God Rocks

People are afraid of many different things. King Henry III of France suffered from ailurophobia-a fear of cats. Other fears named and classified are:
Achluophobia-fear of darkness
Acrophobia-fear of heights
Peladophobia-fear of bald people (What?!?)
Philophobia-fear of falling in love

What God SaysFor in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.--Psalm 27:5
Although God never promised a trouble-free life, he did promise to be right there with a refuge--a place of escape and safety. Throughout history, people have hidden in churches, cathedrals, and synagogues --claimed safety. Because Jesus lives in us, that safe place, the refuge from trouble, is even nearer than the nearest church. Thank goodness! What are your fears? We had a talk about fear tonight and I asked my kids what their greatest fears were. Our families' top ten list includes:
1. Fear of snakes 2. fear of spiders 3. fear of bugs, not ladybugs though(Addyson) 4. Fear of spankings(Brooklyn) 5. Fear of the dark 6. Fear of family member not doing right. 7. fear of being afraid(what?) 8. Fear of failure 9. fear of ineffectiveness 10. fear of not being in God's will.
What is your families' top ten list of fear. Talk about it! Pray about it! Know that Jesus cares and he's your teammate, but don't forget to let him in the game!
So I didn't workout today. I did absolutely nothing but cook dinner. Yeah for me! Tomorrow I will hit it hard! Until tomorrow, God rocks!

Too Much Christmas or Not Enough!

Well, sorry I haven't posted in a while. We have been very busy enjoying the holidays. We ran down to my parents house and that was great. We came home and loved every minute of our time. My kids don't go back to school 'til Wednesday, so we have been playing games, going ice skating, decorating bedrooms,etc....
I haven't exactly been keeping a hard core workout schedule going but, I did go shopping for 10 hours on Tuesday, Ice Skating on Wednesday, and Pilates on Thursday. My kids did it with me. They were so funny. Brooklyn is hard core Pilates girl, but I thought Dylon was gonna start crying. He was breathing hard (kinda like Lamaze)saying, "It hurts, when can I put my arms and legs down!" And then there's Addyson! She's all about sit ups but she gets distracted by the rest of it. We've had a great holiday. We hope yours has been just as good!
Anyway, our devotion tonight was about temptation. This was a good topic for us, because my kids have been walking the road of not always doing what their friends do but doing what it right! Let me explain (I don't want you thinking my kids are hard core sinners), while we were visiting family, my kids were playing with their cousins. They were caught jumping on the furniture. I explained to them that this was not acceptable behavior because we don't want to ruin some else's furniture. Not too much later, Brooklyn was busted again! Her first reaction was, "But they were doing it!" Have you ever been there? 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." Self-control is underrated! Do whatever you can to catch hold of righteousness, faith, love, and peace with friends who love God as you do. If we're walking in the right direction, we'll steer clear of some of the traps waiting off the path. And if we're in hot pursuit of goodness, we'll race by without even seeing a lot of the temptations!! So my question for you today is this, What can you do today to run toward righteousness, faith, love, and peace? Be specific. We serve a specific God! Thanks for reading. Tomorrow won't be so long!

Beautiful Season

One of the most beautiful things about this season is all the plays that children do. We had a children's play today. It was so cute. Dylon was Joseph and he had a singing solo. He did very good! I'm such a proud momma. Brooklyn and Addyson were a part of the angel choir. Brooklyn, however, woke up throwing up. She was very sad to miss her play. Addyson did a great job. She was singing her heart out! I'm a blessed woman. Remember, during this great time, enjoy each other! The saddest Christmas is the one where we miss out on life because we are too busy! Slow down, take a drive just to look at Christmas lights, pop in a Christmas CD and sing 'til you're tired of Bing Crosby, and snuggle up with a loved one and read the real Christmas story! God Bless you and pray for Brooklyn!
My workout today consisted of leading praise worship, and trust me. I do get a workout praising God! Tomorrow's workout consists of mall shopping. I log my miles later!

Salt of the Earth

Hey guys! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a few days. We have been crazy busy with my teacher Christmas Party, Youth Christmas Party, 2nd grade field trips, etc.......
So, my confession time, I've only done Pilates once (20 min). I've walked for over an hours (+or-60 min). Obviously, I'm not where I want to be, but I'm better than I was! Thanks for holding me accountable.
Of course, during the holidays we experience some nonpleasant circumstances. My question today is, "Even though we come in contact with hard situations, can we still be the salt of the earth?" This is what we discussed in our devotion time today. Matthew 5:13 says, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Truth be known, I've never been perfect. Okay! So don't pass out or anything. I know that comes as a big surprise for some of you, ha! I do however want to make a difference and help others. I had a friend who I practically grew up with. Our parents were best friends. Then, a miraculous thing happended! She and her parents got saved! My point is that even though my friend was a believer and I wasn't, she never quit being the salt of the earth for me. I knew her love. She was bearing good fruit, even when I wasn't doing the will of God for my life. I wanted what she had! For that I say, "Thank you." And I want to do the same for other. My prayer is that God would show us ways we've lost our saltiness, and make us "SALTY" again! I love that song by Martina McBride. By the way, I don't usually listen to country, but I saw it on the CMA's. I don't remember all the words but the message was to love even though it may be hard. Sing even though no one may listen (maybe someone can help me out with this song, my brain won't remember). Anyways, Live, Laugh, Love...Let your life sing the best song!!! Until tomorrow-Be SALTY! I found out the song of Martina's is called "Anyway" (build it anyway, dream it anyway, believe it anyway, love 'em anyway, sing it anyway) All those things may have opposition, but Do It Anyway!

Waiting on God

hey gang! Our devo this morning was over waiting on God. Ever been there? People who have spent time in God's waiting room have come up with all kinds of theories on why God makes us wait. Here are some ideas from kids:
God takes only one day to answer your prayer in the summer, and eight days to answer in the winter. Only he takes FOREVER if you're asking for a Barbie doll.-Angela, 6
Sometimes when you ask God something he doesn't answer right away because he knows you're only going to change your mind as soon as He does it.-Carson,7
Spoken from a child, a wealth of wisdom. Psalm 130:5-6 says, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning." Sometimes God doesn't say yes or no, He just says wait. Look at Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth. They all prayed for a baby until they were too old to have one. Then God gave them children. He was building character in them. If you find yourself in God's waiting room, talk to Him about it. Draw closer to Him. And trust. The psalmist encourages us to wait like "watchmen for the morning." Watchmen waited with total faith; they knew morning would come. That's the kind of faith that comes with waiting.
Confession time! I did not feel good last night, so I didn't workout. However, I faithfully woke up this morning and got it done. Pilates for today is done! Addyson's "real" birthday is today! She's a four year old angel! Anyways, doing a nursing home visit today with the 2nd grade class, and Homecoming is tonight. We have two cool students running for King and Queen! Go Kaisa! Go Kevin! Until tomorrow-wait patiently! ha!

God Hugs

Our devotion this morning was over the fact that God is with us everywhere we go, walking through everything we are. According to an ancient, anonymous proverb, humans need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth(my reference comes from an author named Dandi Daley Mackall). I encourage you to hug away. God always comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (II Corinthians 1:3-4). Whenever I am down I always look around and see who I can encourage. I receive comfort in that. When something good happens for you today, imagine sharing a hug with God. Then go and hug someone else. It feels good.
As soon as we talked about hugging helping us grow, Dylon came and gave me twelve hugs right then. He is so sweet. I think I'll go hug him right now!
Sorry, I didn't blog yesterday. We had morning service and then we set up for our big annual Christmas party for all our church volunteers. We served over 300 people. I also have a sinus infection on top of it and my HEAD HURTS!! Oh Well! This too shall pass! I'm running kids back and forth to piano right now. Until tomorrow---Go Hug Somebody!

Oh yeah! I am going to do pilates tonight: 20 minutes! I tell you more about my exercising tomorrow!

My Addy Grace is a Princess

Well, today was Addyson's 4th Birthday Party. Whew! We had too many little princesses around here. Our little princess refused to wear her crown. Every princess dress we had was way too itchy for her! We went through Cinderella, Little mermaid, a few other no name princess costumes before she decided to just wear a church dress, go figure! We had a royal luncheon, painted fingernails, played pin the tail on the donkey, played princess and the pea, danced, sang, ate cake, and sent the royalty on their way! She had a two hour party and she was sad because she thought it was too short. Mom was glad it was done because we had to clean a "royal" mess! It was so cute and very fun. My baby is no longer a baby, aw!~ I'll post a few pics for your entertainment. Thank you God for letting me celebrate another year of life with my girl! Guess what? My exercise today consisted of chasing 3 and 4 year olds. By the way, Brooklyn had a Basketball game today. She was disappointed because she only scored eight points today. Last week she scored twenty (20), for real! She's a go getter! See ya tomorrow.

turkeys or eagles

Hey friends! Our devotion this morning was about being thankful. Yeah, I know, thanksgiving day is over and now we march on toward Christmas. However, let's try to make everyday a day of giving thanks. When we stop to think about all the blessings we have, it's not hard to come up with things to be thankful for. I am most thankful for my family. I love my husband and children so much! Life is good if we keep the right perspective, right? A little factoid: Ben Franklin believed turkeys were so much a part of America that he lobbied to have the turkey, rather thank the eagle, for our national symbol. That would be kinda weird to have a turkey on the presidential seal! Well, my encouraging word for you today is to soar like an eagle, leave the turkeys for our holiday dinner!
Okay, so I spoke too soon yesterday. I am really sore today. I did pilates for 20 minutes yesterday but I did it to the fullest. If you've ever done pilates, you know what I mean.
Have a great Weekend!
Pilates: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Walking: 1 hour

People Pleasin'

I hope everyones' mornin' has been good. I failed to mention that I got 5 inches cut off my hair two days ago. It's been a big shock, but my curly locks are gone and I'm back to thin and straight. I'll show a pic later. Anyway, our family devo this morning was over being a God pleaser. We all do stuff to please the people we are around everyday, but does it always please God? If you're like me, I'd have to say no. Remember when Paul and Barnabus were like the "mack daddies" in Acts Chapter 14. The people wanted to start worshipping them instead of God. However, instead of continuing to be a "people pleaser," Paul told them to "cut it out!" He did the right thing. Then the people who wanted to worship him turned around and stoned him 'til they thought he was dead. What?!? My point is this: People are FICKLE! You can be doing all the right things to please them, then, they change and suddenly, you're not good enough anymore. Save your energy! Just work on pleasing God and everything else will work out perfectly (or close enough)!
So yeah, the work out thing, my 3 year old and I did pilates yesterday morning for 20 minutes. She was very cute! Yesterday after school a friend and I walked for 30 minutes while our kids went nuts playing football, basketball, and setting off mouse traps, but that's an all-together different story!
Pilates since I've started: 60 minutes
walking: 60 minutes

Dream On!

Do you know what your dreams are? The dictionary definitions of dream refer to the art of seeing, imagining, aspiring, longing for something. Are you reaching for something that your heart tells you is for you? Dream with God. With God on your side, the sky's not even the limit.
My dreams include being the best mother and wife anyone could ever be? Do you have those childhood memories of your mom doing something "Jane Cleaver-Like?" (I guess that's her name! Oh wait! I think it's June, but you know what I mean) I desire to point my children to God and watch their lives' unfold in a big way! God says He knows the plans He has for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). Think about what it will take to get where you really want to be in life. Talk to God about any fear, then, set sail!
Okay, so my kids and I walked for 30 minutes yesterday. We played follow the leader while we did it. I got a little dizzy a few times, but I'm okay! Today is that strange stretching workout today. By the way, I'm not sore at all!
DREAM ON!

Do-Gooder

So our devotion today was about being a do-gooder. The world thinks that being a do-gooder is a bad thing! Well, I'm here to tell you that it isn't. Find someone or something to do good and do not hesitate. Just Do It! Ephesians 2:10 says we were created to do good works that God set up in advance. Be on the lookout for those good deeds every day of our lives. Don't be afraid to be a do-gooder!
Fixin' to go do my pilates. 20 Minute. yeah for me!

Living Life and Loving It!

Well, I received a tip from a good friend to begin blogging. She is doing great with running. I've been inspired to join her, but not with running just yet. I am committing to workout everyday, a little strength training with some cardio. Don't get too bored yet. I will promise to start with 20 minutes a day. Today I did this weird yoga type workout. It is gonna be a little sore tomorrow. I will let ya know how I feel then. Anyways, pretty new at this blogging business. Until tomorrow,
Live Life Loud