http://www.dietdessertndogs.com/2011/12/11/chocolate-mint-truffles-for-home-for-the-holidays-gluten-free-style/comment-page-1/#comment-131983

Here's another giveaway!  Today's is a free magazine that I love!!!!!

Goals for this month

Hey there!  It's been a while.  But I wanted to put my goals for this month IN WRITING.  I got the idea from http://www.thedailydietribe.com/  So, one of my goals is to stop eating grains, except on a rare occasion (once a week) as a treat. 

God's Provision

I praise You, God, for Your provision of Micah's chair. I praise You for giving him the ability to wait several weeks before purchasing one, and for the money to do so.

We didn't know how we were going to afford it, but we knew he needed one. It had gotten to the point that he couldn't sit in the living room without hurting. That's just not fun. Then I remembered my Aunt sends him a large check for his birthday and all the other money he would be receiving from parents and me. It was close but not quite enough. Then I got a flyer from Garden Ridge..."Recliners for $200?" It just couldn't be, but it was! Then he got a coupon for a free haircut, there's another $15! Then he came on Friday announcing that they gave him his raise 2 weeks early! That would do. Isn't God so cool?

Soulish Desires

Oh, how I needed to read the quotes to the side! I had not read them for quite some time, and actually forgot they were there. I have been confronting my sinful man a lot lately. How he keeps wanting to come out of the coffin! Ever since we have determined to handle money differently-truly differently-I go through periods of difficulty. Though this is something others probably face regularly, this is new for me. Having to tell myself "no" you must not have that right now is death to me. Of course this is good, yet it is the most difficult thing in the world. To wait on God, to see everything around you falling apart and know there is truly nothing in your power to change it. That is difficult. For He is ever so patient in these trials and doesn't seem to think it as much of an emergency as our soulish desires do! Many times I feel I will be crushed from the despair, yet He always lifts me up and pulls me through.

Did you Know???

That 3 servings of calcium a day can help you lose weight? If your body doesn't get enough calcium it thinks it is being malnourished and will actually "hold onto" the excess weight.

Add a piece of fruit with one of those servings and you have a perfect snack!

Art for ME

As of Thursday I only have to teach ONE art class, and I have an entire 1 1/2 hours to teach it! I am sooooo excited!

Normal Weight

The ladies and I were talking about weight loss. One mentioned that your body naturally gravitates toward a certain weight; it just feel comfortable there because that is where you have allowed it to be. In order to get it to the next level (or plateau-as we usually call it) you have to work really hard to get it there. Say you lose 10 pounds...once it stays there for 1 year, your body will adjust and think that is the new normal weight for you.

How true this is! My plateau used to be 7 or 8 pounds heavier, but I lost the weight and have been here for a year. I have been stuck at 158 forever now. I am so sick of seeing that number on my scale (glad it isn't higher though). I may lose a pound or two, but I always regain it and end up right back where I started. We must persist, ladies!

Healthy Christian

Our pastor said something encouraging. He said that the part of your brain that says no to bad foods is the part of your brain that needs a lot of sleep. So it can't work effectively if you don't get enough sleep! So...if you need to say no...go to bed. Good deal.

He also compared loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength to keeping a healthy body. To love God with all your heart, etc you need to OBEY, WORSHIP, and LOVE GOD'S WORD all with equal importance. You need to do all three. Not in any order, and not one is more important than the other in order to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. All should be number one. If one gets neglected you are no longer a healthy Christian, and will keep you from loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. If you obey you will worship really exuberantly, if you read God's Word you obey more, and if you worship you are more likely to obey, etc, etc.

Well, in order to have a healthy body you need to EAT, SLEEP, and EXERCISE. All should be number one. All three are important, and not one is more important than the other. If you don't sleep enough, you won't eat properly; but you need to exercise so you can sleep well. And you need to eat so you can exercise well. Each is related to the other. I thought this was a great analogy!

It has been a while since I posted on this site. I don't know how to get rid of it, so I just decided to post instead. This weekend I needed to buy a wedding gift for $30 for micah's boss. She was registered at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but my sweet husband tore up my coupons thinking he was helping me not to shop. I went to Linens and Things since they are going out of business and ran into a friend from our Dave Ramsey class. She just happened to have a stack of coupons from Bed, Bath, and Beyond in her car! I was able to purchase a $43 present for $33, wrapped and everything. It was so awesome to see God provide!

Last week I was complaining to Micah that I would like to be able to purchase more curriculum for the kids but we just couldn't afford it. Within just a few days someone gave us $100 for their school! I was astounded.

Weighing In

Started weighing myself only once a week this week. It's helpful in that I no longer know how I'm doing, so I am more motivated to eat right. I just hope I haven't gained by the time I get back on the scale on Monday! Either way, I feel really good. Running and eating well have been good for me. This is the best fit I have ever been in my life, even though I still need to lose a lot of weight. I think it's because I eat well, so I feel good. When I was on drill team I exercised a lot, but I ate candy bars for lunch and dinner. I was thin at 118 lbs, but I could have been so much healthier. I pray my children will be different.

My legs are toned underneath the flabby exterior, and that feels good. It's easier to get up and down the stairs, easier to do lots of things. So in that sense I feel more fit, too. Now for the weight to follow...

Shrink your female fat zones

Started Denice Austin's diet again on Monday. I needed a break, but I am so excited to start it again and am hopeful for the good health it will bring me. She is so good at making sure you get a variety of fruits and veggies. And most everything is very yummy. I've learned to substitute the few things none of us like. But some people will have to suffer through my favorites. I'm excited as I've already lost 2 pounds and feel so much better physically. I need to shed this weight in order to run easier and lighter.

Isn't God Good?

I just have to brag on some wonderful things God has done for us. He is so amazingly good. When things looked completely bleak to us and we were about to throw in the towel...

1. Micah was able to purchase some much needed clothing.
2. I found a shirt for $1.50 and a really beautiful wicker shelf for $5 at The Salvation Army.
3. I found 2 bathing suits for the girls for $8 each at TJ Maxx. They were normally $40.
4. We were able to fund our emergency fund.
5. We paid off two debts.
6. I got the house cleaned up and the laundry done before we found out rebecca had lice.

All in one weekend!

McDonald's & Money

Micah had the girls pay for their own meals at McD's the other night. I was so proud of him. Elizabeth contemplated for a long time about what she was going to get and ended up getting her 2nd choice instead of her first. Today they are going to pay their way to a pool they have been wanting to go to. I gave everyone the option not to go, but everyone has chosen to pay their own way. We have always given the kids everything, so this is a big step for all of us. They appreciate it so much more and I think are beginning to realize why we never go out to eat or do other special things except on very rare occasions. I spent $30 at the grocery store this week. It was only for 4 days, but I was so thankful to be able to keep it cheap after an expensive weekend.

$15

I just have to say that the first time, probably ever, we only spent $15 more than we budgeted last month. That is amazing. I praise God for helping us to accomplish this. Now for the real test...THIS month.

I started running again today. It's been a week-and-a-half. I feel much better. Last week I was just blah. pms.

Price Per Gallon

A math teacher calculated that a latte costs $28.72 a gallon. That makes gas look cheap.

Tickets

We desperately wanted to see Prince Caspian when it came out. We hadn't budgeted for it, and believe me there was no room to squeeze out of anywhere. 2 weeks later I got an email: "Last chance for $1 Prince Caspian tickets." I kid you not! It really said that, and we really went. $16 for popcorn, coke, and 5 tickets. That's awesome. The movie was awesome, too.

Progress

I went to the store today and bought some clothes for r. I realized that she didn't need everything I wanted her to have. We actually put some things back, and I called my husband to make sure he was okay with me spending the clothing money. Wow. Progress. We are making progress.

Epiphany

-a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Yup, that's what I had. I was washing dishes one day and realized that if I washed the large mixing bowls by hand I wouldn't have to run the dishwasher twice every day. Wow.

Things I Have Learned

I have saved baggies. I have washed them and rewashed them. God has provided even baggies when I needed them. A couple weeks ago I couldn't afford to purchase any (I was only spending $67 a week), so I didn't. I watched a friend's kids for a couple of hours, and they brought their lunches. To my amazement they each had 3 large quart sized baggies. The really nice ones. I was so embarrassed, but when they went home I grabbed them out of the garbage and washed them up. They lasted for a while.