Wazzzupppp?!? (and loving life!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!! :)

Life has been crazy busy as of lately and I just want to share about it because I feel so blessed!

So why haven’t I been around much lately?

I went from working ZERO (0) jobs to getting a job.. or two… and actually working three separate jobs last Thursday!  Now this isn’t an every day occurrence, but last Thursday I subbed for a preschool teacher working a summer program, went straight to working at a restaurant (same I used to work at before becoming a substitute teacher), and then came home for about 2 hours to be called in to my very first interpreting assignment!!

It was a tiring day but I feel so blessed from all the opportunities that God has provided me so far after graduating May 10th!  I guess you could say I’ve been lucky as defined by my blog’s subtitle! ;)

I’m trying to work as much as possible so that I can pay off my student and car loans as quickly as possible so that I can move on to a new chapter in my life and not have to worry so much about money!  As far as full time interpreting jobs… there aren’t many and interpreting is for sure what I want to do for the rest of my life.  I’ve signed on as a contract interpreter with one agency and am hoping to sign on with more in the fall.  Summer is a slow season for interpreting so I realized I needed another source of income this summer if I am going to pay off my bills.  (Remember substitute teachers don’t get paid throughout the summer!) ;)

With that being said, I’m willing to work in fast food if that is what it takes!  Going back and asking for my job back that I quit almost 2 years ago was humbling to say the least and sometimes you need to come down off your pedestal and realize that you aren’t “better than that” and you need to do what you need to do.  They graciously let me come back and my pay is pretty much what it was when I left… they originally said about 2-3 days a week but I’ve picked up extra hours and have worked an average of 35 hours a week. God has His ways of teaching you lessons that you need to learn!  I will say this… God has provided for me!

In addition to the restaurant job and the one interpreting agency, I was hired on as a full-time preschool aide in a preschool for children with disabilities and typically developing peer models starting this fall!  I’m super excited about it and although it doesn’t pay millions of dollars, it’s a job that I will enjoy and will feel so rewarded every day when I come home!

God is Good… All the time!

Sorry for the lame post with no pictures… I’ll try to make up for it in my next post! ;)  I just felt like sharing everything I’ve been blessed with because my heart is overflowing right now!

I hope you can find the blessings in your life, no matter how big or how small and feel appreciative for them today!! :)

 

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**Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a chance for 3 of my followers to win a pair of Neon Zensah Compression Socks! Click the picture below!

 

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I Quit! (A Tough Decision)

This is kind of a tough post for me to write…

Thursday pushed me over the edge… I couldn’t take it anymore…

I turned in my 2 week notice to my boss last Friday…

There were many factors that played into my decision to turn it in…

of which included not being respected as an employee or a person.  I don’t care to go into all the details, especially on the wide world of the internet because I don’t feel like it is respectful to the company to do that and I am a person that likes to keep the peace and “do unto others as I would have done unto me” instead of a “dishing out what i was served” kind of girl.

15 minutes to go until my shift was over Friday, I was called back to the managers office and told that it would just be my last day because she didn’t want to have to redo the schedule in 2 weeks… Seriously?!

That made it even more tough and made me kind of mad/sad because although I have had a few problems with one of the managers there (the one that told me it was my last day), I got along with everyone else and I thought I would have 2 weeks to say my goodbyes and such.  Not the case.

Well 15 minutes went by and I said goodbye to the 2 managers that had been there since I had started working there 7 years and 3 months ago…. Such a long time to work there, since it had been my first job ever… It was the job I got to pay for my gas and insurance when I got my drivers license! lol

So, although this was a tough decision, and not my ideal way of things ending, or my ideal way of being treated by a company… I do have some fond memories of that place and will miss it!  I was pretty much sad all weekend until “Super Hubs” told me that he thought it was the right decision and that I didn’t deserve being treated like that and that he was glad that I was done working there. It helped knowing that he fully supported my decision.  He did tell me that he would still allow me to buy a new pair of running shoes before my full in October even though I was now a jobless bum lol… thanks hubby lol l  ;)

I do believe that it was the best decision I could have made, I feel less stressed now and feel like it is time to move on with my life… bigger and better things are ahead waiting for me!  I only have 7 more quarters to go until I graduate with my second degree, this one being in the field that I want to actually work in (about 2 years to go!)  I’m excited about what God has in store for my future and confident, that with the man He provided me as a husband and best friend, we can get through anything… funny how God opens and shuts doors in your life at exactly the perfect timing!

Running For Him T-shirt Giveaway!

I was clicking through some pages on facebook one day and came across the page for Running For Him… Here is the page’s description:

We are runners with a purpose, to share the love of Christ and message of salvation through him. We leave all personal ambition behind and instead run with the goal of building the kingdom of God. Join us for a run?

Awesome right?  Well that lead me to the actual website HERE… I think this is such an awesome way to witness to people!!  Here is the story behind Running For Him:

In the summer of 2008 I began a journey to lose weight and take responsibility for my poor health. Later that year I felt the strong urge to start running. This was so odd to me because I had severe asthma and weighed 240lbs, how could a person like me run? None the less, the feeling would not leave me. It tugged at me day and night until I decided to get out and just try it. I took maybe 10 steps and quit. It hurt. I resolved to try again when I was below 200lbs, maybe then my knees wouldn't scream so loudly.

God had something else in mind and he led me to the couch to 5k program. My weight loss wasn't going as fast as I thought it would so I gave up waiting until I was 200lbs and went out and tried again. This time I got the shock of my life when I realized I wasn't having an asthma attack nor were my knees hurting. I was running! I was healed!! I was so grateful to God and his mercy and I knew I was doing exactly what he wanted me to do.

Ultimately the desire to restore my health, led me to crave the restoration of my fath and relationship with Jesus. So I rededicated my life to Him, I gave him everything. I asked God to use my life, to give it meaning again, and I surrendered everything I had. Except my running.

I desired to go fast, to run far, to impress people with the things I could do. Soon I found out that keeping it all to myself made it pretty meaningless and difficult. As I was running one morning, it was cloudy and overcast, but off in the distance was separation in the clouds and rays of light streaming down. I began to pray, "Lord, running is great and I love it, but how can I make it about you?" I would compare what happened next as instantaneous as when Saul became Paul, it was literally like God flashed the idea into my head like a lightening bolt. All of a sudden it was there.

Running For Him.

Imprint a shirt with Isaiah 40:31

I could see the logo

The Lord instructed me to  put aside my ambition to win or place or go fast and instead focus on reaching others. Reaching out and loving them. Being the light and going where it was dark.

How many times have you been inspired just by reading a shirt while at a race? How broken do we feel on the course when we're struggling. Something changes in people when they are participating in an endurance event, they are searching. Searching for something big to happen, searching for acceptance, to have someone cheer for them, looking for something meaningful. We have the answer to all of those needs.

Jesus.

The one who will always love you just as you are.

By wearing the shirt you can be a beacon of light for those who are seeking. A resource. Someone may be inspired by the verse and take time to talk to you about it. The shirt will create moments for ministry and if you're ready to put aside your own ambitions and minister to those in need I ask you to contact me about getting a shirt. Through you and the use of your hands and feet we can share with people the promise of a life that will surpass any runners high here on earth. Through the website, www.runningforhim.com, and our facebook page you will be able to meet with other Christian runners and recieve meaningful support from our blog.

I know God will move, he's already amazed me with how many people have stepped up and said, "I will wear the shirt and run for Him." Will you join me for a run?

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I immediately put in a request for a shirt so I could wear it everyday! Ok, not everyday but as much as possible lol ;)  I just love the mission of Running for Him, it’s God and running mixed into one!! :)  The verse that’s on the back of the shirt is the verse I have on my Road ID :) Amanda sent me a shirt and I LOVE it!!  I asked her if she would mind if I write a post up about Running for Him and she said go for it! She even offered to host a giveaway on my blog!! YAY!! :)  So one of my bloggy friends will be able to win a dry-tech shirt and a $25 gift card to Road Runner Sports!!  Awesome giveaway right? 

Here’s the rules:

Mandatory

- Like the Running for Him facebook page HERE and leave a comment
- Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment

Optional

- Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment
- Follow me on twitter HERE and leave a comment
- Tweet the following and leave a comment
Check out the awesome giveaway @superwoman4002 is having on her blog! #running #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/5tfzxvs
- Leave me a piece of wedding advice, a funny wedding story, or a link to a funny wedding video or anything wedding related… funny, serious, ironic… whatever! Be creative! ;)

This giveaway will be open til Thursday, June 23rd and I will choose the winner on June 24th!! The day before my wedding!! :)  Now go check out Running for Him!!  Such a great website and way to witness to people while doing something you love… running! :)

*Shirts are ordered in quantities of 12. If we do not have your size in stock you will be placed on the waiting list and notified when your shirt is in the mail.

** I was not paid to do this post, I just wanted to share it with my bloggy friends!

** If you would like to host a review or giveaway on my blog send me an email at runners.luck@hotmail.com

It Is Well With My Soul…

I’ve been really stressed out and moody lately, I’m not going to get into specifics… Just a lot going on!  It’s not like my life sucks, cuz it doesn’t… it’s all good things!  Wedding, Work (making money), going back to school, did i mention wedding stuff? (and all the fun little arguments that come with not pleasing everyone with your choices) lol… yeah, i seriously have a lot on my plate right now and it’s not doing me any good!

I stepped on the scale over the weekend… I’ve lost almost 10 pounds!  This isn’t good… I can’t really lose weight because I’m already almost too skinny… it starts messing with how things work…

**shield your eyes men, if you get grossed out** 

I’m gonna get kinda personal… sorry…

 

My period was 7 days late this month… Not to mention that I’ve been miserable and cramping the past 3 weeks… stress and weight loss are not good on this body!  I went a whole summer without one when i was in high school and vowed I would never be that underweight again because I didn’t want to risk any health issues… and thank goodness I am not as skinny as i was back then… but I'm still not in the healthy range right now… so you guys need to hold me accountable.. i need to start eating better and gain the weight back! 

Stress also wears you out emotionally… I know you all have experienced this at least at some point in your life…

Last night, after Josh helped me out with some wedding stuff, I lost it… I had been getting frustrated and just started crying… for no good reason.  It’s a good thing he understands me so well… he didn’t tell me to stop acting like a baby, didn’t ask me what was wrong… just gave me a hug and said “I know you have a lot going on right now… It’s all going to work out!  You’re strong Zaneta!  You’ll get through this!” 

And he’s right…

Sunday before church I couldn’t stop worrying about things and thinking about everything and all of a sudden a song popped into my head…

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

I instantly stopped and thanked God that he was reminding me that he was in control and everything is going to be ok…  I serve an awesome God who cares about me!  It’s hard sometimes to completely trust God with things… but He really is in control!  That’s something I’ve been working on lately… just trusting Him and letting Him handle things the way He wants to handle them, not the way Zaneta wants to handle them…

I truly am so blessed!  I love my life and the people in my life!  It’s time to stop stressing out and start enjoying my life!  It’s supposed to be fun, not stressful!  Planning a wedding to the most wonderful guy, going back to school to get the career that I feel God has been planning for me to have and that I actually enjoy doing,  and in the mean time, having a job that doesn’t mind working around my school schedule, and not to mention I have an awesome family and parents who are letting us live with them after we get married… I just needed that little reminder…It is well with my soul!!