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!  

Get Up and Get Moving…

“Get Up and Get Moving”…this is something this Savage Girl has been struggling with for the past month… “Getting Up and Getting Moving”! I have had A LOT on my plate during the past month. I vowed that if I could live through September that I would try not to over commit myself again to so many things all at the same time! This past year I have been trying to realign myself and prioritize those things that are important to me and work hard at focusing my vision on them instead of being so scattered. I have made it a goal and priority to live healthier and move more in order to have a healthier body for Lara. No one else can help me achieve this other than myself! Tons of people are great sources of encouragement, but I know deep down that I have to have the want and desire within myself first to make it all possible. So I have been trying to be more active each and every day. September was hard, but I was still able to squeeze 30 minutes in 4-5 days each week. I am not perfect, but I am trying!

Now to throw in a promo for an upcoming work event related to this topic…This Saturday my office is hosting an event that is near and dear to my heart called “Second Saturday”. This event encourages families to “Get Up and Get Moving”! The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (my employer) and I want to encourage families to be active together. My co-workers Ken Johnson and Susan Turner and I welcome you to participate in Second Saturday! 2S is an opportunity for all community members to join together and show that they want to be healthy and have fun while doing so. The program is in its 6th year and the growth of the program demonstrates how Kentuckians value their health and the health of their communities.

So what will we be doing at Second Saturday?!?!?

October 12th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. in Downtown Tompkinsville come join us to “Get Up and Get Moving”. Magnolia & 3rd Streets will be closed for the event in order to help create a safe fall fun atmosphere. On the agenda for the event includes:  4-H St. Jude Color Walk, Hoola Hoop Contest, Group Fitness Classes hosted by the Family Wellness Center, Tricycle Trail, Free Hot Dogs and Water, Free Door Prizes, Fall Decorations (mums, pumpkins, corn, and straw)will be For Sale at the event, and the Monroe County Medical Center, Monroe County Family Wellness Center, the Monroe County Health Department & others will be offering health screenings and information.

The 4-H St. Jude Walk is open to anyone of any age. There will be a walking track loop setup along 3rd and Magnolia Streets for all those interested in walking. All individuals can walk for a donation in any amount.  All donations go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and we’ll accept donations whether or not individuals walk. All walkers are to meet at the headquarters booth near City Hall to register to walk. Since the walk is a “color walk” we will be throwing colored powder and if you don't want to be painted with colored powder we will have a special tag for you to wear.

Attention parents…All kids with tricycles are encouraged to bring their tricycle and take the “tricycle trail” challenge that will be setup on Magnolia Street.

     

This event is a “come and go” type event or “come and stay” for the entire afternoon! If you are a planner like me and want to catch a particular FWC class that will be offered at 2S here is a tentative schedule of sorts: Pilates will be at 3:30 p.m., Zumba at 4:30 p.m. and Aerobics at 5:30 p.m. There will be a “Hoop-Off” at 5:30 p.m. also for all youth and all those young at heart.  

Please note that the 2S event will be canceled in the event of rain.  For more information about the 2S event please contact the Savage Girl at the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service office at 487-5504 or leave me a comment on here. So together Let’s Get Up and Get Moving! Share this post to encourage others to "Get Up and Get Moving".  

Savage Girl Life Reflections

Tonight I have been thinking about how crazy and stressful my life has been over the past few weeks. So guess what?!?! I blog to take my mind off of it. You might be asking why in the world is this girl stressed. So let me explain. First, I know I brought this all upon myself because I said "yes" to many people and things over the past few weeks. I didn't have the heart to say "no" because I wanted to see everything happen that was thrown my way when I was asked to be involved. Second, I guess I thought I was superwoman or something like that! LOL

All this thinking got me to reflecting on the council and advice of the wise dear friends that have been my cheerleaders and my "angel" over the past few weeks. So I thought I would share with the Savage Girl blogging world because you might be struggling with the same addiction to saying "yes" when you should be saying "no" or "maybe" at another time. In no particular order here are some of the wise things that others have been telling me to help me along the past few weeks in order to survive the storm of craziness when "A Savage Girl Meets Life"...

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they have faith."

"Ordinary people change lives and bring out the best in others..."
 
"Take a deep breath and everything will be OK."

"Life. It is what it is. You cannot change it now. Simply take it one step at a time. Work on the important things first and start marking them off the list one by one. Leave the unimportant things for another day. They will be there when you get back."

"Rome wasn't built in one day."

"Build Bridges. Collaborate and partner with others. Find those within your circle who are experts. Seek them out and ask for help where you fall short."

"Don't forget to delegate."

"You may not always understand why God allows certain things to happen but you can be certain that God is not making any mistakes."

"Smile. Chin up. Everything will be OK!"

"Keep your eye on the cross because we are saved by the power of God. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" 1 Corinthians 1:18."

And a little advice from me...(Please KEEP in mind I NEED to do more of this!) "Take time to kick your feet up and enjoy the moment."

 

And...last but not least let me personally add that when life throws you on the rocks and the climbing gets tough do not forget to be thankful first to God and second to those dearest and near to you! God will not give you more than you can handle at one time. So take time to whisper to God, give him the praise and glory, and ask for His council and guidance. He in turn will give you peace, guidance, and understanding in the mist of the storm.

Blessed

Tonight I wanted to take a few moments to say that I am truly blessed beyond measure! Sometimes I might procrastinate, forget things, or lose my patience but at the end of the day everything will be OK! I am a forgiven Savage Girl, that is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and it continuously washes me clean daily, and I have the hope of an eternal home in heaven one day waiting for me. I am blessed!

One of the toughest challenges for me is to be patient, listen to God, and do as He simply instructs for me to do each day. Sometimes I forget to remember how blessed I truly am because I get wrapped up in everything I have going on in my Savage life. Maybe you have the same challenge! Here are a few things I try to keep in mind each day:

1. Be open to hear God's Word. 
2. Keep in mind that God is all loving and trustworthy!
3. God commands us to follow Him. If we truly are His follower we will do so no matter if our friends and family are following, because God commands it. 
4. Obey and follow God's instruction no matter what challenges and adversity we face.   
5. Be loving and dedicated no matter the cost.

God challenges us and tests us to see if we will be faithful to Him. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him" (Jeremiah 17:7).

Watermelon Festival

Once a year the small town of Tompkinsville comes alive with hustle and bustle. It is awesome to see people out and about! I feel like I am in a metropolis city far removed from small town America in the heart of Kentucky on the Tennessee stateline! Around 10,000 come to “town” for the annual Monroe County Watermelon Festival each year. The local Tompkinsville Inn is booked years in advance leading up to the big day each Labor Day weekend.

Community volunteers, local business owners, and land owners have been preparing for this event by painting, doing improvement projects, and decorating storefronts. “Town” looks awesome! If you want to donate and give back to “town” the Heart of Tompkinsville Foundation would gladly accept your donation to help with downtown projects and events to help revitalize downtown Tompkinsville.  The mission of the Heart of Tompkinsville Foundation to strengthen the economic base of Tompkinsville’s central business district, to foster the restoration, preservation and development of its unique cultural and architectural heritage, and to establish the downtown as a great place to shop, work, recreate and live. Let me know if you need their contact information.

Getting back to the Monroe County Watermelon Festival…If you have never been to the Monroe County Watermelon Festival it is an annual event held each year the Saturday before Labor Day. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Arts Council and the Tompkinsville Jaycees and almost all local organizations in the county participate in some form or fashion in the event.

Tomorrow Main Street will be covered with Arts and Crafts booths along with Commercial and Non-Profit promotional booths from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Parade officially kicks off the day’s events at 10:00 a.m. then live music will be going on throughout the day downtown. So bring your lawn chair and come join the fun! There will also be lots of food vendors offering a variety of food choices. Monroe County BBQ will definitely be a mainstay at the event! Personally the Savage Girl will be helping the Monroe County Extension Homemakers host the Annual Watermelon Festival Quilt Show in the Old Courthouse Courtroom. We will be accepting entries from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and will let the public view the quilts from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Also in the Courtroom an Acrylic Art Show will be on display for viewing.  The festival will be hosting a “Hoop-Off”, Local Author Visitation, 5K & Fun Run, Rolley-Hole Marble Tournament, Watermelon Contests, Cornhole Tournament, Antique Tracker & Engine Show, and much more!

There is something for everyone!  Come join the fun and excitement of all things watermelon at the 34^th Annual Watermelon Festival in downtown Tompkinsville Kentucky tomorrow. If you can’t make it tomorrow then plan to make a visit next year. Mark your calendar for the Saturday of Labor Day weekend next year.