Doing the Ipod shuffle

Sounds like the start of a bad joke...

So this sweaty, chubby, confused looking girl walks up to this superfit, gym worker, body builder guy who is hyperventilating over each tight thing walking by and says "can you please help me with my Ipod?".

The gym guy probably thought it was a line and so he must have had some mercy for me when he smiled and said "I can help." I am of course the only one on the planet who has never owned an Ipod before or so I was feeling pretty jazzed to join the ranks of the Ipod savvy.

However when I tried to figure out how to use it I was a bit lost because it was working but then my music started coming out the speakers and my earphones at the same time.

I to humbly go where the unfashionable girls don't typically go and walked up to the counter to ask someone. He took my Ipod and fiddled and played around with it a bit and really I don't know what he did but it started coming in my ears and not out the speakers so I was in business. I still will have ask someone from the Apple store that one.

So after I got it coming in my ears I turned it to shuffle and hit play. It seemed like every song out of my new 31 was exactly what I needed to hear in my work out today. I wondered if God doesn't have control of my Ipods shuffle. He has everything else in His hands so why not my little Ipod.

Music gives me life and inspires me to go for it when I'm scared to dream. I had to ask the question. What is my dream and does God have control of it. Is He in charge of my shuffle? I decided that I have to fill my Ipod with the things that can give Him room to shuffle me in the right direction. I am listening to hear His song.

Fruit: JoY
Song in my head: Only Grace - Matthew West
Verse: ^{Proverbs 4: 7} Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. ⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

Rainbows Ahead! Look up and see it!

I was a little sad this morning. I woke up sleepy and feeling a little bit blue. Today is my birthday and it didn't feel like it. It was raining cats and dogs and I was feeling a little sad from a disappointment from yesterday. I had a hope in that and it was crushed... but still I decided I am going to pray.

Really that old 90's song is still true. You have got to pray just to make it today. So I took a run through the rain this morning and I got a little wet but sometimes I think I need to get wet. I need to feel the rain to know how very dependent I am on a loving God to see me through.

If it never rained I would never get the chance to see that rainbow. I know it's going to be there. I just have to remember and wait for it. He is faithful to bring out the sun even on the darkest of days and crushing desert valley lows we walk through.

His power is made perfect in my weakness. He is all I need even when I think what I want is what I need. He knows my hearts desire and will lead me to it.

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: All I need
Verse: ^{Genesis 9:16} Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Liking the Banana Berry girl

When I go to Jamba Juice now I ask for the Banana Berry, hold the sherbert, hold the apple juice, hold the ice cream add soymilk and extra blueberries. Basically I make it my own so it's a healthy drink with only blueberries banana and soymilk.

I really like to make things my own making them unique. I like my dressing on the side. Hold the olives and give me extra onions please. Maybe I seem like Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally" when I tend to be a somewhat choosy in foods and things.

I have history that makes me like a classic car. God saw my rusty, beat up, non running 64 Mustang life and He rebuilt me. Now I am shiny but I take a bit more maintenance than new car fresh off the lot. I need the right fuel, the right time invested, and taken out for a spin around town to keep me running.

So I have decided that I am liking the Banana Berry girl. I just have to admit and fess up that I am and will forever more be a bit more complicated. But I think I and know I am worth it.

God is in the business of restoring old cars. He takes those broken dowm people and makes them shiny again. Trust Him to do it for you.

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: All I need - Bethany Dillon
Verse: Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Somewhere over the Rainbow :)

TV Challenge

Okay everyone knows TV is a big waste of time right? Well, I decided I needed to waste time effectively.

I love my Paris Chocolate Sculpture Challenge, Cake Boss, Biggest Loser, Idol, Hallmark Lifetime tear jerkers, Antiques Roadshow, House, CSI, Monk, Frazier, Friends, Travel shows.

So I was watching TV last night and I heard of a Mayo Clinic Diet thing where the couple doing it made a pact not to watch TV unless they worked out the same amount of time they watched.

I thought this was a great idea but how I wondered can you do that at home. I know you can watch TV now a days at the gym.

Yet, you don't always feel like going to the gym at 9 or 10 at night when watching. Here are some ideas for keeping you busy to get some exercise while watching the idiot box.

1. Do leg lifts while watching switching sides every 20

2. Get a weight and do arm lifts in all directions

3. Get up and just walk in place, knees up high, keep moving your arms during the show and rest during the commercials.

4. Sing during the intro song... singing burns calories

5. Go online, type emails/blogs/facebook while watching/listening, any extra motion burns more calories than sitting alone.

6. Dance around during commercial breaks and do 12 sit ups as soon as the show comes back on

7. Fold laundry while standing

8. Groom your nails, clipping, painting and such

9. Do some yoga stretches

10. Run/Walk quickly around your house during commercial breaks

Mix it up with several of these and make your own fun TV watching routine. Basically just get off your booty and do something. I like the wheat field dancing photo I found. It's on my life to do list to dance around in a wheat field someday on a road trip. :)

Fruit: Self Control

Song in my head: Love song for a Savior

Verse: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering...”- Ephesians 5:1-2

Christmas Love Quotes

I found some great Christmas quotes I thought I would share. I wanted to feel a bit more Christmasy and found them touching. I hope they do the same for you. The photo to the left is of my little Christmas tree.

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.-- Hamilton Wright Mabi

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.-- George Mathhew Adams

From Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other. -- Emily Matthews

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." -- W. T. Ellis

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." -- Agnes M. Pharo

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small. -- Eva K. Logue

"Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign." -- Christina Rossetti

Fruit: Joy

Song in my head: Oh holy night

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

Things to be Thankful for

1. Raindrops on Roses... whiskers on kittens
2. Beautiful Blue Sunshine days
3. The love of friends and family
4. Bear hugs where they don't let go right away
5. A warm cup of peppermint tea with a candle burning
6. Christmas songs sung by a real fire
7. The beautiful colors of every season on earth
8. Ten tiny wiggly toes of a newborn baby
9. Peace in the midst of a storm
10. Knowing there is a God who loves you just as you are

Fruit: Peace
Song in my head: Chestnuts roasting by an open fire..
Verse: Philip 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..

Wanna be a Pumpkin?

What do we do with pumpkins? We cut open a hole in them and take all the gutz and gooey stuff out. We remove those seeds and then we carve a face on it and put a light inside. I was listening to the radio station K-love yesteday and they suggesed thats what Jesus does for us.

He opens us up and takes out all those seeds of sin and yuckie stuff inside cleaning us out. Then He carves us a new face and puts His holy spirit light inside so we can shine bright. I like pumpkins and I wanna be one now! :)

Fruit: JOY

Song in my head: Dance to the freedom we know song.. (name?)

Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Working it out!

Dressed in my humble old T-shirt and loose hem shorts only fit for working out in I walked into the into the ritzy gym where most people wear those "work out" outfits.

I came by my newly upgraded membership through a 10 dollar upgrade special that makes my total gym cost 13.95 per month. I have been a member since 1990 of the third lowest price locations so that is why my upgrade cost was so little.

I upgraded because this location of the chain of my gyms is located near my new job. Walking into this place today I kinda felt like a poor gal in a rich persons gym. I looked around and then a bit at my shoes. I decided to brave it up and walked up to my favorite torture device machine and smiled and thought "but, hey we are all just people."

I got on and someone dressed to kill jumped on next to me. I smiled and said "hello" wondering if she would talk to me. I found out that I can work out next to that CEO gal I met and actually have a great conversation.

Partly I can smile, nod my head and pretend I understand what the state of the business climate is like in the current economic state. I can let her vent and then talk about what I really know. I know people. Down at the heart we are all the same. We need a savior. Some people just go to the gym looking for it.

On a rainy day your subject to going to the gym unless you brave the drops. I am becoming such a Californian afraid of a few sprinkles. Working out can feels so good after a day at work sitting. It's a way to get out that stress and work it out physically.

Yet... There is nothing, absolutely nothing that beats the sweet love of a Savior.
His grace covers us. His eyes watch over us. He loves us even if we skip the gym.

Hearing about the stress of a life without Jesus today I felt so blessed that I have more than a temporary fix of the gym to work it out. I have a forever Jesus who just loves us. He loves us.. oh how He loves us. It's good to go to the gym but there is nothing like a God who can work all things out.



Fruit: Joy
Song in my head: All I Need -Bethany Dillon
Verse: Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Odd combinations that make great healthy snacks

I as so excited today when I found yet another new odd combination that makes a great healthy snack. I am always looking for a great snack for my diet that's low on the calorie side and high in the healthyness side.

It's very simple but quite yummie. You have to try it before you can say you think it's nuts or think you know what it will taste like.

What I did was in my morning rush I put some Baby Carrots in the same baggie as a handful of raisins. I found out when I ate them together it made an great combination.

The raisins made the Baby carrots taste sweeter and fresher while the carrots evened out the overwhelming sweetness taste of the raisins. I also tend to love the crunchy verses soft texture together aswell. It's a bit odd but quite wonderful if you try it.

Some other combinations I have discovered along my weight loss journey in the past two years have been quite by accident but yummie (in my opinion) aswell.

Here are my top seven... 1. Carrots and Raisins together 2. Cooked carrots and warm Ketchup 3. Sugar-free Jelly bellys and Almonds 4. Green Beans and warm Ketchup 5. Frozen Blueberries, Low/nonfat vanilla soy milk with spenda 6. Sunflower seeds and cottage cheese 7. Onion cream cheese and basil salad or sandwhich

Sometimes great things come from odd combinations. It just goes to show you can never really know you will like something different or that you consider odd unless you try it. I tend to need some variety in eating right at times or I just get bored. Spice it up with some cinnamon or give it a untraditional condiment.

Fruit: Joy
Song in my head: This is the day
Verse: “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”- Isaiah 26:4