I love my children...they are a gift from God, but sometimes the best gifts are those that teach you something. Isn't it funny how God knows that. He shows me daily how he loves me by giving me the gift of a child. Just like I try my patience with God, those boys of mine do the same. Like I throw fits with God, those boys do the same to me. Just as I am disobedient to God, my boys are disobedient to me. Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done. I can only image how God feels sometimes.

This week we made the decision to take my middle child out of Kindergarten and put him in a preparatory class that only meets four days a week with 1/2 days. I love my Garrett so much and have toiled with the decision to put him in kindergarten for months. This kid is very bright, has a great sense of humor, and can be very witty at times, but is not ready for an 8 hour day of complete structure. His social maturity just needs some more time.

I can't help but apply everything back to my spiritual walk with God. So hear is my life lesson on this topic. God knows how we are...how we will mature in him... and how some individuals grow spiritually faster than others. The joy is that his grace ...patience...love... and acceptance is all we need to further or walk. He knows that some of us are going to take longer to get it than others. He knows that some of us will need a little extra time to turn to him. Just as I have given my little boy another chance to grow and mature by waiting, forgiving, and loving him along the way... Christ does the same for me. Thanks to Garrett for teaching me a wonderful life lesson. I love you and you are still my favorite 5 year old in the whole wide world.

FAITH

I am now teaching a FREE aerobics class at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. It is sooooo great to play Christian music the whole hour. Please come join. It is every Thursday from 9:45 to 10:30 in the West Wing of the church. See you there.

After yesterdays post I found this book from Proverbs 31 ministry. Check it out!!!

I love my Burn Baby Burn aerobics class. I feel like I have so much in common with all the women. Today we had a great discussion about staying fit for your husband and your children. Sadly, we as moms bear the weight of making sure many tasks are done in our lives. Let's see, we wash clothes, make meals, read books, change diapers, clean the house, run a taxi service, go to doctor appointments...you name it and we can get it done. Why then is it so taxing on us to stay in shape for ourselves, our husbands, and our families. Why is it that our husbands put on weight with us when we have babies, but don't take it off with us when we are ready to shed the baby weight? Why, in a sense, are we also responsible for our husbands and our children's health as well. I mean come on, Eve didn't force feed Adam the apple from the forbidden tree. Well, here's what I think....

In a very good Genesis study I did I learned that God saw that Adam needed a HELPER SUITABLE FOR HIM. Did you get that? Let me write it again, but from the Bible this time. Genesis 2:18 says, ...God said, " It is not good for man to be alone, I will make him a HELPER suitable for him." Then in verse 19 God makes all the creatures of the earth, but Adam still did not have a suitable helper. In verse 22 it says,...The Lord God fashioned into a women the rib which He had taken form the man, and brought her to the man. I love how my Bible uses the word "fashioned" --- see even in creation God made women fashionable. Now Adam had a helper.

See girls, they need us. Although it is sometimes seems unfair, if we just think of it as an honor to help our men stay healthy by cooking healthy meals, suggesting you exercise together, and holding each other accountable to exercise daily...it can be fun, enhance your marriage, and help with the sex life. So I challenge all of you to get your hubby's on board, change your lifestyles and start living healthy together. Encourage him and as you do it...believe me he will follow. Remember, you are his helper. God knew he would need you.

OK, SO I AM FORCE FEEDING HIM IN THE PICTURE ABOVE, BUT I HAVEN'T SINCE OUR WEDDING DAY.

I would love to have your comments so please post your thoughts.

Fitness fart

I finally figured out how to use You tube...Just thought some of you who take my classes might get a little chuckle out of this. Mendy

Pachelbel Bedtime

ok, here it is for all of you to see. Mendy

Ok, this is tooooo funny, I thought those of you who know me well would get a kick out of this. Thanks to my friend Adrienne and her distinguished Dr. husband for sending this to me. Please click on the link and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyP9bI81XX0

moved to tears with reality

Thanks to my former EQ client Renee I was moved to tears when I watched this man on YOU TUBE sing this song. The words are so true. I love the part when his daughter walks in the room. Check it out...if you are a parent I promise you will love this. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uISuvTiTYJA

Mendy

My friend Candace taught our small group at church last Sunday and she had a wonderful word picture about how God is always "pruning us", or trying to get rid of all the impurities. She told how a silver smith keeps putting silver into a fire, pulls it back out, and wipes off the black "impurities". He continues this process over and over until he can pull it out only to see his reflection in the silver.
My Grandmother who is pictured above must have been "put to the fire" many times. It has been 5 years since her death and all any of us can remember is the way her life reflected Christ. She had a wonderful influence on my life. I miss her , but I know she is in Heaven singing praises to our God and King.
I love this stroller--boy have those things come long way. I can also relate to the picture above were she is cooking and the kids are just watching her. I wonder if she was saying, "go play, the food will be ready soon." I pray that I am open to God, the great Silver Smith, as he refines my life. I want to reflect Christ's life as I think my Grandmother's did.

Forward Motion in Christ-------------Mendy

favorite burrito awakening!!!!

Wow, I am eating way over my budget when I go to Chipolte. Check out this site and calculate your favorite burrito. http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator What an eye opener.

Stop EATING over your budget

I love Dave Ramsey, the Financial Peace Guy. He teaches you to make a basic written budget by spending every dime you have on paper. You start with the most important things like basic needs...ya know...food, shelter, utilities, clothing...then you start spending the rest on paper according to your monthly income. I am a follower of his plan, but really it is just common sense.

Eating Healthy is just the same. It's not rocket science. Just like we know right or wrong with our spending, we usually know right or wrong with our eating habits. Just like we need to write our budget down on paper and see the monthly spending dwindle down to a big fat ZERO, we need to do the same with our calories. It is all about teaching ourselves discipline. We are inherently sinful, wanting everything now, and usually letting ourselves have it now.

Here is an idea...Try a little self - discipline this week (1 Corinthians 9:23-27) . Start the day out by writing your desired max caloric intake on a piece of paper. Look at the labels on the food you eat and simple subtract what you eat all day long. When you get to ZERO then STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, he amazes me!!!!

Well, just when I think that he doesn't care, my husband surprises me. He took me to a wonderful B&B in Weston, MO this last weekend. We talked, ate, shopped, and actually got to look each other in the eye without a 2 year old interrupting us.

I feel my relationship with Christ is the same way. Due to some personal circumstances I have been in a real funk lately. I have felt like, "where are you God? Do you care?" The truth is that I am the one pulling away from him, having a pity party, feeling lazy... Just like when I don't make one on one time for my husband and I start to feel unloved--when I don't MAKE time to spend with God I start to wonder where he has gone. The last 2 mornings I have made myself read my Bible, reflect, and pray. I feel so much better and have been way more productive.
Exercise is also like that... When we make time to do it, peel ourselves out of bed, off the couch, away from the computer...Then we increase our energy, clear our minds, burn some calories. I know that I am human and am born a sinner, a lazy sloth, an over eater, a pity party thrower, a tired mom, (the list goes on and on). With the strength that I gather from Christ each day I can muster up the courage to live a disciplined life. The best part of it all is that when I do fail (and boy do I ever), I find peace in Christ's grace and forgiveness.

On that note I encourage you to also live a productive life by spending daily time with God, and make yourself exercise. I am working on starting a free Thursday morning class at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church from 9:45 am to 10:30 am. More details to follow.

Happy 10 years

As of yesterday my husband and I have been married 10 years. It dawned on me that (sadly) not just everyone can say that these days. I know of so many people who have been married and divorced before making it to 10 years (including my own parents). I was reading in the Old Testament last week about how God hates divorce. Although it has had its ups and down, I am so happy to be married to the love of my life.

Although we have had our ups and down with weight gain and loss due to babies and lifestyle, I really believe it is important to stay fit for each other. I know that we seem to get alone better, have more patience, and remain more energetic when we are both exercising. This spring we ran a race together and ate lunch at IHOP after. It was one of the greatest dates I think we have ever had. We are both currently training the the KC 1/2 marathon and I can wait to make a date of it again.

Dennis and I met in middle school and have been sweet on each other since the age of 14. Its crazy to think that I have know him that long, but I believe that God had a plan even back then. Here is a picture of us in St. Kitts in January. Happy 10 years to us!!!