Thursday, December 30, 2010

Pursuit of Discernment via Tammy

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With permission from Tammy I am posting her latest post in it's entirety today, for it is good and mirrors my passion for being in the word. Why remake when you can just cut and paste? If you'd like to see where I got it from, or read it on her blog, you can find that here, on Tammy Is Blessed.

Pursuit of Discernment
The year before last I read through the entire Bible in a year for the first time in my life. Which was really rather pathetic considering I've been a Christian as long as I can remember.


Last year in December I posted about how I was feeling convicted to dig deeper in the Bible and to pursue discernment. Yes, I had read through the Bible, but many days it was simply to be able to say that I had done it. And I wanted to change that. So I started a new blog called The Bible in a Year...and Beyond! because the title captured my vision perfectly - reading through the Bible, yes, but going beyond simply reading it, to studying it, to questioning, to researching, to digging deeper, to pursuing discernment.


I was joined by several other ladies who had felt similarly convicted and together we experienced a year of tremendous growth and insight unlike any year previously. This also was a year where I needed discernment in order to walk through a dark valley alongside a very close friend. Coincidence? I think not!


Because this was such a rich and rewarding experience, and because our need for accountability and motivation has not waned (still human, after all!), we are starting up again and are inviting you to join us!


Last year we did the One Year Chronological Reading Plan. Some parts of the plan I really enjoyed: I loved reading the Psalms as they coincided with the lives of King David and the other Psalmists; it helped to understand some of the books of prophecy better as well to have things in their proper historical perspective. The part of the plan I did not like as much was that it was extremely chronological to the point of flipping between several different books numerous times on certain days.


This year we have decided to do a Chronological plan again. But this one has very little jumping around, and starts in both the Old Testament and the New Testament at the same time - which can be a big pro for those who have found the OT hard to get through. This past year was the first time I, and some other blog participants, have really appreciated the OT and found that we learned so incredibly much - I am very interested to see what new insights we glean this year as we do it again!


So, we decided on this Chronological OT/NT plan. Unfortunately, it still had the 2010 dates it in, so I created a PDF file with the corrected dates and uploaded it to the internet - you can access it here. It contains all the links to the Bible passages, and is printable if you download the file to your computer.


One thing I'd like to mention...
So often we (especially first-borns, perfectionists, etc) tend to have an all or nothing mentality. If I can't do it perfectly, if I can't succeed 100%, if I can't be the best, then I'm just not going to even try. Ladies (or any men that read this!), that's not from the Lord. If you didn't have a regular Bible reading/devotional habit before - then any commitment is better than nothing. You have to start somewhere, and who cares if you start small? So long as you start! Your efforts will be rewarded. You will draw closer to Him. You will reflect Him to those around you. And you will be able to be more discerning. There is no downside here!


So, if you choose to read along with us (or choose a different plan to follow on your own, or whatever you decide to do), and if you fall behind - do not quit! You have a few options: you can read a ton to catch up; you can circle the passages you missed and skip them for now and catch up throughout the year as you have time; you can circle the passages you missed and catch up on them after the year is over; or you can simply miss them; or you can pick a different reading plan that goes through the Bible more slowly. Any of those options are entirely acceptable, the only option that is not a good one is quitting entirely. Do not quit!!


So, why read through the Bible in a year?


Well, it doesn't have to be in a year. But the need to be in the Word daily as a Christian, is really not something that we should consider to be optional.


This website answers the question so much better than I ever could.

Why Is It So Important to Do Devotions Every Day?


What would the people in your church look like if they snacked on meager food morsels during the week and ate only one good meal on the weekend? You know the answer, don't you? You'd find yourself surrounded by emaciated, gaunt people in desperate need of nutrition.


And how would these undernourished believers fare against a demonic adversary? Can you imagine how this army would look? You'd see threadbare skeletons with hollow cheeks and sunken eye-sockets, lined up like phantoms. Weakened by famine, that shriveled militia could barely stand at attention; each would struggle to find the strength to keep his or her bony frame upright.


Could this "army" conquer an opposing force?


No way. No earthly general would send them out to fight.


Well, then, how about the army of the Lord? What of those who gather on Sunday mornings? Are they spiritually nourished to fight the battles ahead? Considering what most members of God's army subsist on—an occasional tidy snack from a devotional book and perhaps an average-sized meal on Sundays to satiate conscience—you'd have to conclude that God's fighting force has some serious training to do.


Have you ever wondered why marriages seemingly crumble overnight, and—out of the blue—Christians leaders fall to luring temptations?


The truth is, no marriage instantly disintegrates, and no one suddenly falls away from Christ. For that matter, no one dies from an eating disorder after missing a day or two of meals.


It could better be described as a slow decline—gradual spiritual starvation, barely even discernible to the outside observer. The malnourishment of God's sons and daughters happens over time, as they eat less and less. Then, in their weakness, they do something that shocks everyone, finally revealing what was really going on in their spiritual lives.


Did you know that more than 80 percent of those who call themselves Christians read their Bibles only once a week? And that's usually on Sundays, at church. They come to church to get their spiritual fill, and then snack on devotional tidbits for the rest of the week (if even that).


I wish for just one day God would change the way our eyes work, so we would see ourselves spiritually. We'd see most American churches filled with skeletal, hollow-eyed saints, looking as if a gust of wind would blow them away like tumbleweeds.


Which is why, when some new trend floods America and pushes our nation further away from God, further away from our spiritual roots, the church is unable to withstand the tide. We simply don't have the strength.


So what's the solution? ....


If we eat only once a week, it's no wonder the church is weak and struggling. But daily fresh bread can change all of that. Regularly dining on fresh bread makes for a stalwart, strong, developed army—the only kind of force that will always make a difference in this world.

So, will you join us? We already have several new people joining in, and all but one member is returning again this year. You can participate as much or as little as you are able to commit to. You can read along with us, read the daily posts and comment as you have time. Or you can commit to writing some of the posts as well. It's up to you!


It doesn't have to be my blog.


But choose something.


Choose a plan to get into the Word. Daily. And see what God will do!


I am one of those new people.  I am so excited to be a part of this.  I have one more day left of 2010 to read and I'm going to finally, for the first time in my life, completed reading through the entire bible in a year.  I have gained so much!  I thank the Lord for His word and it's change in my life.  And I'm going to do it again this coming year.  I figure with all I've learned this year, how much more will I learn in the next year?  I've been telling people I've learned more in this year of just simply reading the word than in the 4 years of seminary.  It's that important.

Please join us.  Your Christian walk cannot survive without it.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

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Excuse me, I'm having a crappy day. I'd like to return this one and get a new one.

That is all.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Goals for 2011 - Preview

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This, obviously, is a work in progress. I've decided to not do resolutions this year, but rather, goals. A resolution, as defined by dictionary.com, is:
1.  a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.
2.  a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3.  the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
4.  the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.


All of that makes New Years Resolutions sound like something comes into effect, like a law, Jan 1 12am.  And I've realized with many things that change does not happen over night.  


Now goals are defined as "the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end."  Ah ha! You see, resolutions never work anyway.  You never hear anyone saying at the end of the year 'I kept my new years resolutions!'  No, but goals?  Goals yes.  Goals are something we can work towards through the year.  They are something which I can look at at the end of the year and say, 'Did I meet my goal?  How close did I get?'  It gives me room to make the change and room to fail.  It's not an all or nothing, which is hard for me.  Goals we can make steps towards, whereas resolutions demand that we are already there.  Semantics?  Maybe, but for this gal, it gives me some room to breathe.  


Now, onto the goals.  I want my goals to be potentially life changing.  Not just 'I want to plant a garden this year.'  But rather, 'I want to can all the spaghetti sauce I'll use in the coming year.' Or something like that.  I want my goals to be substantial.  So I'm sitting here, what are the areas of my life that are substantial to me?  The areas that God has blessed me with, so that I can be a blessing?  And even that is a struggle against self.  You know I love to run and one of my goals is to be able to run a 12 min mile, but how does that bless others?  How does that bless God?  Hmmm.  So those areas would be:

  1. Relationship with God
  2. Relationship with Andrew
  3. Relationship with our children
  4. Relationships with others
  5. Relationship with self
I'm noticing a theme here, but I think it works.  We are blessed so that we may bless others.  I recently heard a writer say that we were created for relationships.  I also had a book in seminary that stated we were created for community.  Hmmmm.  Which is true.  God created Adam and what did He do with him?  He walked and talked with him in the garden.  What did God say about Adam's situation pre-Eve?  That it wasn't good.  That was the only thing in the whole of God's creation that wasn't good, the fact that Adam was alone. So God created Eve and stated that it was VERY good.  We are created to be with others and for others.  


I've written a lot here and I was going to just write out my goals, like I usually do, just sort of sneeze on the computer and click publish post, but not tonight.  I want these goals to be something I can tell others in a statement.  A nutshell.  And I want them to mean something to me.  I want to grow.  I want to change.  And I want the Lord to lead me in this.  So I'll be back, post later on about these goals.  Before the New Year, of course.  :)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Things That Go Bump In the Night

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In case you ever stay at my house, the kinds of noises you might encounter:

  • a cat with allergies
  • a husband with a cold
  • a son desperately trying to share his version of the same virus in a most unique way, ie - hacking up a lung
  • compound all of that with the dark and then you have a daughter terrified of them all.  
Explain why I'm up at 4am?

Friday, December 24, 2010

Santa Runs

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This is awesome! I found this on another runners blog Impossible Is Nothing and I thought you might enjoy this on the day before Christmas. If Santa can run, I can!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Todays Thoughts

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In Bullet form!

  • No, no, I'm not in the study, you cannot find me in here!
  • Crap, what do you mean we can't find a quality car for less than a grand?
  • Eh, I'll run longer tomorrow.
  • I wonder if I'm burning more calories now that I'm running more often and further?
  • It's Christmas now, I've had my candy cane.
  • Cat, you've got it made in the shade.
  • I think I want to cry.
  • Wait, bread's done.
  • Bread's not done.  
  • I hate baking bread in this stupid roaster.  
  • I think I can cry now.  
  • Ahhhh, I've got coffee.  
  • Things will settle down after Christmas.  Right?  
  • Is it wrong to go to bed at 7:30?  
  • How many times must I call that girls name before she answers me??  
  • GRRRR.
That is all.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Woot!

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I ran 1.5 miles straight this morning, without walk breaks!!

Woot for me!!

That is all.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Running Tips

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This blog post from 125 is great advice on wanting to run. She, too, is a former fat girl and is running. And is running marathons. I totally second her advice.

Check it out!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Another Hat and.....

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the worlds cutest boy (at least I think so, feel free to disagree, but do that somewhere else. I want to remain in my bubble.) Anyway. I made another hat. Actually I made three this morning. They are so easy!! Here is a super cute pic, because even though it's too big, he's a better model than I.




Yes, he is wearing duckie slippers.  Aint he just cute?  Ok, so the pics aren't the most flattering for him, but that's the best I can do with a 2 yr old, aright?!  But you get the picture.  Hah hah.

Here are some links for easy fleece hats, perfect for last minute gift giving.  Seriously people, I put together three in an hour this morning, including cutting them out!

Free hat Patterns

Fleece Stocking Hat  This the pattern I used for above hat.

Fleece Hats

Fleece Hat Tutorial

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Winter Running Gear

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Ok, so like a nut I am running a race the 31st of this month. I have all of the gear I need to do it. And this morning I made my last piece. It's super warm and super cute! The binding has been found wanting, but I can fix that this evening.


Ignore my rough looking face and enjoy the hat!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Why I Run

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I run because...

  • when I run, I'm not fat
  • I am free
  • I am strong
  • I am reminded that I can do more than I thought
  • I have removed labels and broken molds others placed on me (thank you High School gym class)
  • I can reach for more than just beauty and thinness
  • I don't have to wait for 145lbs for life to begin
  • It's free
  • I enjoy it
  • And most importantly, I run because I can.  

Friday, December 10, 2010

A Few New Fave Recipes

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I have been enjoying a few new recipes lately and I thought I'd share.


Yogurt
I realize there is an abundance of yogurt recipes on the net, eh, but what's one more? Here's how I do it.


Food Stuff:
2 quarts milk
.5 c powdered milk
3 tbs bought yogurt


Equipment:
Microwave
Bowls
Cooler
Rice heating pads
2 quart and 1 pint jars
Kitchen thermometer



  1. Mix the milk and the powdered milk together.  (The powdered milk helps to make a thicker yogurt.)  Heat milk in the microwave.  I can get it to temp (180) in 30 mins on 90% power.  Take it out of the microwave and cover with a kitchen towel (this keeps a skin from forming, which is nasty.)  Let it sit on the counter till it gets to 110 or less, about 2 hours.
  2. While this is happening I take my three jars and place a yogurt cube in each one and let it thaw (I buy Stonyfield yogurt and freeze it in ice cube trays.  When it's frozen I store all the cubes in a sealed baggie.  You can keep using your homemade yogurt for culture, but I'm not that bold yet.  I like more firm yogurt.)  
  3. When the cubes are thawed and the milk is cooled, pour about a cup into each jar and mix with a long spoon or fork till the yogurt is combined.  Then fill the jars the rest of the way up.  Lid each jar, give each jar a little shake and then take them to the cooler.
  4. Place jars in cooler along with one or two heated rice heating bags.  Check the bags in about 4 hours, reheat if necessary.  
  5. Yogurt should be ready in about 8 hours total.  Refrigerate.  
I have found that yogurt made this way turns out so nice, not sour at all.  It is so easy!!  




My All Time Fave Granola
I should preface this with I got this recipe from Tammy's Recipes.   And this is the best granola I've had.  But I wanted to make it better, so here is my recipe:


Yield: 
10 cups
Ingredients: 
6 c rolled oats (I prefer thick rolled, gives it more chew)
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c wheat germ
1/2 c flaked coconut
1/4 c sesame seeds
1 c chopped walnuts, almonds,  pecans, golden flax seeds, or raw sunflower seeds
1/2 c nonfat dry milk
1/2 c honey
1/2 c vegetable oil
2 T water (if I don't have the dry milk, I just use milk instead of water here)
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 tbs cinnamon

Instructions: 
1. In a large bowl combine oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and nonfat dry milk.
2. Combine honey, oil, water, and vanilla in a saucepan on the stove till liquid. Add to oat mixture and mix thoroughly.  Mix in cinnamon last.  
3. Turn into two large shallow greased baking pans or cookie sheets. Heat in 300 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until lightly toasted. Stir twice during heating.  Or you can make it in your roaster, which I did and it turned out great!  
4. Let cool for 15 minutes after removing from the oven and then stir again. Store in tightly sealed container in refrigerator.  


One tablespoon of this granola is 36 cals.  I like this on top of my yogurt!




Energy Cookie Balls
I've upped my running recently, due to having signed up for a crazy race on the 31st of this month.  Who in their right mind runs outside in the winter?  Apparently me.  


Anyway, I usually run early in the AM, when everyone else is sleeping.  And usually I don't eat a thing before I run.  I take hot lemon water with me, but that's it.  Well I've been feeling very faint and just about ready to hit the deck after I'm done with my runs.  Not good.  Now this morning I didn't get up in time and had to run after breakfast.  I felt great!  I figured I needed to eat something, but I usually don't want to make something big, and I'm afraid I'll puke if I eat too much.  So I looked around at some recipes and found an energy bar recipe on my Miserly Mom's Cookbook.  But the calories were like 400 and some for one bar!!  No way!  I had to change the recipe.  The result was delicious!  


1/2 honey
1/2 peanut butter
1/2 sesame seeds
1/2 finely diced dried fruit
1 1/2 cups oatmeal (thin rolled is best)
1 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup shredded coconut (I used unsweetened)


Mix all that together, you'll probably need to use your hands, then form into 32 little balls.  Place the balls on a plate and freeze.  When frozen put all in a container and store in freezer.  Each ball is about 100 cals.  Not too bad for a morning run.  


Let me know if you like them!

Monday, December 06, 2010

Ben Davis Does Life

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I have been following this man's journey of 120lbs weight loss recently.  This video is truly inspiring.  I love the words at the end.  May it inspire you.



You can follow his blog at Ben Davis.

Race

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I just signed up for another race. It'll be Dec 31. And if that day is anything like today I'll be a human Popsicle. Guess it will be incentive to run faster.

I figured out drinking hot tap water mixed with lemon helps my gunky throat. I'm going to try putting some honey in too to see if that helps. We'll see.

The race is at a stadium park around a lake. Every year they decorate the park with lights and such for Christmas. It'll be a nice distraction from the running. I'm so excited I could pop!

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Lord Answers

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Just earlier today I wrote this:

And I'm missing preaching. Oh my heart aches within me to preach. Sometimes I get preachy in my Sunday School class and I don't see myself as a teacher there, just a facillitator, but it happens. I've been bringing this up to the Lord again and again to lead me to the right time and place to use my gift and I leave it there. I want His time, His place. I don't want to rush ahead of Him. But this scripture from Jeremiah speaks so much to me
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jer 20:9

And as if the Lord heard me (um, duh, He did.  Gee, sometimes I astound myself) I read this in my reading today:

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:5a-7

Not that I'm looking to be exalted or some big to-do woman or whatever, but I am so eager to use this gift, namely because it fires me up.  I feel alive when I'm searching and writing and preaching His word.  But this scripture tells me to just wait under His authority for His good and perfect time and if I do that He will be faithful.  He will bring it up in His good time.

Isn't it exciting when God immediately answers our hearts?  How comforting that He sees us.  He sees me.  I struggle with that, being seen.  There are days I don't even go outside.  Not that I don't want to, it's just getting colder and with little ones it's harder to get out.  I'm no hermit, I do get out, trust me.  But God sees my innermost parts of my heart and He holds it in his hands.  He sees me and He answers me.  I am thankful and grateful that He loves me that much.  Ah, how blessed we are to serve a LIVING God.  Not one fashioned by man.  But one that far surpasses man and our minds.  Praise the Lord!  

Lil' Bit o Somethin'

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Everytime I get on this blog I feel the need to apologize for my lack of blogging. But, really, I don't care. I've been tired and drawn. I needed a break from something and unfortunately, the blog is an easy thing to let go. But I do realize that some people, maybe, like to keep up with what's going on. Well, to suffice it, a lot and not so much.

Christmas is coming up. We are having and open house on friday, so all the prep that goes along with that is mounting up on me. I'm not sure if I ever cleaned my kitchen that deeply before, although I should every spring. But spring cleaning is lost on me. I mean, really, people, around here spring is busy! I am trying to put the garden in and that takes up most of my spare time. So, I've decided that January, February and March are really great months for spring cleaning. I'll call it Winter Cleaning. The time when I can deep clean every wall, window, drawer and closet. Too bad we don't have deep winter before Christmas. I'd really like a nice clean house for Christmas, but, well, if I get it done once a year, that's good right? I do clean my house once a week, don't get me wrong, but the deep deep cleaning doesn't get done near enough.

And the not so much? Well, since Nadia has had her asthma diagnosis she's had two colds. And I'll tell you, they have been almost nothing. A nuisance, a bother, a minor woe. Nothing like the week long vomiting sessions we would have before. I am so glad. The girl eats, everyday, for days at a time. Before she'd go a whole week barely eating anything, one week out of the month. It was miserable. You could count on the kids and I missing a sunday at church once a month. She's healthy. And I'm so happy about that.

Nadia is flourishing in school. She is such a social butterfly and loves school! And everyone at school loves her. Sending her to school was the best decision for all of us. I can see that now. I do miss her, but that is so good! I'm glad I have time to miss her! It has drawn us closer, I am more calm at home. It's good.

I've been struggling with some 'stuff' for the past year and it's finally come to a head. I'm still trying to find a good time to tell people in real life, so I'll wait to let the cat out of the bag here.

I'm still enjoying reading God's word. Oh it is my life, my joy, my substanence. I need it. Daily. I thank the Lord for His provision through His word.

And I'm missing preaching. Oh my heart aches within me to preach. Sometimes I get preachy in my Sunday School class and I don't see myself as a teacher there, just a facillitator, but it happens. I've been bringing this up to the Lord again and again to lead me to the right time and place to use my gift and I leave it there. I want His time, His place. I don't want to rush ahead of Him. But this scripture from Jeremiah speaks so much to me
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jer 20:9

Another passion of mine is running.  I ran my first 5K almost 3 months ago and I cannot wait to do another.  I'm still running, months after completing the Couch to 5K program.  I'm so proud of myself!  I love the feeling I get when I'm sailing on the treadmill or the road.  If I haven't run in a while I can feel it.  It's like a drug.  I need my fix!  I'm currently in a challenge to run through the holidays on Sparkpeople.  I know I'll complete it. I still want to do a triathlon.  But I have no place to swim!  So I might have to settle for a duathlon.  We'll see.  I love being a pioneer.  No one in my family has willingly run.  I am the first.  And I'm definitely the first woman in my family.  My dad and uncle did mandatory running in the service.  But they avoided it when possible.  I have NEVER seen my father run.  Not even a trot.  I love knowing I'm changing labels.

And I've stopped selling my bread.  It was getting to be too much.  I was so stressed out trying to get it all done in a week.  And I wasn't getting it done.  I was falling be hind on my house work.  Not good.  So I let it go.  But I am still making bread for my family and my friends.  I love that better.

That's what's what in my life.  Till I feel like blogging again.  Hugs and kisses all!

Oh and I had a birthday.  Happy Birthday to me!  Rhys was trying to blow out my candles.  I'm fiercely protective of my birthday, so I was trying to keep him from blowing on my cake.  Plus he had a cold, so I didn't want boy boogers on my cake either.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Slacker

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I have seriously not blogged for an indecent amount of time. I feel no shame in that. It was intentional. I've been overworked, overwhelmed and really had nothing of worth to say. So I let it go. I had things that I could've said, but I didn't. I just wanted to be quiet. So I was. But I break my silence.

God has been teaching me many things this past month. My goodness. First of all I've taken to reading through the bible in a year. It was a New Year's Resolution. Remember those? I know, the new year is quickly approaching and people will be making those again, but what about the ones for 2010? I don't remember what the other ones were, but this one I wanted to complete. I had tried to do it 2008, but I got pregnant after I set the resolution and well, after Rhys was born I had not the time to finish it. But now, I'm doing well. I feel pretty confident I will finish. Oh there are days I don't finish all the reading, so I have more to do later, but I am getting it done. And it feels good.

One of the things I love is that I get to see those 'famous' verses in context of where it was said. Such as Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I always thought this was like 'I am going to give you good things, I have your life planned out for you. Blessing Blessing Blessing.' And while it does mean that, there is a bigger, richer meaning. This blessing and promise comes in light of massive destruction and punishment that the Lord had brought upon the children of Israel because of their backsliding from God's ways. The first 28 chapters of Jeremiah are mostly the 'you didn't follow me, repent, oh, ok, you aren't going to repent? Then feel my wrath.' I mean, really. Everything that they knew, their lives and such, would be obliterated. So this is what the people had been hearing and now God comes in and says that He has plans for them. You don't plan things for people you want wiped clean off the face of the earth. No, you plan things for people you love. And that is what God is saying here. It's more than a promise of blessing, but a promise of hope. 'Even though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." That's in Job. I am sure when the people heard this, they breathed a sigh of relief. 'Ok, we messed up, but He still loves us.' I know when I've messed up with my husband and he's ticked, I can handle his ticked-ness if he says to me he still loves me.

I've also noticed that the books I used to shy away from and be bored from are not boring at all, in the full context of how they were written. Leviticus, Numbers, Ezra, Nehemiah, the prophets, they are all exciting and have stunning messages in them. God, a few years ago, gave me a passion for His word. It is our life, our livelihood. Without it we cannot survive. Oh we may eck along, but we won't make it. Beloved let me tell you, if you call Jesus, Lord you need His word, every stinkin day. There is a reason why it is called our bread. Because we need to feed upon it every day just like our food. What happens when we don't eat? We get weak, we can't do anything, we snap at people and eventually we die. One thing I've learned from reading this is that I need to keep reading it. Oh people I cannot convey enough how we need His word in our lives.

Start with one verse everyday. Don't try to read though the whole bible in a year if that seems too insurmountable. Pick a book that seems fun, easy to you and read it. I love Luke. Read one verse a day. Trust me, it's all living and breathing, God can use it in your lives. Maybe not that day, but He will bring it to remembrance when you need it. Memorizing scripture is good, but I've found if I just read it, He brings it back. But He can't bring to remembrance that which we have not first read. So READ!! I cannot emphasize this enough.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Silence

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I've been blogging somewhere else for the past week and a half. In my journal. Remember those? Those cutsie wootsie bound books that NO ONE was to read but you? I've cracked mine open again and started pouring out my heart and soul. Some things are too close to the heart to share. KWIM? So I've been quiet. And that's ok. But to satisfy you I'll post a list. I like lists. Lists calm my type A heart. Here you go:


  1. Nadia has asthma and allergies.
  2. Rhys has allergies.
  3. We are a pharmacy. 
  4. I am flirting with the same 5lbs for the past three months.
  5. I have been to the doctor too much in the past month.
  6. I miss my grandma.
  7. I'm not selling my bread anymore.
  8. Preaching excites me.  I can't wait to do it again.
  9. Finished a quilt.  Sent it out.
  10. Canned a bushel of apples into sauce.  Love it.
  11. Have a date with hubby Thursday.
  12. I don't want to run in the morning.
  13. I do want to run in the morning.
  14. I want a vacation.
  15. My birthday is coming up but I can't figure out how old I'll be.
That is all for now.  I've unloaded as much as is safe before I get to the near and dear stuff.  So, maybe soon I'll get back to the blogging, but for now let this satisfy you.  I'm tired.  I'm going to bed.

Friday, October 15, 2010

10.15.10 Biker BABE!

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At least that's what I felt like while I was riding this morning. I biked 10.5 miles today, it took me 80 minutes. I actually took my time today and enjoyed it. I biked mostly on the rails to trails in my area and LOVED it. It was nice because it was all flat and around here, that's hard to come by. Nice to work on endurance, rather than pumping so hard all the time.

I thought many things while cycling today, none of which are coming to mind, but that's ok.

Then I painted this afternoon. YAY me! Our kitchen looks nice in a light sky blue.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

10.12.10 ER

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Today was a potpourri workout. First I walked on the treadmill for 13 mins. I woke up feeling like I just wanted to walk. Something simple. I think I'm getting burnt out. I need to guard against that. Life is crazy and getting to bed at 12 and getting up at 5:30 isn't enough sleep. And doing that for weeks on end? Not good. Plus my leg muscles are very sore from yesterday and usually walking helps to loosen things up. So I walked. Now, it was a good fast clip. I hoofed it, as my father would say. Then I did the 20 min workout on the TurboJam. I LOVE that DVD! It is chocked full of great workouts! They have a 45 minute one, a 15 minute one that is very simple and easy to do. They have a 20 min ab workout that you can do the first ten or the last ten minutes of, or both. And then there is the 20 min workout. Then also on that DVD is 7 mins of a Tony Horton ab routine. It's tough. It's great for a quick reminder for your abs. So that's what I did today. It felt good. It was a good workout, not a beat 'em up workout, but a good wake up the muscles and get your sweat on workout.

No report tomorrow. YAY!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

10.11 and 12.10 ER's

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I slack, therefore I am.

I ran yesterday. I covered 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. Not too bad. I took it easy. I just ran. I didn't do intervals or hills or anything. I just ran. It was nice. Sometimes it's nice to do something where your mind can just float away. It's good.

Today I did Core Fusion Body Sculpt. It's the one with the butt on the front. A butt! Of all things. Then again, if I had a butt like that I'd be sporting it around on DVD covers too making some dough. But I don't. So I won't. Ever. Anyway. I haven't done this one for quite a while and I hurt. And my muscles don't want to work right. Going up stairs and holding my kids is hard to do. My muscles just don't want to comply with my desires. It's quite embarrassing. I think it was effective in fatiquing my muscles better than ChaLean Extreme. Really. And I only used two pound weights for the arms. Everything else is body weight. I also like that they are constantly reminding you about your form. And not just for the movements/postures, but they will take half a minute to just stand there and remind you of proper postural alignment. (Oy, that was a big word) The whole Core Fusion DVD's are very good. They have a new one out, I keep saying that, so here it is. Oh, they've got two new ones out. Oh my, I'm so behind. Here's the other one. I'd like to try it, but I'm afraid of trilogies. Sometimes the third one's a dud. But I guess I could get my money back. Anyway.

Gee. Someone's tired tonight.

I'm so tired I could cry.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

10.09.10 ER

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Hello! My daily report of exercise is here. Today I did the whole 50 minutes of Core Fusion Pilates Plus DVD. I love these DVD's. I hear they have a new one out. I've got the other one, I forget what it's called and I love that one too. It works your whole body and they have a whole 10 minutes of stretching at the end. Bonus. I need that. I definitely don't stretch enough. And I need to. I do count this as toning, or weight training. I'm lifting my own weight and it helps so much with running and cycling. When my core is stronger I can go farther, lift heavier and run faster. I don't know why, it just works.

Friday, October 08, 2010

10.08.10 ER

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Big stinkin bike ride. Oh my goodness I hurt so bad. I hurt worse than when I am running! Maybe I increased my mileage too quickly. I only bike once a week. I went from 6 miles to 10 in one week. Not good. Anyway.

I biked 10.62 miles today, that's almost a .5 mile increase from last week. I traveled on a road I've not been on before and it was nice! The leaves were out in full color, the sun was out and the breeze (which later turned into wind resistance and hurt me even more) was nice. It was a great ride all around and I did well. I can't wait to get out there next week! I'm kinda not looking forward to winter, as I know there will come a time I have to give it up. Poop. But until then, I shall bike!

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

10.06.10 ER

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I did the Turbo Jam 20 min workout this morning. I made sure to squat lower, punch harder and get more lift on my jump ropes. It was a nice workout. Not knockdown drag out, but sometimes that's nice. Then I did the 10 min standing ab portion of that same DVD. It was good. I'm tired. I want to go to bed. Zzzzzzzzzz

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Oil Cleansing Method

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I don't wear much makeup. In fact, I wear it about once a week. When I go grocery shopping I just put some foundation under my eyes to hide the fact that I'm wasted, but that's about it. Sunday is my big 'going out' day. That's sad. But that's my life right now and that's ok.

Anyway, for the longest time I've been using soap to wash my face and I mean my whole face. Eyes too. It was harsh. My eyes got red and tight and dry! It was not good.

Then someone told me about the Oil Cleansing Method. You can read more about it here. I just want to tell you my experience.

I've only done it twice, but I love it! I already had some jojoba oil in the cabinet, so I used that as my veggie oil. But I needed some castor oil. Of all the things I tried to go into labor with Rhys, castor oil was not one of them. Castor oil is incredibly thick, did you know that? I didn't. Yuck. Makes me want to gag just thinking about drinking that. Anyway.

The first time I did it, I hadn't mixed up my oils in a jar, I just sorta eye balled it on my palm. I think I had too much castor oil. My face was a tad dry. But the second time, and this was sunday night, after a day of full make up, my face felt great! I even used it on my eyes and it was so much gentler. I've noticed that the creases in my nose are smoother. For a long time they weren't. All bumpy with something. But now there aren't as many. My face is soft, supple and dewy. It looks youthful.

Now I'm not going to do it every night. If I'm not using the oil, I just take a hot washcloth, lay it on my face and wipe my face off. Since I don't use make up much, there really isn't a need to wash it. Just sort of rinse it off.

My face feels better. I'm sold. And it's so cheap! Just oil and water! Who woulda thunk it? Oil to cleanse your face. I LOVE it!

10/04 and 05/10 ER's

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I totally missed out on yesterdays report, so I'll put that here with todays.

Yesterday I ran on the treadmill. 3 miles in 38 minutes. It was tough. For some reason I'm just not making it. I did the sprint intervals for a good while and then just petered out. I'm thinking next week I'll just run, instead of trying to do the sprints. And I'll try to find something to eat before I run and I'll drink, I think that's part of the problem.

Today I did a circuit. My own formulation. First I warmed up, then I did weights on two body parts, then did a minute or two of some good cardio, then I did pilates. And then I did it all over again. It was nice. I sweated, got all my body parts done and worked my core. Sometimes it's nice to do your own thing. I did that for about a half an hour.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

10/02/10 ER

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I biked today. 10.12 miles in 60 minutes. I don't know if that's a good time or not. But my body is telling me I abused it. :) That is the longest stretch I've done yet. I had dew collected in big droplets all over me. My toes were frozen and my skin was red from the cold. It feels good to be active. Truly it does.

I'm thinking of doing a triathlon. Just a sprint, but I think I can. I can do the 5K portion and I'm working up to the 10 or 12 mile biking portion. I just need to find a pool I can swim in. I have someone I need to ask, but I think they'd let me. I'd have to train next spring/summer because it's an outdoor pool and well, I can run/bike outside, but swimming? Nah. I have a good friend who wants to join me and my sister in law has done one before and she said she'd join me, so I got a good team started. I. Can't. Wait.

And I've dropped two pounds. Yay me! It's starting to come off again. I hope permanently. I can see a difference in my stomach area. The amount of extra flab is getting smaller. It's good.

I didn't exercise yesterday because family took precedence. That's ok. Nadia was sick. Again. So I took her to the doc. Again. Finally, we have a diagnosis of asthma and allergies. Yuk. She's on a drug soup and didn't throw up this morning! She's back to her bouncy self and I'm happy about that. What I'm not happy about is that she has it. We are supposed to be getting a cat on tuesday and I'm sort of holding my breath. I hope she's not allergic to the cat. I don't think so, because she was congested the whole month of Sept and not around one cat. But that doesn't mean anything. Please pray for us in this.

Tomorrow is my day off. And I'm going to enjoy it!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

9.30.10 ER

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Years ago before we moved and I was a member at a gym I took a pilates class every week. I know it helped me get back my pre-pregnancy posture. I think I slumped over too much while nursing. Well I sorta got away from it when we moved. And I never wrote down the routine, so I bought a few DVD's, mainly the Exhale Spa with Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp. They are good, really good. But I missed my old routine. It was so basic, yet challenging for every level. Well I found it again.
This website is chocked full of pilates exercises. And it's free. They do explain them well, but because I had done the routine multiple times it didn't take me long to get back in the swing of it. That's what I did this morning. And it felt great. This is the particular routine I did this morning. I'm going to try to incorporate this routine once a week. It really helps with other exercises too. Core is so important!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

9/29/10 Exercise Report

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Normally I don't take Tuesdays off. Usually I take Sundays and Thursdays off. However, Rhys was having an all night pajama party in his room Monday night, so I decided to take Tuesday off. That's why there is no report for that day. I'll workout Thursday to compensate.

I did Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism today from start to finish. She had some burpee's in there. The first set I did the two leg hop back, the second set I did one leg at a time. But then on the laying down ab pikes I actually lifted both legs at the same time in both sets. I know I wasn't able to do that before. It was a good, tough, sweaty 50 some minutes of exercising. I feel good, even though I'm still tired from all that sleep loss.

I am trying to do planks on all four sides before going to bed. We'll see how that goes. I'm at a lower weight than last year at this time, although I've not lost anymore since the initial eating more two weeks ago, but that's ok. I feel good, no, I feel great and that's what matters.

I have a goal to do the same 5K I did this year, only to win in my age division. I know I can do it.

Monday, September 27, 2010

9/27/10 Exercise Report

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I've decided to post my daily exercise doings. Helps keep me accountable and I can sort of track how I'm doing.

Treadmill Run Intervals: Warmup 2 mins, speed walk 1 min, easy run 1 min, sprint 1 min. Completed a 5K distance in 38 mins. 4.5 mins slower than my PR. But, I'm conditioning myself to run faster. I don't think I'll ever do anything over a 5K, but I'm seeking to increase my time. They say that intervals is how athletes train to become stronger. So I figure if I run some hard intervals, I'll get stronger and be able to run faster when I just flat out run.

I was able to do this pretty well. Although afterwards when I was upstairs getting water, I felt really lightheaded and wanted to almost pass out. Gotta fix that. I'm slower on the treadmill, I'm not sure if that's because of the intervals, gotta be. I mean I was walking, even if I was speed walking, it was still walking. I'll have to run a 5K distance sometime in the far future to see how this conditioning is working.

I'll keep you posted.

Birthday Boy


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My baby turns two today.

Boo.

He's not supposed to be this big. Granted I'm glad he's two, I wouldn't do the newborn stage again if someone paid me. I don't do newborns well.


But he's two. And a far cry from that little bitty baby in the pic. 


Happy birthday Rhys!