The Better Mom - Be Thankful for where you are

 

 

The Better Mom.  I think this looks different for each one of you out there.  We are all at different stages of parenting with our children.  We each carry our own burdens from past, present and future.  We each think differently, resolve and perceive so differently from one another.

Yet, I'm very positive that we all have one thing in common, we hope to be a "Better Mom".  Some of you are striving to be "Better" than what you had growing up.  For others that were blessed with a Loving and compassionate mother their goal might be to match that standard.  Some mothers simply strive to be the "Better Mom" to ensure they keep growing and work toward being better than they were the day before.

Strive to be a "Better Mom" and don't ever Stop!  When we give up we fail our children and we ultimately fail ourselves too.  There are mounting reasons that stop a person from chasing after "love, kindness, justice, self control" and they all stem out of bitterness, regrets, anger, frustrations, etc. Which, without condemnation I can confess come so easily at times. Most especially when maybe life is not what you want it to be, maybe it's not all coming together like you thought it would or should. Maybe it's not what you pictured or had imagined the whole journey to be like.  Maybe you keep looking outward and the false/judged appearances of others and that has made you even more cold and hard to your own little world of parenting.  Comparison parenting is such a thief.  Parenting is hard work, it takes commitment and loyalty and huge amounts of personal sacrifice and selfless living.  At least that's the way it should be. 

It's hard to care for little people when your own soul is broken, bitter or hurting.  That's the exact reason why I'm writing this today. Forgiveness for yourself.   Forgiveness for not being perfect. Forgiveness for the anger and outbursts. Forgiveness for your adult temper tantrums that match your child's.  Forgiveness for feeling exactly opposite of your hearts truest desires.  Forgiveness for planning unbalanced meals, for being late to the kids practices, for getting your kids out the door without matching socks or reminding them ten times to be sure they had brushed their teeth that day.  To be Forgiven for your loss of patience for when they threw their dirty laundry to the floor for the 100th time or how they tracked muddy into freshly washed linoleum floors.............................................

Accepting the work in progress, as God does.  As you  seek forgiveness, you'll know you are forgiven.  In that moment healing can take place. Even when God is pulling back the scabs to confront at the core of all the issues to begin with.  Sanctification hurts and there is NOTHING like the challenges of parenting that just tear at the fabric of who you are. You are being torn at, so you can be made UNDONE ......so that God can put you back together again. 

Learning to let go of the cause and reasons for your personal struggles that affect your parenting is Key to the healing process. Our excuses will likely come from a place of pain and hurt.  Those pains and hurts are usually a mask for unforgiveness and honestly probably from a huge sense of rejection.  If you haven't noticed the most emotionally involved parents are super charged toward being "The Better Mom" when they never really had one to begin with.

Forgive, release the words into the atmosphere from your heart and don't wait. I know your day will come when the Spirit will undo you and put you back together again. That image of the mother you so long to be will be honored in his Mighty Name and Image.  Don't be so afraid to struggle and to fail, it's in the raging fire inside you that you find your best refining moments.

It's time to honor what you already do, it's time to honor how much you already love, it's time to honor how much you already serve and give. It's time to honor your commitment and loyalty to your children and to God.  You are a Better Mom because you want to be and that is where the power of transformation in your parenting lies, in the hunger and thirst for more love!



Don't stop Striving but do stop to forgive, heal and honor yourself! 

 

 

Heavenly Father today I give You Thanks for all hunger and passion that you put inside of our souls to be "Better Moms" and Lord I honor that writing upon our hearts and minds that reveal this hunger for Love for our Kids because you first gave that to us!  You wrote "motherhood" into each of our DNA and we are capable, we are competent, we can do all things because you made us this amazing way! We Thank You for that God, I ask that for each person reading this entry today that the spirit of truth reveals to them all that You God love about them as mothers, that the spirit of truth says "Yes, I see your struggles, I see your pains, I see your failings but I SEE your heart and mind, I see your hunger and desire to love and push through all the frustrations and complications from this hasty world"  Heavenly Father, Thank You for making us Moms, Thank You for giving us children to feed this Holiday Season, for children to tuck into their beds and with kisses and blessings on their foreheads.  We honor you Lord all the while you want us to take that self love and honor ourselves too in the meantime! In Jesus Name I pray all these things, Amen!

Early Morning Stars Open House & Fire Safety and Prevention Class

The Auburn Fire Department Will be Visiting us for the Open House! A Fireman will be teaching us  Proper Fire Safety Training!  They Will give out reading materials to learn from and give the children demonstrations for Fire Safety & Prevention! This is Free and Open to Everyone and you are welcome to come just for the Fire Safety Training which begins at 10:30 At Auburn Alliance Church on December 9th.

Our Hope is that you would love to come hang out with us to learn and play for the entire Open House! Open to All Leah and Non Leah Members!  Come Learn about Leah and our Cooperative Learning Group! New Session begins January 6th!

Please RSVP By Friday December 5th by 4pm

We Hope to See you There!

 

 

Christian Poetry - In the Meantime

In the Meantime


The hollows of my soul crave the mystery

Waiting here for you to whisper a word

Ushering in the wisdom that satisfies all the soul again

The soul craves your presence all day long

Earnestly waiting in the meantime



The fullness of my soul craves your constant presence

Waiting here to see you, touch you and hear your voice

Ushering in the feeling that satisfies all the soul again

The soul craves you for eternity

Earnestly waiting in the meantime



The emptiness of my soul is in an empty world

Waiting here for you to come down and rescue me

Ushering in the manifestation through Faith that satisfies all the soul again

The soul craves you in each breath I take

Earnestly waiting for you in the meantime


The light of my soul feels overcome by the darkness

Waiting here for you to overcome this natural feeling

Ushering in the promises that satisfies all the soul again

The soul craves you in the darkness

Earnestly waiting for you in the meantime

Weight Loss Quotes I Despise and Love

Weight Loss Quotes I Despise

1. What you eat in private you wear in public- you and I both know this is NOT true! You can't truly see how a person eats (whether they eat twinkies all day or just overeat at every meal) no matter the quality of food- too much of it will pack on a the weight.
2. Do not reward yourself with food; you're not a dog- As if to suggest if you did decide you were going to indulge then you would be "rewarding yourself like a dog?" bizarre mental concept. Don't let the weight loss feed you this lie. You are NOT a dog if you eat a treat in moderation!
3. You are what you eat- so don't be fast, easy or cheap - This is another lie from the weight loss world that eating fast/easy/cheap food makes you those stereotypes in a bad manner. An apple is cheap, fast, easy and yet is so Healthy and Nutritional for you! Stop buying into this lie, it's insulting to every Great Naturally Given food out there! Food is actually supposed to be fast, easy and cheap!
4. Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym - Eat less and lose weight, still doesn't create muscle! Totally Stupid! You can have the most solid core and have it be covered by just a few lbs of ab fat and they are hidden. Seeing abs and having abs are two different goals.  For most of us, you'll never see the six pack although if you were making your core stronger it's there!
5. You don't have to eat less, you have to eat right-   Another lie that I hate, as if to suggest you can't gain weight from healthy food? Of course you can! Sure you can argue with me that dense veggies is not the same as olive oil while in the stomach- but both are equally healthy and important to our body.  You don't just eat veggies!  Even the healthiest of people have to eat less, especially runners when they excuse their "extra" food intake because they ran so much- truth is you don't need to eat back a large majority of what you think you just burned.

Weight Loss Quotes I love 

1. It took more than a day to put it on, it's going to take more than a day to take it off
2. I can not change yesterday, but I can change today
3. If you are tired of starting over, stop giving up
4. The food you eat can either be the healthiest form of medicine or the slowest form of poison
5. if you don't recognize an ingredient, neither will your body!

What About You? Do you find Cliché' Quotes that nag at you? Share them with me!

Let the Wind Blow - Being Born Again (Anew)

 Ezekiel 37:9
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"



John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."


 Ecclesiastes 1:6
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.

Acts 2:2
Acts 4:31

We are not born of our own free will (John 1:13) but by the spirit of God. John 3:6
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.


We must be born again to enter heaven. 
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

How does God make us born again? Through the Holy Words of God in the Holy Bible.
James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Can you tell if someone else is born again? 

•1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. 

•1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.


•for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.1 John 5:4

•Loves- because Love is from God. 1 John 4:7 & 1 John 3:14 and if you you don't love everyone then you are not of God

•Love Jesus-

•Obey the commands - 1 John 5 - Overcoming the world

•1 John 5:11- Having Jesus means believing and being set

• 1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.


• Confess Jesus as Son of God in the Flesh 1 John 4:2
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

•Romans 10:9-10 Confess with your mouth that Jesus is for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.…s Lord and believe with all your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead then you will be saved. 

•They will announce Jesus as Lord in front of others- Matthew 10:32 & Luke 12:8
"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven and the Angels in Heaven


You are not born again if
1) you deny Jesus as Son of God in the Flesh
2) If you can curse Jesus- or you can't say Jesus is Lord  1 Corinthians 12:3
3) Hates his brother/sister- for hate is not from God and he is not born again 1 John 4:20 
4) Hates Jesus- That means you hate God too- 1 John 15:23
5) Belief that the bible is not ALL and Totally God Breathed and Infallible word from God!  James 1:18 

Amazing Super Grace of God through Jesus

What is Grace? The love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it.

Who is it for? All humanity- it was only for his chosen people Jews and opened up to all humanity after Jesus.

What does it cover & do?
Cover Sins and Sanctifies

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. Grace and truth comes through Jesus (John 1:16-17)


to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  Ephesians 1:6

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

 Ephesians 2:7

in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:32

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

 Ephesians 3:8

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

Romans 1:5

Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

 Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 Romans 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

We get our Grace from God and through Jesus- That's why we need Jesus. You can't have God's Grace without the Lamb. 

26. Romans 5:15
    But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
27. Romans 5:17
    For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

 Romans 5:20-21

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Romans 11:6

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

 This is NOT a permission slip to sin! Oh No, what must prove that we are slaves to righteousness and not slaves to the sin. We still must choose a path, even if we find it difficult to stay on course. We must endure the race- we must stay the course- we must keep the Faith. We do that by letting the Holy Spirit reign in your life and continue to die to self and to live by the Spirit that wishes to make you more in the image of Jesus. 

NOT by Works! But by the Blood! 

Galatians 2:21

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

 Galatians 5:4

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

 2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

 Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 Hebrews 10:29

How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

 Zechariah 12:10

 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

How Much Grace?

Ephesians 4:7

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.


What the grace can do?

colossians 1:6 he gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

2Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,


Titus 2:11

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

Titus 3:7

so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

When you do Sin - the Grace covers you- and the more you sin the more grace you will receive but be careful because those that intentionally and purposely sin do the following-

Hebrews 10:29

How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9

If we have grace then why be Holy (work for it)

1 Peter 1:13

[ Be Holy ] Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1 Peter 4:10

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Jude 1:4

For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

The old testament reveals time and time again those that "found God's grace in their Sight" as if it was something that they had to search and look for. Where as through the Blood of the Lamb, that Grace is found at the foot of the Cross.

Grace is for All mankind- but God promises it for those whose walk is most upright.

Not of this World - Alienation

Alienation- the state or experience of being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved 2) loss or lack of sympathy; estrangement.

There are two types of alienation- that is of the world and that is of God.

Alienation, it's an uneasy feeling often felt and so hard to explain. Yet the Holy Bible declares this feeling is normal and confirmation is found throughout scriptures.

We know that alienation of God comes through sin. Yet, the other kind of alienation that I talk about is the separation from self and the love for the world. You become an alien and stranger to a world full of people that idolize themselves and foreign gods.

The world and it's ways has created it's own tower of Babylon with with a common speech and language. The language of self indignation and self righteousness.  The speech is luring and seductive enticing you with whispers that speak to your lustful or material desires. After all they feel so good. This is not a preaching to condemn you for falling for the sweet desires of our fallen nature. It's actually to be expected and you would not be human unless you too had moments (days, weeks, years, decades) where you chased an idea that is from self and not from God himself.

 One by one the devil has taken people to the top of a mountain and showed them all the kingdoms of the world (money, fame, sex, materials, power, control) and all their splendor and offered them up to each person to rule over. Each person loves those things, it's so easy to say "yes".
I'm not saying that you don't deserve or have to not "like" these things, they are Gifts from God- but "For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them." Luke 12:30

It's hard to say Good Bye to those things that feel so good- for a BETTER Promise! "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:4)

 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble!(Matthew 18:7) The world can cause us to stumble. It's not hard especially as Christians that are actively enjoying all the great gifts,promises, joy, peace that God does give us while we are here. God us not calling us to forsake the beauty and majesty of the world in it's natural state, but instead the fashions, fads, false religions and the chasing after the wind (money, materialism, fame, power, control, sex, looks etc)  All of us (Christians) also lived among them of the world at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.

 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25) Learning to say good bye to those things that didn't accomplish what they thought they could for you. You aimlessly keeping working harder and harder, you become poorer and poorer in spirit and in health and yet you wonder...."Can I give this up"and all that means is that you die to yourself and all the desires you keep chasing for yourself for Greater things that God may have in store for you. Many of you can't trust that....as if God ways and his plans to prosper you and lead into great ways is not enough?

You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Jesus spoke this to the Jews when he tried to explain where he came from. The same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead lives inside you.  If you feel this same exact way - it's because the Spirit of Truth reveals this to your soul. The closer your walk with God the more alienated you become to the ways/passions/desires of this world. "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us."1 Corinthians 2:12


Alienation for being a Christian!
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)



¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[d] is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)


Therefore, What are we to do while we are here?

1)Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

3) say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11)


4) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

5)  Stay away from immorality, greed, any kind of impurity, resentment, unforgiveness, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly, strife, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and the like, conceited, provoking, evil talk, suspicions, gossip, malicious talk, selfish ambition, hypocrisy.

WARNING_
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)  ALSO.........Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: (Colossians 2:20) That is to say do not let man made rules and regulations govern your relationship with God!


 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.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.


My testimony is that I've felt alienated from this world since I was young. It was the Lord that led me to the revelation that I received my Holy Spirit at a young age and through my childhood I didn't remember that I took Jesus as Lord as young child and growing up I wrestled with the Lords spirit with my own. I wanted to love the world but I couldn't.  I never felt like I saw the world the way other people had, and I still feel that way. I am a child of the Most High God and his spirit lives inside me and testifies with my fellow brother and sisters in Christ that this life is but a moment and not meant to be lives for selfish ambitions and pleasures that don't benefit my soul or the Kingdom.  Surely God wants me to have Joy, Peace and Life abundantly and I do, but in not in sinful ways.  No longer enslaved to the world but free in Christ to live a better way!  Don't fight this feeling- accept this natural alienation as part of Christ and surrender more and more to the spirit and less and less of your fleshy desires. Let it heal your heart that the disdain in the world hurt your soul for a reasons that make complete sense. The pain and grief of this world grieves the spirit and for Great Purpose. Do something about this pain you feel for the world and spread the Good News of Jesus to everyone lost, hurt and wandering soul. God Bless You and may the Lord keep revealing your direction and may you always feel alienated from this as you are connected to Christ.

Symmetry Learning Game

Teach children symmetry while playing a fun interactive game!

1. Use Tape or Rulers to create your line of Symmetry. 
2. Use blocks, shapes and different colors begin having a child place a block on one side of the line. The other child is to hide their face while their challenger places the block down. The child now has ten seconds to re-create the symmetry on the other side of the line. 
3. Once the child re-created the symmetry they then place a new block(s) down while the challenger closes their eyes and waits to re-create the symmetry. 
4. Create difficulty by decreasing the time to find and recreate the symmetry. 
5. Increase difficulty by placing 2-3 or more pc's to one side of the line while the challenger still has  the same amount of time to recreate the symmetry!

Fun Games for children in Grades K-4

Place Value Stomp Game

Teach your children their place values with a fun game! 

Line up numbers in front of each child, each representing a place value. Have the Children stand back to back and then begin to call out a place value. Each child then Stomps on the correct place value that you just called out and receives a point. First person to a score of 10 Wins! It's a fun interactive game that teaches both number recognition and place values.  Great for Grades K-1

Fitness Quotes I despise & Love

Fitness Quotes I despise!

1) There are NO excuses-  Yes, sometimes there are! Honestly- Life Happens! The moment you jump on this bandwagon cliché' then you are setting yourself up for regrets and remorse and just lost focus of the real genuine reasons to be fit to begin with- to Live Life Fully! To Live Life Fully that means you accept legitimate excuses!

2) The only Bad work-out is the one you didn't do- As a Fitness Coach, a bad work-out can be the one you shouldn't do! Warding off injury is a BIG deal!  Injury prevention is vital because what good are you broken and out of commission for fitness for weeks or months? Take Rest when you need too!

3) What have you done today to make you feel proud-  As if to suggest that your fitness routine is the end all to what makes you simply Amazing? Your fitness is not an equitable measure to your inner beauty and the very important things that should humble you like giving and love.  I measure life differently- not in numbers and work-outs but in truth, love, sharing, love, friendship, caring- empathy- etc.

4) Better Sore than Sorry-  Be careful not to confuse sore with Injury. This is easy on the lips but people can take it too far and work-out to the point that they miss the cue that is typical sore from training and actual injury. Learn your body! There are times you should not train!

5) No matter how slow I go, I'm still lapping everyone on the couch- As a runner this used to my favorite quote because as I was out there running I was patting myself on the back because so many people were inside. Yet, how naïve I was and complacent to the reality that this journey is not about comparing myself to what other people do as if I was setting myself on a pedestal. So what I run! Lots of people can't and wish they could. Lots of people are on the couch because they ran before me, they are on the couch because it's their rest day, some people are on their couch sick or dying. Reality is if you keep your journey in comparison to everyone around you then you just lost the real reason why should be out there to begin with. Get of your prideful podium box and celebrate how slow you go because it's better than YOU being on the couch!  

6) Skinny Girls look good in Clothes- Fit Girls look good naked. - After losing a 150lbs and having run marathons I would LOVE to look "Good" Naked. Honestly extra skin and old stretch marks are far from the social idea of looking "Good" and honestly why do I have to look "Good" Naked? Sure I want to be sexy and feel confident but loving myself from the inside out is the BEST sexy and the Best confident feeling in the world. Only then can your lover truly feel your beauty- it will shine out of you! Celebrate your stretch marks, Celebrate your scars, celebrate your saggy boobs and extra skin, and little bits of cellulite- it's OK and you CAN be just as Fit as the next person who looks stunning in a 2 pc yet you feel best a little more covered up!

7) Do it, Because they said you couldn't. - Live your life for yourself. Stop proving yourself to the world and to others that have beat you down. Yes, it's great to want to "show them" and I bet when you strive for your best it will naturally occur, but don't make the reason why you do this journey into health and fitness. Once you have proved your point to them you would have to then find a new reason to maintain it. Sometimes that's not possible, Do it because you CAN!

8) Nothing tastes as good as Fit feels. - I dunno....I've had some amazing Hot Fudge Sundaes after a Long Run or a Long Day that tasted as good if not better!  Just being honest here! ;-)

9) Work-outs are easy- the real challenge is in the kitchen- I just don't think any of it is easy. Be honest. If it were easy - everyone would be doing it! Do you see everyone in the gym? But I get it, in comparison maybe the food challenge is a bit harder for some. To each their own. I know some amazing healthy eaters that think work-outs are HARD!

10) I would rather be covered in sweat in the gym than covered in clothes at the beach. -  WHAT? Since when do we have to worry about covering up at the beach simply because we don't look "fit" ?  Hey, I rocked a swim dress at 310lbs and felt just fine- at that point in my life I didn't care less about health and fitness! Don't worry about how far you have to go- if you are going to the beach- just be YOU and Celebrate the Breath of Life inside you and Live Happy.

Fitness Quotes I LOVE!!

 

 

1) Will it be easy? No- but worth it!

2) When you feel like quitting- think about why you started.

3) If it doesn't challenge you - it doesn't change you.

4) Fitness is not about being Better than someone else, it's about being better than you were yesterday.

5) Stop waiting for things to happen and make them happen yourself.

6) Because Today is another chance to get it right.

7) The body achieves what the mind believes.

8) Fit is not a destination- it's a way of life!

9) It never gets easier- you just get Stronger!

10) Earned- Not Given!

Home Made Glow in the Dark Lanterns

Home Made Glow in the Dark Lanterns! 

Perfect for Parties, Halloween, Glow Events and special effects centerpieces. 

Directions: 

Take a Glow Stick and break to release Glow- Cut off the end and pour into a glass mason jar. Try Water & Small pieces of Glitter to help the glow liquid stick to the sides of the glass. 

The Effect is GREAT!  Consider using more than one large glow stick for greater glow effect. Also these little gems need some attention and may need to be shaken to keep the attraction. 

3 Simple Tips for Being Fit & Healthy While You Feast

Being FIT & Healthy while you FEAST!

 

1)  Join a Challenge- Join a challenge either virtually online through fitness groups/pages or even create your own. November & December are great months for aiming toward intentional exercise each day. While the rest of the world plans to indulge and start their Journey on January first, You will be starting now and keeping it simple and easy! You'll have less weight to lose and less bad habits to break in 60 days! Perhaps you could set a goal to walk for 20min each day or maybe start a run streak if you are a runner. Don't be so hard on yourself, learn that although you can join a challenge and miss a day- no reason to stop all together. If you miss a day in a challenge be intentional to allow yourself both physical and mental rest because either of those can create cortisol hormones to rise in your body and you won't lose/maintain weight instead you might gain weight.  Join a challenge but enjoy yourself!

 

2) Prepare- The greatest act you can do while living a healthy lifestyle is to prepare for your day or week ahead. Only you know exactly how busy you truly are. Identify those parts of your day that you feel the most tired or low of energy and plan a quick 100-200 calorie high protein/veggie snack right before hand. Plan to skip the afternoon coffee's and chew on high antioxidant foods or teas to fight off your mid day stress. Planning your snack and meals will obviously curb those impulsive wants to hit a drive thru, vending machine or the easiest thing you can find.





3) Moderation- That is such a tough word during a season when everything is presented to you so beautifully and so often. The stores are full of new Fall and Christmas treats! The office co-workers begin to bring in all their favorite treats to show you how much they love you (Sure...Thanks a lot ;-)
Perhaps you are in a leadership position and now every gift is a food during this special season of giving Thanks and Celebrating.  Planning ahead helps you moderate but the best way to moderate is to go ahead and plan to donate and re-gift those foodie presents. Say "yes" to some and "No" to others.  When you say "yes" make sure you share it! Never bring a whole pie home to yourself.  Instead plan to bring that desert to a dinner party or to your family to split. Sometimes those food gifts can be frozen and enjoyed at another time. Freezing food gifts if you can is such a great idea because the temptation is no longer readily available to eat when it comes 10pm!!  Moderation Tips also include- On slice, one serving, smaller dining plates, drink water before/during your meals, eat a healthy balanced meal prior to a party where there is unhealthy choices that way you don't eat too much of the unhealthy stuff.

Halloween Bark

Tis the Time of the Year for Fun Festive Treats!

Ingredients: 
Chocolate Candy Wafers (Melting Chocolate - 2 packages ) 
Mixed Candies: Pretzels, M&M's, sprinkles, candy corn, Reeses Pieces, crushed oreos, etc. Enjoy your best choices in this fun dessert!

I found Party Cake Flavored Wafer melts at A.C.MOORE Arts & Crafts but you can use any color and flavor you want! Just make sure they are chocolate meant for melting!

Directions:
•Melt Chocolate- If you have a double boiler use that- if not slowly melt over low heat. 
•Spread over Parchment paper
•Immediately add candy and press lightly so the candy hardens to the drying chocolate. 
•Let chocolate harden 
•Break into pieces and serve! 

One of the quickest and easiest party snacks you can make for a party! 

Enjoy!!

Home School September 2014

I've never made a post about my home schooling before. I suppose I felt like I certainly don't have anything to share because I am so "new" at this.  I wonder when that feeling will end? How often I do something and the longer I do it, I still feel like I'm new at it all the time! The beauty of life!

I hope by sharing I ignite in me a passion to go deeper into my adventure of schooling my kids. I hope that through my search for fun and adventure in this not always easy or fun process that I can inspire in you a passion (most important Love atmosphere) that even I'm trying to create and keep in my own home.

I pray that all my fellow home school moms had an "Easy" transition into school. Surprisingly I did. I had two little days where I felt monotonous and bored (sorry, God is working on this with me!!) I had a tiny panic that "this feeling" can't seriously be hitting me already! LOL.  So I have done good! My children have done really well too! After having a couple months off I can see their growth in maturity. They all seem more prepared to learn this year too! Amen!


Here is my Month in Pictures! (if you don't already know I have a passion for story telling in photos! It preserves the memory and that makes my moments last a lifetime!)

 Get Ready- Get Organized! What is behind the scenes to a more successful school year is my preparedness! Last year we did our schooling in the formal dining room. This year because we so much extra space, Austyns old bedroom became our dedicated school room. We don't really learn in here (except when working through the kids laptops) but it's a great place to keep our stuff! I have my dining room back!

Our First Day of School! We always keep it Light & Fun. We organize our Stuff and bake cookies and do a craft project! This is a Great Idea to make new School Year Goals with your kids!

Our Studies!

Science- matter of Light (Study of the property of Light. Facts about the human eye and optical illusions)  We also Learned lots of information about Niagara Falls and Hydro Power and took a trip to Niagara Falls. We did the Maid of the Midst! We all had a Blast!

Maid of the Midst- Niagara Falls NY

The smallest Rainbow I have ever seen! Wanted to share that beauty with you! 

 We took a Field Trip to Wonder Works Indoor Amusement Park inside Destiny USA- Interactive fun learning while playing! Take a Visit sometime to Wonder Works !


Social Studies- Immigration, Geography (longitude/latitude). Studied the continent & ocean names and some facts about American Indians. We visited a Long House and watched Indian Dance rituals!  The Indian Village is always a part of The New York State Fair

Grammar- Simple & Complex Sentences. Review of 3rd grade basics of use of commas, quotation marks, capitalization rules, cursive writing, spelling and the twins have focused harder on reading and phonics.

Whitney is studying sign language. She loves online videos to songs and tutors that show her stuff for free!

ART- We did our First Art Project the first day of School, This was also another project we worked on. I love Pinterest for Ideas. I didn't even think I needed directions to make this! Just wing it right? Ok, so we did! We adventured outside on the porch- it's been so nice out! Get it int he scenery while we can! Hope you enjoy the finished project (which looks NOTHING like the real deal!) Ha!

 Gym our Family has been Running, Walking and Playing at the Playground!

In School this year I decided to work out of a devotional for our Worship and Discipleship. I love this little book. Each day it's a story about children stuff with a bible verse! I highly suggest devotional readings to your kids, it's about daily application in their life!

Our family reading has been this great little book! Full of lots of adventure!

Extra Curricular Activities! 

Ally is in Swim Lessons, Whitney is in Gymnastics Lessons and Austyn is taking Hip Hop Dance Lessons!

 We Also adventured to the Park for School One day! We covered our studies at the Playground and made it very interactive. The twins we did a reading drill, I put written words on index cards and put them around the lawn. They had to pick a card, read it, find it and if they wanted to they could do it! For example: Slide. They read the word, found the slide and then went down it! The ONLY downfall to this trip was all the distractions (Squirrel....BEE....Other kids...more BEES....) LOL

We also took a Trip to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards! Our First time at this place and add this to your Field Trips! I love living so Close to Apple Country which is down in Lafayette, NY

Our family has been VERY Busy this Month not just taking trips, learning and such but we also have been working diligently on house projects and here are a few!

Siding the back of the addition to the house

Ripping out cabinet to install me a NEW dishwasher! So great to have! The first time it ran, I was out running! ha!

Daddy shampooing our carpets while we worked! 

Meanwhile I worked hard to keep my Sanity by spending time with the Lord in Scripture and book reading! I am almost finished with my First Year of Ministry School!  Currently I'm reading the following books.  When I am done I will give them a Review!

Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado

The Power of the Spirit By William Law

Gods at War by Kyle Idleman

I love my Relationship with God, I hear him so intimately in my life. He is really bringing things forth and healing me constantly with so many things. Religion robs me of that relationship, sometimes Reading different books brings forth opinions and theologies that don't settle well with my spirit. These books challenge me, they make me dive deeper into God's character, not because of what these books reveal about me, or even if they truly reveal about God, but because when I'm challenged by them- I get to turn to God for the revelation and understanding! My prayer is that when you read that you don't live by mans word but the Written Word (Your Holy Bible) and the spoken word from the Holy Spirit to Yours!  Here is an example of theology that drives me bonkers! The top paragraph is from Kyle's Book about Idolatry. The Bottom book is from the Holy Spirit book I'm reading. One claims that "Idolatry is the ONE sin that ALL sins come from". Yet the other book tells me that "Self is the root and sum total of all sin"........Listen friends, you can't have it both ways! Neither of these are bible truths!  I don't care how much rub two coins together- they are still both money and worth different values. They are similar but different and coins are not dollars! Go with the Bible!

Anyways! I've found a few others ways to relax because sometimes reading AMPS me up in not all the good ways, LOL- I went out on a Date with My Husband this month! Yep- ONE Date, but it was perfect ♥

Then I spent some time with Friends!

 I even got my first alone time all month (besides running) where I bought a dinner and went to the lake to watch the sunset and read! Perfect!

We Also had a get together with Friends for card game and desert! So much fun, this week we are doing Another!

Here is some Yummy Food I ate this month! Still eating Clean and Feeling Amazing! 

Pink Salmon over a fire at a friends house! Wow!

Home made Grain free breakfast cereal. Tired of eggs.... don't want the grains....want wholesome healthy clean breakfast without buying into pricey products at the grocery store.
Ingredients:
Walnuts
flaxseed meal
Unsweetened coconut flakes
raisins
hemp hearts
Cinnamon
Directions- blend to the proportion you desire. Go without milk and mash or dice a banana into it and eat or add the banana and serve with milk.
Today for the first time I'm trying unsweetened vanilla flavored hemp! Blows almond milk away with nutrition and taste for me!! Enjoy!

Warm apple cereal.
Blend two small or one large organic peeled & cored apple and add tsp cinnamon, tsp hemp hearts, tsp flaxseed meal and blend and warm on stove top and the. Add sliced almonds! Warm Yummy way to start your day! Easy and healthy.

Roasted Butternut squash. Roast cut and diced butternut squash with some pumpkin seed oil and handful of cranberry. I roasted till soft about an hour at 350 and served with lean turkey meat mixed in for protein.

My Running Stats Fell this Month, I had an injury to my knee from a Fall. I was able to rest and take a few days off, my knee has been hurting at night and life as you can see above has been truly busy! Besides with all the hectic part of my life I'm just really happy I'm in a place with my love for Running that it does not control me like it used to! I love to run! Here is some pics! 

How was Your First month at School? Did you encounter any unique Challenges?  Bloggers Love Comments, so share with me your Life!