One day at a time.

Moving...As you could possibly expect, life has been a little crazy around here lately. If you didn't read my previous post, I was offered the opportunity to relocate back to Texas and Luke and I are moving back in a little over 5 weeks. It took a few days for the dust to settle (we jumped straight into budgeting moving expenses, figuring out where we're going to live, etc.), but I'm feeling really great as everything is falling into place for the big move!

{Ha! This made me laugh. via}

Work...Everything is going great, but soon I'll be shoulder-deep in transitioning from my current territory in the northeast down to my new territory in the southwest. This will include me helping train someone new to take over my old position AND me being somewhat trained for my new position (although the latter should take less time). I've got a work trip to Vegas in September, one in New Jersey in October, and another in Florida in November. This girl is going to be on the MOVE! And this doesn't include my many shorter distance trips to Houston, Austin, San Antonio, West Texas, and the Rio Grande Valley throughout the fall. Summer is almost over y'all and this means work is about to kick into a whole new gear of busy! 

{via}

School...One thing I haven't talked about on the blog just yet is school. Back before we had any idea about being relocated, I decided that it was time for me to go back to school for my MBA. This is something I've always wanted to do, but the timing just hadn't been right until now. Back in June, I was accepted into UT Dallas' Naveen Jindal School of Management Professional MBA program. This program feels like it was created for my unique work and travel schedule. It might take me three years to finish it, but I can't wait to get started and to someday have my MBA!

{My sweet friend sent me this after she found out I got into grad school. Love her!}

Luke...This guy is amazing, y'all. I've been so grateful to have him by my side as we've decided to relocate back to Texas and make another huge life transition. He's wrapping up work in NJ and has already started the process job hunting in Texas. Please say a prayer for us as he goes through this process! God is already opening doors and we just want to be prayerful and faithful as we seek His will for this next step in Luke's career. Also, Luke is the mastermind behind all things moving (renting the truck, planning the route, budgeting the cost, etc.) and I'm so thankful for this! As you can see, this girl has A LOT on her plate as is. And at the end of the day, this guy lets me cry, scream, laugh, and just talk it all out as I self-induce panic attacks when thinking too much about all of these big changes.

I'm just taking it all one day at a time. But I must say, these temps in the mid-60s sure are helping make this week a lot less stressful. It's like a tease for fall, pumpkin spice lattes, and baked apple pie candles (I can't wait!).

Hope your Thursday is blessed. :) 

Freefall to Fly...a story I want to share with all the women in my life.

A couple months back, a lady by the name of Rebekah Lyons visited our church here in New Jersey. I had no idea what to expect from her visit, but I'm convinced after hearing her speak and reading her book that God knew I needed to hear her story. Below is Amazon's description of Rebekah's new book, "Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning."

"Women today are fading. In a female culture built on Photoshopped perfection and Pinterest fantasies, we’ve lost the ability to dream our own big dreams. So busy trying to do it all and have it all, we’ve missed the life we were really designed for. And we are paying the price. The rise of loneliness, depression, and anxiety among the female population in Western cultures is at an all-time high. Overall, women are two and a half times more likely to take antidepressants than men. What is it about our culture, the expectations, and our way of life that is breaking women down in unprecedented ways?

In this vulnerable memoir of transformation, Rebekah Lyons shares her journey from Atlanta, Georgia, to the heart of Manhattan, where she found herself blindsided by crippling depression and anxiety. Overwhelmed by the pressure to be domestically efficient, professionally astute, and physically attractive, Rebekah finally realized that freedom can come only by facing our greatest fears and fully surrendering to God’s call on our lives. This book is an invitation for all women to take that first step toward freedom. For it is only when we free-fall that we can truly fly."

I just finished reading Rebekah's book last night. And I wish I would have read it sooner. Our stories are so similar in some parts, it's scary. I've struggled with anxiety throughout my life, but about 5 months ago I experienced my first full-blown anxiety attack, heart palpitations and trouble breathing included. Like Rebekah, I have a family history that includes anxiety struggles and depression and I recently moved from the south to the northeast, which was not as easy of a move as I thought it would. And to be completely honest with you, I've questioned God over and over, similar to this author, asking, "Why can't this just go away?? Where are you in all of this, God? Just show me what you want! Please give me peace."

Through her struggles, Rebabkah has realized that she has a story to share with women across the world because so many women do struggle with finding meaning in life, discovering what their passions are and then cultivating them instead of giving them up, fighting anxiety/depression/etc, and living in a "perfect" Facebook/Pinterest world. 

If any of this resonates with you, please read Freefall to Fly. I promise you, it will be the best $10-$15 you spend today. Don't have the money? Email me. I'll send you my copy. :)

Oh wait, there's a plan?

I've been thinking a lot lately about God's plan for my life. If you would have asked me 5 years ago where I'd be in 5 years, I never would have guessed in Sandia, Texas. I wouldn't have said working in media sales and advertising. But that's neither here, nor there. I am where I am because the Lord has me here and I love this season of my life for the crazy/beautiful time that it is.

But there is a restlessness about this time too. I think a lot about past choices I've made. If I had taken a different path, would life have still brought me to this place? I know this isn't a fair question to ask oneself. You can't change the past. And as a believer, I put my faith in God, who promises us in His Word that He knows already the plans He has for our lives,

"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

But I'm a dreamer. An overachiever. And people like me become restless a little too easily. It is difficult for me to be still and wait on God's perfect timing. Believe me, more often than not, this is what mine and God's conversations are about. :) I could have sworn that I'd be the CMO of the largest non-profit in Texas or the VP of PR for the most successful agency in New York by now. Ok, that's a little lofty at 25, but you get what I'm saying. I just worry that I'm not reaching my full potential or that I'm not pushing myself hard enough. Or worse, that I haven't taken chances. I hate when people tell me that they live with regrets. I never want to be that way.

So, this has been my brain the last three days. Restless, moody, anxious.

And prayerful.

In other news, I bought a new camera bag and a new UV lens for my Nikon today. As much as I love my iPhone and Instagram, it's a bit ridiculous that I've had a DSLR for two and a half years and I've hardly used it. When you have such a great tool at your disposal (especially as a blogger!), you must use it. So, my Nikon is officially glued to my hip. I'm watching YouTube videos and figuring out the tricks to becoming a better photographer. Watch out; there may or may not be some pretty cool pictures popping up (let's hope yes!). 

If God is the one ultimately in charge of my life, the least I can do is bring a good camera along for the ride. :)

Back to normal

As I walked into the office yesterday, for the first time in months, I felt like my normal, outgoing, confident, driven self. I don't really know how to explain this transformation. All I can think is that over the last few months, my attention has been shared between work, family, wedding, Luke, etc. and it has taken life settling down for me to realize how streched thin I've been. Looking back now, I see that stress over the last few months made me cranky, short, and a little negative at times. I can gleefully say that the wedding high (although I loved it while it was present) has worn off, life is getting back into a more normal routine, and I've gotten 7+ hours of sleep the last two nights. Glorious!!

Today I am reminded of many blessings in my life: my incredibly supportive husband who encourages me to chase my dreams, a great job that challenges and grows me daily, friends that I laugh uncontrolably with on a regular basis, a puppy whose excitment never dwindles when she realizes her momma is home, and a God that loves me more than I could ever fathom, despite my imperfections. I am thanking the Lord for these blessings and a little bit of normalcy today.

What are you thankful for today? How how the Lord blessed you recently?