This is a Savage Girl Public Service Announcement ;)

I have some news that I would like to share with you if you have not already heard. I have accepted the title MRS. and will be leaving my current position as Family and Consumer Science County Extension Agent in Monroe County in July. I will be marrying Clifton Angel and will be leaving Monroe County to become his wife and relocate to Coldwater, Mississippi. I also will be transitioning into the DeSoto County Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent position with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. The last day I will be in the office locally will be Monday, July 7th.  It has been my honor to serve as your County Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences for the past five years.

I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful people during this time. I appreciate the professional relationships and the personal friendships that I have had the opportunity to build while working, living, and playing in Monroe County. Thank you Monroe County for welcoming me with open arms, hearts, and homes! I could not have done my job without the support of my many volunteers, the Extension Homemakers, the Family and Consumer Science Advisory Council, the County Extension County, and the Monroe County Extension District Board. Everyone has willingly been accepting of change and has given selflessly to help me build relationships while they gave their time, talents, and efforts to investing in me and my FCS work. You have my greatest gratitude and appreciation. I would not be the person I am today without having known the wonderful people here in Monroe County.

I would like to salute my FCS Extension clientele families and individuals and the community partners and collaborators I have had while being here in Monroe County. Through their hard work and enduring faith of building strong families one individual at a time together collectively we have made Monroe County a better place to live, work, and play while I have been here in the past five years. When you look at our Monroe County statistics we are living on less that the national average and our population is slowly decreasing, but Monroe County is shining and slowly our community is rallying together and collectively we are in the process of moving forward to sustain ourselves in the future instead of letting the future consume us. I have witnessed our community switch gears and begin to being a proactive community instead of a reactive community. Change around here is slow because good ideas take time to manifest and become great innovative ideas.

In the last five years, our county gained many new things that we all need to celebrate! Now in Monroe County we have primitive camping at Tompkinsville City Park, gained a Farmers Market building, opened a Family Wellness Center state-of-the-art facility, opened many new businesses throughout the county and in the downtown business district of Tompkinsville, created a foundation with a vision for the downtown area of Tompkinsville, started an annual summer concert series at Printers Park, developed a seasonal decoration plan for Tompkinsville, and the list could go on and on.

Together since I have been here in Monroe County we have lost weight together via the Weight the Reality Series, learned how the Stand Up to Falling, preserved fresh fruit and vegetables, began to Take Ownership of Diabetes, Plated it Up Kentucky Proud, celebrated physical activity via the Second Saturday/Sunday, started Life Stories and Memory Banks, participated in Drive By Quilt Hanging, taken Small Steps to Health and Wealth, and gotten more Moneywise in addition to multiple other things. I have asked you to step outside of your comfort zones and hear about new methods and research based programs. Please join me in patting you on the back for taking a gamble on listening to my crazy ideas and research based methods while I extended knowledge to you. Collectively we have begun making the small steps to lay the ground work to begin improving the quality of life for individuals and families so that we can have strong families for Monroe County, Kentucky.

I personally am looking forward to visiting Monroe County to see to progress that you will continue to make once I am gone. I have no clue what is in store for my future, but I know that I am very thankful and blessed to have been given the opportunity to be your Monroe County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. I thought this was my “forever” job but plans have changed. Thank you Monroe Countians for making my time here so memorable. I am thankful for the opportunity to have served all of you for these past 5 years.

My co-workers here locally in Monroe County are hosting a farewell reception for me on Monday, July 7 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Monroe County Extension Office. I would love for you to drop by so I can say a proper thank you, goodbye, and see ya later before I embark on the next chapter of my life.

Becoming an Angel can get a little rocky...

Recently this Savage Girl got engaged. In the midst of the engagement excitement, wedding planning, putting my house on the market to sale, job hunting, job application and resume building, the thoughts of moving and transitioning into married life, finalizing my current job, and simply general everyday life have needless to say become overwhelming for this Savage Girl. My head is spinning simply thinking about all these transitions and adjustments. I get butterflies just thinking about it all. I say a simple prayer to God to give me the strength, for understanding His plans for me, and His will be done.

Something that has helped me be at peace is on Sunday mornings at the Tompkinsville Church of Christ for the past couple of months I’ve been reminded of the great expectations God has for each of us. The memory verse has been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.  In this passage the prophet Jeremiah was writing to the entire nation of Israel to encourage them while they were in exile.  Yes, He has plans for us each but we must put our talents to work. We are each individuals but together collectively we can accomplish more. If you are in the area this weekend come join us for Friends and Family Day this Sunday, May 4 at 9:00 a.m. and see how your life and God can intersect. We would love to have you!

I am excited about all the future possibilities that are in my near future and the great works that together my future husband and I can do collectively for the Lord’s church in Coldwater, Mississippi. Great things are happening in Tompkinsville. Great things are happening in Coldwater. Great things are happening all around us and around the world. Are you apart of them?

Our life, our faith, and God’s plans intersect daily. We each simply need to rely on God and the Bible to balance everything that comes our way. I’m trying to balance everything now and stay committed to Christ in the midst of all the transitions going on in my crazy life. Are you?

Let the prophet Jeremiah remind us that it is not all about us, it might not look exactly like what we think it should sometimes, but we need to understand that God provides hope through His kingdom and a His promise of a future in heaven for those who obey Him. Please keep in mind I am writing these things not only to tell you, but to remind myself so that I keep my mind focused.  

All this talk about the future, great expectations and God reminds me of a recent happy moment. Whenever I think back to this day I get a big smile on my face and dream of my future on earth and how I now have a partner to help me get to my heavenly home in eternity. So I am going to leave you with my proposal from Clifton on the day I became his fiancée. (This is his recount of the proposal and my reaction in his sweet words.)   

Our relationship began AT the rocks.

At times it has fallen ON the rocks.

We have always had to lean UPON the Rock, Jesus Christ.

Because the Bible says "Two are better than one,"

And because you rock my world,

I bought you a rock.

[At this point, Lara was well in tears and said, "oh, you did?"]

{Pulls ring out and gets down on one knee and grabs Lara's left hand}

Lara Christen Savage, will you marry me?

[Her eyes were filled with tears and with a great big smile she began nodding her head and exclaimed] “Yes!!!”

Now I am one step closer to being an Angel because I said yes!  We will say “I do” in less than 76 days! I’ve got the Rock above, a Mr. Awesome rock by my side, the rock on my finger, the future honeymoon in the Rockies, and whatever life rocks that come my way. Whatever my future holds I am ready to take it on. I said “yes”.  Are you willing to say “yes” and hear the Word of God (Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:37), believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Savior (John 8:24; Acts 4:12), repent of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess Christ (Acts 8:35-37; 1 Tim. 6:12), and be immersed in water in order to be forgiven by the blood of Christ and enter the church (1 Pet. 3:20-21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41,47).

House For Sale

Well the Savage Girl's house is for sale! I recently got engaged so I'm putting my house on the market. Clifton is one more step closer to transitioning this Savage Girl into an Angel! I'll blog about our big engagement day later on here, but right now I need a little help spreading the word about my awesome little house! Almost five years ago I moved into the area and modified this little house into my dream home.When I made decisions about the house they were made solely because I was fixing this house for my needs. So please help me sell my house! Please share and re-post this blog link about my house or share my zillow listing that is located later in the blog. Selling a house is new to me, but I thought why not try to do it myself!

Here are a few specifics and features about my house and possibly your future home: 

Features: 

• 3 Bed Rooms & 1 Bathroom
• It is nestled near "Old Mulkey Meeting House State Historic Site" 
• Newly remodeled
• 1,206 square foot brick home (built in 1975)
• Modest sized living area
• Eat-in kitchen with built-in appliances that are black (NEW Built-It Microwave) 
• NEW CH&A unit (that still has 9 years left on the warranty) 
• Roof & replacement windows are less than 6 years old
• 1-2 cars can park under the carport
• Storage building in backyard
• Nice maintained and established landscaping 
• Seated on 0.50 acre
• Great neighbors 
• All closets feature custom built-in shelving 
• Blacktop driveway
• Septic tank
• City water & City Trash Pick-up
• Located just outside the city limits. Only 1.6 miles from the center of Tompkinsville. 
• Located less than 1 mile from Monroe County High School & Monroe County Middle School
• Less than 1 mile from local Family Wellness Center
• Home is move in ready and is a must see to truly appreciate all the added features! 
• Great starter home for couple or single individual! 
• Call today and come see this competitively-priced, move-in condition home that may just be your dream-home.

To view my listing on Zillow.com click here or visit LSN and search "Home For Sale Tompkinsville, KY". The LSN ad number is 3987921. 

An update from the Savage Girl...

Well it has been a long time since I blogged! Too long to be exact. Life got to rolling right along and busyness overtook this Savage Girl. So I thought why not give you an update?!?!? So here it goes....

Here are 5 updates on the Savage Girl and her crazy life...

1. Today marks 6 months of being with an ANGEL! I'm truly blessed that God gave me him. I thank God often for Clifton. We have laughed together, cried together, had many ups and downs, got stuck in the mud and lived to tell about it, and tons of other mushy details I'll spare from blogging about.  
   
    
2. After hanging a few Christmas decorations to decorate and beautify our downtown area in November my back went into shock mode. A couple of back disc herniation's later, tons of pain, the addition of stress, multiple doctors visits, an MRI, and physical therapy...I am almost 100% healed. Hopefully at my upcoming appointment I will be released and given the OK to do whatever I want. Needless to say this Savage Girl has slowed down and tried not to act like Superwoman. Sometimes I still think I can conquer the world and do it all but I try to take it easy and wisely plan out my options so I don't re-injure myself. FYI the decorations looked great by the way...see below ;)
   
3. I could really use your help. I'm requesting prayers for my family. Cancer has made a reappearance in my family. My dad, grandmother, and cousin-in-law are all battling the big C right now and could really use your thoughts and prayers. My sister is doing great...she has been cancer free for three years now!
   
4. Lucy has been a member of my family for 8 months today. She is still my precious bouncing bundle of joy! There is never a dull moment in the Savage Girl's house with Lucy around... 
   
     
5. Last but not least...here is an update on my weight loss journey. The scale inched up a little during my back injury and the holidays. I'm not happy to report this, but all I can do is start making small changes to get back in the swing of things. Once I get the OK from the doctor I will start back with my normal exercise routine of walking Lucy daily and the wellness center for water aerobics and the workout room. I still would like to lose about 20-25 more pounds, so we'll see what happens over the course of the next few months as I get back into my routine. 
   

Until next time...

Love, 

Lara

Savage Girl Updates and My "New Year" Mindset

Where do I begin this blog post? Oh there are so many things to tell and update you on! This Savage Girl has been busy and hard at journeying through life the past few months. I didn't take the time to post and tell you about the Savage Life. Sorry followers for not keeping you up to date! 

2013 ended with some new additions and changes in my life. 

First, I added Lucky “Lucy” Savage to my household this summer. She is a bouncing bundle of joy that provides endless hours of companionship and outpouring love. My daddy sure picked up an awesome little dog in the Brimstone Community. 

Next, I have learned I need to slow down a little and enjoy rest and relaxation. I am constantly on the go doing this or that. Over six weeks ago my back started giving me trouble at work. I tried to push through the pain and keep going because that is all that I had ever known, but to no avail it just seemed to get worse. This Savage Girl is learning that rest and relaxation are needed within life and are not just recommendations! I ended 2013 yesterday visiting a specialist in Cookeville and he reaffirmed this to me with his “prescription” for the next six weeks.  Please pray for me on this endeavor!  

Last, but certainly not least, I added an “Angel” Guy to the Savage Girl life. My change in life status is now “in a relationship” according to social media. LOL. It is my hope that he will be a permanent addition! I am proud to say that Clifton is my best friend and he completes me in every way possible. He is an amazing spiritual leader, encourager, and an inspiration to me. In the short six months I have known him I have learned that sometimes life might throw you a few curve balls and the road might get a little muddy or rocky. His philosophy is not to give up! He is also helping me realize that slowing down is a requirement to enjoy life…not an option. I cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store for this Savage Girl and Angel Guy.    

I started this blog last year thinking about the Godly woman God wants me to be and thinking about His plan for me. I want to revisit this today since 2014 is now upon us. I enjoy my life being a follower of Christ, daughter, sister, friend, county agent, and life-long learner. I make it my daily guidepost and life purpose to be the best that I can be and do what God intends for me to do with peace, joy, and thanksgiving. I make my fair share of mistakes along the way. I am not perfect, so I ask for your forgiveness and God’s forgiveness and mercy whenever I make mistakes and have roadblocks along the journey.  I have my eye on the end prize and ultimate gift…heaven! My ultimate goal is to one day get to heaven and be surrounded by family and friends. 

This Savage Girl has the daily goal to: 

1. Put God first.
2. Focus on my current family while building the foundation of my future “family” through building a strong relationship built on God, Love, Respect, Trust, and Loyalty
3. Continue to build relationships within my work community all while increasing productivity through efficiency, organization, and collaboration in order to build a strong family and consumer science program that will help others through life-long learning. 
4. Have a servant attitude and give back to others. 
5. Make healthier lifestyle choices to improve my overall health and well-being.

My life is nowhere near perfect; it is crazy and hectic with lots of love thrown into the mix of God, Family, Work, Service, and Health along with tons of other things that change my path along the journey. It is my hope this year to keep my mindset and have a spiritual focus. I want to strive hard this year to take time to reflect on God and His love, His gift of Christianity, and His second coming that is one day in the future when we least expect it. Where is your mindset this year? 

May God bless you and your family in the upcoming year!