Making Progress

I made it a priority to take the time last night to prepare spinach salad for my lunches as well as grilled several bags of mix vegetables for me to have for a snack at my office. This is the hardest place to stay focused lately. It is tax season and my office is CRAZY (as well as those of us in it) right now and we have 18 days until it's even remotely back to normal. I was starting to daydream about grabbing a Little Debbie out of the kitchen, sit back in my chair, relax and lock myself in an office alone for 5 minutes to escape the reality of it all and enjoy the greatness of Little Debbie.

This is what I chose instead :0

This was me making progress today!

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32

Jamie

Always Learning More

I was reading a friends blog this morning and was very encouraged. When I started this blog and down my life changing path I was fired up about the changes in me spiritually, physically, and mentally. The first 2 months went great. Then it happened, Spring Break and the inevitable road blocks that Satan will always use against us. I have now learned a few things about myself that I probably already new but have never said out loud because that would mean that they were real.

I thought about listing all the things that I feel like I have failed at since I started on this journey but then decided that it doesn’t matter. God is using this as yet another way to teach me that it’s ALL about Him. I overextended myself on several different things which caused me to loose time with Him as well as my focus. The whole point of this life change for me was to center my life around him. But when you try to do too many things that all seem to pertain to getting closer to Him you actually get pushed further from him somehow. Does that make sense?

My existence is solely to serve God, in order to do that I have to be able to focus on Him and his teachings. Everything else is just another page or lesson from his book for my life. If I can learn to take those lessons and apply them to my life then I will be a better servant for that.

So here is what my plan is, it may not be great but at least I have a plan and I can do my best every day to let God be in control of it for me.

I will do my best daily to spend more time in God's word and with him.

I will do my best daily to be more prepared and organized.

I will do my best daily to avoid temptation.

I will do my best daily to write down everything that goes in my mouth (this worked great the first 2 months)

I will do my best daily to look to others for encouragement that is on the same path with me.

Do you notice the pattern here; I will do my best daily! I don’t want to put the label of "I will" on my goals anymore because that gives Satan an opportunity to kick me when I am down and I don’t want him having that control over me.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Jamie

Count your blessings

Have you stopped today or this week to see what you have to be thankful for? If I was being honest and of course I am, some days I would say no but today I am saying yes.

I am thankful for:

A husband that loves me even when I am a little on the crazy side.
Kids that make me a little crazy sometimes.
New friendships that I have asked God to provide me with for so very long.
The continued support that I get from other Christian women.
That I am able to be a blessing to a dear friend that is going through a hard time right now.
Missions that are willing to come and share their burden for God with me and help me grow.
A book club that I am now officially a member of and the winner of the monthly drawing!

Count your blessings and give thanks every day. You never know when tomorrow will never come.

Jamie

Check In!

I knew it had been a while since my lost blog but I had no idea until today that it had been over a month. Where did the last 30 days go? I have been so busy with work and the little time I have in the evenings with the kids that I haven’t had the time to focus on me. Story of a mother’s life though half of the time, Right?

Let me rewind and give a rundown of the last month if you don’t mind.

1- I haven’t gotten to work out very much at all. Partially because I have been so busy and then just because at the end of the day I didn’t have the motivation when I looked at the clock and realized it was already approaching 10 or 10:30.

2- It will be April 15th before we know it and I work for a CPA. (Nuff said)

3-I have maintained my calories daily and continued to watch what I eat. I did a few times that I ate what I wanted and then on a few occasions wished I would have just said no.

4-For my 1 month weigh in on 2-18-11, I had lost 14lbs. This is what AWESOME!

5-My husband has actually on several occasions offered to cook me one of my healthy meals and ate them with me. Granted he ate 3 servings of bread but he is making an effort to join my bandwagon.

6-I was able to make a full menu for us on the 3 different weeks. Unfortunately, I haven’t been so good at this the last 2 weeks. But, it’s time to buy groceries again and I am going to work on it again.

7-I got a new pair of shoes, a workout mat and a new JM video for Valentine’s Day. And yes, I actually wanted these things.

Take the time for YOU; I know that giving up just the little amount of time that I was allowing myself daily has made the last month a lot harder on me.

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." 1 Chronicles 16:11

Jamie