♥ Christian ♥ Wife ♥ Mother ♥ Blessed ♥

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

  • ANOTHER LENTEN SEASON

    "In a world filled with clutter, noise, and hustle, LENT is a good excuse to step back and rethink how we think and live. In a world of instant gratification, it’s a chance to practice delayed gratification - to fast - so that we can truly appreciate the blessings we have. It’s an opportunity to give up something that is sucking the life out of us so that we can be filled with God, with life, with love again."  ~ Shane Claiborne, Fat Tuesday & Skinny Wednesday

    Time for Lent again!  I always like this time of year.  I like the way it causes me to pause and refocus my heart on Jesus.  I found a Family Devotions for Lent online, and the girls and I began them this morning at breakfast.  It's kicked off with the discussion of fasting and we each made our proclamation on what we are giving-up for Lent, as well as a few things we are taking-on.  I always like to encourage the girls to choose things that will make them better in the end.

    Lonna (11-years-old) has chosen to give-up sweet treats.  (This was a surprise to me, as we have over 200-boxes of Girl Scout cookies that just arrived at our house for sorting.  I think I will be putting some boxes in the freezer for post Lent!  LOL)  For her "taking-on" she has decided she wants to better keep up with her Bible readings for their children's program at church.  She says she has been slacking off.  How honest of her! 

    Eden (8-years-old) has chosen to give-up taking fits for Lent.  I'm so proud of Eden for taking on this challenge.  We had some issues with this problem as of late.  She's just has these total meltdowns when things don't go her way.  They been exhausting, to say the very least.  And I'm glad she's seeing that they really are getting her no-where and that they need to go.

    My husband, Corey, got a jump start on what he's giving up, as he canceled our cable service and returned the cable box last Friday.  It's so refreshing already! 

    For myself, I am retaking on my action plan for healthier living....that means eating healthier, watching portions, counting calories and exercising again.  It's such an important lifestyle change, and yet it's the hardest one to achieve, it seems.  I'm starting with a fast today, trying to flush my body of all the junk....it's just me & my water bottle today. 

    So that leaves me with what to give-up....what has to go to make room for Jesus.  There are so many things to choose from!  But when it came right down to it, I felt like this was "the one" for this year.  I am determined to give-up yelling in anger.  I don't really know how it's gotten so out of hand, but I feel like I am always yelling at my kids.  And often it's yelling the same old stuff I yelled the day before.  And now I am starting to see the effects....I hear the way my oldest yells at my youngest, and it's ugly.  It has to go!  It won't be easy to break this bad habit, so I writing these verses on my heart to strengthen me:

    James 1:19-20 ~ "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

    James 3:9-10 ~ "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

    Proverbs 31:27 ~ "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue"

    So that's the plan!  I'm praying that we can make real life changes that will grow us closer to God, and makes us healthier people overall.

Monday, 30 January 2012

  • RANDOM THOUGHTS ON MARRIAGE

    My husband, Corey, is a Registered Nurse.  He works at a major University Medical Center on a neuro-trama step-down unit.  It's busy work!  He's been on the unit for nearly 11-years, but he's an exception as the staff turn-over rate is high.  There are always new co-workers names he will reference, young graduates that are getting to know the unit....and eventually Corey himself. 

    This weekend Corey and I were blessed by some quality time together when his parents took our daughters for the weekend.  We had the blissful opportunity to talk without interruption.    These are the times when he will most often share stories about work, whether it be quirky stories about patients and their families (all without sharing their names for their privacy, of course) or amusing stories about his co-workers.

    So recently at work, Corey said he mentioned something about having an 11-year-daughter to a new co-worker.  The young co-ed was surprised and asked him old he was.  Corey informed her 36-years, to which she was equals parts surprised and relieved.  She didn't peg him as "that old".  (A compliment and a hit all rolled into one comment!)  And then, this is where this whole build-up is going....she asked him if he was still married?  Corey said when she asked, he could genuinely feel that she didn't expect him to be STILL married.  As is 12-years was a long time to still be with the mother of his child.  

    It made both of us feel so sad that a young woman has such a tainted view on marriage.  That marriage itself, for so many has become so expendable.  We are proud to be married just over 12-years.  We are committed to 12 more years, 12 more after that and so on.  We expect rough patches over the years, although to be honest, we don't feel like we've had any major ones yet.  We expect marriage to take effort and work, and we will do it, because giving up is not an option to us.  Because when it comes right down to it, Corey and I not only honor the vows of marriage, we honor one another. 

    It does not escape me that as a nurse my husband works with plenty of women...women who tend to be younger and younger with each passing year.  I could have a lot to be paranoid about, if I was that kind of wife.  But I am not, because Corey is not the kind of husband that gives reason to be.  I know the condition of his heart.  The level of his commitment to me and our daughters.  I know he honors me in the way he speaks about me, about us, at work.  Besides just knowing it, I have positive testimony from his co-workers I've met along the way. 

    And lets face it, when you are sitting in circle of mostly married women at things like school functions, dance studios and scouting weekends, women love to talk smack on their husbands.  I could just as easily gripe along with them.  But I can't do it!  I have my few BFF's that I will share my occasional and genuine grievances with, don't get me wrong, but I can't speak of my husband in such a dishonoring way just to fill the time like some of these ladies.  Mostly I sit in these circles and wonder if these women even like their husbands, let alone love and honor him.

    Because the truth is, I do like my husband.  He is my favorite person!  Truth is, I went into this weekend feeling weary and heavy....just down.  And after just one hour of time with him spilling my guts and crying it out, I felt SO much better.  Only with him could I be that vulnerable.  He makes me laugh like no one else.  I love him, love him, love him....just because! 

    I just feel so blessed by my marriage and my life with Corey.  IT'S NOT PERFECT.  But it's ours and it's good...because we want it to be.  I guess I just wish everyone could experience this kind of love and respect that makes 12-years go by in flash, making us wonder where did the time go.  As they say, time flies when you are having fun.  And while marriage is hard work, I also believe it should be fun.  The joy should outweigh the trials.  And if it doesn't for you in your marriage, I pray that you can find the way to tip the scales!     

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

  • EPHESIANS ~ FAITHFUL IN CHRIST

    Women-In-the-Word3

    Good Morning Girls Winter Session Bible Study began on Monday, and we are studying the book of Ephesians!  I am so excited to be digging back into the Word after a holiday season hiatus.  Of course we are only seven verses into Ephesians and God has already left me awestruck!

    But overall I am thinking most about a phrase in the very first verse (Eph 1:1) - Paul addresses the people of Ephesus by saying "To God's holy people, the faithful in Christ Jesus."  At first this just seemed like one of Paul's typical greetings and start to his letters.  But I always like to read my footnotes in from my Life Application Bible (NIV), and it gave me a different way to think about this simple verse: 

    1:1:  "Faithful in Christ Jesus" - what an excellant reputation!  Such a label would be an honor for any believer.  What would it take for others to characterize you as faithful to Christ Jesus?

    What would it take for others to characterize ME as faithful to Christ Jesus?  It's been on my heart.  As the next six verses play out in the chapter, I felt in awe over God's faithfulness to me.  He has granted me every spiritual blessing, he has adopted me as His own, He has paid the price and wiped my sins clean away.  He lavishes His love upon me.  But do I love Him lavishly in return? 

    Of course I know I can not measure up to my Lord...He is perfect and I am not.  But I am seriously looking at whether my actions, my words, my heart truely shows God my love for Him.  I wonder if others can really see?  Would they really describe my a faithful to Christ? 

    So this is how God's Word is challenging me today.  How is God challenging you? 

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

  • ANTI-CHRISTS VS. ANOINTING

    Women-In-the-Word3

    The book of 1st John.  Who knew it would make me so uncomfortable?  I suspect God did.    But it's okay.  It's been that really good kind of uncomfortable...the kind that lets you know you a really reading God's Word and letting it take hold of you.  The kind of uncomfortable that causes you take action.  I almost don't know where to start sharing what God is saying to me!?! 

    I guess I will start with what is freshest from this week's readings in 1 John 2:18-27.  My Bible's added sub-title for these verse is "Warning Against Antichrists".  And I'm not going to lie, it's as heavy as it sounds!  And before I go any farther, let me define antichrists as this:  anything that lures us away from Christ. 

    So this segments starts off with "...this is the last hour."  I can't help but wonder when is it really going to be the last hour....they thought they were in it 2000-plus years ago.  As John goes on in the next verse to warn about the antichrists that have already infiltrated, I can't help but think that one antichrists in my life is TIME.  While I know time is precious, I am also a procrastinator that relies on more of it coming my way.  How much more would I give my God if I truly thought that this was my last hour?  I wonder if I will have done all that God hoped and planned for me to do?  I want to live like it is my last hour, being prepared for His triumphant return!

    In verse 20 John uses the beautiful word ANOINTED..."you have an anointing from the Holy One".  Seriously, doesn't that sound beautiful?!?  But here is my next antichrist in my life....I don't feel very anointed.  Umh, so why?  When I dug into My commentary says is this simply:  Anointing means the Holy Spirit has been given to you by the Father and the Son.  The "A-ha moment" I having here:  I don't feel anointed, because I'm not really seeking the Holy Spirit the way I should.  It is the Holy Spirit that helps us stand strong against the antichrists.  But my antichrists distract me from the Spirit....they convince me to fill myself with other worldly things....they convince me that I am not anointed.  But there is good news...John goes on to say "The anointing you received from Him remains in you....that anointing is real".  I've just got to focus on the Holy Spirit, not on the antichrists in life.

    The Antichrist is crafty....he has filled up the world with distracting little antichrists, and I'm trying to take  long hard look at the many more that I know I have inadvertently let take a place in my life.  I must remember that there is daily battle going on in my life between the Antichrist and the Holy Spirit.  

    Dear God, continue to shine your light on all the darkness in my life so that I can see it, turn away from it, so I can be anointed and You can be victorious. Amen.   

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

  • WOMEN OF FAITH

    Women-In-the-Word3

    It's Wednesday again!  I missed out last week and I apologize.  It was a bit of a crazy week.  Our neighbor passed away late Tuesday, and I really set my focus on trying to be a good neighbor.  I've still managed to be reading 1 John and "soaping" my way through it, but I just ran out of time for posting about it all.  I am still loving this study and all that it it teaching me and challenging me on, but this weekend I had the awesome pleasure of attending....

    WoF

    The Women of Faith's "Imagine" tour was in Pittsburgh this weekend!  And I went with my good friend, Bernie...that alone was special, because this was the first thing we've done together that was just for US and with out our kids!!  (We became fast friends when our oldest girls were in kindergarten and they are now in the 5th grade!  LOL)  Anyway, the conference was in a word - AWESOME!  But this phrase from Veggie Tales, Larry the Cucumber, sums it up perfectly:  "I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob!"  (I do hope you heard that in his squeaky cucumber voice!  )

    We had the pleasure of being taught by and hearing the faith stories of Sheila Walsh, Dr, Henry Cloud (for some male perspective ), Lisa Harper, Nicole Johnson, Angie Smith and Luci Swindoll.  Plus music from Natalie Grant, the duo Mary-Mary...and worship by their top-notch worship team.  I walked into the event knowing little to nothing about these speakers, authors, musicians.  And lets face it, this is a LARGE arena event...but each of these ladies had the gift of sharing their story in this big place and making it small and intimate.

    And when I wasn't laughing (seriously, these women are hysterical!) or crying (their stories are emotional!), I was feverishly writing down nuggets of the wisdom they share....and in pouring over my notes, I think I am just going to pull out a some of my favorites that I know God spoke right to me...

    "I wouldn't have made it this far without the PROMISES of GOD!" ~ Sheila Walsh.  I mean, Amen!  And yet, I forget this this simple concept some times.  Thank You God that You supply all my needs, that You work for the good, that Your grace is sufficient, that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness and that nothing can separate me from Your love!! 

    Here's one that made me squirm in my seat:  "Have you ever told God the WHOLE truth?" ~ Sheila Walsh.  I mean He knows it anyway, but we have to willing to see our whole truth and get honest with Him and ourselves about it.  Yeah...this one is one for me to work on!  

    "God made us to feel good!  We should wake up say, 'Good morning, Lord!' , NOT 'Good Lord, it's morning.'" ~ Dr. Henry Cloud.  This one is going to challenging as winter creeps in and the morning is dark and cold...but I want to get there, I want to wake up with joy!  Henry also spoke about the difference between being a giver, and being taken from.  He encouraged us to take along look at which we were and prune out those that steal our joy from us, verse those that share in it.

    "Prayer - is it on my 'To-Do' list OR is it on my 'It's-who-I-am' list?" ~ Sheila Walsh.  In connection she reminded us the importance of speaking God's Word in our lives to drive fear and the Enemy.  She also spoke about those demons that come from within, when the trouble in my life is from a past hurt.  "Guilt = I've done something wrong.  Shame = I am something wrong."  But she reminded us that the Lord is our Shepherd and He knows where to find us.  We might have trouble within ourselves, but Jesus says, "I am within you too!"

    "All of us are just a bad country song without Jesus." ~ Lisa Harper.  Lisa used this humorous line to remind us we are all a big ol' mess with our Savior!  She compared our hearts to colander...they just drain out until we allow Jesus to patch up the holes.  And He wants to!  She spoke the worked os Psalm 139, from memory, and honestly, I've never heard it recited so beautifully or tenderly.  She said it reminds her that "We matter to God."

    "We need to interview our anger." ~ Nicole Johnson.  Anger is a symptom and I need to understand where it is coming from.  I need to lean into it, not pull away from it.  I need to confess it.  I need to find out where does it hurt?  And am I mad at God?  Nicole was raw, and maybe the speaker I was most challenged by because of it.  It's hard for women to admit they are angry, and even harder for Christian women.  I totally resinate with that. 

    "'My life was over, and I never got what I wanted!'  [Wrong.]  You have now what you want, you just don't know it!  You are a millionaire if you have Christ!" ~ Luci Swindoll.  Luci was all encouragement!  She wants us to live our lives and find joy in what we have.  She wants us to remember we can do all things through Christ...and to just go for it, because nobody told us we couldn't!

    God taught me so much this weekend!  He challenged me to dig deeper within myself.  Through their stories of triumph, He reminded me I too can triumph, and have a story to tell.  He refreshed me and refueled me.  He laid some big visions on my heart for me to imagine, and that with Him I can bring them to fruition.  He was just good this weekend....then again, God always is.      

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

  • A NEW ADVENTURE IN 1 JOHN

    My poor blog!  I used to LOVE posting....never imagined I'm would loose heart for it.  But it happened and here it is, September 28th and my last post was in June.    BUT, I've started this new on-line Bible Study through Good Morning Girls.  I'm in the second week of a study of the book of 1 John.  And every Wednesday, GMG encourages us to post on our blogs what we are learning through this study.  I wimped out last Wednesday, but here I go today....

    Women-In-the-Word3

    For starters, I've never done a study quite like this one.  Each day we read only one or two verses.  They  encourage us to take the S.O.A.P. journaling approach.  S = Scripture:  We write out thr scripture for the day.  O = Observation:  We write down what the verse is saying to us.  A = Application:  How we are going to apply what God is teaching us.  P = Prayer:  Write out our prayer. 

    Like I said, I've never taken this sort of slower approach to stop and think about each verse.  It's been fascinating and I feel like I am really reading it.  And actually taking the time to hear what God has to say to me about it.  Then I share my thoughts in a on-line group of fellow readers & sisters on Facebook.  Rugbana's Tessy started the group, and I am so thankful she invited me!  She has named our group "Passionate Priority" because she wants us to be passionate about making our time with God a priority.  I love it....and for the first time in a long while, I am actually feeling that sentiment! 

    Anyway, now that you are up to speed on what I'm in the middle of, now I'm supposed to share what God is teaching me.  At this point I've read 1 John 1:1-9, and God is really making me wrestle and squirm....all in a great way!  Here are a few outstanding highlights & thoughts so far.

    In the first week I was struck by these conclusions:  1.) Christ needs to be my Word of Life!  2.)  I need to proclaim Jesus Good News to others and write about my joy in Jesus.  3.)  I need to step put of my box and be in a Small Group at my church.  These are all things I have known before, but I became acutely aware of how I don't always make God the priority I actually want Him to be in my life.  I don't give Him the credit He deserves.  So I am working on this.

    So far this week, it has just been so meaty!  At verse 5 we begin digging in light and darkness, good verses evil, sin and confession, but most importantly FORGIVENESS!  I was espcially challenged by this commentary line:  "We can not love God AND court sin."  And I while I know I am human, I know that I court sin when I don't properly confess it, and find a way to improve.  And when I took the time to really write out my confession in my prayer this morning....I was so overwhelmed to see it all in writing.  And then I was overhelmed with God's faithfulness despite it all.  God WANTS to fogive us...ME!  I don't have to fear His rejection when I can't seem to keep my slate clean.

    It's been a long while since I have been this excited about a Bible Study, and the journey has really only just begun.  I hope by sharing on Wednesday, you too can be excited about God's Word and His amazing faithfulness! 

Monday, 20 June 2011

  • KIDZ G.I.G. 2011

    Today begin our church's version of VBS, called KIDZ G.I.G.!

    kidzGigLogoNew

    The girls are both registered and I an volunteer....so the week will be busy.  We have to be out the door by 8am, with lunches packed and on-the-go breakfast in hand.  But it's going to awesome!  The theme is "JUMP - PUT YOUR FAITH IN MOTION!"  And the Memory verse for the week is:

    "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set and example for the believers in speech, in life, in love and in purity."  ~  1 Timothy 4:12

    Please pray for my Lonna and Eden, that they would walk away with a greater passion for Jesus.  And pray for the hundreds of other kids that will be impacted this week!  (And if I'm not blogging about my devotions this week, it's because I'm pouring it all into the event and what God is going to do there!   )

Thursday, 26 May 2011

  • SCRIPTURES FOR GRIEF

    I was looking for a perfect Bible verse to post on my FB as a response to the overwhelming amount of grief that many people I know are going through right now, and I stumbled across this post from a mother who lost her son.  I decided that the scriptures, and what she discovered through them, was just too good not to share in its entirety.  Please feel free to share it with someone you know that is grieving deeply in one way or another.


    When he died, I grieved him deeply.  And I went to the scriptures and I found a series of scriptures that led me from grief to joy.  Now I am sharing the scriptures that helped me find my way.  If you are dealing with grief, I pray that you will turn to the healing scriptures for relief.

    GRIEF:
    EVERYONE HAS A “TURN FOR GRIEF”
    "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." ~ John 16:22
    WE CAN EXPECT DIFFICULT TIMES
    "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering." ~ 1 Peter 4:12
    TAKE TIME TO GRIEVE
    "My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rides to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness: My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Thou hast held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. I will remember my song in it; I will mediate with my heart; And my spirit ponders."  ~  Psalm 77:1-2
    CRYING HELPS
    "Cry out to the Lord." ~ Joel 1:14

    ATTITUDES AND EMOTIONS:
    ANGER IS A HEALTHY PHASE OF GRIEF - GOD CAN HANDLE OUR ANGER
    "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." ~ John 11:32
    DON'T GIVE IN TO SELF PITY - DECIDE TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
    "Though the fig tree may not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the Lord." ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18
    FIGHT THE DEMON OF DISCOURAGEMENT
    "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary." ~ Galatians 6:9
    DON'T ALLOW RESENTMENT - RESENTMENT IS A KILLER
    "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  ~ Hebrews 12:15
    UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN DEATH IS NOT AN ACCIDENT
    "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." ~ Psalm 116:15

    ASKING FOR HELP:
    JESUS UNDERSTANDS WHEN WE ASK FOR HELP
    "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me." ~ Matthew 26:39
    IT IS OK TO BE WEAK - THROUGH WEAKNESS THERE IS STRENGTH
    "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." ~ Psalm 121:1-2
    TELL OTHERS WHEN WE HURT
    "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." ~ Psalm 25:16
    LEAN ON OTHERS
    "Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2

    GETTING THROUGH ONE DAY AT A TIME:
    DO THE WORK OF TODAY
    "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." ~ Colossians 3:23
    FIND THE MIRACLES
    "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
    REJOICE IN THE DAY
    "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24
    FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
    "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men." ~ Galatians 6:10
    TALK ABOUT OUR DARKEST MOMENTS
    "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight." ~ Matthew 10:27
    FULFILL OUR MINISTRY
    "Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." ~ 2 Timothy 4:5
    HAVE FAITH - FAITH MAY BE ALL WE HAVE
    "Walk by faith, not by sight." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
    SLOW DOWN
    "Be still and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10
    DO THE WORK OF THE LORD
    "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." ~ Genesis 41:52
    TAKE REFUGE
    "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust." ~ Psalm 91:2

    OTHERS WHO ARE SHARING YOUR PAIN:
    ACCEPT HOW OTHER’S GRIEVE
    "But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another." ~ Galatians 5:13
    FORGIVE THOSE WHO DISAPPOINT US
    "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." ~ Luke 23:34
    OUR DIFFICULT PEOPLE DESERVE OUR LOVE AND HELP
    "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40
    TAKE AND GIVE COMFORT
    "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
    USE GOD - GOD WILL HELP US LEAD
    "Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead." ~ 2 Chronicles 1:10

    PRAYER:
    THE SERENITY PRAYER
    "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
    The courage to change the things I can,
    And the wisdom to know the difference."
    ACCEPTANCE
    "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done." ~ Matthew 26:42
    COURAGE
    "Be strong and do not loose courage, for there is reward for your work." ~ 2 Chronicles 15:7
    WISDOM
    "For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you." ~ Proverbs 2:10-11
    FIND A PLACE FOR EXTENDED PRAYER TIMES
    "And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God." ~ Luke 6:12
    LIVE IN A SPIRIT OF PRAYER
    "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
    PRAY FERVENTLY
    "And being in agony He was Praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. " ~ Luke 22:44

    OVERCOMING:
    BELIEVE GOD WILL HEAL
    "O Lord my God, I called you for help and you healed me!" ~ Psalm 30:2
    BELIEVE GOD GIVES STRENGTH
    "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." ~ Philippians 4:13
    ♥ BELIEVE WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!
    "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." ~ Romans 8:37
    BELIEVE A PROMISE: GOD’S GLORY WILL BE REVEALED THROUGH US
    "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." ~ Romans 8:18
    BELIEVE IN THE HOPE IN HEAVEN
    "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death." ~ Revelation 21:4

Sunday, 22 May 2011

  • PITTSBURGH MARATHON 2011

    I know that I have set and met goals before.  But I don't really recall making a New Year's resolution and actually 100% accomplishing it.  But last Sunday I did....I really did it, and a week later, I still can't believe it.

    You may (or may not) recall, that my 2011 New Year's resolution was to establish a Relay Team to participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon.  I knew that if I just said my resolution was weight-loss/dieting/exercising that I would give up fast, just like I have in the past.  So I got a little bit more radical (at least for me!), and said I wanted to participate in the Marathon Relay as real motivator.  And truth be told, even with that goal, I could have worked harder and been more disciplined...I mean breaking bad habits is hard.  I like to eat and I don't like to exercise.  I definately had my ups & downs in terms of motivation and preparing. 

    But come Sunday, May 15th, I pushed passed all of that and the fears that had mounted up inside of me.  I was the team captain of the "Moms on the Move" Relay Team, (Race #20394) for the 2011 Pittsburgh Marathon. 

    126_5497

    Katie (leg #1) ~ Joico (leg #2) ~ Stacie (leg #4) ~ Shannon (leg #5) ~ Monica (leg #5)

    Together we walked/jogged the full 26.2 mile marathon distance in 5-hours and 45-minutes!  I brought our team across the finish line with leg #5.  I personally jogged/walked my 4.9 miles in 1-hour and 17-minutes!  

    Corey and the girls came down to cheer me on.  They positioned themselves at the end of a bridge that I had to cross, at just under 1/2 mile to the finish line.  When I crested the middle of the bridge, it was so awesome to see me two little girls in their red t-shirts waving like mad at me!  It was hard to fight back the tears at that point.  They were honestly the whole reason I put this team together.  I just want to be a healthier and more active mom for them.  Lonna then finished the end of the race with me.

    img_0354 img_0355 img_0356 img_0357 img_0358 img_0359 img_0360 img_0361 img_0362 img_0363 img_0364 img_0365 img_0366

    I am so thankful for my teammates - Katie, Joico, Shannon & Stacie...three of whom made it back to the finish line in time to cheer me on.  I couldn't have done it without them!  They are just moms like me, wanting to be healthier for their kiddos.  We were so proud of ourselves....our only real goal was to accomplish it, and we did!  And for that, we recieved our participation medals.

    126_5498 126_5500 img_0371 img_0368

    So I am crazy PROUD of setting such a big goal, and accomplishing it.  Even with pictures to prove it, I am still in shock that I did it!  And yet, I am I thinking about next year...hoping to do better and wanting to put together two teams that can accomplish it togther.  So stay tuned and see where the journey takes me!

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

  • JOHN 3:16

    It's March 16th - that's 3/16.  It's John 3:16 Day!

    ♥ "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16 ♥

    Share the powerful message of John 3:16 with someone you know, that needs to know, today!

Monica_Writes

  • Visit Monica_Writes's Xanga Site
    • Name: Monica
    • Birthday: 6/2/1976
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 7/18/2006
    • True

My Family

Daisypath Anniversary tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

My Faith


A Healthier Me

MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods