WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LEIGH FITZGERALD?

No, really, I'd like to know 'cause I haven't felt like myself in a long, LONG time. Again, on the way home, the lyrics to Casting Crowns' song, Does Anybody Hear Her, that I've heard a hundred times before, hit me like a ton of bricks:

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

It's VERY hard for me to admit this but I have crashed and burned. I have jumped from one nightmare job right into another in the span of a year. At the outset, they both seemed like such blessings but they have been absolute curses.

This latest job was the straw that broke my back. So, I quit. And then I quit again. And I quit for the third and final time on 1.17.12. I told them I would stay through February but I literally have to take it one day at a time. I. AM. BURNED. OUT.

I'm going to take some time off to get my priorities straight. I don't know what the future holds but I'm praying that this is the turning point to peace and contentment.

I NEED A DO-OVER

I was listening to the radio on the way home tonight and the song Undo by Rush of Fools was playing. I've heard it time and time again but I guess I had never really paid attention to the lyrics. This song pretty much sums up my heart's cry lately {pause the music in the playlist at the bottom before playing the video}.



I've been here before, now here I am again
Standing at the door, praying
You'll let me back in
To label me a prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be

[Chorus] Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

I focused on the score, but I could never win
Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin
To label me a hypocrite would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be

[Chorus] Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You

[Chorus] Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

To quote the old Yiddish proverb, "I made plans and God laughed".

CHA-CHA-CHA-CHANGES

And not just the blog design. Things have been interesting around here to say the least. More on that later.

I'm really excited about church tomorrow. A gentleman named Clyde Annandale is coming to Bethany Bible Church to perform. He portrays Bible characters to bring Bible stories to life. He has 52 different Bible characters in his repertoire!

Clyde's first performance will be at 9:15 a.m. and again at 10:30 a.m. We'd love you to join us if you can. Bethany Bible Church is located at 3300 W. Parker Road, Plano, TX 75075.

Have a great evening, y'all!

THINGS DON'T ALWAYS TURN OUT LIKE YOU PLAN

I've been working on my bathroom remodel for almost four months now. The vision that I started out with isn't quite the reality it's becoming. Nevertheless, I'm happy with the results. Here are the final finishes and fixtures:

1. Crossville Wood Impressions porcelain tile in black walnut for the floor
2. Carrara white marble tile in random pattern for the shower
3. Bel Air 4-light chrome bathroom vanity light
4. Xylem Manhattan 36" bathroom vanity, sink (square), counter
(Carrara marble with square opening) & mirror (lights and faucet not included)
5. Moen 90 Degree widespread sink faucet
6. Moen 90 Degree shower fixtures
7. Cusio one-piece, dual flush toilet (bidet not included)
8. Frameless glass shower enclosure

I have had alot of fun picking the finishes for the bathroom. Not so fun: how long it's taken to finish and being over budget. But, in the end, this bathroom will get plenty of use. I can't wait until this project is finished so I can post pictures of the end results!

PROJECT MOM-AHH RETREAT

My itty bitty bathroom has been in dire need of remodeling. A couple of weeks ago, I got up early one morning and started swinging a hammer. We're talking down to the studs. Now the hard part begins: putting it all back together.

My favorite part is picking the finishes. Here's what I've picked so far:

Stay tuned for updates...

2010 HAS COME TO AN END

And I believe 2011 is going to be heaven. My resolution isn't a secret: get out of debt. I hope to be debt-free on everything but the house by the end of September. Yes, being out of debt will be heavenly.

I start my new job with Transwestern on Monday. I'm really excited. I was on vacation this week and Anna and I stopped by to check out my new digs. It will be nice to have my very own office again. And the commute is so much better.

I hope you and yours have a safe and Happy New Year!

BETTER THAN I DESERVE

I drafted this post on November 18th but put off publishing it for some reason:

With the economy the way it is, the cost of living outpacing the pay increases for the last couple of years and, frankly, overspending or "stupid" spending, things have gotten a little tight. Not unbearable tight but uncomfortable tight. A friend was telling me about going to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes at her church and I had seen and liked his no-nonsense advice on Fox News so I started looking into it.

I heard of Dave Ramsey years ago and even had his Financial Peace book. I thumbed through it a couple of times but, for the most part, it sat collecting dust until I donated it, probably to make room for "stuff". I'd like to think that God caused the book to be delivered into the hands of someone that really needed it and that they are now financially at peace.

Recently, I bought, no, I invested less than $100 in Dave's online Financial Peace University series and it has changed my way of thinking. He's anti-debt and pro-cash: no credit cards, forget about the FICO score, save and pay cash for everything--a concept that our grandparents and prior generations understood but that has gone by the wayside. And now, we and the country as a whole are feeling and paying the price. I, for one, am no longer going to blindly follow the herd that is headed over the edge of the cliff.

It's not going to be easy 'cause I like "stuff". Sacrifices will have to be made, pennies pinched, coupons clipped, etc., but it is possible. I'm going to live like no one else so later I can LIVE like no one else. I want my daughter to go to college and not have to worry about tuition. I want to retire with dignity. I want to be able to help other people. I want financial peace for my family and I will have it!


Fast-forward a couple of weeks. I put together a budget, got my priorities straight and started working the plan. It's been hard and I've stumbled many times but I'm starting to see the fruits already.

I'm a firm believer that, when you get your priorities straight, from a biblical perspective, God honors that. One of the things that I made a top priority was giving at church. It was something that I had not been faithful about doing and it bothered me. Especially when I knew of the struggles my church was going through and, because of my priorities, wasn't able to financially help. So, now, when I get paid, that's the first check I write. The first fruits.

Now, I'm not suggesting that, because I'm tithing, I'm "buying" favor. What I am saying is that, when you get your priorities straight from a biblical perspective, God rewards your faithfulness. It doesn't always happen right away or in the way you expect it but it does happen. It's a biblical certainty. Like the servant in the Parable of the Bags of Gold:

Matthew 25:23 (New International Version, ©2010)
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, if you are still skeptical, allow me to present irrefutable evidence:

Exhibit A. In the midst of getting my financial priorities straight, an opportunity presented itself for me to change jobs. There was no anxiety or stress during the interview process. It has been almost effortless and all of the pieces are falling into place which affirms to me that this is God's plan.

Exhibit B. As a Senior Property Manager, I will be responsible for managing 3.4 million square feet of industrial property. Prior to that, I was a Property Manager responsible for 281,000 square feet of office property.

Exhibit C. When I start my new job, it will be an immediate 18% increase in pay with potential for bonuses.

I don't say all this to boast. I'm so humbled by all of this, it brings tears to my eyes. There are so many cool things that have happened over the past couple of months that have led up to this; some that have roots back to 2004. God is great and I am better than I deserve!