and so it begins

I was bummed that I wasn't able to post this yesterday, but better late than never. I am linking up with Ann Voskamp's blog today for Multitudes on Mondays {even though it's Tuesday}.  This past week I wrote down and kept track of the things I was thankful for each day. This is the beginning of the 1,000 and more.

1.-42.

good morning kisses

conversation as we get ready for church

spending time in worship with a great church community

watching my very favorite movie with Andy

a tidy house

having my family over for dessert and a movie

the facebook study group for 1,000 gifts

working out at a free gym

napping with Trinity curled in the crook of my arm

talking with Holly on the phone

grocery shopping with Andrew

Isaiah 59:21

Kellie and Jorge

writing a blog post and reflecting on friendship

Lucas passed hearing test

Isaiah 60 and Revelation 22

increasing time on elliptical

prayer time

line dancing class with Andrew, my MIL, and his grandpa

video for ch 1 of 1,000 gifts

interacting with ladies in facebook study group

being challenged spiritually by my BSF discussion group and lecture

lunch with Lisa

being asked to be a leader for something dear to my heart

dinner with Lizzy

hearing that my words encouraged dear friends

getting called in for subbing jobs

being married to a great guy

praying to the God who listens

my verse cards

The Word

Maundy Thursday service at Crossbridge

singing How Deep the Father's Love for Us

singing Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners

sitting with Maddy on the floor

Good Friday -- Jesus' sacrifice

sun beams and cool breezes

a good workout

a long awaited package on the doorstep

cooking a new meal

playing with Trinity

Reading at Barnes and Noble

It was good for me to go back through my week in this regard. It was a hard week, yet look how wonderful it really was!

homework

Last night Andrew and I went to Barnes and Noble and I did some gluten-free homework and Easter reading. That children's book, The First Easter, has gorgeous illustrations! I started reading The G Free Diet and I like it so far. Andrew found me the Gluten-free, Sugar-free Cooking book. When he took it off the shelf and handed it to me the heavens parted, beams of light streamed in, and the angels began singing. I thought I might be stuck eating brown rice and egg whites for breakfast for forever. {I know! Gross, right!?} So if you look really closely at what I have written down in the notebook you will see where my priorities lie...pancakes.

Andrew did this while we were there. Work! That he claims was "fun" to do and not really work. Oh my!

this one's gonna hurt

Jessi over at Naptime Diaries has suggested committing to a time sensitive challenge for the better to see how it makes us feel and how it improves our quality of life for this week's 1% change. So I have two huge changes that I am going to make...

I have fought with myself over the idea of going sugar free for forever. I am addicted to sugar. It has been proven to be more addictive than cocaine! Hence, the reason it has been a really hard decision to cut it out of my diet. But I think it's for the best and I have to go cold turkey. I am going to go refined sugar free for one week to see how I feel, but I'd like to make it much longer than that.

I am also going to go gluten free. I have had my suspicion regarding this one for awhile. I don't feel well most of the time and most meals and snacks consist of something with gluten in it, so I am going to just test this one out for one week also. I think I will need to do it longer in order to really see if that's what makes me feel less than awesome all the time.

I'd really like to make these changes for a longer period of time, but I am honestly afraid I will fail, so I am going to take it one week at a time! And allow me to give a disclaimer, refined sugar or no refined sugar I will have the occasional piece of dark chocolate. End. of. story.

My first 1% change is going well and I am still on the wagon. I went to the gym faithfully this week and even increased my time on the elliptical. Holla!

 

a cheerful heart

I went to BSF this morning and was delighted to spend time with my friend, Lisa. I learned today is her birthday so I had to come home and do a post for her! She is a real breath of fresh air! Our dads actually grew up together and used to race cars back in the day. So we spent some time playing together in our youth when our dads got together.

Then we ended up being in the same BSF group together! God is so kind to us. He knew I needed a friend like her. It has been such a joy to get reacquainted!

It is so fitting that today is Lisa's birthday after much of the content in our BSF lesson and lecture this week. We discussed the way that those who love the Lord and spend time abiding in His Word and in prayer seeking His heart reflect His peace, joy, humility, wisdom, etc. That is a description of Lisa. She has this way about her that you have no doubt she has been with the Lord and draws from Him for peace and wisdom. She has a cheerful heart that is good medicine for me on the days I need some encouragement. {Proverbs 17:22} She is shamelessly open about her faith, which can't be easy for her to do as she dons her pink hard hat in the construction world each day. I am really proud of her and inspired by her for her bold, yet gentle outspoken faith.

Lisa, I hope you have had a wonderful birthday! Love you!

{As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17}

"kindred spirits"

{I've dreamt of meeting her all my life. -Anne of Green Gables}

I have a dear, sweet friend who really is a kindred spirit. She and I met in the lobby of the old education building on UCF's campus. I was reading at one of the tables before class and noticed she was seated at the next table reading my favorite book. I waited for her to close the book and then I said, "I noticed you're reading Redeeming Love and that is my favorite book in the world and I just have this feeling we should be friends." We chatted it up for a little while and then discovered we would share a class that semester. We hit it off quite nicely and started talking and hanging out quite a bit. In no time at all, I knew that she and I would be friends forever.


She is just as lovely and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She is a naturally positive and joyful person and it comes from a deep faith in Christ. She prays often and it shows in her calm, peaceful approach to life. She is an incredible encourager and challenger in my walk of faith and I value her words more than she knows. 

We relate extremely well in our views on life, love, family, and faith. She is a fellow teacher and we could talk for hours about our passion for our calling and our students. That's why we get on so easily. We also really like to cut up, joke around, dance our fanny's off, and {window}shop til we drop.

{But I have a feeling we're going to get along really well. -Anne of Green Gables} 

 

The bottom picture above is Cynthia and I hanging out in the education lobby where we first met.

Another really fun tidbit about our friendship is that our Misters get along famously and if we were to live in the same city the four of us could hang out all the time and be really happy about it. I got to be there with her and for her when she fell in love with her husband and I will never forget the  first dates, listening to voice mails over and over from him, interpreting e-mails, and all of the giddy excitement that goes with falling in love. She and I both sang the same song at the other's wedding and I cherish the memories of both of our wedding days.

As of now we are a few states apart, but we talk about living in the same city one of these days. Whether that be when we are young and raising kids together or old and gray and rocking on the porch talking about the good ol' days, I'll take it and I'll never stop hoping and praying for it!

Happy Birthday, Cynthia! I love you, my friend and kindred spirit. May this day and this year be filled with blessing.

P.S. If you click on the picture collage it will open in a new window much bigger.

{True friends are always together in spirit. -Anne of Green Gables}

the beginning of a book study

I just started reading the book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp with some friends and friends of friends through a facebook group/community. We just started yesterday and I am pumped about the study and the concept of the book. I am really looking forward to having dialogue with these ladies about the importance of thankfulness and how the regular practice of gratitude plays out in our every day lives. I think this is going to be powerful stuff and I can't wait to feel the impact. The author, Ann Voskamp, has an inspiring blog that I like to read. She has given us a great resource to use while we read the book and make gratitude more of a natural response than something we have to do after a birthday, shower, or Christmas when we sit down to write our thank-you cards. Go here and after you read her blog post you will see the link for the handy dandy printable.

I had trouble printing it. If you have trouble like I did try this:

Go to the File drop menu and click on Print Setup. Then choose landscape for the paper orientation.

Stay in Page Setup and select Paper quality. Click on the little box that says Borderless Printing. Then click okay and print and you should be good to go.

I've got a journal to write down the gifts that I am grateful for each day, but I thought this little booklet would be fun to have in my purse to jot down whatever comes to me wherever I'm at. Plus, it's so darn cute. And I don't mind transferring my gifts from the booklet to my journal. There certainly can't be any harm in a review!

I am joining Ann and many other bloggers in Multitudes on Mondays, in which we share the many blessings God has gifted us with throughout the week. I only have one day of this practice under my belt, but I just can't wait to get started; I am so excited about it! I don't know how I will normaly post this, but for today I will include what I recorded yesterday.

1.Good morning kisses
2. Conversation as we get ready for church
3. Spending time in worship with a great church community
4. Watching my very favorite movie with Andrew (he's so sweet to endure it)
5. A tidy house
6. The facebook study group for One Thousand Gifts
7. Having my family over for dessert and the latest Disney movie

 



she did what?

 

I do not possess one single athletic bone in my body and not once when I was growing up did I take part in any sporting event, whether it be a little league or P.E., with any kind of enthusiasm. I also have never been one to spend time in a gym. Just never have. However, now that I am getting older, my metabolism is slowing down, and I want to be a healthy mom who sets a good example for her kid's one day I have decided it is high time to get my butt in the gym.

Jessi over at Naptime Diaries has started this movement and I'd really like to get in on the action. It's called 1% change and the idea is to improve your life by taking one little step at a time. I like that. 

So this week my 1% change had to do with a huge fear. The gym. It scares me. I don't know what it is about that place, but I am so incredibly intimidated by it. I feel like the minute I walk in everyone in there is going to know that I'm a newbie and that if I were to get on the treadmill I could very well pass out from my lack of "being in shape" and all. 

So I didn't go near the treadmill. 

I got on the elliptical and I liked it. So my goal for the week was 3 trips to the gym to get on the elliptical for 45 minutes and I. Did. It!

I think this is a great idea/movement. Won't you join us in making a little 1% change to change your life for the better?