New Year..New Goals!!

 I have put a lot of thought into these and already I am struggling in most of these areas...nothing like growing pains! So, without further ado..my personal goals for the coming year and beyond...

*First of all, I want to get back to writing! Not just posting pictures and recipes but actual writing! Since the blessings of our children, my mind is oftentimes to cluttered with to-do's and lists and the constant merry-go-round of life to sit in silence and listen to what my Lord is telling me.I am a writer. God uses writing to cleanse me.  I am one who loves to sit in the quiet late at night after everyone is in bed with just a lamp and my bible. I love to pray to God and I truly feel complete when I hear him speak to my heart!! I want more of that!! I want to carve out the time for more of my Savior. I oftentimes put him in the entirely wrong place. I want to make HIM my true first priority!!!

*I want more patience with my precious children. I am oftentimes short tempered and extremely irritable with those who are most dear to my heart. I so want to be a mother who is kind and soft spoken and warm and loving and patient.. I am those things, at times, but I truly desire for this to be me, at all times!!!! I hate when I lose my temper and yell at my children or say terrible things to them. Actually, I want to improve in this area with my husband, as well...

* I desire to be a more dedicated, loving wife. I truly want to be 100% focused on my family first and foremost and my husband before all other things in life. I want to pray for him every single day and I wish for more focused time together as a couple. I want to talk more and learn more every day about my wonderful husband.

*I want to stop eating when I am upset. Chewing my nails really needs to go, as well!! Yuck!! I am going to have to learn to put things in their proper place and truly leave everything up to our Heavenly Father.

* To exercise at least 3 days a week. With homeschooling, this is VERY difficult to achieve but I am determined to give it a try...also, cutting out unhealty carbs and cokes. Trying to make healthier choices and stick with them. I am going to keep a journal of what I eat and see if I can keep up with it better, that way.

* To be a better friend. I want to make sure that others know just how important they are to me! How much I truly love them and are grateful and sooooo blessed to have them in my life!! Please, more time to focus on my friends and family!!

*MUCH LESS time on facebook!!! I hate being sucked in by the internet and I find it happening to me, more and more. I need much more time to focus on so many other things in my life...the important things!! Facebook is such a struggle for me. I think it becomes something that we, as woman, especially, become to rely on for validation.(another post on this coming up, I think!) And, that is dangerous. Don't get me wrong, facebook can be great when it is used in moderation and as an occasional thing. I don't want to be so stuck on the computer that I forget to live life and give my family what they NEED.......which is, well, more of ME!! How can I give them that when I am stuck on the computer??  Not talking to anyone but myself, these are MY goals and MY personal struggles! If you have it all balanced, I am going to give you kuddos!!! That's great!!

*We are starting some debt reducing solutions this year. I plan to do a post about those, soon! I am going to be doing some RADICAL things in this area to pay off our mortgage a few years quicker!! (More to come, soon!)

*Reading, more reading!! (for me and my family) This is always on my list. =D

*More playtime with my children. More deliberate planned time with them. If I can take time out to do these other things, I can plan a few blocks of time a week to do wonderful fun little things with my babies!

*Trying to be more real.I am soooo tired of all the "fake" we, as Christians, show everyone we meet! You may not read my blog ever again but sometimes I feel like I have to be real and get some things out! I may work them out by writing (I do that a lot) and I may publish them or not..but, I feel like I need to share more. Not necessarily private things but just struggles I have as a normal wife and mother and most of all, as a follower of Jesus! If we don't show others that we struggle, they will never see God at work!! They will never see how he carries us, how HE delivers us!!! It's vital to show others our normal selves! VITAL!!

Well, I think I have many more but there's a start for you!! Happy New Year!!!!

~Julie~

We're going to talk about......

gasp!! shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! losing weight!

That's right. I am going to talk about losing weight. The cookies and baked goods and being stuck in the house this winter have gotten to me! I am now about a size bigger than I am comfortable and I am about 2 sizes above where I truly want to be, so it is time to break out the diet manual and the exercise routine!

I am going to list a few things below that I started to use at the beginning of this week. If you want to follow along with me in this just comment or email me. I will encourage you & you can encourage me! Let's go!!! :)

Okay, this was interesting and motivating, I thought:(ignore the ads; I couldn't get them to delete)

How to lose weight in 7 days the right way

1. Eat a big and healthy breakfast every day. You need calories to jump-start your metabolism after a good night of sleep.

2. Do not count calories. Eat lean protein, fruits and vegetables as much as you want, and stay hydrated.

3. Walk or swim for at least 30 minutes every day. If you have a weight scale at home, hide it and do not weigh yourself for at least two weeks.

4. Spread your daily calories between five small meals and do not allow yourself to be hungry for an extended period. If you feel hungry, eat!

5. Carry healthy snacks with you when you leave your house. When you feel hungry between regular meals, use the snacks.

6. Do not set a weight-loss goal. Instead of thinking, “I need to lose 10 pounds in two weeks,” focus on developing healthy eating habits and being physically active. Go for a hike, dance, ride a bike, play with your kids.

7. Above all, believe in yourself! Thousands of people successfully lose weight every day. It is not a lottery and it ain’t rocket science.

My diet:

breakfast: Breakfast burritos in low carb tortilla

snack:almonds & sugar free jello w/whipped cream or stick of cheese

lunch: chef salad

snack: handful of nuts; piece of fruit or steamed veggies

supper: something like fajitas w/no tortilla or just 1 low carb tortilla

Anyway, there's what I am doing! It's not easy with babies but I am going to do this!!!! Just thought I would share!!

And part of Kelly Ripa's workout routine: ( I am doing this at night before bed sometimes while watching a movie; drives Charlie crazy! lol)

200 butt lifts (lay on your back and lift your butt up. (right now I am at 100)
25 bicep curls with weights (my weights are only three pounds each because that's all I have. I need to be doing five pounds each)
25 standing dumbbell press
25 standing dumbbell rear raises
25 Dumbbell side raise (THESE KILL ME)
50 squats (sometimes more)
100 Leg lifts on each leg
100 crunches (right now, I'm at about 50)
And sometimes I do push ups (I am working on getting better at these but they kill me! I used to do 50 of these the tough way, no sweat but now I can do 20 if my knees are on the ground)

Also, walking 1 minute; running 1 minute (repeat 10X) every day that I can. And Cindy Crawford's New Dimensions Workout Videos. I LOVE THESE!!! THEY ARE KILLER!!!! I have always (for 12 years) used her workout videos and they always work! They are tough but worth every bit of it. I am really looking forward to seeing the results that I know will come with this and the best part is: the girls can do it with me & Drew even watches! Funny! :)

I am up to 11 miles as of today, which isn't great but it's 11 miles I didn't have before last week!!

What's your exercise routine? Please share!! Sarah has a great one, too!

Love,
Julie

Romans 5

Romans 5

Peace and Joy

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

*This was my quiet time reading this morning. I read a devotional last night that discussed Romans chapters 5-8. So, that is what I am going to focus on this week. Read along with me if you would like! Have a great week, everyone!

Blogging Break

I will not be posting a menu plan today. I am going on a blogging break this week. I don't know for how long, we will see! I have a lot of projects to get accomplished before baby boy arrives and I really need to focus on those right now and getting our life back on a really workable schedule that will work after Drew gets here. :o)

Also, with everyone being so sick last week, I didn't get to clean much, so I have A LOT of catching up to do there, as well. (Is that a run-on sentence?lol)

I have just been feeling really convicted about being on the computer so much with so much to do right now and a lot of the word of God I feel that I need to soak in. I promise to be back soon with some insights and a new outlook!

Everyone have a very happy, blessed & productive week!

Love & Prayers,
Julie

Dreaming..Wishing...Believing...

The reason for the name of this post is that I dream of making stuff like this all of the time, I wish I had the skills to do it ,and now, for the first time, I truly believe in myself enough to make it happen! I am talking about sewing! It's so funny, my sister sews very well but until recently has been afraid to cook anything very complicated! I am the exact opposite! I cook anything and everything but I am afraid to try and sew something that looks intimidating! Go figure! :o)

I so want to get these made for the girls summer wardrobes before the baby comes! Aren't they adorable?!

*If you like the look of these, I found my inspiration at CWDkids.com (click on the link)

They have a free catalog and all of their stuff is super cute! I can't really afford to buy it which is why I am sewing it! lol. :o)

Have a Terrific Thursday! Love, Julie

Questions for the New Year (With MY answers!!!)

Nancy Leigh DeMoss has this list of questions at her website, Revive Our Hearts.com . I am going to post them here, as well, to make it easier to keep up with. I am going to be answering these a little at a time over the next few weeks and months. They are not something I can answer quickly and lightly. So, if you want to join in, I would be happy to hear your answers to these questions! I can't get Mr. Linky to stay on here but you can leave a link in your comments if you want to post your answers on your blog! Maybe I will get Mr. Linky up soon! I've never done this before so just bear with me! :o) UPDATED: MY ANSWERS ARE POSTED BELOW!!!!



Here are the list of questions:



Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.


1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
*Really listen to Him. Stop and Listen. Accept His Will.


2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
* To mend family relationships.


3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
* Spend more time together just listening to one another.


4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
* Prayer. I SO want to become so close to my God that I literally pray without ceasing. I want to pray about anything and everything. I will begin by praying morning, noon and night and start filling in between. I will start taking deep breaths and thinking about situations before I proceed without prayer. I will keep a prayer journal to record God's answers to my prayers.


5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
*The computer. I love Sarah's ideas. I believe that I will implement some of those.


6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
*This one is hard. I believe that I could just be more "present". Not so much in attendance but in everything that I can be. Just be more involved in everyone's lives. Feel others pain.


7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

*For the guys that my husband works with and their families.

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

* I will enjoy my children and be more patient. I will try my hardest to be a more understanding thoughtful wife and mother. I will not be so demanding on my husband.


9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
* Pray without ceasing; just little breath prayers here and there or prayers in my head. Keep a prayer journal. Try to really focus on prayer.


10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

*Spend more time individually with my children. Talk to them. Watch them and find out who they really are. Love on them and give them loads of praise. Pray for them and their future.



In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you “Consider your ways.” Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.


11. What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?



12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?



13. What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?



14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?



15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?



16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?



17. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?



18. What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?



19. What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?



20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?



21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?



22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?



23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?



24. What’s the most important trip you want to take this year?



25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?



26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?



27. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?



28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?



29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?



30. What’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?



31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?


The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn’t considered the question.


If you have found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year.


So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage” (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).


© 2003 by Donald S. Whitney. Used with permission. www.SpiritualDisciplines.org/NewYear.html



I would love to have you join me in answering these tough questions! If you do not want to post, just leave some answers in your comments. I believe that these questions are going to be a tremendous blessing to me and my family in 2008 and every year from now on!



Happy New Year! Love and Prayers, Julie