Inward Thoughts: Outward Expression

1Corinthians 6:19

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

About two years ago, I (along with Austin) decided to start Crossfit. Little did I know that it would change my entire life!

It was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! I felt like throwing up after the first workout, but oddly enough… I wanted to go back the next day. I can honestly say that the feelings have not changed even two years later!

Austin and I were on the “Honeymoon” phase with Crossfit! Anything that other crossfitters said to do… We did! So, we decided to become Paleo.

I remember that when I began my Paleo diet, people thought that I was CRAZY.

I don’t blame them. (If you are unfamiliar with the Paleo diet then click the link!)

I was constantly asked, “Why are you going on a diet?... You don’t need to lose weight.”

I would simply reply, “It’s not about losing weight… It’s about becoming healthy.”

Now before you think that I am this perfect healthy eater… Let’s get real.. I was Paleo for about a good 6 months. Then, it became too hard on my body.

I noticed I was constantly drained at the end of the day. My body wasn’t getting enough carbohydrates for the lifestyle that I led. So, I added more grains...

At that point, I told everyone that I was going to just EAT CLEAN!

Since then, I have noticed myself slowly, but surely, falling back into the unhealthy lifestyle that surrounds our nation.

My body was more confused than ever.

So, I stopped working out so much and tried to start over. Only problem was that I didn’t know how to start over.

I would sit down and write out my diet.. I would try to find the perfect mix of providing my body of the good nutrition along with making sure that I never felt like I was being restricted.

Honestly… that didn’t work either.

The bible verse at the top says that your body is a temple. Yet, every day someone suffers from an eating disorder. Yes… Anorexia, Sports Anorexia, bulimia, and even binging.

I’m sure you are looking at your lifestyle differently now that I said your body is a temple. We are all guilty of tearing ourselves down, physically and mentally. It’s in our nature, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to protect and keep our temple as clean as possible.

My Dreams for 2014

I say this often, but God has a timing and purpose for everything.

I whole heartedly believe that everything that has happened in my life has brought me to the place I stand today. I thank him every day for leading my path even when I am reluctant or want to give up.

The Lord has placed a ton of special people into my life in the past couple of months. I really have never been so blessed to know such wonderful people!

I have met friends, co-workers, family, and leaders. All who look out for me and encourage me to go! To go and get that dream I want! 

Through radiology school (read my first post) I constantly was reaching for something. I had no clue what it was. I yearned to have a passion. Unfortunately, Radiology was not my passion. God has a sense of humor, though!

I graduated, I sat down, and said “What now?”

I worked at a boutique and I absolutely loved styling ladies and socializing with them… but, once again. My heart wasn’t fulfilled.

“What now?”

I interviewed for my dream job.- A job for a wholesale interior design company- I literally drooled over it!! After waiting impatiently, I finally got an email back saying that I did not get the job. HEARTBROKEN was an understatement. I cried. A lot!

“What now?”

My fiance’, Austin Hudson, lifted me up. He told me to stop worrying about money and just follow my heart. So, I did… and I prayed a lot.

That same week… I was working at the boutique and one of my favorite customers came in. I began helping her as I always did… and I felt a tug on my heart! Talk to this girl! I did and we began talking about teaching because she had told me before that she was a teacher. (I suddenly knew what I was going to do!) Once again, I see now how mysterious the Lord is. This customer, Kori, later asked me over to a party she was having at her home and I’ve loved becoming such great friends with such a great person!

So, I felt the tug on my heart… The Lord was leading me to teaching. That night I signed up for my praxis and the next day, I took my resume’ to every single school I could think of.

After knocking on every school door and never getting anywhere… I finally heard back from a school! I interviewed that week and received the Perfect Position. It would allow me to work 8-12. I thought to myself , “This is great, then I can work on paintings or other crafty things!”

Well, the Lord had other plans for me.

A tutoring position opened up for me. It was perfect.

Tutoring has become a passion of mine. I absolutely enjoy working with student and seeing them succeed. It’s so much fun to hang out with our youth. They definitely keep me on my toes!

So, I loved the way God had made me find myself with teaching… but, I missed my fashion artsy side.

I was invited to, my customer friend, Kori’s home one evening and who would have thought that I would reconnect with a wonderful friend that I had met through Crossfit about a year ago. We had lost contact because of different schedules. The evening went great! I knew I had met some wonderful people.

My crossfit friend, Hope, opened up My Stella and Dot adventure. I have absolutely loved starting this business! It feeds my addiction to fashion. And, I don’t have to overwork myself because everything is done from home! I only work a couple of hours with this company.

Hope has helped me grow tremendously! Especially since she is constantly encouraging me to paint and get my stuff out to the public!

So, this is me now. I genuinely believe that he constantly keeps bringing people in my life so that I’m able to fulfill all of my dreams. What are my dreams you ask?

                My dream is to be successful. Successful in:

                                Starting a family with Austin Hudson

                                Pursuing my passion of styling ladies and making them feel and look beautiful

                                Pursuing my passion of painting

                                Pursuing my passion of making sure my family and friends are healthy

                                Always succeeding in helping students and our youth succeed in school