Kids in School, Date with Husband

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Today was the first time in 7 years that all the children in our household were in school. Joel went to preschool for the first time, Anna entered kindergarten, and Aleyah, the pro, started her second grade year. So what’s a mom to do with a little extra time? Date my husband! After Scott and I walked Joel into his class and took the necessary pictures, we hit the beach for a soft sand run. Inspired by the physiques of the Olympic beach volleyball players, we set off on a 30 minute run through the dry, loose sand. It was a tough workout but a welcomed changes from the ordinary plodding of the pavement. And when my ultra-competitive husband states, “It’s all about completing the run,” what he really means is “Slow down Michele because you’re kicking my butt!”. 🙂 Nonetheless, he survived and we enjoyed our time together and plan on making it a weekly ritual. But the alone time was short-lived as I rushed to the store, celebrated Joel’s birthday in his class, picked up Anna, made hummus, picked up Aleyah, spent 2 hours at ballet, and drove off to church for an hour and a half before heading home and tucking in over-tired kids. All the more reason to treasure the moments that Scott and I have together!

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2 Plates, 260 Calories Each

Each of these plates contain about 260 calories each. Which one would you rather fuel your body with?

Target Practice

I miss the mark sometimes. I aim and shoot. My arrow lands on the bull’s eye like I intended, but this bull’s eye is almost always the one labeled “SELF”. In my arrogance, I’ve changed the game by placing “ME” in the middle of the target when that small, center circle should really be “JESUS” with its encompassing ring being “OTHERS”. I’ve hit the bull’s eye, but I’ve totally missed the mark.  I am blind to the opportunities around me because the object of my affection is me.

Several months ago, God assigned me a task, and I put it off. Not sure why, but I did. I mentioned it to my girls, and Aleyah didn’t let me forget. She is a planner, a task-oriented individual so she has the makings of a great accountability partner. Last Sunday, we completed this act of service. It costs me $3 and 10 minutes. There was an immediate blessing as we simply saw the response of those whom we served. Just an hour or so later, God extended that blessing as He gave to us just what we had given away! What a lesson for my kids and for me. How many times have I (and do I) neglect to serve God and others? A simple task yielded a blessing for the recipients, my family, and for me, so I’m praying that I keep my eyes opened to what God has called me to do for others.  I’ve been reading Radical and this David Platt quote really struck me…

“What if we gave like this (referring to the widow and her mite), not because of the critical need around us, but because this kind of giving is actually what the heart of Christ in us both demands and desires ?”

My heart sank last week when a woman made a comment on how a few people who came to share God with her hadn’t bothered to help her out when she needed it. This illustrates my point of missing the mark. As a follower of Christ, I need to daily make Jesus as my focal point, my bull’s eye. There will be days that I neglect to do that as I allow  “self” to push it’s way back to the center. Jesus knew it would be a constant struggle to remove ourselves from our main focus- that’s why he commanded us to take up our cross daily. (Luke 9:23) I know there will be many more times that I am blinded to the needs around me because I’m concerned with only myself, and so I’m thankful that He is patient with me, and that He is not yet done transforming me!

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil.1:6

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy this wonderful day with your family and friends!

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God Governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
~Benjamin Franklin

May we continue to lift our country up to the Lord

Jogging Can Add 6 Years to Your Life

In a recent, long-term Danish study, researchers found that those who jogged regularly had an average increased longevity of six years (6.2 years for men, and 5.6 years for women).

Peter Schnohr, chief cardiologist of the long-term Copenhagen City Heart Study, said in a news release from the European Society of Cardiology. “We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don’t actually need to do that much to reap the benefits.” Just one to two and a half hours of jogging weekly provided the benefits needed to increase life span and also reap other healthy rewards.

8.5 lbs and Counting!

Last week, I received an e-mail from a friend with some exciting news- she has lost 8.5 lbs! A few months ago, she had asked me for some practical tips on how to shed some extra weight. I was happy to share! Here are the changes she made to help her in her journey to be healthier (and also her journey to a whole new wardrobe 🙂 )…

  • Eating more fruits and veggies (my #1 piece of advice!)

  • Adding Greek yogurt and cottage cheese to her diet for extra protein

  • Satisfying her sweet cravings by making breakfast cookies or a green smoothie

  • No longer buying packaged snacks- bye, bye crackers or granola bars!

  • Limiting portions

  • Eating every 3 hours or so

  • Trying to be more active each day.

  • Meeting up with friends a few times a week to walk/run a 3 mile loop

  • Incorporating strength training and abs

  • Trying to eat out less, and when she does, looking up the nutritional values before going and then usually ordering fish or a salad

I love what she wrote to me at the end of her e-mail…

“I feel like I’ve found some lasting lifestyle changes.”

Choosing health is all about making changes in your everyday life. Those changes are gradual and simple enough to incorporate without feeling overwhelmed and then loving the results that come along with them.

Thanks for sharing my friend! You will inspire someone else to make similar changes!

Diagnosis: Undiagnosed

Last September, while training for my first marathon, I begin to experience redness and blurred vision in my left eye. After seeing three doctors and receiving the proper treatment, my eye healed. However, the right eye soon began to experience the same thing- but worse. Since March, I have been under the care of a specialist from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (always ranking 1 or 2 in the entire country for eye care).  Unfortunately, the right eye has not healed despite more aggressive treatments. Although I have had numerous lab tests, there is no diagnosis for what I am experiencing, and we may never know the root cause of it. So yesterday I took my third trip down south, and my doctor had to do a “sure fire” injection into my eye and also have me continue on the meds that I have been taking. Because I understand the importance of nutrition and prefer to treat my body with natural means, this process has been difficult.  I know that I have done all possible to heal my body naturally- eating the right foods, seeing a nutritionist, and more-  but I know there is a time for traditional medicine as well. And I know that my body is able to tolerate the meds and fight off infection because I have taken steps to ensure that it is strong and healthy.

Throughout these months,  I have been  on a journey with Jesus that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Having your vision affected is definitely a reminder to stay in constant prayer with the Savior,  I am not sure why He has chosen not to heal me physically, but He has taught me and reminded me of truths that would have otherwise gone unnoticed or neglected:

  • My friends and family have been faithful in prayer for me, and I am humbled by their faithfulness to lift me up, and am reminded to do the same for others.
  • His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). I have had to rely on His strength to help me to mentally, emotionally, and physically get through this.
  • I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps 139:14) No matter what physical flaws I have, God created me and designed me for His purpose.
  • God’s beauty is not seen with human eyes. It is the Holy Spirit that resides within me that reveals His splendor and glory to me. His peace, His plan, and His faithfulness are the most beautiful aspects of His character that He has shown me through this.
  • This is not my home. One day I will have a glorified body and live with my God. Every time I hear Building 429’s “Where I Belong”, I am reminded of this truth.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:35-37

Not Just a Spoonful of Sugar

A 20 oz bottle of soda contains 15 teaspoons of sugar!

So each time you take a swig of that Coke or Pepsi, imagine yourself eating sugar straight from a spoon.

Eliminate your daily 20 oz soda and lose 1 pound every 2 weeks! Not only will you lose weight, you lose the risk of many other health issues related to drinking sugary, carbonated beverages.


It’s National Running Day!

Today is National Running Day.

I love this image above. There is no one reason I run- just a conglomerate of feelings and emotions that propel me to hit the pavement. So this my post for the day. Simple and concise. Happy running to all my fellow runners!!

A Family Affair at CrossFit

This past Friday, Scott and I finally got to our local CrossFit gym- Harbor City CrossFit– and gave it a try. We took the kids and some friends, and had a great time! The kids even had the opportunity to warm up with us. Picture Joel, my 2 and a half year-old, with a 4 ft PVC pipe. This stretching tool suddenly became a lightsaber, but that’s okay because he was having a blast! Scott was a bit apprehensive before going, stating that it was too much work, but when all was said and done, he was the one trying to figure out how we can fit at least one workout a week into our hectic schedule. The Workout of the Day (WOD) was this:

  • 500 m row
  • 200 push-ups
  • 200 pull-ups
  • 200 box jumps
  • 200 knees to elbows
  • 200 walking lunges
  • 500 m row

Since we were newbies, the reps were dropped to 50 per exercise. This was a “team” event so Scott and I split the reps between us. (i.e. 25 box jumps for him, 25 for me). Fifty of each move was a good intro for us- not sure the 200 reps would’ve been doable the first time around! The best thing about CrossFit is that all moves can be modified for your ability level, so there is no need to be frightened by the prospect of completing certain exercises or the prescribed number of reps. Thank you to my friend Danika and her husband, Chad, for introducing us to and instructing us in CrossFit. We are looking forward to next time!