find that person completely for a while, but I am wiling to try, I'm willing to go wherever I need to go to do it, I'm willing to give up certain things knowing I will gain others. It's a long road, but I'm inching along.

What are you struggling with? What negative things can you work to make positive?

Weeks go by

It's been a while and a day since I updated! I really have got to stick to my plan of a blog a week. I'll get better, hopefully.

Well in the past few weeks I have traveled for work (Virginia), traveled for fun (Lake trip in North Carolina) and stuck around Atlanta a bit.

One big thing that happened was my brother graduated! Caleb graduated from Auburn on August 9. I'm so proud of him! He has worked so hard to get finished! We had a big celebration at my parents house with my whole family. I always love getting everyone together, so hopefully it won't be too long before we get to do it again. Below is a picture of my sister-in-law Meegan, My brother Daniel, Brother Caleb, Sister Sarah and me!



I adopted a kitten over the past couple of weeks too. My sisters cat had 4 kittens and they needed homes. She got 1 adopted, adopted 1 herself and had 2 remaining. These kittens are precious so I decided, why not, I love cats, and I'm sure Maggie won't mind. Anyways, she's precious. Sarah named her Esther, but I quickly changed that and she is now Chloe. My roommates aren't sure about this whole cat thing, so Sarah will be holding onto Chloe for me for a little while. There is still one cat up for adoption if you know anyone that wants one!



In more news, Auburn football starts soo soo soon! I cannot wait! Im excited to see so many friends I haven't seen in a while. WAR EAGLE, 18 days!