Here I Am to Worship...

So, last week I laid it out there: I don't go to church to worship. *gasp*

I actually started that post (and the next) to talk about worship, and got side-tracked about church. I started thinking on those things for several reasons. First, the church where I worship has started making an intentional difference in our two morning services. The second service is 'less traditional' in nature. And our 'more traditional' service is struggling over some bumps of its own. This, as you might imagine if you are a regular attender somewhere, has ruffled a few feathers and created some exciting end-of-the-pew discussion. I have also been included in some committee discussions regarding planning worship. Our 'corporate worship' time has been on my mind lately.

Someone is unhappy with the song choices. Or song tempo. Or song leader. Others aren't happy with the screens/ temperature/ preacher/ what-have-you. And -- true confessions -- I'm right there with them in many regards. As I mentioned -- you can't plan a perfect worship for me, especially if there are people involved!

While all of this ha-rumphing was fresh on my mind, I sat down and encountered notes from a worship conference I attended last summer. This was on the top page:

Evaluating worship based on doing the right things in the right way or 'did it make me feel good' is having low expectations. Instead, evaluate worship on whether or not God showed up. There is NO worship renewal without expecting to meet the Almighty God. (Randy Harris)

That quote makes me feel better about not feeling like I am really able to worship at church. Oh, I feel certain the Almighty God is THERE -- but I am only able to worship Him by serving His people while in 'the assembly', not by chatting with Him and listening to Him. The best part is -- I'm not missing my time with God if I don't get it inside the church building. The Almighty God shows up to talk to me and walk beside me on my morning walk. He listens so patiently while I fold the clothes. He blesses us again and again while I pray over carpool. My entire life -- SHOULD I CHOOSE TO DO SO -- can be a time of worship, complete with the presence of the Almighty God. Because He will ALWAYS show up -- I just have to show up, as well.

And while the songs sung or words said or images displayed at church may or may not stir my soul, I can still worship because I will be in the presence of the Almighty God.

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Good Things Out There

Lysa tells here how she is willing to talk about a past abortion and why. Anyone that expects to be able to minister, shepherd, or just plain love women should read this.

Having been THOROUGHLY freaked out by the movie, "Children of the Corn" I would NEVER participate in this, but it is pretty cool.

I tried these on Friday night -- awesome. And I have decided that is my all-time favorite cooking blog because, hello? It's real life! I want to make this, and have Ashley make these, I'll definitely make both of these, and will even try these, even though I'm not sure the 'picky's' at my house will try them, and these may make me cook breakfast... And that's just her recent posts! 

Right after this guy, THIS guy totally deserves "Husband of the Year" for this story. Bless.

I hope you're still following this.

I'm not sure how well this song will work acapella, but we really need to incorporate this into our worship service. Please listen to all of it, the lyrics are genius:

Observation

I don't care which way you pull the lever on November 4, if you are comparing 'your guy' (or any guy) to Jesus Christ, your perspective is officially WAY off-center. You need to step AWAY from politics for a while.

(comments closed on this post)

Fitness Friday: ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Today I'm going to touch on something that deals with your overall health and affects your metabolism, diet, and exercise, but few people think about it as a component of fitness. If you know me very well, it won't surprise you to learn that I want to devote an entire Fitness Friday to SLEEP! Oh, and if you missed it, I just had a column in Abilene Families about sleep being my Olympic event! It is, people! I am ALL about the sleep!

Blessing or curse, I'm not sure I necessarily REQUIRE any more sleep than your average person (oh, but I do love it so very, very much), but I can't/ won't/ don't function being sleep deprived. I know millions of Americans walk around that way every day, and I have on occasion, as well, but nothing is working right when I do. God built into me a 'shut-down mechanism' (called 'sleep mode' on your computer for a reason) that prevents me from 'pushing through' my exhaustion for too terribly long. In the same way we connected the dots to understand that ignorance (of your numbers) can make you fat, let's think about two obvious current lifestyle situations in America: Americans are more sleep-deprived than ever and Americans are fatter than ever. Two isolated facts? Studies show that they aren't likely isolated, and one can very definitely lead to the other.

Let's think about two basics of sleep deprivation that can lead to weight gain. First, it stands to reason that if you're awake more hours, you are eating more than the person that's asleep. Sure, you don't HAVE to eat when you're up late (or early)-- but you do, don't you? Also, if you're sleep deprived, your decision-making skills (and discipline or willpower) are not functioning at their highest level. Maybe you think that the order of cinna-bites from McDonald's will give you some energy for the rest of the night. Maybe you think that an ice cream sundae is nutritionally equal to a bowl of cereal. Whatever the thought process, it sounds GREAT at the time, but probably looks a little pathetic when it shows up on the scale.

Okay, okay, those are just examples right? What if I'm following my eDiets or Weight Watchers or whatever? A calorie is a calorie, right? Don't worry, I'm not going to go down the "food eaten after 7 p.m. goes right to your thighs" road. I DO believe a calorie is a calorie. And, a properly rested person will burn those calories no matter when they are ingested. The trick is to be 'properly rested'. 

If you're reading this on Friday afternoon, it's probably because you've gotten off of work and can't work up the energy to go all the way to your bed to lie down at the end of a long week. Every step feels like you're trudging through molasses, and you can tell that fatigue is keeping your brain operating at 'battery-saver' mode. You know you can't be trusted to make any important decisions or think rationally -- you may even need some cinna-bites to clear your brain. The deal is -- your metabolism feels the same way. A calorie IS a calorie in a well-rested person, but a calorie is a huge hunk of fuel that your metabolism has to burn for fuel, but if you're sleep deprived, your metabolism can't even work up the energy to strike the match. So, it does what we do when we're too tired: it saves it to burn later. On your rear-end. 

I could go on and on about studies that show how proper sleep will affect (improve) mental skills, physical health, stress levels, and dozens of other components of being all-around healthy. And you could go on and on about all the reasons you CAN'T get enough sleep and all the things you have to do instead of sleep. 

I leave you with this thought:

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14,15)

Y'all -- time and again, Jesus had to walk away from the sick and hurting, the needy and helpless to recharge. MANY times scripture tells us he went to pray. On occasion, we just hear that he was 'by himself' like in John 6. Because he was fully human, Jesus had to sleep. He slept in the middle of a storm! Jesus walked this earth for us to know how to walk this earth. Part of that includes 'shuttin' 'er down' BEFORE you collapse. It requires planning and discipline, but your health (and sanity, and the health and sanity of your family) is worth it.

Your assignment for this week is to get one good night's sleep -- and start PLANNING a way for you to get a good night's sleep at LEAST 4 out of 7 nights.

Get some sleep, stay healthy, and be fit.

PERFECT!

As it should be, nobody knows me like my deer-hunter-in-shining-camo. Few, if any, people, see this side of me -- but this is SO me. I lay my head on the table and laughed until I cried when he gave me this card:

So... Why I Go To Church

First, my apologies. I know you all have been waiting with baited breath and popcorn for why in heaven's name I go to church. Took a little longer than I thought to get back here!

Well, we've established why I don't go to church: church isn't the most conducive place for me to worship, I'm not even resting just sitting there, and I don't even get a shopping list written out of the deal. So, why do I go? Mindy touched on where I am going with this: I go to be with my family. No, I don't have one person that lives in my town that is blood relation. But my church is my family. The crazies, the lovelies, the sad and the happy are all my family. Some of those people I have NOTHING in common -- other than the biggest commonality of all: the One we allow to Lord our lives.

Scripture is full of the ways that the Lord never intended us to trudge this ball of dirt alone. Starting with creation, when he made Adam: The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18) Jesus knew he shouldn't do ministry alone, and gathered 12 men around him. Of those 12, he had 3 men he drew closer still. In Acts, the disciples 'partnered up' to go tell the world of Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes when I go to church I am able to be there FOR other people -- a listening ear, encouraging word, hug or smile, or just a "Hey! I've been missing you!" Any of those things that my brothers and sisters may need from their family. Other times I may go because I need those same things FROM my family. Sometimes I go when I just want to be left alone and would really rather not be there -- but a touch or smile from someone else makes me glad I went.

I go to church to BE church: to love and receive, to comfort and connect, "Jesus with skin on". Sometimes I go to church to RECEIVE the church: to be loved and be received, to be comforted and feel connected, to hug a "Jesus with skin on". And THAT, is how I worship when I go to the church building:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Why I Go To Church

in conjunction with this thought

Newsflash: I don't go to church to worship God.

Oh, I DO worship God when I go, but if MY church were going to be all about ME and MY best way to worship God, MY church would only have ME in attendance, and I would be outside somewhere talking with and worshipping God. I have had the privilege/ responsibility of being in on some discussion about 'worship planning' recently. I finally told the group: "Not gonna happen -- you will NEVER plan a worship service that is perfect for me, or anyone else for that matter. I don't worship best in 'the pink room' (what I call our horribly outdated auditorium)"

Besides not lovin' the setting for 'corporate worship', I'm generally busy. I have mentioned a time or twelve that I interpret services for the deaf. That means I'm HEARING what is said/sung/prayed, but I can only process it in the part of my brain that translates it into another language, not the part that absorbs it and lets it transform me or reflect praise to our Father. Even when I'm not 'working' by interpreting, I'm 'feeding' signs to the person who is interpreting. (The very funny part about our deaf ministry is that we are positioned in the auditorium where the speakers shoot the sound over us -- the interpreters can't hear a darn thing where we are!) Again, even if being surrounded by hundreds of people were my 'thing' for worship, I'm a little occupied.

But I do GO to church: I'm one of those 'every-time-the-doors-are-open' kind of people. (I'm also one of those 'last-ones-leaving-because-they're-turning-off-the-lights' but that's a whole other post). Even though I am openly professing to not attend church for the number 1 cited reason for attending, I think it is a crucial part of my faith and "Christian walk" (I really dislike that over-used phrase, but work with me here). I'm also teaching that to my children. My children know where we will be 'every time the doors are open', and they know we don't plan events or things that would interfere with our attending.

So... you GO to church, but you don't go to church to worship God??? HUH? Well, yes, it's true. And, I'm sure begs the question, "Then why DO you go to church?" And I will tell you. Tomorrow.

Until then, why do you go to church?

Good Things Out There

Very long story, but I ended up in praise chapel at ACU on Friday. They announced that the ACU men's basketball team was sponsoring a fundraiser 5k for a former player and his family. This is Lia: Is she just the most beautiful thing ever?Lia was born with a (or several?) heart defect and has required surgery, feeding tubes, and all the things you don't want for your newborn. Go check on Lia here, and feel free to add her and her family to your prayer list. (Her parents both went to ACU and her dad played basketball -- hence the men's team involvement in raising money for her medical expenses).

This is totally going on the recipe blog.

Cathy is a dear friend -- and I hope I grow up to write beautiful words like her.

Y'all? Cuteness AND easy? Check these gift tags out!

September 11 means different things to everyone. September 11 of 2003 was a much more personal day of loss for the Stirman family. For another family, 9-11-01 was huge and life-altering, but in a far different way. Read this beautiful post about grief.

Teachers, this takes almost 10 minutes, but you must see it (and may have already). This little boy will fire you up!

Observation

I think I've mentioned a time or twelve, that I do, indeed, love my iphone ohsoverymuch. Because I love it so much, I would give it up before I would put it in one of these. No iphone should be exposed to such humiliation.

Fitness Friday: To Join or Not?

Melissa asked last week: "ugh...I'm actually thinking about joining a gym (when a special price rate happens next week), but I'm so intimidated by a real gym. Any advice?"

Uh, yeah!

This is a great question because many of us feel that way. The short answer, like most of fitness and exercise, is: "It really depends on you."

Here's why I choose to pay for a gym:
Options: there are free weights, machines, classes I never intend to take (but still CAN if I ever get a wild hair) and classes I attend regularly. I use my gym for: spin (bike) class (RPM), yoga/pilates-type class (BodyFLOW), a weights class (BodyPUMP). That's it on a regular basis. HOWEVER, I use the treadmill when the weather's bad -- like Tuesday/ Wednesday's monsoon, when I'm feeling really ambitious, I use the weight machines, and there are 'experts' (no, not the guy who wants you to THINK he's an expert, the actual paid position-guy) to help me if I need it. All options!

Classes: I LOVE an exercise class and it isn't because I'm a social person by nature -- I'm really not. I'm classified as an 'introvert' and being around many people is just too much for me. But here's what I love about an exercise class: definite beginning time, definite end time. Exercise done. If I don't go to a class, I can potentially procrastinate until it's too late for me to fit it in. I really enjoy my exercise, but, I'm not COMPLETELY insane, I REALLY love when it's over! A class is a great way to have a set exercise time, or an exercise "appointment", if you will.

Peer pressure: This isn't what you're thinking. Many of you think, "I KNOW! The pressure! Just what I don't want in a gym!" I'm talking about being around a group of people that have the same goals in life as you do, including your health (not at the exclusion of everything else). This study showed that obesity can be "contagious" -- friends tend to pack on weight when their friends (and sometimes long-distance siblings) do (please do not think or report that Sarah is saying there is an obesity virus -- please read the study). We could argue that all day long, but let's imagine the reverse to be true: as you spend time around people committed to 'bettering' (is that a word?) their own health, you will begin to notice little changes you can do to become more healthy. Sure, like anything else, it can lead to 'over-indulging' in exercise/ body focus. All things in moderation, but I consider my gym to be (mostly) positive peer pressure.

As far as intimidation -- I guess I would need to know what, specifically, intimidates you.

Do you assume everyone knows what to do on every machine? They don't, and quality gyms will not only give you an orientation, but have someone on the floor at all times (this is where my gym falls short) who can train and/or answer your questions as you go along. Don't be afraid to ask -- it's like everything else: EVERYONE was a novice at one time.

Are you afraid that everyone in there is a 'hard body' and you will be ultra-frumpy in comparison? Well, news flash, I go to a gym. 'Nuff said. It's a little slice of Americana, with folks of all shapes and sizes with all different goals.

I will say this -- most gyms have different 'personalities' throughout the day. My gym (and I would bet most) goes like this: EARLY a.m. -- say, 5-7 or 8 a.m. -- are working folks trying to squeeze in a workout before the day gets nuts. the 'crowd' is in shape, not afraid to sweat, but probably have had a chocolate chip cookie in the last month. There are a few 'hard core', but not the typical gym-goer at this hour. Regular morning hours -- about 8-10 a.m., are mostly moms, a few retirees, and other folks who want to get in a workout and go on with their day. Again -- most are folks committed to exercise, but have a life, as well. The rest of the day -- I can't speak to very much, because those are my hours. But when I've had a chance to go later than 10 a.m. -- lunch hour can get crowded, still with working folks just trying to fight the bulge, but during the school and work day you could have the run of the gym.

After school and work, the show goes on. My gym can get ULTRA crowded at this time: every cardio machine, every spot in a class, all used! Still working people, seem to be LOUD and whacky (de-stressing after the day, I guess). This is also where you will find folks that can spend all day working, then all evening in a gym, i.e., the gym IS their life, social and otherwise. And, as Hess told Judy at one point, "Don't worry about them: they're too busy looking at themselves to notice you." And that is the absolute truth.

Any gym will have a trial period for you. Check it out. See what you like and don't like about it. If you will make it worth your money, absolutely sign up. It's cheaper than therapy, and it's a quality investment in your health!

Phone Pic

In college, Julie and I would go to Gardski's Loft on N. 1st. (It no longer exists, sadly -- you could get some excellent fried food there). Gardski's had a baked potato selection (when they actually HAD potatoes -- perhaps why they no longer exist) on their menu. I don't remember what was on it, but Julie always liked the 'Yankee Doodle Spud' -- but refused to say that in ordering. She would dutifully point to it on the menu and say, "I want one of those."


In May when we went to pick up Stickers, I had been driving in the rain all morning when we stopped at a Schlotszky's for lunch. I was tired and busy squaring away the kids and my money and didn't really pay attention when the guy behind me in line said, "Yeah, I want one of those..." but when the over-the-top perky counter clerk replied, "That's one bacon beefy smokecheesy, right???" I just had to laugh. I don't think they're still on the menu. Probably because no one had the courage to order one!

Where I'm From

There has been a 'meme' (I still don't know how to say that word or what it means, and it bugs me) about 'where I'm from'. I just couldn't do it when it was going around, and I'm not sure I could now. But while I was home (north Louisiana) in August (yes, Louisiana in August is as lovely as it sounds) I took some photos to SHOW you 'Where I'm from'.
My parents live on a cul-de-sac (and, thanks to the Gilmore Girls I know to say "There are several culs-de-sac in that neighborhood" as the plural). You can see the end of my car sticking out -- I never took a pic of my parents house. Not only did I just plain forget, I never asked them if they would mind if I posted it on the www. 'Cause, as you might imagine, the paparazzi for my childhood home ... out of control!

This is the cul-de-sac. I think there were only 2 other houses on this street when we moved in about 32 years ago. So I have wandered through most of these homes in their early construction phases. I have ridden bikes and go-carts millions of miles those last 100 feet of street, as well as learned to drive -- an automatic AND standard transmission vehicle. I've used the path between two of the houses -- pre-privacy fences -- to walk through to a friend's house on the street behind. I don't feel particularly sentimental about this street, but I sure have given it a lot of mileage.
This is the church where my parents still worship. Yes, it's funny looking, and you don't even want to know what kind of quotes they recently got for re-roofing. Now, I think I do feel a little sentimental about this crazy building. This is the only church I knew as 'home' for 18 years. I was baptized in that baptistry, and my friend Christy's 'Uncle Bill' (who we all called Uncle Bill) kept it locked and heated and cooled for years. I attended the nursery and worked in the nursery there. I scared myself and tried to scare others at lock-ins there. I stood in the front of that church and exchanged rings, vows, and one big kiss with my man at that church. I have showed off my babies there, and they have been appropriately 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over. When I think about the church where I grew up, I don't think about this building, the roofline, or the horrible accoustics (yes, the inside of the auditorium does the same thing). I think about the faces of folks -- most of them no longer on this planet -- loving me through my childhood.

This is the Bayou Desiard Country Club. Yes, that is Bayou Desiard, and it is in front of the Country Club. Original, no? I confess that this is a part of where I'm from that I hesitate to share. Partly because I just heard Denver Moore speak, it's hard to think of how he grew up, not far from this spot, as opposed to how I grew up. But, Denver also said, in speaking of his own past experiences and tragedies, "It's what happened then that made me who I am now." And the country club life was very much part of my growing up years. I've been to at least 500 Sunday lunches there (amazing buffet), swam in the pool every summer, rode the cart while my then-fiance, now-husband, gave a round of golf a try (and decided that next time he'll bring his shotgun). I have celebrated some wonderful occasions in that building: my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, my Poppa Max's 90th birthday, and my personal favorite was my wedding reception held in there, almost 16 years ago now.

I have to also tell you a little about the bayou. I realized how remiss I had been in telling about my hometown when someone that I know fairly well asked me (after I was singing the obligatory 'Jambalaya' about having big fun on the bayou) if there was an actual bayou. Uh, yeah there is! I have skied and floated and boated in that bayou. The road where I took this picture was on my way to my school, and I loved to watch the fog crawl up the banks of the bayou on chilly fall mornings. Off to the right you can't see the road that crosses the bayou. When I was in high school a truck drove off of that road into the bayou. The daddy and little girl got out, but Momma couldn't swim. My dad, who witnessed the accident, went in and got her. (Yes, my dad, who said he didn't have a story to tell!!) My senior party was a skiing party on that bayou. Lots of memories for me around the bayou.

This is just a picture from the end of the street where I lived before we moved to the cul-de-sac. Where all those houses are used to be a HUGE cotton field. I always loved the symmetry of the rows when we drove by.

This is just a random Cypress tree, complete with moss hanging all over it. See that little bitty shed at the bottom? Yeah, that's a house... Dear friends in West Texas: this is a tree. Maybe now you will understand why I just can't get on board with the shrubs we have around here.

And that is a partial tour of my hometown in Louisiana. I didn't make it out to my school, but a) It doesn't look anything like it did when I was in school there and b)It would require an entire blog post (or 3) anyway. Thanks for coming along!

A Cleft of the Rock Wordle

by Wordle

Prayer Time

This video made me laugh out loud, but a little sad, also. I know if I'm not careful, I can allow my prayer life to look like this. What we're missing out on...

Who Will Move the Stone?

In the study "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter, Kelly leads us to realize that our God is the God of all gods. She pointed us to what I believe to be one of the most disturbing accounts in the Bible: when God tests Abraham by callling him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. (Read the whole account here, in Genesis 22:1-19)

Abraham dutifully set out to obey God's shocking and seemingly nonsensical command. On the way, Isaac, not missing what was going on around him said, " "The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" (v. 7) Abraham sounds as if he has mighty faith when he replies: "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."(v.8). I have frequently wondered what was going through Abraham's mind when he replied to Isaac. Did he have any idea what would happen -- that God would prevent him from killing Isaac, but a sacrificial ram would be caught in the nearby brush? Did he think that God had already provided the 'lamb' -- and Abraham was walking with him? What was he thinking? Did he really believe that God would provide?

Hebrews 11 tells us that he really did -- he just had a different train of thought than what happened:

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19

This gives me a different image in my head: Abraham knew that God had it. Abraham had no doubt as to God's power. There may have even been a part of Abraham that couldn't WAIT to see God do His thing and raise his son -- yet another reason not to bring along the Mrs.

Less than amused she would be, I might assume.

I have claimed Abraham's reply for many things lately: God will provide the lamb. God will provide.

Not too long ago, Preacher Phil pointed out Mark 16:3, as the women were on the way to the tomb of the crucified Christ. They were still going, but they wondered "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" Most of us know that they showed up and it was already done for them. The same God who allowed his son to die a brutal death to be a blood sacrifice for our thoughtless and/ or willful sins, flicked a finger to move an impossible stone. Phil asked us, "What stone do you need moved in your life?"

It made me think of a loved one who is watching her son struggle with addiction -- and pick it up again and put it down again, over and over. Who will move her stone?

Dear people have legal wranglings and money matters and broken relationships that could potentially wipe out any financial planning for retirement they have done. Who will move that stone?

What about waiting for medical results that seem only logical to be horrible?
Or 'bankruptcy' and 'foreclosure' seem the only option?
The money is gone, but not everyone is paid?
The hurt is too awful to forgive, the sin too monstrous to redeem?

Who will move those stones?

God will provide.

It sounds trite, but sometimes it's the only answer I can depend on.

Good Things Out There

You have to decide if it's a 'good thing out there', but I had some writing that I posted over here earlier.

Cutest. Thing. EVER.



You Wylie folks have to find out how to make a doggy dinner (i.e., leftovers) for your family -- check out the dog-print biscuits!! PRECIOUS!



I subscribe to a few writer's blogs. Fortunately for their blog, some of them were at a writing conference last weekend. In New Orleans. You've met Gustav, right? MUST read part ONE and part TWO. Evacuating for a hurricane has never been funnier.



If you have a little guy or girl with a birthday coming up, head over to the birthday party ideas at Tip Junkie! She has superheroes (w/ or w/o the 'e' before the 's'? w/, right? Neither looks right), princesses, fairies (oh, I need a fairy party -- so cute), more girl party ideas, and even for twins! Since I truly loathe throwing birthday parties (I do, it's a flaw, but I do) and my kids are too old for any of this, I won't be participating. But I did get this pic out of the deal -- it hurts my heart it's so cute...

You just can't look at that and be upset. All is right with the world.

Leigh had some EXCELLENT words to say about a constant struggle for me. Leigh is a precious tennis-coachin'/playin' momma who listens to what the Lord is saying to her. I like to pretend we're BFF's, even though we've never met...! :-)

This guy is obviously secure in his manhood -- and an amazing gymnast:

Fitness Friday: Know Your Numbers

'Kay. Let's do a little basic geometry. You know, if a=b and b=c, then... a=c, right? You remember!

So, if "Ignorance is bliss(happy)" and a commonly used expression is:"Fat and happy." Might it follow that ignorance can make you fat? Well, as a matter of fact, it can! I read a study this week that women consistently underestimate the calories they take in and overestimate how much they move. The result? Well, I don't have to tell you what more calories than you think + less moving than you think equals.

A lot of people prefer to throw the blinders on, keep eating, keep the couch warm, and then wonder why their clothes no longer fit and the mirror isn't being kind to them -- they either don't own a scale or refuse to get on it. And, listen up, there are many good reasons to not get on a scale -- but they all center around allowing the scale to dictate emotions. The scale is a measuring instrument, and shouldn't be any more emotional than backing up to the doorframe to see how tall you are. It's simply a measure. And whether you are willing to look it in the eye or not, it is the truth. Oprah (who, as you probably notice, I don't quote terribly often) says, "Own the number!" You do have to own the number -- because the rest of the world can see it. You don't want to be caught by surprise when you finally decide to face the music.

There are many numbers you should be aware of in your quest for health and fitness. Your weight is only one -- one tiny little measure. Megan has an EXCELLENT example of why the scale shouldn't be the ONLY measure you use.

Some numbers you should be aware of:
your age!
your weight
your height
your blood pressure
cholesterol
required daily calorie intake
heart rate levels to amount to an effective workout for you
time required to exercise at a minimum level

This is just what I can think of off the top of my head. I see you out there, rolling your eyes and shaking your head. "Too much work!" "That's like school!" "Who cares?" "Don't you think that's a little obsessive?"

Do you know what time you have to be at work every day -- even if it differs? Do you know at least one recipe by memory? Do you know a child or spouse's daily schedule? Then you have enough room in your brain to learn these things, and if you won't take care of your own 'house', who will? I don't think I'm giving you any news you don't know about what you SHOULD know, and I sure can't make you care when you don't, but I promise you this: ignoring all of these numbers will NOT make any of them any better, or make you any healthier.

For now, I will let you do a little investigating about all of those numbers. Your homework this week is to find out any of that info you don't know. If you don't know ANY of it -- then only find out half. We'll talk more later about how to find them and what's best.

Know your numbers, stay healthy, and be fit.

Phone Pic

The third day in a row I walked by this open door with the DO NOT OPEN scribbled all over it, well, it just begged to be featured on my blog.

Book Review

One time I asked Judy Thomas, whose literary opinions (and lots of other opinions) I respect greatly, if she could recommend any good Christian fiction for a young reader. Her response was wonderful, "Not really. Most Christian fiction is just so bad." As I thought on it, she was absolutely right. I tried to muddle through a few books, but they were awful. Which is why, when someone encouraged me to read Jan Karon's 'Mitford series', I couldn't imagine it would be any better. Oh, mercy, was I wrong.

If you haven't read ANY of Jan Karon's Mitford books, well, first you need to repent of your ways. Then, you need to get thee to nearest library or bookstore and pick up At Home in Mitford. You will fall in love with the whacky, irritating, and loveable folks in town -- just like your own! Just wonderful writing -- so accurately depicting human nature.

I tore threw all of those books a few summers ago -- and love them so much. So, this summer, when a new book came out, I had to read it!

"Home to Holly Springs" goes a little different direction than the Mitford series: it's about Father Tim, now retired, returning to his hometown of Holly Springs. As he does, we see flashbacks of memories that shaped him and forever impressed him. There is also a fairly big bombshell in the book. As always, excellent writing, characters like people you know: maddening and tender and all in between. Big thumbs up.

One of my favorite parts of the book is toward the end. It goes along with a discussion I have had with my Coffee Group gals (maybe I've even written about it here). You know, people talk about "forgiving and forgetting" as if that is a holy order. Here's the deal: Jesus tells us again and again to FORGIVE, but never once mentions forgetting the sin/ hurt. Because he knows it isn't possible. Pain leaves a scar. I believe that the "70 times 7" that Jesus refers to can mean the 490 times you will have to forgive the SAME sin -- because it may hurt at least that many times.

There's a beautiful dialog in the book that refers to just that concept:

"I'd like you to know," he told Henry, "that I've forgiven him. Again and
again. Once done, of course, back comes the Enemy to persecute and prosecute,
and I must ante up to God and forgive yet again."

"There may be circumstances in this life," said Henry, "that God uses
to keep bringing us back to Him, looking for His grace."

You will not regret reading this book. It is a wonderful vacation for the soul.

Random

I'm still thinking about being an heiress... and lots of other things. I wrote about it here.

We are in the middle of our happy lives over here: soccer this and that, we find out tomorrow which volleyball team we're on, new jobs being done, on and on. Very fun, very busy. PTA board meetings. Oy. I explained the phrase, "One bad apple..." to my family upon my return. One bad apple, indeed.

Okay, you know I am NOT a techno-wizard. I give you my blog button failure as an example (and we'll discuss my contest failure later, thankyouverymuch). But I've gotten some comments about linking, etc.

Kelly wanted to know how to include links -- I think she was talking about within a post. If you are using blogger (which Kelly is), it's SO simple (again, in your countrified voice, mocking the Nutri-System commercial). While you are composing your blog post (be on the 'compose' tab, not 'Edit HTML' tab) type whatever it is you want to make your link. You might write: "I give you my blog button failure as an example." and would like your link to be on 'blog button failure'. I, personally, now open a new tab for the internet and find the blog post or website or yada yada I want to link to. I copy the URL address box on that tab, then go back to my blog post. Highlight the phrase: 'blog button failure', then click on the chain (link) on the green dot (that may be a globe?) and this dialog box will pop up (it says 'hyperlink information'):

Paste the URL into that box and tell it 'ok'! Voila! You are linked! (Important: either delete the current 'http://' or paste over it, but if you've copied the original URL, you will need to remove the one that shows up there).

Tammy mentioned needing to learn how to link to specific blog posts. You need to link to the 'permalink'. The best explanation of finding that is here.

If Kelly was curious about linking within comments, I can do that, but don't currently have the energy to go into explaining it. I will tell you that this website also has an explanation of that: but it is wrong! So, can't really recommend that.

So, just a little blogging info. Not much to see around here. Moving along...

Good Things Out There

This is an incredible story about God relentlessly seeking His children. Check out the conversion story of the author of "Basic Instinct" (thanks for the link, Mike).

Y'all, this is the most precious idea for birthdays!! The chair backs AND pillowcases -- how simple and how special!

You know by now that my deer-hunter-in-shining-camo has a blog that tends to get just a teency bit political (ahem). And, of course, he had some political observations about this brief story, but you MUST hear the story. Another amazing story of someone doing what they could quietly and without notice...

Found ANOTHER awesome site for crafts and organization.

Showed this video in church today. It had a point, too -- but it's just funny no matter what:

Fitness Friday: Pumping Iron

Fitness Friday returns today with a little bit of preaching -- but mostly at myself. I know I need to, I know I should, but I HATE doing resistance exercises. (Muscle work: lifting weights, calisthenics, exercise bands, etc.) And, basically, if you're old enough to read this, you should be doing them, too! Women get the most press about it, because resistance exercises not only strengthen muscles but can build bone density as well. This is obviously important for any female beyond puberty, but it's important for men, as well. All of us are aging!

Muscles are use-it-or-lose-it things. One study found that 2/3 of women 75 years and older can't lift a 10 pound bag of groceries. I don't want to be that woman! Studies are also finding that muscle weakness isn't a direct function of aging -- it's a direct function of inactivity. Later in life we are no longer lifting toddlers, children, dogs, and massive amounts of groceries. So we need to be lifting some weights!

The good news about lifting weights is that it doesn't require nearly the amount of time that cardio exercise does to reap benefits. In 15 minutes you can get a full-body workout that is plenty for building muscle mass. And, no, in 15 minutes, 3 times a week, you will NOT look like Hillary Swank in "Million Dollar Baby" -- and not come anywhere close to Arnold Schwarzenegger. But every year that you celebrate a birthday on this planet you are losing muscle mass unless you are actively fighting to retain it. So, I'm SAYING 'build muscle mass' but you should be hearing 'just barely hanging on to what you have'.

Besides strengthening bones, muscle is good for boosting metabolism. And as we age, we all need that, right? Yes, we do! Because as muscle mass decreases (which it will) your metabolism slows down. Then you have a spare tire you didn't ask for, even without increasing your caloric intake!

Okay, okay, you're saying! So I need to keep up my muscles! What do I do? It is SO easy (at my house, we always quote the Nutri System commercial in our thickest southern accent: "It's so simple!"). If you have nothing and no money, you can do:

• push ups
  
• wall sits
  
• crunches for abs
  
• tricep dips (though you do have to have a chair for this)
  

All of those can be done and modified -- remember that ANYTHING is better than nothing. But if you aren't 'feelin' the burn' (as in, difficult to complete 15) then you need to move on to either more or add weights to it. Then, you can VERY inexpensively invest in some small equipment if you choose. It's easy to find and inexpensive. You can get:

• exercise bands




• exercise ball




• hand weights

Most of these things should come with instructions. If not, I will post some specifics later.

Also, the following sites have some great info:

Exercise ball workouts

Exercises to combat osteoporosis

Interesting info

Pump some iron, stay healthy, and be fit!

Places You Should Go Today

First, I have a recap of my weekend in San Antonio over at the Coffee Group blog. If you haven't checked that out in a few days, Denise and Tammy have also posted there. Donna posted on her own blog.

Also, I LOVE it when the blog community becomes true community. Stephanie, of NieNie Day, was in a plane crash with her husband and his flight instructor. The flight instructor has since passed away, and Stephanie and Christian have a LONG road of recovery ahead of them due to extensive burns. (THIS is a BEAUTIFUL post by Stephanie's sister).

So, Design Mom decided a fund-raising auction was in order. And, holy cow, we bloggers don't do anything half-way. If there is anything on the planet you would like, I think you can put a bid on it today! Check out the list!

And, of course, lift a prayer or thirty for all involved. If you are so inclined, click below to help with funds:

Day 4 of school -- I've already got a sick kid! So I'm home cruising blog sites today...

Book Review

Recently read two books. Loved one, made it through the other. First, LOVED:

From Publisher's Weekly: "Based on the real-life exploits of the author's great-grandmother, this fictionalized diary vividly details one woman's struggles with life and love in frontier Arizona at the end of the last century.(1800's --S.S.)" As I've mentioned, I LOVE to hear people's stories. Even though this was fictionalized, it was still a fascinating look at life in the late 1800's. We think of the conveniences, but she also talked about 'social hierarchy' (for lack of a better phrase): men, women, soldiers, indians, ranchers, Mexicans, etc. all had their place in society and would do well to remember their place. Very interesting, I highly recommend it.

And not-so-much loved:

In short, this author is SO a Janet Evanovich wanna-be, with less fun writing, and FAR more explicit s*xual language. Thumbs down.

And now... my son is my brother!!

Can it get any better than this??? As many of you saw, a few weeks ago my daughter claimed Christ as her savior and was baptized. The REALLY cool/freaky/ God-thing about it: while she was at camp at ACU, Riley was here with us. On the way home from Wednesday night church, Riley announced: "I really want to talk about getting baptized."

whispery-secret: I'm sure some super-spiritual people out there will tell you how the light shone from heaven, and their conversation regarding their children's baptism came naturally and was totally spirit-filled. Let me tell you this: few things in parenting have made me feel so completely inept, and if the Spirit was telling me what to say or how to react, this is how it sounded inside my head: (Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh). Big vacuum-o-nothin'.

I told him we could do some talking/ studying (but first I had to talk to the Lord and do some studying myself, evidently). It was less than an hour later that we got the text message from his sister that said that she HAD to be baptized. I was a little freaked out. And at peace at the same time. God was AFTER my children -- and I couldn't have been any happier.

It was yet another situation that highlighted my children's individual personalities: Ashley wanted NO. ONE. THERE!!! And Riley wanted to be at 'big church' with all of his friends, families, and plenty of total strangers as witnesses. Fine by me.

Grandparents were able to come in and witness the wonderful event. All of the same "high" that I got with sister -- all the same again! Very exciting and just so, so grateful that I have a God that will hunt down and claim my children, when I am just so ... me as a parent. If anything on the planet is evidence of God's grace, faithful children are it. Humbled and grateful and full-to-the-brim with joy am I.

Here is Troy introducing Riley to our church family.

Y'all, this precious man that prayed over us -- I can't say enough about (and not just because you read my blog, Bill). He is one of our shepherds, and he and his wife both have the most beautiful spirit. And, he's just funny -- which is always a bonus in my book.This picture makes me cry -- well, they all do, and partly because I seem to have way-layed my camera with a crowbar-type object while in San Antonio, and I do believe it is on borrowed time. I digress. This picture makes me cry because it is what church is to me: young, old, and in between, all family, all loving, all looking toward heaven, and rejoicing to welcome one more to go with us. The two young men in front are two of Riley's dear friends. In 7 years we'll see some embarassing pictures of them on Senior Sunday. Until then, I pray they may model Christ to each other, and sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.

All in all, my "What I did during summer vacation" was to welcome my children into the family of Christ. I think I may take a few weeks off as a mother! :-)

Catching Up!

Y'all!! I have SO much to blog about, and nary the time or energy to sit here and blog! So much still going on.

Last week was the heading-to-school marathon of haircuts, orthodontists, eye doctors, supply shopping, one last summer basketball game, a pre-season soccer meeting, equipment pick-up for school athletics, meet the teacher, and capping it off with me going to San Antonio for this.

Indeed.

Hearts were touched, God is big, and my boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Testify!

I'll 'splain more later. Oh, until then... GET WRITING, GIRLS! I simply RE-fuse for my first ever in my whole life blog contest to be a miserable failure. I also seem to have won something from Susan. But it requires actual work to talk about it, so it's a secret for now! Also, due to traveling, Fitness Friday was inexplicably completely forgotten overlooked. Stay tuned for more, more, more bloggity goodness this next week. I feel a rejuvenated brain coming on!

What's Your Story?

I think it's time for a contest! Don't you? It's hot, summer is screeching to an end (in schedule only, not temperature), and my house is falling down around my ears. What says contest more than that?

I have mentioned in several of my book reviews that I love to hear people's stories. I am fascinated by how people end up where they do, or what obstacles they have overcome in their life, or even just a weird tradition the family has. It makes me a captive audience, but I think it also causes me to appear to be the nosiest person on the planet.

Here's the lowdown: I want your story! Any story will do -- but it has to be yours or your family's story. I would PREFER it to be new-to-us-all, but that isn't a requirement -- it can be a previously-run-on-your-blog story. My goal is to simply get all of us in 'storytelling' mode about ourselves.

Here's how you play:

• Post your story on your own blog.
• Include this code at the top of your post (for the button):

• Sign the 'Mr. Linky' below, linking to the permalink of your storytelling post, NOT the front page of your blog. (Instructions on how to do that are here).
• Post your story anytime between today (August 14) and August 31.
• A winner will be chosen at random -- this is not a writing-skills contest, simply a get-it-down contest! -- on Sept. 1. Prize info posted soon.
• If you don't have a blog, you may email me your entry. If you also give your permission, I will post it on my blog (not a requirement).

(edited: currently having trouble getting the code for the button -- can only show the button. Stay tuned, get writing!)

Sharpen your pencils and get writing! Can't wait to hear your stories!

Mr. Linky:

Question...

First, don't forget to be writing your story!! Vann had a great post about story! No, it doesn't have to be THE story -- just a story. Yes, Roxanne, I know that story, but I would love for you to share it with the internets, though I know your brain may be a little weary these days.

Is anyone else having trouble commenting? I guess it would be tough to leave me a comment to tell me... hee, hee...

Y'all, I have SO much to tell you here! More family news, I long to share with you my trip to my hometown and show you where I grew up, and other big doin's. But we are SO BUSY soaking up the last precious days of summer, as well as squeezing in haircuts, eye doctors, orthodontists, shopping, sleepovers, and much, much more that I don't have much time to tell you much now. Oh, but I will.

But first: This post made me think of my favorite topic of parents.

What is the most insane statement you have made (or heard from your child) as a parent?

(If you aren't a parent yet, really have some fun and tell me the most insane thing you remember your parents saying -- probably screaming). My current favorite comes from a friend that, at one time, read my blog -- no idea if she still does. She told her child: "Don't lick your feet at the table." I so love that. I would have to think on mine -- there are just so darn many! Let me have them!

Good Things Out There

My middle schooler doesn't have a locker, but if she did, these would be some great organizing tips and ideas for a locker.

What a PRECIOUS baby shower idea.

This is by someone who looks at the world very similarly to me.

Are you catching that I am LOVING this blog? (great organizational and family tips in those links!)

Thanks to Bob for pointing me to this amazing project! And way-to-go to former roomie Julie on this beautiful work!

Who says this isn't an educational blog? Play this for your kids a few times -- they'll be the star of back-to-school week!

Observation

Sitemeter tells me it's time for another spelling lesson: I know it sounds like it's cleshay, but it's not. It is spelled: cliche. It's one of them furun werdz.

Fitness Friday: Water for the Thirsty

Hey, guess what? It's still hot!! I'm going to count my water-drinking lecture as Fitness Friday, but it's just part of life -- and should be. If you ARE drinking your water, yay! for you. If you aren't -- it's just time. Yes, initially you have to MAKE yourself drink water. And if you haven't been drinking water, you will be SO thirsty when you start drinking water. If you haven't been a water drinker, your body has learned to basically shut down its thirst mechanism. When you first start drinking water your body will be so happy to finally get some it wants more and more and more! That will slow down, in time -- but you will remain thirsty when you need water.

Why do we need water? Warning – moderate talk of digestion processes ahead. It won’t be any worse than taking a kid to the pediatrician and discussing diapers, etc., but if that grosses you out, just go drink water.

1. Water helps the body get rid of waste. I know, a basic “duh” statement. Let’s think about if weight-loss is your goal. Imagine someone you know who has lost massive amounts of weight. Did they complain about how many fat cells they were sweeping up and/ or vacuuming up in a given day? Of course not! How does the body get rid of waste? All-righty then. Let’s certainly help THAT process out. Water flushes the system, keeping things that we don’t need in our body moving along.

2. Water aids in digestion. This goes along with #1, obviously. Your digestive system is dependent on water to keep it moving along. Imagine if you crammed everything that you ate in a given day down your disposal and didn’t run the water. You would have a serious plumbing problem on your hands. The same can be said for your body! If your digestive system doesn’t have the water it needs, it is forced to do its job itself by cramping up the muscles of the digestive system to move the food along. That’s grief no one needs! Drink water! For this reason, your system also needs mucho fiber, but that’s another day.

3. Cells in your body need water to repair themselves. The Lord made our body such a perfect machine that it can repair itself! Cells need to repair themselves after exercise, as well as any injury you may have. Water speeds up that process. Partly by getting rid of any waste in your system, but also by keeping the cells at an optimum level of fluid.

There are many other, debatable reasons for drinking water. I mentioned last week that some research shows that it increases your metabolism (especially ice water -- since your body has to burn calories to get the water to body temperature), another disputed study shows that it decreases your hunger, and some people seem to think that it gets rid of fine lines in the skin.

I have mentioned here that many of us are walking around dehydrated and don't even know it. Early symptoms of dehydration are dry lips and thirst. If you live in a dry climate, like I do, you may just think that dry lips are part of the lifestyle, but they don't have to be. Beyond those two symptoms, headache and stomach cramps and/ or nausea or diarrhea are all symptoms of dehydration. Yes, those are all listed as possible side-effects on any medication produced, as well as the symptoms for 19 other maladies -- but if you're drinking your water, you can rule out dehydration!

How much water do we REALLY need? In short, like exercise, ANYTHING is better than nothing. I have learned my body and how active I am and how thirsty I feel the next morning. I need to drink between 2 and 3 liters/ day to feel my best. There is TREMENDOUS debate about amounts: we need less than 64 oz., we need more than 64 oz., we need exactly 64 oz.

It's going to be different for everyone. I live in a dryer climate than the one I grew up in. I work out more frequently than some people (losing water through sweat). I am smaller than some people and larger than others. I don't think there is a 'one size fits all' water amount -- BUT I do think that 64 oz. is a good place to start, letting your body be your guide.

Say it with me now: ANYTHING is better than nothing!

Drink your water, stay healthy and be fit!

Inconvenienced

Yesterday I read this powerful post on our way back from Louisiana. I was greatly impressed/ moved by Lysa's prayer:

"Forgive me for always praying, God bless me. Give me the courage to sometimes pray, God inconvenience me... so that I might constantly be reminded to draw near to you. Interrupt me Lord. Shake things up in me Lord. Reveal what's in me that's not of you, Lord. Oh Lord, more than anything, I want more of You."

That is exactly where I was at the moment. I do ask God to do for me SO often. So, feeling led by the Spirit, I spoke to God frequently on my trip, "Yes, Lord, inconvenience me." (not wanting a blow-out going 74 mph to be the inconvenience, I did plead that he keep my family safe in my inconveniencing).

So we returned home to a broken refrigerator. Today, I learned that my make-up kit evidently evaporated with the dead animal odor, because it is 100% GONE. Best I can figure, it got propped on some part of the car and is strewn on I-20 at this point. Hey, guess what? I am INCONVENIENCED. For the record, Donna, I did NOT pray anyone else to be inconvenienced -- or hot. And, guess what else? I failed. The Lord definitely revealed in me what isn't of Him. Sadly, I think I need more opportunities to be inconvenienced and see God in it. This time, Troy, I will ask the Lord that you not be quite so involved in the 'inconveniencing'.

But that is the beauty and majesty of my Lord. Every day, every moment is a do-over. He is not of the irritating things of this world: the rotting food, the gum on my shoe, the 'face-paint' that no longer exists. Better than that, He totally gets that I will fail -- He knows those things are important/ annoying to me. And He will give me many more opportunities to seek Him in the little things, never tapping his foot at me when I take way too long to catch on. No wonder I'm crazy about Him.

Monday, Monday

Oh, my. What a day. Just checking in. I have many, many blogs pinging around my cranium, but this simple 'Ola!' will have to suffice. We have been in Louisiana visiting my family for a few days. We left this morning at 8:30 a.m. in the pouring rain. Y'all, it was GREAT to go to bed listening to it rain last night. But to wake up to it and try to drive in it? Not so much. And Troy didn't feel well. Coming home always seems to take longer than going, and it was simply an eternal trip. We left early trying to get home for Ashley's 6:30 basketball game.

We rolled into the driveway at 5:15. Perfect -- 30 minutes to start a load of laundry, unpack, and get Ashley to the gym for the game. I had given the kids a list of things to start working on when we got home. As Troy and I are unpacking the car, Riley walks through the garage: "Ew!!! There is some AWFUL smell in here!" Ashley heads into the garage, "Oh, MAN! Something must have died in here." Troy follows into the garage. He doesn't exclaim, but it is quite evident that he affirms that there is, indeed, a funk. I, being a not-too-slow learner, marched myself to the front door and rang the doorbell waiting for someone who had already gone through the green cloud-o-funk to open the door so that I could get in. Troy finally figured it out -- and it was quite obvious that the funk wasn't contained to the garage but was concentrated there -- that our outside refrigerator/freezer quit working. In August. In Texas. While we were gone. Need I say more? Oh, yes, I should say more: deer meat. whole chickens. Are you getting the imagery? More importantly, are you imagining the odor?

My precious Troy, who never could identify a dirty diaper, even on his lap, knew my olfactory would never allow me that clean up. I offered to help, but that wonderful man did battle with the 'fridge alone. I don't know all of the details, and he says he hopes he can sleep tonight for some of the horrible images in his brain. Some things are better left to bear alone.

I left Troy hosing out the 'fridge while I got Ashley to the game. He showed up not too much later, freshly showered. Ashley had a wonderful game, and I got to sit in the stands listening to the other team's parents complaining that there was no way she was in the 11/12 age group. (We love that). The game was awesome, we stopped by Subway on the way home. Where I stepped in gum. At least today is over.

Good Things Out There

These look like a fun rainy day (or hotter than that 'lake-o-fire' we're all trying to avoid day) activity.

Love Trina's new favorite book.

Nathaniel kindly led me here. Um, yeah... It did help me cutify my blog, though...! I haven't scouted it out, but I wish this website (or you) would tell me why my 'scheduled blog posts' never post -- just go straight from 'scheduled' to a 'draft'. What up?

This is a precious bittersweet story, mixed in with a prayer request.

Are we LOVING the Olympics??? I am, like most of you, SOOOOO excited for them. Here are some awesome ideas to get everyone involved!

This video has made the rounds quite a while ago -- but it totally cracks us up at my house. Riley is an excellent impressionist, and he loves to be this little guy.

Observation

It always makes me laugh just a little bit when people leave their cars running while they unload all the recycling from their car.

Fitness Friday: Workouts

It is hot. It is approximately the same temperature as the surface of the sun-type hot. Amazingly hot. And besides that? It's just so hot!

Now, don't you feel like jumping up and doing a workout? No, me either. I want to be floating in a pool, or lying under a fan eating an ice cream sandwich. I sweat walking to get the newspaper, I don't want to sweat any more! Reality is, though, that for our hearts, bodies, and minds (y'all don't EVEN want to be around me on day 3 without a workout!) we really must be doing a little bit of moving. Truly, though, depending on where you live, it can currently be dangerously hot outside. So what's a healthy body to do?

Let's think of some alternatives to your basic, outdoor sweat-fest walking or running that you might think of as exercise. Obviously, this won't be a comprehensive list. Please leave a comment and tell me your favorite hot-weather exercise to do.

Workout videos: your library may have a fairly large selection for you to check out for free. If you're willing to invest, Collage Video is my all-time favorite place to go for exercise videos.

Swimming: the perfect exercise for a sweltering hot day! Swimming is EXCELLENT exercise as it puts no pressure on joints. However, studies have shown that your body resists losing its 'insulation' when it is consistently in cool water, so it isn't a great exercise if weight loss is your goal. If simply moving is your goal, swimming is a fabulous whole-body workout.

My book! I've mentioned that I'm doing this book:

It is a wonderful cardio AND strength-training workout, it can ACTUALLY be done in 30 minutes, and my heart-rate monitor tells me it's a good workout. I love it. That is all (I THINK our library has it -- I know we have his other book, which is also good, but the workout isn't as fast).

Mall walking: I don't really mean strolling in the afternoon (ice cream in hand) to do some window shopping. I mean getting there in the morning (our mall opens at 7, I think, before the stores) and doing an actual power-walk. Let me be perfectly clear on this: I LOATHE mall walking with a flaming passion of a thousand white-hot suns, and our mall has some awful ODOR in one corner (memo to mall management: unless you plan to steam-clean EVERY. NIGHT. there is no reason on the planet for a mall to have carpeting). However, I have been known to mall walk in a pinch. You can also brainstorm for any other sprawling buildings you may have access to: a coliseum, a church building, a school building. Even without air-conditioning, being in the shade of indoors would be better than the heat of outside.

There are so many others: exercise equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, etc. Megan is doing kick-boxing at LA Fitness, Katie got a Wii Fit, you could try Curves, a gym, an indoor sport you enjoy. Just get moving.

Because what is my mantra? "Anything is better than nothing." HOWEVER -- if you are already moving a bit, it's time to shake things up. This next week, up your exercise, either by intensity or time, by 10% in one of your workouts. Push yourself -- you may be amazed at what you are capable of doing. Don't get in a rut, and get moving!

Until next Friday, be fit!

Phone Pic

Inside:

Outside:
Y'all, I am just not in the mood.

Book Review: Twelve Mighty Orphans

I mentioned this book being mentioned from the pulpit one Sunday. "More with fewer" is what it reminded us of.

From the Publisher's Weekly Review at amazon.com:

Dent, who told the story of Bear Bryant's brutal preseason training of the 1954 Aggies in The Junction Boys, turns to the incredible story of Rusty Russell and his undersized team of orphans who dominated the gridiron of Texas high school football for the better part of the 1930s. True underdogs, most boys from the Masonic Home never held a real football; they used two socks stuffed together as footballs and, when Russell first took over, used Clabber Girl baking cans during practice. But the lean, scrappy Mighty Mites—as they were later dubbed—achieved an 8-2 record their first season of play in Class B. A few years later, in 1932, they moved up to Class A, the big leagues of high school football at the time. There, the Mites would face teams that outweighed them by as much as 50 pounds per man and fielded 47 players to their 12, and the orphans would win.

I didn't copy all of the review, because it was less-than-charitable about the writing. I have decided that I LOVE to hear other people's story, and this book is full of stories about people. People facing difficult-to-impossible choices regarding their own children, administrator's doing what they can during the depression to care for the orphans entrusted to them, and children growing up what they considered to be 'normally' in conditions that would make you weep. All-in-all, I give it a thumbs up.

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AND... regarding people's story: I have decided that I like to hear other people's story so much, we're going to have a little storytelling over here. I will outline details (that include a suh-weet give-away! or... I'm sure it WILL be when I figure it out...) next Wednesday, August 13. Until then, be thinking about a family story: one that always gets told when the family gathers 'round, or one that has/had a profound impact on the way you were raised or on your beliefs as you grew up. It can be hilarious or tragic, silly or thought-provoking. Any ol' story (Roxanne, have you ever told about Hal being Shazam? Now's the time...) will do. Put your thinking cap on, and I'll let you know how and when to tell it next week.

Check Me Out!

I KNOW! How cute am I? And.. with the help of some free downloads AND tutorials, I did it all by myself. Which is why, yesterday if you were looking at my blog in Internet Explorer, you noticed a tiny little teal line through my blog title and if you could get the dust mites on your screen to read it to you, it was the subtitle of my blog :

“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.
And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's
grace.” — Jerry Bridges

(and, when I looked at my blog on my iphone, it was WAY bigger than 'little bitty'). I finally asked someone that knows plenty, he gave me several hints/ tips that I was too tired to examine, then in the middle of the night I had to literally smack myself on the head because it occurred to me how easy it was to fix. I do have quite a knack for overthinking/ overcomplicating pretty much everything: blog templates included!

I do know what a new blog template is going for these days, since Jen just did such a smokin' job on Coffee Group's blog. So I saved myself a few bucks -- minus the ibuprofen for the headache I gave myself -- and voila! I am, in Stephanie's words: cutified. And I am indeed. Enjoy!

I went to the big Wal-Marts yesterday. Bless. I can totally relate:

Life 101

I still remember sliding in the yellow plastic booth at The Pickle Barrel -- a local deli --when it was across the street from the church building. We placed our order and after the waitress told us it would be right out, my dad replied, "Thank you, Karen." Considering my father knows a large portion of Ouachita Parish, I asked, "How do you know her?" "I don't," he replied, "I read her nametag, but I know the sweetest sound in any language is the sound of your own name." The smile Karen produced upon being called by name was a fairly good indicator that he was right.

What a small thing -- to notice a name tag and speak as if the person wearing it is, in fact, a person. But what a huge thing to the person. Maybe we need name tags at the gym. It occurred to me last week -- the impetus for this blog in fact -- that in the two-three years I have been attending the same early morning exercise class at my gym, the instructor has never bothered to learn my name. I'm not bitter. Really, I'm not. :-) But of the 6-8 of us that have been attending faithfully in that time, I'm fairly sure I am the only one that the instructor doesn't call by name, either in greeting or farewell. "Great work, Linda!" "Glad you were here, Mike." "See you next time, Sharon." I get bupkus.

Now, since I'm not 14, I really truly have no issues about this. However, in the winters, when my bed is really warm, and the floor is really not, it's just easier to stay in bed when I know no one will be calling my name or missing me there.

Vann recently mentioned that a waitress where he was dining mentioned, "I'm surprised you remembered my name." It's such a little thing, but so precious.

Not long ago Phil spoke of the story of the man consumed by an evil spirit that Jesus healed. (Mark 5:1-20) Phil pointed out that Jesus first asked, "What is your name?" of a man completely given over to evil. With those words, Jesus reminded us that even people completely consumed by evil still have a name, still have value. And how simple is that sentence to inquire, "What is your name?"

Look for opportunities to use the name of someone who may not expect that you know it. And, if you don't know it, be like Jesus, and simply ask, "What is your name?" Then use it.

Good Things Out There

Without a doubt, this still gets my vote for the best thing out there EVER!! :-)

You know, I have had some crazy things happen to me at Wal-mart, and I really don't even shop there -- maybe 6 times a year. But I think Bob had an experience that takes the cake...

Are you keeping up with the Coffee Group? We're posting on the blog!

Trina has some excellent thoughts from a book she read recently. She's like me: her reading genre is in the 'juvenile' section. Trina tells me the good ones to read.

Another hilarious illustrative video from my congregation.

Observation

Earlier this week in my bicycle class at the gym, my bicycle made a squeaking noise exactly like Stickers' exercise wheel. The correlation was not lost on me.