New Year’s resolution

Happy New Year’s Day!!🌟🎊💫

Happy New Year, friends! As I reflect back on last year it was tough. Definitely not the toughest. But it was in the ‘more difficult’ chapter of my life. Despite of that—I’ve achieved some major milestones. Finally putting my book, ‘Not Without God: Hope In the Storm’ up for pre-order sale feels wonderful! It will be released just before my birthday on Jan. 24.🎂🎉 I also achieved my weight loss goals. Losing around 25 or more pounds between late October to December has felt wonderful too. I am down to the weight I should be and didn’t even have to make a ‘New Year’s Resolution.’

I continue to live my life that consists much of writing, teaching, and caring for others while hoping the Lord continues to shed his light on my path! One favorite piece of advice a wonderful doctor of mine once gave is: ‘The body takes time to catch up to the mind!’ So keep in mind that whatever you have decided on, whether it is to get healthier or be more successful, your body will follow!

Here’s another verse I found that I like:

Often times I feel this. At times I feel I’ve exhausted all options, or like I am simply worn out. But when I ‘keep my eyes on him’ and ask for his guidance he leads me. Psalm 23 reads:

He leads me beside still waters…🌊 He restores my soul!

Lastly, I’d like to display some holiday treats I made yesterday for NYE!💕⛄️🎄🌟

Each cinammon role=140 calories.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Recently she was featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She is also a major foodie and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm will soon be released on Jan 24!

Happy New Year!!🎉🎈🎊

I’ll admit this year has not been the easiest. There have been some grave challenges. At the same time, I have overcome them and have come out on top. I have also lost all the weight I needed to. It feels great now that some of my clothes are baggier. I worked really hard and started at the beginning of November by limiting myself to a 1,200-1,300 calorie per day restriction. I also followed a Mediterranean Plan. At times I was hungry and it was difficult. It took some self discipline. I specifically picked out healthy snacks that allowed me to get in all my major food groups. They were also low calorie ones. One thing I’ve learned about dieting is that so much of it is about portion control.

I recieved my second vaccine and am now fully vaccinated as of November also. I didn’t feel good with the second shot, but I was only feeling a little under the weather for a day or so. I definitely don’t regret getting it!

I’ve maintained teaching students online all year, and I also accomplished finishing my second book, “Not Without God: Hope In the Storm.” It was a work in progress for years. This morning I started to give it a final proofread right in Kindle, and it is up for pre-order. It will be released on Jan 24, 2022! https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3K2PQ4PYPUQ58&keywords=not+without+god+hope+in+the+storm&qid=1640981382&sprefix=not+without+god+hope+in+the+storm%2Caps%2C450&sr=8-1

I’ve been blogging once a day since April (on Easter), and I have only skipped a day of writing once in a while. I am almost up to 100k views on here! I plan to continue blogging and taking care of my health by watching what I eat and getting in enough exercise. I have always loved to cook and bake, and now I am cooking the way I should be. A lot of lean meat, fish, vegetables, (brown) rice and wheat or whole grain bread. I overall feel better!

I look foward to what 2022 brings and hope for more success. I hope for lots of positive feedback on my book, Hope In the Storm. I hope to plan more vacations/adventures associated with it. I have been lucky to have had some nice business trips around the time and even after I had published my first book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival.

I will leave you with this thought: Life does not always turn out how we would like. But when we keep the faith in God we can still experience many blessings. He will restore us to health and replace what we’ve lost. The Lord continually heals us. Healing is not a one time thing or event. God knew we would need to be healed more than once.

My point is, no matter how bad it gets–keep the faith in the Lord. Continue to ask him for direction. God does not want you to “give it all to him” and be idle. What is he asking you to do today? Reach out. Succeeed. Live through the pain. At the end there is a rainbow. I have called my latest book, “Not Without God: Hope In the Storm” for a reason.

Happy New Year to you and yours!! #mayGodbless #you #in #2022

About Zina

P.S. Below are a few dishes I had made this year!

These are beef potato chops (and of course I made them before I started dieting :-).

Pictured above here are Southwestern Chicken and Cheese Egg rolls with black beans, spices, and a few vegetables! The Mediterranean Diet encourages you to avoid carbs and potatoes (needless to say, I cooked these before I started the diet also!). I mean, it’s not keto so you can have carbs and potatoes but within limits.

Finally, here is a pic of a New Year’s cake (vanilla w/chocolate frosting)!🎂Baking has been a long time love. Well, I just wanted to show off some of my dishes and hope I didn’t make anyone too hungry.

It’s Almost a New Year!🎈

This year has been incredible. I have accomplished two big goals, and I’m wrapping 2021 up nicely! I couldn’t be happier. I’m glad I didn’t wait to make ‘New Year’s Resolutions.’ Those typically don’t work out well for me. If you’re a little behind on things you want to accomplish, though, I recommend you do make a New Year Resolution. Better yet, I urge you to start now! This year I have lost a little weight and have kept it off. I also just completed my book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. It is available for pre-order right now!🎉 https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

What is it you’d like to accomplish in 2022? What are your goals? How will you go about achieving them? Another thing to think about: how can we better serve God in the New Year? At times I have failed at doing this, but since I owe all my success this year (and every year) to him–I’d like to do better!🎊

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-3:24).

About Zina

New Year’s Resolution

My New Year’s Resolution was to always have peace with everyone including myself. I strive to get better, and better how I relate with others each day. I believe part of the peace I am seeking comes from self-reflection. The only way to realize my mistakes is to boldly look at myself “in the mirror,” so to speak. It’s not easy to do. It takes courage, but it is SO worth it once you become aware of patterns of behavior. When you are friends with everyone including YOU. You realize that even those that seem to be in opposition may be helping you. Getting back up only makes you stronger! But you have to like YOU first.

One of the ways I perform self-reflection is through writing my thoughts down. I began the practice of journaling years ago as a teen when I had no audience. Writing for myself comes easy. If you are not much of a writer, remember that no one else has to see your writing. You don’t have to share your inner-most-thoughts. Writing helps me, and I believe it can help you too. Complete happiness requires self-reflection, many people are afraid of it. It’s a lot of work. Writing is more than a need for me it’s a necessity!

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the book Not Without God: A Story of Survival and created the Spinal Injury Solutions! website. Zina works as an English Language Instructor, and has been an educator for fifteen years. Her thousands of students have been from many parts of the world, and she’s worked with all ages. Zina writes articles on faith and overcoming challenges, and her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, the Breathe Writers Conference blog, newsletters, guest posts, and medical journals. To learn more about Zina visit http://zinahermez.com.

7 Tips to Keep the Holiday Cheer!

Have you thought about your goals this holiday season? Any New Year’s resolutions? Have you thought about ways to stay healthy? Or keep the holiday cheer? Holidays are fun but can be a demanding, busy time as we try to meet the needs of our family and friends. There are gifts to be bought, turkeys to be cooked, and trees to be put up!

During this hectic period, it’s easy to feel a lot of stress. In giving, the giver feels just as rewarded as the receiver, if not more. However, we sometimes forget to give to ourselves. In your time of giving, don’t neglect your own needs. This will help to reduce anxiety, and keep you calm throughout the season.

Would you like to improve your finances? Volunteer? Do you want to feed the poor? Maybe you want to make some healthy lifestyle choices such as eating better, or losing weight? Whatever your goals, I wish you success!

Let’s prepare to stay merry. Here are some tips to keep you in the holiday spirit!

Be thankful – Nurture a thankful heart. It’s hard to be unhappy when your heart is brimming with thanks! By changing your attitude, you can experience joy even when circumstances don’t change.
Trust – Develop the trust that life will provide you with what you need. Serenity comes from contentment with what you have.
Forgive – Let go of resentment and remorse which wastes energy on yesterday. Forgive and live today.
Give to yourself – Give yourself compassion and understanding. Recognize your abilities and value.
Savor life – Enjoy the taste of cranberry bread, the smell of Christmas cookies, the sight of sunrise.
Do something for someone in need – Write a letter to a lonely friend, make a phone call to an ill relative, or bake a pumpkin pie to welcome your new neighbors.
Love – Remember the deeper truth of life – you are loved. When you feel holiday stress, remember the voice of God who beckons, “Come to me when you are weary, and I will give you rest.”