The past few days I started thinking, always a good thing, right? That I should be making progress on a daily basis.  Yet I've been at my current weight for a few weeks now.  What changed?  In my last post I mentioned that my MO has been to have a little gain in my my life (in this case loss, weight that is) and to get comfortable; once again that is where I found myself.

Remembering that this is a journey I didn't berate myself, I took stock in what I'd been doing.  I little of not feeling well with a few too many sweets and not enough water was keeping me stagnant.  So with new resolve I increased my water intake, started getting to bed early enough to wake up for a good workout and not just one that fit into my time, and cut out the jelly beans. And in just three days I have lost another pound.  

So last night I decided to remove any last excuses I had.  I cleaned out my closet of all my loose clothes and size 12s.  Within my repertoire I have one drawer filled with jeans.  This has always been my TOO small drawer.  I just had one pair of jeans that fit (the ones I am wearing in the picture).  Knowing that I'm not "there" yet I almost skipped this drawer, but wanting to be thorough I perused it's contents...hey where'd this pair come from? They look like they just might...YES they button!!! They FIT!  

Hubby had just come home, didn't even have his shoes off yet (poor guy) and I was beckoning him...look, I went shopping in my own closet! It was a very good evening. And I found that a little effort goes a long way.  

What's holding you back? Maybe you need to remove your excuses.  Maybe you need to quit buying sugary snacks just in case you want something late at night.  Maybe you need to clean out your closet. More important maybe you need a little prayer for God to show you where you can improve. He cares about your finances, He cares about your family, He cares about your health.  Don't ever think asking God to help you become healthy and loose weight is a petty prayer. God care about you, every little aspect.  He loves you. 

1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.

God Bless You Always!

A New Venture

Determined to make the most out of my body I have ventured into eating healthier and getting my body back into shape.  Not to fit into a worldly idea of what beauty is, but to get my body back to being a healthy weight and able to do more of the things the Lord calls me to do.  When my body is physically fit my mind is also.  I am able to organize my time better and I have more to offer my family, my church and my God who has given everything for me. 

So before Christmas I joined a "Challenge Group" that my friend Paty was starting.  We were/are challenged to hold each other accountable for what we put in our bodies and the exercise we do.    I was working out 5 times a week and had cut back on snacking on the wrong foods.  Even during the holidays I enjoyed time with family, but only took one small plate and filled up with plenty of water.  I didn't deny myself except for the second plate full.  The first three months, which included Christmas, I lost nine pounds.  From 185 in October to 176 the end of December.

Sounds great but over the next month I got much too comfortable and slipped back into my old habits.  That's always been my MO, I'd see some results on the scale and in the way my clothes fit then kind of wipe my hands clean of it.  Like "I've got this'.  Haha, no I didn't get it.  February found me back at 185 and having a terrible time with the munchies.

Our group leader Paty had been telling me about a shake she'd been drinking that really helped her with her health and since her body was getting the vitamins, minerals, proteins she needed it was helping her loose weight much easier.  Ever the skeptic that I am, I only listened, until February when she gave  me a sample (single serving packet) of the Tropical flavor.  The first time I had it I was literally astounded.  My energy was up and I felt amazing.  And not in a coffee high or five hour energy boost.  My body was feeling, how do I explain it, I guess equalized.  And I decided to buy a month's worth and try it out.

Well, I'm writing this as my beginning entry because after a little over two months I am not only down 15 pounds to 170, my headaches are gone, my energy is up and I am in love with this program so I have decided to pay it forward and become an Independent TeamBeachbody Coach myself and help people the same way this program has helped me.

Below are the links to my new websites.  Check them out and check back soon.  I plan on updating my progress here as well as the journey of helping others. 

I Cointhians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?"

You were bought at a price and your body is a gift.  Together we can get it back to working the way God intended and then you too can pay it forward.

http://beachbodycoach.com/CoachChristine8

http://myshakeology.com/CoachChristine8

My Weekend

California in January

This was our weekend.  We didn't go away, we were actually just a little ways from home.  We took a two hour hike Saturday and then after church the three of us drove for about an hour and took a four mile hike. I love living here.

Thank You

I finally feel like this chapter of pain and healing are coming to a close.  Thank you Father!  Notice I said this chapter.  I realize another will be just around the corner and that will be fine too.  The lessons learned through this season are too numerous to count.  Yet they were incredible.  We have learned to lean on the Lord more through this then any other time or trial in our lives.  The trust built in our relationship with God our Father has deepened.  That alone would have been plenty, but He is so good to us.  We were blessed with dinners, help with our bills, prayer and hearts that truelly cared.  Thank you everyone of you.

I am sure that in the course of our lives we will be reminded of each blessing, each lesson.  God has a way of building our hearts stronger upon each trial.  They aren't just random happenstance with no meaning.  Even for those who don't believe, it's still God who is leading your life, calling your name, waiting for you to see that He was there all along.

I've been back to work for two months now.  Just last week me and my baby took a hike that I haven't been able to even look at for almost two years.  Walking through the mountains, the towering pines, I felt like I was finally back.  Able to move and do the things that I love so dearly.  All praise to my wonderful healer!

What's ahead?  Been working out and trying to get back to my before weight and it seems to be going pretty well.  I am bound and determined to get back to 'me'.  My goal is 20 pounds and as of last Saturday I had lost five. 

We have a wonderful new kitten, her name is Xena.  She was dropped off at hubbies work while I was off work during the summer.  We nursed her back to health and when there were no takers my beautiful husband asked if we could take her home.  So that's where she is.  That entire situation was another blessing...  I had this whole in my heart after surgery.  I was trying to ignore it, but you know when you physically can't have babies anymore you feel kindof empty.  It really stinks.  I was beginning to wonder if I needed to talk to someone.  Then this little furball was dumped off and I spent on hour or two everyday at his work just being the momma to this little orphan.  I prayed for her health and thanking the Lord for this cute little distraction.  It was perfectly what both of us needed and God knew it.  So she came home.  Guess we got a baby afterall.

Until next time...count your blessings, you'll be surprised at how much God has seen you through lately.

Our Dreams and God's Plans

Lately our lives have been an emotional rollercoaster punctuated with tremendous blessings.  You see, when me and the hubby got married, like most couples, we wished to add to our family.  Though before our wedding we found out that I had a fibroid tumor and that pregnancy would be difficult if not impossible until it was removed.  So for the last two years we have prayed and searched for an answer.  The tumor proving to cause much more then a hinderance to our plans.  With it came pain and large amounts of blood loss. 

Last year it looked like we had the answer to at least part of the problem.  We had read and investigated a new procedure called fibroid embolization where a Radiologist can decrease the blood flow to the fibroid and since it would not have anything to feed on and grow, the bleeding would be back to normal and the fibroid would shrink and die off.  That was in August last year and seven months later I was still having the same symptoms. 

In April we went to the doctor after our last updated sonogram to talk about removing the fibriod (myomectomy) or having the same embolization procedure one more time in the hopes of being able to have a baby sometime  in the near future.  Our hopes that day were dashed with a doctor who not only didn't recommend either procedure but said he would not do it, said I needed a hysterectomy but without clear communication as to why.  So our search to understand what has happened inside of me took another turn as we sought out people who could explain the sonogram reports and recommendations to us.

After speaking to several different doctors we knew that this last doctor had been correct we just hadn't understood why.  It turns out that my fibroid is about the size of a large grapefruit and my uteris is enlarged also.  And with where it is positioned in relation to where I would carry a baby, its really not a good idea.  We did have a wonderful reconstructive surgeon tell us that he could remove just the tumor and (serious, I didn't know they did this) reconstruct my uteris.  But that it would be a lot of down time, alot of blood loss during the surgery and with no guarantee that I would be able to get pregnant much less carry the baby full term due to the injured area.

They gave us percentages for different scenarios and we all know that God doesn't need percentages, rather just for us to get out of the way.  We do feel that this is where He has directed us.  We prayed to be healed and this will heal the problem.  With it our plan's are changed and replaced with God's plan instead.  So we are waiting for them to call with a surgery date for me to have a hysterectomy. 

It is with a heavy heart that I write this yet my heart is overflowing with the joy of the Lord.  Let me explain...our lives are filled with hopes and dreams.  We start off in new directions asking the Lord to bless them, not knowing in what way that will be.  We have prayed and family and friends have cried and prayed out to the Lord, our wonderful God, for us to have a child of our own, to add to our family, to share our love with.  And it would appear that even before we started on this journey God knew that our plans were not to be.  That doesn't mean He doesn't love us, but I know that my God is a great big God and that if He has closed this door, there is another waiting wide open for us. 

We have seen God bless each step of this journey.  With friends who are willing to give of their time to explain "doctor talk" to us.  Parents who just show up when they are needed the most, not knowing why, just following the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  Doctors willing to talk to us until all of our questions have been answered even giving us direct lines to call if we have questions after we leave (who does that any more).  Prayer from so many people, even some prayer partners that I have never met.  Hospital bills being reduced to very managable sums.  And simply the partnering of other couples, Pastors and their wifes, other Christians, family, and friends willing to remember us in their prayers.  We have felt everyone of you.

So as the tears fall for those dreams that are slowly fading away, they are replaced with dreams that I don't even know yet.  You see, we have a beautiful daughter who is about to enter her Senior year in high school, who's life has slipped by us so quickly .  We have children at church that we love, adore and teach once a week.  We have a new neice that is just barely a year old with newlywed parents who could use help taking care of her.  And we have each other and all the time in the world to fall deeper in love with as we get to know each other more intimately. 

If I found out tomorrow that I was pregnant would I be happy?  Overjoyed is more like it.  But I wouldn't forget what I've learned along the way.  Nor, will not being able to have a baby with my beautiful husband take away the awesome gifts that God has bestowed in our lives.  I mean, can you believe it, I am actually married to my best friend.  It really doesn't get any better then this, at least not on Earth.  Besides, Tov says that maybe we can afford to go see the 24 hours of LeMans Race now!

Tax Help

I know that a lot of us are hurting, out of work, or our work has been cut and are in need of some inexpensive, if not free, advice on filing your tax return for 2010. So I thought I’d pass on a few tips and tidbits of information that may be useful in filing your tax return this year.


First and foremost, please pray and trust the Lord to provide fully for you in your situation. Sometimes in our money shortfalls we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and embellish some deductions that are not ours to take. Remember, nothing is hidden from God. He has a plan to bring you through this and will be faithful to do so. And because He is God, He only needs us to be faithful in our trust of Him and who He is.

With that said here are a few website sites you may find useful:

http://www.irs.gov/

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/


Believe it or not, the government does want to help you and you can file your tax return for free on their website. You can also call them for help in filling out the tax return. One thing that is important, any information that they provide to you you should get in writing. Whether they send it to you in an email or by snail mail, get it in writing and hold on to it. That way if you are ever the target of an audit or they say that you owe a different amount of tax you can show them that you did as they had advised and you will not be liable for that amount. Of course that only applies to any advice they give, not to the whole return. But its helpful to know nonetheless.
Also, for the IRS they recommend calling them in the evening when the rest of the United States offices are closed. Calling during the day will have you on hold for quite some time.
For low income families there is an Earned Income Credit that is available on the IRS Tax Form. The IRS reports that many families don't know about this credit that puts money back into your hands. In some families it could add up to about $5000.00 each year. Call the IRS and ask them about it. This is money they have made available to help us. Take advantage of it. That what its there for.

And for small businesses there is free help also: http://www.iesmallbusiness.com/
This is the website for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). They provide all types of FREE training, counseling, resources, etc. The consulting is one hour each but is unlimited. You can get as much help from them as you need. They even have free QuickBooks training, other accounting companies charge $75-150 per hour for this service. Whether you are new in business or struggling, they are there to help. As are all of the government sites.

God bless you. I hope this information provides you with some other alternatives to filing your tax returns and seeking the help you need.

This morning I went for a walk.  I couldn’t get away from this overwhelming appreciation for the beauty that God has surrounded us by.  I had my camera phone with me and every chance I got I was clicking away.  The fall colors that are so rare in California were abound, flowers are still blooming and God’s people in all stages of life and spirit were just amazing to me.  He loves us all so much and we, even at our closest moments with the Lord, still have no idea at the intimate care He takes with each and everyone.

I felt a little silly taking all of these photos while others were walking by seemed oblivious to what surrounds them.  I don't know why, but I did.  I little self conscious I suppose.  When I finally quit feeling that way and just started shooting pictures a little old man who’d been walking behind me caught up and as he passed he patted my shoulder as if to say “I know”.  He saw it too!  Man I started to cry.  Why would I feel silly for not being able to get enough of God, in any respect.  It happens so easily and so slight of hand.  Anyway, my walk was so enjoyable.  My closeness with the Love of my Life is so much richer having experienced His creation and feeling first hand His love for me.  

I'm still enjoying these photos.  I hope you enjoy them too!