Fit, Fabulous 40's Friday!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!
(and my longest post ever-if you do just one thing, watch the video at the end)

I was going to title today's post, "Living La Vida Loca" because my life has been a little like that!

So, I am sorry to those of you who may have wondered what happened to me for the last few weeks!

I'll give you the "Cliff Notes" version-

about a month ago, I noticed a small jelly-bean shaped mass on the side of my right breast,
so I made an appointment to get it checked.

During that week before my check-up, I began thinking of the possibilities:
Cancer, being the first one, and of course, the worst.

Knowing that it could be one of two outcomes, I prayed.
Honestly, I was a little freaked out, thinking about my children, husband and all the things that I believe God has a plan for me to do, but you just never know what HIS plan is.
So I prayed some more and trusted.

Only a few people knew about it- I only shared it with a close group of women that I attend Bible Study with because we share some pretty intimate stuff and I didn't want anyone else to worry-
unless they had a reason to.
I didn't even tell my mom or sister- even though I know they both would have prayed for me.
Weird.

So I went for the Mammogram and because I had my "little Jelly-Bean Guy" there,
they also had me do an Ultrasound.

That was cool- I could actually SEE what was going on inside there.
The doctor came in and he pointed out my JBG and said he could see blood going through it and that it was part of my lymphnode.

With all the evidence,
 they believed that it was NON-cancerous.

EXHALE......whew.

So, as you can imagine,
I was and am SO grateful that everything was fine.

The next day when I woke up, I was just grateful to be home, in my bed, breathing.

I decided I would give my BEST effort every single day to do more of these things:

1. Make sure my children and husband know I love them,
through words, hugs, laughter, engagement.

2. Spend time daily thanking God for the wonderful, FULL, rich life I have!

3. Being grateful for every little thing

4. Show grace, love and forgiveness to everyone I came into contact with

5. Give compliments generously and genuinely

6. Be as engaged as possible, every moment of each day

7. Say prayers for my friends and family who don't believe in God

8. Be more flexible

9. Give people the benefit of the doubt

10.Love myself more and forgive myself more.

After that crazy week, I've been watching alot of baseball-
Go Cardinals!

Some track meets

Kiana has been sprinting and pole vaulting...

I've been substitute teaching a little here and there,

at Madison (my friend Jill's First Grade classroom)

so clean, right?

And in Kindergarten

this week for my friend Peter...

I "heart" Kindergarten,

and last week I had the opportunity to speak at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church

to speak on Friendship

and here yesterday to speak on Prayer

on the National Day of Prayer!

What an honor!

My mom came to watch and then she, my sister and I went out for some Japanese Food

at Fukada

SO, so good!

having some fun, 

as usual-

My sister and I-

Then, I got my baby washed, (my little red car)

picked up the boys,

picked up the girl after her practice,

took her to her voice lesson

here

and then made this for dinner:

Yes, I fry my taco shells, really, is there any other way to eat REAL tacos?

What I DID do is use EVOO, and drained the oil, see?

I also used lean, ground turkey,

non-fat Rosarita beans,

low-fat cheese,

non-fat lettuce and avocados!

I think Luke ate 5!

Then,

for a treat- gotta enjoy these kids while they are still at home,

we went here

Ok,

Luke made the one at 12 o'clock,

mochi, chocolate dips

John had the one at 2 o'clock,

strawberries, peanut-butter, 

5 o'clock is easy to guess w/all that candy- LOGAN (not me!)

mini m&m's, always a cherry,

mine was at 7 o'clock

nuts, granola and sprinkles, gotta always have sprinkles

and

Kiana's is at 10 o'clock

granola and I don't know what that big white thing is.

I have been starting my mornings off with 2 tablespoons of the nastiest tasting stuff;

because it is really good for you/me and

it helps get rid of some bloat.

No lie.

After dropping off Kiana to HS

I came home and had this:

 1/2 scoop of protein

1/2 cup of oatmeal

1/2 cup of blueberries

chia

1/2 banana

I have this every single morning

and I love it.

Life is short-

we must live each day to it's fullest 

and love like there's no tomorrow!!

There may not be one-

Have a blessed day!!

Keep on moving!

"BLESSED" Women's Retreat

Thank you to the women of Mission Hills Community Church!

WOW-

saying that was an amazing weekend doesn't even describe the depth of 

love,

support,

transparency 

&

connection

that I was able to watch and experience 

through these beautiful women.

When I first arrived,

I was overwhelmed by the beauty and creativity that I saw all around the room.

You talk about gifts-

these women have many!!!

Here are a couple of shots of the entry way.

SO gorgeous!

There was a bag FULL of swag!

The FIRST time I was the Keynote Speaker-

and I was so humbled by God.

God has really worked a miracle in me:

My first memory of being in front of people was traumatic!

In Kindergarten, our class was on stage to sing for a Winter Program-

 I ran off the stage crying.

In Middle School I attempted to face my fear and competed in our school's 

Speech Contest 

and I think I won-

reading Martin Luther King's famous speech,

"I Have a Dream".

I actually memorized the whole thing.

Nowadays, 

I'm lucky if I remember what I went to the grocery store for!

Anyhow,

just a really wonderful weekend with these women.

I shared most of my life,

specifically some of the 

"not so glamorous"

parts.

I shared the good, the bad, and yes,

the ugly.

I shared how this little girl grew up thinking that she had to be perfect and 

could not let anyone down.

And because of the pressure she had put on herself,

she made many, many bad choices.

I've referred to some of my many mistakes here.

BUT...

what I was reminded of this weekend and shared,

was that we have ALL sinned.

We have ALL made mistakes.

What matters is what we do with them.

If you don't believe in God, 

you hope no one finds out and you go on 

living your life,

hiding your mistakes with shame and guilt.

That takes a lot of energy.

(I know)

Shame and guilt are like shackles,

they are bondage that keep us from living a completely JOY filled life,

a life filled with peace and happiness.

BUT,

if you believe in God and TRUST him with your shame and guilt,

by surrendering them to him,

he will BLESS you for it.

You are FREE from that bondage

that shame and guilt keeps us in-

I asked the women if anyone had ever been skydiving-

not one in the room,

except for Moi.

Yes, 

I have been skydiving and shared how 

when I was at the door of that airplane getting ready to jump-

it was THE single scariest moment of my life-

I jumped and screamed with everything I had- 

and kept screaming until the "professional" that was strapped to me tapped my side 

to remind me that I had to pull the chord so the parachute would open-

I pulled-

and as the parachute was opening, 

I was pulled upward as the parachute opened and then-

silence

and

beauty 

ALL around me.

Trusting God is kind of like jumping out of that airplane:

scary.

But when you do, 

you receive all the benefits of living a faith filled life:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness,goodness

and 

self-control.

And,

you get the REAL "professional" strapped to you-

He will never leave you or forsake you-

I heard this song and love the lyrics-

no matter what mistakes I've made and/or continue to make,

I have a GOD who forgives me,

values me

and

loves me, 

NO. MATTER. WHAT.

Do you?

(turn it UP!)

         

I'm so grateful that His mercies are new EVERY morning!

Let Jesus lift you up today-

Let him fill you with his spirit-

let go-

Happy Valentine's Day

Heard this on the radio this morning after dropping off my High Schooler.

Have you heard this song before?

It is by Big Daddy Weave.

As I listened to the words, tears welled up in my eyes.

I sang it

with 

a 

very,

very,

very, 

grateful 

heart.

I could SO relate to this song, so I'm sharing it with you.

I AM LOVED and YOU ARE LOVED-

and REDEEMED.

On a day where we, as a country, 

celebrate "LOVE",

God's love is the ONE LOVE that can cover our past with forgiveness,

help me see today (and every day) as a blessing,

and

guarantee a wonderful future with Him in heaven.

Will you be with Him in heaven?

I love my life, my friends and family, 

but

I tell you.

Sometimes life just sucks.

Right?

THAT is why I am so grateful I have a mighty Lord that flushes out all the crap in my heart-

just being real.

I love you-

JESUS loves you

and that's all I wanted to say today!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Yesterday would have been Dad's 80th Birthday.

Oh, you don't know Moe?

Moe was my dad who passed away almost 3 years ago.

If you go back to read the link, it was my very first experience blogging.

Pretty raw and emotional.

I hesitated to write about Dad yesterday, being MLK Day, and all.

But, it was his birthday, and we always celebrated it.

Happy Birthday, Dad - miss you. 

A lot.

Funny story:

When I was a 5th Grader at Montebello Intermediate School, 

I actually competed in the Annual Speech Contest and won. 

I said Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  

Seriously!

Pretty funny, if you think about it.

Ten year old, chubby Japanese girl saying that speech.

I won.

Imagine that.

Makes me laugh when I think about it.

I hated public speaking, though. 

I wonder WHY I competed.

In fact, I had a lot of trophies and medals from competing in a lot of things.

Spelling Contests, Speech Contests, Handwriting Contests, Basketball Tournaments,

you name it, I competed in it. 

And I usually came out with some treasure.

I had to prove I was successful, I had to prove my worth.

The RESULT was more valuable than the PROCESS.

Dad passed 3 years ago.

I said a MLK speech 37ish years ago.

Have I changed? 

If change were miles, then I have gone around the world 2 or 3 times.

(at least- and really, really slowly)

In my "old age" I have learned that the PROCESS is more valuable than the RESULT.

"When you embrace, engage and enjoy in the PROCESS your results will be magnificent!"

(Janet Hertogh)

I believe that this holds true in parenting, relationships, anything creative, fitness, 

and life in general.

Kind of a scattered post- just my thoughts on this beautiful morning.

Feeling very blessed to have had my dad, still have my mom and crazy family.

How have you changed in the last 3 years, in the last 37? 

(if you are even that old!)

What are you feeling blessed for today?

Do everything you do today,
with LOVE!

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?

Wednesday's Wish...

Hello Friends!

Today, I wanted to touch on Motherhood

and

how to let your children know in their heads and their hearts that 

they are loved.

I wrote about my son Luke, in the past.

Our relationship has become so much better and stronger

as I take intentional steps to understand him.

It hasn't been easy, and he has challenged me to become someone better than I was before.

In the past he has questioned me, pushed me away, ignored me and has disrespected me.

I didn't know that this was all a test.

He has stretched me to delve deep inside my heart to draw out the 

deepest and widest love 

that I didn't even know I had,  

so that I could show him- wholeheartedly, 

that I love him.

I love him regardless of his grades.

I love him even when he disobeys me.

I love him regardless of what he does,

and

how he acts.

He needs to know that he is important

every. single. day.

Because you know what?

He is.

We had another date night last month.

I found these pics and remembered what he told my husband the next day.

He said, "Dad, I had the best time with Mom last night".

I know he felt loved.

How do I know?

He told me!

:-)

By the way, this will work on any of your children

and/or your spouse!

We didn't plan this, but I know God did.

We ate what he wanted.

Now, I've stopped eating my MOST favorite thing in the whole world-

Hot Tamales,

but my girlfriend dropped off a box when she came to pick up her son from a little 

playdate, and I was saving them for an "emergency".

This wasn't an emergency,however, it did call for doing whatever I could to provide some sugar, er....candy for him.

He gladly accepted.

 We also watched whatever HE wanted to on T.V.  

I rarely watch any T.V. anymore, mostly because I don't want to waste my time,
but I was determined to do what HE wanted and he wanted to watch ......
"The Annoying Orange".

 I know what you're thinking, 

"Mother of the Year".

NOT the most entertaining, 

educational 

or 

inspiring show I've ever seen...

but I watched.

 Oh, that was the apple, and below is the orange, 

in case you forgot the names of fruit.

Nice lips, huh.

They talk and it's actually soooo silly that I had to laugh with him.

Oh, what we will do for our children...

The next show was "The World Largest Waterparks".

Here is a girl riding down a large slide-the longest in the nation...

riveting, I know!

Well, the night was a HUGE success and we both enjoyed the quality time.

My son is completely opposite from my daughter-

she bonds through conversation, shopping, and her basically telling me about school, church, life.

Luke's Love Language is quality time- 

time spent doing what he wants to do.
The key word is "he".

In what ways have you had to stretch yourself as a mom to show your child/ren

that they are loved?

Have a terrific Wednesday!!