See What Had Happened Was...

I'm a klutz.  Yep.  In the words of Fresh Prince, see what had happened was...

I was visiting with one of my dearest friends (and my mentor) and was looking for something in my room when she announced that The Hottie was calling.  And like any star struck teenager, I turned to run for the phone because, you know... this is only 2011- and it's not like I could have called him back or anything.  Anyway, as soon as I turned around, I tripped over a hope-chest-type piece of furniture that resides at the foot of my bed.

First the big toe, then the shin...  (and no wordy dirds this time).  In the midst of it all, I somehow twisted or did something odd that caused massive pain in both my hip and my knee.  So, here I sit, watching my movie marathon and drowning my pain in chick flicks.  Awesomeness.

But I was thinking... I can remember a few years ago when I used to ignore the call from The Hottie.  I can remember when he wasn't The Hottie to me, but more of someone I was stuck with- someone I loathed.  When things were like that between us, I never would have broken my leg to catch his phone call.  But God is a big God who answers big prayers and changes big, prideful people... and He changed me.

Not that our marriage is always blissful and perfect.  Perfection is only in the movies.  But we have hope and a future...  Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you' says The Lord 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."  It's funny how time flies and how God's word is so full of truth and promise...  hope, and a future.  Who would have thought?

So today, this last day of November, I'd like to say I'm thankful- thankful for the amazing man God has blessed me with, thankful for a mentor who pushed through the hard times and who is, in fact, the very reason we are still married (as God used her to breathe life into us).  Thankful for a God who loves us so much that He sent His son to die so that we, in the midst of all of our selfishness, pridefulness, and drama, could be saved and could experience His plan for our lives- a plan that includes joy and the ability to laugh together as I hobble to the door to greet him underneath a mistletoe that our daughter hand picked just for us.

A line from one of my favorite songs "What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord."  Thank you Lord for giving us hope and giving us joy.  Thank you Lord for changing me and beginning a good work in me.... in all of us.

Anyhow, I better run... er... get off of the computer.  The Hottie is calling...

No Longer I,

The Real Life Mom

Food For Thought

So...

Yeah.  I thought I'd jump on to blog because.... well... it's been FOR.EV.ER since I last wrote.  And I feel like I should at least try to write something.  The thing is, I've got nothing.  Those years of drugs must have really done me in.  (i'msokidding).  I never inhaled.  Okay, I better be careful.  This is how rumors get started.  for the record-  I was a D.A.R.E. kid.  I remember one time when the D.A.R.E. officers told us we could die from trying any drugs one time... so I never did.  Seriously.  That's all it took.  And no, I'm not a nerd- well, at least not anymore.  I was super afraid.  Even with all of my friends who occasionally smoked pot or did... whatever else they did.  I was afraid to die, so I "just said no".

Yeah... thanks to that pretty little logo, I was brainwashed for the better.

But I was a good kid.  Well, that's a lie.  I did get in to my fair share of trouble at home.  (And trust me when I say, it was NOT my fault.  I have a sister named Amy.  We'll blame 99.9% of it on her).  But outside of the house, I was a good kid...  at least, according to my memory.  My parents might tell a different story, and I'm certain my sister would, but since this is MY blog and MY story, I'll tell it MY way.  ;)

Annnnnyway, I was thinking today as I listened to a message from Dr. Chris Zaino.  He's a chiropractor here in the area.  Anyway, Dr. Zaino has some great insight about how the human body works.  I haven't committed to being a patient of his just yet, but I'm definitely a believer in what he had to share regarding getting through the holidays..

There was a point... and it was interrupted by ADD.

Oh yes!  So as you know, I've tried just about every diet known to man.  I've tried to lose weight and tried to maintain control of my physical body. But the funny thing is, I never stopped to consider what I am putting into my body that could be affecting everything else.  It was always about portion control, or eat this or don't eat that.  One of the things Dr. Zaino was talking about in this lecture was eating for life.  He really made me think about the quality of life I want to have.  I'll be on the earth for as long as God wants me to be here.  So if that's another 50 years, awesome. If not, awesome.  However long it is, I want to live a life that honors Him, and I want to be healthy doing it.

I think a life that honors Him includes making choices that honor Him.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  I don't think that making a choice to have an occasional treat is bad, but I do think that by overindulging consistently and allowing my health to go down the drain, I am also choosing 1- NOT to honor God and 2- whatever consequences come with living like that.

I guess what I'm getting at is- when I was younger I was so aware of what I didn't put in to my body.  I didn't want to die form the drugs and so I committed with a firm resolve to stand my ground against drugs- even in the midst of strong temptation (and trust me- the temptation caused by the need for man's approval is tremendous).  So what I'm thinking now is- more than half of the food and medicine I put into my body is toxic.  While it may not kill me immediately, it will definitely kill me eventually... or at least drastically decrease my quality of life.  So why not make the choice to eat for life instead living to eat?  Maybe instead of Drug Abuse Resistance Education, we can start FOOD Abuse Resistance Education?  It would be F.A.R.E...  Catchy?  What do you think?

Just some food for thought.

No Longer I

The Real Life Mom

What's In A Number?

Several thoughts as I sit down to write today- in fact, there will likely be another post on an entirely different subject.

But anyway, I was thinking- each week, I prepare a message, pray over said message and show up on Thursday mornings to teach it.  Some weeks, God really blesses me through the message.  Those weeks are usually when I can feel Him in the room, sometimes even speaking through me.  Other weeks (such as this week) I feel frustrated and alone in the room- like God didn't show up.  I feel like I do the work and hope that the message reaches someone, anyone... and then I hear crickets.  Nothing.

It's somewhat discouraging.  Scratch that.  It can be very discouraging.

But.

I know God is working and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am being obedient and I am in my calling.

So every week isn't life-altering and spectacular. So the numbers have dropped.  What's in a number if I'm being obedient to the call of Christ?  What's in a number if that number is 1 and I am her.  If no one showed up for the study, but God still moved in my heart because I was obedient to Him, then I can think of no greater blessing than being fulfilled through obedience.

Now if I can just let go of the people-pleasing, human side of me and really buy what I'm selling here, we'll be all good.

:)

Working on letting go.

No Longer I,

The Real Life Mom