Volunteering Like a Good Little Citizen

Today I completed my first day of volunteering at the Alzheimer's Association. I tell you, it is good to be back in an office. It is really good, because I only sit there for 4 hours a week! My job is to assist Catherine (the regional director for education) with her office stuff and the hotline. People call in with their issues or questions and I help them find a solutions or calm them down. I can already tell this will be interesting. I have a special place in my heart for the elderly... specially ones with Alzheimer's. My grandparents both had forms of Dementia and I watched them deteriorate into nothing as the years past. I know the strain it puts on the caregiver, the family, and their friends. Sitting in the office, talking to these people really hit home. I pray that they are able to find a cure soon or ways to prevent this disease.

With volunteering for the organization I am also helping with the 5k in November. At first I thought it might be fun to run the race and quickly realized how hard it was to run 5k's when I was young and in shape. So instead I will help with setup, registration, and cleanup. I will also cheer on the people who decide to run... If you want to run/walk in the event let me know. I can hook you up with the information you would need to participate!

On a school note... I officially completed my first paper as a full time student! YAY... I think. :)

Now to write a zillion more and study for many quizzes!!

Happy Weekend to you all! I will be at the beach tomorrow, thinking of everyone who has to work!

This picture is my very own, shot at Fort Myers Beach at Sunset....

My Favorite Time of Year!

So, my favorite time of the year has officially started.

FOOTBALL SEASON

With football brings a weekly stream of visitors to my house. Every Sunday, you can guarantee that if you walk into Jake's and my home, you will be greeted with the NFL Ticket, food, friends, and fun! Sundays have always been my fun-days (God needed his day of rest, so I take one too), but NFL and College Football bring and added dollop of YAY to the day.

This time of year brings holidays and beautiful weather. I love the fall! I love when I can finally open up the windows and let the sunshine and breeze in. Of course this fall I am a bit busier because I have a few extra classes then normal... but, I know it will still give me that same "uhhh" relaxing feeling.

School is starting to pick up for me. I think I might have made a mistake by taking American History to 1877 online... LOADS of reading and I am not to thrilled on the subject. My midterm is next month... I am waiting to see how I do, before I make any rash decisions. Besides that I am doing awesome! All my fears of not being able to survive or changing my habits of spending is working out. I had the opportunity to pick up extra shifts at the bar job but graciously turned them down. I realize this might be the only time in my life I have control on how much or how little I work. I am choosing the little part. Thanks to the many lessons on how to budget from my mom... I think I will be okay.

I thought I would miss working my full time job, but I am really glad to be out of the situation I was placed in. Toward the end of my stay, life was beginning to be very stressful. At one point I thought I was going through puberty at 24 due to all the zits on my face! haha... I loved what I did and the members I met, but I am glad I handed my torch on and am pursuing my dreams.

Happy Football Season to all!! Hopefully I will see you over one Sunday!

A New Way of Life

I did something out of character last week...

I left a full time job with a guaranteed salary and full paid benefits + retirement. I left all this behind to embark on a new journey.

SCHOOL

After high school I chose not to go to college. I thought that I could make a life with out it. At 21 I decided to enroll in college part time. At 24 years old and three years later, only considered a sophomore with my credits, I realized I need to make something happen. I decided to pull out loans like everyone else has done and go to school full time.

As you can imagine, my life starting tomorrow is about to drastically change... the joys of needing something and swiping a card or pulling out cash without a second thought... are behind me. Starting tomorrow I must stick to window shopping. I now have to carefully calculate every dollar that comes in and out of my pocketbook.

I know that this is the first risk that I must take in order to better myself and my life. If you don't take a risk, you wont ever know if something could be better.

Thank you to my parents (mom and daddee) for your support and encouragement as I take on a new way of life. Thank you to Jake for letting me feel at ease about my life changes and encouraging me that we will be fine and work together at making life fun, these next two years.

I know there are some people who won't understand why I can't pick up and go on trips or go shopping at a drop of a hat. I know they will have to learn or move on with our friendship. I am realizing the people who are close to me and have my best interest at heart, won't make me feel bad for bettering myself.

My new chapter in life begins tomorrow. My new title will be: Christal Mylisa, Full time student with a part time bar job. :)

3/50 Project

I found this idea on Thinking Outloud Blog, that I recently stumbled over. I think it is a great way to "Stimulate the Economy".

Go out and support your local business'. When our economy is turned around, we still have those great little spots to shop or eat at...

+/-

I am trying to stay positive with all the gloom and doom going on in the world. It is so easy to get caught up in every problem that surrounds you.

When do you draw the line?

Negativity is like a thief in the night, you wake up and realize your happiness and quality of life is near zero! So, this morning I woke up thinking, I'm going to make the most of the day and just smile.

I did an alright job... but boy does life throw interesting situations at you. I loved my job at one point. I can pretty much pin-point when I lost the caring part. I am sure this feeling is mutual in with some jobs in this market, as leader have to make tough decisions. Even though I am now on my final count down to be out of there, it is hard not to feel the thickness in the air.

My goal the next few weeks and months is to find that perfect balance in caring for others and other things, with out damaging myself with the negativity. I want to weed out the things in life that do not lift me up or make me appreciate life. I am sure it will not be easy...

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a
desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
E. B. White

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding
on. Henry Ellis

Changes...

Over the weekend Jake and I found an amazing deal on a sectional/sleeper. It is exactly what we have been looking for and for under 1k! (we have been searching for over a year.)

I should be jumping up and down that the man room is actually about to come together, meaning NO MORE video games downstairs!!! However, I am getting that throw-up feeling in the pit of my stomach because that means, the last of not only my stuff, but the last of anything that was purchased in BOTH of our seperate single lives of the past, will be gone.

I have to make the call this morning, to the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, to come and pick up my last remaining symbol of single Christal. I know everything will work out, but it is hard not to think of the what ifs...

I just need to trust the big guy up stairs, that all this is supposed to happen and that I am on the right track...

God's Visitors...

I feel that God introduces you to people for a reason, a season, a time. Through my work I have had the privilege to get to know different types of people. I received a message today that just lifted me up a bit and had to share.

Thank you to my friend Evie for her kind words, thoughts, and prayers!

"Enjoy your last month of work at the church! And many prayers for
your continued education, your next step in the relationship with Jake, and generally, for your future . You are a gifted young woman and I would love to hear how God guides your life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He WILL direct your path." (Proverbs 3:4-6)
Take THAT to the bank, Christal!!! Lol"