13 Weight Busters

Edition #9

13 Ways To Keep Weight Down and Be Healthier (These have helped me.)

1. Drink lots and lots of water.

2. Stay away from sodas; even diet ones. (This can easily make a 10-15 lb. difference in your weight over time.)

3. Limit sugar, desserts, junk food.

4. Exercise–at least walk–at least 3 days a week. Keep moving–be more active and try not to stay too sedentary for long periods of time.

5. Go light on pastas, potatoes, bread, starches, carbs, etc.

6. Eat smaller portions.

7. Take your time when eating. (It can take 20 minutes for the brain to register that you’re full.) Also, when you know you’ve eaten enough, go ahead and remove your plate and get up, to help avoid over-eating.

8. Chew your food completely.

9. When you have the “munchies,” try chewing sugarless gum, instead of snacking.

10. Eat enough protein (meat, eggs, dairy, nuts, peanut-butter, etc.)

11. Drink milk (skim); eat yogurt, etc.

12. Make sure you get enough fiber in your diet.

13. Eat dinner by 6:00 p.m. and only a small snack thereafter.

**Update: P.S. Eat breakfast and try not to skip meals!

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**Most importantly, focus on being a good, healthy weight; not just trying to get as skinny as possible or trying to fit into a certain size! Also, pray for the Lord’s wisdom, guidance, strength, and proper perspective. Ask for His help in keeping a balanced view of health, body image, appearance, priorities, etc. While it can be a good idea to lose a few pounds and maintain a healthy weight, obsessing over wanting to look a particular way and focusing too much on self and appearance is not!

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More Photo Fun (Wordless Wed.)

Wordless Wednesday–4/30:

More Photo Fun–The Kiddos:

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Getting Ready For Church

This morning, getting my son ready for church was like many Sunday mornings ’round here. The only difference this particular morning was that I tried to find the humor in it, instead of just getting so flustered and upset… This is how things went with my little Kerry:

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Kerry came out wearing a mismatched shirt and pants, white socks, and mismatched shoes. Knowing how I was already feeling and how this particular situation usually goes, I promptly decided I needed reinforcements, so I sent in my husband Scott. Kerry then came out with a nice shirt (which actually fit) and suit pants that didn’t totally clash! That would have been good enough for me at that point, but Scott wanted me to find Kerry’s matching suit jacket.

…And so began the search. I checked everywhere…his closet, the floor, his dresser drawers, the corners, behind the dresser, etc. Then, suddenly, I said, “Oh no, don’t tell me…it’s under your bed, isn’t it?!” Sure enough, I found it, along with two of Kerry’s dress vests, all wadded up in a corner under his bed.

While Kerry was trying to complain about not wanting to wear a suit, I found him a tie that matched his shirt and suit perfectly. Then, Kerry tried to whine about wanting to wear a different tie (which of course didn’t match!) So, naturally, I told him to go ask his Daddy which tie looked better, while I tried to finish up some other things!

I was rushing around, trying to get ready, when I noticed Kerry sitting on the couch in the living room. (I remember thinking, “Can it be…is he actually ready?!”) However, knowing Kerry, I took a closer look… There was my little boy, sitting there having a pretend fight with the two ties–one in each hand! At this point, frustration finally gave way to hysterical laughter!!

Well, laughing’s certainly better than crying, right?!

So, for those of you with older boys, will you please tell me…Does it get any better?! You see, I don’t want to fill my head with grandiose illusions and false hope! But, then again, ignorance can be bliss, right?!

Yard-work and Homeschooling?!

Well, most days aren’t like this, but this morning’s homeschooling lessons consisted of the following:

[**Note: Please keep in mind that this is all in the spirit of fun and learning, and some lessons must be learned the “hard way!” ]

–“This is a jungle yard. (See Example A).”

–“This is a poor, neglected yard that needs some TLC. (See Example A again).”

–“This is called ‘yard-work.’ I will now give you a demonstration. I know it seems foreign and unfamiliar, but you’ll catch on. No, a little sweat will not kill you…”

–“This is what happens when we procrastinate and procrastinate, and then procrastinate some more: it makes more work for us at one time. This means the following will occur:”

• The grass will be 3 ft. high in some places.
• The mower and you will struggle greatly.
• The mower will become like the little train engine that said, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”
• The mower and you will only accomplish this tremendous task with much determination, positive thinking, well wishes, and lots and lots of prayer!!

–“Now, that the yard-work is completed, you may obtain a better idea of what a yard is actually supposed to look like! (See Example B). This is also a good example of stewardship–taking care of what God has given us!”

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**Note: As I was working on the yard today, the following dialogue also occurred:

At my request, Kerry brought me a glass of water a couple of times. On his last trip, he quipped, “I didn’t know I was going to have to baby-sit you today, Mom!!”

While I was mowing, Sarah accidentally grazed Kerry with her bike, and he fell and scraped his knee a little. When he was telling me about it, he casually stated, “Don’t worry, Mom…I took it ‘like a man‘.”

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**P.S. While mowing, I thought of the following: I have something to add to my thankful list for this week! Though it’s not a riding mower, and it may struggle a bit, I am very thankful for my little gas-powered push mower! (It sure beats the old rotary push mowers or pulling/cutting the grass by hand! )

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**P.P.S. While I was mowing, I also enjoyed some quiet chuckles at the following random musings:

—How do you know when it is time to cut the grass?

“When your neighbors give you dirty looks and stop speaking to you!”

—How do you know when it was definitely time to mow, and you did the right thing?

“When, upon completion of your task, the neighbors sing a hallelujah chorus and do a victory dance!!”

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**Happy Friday and have a very blessed weekend!!

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**Update: **P.P.P.S. O.k., let’s see how observant you are.  How many smiley faces are in this post?!

Thankful Thurs.–4/24

–I thank the Lord for the beautiful weather we’ve had the last couple of days.

–I’m thank the Lord for Clemmons State Forest, and the wonderful time the kids and I had there. It was so lovely, mild, and calming–a great break from the “hustle and bustle.” I love watching the kids and their enthusiasm for nature. Each little animal, creature, and plant holds such awe and wonder for them!

–I’m grateful for Mucinex, Tylenol Cold/Allergy Sinus, and sea-salt water–nose spray!!

–I’m thankful for those dedicated Christians who have gone before me; helping to show the way. I’m so grateful for their perseverance on this journey and their testimony to me and others! (See previous post on “heroes.”)

–As always, I give gratitude and praise to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for His sacrificial love. I thank the Lord for all His blessings and gifts to me. I thank Him for my beautiful family–my sweet husband and my adorable kiddos!! I can never thank Him enough!!

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**For more Thankful Thursday posts and participants, please visit Iris @ Sting My Heart.

Delightful Doggies

O.k., I’ll admit, I don’t think I’ll ever lose my love for these cute, fuzzy, and furry friends! It might seem silly and trivial to some, but I know you other canine lovers out there understand! So, anyway, on with the photo fun! Here’s my picks of the “pics” for today:

O.k., now the pics above are cute and sweet, but these last two really appeal to me and crack me up in another way. A psychology major, former counselor, and dog lover just can’t help but enjoy these! I LOVE ’em! Check these out:

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**These pics all came from ihasahotdog.com.

13 Heroes

Edition #8

13 “Heroes” and Role Models of Mine:

There have been many, many people in my life that have encouraged and inspired me over the years. Here’s a list “off the top of my head” of 13 people who have really stood out to me:

1. Nannie Lee Smith — She was an “adopted” grandmother of mine from the church of my childhood, who went to be with Jesus many years ago. She was tough and outspoken. Nannie Lee loved her Jesus, and she loved people. She was not timid about sharing her faith, nor her love!

2. Margaret Johnson –She was an older lady from my current church, who went to Heaven last year. Mrs. Margaret had a smile that could “light up an entire room.”

3. Joyce Blinson –She was an older lady from my current church, who is also celebrating in Heaven now. Mrs. Joyce was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and she was always cooking for people, even up into her nineties!

4. My Grandma Gilbert –Grandma was a strong woman, with strong faith. She was also an AWESOME cook who cooked from “scratch,” and she cooked for many people for many years. In later years, she went through a lot physically, but now she’s running up and down the streets of gold with new legs!!

5. Esther in the Holy Bible –I love her faith, courage, and concern for others!

6. Naomi and Ruth in the Holy Bible –I love the strong bond between them and how Ruth stuck by her mother-in-law.

7. Mother Teresa –Well, what can I say?! AWESOME service, compassion, and love for others!

8. Corrie ten Boom –Oh, how I love and admire her strength, courage, faith, and FORGIVENESS! If you don’t know her story, please look into it!

9. Esther Long — She was my Sunday School teacher when I was a kid. Ms. Esther was one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever known. She didn’t have any children of her own, but she loved all the kids at church and showed so much interest in each one. Mrs. Esther was another one who had such a beautiful smile–oh, how I loved that smile!

10. Sammy and Teresa Spencer — As a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed going to see Uncle Sammy and Aunt Teresa. Their home was a few hours from ours, and they were always so welcoming to us whenever we came to visit. Sammy and Teresa always seemed like a really good match–they made a great team. Both loved God, people, music, and life. Sammy has always been so fun, loving, and easy-going. Teresa was the “perfect” hostess, who loved to have people over and loved to make people feel “at home.” Sammy and Teresa went through so very much last year (both having cancer at the same time), and they depended on the Lord to carry them through every step of the way. Aunt Teresa was very, very sick, yet she would still manage a big, beautiful smile for all her many, many visitors. She is in Heaven now, and Uncle Sammy is still here on Earth, pressing on. Losing his wife has been so incredibly difficult for him, yet he has still retained his wonderful sense of humor and faith in God.

11. Ellen Lee — She was another “adopted” grandmother of mine, who attended the church of my childhood days. Mrs. Ellen was a sweet, gentle, and quiet soul, who showed me so much love and encouragement. She is also in Heaven; rejoicing and praising the Lord!

12. Jim and Elisabeth Elliot — I so admire their faith, obedience, self-control, and perseverance. They had such a love for God and commitment to Him. I will never forget their tremendous compassion and sacrificial love for others, as well. If you have never read Elisabeth’s book, “Passion and Purity,” please do!

13. Paul in the Holy Bible — Wow, what zeal, enthusiasm, and perseverance did Paul have, huh?! Paul had obviously made some major mistakes in the beginning, but he sure didn’t let those serve as an excuse to do nothing for God later! Once Paul’s eyes were opened to the TRUTH, he passionately followed God and sought to spread the Gospel wherever the Holy Spirit led him.

**Note: Of course, whom I seek to be most like is Christ. No one can serve as a better role model than Jesus–He’s the ULTIMATE!!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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**Hey, please leave me a link and a comment! Thanks and Happy TT!!

“Wordless Wed.”–(The Kiddos)

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“Tag–I’m It!”

I’ve been tagged by my blogging friend Carol for the following meme:

The Rules:

1. Post these rules on your blog.

2. Write six random things about yourself.

3. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

5. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

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6 Random Things About Me…..

1. My daddy got me my first little guitar when I was about 5 yrs. old. Shortly thereafter, I stood up (with it in hand) on the edge of the bathtub, jumped down, and broke the neck clean off! (Dad decided I wasn’t quite ready for guitar lessons….)

2. When I was little I said “Tar, Tar” for “guitar” and “floufer” for “flower.”

3. I’ve always said if I could be any animal, I would be a wild horse.

4. My mom tells the story of how she once smelled something strange coming from the dryer. She soon discovered that I had found a unique hiding place for my peanut butter sandwich. (Mom was not amused.)

5. I have a very distinctive, hearty, boisterous laugh–some call it a “HEE HAW.” (If you’ve ever heard it, you know what I’m talking about!) That’s o.k. by me, though. I love when I’m able to relax enough to LAUGH like I mean it, and I encourage everyone to do the same!

6. One of the first songs I sang as a solo in church was called “He’s Still Working On Me.” (Well, folks, that song still “rings true,” and I’m thankful that He’s not done with me yet!!)

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That was fun! Thanks, Carol! Now, let’s see….who can I get to join in the fun? How ’bout the following:

—Gin

—Julie

—Lori

—Tracy

—Gina

—Melanie

Where’s My Home?

I heard a song the other day about looking forward to Heaven. It’s another song by 33 Miles, called “What Could Be Better.” Some people, even other Christians, may not understand why I seek out such songs. I read a comment on the net yesterday, in which a Christian person mentioned not understanding people talking so much about Heaven and wanting to leave this world. To this individual, some Christians focus too much on their longing for Heaven and not enough on helping make this world a better place now. In this person’s opinion, daydreaming about Heaven can make us useless where we are in the present, and such songs promote a fatalistic view.

While I can understand the concern to some degree, I cannot agree with the overall attitude and opinion. To me, looking toward Heaven is what helps me to press forward. I don’t believe any of us as Christians should use our promise of salvation as an excuse to ignore what is going on around us. In fact, I believe quite the opposite is true. Our eternal HOPE is the basis that keeps us going in this world. No, we should not sit waiting idly by, content with our “free ticket,” while there are people around us in need of food, shelter, love, understanding, truth, hope, etc… We cannot turn our backs, and we cannot give up on doing good.

However, we also need not lose sight of our final destination. This world is NOT our home, and it is NOT our joy. If we don’t keep Heaven in view, it can be all too easy to get bogged down by this world, to get discouraged, to become subject to it, to become too much a part of it, etc…. To me, this is not a negative view, but a positive one, that can help spur us on. I don’t believe we should go around constantly complaining about how bad the world is and all the while doing nothing about it. With the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, I think we should do everything we can to reach out to others, help the needy, give to the poor, minister to the hurt and sick, and to “spread the Gospel to all nations…”

However, once again, let us also not lose sight of our true HOME. “Home is where the heart is,” and mine is with Jesus. I don’t believe it’s wrong for Christians to daydream about Heaven. The knowledge and assurance of my salvation brings me much peace and joy. While currently in this temporary dwelling, I don’t intend to quit trying to “overcome evil with good,” but I also have no plans of “sticking around” or relocating! Again, this world is NOT my home, and for that I just can’t help but praise and thank the Lord!!!!

Well, I have a lot more I could say on this issue, but I’ll just have to save it for another post. Instead, how ’bout we get to the tunes?! If you like looking toward Heaven, you might really enjoy this song:

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What Could Be Better

(By: 33 Miles)

I’ve heard it said today
Is all we’re given
Tomorrow may not come
So you better start living
I guess it all depends
On your point of view
Pardon me if I
Just don’t listen
To everything the world
Says I’m missing
There’s nothing here and now
I’m gonna hold on to

I’m living in the days ahead
I’m already dancing on the streets of gold
Can’t stop celebrating in my soul
I’m living in the days ahead
Nothing on earth could ever compare
Can’t wait for the day when I get there
When I see Jesus face to face
Tell me what could be better
Tell me what could be better

If home is where the heart
Is then I’m in Heaven
It’s the promise of tomorrow
That I’ve been given
Who is waiting there I am living for
He’s everything I love
And I believe in
And I can hardly wait
Just to see Him
And hear Him say well done
I couldn’t ask for more

I’m living in the days ahead
I’m already dancing on the streets of gold
Can’t stop celebrating in my soul
I’m living in the days ahead
Nothing on earth could ever compare
Can’t wait for the day when I get there
When I see Jesus face to face
Tell me what could be better
Tell me what could be better

Life is full of ups and downs
Inside outs, round and rounds
Can’t blame me for dreaming about it

I’m living in the days ahead
I’m already dancing on the streets of gold
Can’t stop celebrating in my soul
I’m living in the days ahead
Nothing on earth could ever compare
Can’t wait for the day when I get there
When I see Jesus face to face
Tell me what could be better
Tell me what could be better

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**Note: You can listen to the above song here.