An Open Letter to an Empty Chair

Well, Jay, I kept my appointment. I’m sitting here in the waiting room at STCH waiting on someone who will never come. Chris Tomlin’s song, “My Chains Are Gone” was playing when I walked in. I guess you also had an appointment to keep…it was just one you didn’t know you had.

As you well know, my pen was (and is) my shovel of sorts. It helps me dig down to the depths, enabling me to unearth what’s truly going on beneath the surface. But this week, try as I might, I simply couldn’t find the words. All my thoughts and emotions have stayed jumbled up inside, and today more than any other day this week, they’re finally springing to the surface and spilling out and over in the form of tears. A constant running river of liquid emotion.

Shock. Hurt. Disbelief. Confusion. Deep sadness.

There are occasional smiles mixed in with the memories today, for which I am thankful. But your home going left such a huge, gaping hole in so many lives! I am so thankful God’s presence and peace is bigger still. I know it will all be okay. You are at home with our Lord and reunited with your dad. You are safe. You are healed. You are whole. You are alive…more alive than you ever were here on this earth. I can only imagine the joy you’re feeling at this very moment. I’ve tasted it.

In a dream I had a few years ago, I was walking. I was outside, making my way down a gravel path that wound up and around some slight hills, with tall grass swaying in the breeze. I was looking for someone. I finally spotted them off in the distance and realized they were talking to Jesus. He looked just like He’s portrayed in pictures-long brown hair, wearing a white robe with a purple sash. Inwardly I cringed when I realized He would be able to see through me and would know my every thought. But I literally couldn’t stop myself from being drawn towards Him. He didn’t speak to me when I approached. I wasn’t interrupting- simply standing in the background waiting for them to finish. He turned His head acknowledging my presence and smiled at me as He continued His conversation. As I walked closer, I was completely enveloped in pure, overwhelming, utterly complete JOY! It was truly indescribable. It literally took my breath away as every fear I had immediately melted in His presence. I continued to feel that same joy for a brief moment upon waking before it dissipated. You are now living in that reality.

At your service on Saturday, Scott mentioned that at another funeral he recently officiated there at Parkway, someone did the math using the verse out of 2 Peter 3:8 that says, “But do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” The man figured that his wife who had been gone from this life for about 25 years had only been in Heaven for the equivalence of about 30 seconds. Jay, you’ve been gone from here a week now. Around this time is when I was given the gut-wrenching news you were no longer with us. You’re still being embraced in the arms of Jesus welcoming you home. You’re not even aware of what and who all you left behind. The Bible says in Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Just as we look at the birth of a baby as precious and the doctors receive the baby entering this world with tenderness, I can just envision Jesus catching you as you slipped into eternity with the same loving care.

Now sitting in your office where the tears are streaming freely, fierce and hard. Gosh, I miss you, friend! I do not understand why He needed to take you away from us?! “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 Or as another translation reads, “so a friend sharpens a friend.” You were my flint rock! Your friendship was pure. It was sweet. It was genuine. You weren’t faultless, but you were pure. You loved. You encouraged. You lead. You served…well. All of it well.

If I had to choose the epitaph on your headstone, it would read, “The love of Christ compelled him.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 Jesus is very clear that love should be our highest goal (1 Corinthians 14:1), and that in the end nothing else matters except for love (1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:6). I’m not idolizing you, Jay. I knew better. And even if I were, you were always quick to point any incoming praise straight back up to Jesus. You were such a humble man. Talented, transparent, authentic. So, I know better than to put you up on a pedestal and try to create you into a fairytale character without fault or blemish. You shared your heart with me. You confided some things. You openly shared your struggles, questions and concerns. Yet more than anything, we always talked about the love of God. His faithfulness. His promises. Walking by faith and not by sight. Fixing our eyes before us and going wherever it was God was calling us to go. You have changed me for the better because you loved like Jesus. No guilt. No strings attached. No obligation. No judgment. Just acceptance, kindness, gentleness, respect, love.

Love, love, love, love.

The searing, radical love of our Father burned brightly in and through you, leaving me permanently scarred. My heart is broken, but in the words of a song we both loved so much, “May the scars I bear be sacred, this brokenness be real, may the wounds so deep within my heart reflect You as they heal.”

Lord, let your love be evident in all I say and do as I go forth from this place.

Fully Known, Fully Loved

Billowing sheets fresh from the dryer, popping in the air, then delicately falling, enveloping the mattress beneath. Watching my mom make the bed when I was little always enthralled me. Sometimes at night I would even remove the bedspread, crawl under the top sheet & kick it up into the air to watch it again and then to feel it gently cover me from head to toe in the process.

It dawned on me recently that this is exactly how I viewed John 3:16 - the most well known (and probably well loved) Bible verse of all time. At the risk of sounding sac religious, I believed it sounded like a blanket statement –vague and impersonal. “For God so loved THE WORLD…” As the sheets draped the bed, I envisioned His love draping the earth. It was nice and all, but my heart was hungry for more. I needed to know - did He love ME? Did he notice me? Did he really know me? Emotionally, I was ravenous, craving a love that was tailor made - formed, fashioned & fitted just for me; not only the world at large.

To be honest, my entire life I’ve struggled with believing I was loved. No matter the people I surrounded myself with (even my husband and immediate family), how long I held a friendship, or how hard I tried, at best I still felt like the fringe on a rug…never a central part; just loosely connected. At worst I felt overlooked, unwanted, pre-judged, cast aside, simply tolerated, picked over, or unknown completely. Ouch!

You too?

Thankfully though, that’s not how our Heavenly Father feels about us at all! One morning as I sat on my couch reading my Bible, God revealed to me how personalized and intimate His knowledge of and love for me really is. The last half of Psalm 139 verse 3 (NIV) stopped me in my tracks. It says, “you are familiar with all my ways.” I read it again…”ALL my ways.” I began mulling it over in my mind. What were “all” my ways anyway? I didn’t even know. But I felt challenged by the Lord to find out. So I picked up my pen and a blank sheet of paper and began to write. As I started listing off some of the more obvious things God knew about me (such as my name), a page full of more intimate & secretive facts also came gushing forth (like my weight among other things).

May I share some of them with you? As you read through this, I would encourage you to take the time to ponder over each individual thought; don’t hurriedly skim over them. Soak in the reality of His intimate knowledge of you personally. Savor the uniqueness of his love for you, and then relish in His delight over you. God, You know my thoughts.

You know my fears. You know my passions. You know my pleasures. You know my pain. You know my sorrows. You know my intentions. You know my secrets. You know my motives. You know my reasons. You know my excuses. You know my hesitations. You know my tears. You know my laugh. You know my calling. You know my questions. You know my doubts. You know my guilt. You know my shame. You know my pride. You know my insecurities. You know my limits. You know my desires. You know my struggles. You know my strengths. You know my talents. You know my weaknesses. You know my complexities. You know my absurdities. You know my expectations. You know my disappointments. You know my heartache. You know my failures. You know my successes. You know my grief. You know my addictions. You know my brokenness. You know my scars. You know my past. You know my future. You know my circumstances.

This is not an exhaustive list, but when I eventually ran out of words I simply sat in the silence, in awe of the depth of his knowledge of me. If others discovered some of these truths, I would be terrified, embarrassed or grieved. But this? This was freeing. I was at peace. I was in awe. I then heard Jesus say to me, “You are fully known and fully loved.”

And the same is true for you. No matter where you find yourself, what your circumstances may be, what you’ve done (or failed to do), and the list goes on, you can be confident in knowing you are fully known and fully loved by our Heavenly Father.

And that my friends, is a very soft place to rest.

Happy Valentines Day, my friend!

Memories

Twenty-two years ago today I was in a relationship that I believed would end in marriage. 💍 That’s what I wanted, that’s what I had decided, & therefore I was determined to make it happen. Unfortunately the guy I was seeing didn’t share the same dream. I was conflicted & wounded yet still very committed. Little did I know just a few hours later in the day I would cross paths with a man who had just ended a long term relationship that he assumed would also end in marriage. When he walked in the door of Baptist Temple that night to attend the Phillip Sandifer concert I was volunteering at, I immediately thought he was attractive & liked the way he was dressed (no, he was not wearing a T-shirt or flannel, jeans & tennis shoes). 😄 I was scared though too, because since I had started seeing the guy I was with, no one else caught my eye. Although we were over 1,000 miles apart at the time, I didn’t have any desire to look elsewhere. But instinctively I knew this was different. I will spare you most of the details, but three days into our friendship he knew I was the one for him. We officially started dating on Christmas Eve, started making wedding plans in February, got engaged in April (so we do things a little backward), & got married the following November - just 13 months after we originally met. We didn’t know then what God was orchestrating but I’m so glad I (eventually) listened to God (and the several others who were rooting for us to get together); including Lori & Irene for convincing Doug to let me go eat with the guys after the concert, Douglas for pushing me out of his car and onto the street at the red light so I would go ride with Paul in his truck, & to David (BeBe) for not winning the “argument” to drive me home so Paul was able to take me. 😄 Memories...😍

Take Vs. Partake

Have you ever been so busy that you forgot to eat? Or perhaps you didn't necessarily forgo a meal altogether, but instead of sitting down at the table to enjoy nutritious & satisfying foods, you simply chose to grab something quick & convenient from a package while on the way out the door?

I've been there! This past Spring was a particularly busy time for me! In the midst of it all, I was asked to speak to a group of women I was working with organizing & planning a retreat. During this time, I had managed to keep a lot of my commitments afloat (or so I thought), but while preparing what I was going to say to them that night, I became keenly aware of how I had been allowing my family, my home, and mainly my time alone with the Lord to sink.

When I was originally asked to share with this group, my mind immediately dug up an old word picture the Lord had given me in the past, and decided it was the one I would use. But as I sat down to write it out, I felt the Lord impress upon me to "feed them fresh bread."

Due to the aformentioned lack of a regular "quiet time" with Jesus, I didn't know what this "fresh bread" was supposed to be or where it was to come from; and I certainly didn't have the time to sit & figure it out! Like the rest of you, I had a schedule to keep, appointments to uphold, friends to help, a family to take care of, and on & on it goes. The morning I was set to speak, God began putting all the puzzle pieces together for me, revealing the delicacies He had prepared. His timing, although perfect, certainly isn't mine! However, He is faithful, and I pray that what He fed me will also help nourish your soul.

The week before I was set to speak, I had prepared & taken a dessert to our weekly Monday night meeting. After the meeting was over, I went to throw away the disposable pans I had brought the desserts in, but saw the trash had already been taken out. I just decided to take them with me & throw them away once I got there.

As I was about to toss them into the trash after walking in the door, I noticed there were actually a couple bites left in one pan, so I thought I would save it & offer it to my daughter. But as I laid it back down on the counter, & noticed the crumbs left inside, I felt a twinge of guilt (and even embarrassment) that I was planning to offer these meager leftovers to anyone! It was in that moment I felt the Lord convicting me of feeding my family & my Lord scraps. Scraps of energy & creativity, scraps of attention, & scraps of time. Ouch!

In John chapter 13, as Jesus was having dinner with his disciples the night before he was crucified, it says in verse 27 that Judas "took the bread." Again in verse 30 it says, "As soon as Judas had taken the bread..." Notice he didn't eat the bread. He was simply going through the motions. Like me, have you ever been guilty of doing the same?

We've all heard this verse out of Matthew 4:4, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." I've heard it so often, it seems to just skim over my brain without really allowing the full meaning of it to sink in. It doesn't mean we're simply to grab a quick bite out of our Bibles every day & go on about our business. We need to sit & dine with Jesus, allowing His words to penetrate our souls, transforming our minds & ultimately our hearts.

Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35). In the same way we cannot live physically without eating food on a regular basis, it is impossible to thrive spiritually without daily ingesting the Bread of Life. We're not simply reading words on a page, trying to fill our minds with information. When we open our Bibles & indulge in His Word, we are actually partaking of spiritual food that will lead to transformation!

Psalm 90:14 says, "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love..."

Psalm 103:5 says, "Praise the Lord...who satisfies your desires with good things..."

Psalm 81:10 says, "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."

Jesus, our sustenance, our source of strength & life, the One who maintains our very existence is the only One who can truly & fully satisfy us. Food can't. Attention, fame & fortune won't. A prominent social circle & full calendar refuse. All these things we try to stuff onto our plates will ultimately leave us with nothing but an empty heart, and a gnawing hunger for more.

We have a choice. We can choose to rush into our days filling ourselves with mindless activities & busyness, or we can first fill our souls with the Bread of Life; but not both. I want to feast on the Bread from Heaven, our Manna. Will you join me?

Let's not trade eternal, heavenly treasures for simple, temporary, earthly pleasures

Learning to Love Like Jesus

Recently I heard someone say that if they could ask God for any one thing they would ask for a heart that always obeyed the Lord. Although there wasn't anything "wrong" with his answer, I want more than just a relationship built on rules & obedience. I want my obedience to stem from my love for & relationship with Him. Love is the highest goal. It is also the foundation. The motivation...of everything we do. The only thing that matters. A couple of years ago after having this realization stir in my soul, I began praying that above all else He would teach me to love like He does.

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing." -1 Corinthians 13:1-3

"All that matters is faith, expressed through love." -Galatians 5:6

The longer I walk this path, the harder it becomes at times. Especially when the hurt comes from someone you assumed would be...should be...on the same side as you.

It's so easy to love those who love you. But there is no growth in that...nothing learned.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." -Luke 6:32

But to love those who ignore you? To love those who dislike you? To love those who gossip about you & slander you to others? To love those who don't want anything to do with you? To those who just tolerate you? To those who take you for granted? To those who oppose you? To those who seem to intentionally resist your efforts at every turn? To those who continually hurt your feelings? To those who choose others over choosing you? Who assume the worst about you? And on & on it goes. There are so many other possible scenarios.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." -1 Corinthians 13:4-7

So instead of getting my feelings hurt & giving in to the temptation to retaliate, sulk, or nurse my emotional wounds, I must allow Him to love them through me...regardless of their motives (which are unbeknownst to me), & remember that:

1. They are not my enemies. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." -Ephesians 6:12

2. To bless them & continue to pray for them regardless of their behavior. "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." -Luke 6:28

Easier said than done for sure.

But another thing I know and am sure of...

"Love never fails." -1 Corinthians 13:8

My God is...

No nice introductory paragraph here, explaining my long absence from the blogging world. Let's just get straight to the point!

My family is under attack...Spiritually speaking. I've come to realize that anytime God is at work behind the scenes, you can be sure Satan will be in the foreground causing problems-attempting to distract & discourage us, causing us to doubt! He will use any and everything he possibly can to get our eyes off Jesus! Whether it's circumstances, relational, or a combination of the two!

One of my favorite Scriptures lately is out of Psalms 50. Verse 23 says, "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." There are times when it's easy to thank God for what He's done or has allowed. Then are times like now, when the fiery darts are being shot from seemingly every direction, and it's hard to be thankful. But I know & trust in my God!

I am so thankful that my God is...

Able. He knows the Beginning & the end. He Cares. He's my Deliverer and my Ever-present help in trouble. He is Faithful and He is Good. He's my Hope. He is truly Indescribable. He and He alone is my Judge. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. He is Mighty, He is Near, He is the Overcomer, and He is Powerful. He is the answer to every Question, and undoubtedly is the Restorer and Reconciler of all things! He's my Savior and my Truth. He is the Undefeated, Victorious Warrior who has given me His shield of victory! He is eXalted in the highest place, and being the Alpha & Omega, means He's my A-XYZ.

There is no one else like Him and I am so thankful He goes before me, preparing the way! No matter what comes my way, "The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." -Psalm 28:7

I hope you know the same is true for you too! God is everything you & I will ever need...and so much more! Let me know how I can be praying for you, because we're all in this battle together! Just remember though, God has already won the war!

Are Your Angels Unemployed?

As I was lying in bed this morning trying not to wake up, I just had this thought/picture come to mind regarding angels. Not sure where it came from or if it will mean anything to you, but seeing as how I had yet another visual on angels a few years ago, I thought I would write them down to try & make sense of them for myself before I forget them...and if you get something out of it too, then all the better! ;)

As I said, a few years back, I had a dream...well, I hate to call it that, because I was awake. Similar to this morning, I was lying in bed right before getting up when this picture entered my mind. It was a skit. There were 4 men involved. One was standing near the top of a ladder and there were several empty boxes stacked on top of it. The boxes were wrapped in white paper and there was one word on each box written in big red letters. There was one man dressed in white representing one of God's angels and another man dressed in black representing one of Satan's. Last, there was a man down on his knees in prayer. He was praying for a new job, and the minute he did, a white box dropped from above (that had "JOB" written on it) and the angel in white caught it. He began to run across the stage to deliver it to the man in prayer, but was quickly stopped by the angel of darkness. They had their hands on one another's shoulders as they began to try to push one another in the opposite direction; the angel with the answered prayer was trying to make his way across the stage to the man, while the demonic angel was attempting to prevent that from happening. As long as the man continued in prayer, the "white" angel advanced. But when he would stop praying, getting discouraged because he hadn't received his answer yet, the "black" angel would advance. Eventually, the answer was delivered because the man was persistent in praying.

Upon waking fully, I thought of the Bible story found in Daniel 10:12-14 which reads, "Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."

As this story points out, Daniel's prayer for understanding regarding what was going to take place in the end times was delayed because the two angels were "contending" with one another. Other versions of the Bible say the Prince of the Persian Kingdom "resisted" him or "withstood" him. Spiritual warfare is very real, people! Yet God is so good and so gracious that he has assigned His angels to watch over us. Check these verses out:

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 " What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation." Hebrews 1:14

That second verse brings up what I saw this morning. There were a bunch of men dressed in white (in my mind's eye I knew they were angels) sitting around a big wooden table hanging out and visiting. Some were leaned back in their chairs, others were slouched over resting their heads on the table top. Each one was wearing a shoulder mic like policemen wear too. One angel walked through the room and asked what they were doing and one of them exasperatingly responded, "We don't have anything to do...!?"

You can call me crazy if you want to, but when I tie these two word pictures together, I say we (specifically I) need to be in prayer much more than I currently am! When we pray, God answers! He dispatches his angels out to help us when we call out to him! Are you keeping your angel(s) busy, allowing them to do the job God has assigned them to do on your behalf or are they getting to slack on the job for lack of demand? I want whatever help God has given me to be on active duty, not merely part-time time help...or worse yet, unemployed!

Chaos!

Just a quick post!

We're in the midst of moving to our "new" house, so that in and of itself is creating a bit of chaos around here. My husband also decided it would be a good idea to get us moved during his time off (this week and next). Under "normal" circumstances (whatever that word means), that would sound like a great idea! However, he forgot one minor detail: the two oldest kids & I will be gone to church camp!! Seeing as how I didn't want to a) leave him with all the work of moving alone, and b) taking a bunch of needless things with us when we go (we're downsizing), I'm having to go through/clean out/declutter/throw away/pack (for the move as well as for camp) AND have a garage sale within about a 3-4 day period. Note: This does not include any other activities such as: my oldest daughter starting a new job (she doesn't have her license yet so I'm having to drive her), hosting/attending a couple of graduation parties for my 8th grader and family friends, leading a teen Bible Study, completing my volunteer work at the local nursing home, taking my middle son to an eye doctor appointment tomorrow, and just being a wife/mom (which has its own long list of duties/responsibilities...cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., etc., etc. You know the drill). Ya. Like I said, C-H-A-O-S!!!! However, with all that said, that has nothing to do with what I originally logged in here for. What? Me? Distracted? Just slightly. ;)

While taking stuff down off the walls, I also removed the Bible verses I keep posted around the house. I love surrounding myself with God's Word-it helps keep my mind centered & focused on/filled with truth (and as you can see, I need aaaaaaaaall the help I can get! ;) A friend of mine recently asked for a copy of the verses, so I thought, "You know what? I have to type it out anyway, and I haven't posted in a YEAR...so why not kill two birds with one stone and post them on the blog so if anyone else would like to use the same idea, go for it!!" Without any further ado, here they are:

*LAMP: "O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness." 2 Samuel 22:29

*CLOCK: "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

*CLOSET DOOR: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10

*BATHROOM MIRROR: "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image..." Genesis 1:26, "I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made; your works are wonderful..." Psalm 139:14, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

*WATER DISPENSER ON THE FRIDGE: "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst." John 4:12-14a

*KITCHEN SINK: "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow." Proverbs 10:19

*PANTRY DOOR: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

*BACK DOOR: "The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:7-8

*HAMPER: "Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others..." Leviticus 6:11

*TV: "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word." Psalm 119:37

*COMPUTER: "...I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing." Psalm 101:2,3, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." Psalm 139:1,2

*MEASURING CUP/SPOON DRAWER: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

I'm sure there are many more you can think of! What are some you have posted or what ideas come to mind? I'd love to hear more!

For J.A.K.E.'s Sake

Exactly one month from today, our baby boy would be turning one. Instead, he entered this world stillborn...emptying my womb while filling Heaven with his tiny little presence at the same time.

In honor of his upcoming birthday on June 12th, my oldest child (and only daughter) wanted to commemorate it in a special way. She decided to create an "event" of sorts. It won't be a party filled with cake and balloons, but it will be a celebration & there will be gifts. A celebration of life, and gifts of kindness.

She has entitled it, "For J.A.K.E.'s Sake." It stands for "J-ust A K-ind E-xpression." The definition of "expression" is this: "The act of transforming ideas into words or actions. The manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc. without words. A look on the face that indicates mood or emotion."

She is simply asking that everyone do one or more Random Acts of Kindness (R.A.K.) that day in his memory. How you choose to express that is totally up to you! R.A.K. cards that you will leave behind (if you wish, and for example- leaving an unusually large tip at the restaurant-even if/especially if your waitress was having a bad day) are also being printed. They will read, "This Random Act of Kindness done in loving memory of Jake Lawrence Baker, 6/12/12-6/12/12. PAY IT FORWARD! Matthew 25:34-40, Philippians 2:3."

This is her description taken from the Event Page on FB:

"In honor & loving memory of my youngest brother, Jake Lawrence Baker's 1st Birthday (coming up on June 12th), I'm inviting you, my family & friends, to participate in J.A.K.E.'s Day! "Just A Kind Expression." Expression: The act of transforming ideas into words or actions. The manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc. w/out words. A look on the face that indicates mood or emotion." How you choose to express your R.A.K. (Random Act of Kindness) that day is up to you: Whether you pay for a stranger's meal behind you in line at the drive thru, open the door for an elderly man at the store, or simply smile at someone, every R.A.K. (big or small) matters! We're going to have R.A.K. cards for you to leave with your "victims" so they can in turn pay it forward! They will read, "This Random Act of Kindness done in loving memory of Jake Lawrence Baker, 6/12/12-6/12/12. Pay It Forward! Matthew 25:34-40, Philippians 2:3." Please message me with your address & how many you'd like and we'll get them in the mail at no cost to you. We have just one request: if you order them, please ensure you use them all!!! :) We also have a friend who is making T-shirts for those who may be interested in buying & wearing one that day. The deadline for ordering a shirt is June 4th & the price is $18. On Jake's birthday, please feel free to leave a comment here letting us know how your R.A.K. went! ♥ "

I just have to say how deeply touched I am and I stand in awe of her heart behind this effort! If any of you would like to join us in this celebration, we'd be honored.

T.R.O.U.B.L.E.?

A couple of years ago, as my family & I were on our way to visit my husband's grandparent's, we stopped at a convenience store. While sitting in the parking lot waiting for Paul, I heard part of a message on the radio. And although I don't remember who the speaker was, it struck a chord in me and the following is a result of that. I always find word pictures or acronyms helpful and I pray that you will take this simple message to heart and will remember what to do when you're in T.R.O.U.B.L.E. ;)

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

T: Give Thanks!

1. In all circumstances!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2. That the battle is the Lord's! "This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s." 2 Chronicles 20:15

3. That He will never leave you nor forsake you! "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

R: Rejoice!

1. Rejoice in the Lord always!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

O: Let it be an Opportunity!

1. To let your light shine!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

2. To draw near to God!

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8

3. To be a witness!

"But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me." Luke 21:13

4. For great joy-knowing that is serves a purpose!

"Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4

U: Understand!

1. Do not lean on your own understanding!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

2. That we won't know the "Big Picture" until later.

"Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7

3. That God is your only hope!

"My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare." Psalm 25:15 "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." Psalm 39:7 "I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure..." Psalm 16:2, 8-9

B: Believe!

1. That God's promises are true!

"God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection." Psalm 18:30 "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" Numbers 23:19

2. That God is good & will work this out for your good & His glory!

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 "For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does." Psalm 33:4 "The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:15

L: Longing!

1. Long for the Lord-not for substitutes!

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me”" Psalm 63:1-8 "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?" Psalm 42:1,2 "All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God." Isaiah 26:9

E: Be Encouraged!

1. That our trials are temporary!

"For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4

2. That He is with us and we will not be overtaken!

"But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The Heat Is On

While I was taking a drive through "Pity City" this morning (bedroom door locked & all), I was very tempted to park & camp out for a while (move there actually)!! Then while flipping through my Bible, I came across my notes that I had written when I spoke at a church back in April. I was humbled and reminded once again that God is still in control...and thought I'd share what I had written in case any of it speaks to you too. "So, I've got to ask, before I start, when y'all heard the name of this lesson, did anyone else immediately start singing the song, "The Heat Is On" from the 80's? When Pastor Miller called me & was reading off the list of different titles/subjects to speak on, I had a hard time listening after she read that one because the song was already playing in my head, taking me back to the skating rink in Victoria. I actually Googled the song lyrics to see if it might fit in with what I'm going to be speaking on today, but they made absolutely no sense to me. ;) The Scripture this is based on is Daniel 3:19: "Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual." When I first read that, it kind of scared me thinking, "In order to teach something, you first have to learn it first hand. What am I about to walk through in order to be able to talk on this verse? Yikes!" :) But you know, every day we are placed in a "furnace" of sorts...trying & difficult circumstances. Sometimes they're minor trials such as being stuck in traffic or dealing with a crying baby. But other times the heat gets cranked up hotter than normal and we're faced with much more serious situations-whether it be a terminal illness (for either you or a family member), the loss of a job, or maybe even the betrayal of a friend. If we look back at Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, these three leaders had just moments before been on King Nebuchadnezzar's good side. Daniel tells us that several years earlier, they were chosen to serve in the King's court, and had even found special favor in his eyes. So why the sudden, drastic change to where they were now being threatened with death? Several of us are familiar with this story, but some may not be, so let's look back at the first part of Daniel, Chapter 3: "King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall & nine feet wide & set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the princes, prefects, governors, advisors, counselors, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. When all these officials had arrived, & were standing before the image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, a herald shouted out, "People of all races, & nations & languages, listen to the king's command. When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, & other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race, or nation or language, bowed to the ground & worshiped the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up." I doubt that in that large of a crowd, that SM&A were the only 3 men who didn't agree with worshipping an idol. Surely there were others!? They were just the only 3 who didn't give into fear & chose to do what was right. They didn't allow the possible outcome to determine or sway their convictions. I'm sure that some of the people in the crowd that day held what they believed to be "rock-solid" convictions & beliefs too...yet when put to the test, they turned out to be more like ice cream which melted in the heat of hardship. How do we respond to trials? Do we get weak-kneed & crumble under the pressure, or do we fill our minds with the truth of God's word & His promises, while rising up under the struggles & placing our trust in God's perfect plan? Honestly though, sometimes we wonder how or why it would be part of God's "perfect" plan for His children to suffer, don't we? But if we look in the book of James, there are some verses that give us a couple of clues. In Chapter 2, vs 21, it says, "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, & you must follow in His steps." Many times we tend to look at suffering & hardship as punishment-but that's not the case! Sometimes, the furnace heats up because we're doing what's right! It makes Satan angry & he throws things in our path trying to discourage us & cause us to quit. But there are 2 sides to every coin, & God promises in Romans 8:28 to use our trials to bring about good! In Chapter 1 of James, vs. 2-4, it says that we are to consider it "pure joy" whenever (notice it doesn't say IF ever)...WHENEVER we face trials of many kinds. Why? "Because we know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature & complete-not lacking anything." So if we break it down into bite-size pieces, we can see that 1) trials have a purpose. What do they do? They test our faith. And why does that matter? Because the Bible says that our faith is more precious than much pure gold. And without faith, it is impossible to please God. 2) The testing of our faith develops or brings about perseverance-teaching us not to give in or give up-strengthening our spiritual muscles, so to speak. 3) And perseverance finishes or completes the work in us-maturing us. How do we know when we're maturing? By seeing the fruit-the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. Picture a banana still hanging on the tree. You're quite hungry & need something to eat, but the banana is rather small & very green...definitely not "mature & complete." I guess you could eat it, but it would be bitter & probably leave a bad taste in your mouth. God allows us to go through the heat of trials so that our fruit ripens & our lives turn out sweet. For some reason, when God gives me an idea to write about, they normally come as a very simplistic word picture. Another one that came to me as I was preparing for today was baking/cooking. I'm not sure why so many of my thoughts are centered around food lately-other than the fact that my husband and I just learned 3 days ago that I'm 13 weeks pregnant & I've been hungry a lot-but that's another story for another time! ;) Can you imagine if food could talk & carry on a conversation with you? Let's say you're preparing a roast & it starts arguing with you & complaining saying things like, "It's not fair! Why do I have to sit in a 350 degree oven for 3 hours while the cookies only have to bake for 12 minutes??" Or the green beans start whining, "Why do the popsicles get to just sit in the freezer while I have to boil for 15 minutes?" But if you think about it, aren't we really like that spiritually speaking sometimes? We don't like the heat we're having to endure & we start arguing with and questioning God with comments like, "Why did my husband have to leave me while so & so has a 'perfect' marriage?" Or, "Why did you allow my parents to suffer with cancer while you took her dad home without a struggle?" We're constantly trying to compare our struggles against someone else's...getting upset with God for not "baking" us according to another person's "recipe." We all know that each food and recipe calls for individual temperatures and baking times. Can you imagine what a disaster it would be if you cooked all your meals-from fish to cookies to bread to chicken-at the exact same temperature and the same amount of time? Some foods would be burnt, other would be left raw...lots of food wasted! It wouldn't work very well, would it? Remember, God is the Master Chef. He has created each one of us to have a unique look, taste & design. He alone knows the right combination of tests, trials, heat & length of time we need to be in the fire in order for our lives to turn out right. Heat can do one of two things-harden or soften. How are you allowing your trials to affect your heart? Now because we're human, we will not always understand, like or agree with what God chooses to do or allow in our lives. Sometimes the furnace He places us in gets much too hot for our liking and we want out-NOW!!! I know I do! But God's watchful eye is always on us & He will not allow us to be burned up. We can take comfort in the fact that God's word IS true, and that when He is through testing us, we will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). I would like to close by reading my favorite "core verses" which I cling to in every trial I ever find myself in...in fact, I've written them down on index cards and carry them with me everywhere I go. "For the word of the Lord holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust." Psalm 33:4; "The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6; "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11; "And we KNOW that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. I would encourage you also to write down and carry with you Scriptures that God lays on your heart. It's a great way to "feed" on God's word!

Baby Jake...Gone Too Soon

One week ago today, our unborn baby boy skipped this world and went straight to Heaven to be with our Lord & Savior, Jesus. Before I even delivered him, he had already been "delivered." I've had a vast array of feelings and emotions these past 7 days, as have the rest of my family. The morning after I got released from the hospital, my nearly 13 year old came up to me in the kitchen and said, "I feel kind of guilty." Both my husband & I wondered if they (the kids) would take Baby Jake's death personally, so I was mentally trying to prepare myself for that type of conversation. But when I asked him what he meant, he said, "Well, I'm actually in a good mood today. It's kind of like yesterday never even happened...?" Oh how I wish that were the case too! Immediately, this word picture came to mind... Our emotions are like the branches of a tree affected by the weather of our circumstances. On a cold Winter day (up North somewhere of course; not here in hot & humid South TX), the branches of a tree may be heavy & burdened, weighed down by the ice & snow. On a Spring day, the sun is shining, the birds singing, and the branches are gently swaying in the calm breeze. If a thunderstorm comes along however, very quickly things change. It can be brutal and ravage the tree-stripping the leaves off the branches, and even ripping & breaking the limbs. But the root system isn't affected by what's going on above ground. I take comfort in the fact that no matter the "weather" of my circumstances, I am rooted and grounded firmly in the Word of Christ which NEVER changes!!!! I am held by Someone so strong, that even the "winds and waves" of my emotions have to obey Him! "For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does." Psalm 33:4 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8 Jake Lawrence Baker, June 12, 2012, 3:00 p.m., 1.2 oz, 6"

Jehovah Shalom

A couple of weeks ago, our pastor gave us a slip of paper with the name, "Jehovah Shalom" written on it. He had handed slips like that out to several other families within our church, all with a different name of God on it. We were then asked to find Scriptures referring to that name/character of God. This past Sunday, we each took a turn telling in our own way (whether it was to write a poem, pray, sing a song, etc) on how we've come to know and experience God (as in our case, our Jehovah Shalom) or the God of Peace.

Initially, I didn't really think I had anything to say...because in all honesty, our lives haven't been very traumatic. But on Saturday night after everyone was in bed, I sat down to write and all these examples came pouring out...

"The betrayal of a close friend. The sudden, unexpected death of my dear uncle. An unwanted phone call that threatened the possibility of ripping my family apart. A new addition to our family unit that drastically altered life as we knew it. Blood tests that have changed my daughter's health & lifestyle."

There have been others, but these were on the forefront of my mind that night. These are all instances in my life over the course of several years that initially were tainted with bits of confusion, anxiety, hurt, distrust, shock & pain. But looking back, I can see how through all of these "trials of many kinds," God has indeed been my peace.

Many people hold to the false belief that peace is simply the absence of trials and/or strife. While others live in a perpetual state of denial, fooling themselves into believing that simply because they're Christians, that their life has no problems, and that the issues at hand really aren't there. Neither of these is true. We're promised in John 16:33 that we WILL have trouble in this world...but that we can also have peace in the midst of our storms! Peace is the absolute assurance that God is in TOTAL control of ALL things at ALL times & that He is weaving every fiber of our lives together to be used for His greatest glory & our ultimate good!

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee..." Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Stay.

Dwell.

Rest.

The first two words mean "to live as a resident; reside. To continue to be in a place or condition. To fasten one's attention to something." When we choose to focus our mind and thoughts on Christ and His sovereignty, it gives us peace-knowing we can rest in Him. He also promises us a peace that transcends, or exceeds-goes far above & beyond our understanding of even the most difficult and unsettling circumstances when we take every situation to Him in prayer (as instructed in Philippians 4:6-8) and leave it in His hands.

These following verses are what I fall back on time after time...truths that I wrap around each situation I'm ever faced with. They serve as a "flagpole" of sorts-grounding me in His word, anchoring my mind to my Heavenly Father's concrete truths, while at the same time, freeing me to rest in His sufficiency & experience His peace. I pray they do the same for you.

Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 32:8-"The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life..."

Proverbs 3:5-"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Romans 8:28-"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Psalm 33:4-"For the Word of our Lord holds true and everything He does is worthy of our trust."

Note that it doesn't say that everything that happens to us IS good...but that God will work it FOR our good!! Also, we may not understand, like or agree with everything God does (or allows) in our lives...however, we MUST trust Him!!! He has our best interest at heart!

False Advertising!

Things are normally not as easy and simple as some people/companies/products lead you to believe! Have you discovered that for yourself yet?

Random thoughts occasionally hit me at odd times...like just now while heating myself up a late dinner. My newest addiction is microwavable soup in a can. Convenient + Cheap = Love it! When I got it out of the microwave, the words, "JUST HEAT & SIP" were staring me in the face. They make it look so much easier than it really is...NOT that it's difficult by any means; it's just that you're given only 2 steps of the entire process (and in large print on the front label). This is how it really goes (shown on the back label in tiny print, and shown here in paraphrased form):


1. Shake the can before opening.
2. Pull off the plastic cap.
3. Put it down.
4. Remove metal rim.
5. Throw away metal rim.
6. Microwave (without the lid) for 1 minute, 15 seconds.
7. Leave in microwave for an additional 1 minute.
8. Stir.
9. Put plastic cap back on.
10. NOW YOU CAN DRINK IT!!!

Isn't that somewhat like life? I've heard it said before that life's not that difficult. You just live and then you die. Well, that's partially true...you do have to live before you die. But there's so much more in between!

There are hurts, hang-ups & heartaches to endure, memories to be made, victories to be won, jobs lost, weddings & births to be celebrated, lessons to be learned, funerals to attend, misunderstandings to work through, beauty to behold, loved ones to embrace, tears to be cried, forgiveness to be extended, unexpected losses to be grieved...and the list goes on.

Having lost a very dear loved one only 2 days ago, it serves as the perfect time to remind us all...life is short. Life is uncertain. Life is not always easy! We have no guarantees of what experiences lie around the next corner, or what twists & turns the roads may take. Life may not be as simple & uncomplicated as a soup label, but we CAN have peace and stability in the midst of it all, knowing that our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, is still in control!

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

"But the Lord is in his holy Temple;the Lord still rules from heaven.He watches everyone closely,examining every person on earth." Psalm 11:4

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:7

"So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. My powerful right hand will take good care of you. I always do what is right." Isaiah 41:10

This Is No Joke!

The kids and I made these on Monday using a craft idea from Family Fun Magazine. The first time we made them (about 5 years ago), they had so much fun pranking people at school, at church, you name it! :)

As I was reading in my quiet time this morning, I came across one of my favorite verses, Psalm 5:3. "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

I have always had this visual image when I read that verse about a little boy playing a prank on a friend. I can just see him lying in wait, giddy with excitement, knowing full well that his friend is on his way.

We are also called to lay it down...lay down our requests, our needs, our anxieties and worries, our expectations, our wants...and lay them at the Lord's feet and wait in expectation...knowing full well our Lord is on His way! And that my friends, is no joke! ;)

Even in the Trivial Things...

God's Word is still applicable.

Nothing deep and theological here...but wanted to share a "funny" with you! For those of you who don't see how God's Word, the Bible, deals with & applies to everyday life, check this out. The first time I ever read this verse, I thought, "Wow! God's Word even talks about garage sales!!" Read it for yourself and tell me if you agree.

“It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase." Proverbs 20:14

For any of you who have ever had a garage sale, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Potential Buyer at the sale (griping about the ridiculous price you've put on the brand new, unworn, pair of jeans you bought at the Buckle for $168): "You want a dollar for these? They're not even worth a quarter!!"

Buyer later on that day : "Girl, check this out!! I bought these for a dollar! A DOLLAR!!"

Well? Ok, I'm done. Enjoy the rest of your day! :)

Measurements, Week 3

Well, this past week didn't go quite as planned. Basically, I was a slacker and failed to stick to my original T-Tapp schedule. I'm telling you, I NEED a workout partner to help keep me accountable and motivated!!! But, all in all, it still wasn't a total loss because I came away with a 1 3/4" loss! I'll take anything I can get! But, starting today I'm getting back on track! It's do or die...and I'm not ready to die quite yet! ;)

Expecting great things...

3.25"

Okay, here are my measurements since last week...

Chest: -1/2"
Bust: same
Ribs: same
Waist: -1/4"
Abdominals: -1/2"
Hips: same
Rt. Upper Thigh: -1/4"
Lft. Upper Thigh: -1/4"
Rt. Lower Thigh: -1/4"
Lft. Lower Thigh: -1/2"
Rt. Calf: -1/4"
Lft. Calf: -1/4"
Rt. Arm: -1/4"
Lft. Arm: same

That's 3 1/4" lost this week alone! Making for a total inch loss of 7.5" in only 2 weeks!

I dropped another couple pounds too! :)

Today will be Day 8 in T-Tapp's Bootcamp (Basic Workout Plus and Instructional #2). On Friday when I begin working out every other day (4-5 weeks), I plan to do the Total Workout.

Have a great week!! :)

T-Tapp Week 1 Measurements

Well, it was a grueling week...in regards to working out, that is! Day 1 I started off determined, but my excitement quickly waned as my legs were SO very sore the next couple of days, which made it difficult to maintain proper form throughout the workouts (much less trying to walk up & down stairs, sitting down at/standing up from the table for dinner, etc)! However, I stuck it out and completed my first week (that's an accomplishment to be proud of in & of itself)!! I did the Instructional Workout #1 to get me back in the swing of things, and starting today, I'll be doing my first day of Bootcamp (Basic Workout Plus and Instructional #2 back to back). I'll probably do this combination for the next week before moving on to the Total Workout for the remainder of my time.

Here are my results so far:

Chest: -1 1/2"
Bust: same
Ribs: -1"
Waist: -3/4"
Abs: same
Hips: -1/2"
Upper Rt. thigh: same
Upper Lft. thigh: same
Lower Rt. thigh: same
Lower Lft. thigh: -1/4"
Rt. calf: same
Lft. calf: same
Rt. arm: same
Lft. arm: -1/4"

Making for a total inch loss of...4 1/4"

The results are certainly not as breathtaking as I would like...It only took me nearly 10 years to put on this weight...SURELY it should be gone after only 1 week of working out, RIGHT?? ;) Actually, when I started using T-Tapp several years ago, by the end of my very first week, I had lost 1 1/2" off my waist alone...that got me hooked! But I'm expecting even greater things this week!

Until then, Happy Tapping!!! ;)

New Year's Resolutions...More Than a Week Late!

Actually, I haven't made any resolutions because I never wind up keeping them, so I figured, "What's the point?" I do however need to start exercising again. After my friend Connie & I quit working out after she hurt her foot several months ago, I just never jumped back on the bandwagon. I was reading on my friend Kara's blog, Home With Purpose, the other day and she mentioned posting her workout results (we both use T-Tapp) every week on her blog to help keep her accountable. So, I figured I would borrow her idea and attempt to do the same. I then decided to re-measure and was HORRIFIED to find that I had actually GAINED inches instead of just staying the same (not that I expected to lose anything, but to gain more?!? Come on!)! :-(

Here are my stats (in inches only...I'm NOT revealing my actual measurements):

Chest: +2 1/2"
Bust: +2 1/2"
Ribs: +2"
Waist: Miraculously stayed the same! ;)
Abs: +5 1/2" Aaaah!!! The shock, the horror!!!
Hips: +2 1/2"
Upper Right thigh: + 3/4"
Upper Left thigh: +3/4"
Lower Right thigh: ~ the same
Lower Left thigh: ~ the same
Right calf: - 1/2"
Left calf: -1/4"
Right arm: ~ the same
Left arm: ~ the same

Well, tomorrow is Day 1. Since it's been a while since I've done any exercise, I think I'm going to just do the 15 minute instructional workout and take it from there. I'll post each Monday with a new report.

Wish me luck!!! :)