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!!!