Fit, Fabulous, 40's

Yes, I will admit it, I am in my 40's!

Actually, I'm well into my 40's, fit and feeling fabulous!

 Just finished the Long Beach 1/2 Marathon, 

my first one!

Once a week I'll be posting some fitness information, inspiration or nutrition education to help anyone who is still on the fitness journey to become just a little stronger, leaner or trying to eat a little cleaner.

I have tried to make this blog more about motherhood and my faith, 

but fitness is a large part of my life, too.

I want to thank Lynn, who has encouraged me to put this part of me "out here"
and another friend I recently spoke to at the gym who was basically
the straw that broke the camel's back.

Not that this is a negative thing,
I just haven't really had a lot of confidence in this area
even though I have made major transformations in
my mind
&
my body
through fitness and nutrition.

 I do have my other blog but it is difficult to keep more than one blog current
so this is an experiment.

I'm no super-model, model, or anything close,

but I have come a heck of a long way, 

from a chubby (remember that was the PC word for "Fattie"in the 70's) scared little girl, 

to a
Samurai.

What happened as I changed my mentality from hating my body to loving my body,

I changed my BODY IMAGE and in the process, 

the IMAGE of my body changed! 

Funny how they actually happened at the same time!

 No coincidence, for sure.

I hate taking pics of myself but I want you to see that I do work hard!

Anyhow, I will put in a workout or a video of something I have found helpful or educational, 

or just add my 2 little cents to whatever you are doing, fitness and health-wise.

Hope you get something out of it!

There are also a ton of great fitness/health blogs out there that inspire me!

Here are a few I follow and read regularly:

 Chocolate Covered Katie: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

Kristin @ Stuft Mama: http://stuftmama.com/

Jess @ The blonde ponytail: http://blondeponytail.com/

Lindsay's list: http://lindsayslist.com

Fit Fluential: http://fitfluential.com/

Brad Gouthro Fitness: http://www.bradgouthrofitness.com/

As Dori said in "Nemo",

"just keep swimming, just keep swimming",

and 

it's my mantra:

"Just keep moving, just keep moving!"

Have a FUNtastic Friday and weekend!

What are some FUN things you do for exercise?
DO SHARE!

Filled By God's Grace

God Can Even Use Me

I am so humbled that God continues to use me. 

I'm in a different season in my life where all 3 of my children are in school full time
and I have time to do some of the things I've dreamed of doing.

I can write and speak and I have time to just....BE, 

(In MY dreams! .LOL!)

in between cleaning, washing, cooking,

homework, substitute teaching, bible study,

the gym, their sports activities.....whew! 

It is in the BEing, that I meet God.  

It is in the BEing,

 when this pot is filled and where my cracks have been 

patched over by 

His Spirit and by His Grace.

Isaiah 64:8  (NIV) says,
"Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are all the work of your hand.
We are the clay,
you are the potter;"

 I have made A LOT of mistakes in my life.

In fact, I have made  THEM ALL- 

Yes, I am one BROKEN and CRACKED pot

but...

The bible says:

Isaiah 1:28
"But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, 
and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed."

I wasn't broken or cracked at first. I was born pretty, clean and wonderful.

Then, as I grew up, I began making some bad choices, mostly from fear, and selfishness,
but also from just not thinking of my consequences.

One of  my earliest memories of making a bad choice
was eating an orange fruit candy from a bin at the market.
 Remember those?
A piece had sugar all over it and it looked like one wedge from an orange?
Yes, I have always loved candy,
and my selfishness ran me as this 6 year old put her hand in the bin,
took it out,
 and ate it in front of her little sister. 

Of course she told on me,
mostly because she was mad that I got a piece of candy
and she didn't.

Needless to say,
my mother walked me up to the store manager where I,
 in tears and orange sugar dripping from my mouth,
apologized for "stealing" this candy.
I was a thief.

Stealing......Crack!

Selfishness.......Crrrraaaack!

Then, as a young college student, I made many mistakes by giving my body away to feel loved. 

Fear...............Crrrraaaaack!

Murder........CRAAAACCCCKKKKKK!

Selfishness and Fear..........BIG CRRRAAAAACCKKK!

My father dies and my heart opens up, but I try to fill it with the wrong things.

Lying.........Crrrraaaccckkk....

Judgement........Crrraaaaaaackkk.....

Lust........Craaaacccckkkk.....

God is growing me, filling me, yet I still continue to crack!

Comparison............Craaaaaaccckkkk.....

Perfectionism.......Crrrraaaaccckkkk....

Jealousy and Hate......Crrrraaaccckkkk......

A TON more selfishness.........  Crrackkkkkk a  laaaccccckkkk...

More growth, and HIS FORGIVENESS, 
me, forgiving myself.

This goes on and on...

I meet the Lord face to face.
He loves me and embraces me with ALL of my cracks....

He fills each one with GOLD....they are still there and each crack is a lesson learned.

Each crack is a reminder that I am a sinner, I continue to sin, but now that the Lord is in my heart, 

HE continues to fill each crack.....

with HIS LOVE.

He heals me, does something with my heart 

and

His forgiveness changes all THAT sin

into 

MY SALVATION.

I'll never be perfect, 

but in my imperfection,

I am loved

and

SO ARE YOU!

Our imperfections make us unique,
they give us a story that only we know 
and 
we become a work or art!

A one of a kind, 

Masterpiece.

Today,
I thank God for the journey called Life,
where I have made mistakes,
learned lessons
and
have lived!

How do you feel about some of your journey?
What have you learned through it?

Motivational Monday!

One Thing Remains!

His Love Never Fails

It Never Gives Up

It Never Runs Out on Me

HIS love is always with me and always with you.

As I live each day as a lover of Jesus,

sometimes I forget,

sometimes I need to be reminded
that He ALWAYS loves me.

Do you love me even when I don't listen to what your Word says?

Yes.

Do you love me even when I'm not thinking of others,

but only of MY needs, MY cares, MY wants?

Yes.

Do you love me even when I fail you day after day?
Yes, yes and yes.

Never?

But Lord, you know I've made many mistakes in my life.

"I know".

I mean, I won't even mention them here, but you know, I've committed every sin.

Father, EVERY sin.

And, you still....love.....me?

"Yes".

No matter what we have done,
the mistakes,
the failures,
the flops,
Jesus still loves us.
You
and
me.

For this, I am forever grateful.
Why is it so difficult for some of us to accept love?
Why is it so difficult to believe in the unseen?
Trust.

What if you were to trust HIM with your life today?
What if you were to trust HIM with ALL of your heart?
Then,
you would know,  without a doubt,  that
HE.
IS.
REAL.

My father was a proud man. He was a Marine who served the United States in the Korean War.
Did I say he was proud?
Being proud and being a Marine is redundant.

He allowed God into his heart at the age of 72!
Yes, he was that stubborn!
But you know what?
He was changed because of it.

The last 5 years of his life were the best.
His heart was healed from all the hurt he had given
and taken from this world.
He was softer, more loving and more forgiving

Don't be too proud.
Don't wait too long.
Don't say, "HE doesn't exist" just so you can be "right".
Don't be afraid.

Open your heart to the one who loves us-
who gave His life for us.


^{35 "}Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Godthat is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:35, 38-39

^4 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 43:4

I am so grateful that I can begin each day

loved,

forgiven

and 

saved.

How about you?

Let's not make this just another Monday!

How are you going to start YOUR week?

Be blessed!