Posture

Posture.
All those crazy people that used to tell me "don't slouch your shoulders, stand up straight, sit up right"....well they were on to something I suppose. Posture kinda reminds me of flossing your teeth. Both equally important but incredibly annoying and not a high interest on my to do list.

But just how flossing generally will prevent cavities, good posture would probably greatly decrease my propensity to add a new aliment to my aging body on a daily basis (In case you forgot I turned the dreaded 30 a few weeks ago. I am still not quite over it.)  Between my knee, my back, and my new neck issues I feel like any moment now I am going to become one of those little old ladies from the infamous info commercials, "I have fallen and I can't get up."

What was that commercial selling anyway? Remote control alarms????




I have been consciously trying to work on my posture recently. When I run (very limited with my knee), when I walk, when I carry Corin on my hip....any time I can, I try to stand up straight. I have always slept with 37 pillows in my bed. I have two under my head, one in between my legs, and one behind my back. I know, pathetic. Matt says he can't even find me once we are in bed. I need all the support I can get. 


(Not real sure why my pillow habits were included, it just seemed important in my head.)


The other day I was thinking how my spiritual posture affects my spiritual health. Am I even looking at God, or am I turned sideways, with one foot in the world. Do I slouch before my King? Am I lazy? Do I need 24 pillows to support me because my flesh is so week? 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:1-2

Hear me now. My God can do ANYTHING. He is totally sovereign and worthy. And HE will always get the glory that He is due. 

But, my precious and holy Lord. He wants. He desires. He longs to bring glory to Himself through ME and through YOU. He wants me. ALL of me. To lay prostrate before Him. At the foot of the cross. To offer myself. My whole body. Holy and pleasing to Him. 

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Isaiah 30:18




**This picture has nothing to do with this post. Just a cute little girl on her tip toes:) 

Mental Blogger

I wish I had an app on my phone that could write down all my thoughts and publish them to my blog. I am such an INCREDIBLE mental blogger. I mean really. I come up with the most amazingly brilliant thoughts. The words flow through my brain so perfectly and pretty. I even use big words and all!

The problem is however, I never sit down and actually write these such thoughts. It really is a shame. You would be amazed at my plethora of wisdom. See, plethora....big word.

Now I am already tired of writing this post. Too mentally exhausting. Maybe I will be back later today or tomorrow. Or maybe next month:)

Week in Food (2)

Totally forgot to publish this way back last summer....Just some yummy healthy meals that I came up with!!

I will have to find the recipes...

Cajun Chicken wrap

Whole Wheat Honey Pancakes (with homemade blueberry sauce)

Portabella mushroom pizza

Before and After

We had a church yard sale a few weeks ago to support our Africa mission trip this summer. (Which I need to do a whole separate post on that....) No one bought this piece of furniture and I was secretly excited so I could take it home. I had big plans for this beauty:)

Before...
and After...
Amazing huh? I know you are jealous. I would be.

This is my body...

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,

“Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

Matthew 26:26-29

Welcome to Middle Aged

Ok ok, I know most people think 30 is "young." But that is just old people talking. Really. NO one younger than 30 thinks it is young. Everyone is in denial. Because it is old. Really really old.

I got an application for AARP in the mail on Monday.

I sat down to eat dessert tonight and my hands started trembling. I googled it of course. (Side note: why has google become the go to for medical information. We all know it has nothing good to say, but we do it anyway. I digress.) And the first cause of hand tremors...

Middle Aged.

Seriously. When did this happen? I know I just turned 21 like yesterday. I swore off pictures on off myself today. No documentation means that it didn't happen, right? I did take a picture of the AWESOME tiramisu that Matt made for my "special" day.

He is the best. I think I will keep him:)

So in the non celebratory way that I have welcomed 30, I have decided to do an update list of the things I want to get done over the next year.

So here they go....31 things to do before I am 31! (Oh my word, I will be 31 next year. It makes me itch it sounds so horribly old. Blah.)

1.) Read through 5 chapter books with Naomi and Gabby

2.) Find a new homeschool curriculum and start next year off more organized.

3.) Develop a more consistent prayer life.

4.) Lose 8-10 more pounds with a goal weight of 137-140

5.) Concentrate on building strength in my core.

6.) Have visible arm muscles.

7.) Memorize the book of James

8.) Consistently teach the girls scripture memory work.

9.) Do some type of mission trip (either local or abroad.)

10.) Go and see a play

11.) Spend a weekend with Matt without kids

12.) Start a family game night.

13.) Teach the big girls to swim and ride their bikes without training wheels

14.) Go sledding.

15.) Make two complete new dinner dishes a month.

16.) Stick with a weekly budget

17.) Watch less TV

18.) Make a new friend.

19.) Do a pull up without a chair

20.) Work a 1000 piece puzzle with Gabby

21.) Think about letting Naomi get a new puppy.

22.) Take a photography class

23.) Master my sewing skills

24.) Make each girl at least one outfit.

25.) Finish Corin's first year scrapbook.

26.) Get new family photos.

27.) Work on being less judgmental.

28.) Buff up my knowledge on US history.

29.) Read through Revelations.

30.) Make homemade bread once a month

31.) Drink more water.

Whew. That was a tough list. I know some of these are kinda easy but I just wanted to be realistic!

Now off to go cry myself to sleep at my old age. Boo Hoo.

Weight Loss/Knee issues

OK so I took a LOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGGG hiatus from blogging about my weight loss journey. It has been incredibly frustrating because I have had knee troubles since mid October. I went to the doctor and she sent me to physical therapy. I did that for 10 weeks and still was not getting any better. I went back to get an x-ray and MRI of my knee. Both came back negative (not to my surprise.)

So here is the main problems:

1.) Weak Glutes- You know, my butt. Women generally carry more fat around their butt which in turn means less muscle. Less butt muscle causes problems all the way down.
2.) Weak Core- Well that is a no brainer. And this is not the core that sit ups will help. It is those underlying muscles that are really hard to target that are basically killed during pregnancy. Lots of bridges, planks, and yoga is what I need to be doing.
3. Weak/Unstable hips and pelvis-Hmmm, I have birthed 3 children. But yes, with weak and wobbly hips, running becomes very unstable and horrible on all the lower joints.

So add all of this together= inflamed IT bands, and horrible knee pain. The knees end up taking on the load for all the weak parts, and pretty much ends in knee pain every time.

I know I am not alone in this, well because I know of at least 3 other friends who are having the exact same problems.


So the solution is....A commitment to strengthening all my weak parts. This sounds easy, but it is most certainly not. It requires me to stick to a very struck regimen of exercises EVERY DAY for at least 12 weeks. And to be honest I still don't like strength training at all. I finally after years found an exercise I LOVED in running and I pretty much have to start over and a lot slower this time. I definitely think I picked up my pace and distance to fast without allowing my body to be ready it.


As far as my weight goes. I have been able to pretty much maintain my weight for the last 6 months. I am actually pretty happy with this, since I tend to eat worse when I exercise less.

April 2nd- 147.9

I would still like to lose about 8-10 pounds but I am not going to stress over it. I want my goal to be a lifetime of healthiness, not stressing or idolizing a certain number or size. I feel I finally have a grasp on my weight and don't ever want to go back!