Caffeine & Change

**Disclaimer** This is too long for a blog. I realize it. Stick with me. It will take about 1.5 more minutes than a "regular" post. You've got it. Baby steps to completion... (And don't abandon me for What About Bob even though that's SO much more entertaining!)

I have to admit, I am completely hyped on caffeine right now. A large unsweetened iced tea from McDonalds is HUGE! And delicious.

On my drive home from my night class tonight I didn't turn on the radio. I usually keep it on, since I hate being "behind" in Pop Culture, although I've never actually been "ahead." So, I keep my tunes going from Pop Spanish musica 96.3 to New Country 105.1. This is totally irrelevant to my point today.

What is my point you ask? Well, to simply put it: holism. (Now I just looked up that word on Wikipedia because I wanted to make sure I didn't say I am suddenly into a cult and everyone is concerned about my personal well-being. No, I'm doing fine. And I am also becoming holistic. More on that below.)

Now I'm not going to lie, I love hippies. I love the casual but cute look. The I-naturally-have-a-sun-kissed-glow-and-don't-eat-pesticides kind of ora they give off. And something I REALLY love about hippies is their disposition on life.

So, I'm trying to be like a hippie, essentially. A hippie who likes to shower, and shave, and doesn't buy organic because it's too expensive. And who's pale. Ok so I'll be a hippie-mutt. I'm good with that. Still tracking?

My aerobics instructor has inspired me. She embodies someone who is trying to be someone healthy holistically and in every way worship the Lord in the way she lives. Now, if you're anything like me, a grew-up-in-the-church-and-OF-COURSE-I-am-worshiping-God-in-every-way kind of person, you may dismiss me here. But keep tracking.

So there are 6 general kinds of wellness:

-Physical (body composition and overall physical health)

-Emotional (Positive self-concept and dealing with feelings)

-Intellectual (Pursuing and retaining knowledge, thinking critically)

-Spiritual (Beliefs, principles, and values giving purpose to life)

-Interpersonal/Social (Develop & maintain meaningful relationships)

-Environmental (Protect from hazards and minimize negative effects)

Did you read those definitions? Probably not. That's ok. I wouldn't either. That's why you're reading a BLOG and not a BOOK. Because this is quick, easy, and mindless. Oh I didn't mean to insult you, I promise. I'm not reading a book either right now. Friends?

Yey!

I got to thinking that I am REALLY good at some of these levels of wellness. And I think I really glorify the Lord through them. My emotional wellness is pretty good. I would stay I'm relatively stable for a human being. I think I have self-confidence and optimism. And I am able to be a critical thinker and not allow my emotions to hinder someone else. Doing pretty good!

My interpersonal & social wellness is my favvvvorite one :) To be well by having friends?? Yes please! I love to be a friend. And I love to have a friend. I think about how I can uplift my friends, encourage them, be there... yeah, I think the Lord gives me gold stars about glorifying Him through my friendships, sometimes. (No sarcasm. Seriously. I don't think I'm bad at this one! And if you're my friend and think I am... this just got awkward.)

But there are some of these areas I am soooooooooooo not challenging myself in. IF God is actually this creative, majestic, wonderful entity that is all knowing, all loving, and all GOOD then WHY AM IS MY WORSHIP OF HIM SO STINKING BOOOOOOOOOORING????

I'm supposed to be a reflection of him, right?

But rarely do I challenge myself to become more holistic. To become like Christ in MORE ways then the kinds I love and naturally want to do.

Do you worship God with your mind?

Seriously, you do?

By being on Facebook? Gosh, I spend SO much pointless time on Facebook! (I'm not a FB hater. Probably because I'm addicted. And like to defend my heightened level of social media intake with explaining it's importance... which I'll spare you)

Well, I am sOoOoOo bad at worshiping God with my mind.

I don't like reading the Bible.

Ah! Lightning bolt! Earthquake! Did God just hear that? Am I going to h-e-double hockey sticks?

Well, I don't enjoy it. It's hard to read. It takes TIME. It takes focus. It takes intentionality. And I like News Feeds. Easy fixes. Spark notes. (Used yesterday.) Simple answers.

And friends, I'm robbing the Lord of glorifying him with the use of my MIND! I am not intellectually stimulating myself ON MY OWN. Sure, in church or Bible classes my brain is stirred. But on a day to day basis I'm robbing myself of something that can be sooooo good!

And I'm changing it. I don't care if I am sleep deprived. (I often "worship the Lord through my extra sleep") I NEED to get better at this. I AM going to read the Bible. Not because it's easy, but because it's GOOD. It talks about GOD, how can it not be, right?

Confession #47: I hate running. Ahhhh I just hate it! Give me a workout class. Give me a salsa dance. Give me annnnything but give me a track and 4 laps and I want to hurt you! Especially if the temperature isn't juuuust perfect. (Happened today. Too hot & I could have punched someone!)

Well, I'm also going to worship God through stretching myself physically! I'm going to challenge myself in doing the thing I hate the most (confession #48- it's actually because I'm REALLY bad at it that I hate it!) and I am going to RUN! I don't know how far. But I am going to be consistent. I am going to LEARN how to challenge my body into doing something GOOD for it!

Does anyone else feel like their lungs suddenly become the size of juice boxes when they run? Because I simply think I may keel over sometimes! Can I blame the "athletics asthma" I had in high school? No? I'm just out of shape? Darn...

I've never made it past a mile. We'll see how far I go. Maybe 1.5? ;) But I'm DOING it! And not just for my own personal gain. But through the mental fight of rounding lap 5 (yet to be accomplished, this is foreshadowing) I know I will HAVE to lean on the Lord's strength! I won't want to, but I'll have to.

(Be warned, those of you who do your daily 5 miles are NOT on my good side. Don't worry, it's not personal. It's jealousy. Justified? Ok I'll work on that too.)

This is the start of my HOLISTIC living. I'm not going to just try to glorify God in the ways I WANT to, but the ways I CAN.

Is this caps getting both annoying and distracting? I'm loving it right now. Sorry if you aren't. (It helps communicate my caffinated state).

So, in an effort to become perfect... er... I mean holistically healthy, I am going to actually do my reading for tomorrow's class. Because that is worshiping God with my MIND!

Ready. Set. Go.

How are you challenging yourself? Stuck in the same worship ruts? Me too. Let's change.

With love from my pile of pillows,

Paige

Afterthought not related to this at all:

Check out my sister's blog of my nieces 3rd birthday!!! ADORABLE!

But talk to God first.

That sounded like the right thing to say.

It is well with my soul!

HELLO!

My oh my it's been a long time! I always feel like I have just blogged, and then life happens and I need to blog again!

This has been a wild few months since I posted last! Welp, you're gunna hear it ALL:

I spent time in Sacramento with my amazing family. I have to say, every time I go home my heart grows and I love my family a little bit more! I got to spend two wonderful days with my ADORABLE niece Evie and nephew Chet!!! We. had. so. much. FUN! We went to the mall, got our pictures taken in the photo booth, shopped for beds, went for a picnic, went for drives... man I just LOVE those two! Brooke and Josh got a night away and I got to play Mom. Wow, was I tired night 1! But we definitely had a blast and I cannot WAIT for summers where Jeremy and I get them for a few weeks!! Brooke posted a great blog about Chet. You can find it here. She has the most ADORABLE pictures of the kids too!

Picnic in the park:

Walk and Park with Sadie :)

Evie receiving her award in Gymnastics!!!!! Chet was her NUMBER 1 FAN!!!!!! Seriously, he screamed and cheered for her the whole time!!

Evie was SO happy to see Grammie at Gymnastics! So was Chet :)

After I came back, I got about 1 great week with Jeremy. Although it was busy and we did lots of activities and erands, it was SO refreshing to spend time with him!!! Something I used to take for granted I do not anymore! He had just gotten out of an intensive training for his work, and I has just gotten done with my summer internship!

After that week we packed up the bags and headed to El Centro with his parents and sister, Liz! I l.o.v.e. that town. I get the most hilarious reactions from people when I say we're moving there! Usually a *gasp!* "Why?!" *looking deep into my eyes for a truthful answer* :)

We have met such nice people there and are excited for the new adventure ahead!! He has started working at his account and is enjoying the work he's doing!! I love hearing his stories and learning all of this medical stuff he gets to do! I'm so proud of how hard he works to be the best he can be!

Trip to Costco!

Assembly party!

TV is purchased and mounted!

Pictures are being hung!

Ah, completed at last :)

It was SO hard to leave him there!! We had set up the apartment, bought some furniture, put my pictures on the wall, and I really transitioned to moving in there! I mean, my teapots ARE in the cupboard! It was difficult leaving him behind, and I honestly did not have a good attitude about it!

I moved into my new house and although everything was wonderful, I felt so discontent. I just wanted it to be January 8th and be moved on. I had a rough transition into this semester, not wanting to be at APU anymore and wanting to be in El Centro with Jeremy. I was bitter about buying school books, sitting in traffic, going to church without him...

It took enough time in a pity party for me to realize (with the help of my loved ones) that I needed to refocus or this semester would be a waste! So, that's what I did! I found my purpose:

• I am living with 5 WONDERFUL women right now in a beautiful home! God has moved in their lives and they are in love with Him! What a great place to be and a spiritually centered home where I get to spend my last semester!
• I am working in a new office on Campus in Chapel Programs! And it is wonderful. What a great way for me to meet new people and have a fun time my last semester.
• Although I'm taking a ton of classes, my day-to-day load is lighter than it's been the last two years and I don't carry the stress of classes on my shoulders as I usually do. My homework is actually able to get done without compromising sleep or conversations! (This is NOT normal!)
• These last weeks before we get married Jeremy and I are able to read books and prepare for our marriage.

The list goes on! Now don't get me wrong... if you asked me where I'd rather be, I would say "With Jeremy in El Centro" hands down! But because I'm not, I've gotten to be PRESENT in the situation I am in! Made new friends, focused on the great friends I do have, spend time just talking to God, eating well, exercising often... trying to live in the now, since tomorrow is not guaranteed.

The biggest attribution, which would be a shame if I skipped over, is that the Lord has been working in me. I really do feel the joy of the spirit in my life. That doesn't mean that great things are always happening or that life is suddenly rainbows... but I really do feel a great peace and reassurance from the Lord in where I am.

Something that has been so wonderful to think about is the view that God sees us outside of time... that when He is looking at my life He is seeing the beginning and the end of time concurrently. That as I type, Jesus is on the cross, Noah is in the flood, and Evie is getting married.

What a reassurance that is! When I am stressed about what career path to choose and if I am doing the path of the Lord, he sees me now, in 5 minutes and in 5o years! Thus, he is able to guide me properly.

One of my favorite professors... scratch that, my FAVORITE professor at APU is Hauge. He teaches Bible classes and really is a great and knowledgable communicator. At the end of every class he says, "Be good sheep." My last class of the semester last year, he finally explained his phrase. That the Lord compares us to sheep. What an insult that is! Sheep! They're IDIOTS! They only know how to eat. They have to be guided. They run away and must be found... and I am a SHEEP??? How reassuring (and humbling) is it though, that God is our shepherd. And even though we wander through a maze of life, doing what we know best, that God is looking out for us, guiding us and knowing the best option all along for us.

Be encouraged friends.

It is well in my soul.

How's your soul doing?

With love from San Dimas,

Paige