Faith Fitness and Laughter

Morning!  How are you this morning?  It’s Friday!! 

 

 

 

 

Today is a vacation for me so right now I am just enjoying the morning and drinking on a glorious cup of coffee.  You know, I love coffee and lets be frank, I could drink it any time.  But there is something about that first cup in the morning.   

 

My plan was to leave out this morning to go see my parents, but we’ve had one of our cats get really sick.  The vets words, “I am not sure I can save him”….  So Smokey (the cat), has been at the vets office for two days now and I am not sure if I will even be able to pick him up even today.  The plan now?  I am going to try and leave really early in the morning, but I am just playing it by ear.

I am going to head out in a bit to go clean my friends house, who is now on maternity leave!  Bless her heart, I know she can’t wait to have her little man.  That should only take me a couple of hours and then I am going to swing by another friends yard sale to visit with her.   

I love friends. 

 

This leads me to what I want to talk about today!

 

Things I am loving:

 

1. Wax for braces.  Oh my goodness!  I really don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have this stuff!  Sometimes I don’t need it, but then there will be a slight move and a new bracket or wire will stick out…. 
2. Connecting.  Here’s the thing.  I am a creature of habit.  I love it actually.  I mean I really love having my day planned out…….even my bathroom breaks.  Lol!  So, connecting with people and meeting new ones is pretty great.  It’s also great connecting with old friends that you haven’t talked to in a while.  We need each other.  We really do.  It’s not healthy to go inward and not let others in.  So, even with the trust issues that I would probably say that I have, it’s nice to be around people and it’s nice to be letting them in. 
3. Growth.  It really is a beautiful thing.
4. Thinking about things that are lovely.  The first step to getting negative thoughts out of the head is to think about things…..well…..that are not negative.  Thinking about things that are good drives those negative thoughts out of there! 
5. Being outside.   For a very long time I didn’t want to get out and do anything.  Mainly because I was so overweight, but I really do love being outside and have for the past few years.  Any chance I get, I want to be out there.  Walking, running, chilling out in the woods.  I just want to be outside!
6. Flip-flops.  I have waited all winter to wear you!  I’ve missed you!
7. Toes!  I am going to get my toes done later today!
8. Ladies bible study.  For the last couple of months we have met at our pastors house to just talk about what God is doing in our lives.  Last night we met and I just had the best time.  The first one that we met at I was a hot mess.  Things had just ended with Kevin and I was just all over the place.  Now?  I’m not a hot mess anymore!  I am thankful.  Thankful that God loves us enough to remove things in our lives that are just not good.  Reading His word and being around other ladies that  are also reading His word is very encouraging. 

 

 

 

 

Well, I have a busy day ahead of me!  So I have to get to it! 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great day!!!

Hello friends    I hope you are up and at ‘em this morning!  It’s Wednesday and I am excited to start the day!  I have church tonight right after work and we are celebrating our graduates…  One in particular I have watched grow into a beautiful young woman and I just can’t believe that she is graduating.  She has a huge heart and a servants heart.  She gets it honest because her parents are just like that too!  Anytime something needs to be done, they are there.  They really are great people and I am not surprised that Brianna turned out the way she did. 

 

Workout:

 

One of the super cool things that I love about the Pump series is that they incorporate other things in there as well.  Last night, it was yoga.  Or Flow as they call it.  It was a simple 15 minute yoga session that really stretched my muscles out.  This mornings workout was the Pump Challenge that is also just a 20 minute workout, but still intense in it’s own right.  They worked every single muscle area and my quads were screaming by the time we were finished! 

My favorite move?  The Clean and Press.   It’s all about technique when it comes to this series and this one is just about that.  Technique.  I am by no means an expert when it comes to exercising or certain moves, but this one I really like.  I can’t wait to add more weight to the barbell! 

 

 

I couldn’t find one from the Pump series, but this one will do. 

 

 

 

 

I really really like it!  I haven’t been this excited about working out in a while now.  Change can be good!

 

 

 

Okay…. I have spent too much time reading blogs and now I am out of time!  Got to hit the shower and get ready for the day!

 

I hope you have a great one!

Morning my friends!  It’s Sunday!  I think that summer has officially hit Arkansas.  The summers here are pretty brutal when it comes to the humidity and heat.  I will admit though that it usually gets hot here in April, but it’s nearly the end of May and it’s just now starting to heat up.  Today it’s supposed to be hot, but the sun is supposed to be out and that is a good thing. 

 

I am excited to say that I am actually going to rest today!  I have zero planned and so I am going to spend it in God’s word and reflecting on my week and getting ready for the upcoming week.  I have a short week coming up because I am taking some vacation days to head out of town for Memorial Day.  So, Thursday is my Friday! 

 

Tonight, I am going to be getting my meals ready for the week.

 

Planned to cook:

 

• quinoa
• turkey burgers
• HB eggs
• chicken breast
• broccoli
• pre-bag up apples, oranges, and cherries
• Whole wheat pasta
• spinach
• carrots

 

 

Workouts:

I came home from work yesterday and this was waiting for me!

 

 

 

Pump

 

 

 

Sometimes:

 

Sometimes I like to do things that people don’t expect me to do.  I try to make right decisions and follow the rules, but sometimes…..every once and a while I like to go against the grain. 

 

Sometimes I like to turn on 80’s music and dance.   I mean really just jump around and dance.  Van Halen, Rick Springfield, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Poison, Guns N’ Roses…..You name it. 

 

Sometimes I can only take people in small doses.  I really try to like everyone, but sometimes I run into people that I really can only tolerate for 60 seconds. 

 

Sometimes I drink coffee all day long.  I really can.  It’s a gift………………..and a curse.

 

Sometimes I eat too much chocolate.  And enjoy it.

 

Sometimes I check out guys in the line at the grocery store and get caught by the cashier.  True story. 

 

Sometimes I think about running all day long and then get home to do it and don’t.  Another true story.

 

Sometimes I wait too long to tweeze my eyebrows.  I mean waaay too long. 

 

Sometimes I let my gas tank get nearly empty before filling up again.  My dad is a hardcore half-tank person….  “fill up at half a tank!”

 

Sometimes I just want to smack the stupid out of people.  There is no room in my bubble for it.  No room.  At all. 

 

Sometimes I don’t want to get on my blog and post. 

 

Sometimes I am human.

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy your Sunday! 

Good Monday morning to you!  I hope that you had a great weekend and you were able to spend it with your mom’s. 

 

 

 

Fitness:

 

One of the things that has been lacking in my life is a regular schedule of fitness.  Oh I work out, but it’s hit or miss really.  To be quite honest, I have actually enjoyed the break.  There were some workouts where I think that I was just working out for the sake of it.  The only thought in my head was that I was being fit!  This was far from it.  I want to be able to see my body change with my workouts, not feel completely drained after them.  I need a plan.  A good one.  I don’t want to just depend on running for my workouts, but I do want to incorporate it in there.  I want a balanced workout that includes my entire body, not just my legs. 

So I am going to be getting together a plan…..an organized plan of workouts. 

One of the things that I want to look at is this…. Body Pump 

 

 

Marvelous In My Monday:

 

 

Marvelous is my cat Ghost… He is the best cat….Well, I think so anyway.  My dad would say that he is a bit “off”..  The best thing about him?  He’s mine.  I love it when he wants to be right next to me and wants to cuddle.  He really is the best cat and he is adorable.

 

 

 

Marvelous is my first race finished!  I can’t tell you what a confidence booster this was.  I now know that I can run in a race and not feel so self conscious about it. 

 

 

Good times!

 

Marvelous is the fact that I want to try a dance class.   I really do.  I have been thinking about it for a while now and probably have mentioned it on here a long time ago, but I think that it would be so much fun!  Even if it’s just one class, I want to try it. 

 

Marvelous is my mom.  I can’t tell you how thankful that I am to have my mother in my life.  Both her and my dad brought me up in a home that was filled with love.  My mom is someone that I can talk to and get godly advice from and she always tells me to seek out His will in my life and no one else’s.  Having this time to spend with  her and with my dad is really a blessing and something that I am so thankful for.  One of the greatest things that I can think of that my mother has given me is introducing me to Christ.  They took me to church and it was there that I first heard about Christ and what He did for you and for me. 

 

Marvelous is my new coffee cup!!

 

<3

 

Marvelous is finding out that the adults in my church have a bowling date the last Friday in May!  I was talking to one of my friends at church last night and she was telling me about it and I am really excited!  I am not the best bowler, but I am pretty stoked about getting to hang out with the people that I worship with.  This is something that I think is very important.  I love my church… and I think it’s important to find a church to worship in and serve in. 

 

 

Breakfast:

 

 

Cinnamon toast with almond butter and one egg cooked in olive oil

 

 

I hope you have a great day and a Marvelous Monday!

 

Question:  What workouts are you loving right now?

Morning my friends!   How has your weekend been?  Mine has been pretty busy, but it’s been a really great one.  The weather has been perfect and so I have been outside as much as I can be.  My family also celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday because my parents are leaving today to do some more RVing.  I’m going to miss them

 

The last time we talked I went to the Air Base in Jacksonville AR…..

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Women Can Run Race:

 

Well I finally did it.  I ran in a race!  A few weeks back I registered for the Women Can Run race and counted down the days until it was here.  My plan was to get up at 4:30 so that I would have plenty of time to get ready and meet my friends that I was running with.  I was kind of unsure of the place that we were meeting at so I wanted to have plenty of time to find it.  Well, I completely turned my alarm off (without knowing it) and continued to sleep!  I really don’t know what I would have done if my mom hadn’t been up at 5:00!  She was getting something to drink and was checking to see if I had left yet….  No I hadn’t. 

Anyway, I rushed around and then I was out the door…

I grabbed a banana and one cup of coffee and called it good.  I wasn’t sure how the coffee was going to set on my tummy because as of late every time that I run, my tummy really does some talking to me.  It burns.  I don’t know if it’s because it’s not empty or what but it really does bother me after a run. 

Thankfully, it didn’t! 

 

 

 

I found the place where we were meeting with no problems

 

 

 

This was my first experience standing in line to get a race packet, but it really did go by fast.  The line to the bathroom however did not.  Thankfully, one the girls that I ran with had the brilliant idea to stop at McDonald’s and use the potty. 

Best idea ever!

 

 

 

Our names were in alphabetical order, which made it super easy to find your name and get your number. 

 

Packets were gotten and then we went to warm up….No pictures, but there was some Zumba going on!

 

After this we got in line and waited for the race to start..

 

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about the run, but once I got started that all just went away.  I felt really good too!  The weather was perfect and it was really nice and cool.  The best part of it being my first race was that it was on a flat surface!  For the most part it was shaded too….which I loved.  I really just tried to pace myself and even tried to find someone that I could match.  I tried to match this really tall girl because I liked her pace, but let’s face it, I’m 5’4 and she was probably 5’11.  Not happening! 

So, I just followed my own pace.  It was really cool to see a bunch of women running and running for a great cause.  Women’s health   Throughout the race there were people on the sides cheering us on and that was really cool.  Toward the end it actually really helped.  I felt a bit tired and was running out of steam, but seeing everyone really did help.  The best part was that I didn’t think about anything other than running and how great I felt during the race.  It was nice. 

 

 

 

 

There was one water break and I couldn’t wait to grab my first water!  There was this little girl helping and she was just standing there waiting for someone to take her water….I was hoping that no one would so that I could get it from her……and I did.  She was the cutest thing…

 

By the time I reached the end of the course, there was a ton of people everywhere and for a spit second I become nervous about people watching us all run…  but it went away as soon as I realized that they were cheering us on and telling us “good job!”  “you can do it!!”   It was a really good feeling….

I finished in just over 32 minutes and you know what?  I am proud of that!  I wanted it to be under 30, but finishing was what I really wanted to do. 

 

 

 

 

My friend Cindy who is one of our Regional Managers where I work….

 

 

 

 

On my way home I stopped by Fresh Market to pick up a couple of things….

 

 

 

When I got home I got to spend some time with my niece and nephew too….

 

 

 

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience on my first race… I loved it!  The company, the organization, the course, and the weather.  It was just a good day!  I can’t wait to register for my next race! 

 

I hope you guys have a great Sunday!

Morning!   Well it’s my day off and I am still having to get up early…. What?  I took the day off to spend it with my parents and head over the Commissary to do a little grocery shopping…   They have doctors appointments so I have to actually ride in with them and wait until they are all finished before we head that way.  No big deal..

 

Braces:

I don’t think I have told you lately, but I am starting to see some movement in my teeth!  I just kind of forgot to update you on them!  There are some days where I don’t even know that they are there….  and then there are others where I want to actually pull my teeth out!  There were a couple of days where I had some sensitivity to anything cold and even the air hitting my teeth.  I was reassured that it was normal to the teeth moving. 

Anyway, I am happy to say that I see movement and can’t wait to see more!

 

Work was really productive today and I was happy that it went by pretty fast.  The drive home I listened to this song the entire time…

 

 

 

Times by Tenth Avenue North

Great great song…

 

Today on my lunch I wanted to spend some time in God’s word.  It was a really nice day and sunny, so it was the perfect time….  Anyway, I found 1 John and started reading.  I just wanted to enjoy His word and just be close to Him.  I came across this:

 

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.  1 John 3:20

 

I think that a lot of times we can condemn ourselves of things much harder than God does.  How can we approach this perfect God with our concerns when we feel they will be this huge burden to Him.  That He isn’t big enough to take care of them or carry them for us.  But He can.  We really are never alone. 

I have such a tendency to wear rose colored glasses and if you ask my family and friends, I usually never remove them.  I take people as they are and accept them for who they are.  When you tell me something, I believe it.  I’m a literal.  At the core.  My boss actually makes fun of the fact that I can be this big push over.  But, I really can be.  With that said, I do have another tendency.  Being a doormat.  I really do think that I have this sign on my head that just says… “will believe anything you say!” 

I don’t think this is a bad quality, but the whole doormat thing…… it is.  I’m getting somewhere with this I promise….. 

 

When I was saved at the age of 10, I hadn’t quite experienced life yet.  I had not been hurt.  I hadn’t had a broken heart.  I hadn’t entered the adult world of big decisions, nor had I entered the world of working.  There were no major disappointments or any real sadness up to this point in my life and yet God ordained that moment, that beautiful moment to save me.  Even typing this out, I am just overwhelmed with so many emotions of that thought. 

Who loves like that?  Who steps in when we have absolutely zero hope of ever accomplishing something like that on our own.  Who sees fit to rescue us from a life without joy?  Who takes our place? 

You see, my first love isn’t a person.  It’s Him.  And it’s His church.  I think that I forgot that somewhere in the last year or two and especially in the last four months.  I forgot what it’s like to see a child come to know the Lord and be forever changed.  I forgot what it’s like to actually have to pray with my head up and my eyes open because of the fact that it wasn’t appropriate in the country I was in.  I forgot what it was like to not be able to speak the same language as a sister in Christ and yet we understood each other perfectly.  I forgot what it’s like to be with a group of people that I had never even met before and in a week be like family.  I forgot what it was like to be so exhausted and feel like you weren’t making a difference to be humbled by an old lady in a small village.  I had forgotten what it was like for a child to take your hand and tell you that they love you after only minutes of being with them.  I had forgotten what it was like to know that there are people right now waiting for someone to tell them about Jesus. 

I forgot that I matter.  I matter in the grand scheme of things and that He has a plan for my life.  A bigger plan than I can ever come up with or imagine on my own.  I forgot that.  

I forgot that He is greater than my heart and knows all things.

 

I had someone reach out to me in the last couple of days…. I am not sure if their motives were pure or not and I really don’t care.  I was reminded (not by this person) that people are going to do bad things and unfortunately they are going to lie and be manipulative whether they they think their intentions are good or not.  But I can’t answer for that and I don’t have to.  For a brief moment, I took off my rose colored glasses and I am thankful beyond what I can express in words for this.

 

 

Here’s the end to the song above:

I hear you say,

My love is over. It’s underneath

It’s inside.  It’s in between

The times you doubt Me, when you can’t feel

The times you question, “is this for real?”

The times that you’re broken

The times that you mend

The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend

Well, My love is over, it’s underneath

It’s inside, it’s in between

These times you are healing and when your heart breaks

The times that you feel like you’re falling from grace

The times you’re hurting

The times that you heal

The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal

The times in confusion, in chaos and pain

I’m there through your heartache

I’m there in the storm

My love I will keep you, by My power alone

I don’t care where you fall, where you have been

I’ll never forsake you, My love never ends

It never ends.

 

I hope you guys have a great day

Just popping in this Sunday morning to let you know we had an awesome time at the Youth cook out yesterday….. Well I did that is for sure! 

 

 

Can you believe this weather??  It’s crazy…. It’s may and you could see our breath!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deer Sausage…. I am not a fan of deer meat, but this was SO good… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s it folks!  Have a great day!

I love the weekends.  I really do.  Especially when I don’t have to work and I can go for a run with a good friend..   I met my friend Angey this morning at her house for a 3 miler…  It was a lot of fun to run with someone and it was a lot of fun to catch up over some coffee.  I miss her!  Um, can I just say that running on the road and running on a treadmill are two different worlds!! 

Angey is like the other half of me when it comes to sisterhood.  She and I have been through quite a lot together and I can’t tell you how much it made me smile to meet with her this morning.  Out of all of my friends she is the one that can complete my thoughts.  We can also do goofy stuff together too!

 

 

 

After I left Angey’s house I headed to my other friends house that I clean on Saturdays.  Her and her husband are selling their home and she wanted it to be clean when someone came to look at it.  She’s in the last part of her pregnancy so it’s kind of hard for her to be on her feet a lot.  I don’t mind and I love to clean. 

 

My parents are also home for a week and I couldn’t wait to get home to see them.  I’ve really missed them, especially in the last month. 

 

The youth at my church is having a cook out tonight so we are going to check that out…. The cook out just happens to be at a neighbors house!  Yay!  After that I think I am going to come home and relax for the rest of the night.   

 

Might even check to see if there is a Farmers Market in Little Rock tomorrow and if there is I might go check that out after church..  Have a great Saturday! 

One of the hardest things that I find in maintaining a blog is sharing those intimate parts of our lives.  You know the ones…..the ugly ones.  The ones that we like to keep in the closet and no matter what never ever get them out.  The ones that we just know that if we share them or tell them to someone, they would forever look at you differently.  The ones that make us cry at night. The ones that, when you think there is no alternative, cause us to make rash decisions. 

You know the ones.

 

It’s a new month and everyone is setting goals.  I wanted to share some of mine with you….

 

May 2013 Goals

 

1. Run everyday.  Even if it’s just for one mile. 
2. Baking themed day.  I really want to have one day a week where I have a baking theme.  Like, Baking With Me Tuesdays!  Something like that.  Look for it in the coming week. 
3. Find one thing that I like about myself everyday. 
4. Really listen to my hunger cues. 
5. Go to the Farmers Market

 

Simple really, but I am really okay with that.

 

If I had to pinpoint a time in my life when I felt like I needed to be perfect, it would probably be when I made the decision to lose the weight.  That was in 2001.  I didn’t know it at the time, but during my journey I would develop unhealthy thought patterns.  Some I was able to let go of, but others just hung on and even evolved into bigger issues.  I could burry them for a time, but they would always rear their ugly heads from time to time.  Even now, I deal with them. 

 

 

Having the occasional negative thought I think is probably normal, but it’s what you do with that thought that is important.  

 

 

When I tell someone that I struggle with negative thinking, I get this strange look……really?   Yes, really.  The main reason that it’s difficult for me is that I have Christ in my heart and yet still think about myself in a negative way sometimes. 

 

 

I think that is why I like to laugh so much.  To hide the fact that I struggle on the inside….  I have so much compassion for people and just want to love on everyone that I see, but when I get run over my heart just crumbles.

 

 

How in the world do we get to a place where the negative thoughts we have about ourselves don’t totally consume us.  There are triggers that occur and bring them out, but a lot of times we burry them deep down.  You know the ones…. What I am going to share with you are really personal thoughts, but sharing them is a big deal and a big step for me. 

 

• Sometimes I feel that I have to be perfect for someone to love me
• I feel I have to earn someone’s love
• If I have a goal and don’t reach it, I feel like a failure
• When someone rejects me, I feel like a failure and I have to know the reasons why
• My body image is very low and I feel like I have to be a certain size to be loved
• I worry constantly about what I eat and if I eat something bad I feel very guilty
• When I look at myself I don’t see what’s good but what I need to work on
• I feel the need to clean all of the time and when things are not in their place it bothers me
• If I am coached or someone points out something that I need to work on I have an overwhelming sense of not being good enough
• When something bad happens, I play it over and over in my head.  Why did it change?  What happened?  Could I have done anything differently to change the outcome?
• I feel the need to be moving all of the time.  It’s hard for me to relax
• I never ask for help and if I ever do I feel guilty and like I am an inconvenience
• I feel the need to apologize for things that are not my fault
• I worry about what others think
• If I have a relationship that ends, I always feel like I am the one at fault for it ending.  Like somehow I failed

 

 

It’s the ugly stuff that is hard for us to share.  To open up about.  I don’t think these thoughts all of the time, but they are the ones that I struggle with.  I’m almost terrified to hit the “publish” button because I feel that I will be judged. 

 

 

I am really glad that it’s Friday and I am off tomorrow…..I have a running date with a good friend and then we are going to enjoy some coffee.  We are also getting together for a cook out at one of our church members house…. 

Have a great weekend!

Morning!  I really can’t believe that it’s May already!?  How in the world does the year pass by so fast?   First of the months where I work are pretty busy so I am sure today will fly by!  I have some goals that I want to share with you guys, but haven’t gotten them ready to type up yet.    

 

Yesterday for lunch I wanted a salad and I wanted it from Panera Bread….

 

My favorite….  Chicken Fugi Apple…    It was so good, but with the braces, the pecans were interesting to eat!  I think my favorite part is the blue cheese….

 

On my way home I stopped to take a couple of pictures that I have been wanting to take for a while now.  It’s just a pretty site every day that I drive by it…

 

 

 

 

Some of the things that I have been putting off have finally been getting done….. thank goodness!

 

1. Oil change.
2. tire rotation

 

Here is what I am going to do this weekend:

1. clean out closet
2. organize bathroom
3. organize pantry

 

I really do love to clean!  Strange, I know. 

 

 

I am also searching out a couple of new recipes that I want to try out and precook for the week.  I really do find that I like doing that and I love leftovers, so it’s a win/win. 

 

Short and sweet today!   I hope you have a wonderful day!! 

 

Before I go, I wanted to share something that I read in my devotion this morning….

 

You are on the path of My choosing.  There is no randomness about your life.

 

I love this.   When I share some of the goals that I have for myself, I will go into more depth with this.