52 Weeks Project Update

SO I edited this list to how things are going now.  The latest thing I am doing is the kitchen counter and I tried a Zumba class (not my first) last week with a friend at a local church.  It was fun, but I still don't think dancing is my thing.  I did like how it caused me to get out of my comfort zone a bit and feel vulnerable.  I also want to try and do several sessions of tanning this month, but that may happen in April.  No real point to this other than I haven't done it in years and think it will have my skin to glow a bit--and I do live in Florida so a start to a small sun tan will be nice to go along with the flip-flops!  I need to get intentional for some of these things.

1. Complete Couch to 5k and run in a 5k-Start training January with C25K app  60 day T-Tapp challenge. (did not feel like doing the running, want to rehab my knees and t-tapp is great for that 1/11/13)
2. Complete a mud run or a spartan race-possibly the Gulf Coast Mud Run in November.
3. Go on a family nature walk.
4. Make bags to keep in car to hand out to homeless people-let kids be involved too.
5. Walk 2 miles daily for 30 days straight-March. April.
6. Go 30 days drinking only water-February.
7. Read aloud one book a week with kids.
8. Tan in tanning bed regularly for a month-April.
9. Make my own crab legs (one of hubby's favorite foods!).
10. Try a load of laundry a day for 1 week (can't stretch it longer or I may not even try!)
11. Let one child make dinner each month (starting small here!). 
12. 5 minute workout daily for a month. (January). 
13. Play hide and seek with kids.
14. Get my blog redesigned. (January) 
15. Try a camping trip with the family (despite my dislike of outdoors and bugs lol) even if it is in the backyard.
16. Try the pushup challenge.
17. Travel to a state we have never been to.
18. Go on a cruise, Carnival preferred, but even if we just take a dolphin cruise on the beach.
19. Get our driveway widened-concrete!
20. Ride segways downtown with family.
21. Go to an arts festival.
22. Try rollerblading again.
23. Go on a bowling date with my man.
24. Do the Respect dare.
25. Write an e-book.
26. Do the One bite at a time.
27. Take kids to beach and go kayaking.
28. Take a trip to water park during the summer.
29. Try a Cross Fit class.
30. Try a Zumba class.
31. Try a spin class.
32. Get a massage at a spa.
33. Take a trip with my husband to our favorite getaway spot.
34. Make a memory book for someone.
35. Christmas shop before December. 
36. Take the 52 week money challenge:  Not doing, but started using YNAB which is an amazing budget software program that has helped me save hundreds every month and hopefully more and more going to be changing in this area--thankful. 3/17/13.
37. Finish James Journible and write out entire book of James. Going strong 1/12/13, loving it.
38. Take a 30 Day Walk through the Psalms during summer to be ready for start of new school year. (July)
39. Walk in the Mall to Mall walk with a friend or with my kids (who wants to join me?).
40. Take a retreat/get away with girl friends.
41. Create a whole weeks meal plan with no allergens that all family can eat (breakfast, lunches, snacks and dinner).
42. Go to a concert with my man.
43. Completely reorganize kitchen counter where clutter always piles-this would make for a HAPPY home! (whole new system here with my home manager binder and all-simplify) Got page protectors and tabs to start organizing my home manager binder 3/17/13-supposed to be joining Orgjunkie.com in a 31 days to organizing challenge and the kitchen counter is my goal.
44. Try golfing with my husband.
45. Take a family trip to Georgia and climb Stone Mountain together.
46. Dress up for Halloween.
47. Take a cooking class.
48. Get a professional makeup makeover.
49. Ride the 360 wheel at the beach.
50. Take kids to the circus. Done 1/12/13, had a blast! 
51. Make the bed every day for a week and see how it changes the day.
52. Take the 30 Day Yoga Challenge. *update 1/4/13-DVD purchased, recieved the DVD today 1/12/13

Testimony Tuesday

SO here we are on Tuesday where I want to share testimonies of what God has done in my life this week as well as hear what He has done in yours.  I feel like testimonies and God stories from each person is so powerful and motivates me to continue seeking God more than so many things.  Let me just say too that sometimes we won't feel like sharing our stories like we don't feel worth, or we will question, was that really God that did that in our life?  We can doubt.  But really, when we really think about it, we know deep down for sure that was God.  So when you think of your God story, don't doubt, if you know it was Him deep down, share away.

This week was pretty amazing.  I have struggled with eating and not just how to eat and how to lose weight.  I want freedom.  I don't think God wants me focused on food and a way to eat all the time.  He wants it to be a natural thing, just like going to the bathroom.  In attempts a week or so ago to find a book to turn to again when I got fed up with losing weight or just being over this food struggle I was looking for Truly Fed.  It was nowhere to be found.  Nowhere.  That led me to finding all of these books I had, Christian books, on losing weight and getting right with God and food.  Studies and books.  All laid out on the table.  I took a picture of them.  Then led to throw them all away.  I had to stop depending on books and studies and know that GOD ALONE was who was going to heal me and help me.  I decided I would not use any tools, just God and His Word.  Two days ago I walked by my bookshelf where I had searched high and dry for Truly Fed.  Guess what was staring at me right in the face?  Yes--TRULY FED.  He saved that one, and I could not find it that one day, but got rid of everything, then it appeared.  God showed me this was the tool HE was going to use as I kept my eyes on Him.  It was awesome.  I won't depend on the book, but use just what He wants in it to help me completely break free, I am well on my way.  Thank you Jesus!

This is an amazing cardboard testimony.  It speaks to my heart and makes me smile.  If ever you feel distant or frustrated in your walk--watch one of these and feel your Spirit lift.  Share your story with me and others so we can be refreshed in Him through it.  

 

 

 

Menu Plan Monday

Joining Organizing Junkie in Menu Plan Monday and sharing my meals for the week.  I did all of my grocery shopping at Target this week--can I just say it is a much more peaceful shopping experience there than at Wal-Mart.  Now if I can just find all the food and deals from Wal-Mart over at Target, I will be a forever convert to Target.  I just don't use coupons and never have liked them--so that is why I tend to shop mostly at Wal-Mart.

Anyways, onto the meal plan for the week, think simple.  I have not been in much of a cooking mood lately.

1. Italian Sausage & Bell Peppers over rice.
2. Chex Mix Crunchy Pork Chops (will take pic and share recipe when I make) with steamed sweet corn & mashed potatoes. 
3. Spaghetti (with brown rice noodles) with steamed brocolli.
4. Breakfast for dinner-Bacon, eggs, pancakes & smoothies! 
5. Salmon Nuggets & rice with soy sauce.
6. Baked salmon with rice and salad or fend for yourself.
7. Tacos in crockpot.

Crockpot Taco Meat

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (or pork or ground turkey)
1 medium onion chopped shopping list
1/8 cup jar jalapenos chopped (I use a few tablespoons of salsa instead)
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup water

Preparation

add all ingredients to crock pot and cook for 6 hours
then drain and serve (I don't always have to drain this)

Rest-Five Minute Friday

 

 

 

 

Writing for 5 mintues straight-no editing, no stopping, ready, set, GO.

 

Rest.  Is there such thing?  I think it seems like there is no rest sometimes because there is something always to do.  The moment I think I can sit down and rest I can't even rest because I am thinking of what else to do or think about or figure out.  I wonder.  What real rest feels like.  Jesus says to rest in Him.  He is rest.  When I am resting in Him I still have to live.  I get confused sometimes how to rest and stay focused on Jesus and then still live and make decisions every day without messing up.  I guess I shouldn't worry about messing up so much.  I guess I need to rest my mind maybe.  My mind seems busy a lot just whirling around with ideas and to-do lists and projects and a lot of times my mind is thinking about what I need to "figure out." 

 

Really.  Rest.  There is no sense in trying to figure anything out.  Seek God.  Read His Word.  Keep Him in the middle of everything I am doing.  And live.  He will direct my paths.  There is rest in that isn't there?  I believe so.  I want to be in that place where I am living and letting God lead and drive and direct and I don't have to ever "figure out" anything else again.  Thank you Jesus for rest.

Constantly Decluttering

Constantly decluttering.  I don't have a lot to say here planned, but I feel like I need to ramble some to get out the thoughts I am thinking about this.  So bare with me as I ramble...probably will be scattered but that will be okay.

The picture above says a lot doesn't it?  Chaos anyone?  Living in this world we are so bombarded with things every day.  Things that cause us to get off track of where we want our mind and our thoughts and our actions.  One little thing we hear on tv, in the grocery store or on the radio can change the course of our entire day.  One picture on a cover of a magazine in the checkout aisle--that's right, can change the course of our entire day and can change our attitude instantly.  That is why it is so important that we guard our hearts.  

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

I know I have some decluttering projects that need to be done in my house.  I know I have decluttering projects to be done in my car.  I know I have decluttering projects that need to be done in my garage.  I even know I have decluttering projects that are going on in my physical body as I release the excess weight on my body.  But what about the decluttering that needs to be done inside of my mind?  If I don't think about that, then it will never change.  It is NOT a one time thing either.  It is a constant battle.  It is like if you let your guard down even for a second, BAM!!!!!

Our feelings and our thoughts are all up there in our brain and really play into this whole mind clutter thing.  I feel like there is never going to be an end to it and I am probably right.  It is constant.  You wake up in the morning and you are bombarded with feelings saying I don't wanna work today, then you go in the bathroom and you look in the mirror and see things you don't like to see--bam, there goes the attitude for the day.

Another thing is what are we focusing on.  I know for me I tend to want to read a million books and be involved in all sorts of activities at church and at home.  I can't do them all.  Discernment and prayer have to be involved.  If I am jumping all over the place in Bible studies and so scattered that it is not soaking in and I am not applying it to my life, what good is that doing?  So I want to (and I feel I have done this so much already) minmize and simplify even more in what I am taking in.  I feel I need to have less in order to have more quality and God's best.  Bible studies, one with my Life Group at church.  Church services, one so I can soak it all up and see what God is teaching me.  Balance and discernment and simplifying.  It is happening and needs to continue.  God show me your best for my heart and life is my prayer, in Jesus Name Amen.

I don't know quite where I am going with all of these thoughts except for this.  Guard your heart.  Get in God's Word every single day all day long however you can and soak it up.  Cry out to Him and talk to Him all day long and ask Him to help you in everything.  If a icky thought comes to your mind--well then ask God please help me with this thought, take it, it doesn't sit well with me, it doesn't seem right.  We will never be able to relax in Him if we don't fight this battle daily, and even when we are weary and don't feel like we can do it, let's ask God, please help me to do this today because if you don't help me I am going to mess it all up and it ain't going to look pretty.  That's all I feel led to say at the moment.  Fix your eyes on Jesus today.  Time to do some spring cleaning in the mind.

More later...

Why Blog?

The question was posed to me today, "Why blog...what is the purpose for you blogging?"

I had to dig deep to answer this question honestly and my answer was this.

I have so much that I learn and love to share what I learn, but in my everyday life I do not see that many people in person that are willing to listen to all that I have to say or who want me to tell them everything I am learning.  

Wow.  That question shocked me.  I have been questioning whether blogging was something I was really to be doing and what my motive really was.  It is becoming a little clearer that perhaps it is what I am to be doing.  The answer really shows me wanting to share the overflow of my heart.

That brings this scripture to heart.

Luke 6:45 (NLT) A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 6:45 (NKJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Said in the same way is this scripture in Matthew:

Matthew 12:34 (NKVJ) Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34 (NLT) You brood of snakes!  How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?  For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

My desire here is that I will be sharing out of the overflow of my heart, (my prayer is that it is all good and not evil), what God is showing and teaching me as I grow more and more.  Learning to walk with Jesus, walking by His Spirit.

More later...