Day 9

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Self-control is hard. We don’t like to deny ourselves. We don’t think it’s necessary. We make excuses and declare, “That’s nice for someone else, but I could never give up ____________!” (fill in the blank: soda, sugar, cupcakes, smoking …)

For me, I tell myself that I could never give up pizza, chips and queso, lattes, chocolate, etc, etc, etc...All of the things that I feel like I must have, and why should I deny myself?

"If we’re relying on ourselves, that excuse may be true. But there’s another level to self-control that too few of us find. In Matthew 19:23–24, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven … it’s easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

In other words, Jesus was saying that it’s hard for people who are satisfied with the things of this world to deny themselves. It’s hard for someone who is rich with excess to deny herself and be humble enough to admit, “I must give this up.” When the disciples heard this teaching, they were confused until Jesus clarified; “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (verse 26).

Think of it this way, with man it is impossible to deny ourselves  that buttery popcorn at the movies, ice cream sundae for dessert or that sugar coated cereal to start our day. But with GOD all things are this possible!

Are you leaning on yourself or on God for your self-control?

Beautiful Birthday

BYesterday was my 23rd birthday. Weird as it may sound, when I was young, I used to dream of being 23. At times, I even imagined being 23. Don't ask me why, it always just seemed like a magical age. So here it is, the age I have been waiting my whole life for. Here's too hoping it's as good as my child-heart thought it would be.

I had a wonderful birthday. The weather was more beautiful than any other year I can remember on February 16th. On many years there has been lots of snow and no school, but yesterday the weather was perfect. Riley and I took a long walk in the morning. Then my mom picked me up and we did some bargain shopping at Kohls. They were having a huge sale and she had 30% off. I got a dress for the Bachelorette party next weekend, some super cute teacher clothes, earrings, headbands, sunglasses, and some Eric Carl books. We had lunch with my brother at Qdoba. Then Mom and I got Riley and went for a second walk down by the river.  In the evening, I spent time with Josh. He got me a new Bible, because mine was beginning to fall apart. It is an NLT Woman's Study Bible and it has my name engraved on the front. I love it! For dinner, we met 11 of my wonderful friends at Hacienda. Oh, and Hank and Julie made a birthday sign for the stairs with paper plates. They are the best!

Today, I got a great late birthday present. I was offered an eight week maternity leave at Howard Roosa Elementary School. I AM VERY EXCITED!

Made to Crave will come later. Have a nice evening!

Thought for Today

Riley and I took a little over a two mile walk today to walk off the donuts and latte. :) It was very nice outside. Riley might not have appreciated the nice weather though, because he is still on guard, still not used to the city. Anyway we passed an elderly man who was waiting for the bus. He chatted a minute and then I told him to have a good day. He said, "Everyday that I am alive is another good day." I'm glad I met him,  because it has got me asking myself if I think of each day that way. Maybe you should ask yourself that same question. :)

Day 8

My interview at Joshua Academy went very well, but they will not be making decisions about teaching positions for next year for a couple of months. The principal ensured me that they would not forget about me. Today, I had a meeting at Evansville Christian School to begin subbing there and I have my interview on Friday to begin subbing in EVSC. I'm ready to get busy and start getting my feet in some doors! Josh and I went out for Valentine's last night. He got me a card and Gerber Daisies (our wedding flower) They're really pretty. We had an appetizer at Stoney's and dinner at Angelos, the restaurant we went the night we got engaged and last Valentines Day. It was a very good night.

Made to Crave
Have you ever had the I'll Start Again on Monday attitude? I know I have, along with probably almost every other woman whose ever attempted a diet or healthy eating plan. This is the theme for day 8, and this is the verse that goes along with it:
 “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you with expectation.
I have definitely had the thoughts of I'll Start Again on Monday, more recently than I would prefer to admit. Mine was a little different though. It was an attitude of I'll Start Again Once we Move. . It'll be easier then.  Before we moved though, I needed  to treat myself to countless dinners out with friends, and of course ordering a salad for our last dinner out wouldn't even make sense, and I needed to have that ice cream one more time, and of course we had to try that new restaurant before we left .. . and I must have peanut butter pie. . . It goes on and on, and now that we are here I have realized that the "I'll start later later" attitude just won't cut it. It is a vicious cycle and a set of lies that just ends in defeat and dissatisfaction. 


 Lysa says, "I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to wander around on a fruitless path unable to enter into the abundant life God has for me."


Each day we have to choose to make God our focus, not food. It is a continuous choice. Use your cravings as a prompt to pray. When I really want that unnecessary late night snack that my husband is having, I pray. When I'd prefer the fried chicken over the grilled, I pray. When it's been a stressful day, instead of raiding the cabinets for something sweet, I pray. This is not what I always do, but this is the journey that I am on---
Eventually, I hope to be able to tell you that every time I have a craving, I replace it with a prayer. 


Lysa says, For example, when we make God our focus, we can wake up in the morning and say “God, I want a biscuit this morning. Instead, I’m eating poached eggs. I’m thankful for these eggs, but I’ll be honest in saying my cravings for other things are hard to resist. But instead of wallowing in what I can’t have, I’m making the choice to celebrate what I can have.”


What better way to live than fully in today rather than always looking to start over on Mondays!

Day 7

Today was a wonderful Sunday. Woke up. Had coffee on the porch. Waited for Josh and Riley to get back from their walk. Went to Church. Made lunch/ate lunch/ napped with Bridgett. Decorated Josh's new office. Hung out at home. Good day. So proud of my husband. Tomorrow is his first day at his new job. I know he will do great!

Now, for Made to Crave!
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Have you ever met a woman who loves the way she looks completely 100% of the time. If this woman exists, she has a great gift, because this is not the case for me. Sure, sometimes I look in the mirror and think that a certain top makes me look particularly slim, and on this day, I have slightly more confidence, but more often than not, I can find some flaw that I use to tear myself apart---something that I do not think is good enough, not the way I want it to be.
Lysa says, "We tend to focus on what we see wrong with our bodies, including negative impressions and comments that stick with us from childhood. In middle school, weight wasn’t my biggest concern, but rather my ankles … yes, my ankles! A boy I liked once called them “tankles.” You bet that left a scar." 
Sounds silly, but I know exactly how she feels. In elementary school, a girl nicknamed me "Big Toes." I haven't forgotten . . .

"But if I allow my brain to park in a place of dissatisfaction about my body, it gives Satan room to strip me of motivation by whispering, “Your body is never going to look the way you want it to look, so why sacrifice so much? Everyone eventually falls apart. Your discipline is in vain.” That’s why I have to seek the Lord’s perspective, such as the reminder in Psalms:

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name … and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1–5)"

My body is not perfect, but I am working on being satisfied with the body that God has given me. My body is a gift from God. A good gift, that I may choose to use to glorify Him, instead of dwelling on the imperfections of it.

"Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” I’ve found my beautiful. And I like my beautiful. I don’t have to hold my beautiful up to other people’s bodies with a critical eye of judgment. I pray that you see your beautiful today and enjoy the blessings of the body that God gave you."

Each morning I have to wake up and make the choice to see myself as the beautiful creature that God has created me to be. It doesn't always happen, but it is a continual process. I pray that you've found your beauty or are in the process of doing it as well.

Made to Crave Day 6

Josh and I moved today. We are now settled in to Hank and Julie's on the third floor, in what they call the condo. Josh and Riley are both asleep. I think they fell asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow, or the floor in Riley's case. :) This is a new beginning, a new journey that God has us on, and I am excited for what he has in store. I'm also really worn out from the ride...:)


On day six, Lysa said,"It’s possible to muster up the occasional gumption to avoid the slippery slope of compromising a diet. But more often than not, we need measures of accountability. For me, one of the most effective accountability measures has been mutually tracking progress with a friend.


For me, my blog is one of the biggest ways that I am kept accountable. So many people have told me that they are following my blog, that I know that I have people who are there to help me along this journey. (Plus, I hate to admit that I've taken a step back on this journey, or sometimes more like a leap.) Several of you even asked me about those rolls at Roadhouse the other night. So thanks guys. Thanks for being the accountability and support I need. Josh tries, but when it's nine o'clock and his metabolism is allowing him to scarf down a second dinner of  a taco from Taco John's and a large coke, I have to remind myself that I am full, satisfied even, and just because he is having a taco, does not mean that I need to crave what I do not need. By the way, my evening was completely fine and I was totally satisfied without that taco.


Lysa says it is so important to have a friend who is going to keep you accountable during this process. Ashlee, whether she knows it or not, is that friend for me. Even when we are not together, I can send her a quick text, and tell her that in that specific moment, I want nothing more than the gooey cinammon rolls that my husband has just pulled from the oven for a late night snack. I can practically taste them, but this is not good enough, I need a cinammon roll. This is where (if I am lucky) I do not give in in the moment, instead I take the time to text Ashlee, and she questions where my desire for that cinnamon roll is coming from, and if I am in fact physically hungry, she helps me come up with a healthier snack.In case you were wondering, instead of those cinammon rolls, I had Special K. 


Oh by the way, for the first time today, I craved yogurt and grapefruit. I believe that Lysa was right when she said that we as women crave what we consume. YAY!


So, if you follow me, I would love the encouragement of knowing that you are keeping me accountable on this journey, and if you're ready to begin your journey too, order the book, and I'd love to walk along with you. It's so much easier with the accountability and support of a friend.


Goodnight. I am going to join Josh and Riley in catching some wonderful zzzz's. 

Day 5 & Seeya Laters

I did not read my Made to Crave Chapter today, and I am not in the right mindset to do so right now. Too many things on my mind. Today was too busy to cram it in with not getting enough sleep last night, packing, kindergarteners, packing, dinner with friends, cleaning, packing, saying good-byes...I mean, see ya laters, and did I mention packing? If nothing else today, I thought a lot about how I need to be so much more conscious about the food that I eat. Don't even ask how many pieces, uhmmm,I mean loaves of bread I had at Johnny Carinos. But I think right now, God is working on getting me to realize where my cravings are. So that is all I have to say about that. . .  :)

I failed to mention some very important people in my last blog. I guess I just took for granted that the amazing friends I've made here would know how much I am going to miss them, but I also expect that they will be here when come back for visits, unlike the ELC and AWANA kids/friends. The ELC is closing after this year, although my kids would be moving on anyway (but until then I will be pen-paling with my class from last semester via email. . . I am very excited to stay in touch with them this way!), and I will never be here on a Wednesday night for AWANA. Amazing friends like Chrissy & Neil, Manda & DJ, The Bible study groups, ELC friends, and everyone else we have spent time getting to know, will so be missed. BUT I am determined that because good-byes make me sad, this is not good-bye, this is Seeya later Alligator. . .or maybe just Seeya later. We will stay in a cabin in the mountains sometime together. There will be shopping trips and dinners...And one day our little ones will play together, because those are the kind of friendships that last. :)

Anyway, it is time to get back to the joy of packing.
This very well could be my very last post from this old farmhouse.
I'll meet ya in Evansville. :)