Positive.happy.good.

I've been busy trying to be positive, make others happy & do good.  This doesn't come real natural like. 

I've also started exercising... Yikes.  This is hard.  But thinking of being a fat mom sitting on the sidelines & missing out on playing the game of life with my kids is lots harder.

Harder than the exercise is watching what I eat.  Gosh you'd think I'm a baby/toddler the way I stick everything in my mouth.  A bite of soup while I'm stirring, a lick of something before throwing the spoon in the sink, it is ridiculous!

Ridiculous, but not impossible to change.  I know I'm motivated now & pray I'll stick with it. 

I mean how cool would it be, to be the hot wife at the company Christmas party someday.  ;)

I know, I know, beauty is fleeting, charm is deceptive...

Really I just want to get over whatever is making me dizzy & tired all the time & causing me to feel run down, so I'm fighting back.

I'm quite the fighter, if I do say so myself.  I'm down 3 pounds in 5 days, that's awesome... Yes, as my husband would remind me he can lose 3 lbs in the bathroom (gross) but I just don't have that, umm...luck.  uh huh, so this is practically monumental. 
Happy Monday people. :)

Be fully where?

I have this excellent quote in my kitchen:
"Wherever you are be fully there"
I posted it there as a reminder to myself. 
A reminder to:
Put down my smart phone.
Quit checking Facebook.
Put away the laptop.
& focus on these moments that go by all too quickly.
I especially want to focus at church and not worry about each wiggle the kids make or what people think of what I'm wearing.
Well I didn't realize it but I was lost again.  It hit me after the kids were in bed & I was working on the dishes.  My husband came in and asked "Did you think church was lame tonight?"
Sorry for the raw honesty.  We do love our church, pastors & church family.  Our church is rarely ever actually lame.
Okay, so I didn't know how to answer because the whole service I was thinking of a mug shot I saw online earlier that day.  I was  wondering if it was one of the gentleman at church.  I kept thinking of how I could quietly grab my phone & pull up Facebook.  I knew I couldn't do it, but it didn't stop me from thinking about it.
Once we got home I checked it out & it wasn't him.  But really it didn't matter anyway.  We are all sinners, saved by Gods grace.  Shame on me for passing judgment.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  -Ephesians 2:8

1000 Gifts

I am slowly but surely reading the book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp.

  I won a copy at a MOPS meeting, but already had it on my Kindle.  I knew I wanted so badly to share the book with my mom.  I gave the book to her for her birthday in December.  She's learning from it and enjoying it, as am I.

This book is teaching me to be thankful.  It doesn't come naturally to me, so this is a deep blessing.

I've begun to count my graces, and reached somewhere over 100.  The number isn't important to me, it's the feeling as my pen hits the paper and I pour out thankfulness.  Yes, pen and paper.  I wanted to type them up, or use my phone to record them.  But then it seemed less genuine to me.  So I am documenting my thoughts "old school", you could call it.

I read about this Joy Dare from another wonderful blogger/friend.  I hope you'll visit the links and look further into this, it's a wonderful thing.  The Joy Dare has 31 ideas to be thankful for in January, that you can print out for your fridge.  I know it's already the 17th, but I just printed it out and will get started on it quickly. 

I'll occasionally share my blessings with you and hope you'll find encouragement from them.

Bathroom Update- 1 Year Later

Almost exactly a year ago I posted about how freaked out I am by toxins.  Since then I DID actually pull out the lotions that had parabens listed in the ingredients, or had a list of ingredients longer than I cared to read.

I tried making my own deodorant (& toothpaste), which worked better than the store bought.  That is, until it got too cold and hard (hoping it will work again in the summer, I have hyperhidrosis and am a super sweater, in case you were curious- Woah- can you say run-on!).

I've gotten a little more relaxed since Christmas and started using a hand lotion that I don't even know where it came from.  I read that it had parabens but I figured I'd just use a little, and it smelled SO good!

Well, I read an article today that has again sparked my interest to remove toxins, so the lotion will be ditched.

You can read about the article here, it talks about parabens and breast cancer.  It's not that they may be causing it or even directly linked, but I do feel that women as a whole are using WAY too many products that are unhealthy and our bodies know it.

By the way, if all of you women would stop using so many products to make yourselves look good, then I could stop using so many and it would really level out the playing field.  Just sayin'.

Also- I stopped using my very favorite moisturizer and swapped it for olive oil after a MOPS meeting where I had everyone making a sugar scrub.  Some gals asked if it was okay to use on your face, and I said I wouldn't, because it's oil.  Then a few other said that it was actually good to use just olive oil on your face.  I looked into it, and they were right!  My skin loooooves the change.  Although winter winds have been tough, the olive oil is still all I will be putting on my pretty little face.

Think to yourself- What can I do to make a difference for me/my family?  Then do it!

Not a typical January day

It is a warm and beautiful January day, thanksgiving to God flows abundantly.

Breakfast brought a dispute between siblings over toast & tears flowed.  Forgiveness from the tired girl to her brother didn't come quick, but did come.  My trying to be helpful, wasn't helpful at all & she made sure I knew it.  I felt saddened at her reactions, but forgave anyway & we all hugged each other before the bus came to swoop her up for school. 

The smallest boy here is playing in the sandbox with his toes sifting the sand.  He's wearing just sweats to stay warm.  The sun provideds the rest.

Toy cars are scattered around the floor, signs of my son playing while I rested my tired body this morning.

I have my book in hand, and I'm heading out the door to sit next to him.  I will enjoy the beautiful sunshine before the cold comes tomorrow.

A stick laying in the yard & visit from the neighbor dog just added to the excitement.

A handy neighbor man stops down at my request to look at a door.  Problem is fixed for now with his intelligent thinking.

The man of the house is working a job he loves.  I miss him, but happily wait, cleaning the home for his return.

Supper is in the crock pot, & a movie is reserved for us to watch together tonight.  Time together with him is never wasted time.

This is not a typical January day, but this is a lovely day.