Let me tell you what a sneaky one God is. I am the last person in the world you want holding you accountable for something especially exercise. So last night when I saw my friend Misty at soccer practice what is the first thing she says to me???
"Autumn. I need help. I need a someone to hold me accountable to working out."
I respond...after 30 seconds of staring blankly at her... "oh, really? I am the worst person for that job." pause. "I suppose that is why God prompted you to ask me."
I really had nothing to say. Inside I was screaming:
NO GOD I DON'T WANT TO WORK OUT! ESPECIALLY NOT BEFORE SUNRISE!
But I couldn't vocalize that because God had convicted me in a big way. I know all the book stuff. I told her there were no excuses for me to give because I know what the Bible and science say... GET OUT OF BED EARLY AND DO SOMETHING! So I reluctantly tell her that I will commit to getting up at 5 AM!!! (yes that is not a typo) Monday thru Friday. Aside from not sleeping at all last night for fear that I would over sleep, this morning went extremely well. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it felt to jog around the track. I already had a planned playgroup at my house this morning so I feared I would not be able to stay awake. But it was great and I even forgot to drink my coffee! How funny is that!
I'm sure I'll crash soon but for now I'm basking in my runner's high.
February 29, 2008
February 26, 2008
Do you hear God?
When you pray do you hear God?
Is it wrong to say that I do?
In this world of political correctness and equal rights and ... existentialism :) I feel like making this statement is in someway blasphemous. Why can't I simply accept that I actually have an area that I have been blessed in ways others haven't? I don't baulk at the concept that I am blessed with the gift of hospitality. As a matter of fact I embrace it proudly. Yet it seems that if someone professes that they pray and actually receives a recognizable answer then they are categorized as, oh I don't know, holier-than-thou maybe. I am sure that these feelings are simply a product of my being "in the world" for so many years. I have learned to shed many of those false teachings but I still have a few cobwebs. Right now I am working on encouraging the growth of this blessing. I mean what better activity is there to engage in and enjoy than praying to our glorious Father in heaven. He is the only one with the answers afterall. I am at that point of eagerness to see what will be revealed next. Thankfully I have many opportunities to grow my relationship with the Father and my prayer is that I will impact others to develop their prayer life.
On that note, pray for my Haven. He seems to have the unfortunate potty sickness right now.
Is it wrong to say that I do?
In this world of political correctness and equal rights and ... existentialism :) I feel like making this statement is in someway blasphemous. Why can't I simply accept that I actually have an area that I have been blessed in ways others haven't? I don't baulk at the concept that I am blessed with the gift of hospitality. As a matter of fact I embrace it proudly. Yet it seems that if someone professes that they pray and actually receives a recognizable answer then they are categorized as, oh I don't know, holier-than-thou maybe. I am sure that these feelings are simply a product of my being "in the world" for so many years. I have learned to shed many of those false teachings but I still have a few cobwebs. Right now I am working on encouraging the growth of this blessing. I mean what better activity is there to engage in and enjoy than praying to our glorious Father in heaven. He is the only one with the answers afterall. I am at that point of eagerness to see what will be revealed next. Thankfully I have many opportunities to grow my relationship with the Father and my prayer is that I will impact others to develop their prayer life.
On that note, pray for my Haven. He seems to have the unfortunate potty sickness right now.
February 25, 2008
Juice anyone?
YUUUUUUMMMYY!!
1 stick Rhubarb
2 stalks Bok Choy
4 leaves of Kale
2 Beets w/ leaves
3 Carrots
2 Apples
1 1/2" Ginger Root
2 stalks Bok Choy
4 leaves of Kale
2 Beets w/ leaves
3 Carrots
2 Apples
1 1/2" Ginger Root
Place in Jack LaLayne and WALLAH! You have a crimson concoction that even the kids will love. Mine are on the back porch drinking their "wine" now. It feels so good to make and drink something that is SO healthy! I can feel every cell screaming out "Thank you!". Don't be intimidated by hard, pungent greens. By adding ginger and apples to any juice makes it sweet and spicy. Just perfect!
The other day I wanted to juice but was very limited on ingredients. So in case you ever wondered Celery, Broccoli, Apple and grapes make a "celery-ific" juice. I'm afraid that anything that contains even a string of celery will predominantly taste like celery. I liked it, the kids didn't.
Here is some new found info on these veggies:
Beets
Bok Choy : Bok choy has a mild flavor and a higher concentration of vitamin A.
Rhubarb
Carrots
Kale
Ginger
Broccoli
Celery
Here's to healthy drinking!
February 17, 2008
Existentialism in the home
What a sad picture it is looking at the home today. Children are off the wall and all parents do is chalk it up to "that's just the way he/she is".
What kind of lame excuse is that?
If you don't know what existentialism is you need to and when you do you'll realize you have been brainwashed with this line of thinking. I always feel comfortable writing and handing out advice on subjects that I have been guilty of and thankfully graduated from. I don't worry about stepping on any toes. And if I do step on your toes I realize it's not me with the problem it's you. When my toes get stepped on I ask myself if 1) I being too sensitive or 2) am I needing to learn a lesson here?
First, I owe a huge apology to my son for the injustice I gave him by complaining to other parents about his "just a boy" behaviors. Now I have the monumental task of undoing that grouping he has been placed in by sympathetic mothers who themselves were/are looking for others in a similar uncontrollable (or so they think) situation.
So if I am no longer a mom who just sits back and passively/forceably parents what happened and what am I doing now? First of all, I made myself very aware of what the Bible says about parenting, training, children, sin and love. Then, I found a companion to my Bible called To Train Up A Child by Michael Pearl. Finally, I no longer looked at what I hadn't done in the past or lamented on the damage I had done to my children but I started on that day doing it right! You have to start somewhere, why not now? It literally took hours for the change to be felt in our house upon implementing techniques that would bring order and respect to our family. It simply sickens me when I think of the children I know that are CRAZY! I would have easily called my Prince that weeks ago. But he wasn't crazy nor are the other children I am thinking of. They just simply crave the loving guidance and training from their parents that will help them to become respectable young people.
I'll tell you, I no longer get frustrated and overwhelmed by my children (if I begin to I know that it is because I have slacked off or have some personal issue going on that needs to be dealt with). I don't let them tell me what they want to do or don't want to do. As their parent it is my responsibility to train them to respect authority and to follow directions. Think about what happens if parents don't do this! They fail in school, they break laws, they never have a steady job, they end up divorced... These are all results than can and will occur when I child is just left to "well boys will be boys...that's just the way he/she is...she/he is just strongwilled or stubborn...she's just dramatic" We made a decision to take control of our family.
I clearly remember a sermon I listened to called KidCEO. The heart of the message was that kids are not to be the center of the family, the marriage is. A husband and wife HAVE TO parent TOGETHER! One who disciplines with one how consoles will end in FAILURE. Good guy, bad guy doesn't work. Parents often think they are helping their children by offering balance. I have seen first hand how that doesn't work. When Michael and I made the decision to work together everything fell into place. How bout that!
You notice I keep saying we made the decision. You wouldn't believe how many parents seriously think it is out of their hands. How is that Biblical? God gave us the blessing of being able to decide which path we will take. It is never too late but it does get harder the longer they are allowed to do whatever they want. Haven is 3 1/2 and he is a different child now. But I am smart enough to realize that actions speak louder than words. I pray that the Lord will give me plenty of opportunities to minister to others through the behavior of myself and my children. I know I have a loooong way to go and my children are faaaar from perfect. However, I will not make excuses for them and I will not cheat them by allowing them to think for one second that the world is at their beck n call.
Okay now I am stepping off my soapbox.
What kind of lame excuse is that?
If you don't know what existentialism is you need to and when you do you'll realize you have been brainwashed with this line of thinking. I always feel comfortable writing and handing out advice on subjects that I have been guilty of and thankfully graduated from. I don't worry about stepping on any toes. And if I do step on your toes I realize it's not me with the problem it's you. When my toes get stepped on I ask myself if 1) I being too sensitive or 2) am I needing to learn a lesson here?
First, I owe a huge apology to my son for the injustice I gave him by complaining to other parents about his "just a boy" behaviors. Now I have the monumental task of undoing that grouping he has been placed in by sympathetic mothers who themselves were/are looking for others in a similar uncontrollable (or so they think) situation.
So if I am no longer a mom who just sits back and passively/forceably parents what happened and what am I doing now? First of all, I made myself very aware of what the Bible says about parenting, training, children, sin and love. Then, I found a companion to my Bible called To Train Up A Child by Michael Pearl. Finally, I no longer looked at what I hadn't done in the past or lamented on the damage I had done to my children but I started on that day doing it right! You have to start somewhere, why not now? It literally took hours for the change to be felt in our house upon implementing techniques that would bring order and respect to our family. It simply sickens me when I think of the children I know that are CRAZY! I would have easily called my Prince that weeks ago. But he wasn't crazy nor are the other children I am thinking of. They just simply crave the loving guidance and training from their parents that will help them to become respectable young people.
I'll tell you, I no longer get frustrated and overwhelmed by my children (if I begin to I know that it is because I have slacked off or have some personal issue going on that needs to be dealt with). I don't let them tell me what they want to do or don't want to do. As their parent it is my responsibility to train them to respect authority and to follow directions. Think about what happens if parents don't do this! They fail in school, they break laws, they never have a steady job, they end up divorced... These are all results than can and will occur when I child is just left to "well boys will be boys...that's just the way he/she is...she/he is just strongwilled or stubborn...she's just dramatic" We made a decision to take control of our family.
I clearly remember a sermon I listened to called KidCEO. The heart of the message was that kids are not to be the center of the family, the marriage is. A husband and wife HAVE TO parent TOGETHER! One who disciplines with one how consoles will end in FAILURE. Good guy, bad guy doesn't work. Parents often think they are helping their children by offering balance. I have seen first hand how that doesn't work. When Michael and I made the decision to work together everything fell into place. How bout that!
You notice I keep saying we made the decision. You wouldn't believe how many parents seriously think it is out of their hands. How is that Biblical? God gave us the blessing of being able to decide which path we will take. It is never too late but it does get harder the longer they are allowed to do whatever they want. Haven is 3 1/2 and he is a different child now. But I am smart enough to realize that actions speak louder than words. I pray that the Lord will give me plenty of opportunities to minister to others through the behavior of myself and my children. I know I have a loooong way to go and my children are faaaar from perfect. However, I will not make excuses for them and I will not cheat them by allowing them to think for one second that the world is at their beck n call.
Okay now I am stepping off my soapbox.
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