Things I love..

Things I love... I love the freedom to choose. Granted, i do miss the days when I could actually choose to take a nap in the middle of the day but this not what I am speaking of. I love that we can choose freedom from drama, freedom from those that do not matter in our lives or who seem to only be there for one purpose, which is to make our lives a living hell. I love that I can choose a God that loves me so much that he will never give me more than I can handle. I love that I can choose a couple that loves my daughter so much and cares for her so well that she does not want to leave their home and has tears when I say it is time to go. I love that I can choose to love life without discrimination or condemnation.

Freedom of speech?

Fierce Friday hot topic: http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=495309 Man,am I glad that we have a freedom of free speech! Seven years for staging an oppositional rally in a church? Seriously? I am all about being respectful of religion and I don't agree with things that some say about church and its leaders. However, I also don't agree with government saying that you are not free to have your own beliefs or that you are not allowed to express them in a way that is non-violent. It reminds me of my trip to the post office this week where there were posters of our current President with a Hitler mustache and directions to "pull over to impeach Obama". Not that I would pull over, but I also don't see a reason for these folks to be put in jail for expressing their opinion. Disrespectful? Maybe... Criminal? No If these ladies were to have hurt people in the process, then we would have to have words. I haven't yet heard that... Do you agree? Please feel free to share your thoughts! Maybe I am missing something...

Pure Genius!

Kyla Roma, what a wise woman! This is EXACTLY what I am looking to do and exploring in life lately... Such a coincidence huh? Here is to my week of Kyle Roma GENIUS and a life INDEPENDENT of energy zapping foods and rituals! http://www.kylaroma.com/2012/07/eating-for-energy/ Credit: Kyle Roma

Tolerance

Tolerance... It has been a word used quite frequently in my world lately. By definition, tolerance means the following (one of many definitions): the act or capacity of enduring. For example, "my tolerance of loud noise is limited". Tolerance... To what level are you to endure those things that might bother you the most? Scripture says that we are to turn from those with wicked ways, but yet not judge and to love one another...anyone else a bit confused? I do know that I have come to a point in life that I try to focus on what has an impact on my own life, change that which I can and try to not judge those that might be different in their ways or do it differently than I. For a life filled with intolerance and grief about that which I have no control is not the way that I want to live. However, tolerance for those that continue to hurt me or do wrong to me is also not to be allowed into my house of life and sphere of influence. It is a delicate game of balance...one that I am constantly in fear of falling from.

Changes...

Wow... How life changes and how things are thrown at you all at once! Since my last postings, we have moved our family into a different home, Abby has been potty trained, our oldest son has moved back home and I have lost my job. Each day, we are learning more and more about our family! I have decided to try and take everything one day at a time ... With it, being this blog. I remember it as being an opportunity to share the things that I love, my thoughts of the day and my life in general. It was a way for me to decompress and share my inner thoughts, regardless of whether or not anyone out there is even reading it. I am naturally a "practical" person, so you will also see these types of posts, as well. Here we go again....

Great Gluten Free cookbook

I hate when you have the motivation to buy a cookbook, for whatever reason, and you get something that is not practical, has crazy meals that your family wouldn't even touch or required you to be at home in the kitchen ALL day! With a newly found love for being gluten free, I need something that is practical, has meals that my entire family can eat and gives me quick and delicious recipes: this is it! http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2011/07/cooking-light-goes-gluten-free-in-a-new-cookbook.html There are so many recipes that we have disovered and love, but there is one that even my husband was excited about and shared his love for with others: Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spinach-and-mushroom-lasagna-10000000223655/ The only thing different is that I used GF lasagna noodles and GF marinara sauce and as low fat cheese that I could find. I also did NOT use any mozzarella cheese ( try to elminate as much dairy as possible) and used freshly shaved parmesan cheese, which provided a yummy and strong flavor. If you try it, let me know what you think!

Things I love...

YOGA!! Okay so I am one you see in the weight room or doing some crazy exercise with loud music...Not one that you see bending and stretching on a purple mat, in a quiet room with soothing music, alongside a group of others and being "in touch" with my inner feelings. I have a hard enough time expressing my inner feelings and being in touch with my inner thoughts already, why spend 45 minutes trying to do the same when I could totally be doing something else! However, it was just the challenge I needed! About 5 minutes into it, I was sweating up a storm and feeling more confident about my abilities. Sure, i had done a yoga class here and there or did my stretching after an intense workout, but this was great! The only issue, okay maybe not the only one, is that my hands were even sweating and made it hard to grip the mat... But they do make gloves for that! Awesome, huh? No excuses! At the very end, I have never felt so calm and in touch with my body- especially since going gluten-free and I seriously think I heard my mind and body tell eachother a huge thank you for taking care of eachother! Thanks to my sis and aunt for joining me and I look forward to the next chance I can get to do yoga! We all know it has benefits, but if you would like to read more: http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp

Apologies...

I apologize but this week has been a bit crazy for me and I haven't had much time to do anything but work and sleep... Barely even saw my family :( With that said, I am glad to be able to take the day and spend time with my daughter and remind myself that I am a Mom and I matter and despite the drama of others, my life is worthy and I am truly blessed. I have a great husband and daughter, I have a group of friends that want nothing more than to connect with my life but are also understanding that my life is completely crazy and limiting, great coworkers who allow me to share my frustrations and flaws while offering support, great family who like to spend time together and a God that truly loves me and really does have a purpose for me, even if I don't totally see it. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things and regularly posting my thoughts, feelings, things I love, insights and such.... Thanks for sticking with me!

God will provide...

"We walk by faith, not by sight.". 2 Corinthians 5:7 Why is it so hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that there is something out there that I can base my life around and that can help me through the daily trials and to recognize those things that are of great worth? As I sat through a service at church today, I was reminded that my faith is something that fluctuates WAY more than I like it to. It is something that I fit into my life when it is convenient. It is something that I struggle with due to the fact that I am a "planner" by nature and want nothing more but to see a clear picture of what it is that is planned for my life... But is this how I would like for it to truly be? Would I want to know what it looks like or would it cause me to only plan even more and drive myself crazy in the process? I was fortunate enough to listen to a story told by Brittany Leslie, a missionary alongside her husband and children in Africa and part of our church family. She talked about her childhood and how she longed for stability and then her adventure through adolescence and then college. How, at the age of 6, she was "called" by God to be a missionary and how she was relentlessly pursued by His love throughout her entire life, even when she did not see it. She went on to get married, have a child, move to Africa, have two more children and then go into a depression that she could not understand. However, she knew that her purpose in life was to walk by faith, not by sight ... If only I could learn to do the same... My goal this week is to remember that my service is for His purpose (last week's reflection) and to try and just remain quiet, walk by faith and stop trying to "see" everything that my own self wants to see, rather than what He wants me to see... "Walk by faith,not by sight.". 2 Corinthians 5:7

Ok, so how cute are these???

Things I love: Okay, I really should have thought of this, but this is what makes Starbucks so great! I am not sure about you, but I drink ALOT of coffee and it is usually from Starbucks, which happens to be conveniently located between my house and my office... ironic, huh? I saw these when my husband and I stopped there on our date night to grab some tea and I thought to myself, what a great idea... as many of those little cardboard sleeve things I throw away, I really should get one of these! I will probably have to keep it in my car, as I tend to put things in odd places and lose track of them... but just a small thing that I am totally loving right now and need to pick up on my trip to Starbucks in the near future! Help the environment, look cute and enjoy a great cup of coffee... can it get any better?? Just a glimpse into what I am loving this week... Cute one for the Valentine's day season: http://www.starbucksstore.com/starbucks-reusable-cup-sleeve-valentines-day/011016363,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=drinkware-accessories

So ballet dance must not be her thing...

Do we set ourselves up for failure when we expect so much for our children? We are told that we need to get them involved, let them explore life and encourage them to do things and learn what they like. Well, contrary to what I thought, Abigial doesn't care much for structured dance classes. The only time anything remotely caught her attention was when they played music and when she was able to play on the big blue mats. In a class of about 10 kids, Abigail told me "NO" I'm not sure how many times, ran around in circles, rolled around on the mats... Pretty much nothing what the rest of the group was doing! What is the fine line between just saying that a 2 year old won't be perfect and this just isn't her thing? Anyone? Should I say to myself that it was only her first class and we should try it again or save us the money and frustration and just find something else? I am slowly learning that what I think might be right for her is totally opposite of what she wants to do... This isn't supposed to happen until she is a teenager! HELP! Maybe we will look into a tumbling class this week...She will probably want to do ballet dance in that class... That would be my luck!

Sunday Spirit...

I have decided that I will start each week with a prayer/devotional that has something to do with my own struggles and possibly the struggles of others.... I am not sure if it will touch others in any way, but I do know that I would like to remind myself that God is with me each and every moment of my days and nights and that he truly does love me, even when I might not take the time to listen to or see him. The following is a prayer taken from a book that I own and sits by my bed, but rarely is read or looked at... Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Timothy6:6 Lord, sometimes I see great gain as something to be obtained from wordly achievement. I praise my children for this rather than their faith in You. Sometimes I long to hear the praise of people for the job that I do when I should be concerned with doing what pleases You. Show me how to be a godly woman, how to have true contentment that comes from service to You. Help me to reinforce in my home the need to be satisfied with doing Your will, whatever that may be. WOW! Ain't that a kick in the pants! I greatly needed that reminder that what I am doing is in service to God. The reason I get up and go to work each morning should not be to get caught up in all of the drama or to serve those who I might be so bitter about but to serve a God that loves me and reminds me that he will never give me more than I can handle. Remind me of this God.... You would never allow me to suffer without a plan, cause I am struggling here! Remind me that I do have a purpose and You will not allow me to fail,acording to Your standards, not the standards of the world...

Things I love Thursdays...

Does anyone else have as hard of a time finding comfortable workout pants as I do? Now, I am a bit "thicker" in my middle section due to having a baby and just eating bad foods... Therefore, I tend to have a hard time finding pants that will fit my legs and not be too baggy and hinder my workout but that also fit my middle section and don't either cut off circulation or allow my belly to just flop around! I have found a great solution! Tek Gear Shapewear pants I was hesitant, as the material seems to be a bit tight and form fitting, but once I gave them a chance in the dressing room and waited a few minutes, I began to like them! They are true to size and fit in all of the right places, regardless of what I might think of my own body..:) If you are looking for something to wear while improving your workouts or even starting out, check them out! http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/activewear/brands/tek_gear/PRD~569303/Tek+Gear+Shapewear+Pants.jsp And yes, I got them at my local Kohl's store! :)

March of Dimes Walk-- Need your support

Okay, so we all hear about this organization known as the March of Dimes, but do we really know what it is? (marchofdimes.com)

Do we really understand that when we see that small baby in the picture that it means that someone's child has been born prematurely or with a birth defect or that somewhere in the world people are working together to build stronger, happier, healthier babies? You got it, this is the March of Dimes!

Never, in a million years, did I think that my life would be directly affected by this all too familiar global problem. I went into the hospital expecting to have my child with normal labor, hold her for the first time and take her home to a beautiful room and home that was waiting for her... this all changed on February 21, 2010. At 12:19pm, I was rushed into the operating room for a c-section, only to catch a quick glimpse of very small and premature daughter, give a quick kiss to my husband and then they would all leave for an emergency followup. I would wake up a few hours later to see my daughter hooked up on tubes and in an incubator, weighing only 3 lbs 5 oz and where she would stay for the next 3 weeks, while I would go home and pray every night for her well-being and sit in her pretty room all alone.

There is much more to the story and we have been truly blessed, but this is EXACTLY why our family is now committed to taking part in and raising funds for the March of Dimes and we would love your support!

To make a donation to our team: Abby's Army, please go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=1766501&si=F1F7F358-94B1-43E4-90E1-388122CCFA40

Thank you, in advance, for your support!

"You shall walk after the Lord your God and (reverently) fear Him... And obey His voice" (Deuteronomy 13:4)

Is it so easy to obey everything that God says? If we truly hear His voice, then we are told that we will live a life of abundance and fulfillment.

Does anyone else consider themselves to be "practical" and how does this balance with doing with He plans for our lives and being obedient while also being obedient to our own families?

Word for today: Listen, discern and obey boldly

How about I start with a conversation with Him-- that might help!

Source: Hearing from God each morning, Joyce Meyer

Wouldn't we all love for this to be our body?? I know that I would! Does anyone else get as discouraged as I do when you see a picture like this or see someone in the gym who looks like this and think to yourself.... I am never going to look like that, so what's the point? Do we all need to strive to look like this or just be comfortable in our own bodies? It is a two-edged sword, to be honest. I think that if we do what is best for our own bodies and have REALISTIC expectations of what we can accomplish, we can do nothing but succeed. After having a child, I am pretty certain that my abs will NEVER look like that... but who's to say that I can't have flatter abs than I do now? Who is to say that I wouldn't be able to better exercise and have more energy and be able to actually balance on one of those ball things that they make look so easy? I am willing to give it a try! Goal for the week: workout at least 3 times this week for a 45 minute session, going balls out and working up a sweat... WITHOUT focusing on what I should look like and rather what kind of person I would like to be on a fitness level