A Hearty Overflow

Sunday Song: Savior

2012-01-29T11:00:00.003-05:00

Savior

I have seen with my own eyes
Your faithfulness O God
So I refuse to believe the lies
that war against my soul

You rescued me from all my fears
And loosed the chains of wasted years

You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder,
My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer, Savior

Now my heart is overwhelmed by all sufficient grace
For I have seen my weaknesses become Your perfect strength

You've rescued me from all my fears
And loosed the chains of wasted years

You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder,
My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer

You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder,
My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer, Savior

Behold the One who holds me in His hands
The God who comes and turns my mourning into dance

You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder, My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer
You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder, My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer
You're my Savior, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder, My Refuge, Redeemer, Defender, My Healer, Savior

A Little History

2012-01-28T16:56:00.002-05:00

I know I've been talking about getting healthy a lot lately but that's a big focus for me at the moment so that's what I am going to be talking about. :)

I wanted to share a little bit of history so you know where I am coming from. Maybe you will relate with this. Maybe you won't. But maybe it will encourage someone else that is starting to waver with their resolve to stay on track.

I grew up active. Hours of running around the neighborhood, even in high school. Great games of tag, riding bikes, craziness. I also played sports up through high school. Soccer several seasons of the year. Softball in the summer. Track in the spring. I was an active girl.

I continued to be active in college. Intramural sports year round and hours spent at the gym because I had nothing better to do.

Then I finished college and got married. Life changed drastically. I was home a lot doing nothing. I didn't know anything about cooking so I used a lot of those hamburger helpers and things like that. (Which now makes me kind of want to gag haha.) Most of my food was processed and lacking in nutrients.

Over two years I put on 25 pounds and went up two pants sizes. I felt awful and was always tired. I was so out of shape. I was lacking confidence. I was unhappy with myself. I was unhealthy.

I decided to take charge and started reading books about eating right. The more I read the more I changed. (Knowledge is power.) We started eating much much better. I was moving a lot more. And I dropped one pound a week for 25 weeks straight.

It was during that time that I also quit eating sugar for the first time ever. I didn't have it for NINE MONTHS! I felt amazing!

And then I got pregnant. And I gave into my cravings. I remember ice cream being the first thing that I couldn't get out of my mind. I gave in and got some. And then I continued to indulge for nine months. I gained 50 pounds. I lost it all six months after Liza was born. I went back and forth between eating sugar and not eating sugar. I was still doing my best to eat right.

Then when Liza was eight months old I got pregnant again. And once again I indulged constantly and ended up gaining 50 pounds again. Ugh! It took me a year to lose it the second time and I've been a constant yo-yo ever since. Gain ten. Lose ten. Gain eight. Lost eight. Gain fifteen. And that's where I am now at.

But you see... somewhere along the way... between the sleepless nights and lack of convenience... I let some of my good eating habits slip. I never went back to those hamburger helpers but I wasn't making the best choices either.

You see... it's easy to be all pumped when you start out on a new plan for life. You get excited about it. You remember all the reasons you are no longer eating some things that you used to eat. But time goes on and you start to forget all those things you learned. You long for convenience. (Especially when you have a 17 month old and newborn... don't judge me for not sticking with my healthy eating plans!) You give in a little here and a little there and before you know it you are so far from the way things had been.

I could sit around and beat myself up and call myself stupid for slipping back into old habits and old ways of thinking about food. But that won't move me forward. Instead, I've set out to learn again. I'm reading books. I'm making changes. I'm teaching my children and encouraging my husband. This time we are all in it together. We often exercise as a family and we talk about the foods we are eating and why they are good choices.

Changes are happening. Knowledge is good. And it's easier this time because I already have a foundation. It's not all new.

Now I just need to stick with it!

I need to continue to learn. Continue to fill my mind with knowledge about healthy living. Continue to remind myself of the reasons I started on this journey.

This time it's for life!

Exercise

2012-01-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

Exercise.

I don't like doing it.

The hardest part is getting myself motivated at the right time of my day. I have small windows of opportunity and if I miss them it's just not going to happen at another time.

I don't think there is ever a time that I WANT to exercise.

But I know I need to. I know it's good for me. And I know that at the end of it I will be glad that I fit it in.

Lately I've been seeing progress. Those twenty minute workouts that I started with now seem easy and aren't quite long enough for me. Two months ago I could barely do one regular pushup. The other day I did fifteen without a rest. (GO ME!!) I don't enjoy the exercise... but I'm becoming addicted to the progress!

I may have only lost about three or four pounds (losing weight has always been an extremely slow process for me) but my legs don't feel so flabby. My clothes fit just a tiny bit nicer. My insides feel good. And I am stronger. I can do more today than I was able to do a week ago. And I will push myself today so I can do more in a week!

Progress.

It's what's keeping me motivated.

Small victories. (Wrote about that at Girl Talk today.) Every decision counts.

I don't like exercise but I like progress. And so I keep on going. I actually got six new workout videos in the mail yesterday (most Jillian Michaels hahaha... I torture myself) and I'm excited to try them out. I'll let you know what the good ones are.

I'm also working on a series that I will call "The Truth About Sugar". I've been reading a lot of books and I say it over and over again... knowledge is power. When I learn something that helps me and motivates me I like to share it. Hopefully I'll have that series ready in about a week or two. You are about to be educated! :)

How are you all doing with your journey to health?? Are you well on your way? Just starting out? Or not even thinking about it?

Source: believe-toachieve.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

Nine

2012-01-25T18:38:00.000-05:00

We live in a world where people don't know what commitment means. A world where people give up at the slightest hint of trouble. A world where all that people seem to care about is themselves and what makes them feel good.

And that is why I consider myself a very lucky girl because somewhere in the mix I found a treasure. I found a guy who is committed and cares about things beyond himself.

Today Mike and I celebrate nine years of marriage.

For better or worse... Mike has loved me through all the messes of our life and he's not going anywhere. He's seen me at my worst and we've been pretty low together at times. But we worked at it. We worked hard!

Because it's worth it. HE'S worth it! And the simple fact that he is still with me tells me that I am worth it too.

Snow Fun!

2012-01-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

It's been a weird winter! Last year it snowed pretty much nonstop. This year it's like I'm begging for snow but it never comes.

Until this past weekend. We woke up one morning to about six inches of beautiful, white snow! Good thing we got the kids outside to play in it because it was pretty much gone two days later.

We bought the kids little kid-sized shovels and it was money well spent. Jason LOVES his! He always wants to shovel the driveway and when that doesn't need done he will just go around shoveling the yard.

And Liza... well she had spent the night at my in-laws and came home with a fun new hat.

I can't look at her wearing it without laughing. It's just too funny.

My kids are growing up and getting sooo BIG! I think that's why I love these last two pictures most...

Jason made a snow angle...

and when he sat up he was stuck and couldn't get up. He looked at his daddy and said "I need help getting up!" And when I look at this picture he still looks like my little boy.

I hope it snows some more this winter!

Baby Charlotte

2012-01-23T06:05:00.000-05:00

My friend just had a baby girl and asked me to do some photos. Let me just say that newborns are tough! I've been reading some blogs with tips on newborn photography the past two days because obviously the good newborn photographers know something I don't. I'm learning. It's a process.

But Charlotte... oh my! What a cute, sweet little girl!! Adorable!

PS... I'm totally jealous of photographers who live in areas where all the houses get nice natural light. It's just not happening much around here.

It's Not About Skinny

2012-01-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

I've been exercising and I've been eating well. I talk about it a lot so people know it's going on. But for me it's not about skinny.

Yes. I have some weight to lose. Yes I get excited when I do lose a pound. Yes there is a number that I have in mind that would be my healthy, ideal weight.

But it's not about skinny.

It's about HEALTHY.

Source: running-for-sanity.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

There are plenty of skinny people that are far from healthy.

A while ago I posted this on FB in a moment of frustration...

"So... I searched 'healthy' on pinterest hoping to find some recipes and inspiration. I found a few of those things but also saw lots of pics of super skinny girls. The reality is that you can look great in a bikini and still be unhealthy. There is more to it than your weight and how you look on the outside."

Source: believe-toachieve.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

For me this journey is not just about a number on the scale or the size of my pants. It's about being healthy. Feeling good. Being fit. Taking care of my body. Eating for the right reasons and eating the right things.

It's about understanding things like this and applying what I learn to my life...

Source: imbringinghealthyback.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

You see... those other times skinny WAS my goal. And what happened once I reached my goal?? I let go of many of the things I had learned and embraced along the way. I've now learned from my mistake and I am changing my focus. I will focus on healthy. Skinny can be the bonus that comes along with it but it is not my goal.

Source: happilymaintaining.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

I am making great changes and I am feeling really good about it. Changing habits and forming new ones when it comes to your health takes time, sacrifice and educating yourself. I'm doing those things. I'm tired of living the way I was. I'm tired of how I had been feeling about myself. I like the glimpses of healthy that I have had and it motivates me to keep going.

Source: believe-toachieve.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

This is my journey and I have to do it my way. I found my way while praying and letting God speak to my heart about changes that I need to make. I hope you take the time to find your own journey and let God speak to your heart about changes you can make. I hope you make your focus healthy and not skinny. I hope you are successful.

Life Without Sugar

2012-01-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Life without sugar isn't nearly as bad as one might think.

It's just getting to that point that is hard.

When I tell people that I don't eat sugar I often hear something along the lines of "Oh I could NEVER do that! I like it too much!" Truth is... I liked it too much too and that's why I need to go without it. I don't quit sugar because I don't like it that much. I don't quit sugar because it is easy for me. I don't quit sugar because I WANT to. I quit sugar because I HAVE to. Because I like it too much.

Did you know that the average American eats 150 pounds of sugar a YEAR?? YUCK!!

That means there are a ton of people eating way more than that because right now I'm not eating it.

Well... let's actually be truthful about this...

I am eating some.

Once in a while I have yogurt. Yogurt has sugar.
Once in a while I have ketchup. Ketchup has sugar.
I still use salad dressing. Salad dressing has sugar. (Although I plan to try making my own this week!)

(Read your labels... it's in everything!)

But mostly I am eating meats, fish, fruits and veggies.

YUM!

You guys! Once you get all the other crap out of the way you realize how good real food tastes!!

And I've noticed some changes as well...

1. The number on the scale continues to go down.
2. My stomach isn't constantly bloated anymore.
3. I'm *ahem* much more regular. (Hi!)
4. It's easier to eat less. And I stay full longer.
5. Even though I haven't lost a ton yet I FEEL skinny... my mind feels skinny. The other day I was walking into a store behind someone who was really thin (thinner than I will ever be) and in my mind I felt like she looked. I know that might sound weird but my body is changing from the inside out. I feel healthier. Way healthier!

And the most important thing... the cravings are going away! When I'm not having sugar I find myself not needing sugar and THAT is sooooo nice! Sure, I'll have days when it is hard but for the most part I feel like I am over the hardest part.

As the year goes on I plan to cut more and more things that have sugar listed in the ingredients. I want to find substitutes and better options.

I can do this! I can make it a year! And after that I'll just keep going. This is my life now. I'll never be one of those people that can indulge every now and then. It's just not going to happen. And I think I'm going to be ok with that because I LOVE how I feel when I'm not eating the stuff!!

Be healthy people!! It feels good!

Source: thinkfit.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

I love winter! I hate winter.

2012-01-19T16:59:00.000-05:00

I really do like the winter. I can handle the cold temps as long as I have lots of warm blankets. (And I have lots of warm blankets!) I like snow. It's pretty. It's fun. You won't hear me complaining about the weather. Snow and winter just come with the territory. It snows in PA.

But I hate the winter too.

I get depressed. It's dark so often and I live in the woods which means even if the sun is shining I don't see much of it. And once I get in a funk it's really hard for me to get out of it.

I've been in a funk these past few weeks.

And I feel stuck.

I keep forcing myself to put things on the calendar and get out of the house. If I don't I'd just stay home all the time. Most days I would prefer to put on some cozy clothes, grab a warm blanket and crawl in a hole with a good fiction book.

Fiction books are a way of escape from reality for me.

Anyways, this happens to me every winter. (I'm sure I could get diagnosed with SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder.) I don't like it but I don't know how to beat it.

So yeah... that's where I'm at right now.

Sorry to be a downer but I didn't want everyone thinking I didn't like them if I seemed distant and cranky. I'm working on it but it would help if you prayed for me too. Thanks guys!

Smoothies

2012-01-17T18:11:00.001-05:00

There aren't a lot of breakfast options for me right now. I'm not eating sugar so anything that needs syrup is out. I could eat some of those things without the syrup but I'm also avoiding simple carbs soooo. Most cereals are out. Fruit is good but on it's own it won't keep me full. I don't eat pork so breakfast meats are out. (I could do turkey sausage or bacon but I don't enjoy cooking, especially first thing in the morning.) I can handle eggs about once a week. (I had an experience with eggs while pregnant with Liza and have had a hard time eating them since.)

Oh... and I can't stand oatmeal. It's a texture thing.

I know breakfast is a really important meal so I can't skip it. Plus... if I skipped it I would just end up eating all the wrong things two or three hours into my day.

I needed some options.

And that is how I found some really yummy smoothies! I make one almost every morning and they are good and keep me filled up till lunchtime.

Here are the ones I have tried so far...

Source: thischickcooks.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

(This one is nice and thick. Will be a great treat in the summer!)

Source: iowagirleats.com via Laura on Pinterest

(My kids drink this... loaded with spinach but you can not taste it. You will taste peanut butter and banana.)

Source: redheadrecipes.com via Laura on Pinterest

(This one was ok. Not nearly as good as I had hoped it would be.)

Source: pickyin.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

(I made some changes to this one... I used frozen bananas and left out the ice cream, ice cubes and honey. It was yum!)

Source: confident-beautiful-motivated.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

(Simple and thick! I had to add some milk to get it to blend but it was good! Might need one of these later tonight. :))

To get to the recipes just click the pic. If you are unfamiliar with pinterest all you need to do is click the pic that you see come up in the new page and it will take you to the recipe.

Do you have a good, healthy smoothie recipe?

Feeling Professional

2012-01-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

I have been getting called a lot lately about photography. Word is getting around. People are seeing pics that I did for others. My name is getting out. And people are asking.

I still say no a lot... and it feels like I say no even more now that more people are calling. Photography is still a hobby for me and I'm not ready to go all out with a business or anything. One reason is that I don't want to do that yet. Another is that I don't have the equiptment I would need to do that. And another reason is I just wouldn't have the time right now.

But someday... maybe someday. I do have dreams. In the meantime I'll keep taking some shoots here and there that allow me to continue to practice and learn. I'll read more books. I'll take some more classes.

I'll always love photography and I love the joy that comes with giving someone that picture that they will treasure forever.

Because it's a hobby I'm not real professional about things. I often sarcastically say while laughing at myself "I know! I'm sooo professional!" You know... while handing out a generic note that says "so-and-so has permission to print these photos" written on an index card.

A few years ago my friend Kim tried to get some pictures printed somewhere that I took for her and they wouldn't let her without a note. I wrote something along the lines of "Kim has permission to print any pictures I ever take for her forever."

I know! I'm soooo professional!

The other day someone called me about possibly doing a wedding. Shooting a wedding IS on my 2012 to-do list and after a few questions I decided it would be a good fit and we agreed to meet at Panera to talk further.

And in that moment I was all "OH! That's kind of professional!"

I see couples meeting photographers at Panera all the time to discuss prices, options, etc. You know... the whole interviewing thing to see if that's who they want to go with.

And today that was me. :)

I sat down with my computer and showed them pictures from past weddings I have done and talked about all kinds of things wedding day and how photography would go and what I am capable of and prices and all those things.

It was fun! A step in the right direction for me.

And then she asked "Do you do a contract or anything if we go with you?"

"Well I haven't. But I can if you would like that."

I know! I'm soooo professional!

And then I handed her a business card for my "other business" because that's all I have right now.

Baby steps. Baby steps. Remember... it is still just a hobby for me.

Did You Hear It Shatter?

2012-01-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

My Sweet Sweet Liza,

I hope you know how much I love you! You are a delight to have around. You make me smile and laugh even when I am in the worst of moods. Your smile is my sunshine. Your heart is beautiful and kind and amazing.

It makes me so sad to see you hurt. And even more so when the hurt that you experience is a result of things that happen to me.

You see, you once had this lovely friend. Her mommy and I were good friends too. Then, one day something happened between her mommy and I and things were just never quite the same again. I hoped and prayed that things would work out. I liked having your friend's mommy as a friend. And I liked that you had such a wonderful little friend too.

But we can't control the decisions that others make.

I received an email from your friend's daddy asking me to no longer hold on to hopes of a friendship with your friend's mommy. I was not to contact her again.

This upset me. I hurt for myself and the loss of a great friend. But more importantly, I hurt for your loss of a friend.

You loved your little friend and you talked about her all the time and were always wondering when we might see her again. Once the decision was made that I would no longer see her mommy I let you know that you would no longer be seeing your friend.

My heart broke that day Liza.

That was months ago.

You still talk about your little friend. You still ask to have her over. Before bed you pray for your friend's mommy that she would like me again.

My heart breaks every time. When you pray those prayers I kiss your cheek and tuck you in. And then I go where I can be alone to cry. I'm so sad that I was the reason you lost a friend.

Today I came home to find you all cuddled up on Daddy's lap. You were really sad and had been crying. When I found out why my heart broke all over again. You had made a card for your little friend but Daddy had to tell you that we couldn't send it. You knew why. You understood. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt you and that you aren't sad about not seeing your friend.

I cried again. And I cry as I write this.

Life is hard little Liza. People will hurt us. But I hope and I pray that never again will you have to experience hurt like that because of me.

I'm so sorry Liza. I wish I could change things. But someone else made the final decision.

I know you will make new friends. You love people so much and you want to be best friends with everyone you meet. And you make the best cards ever!

Liza, you are more wonderful than words could ever say. You make my world go round. You make me a better woman.

I love you now and forever my precious little girl.
Love,
Mommy

Fitness Friday: Not Beneficial

2012-01-13T15:20:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:23
Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial.

This is where I am at. This is what I am constantly reminding myself. All that food. There is so much that I want. I COULD have it. It's not like it will kill me on the spot and the only thing that God specifically asked me to avoid was sugar. So I could totally down a box of crackers or a bag of chips right?!

Not gonna lie... I kind of want to.

But I realized that typically when I give up sugar I just replace my binging with some other type of food... normally crackers and chips and all other things that are bad for me in large quantities. And I eat them large quantities.

Not beneficial!

So I'm currently avoiding all of those snacky kinds of food as well. Why? Because I mentioned before that I have a total food problem. I eat all the time and for all the wrong reasons. Right now I want to eat because I am bored. Yesterday it was because I was stressed.

All emotional eaters raise your hand! *Raising hand really high.*

My hope is that by the end of the year I will not have just quit sugar for a year or lost the weight... but rather my hope is that I will have learned to deal with my emotions and boredom in more healthy and more beneficial ways.

Removing all sugary things and snack foods from my life and my home will be a huge help in this. Why? Because I have removed the convenience of eating when I am bored. It's a lot harder to find a snack when you decide you want to eat if you can't just grab a bag of chips. I might actually have to make up an entire salad in order to have a snack. And well... I'm just not going to do that very often! Grabbing a bag of chips is easy. Making a salad or trying to come up with some other healthy snack? No so convenient.

Lysa TerKeurst says this about convenience:

Unhealthy choices are always so convenient. They are packaged and preserved and sing of salty and sugary highs tailor made for a hungry stomach. You don't find fresh fruits and veggies conveniently located in a nearby vending machine. So, I give in to that bag of chips or a candy bar because I am so hungry and it will only be for this time. These empty calories do nothing but taste good in the moment and then set me up for more unhealthy choices just a short time later.

And that's the truth of it. And that is why I need to change my thinking and change my habits. I have to remember that not everything is beneficial for me.

Bladen... 6 Months

2012-01-13T09:46:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I met up with my friends Keith and Sarah to continue with the gift that I gave them at their baby shower... Lot's of pics of their baby boy for the first year of his life.

This time it was the 6 month old shoot.

6 MONTHS! And boy has he grown! It's hard to believe this is the same Bladen that was only five pounds the first time I met him! He's such a sweet little boy with the cutest of smiles.

And I am totally enjoying taking his pictures! My goal was to bless my friends with pictures at no cost while I would get some practice. I learn more and more with every shoot. I'm becoming more comfortable with my little setup of my made up portable studio of blankets and random things from around the house. And I'm also getting better with my flash. At least I think so. And gosh! It's fun to watch babies grow!

I've been taking the same props for each shoot with Bladen so they can have a series at the end and compare photos to see his growth over time. :)

Anyways... here are his 6 month old pictures. Super cute!

CUTE! CUTE! CUTE!

Christianity vs Religion

2012-01-12T14:04:00.000-05:00

Saw this on Facebook.
Loved it.
Sharing it!

Church isn't a museum for good people,
it's a hospital for the broken
which means I don't have to hide my failure
I don't have to hide my sin
cuz it doesn't depend on me
it depends on HIM!

Good stuff friends! Good stuff!

"Why he was dangling on the cross he was thinking of you."

Think on that for a while today.

Follwer or Fan?

2012-01-12T09:13:00.001-05:00

I was emailing with a friend earlier this week and she said she saw a tweet that went something like this...

"Church is filled with fans of Jesus not people who have relationships with him."

And when I thought about it I realized that that is probably true. Jesus has a whole lot of fans... People that say "oh yeah! I believe in Jesus!" But the real question is how many followers does He have? How many of those that say "I believe" actually KNOW Him?

Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Daily. Follow Him daily.

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Where ever it is that he leads you? Past your comfort zones and into your weaknesses? Are you willing to say YES! no matter what? Or will you sit in the pew and just be a fan?

You see... when you KNOW Jesus it changes your life. When you KNOW Jesus you can't remain the same. When you KNOW Jesus you will start to act like him. You will do things he did. Go places he goes. And say things he said.

You won't be ashamed of him or embarrassed. And when you fully believe in Jesus you will want everyone else to know him too... because he is the one and only way.

FOLLOWER: a person who follows another in regard to his or her ideas or belief; disciple or adherent.

Are you a follower? Or just a fan?

Oh VeggieTales.

2012-01-11T21:13:00.000-05:00

We are lovers of all things VeggieTales. Liza and Jason love the characters and the stories. Just this morning as Mike was helping me get the kids in the car Liza and Jason decided that they could be Bob and Larry and Mike and I were two Frech Peas. Lovely. :)

So on to the story...

Today I volunteered in Liza's class and the Bible story was about Moses and the burning bush. The mom who did the storytelling today then mentioned how next week the story was going to be about all the miracles that God did while the people were leaving Egypt and that while they were running from the Egyptians God parted the water and they walked across on dry land.

After story time was over Liza walked up to the story teller and all serious said "In my movie it snowed."

The adults in the room were a little confused so I was glad that I was there to explain.

The VeggieTales movie Mo and the Big Exit was done as a Western. It's super cute and I like it. Instead of crossing the sea (which would have made sense) they are out in the dessert and they have to cross this area that is sooooo HOT that it would be impossible. And that's when they looked and saw that God had made it snow and they walked across that area with no problems.

Hooray! The Isrealites were safe from the Egyptians!

But Liza is slightly confused.

I guess we need to work on the REAL story of Moses a little bit. :)

Winner

2012-01-10T07:49:00.002-05:00

The winner of the Pens and Paper giveaway is Kaycee from A Tiny Piece of My World!

Congratulations Kaycee! Get it touch. I'll need your address. :)

It's Not For Me To Judge

2012-01-09T21:14:00.001-05:00

Last night the Steelers lost to the Denver Broncos. And today all the talk is about Tim Tebow.

Should he be speaking out as boldly as he does about His love for God?

Seems a lot of people are hating. They kind of want him to just shut up. They say if he was humble he would just go off in the corner and do his religion thing alone. He's making people uncomfortable. He's setting himself up for a big crash and burn.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on it and what surprises me most are Christians. Why are they hating on their brother?

I think what we all need to do is stop worrying about Tim Tebow and whether or not he is doing it right or wrong. That's between him and God.

Instead... let's face the reality of why it's bothering us so much. Does it make us uncomfortable to see a Christian that isn't afraid to speak boldly about God because it convicts us? Because we aren't doing it? Because we've been ashamed to speak out about our God and our faith and our love for Him?

Do we feel guilty because we haven't used our platforms in life to share the Good News? To point people to the one who can save them?

Why do we get uncomfortable with a Christian living life boldly? Speaking truth?

Jesus lived boldly.
The disciples lived boldly.
John the Baptist lived boldly.

Maybe it's time to stop focusing on Tebow's speck of sawdust and work on removing our own planks.

Let God be the judge.

I simply fail to see what all the controversy is about.

Winners

2012-01-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

The winner of the $15 gift card giveaway is STEVE!! I worked at camp with Steve years ago and he's one of the few guys I know that actually reads my blog and the only one that ever comments. I always hope that Steve will win one of the giveaways so I'm pumped that he finally did!

Congrats Steve! You know how to get in touch. I need to know where you want the gift card to and your address.

The winner of My Favorite Things for Cold Days giveaway is Susan from The Life of Susan! Send me an email with your address Susan and I'll get the scarf, cup and tea out to you soon! Congrats!

One more winner to announce tomorrow. As for now... I'm off to do the Shred again. I've been avoiding sugar and most carbs and I'm totally pumped about being down 2.2 pounds since Thursday!! I'm working on a new series called The Truth About Sugar and I'll be writing about all the changes I've been making and how they are affecting how I feel.

Happy Monday!

It Really IS Serious

2012-01-07T15:37:00.000-05:00

This whole sugar addiction thing is no joke.

I'm not making it up. If you saw me at home with sugar you would understand. Then again... maybe you wouldn't. Most people don't understand how someone could be addicted to sugar because it's not talked about.

Drugs, alcohol, porn addictions... those things are talked about.

But sugar!? Nah. You just have to learn moderation.

Addiction:

the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

Ask people who are addicted to sugar and then quit. They will speak of headaches and aches and extreme cravings. There are absolutely withdrawal symptoms when quitting sugar.

An addict is a person who is addicted to an activity, habit or substance.

I am a sugar addict.

Do you hear me?!?!

I AM A SUGAR ADDICT.

What is frustrating is that people won't treat me as an addict. Because... you know... it's just sugar.

But take a moment and google "side effects of sugar". It's insane.

I've quit eating sugar... as in sweets. No more cakes, cookies, ice cream, chocolate, hot chocolate, sugary drinks, candy, etc. And then I went a step further. I'm reading labels... did you know that sugar is in just about every single packaged food you buy. Go ahead and read the ingredients lists on the food in your house. Most food products have added sugar. We have absolutely no idea how much sugar we actually consume in a day. It's in your bread, peanut butter (unless you eat smuckers), ketchup, mayo, yogurt, salad dressing. It's everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

And I'm an addict.

Do you know how hard that makes my life?

Everywhere I go I am faced with sugar.

Restaurant - desserts and drinks.

Friends houses - it's there... sitting on trays and being offered.

Church - sells donuts.

Grocery Store - stand in the checkout line and be bombarded with sugary offers.

Everywhere I go I have to say no. Not a day goes by that I am not tempted with sugar in front of me.

Right now there are cupcakes on my counter because Liza received a cupcake kit for Christmas. The kids are always coming home with candy and sweets from school.

I can not get away from it. There is no safe place. I have to fight this constantly.

Why am I telling you this?

So that maybe you will remember how hard it is for me all the time and give me a break once in a while. Do I always expect people to hide the sweets or for a group to say "no sugar because Laura is coming"? No. I don't expect that at all. But maybe... just maybe one of these times you can just skip it too so it's a little easier for me.

Like I asked Mike last night... If I had been an alcoholic would you ever sit in front of me drinking a beer? The answer was no. People can't seem to transfer that same idea to other areas though. Why would you sit in front of a serious sugar addict who has relapsed many many times with a bowl of ice cream?

Just something for you all to think about! I really don't expect you to skip dessert every time I am around. Truly. But just keep it in mind that I really do have a serious problem... and so do many others when it comes to food. They just aren't talking about it yet.

Paper and Pens

2012-01-06T13:07:00.000-05:00

Today is the last giveaway day in celebration of my blogoversary.

I am giving away the following...

20 random note cards. All are blank on the inside. A few are thank you ones. I have more than I will ever need and I love having variety so I picked a bunch of different ones and put them in a pile.

I also love journaling in a real paper journal so the winner of this giveaway will also win this journal and a pack of my favorite pens.

One entry per person.

To enter just leave a comment answering the following question:

When was the last time you sent someone snail mail? (Not including Christmas cards. :))

You do not need a blogger account to enter but you will want to leave your name.

Winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday.

Fitness Friday: Major Changes

2012-01-06T06:01:00.000-05:00

Well... you all know about my sugar addiction. I've been doing well. Saying no to sugar. Being accountable to God instead of a human is a much greater motivator!

And I've been doing the Shred. Today is day 14 on level 2. (I still hate it.)

Problem is that the number on the scale isn't changing and that's when I had to face reality.

I not only have a sugar addiction but I have a total food problem. I have been letting food control me instead of me being in control of the food. I eat all the time. I'm never REALLY hungry. I snack when I want to and I don't usually snack well. I overeat at meals.

I have issues when it comes to food. They may not be the kind that you can label like anorexia or bulimia... but I'm realizing that I have my own individual food disorder and it's time to face it and beat it.

Have you ever watched Over the Hedge? It's a movie we love in this house but there is one scene that always stands out to me and the truth of it really hits home. Check it out...

In case you can't watch the video because you are at work or something here is what goes on in the clip...

They always got food with them. We eat to live - these guys live to eat! Let me show you what I'm talking about! [as he speaks he shows the other animals what humans do] The human mouth is called a 'piehole', the human being is called a 'couch potato'. [signifies telephone] That is a device to summon food. [signifies doorbell] That is one of the many voices of food. [signifies front door] That is the portal for the passing of food. [signifies many delivery trucks] That is one of the many food transportation vehicles. Humans bring the food, take the food, ship the food, they drive food, they wear the food! [signifies grill] That gets the food hot! [signifies cooler] That keeps the food cold! [signifies turtle pinata] That...I'm not sure what that is. [kids break the turtle piñata and Verne yells] Well, what do you know? FOOD! [signifies table where family prays before dinner] That is the altar where they WORSHIP food! [signifies advert for Seltzer] That's what they eat when they've eaten TOO MUCH food! [signifies treadmill] That gets rid of the guilt so they can eat MORE FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! FOOOOOD! So, you think they have enough? [everybody nods] Well, they don't. For humans, enough is never enough! And what do they do with the stuff they don't eat? They put it in gleaming silver cans, just for us! [opens the trash cans and knocks them over] Dig in!

Isn't that the truth?! We are ALWAYS thinking about food. At least I am. And I don't want that to be the case any longer. It's time to make some major changes.

I bought a good scale the other day. It measures weight and body fat percentage. Here are my starting points...

WEIGHT

BODY FAT

My goal/healthy weight is 130. Here are some things I've been doing to get there...

I stopped eating chips/crackers again. I'm also severely limiting my carbs for a while. (They are another weakness and I need to find some discipline and better choices.)

I bought a Fitbook. It's a journal that helps track goals and progress quarterly, weekly and daily. I wrote more about it over at Girl Talk today.

I am reading Eat This and Live for Kids by Don Colbert.

And beginning January 15th I will be participating in an online Bible study for Made to Crave. (Anyone can join! Let me know if you do!)

Knowledge and understanding give us the power we need to make the necessary changes. I'm going all out and I'm not quitting this time. It's time to get back to healthy living!

Favorite Things on Cold Days

2012-01-05T13:41:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Wix-Works hat giveaway is Kelly from Living the Sweet Life in Dixie! Congratulations Kelly! Send me an email and we will work out the details!

On to today's giveaway...

It has been freezing cold here the past few days so I'm doing a giveaway with some of my favorite things for a cold day.

The winner will win this mug filled with different flavored tea bags...

And this scarf that I made over Christmas. It's black with specks of color all through it so it would match a ton of colors!

To enter just leave a comment answering this question...

What's the temperature where you live today?

It's actually 36 here today which is a bit warmer than it has been!

One entry per person.
You do not need a blogger account to enter but you will want to put your name somewhere in the comment.
Winner will be chosen on Monday.

Ooooh... You will like this one!

2012-01-04T18:01:00.000-05:00

The winner of the water bottle giveaway is Kim from A Fresh Perspective! Congratulations Kim! I'll get that to you soon. :)

And now on to the next giveaway!

In keeping with my favorite things...

You all know about my LOVE for Panera Bread. It's my most favorite place. However, I do realize that not all of you have a Panera in your town. (You poor things.) So it wouldn't really be fair to giveaway a Panera gift card. Instead...

I am giving away one $15 gift card to any ONE of these places:
Panera Bread
Chili's
Applebee's
Target
Walmart
Kohl's

The winner of this giveaway will get to chose from the list and I'll go get the gift card and get it in the mail. (Now that's a GREAT giveaway!)

To enter just leave a comment answering this question:

What one of my posts from the past did you love?

I know... I'm making you think for this one. :)
You do not need a blogger account to enter but you will want to leave your name so I know who you are.
Winner will be chosen on Saturday.