Here I Am!

Wow I haven't written on this blog in a while!  But it has my name and I will keep it and I will continue writing as I grow.  I am on a mission right now to earn an income blogging and writing so that I can move from working outside the home to back home again where I dream to be soon and very soon.  And God is working to make that happen as He gives me the courage to put one foot in front of the other as I follow Him on this path.  Love it!

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Journaling it All

It's been a while since I've written.  I have had a favorite thing I have been doing lately that I wanted to write about a little.  I have been in a busy season of life with children getting older and work and family life and it seems I have been looking for ways to connect with God and refresh and renew my mind.  I love journaling and have a journal I used to write in daily but now it's more like a few times a week or every other week.

So what I started lately is grabbing my laptop when I get in bed each evening, opening Google Drive and I created a journal that I use when I don't have my paper journal.  Writing down thoughts and prayers and emotions and Scripture is so a thing for me.

I write out all that's on my mind, I call it my brain dump.  I type it all out and pray and share all I am thinking, all I've learned that day, things bothering me, etc.  Then I pray and ask God to show me any Truths that I need to hear from what I've written.  This has been a little treat I have done lately that is really helping me have more peace and clarity and I would just say journaling is something that everyone should try if they haven't.

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Walking it Out with Intuitive Eating

Happy Saturday!!!

It has been a while since I have written about my journey to be FREE from any hold on food or body image.  I am determined to not have any hold on me.  Any time I start to head down a path where some food or some program has a hold on me, I stop and don't go further.  It means a slow journey for me to be at my natural weight, but it also means freedom and I think that is the way I am going to get there.

My goal is to eat when I'm hungry and stop when satisfied and have had just enough, and then go on with my life.  I don't want food or body image to tie me down and occupy too much space, like it always has, in my mind and life.  I also believe God wants this for me as well.  Though He may be saying, Kim be patient you can't expect this to happen overnight, I am saying this is taking so long what am I doing wrong?!

So here I am.  Several years later.  I have maintained the same weight I have been at for 3 years, have not gained and actually even lost 15 pounds back in August and have maintained that weight loss as well.  I now want to be fit too and am feeling like I am wanting to be in shape because I need that energy.  Though I know in the past God has shown me that I don't need to put the wrong emphasis on exercise, slowly I will get there to where I can be fit, but not ruled by exercise either.  It's a balance and I want that balance to be so sweet.

Some of the things that I have really been learning lately:

• Renewing your mind is so important.  I have used Barb Raveling's resources a lot in this and she even just had a new book come out.  Click here to see her site and all the great resources.  Romans 12:2 is where this comes from in the Bible.  Go check it out.
• Keeping God first.  This really is something I am being reminded of in just the last few days or the last week.  When I do anything other than trying to seek God with all my heart, then I get stuck.  So clinging to God alone, first, and then all else is added-including weight loss, joy, peace and not chaos and confusion, the steps to take in each day in every situation, etc.  Matthew 6:33 is where this comes from too.  Read for yourself and see what you get from that.
• Take it one moment at a time, one day at a time.  I can't think I want to understand it all and fix it all and think I am going to get anywhere.  It really is a step by step journey relying solely on the Holy Spirit.  This book is something that is a great read about this, Just Enough Light for the Step I'm on-Stormie Omartian.

More later...

OH and p.s..........one day I WILL be brave enough to share pictures of me and my journey, I'm a work in progress and can't wait for God to show off all He is doing in my heart, body and life!

Jesus Alone

Cutting potatoes tonight getting ready to make some yummy mashed potatoes I had these subtle thoughts going through my mind.  You know how in all the letters to the churches there is a reason they are writing the letter?  And some of them are because the Christians had started listening to false teaching.  They were listening and going ways God didn't mean for them to go.  I've done that before.

I felt like God wants me to write about the Gospel Truth, the simple Gospel Truth that is Jesus.  The Way, the Truth and the Life.  Just Jesus.  Nothing added to Him at all.

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Am I Ditching the Snooze Button?!

I can't believe it is already February now!  2015 is off to a start now, and it's exciting.  I've been working on something lately that has been a struggle for me, well...since I was a kid.  See I have this thing with the snooze button.  I don't know why I think hitting it every 8 minutes or so for over an hour is any help to me at ALL!  LOL!

Enter a few years ago, Kat with Inspired to Action that started the Hello Mornings Challenge and I signed up.  I have off and on been in a Hello Mornings Challenge group for over 2 years.  It has definitely changed me and challenged me.  So now the challenge is ditching the snooze button.

I read this article last week and it really hit me like I need to seriously try this.  I've tried ditching it before with no luck.  But this time for some reason felt different.  So I did it.  Well wait, first let me share the article and the tip that stuck to me.  It was this article and then tip #9 that was for me.  It was time to see if this could really happen.  Ditching the snooze never to go back...that's the idea.

So this was the quote that was talking straight to me from this blog post at the Hello Mornings Challenge blog:

"To be sure I am clear here, when I say ditch the snooze, I mean it.

No more snoozing. Disable it! 

When that alarm goes off you need to make the decision to get up, or not.

If you feel you are truly exhausted and need the extra sleep, set your alarm for a half hour later, or however long you need to sleep. No use interrupting that extra needed sleep every 9 minutes with the snooze alarm." 

It was right then and there that I picked up my iPhone and disabled the snooze.  I set it for the time I want to get up...5:30am...and then I sent another alarm for the time I HAD to get up...6:30am.  So for the last week I have done this.  I feel very much well rested from not hitting snooze every 8 minutes for an hour, that alone seems to be something that would make anyone just plain exhausted!  I have only gotten up at the first alarm maybe once, but that is HUGE to me.

So now that is the goal.  To eventually make that 2 days a week for a while and then 3 to where eventually it's a 5:30am routine and I enjoy it.  I am excited for this new little revelation in my mornings and am looking forward to seeing this progress.  Stay tuned...

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My One Word 2015

Happy New Year!  Last year I wrote a blog post sharing what my one word was for 2014, and you can read that here if you would like.  I thought about this word off and on throughout 2014.  I am not sure I did much to make it happen, and I hesitated on whether I would have a one word for 2015.  I really thought when the New Year rang in that I was not going to have one.

Then I saw someone talking about it yesterday and immediately the word popped in my head that is going to be my "one word" for 2015.  

Joy.

Then the song below comes to my heart just now and I just want to sing!  I want JOY in me and my heart and in my family and their hearts more and more every day!  Here's to a joyful 2015!

Too cute!! 

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Afraid to Step Out

Have you ever felt the nudge or the prompting to do something, but instead of stepping out and doing what it is you feel led to do, you stop and in fear you are paralyzed?  You can't move forward a step because all of the what if's?

What if I fail?
What if I don't do it right?
What if I don't know what to do and get confused?
What will it look like living each day if I do that and take that step?
What if I lose things I don't want to lose when taking that step?

The questions and what if's go on and on.  I find myself in that situation it seems lately.  The thing that I am wondering though is what am I missing out on while I am scared stiffless??????  How much am I going to regret the wasted time I spent sitting here paralyzed instead of just stepping out in obedience.

So I take the step.  I write the first blog post in months.  Where will this lead?  How will I know exactly what to do to do it all right?  I don't know.  But I know I don't want to stand still any longer.  Jesus take the wheel.

More later...