I Need The Assistance Of A Professional

The past few weeks I have been meeting with a financial advisor.  This young woman is someone I have known since high school and have been talking to for about a year now about utilizing her expertise in the financial industry.

Up until recently, I would not say that my husband and I have done much money management.  We decided that it is time to grow up and look for assistance from someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to finances.  Goodness knows we were not doing so great on our own.

Thats right, we confessed that finances is an area we are both not strong in and if we were ever going to have financial success, we needed the assistance of a professional.

So I met with this professional, educated, young woman who was eager to share her knowledge and passion for financial management with me.  The plan we created together and the knowledge she offered me (in a language I could understand) has made me feel in control of an area where I felt I had no control.

I often think I need to be the expert in every aspect of my work and personal life but that can sometimes get me in to trouble.  I have talents, passions and a special skill set and I think I have found a career path that allows me to assist others as the professional in the situation.  In turn I need to realize there are skills I simply do not possess or am simply not educated enough in to navigate alone.

I think this realization will open me up to learn more and hopefully with the help from other professionals, I will get a little further in life than I would on my own.

I Am Not Strong Enough

A tragic event took place in my little community this week.  I was not personally connected to the victim of the crime but my mind and heart has been with the people effected by this horrific occurrence since it took place.  I just wanted to share the lyrics to a song that I find comfort in.

Matthew West - Strong Enough Lyrics 
You mustYou must think I'm strongTo give me what I'm going through
Well, forgive meForgive me if I'm wrongBut this looks like more than I can doOn my own
I know I'm not strong enough to beeverything that I'm supposed to beI give upI'm not stong enoughHands of mercy won't you cover meLord right now I'm asking you to beStrong enoughStrong enoughFor the both of us
Well, maybeMaybe that's the pointTo reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finallyFinally at rock bottomWell, that's when I start looking upAnd reaching out
I know I'm not strong enough to beEverything that I'm supposed to beI give upI'm not stong enoughHands of mercy won't you cover meLord right now I'm asking you to beStrong enoughStrong enough
Cause I'm brokenDown to nothingBut I'm still holding on to the one thingYou are Godand you are strongWhen I am weak
I can do all thingsThrough Christ who gives me strengthAnd I don't have to beStrong enoughStrong enough
I can do all thingsThrough Christ who gives me strengthAnd I don't have to beStrong enoughStrong enough
Oh, yeah
I know I'm not strong enough to beEverything that I'm supposed to beI give upI'm not stong enoughHands of mercy won't you cover meLord right now I'm asking you to beStrong enoughStrong enoughStrong enough

Guest Blogger Meghan - A new year. A fresh start. A clean slate.

So many memories made and changes happened to me in 2012. Some good. Some bad. Some still un-decided. It is amazing how much can change in just one years time, but how time seems to be going faster and faster as I get older. 

The highlights of my 2012.

A new city-which I have 100% decided that I do not want to live in past my graduation. Although even though I have decided this I am happy that I have met the people that I have met while I am here and have created a few friendships that I am really thankful for. 

Being single for literally the first time in my adult life- which has given me a chance to actually get to know myself better (and also the first time in my whole life that I have had my very own room.)

Dating-..ugh, not sure how I feel about this one yet. Love the concept, love meeting new people, seeing new things and having the experience of learning exactly what it is that I want to find in a partner but have decided that I like my “me” time a lot more than I thought was ever possible..

A new job- I love love love being a nurse and am so fortunate to have found an amazing job that I enjoy while I am in school.

Another new apartment....I can say 3 things about this...1- I absolutely despise moving, 2- I have a great roomie who I love and 3- Where you live can really bring you up or bring you down depending on the situation. 

My first semester of University DONE- thank God. I had my ups and down and still have 5 more to go but just keep telling myself that it will be all worth it someday...hopefully when I am nursing in a tropical paradise.

As I look ahead to the next year and what could be to come I have been thinking about what I want my “new years resolution” to be. I guess more than that, the question is do I even want to have one. Of course there are things that I would like to change on a daily basis like eating healthier, exercising more, spending less money on things I don't need, being more organized...and the list could go on. But then I think why does it have to be a new year to make a big change. I have made lots of big decisions in the span of my life and I don't think even one of them has happened on new years day. 

Instead of holding myself to one thing that I am going to feel guilty about not doing on a daily basis starting on new years day- this year I just want to focus more on all of the positive things that happen in life on a daily basis. Recently on Pinterest (I may or may not be addicted to this website, on second thought-maybe my new years resolution should be to spend less time looking a thousands of recipes, funny e-cards and jewelry I can't afford right now) I saw this great idea. It is to take a jar and fill it with memories from the year to come. Good memories only. Things that you accomplish. Goals that you have obtained. Things that have made you laugh out loud. Good memories with friends. Important days . Special Moments. Anything that makes you smile. 

This is what I am going to do in 2013. Remember everything good that happens. I have learned throughout the past year that things can sometimes be tough. Rough patches happen, and it always seems like when you just can't fit any more on your plate-that life is right there to throw out another curveball. This year I am going to try and focus only on the good. Let go of the bad, and stop letting the little things in life get to me. I have so much to look forward to, so many amazing people in my life and so many goals that I know I am going to accomplish. There are so many little moments that have happened this past year that I appreciate.I just wish I could remember them all. At the end of 2013 I can  not wait to look back at everything that I have written. All of the highlights of the year. It's a good thing I have decided not to have a “new years resolution” per say- because I have a feeling that I am going to spend some money making my “jar of awesome.” I mean It will have to be decorated with sparkles and pretty jewels, I am sure that Ill be eating some delicious but unhealthy snacks while I make it :)

Happy 2013 everyone. Hope your year is everything you could ever want...and more.

Meghan

xoxo