Our Path

"Direction, not intention determines destination."   - Andy Stanley

In our Friday morning Life Group we are reading the book The Principal of the Path by Andy Stanley .  As my good friend Cherie wrote on her blog. "Each choice we make from the food we put into our mouths, to the books we read, to how we spend our money has brought us to where we are today.  The cool thing is we can change directions at anytime and as a result, change our destination."

When Scott and I met I was 140 lbs and a size 6.  Granted I have had 2 more kids since May 19, 2007.  With the busyness that is our life with the 3 girls our eating habits took a turn for the unhealthy.   I am now 45 heavier and in the double digits for my pants.  Most people would be ashamed to reveal this.  But I look at it this way, it is what it is.  As Dr. Phil says " You can't change what you don't acknowledge."   Now I'm not alone in this.  As our motto is : We are a team and in this together.

So, we have decided to change our path.  We are making a life style change, together.  We are beginning the Atkins Diet, together.  The key word here is together.  Scott has done this twice before with great success.  He has attempted it several times in the past 3 years and hasn't been able to keep up with it.  So this time we are going to use each other as support as we adjust to changing our eating habits.  Life can be tough and we tend to turn to unhealthy things for comfort.  Now we are going to be relying on each other and on God as we slim down, increase our energy and make our bodies nice and healthy.

Until next time~

Connections

As you know I’ve been having difficultly connecting with God lately.  Truth be told I’ve been feeling disconnected from Scott and those around me as well.  I know that you get out of relationships what you put into them.  I also know that Scott and I need to get out on more dates than we actually do.  With having 3 kids, working and our closest family is 35 minutes away; dates are few and far between.

When I found out that the Rock and Worship Roadshow was going to be in Madison on February 5^th I decided that Scott and I were going.  It was an executive decision and I really should have consulted my husband about it first, but I didn’t.  Oops.  I did tell him the day before that if he didn’t want to go then we didn’t have to.  He said that because I was excited about it we could go.  Besides the tickets were only $10 so we didn’t have much to lose.  We had no idea what to expect.  I knew that there were going to be several bands there but that was it. Scott was afraid that it was going to be boring.

We arrived about 15 minutes before the show was set to start.  Tickets were first come first serve and the people were still flooding in.  We found 2 seats in a very good spot where I could easily take some pictures.  We settled in and just took in all the people that were there, must have been thousands.  What I loved the most was seeing all the kids there.  Little kids there with their parents and teenagers there with a group of friends.  Seeing all the kids really gives me some hope for the world.  They are the ones to come after my time here is done; knowing that they are followers of Christ is awesome.

The first band to play was  the Afters. Then Matt Maher.  What really surprised us was the third band, Disciple.  Wow is all we could say.  They are hard. hard rock.  A lot of head banging, jumping around and shouting.  We had no idea what they were saying.  But there were 3 boys a few rows down from us that were really enjoying them, head banging themselves.  Next up, the final act of the night, Mercy Me.  I love this band.  Their songs are on the radio a lot and we sing them in church.  In 2009 when my dear mother-in-law passed away we played the song ‘I can only imagine’ by Mercy Me.  To this day I still tear up and cry upon hearing this song.  That night was no different.  It was one of the last songs they played.  When it started I just joined arms with Scott and let the tears flow.  There is so much that Harla has missed over the last 15 months and the pain of her absence is still present.

The presence of God was truly there that night in the Coliseum.  It’s not something that I know how to put into words but I’ll try.  One could describe it as the good feeling you get after a baby is born or at a wedding.  But it’s different.  This feeling is for something, someone much, much bigger than we can even imagine.  I left the concert feeling incredibly at peace, connected with God and reconnected with Scott.  There is so much that life can throw at us to cause us to take our focus off God.  And when we take the focus off God we end up taking the focus off each other.  When that happens there is only one thing we can do.  Make the effort to put into our relationships what we want to get out of them.


Until next time~

I just can't get it together.

These past few days have been weird.  With the snow coming, most everyone in the house is sick and doing my usual duties around the house I've been feeling very disconnected from God.  I have a couple of books that I'm reading right now.  One on my own and the other one is for Life Group that starts up again on Friday.  I talk to Him almost hourly (raising a 3 year old requires a lot of help) and talk about Him daily. Yet, I still feel far away.

I read once that God with purposefully pull away to test us.  I feel it happening know.  But He won't get rid of me that easily =)  I'll keep plugging along.  We have an exciting weekend coming up.  On Saturday Scott and I are going on date to the Rock and Worship Roadshow here in Madison.  Singing Christian music with others always helps me feel close to God.  And on Sunday we are having a party with family and friends.  Celebrating something reminds me of the blessings He has placed in my life.

Until next time~

Do not be afraid.

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic… for the Lord your God with personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Our neighbors next door have 2 dogs, an older black collie type and a young black and white bird dog.  Kennedy loves seeing them; actually she loves seeing any dog.  Kennedy has been in love with dogs and puppies since she was a baby.  She loves to look at them, watch them play and petting them.  She really likes it when they are outside when she is.

Lexi on the other hand is completely opposite.  Whenever the dogs next door are outside and start barking she freaks out.  There is a fence that separates our yard from theirs so there is no threat of them getting to her.  Yet she stills cries when they jump up and down and bark.  Even if she is in the house and can hear them she runs to the opposite end of the living room crying until Scott or I pick her up to comfort her.  Lexi has a built in fear and needs her mom or dad to help her through it.

We all have things or situations we fear that cause us to run away crying.  The question is who/what do you turn to for comfort?  Personally I tend to run to food for comfort.  When I am afraid and upset I go to the kitchen and find something to ease my mind and feelings.  What I am learning to do is turn to God, to run to his arms for comfort.  It is hard to be open and honest with God.  And that is one thing that is on my list of things to work on in 2011.  I want God to take the place of the food I use to comfort my anxious heart and mind.  I know that God wants that to.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Psalm 94:19

Until next time~

The way God works.

I love watching God work in the lives of those around me.  Today I got the honor of meeting the boyfriend of one of my best friends.  My friend Jolean is such a wonderful person.  She is so sweet and always looking out for those around her.  A few years ago she came out of a bad relationship and could of easily given up hope of finding the person that would love her like she deserves.  

Meeting Dan today was such an honor for me because I know how happy he makes her.  He is such a nice, sweet guy.   Like the rest of us their life isn't perfect.  Dan has been out of work for quite some time now and at the same time Jolean has been looking for new work.  But they remain supportive of each other, knowing that God is going to take them where He needs them to be.  This week alone they both had job interviews at places that would be great for both of them.

I've told Jolean to let me know when to start practicing her wedding cake and believe that someday I will be doing just that.  I am so happy for her and Dan, God has definitely brought them together for a reason.

Until next time~

New year, new changes

Well, the new year is here.  And like most people in the world I have some new goals to set for 2011.  This year we are going to have 4 separate categories for our goals; Personal, Family, Couple and Financial.  Scott and I haven't sat down yet to hammer out the last 3 categories yet and I haven't worked out all the details of my personal goals.  But I will let you in on some things that I am going to work on this year.

I am going to work on:

Eating healthier.  I know that I don't eat as many fruits and veggies as I should.

Reading 20 books.  This one will be easy, I love to read!

Being a more patient mom.  This one will need lots of prayers.

Becoming the woman God wants me to be.  Again, this one will need lots of prayers.

These are just some of the things on my list.  I know there are a few more that I will add.  And I know that the only way I am going to change is with God's help.  He is the only one that knows my true potential.  God is full of so much power and strength that I would be a fool to not tap into some of that and ask for his help.  Here's to a new year!

Until next time~

The Pacific

Even though Scott and I have never been in the military we love to watch military based films.  Whether they are based on true stories or not or are a documentary it doesn't matter we love to watch them.  Recently HBO came out with a 10 part mini series called The Pacific. It follows 3 Marines during World War 2.  We are hooked.  There is one guy in the mini series they call Sledge.  He is a follower of God and his faith is really being tested has he faces the nightmares of war.  We still have a few more parts to watch so I'm not sure how he makes out in the end but I will let you know.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ tomorrow please remember those men and women that are serving our country both here at home and over seas.  Please ask God to watch over them, protect them and draw close to them.

Until next time~