She's Sun and Rain

As of yesterday, September 10th...I finished reading the new testament! Every single word! For some of my readers (whoever you are out there...) you know I have been working on this for a long time. I think I started when Adam and I got engaged last May (09). So, obviously it took me a while, but I did it! It has definitely helped me be more disciplined with my quiet times in the mornings. Most of my life I have had a hard time with what to read or study for quiet times. It was always easy at a camp or retreat when someone gave you something to read with follow up questions. I would definitely recommend trying something like this. I was never one to stick to a specific bible reading plan but taking it at my own pace and just one day at a time was feasable. I think Adam picked up with me somewhere in Romans or Acts when we got married so it has been fun to read along with him too. I do think I'm going to do some studying on revelation because it left me confused of course. But other...

I'm not a photographer. I am a person who loves photos. Taking them, looking at them, boxing them in chronological order (don't judge me) and scrapbooking them, either digitally or the good ol' fashioned way. What I'm not good at doing however, is organzing them digitally. I do have CDs from past computers. Currently we are on a Mac, which I LOVE because it makes photos so easy to store, use, etc. However, I know I need to back them up with something. I need an external hard drive or something . I could always continue to back up on CDs but I'm just not sure if that is the most efficient and safe way. Any suggestions? On another note. I have a list that I need to print of photos for 2009. It starts somewhere around Teran and JJ's wedding. I have GOT to get these photos printed...so that I can get them scrapbooked. The only kicker is, it takes time and most importantly, money. In addition to that, I've decided to catch up on my scrapbooks. I go back to 2005-...

I may have blogged about this somewhere back in the land of blog but because it's on my mind again...here goes. There are certain people in my life I look up to. Family, dear friends, acquaintences...they all have one thing in common. Discipline. I have the utmost respect for disciplined people. The ones who do the things they say they are going to when they say they are going to. They don't procrastinate or make excuses for why something hasn't been done or try to blame it on someone else. They are go-getters and put in 100 percent to the things they take on. People like...Caitlin Storck for example. She gets up every  morning no matter where she is or what she is doing and does her quiet time. Literally, we would be out of town in the middle of nowhere Illinois and she would get up and go into the hotel bathroom and do her quiet time before everyone else got up. That is discipline. My friend Kristen T. She knows exercise is important to her husband so she gets up before ...

Hello Lists. I am a list person and need them clearly defined in order to get things accomplished. Adam laughs at me because I re-write my to-do lists. Last year for Christmas my friend Katie gave me these personalized notepads from Erin Condren and it makes lists fun. See www.erincondren.com for your own! So, here is my new list of goals. 1) Buy printer ink Done! 2) Wash Adam's hats Done! 3) Finish my Alaska scrapbook 4) Finish Fall 2003 scrapbook 5) Print the rest of 2009 photos not yet printed 6) Finish 2005-2009 scrapbooks 7) Design 2010 scrapbook...this will be the first year going digital 8) Go to Crate and Barrel and get the correct Duvet insert - Done 2/16/10! 9) Buy table runner and new candles 10) Continue to work on Kristi's baby shower Still in progress 11) Sell the log bed, buy living room furniture paying cash Sold the bed! 12) Wash, detail, and wax my car Washed it! 13) Spend less than $100 per week on groceries - So far so good in February! 14) ...

I posted last August 2008 a list of things that I wanted to do. Unfortunately I haven't accomplished many, but I am on my way to number 24 and have definitely accomplished numbers 61 and 62. 24. Get married to a man who loves Jesus with his whole heart and is honest. 61. Spend an afternoon in a hammock. 62. Enjoy dusk. It's my favorite time of day. I think I might need some new goals. One of them was to read through the whole bible. I have started with the New Testament and am on John. I've already done two bible studies with John, but in order to keep this going I am going to read through it again. I do need to finish my Alaska scrapbook, and I might try to work on it a little next week. I have an interview on Monday, so hopefully that will go well, but other than that and looking for jobs, I still have some free time. I've been working out and planning wedding stuff...so my schedule has actually been rather busy, but can definitely squeeze some things in. Tomorrow we ...

At the beach, North Myrtle and it's awesome. So, I took a walk on Saturday, rode in the car on Sunday, and ran this morning. The end. Food does not matter because it's been awful. I'm going to read Luke 13, 14 and 15 today, as I'm enjoying the sounds of the ocean. I'm not going to let this go! :)

Yesterday was Thursday and I went for a nice HOT walk/jog around the neighborhood at the place I'm staying in Augusta. I stay with Adam's friends Will and Leigh and they are super great hosts! Their pets Alf and Sky always greet me with a smile and wet kiss when I come in. Yesterday I read Luke 11 and today Luke 12. Luke is an interesting book to me because it jumps around so much from topic to topic. Jesus is talking about Beezelbub and then being light and then about not storing up treasures here...so I felt normal ADD when I was reading it. I'll have to get in some sort of a work out or walk later this afternoon, It was way too hot this morning and without the gym, I just couldn't make myself have a heat stroke. Did a little cleaning this morning at Adam's...I'm excited thinking about when we get to combine all our masses of junk and then I'm going to organize it all. Haha, who gets excited about that? Not sure what's on the agenda today...think I...

I have a confession, I didn't work out today. Call it my cheat day. I ate healthy, does that count? I did go to the pool with Kristi and got a tan, so technically I burned calories and swam for a few minutes. I also have to read Luke 10 before I go to bed...not quite there yet. Now, here comes the test. I'm out of town and in Georgia, then in Myrtle Beach...can I keep it up?

So it's 12:30am, so this is my blog for Tuesday :) Today I read Luke 9 and did the RPM class at the gym, aka Cycling. Let me just say, it was awesome! The instructor was awesome, motivating, and kept us going the whole time. I didn't wimp out once! My butt hurts...yeah tmi? It's just what happens when you sit on a bike for an hour. I also laid out today at the pool and got semi-sunburnt, but I'll live. That's all I've got for today!

Today I read in Luke 8 and did Yoga. Weird combo. (Disclaimer: I don't do all the weird meditating and religious parts. I'm just trying to get my stretch on.) I could feel my abs still kinda sore from the surgery, but hopefully the Yoga and similar classes will help stretch it out again. We also played boggy pong at the church tonight, so much fun! So technically I worked out twice :) There's alot of good stuff in Luke 8. I didn't realize that Mary Magdalene had seven demons come out of her. Random fact. I hope that I am one of the seeds that is planted in good soil like in verse 15, where it says "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop". I know there have been many times in my life where I've felt like rocky soil. I also think it's interesting when Jesus calms the storm, the disciples are surprised that he could do it. They even ask "who is this"...

After Adam asked me to marry him I came to the conclusion that I needed to implement some much lost, must needed discipline into my life to prepare for marriage and being a wife. I started reading through the new testament and that part has gone rather well. I'm at Luke 7 now because I read about a chapter a day and journal some. I never realized how easy it is if you set a goal for yourself that's not too far above what you can realistically reach. I also knew that I needed some sort of exercise plan in my life. That part is not going as well as I'd hoped. After two surgeries it is very difficult to get back in the rhythm of working out on a daily basis. What I'm going to do is blog each day about what I've read and what type of exercise I have completed. Today for example, I read Luke 7 and walk/jogged for about 40 minutes. (The plan was to run but I realized I'm way too out of shape for a 40 min run). This way I have accountability to my readers and might eve...

I Ginny Alley, resolve, to not have a resolution this year. Reasons: 1. The past two years I have kept one, and not kept one. 2. Overrated? 3. Life changes are not resolutions. They are life changes. 4. The Truth is this...there are way too many things I want to learn to do or try this year and I can't decide on just one, or to do all of them. I probably just need more discipline. That could be my resolution. Examples: 1. Play the piano 2. Run another 1/2 marathon (Yep, lost my mind) 3. Eat healthier 4. Drink more water 5. Start a company 6. Take dance lessons 7. Work out 5 days a week 8. Work out in the mornings 5 days a week! 9. Pray more 10. Read more 11. Time to shine in 09 I really enjoy all the definitions of Resolution. Maybe I could just be the definition for my resolution. Thoughts?? The definition of RESOLUTION and its synonyms: Main Entry:resolution Part of Speech:noun Definition:determination, strong will Synonyms: aim , boldness , constancy , courage , dauntlessness, d...

Rebecca - one of my favorite friends in the world and favorite blogs to read once wrote her 'things I would like to do' list. I have been thinking about this for a while and wanting to write my own. I know this is going to be really long, even just thinking about the things I want to do right now, let alone in the future. I'm also keeping in mind that God has a plan for my life, so of course His way always wins, these are just fun things I'd like to try, or do, or accomplish in my life. 1. Post my Alaska pictures. Done 9/9/08 2. Finish my Alaska scrapbook. Done 11/2011 3. Print all my Italy pictures. Decided to do a shutterfly book - not done yet. 4. Print all the other pictures that need to be printed. Done 12/08 (This is really going to be long). 5. Go to the beach with Rebecca and Joel. 6. Get caught up on all my scrapbooks. Still working... 7. Watch "What happens in Vegas". - Done as of 8/28/08! 8. Go on a mission trip in the U.S. 9. Go o...

...is a long way! But we did it. Didn't run the whole way, ran some, jogged some, walked some...but I finished my first 1/2 marathon!! I am very excited about that. And it's nice to come home and not think about having to run too :) Now I'm back to dancing, tumbling, and stunting and that should be so fun! Congrats to everyone who ran the race :)!!!

I'm going to run in the Va Beach 1/2 marathon, and I'm going to start training today. It's September 2nd. And I'm going to do it. I've just finished 2 books, Captivating, and Gift-wrapped by God. And I'm beginning Tender Warrior tonight. I'm praying more for my family, friends, etc. I'm reading in the word EVERY DAY, hopefully twice, or 3 times a day. I got invisalign. And I'll be done by September, just in time for Rebecca's wedding... can I tell you how excited I am about Rebecca's wedding! I'm putting God first. And when I am ready to date again...this is my prayer... Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid (as we're inclined to do), I do not need a handsome man but let him be like You; I do not need one big and strong nor yet so very tall, nor need he be some genius, or wealthy, Lord, at all; but let his head be high, dear God, and let his eye be clear, his shoulders straight, whate'er his state, whate'er his earthly sphere; and ...