I'll praise you in this storm..... movie monday

Have you ever been so overwhelmed.... that you couldn't feel God..... I have been there..... but one thing during the storms of our life..... is we are to praise God... no it's not easy..... and I'm not always successful..... but when we praise God during our storms... we see his hand there... protecting us.... caring for us... comforting us.... please watch this video..... and let it touch your life.

Movie Monday... on tuesday...

Yesterday I didn't post my 2nd Movie Monday.... but I didn't want to leave it out... The movie today is the story of an amazing journey.... if you don't know the story of Matthew West... and his surgery ..... you can find it here...

Maybe read the story first... then watch the video... this song has sooo many meanings... and can apply to our lives in many different ways.... please comment and let me know if this video touches your heart as it did mine....

A special treat for all you dieters out there...

As we all know... when you are on a diet... you want something sweet once in a while... but you don't want to ruin your diet.... well Special K has us covered!!!! I have found my new favorite breakfast and snack..... not only do they have the cinnamon pecan which taste just like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but they also have Chocolately Delight, which takes care of the chocolate craving..... so check them out next time you are having a hungry moment.. :-)

Star Wars and Snow Day....

Well I was never much into Star Wars until they started making the new ones. About two weeks ago all 6 were on TV and my husband Dvr'd them for us to watch. I was hooked!! We watched it every night after the kids went to bed until we were finished with the "first" three. I soon lost interest as we got into the middle of the 4th. Needless to say when I saw my son Joseph wearing his daddy's coat... I immediately thought of the Jedi's.... you can see what you think.....



And as for the snow day... Joseph was begging for 5 days to go out and play because he wanted to make snow angels... but it was just too cold. So finally on monday it reached 32 degrees and I told him that he and Samuel could go outside to play.... and he got to make his snow angels! Samuel wasn't interested in snow angels, just chasing daddy and joe around I think. :-)

Day 2 of The Biggest Loser Contest.....

I weighed in yesterday and then began my 3 months of my weight loss challenge with my awesome team called the Motivated Mamas !!!! It's amazing how much being a part of a team can help you in something like this, and I'm sure I'm going to need that motivation as the contest gets further down the road. Even yesterday as we had brownies and cake in the house, I kept thinking "I don't want to be the only one to gain or not lose weight... I can't let my team down". So I said no to the brownies and cake and ate a salad and a lean pocket. I'm a firm believer in not just "dieting"... I'm working on changing how I live my life... choosing healthier foods... exercising..etc....

I am going to work out a little bit more than I normally would for these 3 months, and after I plan on keeping a 3 times a week minimum for working out. I want to keep the weight off after this is over.

I know temptations will come and I am going to turn to my heavenly Father for strength. One thing I am learning is that when you have extra weight on you, it affects you in every way. Not only physically, emotionally and mentally, but spiritually. When you have low self-esteem, you are less likely to put yourself out there and be bold for Christ. Not only that, but you are sometimes limited physically in what you are able to do.

I do know this....No matter what comes our way.... Phillipians 4:13 says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." I can't do anything in my own strength, but through Jesus...I can. So I am going to continue to seek him as I go throughout this challenge. Please keep my team and I in your prayers!!

Being the Best.....

One thing I wanted to do in my blog this year is be more transparent. Share my struggles, my thoughts.... in addition to the lessons I am learning in my life. One area I have always struggled in, is my need to be the best at everything, and having a hard time just accepting the gifts that God has given me and being content with that.

It seems everything I did in my life, I always thought about how I must turn into a professional at it, in order to be successful. I sang.... I needed to make it in the industry.... I played the trumpet.... I needed to be in a symphony..... I acted.... I needed to be a movie/stage star...... I played softball..... i needed to play in the olympics....

I think that sometimes I feel that what I do won't matter to anyone unless I have reached what the world calls success... But wait.... I'm a christian right? I have a relationship with someone who gave their life for me..... someone who created me just the way he wanted me.....and yet.... as humans... we struggle...... but one thing is.... thankfully.... since I do know christ... he reminds me of who HE is.... and how much he loves me..... and that I don't need to worry about how the world measures success... I just need to be who he created me to be... flaws and all....

I'm learning... ever so slowly, that I need to stop... and just thank him, for what he has given me (and the gifts he has blessed others with) and know that there is a purpose to the gifts he has given me, and that as long as I am using them for him, then that is enough...and that he's given us all unique gifts and talents.....It's hard but this is something I am going to work towards this year.... just resting in his presence......and thanking him for making me.......... me!

Psalm 139:14 reads; "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows very well."

Jeremiah 29:13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Isaiah 44:24; "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb..."

Ephesians 2:10; "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them"

Thank you my heavenly Father!!!

Movie Mondays

One of my best friends Chrissy and an AWESOME blogger, had a cool idea called Wordless Wednesdays where she posts random pictures, and I just thought it was the neatest idea. Well I love videos, and on my facebook page I post videos... inspirational.... humorous... just things that affect me in some way.... and I wanted to start making it a thing I do on my blog....

This first one... I must say this song has changed me.... when I listen to it, I immediately have to stop whatever I am doing and listen and sing along. Usually by the end of it I am in tears... in awe of God and his love for me.... Hope it touches your heart as well....

My first Movie Monday is.......




comment and let me know what you thought of the song please.... thanks!

Best Friends

I was taking pics of the boys this morning in some pajammas they got from their Grandma.... and just couldn't help but want to share them.... they are best friends and I can't wait to see them in a few years.... they are just amazing!!! It might just be perfect... but I'll have to pray on that one.....

here's best buddies just watching some TV


I LOVE this one... gonna print it and frame it....


Jonathan was so thrilled to between 2 of his big brothers!

The Biggest Loser........

Well.... for those of you who don't know I am a HUGE Biggest Loser fan. I get inspired every time as I watch these people overcome obstacles in their lives that have contributed to them gaining weight. Last season I was incredibly moved by the story of Abby, who lost her husband and two children in a car accident. She gained weight as a cover for her pain, and as the weight came off the light came back into her life. I don't think there was one episode last season that I wasn't crying by the end of.

Last week before the New Year was approaching, I made a goal to myself that I'd like to be at my goal weight by the time my youngest had his first birthday, which is April 12th. Well a couple of days ago I was looking through the paper and saw that one of our local banks was holding their 2nd "Biggest Loser Contest"......And what was so neat about this event.... is that the contest ends on April 12th!!!!! I knew I had to do it. I have about 45-50lbs to lose, and just like the biggest loser show on TV, with hard work, determination, and healthy eating it IS possible. I have my awesome team almost together and we are going to do it!!!!!

Please keep us in your thoughts as we battle temptation, and struggles that are bound to come up in the next 3 months.... :-) Food for a lot of people is something that we use to comfort us.... it's an emotional thing, and something you have to work through.

I am going to have a before picture taken of our team... and I will post it and then of course in 3 months I will post our after... whether we win or not... we are going to try our hardest...... I'm so excited... can't wait to get started!!!

Reason.........

Just saw this amazing video on tangle.com . You know... we all need reminders every now and then.... why strive to live a more pure life?? Why do we care about pleasing God? Why choose the narrow path......

To Jesus I say.... my reason is YOU!

check out the video.... let it speak to your own heart!

An addition.....

You know... i'm usually not real ..... hmm..... what's the word.... super open about personal struggles on here.... but I need to add one more to my list of New Years Resolutions......

How many of you out there (i'm hoping it's not just me) spends waaayyyy too much time comparing themselves to other people??? This past year I spent too much time comparing myself to other people.... and making myself feel like I was always falling short.... even if what I was doing was working.... it was either me feeling like I was falling short.... or spending too much time wondering why other people make the choices they make... instead of just focusing on what God was wanting ME to do....

So #4 for me.... is to spend the next year only concentrating on what God thinks of me, and working at pleasing only him... no one else.... and most of all... stop comparing myself to other people...... there is a book I bought a long time ago that I never read... I might give it a shot for one of my "non-fiction" books ... it's called Christ Centered Self Esteem. Anyone ever read it???

Pray for me on this one... k? Well actually all 4.... :-) More prayers can't hurt!

This next year I will try and be real with my blogging and share the blessings as well as the trials....

Thanks everyone!!!