I am 40 pounds down!

I am so excited! Last week I hit the 40 pounds down mark! Woo Hoo! This is an amazing mark to hit on my weight loss journey! I am very excited! I am now only 9 pounds to go before I am below 200! This really inspires me to keep on keeping on!

Parenting Advice wanted

I really do want your advice!! All comments would be appreciated. Let me set up the background for my question:

I was very excited that I had the opportunity last night to attend a "Generation iY" conference by Dr. Tim Elmore! It was entertaining, definitely an eye opener! and a challenge to take a fresh look at how I parent. Generation iY is anyone born from 1994-2002. (Anyone born 2003 are called the "Homeland Generation" (named for the fact that the Homeland security office was established that year and the threat of terrorism is part of the day to day world that they are being raised in) but least I forget where I was going, let me get back to generation iY.

The conference emphasised the strength and weakness of this generation. It also reflected on why, this generation is different from the one I grew up with. What things impact this generation.

Did you know that this generation is larger than the BABY BOOMER generation? I did not know that! Also that this generation is wanting to delay adult hood. In fact College Deans are now saying that 26 is the new 18. Why? Because my generation has been so good at "protecting" their children, instead of balancing that parenting approach with "preparing" our children for adult hood. The Generation iY are graduating High School and going off to college with out the skills (on so many levels) to navigate adulthood. This trend will get worse as this Generation iY continues to grow, unless parents like myself to a step back, and a deep breath. Then start to change some habits that they have gotten into in parenting, and start to "parent with a purpose".

Here is the Question: At my oldest daughters school, if they make a bad score on a test, no big deal they can re-take the test as many times as they want until they get the grade they want. (this is new this year by the way). We don't like this! I am not trying to be mean, but in real life you don't get do overs on a project for work etc... all the time! I really don't think this policy is preparing my kid for the real world or college. We are talking about requesting that my child not be allowed to re-take test next year. If she makes a bad grade, she gets a bad score. Hopeful she will learn she needs to study more. If she makes a good grade then good for her. (Next year is the year before she will enter High School) or do you feel we are being unfair to have our child be "opted" out of options available to the rest of the student body??????

What are your thoughts?

I thought I knew this one! But I didn't know it all!

Have you ever heard a bible story a million times and thought you knew all there was to ever know about the story? Well if you were raised in the church like myself you probably grew up seeing the felt characters of Jonah and the "big Fish" on the felt board at least once a year. I remember having that particulair bible story on books on tape. I loved this bible story. It made me feel that God was in charge and there was no where I could go, or run to that God would not be there.

Well I started a new bible study a few weeks ago, called "Jonah, navigating a life interrupted" by Priscilla Shirer.

This bible study has ROCKED my world! It has made me take a new look, an "adult" look at this story! I remember as a child thinking that God sent the whale/big fish to swallow Jonah because he was trying to run away from him! However when you re-read Jonah and I mean really SLOW DOWN AND READ IT!! Jonah 2:3-6 gives you insight as to what an amazing, God we really serve!

Jonah 2:3-6 (New International Version, ©2011)

³ You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,^[a]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, LORD my God,
brought my life up from the pit.

Footnotes:

1. Jonah 2:5 Or waters were at my throat

Did You Get that?!??!? I had missed that main point for 41 years of my life! God was mericful, when Jonah had been tossed over board, he was going to drown in the water! Jonah called out to God for help! Even though he had not obeyed him, even though he was trying to hide from him. God had mercy on him, and saved him by having a Big Fish come and swallow him up, then in 3 days spit him up on dry ground. Wow! Our AMAZING GOD IS THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES! That just made my head spin around!!!

If you have never done a Priscilla Shirer bible study I would encourage you to pick one up, or I loved her book, "One in a million" I did a book review on that you can click here to read it. Below is a photo of Priscilla Shirer if you have never seen her her blog is GoingbeyondMinistries check it out! Lots of good info!

What do you hope to pass on to your children?

What are your top 3 priorities for raising your children?

Now are your day to day actions working toward those top 3 priorities or are you getting distracted, side tracked with life? Our church is doing a series right now based on our pastors new book "Weird" challenging us as Christians how are you living your life? What choices are you making day by day? Craig Groeschel challenges us to be "Weird" because normal isn't working! I know that, and you know that just look around you, "normal people are stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Many of their relationships are, at best, strained and, in most cases, just surviving." (That was an excerpt from the jacket cover of Craig Groeschel's new book).

On Good morning America this morning they did a segment at how parents are pushing their kids as early as 18 months to try to train them to be the next "great sport prodigy"

The parents even have these very young kids the news report said practicing up to 3 hours a day. Our actions tell our kids what we value! I have a good friend named Katie who posted the other day the most touching post about how her and her husband have decided to raise their 4 children, it stood out in my mind at what stark "opposite" approach her and her husband have chosen to parent in comparison to the news report this morning. Some might even dare to call them "weird" but I believe it is a good kind of "weird" one that would please God. Go check out Katie's Blog C'es La Belle 'Vie. Leave Katie a note of encouragement. (Trust me you won't want to miss this post!)

diet update

I am down 35.7 pounds and still going.... (going strong, I hope so!). I think my second wind has kicked in and I am ready to keep on keeping on going down the diet roadway.

My Church is Lifechurch.tv

I am joining Kelly over at Kelly's Korner today, where the topic is "Show us your life-Tell us about your church" So here I go, I go to Lifechurch.tv South Tulsa campus in Bixby, Ok.

What can I say about how amazing my church is. It is different from any church I have any been to before. It is a multi site church with campuses across the United States, as well as on-line viewing is available. It offers services on Saturday evenings, and Sunday morning and afternoon. It is a come as you are place (yes, this shocked me! I can come in my jeans and sandals if I find myself coming to the Saturday service following my daughters soccer or basketball game).

I thought at first that not dressing up might be distracting from worshipping and learning about God. However it is not, it is actually a relief being a mom of 3 girls, not having to hunt down hair bows and Mary Jane shoes, for little girls to wear and much cheaper just getting to come as you are. I like to think it emphasis the message that we don't have to be perfect for God to accept us, he just wants us to come, just as we are!

You might be thinking how does a multi site campus church works. Pretty simple layout actually. Each campus has their own worship band that leads worship, and has their own campus pastor that helps "Shepherd" the people that come to that campus services. Our head campus pastor is Tome Dawson (below is a lovely picture of him and his wife). They do a wonderful job of greeting people, encouraging them to come back, and just checking in and seeing how you are doing.

The youth director "Rusty" is great!! My oldest daughter brings several kids from church on Wed. nights for the youth group that they call "Switch". Our campus in Bixby also has a great Children's Minister named "Melody". However I am getting ahead of myself. Sorry. At each campus during Sat. or Sunday services, after they worship band leads us in a time of worship, and the campus pastor has greeted us. The air our main pastor "Craig Groeschel" message from the Edmond, Ok campus where he is preaching. Craig is a great preacher. He just tells you how it is. He pulls no punches, he challenges everyone where they are right now in there life to follow Christ's example. Also he challenges those who may not know him to accept Christ as their savior. (Below is a photo of Craig Groeschel).
All I know is that God is working in our church like I have never seen before! There are SO many Adults coming to know the Lord and committing their life to him -it really is just unheard of!! Studies have shown that people that have not made the decision to follow Christ by a certain age, very rarely will come to know the Lord after the age of 18. I tell you what when we have baptism there is a line of adults and teens waiting to be baptised! A line! It is really amazing! You can find the church website at www.lifechurch.tv and see if there is a location by you. Or if you are just on vacation or away from home, but want to hear a sermon you can watch on line as well. Thanks for letting me share about my church! (Below is a photo of my middle daughter Paige on the day she was baptized at the church, after accepting Christ -A Red Letter day for us!)

Party!

It's funny how you can be cruising along focused on your goal, working hard. Encouraged by the results you are seeing and then out of now where

Bam!">
All of a sudden yesterday, I was overwhelmed with weariness! The night before we had gone to small group and I was told that someone could tell that I lost a little weight in my face. Don't get me wrong I love compliments, but come on! I have lost 33 pounds, and have gone down 3 pant size. So depressing that nobody is realizing or noticing all the hard work I have put in. I almost cried yesterday, and was thinking "Why Bother!?!" I have been on a diet for 3 months now, working my bootie off and nobody can tell! Then I realized I was being hormonal! Did I mention I started craving, chips & Salsa and Brownies?

So I decided that I was being sensitive, and that yes, I was being hormonal. So I would allow myself "permission" to eat a higher calorie dinner last night. However limiting the amount of food to only one plate, and I would count my calories. So I made chicken fajitas, chips with salsa and guacamole, and had 1 piece of brownies. However that seemed to really, really satisfied the beast of hormones that was raging in me. I did not even have a snack later on that evening. I weighed this morning and I did not gain, I did not lose either but I am OK with that today. I feel more inspired to I was checking in on blog land and my favorite blogger Keelie over at RealFat had an inspirational post this morning that has really helped me get my head back on. I am staying committed -God has not brought me this far to head back into the wilderness! So I am about to head off to Body Pump class. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!
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