04.30.2014

So... I think I need a job. 

Yikes. 

I need something organized and constructive to do during the day. School isn't an option (yet), so work it is. The longer that I don't have anything to do during the day, the worse my symptom of laziness/sickness will become. 

Sometimes, I think I can do more but I need that push. I need something that is required of me. Work will do just that. School couldn't do it. Well, my program at UGA couldn't because I was the only student and it was mostly independent study. 

I used to love to work but I haven't worked since August 2010. I think I would love working again but how do I go about doing this? 

My energy level isn't where it should be and I haven't worked in so long. Right now my energy level is at a 2. When it reaches a 5, I'm going to shout for joy! 

I want to start part time at a daycare this summer then eventually work up to my own K-12 classroom by 2016. 

But I like to give my all and then some. I think it is very important to give your all to your job, especially when children are involved. 

If May goes well (health wise) then I'll start looking for a job in June. :) 

I would prefer if it is within 15 miles of my house. Also, I would like to work with ages 3 to 4. I would like to start off as part time over the summer and then go to full time when I start graduate school.  Those are all the preferences that I can think of right now. 

 

I really need to talk to God about this some more but I'm excited about working. A few of my sisters in Christ work at daycares, so I will ask for their advice as well. 

Sometimes I see my friends living their dreams and I want to be right there with them but it motivates me. It motivates me to get healthier. It motivates me to do what I need to do to get my degree from UGA. It motivates me to go to graduate school. It motivates me to get my career started. This is my lane.  This is my journey. This is my life. I'm focused on that! 

04.29.2014

My uncle died two years ago. He wasn't my blood uncle but my mommy and his wife were prayer partners for as far back as I can remember. He was my Uncle George and she is my Aunt Sanjanette. Such a wonderful couple. He died from cancer. He was truly a good man. He was a Christian man. I don't worry about him like I worry about some of my high school classmates who have passed on. I know who Uncle George belongs to; we have the same Daddy. :) 

Well, when he passed away I thought that would be the first funeral that I was going to attend. I didn't go though. I am too much of a chicken. But my mother and father came back and they were touched by the service. The choir sang "Let The Church Say Amen". 

That song has stuck with me since then. It's become my favorite song. My role in life (now and for eternity) is to say "amen" to whatever God's will is. 

I've been ill since 2006 and severely ill since 2011. I've gone through pretty much all the emotions. I've been content with being sick. I've been in denial. I've been joyful about it. I've been all over the place. My prayers would be that God would take this disease away.  I would cry out to God to end this pain now and take me home to Him. I would thank God for the opportunity to use sickness as a part of my testimony. I've been all over with my prayers. 

Recently, since I've gotten off of medication, I've been at peace. My prayer has simply changed to I want whatever God's will is to be done. Oh, it is hard but I have to give everything to God. See, I've been giving God the good. If I had a good day, oh, I was spending it for God but I haven't been giving God the bad. I've tried to handle my sickness by myself (well, with the doctors help) but I never just gave my bad days to God. 

Hmmm, that's flawed. Shrugs. I'm flawed. But I am working on it. I'm working on saying "amen" to whatever God's will is. I want to be obedient to how God wants to use me in this season. 

Love, 

Brittanie-Claire

P.S. I'm very choosy with my friendships because I realize the impact that my friends and sisters in Christ will have on my children. My parents' blood siblings, line brothers/sisters, college friends, fraternity brothers/sorors, friends, colleagues and brothers/sisters in Christ have had such a monumental impact on my life, my relationship with God, and my personality. I can't afford to bring people who aren't in line with God's will into my life. These girls who are now my friends, will one day be my bridesmaids and one day be my children's aunts. I can't afford to. The future depends on it. Lol. 

04.28.2014

Ehhhh. 

Prayers are needed. 

I stopped taking my Humira because the side effects were unbearable but now I'm struggling. 

I could eat WHATEVER I wanted to eat with Humira. Okay, I couldn't eat spicy foods. Shrugs. I'm not a fan anyways. 

Now, I have to watch what I eat. No biggie. My joint pain is slowly leaving :) but my Hidradenitis Suppurativa has started to flare. :( Acid is building up again in my stomach and intestines but I have more energy. Ehhh. What to do? What to do?

Since I started taking Humira in December I haven't been drinking green juice nor green smoothies because I could eat my veggies. Tonight, I tried to have a salad and it was no bueno for my digestive tract. Le sigh. So, next week I'll take away the salad and incorporate green juices and smoothies again. 

I realize that I'm going to have to make major modifications with my diet over the next year or so and if that makes me a healthier person, then I'll do it. :) 

Today was also a little difficult because while going through withdrawal from my medications, I didn't have the best attitude with people and I realized that I will be fighting to feel better over the next year. I'll have days that I won't feel well but I'll have to pray through it (even when I don't wanna). 

Anyways y'all, I'll talk to you later. 

Love y'all, 

Brittanie-Claire

P.S. My boil just burst. TMI. I abhor Hidradenitis Suppurativa. 

04.28.2014

Stay in your lane...

Eh. Why do I have such a hard time with this? 

For a few years now I have felt like I needed to mind my own business 100%. I'm not a nosey person, nor am I a busy body but I do seem to acquire information from people and over process it. If it is something bad, I might think over it and try to offer solutions. Then, I'll think over it some more. Then, I'll worry about it. Then, I'll try to do something about it. Meanwhile, my life is going crazy and everything over here is spiraling out of control.

It's like this... I can never progress if I am focused on everyone else. Imagine a highway. You have a designated lane for yourself and other important people in your life have designated lanes. Each lane might have some debris based on what is going on in their life. If you have debris in your lane, you can't move forward. So, what does Brittanie-Claire do? She focuses on clearing out other people's lanes and now my lane looks like 285 during rush hour. I know God wants me to do something great for His kingdom but I'm so busy trying to clear out debris in other people's lane that I don't realize my lane is backed up for miles. 

I've decided to submit to that. I've decided to put on my oxygen mask first before assisting others. But in order to stay in my lane, I've got to do a few things. 

I've deleted all of my social media. I only have my blog. No more Instagram. No more Facebook. No more Twitter. I can't focus on my own life and what God wants me to do when I'm too busy looking at everyone else's life. I spend too much time browsing social media. It just isn't benefiting me right now. 

I truly believe that in due time, I'll be back on social media but for now, people can reach me the old fashioned way--- with a phone call. :) I'm also limiting my text messaging to family members only. I know that this will eliminate a lot of people in my life but God is calling me to move forward and I have to do whatever is necessary in order to obey Him. 

Love y'all, 

Brittanie-Claire 

04.26.2014

I'm in this weird place right now. I can choose between taking medicine or not taking medicine. It's really that simple. But it isn't. 

This Humira is working to suppress my Crohns symptoms but it is also causing some pretty rough side effects that has made my quality of life a lot worse. Let's say, my Crohn's pain is at a 1 (0 being no pain and 10 being excruciating pain) but my quality of life is also at a 1 (0 being a bump on a log and 10 being "I feel like I could walk to Australia").  Instead of having Crohn's pain, I have headaches, brain fog and crazy joint pain. It's pretty much unbearable. 

Before I was on a biologic (Cimzia, Remicade and Humira), my Crohn's pain was at a 5 and my quality of life was also a 5. I like those numbers better. In my gut, I feel like I can manage the Crohn's pain holistically which would increase my quality of life BUT (oh, I hate those buts) I would eventually have to move. 

I've done the research and medical marijuana seems like my best bet. Not just medical marijuana but a healthy plant based diet and regular exercise. Here is the major problem... Medical marijuana isn't legal in Georgia and I'm not about that thug life. So, for now, I am going through the withdrawals from Humira, Lortab and Prednisone. These withdrawals can last for a while, so I'm nervous. The Prednisone and Lortab might take about a month to get out of my system but the Humira might take a year to fully get out of my system. Le sigh. 

What to do? What to do? Well, I won't be  using medical marijuana (until I move to a state where it is legal or it is legalized in Georgia) but once some of this medicine is out of my system I will be attempting to become a plant based pescatarian again and working out. Oh, and I'll be praying- a lot of praying. 

See, here is the problem... I can't eat a lot of different foods (such as fruits, veggies, fried foods, spicy foods, dairy, fatty meats, etc.) without causing inflammation- Crohn's pain.  How can I get healthy enough to move to a place where I can get medicine that doesn't cause huge side effects? 

This next year of my life is very crucial. I have to eliminate as much stress as I can, lose as much weight as I can, eat as healthy as I can, workout as much as I can and get as healthy as I can. 

This month will be very difficult for me as well because I'll be going through withdrawal. Ehhh. I hope it's quick and painless. I can dream, right? 

Oh y'all, I have some decisions to make and they aren't easy. It requires me to do a lot of hard, painful and lonely tasks. 

Pray for me! 

Love, 

Brittanie-Claire 

P.S. I'm trying my best to get healthy so I don't have to rely on marijuana or Humira. I just want to have my own classroom, have a Girl Scout troop and be involved in missions. Is that too much to ask for? 

04.23.2014

So I'm done with my medication. All my Crohn's medicine. Except for birth control (health purposes) and supplements like iron and vitamin D. I'm done. Yikes! Hopefully by the end of the year I will be healthy enough to be off of the birth control as well. 

Oh... And I'm done with pain medication as well. Pray! 

I feel like in order to be successful without medication I am going to have to manage the other part of my health: my weight. 

Stuff scressful, bruh! 

I started a food journal and it's kind of awesome. But I end up letting myself down because I see how I make healthy choices and then thirty minutes later I make unhealthy choices. Eh. 

I'm going to get it together. I have to get it together because my life depends on it. Did you know that my life expectancy is significantly shorter than the average persons? So, I want to enjoy what life I do have and in order to enjoy it I have be as healthy as possible. 

I also need to increase my productivity. My mind sets a super long list of things that I need to accomplish but my body (and my laziness) doesn't allow me to. And I honestly do need to complete a lot of things everyday but maybe I should do three things per day. It's better than nothing. 

I find myself frustrated because I see myself in a completely different place by December but it doesn't seem possible. I know, I know... I just blogged about this. 

Since I fell into this recent sickness, I've felt so alone. I haven't been able to attend church. I don't work. I don't go to school. So it's been me (and my immediate family). It's rather frustrating because I love being around people. I sometimes allow myself to become bitter because I feel like if I was hospitalized then people would care BUT I know that isn't the case because I've been hospitalized before and none of the saints showed up (only the sinners). Smh. Whatever. 

I've got to get a better attitude about that. I really do. It makes me not want to deal with people while I'm healthy. Like, why are you smiling in my face? Why are you saying hello? Where have you been? Don't ask me about my health now because you clearly didn't care. 

Yeah, I'll work on it. I need to work on how I feel about people and friendship in general. I don't feel like I have a best friend. Like, someone who I can do everything with. Like, someone who would pick me with no hesitation to go on a cruise they won. (And of course, I would do the same). I thought I had a friend like that but yeah, time and distance tells everything. I have best friends who have other best friends but not just my best friend. Does that make sense? 

Maybe I will create a list of things that I'm looking for in my friends. Loyalty would be a big one. Maybe I'm just pmsing and sill feel differently next week.

Anyways, 

Talk to you later, 

Brie 

04.20.2014

I kept looking at the weather app on my phone to check and see if it would be warm and sunny on Easter. It said the high would be in the 70s. I was super excited BUT it was raining. The current temperature was in the low 60s, it was cloudy and a consistent flow of water poured out from the skies. I looked over to my mommy and said "I don't see how it's going to be sunny tomorrow, all I see is rain." 

Well saints, and sinners alike, Easter Sunday had beautiful weather. I couldn't see it on Saturday though. I was too consumed with my present circumstances. Even though the weather channel said that it was going to be sunny, I didn't believe it. All I saw was rain and clouds. 

How many of us do that when it comes to our lives? God will whisper a promise into our soul and we are too busy looking at our current trial to believe Him. Even though we know that God is the root of honesty, even though we know that God can never lie, even though we know that God has pulled us and our brothers and sisters through trials before, we look at our current circumstances and become defeated. 

I've seen God heal people. He has brought my mother back from her death bed (twice). He has even healed me. I complain sometimes (mostly in my head or on my blog) about my health but God has had me this whole time. 

I lost something super important to me when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. My whole world was flipped. I became super depressed because I was too sick to fight for what and who I wanted. Hindsight 20/20 I thank God for bringing me away from those people and those situations. It still hurts sometimes but I trust God. 

It's amazing how God can work. He has saved me from a horrible cancer before I even knew it existed.  At the time, I had been diagnosed with Crohn's for less than six months but since my Crohn's was refractory, my doctor decided that I needed surgery. My mommy was against it. Her reasoning was that the doctors say once you have surgery for Crohn's, you'll have to have more than one. Anyways, that surgery allowed my doctor to find a carcinoid tumor that was sitting on my lymph nodes. The Crohn's wasn't even that bad. Thankfully, my doctor removed the tumor before it spread. He told us that if we would have waited any longer then I would have been facing a terminal case of cancer. Can we say, look at God? 

I lost a lot that year in 2011.  But God saved my life. I couldn't see why God would allow all of my dreams to fall apart. But because of those events, because of the stress, because of the chain reaction, because of the prayers of my loved ones and mostly because of God, I'm still alive. 

I couldn't see it in April of 2011, even though people told me it would get better.  But now, in April 2014, I look back and see how God was working it out. 

04.20.2014

Man, I've been diagnosed with Crohn's for THREE years now. These past three years have taught me so much about life, faith, friendships, health and being resilient. I've been suffering from this illness for at least eight years now but it seems like as soon as I got diagnosed, my health seriously declined. 

Random Rant #1

I went shopping with my mommy today. I looked high and low for clothes that were modest, trendy and plus size. FAIL. It became super depressing because I've gained so much weight since being diagnosed. I'm at my largest. Le sigh. But if that wasn't bad enough, I ran a quick errand with my dad and I told him about my clothes fail today. I told him how excited I was to be done with the steroids, Humira and all the medication because of all the weight gain they caused. He proceeded to say "That's what I told your mom." 

WAIT... So y'all were discussing my weight gain behind my back? I'm so fed up with that. I know when my jeans are too small or my top is too tight. I'm aware that I've gained weight. DUH! I know they are concerned but I couldn't help but to gain weight. I barely eat and my mom makes a comment about everything I eat. It's quite depressing. It's either she is talking about what I'm eating in reference to my Crohn's or my weight. 

Then my dad will comment about what I'm eating in reference to my Crohn's. Then my sister will make snide remarks about what I eat in reference to my Crohn's. 

EHHHHHHHHH!!! 

I'm trying over here but I gain weight because of steroids and because I'm so sick I lay around most of the day. So even though I consume less than 1000 calories on average, I don't burn more than that. Hence, the weight gain. 

Another difficult part about gaining this weight is that I've been super broke... So I don't have any clothes that fit. People look at my parents house and assume that we are balling or something. LE SIGH. First off, whatever money that The Johnson Family has belongs to Stephen and Phyllis- not me. Secondly, my parents are getting older and trying to save for retirement. Third, I don't ask my parents for anything because they pay so much for my medical expenses. Every month they pay at least $200 for my doctors appointments (that doesn't include procedures, medication, hospitalizations, etc.) 

Being sick has given me a new appreciation for some things. This past winter I was so cold because I didn't have any jeans that fit. I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything because I didn't have clothes for it. I can't imagine how children deal with this. Now, it's getting hot and I don't have any clothes that fit. 

Ehhh. I'm aware that this is temporary. I'll get healthier, get a job, enroll in graduate school and reclaim my swagger. ;) 

Don't get me wrong, every once in a while my mommy will buy me a cardigan or dress and my sister purchased me two pair of jeans BUT it's nothing like being able to look in your closet and have more than four options. And don't forget to do the wash. 

I cannot tell a lie. I get a little annoyed with people who don't work and they are healthy. I get annoyed with people who quit their jobs because it doesn't suit them anymore. I get really annoyed with people who pay for their things and look at me like "You live in that big house, you straight." 

It's taught me a lot. I don't expect handouts from people. I never have. I have just noted that I would be at the last of people's list to get one. It's made me want to give more. Well, the Christian in me wants to give more. My flesh is more so telling me to be selective with my giving. It's a constant battle. 

I've also noted that since gaining all this weight, some of y'all smaller girls are RUDE or insensitive. I've noticed people posting stuff about working out so they don't get fat. Like, why does being fat have to be repulsive to you? I've noticed people who make comments about how guys don't want someone who is overweight, or friends don't let friends get fat... Well I guess I'll just be single and friendless. -_-

My "fatty" flesh has always wanted to retaliate and comment on their looks because I can always lose weight but you'll always be ugly. (RUDE) But then I realize that these people are just ignorant. They don't understand and if I retaliate then they will probably never understand. 

I would love to eat mostly fruits and veggies but if I do, I'll end up in the hospital. I would love to workout, but I used all that energy brushing my teeth. 

Random Rant #2

I've learned so much about friends and what that word truly means. People will call you a friend but then when they don't see you around anymore because you are home sick, they don't visit. 

I used to be hard on myself because I felt like I let my friends down because I was sick and couldn't hang. But now I look at it like, they aren't my friends. Is it really that much of an inconvenience to visit someone who is sick? It isn't. It just isn't your priority. And that's ok. I'll still be there if you get sick because I know how it feels to be alone and sick. It honestly sucks. 

This year has been particularly hard for me because I was getting healthier and then I got really sick again. Overall, no one has really reached out. Even my close friends have distanced themselves. I guess when I'm healthier, I'm supposed to come around like all is well. -_- I probably will because that's just who I am but it still sucks. People become so consumed with their own lives that the chronically ill are forgotten except by their loved ones. 

I used to be worried about friendships but now I don't. If you genuinely want to be my friend, then you will. 

This past year has taught me so much. It has made me a much stronger person. It's shown me that I will have lonely seasons where I can only rely on God because man will fail everytime. It's taught me to continue being the compassionate person that I was before I was diagnosed. It's taught me that guarding my heart doesn't just necessarily mean from men but from people who don't have my best interest at heart. I've learned that I have to think I'm beautiful regardless of my weight, my hair turning gray and falling out, my skin breaking out or anything. 

I'm done ranting... for now. 

04.18.2014

Guess what y'all? 

It's Good Friday. :) 

I really don't even know what this means. That's sad, right? 

I'll be right back. I have to google this! 

Wait, wait, wait...

Why is this called Good Friday? 

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday to commemorate Jesus's death. 

Okay. I thought that's what it meant but I didn't think we would call it Good. Does that make sense?

The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday but the day our Lord and Saviour was brutally murdered is called Good Friday. 

I guess. I mean... Jesus had to die for my salvation but dang, why do we call it Good Friday? I really don't think that Friday was a good day for Jesus. 

Anyways, I wasn't even trying to blog about that. I'm still blown about my medication being the cause of more issues. So, I have Crohn's Disease but the medicine I'm on (Humira) is causing me more issues then it is helping. 

So, I'm getting off of the medicine. But it is scary because that abdominal pain is a BEAST. Women who have had kids say that their Crohn's pain is worse than giving birth. Ehhh. But that pain isn't daily. 

So, what I'm dealing with now is limited abdominal pain (I can pretty much eat whatever) BUT I'm always very tired (I may have one hour per day when I have a little energy), my muscles ache all day long and I have horrible brain fog (which is the reason I can't get school work done). 

I wake up every late morning to early afternoon feeling like I got hit by a trick the day before. 

But this is worse than the Crohn's. It is. I can't do much. I've missed church. I haven't been able to do schoolwork. I haven't hung out with my friends. (Which is partially their fault because that's definitely a two way street). :/ I've gained weight because I've just been sitting around. 

I'm very nervous about the withdrawal effects from my medications. The end of April and the beginning of May might be very difficult for me. 

Which brings me to my next mini rant... 

I officially started my Water Aerobics class next week. I'm super anxious about that. Those old people crowd up those classes. 

Anyways, I'm going to sleep. I have a lot of things to do on this Good Friday. 

04.17.2014

Man, I feel some type of way. 

Why? 

Well, my grandma is in the hospital. Ehhh... It bothers me. A lot. My grandma is my heart. She is also getting older. She is in her mid-80s. I know she won't live forever but it would be nice if she lived longer then me. :) I know that when she does pass away that I'll be reunited with her one day in heaven. She is an amazing woman of God. She loves God. It's evident in her everyday life. People say that we laugh alike. She says I look like her mommy. We talk on the phone everyday for at least an hour. That's a big deal for me because I don't really talk on the phone. I write her letters. She writes me letters. We talk about Jesus, the church, men ;), clothes and FOOD. We love food. We talk about daytime television, our body pains, my future plans, and how her mother probably had Crohn's Disease as well and ate baby food for the last few years of her life. Man, I love my grandma. She's my bestie. 

My Health: Ehhh. So I was getting better in December and early January and then my health took a serious dive in February. What happened? Well, the muscles around my joints started to become very sore, I became very fatigued, and I've had a major brain fog. Guess what we think caused that? My Humira! It's like dang... That's helping my Crohn's but making me a bump on a log. Since these symptoms have started up, I haven't been able to do much. I haven't been to church since mid-February. I love my church. I haven't been able to hang with my sisters in Christ like I want to. I've been home a lot. I spend too much time in my room with my dog watching Netflix because I don't have enough energy for anything else. So I'm done with Humira. I'd rather deal with Crohn's pain and be able to live life because right now my quality of life SUCKS. 

Random: 

I broke it off with Bear. He is a great guy, just not the right guy for me. That's what courtship is about, right? But seriously, he is an awesome man of God. 

Stephie got a job as a Public Defender! Whoop whoop! Praise God! I'm really proud of her but I don't get to see her that much anymore because she really gives her all to her clients. Which is great for them and bad for me. Lol. 

I got a teaching fellowship down in Augusta, GA!!! But I'm not going to take it. Le sigh. Why not? Because I don't have enough time to study for the Mathematics GACE. I'm still trying to bounce back and I'm not sure how long it will take to get this Humira out of my system. I'll apply for the fellowship again next year, I'm just super happy that I got it. :)   

I'm going to try to do a better job of keeping in touch with my friends. I've made a schedule to text all my friends. :) I know, I know. Weird, right? But sometimes I will let a lot of time pass without talking to people because I just don't feel well or I'm too busy trying using spoons to do housework. So yeah, I'm going to try my best to keep in touch with my friends. 

04.14.2014

So I had a pretty awesome weekend with my sister. :D The only thing that sucked was that I missed church (again) because I over exerted myself on Saturday at the Dogwood Festival. 

Okay, it's kind of awesome because I woke up early Saturday morning and stayed out all day long. I walked a few miles in Midtown Atlanta. I walked the whole Piedmont Park. But my body was so sore by the time I got home... I think I crawled up the stairs. Lol. 

Also, I asserted myself quite a few times. Yay Brie! 

I hate that I missed church though. Besides missing out on the teaching, I'm missing out on hanging with my sisters. The fellowship is amazing. 

Anyways, I'll be there next week. I know it. :D

So, I created a health journal. It is like a food, fitness, pain and health journey all in one.  I'm excited. Hopefully it will help me figure out what's going on with my body and how to fix it. 

Okay, so I came here to write about mu anxiety. I'm super nervous to go to the gym tomorrow for the water aerobics class but I need to go. I have to start. I'm nervous though. I feel like everyone looks at you when you walk in. Then you have to change in the locker room. And sometimes people walk around naked. Yuck! Then you get in the pool with people you don't know. And they are sometimes cliquish. Then people look in on the class. Oh well. I have to lose this weight and regain my health so I have to do this. Eeeek. 

I hope the old people in the pool are nice. 

Pray for me, 

Brie

04.08.2014

Recently it seems like my family has been pointing out all of my personality faults. It's been rather annoying. 

Apparently I'm too timid. 

Le sigh. Don't they think I know that?

I do get anxious a lot when I have to confront someone about something. I don't like calling doctors offices, veterinarians, professors or anything. I'm not really sure why. I guess I am scared of what they'll say. 

I guess I have to work on that but it doesn't help to force me to be aggressive or outspoken in situations. It's something that I have to work on and I'll just retreat to my little corner of the world if I am forced to be outspoken in awkward situations. 

Eh. It's like I have so much to work on at one time. I have to get healthy, I have to lose weight, I have to build up my energy levels, I have to get my degree, I have to get a job and now, I have to work on personality flaws. 

Le freaking sigh. 

101 in 1001

the mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

the criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e., no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e., represent some amount of work on my part).

why 1001 days?: Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

start date: Sunday, April 6, 2014

end date: January 1, 2017

1. Attend six conferences. (1/6)
2. Have the University of Georgia confer my degree.
3. Write about my Crohn's journey. 
4. Host 15 get togethers, dinner parties or girls nights. (0/15)
5. Attend 15 festivals. (1/15)
6. Attend 10 plays. (0/10)
7. Get a mentor. 
8. Be a mentor. 
9. Give up fast food for 60 days. 
10. Get a library card. 
11. Create a non-profit. 
12. Try 15 new restaurants. (2/15)
13. Take my dog on 66 walks. (1/66)
14. Take a relaxing bath once a week. FAIL
15. Keep a food journal for one month. 
16. Get my wisdom teeth removed. 
17. Wear my hair in protective styles for twelve consecutive months with a week break between each style.
18. Lose 50 pounds.
19. See my sister in action at court. 
20. Floss daily for 30 days. 
21. Make 3 old school photo albums. 
22. Visit 20 museums/centers. (1/20)
23. Become a certified teacher. 
24. Visit a waterpark. 
25. Attend an Atlanta Hawks game. 
26. Attend an Atlanta Falcons game. 
27. Attend an Atlanta Braves game. 
28. Attend an Atlanta Dream game. 
29. Enroll in graduate school.
30. Have 30 pain free days. [Menstrual cramps don't count.]
31. Travel outside the country. 
32. Attend five concerts. 
33. I won't cut my hair for 365 days. [Trimming my ends don't count.]
34. Visit California.
35. Visit Texas. 
36. Visit Disneyworld.
37. Visit Charleston, SC. 
38. Visit Washington D.C.
39. Visit Philadelphia, PA.
40. Visit my grandma in Pittsburgh, PA.  Completed 7/17/14
41. Become an active member in both sororities that I joined in undergrad. 
42. Create a family tree. 
43. Create a professional website for myself. 
44. Create a professional portfolio. 
45. Go hiking. 
46. Participating in a 55 days social media hiatus.
47. Go on a picnic. 
48. Wake up no later than 8:00am for a month straight. -_-  Weekends don't count.
49. Participate in a 5K. 
50. Go on a cruise. 
51. Drink only water for 90 days. (0/90)
52. Treat my sisters (my close friends) to a good meal at a nice restaurant. 
53. Workout four times a week for two consecutive months. 
54. Complete 500 hours of community service. (0/500)
55. Eat a vegetarian diet for 30 days. (0/30)
56. Clean eat for 30 days. (0/30)
57. Make up my bed everyday for 30 days. (0/30)
58. Visit my high school best friends. 
59. Fix my credit. Ouch. 
60. Get my own place or pay my parents rent. 
61. Visit the circus. 
62. Write my fave high school teachers, Sunday school teachers and college professors thank you notes. 
63. Attend the state fair. 
64. Attend UGA's homecoming. 
65. Go horseback riding. 
66. Go jet skiing. 
67. Read 50 books. (1/50)
68. Try five new cuisines. (0/5)
69. Cook a complete meal for a family/friend. (Like meals on wheels)
70. Donate 101 items. (0/101)
71. Go fruit picking. 
72. Go on a wine tasting tour.
73. Join something like a club or society. 
74. Join BSF International. 
75. Read the whole bible TWICE. (0/2)
76. Go on a missions trip.
77. Witness to 33 random people about my Lord and Personal Savior, Jesus Christ. (0/33)
78. Buy someone a bible, devotional and journal. 
79. Teach a bible study/Sunday School class.
80. Write a paper/blog on my views on eschatology. 
81. Get my wrist tattoo covered or removed. 
82. Perform 33 random acts of kindness. (0/33)
83. Volunteer on my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. 
84. Send 33 "thinking of you" cards. (2/33)
85. Send my parents on a vacation. They deserve it. 
86. Take my daddy on a date. 
87. Take my mom and sister out on a girls day.
88. Have professional photographs taken.
89. Volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America.
90. Have a savings account of $3000.
91. Send my grandmother yellow roses twice a year. (0/6)
92. Don't spend excess money for 45 days.
93. Go on six sister weekends.
94. Hang out with Nawasca.
95. Get family Christmas photos taken.
96. Do something nice for NYE. 
97. Master baking five things. (0/5)
98. Blog weekly for 52 consecutive weeks. (0/52)
99. Volunteer with Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America.
100. Join a club with my sister.
101. Find my passion and follow it.

04.01.2014

Today was kind of interesting.

It started off very rough. 

I was really depressed. 

I laid in bed and had a "woe is me" moment. 

Then, I was chatting with some friends via GroupMe about the weather and I was inspired. 

I took my Quiet Time Kit, my blanket and my dog and sat outside. I had an awesome quiet time with God. 

For that whole hour I didn't experience any pain. It was amazing. 

It's definitely the small things that count. During my quiet time, I was reminded that my day is successful as long as I'm in constant communication with God. I usually get tied up and bogged down with things that I must do to have had a successful day. And when I don't complete that list because I'm sick, I get sad. Well, I'm done with those days. 

A successful day is a day that I'm in God's will. 

Love you much!!!