finished with 90 days

 I am DONE, DONE, DONE!!! I have officially completed reading through the Bible in 90 days, actually doing it in 89 days. Granted I read the last 2 days' readings in one sitting and now it is the middle of night....I just didn't want to put it down. How can you leave off reading a book at the climax? I'll be tired tomorrow, but it was worth it. It helped to have accountability and encouragement each week. I used a 90 day Bible (it had no notes in it, just the Scriptures) and armed with a blue highlighter (no reason for the blue, it was the marker I had on hand), I highlighted any verses that resonated with me. Now when I leaf through this Bible, I can see all the things that stood out to me about God, Jesus, about how I should walk, or was something I wanted to learn more about or study more. This Bible was also in a version I don't normally read, so there were familiar verses that seemed new because it was new wording.

I have a couple books of the Bible that I now plan to drill down on and study more closely. And I plan to start reading the Chronological Bible that I purchased late 2010 and never cracked open. So I have plenty to keep me in the Word.

Walking helps improve our memory!

I read this week that walking just 6 miles a week helps improve memory and preserve brain size, according to the journal Neurology. Now who wouldn't want to have a sharper memory capacity! And at my age, anything that preserves and/or improves my brain power is a fabulous thing.  It's the end of week 4 (and month 1) of the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge, and I walked 10 miles this week for a grand total of 27 miles.   Hmm, I wonder,  if you walk more than 6 miles a week, does your brain's memory improvement grow expotentially?!? 

So, to my fellow 100 Mile Fitness Challenge members, keep walking! 

100 Mile Fitness Challenge-Week 3

Between the extreme heat and the consistent migraine headache I had this week, I'm happy to report that I managed to get 6 miles in this week. In addition, I did three days of strength training. For me, strength training is key to improving my overall health and fitness. Strength training helps retain and improve muscle mass. Gaining muscle mass helps my body become more efficient and effective at burning calories, which helps me lose needed pounds. Strength training helps my bones, body and mind stay strong.

I'm still learning the My Fitness Pal site (see yesterday's post). It's a great way to track my workouts and calories and maintain a food diary.

Tomorrow, I'm signed up to walk a charity 5K with a couple good friends. That will be a great start to next week's total.

How did you do this week?

Discovered a good free fitness website

A personal trainer at the gym told me about this site today. So I thought I would check it out and give it a go. If it's a way to keep track of my fitness progress without being too time consuming, I think I will like the site.

I have a primary goal of losing about 25-30 pounds as quickly and safely as I can. I need to drop this weight to help bring my blood pressure under control. I've been hovering in the Pre-hypertension to Stage 1 Hypertension range since I gained 15 pounds recently. So I'm on a mission to drop the weight.

The site is My Fitness Pal.  You can track your exercise, your calories, your nutrition, your meals, and your progress.  It's hard to believe it's free.  They even set up a blog for each user that is available to you to use.   They also have a mobile app that works with I-Phone and Droid. 

Let me know if you try it. 

Genesis & Exodus-B90

In this first week of reading, I raced through all of Genesis and Exodus.  Reading through the Bible in 90 days does feel like a race, a long distance cross-country race.  You can't stop and smell the roses along the way because you have to keep the finish line (the whole Bible in 90 days) in sight.  So why read through it so quickly?  Is there any benefit?  I think there is!  Reading the Bible like a regular book helps me see God's big picture of salvation, redemption and his love.  It's like standing back and looking at a masterpiece of art and seeing the grand sweep of the artist's painting.   The closer you walk to the painting the more detail you see but you no longer are able to see the entire painting. Verse-by-verse study of the Bible is like examining the painting with my nose really close to the picture.  I see the paintbrush strokes and the individual pieces of color that make up the entire painting.  I can learn how to paint for myself by looking at the painting up closer.  Scripture study/reading is similar.  I love to camp out in a book or a chapter of Scripture, examining the detail and learning what God wants me to learn from the passage.  Combining both methods of Scripture reading (a big-picture walk-through the Bible, like the 90 day read, with my normal verse-by verse and chapter-by-chapter camping out of the Bible)  allows me to see God in the big picture of life, as well as his day-to-day love for me. 

100 Mile Fitness Challenge-Week #2

Well, I'm off to a slow start.  Between all the family visiting in the last two weeks and the major storm that knocked power out all over the area for 3-5 days,  I was only able to post 6 miles this week, all walking.  I was hoping to swim this week and discovered on Monday morning that my local pool was closed for the week for cleaning.  Shortly thereafter, the biggest storm in 10 years hit the entire region, knocking out power to 800,000 customers, including my fitness center where I like to treadmill.   No power there for 3 days.  Yikes,  that meant I had to actually walk outside in the heat with all the lovely misquitos who love to feast on me.  Do I sound whiny enough in my excuse-making here?!?  

I know the value of consistent exercise.  In my journey toward better health and fitness in the last two years,  I was able to bring my blood pressure down to an acceptable measurement because I was able to lose 30 pounds.  Those 30 pounds only came off because of consistent exercise (cardio and strength training) and careful intake of food.  Sixteen of those 30 pounds has inched back on me in 2011 and my blood pressure has inched upward, too, which is scary.

So I'm celebrating those 6 miles walked this week, as well as the 1 hour collective strength training I did this week, knowing every step taken, every weight lifted, and every exercise performed moves me closer to my goal of normal blood pressure and a healthy, safe weight.

So, how did you do this week?  

Read through the Bible in 90 days!

I must be a glutton for punishment.  I tried reading through the Bible in 90 days beginning in January and got behind almost immediately.  What I DID read in January was amazing, exciting, and difficult.  It is a very fast pace.  So here I am again beginning another try at reading through the Bible in 90 days.  I'm a great starter but a lousy finisher.  One thing I have going for me this time around is that I have a mentor this time who can encourage me, cajole me and give me a swift kick to keep pressing on with the reading.
 
If you're interested in joining me and about 1000 other women, go to Mom's Toolbox and sign up; and then let me know.  We can encourage each other.   I like Mom's Toolbox SOAP idea for this read-through. SOAP is an acrostic that stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Here is how Amy at Mom's Toolbox describes it:


"S: Scripture-Write the ONE scripture that I feel God is using to speak to me in today’s reading
O: Observation-What might He be telling me with that scripture?
A: Application-How can I apply it to my life?
P: Prayer-What is my prayer to ask God in helping me to make that application?"


Here's my plan: Fortunately, I own a 90-day Bible. I have a journal that I will use to record my daily SOAP, along with a couple highlighters that I can use to highlight verses that are meaningful to me or are verses that I would like to understand better at a later date. They will be easy to find later if I highlight them as I read. Plus I will check in with my mentor group on Mom's Toolbox every Monday night.


I have a Droid Phone and also added the Bible in 90 days on my phone through YouVersion.com's Reading Plan. So, if I get behind, I can always whip out my phone and catch up with the reading...can't highlight or journal (at least I don't know how to do that on my phone), but I can keep saturating myself with the Scriptures. YAY!


Let the reading begin! And to my mentor group, I look forward to experiencing this grand adventure together as we spend time with God in His Word every day for the next 90 days!

100 Mile Fitness Challenge Week 1 Check-in

Hate to start using excuses at the beginning of my 100 mile fitness challenge, but my first week was definitely a rough start.  Between the 4th of July holiday and all the family visiting,  I didn't get much "me" time to get walking.  I only posted 5 miles.  But I am not too bummed.  I kept active "chasing" a 19 month old grand-nephew and spending another day this week walking all over a renaissance fair with some other family members, all activity not included in my count for the week.  So here's to week 2 and to achieving a higher number of miles than 5 miles for the coming week.  If you are reading this and want to join me in the challenge, you can sign up over at 100 Mile Fitness Challenge

New 100 Mile Fitness Challenge

The ladies over at 100 Mile Fitness Challenge are beginning a new 100 mile challenge beginning July 1st.  It's been ages since I've posted on my blog and a long time since the last 100 Mile Fitness Challenge.  So I'm making a fresh start on both my blog and on the challenge.  Post a comment if you want to join me.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This verse has been one of my life verses ever since 1991 when I discovered it written out in my dad's handwriting on a 3X5 card in my childhood bedroom at my parents' home.  Dad had just had an unexpected major surgery that day.  My mom and I were both weary, worried, and scared that Dad might not make it.  To see this verse in Dad's handwriting was like a balm to my soul.  I remembering running into my mom's room and sharing it with her.  Both of us were so deeply comforted by these words.  I have continued to find this verse a comfort and shared it with many others.  Hope it brings you comfort, too.

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

 
I'm studying Isaiah this school year.  I loved this verse because it reminded that if I want to my days to matter in an eternal sort of way,  spending time studying, reading and applying the Scripture is an excellent use of my time.  I am so fortunate to have the Bible in many forms.  I own multiple copies of the Bible in different versions.   Some people in this world don't have any access to the Bible.  I should not squander this opportunity to memorize and study God's Word.  There may be a day coming when I won't have the Bible be so readily available to me.  It may be the only verses that I will have available to me will be the verses I have seared into my heart and life.  Keep memorizing with me, siestas!

Hot Chocolate Race

Last November 2010, I walked/ran in my first BIG (30,000 people) 5K in Grant Park in Chicago.  It was a really cold but sunny morning.  At the end of the race, we were served Ghiradelli hot chocolate and fondue.  I'm glad my neighbor and her husband were with me to share in the fun.  I just registered for the 2011 race.  For my friends who have asked to join me in one of these events, here's your chance to do the 5K with me at the 2011 Hot Chocolate 5K Race in Chicago.  Dr. Oz was there last year and I ran by him at the start of the race.  He was high-fiving us as we ran past. 

Here's a short video from 2010's race to motivate you to get moving.  Ram Racing's Hot Chocolate 2010 Video

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

What matters most in my life?  I'm so often pulled in every direction and become ineffective in all.  These verses help me "keep it simple".  Jesus gave the great commandment to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and secondly, to love my neighbor as myself.  What matters most in my life should be what God expects of me:  to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.  Sounds simple but is a pretty big order.  So I need to start on my knees in prayer each asking God to show how to use my day in obedience to him.   Beware of spending too much time on things that aren't important. 

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage,
To do my Master's will! --Wesley

Bible in 90 Days Week 5-Update

Well, I'm throwing in the towel on this attempt to read through the Bible in 90 days.  I just got too far behind and it was feeling stressful rather than helpful to me.  I'm not discouraged and I will try this again later in the year, hopefully with better results.

We are blessed when we remain steadfast under trial

James 1: 7-15 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

I loved verse 12 this week.  The word blessed is the same blessed as in Matthew 5's beatitudes.  Blessed means happy, but happy from the inside out, not based on external things.  It's based on internal joy that comes from God.  I love God and I know He loves me; so when trials arise in my life, I can totally rely on God to see me through the trial.  His love is my security, his promises are sure and God will use the trial to strengthen me and cause me to grow.  We spend most of our lives trying to avoid trials, but we can learn so much from God when we go through trials.  Satan wants to see me doublemind, unsure, and doubting.  But even if I don't feel it with my emotions, I can, with my will, remain steadfast in a trial because I know God is with me and will never forsake me.

Bible in 90 days Update-Week 4

I am still running behind on my reading, but I have learned so much.  It's amazing how I can be reading in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and see parallels with what I'm reading or studying in other books of the Bible.  Even though the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years,  it is still totally relevant today.   God's love for people shines through each verse, along with his holiness and his patience with people.  The Isrealites complain and I think to myself, "How could they complain when they have seen firsthand God's deliverance of them from Egypt?   If I were there, I'm sure I wouldn't complain".  Only to realize a couple hours later, I'm complaining about something myself instead of asking God for his help.  

I have a generous God!

James 1: 1-6  1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:    Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

We all will have trials; it's not an if but a when in verse 2.  I am to take the trials as an opportunity to be joyful in my heart and soul because the results will help me grow spiritually.  Normally, when difficult circumstances come my way, I want to avoid them and would rather be comfortable. I know the trials I've experienced in my life have been minor relative to many people in the world; my life is not threatened because I know Jesus and read the Bible. I'm not riduculed by my family for being a Christian. Yet, I do experience various challenges daily and the Lord can cause me to feel joy, to choose joy despite the people, things and circumstances that are causing distress in my life.  Do I accept my trials with joy?  

Long story short:  In December 1996, I was sitting in the hospital parking lot crying in my car asking God "where is the joy of knowing You".  My beloved mom had died in 1996 after a long battle with Parkinson's, my sister (and best friend) had been diagnosed in August 1996 with Stage 4 cancer, and I had just left the hospital room of another dear friend who had only days to live.  I was struggling in my marriage, I was only 9 months away from being an empty nester (which has its high and low points), my job was stressful, and I felt no joy in knowing Jesus.    I was desperate to find the joy that the Bible talked about.  I drove to the local Christian bookstore to find a book that would show me where to find the joy.  I purchased 5 books, read through them, and didn't find the joy.  It's been 15 years since then.  Finding joy has been a long slow process, but I can truly say today that I have found the joy in knowing Jesus.  It was a long journey of learning to come to God each day and ask Him for his wisdom for that day and for him to help me that day have joy despite my circumstances.  It was learning to be thankful in all things.  God brought me some good Christian friends who could walk the road with me.  Verse 5-6 tells me where to go for help in having joy in my trials.  I'm to ask God for wisdom.  Why not ask for deliverance from the trial?  Because God wants me to grow spiritually and have faith in Him.  Wisdom is not knowledge, but it is the right use of knowledge.  I am to ask God for wisdom.  How am I to ask?  In faith without doubting.  

What an amazing God!  It says He gives generously to all without reproach.  God simply gives his wisdom and doesn't hold my past failures against me. I'm so thankful that God doesn't give up on us.  His love is sure and steadfast.  His wisdom is perfect.  He understands and knows me better than I know and understand myself.  Don't you wonder why we don't go to God sooner when we run into trials! 

I'm glad to have the group of  online women to go through this study with me.  It keeps me accountable and I like reading what they've learned. 

Bible in 90 days Update-Week3

Still forging ahead with the reading....I will post more this evening, but now I need to go to work.  Have a great day

I Peter 3: 3-4

I Peter 3:3-4 ESV

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

While I will never be known as a woman who is preoccupied with her looks or appearance, I still have miles to go before I come close to being adorned in my heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.  That is something I desire and pray that God works out in my life this 2011, so I will be pleasing to Him.

James Bible Study

I've joined a group of women online who are walking through the book of James together.  We are reading the same verses each day.  Our purpose is to be accountable to each other and to help each other maintain the discipline of reading God’s word daily.   Each morning, (Monday-Friday) the first person who has her quiet time starts the group off. She will share in her post something she learned during her quiet time study of James that morning. Then each member of the group will reply to the whole group after they have their quiet time. 

We start next Monday.  So to prepare myself, I read through James and jotted down some initial "big picture" notes. 

James wrote the book to the "12 tribes of the dispersion".  My Bible's notes say there are a couple choices of which James wrote it.  There was James, son of Zebedee (one of the 12 disciples of Jesus) or there was James, the half-brother of Jesus who became a leader of the church after Jesus's resurrection.  In all likelihood, it was the latter.  Galatians 2:9 says James was a pillar of the church.  We see him in Acts 15 settling a major dispute within the church.  Our best description of the author of James comes from James 1:1 where he calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The "12 tribes of the dispersion" tells me that the readers of the letter were probably Christian Jews who had been scattered around outside of Jerusalem and Isreal.  It must have been hard for them.  Being Jews, they were probably not accepted by their Gentile neighbors.  Being Christian, they were probably rejected by their Jewish neighbors. 

So why did James write the letter?  I went to a commentary for a little help.  Jame's readers were going through trials, facing temptations to sin, having problems with their tongues which caused division, failing to "walk the talk"; having problems with worldiness; were disobeying God's Word and were sick.   Their root problem was spiritual immaturity.  It sounds like Christians today.   James wanted his readers to learn to be spiritually mature. 

I want to be known as a Christian who is spiritually mature; not a Christian who knows a lot of Bible, but one whose life displays the character of Jesus.  I know I will learn alot from James, but I pray that what I learn goes from my head straight to my heart and soul. 

So looking forward to this 12 week walk through James.....care to join me?

Bible in 90 Days Update

It's day 8 of my Bible in 90 Days read-through with Mom's Toolbox.  And I'm a couple days behind, but I'm still highly motivated.  I was driving in my car today and listening to a CD, and got so excited to recognize that the words to the song (which I had heard many times in the past) came from this past week's reading.  It was a verse that I had highlighted and meditated on for that day's reading.   Here I had listened to the song numerous times, but had never really taken to heart what the words of the song were saying....that is, until this past week. 

Exodus 15:  2, 11-13
"The LORD is my strength and my song;he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you—
majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

The song was "Who is Like You" on the Glory Revealed album.

The Lord is my strength & my song
He has become my salvation
He is my God and I will praise Him
I will lift Him up


Chorus: Who is like You, majestic in holiness
Awesome in glory, working wonders
Who is like You, majestic in holiness
Awesome in glory, working wonders


In Your unfailing love
You will lead the people that You redeem
And in Your strength, You will guide them
To Your holy place


Who among the gods is like You
Who among the heavens.

Who is like our God? ABSOLUTELY NO ONE and NOTHING. He is incomparable, indescribable, the Only One, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders....and He loves me with an unfailing love.  Thank you, Lord so much.

Don't tell your goals to others!?

I saw an interesting short video yesterday that basically said that when you share your goals with someone else, you are less likely to achieve your goal.  The speaker said that studies dating back to the 1920s have shown that when you tell someone your goals and they acknowledge them, your mind is tricked  into feeling that it's already done, which makes you less likely to complete your goal.  The speaker said to resist the temptation to share your goal which delays the gratification that the social acknowledgement brings, and to understand that your mind mistakes the talking for the doing.

I really think there's some truth to this, especially the part about the mind being fooled into thinking the goal has been completed, when it hasn't.  So, I guess I shouldn't have posted my 2011 goals the other day.  Oh, well.  I don't think anyone is reading my blog, so I'm safe. So here's my little social experiment.  I will not share this year's goals with anyone outside of this blog and I will look at them at year's end and see if I did better this year by not sharing compared to 2010, when I did share my goals with several good friends. 

Read through the Bible in 90 Days-Day 1

I decided to join a group of women over at Mom's Toolbox who have made the commitment to read through the Bible in 90 days.  So now, I've probably have  really bitten off more than I can chew...can you read too much Bible?  I like Mom's Toolbox SOAP idea for this read-through.  SOAP is an acrostic that stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Here is how Amy at Mom's Toolbox describes it:

"S: Scripture-Write the ONE scripture that I feel God is using to speak to me in today’s reading
O: Observation-What might He be telling me with that scripture?
A: Application-How can I apply it to my life?
P: Prayer-What is my prayer to ask God in helping me to make that application?"

Here's my plan:  Fortunately, I own a 90-day Bible.  I have a journal that I will use to record my daily SOAP, along with a couple highlighters that I can use to highlight verses that are meaningful to me or are verses that I would like to understand better at a later date.  They will be easy to find later if I highlight them as I read.  Plus I will check in on Mom's Toolbox every Monday night.  I signed up too late to be part of an assigned accountability group, but that sure won't be deter me.

I have a Droid Phone and also added the Bible in 90 days on my phone through YouVersion.com's Reading Plan.   So, if I get behind, I can always whip out my phone and catch up with the reading...can't highlight or journal (at least I don't know how to do that on my phone), but I can keep saturating myself with the Scriptures.  YAY!

Day 1-check

Psalm 13:5-6

Psalm 13:5-6:
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. 

I was at a funeral a week ago and this verse was on the bulletin.  For me, it was a wonderful reminder of God's goodness to me regardless of my circumstances.  Way back in 1996, my mom was hospitalized and lost most of her ability to move and to take care of herself.  Her voice was basically gone, yet when asked by my sister if she was mad at God, my mom mouthed "Oh no, how I could ever be mad at God, He's been so good to me!"  I will never forget that lesson from my mother.  I don't know if my mom knew this verse, but she clearly understood its meaning and she lived by it.  Thanks, Mom, for your example to me.  Thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love and goodness, ALWAYS!

2011 Goals and Resolutions

It's a new year, a fresh start! Here are my goals for 2011.

1. Spend a consistent, scheduled time in prayer each day and establish a habit of QT daily.
2. Organize our financial picture.
3. Verbally praise my husband more
4. Clear the clutter in my house
5. Lose 20-25 pounds and continue to work-out at least 3 times/week.

For each of these 5, I have created action steps in order to try to accomplish each goal.  I'm almost afraid to share them here, because it will mean that I really have to follow through with the action steps.  Here are a few action steps for each goal.
1.  Spend a consistent, scheduled time in prayer each day and establish a habit of QT daily.

• Use my envelope system for prayer each day.
•  I'm using a Key Bible Character reading plan this year, along with Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional, along with a One Year Chronological Bible.  I've probably given myself too much reading here,  but we'll see how I do.
• I am also reading through the Bible in 90 days through http://www.momstoolbox.com/blog/

2. Organize our financial picture

• Update our living trusts
• Go through all the boxes of paper (bills, tax papers, etc for prior years and winnow them down to the pertinent papers only.  Then when our bank has its spring shredding day, I will be ready to shred all the unnecessary stuff)
• Update our Quicken so all balances are accurate

3. Verbally praise my husband more

• Every day regardless of circumstances, I will find a way to compliment, encourage, and praise him.  His love language is verbal praise; mine is acts of service.  So I think he will know I love him because I have come alongside him by doing things for him.  I could probably work a lot less but praise him more, and he would be happier with me.  He compliments me alot, but it doesn't exactly fill my tank, like it did when he cleaned and dusted the condo last weekend.  That spoke more to me than 100 compliments.  So I hope to ramp my verbal praise (which I'm very poor at), continue with the acts of service, combined with heaps of prayer for our marriage, and see what happens.

4. Clear the clutter in my closets, basement and garage.  I keep the house sufficiently clean; it's the stuff in these trouble spots that's accumulated that I want to pare down

• I am using the Flylady system this year. I've done it in the past or used simlar systems with success.  But over the last 6-8 years, I've accumulated more than I need, mostly inherited. 
• I also want to winnow down my cookbooks and update my recipe book this year.

5. Lose 20-25 pounds and continue to focus on getting healthy.  I started this goal in 2010 and had good success: lost 30 pounds, was told by my doctor that I no longer have high blood pressure (but I'm going to continue to be careful about it), and just generally felt better and more energetic.This is more a continuation of what I did in 2010:

• Cardio for 30-60 minutes 3-4 days/week and strength training 2-3 days/week
• Stay hydrated by drinking water
• Eat breakfast
• Count my calories
• Plan my meals
• Don't eat after 8 pm (evenings are my munching time)

So, briefly, there are my 2011 goals.  Within each of these goals, there is the overriding goal of being aware of what God wants me to be doing, and then acting on what He wants me to do.  For example, getting healthy was one of my 2010 goals and because I had good results, I had a platform on which to encourage and come alongside some of my friends in their own battles to get healthy.  And I was blessed to be able to deepen some friendships because of this.   As God teaches me in each of my goal areas, I hope to be able to find ways to be an encourager, teacher, and helper to my friends and family. 

I don't really have any accountability partners on these goals. (I have one group of friends that I share these goals with each year, but we don't really hold each other accountable in tangible ways).  So, by laying these out here in the world of blog, I do feel some accountability, in case someone out there discovers this little blog. 

Happy New Year!