Rummage Sailing

I say rummage sailing (instead of saling) because it is very windy out. I decided to wear my pedometer today while I walked around the whole area to check out the rummage sales. I left with $11 and maybe $2 in change. I came back with 4 bags and $6.05 left. Plus, I walked about 8300 steps!

I found a lot of girl and gender neutral onesies for gift-giving or myself one day. I got about 8 pairs of little socks, 1 bib, and one pair of baby girl hand socks. Emmitt was very interested in all the smells that I brought home.

I got some free or cheap items for my prize box at school too. I also got a puzzle, a binder, and 5 "magazine" holders. I am sure I can use them at school for many things.

I got our nieces cute gymnastic (I think) outfits and a sweater. I hope they fit. If not, they were not a lot money.

Until next time...

Love the Mama

Yesterday I heard a quote from Rebecca St. James (the Christian singer) on the radio. She was talking about her parents and that they read things by James Dobson. He had said one of the most important things a father can do for his children is to love their mother. She agreed that this helped her as a child feel stable.

Oh, I think this is so true. I felt emotional about it when I heard it because I know Blake loves me and will show that whenever we have children. God is so good.

Then I started thinking about my mom and my stepdad. Even through rocky times I knew a little bit then and I certainly know now looking back that my stepdad loves my mom. I see him trying to show her in his own way.

I'm going to go rummage saling in our neighborhood now.

Until next time...

Perfect Rest

Here is the final step.

Step 7: Perfect Rest of Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian

--Often the reason we don't sleep well at night is because we are not living the way God intended us to live during the day.

--Most healthy people need only seven to nine hours of sleep in every twenty-four-hour period. Both extremes--too much or too little--are unbalanced and are signs that something in the lifestyle needs to be realigned.

--In fact, sleep is more vital than food.

--During sleep food is transformed into tissue. A certain amount of time is needed to do that, and to rid the body of poisons. The cells in your body are repaired and reproduced more rapidly when you are sleeping than when you are awake and all the body functions are going at full speed. That is why there is no substitute for sleep. It actually changes the structure of the blood. There are certain things that need to happen in your body that can only happen during sleep.

--One of the main causes for insomnia is overeating and eating toxin-forming foods.

--When your body is full of toxic wastes, the nerves will be constantly irritated until the wastes have been eliminated. You will not be able to sleep well as long as the nerves are irritated.

--Sleep is natural. God made you to sleep. Don't let yourself be deprived of it. Get to the bottom of what is keeping you from sleeping and take steps to see that it is corrected.

--Most victims of sleeplessness are those whose mental activity is much greater than their physical activity.

--...spending time in the sun aids calcium absorption...If you are not sleeping well at night, plenty of physical activity in the fresh air and sunshine might be the solution.

--Steps to ensure sound sleep:

1. Go to bed early. -The dark hours before midnight are said to give you the most rest and do the most good. God made darkness for rest. It has been proven that the best sleep is obtained during those dark hours.

2. Take mini-breaks during the day and rest totally for ten minutes.

3. Take frequent "breathers."

4. Increase your exercising.

5. Get plenty of fresh air and sunlight.

6. Eat food the way God made it.

7. Take a warm bath to relax.

8. Drink herb teas.

9. Have a body massage or a foot rub.

10. Fast and pray.

11. Take short naps.

12. Keep your sleeping room dark and quiet.

13. Buy a good mattress.

14. See that you have good ventilation.

15. Live in peace.

16. Allow a half an hour to unwind.

17. Have a nighttime ritual.

18. Remember the prayer closet.-...you can't get back to sleep within thirty minutes, it is better to just get up and go talk to the Lord or read the Word than it is to lie awake...

19. Check all of the Seven Steps to Greater Health regularly.

20. Don't wear restrictive clothing.

21. Under no circumstances drink alcohol, coffee, tea, or soft drink and then take tranquilizers or sleeping pills.

--Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. -Exodus 20:8

--Check out to the world and check in with God.

--If we obey this commandment and receive it like the gift that it is, we will have more peace and joy, and experience more fulfillment.

--The ultimate experience of God's rest will be when we have left this world and are with Him in heaven.

--My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.-Exodus 33:14

--In the presence of the Lord will be our true rest.

I am going to bed now...

Until next time...

Periods of Fresh Air and Sunlight

Let me know if you like the new look of the blog!

Step 6: Periods of Fresh Air and Sunlight from Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian

--Darkness brings death; light brings life.

--Sunlight is a powerful healer, tonic, germ killer, remedial agent, and relaxer, especially when it is used in conjunction with the other seven steps.

--As you become healthier and healthier (living peacefully, eating food the way God made it, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, fasting and praying, and getting good rest), the greater your desire to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine.

--...there is less oxygen in hot weather than in cold.

--If a person does not get enought fresh air or is a shallow breather, there are certain poisons in the system that do not get out.

--...be out there in them, enjoy them, and breathe in deeply. They are beautiful days that the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in them.

--Fresh air and sunlight are life giving.

She also talked about wearing breathable clothing and if going outside doesn't come naturally to you, you should schedule it in.

I have realized I'm a shallow breather so I have been trying to breathe deeper a little more each day.

I have really liked this book. I know I cannot change and become totally healthy in one day. It is a process that I look forward to seeing the results in days, weeks, months, years. I would like a godly, healthy life be my way of life so if I have children I can pass that down to them.

Until next time...

Prayer and Fasting

Here are tidbits from Step 5: Prayer and Fasting of Greater Health God's Way by Stormie Omartian

--Fasting is a discipline that God designed for each one of us to bring us into a greater knowledge of Him, to release us into more fullness and power of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and to bring us to a point of greater health. Fasting can alter our lives in such a way that we are able to move in new freedom, new closeness to God, and new unity with our fellowmen. I want all those things, don't you? Of course you do!

--Why do we hesitate? I'll give you two reasons: ignorance and fear.

--The mere idea of fasting often elicits responses like "strange," "offbeat," "fanatical." But it should suggest words like obedience, deliverance, wholeness, communion, discipline, and health.

--Matthew 6:16

--We, as believers in Jesus who take seriously the written Word of God, must do our fasting unto the Lord to honor, worship, and glorify Him.

--We get so prideful that we don't want to deny ourselves anything, but the truth is that we are much happier when we do, and so much richer when we do it all to the glory of God.

--He is calling all who are able, to fast and pray. Not just a few, not just the pastors, not just the elders, not just the authors or the teachers, not just men and women over fifty-five, but all adults who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and abide with HIm in their hearts.

--Even though the motive for fasting must be spiritual and the spiritual results are the most important, the physical benefits are monumental.

--We must always keep the body controlled by the spirit. Fasting is an effective way to do this.

--Self-Control is a fruit of the Spirit. Loss of control is a seed of the flesh, and Satan has a field day with it. Also see 2 Peter 2:19

--...supposed to be a ministry, not a misery.

--Isaiah 58: 6-14

She also lists other benefits of fasting, along with suggestions and guidelines for fasting.

She suggests first starting off missing one meal. Then a 24 hour fast, 36 hour, etc. 24 hour fast once a week. Then a 3 day fast twice a year.

She also suggests reading and preparing for a fast.

I did a 24 hour total or "normal" fast (with water) last week. This may sound weird but it was easier and harder than I thought. I really enjoyed the time with the Lord and depending on Him. Blake was gone so I didn't have food tempting me at all except in my head. I could tell I usually eat when I would not rather be doing dishes, etc. When I would feel this way I knew it was time to spend some time reading the Bible or praying because that was my purpose of fasting. I did a bit of shopping which was a temptation of some sweets at the checkout. I started thinking "I did a little bit that's enough", but I didn't give in. Stormie Omartian did say if you fast for part of a day and your motive and time with the Lord was right, that is all that matters. It's not about just abstaining from food.

I tell you this just to explain my experience and attempt to glorify God.

Anyway,

I have been eating better I think. It hasn't been a huge problem since we don't have much junk in the house and I've been buying tons of fruits and vegetables. For dessert today I had a couple pitted dates. They are so sweet. I cannot eat too many of them or I get a bit bloated. Cucumbers and blueberries have been good too.

I also did one of Denise Austin's Fit and Lite that we DVR'd in March. I really enjoyed it. It combines a bit of stretching, yoga, cardio., all in a half hour (including commercials). I have found 2 days that I like so far 3/4 and 3/6/08. We also walked the dog to and from Jill's last night.

I really like Denise Austin's workouts. I found one of hers for women who are pregnant at a thrift store for $1.50. I thought I'd try it out the other day. I did alright, but I'm not even pregnant. I think it would be a bit tough if you started the workout after you get pregnant. It was kind of funny seeing 3 pregnant ladies working out in leotards. It was from 1990! ha! (She was pregnant with her first child.)

Our new neighbors are moving in. I'm not sure what they do. The one guy I met just graduated from college I think (law). He will have a roommate. Then next year his younger brother will move in also. I hope they aren't loud partiers. It would be great to have good neighbors. The old ones were good. They just outgrew the house and yard. They had lots of vehicles, boats, kids, etc.

I hope we can be a blessing to our new neighbors.

Until next time...

Dog bath

A couple of days ago I gave the dog a bath. Yes, all by myself. Usually Blake gives him a bath but I wanted to clean the bathtub/shower and Blake was at work. He usually has to carry him into the bathtub and Emmitt is fine after that. So, I got the stuff ready...towel, dog shampoo, glass to pour water with...in the bathroom.

I called Emmitt upstairs and he saw the stuff and ran downstairs. Great! I wanted it to be a good experience with treats, etc. So, I lured him with cheerios, but he didn't go too far with those. Then I got the dog biscuits, broke them up, and put a trail up the stairs into the bathroom. He ate them all, got the one in the bathroom, I tried to shut the door and he ran downstairs! AWWW! I tried just pushing him upstairs. He's about 35 pounds, so I can't carry him. Plus, he puts all his weight down so it's even harder to lift him. I put him outside because he knew I was getting frustrated. Later, I invited him in but he didn't want to...thinking I was trying to give him a bath. I got him in and later I put his harness and leash on that we walk him with and dragged him into the bathroom. I did not want to do it that way, but now I had him in the room I wanted him in.

Now in the room, I dragged, fought, tried to lift him into the bath. I'm sweating so much by now. I felt that I needed another shower. Finally I got him in there. He was fine while I put shampoo on him and scrubbed him. I put some treats on the ledge of the bathtub but he wouldn't go near them. It was like he was saying "you can't make me eat a treat" even though you got me in the bathtub. I turned my head and he ate it all. Silly dog! I dried him off and brushed him outside and gave him another treat.

I don't think I'll do that often. I got so frustrated and sweaty chasing the dog again. Now he is clean and content.

Life with a dog...I gotta go give my dog a hug.

Until next time...