The Importance of Community in Your Weight Loss Venture

To start off let me just say that I am thrilled to report that three more pounds have been lost woo hoo!!!

 Since my last post I have learned so many things about myself. The biggest one is that in order to have a chance at consistency in your gym time and diet, you have to have a community that supports you and encourages you. This can be family, friends, trainers or websites that inspire you. I have found out this past month that the community I have developed at my gym and my family help to keep me on course when life derails me.
 As I posted before I have been having some health problems and this past month at my annual exam my Dr found a lump in my breast. Talk about being derailed!! I was going on with life, my fitness goals and stressing about my first graders spelling test he was struggling with and that hit me like a ton of bricks!!  My open and care-free schedule now had a looming appt at the Breast Center for a mammogram. All I could think about for the next few days were my friends that I had that had passed away from breast cancer, my mom that had fought and survived breast cancer and the fact that I didn't want my kids to become motherless at such young ages. The BRCA gene mutation runs in my family so although I had been tested, I still new my chances were a little higher than the general population. I told my husband first and then immediately called my sister to vent about the news. As we were talking she googled the statistics of Breast Cancer in the population, so typical. The next day I had to meet with my trainer for our weekly weightlifting session. I usually LOVE meeting with him and I get totally geared up, but now I could barely eat, my mind hadn't allowed me to sleep well the night before, and the tension in my body was ridiculous!! I was a train wreck... totally derailed!! Well, when I met with him it all came to a breaking point. I hadn't cried about the news yet or really reacted at all about it. Well, I did right there in the gym... on my awesome trainer. Lucky for me he said, "Well, you have come to the right person" and from then on he talked while I let out some frustration on the weights. I felt tons better after that workout. My mind felt clear, the tension in my body was released and man oh man did I sleep better that night.

  During that awful week I found myself reading a lot. I found an article that I loved and read several times. It is what helped me decide how to react to my news and whatever results I might get. Check out the full article here http://www.t-nation.com/powerful-words/5-secrets-of-the-relentless but for the part that inspired me, here ya go:"Physical Strength and mental strength go hand in hand. They reinforce one another. And the relentless know that personal responsibility is the foundation of mental strength. It's grit. And it's what gets them through hardships and makes them tougher as a result of those hardships. They know that blaming other people for their problems is an easy way to dodge responsibility, stay weak, and impede their own growth. So when the relentless experience adversity, they look for ways to become champions over their circumstances rather than victims. The weak-minded do the opposite." I LOVE this!! I want to have that grit in me for when life tries to derail me, it can't. Another gem I found that week that kept me going and kept me consistent was a quote. I did a ton of reading that week and I can't find the source for the quote but if you know where it came from or who said it please comment!! "The Juice is Worth the Squeeze"!! I find that awesome! I thought about it for awhile and this really makes sense to me. Who wants a dry orange?? No one! Why? Because the juice is the best part of an orange. How do you get that awesome juice?? You gotta get in there and squeeze it out. A wonderful definition of "squeeze" is "to force out, extract, or procure by pressure".  I want the best to come out of me and I know that won't happen if I never have pressure in my life. I want to be squeezed by The Hand of God and to know that He is bringing the sweetest juice out of me!! When I am working out I remind myself (usually when I'm dying on the stairclimber) that the body I want and the muscle definition I desire is not going to come easy and I can always "squeeze" myself a little harder.

  During that week my family helped me with the boys and the community I had developed at the gym (all the people and trainers there) helped keep a smile on my face. They didn't even know what was going on in my life but the conversations, the greetings, all kept my mind off of me. Every Thursday night Chad and I take the boys to the gym and Christian runs track and plays racquetball with Chad while I do some cardio and Liam goes to childcare. They absolutely love this. Well, the night before my appointment we were supposed to go and I just wanted to stay home and crawl in bed. Typical of my sweet hubs he wouldn't let me. He said that I needed to go to the gym... he was right. Our gym has some of the nicest people!! Some say Memphis is an awful town and that no one is nice or worth anything. Well, WellWorx proves them wrong. Even the big "meat heads" are nice, intimidating as heck, but nice!! All of that to say, you need to surround yourself with people that are encouraging, wether you are going through a difficult medical scare or just struggling to drop the weight and eat right. One of the trainers at the gym is a true gem of nutritional information. Matt Oliver leads a weight class and I make sure that I take it every Tuesday. If I can get him talking about food or lifting, I soak it up like a sponge!! Not only does it help me gain more knowledge but it keeps me from driving my Trainer nuts with questions ha ha!! Some of y'all may have seen me post the video of Matt on the news this week. The tips he gives are great and it isn't some uneducated person giving you "what worked for me" advice. The dude is educated! Like certified up to his eyeballs in stuff!! If you don't have the community in your life or the accountability you will struggle. I highly encourage you to check out what he has to offer you as far as nutritional help, accountability, and check out his pic... the man is ripped, so he can help you in the workout area as well! Here is the link: http://flexdieting.com/index.htm.  I have no shame in advertising him either because he is that great.

 As far as the results of my test. I woke the morning of my appointment early and with a Word from the Lord. Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." So before I fell back asleep I made the decision that no matter the news I would rejoice and be glad. I would be glad for the day that I lived, the time spent with my boys and for any future days that the Lord decided to bless me with. My results on the breast with the lump was good but they actually found something in the other one. I was told it is nothing to freak out over but I have more appointments awaiting me down the road and I am now on the yearly Mammogram list. However, I am still one blessed, relentless woman!!

Weight-loss, spiders and diapers

Well, I am so happy to report that I am down two more pounds. It seems that I lose weight in twos. Like the animals in Noah's Ark, my weight goes marching off two by two by two!! I am bumping up my cardio and tightening up the diet a bit so that I might get some better results. Doing cardio 4 days a week has reminded me of something, I am not and never will be a runner. It is not for lack of desire. I would love to know what it feels like after a long run through a beautiful park, or down the beach but alas, I will never experience that. My body is incapable of running. I mean I played soccer forever and that is a lot of running. I think my problem is that when I run, my brain is not stimulated and so I run slow. Let me give you a better idea of what I mean by slow. If you took a turtle and put it in a puddle of peanut butter and then poured molasses on it and watched it try and walk out...Well, that is the speed I'm talking about when I say "I run slow". This accurately describes my attempt at going for a run...

Now on to the spider situation. When I work out I sweat. I mean buckets of sweat. Like I have to carry a towel around with me I sweat that much. So the other day I'm on the stationary bike just killing it!! I was sweating buckets and I was watching a racquetball game in front of me and I was really in the groove of working out UNTIL.... I felt a spider crawling down my arm. Now if you know me and spiders then you know my reaction was not a bit reserved!! I freaked out, almost flipped the bike trying to get off while smacking the mess out of my arm. Once I settled down and came back to my senses, I realized that the "spider" was my own sweat running down my arm. I felt like the biggest goober ever!! So NOW I not only wipe my face off as I work out but I also wipe my arms off!! 

Now on to the important stuff of diapers. So I have a sweet little 15mo old boy we affectionally call Small Fry. I take Small Fry with me to the gym everyday and he absolutely loves it!! There is this super soft and squishy lady that works in the daycare that SF loves to love on. She loves SF loving on her too. So my workout takes about an hour or so and it never fails that right smack in the middle of my workout that I get a paige over the intercom "Mrs. Reynolds, you are needed in childcare". Everyday that kid takes a poopie and they page me to come and change it!! Err day y'all! 

All of this to say that my progress is still slow, my workouts don't fit into the typical girl workout things to do and sometimes I make an absolute fool out of myself. That is ok because I am not there for anyone else but me. I am doing what MY body needs to lose weight and if I can't be an awesome runner then I am going to be an awesome stationary bike rider, spin class member and elliptical rocker!! Well, maybe not elliptical rocker. I'm not a big fan of the elliptical.

Till next time... Be Strong and Live Better

What's up with the working out and weight loss?? The Good, Bad and Ugly!!

So, I had a wonderful reminder from a friend that I don't see often enough (thanks Elaine) that it had been awhile since my last post. So this will be a two part post.

Part I
Since I last posted I have lost two pounds. Yep, just two little pounds. It is so hard to weigh yourself after eating well and kicking your tail in the gym and only see a two-pound change. I am SO tired of hearing people tell me that I am "turning my fat into muscle" and that is why I am not seeing a change on the scale. People, it is scientifically impossible to TURN fat INTO muscle. You burn fat and build muscle. What has been encouraging is that two people noticed enough of a change to comment on it this weekend. It feels wonderful to hear people say "you looked thinner today, are you still working out" (LJ you lit my fire today).... Hallelujah!! All of this frustration with my weight loss is inner frustration. My husband just sees me plugging away at my diet and workout and he has been SO encouraging and supportive. My family has also encouraged me and stepped in to watch my boys so I could go workout. My trainer said some words that I have never had a trainer say to me (and I have had several trainers in my time). He said "I believe in you, I know you can do it". Those words may have been said flippantly but they resonated deeply in me. He could easily just collect a check each month and give some workout that a grandma could do but he doesn't. He pushes me each and every time we meet, answers my 911 txt about eating out or what I should substitute a certain food for. That is rare to find in a trainer. How great is it to have someone that is responsible for pushing you physically each week say that!! It makes you believe in yourself when you are surrounded by such an awesome support system!!

  I also found out this week from my Dr that I have a medical condition that could be playing a part in all of this. Unfortunately, nothing can be done for it until it hits rock bottom and then we will start a treatment of some sort. I don't mean to be vague about it but I also don't want to just throw my medical business on the internet. If you want to know all about it then txt or message me. As for my health today.... I have too much health/life in me to live today that I can't worry about what might be in my tomorrow. I have two wonderful boys to raise and chase along with a husband to keep up with.

Part II
Working out is not for the clean and cute. Working out is for the girls that can get dirty and sweaty and deal with it. I broke a nail on a dumbbell, my hair is in a ponytail all the time, my gym clothes are not cute tops and shorty shorts... who could do squats in shorty shorts?? My skin, ugh my skin has been thrown for a loop. I have never had my face break out like it has since I have started working out. I look like a hot mess when I am done working out!! I have learned a few things since doing this "hardcore" for 3 months.
1) dry shampoo is a MUST
I could be totally wrong but you shouldn't wash your hair everyday much less twice a day!! My hair was fuzzing up like crazy until I was introduced to Suave Dry Shampoo... AMAZING!!
2) Your hair will tell the world if you wear it in a pony tail everyday.
I have worn my hair in a ponytail so much that even when I straighten it there is a crease where my ponytail would have been held by the rubber band. I have started to swap it up some. I will wear it in a cap without a ponytail holder and I have also started french braiding it.
3) Bolderbands are legit!!
I cannot stand it when my hair sticks to my face or when sweat runs in my eyes during the middle of my reps!! It ruins my concentration. Bolder bands hold the hair and sweat off of my face and doesn't put a crease in the front of my hair.
4) Sweat can make you break out!!
My trainer, bless his heart, answered this for me. So last week I was in the middle of doing some awesome oblique exercises and between my huffs and puffs I said, "So I have a kinda girly question for ya" ha ha he didn't even pause, he just said "what's up?". I'm guessing that since he knew I have two kids that I wasn't about to ask him about the "Birds and the Bees" so he figured everything else was safe lol!! I asked him about my face and told him about how it has started breaking out since I have been working out. He said before you leave go wash it off in the bathroom with some water. That way it doesn't dry in your pores on the way home. My brain went "duh, why didn't I think of that"!!
5) When you eat right your body won't like it when you "cheat".
I used to look forward to a cheat meal and i would dream about what I would eat! After indulging in my dream cheat food my body would remind me why I was eating healthier. It does not like cheat meals and it tells me about it shortly after I eat and on to the next morning.
6) If you look cute when you leave the gym... you didn't workout hard enough
If you run into me after my work out please know that I don't always look a hot sweaty mess ha ha! I am the type of person that if I am playing a sport or spending time away from my family to workout then I am going to give it my all and put everything I have into doing it the best I can. When I work out I don't want to glisten. I want to sweat through my clothes!! I want to know that I pushed my body to its physical limits and that I am expanding those limits on a daily basis!!

ALL of that has been what's up with me the last few weeks. I am keeping on with my reaching for my goals, eating right and living life!

Weight loss: week 4,5 and 6

Well, Let's see. Week 4 Christian had swimmers ear and that was HORRIBLE!! Week 5 Liam had double ear infections overlapping with Christian's swimmers ear blah!! So if that wasn't awesome enough I had only lost 3 lbs. Talk about some serious discouragement!! It wasn't the program or the diet because several other people were having awesome results. It was just my body. After having Liam what worked in the past for my diet and exercise hasn't given me weight loss results. So to say that I was bummed was an understatement!

Let this be an encouragement to those who are struggling to lose weight. What works for everyone else may not work for you. Our bodies change and we have to just keep changing and trying new things. So for me.... Im keeping at it!! I have tried some new things and have lost an additional 1-2lbs. That excites me. My journey may be slow but Im ok with that.

Week 3: Still losing

Well, This past week has been a bit slower. Not sure why my numbers aren't dropping fast like before but thats ok. I am thankful it is still coming off. One of the perks of this past week was this!!

I have now lost enough to get BOTH of my wedding rings on my hand!! YEAH! This is a short post but one of my happiest! My clothes are fitting differently, my tummy no longer hits and opens the washer door when I reach over it to get the detergent. Lots of little things that are adding up to be huge motivation for me. Till next week!!

Week 2: It's a comin' off!

Well, my week one weigh in was less than impressive. According to my scale I had lost a little over a pound in my first week. At my weigh in it showed I had only lost .04lbs. so that is what got recorded. Bummer. I was kinda bummed I hadn't lost 4 or 5 lbs like some of the other girls but after talking it through with a few people I realized I wasn't eating enough protein and fats. Once I got my diet sorted out man oh man has the weight started to come off! I am losing an average of .5lbs a day!! I am almost out of my XL shorts and into my LG shorts!! I like that I am not hungry all the time and that I can eat frequently! Oh and the recipes are still great!! I actually ate Cottage Cheese (mixed with protein) and it wasn't too bad. The workouts are great! They are tough but not the bouncing and running around kind of tough. My body is sore afterwards but its not joint pain kind of sore. It is actually my muscles waking up!! All in all this Weight loss Challenge has been pretty easy to do. Eat right, show up and work out and.... Whala!! I can't wait to post next week!!

Getting Started

Well, Im not one that can come up with cute little names for my blog post so this one is about me literally getting started. I am getting started on weight loss and I am doing a 20lbs in 6 weeks challenge at Fitness Revolution.

 Last night I did my first workout there and honestly it was great. I thought I was going to be the only lady or the only chubby one there but I wasn't!! There were a bunch of us chubby gals around my age. I guess we all have babies we can thank for our extra weight :) Like I said, last night was fun. I built my confidence in my movements again and when I left I felt strong. I like that feeling. The one you get when you arrive at the end of a workout and you say, "yeah, I did that". I am one of those people that think weight loss and working out is mental, spiritual and then physical. Think you can do it, feel in your deepest of soul that you can ROCK IT, OWN IT or whatever it is that gets you going, and then your body follows through and proves the first two right!! I have done work outs where my mind and soul have been elsewhere and I have simply gone through the motions and honestly, the workout ended up being mediocre bc I wasn't ALL there. So moving on, I was ALL there last night and WOW!! The soreness! Ha ha it is awesome. I love it and hate it. I really do. I like to feel my efforts after a workout and it has been too long since I was last sore. I didn't do any crazy exercises. I just did them right and with effort and attention. Loved it!

Now for the hard part for me :( The diet part. I don't mind eating clean, really, I don't. It is the prep that I am finding hard for me right now. I think I will have it down in a week or so. I forget to have my snacks while chasing two little guys around and meeting all their needs during the day and that leaves me with a MAJOR hunger headache come lunchtime. The upside to the diet though is that I got a big ole list of yummy recipes!! They have a wide variety of stuff to eat so I'm not just eating chicken for 6 weeks. All in All I am excited about both the working out and the diet. Now I can just relax and watch the weight fall off :) Oh and stretch.... Lots and lots of stretching!! Stay tune for my weigh in next week!!

Our Much Needed Vacation!!

Last week Tater, Tot and I went on a family vacation with my side of the family. It rained the first few days but we made the best out of it. The last three days we hit the beach hard and got every minutes worth of fun available!! Below are some things I learned from our vacation. Enjoy!! 

1) Family should be the most important people in your life. If you cant be honest, open and SILLY with them, who can you be honest, open and silly with?!?!

2) Marriage is one man and one woman (leaving and cleaving) with God. Working to create a wonderful thing that is to be taken seriously and treated with the utmost caution and care. Engagements on the other hand should be stressful, elaborate and the plan executed by family with Navy SEAL like timing and precision!! 

Oh, AND

3) Sisters are an absolute blessing. No one will understand your more, know how to make you laugh in any situation (or cry. Sorry Ash) or love you unconditionally like a sister. I would not trade mine for anything in the world!! I love being the "cream in our Oreo" :) 

4) Boys never grow up. They just get bigger and get jobs. The Boy is still in there and sometimes he comes out when around "certain" company. 

5) Love is an emotion and it can fade. Marriage is a choice that requires one to refresh and renew your love for your spouse on a daily basis. Even when on vacation lol!! Isn't he sexy? He is my hero!!

6) Last but definitely NOT least. These two goof balls have my heart and are the most important thing the Lord has given me to serve, love and draw closer to Him in any way He sees fit. Without them my "family" would not be complete. 

Summer Reading

So I think I am going to make a summer reading list. I have never done it before and I don't really know if there is a right or wrong way to do a summer reading list. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome!! I am starting with a book Tater and I wanted to read called, "The Power of Prayer to Change Your Marriage" by Stormie Omartian!! So far it has been great. I will post a review as soon as I am done. Any books that you have read that you think I may enjoy please let me know!

April 2012 Update

Well, how time flies when you are having fun!! Just a quick update on our family.

Chad has gotten a new position at FedEx and has been moved from WHQ to Bailey St location. He likes it but there have been a bunch of changes in his new dept. that have made it difficult to get started on projects, learning the ropes, etc. He has started Discipling men in our home on Wednesday nights and he is doing an amazing job!! I have never seen Chad as a teacher but because we are all called to disciple people Chad has really challenged himself in "doing right" by these guys. He has the patience of Job with them and is very faithful to live life with them. So Proud!

Tot is growing like a weed and is learning like crazy! I get so frustrated trying to teach him. He doesn't want to be still long enough to learn anything. His PreK teachers do some sort of magic bc he comes home telling me things that leave me in awe!! The other week he stood at his breakfast and busted out the Pledge of Allegiance! It almost makes me sad to see how independent he is becoming. I am trying to cling to this last year of his before he goes to kindergarten. Man that makes my heart ache. I worry so much about that time. I am so afraid that he is going to get picked on or that school will change him and he won't be the same tender hearted boy I know now.

Not much to update in my area. I am still keeping kiddos from the home and trying to stay "happy hearted" about it. Not that I don't love the kids I watch but sometimes I just want it to be Tot and I all week every week. I am discipling a great group of ladies. They are actually the wives of the guys Chad meets with. I am finding that nothing holds you more accountable in your walk with the Lord than pouring your life and knowledge into others. You ABSOLUTELY have to be filled w/ the Lord before you can pour into others or else you leave yourself all dried up w/ nothing left for yourself or your family. I am also learning that a whole new kind of demonic attack comes your way when you are teaching others and faithfully going deeper in your relationship with the Lord.

I am doing a garden this Spring/Summer. Mostly to have fun w/ Tot and teach him how to grow stuff but also bc it gives me something to do during nap time.

OH we have an addition to the family!! We rescued a lab mix from a shelter and Chad named him Diesel. He is getting HUGE! We love him and Tot just adores him. He is so calm and relaxed for a puppy it is amazing!

That seems to be it in a nutshell for us. I will post more pics and updates soon.

End of the Year Review

Well as the year is ending I thought I would post some pics and share some things we have experienced in order to reminisce over this past year we have had!!

I would say first and foremost we have thoroughly enjoyed Tater having a normal work schedule!! He is now working at FedEx World Headquarters and though it doesn't meet all of our needs financially it is definitely meeting our needs as a family. He is no longer so tired from working that he can now enjoy fun playtime with Tot and myself!!

(A Reynolds family tradition)

I guess one of the other major changes we have had in our family is that Tot has started PreK. Tater and I had noticed that Tot had some severe social shyness (swimming lessons were a challenge) and after seeking some council we thought it would be best if he was socialized in a small christian class environment. We found the perfect place and, as the Lord worked it, the school/church is right across the street from our house! He has changed SO much and he absolutely loves it!!

(Tot and Aunt Kiss at Swim Class)

(Tater and Tot on his first day of school)

We have also been blessed by being "assistants to the teacher" of our awesome Bible Fellowship Class. We were asked almost a year ago by Frank and Virginia Roberts to consider helping them out with their class. Of course our answer was yes! It kinda odd to serve the people in our class because we get such a blessing out of it. You would think that it would be difficult with so many people from so many different backgrounds but our class is SO amazing!

(Robert's/Reynolds BFC Camping Trip Tishomingo State Park 2011)

So many other things that have happened this past year but that would take me forever to blog! As always, I hope to be more faithful on my postings but I am a busy woman and my blog is so far down on my list of "things to do". So, ya get it when ya get it :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gettin' Crafty!!

So Fall is upon us and it makes me feel like getting a little crafty!! Now I never like spending much for doing my crafts so the Dollar Store and Hobby Lobby sales are style! Here is a pic of some things I made for Bunko (Bunko girls if you read this you just ruined your surprise!!).

I have some burlap a friend gave me FOR FREE so I am looking for a neat craft for that. I am thinking a door wreath or pin board!! I will post a pic when I am finished :)

Where has the time gone??

My goodness! I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged. So much has changed and happened this summer. Tot is now two, Tater works 60 hour weeks and I am still keeping kiddos. There is just SO much to catch ya'll up on I think I will just post some pics to save time. Enjoy!

Tot's First Boat trip



Sunday in Forest City, ARK w/ MuMu
Easter @ BBC

Ten Things Thursday

10) I just spent 20 minutes laying on my belly across from Tot eating Nilla Wafers at 11pm. (he was butt naked) b/c he has an awful diaper rash that had to be "dealt with". You Moms know what I am talking about!

9) My High school girls soccer team played and won their first game 4-1

8) I loved driving with the windows down today!!

7) My family has a birthday on every Sunday of this month! How does that happen?!?!

6) As I am typing this my dog keeps pooting right next to me. Thank you Zuri.

5) I have only seen Tater maybe 10-20 minutes today and won't see him till tomorrow evening:@(

4) I am bummed that I didn't get to go to my friends wedding shower today. I was really excited about going then I found out that my team was playing in Millington... who plays soccer in Millington anyways?!?!

3) I have never done Ten Things Thursday and I don't think I will do it again. It is hard... I ran out of things at number 6. Can you tell? Lol!

2) I wish my neighborhood/neighbors were a bit more friendly. Moving from the country, where your neighbor is about five acres or more away, I guess I had higher expectations of city folk ha ha!

1) I realized today how behind I have gotten on my Chronological Bible reading. I am so ashamed. Inconsistency will be my demise!

Yum Yum!!

So I don't have much to share right now but here is a yummy recipe for Summer.

Road Trip Roll-Ups

8 Large Tortillas
1 package of 8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 package of 8 oz. Sour Cream
16 slices of Turkey breast (sliced thin)
1 package of 7oz freash Spinach Leaves (rinsed and well drained)
1 package of 4 oz. Alfalfa Sprouts (rinsed well and drained)
2 Large Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
8 oz. of Havarti Cheese -sliced (in the Deli's specialty cheeses)

Instructions:
Spread each tortilla with 1 oz. cream cheese and then 1 Table spoon of sour cream. Arrange Turkey slices atop each, then divide spinach leaves, alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes and cheese evenly over the turkey. Roll each tortilla up tightlyfrom one side to the other, securing with a toothpick. Chill. At serving time, cut crosswise into slices for tasty, wheel-shaped sandwiches. Serves 8.

Let me know if you try them and what you think! I love them!!

Just another day

Yes. This IS a picture of a spoon! Please, Let me explain.
Well, other than the beautiful weather outside today, was just another day. Watched kiddos, felt completely overwhelmed with things that I need to do but can't. My agenda today was to get my house picked up despite the three kids taking everything out that I would put up so I ditched that idea. After the kiddos started getting fussy inside I decided that it was definitely time to move this party outside!! While we were picking flowers to go in our special soup we were cooking under the jungle gym, Tot and Sissy had a little situation that led to me having a revelation.

Situation:
Tot and Sissy both had one of my big kitchen spoons that they had been playing with. Well, now Sissy decided that she was no longer happy with her spoon and she wanted Tot's. So she snatched it away and of course Tot was all upset like his puppy had just died (he can be SO dramatic sometimes).

Revelation:
This literally came to me as I popped Sissy on the bum with the spoon b/c of her reaction to me making her share.
God gives each of us what we need as a way of showing His love for us. Lot's of time we take it, play with it, then we spot someone else that has something we want. It can be good things like a strong prayer life, knowledge and wisdom of God's word, lots of friends, a big house etc.... and rather than being happy and content with what we have we get the "I Wants" and now His provision (external display of His love for us) for our needs is no longer adequate. It is so funny how little kids will come over and play, like Sissy, and will take Tot's toys and then say, "he took MY toy". I laugh b/c they don't understand that those toys aren't theirs or Tot's. Tater and I have provided Tot with those toys for his pleasure and enjoyment and the enjoyment of those that come and play with him because we love him. The same way that the Lord has given us things (not just earthly things but certain characteristics that make us unique) because He loves us.

I have such awesome friends. I can literally list them and right next to their name put something about them that I would want that they have (characteristic not earthly stuff). It is so easy for me to find things in others that I want. What I should be doing is enjoying the things God blessed me with that make me unique. I remember one of the speakers at the Downline Conf. a few months ago talking about how she wanted to be just like Beth Moore. Then the Lord spoke to her and said, "I already have a Beth Moore, I want you to be the best YOU that I can make." Did you get that? Be the best YOU that God can MAKE.

Well, that was my day. I hope you had a great one! Remember to view it through spirit-filled eyes!!
Till Tomorrow,
Much Love

(Emily, you can beat me with a wet noodle for talking about your child snatching things...:@)

Dare you say, "I Love You" ??

Ok So after reading this maybe you will understand why guys have such a hard time saying "I Love You". I am just kidding, as if we could ever understand anything a guy does or doesn't do!!

I was reading in Donna Gaines book, There's Gotta More!, yesterday and the chapter I was reading(How about a Love Checkup) was A-MAZING!! So I am going to share it with ya'll. In this chapter Mrs. Gaines quotes Amy Carmichael on her thoughts and feelings of "Calvary love". I am going to quote Mrs. Gaines who is quoting Amy Carmichael so please be patient with me ;@) Here goes,

"How is God's love fleshed out in my daily actions? Amy Carmichael described it this way: "If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brim full of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water however suddenly jolted" (46). In other words, if someone is unexpectedly rude to me and that unexpected arrow seemingly out of nowhere can cause me to speak an impatient or unloving word, do I really understand Calvary love?"

Ok. so read that and really soak it in!! Now look at what God commands of us as believers.

Ephesians 5:1&2
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.

Ephesian 5:25
Husband, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...

Man oh man! Calvary love is all about death to self so that others may have life. We have to die daily to ourself, our flesh, personal desires and agendas so that the Lord can work through us to lead other to eternal life!!

This has changed my perception of love. When I say that I love my son, I literally mean that I would give my life for his. If my love is that fierce for him why do I get short with him (and to be honest... sometimes harsh)?? Why can I be patient with a clerk that I don't even know but rude with my own family?? Is that Calvary love?? I want to be filled to the brim with such sweet water that the only thing that comes out when I am bumped is God's sweet living water!! Well, I hope that makes you think when you tell your "Honey-Bunny" that you love them or when you say, " I LOVE mint chocolate chip ice cream".

Till Tomorrow,
Much Love!

Do we really need a time change??

So since the time change on Sunday Tot has been off schedule and beyond cranky!! I told Tater the other day that he might come home to a son that has a black-eye ( I was totally kidding and would never hit my child so don't go calling child services)!!
Well, today we are doing a little better. He is now taking his naps rather than try to play or cry through them and he is back to being semi-obedient ( he was up at 7:30 so he is a little emotional about everything still). All-in-all I feel like we are getting back to normal. He has completely worn me out though! I mean to the point that I want to cry with him.
As I had my quiet time this morning I had to ask the Lord to forgive me for my childish attitude that I have had with Him this week. I have struggled to have my quiet time each day and I have not been able to get on my face before Him and pray like I have been doing. The childish attitude I have had has been one of "why aren't you here with me?? why do you feel so far? " . I feel like I have been acting the same way Tot has been acting with me. Fussy, demanding and down-right childish. Tot wants to have a great day and play hard but he doesn't want to eat all of his breakfast, lunch or dinner and he doesn't want to take his naps to recharge his energy for the rest of his day. This week I have not fed myself God's word like I should. I have put it off till the very last thing of the day, I have not prayed and met with Him so that I can be restored and renewed like His word promises. Yet, I have been standing here whining and fussing about Him not being near, about me feeling alone, why won't you bless me blah blah blah!! Ugh it makes me sick when I actually admit it as I am typing. I don't want to end up a 40 year old "spoon fed" christian that fusses to God about every little thing. I want to be a woman that has put the work into her relationship with Christ and that when I make my request known to my Savior I won't feel like I have been nagging Him.
I think the example I am try to give is the one of a parent and child. You have seen them before, I know you have. They are there, at the grocery, restaurant or gym. Mommy or Daddy are already trying to appease a tired or unhappy child and then the child sees something that it wants. The following ensues, begging, grabbing it off the shelf, when told "no" they throw the item or themselves on the floor and start having a full blown fit/tantrum. Now discipline should be administered by the parent but rarely is, thus goes the cycle.

That is what I don't want to be, a childish Christian that throws fits/tantrums when the Lord says "no" or "not now" . I don't want to have major issues when a little bump (like time change or things not going as I planned) comes in my highway of life. I want to be the obedient child that can handle the Lord changing things in my life. I also want to be sure that when I do ask for something it isn't coming from a childish desire or childish heart. Also, you know that the parent with that rotten child is embarrassed by their kids actions and behavior. I NEVER want to be an embarrassment to God or other Christians because of the way that I act or the things I say.

Man, this seems like a downer of a blog huh?

Well, it is my heart that I spill out here so you won't always get happy and sunny stuff. You ARE guaranteed real life struggles, honest feelings about everything I blog about and always, always, always how God is working in our struggles and our pleasures.

Till tomorrow/tonight, Much Love

Ok so I am tired and have a headache so this post is going to be short and sweet.

I am going to share some of my likes and dislikes with ya'll. Of course likes will come first.

When Chad is off work.
Watching and playing soccer.
Spending time with my family

Funny things that people have said or quotes that I like:

"A flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all"
Mulan

Me: I don't want to hear you talk AND I don't want to listen to the basketball game on the radio.
Chad: Babe, hearing me talk is a blessing. Listening to the radio while doing it is just icing on the cake.

Me: Hey Christian, look at the Moose!!
Emily Bobbitt: That's an Elk, Heather

Now for things I DON'T like ( ha ha)

Mean People
Wet shoes or jeans
Chad has this laugh that he does that DRIVES ME CRAZY!!
People that drive like they have nowhere to go.

Ok ya'll that is it. I love ya'll and will be back to my normal "blogging" self tomorrow. Till tomorrow, Much Love!

Really Lord. Are you Sure??

This is a picture of Tater and Tot in Birmingham for an indoor tournament last year. It was Tot's first tourney experience.

So today was just a normal day. No funny or cute Tot or Tater stories to share so I will just share something that has been on my heart for awhile and it now has me asking, "Really Lord? Are You Sure?"

So for anyone that might browse through this and not actually know me or my hubs let me just tell you a little about our hobbies. We LOVE sports. We play soccer, softball, volleyball and tennis (I am awful at tennis but I play to humor my hubs and in-laws). Now when I say that we play soccer what I actually mean is that we LOVE to play soccer. When Chad and I dated we were on at least 3 soccer teams. I played women's league, Chad played men's league and we both played outdoor coed and indoor coed as well as church league soccer. That's a lot of soccer, I know. Now having played soccer and knowing a lot about the game when our church was in need of coaches for the youth league they called Chad and I to coach teams. That was at least four years ago when we started coaching up at church.

Let me take a second and brag on my last seasons church team and my assistant coach (Mrs. Joy Ligon). We were undefeated AND won the tournament what what!! I couldn't have done it w/o Joy. She is amazing!

Now back to my point. So through coaching at church I met and coached the daughters of an amazing family. The Mom, Mrs. Deb, called me up a few months ago and told me that she was getting together a homeschool competitive soccer team and that the coach wasn't going to make practice that day and could I help out and run practice for them. Only because I love them I said yes. I packed up Tot and we went to run soccer practice. Little did I know that I was about to become the sole coach of the team b/c the other coach was too busy to commit to two practices a week. What I found out in the practices to come was that the players were mostly former or current basketball players with one maybe two true soccer players. The rest were BRAND new to the sport. Do you know how difficult it is to take girls that have grown up playing basketball and tell them that they can't use their hands and that they have to learn to run a different way? Not easy.
Although these girls are amazing girls, they are not the best soccer players. They have gotten a ton better through practice, I must give them credit. Now the Lord has really been working on me and telling me to clear my plate of "things". I really hope it is because He is about to use me in some way and not so I have more free time. I tried telling Mrs. Deb that I couldn't be the coach anymore because I'm just too busy but through this and that I just couldn't shake this team! There are days when I leave practice and I am thinking to myself, "do I talk a different language, do I stutter, are the lights on in their heads" and then there are days when I think they actually get it and I have made a difference in the way they learn and play soccer. Bless Tater's heart b/c I know he probably thinks I am crazy when I come home one day praising the team and the other day I tell him I am throwing in the towel and that these kids are un-coachable. Unfortunately today the Lord shifted my heart. I say unfortunately because I know this is going to be a tumultuous relationship. The Lord just confirmed in my heart that this is what I need to be doing. I have wanted a way to invest in the lives of young girls. Last year I helped get a soccer tournament together for high school girls as a way to share the gospel with them. I absolutely loved it! Since then, I have thought about teaching high school sunday school again or doing some other form of volunteer work with youth. But today, right in the middle of practice, the Lord showed me that I have no less than eleven girls that I can invest in and are looking to me for direction. Not just direction in soccer. I can use that time with them to direct them to the Lord and His love. I can show them how to deal with success or defeat on and off the field, what it means to be part of a team/family. So here I write at 11:20 at night and I am still asking God, "Really Lord, Are you sure??" because this is not something that I desire myself to do. Weird thing is that even though I don't want to do this, I feel a peace about saying yes. If you think of me in your prayers at all please pray that 1) I don't ruin my witness while coaching 2) that these girls come to know Christ as their PERSONAL Savior 3)that I don't go grey early because of this :@) Till Tomorrow, Much Love!