Under Pressure

I need to confess something, to somebody, somewhere, now. Ever since beginning this college thing, I've felt immense amounts of pressure to be a certain girl or to do certain things or to think certain ways, and I know for a fact it's so easy to get lost in the muck of the "world" idea of life - "everything is okay, nothing is bad...just live your life and do what makes YOU feel good." Well, my friends, this is not the way to go. I know, I know - most of you know this already, but where I go to school one thing is shoved in my face more than anything - Greek. I went into college with a very objective view on sorority life, and I still have that view for the most part, but I fell into the terrible lie that I NEEDED to try one because it was the ONLY way to make friends. This lie is pushed in the college students brain every way it can be, and I unfortunately, began to believe it after a while. Don't get me wrong - if that works for you and you love it and you make great friends through it, thats wonderful, but one must check her motivation. ANd really, this isn't even about sororities - it's about becoming your own person and not being defined by the groups you associate yourself with, but realizing that has an effect on how others define you. Okay, this entry is one big ramble and a half, but that's all I had to say about it. I didn't try one, I'm not going to, but I need to get over the pressure.

T.R.

Christopher Columbus.

So I've found, the "new world" in my fitness "earth" - it's pretty awesome. It's like a combination of pilates, yoga, and ballet strength training. It's called the Bar Method. The class is made up of upper body, leg work, "back-dancing" (the middle aged women in class had fun with this), core work, and stretching. It's very low impact as far as cardio work goes, so it really needs to be coupled with some elliptical, walking, biking, running, swimming or whatever you choose. I felt "the burn" while doing the moves in class, but I had no idea it was so effective until I woke up this morning and could barely move. This workout is fabulous for women (in my opinion, but I'm no expert). It targets all of those bad areas (toosh, thighs, belly, arms). I took the class at my gym in my hometown, but I'm going back to school this coming week and they don't teach it there (Tear*tear*) so I'm going to get a DVD! I'm really excited for it to come in. If you want to find out more, look "bar method" up on you tube or google. It's great and deserves to be looked into!

TR

Hours.

He drives for hours. 4 1/2, actually. Just to see me on the weekends. Working in Harrisonburg was no easy thing for Trev (aka - the boyfriend). And it was no easy thing for us to handle together. I can't tell you how many nights I would be halfway angry with God over the fact that He had put this stress on Trev (silly me). If I was "on my knees" about anything, it was that God would bring him home. 6 months, I believe it was, that he drove from his hometown to Harrisonburg for work during the week, and he never really complained once about it. He was tired and down and ready for change, but week after week he never stopped. I'm amazed by it. I couldn't have done it, I believe. But here we are now, and he's working 1 hour away from home and we don't even really know what to do about it. It's kind of funny how we will pray and pray for change, and when the change comes it's like we lose all ideas of how to handle it. I really think, though, that all God wants is for us to be thankful for his faithfulness. It's so true.

Okay, this is totally off subject, but I have a sore throat. Anyone know any crazy good remedies? I want something great and natural. I do not deal well with colds. In fact, I would rather have a stomach virus than a sore throat/cold. I think it's because the cold isn't bad enough to keep you from doing normal life, yet it's enough to make you feel terrible. This benedryl is kicking in and I still have some Acts to read. Goodnight, blogger.

T.R.

It's A New Day

Christmas has come and gone. It's so crazy. Every year I'm ready to savor Christmas and I want it to last forever, but it always goes by so quickly. I must say Christmas 2010 was one of my favorite. So many things are happening in my family - it's wonderful. Both of my aunts are now married, and I never thought I would see that day. Not being mean or anything, but I truly didn't. I've prayed for God to bring them happiness and here it is. Christmas was full of family and love and laughter and turkey and pie and all the things it should contain. And now here I am, in 2011, not knowing what to do...not knowing what I should accomplish this year. It's funny - I always set up these resolutions and it seems like each year God does something completely unexpected in my life. 2010 - I wanted to be more responsible, to grow up a little, and here I go to Panama on a mission trip, thinking "Ohhh, I just need to do this. It's my 'Christian Duty''' - I was wrong. I needed to do that becausee I needed something to completely rock my life in every way possible. Panama was how God grew me up, not graduating, not moving out of my house, but a group of people on an island in the Panama. So this year, I'm saying "Bring it on" - I'm not going to put any limits on what God will do in my life and in the lives of those around me. All I am doing is simply surrendering and preparing myself in every way to take on His challenges. I already have a couple of things going for me - I'm in college, which has been a struggle in the past, but I'm ready for it to become a transformation in my life; Im wanting to do something awesome with my summer. Either a mission trip to Alaska or working at a YoungLife camp; and I'm in this courting relationship that I love and I have so much fun (sometimes painful fun) trying to figure out and learn about. It's going to be a good year. And it's definitely a new day.