40 weeks and 40 days, Week Three

Well week two has come and gone.  It was another success.  I have to admit that drinking lots of water was not a difficult challenge for me.  I am a huge advocate for hydration of the human body.  Often when I am working late hours I do however get behind or don't quite drink enough.  It is hard to do this when you are busy in recovery, it's just not appropriate to drink in front of surgery patients! lol BUT I managed this week to drink 6 or more glasses on at least 5 days this week.  The same for my vitamin goal.  For whatever reason I get behind on my vitamins during the busy holiday season and that is when you need them the most!!!  I did lose weight again, 0.4 lbs to be exact, but who can tell amongst the misery (aka bloating)!!  Yeh, I know you understand.  My goal was to lose 1 pound but I'm giving myself credit since I lost more than one during the first week.  So..... water, vitamins, weight loss.  Check, Check, and Check!!!!  YAY!!!!!  If you are reading this and wondering what you missed then go here to find out what my adventure is all about.

Week Three

Jan. 15th-21st

1.  On at least 4 days this week, I will remember to take my apple cider vinegar.

2.  I will lose one pound this week.

3.  I promise to Just make the appointment!!!  (i'll explain that one later)

During this past week I became fully introduced to Pinterest!!  I must say it is quite fun and I can't wait to try out some new recipes.  I noticed a toddler experiment that involves mini volcanos with baking soda and droppers of vinegar, and I was quite intrigued.  Can't wait to try that with kiddo.  Reminded me that I needed to be more diligent about taking my apple cider vinegar, a habit I would normally have down.

No deep spiritual insight here, just a verse to chew on......

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, 

and like vinegar on soda.  Proverbs 25:20 ESV


hmmmm.....

40 weeks and 40 days-Week Two

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Week Two

Jan. 8th-14th

Living Water


I find that when I bask in the LIVING water that comes only through Christ and his word that I do feel more alive.  I feel healthier and more vibrant.  Hopefully my countenance reflects this as well.  Physically I can take steps to add  to a healthier presence.  AND since I have been lacking in this area over the last few weeks, I have chosen my goals for week two.

Remember. Small and reachable goals.

1.  This week I am going to drink more water.  (4or more glasses at least 3 days this week)

2.  Remember to take my vitamins at least 3 days this week.

3.  Lose one pound

Jesus to the Woman at the well, 

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Welcome 2012!!!

2012  A year for Revelations- 40 weeks & 40 days


Wow, can't believe I only posted once for 2011!  Really??  I must have been one busy mommy.  Or was it that 2011 was just such a weird year?  (Tornados, parents divorce, etc etc.....)  I'm not sure.  BUT, my creative juices are working again.  I'm chewing on something that the Lord has given me and I feel led to share it with you.  Not sure if it will encourage anyone but me, but I sure do feel empowered, inspired, refreshed etc......maybe you will find something you need here, but it's okay if you don't.  This will be my journey through 2012.   Changes and challenges.  Turning  Resolutions into Revelations OR vice versa.

Now I haven't visited any blogs in months so I have no idea at this point in my writing what all of my old bloggy friends are posting about New Year's  resolutions.  Hopefully I'm not stepping on anyones toes or blogs, but I would not be surprised at all that if God gave me this, then he has also spoken the same to others.  As Women we struggle with the same stuff, just in different waves and at different times.  Family, faith, our homes,  and dare I say it, weight!!  That's just to name a few.  When you make your resolutions do you dread it?  Do you feel passionate about it for a few days, months, hours??  Why should you make just one resolution?  One resolution to torture  yourself with all year long when you reach the point of defeat??  No.  I do not wish to live that way, and I don't believe the Lord would want me to either.   Why can't my resolutions be built around success?  Why can't my resolutions be built around hope, joy, and anticipation?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13 ESV

We all have areas of our lives we wish to improve.  We all have the tool or tools we need to accomplish these goals.   I would like to run more this year, be healthier, reflect Jesus more, be more encouraging to others, be a better mom and wife etc etc.  How could I possibly pick just one resolution.

Sooooo, my resolutions will change every week, for 40 weeks to be more exact.  And yes, weight loss will be included in those but will not be the end all be all of my transformation.  The 40 days is symbolic for many things that will be revealed in the end. :)   But it will include the 40 days of planning and praying for each new week ahead.   

There will seem to an outsider looking in that there is no rhyme or reason to my weekly resolutions, but I assure you there will be.  Sometimes I will explain them, sometimes I won't.  They will be personal and sometimes vague.  My one rule for myself is that each goal (there will be three) will be a small reachable goal, thus the built in success and the avoidance of boredom.  Boredom is the number one killer of New Year's resolutions!!  I just made that fact up. :)  But it sounds reasonably true doesn't it?  

So, join me if you wish on my journey into 2012.  40 weeks and 40 days.....

Week One

Jan. 1st-7th

Baby steps and back to the Simple....

1. This week I am going to lose  1 pound

2.  I am going to have a home cooked meal at least 2 nights this week.

3.  This week I am going to spend less money. 

My week one was very successful.  I lost 2.2 pounds.  I cooked at least three delicious meals for my family on my nights when I wasn't working late.  I think my hubby appreciated that one especially.  I spent less money by decreasing the eating out.  No crazy online shopping this week.  Again, beneficial to hubby also.  Check, check and check!!  Yaaaaaayyyyy!!

Thankful Thursday

Hey!! it's Thursday!! I have the day off, so I might as well blog a bit. I really should be cleaning. You know how that goes sometimes.

It's Thankful Thursday and today I am thankful for good friends, for a job that I love, for a husband who loves the Lord, for pretty weather, for a screen porch and first haircuts. Simple really.

Most of all I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who would see fit to give me eyes and a heart to see through all the muck and be thankful for his simple gifts.

Toddler Jesus in the Christmas musical!

Insisted on having breakfast on the porch

We had our First Haircut yesterday!!

Celebrating a friend's birthday!!

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Merry Christmas and Happy 2011

I know, I've been off blogging for a while. But it's Christmas!! So like a good scout, I'm recycling my post from last year! There is a new Christmas song being played on the christian radio station right now, an adaptation of this oldie. It brings me to tears when I hear it. I'm sorry that I don't know the name of the artist but if you happen to hear it, I know you will LOVE it as much as I do. AND if you happen to know the name, please feel free to help a sister out!!

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My beloved childhood piano teacher sent us a Christmas card with the following poem. I have always loved this particular carol and I would like to share it with you sweet friends.

Christmas Bells

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1863

at the height of the Civil War

(five verses)

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of Peace on Earth Good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on Earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Through all the noise and uncertainty of your life, May the bells of hope ring loudly through for you this year!

God Bless and Merry CHRISTmas to you all!!

Meredith

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday!!

Today I am thankful for this little guy. He reminds me that little eyes and ears are ALWAYS watching. His imagination and persistence remind me daily that I am to be an imitator. Scripture reminds us throughout that we are to be imitators of Christ during our daily walk.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Eph.5:1-2

Found kiddo sitting on the porch alone and reading a book, just like his daddy.

Pretty heavy reading for a 2 year old!!

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Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for simple. It is just one of those days when I can slow down. I wished they happend more often. A day when I remember to enjoy the simplest pleasures of life. There is beauty and grace in even these. I wish to share a bit from an author that I enjoy reading from time to time.

Life Itself Is Grace

I discovered that if you really keep your eye peeled to it and your ears open, if you really pay attention to it, even such a limited and limiting life as the one I was living on Rupert Mountain opened up onto extraordinary vistas. Taking your children to school and kissing your wife goodbye. Eating lunch with a friend. Trying to do a decent day's work. Hearing the rain patter against the window. There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize him or not to recognize him, but all the more fascinatingly because of that, all the more compellingly and hauntingly......If I were called upon to state in a few words the essence of everything I was trying to say both as a novelist and as a preacher, it would be something like this: Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

From Frederick Buechner's 'Listening to Your Life' and 'Now and Then'

I couldn't have said it any better myself.