Laugh Often. Seek Joy. Have Faith.

Since receiving my IDEO brace in November, my life has changed dramatically. If I look at where I was this time two years ago, or even a year ago, you would notice a huge difference in the activities that I am able to do. I've gone from being able to barely walk around the grocery store to sprinting up bleachers during my lunch break. In every sense of the way, I've gotten my life back. I have learned so much from this experience (& still am) seeing the ways God has made me stronger for what I have been through.

One of the lessons I've come to learn is that no matter what you are facing you really have to find a way to laugh everyday. I am always thanking God for the gift of optimism and cheerfulness he put in my heart. I tend to see the glass as half full (not to say I'm 100% optimistic but I'm pretty close to that!) and it's very much a true blessing to see the world in this way. I think one of the keys to staying so positive is making sure that you laugh everyday. Even during the hard times in life, when things don't seem to be going your way, you have to stay in faith and find something good in everyday.

Look at life with an open heart and ask God to show you how to help others around you so together we can live in Christ's joy and strength. Just as there are ways to make a difference in the world by helping others, there are ways to bring happiness by spreading your smile. Help people to laugh and you will laugh too. Seek joy in trying circumstances and never lose your faith. When you start to see the humor God puts on your daily path, you will know what I mean :)

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Notes to Self from January

1.) Don't try to adjust your seat while driving your car down a hill.

2.) Don't tell someone you like their shirt because it looks like the color of the wall they are sitting next to. Not everyone appreciates the simple things like this :)

3.) If someone asks you to help them jump their car, make sure you know what you are doing before you say yes. 

4.) Espresso is not spelled expresso...

5.) Don't attempt to open the windows in your kitchen during windy weather, your napkins will go flying out the window.

6.) Don't carry your house key in your hand while you are running. If you trip and lose it, that's your only way back in. Better yet, leave a spare key somewhere.

7.) Don't hold your sunglasses in your hand while you are shopping, you might accidentally set them down somewhere and have to travel back to the stores looking for them...

8.) Don't paint your nails before you decide to wash dishes.

9.) When jumping on a trolley, make sure you remember where you got on...

10.) Pink pens make work more fun.

Thanks, Steve.

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

If I'm truly honest, I really don't know much about ol' Steve (other than my direct association with him and Apple) but when I read this quote by him earlier in the week, I decided to take a closer look. I love this message because it inspires us to have the courage to figure out what we want out of life and to chase after it. Steve was a man of many talents but he listened to his heart and went after his passions to make a difference in the world.

I reflected on these simple words of wisdom this week and began thinking about what it is that I feel called to do with my life. If you know me, this is something I've been reflecting on a lot lately. Whether that's because I'm a quarter century old now and older people tend to reflect more... I don't know :) However, for as long as I can remember, I have always loved helping people; it's a true passion. I love making people smile and laugh. I feel good when other people feel good. I love helping people see themselves in a better light and I like making others around me better. I like sending cards of encouragement and I love random acts of kindess :) So while, at 25, I still may be trying to figure out where my true passion lies in life and what I'm called to do... I think it's safe to say I'm heading in the right direction. Recently, as my life was completely changed by my IDEO leg brace, I've felt a special calling to use this experience to help others. It's completely changed my life and meant so much to me that I want to do something to give back and help other people with what I've been through. Who knows where the path will lead, but I'm going to stay open and keep listening to my heart - knowing God is directing my steps. Maybe sometime this week, take time to think about what it is you feel called to do. What is in your heart? Sometimes, just realizing where your natural talents lie can help you to see the innate gifts God has blessed you with and then you may begin to see how you can use those gifts to help others.

So, thanks Steve. I appreciate your words of wisdom. Life is an interesting journey; may we always find the time to be still enough to hear God's voice in our life and in our heart, and may we have the courage to go after it.

Strength.

As a New Year's resolution, I've taken to reading Joel Osteen's book Every Day a Friday as one of the first things I do in the morning. In the past, I was used to waking up and checking my emails, rushing off to the gym, heading to work early, or reading the news online, but this year I wanted to start off on a different path and begin my day with setting my focus on Christ and inspirational guidance. It's been really nice actually and I've found that when I begin my day like this, it sets the stage for a very peaceful and happy morning (that and dark chocolate in my Fayeh yogurt).

There was one quote from this week that really stuck with me:

We acquire the strength we have overcome. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this reading, Joel reminds us to see how the Holy Spirit is made perfect in our weakness, and also that God can take any disadvantage and turn it into an advantage for our good. We all have challenges to overcome, but you cannot let what happened to you stop you from reaching your potential. You have to choose to stay in faith, knowing God has you where He wants you and make the most of what God gives you. Choose to see adversity as a strength. Here is a little example of how I see it: These past 2+ years, I have been through hoops of doctor's appts, surgeries, casts, IV infusions - traveling all over the country seeking the best medical help for my ankle. I am now blessed to be in a leg device that has truly made a difference for me and changed my life. I get asked a lot, "How long do you have to wear that?" Well, you know it could very well be forever. When people hear the word "forever" they want to offer condolences and say," I am so sorry to hear that." You know what though? I'm not sorry. Yes, it's unfortunate a soccer injury led to this, but I'm not sorry for myself or my situation. I choose to see what has happened to me and what I have been through in these past two (almost three) years as a building of who I am. I am a STRONGER person for what I have been through, I am STRONGER in my faith and STRONGER in my personal fortitude, because in looking back I can see how God led me through all of this and made me come out stronger than I was before. In strength lies the faith to believe for better days. In our faith we choose to believe what we cannot see. 

I'll close with one last thing. I've realized that one of the greatest things I have taken away from this leg injury is the people God connected me with during this time, namely Ryan Blanck (my prothetist who designed my leg device the IDEO). Ryan is truly one of the most selfless and caring human beings I have ever met. I prayed often for the Lord to lead me to someone who could help me get me back to a pain free & active lifestyle and God brought me a miracle in Ryan. Without his support and willingness to help me (and the amazing IDEO device he designed), I wouldn't be where I am today. I am forever thankful to him and his staff at the Hanger Clinic in Tacoma, Washington. 

We may never know why certain things happen in life, but truly if you look closely, you can see strength in what you have overcome. There is beauty in adversity and in trials we realize how much of who we are is Christ alone.

Just Smile.

Happy 2014!

I'd like to start off the New Year with a post about happiness. At the beginning of every year, I always try write out my goals. I think it's a great way to lay out your plans and if you're like me it helps to see it on paper. :) This year, one of my goals is to make sure that before I go to bed at night - I've made someone else smile. Now, I'm probably not going to be giving cars away like Oprah (although that would be awesome) but I am choosing to make a conscious effort to make sure that I am spreading smiles. Whether that is complementing a coworker, saying hi to someone at the grocery store, or anything - if you truly look at the day we have so many opportunities to spread joy. You can be the door to happiness - you just have to look around. Help an older person get their groceries in the car, hold the door open for someone, tell a friend you like their shirt, offer to get someone lunch when they look really busy, send an encouraging text to your friends & family (my mom loves this), pick up a piece of trash that's not yours (the earth will smile!). There really are endless opportunities to make a difference. I think it's easy to get caught up in our own problems or situations and we can forget that what makes us happy is helping others. The more you help other people - I think the happier you'll find yourself to be!

I've been dealing with some health problems for the last couple years, and yes some days have been tough, but I've found the only way I've made it through is by my faith and choosing happiness, in keeping a positive attitude no matter what the circumstances. This isn't to say I am 100% happy all the time -- that's next years goal ;) -- but instead of getting down on myself I choose to see the best in what I have today. You truly have to try to bloom where you are planted. I've learned through my walk with Christ that no matter what I face I can be content with what I have because I know happiness isn't defined by our situation but by our attitude. We may not understand what's going on, but really if you think about it - we can't see the bigger picture when we are looking at the tiny details.

So back to happiness... I encourage you to choose to spread joy this year. Make a difference just by smiling. Do your best everyday. Life is truly what you make it - you don't have to figure out how to change the world in 2014 - start small: just SMILE.

Isaiah 55:9

This week marks the two year anniversary of my ankle injury; an injury that ultimately changed my life.

Had you told me that that during this time I would have four surgeries, a three week stay at the Mayo Clinic, countless injections, procedures, medications, casts, braces, and still not have a cure - I'm not sure I would have wanted to hear that. This experience has brought me to my knees - and at times I've wondered if I have the strength to continue the fight. My entire life was built around sports and an active lifestyle. To have that taken away - was and still is hard to accept.

While this may be one of the most trying experiences I've ever had to endure, I think God is teaching me to rest assured in his faithfulness. I have a tendency to try to work everything out on my own, but I believe God is teaching me (though not in the way I would like it!) to live in continual trust with Him. In the storms of this life, the boat will shake and the wind will make us feel like we can't hold on - but we have to believe God is in the boat with us and He is directing the stern. He doesn't ask us to do it on our own - He simply asks us to reach out to Him and take his hand, accepting His will for our life. This was by no means my will but I'm learning to let go and let God.

My lesson for today is to let God calm your storm. Let him hold your hand. We can't do it on our own. Trust He has you just where you need to be.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:9

5 Things I Should Already Know...

1. Possum is actually spelled opossum...

2. It takes 9 months for a human pregnancy...not 12.

3. When ordering a lobster at a restaurant you don't have to call it a red lobster :)

4. You can't have a hernia on your face...

5. There are 50 states in the US and 52 weeks in a year..

Thanks, June.

1. All New Balance shoes are made in America and they will even let you get two different sizes without having to buy the pairs!

2. Did you know the fuel indicator in your car has an arrow pointing in the direction of the side of your car where your gas pump is located?

3. Note to self: You cannot plug in a TV and expect to see the basic channels. It just doesn't work that way anymore.

4. Sync your iPhone pictures to your computer often- You never know when your phone might get stolen.