Just a closer walk with thee...

Walking...I've been doing a lot of that...sometimes 4 miles a day...and I can feel the effects of it.  I feel so much better, physically and mentally.  Even though my walks are benefitting me, they are not the "walks" that I am really needing to take.  The walks that I crave this morning, the ones I am desperate for are ones with my heavenly father.  I have to admit that I've been really distant with him lately...just kind of coasting along...praying sometimes...sometimes not.  Praising sometimes...sometimes not.  Giving/Loving sometimes...sometimes not.  I don't like it.  I just want Jesus.  There is nothing in this world that can satisfy my soul except him.  No amount of exercise, weight loss, compliments, financial security---nothing can fill this hole in me like he can.  His presence, his peace, his certainty can fill this need in me, if only I will let him in.  So...right here in this post...I want to ask him, to invite him, to beg him to come and be with me...to live inside my very being.

Dear Jesus, Thank you so much for all of the amazing blessings in my life, I know that every good gift comes you, my children, my husband, my family and friendships...you are the giver of these...thank you so much.  Lord, I need you.  It's so simple, I just need you in my heart, in my life...not just as a part, but as a whole...take all of me, Lord, please.  I don't want to keep treading water to stay alive, I want to be alive in you, Lord...please...please just fill me with you, Lord.  I am begging for your presence.  Please just help me through this life, be with me every step.  Lord, I invite you, I give you permission to just have my life.  I want a closer walk with you, Lord...so close that I can feel you holding on to me.  Please Lord, please.  In your precious name I pray, Amen.

Ok...time to GET IT TOGETHER...

I have been struggling so much with my eating and exercise during the past week.  I just let myself have some "treats" and it has gotten out of hand, and I haven't exercised for a few days.  I have been fighting a head cold/allergies/sinus stuff and just haven't been motivated to jump out of bed and go early in the morning like I had been.  I have got to get it back together first thing in the morning.  My plan is to just leave my Sparkpeople webpage open in a window on the computer all day, so I can enter every bite that goes in my mouth.  I was doing this so religiously at first, and I have just slacked off and I can definitely tell.  I need the accountability and structure.  I can do this...I know I can...I just have to get back on my feet, dust myself off and keep going!

We have had a good weekend.  Yesterday we went to a friend's birthday party and swimming at our water park/pool.  The kids had fun, Claire loved it!  She just loves the water.  Asher had a lot of fun playing with his friend, Evan, and my friend Charisse and I were able to visit and catch up.   Kris had to work today, so we made him a yummy lunch and the kids gave him his "Daddy Day" presents during his lunch break, they were so excited for him to come home!  They gave him two Coleman lanterns that we picked up at a garage sale.  He loves old Coleman stuff, lanterns, heaters, thermos', etc. so he was thrilled with our thrifty gift!  I "helped" the kids make a little card to go on the lantern, it says, "You light up our Life, Daddy! We love you!  Happy Father's Day!"

 We tried to take a family picture before Kris went back to work, but it didn't work out too well...ha!

Oh--and one more thing for today--today marks 7 years of blogging for me!  My first entry was on June 17, 2005, isn't that the craziest thing?  There have been times when my blog entries were so few and far between, but I am so glad I have kept it going!  It is amazing to look back at my old posts and have PROOF of God working in our lives...it's just overwhelming to see all He has done for us!

Summertime means Watertime!

We visited Meme and Papa's this weekend, and met up with my sister and her kiddos! The kids had so much fun playing together and swimming. We went to the new splash pad, and the kids loved it too! They were all so tired by the time we got home, but it was a nice weekend!

Katie lounging in the pool!

 Asher is armed with a water gun, and he's not afraid to use it!

 Can you believe Katie stood under these buckets on purpose?

Reese hanging out in the pool!

Reagan and her sweet toothless grin!

Katie and Rylee had a lot of fun together!

Oh my goodness...can I hit the "reset" button?

I ate too much today...way too much...ugh.  I haven't done very well during the past few days anyway, but today I feel like I really blew it.  Cookies.  Milk Shake.  Pulled Pork.  Curly Q fries.  Barbeque Sauce.  Coke.  Onion Strings.  RESET.  REFOCUS.  PRAY.  BREATHE.  It's OK.  Tomorrow is a new day...I can do this.  I can make excellent choices tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.  And all of this is since I hit the 20 pounds lost mark last week...why?  Lord, please help me...please help me forgive myself and MOVE ON.  I can do this.  I can do this.  I can do this.

A Note + a teeny bit of coffee + a haircut = WEIGHTLOSS!

I am so, so, so excited to report that this morning when I stepped onto the scale, I saw beautiful numbers!  I currently weigh 19.2 pounds less than I did on May 2, 2012!  Almost 20...can you believe it? 

-19.2

My title is kind of funny, but I think those things really did mentally help me this past week.  My sister wrote me a note, that said this:

"Hey there!  I just wanted to send you a little note to let you know how awesome I think you are for sticking with your healthy living plan!  I know it is not easy to break bad habits and to make time for exercising but you are doing it!  And doing it so well!  I am super proud of you!  You are making changes that are benefitting your whole family and I wanted you to know that I am happy for you!  Love you!  Love, Crystal"

This note was such an encouragement to me, it just made my whole day!  I try and read it every day for motivation! 

I had planned on going 1 month without coffee, just to kind of test the waters, and see how I did without it.  It felt horrible at first, and I just didn't think I could make it without it, but my coffee cravings slowly got less intense.  It wasn't just the caffeine, as any coffee drinker can tell you, it's the smell of it brewing, the way a full mug of hot coffee feels in your hands, the early morning quietness, and that first sip...oh my!  Anyhoo...I did it, I made it an entire month without coffee!  I decided to brew just a little bit the other day, and it was so, so, good and I didn't feel guilty, in fact, I felt liberated almost, that I could have coffee when I wanted it, without the guilt, without feeling like I had to have it every single day or I couldn't move.  I seem to have a lot more energy on the days I have been having it, mostly just because it makes me HAPPY! 

Oh, and one more thing that has contributed to my weight loss...a haircut!  There must have been a pound of hair lying on the ground afterward!  Ha!



Japanese Stack-Up Dinner

We had this for a Sunday School get-together once, and it was really good!  It has kind of an interesting combination of flavors!  I couldn't find a picture of it, but wanted to save the recipe!  It's kind of fun to encourage everyone to try ALL of the layers, and see what they think! JAPANESE STACK - UPS

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1826,155168-225201,00.html Content Copyright © 2012 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. 3 c. Minute rice Chow mein noodles 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or chopped Celery, chopped Green onion, chopped 1 can crushed pineapple (or fresh pineapple is even better!) Slivered Almonds Flaked coconut 1 lb.  cheddar cheese, shredded Gravy: Chicken gravy 1 (32 oz.) chicken broth 3 cans cream of chicken soup Prepare gravy. Serve buffet style in preceding order, putting hot gravy on last to melt cheese. Fun for dinner parties.

weight loss (or gain)

I forgot to update in my last post about my weight loss journey.  I'm still going, just slowly...I did gain two pounds this week (I just KNOW it was that trout and hushpuppies--ha!) but I am hopeful that I can get back to losing this week.  I only logged a couple of days on Sparkpeople last week, and I can definately tell the difference.  I also didn't have my normal exercise routine last week, so this week will be better, I just know it!

It's Friday, and it's SUMMERTIME!

I couldn't be happier that it's Friday this week!  I worked in the church this week, and between answering the phone with loud kiddos in the background, and Asher running all over the place in his "fast runnin' shoes" I am pooped!  I have gotten so used to my homemaking routine, so used to the comfort of being at home, that I had started to take it for granted.  I will be so very happy to be back to a routine next week.  I am so very very blessed to be able to be at home with my kids.  God is so good to allow this for us!  We do have a busy week coming up, Katie is starting softball, and Asher is starting "Blast ball" for the month of June.  We have 4 or 5 games a week for the month of June.  It should be exciting!

Katie's garden is growing!  We have three big tomatoes growing and one new little addition, a green pepper!  Katie has done a great job with checking on them every day.  We are excited to make salsa!  I've been collecting recipes to try.

We had a really nice Memorial Day weekend.  We stayed at home, and tried a bunch of new healthy recipes.  We also had one "unhealthy" meal of fried trout (from our awesome fisherman brother-in-law, Michael) and homemade hushpuppies, and I have to tell you...it was so incredibly delicious!  One of our other favorite foods that we tried was grilling chicken with a dry rub on it...it was so good!  We have always marinated in an oil based marinade, so this was a little healthier option for us.

I got the Slip-n-Slide out for the kids on Monday, and they loved it!  Claire was kind enough to give me a funny faced pose while sitting in the water!  This is the face she makes all of the time, and it totally cracks us up!  She loved the water, and wasn't afraid to get right in the sprinkler part!  Asher never did quite get the "sliding" part of it, but he sure had a good time playing in the water!  Katie hurt her knee again with a bike wreck, so she didn't slide today...I think she felt like she was too big...which makes me sad.  She is really growing up.  She would rather just watch, and listen to her ipod.  She still listens to Christian music (most of the time) and still loves to listen to "Adventures in Oddessy" every day, and lately she's been watching Disney channel shows a lot.  The kids are all growing so fast, makes me feel the need to cherish each day!