For three years I have been working on a Masters Degree in Directing from Texas State in San Marcos. On Saturday, May 15th at 2pm I will walk the stage to receive my diploma. There is such a joy in my heart for this achievement.

The other day I was driving to school (which is an hour there and an hour back…a drive I will not miss one bit) and I just started crying tears of joy. I remembered all the times I thought to myself “I couldn’t do this anymore” or “I’m not smart enough to finish this degree.” There were countless days that I would just cry out to God and ask him for his strength to finish the task ahead. All of that came back to my memory as I realized God had heard every prayer I had prayed and wiped away every tear that I had cried. Yes there were moments of doubt but God is so faithful. When He says in His word that He will never leave us or forsake us, I truly can stand on that.

My parents are flying in tomorrow to celebrate this huge accomplishment in my life and I am all smiles. I serve a God that knows our heart’s desires and guides us even when we doubt what we are doing or can do.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU God, you really do take care of those that love you and are called according to your purpose. See you on Saturday!

I once read this quote I am about to share with you and it challenged me in more ways than I could ever imagine. The other day I was looking through some old stuff of mine and this quote literally fell in my lap. I read it and at that very moment was challenged yet once again. I put it in my journal so that I would never forget it again. So here is a quote that I hope when you read, challenges you to never settle for anything less than the perfect dream in your heart because it is WORTH IT!

“Determine what you want more than anything else in life, write down the means by which you intend to attain it, and permit NOTHING to deter you from pursuing it…”

Ask yourself:  Have you given up on your dream because of life, a person or just the thought of not really wanting it enough anymore? Look deep inside to the purpose God has ordained you with and do not let anything/anyone stop you from achieving ALL OF IT!

“I didn’t ask for success, I asked for wonder!”

This quote makes my heart stop a beat. Sometimes in life we can get so busy trying to make it, we forget to live out the moments that are right in front of us. I don’t want to look back 5, 10 or even 20 years from now and not have moments that I can remember WOWED me.

In this next season of my life….I am not seeking success but rather I am asking God, “will you show me wonder in all that I dream, do and encounter?!!!”

A life filled with wonder will go so much further than a life with mere success. Don’t get stuck in success…go for the WONDER!

I was watching a movie the other day and one character challenged another character by asking: In this journey that we call life, are you merely existing or are you living? That really hit me. I went to my room after that movie and I was still thinking about that question. I started to analyze my life and really put that question into perceptive. Do I wake up each day ready to LIVE the life that God has for me or do I just EXISIT? Do I take on the challenges that arise with faith and whole hearted trust in God or do I just coward down and think, ‘maybe tomorrow will be a better day?’ Do I make each minute count or have I wasted my days just trying to survive?

I honestly think that I have been just existing and I don’t want to be like that anymore. I want each sunrise to count. I want each day to be an adventure that I will remember forever. It’s not the number of days we live that count but  what we did with the days that we lived that makes all the difference in the world!

So here is to LIVING and not merely EXISTING! It’s a new day…I will make it count:)

                      What about you? Are you EXISTING or LIVING?

There is something to be said about new beginnings.

I love the start of a new year because there is so much to be excited for. You have empty pages to fill in your journal. You have a blank calendar to fill with important lunch dates and amazing vacations (or in my case a wedding date!!!). You have a scale to conqueror and a swim suit to be excited about  buying. You have so much promise to look forward to. There is nothing holding you back because it’s a brand new year!

So my challenge to you is simple…may this new year bring you many wonderful new beginnings. Let 2010 be all that you would have ever hoped or dreamed it would be.

Here’s to New Beginnings!