10 Years of Flashbacks!

You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

We just finished printing and mailing out these letters. Wanted to share it with you all for Friday Photo Flashback.

10 years of flashbacks!

*** Don´t forget to check out Fitness Friday too!***

What are you Eating?

This week for Fitness Friday, I want to encourage everyone to make healthy food choices.

On our Spring into Shape challenge this week it´s Nix the Fix - Week 6!

It means we get a point for every good healthy food choice we eat and negative 2 points for every unhealthy, fatty, sugary food choice we eat.

It has been very eye opening. I think if we all stop to journal the food that goes into our mouths we would be surprised.

Here is a two day sample of my food journal.

Wed. am - 2 pieces of ww cereal bread w/ salt free butter and honey. 1/2 an apple. 2 pts

snack - 1 piece of sf chocolate w/ almonds coffee 1pt

Lunch- Chicken soup w/ veggies, 2 pieces of ww bread, sf yogurt(desert but counted as a snack)4pts

Dinner- Protein drink, 1/2 an apple, 2 pieces of cheese, 20 almonds 3 pts

neg. 2 points because my son gave me a gift licorice stick. Before I remembered it would be negative points, I broke off a piece to eat it. Then remembered too late. =( Gave it back to my dear sweet son so he could eat the rest.

I Jogged 30 min. and did the level 3 shred making a 1hr. workout.  I am shredding it with Nina at Portugal Bound! Even though we are in neighboring countries, we can exercise in spirit.

Thurs. am.  - oatmeal w/raisins and a little brown sugar and skim milk, coffee 3 pts

Snack- 1 apple , When we went visting I had a coffee. protien drink after workout 2pts

Did I mention I love coffee!! especially Spanish coffee! I either drink it black or with milk and very little sugar substitute.

Lunch- Potatoe and egg omelett, cheese, 1 tomatoe, veggie roll/sauce. 3pts

sf yogurt no ,had a couple of olives too.

Dinner- ww bread, light cheese squares, ham, green tea mix at night before bed. 2pts.

No negative points.

Did level 2 shred and walked to make up 40 min. I think level 2 is harder than level 3. At least I burned slightly more calories and felt it in more places. What´s up with that? Going to be doing level 2 and 3 now alternating.

Well, hope you all stay encouraged to do our food count and maybe do a food journal. Something I am noticing is that I am still eating a lot more than I think. I need to still cut back a little bit.

Let´s get on that Fitness Wagon! Your heart will thank you!   Let´s also remember that that our inner heart is more important, and that we need to feed our spiritual bodies as well.

Awesome New Giveaway Blog

(well, new to me)

Second Time Around: DownEast Basics Review & Giveaway (2 Winners)

This is a fabulous online store that has some really classy and stylish outfits. I totally hope I win!

Go check out DownEast Basics and Second Time Around, my new favorite Giveaway spot! She is so on top of it all!

Are We Willing?

Today for Making Your Home Sing Monday, I want to ask the question that was asked of us last night in church.

Are you willing?

1. Are you willing to listen to the Lord and receive what His word tells you?

Joshua 5

2. Are you willing to go where the Lord will send you? Isaiah 6:1-8

3. Are you willing to risk your comfort zone to serve Lord? Acts 4:23-31

This last point is what hit me most. Not only do I need to work on serving the Lord in my comfort zone (my home) but also by reaching out to others. There are sisters I need to call and visit, there are unsaved friends I need to visit, there are Bible studies I need to plan.

I just can´t get comfortable and use my family as an excuse. I have been saying to myself that my family is my priority. This is true, but I think I can also end up hidding behind my family. It´s easier than having to reach out all the time, getting turned down or getting hurt.

Peter and John did not stop preaching even though the road got tough. They did not hide behind the church family they already had. They kept preaching! What was the result? The whole place shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

This week I am going to plan school, my english classes, exercise and meals even more to be able to call all the sisters and visit an elderly widow who needs the Lord.

Are we willing to move out of our comfort zones to keep our homes singing and still reach out? Maybe, this stands out more to me as it´s a constant rejection when we share the gospel here in Spain, but I am willing to keep at it.

Nightmare Flashback

This is my nightmare flashback!

In this flashback, I dream that I will always look like this picture, that I can´t ever get back to the way I was before my pregnancies. Some days, I actually think that I still look this way.   To be honest, I was in denial back then. I did not think I was that heavy. In fact, I didn´t really know I was very unhealthy. I still thought I was athletic and somewhat fit as I had been the majority of my life.

Until one day, I came to grips with the fact that I was overweight, unhealthy and unfit.  I prayed and asked God to help me at the beginning of  last year, and He has!

My story, for His glory, is being posted today on one of my favorite fitness blogs.

In fact, this blog´s author, Sandy, is Fitness Friday Girl. She asked me to do a guest post on how I lost 35 pounds. Thank you , Sandy, for giving me this oportunity to give Glory to God for what He has done in my life.  

Interested on how it happened? Want to see real incredible before and after pictures? You can´t miss it. 

Head on over to God Speaks Today to see for yourself.



Just know you are not alone in your fitness journey.
Let´s encourage one another.

Flashback to the Future

Friday Photo Flashback    

is going to meet with

Fitness Friday Girl 

 

in the near FUTURE ...

showing some incredible pictures.

This Friday! 

Tomorrow!!!

Be THERE... I mean here!

ἀγάπη

ἀγάπη ???????

Yep, it´s Greek!!! 

It means true love!

God´s love.

It´s AGAPE!

What does agape mean to you?

This word alone seems to unlock so much. It seems to be a key word for me and my family this month. Oh, that it will stay that way.

I just got done reading Treasures in the Snow, with my boys, and I can´t tell you how many times this book mentions perfect love. The book refers to the verse that says "Perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:8.   We also studied perfect love in one of our church services, and our youngest went around the house saying "Agape, Agape."  I think he just liked the sound of the word. Then again, all day today the focus was on love. We showed Fireproof the movie for our church people.

ἀγάπη

But, what does it truly mean to me?

I feel like I am grasping at tassles on a blanket I want to pull all the way up to get warm. I feel like I am just on the brink of something wonderful, as if I can´t quite grasp the full meaning, and that if I did, everything would change forever. Do you ever feel that way?

Love.

God´s love is perfect. We are to love others as He loved us. That means our spouses, our children, our neighbors and those who aren´t so lovely. We know this truth. We have heard it over and over, but do we really let it change us? Do I really show love? true love?

It means I will discipline my children in love. It means I will speak in love to my dear husband even when I do feel too loving, I will give to that same lady on the corner who as taken and never even come to church, I will keep on loving even if no one gives love in return, and pray to keep on loving. Lord, help me to have your love.

ἀγάπη

*** Today, is my day to post over at the KJV Blog. It´s Ministry Monday Highlights. So, you can guess what I am writing about, but don´t take my word for it, head on over there and check out the pictures for yourself.

Also, I am linking up with Nan for Making Your Home Sing Monday. ***

One, Two Buckle My Shoe

"One ...

two buckle my shoe."

One day you are quoting this little poem and then the next...

WHAM! Size 8 shoes

My 11 year old´s shoes have surpassed mine!

Now it´s hard to think that those little shoes belonged to him. He use to look like this. My little ham!

Enjoying Friday Photo Flashback ,

Exercise Heaven!?!?

What???

Exercise in Heaven??

Noooooooo!

Exercise Heaven???

What! That´s not right. That´s an oxi-moron.

For sure!

Well, it´s what it felt like last night when my very fit, football playing hubby got out his weights and did a 50 minute DVD workout "No More Trouble Zones" with me!

It was the best exercise could have ever felt. We had so much fun. He was amazed at what I could do, and I was obviously impressed with him doing all the reps with double the weight I was.

Now, talk about quality time together!

Today, I am a bit sore, I admit, but it is the sign of a good workout.

I ran today as it is normally my light day, but I am ready to see some more change in my body. I want to increase my workouts even more. It seems I need to do something to get off this plateau which is higher than my end weight at the end of the last challenge.

I ran 40 minutes today! Plus and extra 20 minute walk (fast) from the store, home, then back to the store, and then back home again. I forgot my wallet, but you know I didn´t even mind. I got a point for it!!! wooo hoooo!!!

I am cutting back on my carbs at night this week, cutting back on my snacking (even if it´s good snacks), and increasing even more my exercise. Gotta get sweating more.

Hope we all can take advantage of Double Springy Point Week!!

If you want to sign up we still have 6 weeks left in the Spring Into Shape Challenge. Just click on my button for the challenge on the sidebar.

***Linking up with Fitness Friday Girl this week, and be on the lookout next Friday for a special Fitness Friday about my fitness journey.

Before We All Spread Out

I would go home to NY for Christmas. This is the Christmas break my Freshman year of College, 1993. I thought I knew everything! But one thing I probably didn´t know, was this would be one of the last Christmas´ together.

My Mom and Dad had to move. I got married. My Grandparents have recently gone home to be with the Lord, and we hardly ever go back to NY. My Aunt and Uncles are the only ones left up there. Those were the days!

My Grandparents are the ones who are in the best place, though!

Do you have sweet memories of your extended family all being together?

Post some of your Flashbacks with us at Friday Photo Flashback.

Mama Fit!

It is a one of those Mondays!

I have thrown a Mama Fit already and it´s only mid day!

Now, I am not the first to throw these Mama Fits. It is not unique to me. No way am I that creative. I think it is a great meme, though! My close friend Nina, has such a way of explaining her day and her Mama Fits, that you are laughing and feeling it right along with her.

So here is my attempt to throw my Mama Fit, get it all off my chest, and breath right for the rest of the day.

I awoke at 8ish this morning to a lovely package on the floor from our family pet! Having not known it was there, in the dark, I squished it between my toes carefully tip toed around. NOT COOL! EEEWWWW!!!

This was just the beginning! Let me back up to Saturday. We left the same family pet in the van while we went shopping. We have to do this so she is not in the apartment so many hours alone. Our neighbors are a little picky senistive about her. I happened to have my almonds, raisins and SF chocolate bar in my backpack  for after my husbands football game. I didn´t zip the bag! You can only guess what I found when we returned from our shopping, or what I didn´t find. Thus the beginning of our family pet fiasco and my MAMA FIT! 

She not only left me this lovely package this morning, she also had left the remains beautiful food she had eaten all over the boys room! Now, You may be asking why do we have this dog in the first place. I must admit I am starting to wonder this too, but my boys, my boys, they love her. She use to be my dog, too. Anyone want a mutt a lovely, trained, hunting dog?

So, I  have pitched my Mama Fit, cleaned my floors with bleach, and have lit a ton of candles!!! What else is there to do, really?

PRAY!

 Yes, I am praying for the Spirit to fill me so that I don´t do something I will regret. I can keep going with school and my teaching jobs today. I just feel like I need to jump in the shower and staying there for hours,   and pray!

*** I am also linking up with Nan for her meme, Making Your Home Sing Monday. ***