The Closing of the Year

Being sick the last few days of the year has had  me feeling rather maudlin.  I miss my mother something fierce this time of year.  Mind you, she's alive and well, and living in Myrtle Beach.  And, I did get to spend time with her in July as well as talk to her all the time.  Still, I miss her.  In addition, I miss my Dad.  He wasn't able to come down for Thanksgiving this year.  And, as wonderful as the day was, it just wasn't the same without him.

This Advent season flew by too fast.  I didn't do any of the things I had planned.  Not a one.  I started coming down on myself, per usual.  Then, something changed, clicked if you will.  Yes, I did not get anything I wanted to do started, let alone finished.  But that doesn't make me a bad person. I've been trying to focus on that.  And, while I've been sleeping a ton, the last two days I am up more (thanks to the new medicine) and am feeling loads better.  Not well enough to go to Mass today or to my sisters for our annual NYE celebration.  These things are important to me.  And, here I sit, in my bed, feeling a little sorry for myself.  My faith is important to me.  I wanted to go to Mass.  So, while Big Daddy was at Mass, I watched the Mass on my Laudate app.  That helped me feel connected.  Afterwards, I called my sister and chatted for a bit.  Just hearing her made me feel better.  

2017 was a busy year:

I became full time at my job.

I celebrated a year at my job.

I started in a new department in my job.

I started working from home 4 days a week.

I grew closer to friends and distant with others.

I left a business that wasn't working for me.

I started with an amazing company that supports me.

I learned how to eat better.

I learned how to meal prep.

I lost 20 pounds!

I lost 4 PANT SIZES!!!!

I took a vacation with just Big Daddy.

I renewed my vows (twice!)

I took a family vacation.

I started going live.

I created 'Live with Thrive'.

I made new friends.

I had medical procedures.

I leaned I have a new 'for now' normal.

I cried.

I rejoiced.

I shared.

Most importantly, I loved.

For 2018 I am leaving behind self doubt and negativity.  I'm not going to wait until I reach a goal to be proud of myself.  I'm going to be proud of myself the whole way!  I'm going to celebrate.  And, most importantly, I am going to love.

I wish you all the Happiest of New Years and that the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding will be yours this year.

Until next time,

Please call a cab/Uber/Lyft!  Don't drink and drive!

Love,

Me

I'm THRIVING!

So, for those of you who don't know, I recently started a new adventure and I couldn't be happier.  AND it only get's better!  I was featured on the official LE-VEL FAN PAGE!!!!!

My name is Gina Marie Schafer, and this is my Thrive Experience.

I'm a 48 year old mom of three adult children (23, 21, and 20) and my adorable grandtwins who are about to be 2, CJ and Justin and married to my amazing husband, George!

I've been Thriving officially for 8 weeks! I watched my friend Sheila post about Thrive time and time again. I watched Sheila's posts talk about mental clarity among other things so, I said 'let's do this' and contacted Sheila.

Truth be told, I was a little nervous. Would I be jittery? Would I feel like I was going to burst out of my skin? Happily, the answer was "no.” I'm an all day person (versus being a night or morning person), however, by the time I get home at 4:00 I'm exhausted and ready to be a couch potato. That did not happen! I came home and was doing laundry, not only that, I FOLDED and PUT IT AWAY!!! Who does that?!!! Not me, that's for sure! lol All I drink now is water, it's all I want these days. My favorite thing has to be the mental clarity! I heard about it, but didn't know what to expect. It's not like the clouds part and angles sing and all of a sudden I have an IQ of 170. No, this is SO MUCH BETTER! I didn't realize I had mental fog until it was gone! I can focus a lot easier now!

I haven't even mentioned how I get up before the opportunity clock goes off, how my stress is just about gone...how I'm able to better focus and handle a situation with less emotional stress, and how my energy level is through the roof!

I can't thank Le-Vel and Thrive enough for giving me, 'me' back!

The Thing About Cisterns

Over the course of the last few months I've really taken the ten commandments to heart.  Specifically, the not killing one.  If it weren't for spending eternity away from Jesus, in hell, with a lot of people I've avoided during my life, sweating, quite a few people would not be here.

As most of you know, if you are my friend, I love you unconditionally.  You hurt, I hurt.  Then, I want to hurt the people who hurt you.  But, I don't (see paragraph above).  Over the past few months, a few people I love were the victims of mean people.  And, while murder isn't an option, what's a girl to do?  We'll, I did some biblical thinking (rare I know).  And, what came to me were cisterns!  I was so excited!  See, Joseph's brothers didn't like him very much.  So, basically, they threw him in a cistern and went on their merry way.  They didn't kill him.  So, for the past few months I've joked around "we should buy a cistern!" "You can get cisterns on Amazon!" "Another person for the cistern!".  Then last week, God in His infinite wisdom reminded me of the rest of the story.

In case you don't remember, Joseph ends up becoming the rulers right hand man (so to speak) and in the end, he reunites with his brothers, holds no grudge, and tells them basically, what they meant for bad, God used for good.  So, if I get a cistern, dump all these people in it (I'm up to 3 now) then with my luck they'll form a singing group, will be rescued because some record producer heard their sound, and make a gazillion dollars.  So, no cisterns.

What then, is a wearing her heart on her sleeve, let me help you with the vengeance God, my friends/family have been wronged and must be avenged girl to do?  Pray.  Pray for these people (that they stay far away from me lol j/k not really).  Pray for their happiness.  That's a hard one.  Pray for God to soften their hearts.  And, even mine too.

So, as fun as it was to imagine throwing people in the Cisterns, that's the problem with them.  What I was using for bad, God will use for good.

Until next time, pray for those who persecute you (and everyone else).

Love,
Me.
Joseph, you are truly missed.  Thank you for being a part of my life.  I am blessed to have known you as shared so many memories with you.  Thank you for giving me your family.