Word

Words are such powerful things! Words can incite passion. Fan the flames of war, encourage us or tear us down.

If words can hold so much impact shouldn't words be careful selected to pour into our kids and spouse. I have 3 daughters and the media is constantly bombarding them telling them they are not enough. Pretty enough, classy enough, etc..

With that in mind I choose to call the girls "beautiful". It has become such a habit that I really don't think about it much. (for example: bye beautiful girls have a nice day, hi beautiful girls did you have a good day?). The other day one of my daughters had a friend over and as the girls were leaving I said my traditional bye. That's when I heard the friend say "your mom called us beautiful. Nobody has ever called me beautiful before.".

Every girl should be told that they are beautiful and smart. What words are you selecting to use with your children. Are you filling up their love tanks, or are you tearing them down?

The bible says in Proverbs 25:11 "The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.".

So choose your words carefully your children, your spouse, and everyone else in your life is listening.


-Amy

Lonely, far away

Have you ever heard of the "no parcel" club? It's a nickname given to soldiers who serve in our armed forces in far off countries who do not receive mail or parcel. Men & women who are fighting for my freedom, and serve our country proudly who have no one willing to write them or send care packages filled with such basic goodies that it brings tears to my eyes at how blessed I am.






God laid this burden on my heart. I am a simple stay at home mom. I can't go to forgein lands to love others for Christ. However I can send a letter and a care package once a month to soldiers.

I get my addresses and names from the website. www.anysoldier.com. Sometimes I receive a letter back from a soldier sometimes I don't. That's ok, I know they are busy. However, I know that they feel appreciated, that a stranger cared enough to take some time to send a care package.

Military mom blog has some great ideas for packages her blog is: http://militarymomathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/care-package-ideas.html?m=1

Check it out, for some wonderful ideas! The main thing I have learned is not to mix hygiene products with food items. The website anysoldier.com says at temperatures at 110 no matter how well sealed cookies are if sent with deodorant it will taste like that. (ugh! Who would want to eat deodorant chocolate chip cookies!)

Well if this touches your heart and you have some time to put together a package and write a letter I would encourage you to do so.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Effort-ugh!!!!

This is my focus this week! I putting out the effort to work my body everyday, getting stronger and healthier. (can you tell that I stayed the same this week?).

I added a Tabata class this week, which is an interval class offered at Sky fitness gym in Tulsa. The trainers name is Linda, she is tough during class. Linda pushes you to do as much as you think you can, and then a little bit more. (ugh!! Yes, I am sore today!!). However she is friendly, very encouraging and nice-I love that in a trainer!!! It makes me feel like I have a team of people on my side on this weight loss journey.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

down 56.3 pounds

Do you need to lose weight? Have you tried before only to be derailed from your efforts? I know! I had slowly gained weight over a decade of having 3 babies. On one hand I knew I was gaining weight, on the other hand it just did not seem that important to me I was busy enjoying my life, and my kiddos to try to focus on that. Then one day I saw a picture of myself and my daughter that was taken as we were walking down the beach. OH MY GOODNESS!! Can you imagine my horror, when I realized how large I had become! Why, oh why had my husband not told me? Yes, I saw myself everyday as I applied my make-up and styled my hair. However I did not get a full length body shot in the mirror every day. In fact the more I thought about it, when I sat down to do my hair and makeup the mirror just let me see about boobs up. As a began to take an inventory of what my body really looked like now. I will be honest with you I was overwhelmed!!! I thought is it even possible to loose this much weight without surgery? I just did not know.

Then last fall, I attended the Friday night football game, at our local High School. It is the event of the week in a small town! Notice all the kids out on the field for the pre-game welcome of our high school football team. I mean to tell you the whole town shows up for the Friday night football game. (think Friday Night Live, TV show). It was there that I spotted a lady who had once been heavy who was amazingly skinny!!! I had to know right then and there -How? What did she do? I did not realize it then, but seeing her success made me realize that there was hope for me, I had potential to lose weight to. After all, if she could do it, so could I!

I started gathering information on how she had done it, talking over the possibility that I should really

gear up and try to lose the weight I had accumulated. I decided to start in January after the holiday (after all I had decided it would be very hard to start during that time of year). My husband, and my mom

became my cheerleaders! They refused to accept excuses from me. They told me it was possible to lose the weight if I really tried.

So I have to tell you as of this week I am down 56.3pounds. I am so excited that I moving right along in this weight loss journey that I am on! I was stopped yesterday at the grocery store in my

small town and was asked how I am losing my weight. Yeah! Clerks at the store are even noticing all

my hard work!! I have to tell you I have 44 pounds left to go - but I now know it is possible! I can do this

and I will do this. If you need to lose weight, or are starting to question if it is possible and even worth

trying I want to encourage you to see the potential in yourself! You can do this!