Encouragement and Signs

Eric and I have been going to the gym for a few weeks now. Well, we made it the last two Mondays anyway. Saturday I woke up pretty early and decided to start my day at the gym. I went and did the elliptical for 20 minutes and every time someone came in I hoped they didn't look at me (the elliptical machines are RIGHT by the front door) as I do every time I am there. I am embarrassed about my outward appearance and I don't want all of those in-shape people looking at me huffing and puffing away. There was a slightly older lady on a machine a few down from me and when she finished she walked by and we made eye contact. She smiled. I returned her smile. I got off my machine and decided to do some of the leg machines. One of the machines was next to a mirror and while I was sitting there between reps I looked at myself. I thought I looked like a giant blob and was even more embarrassed, but I kept on. After a couple of more machines, I ended up on one right next to the lady from the elliptical. She smiled at me again and I smiled back again and we looked away. About 10 seconds later she looked at me again (I just happened to be facing her while getting the machine ready) and she said: "It will get easier and you will feel more comfortable coming here." I said that is what I was hoping for and she finished her reps as I started mine. We smiled once more and she went on her way. As I worked on controlling my reps I thought about what she had said and how it had made me feel instantly better. She must have been able to tell I was embarrassed but I believe that God put it on her heart to tell encourage me because He knew I needed to hear it. What a blessing that was and that blessing made it that much easier to get up and go the gym at 10 til 5 this morning.

I have been asking God for signs in regards to the house I have been trying to sell. I had recently started looking into a short sale option as my house is underwater and if we sell it traditionally we will have a hard time coming up with closing costs. I contacted a company that actually buys/assists people with the short sale for more information. We talked about why I couldn't rent it and he said that he had never heard of a bank actually calling the loan (i.e. I would have to come up with all I owe right then or the bank would foreclose) before and that if it happened to me I would be the first. I told him I would talk to my husband and if we decided on that route I would be in touch. Then, impulsively (I am never impulsive!), I decided to see if I could get in on Dave Ramsey's radio show and see what he had to say. I did and he told me to rent it. When I told him about the occupancy clause and all of that he said what are they going to do, call the loan? I told him that is what the letters had said and he said well let them. Rent it and if they call the loan then they are stupid but if they do then short sale it. So I guess that is what we are going to do. I figure two people saying very similar things in a span of 4 days is a sure sign from God. Praise the Lord!

School Time!

The fall semester begins Monday. I am really looking forward to it. It is going to be a really busy semester but hopefully that means it will go by quickly. I am taking nine hours while working full time. It was either nine hours this semester or nine hours next so I decided to do nine this time and coast to the finish line with just six hours next semester. That is right. I graduate in May of 2013 with my Bachelor's in Business Administration, Human Resource Management. Five more classes stand between me and that degree! Of course, then I have to decide where I would want to work but I am putting that off of my radar for now.

I have worked so hard for this. Working full time and going to school part time can be a tricky business. I have maintained a 3.90 GPA since I started back in the fall of 2010. Night classes followed by a 30 minute drive home sometimes become very tiresome. Never seeing my husband because of class or studying has been a real sacrifice. The housework definitely suffers (my hubby takes care of stuff but sometimes you just feel you have to do it yourself.) Thankfully, I have a wonderful support system. My boss for allowing me to skip lunch hours so I can leave early to study for a test and for helping me work around my school schedule. Thank you! My husband, who has become quite the cook, makes sure I study and do my homework and is so supportive of my dreams...and proud of me for trying to accomplish them. My parents and grandparents (and the rest of my wonderful family) who knew I could do it (but I am sure wished I had done it sooner!) And my dear friends and church family who always cheer me on and congratulate me when I get an A on a test I am sure I failed. So many students have no support system and I don't know how they do it other than their internal motivation!

I am truly blessed by the people in my life. I love you all.