tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86741124769825328402024-03-13T13:34:24.087-07:00Goodwin WifeI'm a God follower, wife, and mom on a journey to discover who God made her to be, and how to love that person and all of her flaws.Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-26991805290934405992023-02-28T05:40:00.000-08:002023-02-28T05:40:19.617-08:00Attitudes in the Wilderness<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I think I would fit in with the Ancient Israelites pretty well. They start out strong, believing God will help, and then quickly doubt and want to turn back. They switch from worshipping to complaining all too fast. They try to make their own way, even though they have seen God repeatedly provide in miraculous ways. Yup, sounds a lot like me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>When we moved to the small town we lived in we were certain it was God’s will. He had shown us what He wanted, He had made a way when there should have been no possible way. Everything pointed to His mighty hand. And then we saw our giants. We faced the first of them with bravery and gusto, truly believing God would prevail, and He did. But as the giants continued to attack we slowly started to complain, and then doubt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>God had started answering some of our prayers with a “no”. We had endured pain and loss, and weren’t seeing the answers we wanted to our prayers. And yet we didn’t consider what God may have been protecting us from. He kept providing in miraculous ways, but the miraculous began to feel mundane.<span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span> See what I mean about fitting in with the Israelites? They see God perform miracle after miracle, but quickly the miracle of manna wasn’t good enough; they wanted meat. God knew the meat would make them sick, but He gave it to them anyway. And they died. They died from their cravings. They died because they didn’t trust God to provide.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And then eventually it comes time to enter the promised land. They taste and see that it is good, but they see giants. They should immediately be like Caleb and remember God’s victories, but it is much easier to see the enemies that lie in every direction. They should remember the plagues that devastated Pharaoh; they should remember the sea that He parted and the water that came from a rock. But they only see their giants. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I wonder if they had lived on His provision for so long that they were tired of surviving by it. I wonder if merely surviving wasn’t good enough. But it had been going on for so long that when they are shown the goodness they are about to come into, they doubted. Maybe they thought of all their past mistakes, the golden calf, the complaining, the doubt, and they started to feel unworthy. Perhaps they didn’t believe God would still give them this wonderful land, not now that He has seen how ungrateful and distrusting they are.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I know I often find myself in that place. When faced with the possibility of blessing I expect the worst possible outcome. And I prepare myself for it. I get disheartened right away and expect the next disappointment in my life. There may be blessing right around the corner, but I don’t prepare for the blessing. I used to, but after so many disappointments, I prepare for another famine. I prepare for another stay in the wilderness. It isn’t that I don’t think God <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> answer my prayers, it is that I have started to think he won’t. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I guess it’s decided then: I’m no different from those unbelieving, ungrateful Israelites that wandered the wilderness. I may be worse, because I am equipped with so much more than they were. I have the stories of all the great heroes who came after them. I have the Messiah who was yet to come. I have the Holy Spirit within me. And yet I still doubt and grumble.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In humility I confess this to an unknown audience, and of course to God, because I don’t believe I’m alone. We see it too many times throughout the Bible. Even Peter stepped out of the boat in faith, only to sink moments later. So while I may not start preparing for abundance, I am going to look at my manna a little differently today. Those miraculous gifts of the Spirit of peace, and joy, and especially patience that can only have come from the Lord. Those little bits of manna that come from the Lord, maybe they aren’t so mundane after all. </span></p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-76000092627910711842023-02-24T11:09:00.007-08:002023-02-24T11:23:41.202-08:00Slow Down<p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I’m in a hurry. What’s new? It seems like I’ve been in a hurry for as long as I can remember. When I was tiny I was in a hurry to start school; it didn’t take long before I was in a hurry for school to end, only to be in a hurry for the new school year to begin again. Then I was in a hurry to turn thirteen, when I would finally be a teenager. Then in a hurry to be 16 and drive, then 18 and graduate, then to start college, then to get married, then to have babies…it’s an endlesss cycle of always rushing toward whatever is next.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Do you know who is not in a hurry? God. At the precipice of the new year I sat out to read the Bible chronilogically.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I’m sure every chronological plan starts with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning.” One of the few things I try not to hurry through is my Bible time. I want to sit and marinate in those moments with the Lord, though I admittedly there are days when I tend to</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">hurry through that as well.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I read through the story of creation it struck me differently. God is so powerful! He is so incredibly creative. He is so mighty. He could have easily snapped his fingers and created it all at once, but He didn’t. He was patient. He created one thing at a time, and then paused to reflect and observed its goodness. After creating it all he took another day to rest. He didn’t rest because He needed to, He rested to set an example for us. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How often do I stop in the moments and observe? Not often enough. I won’t lie and say I never do. There are plenty of times in the moments of life when I just want to freeze the moment. When I recognize just how blessed I am, I will stop and observe. When my kids are all getting along and laughing together, I am filled with gratitude for them. There are times on vacation when my husband has been with us the entire time, and I want those moments of happiness to live on forever, then I stop and observe. I want to remember every aspect of every detail of those times. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But God’s patience goes far beyond observing the good He has just created. The observation of the good is quickly followed by the observation of the fall. Evil entering the world and God’s immediate promise of a coming Savior. Yet he was still not in a rush. He patiently waited for thousands of years to send His Son. And in those moments of waiting He allowed people to know Him. He allowed history to be unfolded so that generations to come may know more about who He is, and that we can put our trust in Him.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>His patience is so incredible. Him could have ended His waiting at any moment, and yet He never rushes. He knows all the good that will happen, yet He is not in a hurry for His kingdom to be complete. He waits. He allows all the things that have happened and those that have yet to happen, until His plan reaches completion. What seems like an eternity to us, is worth the wait for Him. Peter says that the “Lord’s patience means salvation” (Peter 3:15). If the creator of the universe can patiently await the perfection of His kingdom, why am I in such a rush? Maybe it’s time for me to slow down and observe more, I can’t make time go faster anyway.</p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-22102271138258593392023-02-21T18:21:00.000-08:002023-02-21T18:21:55.214-08:00The Journey I’m On<p><span> </span> I have felt the itch for a while to start writing again. Not much has changed in the past 5 years. I was successful in my health journey, losing over 100 pounds. But I have realized that this health journey is a trip that doesn’t have an end point. Actually, none of life does, and I guess that’s why I’m here. </p><p><span> I’m so incredibly blessed that I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for so long. My four kids are amazing, and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Unfortunately being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom in a small town can allow this introvert to be WAY more introverted than I should be. But, I want to share my life, and Jesus, with others. And the easiest way to do that may be through writing. </span><br /></p><p><span> Before you continue, let me warn you that this blog will be about Jesus. I mean, I have no clue what it will actually be about, but Jesus will be the ongoing theme. He has to be. He has taken a life that was hopeless, and made it a life full of hope. He has changed my life completely, and made it so much better than any life I could have imagined in my adolescence. I will forever be thankful for that. </span>But I don’t share out of a sense of duty to Him. I share because I would be the most selfish person on earth if I didn’t tell others of the peace and joy that only He could bring. </p><p><span> </span>My life is not perfect. It is SOOO far from it. I am not perfect. I am SOOOO far from it. But through it all Jesus is there and He is redeeming my every mistake. He is leading me on this journey that has no end. And I would love to share my journey with you if you want to tag along. </p>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-51137487706434307692018-02-12T14:05:00.001-08:002023-02-21T18:01:22.280-08:00On your mark, get set, GO! <div style="font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I originally started this blog after having my first child. I was embarking on a weight loss journey and having a blog was an assignment for a class I was in, so it was a perfect fit. I’ve always loved to write, and it was freeing to be able to share parts of my life online. But then life happened, as it often does, the class ended, and I stopped posting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I nearly made it to my weight loss goal, then got pregnant with #2. She is an amazing blessing. I always wanted to come back to the blog, but didn’t know how to when I wasn’t losing weight. Then I got pregnant with #3 before losing weight, miscarried #4 and gained weight in depression, and now I’m nursing #5 and have gained more weight. While I am focusing on becoming healthier, I do not want weight loss to consume me, so how could I come back to the blog?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">My 20s are now coming to an end and I have discovered I lost myself in the process of building a family. I love my family and being a stay-at-home mom is the best job in the world for me. But I discovered I don’t have a hobby, or really know who I am or what my 30s will be about. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">While trying to deal with my mini-identity crisis, I realized the root of my issues is that I’m too afraid to love myself as I am. I always have an excuse, and it always has to do with my weight. I’m unlovable to myself unless I’m a certain weight or size. The interesting part about this is, the smaller I got the smaller that “lovable” mark got and it can never be obtained. So I’m done. I’m tired of not loving myself. I’m starting now. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">My goal for my thirties (and beyond) is to discover who God made me to be and how to love that person as she is. Not as she will be, but with all of her faults and scars. I refuse to hide in the shadows anymore. I’m not going to let fear stop me from living the life God has blessed me with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">My kids are going to love this because it means I’ll be more willing to say yes. I won’t be afraid to go to the park and be judged by someone thinner than I am. Let them judge, I’m going to play with my kids. I’m going to be less serious, but also figure out what I enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I’m going to figure out what my hobbies are. I love to write so I’m writing again. My blog is going to take a new format...the biggest is that it is going to be written again lol. But it is no longer about weight loss. This blog is about me, being me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I also want to try my hand at photography. I love pictures. I take more than I should every day. But I’m ready for those pictures to be more than cell phone portraits. I’ve had a DSLR for 6 years, and I’m ready to learn how to use it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I also love to travel. My husband and I both love road trips and our kids have been on more cross country trips than many adults. We love to set out in the car not sure exactly of where we are going, and just go. Our kids have been able to learn about some of the oldest cities in our country on these trips. They have seen wildlife and learned about geothermal activity in Yellowstone. Our best schooling moments are on these trips. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">So join me, or don’t, as I learn about this person God has made. He made me for this life and I want to live every day to His fullest. No more waiting. On my mark, get set, GO! </span></div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-53857532546440570402012-10-01T09:09:00.002-07:002012-10-01T09:09:38.403-07:00Senior Slump and Milestones<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, I’m officially a senior this year, and the school work is as to be expected, overwhelming. The abundance of assignments is why I have not been posting, but it has not kept me from working out! I was on the elliptical every week-day last week and it was great. I have finished the 30 minute running program (again), but this time I have “hills” to run over. The last runs (29 or 30 minutes running and 10 minutes walking) I have gone 3.23 and 3.25 miles according to the elliptical. It felt great! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have decided I will continue to run daily during the week, giving myself the weekend off to rest and play. I will do the hour program on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and then 30 minute runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays! I am SO excited about it. And, for the first time in my life I will be getting the recommended minimum amount of daily activity…actually, honestly I’ll be getting more, because it’s pretty intense activity. Plus, I am still doing my ab work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On to other news…I reached an exciting milestone this week. No, it is not necessarily a weight milestone (though I’m only about 5 pounds away from 70 pounds lost), but it’s still very exciting. I am currently sitting in my chair in my favorite pair of pre-pregnancy jeans!!! They were my favorite jeans pre-pregnancy, not just now, and I am SOOO excited to be back in them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Almost all of the clothes I wore when I got pregnant fit now, the only things that don’t are a few shirts, and they may not fit until I’m much smaller than I was due to differences in my body caused by having a baby. I won’t complain about those body parts being bigger though, if you know what I mean! I probably shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is very possible to hope to be at 70 pounds lost in two weeks. And I have a special reason to hope that. I will be venturing on a weekend trip with my hubby to a special football game that weekend. If I am at that goal I will be where I was 2 years ago at the same game! I am so excited to see the results. I feel so blessed that God is allowing the weight to come off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t love working out, but I can tolerate it and I’m excited to do it because of the differences it is making in my stamina. I love the way my lungs feel after a good run, and I’m beginning to really love the sweat a good run brings about. It just amazes me at how God made our bodies, to keep itself cool, to work to keep itself healthy, and even to repair damage we have done to it…at least this damage anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole process reminds me of how blessed I am to have second chances. I’m so grateful that God not only is giving me a second chance with my body, but that He gives us second chances in our lives. I am so grateful for His redemption through sin. It amazes me that He suffered as He did, both as the Son on the cross, and as the Father turning away from His Son, just so He can have a relationship with us. I’m so blessed that He would allow me to come to Him freely, and about anything. It is just so humbling to realize that He is willing to listen to me thank Him for weight loss and activity, as well as to listen as I request He help me continue to lose weight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe there is too much to say for this to be a blog post. So sorry it was so long, but I hope you are celebrating the milestones with my anyway. And, if you do not know the second chances that God has given that I am so thankful for, send me a message and I’ll tell you a little more about. Or head to any bible preaching church (doesn’t matter denomination or church name, just that they preach truth from the bible) and someone there can tell you about it as well. </span></div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-74220911177176496932012-09-14T10:54:00.001-07:002012-09-14T10:57:10.950-07:00I'm back!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I did fall off the face of the earth for a few weeks. School has started again, and my little Aria is quite mobile now, so I have had trouble getting to the computer. And, to tell the truth I had a bad week when it came to weight loss. I think it was beneficial though. I gained two pounds the week of the 24<sup>th</sup>, but I’ve been on a losing streak since then. I am officially down OVER 60 pounds now!!! I'm down 62 pounds actually!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bad week led to a new resolve. I have worked very hard to lose weight again, and am back on track. That week reminded me of why I am doing this, for health. I want to be a healthy woman, and mom. I want to be at a healthy weight during my next pregnancy. And, lately I’ve realized how ready I am for that next baby. Getting to my goal weight is all that stands in my way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Working out has become fun again. I look forward to doing my crunches and to hopping on the elliptical. I have gone back a few weeks in my 5K running program, and have added resistance to the elliptical. It’s SO much harder running through the false hills the elliptical creates, than running without resistance. I just listen to my music and press forward. I have even started smiling while I “run” again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, I don’t know what I should say. This blog post is really horrible, but I wanted to thank you all for following so far, and to reassure you that I’m not quitting, but that I’m trucking right along. I will be at that goal by graduation. I’ll try not to stay away from the computer so long. Stick with me and celebrate with me as I continue to encounter these milestones in weight loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-13691079130930102712012-08-21T13:02:00.001-07:002012-08-21T13:02:16.455-07:00Lessons From an InfantThis morning I came to a heart wrenching conclusion. My husband and I have spent a lot of time stressing about work. As we begin to take steps on a path that we are certain God placed us on, we got focused on the numbers. I was reading a book by a friend this morning, and through it realized just how far away I was from God. I couldn't believe it! Just two weeks ago I was wrapped up in Him, but today I could see he was about a mile away. <br /><br />How could this happen? We have been trying so hard, and working so diligently on the plans He placed in our hearts. Oh...I guess that's how it happened. We got caught up in the plans and goals that we forgot to focus on the planner! <br /><br />Later in the morning Aria demonstrated how easy that was. Aria was following me from room to room. She had followed me through the dining room, into a hallway, then back through the dining room into the kitchen, and finally back through the dining room to the living room. I could tell she was getting tired from the chase so I sat down in the living room and cheered her on, so she could see how far she had left to go. <br /><br />At my cheering her fatigue seemed to disappear and she smiled with determination as she began to crawl faster. She got about three crawls away from me, and she spotted her toy beside her. She stopped, distracted by the immediate fun, turned and grabbed the toy.<br /><br />At seeing this I realized it was exactly what I had done. I started after God, following Him in my health and our family's future, but I got tired while chasing after Him. I got distracted by immediate satisfaction, money and food/laziness...maybe not laziness exactly, but at least using exercise time to take care of other things. <br /><br />So today I cast aside the temporary fun and focus on the only giver of true joy! I am fixing my eyes on him and beginning to walk His direction. Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-17314913454582160462012-08-17T07:03:00.003-07:002012-08-17T07:03:55.181-07:00Everything's Falling<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’m back as I promised. I won’t lie; this post is much easier than I anticipated. Last night was incredible. Our anniversary dinner was INCREDIBLE, and I stayed on point. We didn’t have a big celebration, but our night was perfect (at least I felt like it was).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This morning I was hesitant to step on the scale, but I did it. I probably wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for the blog. I looked at the number, and had to re-weigh myself 3 times before I believed it. I lost 3.5 pounds this week. I’m only 2.8 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, and I’m over half way to goal!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess my body needed a little break to continue losing. I don’t know. I know I feel mentally better today, and like I am recharged for this. I don’t feel like I’m constantly depriving myself anymore. Maybe every three months or so I need to have a few days when I’m not so strict on my diet/exercise regimen…maybe not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, now I’m going to steal a little of your time to talk about something I’m getting really excited about. Most of the schools in the area have begun, and my semester officially begins on Monday. This is a big deal to me because a new school year signals the beginning of my favorite season: fall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I LOVE fall! The temperatures become cooler, which is even more delightful after the extreme heat this summer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to watch the leaves change colors and begin to fall, and this year it is even more beautiful as we’re now surrounded by more beautiful scenery than I’ve ever been (NWA is incredible beautiful). Fall also brings some of my favorite foods. All things warm, spicy, and comforting belong in the fall…and not just food wise, but clothing too. I can’t wait to sink into the comfort of my favorite hoody and jeans (which I’ll be back in VERY soon…if I’m not already). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of these things are part of why I love fall, but my favorite part is the marriage enrichment program my husband and I enter: football season!!! Okay, many of you may be wondering how this is marriage enrichment, when for many couples it means hubby spends all his time in front of the tv and the wife had better not interrupt him…but it’s not that way for us. When we started dating my husband took me to my first University of Oklahoma football game. It was INCREDIBLE! I not only fell in love with the school, but I fell in love with sports. I could go on forever about it, but I won’t. Since then our weekends in the fall are spent watching football…non-stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year we have a new person to route for on the professional level. My husband’s boss’s son is a highly skilled football player, and we are excited to watch him play on Sundays (or Mondays, Thursdays…whenever he plays and it’s televised). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stick with me for one more paragraph. I have to brag on my husband for a moment. My husband was a very skilled football player in high school as well…and would have been in college if he wasn’t injured his senior year. Because of his experience he is very knowledgeable about the sport. It is amazing to watch him explain why a play broke down, and what a player could have done better, without being a jerk about it. He explains it so I can learn. I love how he teaches me more about his passion. I love learning about the sport and the positions, and I love that he can teach me. THIS combined with our extra dates for games, is why football season is marriage enrichment for us. </span></div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-31317733366751996462012-08-16T09:05:00.001-07:002012-08-16T09:05:35.786-07:00Confessions and Celebrations<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week has been really crazy. We spent the weekend visiting my mother in Tulsa. Needless to say, I didn’t stay on track with my diet. I ate way more than I should have, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tracked and new what I was doing. I just figured I would use most of my weekly points on Saturday, and then do well the rest of the week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday night we went swimming, and it was BEAUTIFUL outside. The breeze actually made us feel a little cool in the pool. When Aria was finished swimming (meaning we felt she was getting cool), my husband, sister and I spent some time chatting in the hot tub. It was the first time I was in a hot tub in nearly TWO YEARS!!! It was WONDERFUL! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then came Sunday. I stayed on track points wise on Sunday, but it started a spiral that I wasn’t prepared for. Aria was a little grumpy Sunday morning, and we thought it was just her gums (we are right on the verge of her first tooth). We tried to give her something for the pain in the afternoon, and she got sick…like REALLY sick. To make an incredibly long story shorter, Aria was sick all night, and all day Monday. And, my husband wasn’t feeling well Monday as well (completely unrelated illnesses). This meant I was running around the house trying to take care of two people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through all of the madness I stayed on track, until Tuesday. As my husband left for work he remembered that he had a monthly meeting that night, which meant he wouldn’t be home until very late. I was exhausted from taking care of the sickies the day before and getting very little sleep, so this news left me sad. I am so proud of my husband for working so diligently to provide for our family and prepare for our future, and it was completely selfish of me to be anything but proud of him for going to the meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After he left for work things got a little better as Aria was nearly back to normal. Her illness was just a bad case of allergies, thankfully. But, by the end of the day her allergies were bothering her, as well as her gums. She didn’t nap well through the day, and was VERY fussy because she hadn’t seen her father all day, so when she fell asleep that evening I was very quick to cook myself dinner. I measured out exactly what I was supposed to have…ate it…and then went back to finish what I made! UGH!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I can make an emoticon as sad, or embarrassed as I feel. I nearly cried when I realized what I had done! I know better than to turn to food for emotional validation. I felt so guilty. I confessed later to my husband, nearly crying. So, this is my confession. This week has not really been that successful. I guess, overall I didn’t eat many more than my weekly points, but I am still disappointed in myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess I knew that I would eventually go off track, and I am proud that I realized it, and can correct it. Yesterday I stayed on point, and today I will to. I am prepared for whatever the scale says tomorrow, and am not very optimistic. I promise to post whether I lose or gain tomorrow just as I usually would, despite how embarrassing it may be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, to some good news: today is a VERY special day for me. Four years ago today I married my best friend. I am SO blessed to have an incredible husband. He is not only an amazing husband, but a wonderful provider, and an amazing father. I grow more in love with him every day, and am excited to spend many, MANY more years with him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a celebration of our anniversary we will be eating at the restaurant we ate at on our first date, our wedding day, and most of our anniversaries (our first anniversary we were in Mexico): Outback. I’ve already picked exactly what I’m having and am working around that to stay on point today. We’re even bringing the meal home to eat it, rather than eating in the restaurant, so I don’t have to be tempted by unlimited bread or an appetizer that I don’t want or need. </span></div>
Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-40985187323473960182012-08-10T08:38:00.001-07:002012-08-10T08:38:24.414-07:00Weigh In!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, today was weigh in, and I lost 2.7 pounds this week!!! YAY! That is really incredible, all things considered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve started thinking that I’m too focused on my weight loss lately, so this post is going to be a little different. Many people don’t really know much about me, so I thought I may give you a little insight into who I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First and foremost, I am a God follower. I am a disciple of Christ, and I am NOT perfect. I think part of discipleship is that I’m always learning. And, I’m almost always messing up. I am extremely grateful for God’s grace and forgiveness, and I experience it every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next, I am a wife. Next week I get to celebrate four years of marriage to my best friend. He is the most amazing man I have ever met. I had begun to doubt whether or not any man would strive to follow God’s standards for a husband and father when I met him. My husband is not perfect, but he sure tries. The fact that he puts God first is the most amazing thing in the world, and I am so blessed to be his wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also have a six month old daughter. This you all know, but I can’t seem to stop talking about her. She is the most precious little girl, and I praise God for her every day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am a stay-at-home mom. I found a letter I wrote to God when my husband and I first got married, and in it I gave God my future. I had big plans of being a sports writer back then (excuse me while I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes). I don’t remember writing this letter to God, but it makes it very clear that I felt the call to be a homemaker, and I didn’t like it, but I submitted to that in the letter. Today, I can’t imagine doing anything else. This is the best job in the world, and I want to be a mommy to several little ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I plan to homeschool our little ones. The Bible tells us to train our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), and that we shall teach our children the commandments of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). We believe that public schools are overcrowded and so harshly regulated about what the teach, that they are not where we want our children. We do NOT believe public schools are evil (we both got excellent educations through public school systems), but we believe it is our duty to ensure our children are learning what we want them to. There is nothing that will change our mind on this…don’t bother trying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Probably next on the list is that I’m a sports fanatic. I love to watch all sorts of sports, and I admire the skills athletes have. Sports seem so physically and mentally challenging and I am in awe of those that excel at them (and even those that don’t). We are huge University of Oklahoma Sooners fans (BOOMER SOONER)!!! My husband is an alum and I will graduate with my bachelor’s from there in May. We attend many of the football games, and look forward to football season from the moment our bowl game ends in January. Yes, we’re a little fanatical, but it is what we do as a couple. It brings us closer together, and we both thoroughly enjoy it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a nutshell that’s me. I’m a disciple, a wife, a mom, a future teacher, and a fan. I’m not perfect by any means, but I love my life and I’m grateful God has blessed me with it.</span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-7808549956374319962012-08-09T12:40:00.001-07:002012-08-09T12:40:21.228-07:00A Question For You<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can’t explain why it is so much harder to update now that I’m between semesters, than it was when I was in the thick of the semester. For some reason I don’t seem to have time to hop on the computer for anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week has been an interesting week. I injured a muscle in my leg Sunday, and haven’t been able to do crunches because of it all week. I started the 60-minute running program on the elliptical Monday, and did pretty well. Tuesday my leg was not at all healthy enough for impact running, so I asked my husband if we could wait two weeks to start running outside. The highs here in two weeks are predicted to be in the 80s, which sounds so much better than the upper 90s for running. Then last night by the time I got Aria into bed I was exhausted and didn’t get on the elliptical, though I will get on it tonight to make up for missing last night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite all of these issues, I peeked on the scale this morning (wanting to be prepared for the damage before tomorrow) and I’ve lost nearly 4 pounds this week. Seriously!! It took me a moment to realize why, but once I did everything made sense. My little girl learned a new trick Saturday. She learned to crawl! At first it was just a scoot, almost like an army crawl, with her pulling herself with her arms, but now she crawls like a pro. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to credit this new skill to some friends of ours. We had dinner Friday night with a wonderful couple and their beautiful 2-year-old daughter. We asked her to crawl in front of Aria so she could see how to do it. The very next day Aria started crawling. It may be a coincidence, but I seriously doubt it. I have seen my daughter learn new things after going into the nursery at church and seeing babies there doing them. She is very observant (talk about pressure for mommy and daddy to try to always be a good example). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, with her crawling around I have had very little time to rest. During her naps I’m usually cleaning (big reason why I’m not able to post like I want to). I used to be able to clean with her playing contentedly in the living room, but now I have to have my eyes on her or else she’s into something she shouldn’t be. It seems like I’m always scooting across the floor to keep her from hurting herself. Strangely, I love it. I don’t think I’ve been happier as a mom. It is incredible to see her becoming independent, and to see the look of pride on her face when she does something new and we cheer and clap for her. She loves to be cheered on. She is SO beautiful!! I LOOOOVE being a mommy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes I feel that I really need to post more, because when I do it seems to renew my passion for reaching this goal. I want to have many babies (okay, so some people won’t think 4 babies is many, some people will…for us, it is). I would honestly have as many babies as God and my husband allowed us to. I know that the best thing for any baby is for me to be in better shape. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This goes for if God allows me to become pregnant with another child or not. Of course my health is very important during pregnancy, but even if I don’t get that blessing again (I pray that won’t be an issue, and I’m not worried about it because of how easy it was the first time), I know my health is important to Aria. It is important to be an example to her of how we are to treat God’s temple. I can’t just call my body His temple; I have to beautify it as I would a physical temple. I’m working on the inside, and I have to work on the outside as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, I need your help. Have you ever had to overcome a slump time? If so, how did you do it? I will run on the elliptical tonight, and will have a renewed focus on Monday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-54186128639909838602012-08-03T09:38:00.001-07:002012-08-03T09:38:28.634-07:00Physical And Spiritual Weigh In<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another 1.6 pounds gone!!! I’m only 9 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, and 4 pounds from halfway to goal!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was a little surprised that I had a loss, as this week hasn’t been the best for activity. I worked out hard on Wednesday, doing both my elliptical training and running outside for the first time. The outdoors run was something else, and I am still sore from it today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did my ab work Monday, Wednesday, and will be doing it this afternoon. Last night it was still 101 at 7:45, so we decided to wait until 8:00 before we ran. It wasn’t as much for us, but I don’t want Aria to be burning up in her stroller for 40 minutes. Around 7:55 we heard thunder and by 8:00 we were witnessing a beautiful lightning show. That meant we weren’t running. In a way I was disappointed, but in another way I felt blessed. If it hadn’t been so hot, we would have been nearly half way around the track when it began to thunder and lightning. I don’t think a metal stroller is the best place for a little girl during a lightning storm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Needless to say, this week’s activity was a FAR cry from the activity of the past few weeks, but it was my only week off. Monday I will begin the 60 minute running program, and then Tuesday we will be out on the track again. I am excited for next week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I have been thinking a lot about sin. I guess the topic has been everywhere, and I want to say that I don’t like sin. I believe everything the bible says is a sin, is a sin. I don’t believe that any sin is more evil than any other. I do believe that some sins have bigger earthly consequences than others, but that is that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I want to talk about today doesn’t involve sexual sin…it doesn’t involve any else’s sin either, it is a confession of my sin. I have dealt with gluttony most of my life. Eating is not a sin, splurging occasionally on an unhealthy food (sweets or chips, etc.) is not a sin, but the lack of self-control is a sin. According to Galatians 5:22-23 self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had NO self-control when it came to food. Proverbs speaks of the woes of gluttony several times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ignored that part of the bible. Food made me happy. I liked feeling full. Well, now I realize I was really making myself a fool of myself. I was not practicing any self-control, and it was an issue that was coming between me and God, because I was willingly sinning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something I realized through the complications I had while pregnant was that God’s laws are there to protect us. If I had not sinned, and had had the self-control over food, I would most likely not dealt with preeclampsia, and I probably would have been able to breastfeed my daughter. Being overweight caused many problems, and as I lose weight I am discovering I was robbing myself of things that I didn’t even know about…I was so big I couldn’t cross my legs in a seat. Yup, that’s a problem. Now I feel victorious every time I cross my legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that I’m almost half way to goal, I realize I need to continue exhibiting self-control over food and to exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also going to have to let God build patience in me. I hope God allows the wait for graduation, hitting my goal weight, and our first family vacation (all happening in May) to be patience building enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, in this journey, I know I am strengthening my relationship with Christ. I want His will to be mine, and I want others to know that I love Him just by viewing my actions. For Him I will not give up. For Him I will not go back to the way I was. And for Him I will demonstrate to my children how God intended us to live. That he does not want us to be lazy gluttons, but that our bodies are His temple, and that we need to take care of His temple, beautifying it physically and spiritually. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-79312040904065780142012-07-28T11:11:00.001-07:002012-07-28T11:32:16.618-07:00A Gold Medal Week<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh wow this has been a busy two weeks. I had another loss yesterday, making it a 1.7 lb loss for the week! I’m only tenths of a pound away from having lost 50 pounds!!! I can’t believe it. It seems like it’s taking forever, but at the same time I feel as though I just began this journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The same day my summer semester began, I began my 8-week running program. Well yesterday I finished my summer semester, and I should have finished my running program, but I hurt my ankle. Today my ankle is feeling better, but I will give it until Monday before I hit the elliptical for my last run of the 30 minute program. THEN, I get to start something new. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next week I will run the 30 minute run on the elliptical Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, just as I have been doing. But Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday my husband and I are going to begin the program again outdoors. We bought a used jogging stroller and I am very excited to see how I do on the pavement. I have no doubt that I have the cardio stamina to run the 30 minutes on pavement (which should equal about 5K), but I am not sure how my joints and muscles will do. I’m excited to start the program again and be able to do something good for our family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I am most excited that my daughter gets to be a part of this health journey, by riding in her stroller. It encourages me that she will get to see her parents working towards a healthier lifestyle. AND, depending on how the pavement treats me, I am considering entering my first 5K. Much of the 5K is uphill </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> but, I still think I want to do it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, yesterday marked a special day for me. I mentioned earlier I finished my summer semester last night (yes, I finished up a paper while watching the Olympics opening ceremony). This means I am officially a SENIOR!!! In May, when I should reach my weight loss goal, I will also be graduating. Actually graduation is the date I really want to be at my weight loss goal by! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope you are enjoying the Olympics. It acts as a definite inspiration to reaching my goal. Seeing all of these athletes in great condition, makes me realize I want to be able to play sports with my children, and not be hindered by my weight. </span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-67265949032532243872012-07-24T14:15:00.001-07:002012-07-24T14:15:44.144-07:00I'm Back<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven’t disappeared, though I’m working on making parts of me do so. This is my last week of the summer semester and I think it may just kill me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday I had another loss, and I was thrilled! Then Saturday I allowed myself to eat pretty much what I want. Let me say I will NEVER do that again. One meal of being a little overboard is one thing, but not sticking at all close to my points for the rest of the day…ick. Not only did I feel sick for the next two days, but I gained 5 pounds that day! Seriously, in 1 day I gained 5 POUNDS!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday morning all but 2 of those extra pounds were gone, but I had a crazy day. I was so busy trying to get my assignments finished before I don’t have another chance that I didn’t even get my crunches done until after my husband came home and we ate dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did do my crunches and around 9:30 last night I got on the elliptical. I’m on the last week of the 30-minute running program, and at this point they are just adding 1 minute for each run until I’m at 30 minutes on Friday. I ran for 28 minutes yesterday (plus the 5 minute warm up and cool down), and went 2.97 miles (according to my elliptical). It was definitely the furthest and fastest I have gone yet. And this morning I felt good. I peaked at the scale and I was down below what I was at my last weigh in. So, going overboard Saturday didn’t completely kill me, though I will not be doing that again as it left me feeling disgusting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a personal note, my daughter turned 6 months old last Thursday! We took her to get pictures taken at our JC Penny and she wouldn’t smile at us at all. The photos are still adorable if I do say so myself, I will post a few once my cd comes in. Also, she decided Sunday night that she wanted to learn to crawl. She doesn’t have it down yet…at all, but she sure does try. I know in the next week or so I will have some extra exercise running around after my little sweetheart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I promise to try to post on the appropriate days this week, but I promise that even if I don’t post, I’m still running and eating right. I WILL be at my goal by graduation…but in order to have graduation I must finish my assignments and pass my classes </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-71729305478676652772012-07-18T18:38:00.001-07:002012-07-18T18:38:28.321-07:00The Seven Week Itch<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have heard relationships have a 7-year itch. Well, this week started week 7 of my running program, which means me really giving my all to this weight loss program, and I am experiencing an itch. This itch isn’t of boredom like the relational itch, but of a lack of motivation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday my motivation was thinking about blogging, but tonight I didn’t even really want to do that. It all started when nothing sounded good for dinner. I really need to go grocery shopping, but haven’t had time with school and being out of town all weekend. Because of this we went through a drive through tonight. I so badly wanted to splurge and just eat something good. It’s been at least 7 weeks since I’ve had a fast food french fry, and they really sounded good, but I didn’t have enough daily points left for them and I really didn’t want to go into my weekly points or activity points because weigh in is just 2 days away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This desire for yummy food demolished any excitement I had to run. Nevertheless I ran, and ran hard. I went all 26 consecutive minutes of running and didn’t give up! It was my longest consecutive run yet, and it’s only going to get better from here. Now that I’m done running I feel very proud, but not nearly what I felt after completing my first 20 minute run. I am lacking the excitement I need. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think this lack of motivation is partially fueled by a mistake I made this morning. I peeked at the scale and saw I didn’t have a very big loss at all yet. I don’t know why that upsets me. I still have 2 days until weigh in, and I had lost some, just not a full pound. Anything can happen in two day. I could drop a pound and a half or more in that time. But, what I need to focus on is getting healthier! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I celebrate now how quickly my heart and lungs recovered after my run. I didn’t even make it through my cool down before my breath was normal and my heart was no longer racing. Today’s run was still among one of the fastest paces so far, and the second furthest distance at 2.64 miles, but it was also the fastest recovery time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THAT is something to celebrate. Even if the scale says I haven’t lost anything, I have gained a little bit more health. I am gaining life by sticking with this, and if that’s not enough to motivate me I don’t know what is!!!</span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-5086140484401609362012-07-16T18:41:00.001-07:002012-07-16T18:41:45.201-07:00Thank You!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello followers! I can’t thank those of you following enough for the encouragement you give me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today was a hard day for me. I spent this weekend at the lake with my in-laws and had an incredible time, but this morning I felt like I needed a weekend to recover from the weekend. Add having only 1.5 weeks of school left for the semester, and you get a very distracted Diana. Around 5:00 this evening I realized I forgot to do my crunches during my daughter’s nap, so I started doing them while she played in her walker. She thought it was the funniest thing ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After my husband got home and we ate dinner I did not want to run. For the first time in over 6 weeks (today was the first run of week 7) I was not excited to run. But, I ran anyway. Today’s run was 20 minutes running, 3 minutes walking, 5 minutes running. It was much easier than I expected it to be, but then again it was a little slower than normal. I was really disappointed in myself until my wonderful husband informed me that even professional runners have days that aren’t as fast as others. I feel much better now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After writing this I realize that today was actually a really good day. I lacked motivation, but I still pushed myself. I was tired, but I didn’t make an excuse. I stayed on track when I didn’t want to. AND, this weekend I had no internet connection. No internet is horrible when you are doing weight watchers online. Because of this, every morning my husband and I drove into town and I hopped on the weight watchers mobile site and entered in most of what I would be eating that day. I thought I was doing a really good job, but was a little worried this morning that I had gained weight. I stepped on the scale, and I can’t say what it said, but I will say it was less than my weight in on Friday! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Normally when I went to family functions, especially ones where there were 3 cakes and homemade ice cream (we were celebrating 4 birthdays), I would have blown it. But, this weekend I did not eat a single piece of cake or ice cream. I am SOOO proud of the differences I am seeing in myself. This really is a new me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, that’s why I thank you. What I haven’t told you is that whenever I really wanted a piece of cake I thought about how embarrassed I would be if I had a gain instead of a loss. When I didn’t want to run earlier I thought about how empty my blog would look if I didn’t have a run to blog about. So, thank you followers for giving me the motivation I needed today. </span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-56194160616003180362012-07-13T12:18:00.003-07:002012-07-13T12:18:36.125-07:00"Please Slow Down Your Weight Loss"<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello! This has been a busy day already. The first thing I did this morning was sneak into the bathroom to weigh myself. Yes I weigh at home, but the scale is very reliable. I lost 2.8 pounds THIS WEEK!!! That is 46.4 pounds so far!!! I am SOOO excited! The scale is becoming my best friend!! Because I lost over two pounds my weight watchers app told me that I was losing too quickly, and I may need to slow my weight loss. Well, I am doing this healthfully and I know this is not a common occurrence, so I am going to rejoice in the loss!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t have time to run tonight, so my husband came home during his lunch break to watch our daughter while I hopped on the elliptical (don’t worry, I didn’t actually hop on the elliptical). Today’s run was a little more challenging than I expected it to be. It was a 15 minute run, 3 minute walk, 10 minute run. For some reason with 6 minutes of run time left I wanted to quit, but I didn’t. My husband probably thought I was crazy as I cheered myself on telling myself I had just a few more minutes. I finished running with a cheer, and I can’t wait until Monday when I can run again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s enough weight loss talk today. I want to tell you a little bit more about what inspired me to take on this journey. During the third trimester of my pregnancy I developed preeclampsia. This is pregnancy induced high blood pressure. It was not too severe, but I was put on modified bed rest at 35 weeks (the typical pregnancy is 40 weeks). It also made me miserable. I was more tired than I should have been, and I was so swollen that if my husband touched my feet an indention would remain. We ended up inducing labor at 39 weeks because of it, and we found out there were complications that we hadn’t even known about that could have been harmful to my daughter had we not induced labor. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may be wondering why a past pregnancy has caused me to want to lose so much weight. Well, I want lots of children. When I say lots I’m not meaning 10 or 15, but at least 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want my future pregnancies to have any complications that I can prevent. I also want to live a long life for my children. My father and my husband each lost their fathers in their twenties. I don’t want my kids to experience that. I want to meet my grandchildren, and possibly great-grandchildren. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A more immediate desire to lose the weight is the playground. I loved going to the park when I was little. I remember playing on the playground and sliding down the slide. I want my daughter to experience the slide, and not have to wait until she is old enough to go down by herself. I want to be able to fit on the slide with her, and experience hearing her laugh as we both slip towards the ground. I want to feel her hair moving in the wind while she giggles and I hold her. I want to be small enough to not worry about breaking the slide. I don’t want my weight to force me to miss out on anything! </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, my daughter just woke up so I need to go get her and not miss out on her babbling any more. I won't be able to blog this weekend, why don't you go check out my friend Danette's blog <a href="http://www.danettedillon.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> She is taking on vegetarianism and she is such an inspiration for making such a huge change. I couldn’t imagine giving up meat, but she’s doing it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a great weekend! – Diana </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-29290455919620757042012-07-11T17:59:00.001-07:002012-07-11T17:59:04.765-07:00WOOHOO!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am still shaking with adrenalin. Today was such an incredible day for me. No, I didn’t come into any money and nothing particularly great happened, but I accomplished something incredible…well, at least incredible for me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I mentioned in the last post that my I was doing abdominal work and running every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. Well, I have been doing 210 crunches (3 set of 70, each set includes 30 lower ab crunches, 30 upper ab crunches, and 10 total ab crunches). This morning I upped that to 4 sets, so 280 crunches. By the last set I couldn’t even feel my stomach burning anymore. It was the weirdest sensation. Afterwards my abs still felt as though they were contracted for about 20 minutes. It was great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also ran tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday I did two nine minute runs in my interval training, but today was a big day. Today was my first 20 minute run. I was honestly very nervous about this, but I climbed on the elliptical tonight and started. I didn’t want to 5 minute warm up to end, but it did and I started running. I was SOOO glad to hear the bell on my app ding to tell me I was half way through, and that little sound…that heavenly ding that gave an angel somewhere its wings…gave me a second wind. I ran the next ten minutes with enthusiasm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As soon as the bell sounded again to tell me I was finished running, I actually yelled out loud. I have never had an exercise high like this. I don’t think I’ve smiled this big in a long time…at least not for something I did rather than something my daughter did. I am amazed at how far I have come. Just 6 weeks ago I was struggling to run for 1 minute straight, but tonight I went for 20 minutes. In two weeks I’ll be running for 30 minutes! I am so happy right now! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am SO grateful that God didn’t let me continue on the road I was on. I am so grateful He made my body so that it would adapt to a healthier state, and to where it would stand up to the abuse I gave it the past few years. I am so grateful he gave me the ability to run tonight, and I am so glad I didn’t throw that blessing away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of you reading this, thank you! I’m very grateful that you were willing to take a few minutes to cheer me on by reading this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-5825659226268091752012-07-09T15:06:00.000-07:002012-07-09T15:06:54.108-07:00I'm Losing It!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, no one reads this, but I thought I should start blogging again anyway. Aria is now 5.5 months old! She’s getting SO big. She rolls everywhere, but doesn’t crawl yet. I am so incredibly in love with her, I can’t begin to explain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being a mom is the most amazing thing in the world, and I’m looking forward to having many more children to love. Unfortunately, I can’t do that as I am. By the end of my pregnancy with Aria I was preeclamptic and had gained over 70 pounds (now some of that was water-weight, but still horrible). On top of that I was already 50 pounds overweight when I got pregnant, so I was only supposed to gain 20. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After I had Aria I made a promise to myself and to my husband to get healthy before I had another baby. 10 days after we came home with Aria I had lost 10 lbs of water weight, and then the work began. I lost another 25 lbs by six weeks, when I started weight watchers. I have been on weight watchers for 19 weeks (since March) but for at least 5 of those I did not follow the rules. The past five weeks I have been extremely dedicated to weight watchers and an exercise routine. I am doing a running routine on the elliptical my husband bought me for mother’s day (used on Craig’s list for a great price) every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. As a result I have lost an additional 19 pounds since starting Weight Watchers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That puts me nearly 45 pounds down at this point, with 66 pounds to go. Just typing these numbers is embarrassing, but I think I need to put my accomplishments and goals somewhere public. I can’t promise I will post every day, actually I can promise I won’t. But I will try to check in twice a week. Every Saturday, which is my weigh in day, and then once in the middle of the week. I will also post pictures periodically. Today I am including my before picture. This was from when my daughter was 2 weeks old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have my husband take a current picture of me this weekend, so everyone (the whole 1 of you who may read this…hi mom) can see the progress made so far. And, don’t worry I will be fully clothed in all pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must forewarn you, there will be many references to what God is doing during this journey. Much of this dedication is due to the realization that I was taking God’s gift of my body for granted. After running the first time (it’s a progressive interval running program that trains for a 5K) I realized I was killing myself. I was running to praise music, and as I was doing my cool down the song “I Am Free” came one. The chorus says “I am free to run,” and I began to sob. I was huffing and puffing, and the longest continuous run that day was only 60 seconds. I felt like my heart would explode. I realized that I was taking away a freedom that God gave me. I was taking away the freedom to play with my children, the freedom to ride bikes as a family, the freedom of health. Now, I only have three weeks left of the running program, and today I am running 2 nine minute intervals. And, my heart no longer feels like it will explode after running. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, and just so you know, this is not going to be a magic, overnight transformation. I don’t plan on reaching my goal before next May. If I do that will be great, but no pressure. I am doing this for a long term change, not a microwave result. This is a sustainable change, and a learning progress. And, while I’m doing this I will be completing my last year of college! So, next May will be a very exciting time for me!! YAY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In case you are interested in either resource I am using for this weight loss journey, check out </span><a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.weightwatchers.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (I am doing the program completely online, though they do have meetings if you’re interested in them). Also check out </span><a href="http://easeinto5k.bluefinapps.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://easeinto5k.bluefinapps.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. I am starting week 6 of 8 of this program. Blue Fin Apps also has a 10K app that I will go into as soon as I finish this program. I believe one version of the 10K program starts includes the 5K program and the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bridge to 10K program I will continue with. </span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-69193495815013330092012-03-09T14:01:00.000-08:002012-03-09T14:01:37.285-08:00Life Now<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on here. Life has been crazy since my last post…crazy, but wonderful. I had to quit work a few weeks early due to mild preeclampsia. Aria waited, and waited, and at 39 weeks we were induced due to my high blood pressure. Aria came into the world at a perfect 6 lbs 10 oz, and 20 inches long. No one could believe how alert she was from the very beginning. She is still extremely alert, and in my very biased opinion is the most beautiful baby in the world. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0sUsccSZAWU/T1p9bhOgQ_I/AAAAAAAAAAw/X9vyH9PJ9Zw/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0sUsccSZAWU/T1p9bhOgQ_I/AAAAAAAAAAw/X9vyH9PJ9Zw/s320/IMG_0389.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, throughout this entire thing God has continued teaching me about His plans and His timing. He has made it very clear that His plans are not my plans, and that my timing is not His. Proverbs 16:9 has become very true in my life. I may make plans, but God paves the way. I can go nowhere without His guidance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had planned to not be induced, but I was induced, and it was an incredible experience. My labor, though painful until I got the epidural (I don’t care what anyone says, it was the right thing for me). Even while I was pushing the labor was fun. It was nice to be able to make joked between pushes, knowing that my doctor would be cracking jokes with me. It didn’t happen as I had planned it, but I don’t think anyone would have planned laughter during delivery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, aria came out perfectly alert, after 5 pushes. She was, and is, perfect. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had also planned to exclusively nurse my little angel. It took 3 weeks of her not gaining weight (not even getting back to her birth weight), and then another 4 weeks of very slow weight gain and constant nursing before I admitted there was a problem. My plan was to exclusively nurse, but due to an extremely sensitive gag reflex and a low milk supply I am now pumping and bottle feeding. We are also feeding formula when needed. And, guess what…my little girl is much happier and is gaining weight steadily. I finally listened to my God given instincts, rather than my selfish desires, and my baby is better off for it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, and mostly what I wanted to write about, Cam has had plans for his job for quite some time now. You may remember that in December he interviewed for a job and was very disappointed when he didn’t get it. Well, nearly four months later we may have a clue as to why. That same position has opened up in the Tulsa office. We don’t know if he’ll get the job, but we do know that they can offer him more money, and that they are under pressure to get a high producer in there (and he is the highest producer in the state). We also know that there are several people interceding for him, both in prayer and with the hiring manager. He has had so many influential people recommend him for this job (including the vice president of the company). He interviews on Tuesday. We have no earthly idea if he will get it or not, but we know it would be a beautiful picture of how God’s plans were made perfect by our temporary disappointment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope to have good news next week, but I won’t promise to post if I do. Being a full time mom is easier than I expected it to be, but my time is spent entertaining Miss Aria more than I expected it to be. I thought newborns slept all day, but that is not true of my little one. She likes her play time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, she’s calling for that play time now. I’m going to go entertain my little blessing. And I will thank God for His timing to bring her into our lives. She has definitely increased our faith, but that’s another blog entry. </span></div><strike></strike>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-51602828184922940292011-12-04T19:59:00.000-08:002011-12-04T19:59:49.238-08:00Parental Pride<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John 1:6-9</span></div><sup>6</sup> "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. <sup id="en-NIV-26052">7</sup> He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. <sup id="en-NIV-26053">8</sup> He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." <br />
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I have been thinking a lot about my unborn daughter today. She has been especially active and I have enjoyed feeling her move around as I wrote a paper and sat in church. I feel so blessed to have her within me. <br />
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Lately I’ve been having problems sleeping, so I’ve begun daydreaming until I fall asleep (counting sheep doesn’t work for me). As I lay in bed last night trying to fall asleep I imagined what my daughter will be like. Not what she will be like as a baby, but as an adult. I dreamt up her wedding, and prayed for her future husband. I dreamt of what she may look like, and how much she will love her daddy. But mostly I imagined how she will love God. <br />
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I was just daydreaming, but I can’t describe the pride I felt as I imagined our daughter giving her heart to the Lord and telling others about him. It made me wonder about how much joy Zechariah and Elizabeth must have felt watching their son grow. <br />
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This is the same Zechariah that temporarily lost his voice after doubting Gabriel’s proclamation that he would have a son. I know he and Elizabeth would have been more than proud of any child, but their child was prophesied about as the one who will clear the way for the Messiah. According to John, he was there to testify and witness about the Messiah. He was so popular people actually thought he was the Messiah. <br />
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I wonder about the pride they felt as their son learned the Jewish traditions. I also wonder if they got to see him as an adult. I wonder if they were there when he baptized the true Messiah. If so I can’t imagine the pride they felt as he lowered his earthly cousin, but his heavenly savior, into the water and raised his sinless body from the river. <br />
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I wonder how often Elizabeth prayed that her son wouldn’t get caught up in his own popularity. I wonder if she ever had to remind him that he was not the important one, but God was. I wonder if she ever felt inferior while raising the man who was to testify to the living Messiah. <br />
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I am so excited that I get to pray for my daughter. I’ve already begun praying for her salvation. I can’t wait until the day she tells me that Jesus is living within her. I know that moment will be one of the greatest moments of my life, and I feel blessed that I get to teach my daughter about Christ, and live an example of a Christian life for her. <br />
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Dear God, thank you for giving us parents to learn from in the bible. Help us to remember that the greatest gift we can ever give a child is a personal relationship with You. Thank you so much for calling us to share Your love with the world. We love you! Amen<br />
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</div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-84785636413184064532011-12-04T15:02:00.001-08:002011-12-04T15:02:12.475-08:00God's Will<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This morning I realized that almost everyone I know is in the place of waiting on God. Even if they are beginning new things in one aspect of life, they are waiting on God in another. At first I wondered if it would ever stop; if we would ever not be waiting on God to do something, and then I realized I don’t want it to stop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moment I am no longer waiting on God is the moment I am in Heaven with Him. It means He has finished with me on earth, and I’m not ready for that yet. I want to see more people come to know Him. I want to teach others about His love. I want to see victories in the lives of other Christians. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During church we were given our purpose. “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17). My purpose is to bring Glory to God and to proclaim His name in all the earth. I know I personally will not proclaim His name in all the earth, but maybe through writing about Him, His name will be proclaimed by new believers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t have any idea what God has planned for me, but I do know that it will be all about Him if I let it. I believe He wants me to write about Him, so I will continue to share His word through this blog.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to encourage all believers to listen to God and not to hesitate when He asks you to do something. He will never force you to do anything, but remember that if you don’t do something He asks, He will eventually ask someone else to do it. Don’t miss a chance to serve the Lord. </span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-86750696818066932352011-12-02T13:45:00.000-08:002011-12-02T13:45:23.965-08:00Lying in the Valley<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to say something more about God accomplishing His plans in His ways. Earlier this week we were shocked to find out Cameron didn’t get a job he had applied for. He had basically been told he got it, and then he received a phone call saying he didn’t. He didn’t not get the job because of anything he did, if anything they said he was overqualified. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, the why doesn’t matter, what does is that it hurt. It hurt bad! We had really thought this was God’s way of giving us the insurance we so badly need for our newborn. Well, it wasn’t. We had been obedient in our timing of having a child, even though we didn’t understand about the insurance, but all of a sudden we couldn’t see how it was going to happen. We felt like I imagine Mary feeling about Christ being born in Bethlehem. We knew God had a plan…and we sincerely thanked Him for that plan, but it was still hard not to ask “how will we get insurance for our baby.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are reasons she can’t be on my insurance, and Cameron can’t get a personal policy, so he’s gone without health insurance for a little over a year. But yesterday he came home and told me his boss hired a group insurance specialist to come to the office to show their options. Today, we found out that we WILL be offered group insurance! We don’t know about the price, but we trust that God will take care of that! He provides all of our needs, and today we were honored to see Him providing for our needs in a situation when just two days ago we couldn’t imagine how He would meet them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I am grateful that Cameron didn’t get the job for a big reason: if he had, I wouldn’t have been able to see God making an impossible situation possible. I told my dad, sometimes it’s nice to be thrown off a mountain, because you land in a valley. It’s the best feeling in the world to lie in the grass next to my Jesus and see the magnificence of his works rolling by like clouds in the sky! </span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-77556170857436559262011-12-02T10:30:00.001-08:002011-12-02T10:30:57.162-08:00God's Census<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup>“1</sup> In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. <sup id="en-NIV-24976">2</sup> (This was the first census that took place while<sup value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24976a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a cmimpressionsent="1" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24976a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> Quirinius was governor of Syria.) <sup id="en-NIV-24977">3</sup> And everyone went to their own town to register.” – Luke 2:1-3</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the Christmas theme today! Sorry it’s taken so long to get back on track. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This little passage means to world to me! In Micah it was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and this verse in Luke tells us how God accomplished that. Much of the time I don’t understand how God is doing something. I know I’ve said this a lot lately, but God is really revealing His infinite power to me in this area. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll be honest, I don’t like it when I know that God is going to accomplish something, but I don’t understand how. I’m sure Mary had some of the same questions running through her mind. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, not Bethlehem…so how was this prophecy going to be fulfilled? I know this question would have worried me to no end if I were her. But, God had that problem all figured out (haha, He knew from the beginning of time how He was going to accomplish this). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only does the fact that God had it all planned out amaze me, but how He did it is amazing. Luke tells us he had Caesar Augustus order a census…and then adds that “this was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.” WOW! Not only did God use an ungodly man, a ROMAN, to accomplish His will, but apparently this was a rare thing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This touched me deeply today, because it let me know god will accomplish His will in ways we can never imagine. I know that His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), but it is incredible to really see how he can use such unlikely circumstances to fulfill his promise! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lord, thank you for using ordinary circumstances to accomplish Your will! Thank you for being the one who gives all power to the leaders over us (Romans 13:1). Thank you for always accomplishing Your will, and for allowing us to play a part in that. In Your name I pray, Amen.</span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8674112476982532840.post-20886737731018216462011-11-30T14:55:00.000-08:002011-11-30T14:55:06.034-08:00Praise You In The Storm<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God knows His plans. The entire time Cam went through this job interview process we have prayed that if this was not God’s will that we would not get it. We found out this afternoon it was not God’s will. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This job seemed to be an answered prayer, Cameron was almost a shoe in, but God had other plans. We thought we saw how God was going to financially take care of our newborn’s medical care, by providing her with insurance. But, God knew better.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With as surprised as I am, I take comfort that God is not surprised at all. He knew our heart’s cry was for His will to be done. That above all we wanted His provision. He knows we don’t want to take a step without His guidance, so he guided us. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Max Lucado tweeted something that resonates deeply with me today. He asked, “Do you see closed doors as interruptions of your plans, or indications of God’s plan?” Well, today I choose to see this door as an indication of God’s plans. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As much as it hurts right now, I know that God has a plan…and that thought is exciting. I know that there is something bigger and better in store for my husband and our little family. It may not be financially bigger or better, but spiritually it will be. If it’s nothing more than teaching us even more how to rely on Him, what better thing could it be?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have been through this before. We have been asked to step out in faith, and we have. Once again we are standing on the water like Peter, but though the waves may come up around us, we refuse to lose sight of Who really matters. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is God’s time. We know that He has a plan for us. He has a plan to prosper us. He wants to give us a hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11). We will trust in Him and we refuse to lean on our oh-so-limited earthly understanding. (Proverbs 3:5-6). We will spend time worshipping our Lord through this, because all we can have is gratitude that He has allowed a little pain now, so that we can experience BIG victory later! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for your prayers today! I plan to get back to the Christmas stories tomorrow, but tonight I will spend time worshipping my Lord and loving on my husband.</span></div>Dianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402557470280773517noreply@blogger.com1