Craving God

I wanted to share the "thoughts of the day" for the last 3 days of  "Craving God".  This book has been such an inspiration to me thus far in my getting healthy journey.  I am also loving Cardio Chicks! It is a website created by a girl I know (her son and Audrey used to go to preschool together). She has some really great tips on there. I suggest checking it out.

Here are days 2, 3 and 4 of Craving God.

Day 2:  God made us capable of craving so we'd have an undquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone.  Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our mis-guided cravings to the only One capable of satisfying them.

On this day, I had to really sit down and think of the "cravings" in my life, and not necessarily just food, that I could replace with a craving for more of God. 

Day 3: We were made for more!! More than this failure....more than this cycle... more than being ruled by our taste buds, body image, rationalizations, and guilt.  We were made for victory.  Sometimes we just have to find our way to that truth.

This thought really touched home to me.  Sometimes I have a hard time convincing myself that I am worth all of this hard work to get healthy, but I know I am worth it to Jesus.  I know that I am worth it to my family and my friends too.  My "I'll do better tomorrow" attitude is so old and so Scarlet O'Hara, lol.  I need to do better today for Jesus, for myself and for my family. 

Day 4: Are your cravings a curse or a blessing? The answer to that question depends on what you're craving, because what we're craving will always depend on whatever we're consuming.  Is it the object of our desire, or God and His truth?

Since starting this devotion, it has been hard for me to not want to read on after each daily devotion.  I can't wait to get to the next day.  It is making me crave more God and devotion! And on a fitness note, I do not go to the gym on Sundays, but actually missed it today and can't wait to get to class (Zumba and Boot Camp) tomorrow!

About losing weight....

If you know me, you know that I have struggled with trying to lose weight for some time now.  I diet, I quit, I exercise, I quit.  It seemed to be a never-ending cycle.

BTW, I would just like to say in the nicest way possible that if you have never tried to lose weight, you can't criticize, ridicule or play down the process.  IT IS HARD.  There is nothing easy about it.  Losing weight isn't about eating grilled chicken and steamed veggies until you reach your goal, it is about making the right choices for the rest of your life to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  So please, if you have never had to lose weight, be considerate and most importantly supportive of those who are trying.

Moving on.  I am 30 years old.  I have hypothyroidism and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), both of which are proven to make weight loss a beast (moreso than it already is).  I used to use these as an excuse "I can't lose weight because of my thyroid." etc, etc.  I am now choosing to make them my opponent.  You see, with each of these conditions (and many more conditions) you are in a battle of the wills against your body.  So yes, it is harder for those of us suffering from these conditions to lose weight, so YES, we must work harder, unfortunately.

Being 30 years old and having to take 3 different medications a day is no fun thrill.  I wish I didn' t have to take any. I take 1 pill for my thyroid, 1 for high blood pressure and 1 for PCOS.  It would be wonderful to be off of all of them, but unfortunately, I will most likely have to take my thyroid med for the rest of my life.  But the other two, plan to kick out the back door as I get healthy.

I downloaded a book (FREE too!) onto the iBook app on my iPhone the other day.  The book is called Craving God.  It is a 20 day devotion about God and well, food. 

Each day is just a short note on how to gain spirutual and physical strength.  Each day also has a thought of the day and today's hit home for me.

"Eating in its proper context is not the problem.  God gave us food for nourishment, strength and even celebration.  But when pleasure becomes unrestrained, there is a problem."

As I read the devotion today, I had to ask myself a tough question, Is it possible that I love and rely on food  more than I love and rely on God?  This question is forcing me to see the purpose of my struggle with food as something more than smaller clothes, getting compliments, etc.  Shallow desires produce shallow efforts.

I am determined to meditate on this scary question. Don't take this the wrong way, I LOVE GOD. He is the author and creator of my life.  But as humans, and more importantly as Christians,  there are times in our life when we have to reevaluate our priorities.  I am having to ask myself, why food instead of God give me the instant comfort from a hard day, from being tired, sad, doubtful, worried, stressed, etc.  Today, I am praying for God to reveal to me that he is more real than food and that HE needs to be the source of my comfort, joy and reward.  He is my deliverer, not food. 

So, I ask you to pray for me and with me as I journey to becoming healthy and treating my body and my life the way my Creator intended.

Boot Camp

So, I joined Sportsplex, about 3 months ago I guess.  When I first joined, they suggested a Boot Camp class since I am interested in losing a good bit of weight.  I have been going to the gym pretty regularly, but have always been too chicken to go to that class, even if just once a week.

Well, last night, I did it.  Wow. I am SO out of shape, but at the end of the class, just knowing that I was able to survive it was so inspiring.  It was tough with cardio, weight training, etc. all tied into one class.  I am sore today, but I know that means something is working.

I look forward to going back on Wednesdays and Saturdays and getting myself immersed in a healthier lifestyle.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my parents!  So thankful for them and everything they are in my life!  43 years of marraige is something to be proud of.

What we've been up to

Pardon me for not posting for a week or so, but it has been busy around here.  We had Vacation Bible School two weeks ago and that kept us going all week long.  At the end of that week, Justin had his first "barber shop" haircut.  Now, keep in mind this was not his first haircut, we have had about 6.  We have been to the beauty shop and to Snip-Its too, but his Daddy decided he needed to be a big boy and get his hair cut by Mr. Scott.  To say I was nervous is an undertstatement.  I didn't want him to be scalped or to not look like my baby anymore, but I also wanted his hair to be short enough that he could be cool and comfortable this summer.  So, here is the pics of the barber shop and the after shot.  We are pleased with his new "do" and think he is super handsome.  We have only spiked his hair up one time, but I thought it looked so cute.

How cute is he!!??

I also have been doing some painting.  Back in March we replaced the carpet in our living room and hallway with laminate wood flooring and painted our living room and got new furniture. We also backsplashed the kitchen wall and bought paint for the kitchen and guest bathroom.  Well this past week I decided to get the guest bathroom painted and we also conquered the kitchen.

Our only dilemna is that we have to finish the kitchen by painting over the cabinets.  A trial we thought we could get away without doing by making it seem like we wanted the contrasting paint colors, but it is too obvious that we just didn't want to paint it.  Our design failed.  Oh well.  It shouldn't take long and since we aren't planning to have Hagrid over for dinner anytime soon, we are in no hurry to get it done or for it to be perfect.  Here are the new colors in the guest bathroom and kitchen.  (One day I will dig up old pics and do a before new flooring and paint and after post.)

As you may remember from my post talking about my work schedule, I work Sun-Thurs evenings from 9 pm-midnight.  Well, on Sunday nights, Donnie is already gone to work by the time I need to start and sometimes the kiddos aren't in bed yet.  I rely on Audrey's help a lot on Sunday nights because I know that she can play with Justin and keep him occupied while I get started working until he is ready for bed.  Last night she says to me "Mom, I know you have to work, so Justin and I will go lay in your bed together and watch Sprout.  I can get him to sleep for you."  I thought, Yeah, ok.  Mosty because Justin is under the impression that my bed is in fact a trampoline and spends most of his time in there jumping and getting as close to your face as he can saying "hey, hey, hey, hey".  So I get started to work (which didn't last long, but that is another story), and I go in there in about 30 minutes because it is quiet to check on them.  I walk in and Justin sits up, and Audrey in her most grown up voice says "Mom, he is doing good.  He is getting sleepy".  So I let them be.  About 45 minutes later, I walk in to find this.....pure sweetness.  And they look JUST ALIKE.

I am so thankful that they love each other!  So far, it has been a great summer!

Big Apple Adventure

This week is vacation bible school at our church.  Our theme for the year is "Big Apple Adventure: Where faith and life connect!"

I am the music rotation leader.  This is my second year teaching music at VBS, but my 5th helping in that rotation.  I love music because you get to experience each group of children and teach them all of the songs and motions (yes motions!) for the week!  It can be trying and some of the motions can be challenging, but it is so rewarding!

VBS is definitley not like it was when I was a kid.  Now days, the children rotate through different areas like crafts, recreation, music, missions, etc.  And we serve a meal every night before "school" starts.  When I was in bible school you did everything in your classroom. Your lesson, crafts, recreation.  And for snack, we had cookies and kool-aid. 

I loved VBS as a kid and I am so glad that my children will grow to love it too, on a completely different level, but for the same purpose.

So, if you think about it this week between 6 and 9 pm, say a prayer for our Bible school students and leaders that we may glorify Christ through what we do and that children (or adults) that may not know Christ will come to have a relationship with Him.

Please come out and join us if you would like.  We have classes from Nursery through 6th grade for the children with dinner starting at 5:30 pm.  And also an adult class starting at 6:30 pm in our old sanctuary.  We would love to have you!



We are--VR!!

Since Tuesday, Audrey has been attending Villa Rica High School Cheer Camp.  Their JV and Varsity squads put on the camp.

Audrey had a blast and got the cutest little t-shirt.

In the midst of this week, I also signed Audrey up to cheer for fall football with the Villa Rica Rec. Department.  And I also signed up to coach.  Oh dear.

Here is a picture of her today at the last day of cheer camp.

Ok, and let me apologize.  I have rotated and flipped and saved this photo a thousand times and everytime it is still sideways. :(

And here is Audrey and her BFF Lauren.  Yes, she is 16.  Yes, she is gorgeous.  She is one of the best kids I know!  I love her like she is my own!!