Today is the start of summer semester. Do you remember a while back when I had over four weeks before classes started? I do...barely. Those days have flown by with the search for a house to buy, riding my scooter, mini-vacation. Now begins the crazy days of summer. Class two nights each week. Reading assignments. Homework. PLUS cookouts, more mini-vacations, more riding my scooter, more searching for a house to buy. With all this craziness I decided a new background was in order. Doesn't it just scream summer craziness?
My sweet blog peep, Kim @ Just a Southern Girl presented me with this wonderful award because not only do I visit her often, I comment on her happenings. She and her hubby are missionaries in Argentina and have some of the most interesting adventures. She's very creative with the resources God has provided and I am blessed by their faithfulness and obedience. Be sure to stop by her spot and say "hey."
Kim and I are both participating in Project 365 where we are taking a photo each day of 2009. Since we are on the opposite sides of the equator, we are in opposite seasons. It's fascinating to watch the change in our seasons, food, and clothing. Be sure to stop by both of our Project 365s. My photo blog is Shutter Clicks and you see the most recent pictures there.
If you've been following my posts this spring, you know I'm participating in a health challenge sponsored by Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee. This latest phase is the ole switcheroo. My switch has been more in my diet than my exercise pattern. Don't get me wrong, I'm still training 30 minutes a day. Some days I walk, some days I work out with my personal trainer on FitTV, and some days I ride my bicycle. It depends on my schedule and the weather. Oh yeah....I'm still drinking all that water too. Find out about this challenge and what the other Challengettes are doing by clicking here.
Seems like I'm participating in a lot of things these days.....doesn't it to you? Do you get that way? You have so many "want to do" plus your "need to do" that your time slips away and you're faced with "what should I do?" I think God calls us to be good stewards with all of our resources.....time, $$$, and body. We can easily get out of balance. That's when we need to stop, look, and listen to what God would have us do.
Do you need to self-edit what you are doing to be in balance and demonstrate good stewardship? Stop, look, and listen today, This Day, to God's calling. I guarantee He will align your "want to do" with your "need to do."
Peace and Joy Susan
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
I and several of the Challengettes have been working together to get moving. Lidna over at 2nd Cup of Coffee started this as a two week challenge on March 26. We each pledged to get moving 30 minutes a day for 5 days each week for two weeks. Easy enough.
After that came a second challenge and Phase 2. We were still moving 30 minutes a day during the two weeks from April 14 - 28 with one major change. Cut out 100 calories a day. A little tougher, but still doable.
We took a brief break and then came Phase 3 onMay 12. The goal was to keep moving and drink enough ounces water that was to equal half your weight. Really? Really, Lidna? How can you not move and drink that much water? Seriously? I feel like the Energizer Bunny! Day and night, never stopping!
On Friday, May 15, my hubby and I took a two hour drive. This is my picture of him after the third time I needed to make a pit stop. He's telling me to stop drinking so much water so we could get there before the end of the day. lol
Now, Lidna has come up with Phase 4. That's right....the saga continues. This time it's the ole switcheroo. We're to switch up our routine, change our foods, do something different so our bodies won't be able to slack with the same ole same ole routine.
Now comes the hard part for me. What to do? What to do? My workout routine is different every time. So.....I'm going to starting riding my bicycle (as weather permits). I'm also going to change my eating pattern. I currently have an oat/nut snack in the morning. I'm going to have fruit/yogurt instead. The oat/nut snack will be after workout....with water of course.
Are you up for the challenge? Stop by Lidna's and sign up today, This Day! You'll be glad you did.
Peace and Joy, Susan
Psalm 85:11 (NIV) Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
Greetings Blog Peeps! After some very stressful days, power is slowly being restored to our region. They are calling it an "in-land hurricane" which is an oxy moron but the best way to describe the storm that hit here Friday afternoon. I found this on YouTube and there are several other related clips you can view. Our family and friends are all doing fine and sustained no property damage. We're just a little war worn from having to live without power, not able to cook, and throwing away all the food from our fridge and freezer. We're hoping for power by tomorrow. Which would be a great birthday present for me.
After all that, you'd think I'd had my fill of water.....but no-o-o-o. Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee has put out Phase 3 of our 30 x 5 moving challenge and I'm ready to take up the gauntlet. We're to increase our water intake by half our weight. What???? Divide your weight in half and the quotient is the number of ounces of water you should drink every day. So.....if you weigh 150 lbs and divide that in half, you should drink 75 ounces of water every day. Seems like a lot? Yeah. It does to me too, and I drink water.
Honestly, it will be good to get back into a routine and start a new challenge to get past all this storm damage stuff.
Are you up for the challenge? Let's start moving today, This Day!
Peace and Joy, Susan
Proverbs 31:10, 27-28 (NIV) A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her
First, let me just say..... THANK YOU, LINDA! for hosting the 30 x 5 - 100 challenge. It was more difficult to meet my own goals during Phase 2 but that's what happens when you set the bar too high. Because of my grueling schedule of finals, final projects, presentations, a conference in Chicago, and getting settled in a "new" house, I didn't meet w/my personal trainer regularly for my 30 minutes/day workout. I am not stressin over it. Most days I surpassed my goal of 7000 or more steps on my step counter. There were even several days that I logged over 12,000. Most days I made wiser food choices, well....except for the three days I was in Chicago..... I was in Chicago for cryin out loud! The food was fabulous!
The challenge has motivated me to keep moving. The other ladies, The Challengettes, who are doing this with me are inspiring. Yep, sign me up for Phase 3 (and I don't even know what it is yet). Maybe I should rethink this.....hahahaha.
I'm also participating in Project 365 hosted by Sara. Taking a picture a day is more difficult than you think. We have just completed week 17 in 2009 and my pictures are posted on my picture blog.....Shutter Clicks. You can link up here or on the icon located in the side bar.
Several of you have inquired about house hunting and how the move is going. The closing for the house we sold was on April 15, and we are completely moved in to a rental house. The rental house was not lived in for over a year (that's a story in itself) and there have been several problems arise as a result of this. Small electrical issues, phone problems, and plumbing catastrophes have plagued getting settled. Yet, my goal has been to make this house a place of comfort and a refuge from the outside world. A place that when you enter, you can feel the love and peace of God. Thank you Robin for your posts of Living a Legacy. You have encouraged and motivated me to do this in my own life. I applaud you.
We are actively looking for a house to purchase. I'm not stressin over not finding something either. God has a house for us and in His time, it will be revealed. It is difficult to not be anxious about it, but just as He brought a buyer for the house that sold.....He will provide a house for us to buy. Heartfelt thanks to each of you who are praying about this with us.
What do you stress over? Do you put energy into worrying about things which you have no control over? Give them over to the LORD today, This Day. He will turn your worries into triumphs.
Peace and Joy, Susan
James 1:2-3 (NIV) 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
You read that right....."Challengettes" how cute is that for a nickname? One of my fellow workout blogsters, Skoots1Mom @ My Hands...His Glory dubbed us that name. I love it. Stop on over to her spot and see how she's doing with the challenge. Her take on it is quite entertaining. I'm sure you'll be up-lifted. (pun intended) lol
I'm finishing up my second day of week two. I'm surprised my feet didn't boycott me yesterday with as many miles as I put on them. My step counter logged over 14,000 steps. Those steps included my 30 minute walk at noon, plus errands and grocery shopping after work. Of course, Miss Over Achiever still worked out with her personal trainer, Gilad. I'm so thankful for DVR which allows me to get that work out in on my schedule. Today, I took it a little easier. I didn't walk at noon and only logged 9372 at the time of this writing. I did work out with my personal trainer. Here he is:
Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee who is the host of this little challenge asked us to mention some of our snacks, so here's my daily snack. Almonds, walnuts, and oat cereal.
Lent has been a time of doing without and challenging myself to improve physically and be more knowledgeable about God. How He sees other people....and me. No meat Friday's are probably the most difficult for me during this Lenten season cause I like that meat protein. Seriously....who doesn't like a good steak? Sara over at GitzenGirl has a great story about no meat Fridays. It's a good read. Anyway, to help me through, I've concocted this wonderful no meat Mexican dish that tastes awesome and is very filling. I just sauteed some onion and grated carrots, added chunky salsa, black beans, cooked basmati rice, and corn. I keep my own blend of spice when I'm cooking Mexican of cumin, corriander, chili powder, white pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground ceyenne. It needed some liquid at different points during cooking and I just added some broth. Wrapped it up in a multi-grain tortilla topped with light sour cream, salsa, and cheese. A little bit of avocado and, can I just say, YUMMMMMM!
How are you doing with your challenge? Are you ready today, This Day, to make that commitment to get healthy? Don't wait until your health is in jeoprady. Take the challenge and get moving.
Peace and Joy, Susan
Matthew 9:12 (NIV) On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
It's time for Thankful Thursday! How sad it would be to not be able to come up with a short list of five things for which to be thankful. Here's my list for the week:
My dad! He has taught me so much and as we grow older, our friendship strengths.
Cell phones. I know....right? It used to be so expensive to stay in touch with family and friends long distance......cell phones have made it affordable.
Christian Radio. nuf said!
Distance Ministries. Charles Stanley, Beth Moore, David Jeremiah, etc., all have ministries where they reach across the miles into the homes and hearts of millions.
Cyber-friends. They challenge us, encourage us, teach us, pray for us, and love us. Bless each of you for your friendship.
That's my five today, This Day. What are you thankful for?
I was so busy yesterday that I didn't get a chance to update my 30 x 5 challenge from Linda @ 2nd cup of coffee. I'm definitely an over achiever but I was reading on another blog recently (when I locate it, I'll link up) that she's running three miles a day and that is only enough to maintain her present weight. Another challenge for me? Absolutely! So yesterday I did my 30 minute walk and worked out w/my personal trainer, Gilad. My step counter total by bedtime was over 13,000. You read that right! Remember, I'm moving around a lot in the evenings packing for the big move. Also, I don't wear my step counter during my evening workout. We're half-way done with the challenge. I'm lovin it.
Peace and Joy, SusanD
1 John 4:11 (NIV) 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Since I get two days of my choice off with this program (thank you Linda), Sunday and Monday were the two days I chose. Besides being my hubby's days off, I was in class on Sunday -- I know....crazy, right? The 30 minutes of working out were off limits, but I did wear the step counter and still logged over 7000 steps each day.
Today, my workout included my regular personal trainer, Gilad, from Fit TV. My step counter has logged almost 9000 steps at about 6pm. With all the packing and laundry on my schedule tonight, I figure I'll break 10K. Sweet!
How are you doing with the challenge? Do you find it motivating that there are so many of us in the program? I sure do. Maybe I'm an over achiever, but I am determined to complete this by all the guidelines. Remember, even if you haven't started, you still have time today, This Day, to make that commitment.
Peace and Joy, Susan
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
