Inspiration from television

I'm watching the Biggest Loser finale. I just LOVE this show! I am fascinated with people who lose weight. I always have. I love to browse the before and after pictures in magazines, whether the person lost 10 or 200 pounds. I am so proud of these contestants and all they've done for themselves. I find this show most inspiring. 

I have a book from Jillian Michaels called Making the Cut. I've read it and find that's it pretty intense, though she warns it is. It's a 30 day plan that is detailed down to your shopping list. I find lost of good information that I'll put to use. I like having references like this to keep me looking for something new and fresh to incorporate into my daily life. 

The best nutritional book I've ever read is Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet. I have never read of anyone more hardcore than she is. My dear friend and sister, Dot, gave me a subscription to Oxygen magazine which features Tosca as a contributing writer. I hear she has a reality show coming out that I would love to see. However, it's in Canada, so I doubt I'll see it. 

I have an important event coming up in a little over a month and I want to trim down for it. I also have my reunion this summer to get ready for. I have alot of work to do and even more discipline to master. Discipline is not one of my best virtues. 

The key that I have found is to not give up. So I will pack my back for the gym tomorrow, and get going!

Sorry...

I don't post here enough. I get into these phases where I feel I have nothing to say, nothing interesting to offer. So I'll just update on life...

Work is going well. I have already encountered some hurdles and I know there will be plenty more ahead. But that's just work. I can do it for now. 

Where my heart truly is, is in music. I still can't shake it. I want to sing more now than ever. I remember being a kid and dreaming of singing in front of people. I'm not bent on solo work, I just don't think I have a unique or strong enough voice to do that, but to do back up vocals or something along those lines would suit me just fine. My time just hasn't come yet. I keep thinking "one day", but sometimes (in my feel-sorry-for-myself-moments) "one day" is just a sweet way of saying "never". I do regret not sticking to learn how to play an instrument growing up and trying to write songs. I have no idea how to write a song. I mean, I've attempted several times, but I after reading the lyrics a few days after penning them, I'm a bit frustrated because it sounds stupid then. But, like anything else in life, one should never give up. I'll keep writing my thoughts in somewhat poetic/rhythmic form and who knows, maybe I'll write at least one song that is good? I have to hold on to hopes that soon I can quit my day job and travel, sharing music with other people. 

In other news, Arwen has been sick. She had surgery on her ear a week after she tested positive for heartworms. She's already started her treatment and she's doing well so far. Our vet is 100%  on heartworm recovery so I'm very confident she'll be just fine. She's sleeping on the couch right now and looking so cute.

Batman is still a spoiled rotten little brat, and I love him so much.   :)

My days have been filled with work, watching Heroes, The Office and College football. I really love the fall! The weather has cooled off and I have already pulled out my hoodies and sweaters. Soon I'll be able to wear my scarves. :)

Well that's really it for now. Sorry for the whining, everyone...

28 years

So, my birthday is in, oh...4.5 hours. I had my party with my family today. We watched the Alabama game and ate some good Mexican food. It was a great time, of course.

So, I've taken a little time off from running because I was getting over shin splints and well, needed the birthday money to buy a newer and better pair of running shoes. I did get them, yay!! They are perfect. According to the foot guru at McCoy's, I have strong calves and flexible ankles. therefore I need a shoe with the most cushion. I bought a different pair than I previously had and I look forward to working them out in the morning. I have been running intervals up to this point and now it's time to move onto straight runs, working up to the distance of 3.1 miles. I thought it would be fitting to run 28 minutes tomorrow. I haven't run that time since this past Spring, I've been doing other forms of cardio and intervals. So, I thought, 28 minutes of reflection for the past 28 years. Certain minutes will represent great years from my life. Such as the minute 13. I met Whitney! Minute 23, I graduated from college, got married and Brad and I started our family with our golden retriever, Arwen. But others will be difficult. Minute 17, I'm struggling with standing up for myself, I give in lies from other people, I adopt insecurities that still haunt me today. Minute 27, I am missing a dear friend who has passed, but that minute completes the exercise. There's no telling what lies for this year. It may be difficult. So far, it's proving to be. I have so many goals ahead of me that I want to achieve, but I'm already downcast and negative. But it may be one of the best years of my life. I hope it is. I have the hope that it will be. 

When it's almost time to clock out...

What do you do?

Do you pack up early and mingle with the coworkers until 5pm? Do you get yourself organized for the next day? Do you work feverishly to get all of your tasks done from that day’s to do list?

You know when it’s time to go home. For most it’s 5pm. You can manage your work throughout the day to ensure you get things done, or at least get yourself ready to complete them on the next. You know how long you have.

Let’s think about other work that is to be done. You’ve promised someone (your parent, spouse, roommate, landlord) that you will have such and such fixed/cleaned up/whatever before they get back. But they didn’t tell you when that would be. I think it’s foolish then to waste time because you don’t know how long you have to work.

Isn’t our time here, in general, the same thing?

Yeah, you saw that one coming…

I’ve wasted so much time. I feel like I have, anyway. I don’t mean to. And maybe I haven’t really wasted as much time as I think I have, it’s just that I’m pretty hard on myself and I always feel like I could be doing more.

What is my task? What work am I assigned? First of all, my work is to share the name of Christ and who He is. To encourage believers and love the non believers and to befriend the ones who ride the fence.

But specifically what is my task? I have been in doubt over this for a long time and I prayed about it some more last night. I was impressed that my task is to be an encourager and supporter of my husband and the ministry he does. It’s to be a servant and friend for the church community to which I belong and I love with all my heart. It’s to be open about my faith to coworkers and strangers I meet.

But, God, doesn’t that seem sort of …insignificant? It just feels small, to me. (that’s what I told Him in my prayer)

“Well Yeah”, I felt a reply, or a feeling in my heart, “small doesn’t mean insignificant though.”

I just heard a teaching about the widow who gave money in the temple. They equaled a little less than a penny, but it was all she had. The coins were light and thin so surely it didn’t make much of a sound in the ol’ tithe box in the temple court of women. No one noticed, except for Jesus. He said she had given more than anyone else had, put together! That makes me feel a little better.

I’m not a foreign missionary, I’m not being persecuted, I don’t have a degree in theology, I don’t write music or preach sermons. I just do what I feel like I should do, which is to encourage and love. Sometimes I think it’s not enough, but that widow was dear to Jesus because of her heart not because of how big of a donation she gave. This isn’t about money, ok? It’s about action. But God reminded me last night that being a servant and realizing that everything I have belongs to God is important. Give, love, share, repent, forgive….now those are big things to Him.

I’m still trying to understand it myself, the truth here brings tears to my eyes because I’m humbled that He still loves me. After all my sin, my rotten attitudes, my gossip, and other things I’m ashamed to admit. I’ve confessed them all to Him and proclaimed repentance.

Sometimes I don’t say that I have repented because I’m worried I’ll fail and go back to it. But I can’t live in that mindset! That is human and it’s frail. But in Christ I am strong in heart and I can repent of the sin, that is not to go back to those ways. In Christ, I’m not just one that can achieve my goal, but I am MORE than a conqueror. (yeah all you Seraph fans out there are humming the tune) But so did I after my prayer proclaiming that I am repenting.

My sense of urgency came quickly, as most urgent matters do. Now, let me say first, that I have always had a sense that my time here could be up. It’s almost on a daily and nightly basis that I am mindful of Christ’s return. I’ve felt this way nearly my whole life and I’m very glad for it. It keeps me thinking on Him. I’m not scared of it, I’m excited. But nervous at the same time because (here we go again) I want more time since I feel I haven’t done enough work. I really do feel like there’s more work to be done. My task isn’t over, there are still people who need Jesus, who need Living Water and the Bread of Life.

I want more time to know His name here before I see Him there. (there’s my Narnia reference for the day)

I’m not trying to be the man on the side of the road with a sharpie and a sign that says The End is Near, but I’m not going to say he’s wrong. A few things Jack (our teacher at Mars Hill) shared with us last night really stirred my heart to action, more than before.  Read Mark chapter 13 to get your bearing and probably like me you won’t really understand it, but it’ll get your attention anyway. He shares with His disciples how the world will know the end is here. He also gives a hint as to when His return will be (which is before the end). He states no one can know the day or time. However I believe one can deduce “about the time” as in generation time. You will want to go to the website for People of Mars Hill, the link is to the left under my favorite links and go to the podcast for August 10. He explains in better detail, but basically the generation that will see the return of Christ will be the same generation of the newly established Israel (which is referred to as a fig tree in Mark). “In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Arab League rejected the plan, but on May 14, 1948, theJewish provisional government declared Israel's independence.” (from wikipedia) That was 60 years ago. The average lifespan of the society in Israel is like America’s 77-78 years.

Take from that what you may, I’m not totally relying on what I’m taught at church, even though I find Jack Hester to be a credible source of knowledge and study. But I’m reading it myself over and over again, comparing that scripture to Old Testament scriptures and trying to draw my own conclusions. If that is the case and Christ could return at any time in the next few years, it’s fine with me. I’m glad to go with Him. Even though I know my heart is in His hands, I still tell Him that I want Him to take me when He returns. I want to be with Him, I want to fellowship with my friends and family in heaven. I want to be rid of these sinful desires, to see hate, war and poverty. I want to be done with mean thoughts and a hard attitude. This internal battle has gotten really old and I want to be done with it.

But like I said before, I want more time here. I want to work some more and I want to work harder.

Scammed!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it happened to me, finally.

A few months ago I was in the market for the next best thing in protein powder. A friend of mine recommended Isopure. I did a little shopping around and realized it was pretty expensive. I found one website that carried it, and for a good price to! It was around $35 for a 5 pound container. Not bad, right? Well, I should have done my research because they took my money. I did receive some messages that the supplement was on back order. When I requested a refund the email stated I'd have it in 5-7 business days, but it's been well over a month since. The phone number has a recording, but it only sends you to a voice mail, which is conveniently full so that's that. Now, the website does look pretty good, but after googling their name and reading reviews on a consumer forum, I realized I wasn't the only one and that this "company "has done this for a number of months. So, do not ever buy anything from www.a1nutritionproducts.com ever.   :)

At least I didn't drop some serious money as some unsuspecting shoppers had. Poor things...

 

The Love for Things That Grow

“Hobbits share a love for things that grow”.

I laughed to think, well of course! It’s because they can’t grow themselves!

So, Brad and I have expanded upon our garden inventory. My tomato plant has withered some but produced 4 tomatoes, one of which we were able to cut up. The cucumber has done well, there’s one huge cuke that looks about ready to pick, but some bugs have had a hay day on the leaves…it looks terrible.

I picked 3 peppers off my jalapeno plant and used them in a fish and grits dish after Mikayla’s baptism. Even the hot heads said they were pretty spicy. I assured them they were, in fact, jalapenos and I called them all babies. Then Brad noticed a red pepper growing off the plant, so we have now deduced it is a chili pepper plant, which rivals the heat index of the jalapeno….sorry Chris. You were right.

All my herbs are doing great. (thyme, sweet basil, and rosemary.)

We’ve been working on the grass in the backyard and will most likely lay some sod next month. It’s looking better all the time back there!

Brad marked out a flower bed and we’ll put two gardenias and some monkey grass in that.

He planted a baby plum tree, pear tree and dwarf orange, this week we’ll plant the raspberry bush on the side of the house under the kitchen window.

Mr. John (Whit’s dad) said he’ll let us have some blueberry bushes that he’s bringing down from his relatives’ in Tuscaloosa. I had some of those blueberries over the weekend and man they are good! It brought back some good childhood memories.

Next year we wish to plant a fig, lemon and lime tree.

 

Whew! We should be good on the fruit once these start producing. You know…one less thing to buy, right?

 

Games 2008

on’t you just love the Olympic games?

My favorites are swimming, diving, track and gymnastics. I also love watching the opening ceremonies. I’ve always had a fascination with China, but ever since Mikayla has been brought into our lives, the interest has grown. I loved the artistry and technology displayed on Friday night. My favorite was the countdown with the drums, and the little girl singing with the entrance of children. They were all so beautiful and many of them seemed to be the same age as KK.

I can’t wait to hear her talk about what she thinks of the gymnastics. She was just 4 during the last Olympics and I remember trying to get her to watch, but she kept falling asleep. She’s grown in her gymnastic abilities since then and she loves to compete. Mom put some great pics of her in action on her blog, see the link to the Family Blog to the left.

But Brad and I have stuff going on some evenings during the games so I may miss out on a lot…boo.