Defeat= Retreat!

Oh my what a week.. I realized I haven't blogged this week.. It has been so super crazy and busy.. Here is what has happened.. I had to spring clean, there has been a neighborhood cat that is looking to mate so she or he has been prostituting up and down the street making a awful sound the last four nights and ALL night. We are awakened every few hours, and I even woke up one night thinking he was saying "mommy". If I had a cat I would throw it out there just to quiet her up! ill that was gross. So Noah managed to get play-doh stuck up his nose, decided this week that he doesn't want to take a day time nap. He has started to become more independent and wants to do more stuff himself but get frustrated when he cant. I have had a headache, a severe lower back pain, pinched nerve by my neck, and some knee pain. what the heck, how old am I? I have had so much food temptation this week I felt like a huge snack attack like every afternoon. Why oh, I know why because I was fasting a meal this week.. silly me, oh course I would have great temptations!

Ok and my fitness.. Due to lack of sleep I have not worked out all the days I normally do. Last night I was running and my ipod fell and flew across the garage like a missile. Oh and did I mentioned that I fell? Yup I tripped and fell down a few stairs. Oh but the best part is that today as I was making chicken soup, I splashed some juice on my tummy and I felt the burn penetrate down to the bone. Sal and I also managed to get irritated with each other over something totally random, but that was over and the worst part of it all. I am really disappointed in my lack of participation of watching the Olympic games. Oh man if I was contending for a medal, I would not even have made it to the finals! I am so sorry USA! Man I truly felt defeated this week!

Do you feel sorry for me yet? Well don't, because tomorrow I leave for my retreat! So now you are probably thinking " that is why you have had the week you had". Yup my friends anytime you prepare to go retreat with the Lord the enemy is there to attack to take you down and make you really work for that retreat.

I am excited, worried, anxious and everything in between! Excited that I will get to sit at the feet of the Lord and let him work on my heart. I am excited to finally hear one of my favorite speakers and blog writers speak. I am excited to see how the Lord will talk to my heart and show me what needs to be done. I am excited to get this alone time with him.

I am worried to.. I am worried that Noah will get all his meals! I am worried that he gets his diaper changed at least 3 times a day. I am worried that at the end of the night when he goes to bed he doesn't ask for mommy and I am not there. I am worried that my husband has enough strength and handle a toddler 24/7 alone. I am worried that as I go away to be with the Lord that the enemy will be at work with my family. I am worried because I am a mommy and wife and that is what we do!

I am anxious to see what new revelation God will give me. I am anxious to see what part of myself needs to die so that I can follow Him more. I am anxious to get rid of anything that is hindering me of my pursuit of FFF!

So my friends I am signing off till Sunday. I am sure I will have alot to share with you upon my return! If you have never been to a retreat I urge you to go, you never come back the same. It is a good time for you to get alone with God! In the busyness of this day its hard to see or hear from God sometimes and it is good to get away. As you can see by my week!

Have a great weekend,

Love you guys!

Mon

Brown Rice Rocks!

What is the deal with late blogging? Sorry my days have been a lil busy.. So the weekend was great, I ate to much on saturday night and gave into my sweet tooth... Ugh I know.. I ran it off yesterday, trust me.

Perhaps that explains the back pain and pain in my legs. Not sure what the deal is but today my lower back is killing me. I think that I didn't stretch to well. I am thinking of trying the new P90X workout, it looks intense and it is a 90 day workout that you can do at home. This works well since it is kinda hard to get to the gym with sal in school.

So I wanted to share a meal I made today it was so good. It was brown rice mixed with chicken and tons of veggies.. I kinda threw it together and came out amazing and SUPER healthy.. Here is what I did...

I sautéed 3 garlic cloves, half of onion with about 3 Tablespoons of oil. Then I threw in 2 cups of brown rice and browned it. After like 7 minutes I put 2 1/2 cups of water, salt and pepper, some cut up carrots and cut up mushrooms and let it simmer for like a hour.

In the mean time I steamed broccoli in the microwave and cooked some chicken breast and chopped it in cubes. As soon as the rice was ready I combined everything together the rice, broccoli and chicken and served it in a bowl.

You can top it off with some salsa, or hot sauce or avocado if you wanted to. You can also use different meats. Last time I made it I made it with ground turkey and added spinach. We have switched over to brown rice and rarely eat white rice anymore, much healthier and I find it to be more filling.

I am also on my fourth day of no coffee or diet soda. I am trying to stay away from the caffeine because it breaks down the calcium in women's bones. And we already don't need anything extra to break down the bones.

I had a new skinny cow ice cream tonight. It was a mint chocolate truffle bar. It is a must have. It was so good and totally filling. It is only 2 points if you are counting points. If you are like me and LOVE dessert you are going to love it. Well friends tonight blog is about food and I am getting hungry talking about it so I must go. Have a good night!

Pursing healthy foods,

Monica

We are family not roommates!

How many in your party sir? Four he said. About 15 minutes went by and I happen to glance over to this families table. Although there were four in the party there was defiantly only one participating in this family dinner.

The teenager sat there with her headphones in both ears, dad had a newspaper, the seven year old sat there reading a menu and mom looked like she had a LONG day. Perhaps I was being nosy or just wondering what happen to the times when people cared about each others day? I felt for this mom, she had her hand on her face as if she needed to talk and there was no there to listen.

I realized that in my pursuit to FFF(faith, food and fitness) I left out another important F and that is Family. I know I am supposed to be blogging about the Olympics but I cant stop thinking about this family. The sad thing is that this is happening at alot of dinner tables and in families everywhere.

Family always seems to get what is left of the day, they get the doggie bag so to speak when they should get the main course. I was sooooo guilty of this practice before I became a stay at home mom. I would work myself to death for my company and when I got home I was so tired and didn't want to function that I shut down and my husband got whatever energy that was. Sometimes it wasn't much. There were times when I didn't ask about his day, or dinner was drive thru without much thought and his needs were being neglected.

Now before the stones come flying, Im not saying that this is wrong, on occasion its ok. What I am trying to get across is that this happening to often can lead to a disconnect in the family. Soon communication is lost and everyone is like roommates with different lives.

The dinner table should be a place where everyone throws everything on the table. It should be a place of refuge, a place of problem solving, a place of praise, a place of encouragement. One thing that we used to do in our staff meetings is have a “round table” at the end of every meeting. We would go manager by manager and tell what is happening on our teams, we could ask our boss questions, ask for help if needed and it was a time to keep her in the loop about what was going on with our own teams.

We need to bring the roundtable into our homes. We need to be kept in the loop on what is going on with our children and our spouses. If we dont care, then someone else will.. There was a saying in our business that said that “if we dont take care of our customers the competition will.” In this case if we are not talking to our kids, the world will, their friends will. I dont know about you but that scares me. I want to be the one giving the the advice they need, pointing them to scripture and leading them in the right direction. If you are not actively apart of your husbands life, guess what as harsh as this sound someone else will.

Lord help us to keep our families together and actively participate in each others lives! Thanks for reading, I hope you all have a great weekend and I will blog you later.. hahah get it... lame I know.. sorry, that is what you get from a dieting girl straight off the treadmill....

loving my family,
Monica

A Different Olympian- Inspired by Chad Hendrick

As I mentioned I was spotlighting Olympians... Listen to Chad Hendrick a US Speedskater talk about how this year was different from the last Olympic games and how his life has been changed since he has found a relationship with the Lord!

I love it. you can sense the heart of this Athlete and is a true picture of Faith, Food and Fitness for Real!

Praying to be that athlete for the Lord,
Monica

I had a dream, and thats all I have today!

I had a dream last night and it was the coolest dream. I dreamt that I was at the olympics and I was getting a medal. As I was receiving the medal, out of the crowd I heard “mom”, “mom” and then it was back to reality. I woke up to Noah calling me from his crib.

Perhaps watching all the games sparked this dream or maybe it was the Lord sending me some encouragement and hope to continue to press on. Either way it was way cool, and now I know what it is like to stand there on that podium and represent. Well ok, maybe not or kinda... Im just saying.....

Today is a total random blog day, its late, I have a sore throat and I just got of the treadmill after 2 miles and I am way tired! So lets take a second and make this day about you.

Anything you want to ask me? Any questions in regards to Faith, Food and Fitness? Come on ask me anything and I will keep it real! Or if you have a topic you would like to talk about put it out there. Otherwise I will just ramble on.. you dont want that..

Sorry for this super lame blog today. I guess there isn't much on the mind but alot of Vitamin C! Well thanks for stopping by have a good night.

Praying for better blog material for tomorrow,

Monica

Self Sacrifices- inspired by J.R. Celski

I am finding that the hardest thing about obtaining that true FFF, is time and sacrifice. There truly is not enough time to do all the things I want to. So I had to sit down and map out what is truly important and what can I sacrifice. A true athlete knows the discipline of sacrificing...

J.R. Celski, is a US speedskater who knows alot about sacrifice. When he was only 14 years old he had to move away from his close knit family to purse the dream. He and his old brother moved away from the family from Washington to Long beach, California to train with one of the best coaches there is in the sport.

He was a freshman full time in high school, training 6 days a week and trying to help his brother maintain the apartment they shared. Family vacations were taken for his tournaments and many trips back and forth were made by his parents. There is no doubt that this family saw the potential and they all made the sacrifices to make his dream a reality. One thing to note here is that although he was training and traveling all over to compete he graduated with honors and was accepted to many universities where he went on to obtain his degree.

J.R. went through many bumps in the road, leaving the sport for a short time. He also sustained a really bad injury months before the Olympics that could have cost him his life. While skating he took a fall and his own skate cut his thigh just four inches away from a main artery that could have killed him in 15 seconds. God had a bigger plan for this skater and he healed and months later he was on the ice in Canada.

On February 13th J.R. was skating in his first Olympics. He was skating among the elite and hopeful to bring home the one thing he sacrificed so much for a medal. As the race went on he kept up with most of the men. It was the last lap he was skating in the 5th position. As he came around the turn, it was clear that he was not going to medal, however he did not give up. You can see that he was still skating his heart out. The three Koreans were in the lead and when they took the last turn something happen. Something that doesn't happen with experienced and elite skaters. One of the Koreans took a bad turn taking out one of his teammates, and allowing J.R. to position himself in 3rd place. He finished the race taking a bronze medal.

I have learned two things from this man. One that the things we think are important are minimal to what is ahead. I am sure that he missed out on alot but he now has a medal that makes those things not so important. He never stopped skating that race, even though he was in 5th place, he kept the determination. He had no clue that the Koreans would fall. Sometimes we are so close to finishing what we started and we give up. We have no idea when God is going to pull something crazy out of the hat and if we give up we will never know.

What are you willing to give up for that ultimate prize? I am willing to give up anything that hinders me from running the race that God has put ahead of me. Is there something that is unhealthy holding you back from becoming that true athlete? Food?Laziness? a bad relationship? a addiction? or perhaps just bad time management?

Skating through this journey of Faith, Food and Fitness,

Monica

"Faith over Fears" inspired by Nodar Kumaritashvili

I don't blog on weekends however I missed friday and had some time I thought I would get one in today. As mentioned before I was blogging about some inspiring people from the Olympic games.

Nodar Kumaritashvili, have you heard about him? Well maybe before friday you might not have and had it not have been for his death on a practice run, you may not have. He was a Georgian Luger that was ranked 40th in his field. He took a practice run on friday and in a horrific accident he wiped out big time and plummeted to his death.

He had big dreams, he was only 21 years old and was going to race on a track that was out of his league. The track in Canada is the toughest, fastest and only the most elite athletes were hopeful to medal. This was Nodars first Olympics and he had never raced on anything like it before. Nodar had a huge heart and determination to make his family proud.

A few days before the Olympics, Nodar called his dad and told him that he was scared of one of the turns. His dad told him that if he was going to fast to put his feet down to slow down. Nodar, said that if he started he wanted to finish and that he was going to be brave. He told his dad “ I am going to make you proud.”

Perhaps the turn He was talking about was the one that claimed his life. You know as I started to blog about this young man, I could help to think about David and Goliath. As I watched the footage of this practice run, I couldn't help to look at this young mans eyes. He sat there at the top of the luge track looking at his Goliath! This track was much bigger than him, however his heart was bigger.

By faith he let go of the rail and faced his giant! The only difference is that David defeated the giant and lived. Does that mean that Nodar lost the battle because he died? No way this 21yr old man that no one knew did two things... He accomplished what he set out to do. He made his family proud and he didn't let fear keep him from his dream of being a Olympian!

There is no doubt that had he not died the games would have come and go and he would have never been nothing more than Georgian luger competing with the big boys. He would have returned home with just the experience of the games. Today we know who he is. We know his heart and we are inspired by it.

In this life we have many fears, we have scary turns and our giants look bigger than we can tackle sometimes. We have two choices to make. We can by faith step up to the plate and let the will of God happen. With have the confidence that no matter what happens, life or death it is for the good of God. The alternative would be to allow the fear to keep you back and be a spectator. Never knowing the full capacity of yourself and the athlete you really are!

Nodar didn't die in vain.. He died trying and that is all that matters. He died inspiring people to live “faith over fears!”

Inspired and thankful,
Monica

The Olympian

It was 1984 and it was a hot summer! There we were running up and down the Los Angeles Coliseum bleachers collecting plastic cups.. “One day those cups you are all getting might be worth something” said my aunt. That was the only motivation that had my chubby butt running up and down collecting cups.

Why are they going to be worth anything? They are just cups and we are just at some track and field event I thought to myself. Now I think back and laugh at my lack of appreciation. That day I saw Carl Lewis take the gold medal in the summer olympics!

Now, I love my country but I don't cry when I hear” I am proud to be an american” or If you were to cut me I don't bleed red, white and blue.. BUT come Olympic time I am all over the it. Some watch for entertainment but I watch so that I can see our athletes smother the other countries and dominate the competition. Perhaps it is my competitive nature that has me so intrigued with the olympics.

There is just something about a Olympian that inspires me. Their discipline and training to be the best not only in their sport but for their country and perhaps the world. I cry every time I see them on that podium receiving their medals. I cant imagine what must be going through their minds as they stand before the country with a medal that says that they are the best. So much hard work and dedication goes into their training. Many sacrifices I am sure to become the best.

The cool thing is that they have stories. Some are just normal people who have a desire and put hard work into their sport to get to the games. I did a study once closely relating the olympic athlete and the Christian athlete. Its amazing how you can see the parallel between the two.. The two work really hard to represent, one for their country and one for there God. Both require strict discipline and training. Within the next couple of days perhaps week I want to look at these athletes, share some of their stories and see how we can become that Olympian one day standing with a gold crown!

I like to dream big, I want to compete in the olympics! I wonder if they have like a bean bag contest or something? hmmmm And I wonder what ever happen to those old cups we collected? hmmm just random thoughts...

Count down, only two days till the opening ceremony! Watch it and be inspired!

Counting down to the red, white and blue,

Monica

A fathers love.. Remembering my dad today

I slipped on the gown, put on the gloves and slipped the mask over my mouth. I opened the big door and when he heard the sound of the door he looked up to see who it was. The conversation went like this...

“Baby, I am going to be there for your wedding” ,He said confidently, but I could see the fear in his eyes he thought otherwise.

I said “ Dad, I know you will but if you don’t its ok. I will be fine. If I don’t see you at my wedding I will see you in heaven.

I sat there next to him in his bed all hooked up to machines. A man who was so strong who all his life worked construction and did a job many could not do. Now he laid there hanging on to a small hope and dependent on machines to keep him alive. With a tube down his throat.

I can close eyes and remember it as if it was yesterday. Only it was eight years ago. My dad didn’t make it to my wedding he died a day later. He died eight years ago today to be exact. I was talking to a friend yesterday who lost a someone close to her heart. She is grieving and I told her that I am not sure if we ever stop grieving. It gets easier and you have peace but I still grieve. I grieved when I got married and he wasn't there, I grieved when Noah was born and he wasn't there and other important times in my life.

I guess that is one of the reasons that I long for heaven. There is a little piece of me there waiting. Today I want to talk about my fathers love. My dad and I didn't have the best relationship at times. He and my mom divorced when I was very young and he did his best to keep up with his part of the daddy duties but he failed like most of us parents do. As I got older our relationship changed and I got to appreciate the man that he was.

My dad LOVED me, now when I say he loved me, there was no doubt that I was his pride and joy. Even though I made it difficult for him to love me. He was proud to have me as his daughter. He was a hard working man who never complained. My dad was known for his smile and laugh. He would call me and I could hear his smile across the phone. He had joy and even as he was dying of his cancer all he thought about was me.

He was a true picture and reflect of my heavenly father. My dad displayed all the characteristics of Jesus with his unwavering unconditional love that he had for me. I think back to times in my life and think of the miss opportunities with him I will never get back. I thought about this today and thought do I really want to blog this? I prayed and that is why it is so late. I think that it is important for me to grow. I have regrets, I regret the times when he would call and I didn't pick up because I was to busy or didn't want to talk. I regret making fun of the cheesy christmas gifts he would get. I regret not telling him that I love him more. I regret that the time I broke out my bible to read with him was when he was on his death bed. I regret not tell him how proud I was to have a dad that worked as hard as him. Do you have regrets to? Is there someone in your life that once they are gone you can say the same thing? Why wait, do it now, tell them so that you don't have regrets.

The year my dad died I went through many things. I found out that my mom and dad had cancer on the same day. Talk about a crazy time. It was also the year I got married to my husband got a promotion at work and moved into a new place with sal. I often tell people that my dad died so that I can live. It wasn't till my dads death that I went through a very dark time in my life that I was forced to turn to my God. I know I say force because at the time there was really no other way. And that God that he loved me so much that he took the time to break me and force him today.

Today I walk with Jesus not because I am forced but because I want to. I do because I have the hope that one day I will be in heaven with both! I smile and thinking of that day when I can see my dad again and remind him of the promise that I would see him again. All things work for good as the bible says. Sal picked out Noah’s middle name of Asher. It means “blessed one” and “smiling one”. We didn't know that it meant smiling one till after he was born and he lives up to it. He is always smiling and has a joy about him. One day I was missing my dad and thinking how he would have been a proud grandpa and Noah smiled at me. It was then that I realize he had his grandpa’s smile! I thank God for showing me the simple things that make me smile.

I thank you all for reading and sharing in my heart and coming along with me on this journey of FFF!

Rejoicing and smiling,

Monica

ok I have to share with you, I am a mess right now.. After I blogged this I went to get a picture of my dad and I out of a frame he gave me after his second wedding about a year before he died. I never opened up the frame before till right now this very minute and I had no idea he signed the picture..

It says in his writing “ I love you with all my heart, I am so proud of you mija. Love dad” Wow amazing I am speechless without words!

I am a wall that needs painting

Its monday and its time to get to the business.. Well as promised when I started blogging I want to make sure that I am real and honest. Today I am sharing my true heart with my blog readers.

It has now been two weeks on this new journey and to be honest it feels like a month or perhaps longer. Since I started this new walk, It has been a battle. I have been battling spiritually from not been able to sleep to physical attacks including knee pain, dizziness and headaches. Noah has managed to get sick the whole two weeks, sal has also been suffering from allergies. Sal started back to school and now its back to me running the house again.

Today I weighed in and I am not sure how but I managed to gain 2 pounds. I have been really good eating and working out so I am not going to stress on the scale. I will admit by friday I was feeling defeated and ready to throw in the towel. I think its funny considering I just blogged about giving up. As I was in prayer last night I was reminded of a old painted wall.

Have you ever seen a wall that has been painted over old chipped paint? For far it seems to look great but as you get closer you realize it isn't? The reason is that the wall was never prepped for the new paint. Instead of taking the time to chip the old paint and prep it, the painter just take new paint and paints over it. In time wear and tear makes it obvious that it wasn't done right and the old paint start to show through and now its chipping in different places.

Well you see I am that wall! I am the wall that has never been prepped properly and there is many years of chipped paint that has been painted over and over again. There has been times when on the outside I was looking good a size 6 but inside I was far from healthy. There were many times my inside didn't reflect my outside and vice versa. So now I have taken that new journey of FFF and to find balance and do it right. So what has to happen? God the master craftsman, has to strip the old paint, sand me down, tape me up and put the new coat of paint that will withstand the weather and future storms.

Oh course there is some REALLY old paint on my wall and the Lord needs to use some elbow grease to take it off.. My stubborn ways that just cling to the wall. So this process isn't easy and takes some time. He is taking that time, he is stripping me. Like a alcoholic that has been stripped away from alcohol and goes into detox so must I. I feel like i have been detoxing the last two weeks. What can I be detoxing you may ask? Well I have from the sin of many things. From using sugar and food to make me happy, relying on the Lord to give me strength instead of using excuses to be lazy, cutting out my tv time so that I can use more time in my reading. And I think the biggest battle, getting away from the bondage that the enemy has had on me for many years, anxiety and worrying for nothing.

In order for me to live the true life of Faith, Food and Fitness I must be stripped from the old. So did I know that this was to happen? Yes of course, in any transformation period this is part of the process that I must embrace. I cling to 2 Corinth which says that in times when we feel our weakest the Lord will be our strength. It is at that time that He is truly doing a work, and His Grace will be sufficient for our needs.

I don't pray that the battle ends soon and I will be healed, I pray that the Lord will give me strength to go through this and not miss the lessons that He is teaching me. I pray for the growth and excited to see the new me! I pray that I detox till I learn all that needs to be learn so that there is no left over chipped paint residue.

Hang in there with me for a minute because I have a few things that I just read last night in “Authentic Faith”. Gary Thomas says this about suffering:

“ We will be healthier in the Long run if we put up with minor suffering in the short run-with reason.

“If someone is truly serious about spiritual growth or overcoming a bad-habit, he or she better be prepared to go to war. A halfhearted effort usually wont suffice.

I dont think that it is coincidence that I decided to read this new book at the very same time that I began this journey. Some of my roughest days I pick up this book and it is talking about the same exact thing that I am going through. God is so awesome and He is sufficient for my needs.

If you have any questions or comments about this , I like to hear them. Or if you are on a journey right now let me know how it is going. Share your story, you can inspire someone!

Praying through chipped paint,

Monica

My Gift.. My Mom

You ok mom, I asked. Only this time her fake smile could not fake the funk that she was scared. “Actually I am a little nervous” she said, then it was her turn to go into the operating room. I will never forget walking to the waiting room, with my dad and wondering what was it that the doctors would find. My mom is a strong lady and I could never remember her ever being scared.

It was eight years ago around this time, right around her birthday she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have never been more scared to lose someone, and Praise God I didn’t. She came out of that surgery fine and did her rounds of radiation and managed to have the smallest cancer cell her surgeon has ever seen.

My moms a fighter! She fought cancer and will fight for her family. Oh my gosh, I just remembered something, in Junior High a teacher yelled at my brother in front of the whole school because he crossed the street at the wrong place. My mom got off the car like psycho mom and gave him a ear full.. If I wasn't so concerned that she left me in the carpool lane with a running car, I would have paid attention to what she was telling him. Haha my mom was crazy back in the day and would do anything to defend her children.

My mom has indirectly taught me much of what I know. I didn't learn it because she told me what to do, but she lived it out. She is one of the most generous persons I know. Seriously, by now we know her game. She will say she isn't hungry till EVERYONE eats to make sure we get the good stuff first and eats what is left over. You NEVER say that you like something she is wearing or you will end up taking it home, seriously. She has NEVER changed her pin number to her debit card all these years just “in case” its laying a round and you need money.

If you even as to glance at her meal, she will say that she doesn't like it and wants to trade. Oh and she NEVER needs anything, but always buys us what we don't need. My poor mom, I will forever be in debit to her for all the money she spent during the “New kids on the Block” era. Darn those guys, I could have had a big down payment on a house if they weren't around.

She loves people and she loves to take care of them. She is a hard worker and easy to talk to and that is why she has many friends. She never considers herself to be better than anyone else and will be at work in the trenches with the people that work for her, and she loves God. She serves God with her hands literally.

After my mom got sick she made a vow to the Lord that she would serve him if she was healed. She was healed and she honored her promise. She sat at the deaf section in church one day and had a desire to learn. After only 2 classes she decided to trust the Lord to teach her sign and through fellowship with the deaf He did. No classes and only through the trust in the Lord she interprets for the deaf at our church.

My mom is one of the most selfless people I know. Her love for us is so unconditional it blows my mom. She is my inspiration this year to run for women's cancers. I will run the race in her honor. Although she is a survivor I am not naive to the fact that one day it could come back. But you know what’s so cool, is that no matter what comes her way she says “if its Lords will” so be it. She is a strong lady, a rock and the rock of our family.

Today as I celebrated another year with her I thank God for another year. She is my birthday gift on her birthday. I don't take her for granted and I never will, because that was the promise I made the day she went into surgery.

Thanking my God this day for my Mom,

Monica

"We don't fail, we just quit before we get ripe"

My lack of stretching and lack of good judgement caused me to have a burning sciatic, pain from my butt to my knee and feeling dizzy after my first day running two miles.

No pain no gain right? Um Riiiiiiiiiight... I got on the treadmill and ran as if I was Forest Gump ignoring the signs of my body telling me that it was going to be a much slower process than what my mind wanted to hear.

But they make it look so easy on the biggest loser right? I love that show, however I am coming to realize that the show can have a negative impact on the realities of obtaining and maintaing. I know, NEVER would I think negatively about the show .We watch and see the “BIG” numbers every week and think that anything less than double digit loss is a defeat. What we fail to realize is that they work out 6-8 hours a day.. Yup it is a full time job, so its no wonder that when they leave the ranch they struggle with the realities of living life and trying to maintain a healthy life. Now don’t get me wrong it is a great show that I live to watch on tuesdays and an encouragement. But I am just saying that we have to watch with caution and know there is more than what we see.

So until I realized that what took years of unhealthy eating, unhealthy dieting and wavering faith will not reverse over night. It is also foolish of me to think that once I find the key FFF that there will be no set backs.

Tuesday night after a day of feeling like my body was ready to be with the Lord I went to do some reading.. And what do you know it talked about the very thing that I was struggling with. You gotta love the Lord and how he knows exactly what you need to hear for that exact day. Now it is talking in a spiritual sense about faith but I think it can be applied here as well.

Here are somethings that Gary Thomas in “Authentic Faith” has to say:

‘Change is a process that is never completed. It will not take a year or month but it can take a lifetime.”

“Faithful Obedience, over time weakens the temptations “allure” As we begin to find new ways to deal with stress and insecurity or other “sin triggers” in our lives, we literally learn to live without sin, which often served as a crutch. One act of obedience doesn't put sin to death. (And here is the best part of the statement) The fact is, we will have to choose obedience time after time until sin loses its strong allure. And even after that, the occasional lapses are not uncommon, but the force and general direction of our lives will have changed!” I love what he is saying although he is talking about the spiritual realm the same can be true with the food triggers and the things that keep you from pursing FFF.

“Many Christians don’t fail; they just quit before they get ripe."

And here is a excerpt on why he says we fail:

[some Christians] in becoming aware of their own imperfections, grow angry with themselves in an unhumble impatience. So impatient are they about these imperfections that they would want to become saints in a day.

Many of these beginners will make numerous plans and great resolutions, but since they are not humble and distrust of themselves, the more resolves they make the more they break, and the greater the anger. They don't have the patience to wait until God gives them what they need when He desires. Their attitude is contrary to spiritual meekness.”

Man I can probably quote this whole chapter. It is that good. I guess the point I am trying to make is that nothing is going to happen over night it take times and perseverance so don't kill yourself trying. In whatever you are trying to accomplish, deeper faith, a healthier body etc.

Remember the good words of Mr. Miyagi “ Patience Daniel son”

If you are still with me here, thank you I know today is pretty long, however I never set out to be a certain length or content, it is Lord lead. In closing, yesterday I hopped on my treadmill with a new focus that isn't driven by instant results and selfish gratification. In thanking the Lord for his continue guidance I glanced up to a picture I have in front of my treadmill it is the picture I have attached with James 1:12..

Pray that I never give up until the day I become ripe,

Monica

Proverbs 31 women really is alive and well... I promise!

As I promised yesterday, today I want to talk about the Proverbs 31 wife. Why? Well because I think that she really was a great example of a women who knew the balance of Faith, Food and Fitness. She left us some tough shoes to fill and I don't know many that have filled them.

I have to be honest, I pray the months that have 31 days my husband forgets and doesn't read this proverb! The virtuous wife she is called, and she is by all means, and I can only hope one day that the same could be written about me.

She is modest, she has a good reputation, wise, doesn't gossip, she is a watchman for her family, she isn't lazy, she is a joy to her family, she is good with the family finances and takes care of what her husband gives her. Although her job is a big task no where do I find that she complains! Now if your like me, you think that it is impossible for a women to posses all these qualities. But I looked and searched high and low through the scriptures and it is true my friend this lady gives all of us mothers a bad name!

Hahah ok, well that I don't think that was God’s intention to make us feel inadequate but show us how to be good wives and mothers. If you haven't read this Proverb in a long time I would encourage you to read it. I remember awhile back telling sal that I don't have enough time in the day to do everything I needed to do. That night I read this proverb and verse 15 jumped out at me.. “She also rises while it is still night.” I think that if she were alive today my 830am wake up time would be foolish to her. This lady is up before the sun getting things ready for the day. It says she does not eat the bread of idleness, oh man can you imagine all the non important things in our day that we do wasting time?

She is well dressed, not in sweats with hair pinned up in a clip. Her husband safety trust her and she is not a nag to him. Because of her love and devotion to her husband her husband has a good reputation. She is giving to her family and to those around her with her time and what she has to give. And it is because of this “Her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband praises her” (Vs. 28)

I know you have some doubts if a women like this exist or perhaps you may know one or two.. I have the opportunity to know one of these rare ladies. And perhaps that may be why her name is Pearl. She is the living, breathing virtuous wife. Although her children are grown she was a stay at home mom. She has taught me how to cook, how to be submissive to my husband, how to maintain a house and how to love my child. It was because she made it look so easy that I wanted to be a stay at home mom! I have never heard her complain about picking up the dry cleaning, or running homework to the high school, or taking her parents to doctors appointments or taking the car to the mechanic and everything else in between! And you can find her cook enchiladas for families that have lost loved ones.

Its not because she cooks killer tacos why I love her, it is because she is a virtuous wife. No doubt that she has been through some peaks and valleys with her marriage, like most marriages, or trials with her children doing dumb things us kids do. She is now a grandma still displaying the virtues qualities to her grandchildren. Her husband just retired after many years serving in the sheriff department. He was a well know Lieutenant and Homicide detective that was a expert in his field with a good reputation (vs. 23). When her children talk about her their faces light up and they call her blessed (vs.28)

When I look at these women I am reminded that I still have a long way to go! I fail daily but I am so grateful that I have these examples to follow.. The good thing is Pearl and I wear the same size shoe.. heheh ok I wish it was that easy to slide in her shoes however there is still alot of work left in me, and that is Ok. If you are a mom or wife I encourage you to read Proverb 31 and pray how we can be these women God called us to be!

In pursuit to be the virtuous wife,

Monica

Monday, Not so funday!

Monday... Funday? Um not so much. So the morning seemed to run smooth but it all went down hill in the afternoon. I ran to my husbands school to get him a book, went to the market and got us home in time for a nap.

I laid Noah Asher down for his nap and crawled into bed with my book. A chapter in, Ok maybe a few sentences in I crashed out. I was asleep only long enough to hear my door bell ring like three times. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs, and opened the door to my mailman. “ shhh, I said my son is sleeping, he looked at me with my bed head and said sorry like he was supposed to know I had a toddler napping.

On the way up to my room, I thought to myself i should make a do not disturb sign and put it out when Noah is napping. Is that rude? Lets try this again, this time I crashed out after 20 minutes of praying.. Ok maybe after a minute of praying. Ten minutes into my first dream I heard this little voice saying “MOM”. I should have known by the tone of this little voice that nap time wasn't long enough and this afternoon can go very hairy if I pick him up premature. Yes this is what us moms of toddlers have to think about. After hearing my name called for about 5 minutes, against my better judgement I picked him up.

Glancing at the clock I realized I had only two hours to get the bed made, house cleaned up, have snack time and get dinner ready before my husband got home. I think that some one paid Noah to do everything possible to sabotage moms plan and operation. Lets see we went through 20 minutes of crying for a different snack, and have you ever tried to make a bed with a monkey hanging around your neck. Then he tried to take me out completely when I was cooking by straddling my legs in an effort to get me to pick him up. Had I not had raw chicken on my hands he might have won the battle!

By 530 the house was cleaned, dinner was ready and we opened the door for daddy. His safe refuge was set and ready for him to come home and relax. I greeted him with a smile and I almost felt the little “bling” on the side of my mouth like June Cleaver. Noah no longer had running boogies and red eyes. His hair combed and parted to the side like a little angel. He had no idea the frantic frenzy that went on before he got home!

It seemed like it took 2 hours to make dinner and it took the boys 15 minutes to eat it :(

Sometimes I wonder If I make it look easy. I wonder if when my hubby comes home if he thinks this house runs like a well oiled machine? Which is FAR from it! By the time I got some me time on the treadmill which was about 7pm I had already felt like I had a workout.

I remember somewhere in my day thinking “what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger” hahah ok so it wasn't that serious, but Im just saying. The funny part is I crawled into bed at the end of my night and I read Proverbs 31 which just happened to be about the virtuous wife.. Are you kidding me, why does she pop up when I think that I have mastered the art of a homemaker. How can we ever live up to her standards? I am not sure but Im going to pray about it and blog about her tomorrow because I know one. Yes there is some out there. They are rare and I hope to be one.. one day!

Knowing that in the chaos there is many blessings,

Monica

Prayer for Teddy!

Happy Monday, I am excited to announce that I lost 6 pounds in my first week of trying to getting it right.. It was a week of peaks and valleys, there were some nights of tears and laughter. The truth is I didn't realize a big part of weight loss was to get rid of some of the baggage that triggers the unhealthy eating.

It felt so good to get rid of the baggage and talk with the hubby to make sure that we were on board as a family! I am excited because tonight I will be reacquainted with a long time friend, I haven't seen in awhile. He stands about 5 1/2 feet tall, is going to be a key factor in my fitness, He is flexible with my workouts and most of all there for me anytime of the day I need him.. His name is Teddy, and he is my treadmill.

Teddy and I have been through alot. Because he is such a special blessing to me, let me tell you about the day we met. Several years ago, I told sal I wanted a treadmill and you know what he said? He said “Ok, pray about it” I said what do you mean pray about it? He said pray to see if it is God’s will for you to have it. I said for a treadmill? He said yes!

So I prayed for like a month, and it was kinda weird to pray for a treadmill, but I did. I didn't know that my husband was also praying for it to. So one day I went to do my first study for a women's study and I was gone pretty much all evening. When I got home, there he was sitting in my living room!

But here is the special part of the story. My husband said that the Lord confirmed that it was now time to get the treadmill. So he had been pricing them and saw the one he wanted on sale. He went to the store and they didn't have anymore and they were no longer getting any in. The salesman tried selling him one a step up that also cost 200.00 more. Determined, he had the salesman call a few stores to find the one he originally went in for. He said that he also prayed while the guy called around. Feeling defeated he stopped at another store on the way home to see if by chance they had it.

When he went into the store the guy said they were also out of the one he wanted. He also took my husband to the one that was a step up and cost more. Before my husband could explain that it was out of our budget the guy said it was on sale. It had just been marked down. It was actually cheaper than the original one he went in for and it was nicer and was marked down because it was the last one! coincidence? No way it was there for me and my God provided.

Teddy is a blessing not because it was a great deal, but because I am reminded of this story every time I am running. I am reminded that nothing is to small to pray for. As funny as it may have seemed to pray for it, I thank God that we did. I am reminded that when we pray and consult God with what we should do with what he has given us, he will not only tells us what to do, but go above what we expected. I didn't expect a nice top of the line treadmill, however He did. God wants us to be faithful because like a loving father He wants us to have the best.

When we understand that God truly wants the best, and we pray and consult Him in everything we do, we will be within His will. I am exercising prayer throughout the day. Lord help me not to eat that cake, Lord help me to get on that treadmill, Lord help me...

Prayer it is the key to authentic faith! Include him on your Journey and trust me it will be easier!

Praying in everything from the smallest to the biggest,

Monica