Changing Tides

It has now been a year since my last post. In the past year, I completed the Paralegal Program, graduating with high honors. I also learned a lot about our Judicial System, having interned for 5 months for Judge David A. Glant, of the 8th Judicial Circuit, at the Levy County Courthouse. I also made a new friend in Wendy Thurow, his Judicial Assistant, who is such a godsend.
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Mary Russ-Tortora, my former race riding colleague and dear friend for over 26 yrs., accompanied me to the ceremony. I was so elated that she would take the time out of her busy life to recognize this achievement with me. It really meant the world to me that she cared and the gift that she and Ricky, her husband, gave me was really unexpected. What a blessing to have such tried, true and trusted friends.

Being that the housing deal I had going with my neighbor's daughter fell through, prohibiting me from moving back to NM just yet, I am now applying myself to finding that future employer in the legal camp. Until then, I am steadily employed by Newberry's Backyard Bar-B-Q, in Newberry, and am very thankful that the Lord opened up a job for me among people that work hard, are professional, and run a tight ship, so to speak, at this very clean restaurant, that has outstanding homemade foods.

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Meanwhile, as the grass and weeds continue to grow here, I met a man at Sparr builders a few weeks ago, who convinced me that what I really needed was a goat or two to help relieve my burdens. So, then Albert, one of the managers at the Farm supply, gave me the number to the GoatLady of Levy County, Colette Morris.

Colette and her husband Fred, a Williston Police officer, were very gracious people with their time, talents, and expertise in helping me to learn what all being a proper goat owner would entail. Fred met Colette several years ago, they grew in love, were married, and now, after 2 yrs. of marriage, they live happily ever after on their farm, with all these kids and more!

More on my new goats...Rocky and Layla, later! Until then, it's time for me to start setting feed for all my kids too, as now I have 2 dogs, 4 cats, a horse, a bird, and 2 goats! :-)'

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Saturday, July 7, 2007

Life Moves On...

Well, it's now 7/7/07 (Live Earth Day), and the polution of July 4th has past (for the most part). It's been quite a while since I last wrote. While most people joined in celebrations with family and friends on the 4th...it rained here in Williston and due to the volatile nature of my horse being a Thoroughbred, I opted to stay home with my animals, namely my horse, so as to make sure that fire crackers didn't spook him through a fence or something.

The evening went off without complication, and I was very thankful for the rain, being as FL is under a severe drought right now too, and fire hazzards are high. Foolish people who are irresponsible, often burn the houses of others down due to their negligence, and don't even realize the consequences of their flagrant actions. Therefore, due to the rain...my biggest worry now is cutting the grass every week. And with 6 acres, it is a worry, lest the mosquitos overtake me. Plus, being as I feed my horse before work, that means I have to walk out in the wet morning grass at 3:00 A.M....which is not so fun being as the creepy crawly things come out at that time here in FL, and little spiders (and huge ones) build their nests throughout the grass and attach to the trees too! Hence the desire to keep the grass short.

Yes, Florida offers opportunity to partake in all kinds of flora and fauna! What fun!

Meanwhile, as many of you know, I've been invited to serve my internship with Judge Glant at the Levy County Courthouse, the 8th Judicial Circuit, beginning on Mon. July 9th. The semester doesn't officially begin until Aug. 23rd, but the Judge's Judicial Assistant needs help now, so I think it best to get in asap...to be sure to secure my spot before registration...plus, God willing, after a time working for them, when the semester is over, maybe I'll be offered a permanent job with the State...which might then be a tool I could use to tranfer back to Santa Fe and gain a State job there too.

So, how did your July 4th go, what did you do, and what pictures can you post for us all to share? If you'd like to post them on my Flickr blog, just go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/santafesandy/ and have fun.

Lots of love to one and all! you know who. :)

Sunday, February 11, 2007

What It All Means...

...but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving...

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentelness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds, in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you....for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances....I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation....I can do everything through Him who gives me strength....And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(Philippians 4:4-9, 11b, 12b-13, 19-20, NIV)

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Now, what does Phil. 4:8 really mean? I once heard a teaching, which I think was given by Chuck Swindoll, which discribed the elements of Philippians this way:

When the Apostle Paul addresses "true" things, he is referring to those things laid out for us in accordance with Scripture, the infalliable Word of God. They are the things that are the opposite of dishonest and unreliable things.

"Noble" refers to that which is dignified and worthy of respect.

"Right" refers to conformity to God's standards.

"Pure" refers to that which is wholesome, not mixed with moral impurity.

"Lovely" speaks of what promotes peace rather then conflict.

"Admirable" relates to what is positive and constructive rather then negative and destructive.

These 6 "objects of thought" are then described as excellent and praiseworthy.
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Like Attracts Like

It's just about Spring time, and my Azaleas are coming in to bloom once again. Soon the death of winter will yield fresh new buds as life springs forth from underneath of the decay of last year's fruits.

As I witness the newness of life all around me, I can't help but to examine my own life, which has really taken on radical change most recently.

While talking with my dear friend, Carol, who has also been dealing with a divorce, she shared a new "craze" that the country has been embracing lately called "The Secret." My friend tried to encourage me to, "give it a chance in my life, as it may help me," and directed me to the website, http://thesecret.tv/ which addresses some precepts of quantum physics, which were written about almost 100 yrs. ago in a small book called, "The Science of Getting Rich", by Wallace Wattles. After reading the book, and having viewed a program on Oprah recently where she interviewed a number of the teachers of this "way of thinking," I concluded that while I too needed to realign my thought life, it was imperative to stay grounded in God's Word, and not the ungodly, psycho-babble of these "get rich quick" schemes. The proponets of "The Secret," try to make people believe that their teachings are in line with God's Word, but nothing could be further from the truth as they are New Thought theology from days of old, that is in direct alignment with the New Age movement of today.

So, after my Mom passed on this past July, I found myself thinking that nothing really mattered anymore. For a number of months, until now, I'd been living in a real mental funk, scattered in my mind as to my residency, career path, schooling, and job search. I'd been like a ship tossed at sea without a rutter, and hadn't had clear direction due to not having clear focus. Meanwhile, the results of all this indecision only seem to attract more uncertainty. The results of this uncertainty manifested in lots of negatives: confusion, vacilation, the back and forth, flip flop action of a real Jekyl/Hyde. I now say, "no more".

Therefore, through much prayer, and by the grace of God, I have reclaimed the strong focus I once had but allowed to be clouded by the fears of uncertainty, and am now back to speaking in the affirmative. The same determination I once used to propel me to accomplish so much in my life thus far, from becoming a professional athlete, to traveling the world at will, to becoming a home & horse owner with acreage, is the very energy that is available to all of us per God's plan. We are created in His image and He does want us to realize the fullness of what that really means.

So, I now look forward to hearing from all of you about the positive events and words of wisdom that the Lord is laying on each of your hearts as you too choose to move forward and allow yourself to blossom like the spring flowers.

Remember, as "Iron sharpens Iron," so too "like attracts like". Think clean, clear thoughts of purity and goodness into your life (Philipians 4:4-9, 11b, 12b-13, 19-20), surround yourself with like minded people, study to show yourself approved, and realize the fullness of your dreams by living a life of faith with focus which will solidify your purpose. See it all happening, and it will.

Next post: What it all means...

Changing Tides

About Me

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Instant e-Bible

Monday, July 14, 2008

A Year Later

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Life Moves On...

Sunday, February 11, 2007

What It All Means...

Like Attracts Like

Followers