Runners for Grace- Be the first and win!

Have you joined the team yet? Still praying? Be the first to join our team and win a gift card. After you have signed up, leave a comment here and let me know. Thats its!!! Want more details please see prior post and if you want to sign up, click on the "cinco de mayo 5k" to the right!

When signing up please look for our team "runners for grace" and we are all signing up for the 5k run/walk. After you sign up you will have access to our team page!

Have a great night & start that running!

Mon

"Runners for Grace" 5k Challenge

I had four miles behind me, and I was feeling good. Reflecting back on my training and journey. As I hit mile 5, the Lord spoke to me and I remember saying out loud, "Gracie those first five were for you girl". It was at mile five that I got this overwhelming desire to do it again. To run, to train but this time to bring others along side me. Training for me has been such a spiritual journey and the impossible became possible for me. Crossing that finish line was probably one of the most greatest moments in my life. Not because I ran it fast or even looked pretty doing it but because I ran with a purpose.

There at mile five " Runners for Grace" was created. On May 6th, there will be a 5k in Irvine, all money from this marathon will go to research for children's cancer. So, what does that me for you? It means I am challenging you. Words cannot express the joy and the growth you get when you train and discipline yourself to run such a race.

But I'm not a runner? Oh but you are. 1st Corinthians 9:24 says that we are ALL running a race. Friends it is my hearts desire that you do this for you, for the kids and in memory and celebration of Gracie. I am sure that you can find many reasons why you shouldn't, cant or want to.. But I will give you a few reasons why you should.

1. Because you can! Lets appreciate our legs that the Lord gave us! 99% of us can walk 3.1 miles but I say challenge yourself to jog or even run.
2. Because there are kids out there that are waiting for a cure, they are counting on people like you to help make the difference.
3. Because you are important. Ladies, we need to take time for ourselves. Walking/Running is so good for stress, quiet time with the Lord, and here is a little secret ... the more you run, the more you can eat :) Its better to burn calories than count them.. Now can I get an AMEN?
Still not convinced?
4. Because there is one who finished their race well. Gracie ran with endurance and she finished well. Lets honor her, while we run/walk and even pray as we do this together.

Now here are the details:
-Our team is called " Runners for Grace", if you sign up please be sure to sign up under our name.
- The cost is 38.00 right now but every month leading to the event will increase. If money is an issue, pray and I would suggest even asking someone to sponsor you for the registration fee.
- We are not actively fundraising or have a goal as a team. If you would like to, by all means go ahead as Lord leads.
- We will have two teams, walkers and joggers/runners. And we will all start together.

Important:
You will find all the details of the event on the event page. On the right side of my blog you will see "Cinco de Mayo 5K" Click on that to take you directly to the site. When you register, please select "join a team" and once you do that you can look up our team simply by typing in "runners for grace". It will take you to our team page and allow you to join. That page can be emailed to others that might want to join or donate.

In the next few weeks I will be posting information in regards training tips, any important team updates, and possibly times and days that we can meet to run or walk together. Anyone and everyone is welcomed, men, women, children etc. Listen, I can promise you one thing, you sign up and pay and really commit to the journey, and your life will change. This may be only 3 miles for some, but for others it is a platform to more.

Will you join us on the journey? I pray you do.. If you sign up will you please email me- faithfoodfitness@gmail.com so I can add you to the team roster for personal updates.

Running to win!
Moni

Thankful

It was a long day, brother was cranky, daddy tired and I was moody. When it was time to lay brother down, Noah jumped at the opportunity to pray for brother. Its always hit or miss if he is going to be willing or we need to coach him through to pray for brother at bed time. Perhaps he sensed the disconnect that we all had because of the day we had.

Go ahead son, and he prayed...

"Thank you God, for mommy, lil grandma, thank you God for brother that he has a good night sleep, we just thank you God for our family. Thank you for clothes, for my room, for uncles and aunties, thank you God. Thank you for mommy, and daddy, brother and Noah. We just thank you God for everything God."

As daddy and I opened our eyes with tears down our face we thanked God that He gave us this lil man. He prayed one of the most powerful prayers I had heard, and needed at that moment. So simple yet so powerful and a reminder of thankfulness despite a bad day and bad attitude!

Linking up with MOB Society. Let's Hear it For the Boys!

"Do you have an excuse?"

If you are watching biggest loser this season, the tag line is no excuses. The funny thing is that everyone has excuses. This is the very first season, that I have noticed the players are really dogmatic about the whole process.

Its almost like they have seen the transformation on tv and didn't realize the reality of what goes into losing that much weight. They complain about the long hours, trainers, the excuses why they got there etc.

So the other night I decided that I wanted to start juicing a meal. Immediately my mind goes to excuses, juicers are expensive, more fruits and veggies will add to our bill, etc. etc. Getting on my treadmill last night as I started to run, I got tired, I wanted to quit, it was to cold my pace has DRAMATICALLY slowed down etc. Then I realized that I was no better than those biggest loser peeps. The only difference is I wasn't on TV.

So the last two days I threw my veggies and fruits in a blender and blended that baby up. It went down the same. Tonight when I got on my treadmill, I was reminded that I have healthy legs. No more excuses.. We can think of a millions of reasons why we cant achieve our goals, but I know of one person that can help us.

God may not provide that expense juicer, but I have a blender. He may not allow me the conventional time or schedule to train with a running group, but I have a treadmill. He is always faithful to help me, encourage me, show me, and guide me. I have new goals, and apart from Him I cant do anything. I have excuses for days, but He doesn't take them or allow them.

As a parent, if you ask your son/daughter to clean the room and he says "sorry, I'm to tired." Will you let that answer suffice? Of course not. Why? because you know the process of cleaning his room will help build his character. Could you clean it? Sure, but what lesson is he learning. Oh but wait, here is what you can do is, you can help.

Many times, I have told the Lord, "um seriously you can make this road easier. You can make this path shorter." But in my heart it is like He is gently saying, I can but daughter what would you have learned? Let me help you get there.

No more excuses my friends. What excuses are holding you back from achieving what God or your heart is telling you to do? Don't let excuses rob you of the joy that you get when you have achieved your goal.

Remembering that every good work takes labor,

Moni

I lovate the rain!

I realize people have a love/hate relationship with the rain. They either love it or hate it. Then there is me I "lovate" it.. I am right smack in the middle. I love it for like two days then I am over it.

There is something about those drops hitting the window and we close our eyes to sleep. Oh, and waking up to the sound in our warm comfy covers contemplating whether or not to get up. EERRK then there is the driving, the wet clothes, the accidents, blah blah blah....

But you know, I think that rain is God's way of saying slow down a second or be still child! No doubt rain takes our mood down, for some close to death :/. We are a people who are always on the go, always being busy and if we are not, we are not productive. Sometimes we don't listen to our bodies or mind when it is telling us to slow down and stop.

Rain does that it takes everything down a notch. It makes us stay in bed longer, think less, spend more time at home with the family, but it also can renew the mind. Oh these days, it makes it ok to curl up with grab book, read some extra blogs and have quiet time with the Lord.

Lets embrace these moments, because really in Cali we don't get many of them! So now I am going to put on my forever lazy and play some candy land with my lil dudes!

xoxoxo

Moni

Cuz sometimes Captain America Need Discipline

So tonight is a little open night mic so to speak.. A random blog.. You pick the content and I write. So tonight is about family. My sister in law wanted me to write about my favorite childhood moment.. As I pondered it lead me in a different direction (sorry Sonia)...

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Noah is all into Captain America right now. Well my lil Asher has also had some challenges with obeying lately. So I find myself threatening to take away his shield or mask if he isn't listening or obeying. The other day I warned him numerous times and well his grace ran out, and guess Captain America lost his mojo! Which bring me to a childhood memory:

There we were driving along in my moms yellow bug, my brother and I were in the back seat (not wearing a seat belt). Didn't have to back in those days. We had to have been about 6 and 8 driving along a street that was lined with industrial buildings. The car was filled with music from the 80's mom singing until it happened.. My brother tried to take away this doctor play kit I was playing with. Then harmony changed and all heck broke lose.

Me: Give it to me
Brother: No
(Playing tug a war)
Me: Give it to me
Brother: No
Mom: Stop arguing
Me: Mom, its mine... ( tug a war in the back seat)
Brother: I want to play with it
Mom: ( hand reaching back trying to break it up) stop fighting or I'm going to pull over and I am going to take it away and leave it here!
Me: (thinking yea right) Mom, stop, Anthony its mine
Brother: give it to me..
Mom: Stop I said....
Us: Still playing tug a war with the package....
Mom: (pulls car over, grabs toys, leaves them on the street and takes off!)
Me: Crying
Brother: Stupid.See.Its your fault (crying)

This story, If I can close my eyes I remember it like yesterday. It plays out in my head over and over again. My mom made a statement that day. She kept to her word. She stood her ground and that's where the toys ended up! I racked my brain trying to find my favorite childhood moment but this one stood out like a sore thumb.

Sometimes discipline is hard. Sometimes its hard to look at those big eyes under that super hero mask and say " I mean business!" As hard as it seems we NEED to discipline our children. When I used to hear my parents say "it hurts me more to do this" (when I rarely :) got in trouble) I thought "ummmm right". But oh how true it is. I have learned in parenting that the more work you put into now, the less later. It is my duty to God and society to raise Godly men. These days there are to many kids out there running a muck, making life hard for others.

Do I struggle? Absolutely. Can I do better? Totally. That day I am sure my mom hurt to hear us cry, till my brother called me stupid and I am pretty sure she gave him the back hand as she drove. But, I remember after that day that my mom kept her word and I respect that. Gods word is clear on correction and discipline. Like a loving father that He is he corrects us in the same manner. Not because He is mean and He can but because He loves us.

Discipline should never be done in anger, it should be done in love. I remind Asher that all the time. I tell him that because I love him so much I need to discipline him. He may not fully understand it now, but 20 years later as he blogs he will thank me ;)

BTW, I think that my brother owes me a doctors kit!

xoxoxo
Mon
"He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly." Proverbs 12:24

Two of the Cutest Super Hero's I know...

Noah and his Cousin Christian

Observations from watching my grandma

This is my grandma's favorite cartoon and my mom calls her Maxine!

So things have kinda change around our house. For the last month or so, I started to watch my 87 year old grandma during the week. In the short time, here are some of my observation:

1. I realize that I suck at history. My grandma shares stories about the cowboys and Indians and her family ,99% of time I play it off like I know what she is talking about. The wars, the movements etc. Confirmation I should NOT home school! And I thought Mayflower was just a trucking company..Im kidding.... well kinda

2. Walking canes are not safe with a toddler and an infant around. Yup we have had a few minor accidents.

3. Older people take the best naps, so much so I have found myself doing the mirror under the nose trick, to check for breathing. You never can be to sure, you know.

4. Actors in those novela's or "sobelas" as Noah says are TERRIBLE! but I will give them props for their passion!

5. If it takes me longer than 2 hours to separate my medication for the month, oh Lord take me home.

6. My grandma's family was a family of 11, 9 kids and 2 parents. ( oh Lord take me home) and were really poor. They ate the same thing for dinner every night, beans, potatoes and tortillas. A doomed diet handed down from generation to generation. No wonder why I love carbs!

7. Noah doesn't stop talking and my grandma cant hear so they are a match made in heaven.

8. Flatulence's happen! Period.the.end

9. I am the perfect wife.. Grandma said so, although anyone that was cooking my meals, snacks and giving me pills, Id say the same thing!

10. I've taking a liking to Jello, must have hot tea with my lunch and those ensures are not bad ;/ What?

11. Grams walks gansta, with a cane and really slow, but let a smoke alarm go off by accident and she can give Carl Lewis competition.

12. I never have to worry about being out of condiments, because chances are she has it in her purse. Splenda, mustard, crackers, lemons in a napkin from breakfast. Grandma, really? " I said next time take ALL the condiments from your menudo.

13. I think that when she gets tired of listening to me she takes out her hearing aids and pretends that she left them at home. Uh huh, I know that trick..Im on to you lady.

14. Its a good day when she is cracking jokes. The other day, she asked if I was having a garage sale? I said " No why" she said " then why do you have so many shoes down here in this basket" she's all jokes when she is feeling well. Quite the comedian!

15. I now talk louder than I used to.. The other day, sal said "hey why are you yelling" I said huh? and took my grandma's hearing aid out ;)

All kidding aside, caring for my grandma has its challenges. But the blessing totally out weigh those. The boys have become so close. Asher is a great helper, Caleb has learned that if he yells she will come. I have learned so much about my family history. Ive learned so much about adversary. My grandma was poor, she picked walnuts, made tortilla for dinner everyday. Her and her siblings didn't have shoes, they would go to the market and wait for fruit to fall off the trucks. The only veggies they had were the ones that would grow in the wild.

At the ripe old age of 87 she talks about her dad like it was yesterday. Still a daddy's girl, how do I know? because her face lights up when she talks about him. "He could do anything, everyone came to him for everything" she says. A daughter still proud of the man he was. Her favorite memory's were around the dinner table. She painted such a amazing picture how a family should be. Dad at the head, mom next to him holding his hand, and siblings around the table. No one took a bite till dad said grace and took the first bite. After dinner was done, they would sit there for about an hour or two while, dad told stories of his childhood.

As she told me the stories, she still laughs as though the story just happened yesterday. So sad that today the dinner table is to busy. Some family's don't eat together, and children don't care to know what it was like when their parents grew up. We eat quickly and rush to the tv, ipod, ipad, and in my case the treadmill so times :?

My grandmas life didn't get easier as she grew up. She went through the depression, was a single mom of three. She worked in a warehouse and drove a fork lift (woot woot) when only men were allowed to. At times money was so tough that after bills were paid there was only 15.00 left for the month to feed the family.

The other day, she was having a bad day, her breathing wasn't good. Her chest was kinda hurting and she said she was just tired and weak. As she sat there doing her rosary, bead by bead, tears flowing down, I sat there and just looked at her. A tough life for sure, but lacks no love or bitterness.

I am not sure how much longer we will have my grandma, but it is a blessing and honor to serve her in my house. The time spent I will never forget, and I know my boys wont either. Is it easy? No, is there days I'm spent? Yes, but I tell you this..

Its better than, picking walnuts and waiting for fruit to fall off a truck!

Have a blessed week friends..Love you all!
Moni

"Backpack, Backpack"

Jokingly I posted on Fb and Twitter that " Some days would be much easier if I had Diego's backpack." For those moms who are tortures, I mean blessed to watch Diego or Dora on Nickelodeon can sympathize.

For those who don't watch, Diego and Dora are cousins, who go on some sort of adventure. They have their own cartoons, but they both have a backpack. When ever they get to some sort of obstacle they have the kids yell "BACKPACK". All of a sudden the backpack starts talking and transforms to what ever they need. For instance in this episode Diego gets to a river yells to the backpack and it turns into a boat.

As I was forced to watch, I found myself yelling "backpack" when solicited by Diego, yup I was sucked in. Today was a LONG day and at several points of the day I could have used that darn backpack. As I sit here and ponder my day, I am reminded that although I do not have a backpack I do have a helper.

"Behold, God [is] my helper; The Lord [is] with those who uphold my life."-Psalm 54:4

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."- John 16:7

"So we may boldly say: "The LORD [is] my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"- Hebrews 13:6

Being a stay at home mom has brought on blessing but also challenges. I thank God that I to throughout my day can call on my helper. He may not transform into a broom and sweep the floor, but He will give me the strength to.

Xoxo

Mon

Vision and Goals for 2012

Good evening friends.. So it has taken some time but I feel that it is time to blog my vision and goals for the new year. As I mentioned in the last blog these have been prayed over and I feel they are practical. In other words I am not trying to change the world in one year.

As I celebrated the new year in prayer the Lord really spoke to my heart. He used simple words.. Service, Servant hood, and relationships. My vision for the year is to truly open myself for more service, more serving and fostering better relationships with women and moms. Helping them, exhorting them, praying for them, serving them and mentoring them.

For this year I have added two more components to "Faith, Food and Fitness" and they are "Family and Friends" I will throughout the year be blogging about all these areas of my life. Why? Not because I have it figured out but simply because I am in the pursuit of obtaining the abundant life God in tented.

So here are my goals:

Faith-
1. Read through the whole bible ( one year bible is the bomb, just simply following along the plan laid out)
2. Inductive bible study for at least two books of the bible
3. Read through one biblical based book ( if you can recommend any good books, I would love your recommendations)
4. More prayer and fasting
5. More dates with just me and Jesus!

Family-
1. Date my hubby again ( at least one date a month)
2. Teach Noah how to read
3. Weekly bible study for Noah & Caleb
4. Serve my husband and children with a joyful heart and not complain even in the hardest of days
5. Serve as a family on missions trip/day etc.

Friends-
1. Make more quality face time
2. Use more than FB and twitter
3. When talking about plan, make them instead of just talking about them.
Example: Friend- lets connect, Me: Ok, lets get a calender, when you want to hook up? Set it and don't forget it!
4. Be that true friend that God desires me to be, transparent, loyal, trust worthy etc. ( please keep me honest on this one, I need the feedback, and I am praying for humility to receive it in love


Food-
1. Take steps to incorporate healthier foods, cutting out all the bad stuff
2. Give up the diet drinks
3. Read a book on nutrition or online course
4. Really learn how to "eat to live" not "live to eat"
5. Journal my food

Fitness
1. Consistency in my training
2. Run a 5k
3. Run a 10K
4. Run a 1/2 Marathon or a mud run ( I never thought Id want to run a 1/2 marathon again)
5. Bring ladies along side of me. I want to create teams to join me on each venture. If it is one or 100 I'm faithful.

My blog, Me and You-
1. My goal is to write at least 20-30 minutes a day
2. Blog at least 3-4 times a week
3. Exhort you, encourage you but most importantly be honest, real and transparent with you.
4. Share my testimony with you all

I am going to be honest with you all. I struggled with sharing my goals. They are personal to me, and there are times that I struggle with writing my blogs. I struggle because I am throwing my life out there for EVERYONE to see. There are times that I pray and ask the Lord if its the right thing to do. Should I go private. It seems like every time I think about going private I am reminding of Melissa. Melissa stubble across my blog, and we have built a friendship that blesses my heart abundantly. I am reminded of a teenage girl, who messaged me about her eating disorder and reading my hot mess life has helped her in her recovery. I am reminded of a lady who is a newly stay at home mom, on the verge of a breakdown who accidentally came to my blog and for that moment she realized she was not alone.

Friends, it isn't easy to throw your bizz out there, trust me. But if my life or story can help, encourage at least one person then it is worth it. God hasn't gifted me with writing, grammar or spelling ( if you read my blog you will see) ,He has gifted me with love and a heart for you. He has changed my life and I want to share it with you. And I am grateful if you want to come along side of my this year with your time and also your thoughts, prayers and comments.

To the new year!
Moni

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13

Practical & Prayed over Goals

I thought that I would be blogging my vision and goals today, but as I sat to write them out I wanted to make sure they were practical and prayed over. So often we sabotage ourselves by setting unrealistic goals because they sound good and what we should do. No doubt there is alot of work to be done but the hot mess didn't get created over night.

It has taking years of bad eating that created bad habits. It has taken years of not recognizing how important fitness is, and the faith thing, well thank God it is about relationship rather than religion! This year, I am realizing that it is important that not only do we set a vision for our family, but I also need a vision for my own life. Something that keeps me focused on the target and what this year is to be about.

I have the vision and I will share it with my goals, hopefully tomorrow. So if you are following along with me, think of a vision, set goals that are practical and prayed over and meet me back here tomorrow.

On a total random note, Noah has fully taken a interest in super hero's! He never has had an interest until the last three weeks and now its all about, batman, spider man, captain America etc. I am not sure how I feel about it? Ive tried to find the old school cartoons because the new ones seem so dark and evilish.

Today he put together a costume that consisted of Christmas decorations for a shield, a knights helmet for a mask, a sword, and ran around the house saving lives. As I sat there watching him I realized a few things:

1. He is really creative, I should take notes
2. He has a lot of energy, I wish I had an ounce
3. Caleb is soaking all his actions like a sponge, next week Caleb will be Robin to this Batman
4. Where in the world did he pick this new hobby
5. How did I get sucked into this new liking? I got him Captain America Pj's and a Batman DVD for Christmas
6. Super Hero's never get old, I should buy stock.
7. I really should stop him from antagonizing Caleb with his sword, Naw I am really comfortable, I will pretend I don't see

Mid thought I asked him why he wanted to be a super hero? He stopped, with his big brown eyes I could barely see through his ghetto knight mask, put out his shield and said " they help people because they love them." I said "how do you know they love them?" He said "because they fight for them, and save them and even when they are hurt they always keep fighting for them."

I'm always amazed how God uses my son to speak wisdom to me. I want to apply that super hero thinking.

Lets set goals tomorrow and think like a super hero~
Mon

2012

That moment when you just know, that you know that things will different. When things finally click and your mind now has power over your body. When your thoughts or desire will no longer take excuses, when discouragement no longer has its place? Yea that just happened, and get this when I getting off the potty.

See I went off facebook because I needed change. I retreated away from social media, cut out tv, tried reading more, writing more and waited for that hyper-spiritual revival to take place. That one that would make me a better christian, make me want to eat better, and exercise in beast mode. So I waited, prayed, waited, prayed, ran a day, ate, waited, prayed, waited, ate alot one day, waited, holidays came, waited, ate, waited, prayed waited, and well it goes on and on. Nothing happen.

Till today, when I got up looked at myself in the mirror and let a sigh * Lord, I'm tired of being tired of doing the same things. Then guess what happened? My sincere thought went from my head to my heart. With a true, pure plea I fully surrendered. It was simple, it was fast and it was perfect timing.

So what is it, that I surrendered? Faith, Food and Fitness.. I am tired of trying to run a race, knowing that life is a marathon. Running some miles great and others terrible. Slow and steady wins the race all the time. What is slow and steady? It is four things.. keeping it simple, being consistent, being obedient, and practicing discipline.

Faith needs to be consistent, it needs to be practiced daily. Reading, praying and applying application daily. Not solely seeking in the valleys but also learning and rejoicing when on the peaks. Keeping a simple eating plan and exercising discipline will ensure success. Being obedient to my body by using it daily, with exercise. Not only will this get my body in shape but it will also renew the mind.

I am excited to see what this year will hold for FF&F, I pray my heart that is overflowing with desire and encouragement will sustain when my body is stretched. I am in the process of goal setting for the year. I know that God uses the ordinary for extraordinary things. I am looking to Him for a year of extraordinary things. I am making myself available, and ready and willing to do the labor.

I want to share my goals with you all, tomorrow. I encourage you also to take time to set goals, and a vision for the new year. Not a resolution but a vision. I know that God is waiting to do great things but He is waiting for you to say " here am I Lord". Tomorrow is not promised, and what is left when you leave this earth is a legacy. What do you want to be know for?

A person that lived a ok life of meritocracy? Or someone who made a difference in lives of others? You what change? I know I do.. If you are down to come along with me, come back tomorrow and lets talk!

xoxo,
Moni