Sunday, March 24, 2013

Entering The Rest of God's Grace♥

Happiness is a form of courage...Long time, no talk. Don't take it as an insult. I'm busy living my life for the glory of God.

My spring break was one of the best this year. Beside being home with my family and spending time with some friends, I chose to enter God's rest during the break and not worry about my Saint Leo bills.

This spring break, I inherited another doggy friend. Her name is Katrina and she's an eleven year old Daschund. I call her the "living teddy bear" because she likes to snuggle with you when you sleep. She's the sweetest little princess and we are so blessed to be housing her even though she is Dakota's dog.


On Sunday, I went with my best friend Peggy to spend the night at my best friend Sarah's house. I had so much fun. As soon as we got there, we did some shopping therapy. We went to Michael's first and decided to get some Easter crafts to do later. I ended up finding a package of temporary Tinkerbell tattoos for $1.

I know this isn't the prettiest picture of my foot but did you think I got a real tat?

After shopping for a good hour, we started work on dinner after Sarah made me some homemade guacamole and chips.

Sarah, Peggy, and I all made:
 Honey Lime Chicken Skewers

 Cranberry Pecan Salad

And of course, I got to try Peach Sangria for the first time.

 Loved it!

Missed these girls.

After working so hard together on a beautiful healthy dinner, we had desert (No bake Nutella cheesecake) and watched Magic Mike while sipping beer.

At 11 o'clock that night, we decided to do our crafts.
Here they are. This is my lopsided bunny.

After crafts, I got hungry again and we decided to watch 21 Jump Street while I snacked on chips and hummus.

We ended up going to bed at 1:30 in the morning. Woo!

Here's Cocoa♥

 Here's Barkley♥
The next morning we work up at 8:45 a.m. and Sarah made us French Toast and Keurig-brewed coffee. Yum!


Peggy had to leave early but we said goodbye to her, and Sarah and I decided we would go to the movies to see The Great and Powerful Oz. While we waited we watched The Big Bang Theory. On the way out, I said goodbye to Cocoa and Barkley:

Overall, this sleepover was the most fun I had in a long time and it was a great way to start out my spring break!

Going back to school was rough this week but it included two miracles. Before I tell you what they were let me just say that I'm overcoming my depression and I haven't missed a class all month. 

Miracle Number 1 happened on Monday: my mom calls me up and tells me I got a refund check from Saint Leo. There is the money for my bill.

Miracle Number 2 happened on Tuesday: I went to Trane Stop to ask my student account was telling me I owed nothing to Saint Leo and guess what? I was told I owe nothing to Saint Leo after having a bill of 2198.38 left to pay. 

God is so good!

Now I can register for classes this week for next semester and I'm praying for favor for that and housing on Wednesday.

This weekend was really blessed as well. I came home on Thursday because we were going to Tampa Pro 2013 on Friday this year.

At first when we got there it looked to be an unsuccessful Tampa Pro year because we didn't even see any of the pros. This year one of my goals was to meet one of my fave skaters(who also happens to be hella-cute) Sean Malto.

We were about to leave at 1:45 but after leaving Jayde and Jamie in the car since they didn't care to come back in, we went back in after literally walking by Chaz Ortiz.

We went inside and then Dakota came back inside and met us. As soon as Dakota walked in, he spotted our first pro. Guess who it was?

 I still cannot believe that happened. It made me happy for the rest of the day. Sean Malto is so nice and so adorable...OMG!

 Dakota looks so thrilled to be making a new friend.

 Then Nyjah Houston came shortly after that and I got a picture with him. :D

After Tampa Pro, I decided instead of going back to Saint Leo, I would go home and spend the weekend with my family.

Friday night, I got Panera Bread for dinner. Tortellini Alredo and Greek Salad. Yum!

Yesterday, I rented Bully, a documentary by Lee Hirsh. It was really moving and we needed to stop bullying.

All in all, I'm incredibly blessed.

I also wrote a new poem about a guy I liked but have decided to move on from:

I've recently started on a new project. I sit with Jesus every day. On Monday when I sat with him, he said something that I think is genius:

Until next time,

Remember, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]-Matthew 11:28♥

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~







Saturday, March 9, 2013

Letting Grace Carry The Care♥

Happiness is a form of courage...Since the last time we spoke, I came to realize that despite the circumstances, I am blessed. ♥

Since the beginning of the semester, I have been saying, "I don't want to be in school anymore. I want to be working." And now thanks to too many missed classes, I only have one class. Now I work twenty hours a week and by the end of the semester, I will have paid off my overdue Saint Leo tuition bill from last semester. Blessing #1

Since I don't have as much class, I go to sleep early every night except weekends (and when I don't get woken up by my roommate), I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night.  Besides getting more sleep, I work out every day unless I cannot due to illness or not enough sleep. Working out more makes me feel better emotionally and physically. Blessing #2

Since I don't have as much class, I have more time to write. I've currently started working again on my nonfiction narrative novel about my health. Besides working on my writing (and querying agents and publishers), I have started using Figment.com on the regular and "swapping" with people who ask me to read something they wrote and review it, and then they will read and review something of mine. WRITING IS MY ZEN. Blessing #3 My Figment page where I post most of what I write

Last Friday, my two best friends and I all reunited. It's been a year since we've all been together. :D
 My friend Sarah came from USF to visit me. ♥

 Peggy, Sarah, and I. The Three Amigos. ♥

Last Saturday was Saint Leo's Spring Fling Carnival which was free for all students and guests. It included rides, fair food (fries, cotton candy, caramel apples, lemonade, funnel cake, and fried oreos), and a free concert from two bands. I decided to spice things up and put purple in my hair. ♥

My mom, Jayde and Jamie, and their friend Erik came out to accompany me to the carnival and to provide body heat since it was 30 degrees outside which is hella cold for Florida.


This week is Spring Break and I plan on doing nothing but fun things all break. 

Here's my suitcase as I was packing for break♥

Today, I spent time with my mom and my dogs. We are house-sitting Dakota's new dog Katrina for him while his house is temporarily fumigated. ♥ She's a 13 yr old Dachshund that belonged to his grandma.

Tomorrow, I go to spend the night at Sarah's house with Peggy. The three of us will be reunited again. On Monday, I will spend the day with Sarah and then get my housing situation for next year settled with ResLife.

Sometime this week, I hope to:
Go to the beach♥
Go to Busch Gardens♥
Go to the movies♥

All in all, I've learned that when you let Grace carry the care (1 Peter 5:5-7), you can truly rest in what Jesus already did.
"Not I, but the Grace" is my new answer for anything.

How will I pay off my debt?
"Not I, but the Grace"

How will I finish all that I have to do today?
"Not I, but the Grace"

How will I pay for a car in full in this economy with only a work study job as my income?
"Not I, but the Grace"

How will I become a bestselling author?
"Not I, but the Grace"

How will I finish school and get a good paying job?
"Not I, but the Grace"

I think you get the idea. So, anytime you feel defeated, discouraged, beat down, depressed, unappreciated, uninvited, ignored, unloved, call to mind Jesus on that cross. Every piercing on his back, every hole from the nails in his hands and feet, all the Blood that he shed. He conquered death for you so you can have and enjoy life. "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." -John 10:10♥

Jesus didn't die just to give you an eternity of salvation in heaven. He died and rose again so you can enjoy life every day NOW, here on Earth. That's why in the Our Father we pray: "On Earth, as it is in Heaven."

Until next time, remember When you know your value & your worth, you don't hang out with the dogs & get fleas.-@TheSingleWoman on Twitter 

Love Times Infinity,
Chelsea 
xoxo
God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~






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