Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday, October 25, 2010

Outside my window... BEAUTIFUL evening.

I am thinking... that I wasn't created to have surface friendships (so that is why I'm struggling with so many surface relationships right now. I need to go deeper.)

I am thankful for ... the Ohio Thrift Stores :)

From the learning rooms... This year is so much work and I'm not motivated. But, the kids are having fun and doing well. Even Alison is reading a few small books.

From the kitchen... three cakes coming up this weekend. New recipe from my cake scraps this past weekend. Still trying to think of what to call it.

I am wearing... white v-neck tee & green/purple/turquoise flowered capri pj pants.

I am creating... felt holders for Awana shares. (so they don't get lost. Ethan lost all of his at his cousin's awana a few weeks ago.)

I am going... to make a list of everything I need to do this week and then prioritize.

I am reading... NOTHING. Finished two books this week and I'm waiting for my next reserve from the library. Hopefully today!! (Remember by Karen Kingsbury)

I am hoping... that the scale keeps decreasing in number. Reached my first weight loss goal today. :)

I am hearing... Broken & Beautiful. Come as you are. Surrender your heart. Broken & Beautiful. (Mark Schultz)

One of my favorite things... coming home from somewhere and my kids greeting me with hugs & kisses.

Praying for... the Coverts needing a vehicle, Mike, Abigail, Ethan, Blake, Alison, Chase, friends who had to put their pet to sleep, myself to have self-control AND motivation

A Lyric or Two...

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend.
The agonies of Calvary.
You the perfect Holy One crushed your son.
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me.

Your blood has washed away my sin.
Jesus, thank you.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied.
Jesus, thank you.
Once your enemy now seated at your table.
Jesus, thank you.


By your perfect sacrifice I've been brought near.
Your enemy You've made Your friend.
Pouring out the riches of your glorious grace.
Your mercy and your kindness know no end.

Your blood has washed away my sin.
Jesus, thank you.
The Father's wrath completely satisfied.
Jesus, thank you.
Once your enemy now seated at your table.
Jesus, thank you.

Lover of my soul.
I want to live for You.
Lover of my soul.
I want to live for You.
(Repeat)

A verse to share... These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

A few plans for the rest of the week... school, awana, co-op, three cakes, thrift store for clothes to add to costumes, trick or treat, church, choir practice,

Come on now... you know you want to do this too!!!

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

Two websites you should try

Hi, friends. I just wanted to tell you that you should really try that link I posted a few days ago to everydayliving.com.

Last week on Sunday I started up my regular exercising again. Hadn't exercised regularly since my shoulder surgery in April. I just started with walking/running on the treadmill. While I did feel my endurance growing and I had lost 2 pounds I didn't think it would be enough for me to exercise alone.

For several years I have been turned off by the idea of calorie counting. I thought it would be too much work. Then on Sunday night I found this great website that tells you how many calories you should have a day based on your weight and what your goal is- to lose weight, stay the same, or gain weight. The site also tracks your exercise activities. It looked like fun so I decided I'd try it.

I have been tracking calories for 4 days now and I've lost a total of 6 pounds in the last 12 days. (In all fairness I was having my lady cycle so that could be where a few of the pounds came from.) The good thing about tracking calories is that I have to think before I put anything into my mouth. Will I want to enter this into the food journal? Will this put me over the top? It has really helped me see how much I was eating. I didn't think I was eating too much but after seeing the journal I think I was eating double the calories I should eat. Crazy.

Another great website for runners, joggers, walkers, bikers, stationary bikers, eliptical users, etc. is runkeeper.com. It tracks your distances, calories burned, average speed, etc. My Mom, sisters, & I are on that site. Seeing them exercising is keeping me motivated.

Anyway, if you already watch what you eat or count calories then never mind. But if you are like me trying to lose weight on exercise alone then you should give it a shot.

If I lose ONE more pound then I will be the lowest weight since giving birth to my last child. :) lol. That's not saying much but still it's a number I haven't seen since I was pregnant.

My small goal is to lose 27 more pounds. (what I weighed when I got pregnant with #4)
My big goal is to lose 52 more pounds. (what I weighed when I got married.)

Addition to Something More

I have a HUGE problem with putting people on a pedestal. I don't want to do it but I respect people so much that it just happens. I'm constantly reminding myself that we are ALL sinners and that nobody is perfect. There may be some who are far more mature than I am but they are still sinners. 

I was reminded of that just a moment ago when I was reading a blog I was just introduced to. The quote, "No matter how mature we get, we’ll always need the blood of Jesus to cover us.  No matter how much progress we make in sanctification, we’ll never outgrow our need for the cross."

The problem with putting people up on that pedestal is that they WILL eventually fail us and we will be extremely hurt. It's happened to me many times. Someone who you thought would never, COULD never do something terrible will eventually make a mistake. I need to see everyone as sinners. Yes, I can respect them but I must be careful to not put them up there so perfectly in my mind and thus set myself up for the inevitable. 

The quote is from the blog The Blazing Center.

A Missionary

I've been wanting to blog about the mission conference from a few weekends ago but I have such a nervous feeling when I think about it. I know it's wrong. I just need to give it to the Lord.

In 2009 at Westview Alliance Church during our mission conference Abigail told me she wanted to be a missionary when she grew up. Although I was VERY happy that she would be willing to give herself for the Lord, I was a little sad inside thinking that one day she'd be far away from me for years at a time. I decided not to push the idea of her being a missionary but also not discourage the idea because Abigail is VERY swayed by what I say. I thought it best to not mention it at all.

A few weeks ago we had a mission conference at Maranatha Baptist. We almost didn't go to the Saturday night service because it was raining & cold, Mike was in Mount Vernon at Sonfest, I wore my pjs all day and didn't feel like getting cleaned up, etc. Lots of excuses. Abigail was really upset and wanted to go. She said she loved listening to the missionary stories and she was going to be a missionary. How could I say no to  her? We ended up getting ready and went that night. I looked at Abigail occasionally just to see if she was paying attention. She was. Bible, notebook, & pen in hand.

It makes me feel so happy that Abigail is following the Lord. It feels great that she is listening and being sensitive at such a young age. I think it is great!! But secretly I feel so sad about it. :( I know it's wrong for me to feel this way. I keep praying about it. I know she is young and may never be a missionary but you just never know. I still am vowing to keep  my mouth closed. I don't want her to live for me- which is definitely what she will do if I say anything. I will be sad in silence.

A few days ago Abigail found me in the bathroom getting ready to go somewhere. She said, "Hey Mom, you know those people at Wedgewood Apartments that wear the clothes with things on their heads? Do you  know what religion they are?" I told her I thought they were Muslim. She said, "Maybe I should be a missionary in a country where there are a lot of Muslims because maybe they haven't heard about Jesus."

:( That makes me even more scared. I'll have to pray even harder now- for me to keep my mouth shut, for Abigail to follow the Lord, & for her protection.

Something More

(Too tired to proofread this blog. Posting it as is.)

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

If you had asked me a year ago about my spiritual life I would have told you that I was fine. Of course I had a few things I needed to work on: I yell now and then at the kids, I don't have the most patience with the kids sometimes, I don't always make good financial choices, I need to read my Bible more. But that is all I'd say. I felt good about my spiritual life. Didn't think I needed to make many changes.

Today is a different story. For the past few months I have realized more and more that I've got a long way to go. The Lord has been convicting me and speaking to me in ways He hadn't before. Was I just not listening?? How can I possibly be a Christian this long and still be at this stage?

Do you have good, strong Christian friends who encourage you in your growth? Do you know someone that when you are near them, even if there is no conversation, you feel CONVICTED or nervous???

I am feeling challenged, convicted, and confused about things. (Secretly I LOVE this feeling. I love it because I'm not comfortable and that must mean the Lord is stretching me & changing me.)

I want something more than the way I have been. I want to know the Lord deeper. I want people to notice the Lord in me. I want to be a good example for my children. I just want to be what the Lord wants me to be.

At the ladies retreat a few weeks ago there were several great speakers who I looked at with admiration. I was hearing the words they were saying, being challenged by their message, and secretly hoping that some day maybe I could know the Lord the way they do. I find myself paying close attention to several ladies that I have come to respect. I am watching the way they act, talk, handle their children, etc. and asking myself if I should make some changes.

I DO have a few people in my life that just seeing them makes me feel convicted. I remember one little thing they say and it stays in my head for DAYS. I pick it apart and wonder if there was some other meaning. I notice the things they do differently from me and question whether I'm wrong or not. (I know that not everything someone does differently than me will necessarily be wrong for me but it is still good for me to examine the differences and make sure I'm doing only whst is pleasing to the Lord.)

I'm tired. I'm not able to make sense of this blog any more so I think I need to end it. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not satisfied with the way my spiritual life is. I want to be like Christ. I want to know Him more. I am excited for the journey. I want to surround myself with people who are ahead of me in the journey. I want to be open and not stubborn. I want to stop seeing things as gray but see them as black & white.

I chose John 17:17 because I know that my journey will not be instant but rather day to day time spent in God's true word- reading, listening, speaking. Spending time with Christian friends. Serving others any way I can. Filling my heart & mind with all of God's word. Please pray for me as I start the next leg of this race. :)

Great Website

I found a great website a few nights ago. It helps you track all the food (calories) you eat AND all of your exercise (calories burned.) Thought I'd pass it along to you. I know I have a few friends who are trying to lose weight and thought this might be something you'd like to use.

CLICK HERE

Productive Day

I have had such a productive day. I can't believe it is this late already. I have so many things I want to do still before I go to  bed. :(

Here is what I did today: ran on the treadmill, went to co-op, went to Dawn's house to hang out, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the living room, did my devotions, folded 3 loads of laundry, did The Firm Cardio Party, put more laundry in the washing machine/dryer.

Here is what I still wanted to do today: BLOG, watch a Korean drama, eat some popcorn, put another load of laundry in.

It feels great to get a lot done. I will rest easy tonight. :)