Sunday

Re-evaluate your New Years Goals now! ! #startingisbelieving

This is a Sponsored Post for Florida Prepaid. However;  all opinions are my own.



Today is the day when most people give up on their New Years Resolutions! Don't let that be you! The New Year is the time to evaluate your finances, prioritize, and set goals.  It's time to make sure that college savings is on that list! Florida PrePaid is an easy way to get started.

Sign up using promo code Mindy1718 to get a discount. 
  ENROLL HERE

When I graduated from the University of South Florida in 1996, (wow I am old) I had a HUGE amount of student loan debt. It was scary to see.  Being young, I was just thinking, "Hey, no biggie! I will just get to it later." Until my first payment came due... ummm what!!! I had just started working... I didn't have that kind of money! I realized that this debt was going to stay with me for a long period of time. It seemed insurmountable. And it was.  At 43 years old, I would probably still being paying this off if I hadn't had a blessing by my parents.  They inherited some money and paid my student loan off for me.  At the time, I had no idea how HUGE this blessing was, but my parents did. I am so blessed that I didn't have to deal with that loan.  I got to buy my first house and start my own family.

Knowing all of this, when my son was 2 years old and my ex-husband and I sold our home for a large profit. I made sure that we took some proceeds from that and paid for Florida PrePaid for my son, Bryce.  College these days is a must and I didn't want any reason for Bryce not to go to college. The idea that he won't be burdened by a huge loan leaves me feeling at ease. 

Did you know that student loan debt has reached $1 trillion of debt among Americans?  The time to start saving is now!  Enroll here!

Signing up is easy! You will $25 off the application fee and it should only take about 10-15 to fill out the application.  It's is not scary or time consuming.  You can do it over morning coffee or while you wait in the doctor's office.  Don't wait.
Sign up using promo code Mindy1718 to get a discount at ENROLL HERE

Why I am skipping resolutions this year... We can do anything for 52 days! #stayonthatwall

So it's a New Year!  Time for the New Year, New Me resolution again right? Yep! I do it every year. And December rolls around way too fast and I am the same old me.  Again!

So what am I doing wrong? Why can't I stick to it? One word... COMMITMENT! I don't commit to it fully. I think I commit, but it's not a full commitment.

Let me first say... I am not in ministry and I don't quote verse very well.  I am just a Christian who is sharing what I experienced today.


Every December for the last couple of years...
Today at church, my pastor, Tim Whipple talked about New Years resolutions. He talked about how we all have our "things" that we don't admit to or that we don't stick to.  The first "thing" I always think of is my physical health.  Sad since that is the most important thing I need in order to survive.  I want to live a long happy life, but I still give in to the sugar and desire to skip workouts. Hello... Mindy, you can't be healthy and skip healthy eating... not possible.
Seriously... it just makes me angry at myself.  It reminds me of Fat Bastard from Austin Powers "I eat because I'm unhappy and I am unhappy because I eat!"  I am not unhappy but it is a vicious cycle!
Why is it whenever I share that I want to lose weight with people and they have a quick fix for me.  Oh try this or oh try that... Ok... here's the deal.  I know what I need to eat and I know what I need to do in the gym.  That is not my problem.  My problem is inside ME... I have to want it.  And I do, but then I forget... but then I beat myself up about it, and then I want it again, then I forget and get into bad patterns... so now it's time for me to say YES to me. Me! I can't be all I need to be for everyone else if I am not taking care of me. It's like the flight attendant who tells us to take care of our masks first then put the mask on the child.  I need to help myself so  I can be the mom I want to be.

My pastor also talked about the book of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was a cup bearer... nothing special right? He was a guy who tasted the king's food and wine to make sure it wasn't poisonous.  Learning that the Jews in Judah were in distress and the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he asked the king if he could rebuild the walls of the city. People didn't want the walls restored because they were stealing from it and destroying it.  So they tried to distract Nehemiah, but he wouldn't come down from the wall.  When the people who were against him tried to get him to come down, he simply said, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." Nehemiah 6:3


He ignored distractions  and stayed focused.  He worked for 52 days, and he got the wall done.  52 days guys... 52 days is nothing....
So today I decided that I don't need to commit to 365 days just yet... I am starting with 52 days... I can do this for 52 days....That is nothing...I got this... 

No matter what happens and what distractions arise, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." Nehemiah 6:3  I WILL NOT come down off this wall.  If God can do miracles for Nehemiah in 52 days, he can do them in me too!



You can see a recap of my church's message here: https://www.bridgepointfl.com/articles/i-cannot-come-down/

My plan: I have joined a gym: Tryumph Functional Fitness and am doing a 12 week challenge there.  If you live in the area, you need to check this gym out.  So much awesomeness and one on one attention.  These coaches truly care about your well being.  I am so excited to be committed there.

I have decided to track my food daily as well.  I am not coming down from that wall.  I can't.  I am making this commitment to God!

What came to your mind as your "thing?"  Let's make it our great work for this year.  Just like Nehemiah. If we set out to build that wall, God can accomplish a great work through us.  But we have to stay up there.  We can NOT come down.  It doesn't matter what the enemy tries to tell us!!! We need to stand firm!

My commitment also has to do with my prayer life too.  If you are a woman who is interested in strengthening your prayer life, I encourage you to join me and a large group of women from all over in a facebook group.  We are doing Mark Batterson's Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge. You can join our Facebook group here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/752566431555141/

Anyone care to join me? 52 days... our resolution starts here... Not 365 days, rather 52...  What is your resolution?

#stayonthatwall #belikenehemiah
Update: Day 1 done!