Living The Best of Your Life!

I am so grateful for each new day!

I've been pretty good so far regarding taking small steps each day

towards my goals for the year.

But one question for you -

are the goals that you have set for yourself going to add positively to your life, 

for the rest of your life?

After going to church this weekend,

there was talk about resolutions-

actually

LIFE CHANGES.

One of my favorite words ever:

transformation.

One of my very favorite verses:

Romans 12:1-2

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Living Sacrifice to God

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,
^[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all 
he has done for you. 
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. 
This is truly the way to worship him.^[b]
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by 
changing the way you think. 
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, 
which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Instead of making resolutions for 

this year,

what about making

resolutions that will add to the 

rest of your life?

For some reason, 

I was able to see this differently this year.

 My vision 

E     X     P     A     N     D     E    D. 

As I made my resolutions/goals,

I was able to see how each one of them will benefit my

growth, change 
and 
transformation

to the person God wants me to be.

I am able to see my life in a 

life long

perspective

vs.

year to year.

Here are a couple of my goals and how I'm looking at the lifelong benefits:

 I yearn to grow in the Lord and learn more about and absorb his word and we (as a family)

will be memorizing more verses.

We will be starting with Ann Voskamp's memory practice sheets for 

"The Sermon on the Mount".

I desire to stay fit and increase my running times/speed,

so I'm training for the Huntington Beach 1/2 Marathon 

                                                       and will do the OC 1/2 Marathon.

My goal to write a book....

someday,

(with this guy's guidance)

which will be the result of writing everyday of this year

if I could just win this battle:

I've got to write..

one word or 500, 

or something in the middle!

(I think I had previously posted 500 

which is a lot more than I thought it was!)

and realistically, 
I could do at least one word every day,

right?

:-)

I will focus on loving people

not things,

prioritizing my family and friends.

I've actually purchased note cards and will send at least one card out a week.

Send me your address and I'll write you 

a

hand-written note!

I even signed up for this!

Imagine receiving a letter through snail mail!

Imagine!

What IF God could really transform you this year?

He can

if 

you

let 

Him.

Let him.

Have the best day ever!

Fit, Fabulous 40's Friday!

Friday already?

I don't know about you, but when I'm on vacation, I never know what day it is!

I've got some big plans for 2013, how about you?

I've just signed up for this amazing course by Jeff Goins, called  

Tribe Writers 

and was reading some of his fabulous resources when I noticed the time, 

12:11 am and the day, 

Friday, 

January 4th.

I immediately thought about my "Fitness Friday"(which I have been slacking on)

 and then remembered being surprised by the amount of NEW followers to my 

Pinterest page 

(check it out)

that I titled,

  "Things That Inspire Me to Stay Strong", 

which meant that people are wanting some " Pinspiration"

 regarding fitness for the New Year!

Then, while on Facebook tonight,

I had a semi-conversation on my New Year's Eve pic regarding my arms.

I'm not super buffed, even though one of my friends calls me, "Buff Girl".

I just work hard to stay fit. 

And it is, 

hard work to stay fit!

I've shared my arms workout many, many times, but there is a catch.

You've got to do it....and keep doing it,

for a long,

long time!

  

Persistence...

And by the way, 

you've also got to work out the other parts of your body 

while you are working towards those arms!

But, there will be benefits!

I wish it were easy and quick, 

but nothing worth working for comes easy.

BUT,

 I KNOW 

it is possible- 

I'm just like you.

Really, I am.

And, I KNOW 

that if I can do it, 

you can do it, too!

Here are some things I would suggest before starting any health and nutrition plan:

1. Make sure you are healthy.
 When was the last time you got a thorough physical?
 Don't remember?
 GET ONE!
You will find out where  you are- and what you might have to work on- heart, fat, muscle, strength

2. Realize WHY you want to work out?
What will get you there even when you do not want to go?
I'll be honest. I am vain.
I want to look the best I can possibly look right now.
I want to be happy with who I see in the mirror.
Maybe for you, it's getting off medication, or wanting to feel better, or have more energy?
(do you really think I enjoyed waking up at 4:40 a.m. to get to the gym and shower before work? )

3. What foods do I need to stop placing into my mouth?
YOU feed yourself- not good or bad- just take responsibility and then decide to stop eating one type of food that you shouldn't be- take one food away for a week, then the next week stop eating something else, etc.  You can just tell yourself, "I don't eat that anymore" or "I'm not eating it until I lose "x" amount of weight"
I used to put my Hot Tamales in the freezer, so I knew they were there, but I was simply making a choice to save them for later.

4. Get Support
Who will be your cheerleader outside of ME?
I will cheer you on, for sure, but who else? Who will hold you accountable, encourage you, etc. Research has shown that you will get better results if you are accountable to someone.
Tell a good friend that you want to work on your health this year and I'm sure he/she will support you.

5. Learn how to eat - read/ ask/ research!
Fact: fit/lean people eat differently than overweight, obese people.
I'd be happy to help you- this website can help and there are many more out there!
We learned how/what to eat growing up, and I'll admit that I had to "clean my plate" because "there were starving children in China". I can still clean my plate, but I don't have to  have a man-sized serving!
You can also go here for some ideas/recipes....baby steps!

6. Learn about exercise and fitness- read/ask/research!
I'd be happy to help you here, too! Seriously, just ask!
I also get workout ideas from   :http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/

What I do is fairly simple, 

I've just kept doing it for a long, long time.

I've also had others help me here and there.

An old friend, gave me my arm workout ( called 21's )

 which came from Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding book!

I had other friends at the gym give me tips here and there that have helped.

I've also read, researched and asked others what they do!

Here is the truth- 

YOU have to decide that YOU are going to change  

your mentality regarding your body 

before your body is going to change. 

It will NOT happen in one day, 

one week 

or 

even one month. 

You have got to be in this for life-

you may be saving YOURS!

Remember,

to just keep going!

What is the most difficult part to starting a new health plan for YOU?

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

Goodbye 2012-

Hello 2013!

Imagine that-

a new blank page.

Ahhhhh,

whatever happened in 2012 is gone.

Still remembered, 

but gone.

I love the thought of a new year.

Yes, I usually do this every year :

and I've done it already with 2013 in mind, 

but this year will be different.

How?

Well, I think goals are important,

however,

I believe what is MORE important

is the process and journey that we are in and on to achieve our goals.

I believe that giving God the glory for each and every goal set and achieved 

is 

what's important.

I believe that as we strive to deepen our relationship with God,

we change,

we become stronger,

more able,

through 

HIS strength

and

HIS power.

By our surrender to HIS strength and power,

we are allowed access to it.

My #1 goal for 2013 is to grow in a much deeper, 

closer, 

more intimate relationship with God.

When I do that first,

then I truly believe that my goals will 

be achieved with much more 

JOY 

this year.

My list of goals:

#1: Growing in a deeper relationship with God

through daily prayer/meditation,

memorizing a verse each week

# 2 : Continue to prioritize my relationships w/my spouse

and children through quality time w/each member, each week. 

#3 : Write daily

500+ words a day

(gotta start somewhere)

#4 : 2 or more 1/2 Marathons,

beating my own times.

#5 : Maintain my fitness routine

through 5 days @week workouts

#6 : Count my blessings each and every day!

What are your goals and priorities for 2013?

Don't have any?

Still thinking about them?

Want to join me and my friend, Mary DeMuth and 

work on a 

new heart 

for

 2013?

How can I pray for you?

Looking Forward to What Lies Ahead!

(Thank you, Julie @ Joy's Hope)

I LOVE this verse...the perfect verse to start the very first month of a brand new year!

I am taking a bible study and we are learning about Paul, the author of this verse.

Paul was not your ordinary man, but in many ways, I guess he was.

When I first read about Paul (he was originally named Saul) I learned that he was:

Prideful

Arrogant,

Hateful,

Selfish,

Ambitious,

Righteous,

Intense,

Cowardly,

Religious,

Intellectual,

Closed Minded,

Indignant.

After his meeting with the risen Christ, he was:

CHANGED!

Grateful,

Selfless,

LOVING,

FORGIVEN,

Committed,

Surrendered,

Intentional,

Purposeful,

Obedient,

Fearless,

Encouraging,

Strong,

Peaceful,

Paul is speaking to the Philippians and to all the believers everywhere.

Can you imagine that he is writing this note from a prison in Rome?

I want to be like Paul.

He is able to find JOY,

REAL JOY,

WHATEVER the circumstance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had a bad year last year, okay, I'll say it.

I had a CRAPPY year!

Among other losses, my father passed.

I had a pretty good pity-party.

Party for 3?

Me, myself and I!

I have lots of reasons to continue in my pity party, but this verse says to

STOP!

I MUST...

FOCUS...

ALL..

my...

ENERGIES..

on what... lies...

AHEAD!

(now try that with a William Shatner imitation)

How do I do this?

By spending time refueling with the LORD,

through prayer and reading...

letting HIS WORD

sink in....

deep...

within my head,

heart

and

soul.

I must FOCUS on His HOPE...

"Those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint".

Isaiah 40:31

I must FOCUS on HIM...

"Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12: 1-2

What do you need to FOCUS on?

.

January 21, 2010

Happy Birthday Dad, and Happy Birthday John!

Today I attended my first class called, "Speak On Him", where I will have an opportunity to grow and develop my speaking and writing skills. I laugh because I have always disliked writing and was scared to death to speak or even be in front of others....will always rememeber crying, yes, crying when a visitor would come over to our house. We always had nice people visit, so why the crying? I was afraid...afraid of this NEW person...yes, call me a Scaredy Cat.
Also, when I was in Kindergarten, we had a Winter Play, and I remember being dressed in mittens, a big puffy jacket, a hat and a scarf (maybe even some cheesy, bright colored plastic rain boots)and we were all lined up on the side of the auditorium waiting for our turn to go up the stairs to sing, I'm guessing, and I burst out in tears....never went up on stage, either!
In Intermediate School, I have NO IDEA why I would compete in our Speech Contest, but I did. I memorized Martin Luther King's speech "I have a dream". I think I got second place, but this is where I remember my eyes starting to water whenever I spoke in front of groups...
It happened when I had to give my speech while running for ASB Vice President...I think they all felt sorry for me and voted for me....I won! ha ha

All this to say, that God has taken something that I have always feared deeply, more deeply than anyone knows and HE has turned it into a blessing that I can share-
so I'm taking this class as an act of FAITH...I don't feel truly confident about my speaking or writing skills, but I'm here anyway because of FAITH. The bible says in Matthew 17: 20 "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,you can say to this mountain,move from htere to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you"....I think I may have that much! :-)
Faith is ACTION- it is believing in something BEFORE you see it, it is taking a step onto a stone that you CANNOT see and onto a PATH that leads to the unknown!!!
I'm excited on this new path...scared as heck, but feeling quite alive!
I have to remember that this is a new year, and because I want new and different results, I will be doing new and different things to see those results...

It Starts TODAY!!!!!

Ok- this is it! It starts TODAY and I'm officially a writer! Ha ha! (in my own world)
But seriously, I have been wanting to write and have written notes in a variety of notebooks, stick'ems, journals, and napkins among other things and now I will have to find all of those random thoughts and put them HERE!!! Yippppeeeee!!!! (thank you Gina!)

We watched "Julie & Julia" last night and I was so inspired that this regular gal started writing, and it grew into something really beautiful..........and SHE grew along with it!

I want that...don't we all??? Well, not all of us, but I do.....I'm excited about starting a new year and a new decade. I'm excited that just by doing THIS, I've already taken a little step towards my dream- to be a writer and speaker- to inspire and encourage women all over the world!

What about YOU? What can you do differently THIS year that will make a change in YOU- THIS YEAR????
Keep dreaming, keep feeling and keep hoping.......