My Family Legacy

This weekend the Savage Girl is getting to celebrate a few family milestones on my maternal side of the family. I had one cousin graduate from high school and another cousin is about to give birth to her first baby so a baby shower is planned for tomorrow afternoon. These milestones indirectly affect me since my extended family is expanding and new paths are being embarked on. All this got me to thinking about our family legacy.

Bonnie on graduation day...and yes she got her very own electric man for her
dorm room from yours truely!

I have always heard that cousins are a childs first best friends! Oh the stories we could tell on each other from our days on the Craighead farm! Here are some of my cousins recently at Sara's baby shower in December. Now Mallory is about ready to have her little one too!  

Each day we are writing our history and life story whether we realize it or not. We need to take time to reflect on the things that are truly important and worth preserving  for others to view and remember us by in order to help preserve our legacy into the future. Everyone has things within their life that they feel is important and worth reflection time but sometimes we forget to communicate our legacy to others on why it is important to us. I feel that my parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents have done a pretty good job communicating our family legacy on to the next generation of Craighead youth. It is exciting to see my cousins now as they are opening new life chapters and carrying on that legacy into the future. My hope and dream is that one day I can do this too if it is God’s will and plan for me to have children of my own.

My great-grandparents Hazel & Homer Gates. 

My grandparents Ralph and Jo Frances Craighead.

 

My parents Leah and Charles Savage.

I believe there was a theme to this Craighead family legacy. All of us grandchildren I believe were passed on this family legacy that consisted of values, beliefs, and the love for heirlooms and preserving the family history. Some have chosen to let it impact their life and change their family and or individual history. It has impacted us all differently! This is not to say that we all have followed the same path or that we are all clones of one another. Trust me we have all made our own fair share of mistakes and some have even had their our own off road adventures in life. We are human and life happens! But I believe because our family history was passed down through the years we now can see certain values, principles, and beliefs that are repeated in each generation. Hence now why it is a legacy that I believe we are continuing to pass down. In a nutshell here is what I believe our family legacy consists of…

• Belief that there is one church, one God, and one truth. We each were taught that we all have the responsibility to think, believe, and obey the truth but if we want God’s acceptance then we must be willing to accept what was taught in the beginning and not ignore the teachings of the bible and the examples we can learn from it.
• Education is very important and your daily attendance is crucial when it comes to attending school. Continuing your education is a must! It is the door opener to the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. Learning is lifelong and doesn’t stop in the classroom. Learning is an exploration of yourself and the things around you. You must ask questions and inquire to learn new things in order to continue learning and fully understand life.
• Service others and give back to your community whether it is within your life work and career or your personal free time. Give selflessly of yourself in order to make a difference and help make small changes for the total overall larger life picture. Volunteer your time and energy, but do not expect anything back in return.
• Provide leadership for the things you are passionate about. Step up and be a leader if you are needed because it is a job, someone has to do it, and so it might as well be you.
• Cherish the things you love and the things that make you happy. For some within my family that means holding on to family heirlooms and historical family pieces so that the future can know the past by passing the information forward.    

No, my cousins and I did not go to family legacy school. These were just small things in life that I believe that our parents and our grandparents instilled in us through the life they lived and the example they set forth. If only they could see us now! I can see the impact of the family legacy within each of our lives. I am sure they would be very proud and beaming with joy from all of our achievements. I am pretty confident that there are more turns and roadblocks ahead for us but I believe our future is bright and that the legacy will be remembered and carried forward!  

Are you leaving a family legacy? If you have not ever thought about it maybe you should reflect a little and see where you want your family legacy to be. Who knows you might change your family tree!     

Small Changes

My personal “get Lara healthy” and “weight loss” challenge has been stalled for the last little bit. I have been stuck, so when I started the Weight the Reality Series program at work for my community a few ago I decided that I was going to make a few small changes with what I was doing to hopefully change things up a bit and to jump start my loss again. Guess what? It worked! ( And YES I am going to blog about a work program on my personal blog again!)

These are the changes I made 2 weeks ago when I kicked off my program at work:

1. I bought a new water bottle and I started carrying it with me every day. Every day when I make my breakfast, I have tried to fill my bottle up with ice and fresh water for the day. I also try to refill it a few times throughout the day. I know that I do not get enough fluids. I am not a drinker! I sometimes can go almost an entire day without consuming anything besides my cup of coffee in the morning…, which is not very healthy! Drinking water instead of sugary drinks is one of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Drinking more water is a proven behavior of successful losers. Sometimes I make it a little more exciting by adding lemon, lime, or strawberries and I have tried flavored sparkling water. Choose foods and drinks with little or no added sugars. There are about 10 packets of sugar in a 12-ounce can of soda. Choose 100% fruit juice instead of fruit-flavored drinks.   
2. I also started to add more fiber to my diet. I was already consuming 100% whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, and pasta, and lots of fruits and vegetables, but I knew that I needed more. Therefore, I changed up my breakfast routine and started adding a slice of whole grain bread in addition to my morning cereal and fruit routine (cold cereal or oatmeal). In addition to my usual fruit as a snack, occasionally l will add a fiber packed cereal and grain bar.
3. I also tried to stick to my physical activity routine by exercising 4-5 times per week for 30-60 minutes no matter where I was whether I was traveling for work or at home in my normal routine. Normally when I travel I just ignore my physical activity for a few days and then pick back up when I get back home, but not last week! I purposely decided to stay in the conference hotel where I would have to walk the furthest to get to my meetings and I got up early to squeeze in a little exercise before the activities of the day consumed me. Maybe you need to add this to your routine. Pick a few physical activities that you like and start by doing what you can, at least 10 minutes at a time. Every bit adds up, and the health benefits increase as you spend more time being active.

I am currently 17 pounds from my goal weight. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! My goal for the next month is to keep making small changes so I can meet my goal weight. My challenge to you is make a few small changes in your routine and you might see a difference like me!

If you need motivation from a group or someone to be accountable to then contact me at work and join my Weight the Reality Series group we meet Tuesday nights in Tompkinsville. Weigh in is from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and our program is at 5:30 p.m.  

...some of my biggest cheerleaders! My mom Leah and my sister Anna.
They joined me in my WTRS group & collectively we three have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks!

 

Today’s Mission: Get Work Life Back In Order!

With everything going on and all my busyness of being away from my office, I had let my office go “a little”…well maybe a lot (especially if you ask my co-workers)! I guess I should truly confess that yes it was a huge mess! LOL. Today I went in for the majority of my Saturday, which upon moving to UK Cooperative Extension I promised myself never to do this, but I needed to get caught up on a little reporting, filing, and putting up from programs and events. I am nowhere near done with everything on my major to do list for my end of the year extension reporting and my plan of work writing for 2013-2014, but I feel that I have made a huge dent in laying the groundwork for the next time I enter my office!

At least now, when you enter my office your eyes are not going in 101 directions with everything I had piled in my tiny office.  It had gotten to the point something had to change or I would need to start working out of my car or someone else’s office at work! Or…someone would need to send in a search party after me. I said a little prayer when I started and asked my Facebook friends to do the same so that I could get my work life back in order. I am pleased with the results thus far. I will feel confident on Monday that everything will be OK if I come back and work a few more hours tomorrow or if I come in early on Monday morning. It is so much easier to get things accomplished without distractions like emails, phone calls, and visits! I love my job, especially the people, but I can get more accomplished without the little distractions of life.  

After my major to do list is complete (sometime in June...LOL), I hope to make a dent and purge some things out of my office that I have been holding on to so that I can start July off right. I also hope to possibly move offices and totally reorganize my filing system. If anyone has a solution to my file hoarding and office disorganization, I would love to have your help when I find the time to do this! Volunteers are welcome, but I have to be a part of the process!


Before

 

After

 

  

5 Things I Was Reminded of This Week

This Savage Girl has had another busy week, but in the mist of the busyness I was reminded of a few things about life. Christians (like me) should take time to reflect and allow oneself to be taught a few life lessons by those people we come in contact with on a daily basis. Learning is lifelong but one has to be willing and accepting of new ideas and teachings throughout the lifespan whether it is in a formal or informal setting. I believe that you're never too old to learn something new! Whenever you stop learning then you become stagnant and that's when dysfunction, complacency, and acceptance of how things have become begins to occur. We need keep our eyes and ears open to life's situations and be accepting of the lessons whenever we encounter them.

 Here are the top five things I was reminded of this week:

1. People are always watching you whether you realize it or not! Set your best foot forward and be a living example to them. You might be motivating them or encouraging them by your actions and not even realize it! Or you might be someone’s biggest stumbling block. Choose your actions and words carefully because there are eyes and ears everywhere!
2. Show appreciation and encourage others. If you like what someone has done then tell them about it! Don’t forget to tell someone they are doing a good job if you appreciate what they are doing. Be honest! Sometimes it is nice to know you are appreciated and your efforts are being noticed! Show people a little love and appreciation by helping them realize they really are helping make a difference no matter how minuscule or ginormous the project or task at hand is. All it takes is a kind word of thanks whether verbally, a simple written message, or a small gift as a token of appreciation to show you are encouraged or appreciate someone.
3. Don’t let anxiety over come you. Practice patience and self control and try not to be anxious. Sometimes this is easier said than done! Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Then in Matthew 7:7-8 we are told to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Basically we are told here to ask God via prayer. We need to remember to not give up, but to ask Him and He will help us seek and find an answer! If we have our priorities in line then our focus should be first on God and everything else will fall into place.

 
4. Text messages and emails are impersonal but face-to-face interactions and or personal phone calls can make the difference in someone’s day. Try it! To go a step further…a hug, a visit, a hand shake, or a kind word of encouragement also works wonderfully. This is a way of life that everyone should try again sometime if you haven’t in a while due to our fast-paced world that we live in. I strive to do more of this daily, but I understand that I cannot do it all, so I am taking it a few baby steps at a time.
5. Things do not always go as planned. Go with the flow of life whenever something goes wrong with your plan. Expect it. Understand that it is part of life. Continue on with life and handle it the best that you can.

 

Maybe these reflections will help you refocus this weekend and help you remember those things that you might have forgotten in the past few weeks and months like I have. Keep your focus on the things that really matter in life and revisit them often so you can keep your life priorities in line. Life is a choice, how you live it is your option, and only you will be accountable for your actions to God.    

Blessings & Thanksgiving After a BUSY Week

I survived this week! YAY! You might be asking, “Why in the world is this chick celebrating a ‘week’ and being able to survive it?” Well it has been busy for the Savage Girl lately and I had my doubts on getting through it! It seemed like everything I came in touch with this week ended on a positive note so I thought I should express my blessings and thankfulness. FYI, even if it had not of ended so positively, I should still be thankful because I have life! Here are just some of the things I have managed to accomplish in this workweek:

1. Monroe Monday Radio program with Randy & Jon
• Side note…It was pointed out to me that I promoted my new healthy lifestyle Weight the Reality Series program and then invited people to the Derby Breakfast. YES, I know this is an oxymoron “Let’s get healthy on Tuesday and then eat a huge breakfast on Saturday”…LOL, but it was what was happening this week so please forgive me if you tuned in on the radio and heard my ramblings.  Eating is all about portion control and is how I have lost 50 pounds!   
2. Attend and preside over a few committee meetings
3. Presented Weight the Reality Series—Week 1 to 35 participants
4. My monthly reports
5. Attended a quarterly early childhood council meeting
6. New business ribbon cutting with the chamber of commerce…attending this allowed me time to squeeze in a little consignment shopping and I got a few great deals
7. Prepared to present a small very part at a statewide FCS in-service
8. Substitute taught the teen girls class on Wednesday night
9. Help host a community Spring Fling
10. Help coordinate a large event, the Derby Breakfast, which the Extension Homemakers in my county host each year.
11. Somewhere in the middle of ALL that above…I still managed to work out three times!
12. I also got to attend my monthly book club meeting.
13. In addition, I participated in an impromptu girl’s night with friends.  

Tompkinsville Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at New 2 You.

It's my new favorite store in T-ville! 

A few of the hard working committee members of the Spring Fling event. IOU guys! Thanks!

 



Don't ask me why put I never made a photo of the entire committee today! Stupid me...I'm a bad agent :( Here are two of the club members hard at work serving and making sure the food was replenished.  We had many other helpers, but the blog couldn't hold all the photos! This event would not have been possible without the Sunshine & Old Rocky Hill club members! Thank you!   

 

What is Derby Day without a Derby Dress & Derby Hat?!?

FYI this was one of my new finds at New 2 You this week!  



I could not have done all this without a great support system. I am thankful first to God for giving me the strength, the patience, and the willpower to conquer this week! Second, I am thankful for my awesome co-workers…mainly my administrative assistant since she was my lifesaver this week on multiple occasions! I even managed to squeeze in a little birthday surprise for her on Thursday in the midst of a very busy day. She got many phone calls thanks to one little hidden post! This Savage Girl didn’t want her to be all alone on her birthday…Third, I am thankful for the great committees I worked with this week. We can do awesome things and coordinate huge events when we collaborate, brainstorm ideas, and be willing to try new things! Fourth, I am thankful for my family. They are always there whenever I need them whether it is a phone call, email, text, or visit. They always seem to have the exact supplies, encouragement, or advice I need at any given moment. AND somehow my dad always knows when my yard needs mowing! Lastly, I am thankful for my Christian family. After a long day, somehow Christian brothers and sisters know how to uplift you when you need it most.

I am truly blessed! Glory be to God for all these blessings! Without Him none of these blessings and accomplishments would have been possible this week or any other week. Sometimes we just need to take a moment and reflect as I just have done above for God’s blessings. He helps channel and flow blessings into our lives daily via our family, parents, brothers and sisters, friends, mentors, community leaders, fellow Christians, and many others. Take time to praise and thank Him in prayer. I know sometimes I get in a rush, but it truly is a better day if I squeeze this in there around all the mayhem going on.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Proverbs 28:20 says, a “Faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

We each probably should look at our individual lives and take note of what motives us. We should also note what situations we put ourselves in by the choices we make. If our priorities are wacky then maybe we should consider making a few changes. Sometimes it is our life priorities that might cause us to make a wrong choice or bad decision, which ultimately causing us to sin. God has a plan for us each and we all take different paths to achieve the end result. My goal is to get to heaven, so I am going to continue praising God, thanking Him, and asking for His forgiveness when I fall short of His Glory. What is your goal?