A little piece of heaven!

Tonight, when I was headed into the twins room to tuck them in and pray with them, the lights were off already and so they could only see my silhouette as I walked into the room. As I walked closer to Cams bed, he quietly asked, "  is that an angel walking in my room? No, its just my mommy!"  My heart melted! 

I think I just heard you all say in unison... AWWWWW!

Weekly Health Update

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart. ~ Erma Bombeck

This quote seriously made me chuckle but there is some truth in it as well. While I have been watching closely what I put into my body these days and making sure that it is for fueling purposes as opposed to just eat for the sake of eating, I have found that I can be a tad bit obsessive about counting calories and such. I think I needed to get to that point to break myself of some really bad habits and some of them are easier to break still than others, but I also know that I can allow myself to have a treat here and there and enjoy it without it really affecting me. 

So, this week was better for me than last. I lost 4 lbs this week!!! WOOT!! I reached 20lbs and I feel so great! The only thing that I can think of is that I started circuit training a little bit this week. By that I mean, walking/running on the treadmill, getting off, doing crunches, or triceps dips and then hopping back on the treadmill and going again. I think this may have moved things along. I am really starting to notice it in my clothes and my belly is certainly shrinking!!! I really am beginning to notice a difference and I like it. My energy levels are high and that makes me really HAPPY! It really was my main reason for changing the way I do things, so that is awesome.

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words! Have some ice cream this week and enjoy it without guilt, just have enough to satisfy and walk away proud of yourself for stopping when you have had enough!

Hugs!!

Weekly blessings...

God is good, all the time! 

This week I had to hesitate in writing about my weekly blessings. It was a tough week for me. As a mom, a friend, a Children's Ministry Director of our church, and as a daughter. If you read my previous post, you know that a young mother from our church was killed in an auto accident this past week and really rocked my world. I found myself asking God why and questioning His ways. After some really silent time just listening to Him and seeking what He has for me concerning this situation, I am finally able to re think about His blessings upon me this past week and can finally write them down. 

• Our vehicle needed to be looked at. It was making some weird noise in the rear wheel area. Praise God it was completely covered by the warranty and I walked out paying nothing for the repair!
• How during times of heartache and troubles, God knits us together and uses women of Faith to encourage each other and offer their shoulders and their own tears.
• A husband that once again, lets me deal with things in my own way, knowing me better than I know myself and letting me work out things for myself; still knowing that he is right there beside me when I am ready to reach out for him.
• Being a volunteer at our local worship radio station!! I had a blast answering phones during their spring pledge drive. Doing just that little thing for the benefit of God's Kingdom, made me so happy and content, and I met and hung out with some really great people :)
• Watching my teen girl make JV softball, swing Varsity as a freshman!!! She has been playing since she was 4, playing T-ball and finally all her hard work and dedication is paying off! Kendra, I am so proud of your persistence and dedication, I love you!

So, still praying for this grieving family and thankful to all who are thinking of me and praying for me. I know that God is in control and so glad that this pain here on earth is only temporary and we have something so much better for us in the future!

Hugs! 

Just the need to write my thoughts.....

Exactly that, I just need to write my thoughts. I can be extremely internal at times like this wondering in my head and searching for answers that I probably will never have this side of heaven. I know in my heart that God is gracious and wondrous and good, but at times like this I find myself wondering about His plans and asking to see the big picture of this lifetime. Today, a young mother from our church was killed in an auto accident leaving behind three precious boys, one of which is only a month old. My very human heart and head and my spiritual heart and head are in battle over this internally. I know that God has a plan and that there is a purpose to everything under heaven, however, I can't even begin to fathom why this would happen to three innocent children. 

As I listen to the rain falling outside, I have this image of God crying from heaven as the pain that this family is feeling this evening must be all but unbearable. I pray that this family feels the arms of God as a comfort around them and that through all this that He would make Himself and His presence known to all that are involved either from inside the family or us as outsiders watching things from a distance. 

I could never even guess what this family is feeling. The pain I feel for them is horrible and I can only cling tonight to God's promises and claim them.

As a very close and important man in my life recently has said:

God is good even when he is mysterious.

Hugs and prayers~

Weekly check in

Sorry, I just didn't get the chance to get this posted yesterday... had lots of household things and running around to do plus homeschooling :)

Anyway, I told you all that I would share good and bad and bring you along on the journey with me.  After my last week weigh in, I weighed in again on Tuesday just for the heck of it, and I had in fact met my goal and lost 2 more lbs for a total of 16 for the month!!! I was so excited and very humbled that God once again had to remind me that all things are perfect in HIS timing not mine.  Boy, its a good thing He is so patient with me :)

However, yesterday when I stepped on for my weigh in, I had stayed the same. Not sure why. A little discouraged for sure, glad that I didn't gain, and trying to figure out what I might have done differently that caused my weight loss to slow down? So, back at it yesterday and today and we will see what happens this week. Maybe if I can get outside on the track for some walking it might make a difference, not sure. Going to give that a try tonight after Frank gets home., if its not raining, LOL!

All in all though, I feel really good and am excited that my whole family is eating better. Some time when I have more of it, It will post a list of all the things that my family has given up and now they really don't miss it! They are troopers and have rallied around me and I am so grateful to them, all 5 of them!

Have a great week, April is on its way!!!

Hugs!

My favorite Five's of this Fabulous week!!!

Happy Weekend to all of you!

I waited until this morning to post my blessings of the week, because, I had a feeling that my dear sweet man and I would be spending some much needed time together last night and if that did happen I didn't want to miss it as counting it as one of my blessings :)

• Having lunch with my sister! We live so close to each other but don't have much time just the two of us to have time to chit and chat! It was one of the best moments of my week! I love you Bev!
• Being given the gift of a husband, my life partner, who sees me as perfect. Just the way I am, no flaws, physically or emotionally and loves me to the fullest extent possible. My love tank is very full this week. Thank you babe, for giving me this gift!
• Asthma medicine! My Cam suffers with horrible asthma and this week has been bad. I am so thankful to live in this country where medicine is readily available and to watch to color and energy come back into a little boy once oxygen has returned :)
• Being part of little Kaylee's first year of life. Watching her grow and change is a constant reminder that God has plans for this messed up world and every day is a chance for all of us to grow and change for the better. Plus she loves me and I love her so much!!!
• My children! How blessed I am to have children that everyday say " I love you mom" without prompting from me. They just love to say it. And man, do I love to hear it!

Hope you all are feeling the blessings that God has put into your lives! Look around and focus on these things... they aren't coincidence, the are gifts and blessings. Be careful not to take them for granted :)

Hugs!

A whole month has passed....

Ok, so my first month of change in habits, both eating and exercising has come to an end! I had a big time reality check this morning. I was so excited to step on the scales and see what this month has produced for me. Before doing it though, I took the time to make a list of the changes that I have seen besides the scale moving down! These are a few things that I want to share with all of you: I have lots more energy. I am a super duper busy mom of four and hunny of one and between all of them, they sure do keep me on my feet! I was having such a hard time keeping up with it all and found myself sleeping in later and later, wanting a nap most afternoons and hardly able to keep my eyes open at night.  Now I am up early enough to get my hour workout in (we bought the Wii Fit this past week, yay!!!) and have plenty of energy to keep going all afternoon and well into the evening :) I am actually doing laundry as I write this!!  Also, I am sleeping much better at night. I force myself to be in bed by 10:30pm to give myself time to just relax and get tired. With all the energy that I expend during the day and also getting some exercise, I think this may have helped out with my sleeping issues that I was having previously. My clothes are looser and people are noticing!  I am motivated to try new things! I am thankful that God gave me this body and I am focused on making it more useful for His purposes!  These are just a couple of the things from my list... there are more but some of them are a bit more personal ;-)

Anyway, back to the scale... so my goal for the month was 15lbs.  Drum role please........ 14lbs lost as of this morning. I was totally disappointed. One pound, one lousy pound, what the heck? Ok, Janet, think, what happened? Well, guess what?  I slacked this weekend, that's what happened! I had cake and ice cream with a friend for her birthday, I had pizza and I ate late on Sunday night. Duh, hello!! So, once I thought it through, I quickly found out why I had" coincidentally" stopped to make my list first. I needed to point out all the positives to myself before I had the let down! 

Now, don't get me wrong.. I am THRILLED to be 14lbs lighter. But what it really did was relight the fire under my butt (smaller, thank you!) and get back to business. I worked out a little harder and went back to counting and measuring today and yes, I feel better too!

So, my one month check in is 14lbs and going strong! Thank you everyone for your encouragement and comments! They do help! What a journey, ups and downs and flat travel! I am just thrilled to be able to make the changes one meal at a time, sometimes one bite at a time, but changes just the same!

Hugs!!!